Richard Stanhope

The Hon. Richard Stanhope was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 15 September 1916. On the same day that he lost his life, Herbert Southwell was also killed in action. Coincidentally, the two men were reserves to the Magdalen College coxless fours that won the gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics. Furthermore, two other members of the crew, Duncan Mackinnon and Robert Somers-Smith, also lost their lives during the 1914-18 hostilities.

Stanhope was the youngest son of the 6th Earl Stanhope, who was a Member of Parliament (MP). Richard was educated at Eton, and Magdalen College, Oxford. He was a fine sculler when he went up to Oxford and was a regular competitor in the University Challenge Sculls. He was also bow to the Magdalen II fours that won the University fours title in 1906, and in 1907 he reached the final of the University Pairs with Somers-Smith. Also in 1907, Stanhope was bow to the Magdalen four that beat Leander to win the Stewards’ Challenge Cup at Henley. The following year he won his Blue when he was again bow to the Boat Race crew.

In 1904 Stanhope inherited Revesby Abbey, Boston, Lincolnshire from his uncle, and he became a wealthy man in his own right. In 1911, at the age of 25, he employed 12 servants at Revesby. He immersed himself into Lincolnshire life and was a local Justice of the Peace (JP) and County Councillor. He was also involved with several other local organisations. Stanhope was a keen fisherman, rifle shooter, and follower of the South Wold Hounds. He was the chairman of the Horncastle Railway Company at the time of his death.

Stanhope married Lady Beryl Franziska Kathleen Bianca Le Poer Trench, daughter of the 5th Earl of Clancarty, in the spring of 1914. They returned home from honeymoon only for World War I to break out shortly afterwards and Stanhope joined the Lincolnshire Yeomanry as a lieutenant. When he was not posted to Egypt as he wanted, he transferred to the Grenadier Guards and became a captain in the 3rd Battalion. He spent most of time on active service in France and was killed on 15 September 1916 when he was hit leading a charge. He carried on undeterred, but when a second bullet hit him, he fell. The day after Stanhope was killed, his wife gave birth to their first child, which was sadly stillborn.