Memorial Details

Candlesticks Pender 1915 St. Mary Magdalene

P19.04

PRUDHOE

NZ 095630

St. Mary Magdalene Church.

1914-18

Altar candlesticks. The lettering is engraved at the base using Roman capitals throughout.

Brass

To the glory of God
and to the dear memory of
Lieutenant Hamish G. Geils Pender
2nd Gordon Highrs
who fell in action March 13th 1915.

See above

Family

1. No-one of this name is recorded on any of the local memorials. The three people in the local telephone book of this name have no knowledge of this man either (P. Graham).
He is, in fact, James Hamish Granger Geils Pender (born Ardnoe, Argyll).

2. PENDER, James (Hamish) Granger Geils 2nd Lieut., 3rd attd. 2nd Battn., The Gordon Highlanders, eldest son of Major James Pender, of Ardnoe, St. Catherine's, co. Argyle, 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and his wife, Janet Helen Maude, daughter of the late Thomas Geils, of Geilston and Ardmore, Dumbartonshire; born St. Catherine's, 19 July, 1892; educated Larchfield Academy, Helensburgh; Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd (Reserve) Battn. Gordon Highlanders, 17 Oct. 1914; went to France, 13 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle between 11-13 March, 1915; unmarried. A brother officer wrote: "He was shot through the head on the morning of the 11th trying to urge his men to keep their heads down and take cover, and his death was instantaneous. He died for his country and no mistake, and long will we all remember his cheery face" and another: " He died thinking only of his men's safety and not of his own, and was one of the most gallant among many gallant officers who died that day. As we were being enfiladed the men were in a very dangerous position, he shouted to them to get right in, as they could not hear, he stood up and signalled to them. He was shot through the head."
Source: de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18: part one, page 286

3. The Daily Record 25/03/1915 reports Lieutenant H.G.G. Pender's death and adds "he was for some time connected with the Elswick Ordnance Works." Further research shows that in 1911 Hamish James Granger Pender was an Apprentice Mechanical Engineer and boarding at 30 West Parade Elswick.