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Regiment: West Riding Regt.
Died: 24 August 1914 aged 42 in Belgium. Killed in action at Wasmes.
Cemetery: Hautrage Military Cemetery I C 13
Born 10th October 1872. Son of Robert James and Louisa Mary Strafford (nee Belcher), of St Michael's Hamlet, Liverpool.
Junior School—Army Class. School Prefect. XI Football
1889,90; XXII Cricket.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Duke of Wellington’s Regt. 1892; Major 1909;
South African War 1899—1902, Despatches (twice), Queen’s Medal with
4 Clasps, King’s Medal with 2 Clasps.
Great War,2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Killed in action near
Mons, August 24, 1914; Despatches.
Husband of Edith Mabel Strafford (nee Chapman), of 25, Wilbury Rd., Hove, Brighton. (Married 26th June 1906).
He had two children: Jennie Constance, born 28th June 1907; and Orrell Hamilton, born 13th July 1910.
'He was killed instantaneously by a shell at the battle of Mons, being one of the first O.Ms. to fall in the present war.
Masters and contemporaries will remember him as a brilliant back at football. He won the esteem of all and the affection of many by his single-mindedness, uprightness, and sympathetic character both at school and in his regiment, where he is mourned as one of its most capable officers.
He was mentioned in the despatches of Sir John French of Oct. 19th. ' (Malvernian, Nov 1914)
Service record:WO 374/65967
Unit War Diary:WO 95/1552/1