LECHMERE Nicholas George Berwick

Nicholas Lechmere was born on 20th September, 1881 at 61 Curzon Street, London and was educated at Westminster School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Given this educational background, it is difficult to understand why he should be on the Hanley Castle Roll of Honour. Perhaps he was a Governor at some stage? He married Maria Katherine Pegg in London in 1906, Maria died in 1910

Nicholas Lechmere was first commissioned in the Scots Guards on 8th May, 1901 but left the Army in 1907. He re-joined the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards for active service with the British Expeditionary Force in France on 17th June 1915. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, in the Field, on 2nd October, 1915. His death occurred during an attack to take the German ‘Fosse’ and ‘Dump’ trenches, near the ‘Hohenzollern Redoubt’, located about 3 miles north of Loos. The attack, well supported by artillery and trench mortars, started at 5.00am. Nothing was heard of the attacking companies for some time, except for repeated demands for more bombs (grenades). It was later reported that they were having what was described as ‘a stiff time of it’. At 8.00am orders were received to consolidate on the ground captured. During the attack, three officers were killed, including Lieutenant Lechmere, and two wounded. There were 136 casualties in the other ranks.

The Upton on Severn News recorded that: ‘Official intimation had been received at Rhydd Court of the death at the front of Lieutenant Nicholas Lechmere, of the Scots Guards, youngest brother of Sir Edmund Lechmere, Bart and son of the late Baronet, who for many years represented West Worcestershire and afterwards South Worcestershire in the House of Commons.  Lt Lechmere, who was only 34 years of age, was formerly a Lieutenant in the Scots Guards but he left the Army in 1907 and went to the Argentine, from which he returned immediately the war was declared and re-entered the service, being posted to his old regiment.  Sir Edmund Lechmere has received no particulars concerning his brother’s death apart from the official announcement.  His brother, Lieutenant Anthony Lechmere, is in the Worcestershire Regiment, being stationed at Norton Depot.

The Upton on Severn News later briefly reported on a memorial service to Lieutenant Lechmere, held on Saturday, 30th October 1915, at the Russian Embassy Chapel, Welbeck Street, London. Among those present were Sir Edmund and Lady Lechmere, Lieutenant R.B.H. Lechmere (5th Dragoon Guards) and Mrs Lechmere, Miss Lechmere, Captain A.H. Lechmere (Worcestershire Regiment) and Colonel Sir Herbert Perrott.

Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Officers Died in the Great War, Upton on Severn News and ‘The Scots Guards in the Great War’ by Petre, Ewart and Lowther, 1929.

Nicholas Lechmere has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Loos Memorial.