Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
PD. He was the son of John Halliday, a retired Eastern merchant, born 18th June 1839 in Hutton and Corrie, Dumfries, Scotland and his wife Maria Jane Halliday (nee Brown, married on the 17th November 1870 in the Kensington, Middlesex district), born 1850 in Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales. John Alexander was born on the 10th April 1875 in Kensington, Middlesex, his siblings were, Maria Janet Ruthven, born 22nd November 1872, Gwendoline Tertia, born 1874, Richard William Ruthven, born 27th August 1876, James George Osman, born 1878 and Susan Gladys, born 1879, all his siblings were born in Kensington, in April 1881 the family home was at 11, Mostyn Terrace, Eastbourne, Sussex. In April 1891 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Mostyn Terrace, Eastbourne, together with his father, a retired Eastern merchant, his mother and siblings, Ruth, Gwendoline, Ruthven, a schoolboy, Osman, a schoolboy, Gladys, a schoolgirl, Marion Margaret, a schoolgirl, born 1882, Edward Victor Milner, a schoolboy, born 1883, Dorothy Laidlaw, a schoolgirl, born 27th August 1884, Matthew Alfred Corrie, born 3rd August 1886 and David Rupert Johnston, born 1889, the latter five siblings were all born in Kensington. In March 1901 John was absent from the family home at 4, Holland Park, Kensington, residing there was his father, a merchant, his mother and siblings, Gwendoline, living on own means, James, living on own means and his wife, Muriel I. Halliday, born 1869, Marion, Dorothy and David. In April 1911 John was serving as a Cavalry Captain and was residing in the family home at Sileby Road, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire. John attended Harrow School, Middlesex between 1889 and 1894. John’s father died on the 15th February 1915 at the Burlington Hotel, Eastbourne, aged 75 and his mother died on the 25th February 1916 at Forest Lodge, Windsor Forest, Berkshire aged 66.
John’s Army enlistment documents were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was commissioned into the 11th Hussars, Prince Albert’s Own, and was serving as a Captain with this unit when he was wounded in the defence of the town of Messines, Belgium. He first entered the theatre of war in France on the 16th August 1914. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 31 Oct-14 – Heavy bombardment commenced soon after daylight, and the attack was renewed. The 9th LANCERS trenches became enfiladed and after many casualties they retired through MESSINES to reform in rear of the town.
The 1st Brigade then took up the defence of the town holding the entire line of the buildings.
A Squadron of the 4th DRAGOON GUARDS came up and held the North East exit to town in rear of where the 9th LANCERS had been in trenches. The 5th GRAGOON GUARDS were ordered to hold from thence to the square and 11th HUSSARS from the square to the Southern line of trenches. “A” Squadron was detached to cooperate with the BAYS on Northern side of town. “C” Squadron took up the Southern end of town with “B” Squadron in support behind the convent, one -?- of latter (Lieutenant TAILBY) in a ditch on road leading South.
The shelling of the town then became very heavy, house after house was brought down, and the enemy came on in great numbers. “C” Squadron did most excellent work being handled in a most skilful manner by Captain LAKIN they rendered great assistance by the Machine Gun which continued to fire from the top window of one of the few houses that remained standing.
About 10 o clock the 4th DRAGOON GUARDS received an order to retire, this resulted in the 5th DRAGOON GUARDS being unable to hold on any longer and they withdrew to the line on the main street.
The convent wall behind which “B” Squadron were sheltering was blown down Captain HALLIDAY being wounded and a number of others.
“C” Squadron finding their left exposed were compelled to withdraw to the line of the main street. Here the shelling continued with increased vigour. Colonel P-?-, Major ANDERSON, Major M-?-, Lieutenant and Adjutant Honourable C. MULHOLLAND were all wounded. The line of the main street was now made secure and men being placed in every house. The enemy now held half the town but were unable to make any further headway. The shelling ceased when the two opposing lines got to close quarters, but at this point unfortunately we received the attention of our own artillery who presumably thought we had evacuated the town.
About 3.00pm Infantry came up on both flanks of the town and relieved the pressure.
In the evening the 2nd Brigade came up to relieve the 1st Brigade, the latter withdrew to NEUVE EGLISE. “C” Squadron did not get in till 2.00am and “A” Squadron till 5.00am the following morning.
The casualties in the 2 days fighting 30th to 31st were:
Officers: Killed, 3. Wounded, 6. Missing, 0.
N.C.O’s & Men: Killed, 16. Wounded, 32. Missing, 10.
Total 67.
On Friday November 20th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – News was received with regret on Monday morning of the death of Captain John Alex Halliday, of the 11th Hussars, who died in the Duchess of Westminster’s Hospital at Le Touquet on November 13, from wounds received at Messines on October 31. Captain Halliday obtained his captaincy in 1906, and was adjutant to the Leicestershire Yeomanry for three years. He went out with the Expeditionary Force at the beginning of the war, and fought all through the retreat from Mons. He was well known in the Quorn hunting field, and made his home at Barrow-on-Soar during the season.