Spencer Julian Wilfred Railston
Person details
| Forename(s) | Spencer Julian Wilfred |
|---|---|
| Surname | Railston |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Regiment | 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards (attached) |
| Age | 25 |
| Death | Killed in action |
| Place of Death | Wytschaete, Flanders |
| Date of Death | 30/10/1914 |
| Year of Entry | 1902 |
| House Letter | G |
| School Notes | |
| Comments | Memorial from the Westminster Gazette in Radleian of 23/10/1915. Obituary in Radleian of 17/12/1914 and in Radleian of 17/11/1914 |
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission Link | https://www.cwgc.org/find-record... |
| Unit | - |
| Prefect | |
| Military Decorations | |
| Album Number | 6 |
| Battle | First Battle of Ypres |
| Previous Regiment | [Indian Army] 18th King George's Own Lancers |
| Additional Notes |
Added to Imperial War Museum 'Faces of World War One' project and Radley College War Memorial Flickr website on 15 March 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/radley_college_war_memorial/ Radleian 23.10.1915 contains a poem written about him, republished from the Westminster Gazette: A lieutenant's gallantry Unbroken like thunder sonorous That swelled to a climax supreme O'er our heads, Wrapped us round Hour by hour, till familiar we grew With the missiles that roared as they flew From the blue, Deathly sound. Over night we had taken our trenches Without loss, and our cover was good. We were safe; We could rest; We'd no horses to think of or tend. On our feet we'd advanced to defend Or attack As 'twas ruled. We slept till the Dawn reawakened Those mutterers foul-mouthed who spat In their hate Towards our lines. On our right lay the wreck of a home That the frost had whitened like foam. Riven slopes, Pits and mines Took clear form as the night raised her pall. But was that a figure shrunk low by the wall?Bent and still Numbed with fear, A peasant, crouching in the line of fire. Who could advance and escape, or retire? Yet to stay, It was clear, Under a cross-fire of murderous shot No longer was safe, for now, fierce and hot, With the Dawn Grew the fight. In the darkness by stealth he had come To the ruin that had been a home Till we came Yesternight, And lain there beside it till morn 'Neath the weight of the loss he had borne. Shot and shell Swept and fell. Who now in that deadly space could survive? Who pass from the sheltering trench alive? He must just Take his chance; And pay for his folly as others have done While we must wait till our course has run. Yet he turned. Then we saw That it was a woman, and wounded. Was seen by a gallant Lieutenant The appeal Of her look. From the deep trench, from safety he bounded Like a stag in the pride of his stride With a shout And ~ smile. Not reproach! For the sacrifice he thought her worth. We are proud, Though we weep. We thank God that our bitterest pang Thus sweetened is, nor dare we long That he still Might be there To lead in the dash on the Day We are waiting for now in reserve- When the guns Shall prepare For a charge, and, no longer in trenches But out in the open we thunder Through the lines Of the foe; When we leave not a man of the Prussians ; When driven and broken asunder They shall pay For the day When relentless, with Maxim they slew Let us honour the woman Him we loved as a friend. He'd a heart Made of gold He was merry and bold; and a horseman In riding school, polo, or charge Or in chase None could beat. He had shot in the steep Himalayas, Shown his skill in the ring, and with spears; He had danced; And he read; With the soul of a poet he chose- Have such as he moments to lose?- All his books Through his friends. And none would have told him of any That did not shed beauty and hope. For he lived As he died. And we know his old father was proud That his son had been given that chance, Knows he proved In his death That his life 'twas that gave him The name of a hero in France. |
| Burial or Cemetery | YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel ref Panel 1 |
| Place of Birth | Little Hadham, Hertfordshire |
| Post School | Sandhurst |
| Shields in Hall |
