Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Pargny British Cemetery | Pier and Face 5 A and 5 B. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.123 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 14D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Military Cross | ||
Family :
The only son of Charles Edward and Elizabeth Hutton Gabain, of "Sunnyfields," Mill Hill, London.Education & Career :
Known to family and friends as Willie Gabain, he was a pupil at Sandroyd Prep School, then at Charterhouse where he taught with George Mallory, who survived the war but not attempting to climb Mt. Everest.
He was a member of the Cambridge University Boxing Team. He was an Exhibitioner at Pembroke College, Cambridge and then became an Assistant Master at Eton.
He returned to Charterhouse as a teacher in Spring Term of 1914.
He was study at and a member of the Inner Temple.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Rifle Brigade |
| Action : The First Battles of the Somme 1918 and associated actions |
21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.
He was in France from 12th August 1914 until early in 1915 and went through the retreat from Mons.
From January, 1915 he served with the Intelligence Corps. He was twice Mentioned in Despatches and in June 1917 was awarded the M.C.
After several applications to be transferred to a combatant force, in January 1918 he was given a company in the 2nd Rifle Brigade.
Detail :
Killed in action at Pargny, on the Somme, on Palm Sunday.
Citations & Commemorations :
He was twice Mentioned in Despatches and later awarded the MC.Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Isaac Newton University No. 859 E.C. | Cambridgeshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
29th October 1912 | 29th April 1913 | 25th November 1913 |
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Discrepancies (Require checks, clarity or further research) :
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Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley