Lives of the First World War

This photograph shows the five soldier sons of the Duke and Duchess de Stacpoole. The two youngest, Roderick top left and Robert top right, were killed early in the war.

Roderick Algernon Antony de Stacpoole in uniform. He served with the Royal Field Artillery.

The burial place of Roderick Algernon Antony de Stacpoole.

This is the headstone of Roderick Algernon Antony de Stacpoole at Pont du Hem Military Cemetery. Note: A subsequent Birth Certificate investigation indicates that Antony has been misspelt on the headstone. This has been brought to the attention of the CWGC should the headstone be replaced at some future date.

An extract from ‘de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-18 : A biographical record of members of His Majesty’s Naval and Military Forces who fell in the Great War 1914-1918’. Part Two with some 1500 portraits. Page 282.

This image shows extracts from the 'Supplement to The London Gazette, 22 June, 1915.' The page containing reference to Roderick Algernon Antony de Stacpoole can be found online at the following address: www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29200/supplement/5984

This is a scan of the Birth Certificate for Roderick Algernon Antony de Stacpoole. It confirms the spelling of Antony, which is consistent with de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour which presumably had family involvement/input at the time it was written, but unfortunately it misspells de Stacpoole as De Stackpoole (the capital D and the k are common errors).

This photograph shows the front and back of the Medal Index Card for Roderick Algernon Antony de Stacpoole.

A photograph of the WW1 Memorial in the Wimbledon College Chapel. The inscription reads 'Pray for the souls of the Old Boys of this College who fell in the Great War 1914-1918' and the memorial includes a reference to Sec. Lieut. Rodk. de Stacpoole under 'Members of the Army Class'.

This memorial was commissioned by his parents and is located in Ballymacward Church, Co. Galway, Ireland - To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Robert Andrew de Stacpoole and Roderick Algernon de Stacpoole. Note the family motto and crest at the top, the wording being especially poignant in this context.

This photograph accompanies a memoir to Roderick in the book 'Downside & the War 1914-1919'. Reproduced with permission © Downside Abbey Trustees. The following is an extract from the introduction to the book: “We trust that the present and future generations who have the privilege of using the church will from time to time refer to the pages of this book so as to get an insight into the lives and characters of those to whose memory the Nave has been erected, and will thereby be inspired to put their best into their own lives and show themselves worthy of the great sacrifice which was made by their predecessors.” R.S. Trafford (Headmaster) July 11th, 1925.

This is the emblem for 1st Battery (The Blazers).

Sourced from The Illustrated London News, March 27, 1915. – 394. Under the heading “Dead on the Field of Honour: Officers Killed in Action.” and with the following wording at the bottom of the page: “Such successes as Neuve Chapelle involve heavy losses on both sides, and our portraits include those of a number of officers whose lives were given in that memorable action. … 2nd Lieut. Roderick de Stacpoole was (the) youngest son of the Duke and Duchess de Stacpoole. One of his brothers was killed on the Aisne, and two are on active service.”

An "11 metre long memorial, described as ‘absolutely unique’ by the Imperial War Museum, holds plaques commemorating 275 men and women, most of whom died as a result of the ‘war to end all wars’. They were relatives of the nuns and children who attended the Society of the Sacred Heart Convent school which was located on the Digby Stuart College Campus." Source: University of Roehampton, London.

Roll of Individuals entitled to the Decoration granted under Army Order 350 of 1917. (The Mons Star/1914 Star).

Roll of Individuals entitled to the Victory Medal and/or British War Medal.

Roderick Algernon Antony (Roddy) de Stacpoole was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 12 August 1914. He served with 1st Battery (The Blazers) Royal Field Artillery and was killed in action at Neuve-Chapelle, France, on 11 March 1915, aged 19.

This photograph has been sourced from the IWM's Bond of Sacrifice - First World War Portraits Collection. The following words are typed on what appears to be the storage envelope: “Lieut. Colonel A. E. M. Head. D.S.O. R.F.A. Photograph purchased from Messrs. Swaine Ltd. June 1918.” © IWM (HU 123117) - free to reuse for non-commercial purposes. (https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205300975)

This image was kindly provided by Adrian Laing, Head Master of Wimbledon College in London, from the college archives.

This image was kindly provided by Adrian Laing, Head Master of Wimbledon College in London, from the college archives. A link to a PDF version of the biography will be placed in the Evidence section.