Biography:
John Keith Falconer was born 15 June 1897, the son of John Arthur Keith Falconer Esq., of Calmsden Manor, Cirencester.
He came to Winchester College from Mr. Foster's school at Stubbington in September 1911 and was in K House, Kingsgate House. We know very little about his time at Winchester other than that he was a member of the OTC.
John left Winchester in the summer of 1914 and obtained a commission in the Hampshire Carabiniers, and was subsequently attached to the 14th Battalion Hampshire (Portsmouth Pals) Regiment. In the early morning of 31 July 1917, his company, under the command of Lieutenant D.G.W. Hewitt, V.C. (G 1911-1915 - killed in action on that day, see individual entry), was sent forward to the assault of an enemy position at St. Julien. They captured their objective, but a few minutes afterwards received a message that a neighbouring detachment of the Hertfordshires was being surrounded. Falconer at once volunteered to try and get in touch with them, and actually succeeded in reaching their Commanding Officer. Their bodies were later found lying dead side by side. It is not recorded what happened but it is likely that they were either both killed by gunfire or by a shell. Although Falconer's body was found it is probable that like so many it was subsequently lost as no grave is recorded anywhere.
He is commemorated on Panel 5 of the Menin Memorial Gate at Ypres, and by a window in the north wall of Long Sutton Church. About one-fifth of the Battalion was killed or wounded that day, including another OW, Captain Alexander Richard Milne (A 1909-1914) 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment - see individual entry.