War memorial project
Lieutenant Donald Lynden-Bell
Family
Donald Percival Lynden-Bell was born on 21 November 1895 at Rawleston Terrace, Edinburgh.
His parents were Colonel Charles Percival Lynden and Helen Geraldine Lynden-Bell (née Rate). At the time of his birth, his father was an Adjutant in the 4th Royal Scots Regiment.
Donald had two siblings; a younger brother Lachlan Arthur born 1897, who survived a serious illness while serving in Baghdad in 1917, and a sister Helen Winifred, born 9 September 1903 in Tadley. Lachlan’s son, Donald (born 1935), is an eminent astrophysicist who has received numerous awards for his research and theories on the Galaxy.
In the 1901 census Donald Percival was aged 5 years and he and his brother, aged 3 years, are described as ‘boarders’ with Mrs Annie Lipscombe in Twickenham. A nursemaid is also recorded at the same address. Nearby lived their maternal grandparents. However, their mother was recorded at Weston-Super-mare in the 1901 census.
The 1911 census shows him, aged 15 years, living with his mother, brother and sister in College Road, Bristol. It records the two boys as scholars at Clifton College. Their father was still not listed as being at home.
The family and their various residences are somewhat confusing. It is obvious that Charles and Helen held a strong attachment to Tadley as they resided there on and off, in either Hawley House or Fairlawn House, over a long period of time. This possibly began about 1903 when they are recorded in the Kelly’s Directory at Hawley House and when their daughter, Helen, is baptised at St Peter’s Church. However, they are not resident in Tadley at the time of the 1911 census. During World War I Donald’s father gave a series of lectures throughout the country to promote friendly feeling towards Russia and to raise funds for the Russian Red Cross. He also lectured about The Somme, Mesopotamia and ‘How Germany Made War’. In August 1920 Donald’s father applied to receive his son’s medals; his residence given as both The British Embassy, Berlin and Fairlawn House, Tadley. Kelly’s Directory confirms that his parents were living at Fairlawn House in 1923. By now Charles is a Justice of the Peace. Fairlawn House is where his parents continued to live. Donald’s father died in 1934 and was buried at St Peter’s Church. His mother lived to be 90 and although not residing in Tadley at the time of her death, was brought to be buried with her husband at St Peter’s Church.
Donald was unmarried.
Service record
Donald served as a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He joined the regiment on 26 December 1914.
In August 1914 the 1st Battalion was stationed at Shorncliffe as part of the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. It then moved to York and Harrow. On 23 August 1914 it mobilised for war, sailed to Boulogne and was engaged in various actions on the Western Front. These included: in 1914, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, The Battle of Messines; and in 1915, The 2nd Battle of Ypres.
Died
Donald died on Sunday 25 April 1915, aged 19.
Commemorated
Donald is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
He is remembered on the Tadley war memorial and on a memorial plaque in St Peter’s Church.
Decorations
Donald was awarded three medals: Victory, British and 1915 Star. These would have been sent to his family.
TADS World War I Memorial Exhibition is available for loan to interested bodies (eg, schools, Remembrance events etc). Copies of individual's sheets may be purchased from Profile Print & Copy (see for further details)
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Page updated: Thursday 30 April 2015; review date: 1 June 2015.