Name
Erskine Magniac
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
27th Punjabis
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BASRA MEMORIAL
Panel 54.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Erskine was the youngest son of the late Maj. Gen. Francis Lane Magniac (Madras Light Cavalry), and his wife Edith (née Parkinson), of Coombe Cot, Abbotsham, Devon. Educated at Clifton College and Sandhurst.
He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Indian Army in January 1902. Served on North West Frontier of India 1909. A.D.C. to Sir Edward Baker (Lieut. Governor of Bengal); at the expiration became personal assistant to Sir Archibald Earle (Chief Commissioner of Assam). A Member of the Free Foresters Cricket Club.
Wartime Service
Erskine was in charge of the Regimental Depot at Lahore 1914-1915, and served with his Regiment in Mesopotamia and was killed in action on the 28th of April 1917 while on outpost duty on the River Euphrates.
His De Ruvigny entry mentioned that he was mentioned in despatches by Lieut.-General Sir Stanley Maude (London Gazette 15th of August 1917), for gallant and distinguished service in the field. One letter said:
"The 27th Punjaubis will feel keenly for you and share your sorrow and loss over your gallant Erskine. The letters I have had from the Front for months past showed how content and glad they were under his command. The 27th were all devoted to your son, and in all the years I have known him my memories of him are ones I shall love to cherish. He had so high a standard of fine and chivalrous conduct, such a charm of manner and personality, and was such a gallant Sahib and sportsman. It seems too sad to think of him as having left us, but all his life I think he saw the Vision Splendid and held tight to the things that matter, and I am sure he does not feel a stranger within the Great Gates. He, who never made an enemy, has joined many friends."
Another wrote:
"I feel I must write to tell you how very much the regiment in general, and I in particular, feel his loss... It will please you to know, if you have not already heard it, that the work he did for the regiment whilst at the Depot in Lahore was exceptionally good, and the Commanding Officer, General ------, wrote in specially about him at the time. He seemed to put on one side the great disappointment which he naturally felt when left behind, and put his whole heart and soul into the work at hand. People are apt to overlook the great responsibility which a Depot Commander has, but it was admitted quite generally and unreservedly in the regiment that the excellent reputation which it has managed to gain and keep was won very largely by your son's great efforts in India."
Another officer wrote:
"The news of your son's death was a terrible blow to all of us. As you know, your son was kept for a very long time at the Depot, with no apparent prospect of relief. Then last summer he managed to get back in July, and found himself in command by the beginning of Sept. He commanded us up to the time of his death, and very successfully he did it too.... Everything possible was done to avenge his memory. He was a good Commanding Officer and a gallant gentleman, and I should so like to think that the knowledge that he left behind him so fine an example for all of us may be of some consolation to you."
Additional Information
His brother Meredith Magniac also fell.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
