In Memory of Lieutenant WILLIAM MIDDLETON WALLACE Royal Flying Corps and 5th Bn., Rifle Brigade who died age 22 on 22 August 1915 Son of Robert Walker Wallace and Mary Parker Wallace, of 7, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh. Scottish Rugby International. Remembered with honour CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ Lieutenant William Middleton Wallace, born 1892, Edinburgh, educated at Edinburgh Academy and King's College, Cambridge, was one of the best schoolboy athletes of his day; Rugby 'Blue' for Cambridge in the Varsity matches of 1912 and 1913 (full back); played for Scotland against England, 1913 and 1914 and also against Wales and Ireland 1914. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, 15 August 1914 and left for France on the 30th, just 15 days later. He may have been the first undergraduate at the front. Wallace served with the 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade until 13 February 1915 and was present at the Battle of the Aisne, at Frelinghien and at Ploegsteert Wood. He became an Observer with 2 Squadron, 1st Wing, Royal Flying Corps, 14 February 1915 and saw considerable action in the Armentières - La Bassée area including Neuve Chapelle, Aubers and Rue de Ouvert; Lieutenant 21 July. Lieutenant Wallace was killed in action whilst flying as an Observer with 2 Squadron at Sainghin near Lille 22 August 1915 http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=2978082
Wallace, William Middleton played for Scotland Internationals: 4: 1913 E- ; 1914 W- I- E- William Wallace was born on 23 September 1892 in Edinburgh, son of Robert Walker and Mary Parker Wallace. Played as a Full back for: Edinburgh Academy, Cambridge University (Blue 1912-1913), Barbarians Remarks: Played for Cambridge University (0-24) v the 1912-1913 Springboks. Played for Barbarians: v Cardiff (5-6) v Cheltenham (19-5) in 1914. He was one of the six members of the last pre-War Scottish team who were killed in action. War service: Second Lieutenant, 5th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (the Prince Consort’s Own) from 15 August 1914. Later Lieutenant, No 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. He was killed on 22 August 1915 at Sainghem, near Lille, France when flying as an observer with 2nd Lieutenant C Gallie [pilot] in BE 2c No 2034; the aircraft ‘fell like a stone’. He is buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France [Grave XII. D. 11.].
His Rifle Brigade obit from the 1915 Rifle Brigade Chronicle, listed under officers attached to Royal Flying Corps along with 2nd Lt. Hon. F.W. Rodney & Capt. R. Cholmondeley. Andy
Andy Thanks for that. Probably a direct hit by flak (flugzeug abwehr kanone). It didn't happen often, but was fatal when it did. Gareth
