Captain Robert Nigel Oldfield Bartlett, King's Brutononian died 6 April 1916

Captain Robert Nigel Oldfield Bartlett

Captain Robert Nigel Oldfield Bartlett, East Lancashire Regiment. Died of wounds, Felahiyeh, Mesopotamia. 6th April 1916 aged 22.

Whilst at King's Bruton, he was captain of the First Eleven cricket team in 1912 and 1913. In 1912 he obtained three hundreds, including 207 not out versus Wells Theological college. That year, he scored 802 runs, a batting average of over 100.25.

He went to Keble College Oxford in 1913. He entered the college in Michaelmas Term, 1913. A member of the 1st Association Football XI, 1913-1914;  1st Hockey XI, 1913-1914; Freshman's Cricket Trial, 1914; 1st Cricket XI, 1914. A member of the University Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps. Commenced service on 17 September 1914. Second Lieutenant of the 6th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, 1914; Captain, 1915, serving in Gallipoli; Mesopotamia, 1916.

He died of wounds received at Felahiyeh, 6 April 1916, in the relief of Kut. This was the relief attempt by Gorringe and is usually termed the First Battle of Kut. The British Empire's forces numbered about 30,000 soldiers, roughly equal to the Ottomans. The battle began on 5 April and the British soon captured Fallahiyeh, but with heavy losses, Beit Asia was taken on 17 April. The final effort was against Sannaiyat on 22 April. The Allies were unable to take Sannaiyat and suffered some 1,200 casualties in the process.