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At the start of World War One, Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth was a worldwide philanthropist. He owned two of the largest country estates in the world - Holme Lacy in Herefordshire, and the Kameruka dairy estate in New South Wales, Australia.

Sir Robert invested much money into the estate which was the first in Herefordshire to have electricity. He also installed piped water and a sewage system to the house and village.

His middle son Douglas Keith Lucas Lucas-Tooth, a cavalry officer, was killed by artillery fire on 14 September 1914, whilst he was seeking shelter for the horses of the regiment. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Order and mentioned in Despatches.

Sir Robert's oldest son and heir; Captain Selwyn Lucas Lucas-Tooth was killed in action on 20 October 1914, aged 35 and buried in Belgium. He had been shot by a sniper in the trenches the day after he had led his company on a successful attack.

Less than three months after the start of the war Sir Robert had lost two of his sons. He died of heart failure whilst at home at Holme Lacy on 19 February 1915 surrounded by his family.

His title and the estate passed to his youngest son Archibald Leonard who became Sir Leonard, who died of flu whilst serving in the Somme on 12 July 1918.

In honour of her three sons, Lady Lucas-Tooth built a community hall in the village of Holme Lacy for the use of the estate workers and their family. However, she found it unbearable to stay at Holme Lacy and sold it to the Wills tobacco family in 1919. It passed to Herefordshire Council in 1934 and is now a hotel.

Thousands of miles away, the Australian estate of Kameruka passed to Archibald's daughter Christine, who was born after her Father's death, and her descendants owned it until 2012. The three sons of Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth are commemorated in the Kameruka Hall and village church.

Location: Holme Lacy House, Holme Lacy, Hereford, Herefordshire HR2 6LP
Image: (Left to right) Archibald Lucas Lucas-Tooth, Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth and Douglas Lucas Lucas-Tooth; courtesy of the family and ABC.

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