AN EXCEPTIONAL “TWO BROTHERS” CASUALTY ASSEMBLY.

1914 Star & Bar Trio.
Capt, M.L.FORMBY. 1st Bn WILTSHIRE REGIMENT.


Killed-in-Action 26th October 1914









1914-15 Star Trio & Delhi Durbar
No.5 Corporal R.W. FORMBY.
MADRAS MOTORCYCLE CORPS,
MADRAS VOLUNTEER RIFLES
& LIEUT, ROYAL ENGINEERS.
Killed-in-Action 16th February 1917.









THE YOUNGER BROTHER, MYLES.

1914 Star & Bar Trio.
Capt, M.L. FORMBY.
1st Bn WILTSHIRE REGIMENT.


Killed-in-Action 26th October 1914 at Neuve Chappelle. Age 39



Captain Formby was shot in the head and died in half an hour without regaining consciousness. He had displayed conspicuous gallantry while collecting wounded stragglers during the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, and for five hours had put up a brave stand against unequal German odds.

[The Medals]
1914 Star & Bar: Capt: M.L. FORMBY. WILTS: R.
War Medal:
Capt. M.L. FORMBY.
Victory Medal:
Capt. M.L. FORMBY.
(*also entitled to a QSA “Transvaal”)





[BIOGRAPHY]
Myles Lonsdale Formby was a member of the Formby family of Formby Hall, near Southport, Lancashire.

He was born at Glyneath, Glamorgan, Wales on the 15th December 1874. He was the son of Myles Lonsdale Formby (late 6th Dragoon Guards), D.L., J.P. and Emily Formby (nee Wilson) of Haydown, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

His father, who was born at Bootle, Liverpool, was married twice; firstly to Emma Louisa Eustace in 1854 in the Saffron Walden district of Essex. Their children were Myles Phillip Harvey Formby (b 1855), Mabel Eugenia Formby (b 1857), Reginald Frederick Robert Myles (b 1859), Geoffrey Oswald (b 1860), Albinia (b 1862) and Euphemia.

In 1861 the Formby family were living at Sampford Hall, Little Sampford, Essex. Emma Louisa Formby died in Essex in 1871 aged forty.

Myles Lonsdale Formby senior married Emily Wilson at Dublin in 1872 with whom he had a further eight children; Katherine Mary (b 1873), Myles Lonsdale (b 1874), Richard William (b 1876), Hugo (b 1877), Roger (b 1877), Regi (b 1878) Emily Cecile (b 1879) and Alianora Roma (b 1881).

In 1881 the family were living at Cliff Villa, Salcombe, Devon and in 1891 at Fairfield House, Torquay Road, Newton Abbot, Devon in 1891 His parents were at ‘Vernon' Goring-on-Thames in 1901. His father died at Goring in 1912 and his mother at Bradfield, Oxfordshire in 1926.

Captain Formby married Winifred Powys Stone in Hampshire in 1903. They had two children; Winifred Joan (b 1905) and Myles Lonsdale (b 1913). At the time of the 1911 census the family were living at Cloghleagh, County Wicklow, Ireland.

Myles arrived in France with the B.E.F. on 14th August 1914. He was an early casualty, being killed in action at Neuve Chapelle eight weeks later on the 26th October 1914.

Like so many of our early casualties, Captain Formby’s original grave was lost during the ebb & flow of the fighting. His body was thus lost without trace and he has no known grave. He is commemorated with eternal honour on The Le Touret Memorial (Panels 33 & 34). His wife survived him by less than a year. She died on the Isle of Wight on the 17th June 1915 and is buried at Shankhill Cemetery, Isle of Wight. Her grave also commemorates her husband.




THE OLDER BROTHER, RICHARD

Corporal & later Lieutenant R.W. FORMBY.
MADRAS MOTORCYCLE CORPS & MADRAS VOLUNTEER RIFLES & ROYAL ENGINEERS

Killed-in-Action 16th February 1917 at Le Transloy. Age 41.

Lieutenant Formby was killed in action near Le Transloy on 16th Feb. 1917, while working on the construction of a communication trench.

[The Medals]
1914-15 Star: NO.5 CRPL. R.W. FORMBY, MAD.VOL.RFLS.ATTD. D.S.C.
War Medal: LIEUT. R.W. FORMBY.
Victory Medal: BLANK
Delhi Durbar Medal 1911: Unnamed as issued.


*Note: The 1915 Star is a “Major Rarity” to a tiny unit with no other surviving examples known.
It was issued by The Government of India. (M.I.C.confirms Authority NW/9/2676)

[BIOGRAPHY]
Richard William Formby was a member of the Formby family of of Formby Hall, near Southport, Lancs.
He was born at Glyneath, Glamorgan, Wales on the 21st March 1876, the second son of Myles Lonsdale Formby (late 6th Dragoon Guards), D.L., J.P. and Emily Formby (nee Wilson) of Haydown, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Lieut., 96th Field Company, Royal Engineers. The 2nd son of the late Myles L. Formby, 6th Dragoon Guards, by his wife Emily (Haydown, Goring, co. Oxford), daughter of Richard Wilson;, born Ynyslas, Glamorgan, 21st March, 1876; educated at Newton College, Newton Abbot, South Devon; obtained an appointment in the Public Works Department, Madras Presidency, in 1897, and went to India the same year.

Richard married Mildred Amy Strickland Scott at Newton Abbot South Devon on 24th August 1905. She was the daughter of Dr. William Gifford Scott, of Newton Abbot.

He was present at the Delhi Durbar (Medal); volunteered for Imperial Service on the outbreak of war in August 1914, but was initially prevented from leaving India due to local government commitments.

The 28th December 1914 marked the tragic death of his wife Mildred during a fatal shooting accident in India. This was a very sad incident in which during a bird shoot he accidentally shot his wife dead. This again prevented his arrival in France until March 1915. On arrival in France he served for six weeks with the Madras Motor Cycle Corps. He then obtained a commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 18th April 1915.

He was killed in action near Le Transloy on 16th Feb. 1917, while taking out a communication trench. Buried in the Officers' Cemetery at Guillemont.

An extremely emotive two casualty brothers assembly. The younger brother Myles being an “Old Contemptible” pre-war career officer, with the elder brother Richard having been an engineering civil servant in India.

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