Arthur Estcourt

Arthur Charles Sotheron Estcourt MC (26 September 1893 – 18 August 1918) was a British soldier of the First World War.

Early life

The son of the Reverend E. W. S. Estcourt, of Swindon, Wiltshire, and a nephew of George Sotheron-Estcourt, 1st Baron Estcourt, Estcourt began his education at Mr C. E. F. Stanford's School, Rottingdean, from where in 1907 he won a Fishmongers' Company Open Scholarship of £50 a year to Gresham's School, Holt, where he remained from 1907 to 1912. He then briefly attended Magdalene College, Cambridge, between 1912 and 1913.[1][2][3] In January, 1912, he had been awarded a Magdalene College mathematics scholarship worth £50 a year.[4]

Estcourt's brother, Walter Bucknall Estcourt, served as an officer in the East Africa Corps.

Military career

Estcourt was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the New Armies on 17 November 1914, then as a temporary second lieutenant of the Wiltshire Regiment and later of the Gloucestershire Regiment.

In September 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross, the London Gazette report reading:[5]

Temp. 2nd Lt (Temp Lt) Arthur Charles Sotheron Estcourt. Glou. R. :- for Conspicuous Gallantry in action. He fought his battery with great effect under very heavy fire during the attack, dispersing many enemy bombing parties. He also knocked out a machine gun which was holding up the advance of one of our bombing parties.

He was promoted Acting Captain in the Trench Mortar Battery on 16 February 1917.[6][7] He then became a Lieutenant (Observer) in the Royal Air Force.[8] Twice wounded, he was killed in action on 8 August 1918.[2][3][9]

Notes
  1. The Education Outlook and Educational Times (S. Birch, 1907), p. 391: "Holt, Gresham's School — Scholarships... A. C. Estcourt... lately at Mr C. E. F. Stanford's, Rottingdean".
  2. Carey, Gordon Vero, The War List of the University of Cambridge, 1914-1918 (Cambridge, 1920)
  3. Lidell, Charles Lawrence Scruton & Douglas, A. B., History and Register of Gresham's School, 1555-1955 (Ipswich, 1955)
  4. The Times, Wednesday, 17 January 1912 (Issue 39797), p. 12, col. G
  5. Supplement to the London Gazette dated 26 September 1916
  6. Supplement to the London Gazette dated 5 April 1917, at page 3312: "The under mentioned to be acting Capts. Whilst commanding - Trench Mortar Batts: Temp 2nd Lt A.C. Estcourt 16 February 1917.
  7. Supplement to the London Gazette dated 10 December 1917, at page 12880: "The under mentioned relinquish the acting Rank of Capt.:- Temp 2nd Lt A.C.S. Estcourt, on ceasing to Command a trench mortar Batt 22 Aug 1917.
  8. The London Gazette dated 2 July 1918 Page 7773: "The under mentioned 2nd Lts (Late Gen. List. R.F.C. on Prob) are confirmed in their rank as 2nd Lts, Observer Officers:- 11 June 1918: A.C. Estcourt, M.C. (Temp. 2nd Lt Gen. List new armies) 12 June 1918.
  9. Smart, Sue, When Heroes Die (Breedon Books, 2001) ISBN 1-85983-256-3
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