Killed in action aged 22
Buried at Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery. Plot Sp. Mem A 2
Bertram John was born at Addington Manor, near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire son of the Hon Evelyn Hubbard, and Evelyne Maude, daughter of Sir Wyndham Spencer Portal 1st Bt.
His paternal grandfather was the 1st Baron Addington, and his father had been educated at Christ Church and was the Member of Parliament for Lambeth and a director of the Bank of England.
Bertram was educated at Eton, and Christ Church.
He was a Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, the Grenadier Guards attached to the Special Reserve. He was killed in action on 1 December 1917 and awarded the Military Cross which was gazetted on 10 January 1918:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under difficult and trying circumstances. Crossing a canal under heavy hostile barrage and strong machine-gun fire, he rallied and led forward two platoons which had lost direction owing to the shelling, and there is no doubt that his personal leadership and great gallantry saved what would otherwise have become a difficult situation. During the attack he captured three trench mortars, and throughout that day and the next he was untiring in his energy and devotion to duty.”
His name is on the Memorial plaque in Addington Church.
www.buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk
His Estate amounted to £2232. 0s 1d, and Administration with Will was granted to his father on 8 June 1918.
His older brother Harold Evelyn who was at Christ Church was awarded the Military Cross, also. He became the 2nd Suffragen Bishop of Whitby.