Prime Minister’s son dies at war

Downing Street, 19 September 1916 - The British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, has announced that his eldest son has been killed in action. Lieutenant Raymond Asquith was serving with the Grenadier Guards in France. He was 37.

A distinguished intellectual who taught at Oxford University and served at the Bar in London, he was shot near Ginchy during the Battle of the Somme on 15 September.

He is survived by two brothers who are currently also on active service.

The news that Raymond Asquith has been killed was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister’s Office at Downing Street.

The Prime Minister did not attend a cabinet meeting but instead visited the home of his daughter-in-law Katharine, where he spent time with his late son’s three young children. The youngest child is just three months old.

Extensive condolences have been expressed to the Prime Minister on his loss.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]