He went to France on 11th August, 1914, and was later attached to the 9th Lancers. On the 24th, one of his comrades – Captain Francis Grenfell – received a VC after taking part in a mounted charge against a large body of German infantry, and despite being wounded he assisted in extracting several guns under heavy fire. Read himself was severely injured during the Battle of the Ainse in September, and later re-joined the Northampton’s when he had recovered sufficiently. A portion of his VC citation (Gazetted 18th November, 1915) indicates he “showed conspicuous bravery during operations” at the end of August, 1915, as well as being noted for bringing in a mortally wounded comrade under a heavy barrage. On 25th September, Read was at Loos, and the War Diary for the 1st Northants reveals:

   “… at 5.50 a.m., the gas is turned on and enemy’s rear position heavily
   shelled. There was unfortunately very little wind and moreover owing
   to the fact that our position was in a salient, the gas hung in our trenches
   and ‘gassed’ nearly two companies of the 60th (King’s Royal Rifle Corps).
   (The attack) was unable to gain a footing owing to the gas hanging in
   the valley between the two lines”.

The first wave suffered heavy casualties, but the second recorded “success on both flanks, enemy in centre surrendered. By evening (we) had advanced two miles”. Amongst the casualty is the name of Capt. A. MOUTRAY- READ, and on 29th September, the War Diary gives more detail about the initial stages of the Loos advance:

   “Captain Read had very gallantly gone out to rally a party of about 60
   men of different units who were returning disorganised owing to the gas
   drifting back – the men were lead forward by him and took up position
   south of LONE TREE; where they maintained themselves for some
   hours. Captain Read was mortally wounded during this time”.

Mark Sanders