POORE, ROGER ALVIN, Lieutenant, was
born 3 July 1870, at Bath, son of Robert Poore, formerly Major, 6th Hussars,
and Juliana Benita Poore, daughter of Rear Admiral Sir Armar Lowry Corry,
KCB, and Lady Corry (nee Massy Dawson). Roger Alvin Poore, then a
Lieutenant in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, volunteered for the South
African War, and was appointed to the Mounted Infantry Company of the
Yorkshire Light Infantry (3rd Mounted Infantry) 17 November 1899, and served
with them in all engagements from Belmont 23 November, Graspan 25 November,
Modder River 30 November, Magersfontein, 11 December, the Relief of
Kimberley, Paardeberg, etc, to the Battle of Diamond Hill on the 11th and
12th June 1900. His horse was shot under him at Sanna's Post, and, in
another engagement, a bullet passed through his helmet. Soon after Diamond
Hill he was appointed District Magistrate, when, in the performance of his
duties, "he was regarded as the soul of honour and uprightness, and a loyal,
genuine friend", by both Boers and English. His Commanding Officer,
Lieutenant Colonel Pilcher, wrote on 19 December 1900: "I can think of no
officer who has seen more, or as much, fighting as Lieutenant Poore has
done. I have on more than one occasion sent forward his name for honourable
mention; I know no better patrol leader. He was on one occasion called out
and thanked by Major General Hutton for his good work. He is an excellent
Mounted Infantry Officer". Lieutenant Poore (then Captain) was mentioned in
Lord Roberts's Supplementary Despatches 10 September 1901. He was created a
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September
1901]: "Roger Alvin Poore, Lieutenant, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". In 1911
Major Poore received the Coronation Medal. On the 11th January 1915, he was
appointed to the command of the 2/1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, and, in the
Supplement to the London Gazette, War Office, 24 February 1917, the name of
(Temporary) Lieutenant Colonel R A Poore is (with those of other officers)
mentioned as having been brought before the Secretary of State for War "for
valuable services rendered in connection with the war". In February he was
transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and served with them
till he was killed in action on 26 September 1917. His Colonel, writing to
Mrs Poore, said: "There is one thing that you will hear with pride, and that
is, that the battalion under your husband's command behaved most gallantly
in the action and has covered itself with glory. Your husband has endeared
himself to everybody in the battalion, and his loss will be most acutely
felt. He had helped and supported me most loyally; indeed, I do not know
how I will get on without his wise advice. He was one of the most gallant
gentlemen I have ever met". Brigadier General Mayne (of the 33rd Division)
wrote, 2 October 1917: "He was so keen and enthusiastic about anything he
did, and he set such a fine example by his devotion to duty and strength of
character. The last time I saw him (25 September) he was moving up with his
battalion to the front line, full of enthusiasm and a splendid example to
his officers and men". Major Poore was a splendid horseman, an
excellent shot with both rifle and gun, and very keen on every kind of
sport. At the Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall in 1899, the
only time he competed, he won First Prize for Sabre v Sabre. "The best of
friends, the most gallant of men; an awful loss for all and their name is
legion, and for the country he served so well". He married, on 9 December
1913, Lorne Margery, daughter of Major Richard James William Dennistoun and
Mrs Despard, of Hamilton, and their children were Lorne Heather Dennistoun,
born 23 December 1914 (died 22 February 1915), and Roger Hamilton Poore,
born 19 August 1916.
