Lieutenant Douglas Horace Gilbert NORTHCOTE
3rd Battalion East Kent Regiment (Buffs) attached to A Company, 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

Date of birth: 9th April 1893
Date of death: 12th March 1915

Killed in action aged 21
Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial Panels 12 to 14
He was born at "The Homestead", Aldersmead Road, Beckenham on the 9th of April 1893 the son of Horace Northcote, merchant, and Stella Louisa (nee Reynolds) later of 11, Playfair Mansions, Queen’s Club Gardens, Kensington, London W14. He was christened at Penge on the 3rd of June 1893.

He was educated at the Abbey School, Beckenham and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1907 to July 1912 where he obtained a Junior Scholarship in December 1908. He was a keen tennis player and won the final of the school doubles competition of 1911 partnered by R.J.N. Norris. He won the school Geography (Members) Prize and the Stanley Prize for history for the 1910/11 school year and was Hon Secretary of the Cantuarian from September 1911.He served as a Private in the Officer Training Corps. He went on to the University of London. On leaving university he was articled to J.H. Welfare, solicitors of 60 Coleman Street London EC.

Following the outbreak of war he applied for a commission in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion East Kent Regiment (Buffs) on the 6th of August 1914 in an application which was supported by Mr McDowall, Headmaster of the King's School Canterbury. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on probation in the battalion on the 8th of August 1914, and was confirmed in his rank on the 17th of February 1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 2nd of February 1915 and was attached to the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. He joined them in the field at Locre on the 10th of February 1915 at the head of a draft of thirty four men to reinforce the battalion.

At 2.45am on the morning of the 12th of March 1915 the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment left their billets at Locre and marched via Kemmel to the trenches known as “F” in front of Spanbroek Molen. They arrived at dawn, about 5.30am, and occupied four lines of trenches on the reverse side of the hill. The morning was dull and misty so that the artillery barrage which was meant to precede the attack was delayed. The morning remained misty and as a result apart from occasional sniping and shell fire things were quiet. At 1pm the mist began to lift and by 2.30pm the air was clear and the artillery barrage began, firing shrapnel to cut the enemy wire and large quantities of high explosive to damage their trenches. This continued with a slight pause until 4.10pm. At 4.10pm the infantry assault was launched from the trench know as F2 which was about twenty five yards in front of the first line trench. The first line was crossed by A Company using “flying Bridges” which had been placed over the first line trench and passed through gaps in the British wire. The men moved forward across the 200 yards of No Man’s Land under heavy rifle and machine gun fire and a few isolated groups managed to get up to the German wire where they were pinned down. B Company tried to crawl forward, but were forced back after 50 yards and the survivors fell back to the trench F2. The survivors of A Company withdrew under cover of darkness. Douglas Northcote was one of four officers killed with three others being wounded. There were twenty nine other ranks killed with forty five wounded and twelve missing.

His mother received the following telegram dated the 15th of March 1915: -

"Deeply regret to inform you that 2/Lieut. D.H.G. Northcote East Kent Regt. was killed in action on 13 March. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

She received a further telegram dated the 27th of March 1915: -

"Beg to inform you that the late 2/Lt D.H.G. Northcote was killed March 12th not 13th as previously reported."

A file note was made following a call made to the War Office by his mother on the 1st of April 1915 where she produced a letter from an officer in his battalion: - "......in which he says Northcote was hit and fell on the German parapet and was taken into the trench by the Germans. Mrs Northcote thinks there might be a chance of his being a prisoner and not killed - do we think we could get the death confirmed by the unit?"

A number of interviews were undertaken from eyewitnesses to try to establish his fate.
Statement of Corporal 7296 Tyrrel taken at 18 General Hospital, Etaples on the 10th of July 1916: -

"When we were attacked in March I saw Lt. Northcote run forward at the start and I saw him on the German parapet well away to the left."

Statement of Sergeant Major 8035 Read (A good witness) taken at St John's Hospital, Etaples on the 11th of July 1916: -

"The Lt. was killed in an attack by us at Spanbrook Molen, near Kemmel. He was in charge of bombers and on our left flank. He got a long way ahead of his men and reached the parapet of the German trench, throwing bombs as he went towards it. He mounted the parapet and fell, apparently killed. The other bombers were checked by a heavy rifle fire which started as soon as the Lt. reached the parapet. They were forced to screen themselves in shell holes and retired at dusk. The men on the right were checked by barbed wire except at one gap upon which M.G. were trained. The E. Surrey got in many of our wounded and reported that the Germans must have got in the body of Lt. Northcote because it disappeared before daylight."

Statement of Lieutenant George William Penruddocke taken on the 10th of August 1916: -

"Informants states that "On 12th March 1915 during an attack on Hill 72 at 10am Lt. Northcote got further up the ridge in front of everybody, and was seen to fall dead. His body was never recovered."

The Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment wrote: -

"I have made further enquiries but am unable to absolutely verify 2nd Lieutenant Northcote's death. I have already written to this officer's mother. 2nd Lieutenant Northcote was shot on the German parapet and his body lay there for a long time and no movement was observed, later the body disappeared and I believe that the Germans took it into their trench. I believe that 2nd Lieutenant Northcote is dead but I cannot absolutely say so."

A letter from the War Office dated the 12th of April 1916 read: -

2/Lieutenant D.H.G. Northcote, East Kent Regiment
"This officer was reported "killed in action 12th March 1915 on List No. 14483 and Missing believed killed 12th March 1915 on List No. 24311. The O.C. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, states that he believes 2/Lieutenant Northcote was killed, as he was shot on the German parapet, and his body lay there for a long time, no movement being observed. In view of the lapse of time since 2/Lieutenant Northcote was reported missing, this report has been accepted for official purposes, the officer's death being regarded as having taken place on 12th March, 1915."

He was mentioned in despatches; his mother applied for his medals on the 20th of February 1920.
 

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