Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Ussher Brothers -

COM: RICHARD USSHER, RN, DSO, SON OF REVD. RICHARD USSHER,
VICAR OF WESTBURY, BRACKLEY
AND MARY, HIS WIFE. AT REST SEPTEMBER 10TH 1922.

PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING

From The Times 22 December 1914 :
Captain Stephen Ussher, 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, son of the Rev R Ussher, vicar of Westbury, Bucks, fell on December 16. He was born in 1882, and was appointed second lieutenant unattached in 1902. Two years later he joined the Indian Army, and was promoted captain in 1911.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 25, 1914 Page 4

KILLED IN ACTION
We regret to hear that Captain Stephen Ussher was killed in action on December 16th. He was the son of the Rev. Richard Ussher, now Vicar of Westbury, Bucks, who was formerly in charge of the St. Margaret's Mission Church at Lowtherville, and through whose efforts the present iron Church of St. Alban's was built adjoining St. Margaret's and afterwards removed to its present site. Captain Ussher was born in Ventnor (*) in 1882. He entered the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, and was appointed second lieutenant unattached in 1902. Two years later he adjoined the Indian Army and was promoted Captain in 1911.

From The Times 26 June 1915 :

Captain Beverley Ussher, Leinster Regiment, son of the Rev R Ussher, vicar of Westbury, Bucks who has been killed at the Dardanelles, was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford, and Wadham College, Oxford. He joined his regiment at Barbados, West Indies, in 1900, and served in Jamaica and St Lucia. He served through the South African War (medal with clasp). Subsequently he served in India for two years, and then at Devonport and Ireland. For the last two years he had been an instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He left for the Dardanelles as Staff Captain on the Staff of General Doran last May. In 1906 he married Ethel, daughter of Canon J Martin, of Durham, and leaves a widow and two children. His brother, Captain Stephen Ussher, 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, was killed in France on December 16 last.
This piece was copied verbatim in the Isle of Wight Mercury of Friday 2 July 1915 and in other newspapers

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, January 28, 1916 Page 1

Particulars are to hand of the death of Captain Ussher, of the Worcester Regiment, son of the Rev. R. Ussher, formerly of Ventnor, who, with another brother, has lost his life during the war. Writing home, Major R.S. Allen, Hants Regiment, says: - "We had attempted to take the Turkish trench in continuation of No. 1 boundary post in our firing line, also another Turkish trench to the west of Krithia Nullah. But the Turks had massed in the Nullah presumably to attack us that very night, and directly we advanced they made a heavy counter attack, driving us back by weight of numbers, and capturing with the bayonet about 50 yards of our original fire trench. I was sent up to organise a counter attack, which was launched by the Lancashire Regiment in the dark but without any success, and I was hurrying to collect men under their own officers to make a second effort when Ussher arrived with a company of the Worcesters, who, he told me, had been sent across to help to get back the lost ground. He and I went forward and pointed out to the Worcesters the trench which they were to take.

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"They moved out over the parapet and lay down in the open. It was just getting night when the commander gave the word to advance. The Turks were keeping up a heavy and accurate fire. The Worcesters dashed forward, but could not at once reach their objective. Ussher and I were there side by side in our firing line and endeavouring to make out what was happening. Suddenly he fell backwards into the trench shot through the head by a rifle bullet, and was killed instantaneously. I was very much distressed, for although we had only met on one or two occasions in the trenches we had become friends in that short time. He was a most charming officer, always so cheery, and everyone who came across him became fond of him at once." In addition to losing two of their sons, the Rev. R. and Mrs. Ussher have been called upon to suffer another bereavement in the death of their youngest daughter's fiancé, who was also killed in action.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, January 28, 1916 Page 2

Brothers Killed in Action

REV. R. AND MRS. USSHER'S BEREAVEMENT.

We think the following extract from the Buckingham Advertiser may be interesting to many residents in Ventnor who will remember the Rev. R. Ussher and his family during the many years when he was priest-in-charge of St. Alban's, Ventnor.

CAPTAIN Beverley USSHER, of the
Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment.
Creeper-embowered, nestling within the shadow of old village churches, our country parsonages are, of all our pretty English homes, the ones, surely, most suggestive of security and peace! One thinks of them in connection with shady pleasances, velvety lawns, and the songs of the birds. And yet from no other homes in England perhaps have more gallant warriors been sent forth to instantly answer the imperious trumpet-call at that exact antithesis of Peace - War. The Rev. Richard Ussher, Vicar of Westbury, Brackley, Northants, has given three soldier sons to the service of their country, and two of them, already, have made the supreme sacrifice of life. Captain Beverley Ussher, of the Leinster Regiment was born at Cotton Hall, Burton-on-Trent, on August 4th, 1879. He was educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford, and Wadham College, Oxford. An all-round athlete he was in his school Eleven and Fifteen, and rowed in his College Boat. As a cricketer he was brilliant, and played for Bucks County Cricket Club, Army v South Africa. In 1900 he received a university commission, and in August of that year joined the Leinster Regiment at Barbadoes. He served in Jamaica and St. Lucia, and then proceeded to South Africa and took part in the Boer War, receiving the Queen's Medal with four clasps. He was Lieutenant in 1902, Adjutant in 1906, and in 1910 obtained his Captaincy. He also served in India, and for the last two years before the present war was Commander of a Company of Cadets at Sandhurst, a post to which only specially selected officers are appointed. In May, 1915, he went out to the Dardanelles as Staff Captain to the 88th Brigade in the 29th Division, and at Gallipoli, on June 19th, he met his heroic death. An ancestor of Captain Beverley Ussher's was Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher, R.N. His brother, Captain Stephen Ussher, 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, was killed at Givenchy, in France, on December 16th, 1914. Captain Beverley Ussher married on March 26th, 1908, Ethel, daughter of Canon Martin, of Durham, Vicar of Stockton-on-Tees, and had two young children, Kathleen Mary and John Beverley. As the 'Chronicle' of his old school, St. Leonard's relates, there was something about Captain Beverley Ussher which, "from the day when he was a bright haired treble in the choir," set him a little apart from the rest, and a charm of manner which few could resist. Mrs. Ussher, his widow, received many letters of condolence on her loss, and which will hand down to history the manner in which this true British soldier met his end, and also prove how greatly he was loved and esteemed by all who knew him. Then follow extracts of letters from the Rev. F.F. Komlosy, the chaplain attached to the 88th Brigade, and Major Farman, and the closing words: "Amongst wild flowers, on an open upland, from which can be seen the Dardanelles and Asia, he's in his last sleep this soldier, this hero, reared in one of our quiet country parishes."

CAPTAIN STEPHEN USSHER, of the
129 Duke of Connaught's Own
Baluchis.
Captain Stephen Ussher fell in action on December 16th, 1914, when in command of the Machine Gun Section of his regiment. Early on that morning the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis had received orders to make an attack on the German Trenches at Givenchy, near La Bassee, and had first been successful, but later the Germans brought up two machine guns and prevented any reinforcements coming up to assist the attacking party, and whilst Captain Ussher was directing the fire of his men, looking over a parapet to do so more efficiently, he was instantaneously killed. His last thought was for the welfare of the others, for as he was shot he called out to a brother officer to "keep down." He was taken to Beuvry, near Bethune, and buried there the following day. The son of the Rev. Richard Ussher, Captain Stephen Ussher was born at 52, Eton Place, S.W., on October 4th, 1882, and educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was gazetted to the "Buffs" on August 27th, 1902, and served with that regiment at Poona. Here he contracted enteric fever and was invalided home. On December 5th, 1904, he was appointed to the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, being promoted to Captain on August 27th, 1911, and served at Karachi, Hong Kong, and at Ferozpore. At Karachi he was Trooping Officer from August 15th, 1913, to February 23rd, 1914, and as such his service gained him a most excellent report. For four years he had been Adjutant of his regiment. He was fond of games, and was in his School Eleven and Fifteen, and in the hockey team at Sandhurst.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, October 27, 1916 Page 1

A magnificent Calvary has been erected at the entrance of Westbury Churchyard to the memory of Captain Beverley Ussher (Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment) and Captain Stephen Ussher (129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis) and other local men who have lost their lives in the war. The Rev. R. and Mrs. Ussher (who are affectionately remembered by many friends in Ventnor, where their sons were born), have also placed a most beautiful tablet in alabaster at the entrance of the Church in memory of their lost sons. The inscription is surmounted with the crests of their regiments with centre crucifix, and at the bottom are the words "They were lovely and pleasant in their lives," "Lord all pitying, Jesus blest, grant them Thine eternal rest." These memorials were recently dedicated at a special service which was very largely attended.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, February 20, 1920 Page 1

Lt.-Com. R. Ussher, R.N., D.S.O., H.M.S. Repulse, has arrived at the Alto House Nursing Home for rest and change. Many of our readers will remember him and his family, who were resident at St. Alban's for many years; his sister, Miss Margaret Ussher, is at present staying with Mrs. Kirby at Hazelbrae.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 11, 1922 Page 1

The Rev. R. Ussher and Mrs. Ussher, who were the founders of St. Alban's Church, are spending a month's holiday in Ventnor, having taken No. 2, Claremont.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, September 15, 1922 Page 3

Death of Lieut.-Comdr.
Richard Ussher.

Lieut.-Commander Richard Ussher, D.S.O. (son of the Rev. R. and Mrs. Ussher), formerly associated with Ventnor, died here after a long illness on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Ussher will be the recipients of sincere condolence in their great sorrow. The burial was at Ventnor on Wednesday, the deceased officer being given a Naval funeral - an unusual ceremonial at Ventnor, which was simple in its dignity and impressiveness. The deceased officer, who was 35, and who was born at Ventnor, entered the Royal Navy from the old Britannia in 1902. His first service was on the China Station for three years, where he served in the Eclipse, Ocean, and Leviathan, under Admiral Kirby (now a resident in Ventnor), returning to England in the Sutlej. He served in the Jupiter in the Channel Fleet, and later was Gunnery Lieutenant in the Exmouth, the flagship in the Mediterranean Fleet, after which he was appointed Gunnery Lieutenant to the Hyacinth, the flagship on the Cape Station. It was during his career there that he gained the D.S.O. for his operations in the destruction of the German cruiser Konigsberg in the Rufigi River, East Africa. During the later stages of the Great War he served in the Grand Fleet as Gunnery Officer and later in the same capacity in the battle cruiser Repulse. It was during his service in the latter that his health broke down and he has been more or less an invalid for the past three years. He tried varied climates in Switzerland and elsewhere, but all were to no avail, and he passed away, to the very great regret of many, last Sunday night. The funeral took place at Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday. The cortege was met at the doors by the clergy and choir of St. Alban's Church. The clergy present were the Revs. A.P. Clayton, H.G. Castle and C.B. Andrews. The last two gentlemen officiated. The hymn "For all the Saints" was sung, and the service rendered in plainsong. Mr. A. Starke was at the organ, and played appropriate music before the service and the Dead March in Saul at the close. The body was conveyed on a gun carriage and drawn by a contingent of sailors from H.M.S. Excellent from Whale Island under the command of the First Lieutenant. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and on it rested the cocked hat and sword of the deceased officer. Amongst the mourners were the Rev. R. and Mrs. Ussher, Mrs. R. Ussher, Miss Ussher, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Riddell, Mr. and Mrs. L. Sueur, Sir W. and Lady Waller, Mrs. Dashwood, Colonel Reeves, R.A., Admiral Kirby, Mrs. Kirby, Admiral Murray Anderson, C.M.G., Capt. Cave-Browne-Cave, R.N., Mrs. Williams, etc. Amongst the congregation at Holy Trinity Church we noticed Miss Kerr, Miss Maddock, Sister Kathleen, of St. Catherine's Home, Miss Crabbe. The burial took place in the cemetery, and at the end three buglers of the Excellence sounded the Last Post. The deceased officer leaves a widow and child.