Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

19 October - 22 November 1914. Following the failure of the German Schlieffen Plan in August and September 1914, both sides engaged in a series of linked battles as they sought to outflank each other. The climax of these manouvres was at Ypres in November 1914 when the might of the German Army attempted to break the much outnumbered British Expeditionary Force. The political importance of Ypres, being the last town of any size in Belgium that remained in allied hands, established its importance for both sides and ensured a series of battles over four years.

The First Battle of Ypres in 1914 is characterised by a series of linked heroic stands by outnumbered British soldiers in conditions of confusion and weary endurance. The Germans never knew how close they had come to winning - at one point just the clerks and cooks were the last line of defence for the BEF. By the end of the battle the magnificent original BEF, composed of professional regular soldiers, had been all but destroyed and already the Territorial battalions were called into battle. From the end of 1914 a 'Regular' battalion was in terms of its compostion little different to a Teritorial or later Service Battalion. The professional soldiers had all but vanished.

Detail :

The medal index reveals that he was disembarked in France on 16th August, 1914.

The 'Register of Soldiers Effects' shows that he was an officer of the 1st Life Guards at the time of his death (killed-in-action) and shows date of death as 20th October, 1914.

For his service in the Great War he was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, Victory Medal and the British War Medal. There is an annotation of a Clasp to the Victory Medal, which could mean a separate "Mention in Despatches" to that earned in South Africa. His medals were sent following the war to Lady Edward Cavendish.

Probate "CAVENDISH the right honourable Lord Cavendish John Spencer of 6 Carlos Place Middlesex D.S.O. died 20 October 1914 in France on active service Probate London 1 March to the most noble Victor Christian William Duke of Devonshire. Effects £45432 4s 3d." The executor of John's estate was listed as His Grace, the Duke of Devonshire.

John Spencer Cavendish, according to the Souchez Historic Committee, is buried in the Caberet Rouge Cemetery at Souchez and that he was first interred in the German extension of the cemetery of Quesnoy-sur-Deule. Their researches suggest that he died at First Ypres and not, as originally recorded on this record, at La Bassee. The 1st Life Guards 3rd Cavalry Division, 7th Cavalry Brigade was in Belgium in Ypres on 19th October, 19149, in Zonnebeke to be precise. With grateful thanks to Yves Durin Gecebas.

See also: Researching WW1 which gives an account of the 1st Life Guards via their war diary.

However, a note on the website of the Household Brigade Lodge No. 2614 suggests the following:
“An account of John’s death by an unknown soldier, dated 24 October 1914, who served alongside him recalls that ‘Lord John’ was killed instantly by German Maxim Machine Gun fire whilst leading a regiment trying to hold the line in the village.”

Masonic :

Initiated into Isaac Newton University Lodge No. 859 at Cambridge. Joined Household Brigade Lodge No. 2614 on 14th February 1902. Further joined Northern Nigeria Lodge No. 3325 on August 7th, 1909 where he is listed as a Captain of the Life Guards.

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