Booth, Ainslie
Lieut. Ainslie Booth, R.A.M.C. (attached to K.O.S.B.'), was killed in action on Sunday, April 30th, near Vermelles. This notice tells how Booth, like many another, gave his life for his country, but it does not tell the persistence with which he sought his opportunities for service, and these brief notes may help to fill the gap. He was born thirty years ago in Cape Colony, came over to this country, and obtained his education at Marlborough and Keble College, Oxford. He then came to St. Thomas's, took his Oxford M.B. and the Conjoint Board qualification some three or more years ago, and soon afterwards, having married the lady whom many of us will remember as Nurse Barlow, returned to his native colony to practise. With the outbreak of the rebellion in the Orange River Colony he volunteered and served throughout as a Captain in the Medical Corps. He then offered himself for service in German South-West Africa, and served with the Expeditionary Force throughout that campaign as well. He subsequently returned to this country and, again offering himself for service, was given a commission and sent to Flanders some seven months ago. He met his death while dressing a wounded man in the firing trench, and so crowned a record which every Thomas's man will look upon with a glow of pride. Booth was a man of an affectionate but retiring disposition, not inclined to open himself out to a large circle, and yet in the short time of their association he endeared himself to both his fellow officers and the men of his regiment in a remarkable way, as is evident in every line of the many letters which his widow has received. His name will assuredly stand second to none in the St. Thomas's Roll of Honour, though neither military decorations nor high rank fell to his lot. H.G.T. St Thomas's Hospital Gazette, June-July 1916
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Booth |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Ainslie |
| Family details | Son of the Rev. Lancelot Parker Booth, D.D., M.D., and Olive Booth, of Durban, Natal, South Africa; husband of Martha Maden Booth (nee Barlow), of 2, Beechcroft Rd., Oxford. His address in 1909 was the Rectory, West Hackney. |
| Previous education | Keble College, Oxford |
| College | St Thomas' Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1909-1912 |
| Qualifications | M.A., M.B., B.Ch.Oxon; M.R.C.S.. L.R.C.P. Lond. 1912 |
| Military unit | R.A.M.C.; King's Own Scottish Borderers, attd. 7th Bn. |
| War / conflict | World War One (1914-1918) |
| Date of death | 30 April 1916 |
| Age at death | 30 |
| Rank at death | Lieutenant |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Burial place | Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France |
| Notes | Lieut. Ainslie Booth, R.A.M.C., whose death in action was noted last week, was killed on April 30th. He was the son of the Rev. Dr. Booth of Cape Town, South Africa. British Medical Journal 20 May 1916 |
| Sources | St Thomas's Hospital Medical School Records, King's College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; British Medical Journal |