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Bompas, Eric Ainsley, son of Cecil Henry Bompas (qv); b. 22 Sept. 1915; adm. Sept. 1929 (G); left Dec. 1933; a clerk in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank; 1st Mountain Battery Hong Kong and Singapore RA 1940-1, despatches (posth.) Apr. 1946; killed in action on reconnaissance behind Japanese lines Dec. 1941.

Eric Ainsley Bompas was born at Calcutta, India on the 22nd of September 1915 the younger son of Cecil Henry Bompas OW, Indian Civil Service, and his second wife, Nita Frances (nee Goode) Bompas of 26, West End Avenue, Pinner in Middlesex, later of Rookery Lane, Broughton in Hampshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1929 to December 1933. He boxed for the school in 1933. He was a member of the 2nd and of the 1st Football XIs in 1933 and was a member of the 2nd Cricket XI in the same year. He was appointed as a School Monitor in 1933. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Sergeant in September 1933.
On the 24th of October 1936 he boarded the RMS Lancastria at Liverpool and sailed to New York where he joined the staff of the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank as a clerk. After a brief return to London in November 1937 he travelled to Hong Kong to work for a branch of the bank in the colony.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 12th of February 1940 and was attached to the 1st Mountain Battery, 1st (Hong Kong) Regiment, Hong Kong and Singapore Artillery.
At 10am on the 7th of December 1941 the 1st (Hong Kong) Regiment received orders to man its war stations following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong earlier in the day. The 1st Mountain Battery was deployed to the New Territories on the mainland and established its Headquarters at the north end of Waterloo Road. The 1st Mountain Battery, which consisted of four 3.9 inch howitzers based at Customs Pass, was in support of the 5/9th Rajput Regiment. They came into action on the 9th of December when they were called upon to bring fire on a number of small groups of enemy infantry which were advancing to their front. The following the day the defenders began to fall back under the enemy attacks and on the morning of the 11th of December the 2nd Mountain Battery and the 25th Medium Battery were ordered to withdrawn to Hong Kong island. On the morning of the 12th of December 1941, Eric Bompas joined the Battery and immediately went to the Battery observation post near Devils Peak. During the evening an enemy attack was driven off by the Rajputs with supporting artillery fire and that night the order was given to evacuate Devils Peak and fall back to the island. The Regiment had suffered five casualties during the fighting but had lost a large amount of ammunition and equipment.
On the night of the 18th of December 1941 the Japanese began landing on the north shore of Hong Kong Island. That night Eric Bompas and his men were manning a howitzer at a position on a hillside above Island Road near San Wan Fort. The gunners of No. 1 Section, 5th Battery, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force, who were stationed at the fort itself, had been caught by surprise by the Japanese who had killed their sentries and then attacked the fort. Those who surrendered were executed with bayonets by their captors three hours after capitulating.
Their commanding officer, Captain Bosanquet, and a few of his men fell back from their positions and withdrew down the slope to Island Road where they met Eric Bompas and two of his men who had escaped when their gun position had also been overrun. This small group then moved down Island Road where they gathered more stragglers from their Regiment and spent the night deployed along Island Road in an attempt to stop the Japanese advancing southwards towards Tai Tam Gap.
By the morning of the following day all that stood in the way of the Japanese advance was two 3.7 inch howitzers of the 1st (Hong Kong) Regiment, Hong Kong and Singapore Artillery and a small number of troops from the Hong Volunteer Defence Force. Eric Bompas was placed in command of the two 3.7 inch howitzers based on a knoll at Gauge Basin. At 5.30am Captain Penn arrived with a force of around thirty men which he deployed around the gun facing Sanatorium Gap, from where the Japanese advance was expected. Later in the morning Captain Penn saw the Japanese advancing along a ridgeline towards Jardine’s Lookout where they were in pursuit of the Allied defenders there who were falling back. At 9.30am the Japanese turned their attentions to the position at Gauge Basin and about 25 to 30 of them brought the area under small arms fire from their position on another knoll, some 400 yards to the rear. The howitzer itself began to come under mortar fire at the same time. During this exchange of fire and having suffered a number of casualties among his gunners, Eric Bompas ordered his men to manhandle their guns into a position to face the enemy threat and brought the Japanese troops under fire over open sights. The Japanese ceased firing at 10.30am. At 11am, with Allied troops falling back around, them the Gauge Basin guns began firing rapidly in anticipation of an order to withdraw and at about the same time a message arrived saying that he and his men were to fall back to new positions at Stanley. The two guns at Gauge Basin were spiked and abandoned.
On the 21st of December 1941, a British counterattack was planned in an attempt to reunite the Eastern and Western Brigades which had been separated by the Japanese advance. The remaining artillery was ordered to fire in support of the attacks on Red Hill and Bridge Hill. When the attack began, the leading Bren gun carriers were approaching the driveway to “Erinsville”, a villa near Turtle Cove, when they came under heavy fire from Red Hill on their right flank. When one of the men in the leading carrier was killed the remaining carriers ground to a halt where the men abandoned them and took cover. The enemy fire was coming from an abandoned British gun position on Red Hill and a party of infantry was assembled under the command of Eric Bompas and Lieutenant William S. Fry, Royal Rifles of Canada, with orders to clear the crest of Red Hill. The patrol moved down the hillside towards “Erinsville” before beginning to move up hill towards the crest of Red Hill with the support of covering fire from Allied machine guns. As they neared the top of the hill both Fry and Eric Bompas were killed. The fighting in the area died down at about 1pm.
He was Mentioned in Despatches: -“In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the defence of Hong Kong in 1941”, which was announced by the War Office on the 4th of April 1946.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Broughton.
He is buried at Stanley Military Cemetery Plot 6, Row C, Grave 11.

BOMPAS, CECIL HENRY, elder son of Henry Mason Bompas QC, Fairfield, Far Headingley, Leeds, County Court Judge, Bradford district, and Rachel Henrietta, eldest dau. of Rev. Edward White, Tufnell Park, Holloway; b. 31 May 1868; adm. (G) 27 May 1880; exhibitioner 1882; elected to Trinity Coll. Cambridge 1886, adm. pens. 8 Oct 1886, matr. Mich. 1886; President, Cambridge Union Society, 1889; BA 1889; appointed to Indian Civil Service after exam of 1887; arrived in India 15 Nov 1889; Assistant Magistrate and Collector, Bengal; Under Secretary, 1893; Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Apr 1896; Magistrate and Collector, Aug 1900; Deputy Commissioner, Aug 1901; Chairman, Calcutta Improvement Trustees Board, 1912; member, Bengal Legislative Council, 1916; CSI 1918; retd. [check]; translator, Folklore of the Santal Parganas; m. 1st, 28 Apr 1897 Geraldine, dau. of James Banton, civil engineer, Farnderg, Dundalk; m. 2nd, 27 Sep 1911 Nita Frances, dau. of William Goode, Port Pirie, South Australia; d. 22 Jan 1956.

Bompas, David Aldersey, son of Hugh Steele Bompas (qv); b. 19 July 1910; adm. May 1924 (G); left July 1929; ICI 1930-1; Aluminium Ltd Group 1931-72; Roy. Bucks Hussars 1939 (Tpr), transf. to Reserve as asst controller Light Metals Control, Min. of Aircraft Production; m. 21 July 1933 Elizabeth Anne, d. of Thomas Douglas of Whitchurch, Oxon; d. 29 Jan. 1999.

Bompas, Hugh Steele, brother of Cecil Henry Bompas (q.v.); b. Dec. 9, 1881; adm. Jan. 17, 1895 (G); left July 1900; Pembroke Coll. Camb., matric. Michaelmas 1900; B.A. 1904; called to the bar at the Inner Temple Nov. 1904; South-Eastern Circuit; Divisional Director, Training Department of the Ministry of Labour 1919-25; Secretary for Education to Dental Board since 1925; served in Great War I, first as Flight-Lieut. R. N. A. S., and afterwards as Capt. R.A.F. in France, Egypt, and Mesopotamia; m. 1st Aug. 13, 1907, Violet Dorothy, eldest daughter of Henry Lupton, of Headingley, Leeds; 2nd Sept. 12, 1938, Dorothy Cathcart-Jones; d. July 19, 1944

Barham, Geoffrey Cornelius Arthur, son of Cornelius Herbert Barham of Chiswick, Middlesex and Edith Mary Alice; b. Dec. 10, 1899; adm. Jan. 15, 1914 (G); left July 1915; served in the ranks of 28th Batt. London Regt. during Great War I; RAF during WW2; m. Mary Ellen; d. 27 May 1941.

Geoffrey Cornelius Arthur Barham was born at Leytonstone, Essex on the 10th of December 1899 the elder son of Cornelius Herbert Barham, a solicitor, and Edith Mary Alice (nee Long) Barham of 39, Forest Drive East, North Leyton in Essex, later of 29, Waldegrave Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19. He was christened at St Catherine’s Church, Leyton on the 14th of January 1900. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 15th of January 1914 to July 1915 and on leaving school he worked as a clerk.
He enlisted as Private 128277 in the Royal Flying Corps on the 13th of February 1918 and was posted for pilot training but was discharged on the 3rd of May 1918 as being unsuitable. He enlisted as Private 768243 in the 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles) on the 5th of June 1918 and served with them until the 8th of February 1919. On the 12th of January 1921 he embarked at London on board the SS Glenapp bound for Yokohama but later returned to enlist in the Royal Air Force.
He enlisted at the RAF Depot, Uxbridge as Aircraftman 2nd Class 351156 in the Royal Air Force on the 31st of January 1922 for a period of eight years with a further four in the Reserve. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet ten and one half inches tall and that he had fair hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.
He worked as a storekeeper throughout his service, serving with No. 5 Flying Training School from the 12th of July 1922 and at an Electrical and Wireless School from the 11th of October 1922. On the 1st of February 1923 he transferred to 11 Squadron, based at Andover and four days later he moved to Y Group. He was posted to 45 Squadron based in Iraq on the 15th of September 1923 and was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on the 31st of December 1923. He was promoted to Corporal on the 31st of December 1927 and joined 208 Squadron on the 25th of October 1928. He was posted to the Seaplane Base Depot at Calshot on the 16th of February 1929.
He was married at Gosport, Hampshire in 1939 to Mary Ellen (nee Travers), a children’s nurse, and they lived at 15, High Street, Gosport.
He was appointed as an Assistant Clerk in the Air Service on the 22nd of December 1939 and later served as a Corporal in the Royal Air Force at No. 9 Recruits Training Centre, Technical Training Command based at Blackpool.
He is buried at St Swithin’s Church, Thorley, Isle of Wight.

Smith, George Musgrave Castle (now known as G. M. Castle-Smith), brother of Hugh Castle-Smith (q.v.); b. Jan. 8, 1885; adm. May 4, 1899 (G); left Easter 1904; served in Great War I; Lieut. 3rd East African Batt. African Rifles Oct. 28, 1914; on leaving school entered the Merchant Navy and was twice round Cape Horn in sailing ships; in the lumber trade in Mexico 1909-12; Asst. District Commissioner East African Protectorate March 1912; District Commissioner Somaliland Protectorate 1915; Asst. Dist. Commissioner Kenya 1919; 1st grade administrative officer Kenya 1924; retired from the Colonial Service 1932; served in Great War I; Lieut. 3rd East African Batt. African Rifles Oct. 28, 1914; and in Great War II as an Admiralty Marine Superintendent; m. Nov. 4, 1930 Esme Josephine, only daughter of Arthur R. Winch, of Horsham, Surrey; d. 1969.

Smith, Hugh Castle, son of Castle Smith, of London, solicitor, by Georgina, daughter of William Meyrick; b. Sept. 18, 1876; adm. April 24, 1890 (G); left July 1895; enlisted in the C.I.V.; 2nd Lieut. Lancs Fusiliers Sept. 19, 1900; Lieut. June 20, 1903, Suffolk Regt. Feb. 8, 1908; Capt. Jan. 4, 1911; attached Egyptian Army March 3, 1911; Major Sept. 19, 1915; Lieut.-Col. Nov. 30, 1920; retired March 3, 1921; A.D.C. to the Governor of Gibraltar 1906-10; A.D.C. to the King of Egypt 1919-25; served in South African War 1900 and in the Sudan in Great War I; 2nd class Order of the Crown of Rumania, 2nd class Order of Somail, and 3rd class Order of the Nile; m. July 22, 1919, Maud Ellefred, only daughter of Sir Frede­rick Evans, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., of Bournemouth, Hants; d. at Las Palmas Feb. 25, 1961.

Tanner, Peter Ralph Eyre, son of Ralph Eyre Tanner (qv); b. 13 Sept. 1914; adm. Sept. 1927 (G); left Dec. 1931; a film editor and journalist; Brit. Guild of Film editors, "Golden Scissors" award 1988; m. 1st 5 Aug. 1953 Jean Rae Campbell, formerly wife of Robert Shaw, d. of Sir Hugh Eyre Campbell Beaver KBE LLD FRSA, of Luxford, Crowborough, Sussex; 2nd 24 May 1969 Daphne Mary, widow of Edgar Roy Mitchell, d. of John Stanley Towse of Cuckfield, Sussex; d. Dec. 2002.

Leake, Arthur Martin, brother of William Martin-Leake (q.v.); b. April 4, 1874; adm. Sept. 25, 1888 (G); left July 1891; Univ. Coll. Hospital; M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. 1898; F.R.C.S. 1903; Surg.-Capt. South African Constabulary 1901-2; served with the Imperial Yeomanry in the South African War 1900-1, and was severely wounded; Chief Medical Officer, Bengal Nagpur Railway, 1903-37; temp. Lieut. R.A.M.C. Sept. 3, 1914; Lieut. Feb. 18, 1915; Capt. March 5, 1915; Major Nov. 27, 1915; Lieut.-Col. April 30, 1917; mentioned in des­ patches L. G. April 25, 1902, Feb. 17 and 18, 1915, and May 15 and 25, 1918; V. C. May 13, 1902, for tending the wounded at Vlakfontein under heavy fire, and Clasp Feb. 18, 1915, for rescuing a number of wounded at Zonnebeke while exposed to constant fire; m. Oct. 1, 1930, Winifred Frances, daughter of William Alfred Nedham, of the Central Provinces Commission, India, and widow of C. W. A. Carroll; d. June 22, 1953

BANKES, WILLIAM GEORGE HAWTREY, fifth son of George Bankes (qv); b. 11 Sep 1838; adm. (G) 3 Apr 1850; a great friend of Francis Markham (qv), who mentions him frequently in Recollections of a Town Boy at Westminster; Trinity Coll. Cambridge, adm. 7 Mar 1856, did not matr.; Cornet, 7th Hussars 3 Mar 1857; d. at Lucknow 6 Apr 1858, from wounds received at Raptee 19 Mar; received posthumous award of Victoria Cross.