John Euel Witherden Bath was killed in action on this day in 1915
John Euel Witherden Bath was born in Tewkesbury on 17 May 1893. His father was Samuel Bath, Doctor of Music and Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. His mother was Elizabeth Mary (née Taylor). He had two younger sisters and two younger brothers. In 1901, the family was living at 26 Wheelcap Road in Edgbaston
John's early education was at West House Preparatory School in Edgbaston, followed by Shrewsbury School (1906-12) where he was a House Scholar and member of the OTC 1909-12. Finally, he went up to All Souls' College, Oxford where he was a Scholar and a member of the OUOTC 1912-14.
Whilst at Oxford, he stroked the winning Trinity College Challenge Fours in 1912; rowed Stroke in 2nd Trinity Boat in the annual Torpids bumping race; and Bow in May Races 1913.
He subsequently abandoned rowing for running and represented the University in the 'Varsity Cross-Country Race against Cambridge in December 1913. He won the Aldershot Championship Cross-Country Race at Reading in March 1915.
He was a member of the Oxford University Athletic Club and the Thames Hare & Hounds Club. He was reading with Honours in his Finals, with a view to taking Holy Orders, when war broke out. On 29 August 1914, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th (Service) Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment).
John left for France 20 May 1915 and was promoted Lieutenant 10 June 1915. He came safely through heavy fighting at Loos Sep-Oct 1915 and, after heavy losses of officers in the Battalion, was promoted to Captain 14 October 1915.
December found the Battalion in the front line trenches near Givenchy.
Shortly after 1.00am on 22 December 1915, he was in a traverse, near the junction of Upper Cut and Scottish Trench, discussing certain work with his CO (Col. Foley DSO) when he was struck by a small fragment of a high-explosive shell and killed instantaneously. Col. Foley had his right jaw broken by the same shell but walked back to a Dressing Station and then on to the Field Ambulance. Later, Col. Foley wrote to John's parents:
"Your son's death is a terrible loss to the regiment; always cheerful - never sick or sorry - never making difficulties, for one so young he had a wonderful capacity for command. Everybody loved him."
John's father wrote in January 1916:
"To die for King and Country is the sweetest death. What can a man do more? And my beloved boy, who so cheerfully and unreservedly made the great sacrifice, bids us 'carry on' and so consummate the work which he and hundreds of other sportsmen have so nobly toiled - even unto death".
John is buried at the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy.
Captain John Euel Witherden Bath, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)