ROYAL Engineer Sapper Fielding Rundle, who is pictured here with members of his family in a Southampton Pictorial photograph from February 1915, had just received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery at Ypres.

A former employee at Thornycroft’s before the war, Sapper Rundle was the son of Mr and Mrs Rundle, of Mortimer Road, Woolston.

A caption alongside his portrait in the Pictorial revealed that while operating a telephone in the trenches during a terrific fusillade from the enemy’s guns he was wounded in both legs, the right arm, and side. Having survived his horrific injuries, the young sapper was now recovering at Harrogate Hospital, Bath.

A smiling Fielding Rundle is seen with his brother George, who is standing beside him holding a bloom and had also seen military action during the Boar War, while another brother and his father are also seen seated in front.

At the same time this photograph appeared in the Southampton Pictorial, the Daily Echo also published a list of recipients of war honours awarded to several officers who belonged to well-known and honoured local families.

The first to be celebrated was Lieut Col G J.Farmer to whom the CMG (Companion of The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael & St George) had been awarded. He was the elder surviving son of Mrs Farmer, of Bedford House, Southampton, and was attached to the Worcester Regiment, which was recently especially commended by Sir John French, the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force.

Another officer mentioned in the Echo’s article was Captain F W Moffitt, of the Essex Regiment, who was a son of Mrs Moffitt, of Rockstone Place, Southampton, and had been made a companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

Meanwhile, there was also praise for Captain Willan and Captain Hugh Willan, both of the 60th Rifles (King’s Royals Rifle Corps), who this month had been mentioned in despatches. The brothers were the sons of Colonel Frank Willan J P, of Burley Manor, Ringwood, who previously resided in Thornhill Park, Bitterne.