Tehran Memorial, Iran
Commemorated on OV Memorial, Jersey
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Saturday 17 July 1915
The late Lieutenant Le Mesurier. The following
letter describing the circumstances in which Lieutenant
A C Le Mesurier met his death has been written by a
brother officer to one of Lieutenant Le Mesurier's relatives
in Calcutta. Lieutenant Le Mesurier who was formerly
a member of the Assam Valley Light Horse joined the
Indian Army Reserve of Officers in November last. The
letter reads: "My dear Mrs …. In going
through your brother's papers I discovered that you
were his next-of-kin in India and I am writing to tell
you about the brave fellow's death and to condole with
you in your bereavement. I used to know your brother
at Wellington and we often used to talk over our school
days together. I was not present in the action in which
your brother met his death but I heard all the facts.
As you know, perhaps, his Squadron Commander Major Anderson
of my regiment was also killed at the same time. It
happened like this - one Squadron of the 33rd and one
of the 7th were sent out on reconnaissance some 25 miles
from camp. They were met by Arabs who pretended to be
friendly and warned them that the Turkish Army was only
3 hours march away and to go back. They went back about
a mile and watered their horses and stayed there some
time. When the Squadron had finished watering the Commander
mounted the men and wheeling them about marched them
off. A rear guard had been told off and your brother
was sent to give them a message to keep much closer
to the Squadrons. He galloped off, told the troop leader
and started to come back, just as he turned hostile
Arabs, who had been collecting around under the cloak
of friendliness, opened fire. More mounted Arabs closed
in and your brother was hit and fell off his horse.
A native officer and three men were there but some were
killed and surrounded by some 40 Arabs could not bring
his body in and the remainder of the rear guard were
cut up. In the meantime the remainder of the two Squadrons
were being heavily infilladed and defilladed and were
some 1000 yards away and so were unable to help. The
next day a strong force of cavalry went out and recovered
the bodies. Your brother was buried beside Major M H
Anderson (33rd QPO Light Cavalry) and Lieutenant Bailward
(26th KGO Light Cavalry) at Brackey some 30 miles from
Ahway near the Karun River in Persia. I am sending all
his personal belongings to you together with his bearer.
I cannot say how sorry I feel over the death of your
brother, my schoolmate, and I hope you will accept my
condolences although they come from a perfect stranger".
Lieutenant A C Le Mesurier was an Old
Victorian and was the fourth son of the late Colonel
A A Le Mesurier formerly of St Saviour.
