Ian Quickfall Malvern College with Thanks
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 3 page 209
Medal Card
John Barwick Orde was born at Grindon Farm House, Grindon, Norham-on-Tweed on the 25th December 1886, the second eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Orde of Nunnykirk, Morpeth, Northumberland, J.P., and his wife Winifred Mary, daughter of the late Reverend Ambrose Jones. The younger son was called Percy, aged 3 in 1891, and 2 sisters called Valentine 2 years of age and Hyacinth 11 months.
In 1891, they also had 4 servants, Sarah Burtt? age 27, Domestic Servant; Catherine Russell, age 19, also a domestic servant; Catherine Reid, age 23, domestic maid, and the Cook, Isabella Fairhouses, age 24. The parents are not shown on the 1891 census at this address.
John was educated at Temple Grove School, at Mortlake, Surrey, then Malvern College. In 1906 he entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant on 18th December 1907, in the Royal Field Artillery.
John was promoted to Lieutenant on the 18th December 1910, to Captain on the 30th October 1914, finally reaching the rank of Major, 25th December 1914.
He served with the 98th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, in South Africa and India.
John was given command of the 95th Battery in October 1914. He was appointed a staff officer Captain for the 27th Infantry Division on 24th November.
John served with the British Expeditionary Force from December in France and Flanders.
In January 1916, he proceeded to Macedonia, where he acted as a Liaison Officer with the French Army for a month, August 1916. He then acted as a Temporary Brigade Major in the Royal Field Artillery in November and December 1916.
He returned to command his Battery and was given 'B' Battery, 99th Brigade.
John died from his wounds received in action at the Struma Front on the same day, 12th February 1917. He was buried in Karasouli Cemetery. He was unmarried.
Major Orde was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 1st January 1916), by Field Marshall Sir John [now Lord] French, for gallant and distinguished service in the field, was also awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette) 1st January 1917.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Newcastle Journal Monday, 19/02/1917, carried this report:- "The Roll of Honour
Casualties in North Country Regiments.
Officer Major J.B.
Orde. Major J. B. Orde, R.F.A. (Military Cross), notice of whose death from wounds received in action on February 12th appears in another column, was the second son of Lieut-Col. W. Orde, of Nunnykirk, Northumberland. He was educated at Temple Grove and Malvern College, where he took a classical entrance scholarship, although his gifts were still Higher Mathematics. He passed through the entire course at Woolwich, and was appointed to a battery of the R.F.A., in which he served in England, South Africa, and India. His division returned to England in November 1914, went to France the following month, and saw hard work there for more than a year, after which it was transferred to the Salonika front. Major Orde was promoted captain in October 1914, acted as Staff Captain for more than a year, also as temporary brigade major and as liaison officer between the General commanding the French Artillery at Salonika and our own army. In December, 1916 he was promoted major, and appointed to the command of a six-gun battery. He was mentioned in dispatches January , 1916, and awarded the Military Cross, January 1917. With a singularly charming personality, he combined high intellectual powers, was devoted to his profession, and was a good all round sportsmen and fine horseman"
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligence Tuesday 20/02/1917 carried this report:- "The Roll of Honour.
Major John Barwick Orde, M.C., R.F.A., the second son of Lieut-Colonel. W. Orde, of Nunnykirk, Northumberland, died on February 12th of wounds received the same day. Major Orde, who was a good all-round sportsman and a fine horseman, served in South Africa and India, and with his division returned to England in November, 1914. In the following month they went back to the Front, and after over twelve months hard work they were transferred to another Front. Promoted captain on October, 1914, he acted as staff captain for more than a year, also as temporary brigade major and appointed to the command of a battery. He was mentioned in despatches in January 1916 and awarded the Military Cross last January."
In his will dated 23rd August 1917, he left effects of £306 4s 4d to his father Lieutenant-Colonel William Orde.
Acknowledgements: Tony Harding
John Barwick Orde is remembered in Netherwitton on N6.02 and N6.03
