Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

22 April - 25 May 1915. On the 22nd April 1915 the Germans used poison gas at Ypres. This was the first 'official' use of gas and took the Allies by surprise. After initial success capitalising on the confusion and horror of this weapon, a heroic stand, initially by the Canadians and then supported by British and Indian Battalions, held the German advance. However it became clear that the Germans had achieved a tactical advantage and eventually the British were forced to retire to more a more defendable perimeter closer to Ypres. These positions were on the last ridges before Ypres and their loss would have resulted in the loss of the town and possibly open the Channel coast to German occupation with disastrous consequences for the re-supply of the BEF.

Detail :

SEVERNE, Henry Francis, 2/Lieutenant 1/6th Sherwood Foresters, Eldest son of Arthurde Milt Severne of Wirksworth Derbyshire Born. Wirksworth.Derby. 16 Feb. 1892; educacted at Riber School (Matlock), Marlborough College (where lie was in the O.T.C). and the Royal School of Mines. He joined the University of London Artillery in 1910 or 1911. He volunteered on the outbreak of war and enlisted in K Coy. of the 1/6th Sherwood Foresters. In September 1914 he was given a commission as 2/Lieut. He went to France, 25 Feb. 1915. and was killed in action at Kemmel Belgium, 10th May, 1915, being shot through the heart by a sniper. He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French's Despatch of 31st May (London Gazette. 22 June]. 1915. and reccomended for saving the life of an officer on 27th April. On that day a small charge was exploded in a mine. Some hours afterwards a small party of Royal Engineers, consisting of a Sergeant and two Lieutenants entered the gallery. One Lieutenant, who was a little way behind the others, found them unconscious from the effects of gas. He ran back to the entrance and shouted for help. 2nd Lieutenant Severne. who was standing near, without a moment's hesitation. jumped down the shaft although, being a mining engineer, he well knew the danger. He helped the Lieutenant to drag his brother officer along the gallery until the former also began to suffer from gas. He told him to go back and said that he would bring the unconscious man along. This he did. although his burden was a heavy one, until he was himself rendered unconscious. In the meantime other help had arrived, and all were brought round except the Sergeant. It was undoubtedly due to 2/Lieutenant Severne's prompt and gallant conduct that the life of one officer was saved and possibly that of the other. The late Capt Johnson. V.C, who was in charge of the party of Engineers, was filled with admiration and reported 2nd Lieut. Severne's conduct for official recognition. Source; Ruvigny Vol 1

Masonic :

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
• Website : De Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour