2nd Lieutenant Alexander Pigott Wernher

Rank or Title

Date of Birth

18 Jan 1897

Date of Death

10 Sep 1916

War time / or Pre War occupation

Student

Place of Birth

Hambledon
United Kingdom

World War I Address

Eton College
Windsor
United Kingdom

Place of Death

France

Grave Location

Citadel New Military Cemetery
Fricout
France

Soldier or Civilian

  • Soldier

It was reported in the Luton News on 21st September 1916 of the death of 2/Lieutenant Alexander Pigott Wernher, youngest son of Sir Julius & Lady Wernher.

Alexander was born in Hambledon, Surrey in 1897. At aged 4 in 1901 he was living at Luton Hoo Mansion with his brother Harold under the care of their German governess & 27 servants.

By 1911 he was boarding at Eton College in Windsor, Berkshire. It was whilst he was studying at Eton when war broke out & in March 1915 aged 18 he enlisted in the Royal Bucks Hussars. When returning from East Africa in April 1916, he transferred to The Welsh Guards & was sent to the front. He saw action at the Battle of Loos & the Battle of Delville Wood & it was during this battle, east of Longueval on the Somme that he was shot & killed.

He is buried in the Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Somme, France in plot 2, row A, grave 5. At the request of his mother, Lady Ludlow, the words 'His sacrifice was the nature of his love for England' are inscribed on his cross.

There is a plaque to his memory on the family mausoleum which is in the  Holy Trinity churchyard, East Hyde, Bedfordshire.

Individual Location

Author: KarenC

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