PRIVATE PENRYN STANLEY CHURCHILL
HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY
15TH MARCH 1917 AGE 29
BURIED: GOMMECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY NO 2, FRANCE
Penryn Churchill was his parents youngest son; there were almost ten years between him and his next brother, Herbert. A Chartered Accountant's Clerk working in London, he enlisted in November 1915 and after training embarked for France in October 1916.
On the morning of 15 March 1917, Colonel Ward of the 2nd Battalion Honourable Artillery Company, in which Churchill was serving, received orders to send out two patrols towards the village of Bucquoy. Ward was furious, those on the ground could all see that the Germans were present in great strength but Brigade H.Q. was insistent. Sent out at 2 pm that afternoon, the patrols met the expected devastating fire and lost heavily.
The Regimental History remarks that, "It is difficult to speak too highly of the gallantry and dash with which 'A' and 'B' Companies advanced, though it seemed to everyone that men were being thrown away on a very hopeless undertaking". But, although the Brigadier had protested strongly, and his protest had been backed by the Divisional Commander, Fifth Corps' reply had been that Army Headquarters insisted on the attacks being carried out "though those in authority could not have appreciated the practical difficulties of the situation". This appears to be a classic case of "those in authority" versus "those on the ground".
Churchill's inscription finishes with the words, "Until he come". This is not "Till he come" in which case it would have been a quote from 1 Corinthians 11:26 in which Christ tells his disciples that the bread of the Last Supper is to represent his body, and the wine his blood and that they are to eat and drink it in remembrance of him:
For as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
However, the words are "Until He come" and quote a hymn by George Rawson (1807-1889) based on the same biblical episode where they are the last words of five of the six verses. Christians are to eat and drink Christ's body and blood to sustain them through their lives until "the trump of God be heard", when the dead shall be raised up.
O blessed hope! with this elate
Let not our hearts be desolate,
But strong in faith, in patience wait
Until He come.