Lillington, Conrad Ivan

He was a keen Association footballer, a clever amateur billiard player and a consistent golfer. He was destined for the legal profession and was articled first to his father, who is a Solicitor, and subsequently to Mr. G. Calder Woods of London. He passed the Intermediate LL.B. and the Law (Solicitors') Final, when war was declared. "Then" (as one has said of him) "he did what one would expect of him - counted prospects and career as nothing in the face of his Country's need and, waiting not for the Commission, which would have meant delay, was both proud and happy to join the 4th Somersets as a Ranker. He enlisted on August 22nd, 1914; on October 7th, 1914 he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Volunteer Battalion (Prince Albert's) Somerset Light Infantry and two days later sailed with his Battalion for India. He served in India at Madras, Jullundur, Amritsar, Peshawar and Nowshera and sailed for Karachi for the Persian Gulf, on February 16th, 1916. He died for England, at Es Sinn, in Mesopotamia, on March 8th, 1916. His Colonel (Lieut.Col. W.C. Cox) wrote that he was killed "while he was gallantly advancing with his Company to the attack of a position." A brother officer wrote of him: "We all admired him for his unselfishness and the conscientious way he carried out his smallest duty. He died most gallantly, close up to the enemy's position. I had learnt to appreciate thoroughly his simple generosity, his hatred of anything mean or shallow and his intense desire to live his life well." Other young officers and close personal friends have written: "He led the finest, cleanest life possible"; "I seem to remember so vividly now even the smallest details in connection with our friendship and they are all so clean and pure"; "Such a fine, healthy pure-living type of boy"; "He has died as he lived, doing his duty as an Englishman and a Christian gentleman"; "A lad of ten thousand, a true gentleman, a lovable, loyal friend and a pattern son"; A Major in the Indian Army, who knew him well, wrote: "We shall meet again someday; meanwhile a very gallant gentleman has passed me on the road." The Western Mercury and Somersetshire Herald, in the course of an appreciation, declared: "Absolutely modest and unaffected, he replied to the congratulations of a friend (after receiving his Commission) with the characteristic remark: 'I am nothing of a soldier, but I will make myself one, if I can' - and he made as good a one as ever wore His Sovereign's uniform. It is his shroud now - the noblest Englishman can wear." His last words written to his mother, written four days before he made the supreme sacrifice were: "Please do not worry, mother dearest, as I am in God's hands."

He is in "God's hands" still; for "his Spirit has returned too God, who gave it." Blessed be his memory - and for ever blessed. "Let Light perpetual shine upon him!" King's College Review, June 1916

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