Hugh Adair's Story.
Birkenhead News 07 September 1918OXTON OFFICER FALLS IN ACTION.
It is with regret that we record the death of Mr. Hugh Adair Finch, 2nd Lieut. Grenadier Guards, who was killed whilst on patrol duty on August 28th. Lieut. Finch, who was only 19 years of age, was the younger son of Major E. G. Finch, of 22, Ingestre Road, Oxton. Lieut. Finch joined the colours just a year ago, and in February of this year was given a commission in the Guards and went out to France in April. Major and Mrs. Finch have received many letters of sympathy and one from the young officer’s Colonel, which bears testimony of the high esteem in which he was held, and of his bravery, courage and capabilities, in general which sterling qualities would have made him an efficient officer.
Lieut. Finch was educated at Birkenhead and Repton Schools. The letter from the Colonel read :-
“My dear Major Finch, I can’t tell you how frightfully sorry we all are that we have lost your boy. It is too sad. On the night of the 25th he went out to carry out a very important reconnaissance patrol with eight other ranks. Unhappily he never returned, and I became very troubled, but kept hoping for the best. However, on the morning of the 28th I found him myself in a shell hole shot through the head. His revolver had been fired, all six chambers. His loss to me is a very great one. I looked on him and so did everyone else as an excellent officer, brave as a lion above all. I found him at least 800 yards in front of our old line. You have lost a dear son and I a very brave officer.
Colonel Commanding Grenadier Guards.
Although the above newspaper article reports his death as the 28th August he is officially recorded as being killed on the 27th August.
Hugh’s elder brother Lieutenant Philip Gerard Finch M.C. was killed in action on the 28th March 1918
Research, Hugh Finch’s photograph and newspaper article by Chris Booth.