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Lt. Reginald Theobald MC
British Army 11th Btn., C Coy. Suffolk Regiment
from:Chatham
(d.10th Apr 1918)
Reginald Theobald was my great uncle, the much loved older brother of my maternal grandmother, Kathleen Hilda Poles nee Theobald.
When war broke out he was about to go to Cambridge from Mill Hill School, on a Maths scholarship but never got there. He enlisted as Private 962 in the Royal Fusiliers and served in France and Flanders. He was a great sportsman, representing the school in cricket and hockey and being a good boxer. He also enjoyed joking and having fun with the family. He took a box brownie camera to the war (not allowed!) and I have an album of his photos of the time.
He was awarded his Military Cross in 1917 "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He did valuable work in cutting wire, and also carried out an important reconnaissance. Later, while mopping up, although badly wounded, he got his party together, regained his company, and went on to the final objective." He apparently held his post for 10 hours whilst wounded. He returned to England to be treated at St Marks College Hospital Chelsea in January 1915, for wounds received at Vimy Ridge. He also had Enteric Fever.
He died aged 23 at the Battle of Lys at Erquinghem sur Lys near Armentieres in France on 10th of April 1918, leaving behind a fiancee and recently widowed mother. The delightful museum in Erquinghem sur Lys has information and photos of him and the small CWG cemetery there at La Rolanderie Farm has his grave.
