De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 2 page 135
Ivan Hamilton Learmouth Gilchrist was the youngest son of Sydney James Learmouth Gilchrist, of 34 Prince's Gardens, London. S.W., B.A. (Canterbury), and his wife Amy Margaret, daughter of Matthew Young, born Prince's Garden on the 12th March 1897.
Educated at Boxgrove School, Guildford, and Repton. He was to have entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, but war was breaking out and in August 1914, he was offered a cadetship there and entered on the 15th of August.
He then left in November 1914 and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant on the 16th December 1914 with the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.
Then spent some months training at East Boldon, he was sent to France with a draft of men for the 2nd Battalion.
In May 1915, he took part in a very severe action on the 24th when he was the only officer not killed or wounded. Ivan was appointed Adjutant to the 2nd Battalion on the 8th June, he was killed on the 2nd October at the Battle of Loos.
He was buried beside his Colonel who was killed the day before.
The Chaplain wrote:- I cannot tell you how grieved I am to have to tell you that your boy Ivan Gilchrist was killed in action yesterday. The *Colonel was killed on Friday. On Saturday morning I went down to see if we could bring back the body for burial in a comparatively safe place. Your son was then quite well and sent me his love through Capt[ain] Lumb on the telephone. Of course, the regiment were having a terrible time-that was about 11.30 or 12 o'clock at noon. We brought the dear Colonel back, and Smith, your son's servant, came with us, helping to carry him. When I had buried the Colonel, Smith asked me if I had any message for Mr Gilchrist (he knew we were fond of each other); I said 'Give him my love, and may God bless him and keep him safe.' The dear boy was dead when Smith got back. He was hit in the head and died almost immediately. Thank God! He did not suffer. I have known Ivan since last May, and all who knew him could not help loving him; he was so brave and unselfish. He would stick to his post in the fire trench, and there met his death doing his duty to the end. He was unmarried.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Ivan Hamilton Learmouth Gilchrist is remembered at Alnwick in A11.43 page 7
* The Colonel referred to was Major (Temp. Lieutenant Colonel), C.A. Armstrong, killed in action on the 1st October 1915.
