Second Lieutenant, South Lancashire Regiment
Born: December 15th 1896
Died: September 1915
Age at Death: 18
Killed in action, France, September 1915
R.M.C. Sandhurst. 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment (Second Lieut.1914).
Son of Major-General F. Ventris.
A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by AN ABRAHAM HOUSE pupil & family.
2nd Lieutenant Alan Flavell Ventris (Hampden 1910–1914)
Alan Ventris was born in Ootacamund, India on 15 December 1896. He was the younger son and third child of Major General Francis Ventris and his wife Helen. In 1902 on Major-General Ventris’ retirement the family left India and moved to Hastings, and in 1908 again to Brighton where from 1910 Ventris was educated at the College.
On the outbreak of war Ventris underwent officer training, after which he received a commission in the South Lancashire Regiment, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, which formed part of 3rd Division. In September 1915 the 3rd Division was involved in the attack on Bellewaerde near Ypres, in support of the Loos offensive. On 14 September 1915 Ventris’ platoon faced a German counter-attack in which their trench appeared likely to be overrun. Ventris gave the order to evacuate and was the last to leave the trench, but as he turned down the communication trench a German grenade exploded just behind him, killing him instantly.
Ventris’ grave is in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.
Source: LEST WE FORGET PROJECT, Brighton College 2014/15