George Peabody Hellyer.
HELLYER, JAMES, Btn. Leading Stoker, C.G., 308293, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HELLYER, SIDNEY HANNAFORD, 2nd Lieut., 4th Battn. The East Yorkshire Regt. (Machine Gun Section) (T.F.), yst. s. of Charles Hellyer, of Wolborough, Brixham, Devon, formerly of Lamwath Hall, Sutton-on-Hull, J.P., late Managing Director of Hellyer’s Steam Fishing Co., Ltd., Hull, by his wife, Jane Elizabeth, dau. of Capt. William Hannaford; b. Hull, 15 Aug. 1889; educ. Malvern College; was a director and partner in the well-known firm of Hellyer’s Steam Fishing Co., Hull, leaving on the outbreak of war to join the Territorial Force. Having taken an active part in the Cadet Corps at Malvern College, he soon qualified for a commission, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 4th Battn. The East Yorkshire Regt. 12 Sept. 1914. The 4th East Yorks first went into action on 24 April, 1915, in the neighbourhood of Pilkem and St. Julien. In a letter, written 26 April, Lieut. Hellyer gave the following description of this action: “On Thursday night we got the order to parade in full marching order just as we were turning in, and we could tell from the bombardment that was going on that something was doing. We marched the men immediately from our various billets to our alarm post, which was a grass field adjacent to Battn. Headquarters in the little village, and were there ordered to lie down and sleep as we were. Dawn came, and we unstiffened our dew-damp limbs and got some coffee. I then commenced to shave, and was just wetting my brush when the order came to march off immediately. In went our mess tins and gear, rolled our coats, and marched down the road where (Friday morning) rations (a little tin of beef each, six biscuits, bacon, cheese, tea and sugar) were issued. A train of 40 London motor buses came up marvellously from somewhere, and we were run out to a town which was being heavily bombarded, where we lay down in some huts. At 2 a.m. on Saturday morning we were ordered out to line some trenches by a canal which were bombarded with shrapnel at about 8 a.m. At 11 a.m. we were marched to a concentration point under shrapnel fire, causing some casualties. At the point of concentration one of the Divisional Staff Officers ordered me back again to guide up as quickly as possible another battn. of our brigade, as the situation was critical. This I did in as quick time as I could, and I was lucky enough to get back with them to the concentration point before our battn. was in action. As soon as I arrived back our battn. went into action in the open (not in trenches) against a section of the enemy who were occupying a village on a ridge and who were backed by excellent artillery—by this time I was tired. The 4th East Yorks went into action at about 4 o’clock on that afternoon (Saturday, 24 April, 1915) for the first time in the history of the battn., and a bloody battle it was. We advanced in artillery formation across half a mile of open country and under a very heavy bombardment both of shrapnel and high explosive shells, and many men fell—fell absolutely heroically, there is no other word for it. I would never have believed that hardened men would have marched on under that bombardment, and these men, already very tired and two nights sleepless, having carried a load weighing 60–70 lbs. since we left Newcastle, and hardly having their boots off since that time, saw battle for the first time as if they were just going to the barber’s for a shave. Three times within 20 minutes a shell struck the ground near the men I have the honour to lead, once within 10 yards, and when the high explosive shells strike they dive into the earth and the end of the world seems to come. They blow a hole just about the size of the pond in the back field at Lamwath, and the contents of the hole are blown right up into the skies, much higher than a trawler’s mast, so high that one has to lie on one’s face what seems like 20 seconds until all the earth and fragments have fallen. When one strikes as near as that one is covered with earth, so that there is a little difficulty in rising under the weight of it. The noise deafens and slightly stuns one. One shell blew us down in a body without killing one of us. This bombardment went on incessantly, not a shell now and then, but all the time shells bursting, sometimes two or three coming near the same spot at once. After the third time we were covered with earth, and a man of mine shouted to me: ‘If these B——s don’t ring the bell soon we’ll go and give them their money back.’ After advancing 20 minutes thus the high explosive shells ceased, and we went into the zone of the rifle and machine-gun fire, still in daylight and over open fallow land. They never worried a bit, never faltered, never even laid down to the shrapnel, a moment longer than was essential; when they heard the shriek of a coming shell just walked determinedly on into the jaws of it. Col. Shaw was shot dead at about this stage. My Capt., B. Farrel, was shot through the heart a minute or two after. Major Thielmann met instant death, and the man who went to help him was shot as he rose to do it. When we had advanced in rushes sufficiently near to the village, bayonets were fixed, and the Germans went back from the village without waiting for the assault. It was then dusk. We collected our men, gathered up and carried back what poor fellows we could, and marched the remainder back to some trenches about 500 yards in rear, leaving the position to be occupied by other troops, who dug themselves in. We laid down in some shallow trenches in a wood in the rain that night too tired to eat. Next morning (Sunday) we called our rolls, and then marched our weary, stiff heroes to occupy some trenches about a mile away, 500 yards in rear of some trenches which were being heavily attacked. We had to march to these trenches over a shrapnel-swept road, doubling over the most dangerous portion—at this stage Major Easton and Capt. Easton were both slightly wounded in the head, just grazes and not serious—and resting in the ditches occasionally at the sides. The Germans saw that we were entering these unoccupied trenches and bombarded them heavily. The trench my platoon occupied was dug in a clean grass field. Before we had been in it one hour there was not a blade of grass to be seen growing for 30 yards in rear of it; the front of it we could not see. A dug-out at one end disappeared in the air. Another dug-out in which were Lieut. Grindell (a fellow-subaltern of A Coy.), myself and about five men was blown in on us. I had to extricate poor old Grindell from the wreckage, and his knees were badly bruised, but he will be about again in a day or two. As soon as dusk came they ceased shelling us, and we then set to and worked like blazes to rebuild the broken parts of the trench. We could also get some doubtful water then, and sent Grindell to the dressing station. Water has been our trouble. At 11 p.m. (Sunday night) we were ordered to come out of the trenches and march back to a rest camp five miles in rear, and a terrible march it was. The road was swept with shrapnel for three of the miles. The villages which in times of peace had been on it were mere broken skeletons of their former selves. Many of the houses were in flames. The road had great shell holes in it, which parties of men were filling in with the broken houses in order to make it passable for transport, which crossed it at the gallop. Capt. Morrill, at about this stage, I think, got three shrapnel holes in one leg. Dead horses, broken wagons, mules, and occasionally men, strewed the road throughout its length, and the smell of them was sickening. The men at this stage were so tired that every time we got into the ditches for a rest we had difficulty in waking them to move on again, even in the roar of the shell bursts; many were being helped along by their pals. At 1 a.m. this morning (Monday, 26 April) we arrived at this camp for our well-earned rest. We walked into our huts, put our heads on our packs, and fell asleep with the roar of the battle still going on, and our artillery, part of which has a position near here, roaring away for all it was worth. I woke 10 hours afterwards stiff and hungry, and with a thirst I haven’t yet succeeded in quenching, in spite of the eight pint-mugs of tea I have drunk at intervals to-day.” Two days later, 28 April, his platoon had orders to entrench west of Gedde’s detachment, between the canal and the Pilkem road, supported by a brigade of a north country Territorial Division, which had arrived from England only three days before. He was encouraging his men to dig themselves into the ground when a shell fell in their midst, killing four outright and wounding eight, including 2nd Lieut. Hellyer, who died in consequence of his wounds at No. 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, France, 8 May, 1915; unm. His body was brought home and buried at Brixham, South Devon. Sergt. T. Hurd, A Coy., 4th Battn. East Yorkshires, thus wrote of his death: “No doubt you have heard of Lieut. Sidney Hellyer being wounded. I will tell you how it happened. We had been in the trenches two days, when we received orders to move nearer the enemy’s lines. Just as we reached the new position and were digging ourselves in, shrapnel shells burst right into the middle of our company, killing four outright and wounding eight, including Lieut. Hellyer, who had his arm blown off at the shoulder, the other arm, both legs and cheek injured. But wounded as he was, he would not let any one touch him until all the others had been attended to. I have never met a braver man in my life, and men in our platoon owed their lives to him time and time again by the way he handled them. After he fell he still exhorted his men to hurry up and cut themselves into the ground. I have gleaned that he was courageously fetched from the exposed position to the trench, where every possible care was exerted to alleviate his terrible sufferings. On a trench ambulance he was carried towards the clearing hospital, but in the darkness the bearers lost their way. No portion or stump of the left arm remaining, the men of the Medical Corps strove to stop the bleeding by pressing their fingers to the wounds. At the clearing hospital he dictated a letter to his parents, telling them he was wounded, but that he should find his way to England by easy stages, and not to worry about him. But not one word as to the terrible nature of his injuries nor of the awful sufferings during the tedious and prolonged transference from the battlefield to the hospital.” Numerous other letters from his superior officers and men attest in the highest terms his lovable qualities and ability as a leader of men in camp, in trench, and in action. His cousin, Corpl. G. P. Hellyer, also died of wounds (see his notice).
Sidney Hannaford Hellyer.
HELPS, FRANK BOVETT, Rifleman, No. 2471, 16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of Edward William Helps, of Westleigh, Durleigh Road, Bridgwater, Incorporated Accountant, Overseer for Borough of Bridgwater, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of E. J. Bovett, M.R.C.V.S.; b. Westfield, Bridgwater, co. Somerset, 11 May, 1894; educ. Dr. Morgan’s School, Bridgwater, and Royal Grammar School, Colchester, and on leaving there was apprenticed to Mr. A. J. Beare, of Taunton, Draper, and after serving his time, went to the Brixton Bon Marché; enlisted, 11 Aug. 1914; went to France, 24 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action at Ypres, 23 July, 1915, while on outpost duty; unm.
Frank Bovett Helps.
HELYAR, MAURICE HOWARD, Capt., Rifle Brigade, elder s. of Francis John Helyar, of 11, Royal Crescent, Bath, late Royal Bodyguard, by his wife, the Hon. Ursula Georgiana, née Addington, 2nd dau. of William Wells, 3rd Viscount Sidmouth; b. 78, Eaton Place, London, S.W., 18 Nov. 1879; educ. Horris Hill, and Eton; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Rifle Brigade, from the Militia, 20 Dec. 1899, and promoted Lieut. 18 Dec. 1900, and Capt., 30 May, 1905; served in the South African War, 1902 (Queen’s medal with clasp), and Somaliland, 1903 (medal with clasp), and with the Expeditionary Force in France, 21 Dec. 1914, to 25 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action near Ypres on the latter date, and buried at Dickebusche. Capt. Helyar m. at Winchester, 21 Nov. 1914, Vera, dau. of Edward Evans-Lombe, of Bylaugh Park, and Rickthorn, Norwich, and had a dau., Maureen Howard, b. (posthumous), 25 Aug. 1915.
Maurice Howard Helyar.
HEMMING, FREDERICK THOMAS, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R.), Ch. 14309, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
HENCHER, JOSEPH, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 21848, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
HENDER, JOHN HENRY, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4914), S.S. 104378, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HENDERSON, ALEC STEWART, Capt., 1st Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Robert Stewart Henderson, of 18, Rutland Gate, London, S.W., by his wife, Laura, dau. of John Cooper Forster; b. Dacca, Eastern Bengal, 28 Jan. 1888; educ. Eton, and Trinity College, Cambridge; joined the Territorial Force in 1908, and was gazetted Capt. Territorial Reserve of Officers, 25 July, 1913, and posted to the 1st City of London Royal Fusiliers in Aug. 1914, after the outbreak of war, his appointment to rank as from 5 Aug. After eight months in Malta he went to France with his regt. on 10 March, 1915, and was shot through the head, 24 April, 1915, by a stray bullet, while in a trench superintending the throwing of bombs on the barbed wire entanglements, and died the next day, 25 April; unm. He was buried at Sailly-sur-Lys. His Colonel wrote: “The regt. lost in him one of its best officers. I do wish to express to you my highest appreciation of what he did for the regt. through his conscientious work and great ability. As such his memory will live in the regt.”; and the Adjutant: “He was a universal favourite, his company really loved him. He was a good keen soldier, and we can ill afford to lose an officer of his experience.” He had qualified for appointment as instructor of musketry.
Alec Stewart Henderson.
HENDERSON, ALFRED CECIL, Private, No. 23150, 3rd Battn. (82nd Regt.), Canadian Expeditionary Force, s. of Henry William Henderson, of Union Road, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada, by his wife, Eudevilla, dau. of Francis Simmonds, of Crapaud, P.E.I.; b. Royalty Junction, Prince Edward’s Island, 12 April, 1895; joined the 82nd Regt. in 1911, and on the outbreak of war volunteered for service overseas, and left P.E.I. for Valcartier in Aug. 1914; came over with the first contingent in Oct., and was drafted into Princess Patricia’s C.L.I.; crossed to France, 16 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action from the concussion of a shell at Hooge, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 8 May, 1915; unm.
Alfred C. Henderson.
HENDERSON, JOHN McLUCKIE, Private, No. 13564, Telephone Section, 12th (Service) Battn. The Royal Scots, eldest s. of Thomas Brownlie Henderson, of Ballingry Place, Newmains, Lanarkshire, late of Hamilton, by his wife, Agnes, dau. of Alexander McKay; b. Burnbank, Hamilton, 28 Aug. 1897; educ. Glenlee Public School there, and at Fallin Public School, Stirling; enlisted, 4 Sept. 1914; went to France, 29 April, and was killed in the charge of the Royal Scots at Loos, 25 Sept. 1915, at the same time as his friend, John Baxter, who had enlisted with him. At Fallin School he won the Dux Medal, and was patrol leader in the Boy Scouts.
John M. Henderson.
HENDERSON, ROBERT HENRY, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 6216), 187023, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HENDERSON, WILLIAM SLATER, Armourer’s Mate, M. 4203, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HENLEY, FRANK, Boy, 1st Class, J. 23584, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
HENLEY, FRANK, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9147), S.S. 103968, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HENLEY, GEORGE CHARLES, Stoker, 1st Class (M.) 304539, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HENNESSY, IVAN THOMAS, S.B.A., M. 877, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HENRY, CHARLES BURRELL, Leading Seaman, 172972, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
HENRY, FRANK, Private, No. 2092, 1/5th Battn. Royal West Kent Regt. (T.F.), s. of William Henry, Bootmaker; b. 7 June, 1867; died at Jhansi, India, 21 July, 1915, of heatstroke, while on active service. He m. at Dartford, 17 Oct. 1914, Frances Annie (9, Priory Hill, Dartford, Kent), dau. of Harry Longhurst; s.p.
HENRY, JOSEPH, Stoker (Native), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HENRY, WALTER, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 4971), 200091, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HENSELEIT, FREDERICK, Ordinary Seaman, J. 16799, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
HENSHAW, WILLIAM FREDERICK, Sapper, No. 1617, 2nd Home Counties F.C., R.E. (T.F.), s. of William Frederick Henshaw; b. Ashford, co. Kent, 27 Aug. 1874; was a Bricklayer; served in South Africa with the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteer Corps (Sussex Regt.), 1901–02, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 22 Dec. 1914, to 20 April, 1915; took part in the attack on Hill 60, and was killed by a shell on returning to billets, 20 April, 1915. He m. at Crowborough, 16 Aug. 1902, Lilian Mary (23, Cornwall Road, Bexhill-on-Sea), dau. of George Martin, and had three children: Harold William George, b. 9 May, 1903; Arthur Roy, b. 21 June, 1907; and Gladys Evelyn May, b. 12 May, 1911.
William F. Henshaw.
HENSON, HERBERT EDWARD, Ship’s Corpl., 1st Class, 187848, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HENSON, LEONARD, Private, No. 7290, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of the late Frank Henson, of Loughborough, Labourer, by his wife, Ann; b. Loughborough, 7 Aug. 1890; educ. Emmanuel Boys’ School there; enlisted 11 June, 1907, served seven years and then joined the Leicestershire Constabulary, and at the time of the outbreak of the war was stationed at New Swannington. He rejoined on mobilisation, was wounded on 23 Sept. 1914, by a shell at the Battle of the Aisne, and died in Claridge’s Hotel, Paris, two days later; unm. The doctor wrote that he was brought in on the night of the 23rd, and that after being “very brave and patient, he passed away quietly at half-past four on Friday the 25th.” He was buried in the Plantin Cemetery; a company of French soldiers followed and fired the last shots.
Leonard Henson.
HENSON, STANLEY BENSKIN, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Somerset L.I., only s. of William John Henson, of 2, Derby Street, Mayfair, W., and Elmsett Hall, Wedmore, co. Somerset, Physician, by his wife, Minnie, dau. of the late George Niesigh, of Beckenham, Kent; b. Upper Norwood, 17 June, 1888; educ. King’s School, Bruton, Somerset, and Pembroke College, Oxford; and obtained a commission in the Colonial Police in 1909, and was stationed at Singapore and Penang. He joined the Special Reserve of Officers of the Somerset L.I., 17 Sept. 1913, and failing to obtain leave from the Straits Authorities, resigned his post there, came home to England at his own expense, and obtained a commission in the 1st Battn. Somerset L.I., in Oct. 1914; went to France in Nov., and was killed in action in an attack on the German trenches at Ploegsteert, 19 Dec. 1914. In this attack, made over 200 yards of open ground, he (in the words of his Commanding Officer) exhibited such dashing bravery that he outstripped his company by a full 20 yards, but fell with a bullet through his heart. Buried in Ploegsteert Wood; unm.
Stanley B. Henson.
HEPBURN, ARCHIBALD JAMES, Capt., 8th (Ardwick) Battn. Manchester Regt. (T.F.), only s. of William Archibald Hepburn, of Dane-in-Shaw, Elms Avenue, Lytham, Bleacher’s Manager, by his wife, Sarah, dau. of the Rev. William Burnett, of Half Morton, Dumfriesshire; b. Ramsbottom, co. Lancaster, 26 June, 1882; educ. Sedbergh Preparatory School and Manchester Grammar School; and from 1906 to 1914 was Manager under Bleachers’ Association, Ltd., of Hepburn & Co., Ltd., Square Works, Ramsbottom, succeeding his father in that position. On the institution of the Territorial Force, he obtained a commission in the 8th Battn. Manchester Regt. and received his Captaincy 5 Feb. 1913. On the outbreak of war he was in command of C Coy.; volunteered with his regt. for foreign service, and left for Egypt, as part of the East Lancashire Division, 10 Sept. 1914. Part of the battn. was ordered to Cyprus, 19 Oct. 1914, and till its return to Egypt three months later (including the annexation of the island, 7 Nov. 1914), Capt. Hepburn was officer commanding troops at Nicosia, the seat of Government. The Division left for the Gallipoli Peninsula, 2 May, 1915, and he was killed in action there, 29 May, 1915, being shot through the head while strengthening parapet of front line trench south of Krithia. He was buried at “Clapham Junction” military cemetery there. Capt. Hepburn qualified as a musketry instructor at Hythe in Nov. and Dec., 1911, and was well known as an amateur actor in the Manchester district. He m. at Altrincham, co. Chester, 28 Feb. 1911, Lilias Una, only child of Alfred Tarbolton, of Bowdon, co. Chester, and Manchester, J.P., Solicitor, and had a son and dau., Philip Archibald, b. 23 March, 1915; and Patricia, b. 6 March, 1915. At the outbreak of war they resided at 2, Crumpsall Green, Manchester.
Archibald J. Hepburn.
HEPINSTALL, GEORGE, Private, No. 10959, 6th (Service) Battn. Yorkshire Regt., eldest s. of the late George Hepinstall, of Southwick-on-Wear, Riveter, by his wife, Mary Ellen (13, Brougham Street, Southwick-on-Wear), dau. of John Leach, of Southwick; b. Southwick, 15 Jan. 1894; educ. Southwick Board School; was employed at the Sunderland Bottle Works; enlisted 24 Aug. 1914, trained at Grantham and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 21 Aug 1915; unm. The same day his great friend and schoolfellow, J. C. Robinson, with whom he had been brought up, enlisted, and gone to the front, was killed at Chocolate Hill.
George Hepinstall.
HEPWORTH, PERCY, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 1843), 293062, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
HERBERT, ERNEST, A. B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2093), 189862, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HERBERT, FREDERICK DANIEL, Private, R.M.L.I., Po. 10169, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HERDMAN, ARTHUR WIDDRINGTON, Lieut., 1st Battn. King’s Own Shropshire L.I., only s. of the late Rev. Robert Morrison Herdman, Vicar of Holy Trinity, North Shields, by his wife, Mary (Sunnyholme, Ripon), dau. of Thomas Wearmouth, of Gainford; b. Holy Trinity Vicarage, North Shields, 31 Jan. 1886; educ. Trent College, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st Shropshire L.I., 18 Sept. 1909, and promoted Lieut., 30 Oct. 1913; went to France with the 6th Division, Sept. 1914, and was killed in action near Lille. 25 Oct. following; unm. The Commanding Officer and Major of his regt., in their letters to his mother, spoke of his popularity with his men, and his orderly, who, when he was missing, went out to look for him and found him dead, and was himself wounded while looking for him. wrote: “When I told his men that he was dead they all took it very hard, because he was the best friend we ever had.” By his will Lieut. Herdman left £1,000 to the Council of Trent College, £500 to the K.S.L.I. Regimental Aid Society, a recreation ground for Ewhurst, and other bequests.
HERION, ARTHUR, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9319), S.S. 106537, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HERN, WILLIAM HENRY, Leading Stoker (Boatman, C.G.), 310613 (Dev.), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HERON, WILLIAM, Sergt., No. 1753, 3rd Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 6th s. of Richard Heron, of Dryden Place, New York, Newcastle-on-Tyne, by his wife, Ada, dau. of Amos Wright; b. New Seaham, co. Durham, 2 Feb. 1891; educ. there; was in the Special Reserve; emigrated to Australia about 1913, and settled at Fremantle, West Australia: volunteered at the outbreak of war, and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force; left for Egypt, 17 March, 1915; went to the Dardanelles about July, and died at sea, 11 Aug. 1915; unm.
HERRIDGE, WILLIAM, Gunner, R.M.A., 8569, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HERRING, EDWARD EDGAR, L.-Corpl., No. 939, D Coy., 3rd Battn. 1st Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, 4th s. of Gerard Edgar Herring, of Cromer, England, late Under-secretary for Mines Department, Sydney, N.S.W., by his wife, Caroline Elizabeth; b. Gladesville, New South Wales, 26 April, 1891; educ. Sydney Grammar School; was a Bank Accountant, and volunteered on the outbreak of war, and enlisted 20 Aug. 1914: left for Egypt with the 1st Division, 30 Oct. 1914; went to the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915; was wounded in the assault on Lone Pine Hill, 6 Aug. 1915, and died of wounds on the hospital ship Delta, on the 9th; unm. Buried at sea.
Edward Edgar Herring.
HESTER, WILLIAM HENRY, Chief Sick Berth Steward, 350550, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HETHERINGTON, JOHN ROBERT, Private, No. 10176, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Joseph Hetherington, of 49, Ancrum Street, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-on-Tyne, by his wife, Frances, dau. of William Pallan; b. Spital Tongues aforesaid, 5 May. 1896; educ. Newcastle Council School; enlisted 5 June, 1913; went to the Front 8 Oct. 1914, and was reported missing after the fighting at Givenchy, 25 Jan. 1915. Confirmation of his death was received in June, when Sergt. F. Millman reported that he had been by his side when he was mortally wounded and added, “he was a fine type of manhood and a credit to the regt.” He was unm.
John Robert Hetherington.
HEWETSON, GEORGE HAYTON, Chaplain, R.N., elder s. of the late Rev. John Hewetson, Vicar of Chadworth, by his wife, Isabella (Dromore, Putney, S.W.), dau. of the Rev. George Henry Heslop; b. Chester, 26 Jan. 1877; educ. Bradfield and Worcester College, Oxford; entered the Royal Navy, 1 Aug. 1906, and was Chaplain H.M.S. Britannia, H.M.S. Minotaur, the Flagship of the China Squadron, Feb. 1910–12, and to the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, 1912 to July, 1914; appointed to H.M.S. Bulwark, 29 July, 1914; lost when that ship was blown up at Sheerness, 26 Nov. 1914. He m. at High Harrogate, 3 Feb. 1914, Lilian Mary (The Vicarage, High Harrogate), dau. of the Rev. Douglas Sherwood Guy, Vicar of Christchurch, High Harrogate, and had a dau., Mary Hayton, b. 10 Jan. 1915.
HEWETT, JOHN EDWARD, Private, No. 862. 1st/5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade), The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of the late George Hulbert Hewett, of 61, Rathcoole Gardens, Hornsey, N., a Mercantile Clerk in the employ of the British India Steamship Navigation Co., by his wife, Olivia, dau. of William Clarke; b. Highbury, N., 15 Jan. 1894; educ. Hornsey County School, enlisted 9 Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 28 April, 1915; unm. He was buried near Fortuin.
John Edward Hewett.
HEWITT, ERNEST HENRY, Lieut., 1/4th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of James Henry Hewitt, of Altamont, Bangor, co. Down, Ireland; b. Belfast, 5 Nov. 1885; educ. Bangor Grammar School; St. Jude’s School, Belfast; and the Royal Academical Institution, Belfast; was a member of the Queen’s University Officers Training Corps, and Vice-Capt. of the North of Ireland Rugby Football Club; offered his services to the War Office the day after war was declared; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 22 Aug. 1914; and Lieut. 1 Dec. 1914; went to France with his Battn. in April, 1915; took part in the attack on the enemy near Festubert, on the night of 15 June, 1915; was seen to fall on his left side, apparently mortally wounded, while heroically leading his men between the second and third German trenches, and not heard of since. He is officially reported missing. His Commanding officer wrote: “Lieut. Hewitt since he joined us has become the most popular officer in the Battn. He was a splendid soldier.” He was mentioned in Despatches by F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French [London Gazette, 1 Jan. 1916], for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
Ernest Henry Hewitt.
HEWITT, JAMES FRANCIS, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), eldest s. of the Hon. William James Hewitt, of St. Colme House, Aberdour, Fife [s. of 6th James, 4th Viscount Lifford], by his wife Evelyn Frances, yst. dau. of Lieut.-Gen. Francis Carey; b. Gatehouse-of-Fleet, co. Kirkcudbright, 22 Jan. 1888; educ. Winton House, Winchester and Haileybury College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the 3rd Battn. to the 1st Cameronians, 26 Feb. 1908, and promoted Lieut., 12 March, 1910; went to France, 26 Aug., and was killed in action at La Boutillerie during the first Battle of Ypres, 26 Oct. 1914, and was buried there; unm. His Colonel wrote: “We have lost one of our very best officers and most lovable of comrades. He was always so capable and keen at all work and sport.”
James Francis Hewitt.
HEWITT, ROBERT, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 8192, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HEWITT, WILLIAM GEORGE, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. The Royal Scots, 2nd s. of the Hon. William James Hewitt, of St. Colme House, Aberdour, Fife [6th s. of James, 4th Viscount Lifford], by his wife Evelyn Frances, yst. dau. of Lieut.-Gen. Francis Carey: b. Gatehouse-of-Fleet, co. Kirkcudbright, 7 June, 1892; educ. Edinburgh Academy and Christ Church, Oxford; gazetted from the Officer’s Training Corps to the 3rd Royal Scots, 7 Aug. 1914; went to France, 27 Sept. and was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle during the 1st Battle of Ypres, 13 Oct. 1914, while helping a wounded soldier; unm. Whilst at Christ Church he ran with the beagles, and eventually became 1st Whip; he was also a member of the “Loders Club,” and interested himself keenly in all sport. Of him it was said: “He was most charming in manner, and it was always a pleasure to be with him; he has died nobly, and in his short time has lived a simple, straight life.” His eldest brother, Lieut. J. F. Hewitt, was killed in action, 26 Oct. 1914 (see his notice).
William George Hewitt.
HEWLETT, WILFRED ARTHUR, Chief Electrical Artificer, 2nd Class, 345053, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HEYS, ARTHUR, Petty Officer, 189420, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HEYWORTH, HEYWORTH POTTER LAWRENCE, Capt., 2nd Battn. (98th) North Staffordshire Regt., only s. of the late Col. Lawrence Heyworth, Commanding 3rd Welsh Regt., by his wife, Rosina Kate (Colne Priory, Earl’s Colne), dau. of John Baskerville Mortimer, and grandson of Lawrence Heyworth, of Yewtree, Liverpool, J.P., M.P. for Derby, &c.; b. Wain Vaur, Risca, co. Monmouth, 20 Nov. 1877; educ. Aysgarth, Harrow, and Trinity College, Cambridge; received a commission in the 3rd South Wales Borderers (Militia), 1899, and was gazetted to the 2nd North Staffordshire Regt., 21 April, 1900, and promoted Lieut., 7 Jan. 1901, and Capt., 11 Sept. 1908. He served in the South African War, 1900–1902, taking part in the operations in the Orange Free State and in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s with two clasps. He went to India with his regiment in 1903, being stationed at Umballa, Multan and Peshawar, and was Master of the Peshawar Vale Hounds, 1911–12. In 1913 he returned to England on sick leave and retired on half-pay (21 Sept.), but on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, rejoined his old regt. and was appointed Adjutant of the 7th Battn. in Sept. They left for the Dardanelles in June, and he was killed in action there, near Sari Bair, 6 Aug. 1915, and buried in the Australian and New Zealand Cemetery, Gallipoli. His Commanding Officer wrote that he had proved “a very good adjutant,” and the second in Command: “He is a terrible loss to us, as he was quite the most popular man in the regt.” He m. at Partney Church, Lincolnshire, 21 Jan. 1915, Cecily Mabel (Dalby Hall, Spilsby, Lincolnshire), 2nd dau. of Major Bartholomew Claypon Garfit, of Dalby Hall, Lincolnshire, J.P.; s.p.
H. Potter L. Heyworth.
HIBBERT, SEPTIMUS, M.A., M.B., B.Ch. Oxon, Surgeon, R.N.V.R., s. of Charles George Hibbert, of Marenioh, Talbot Avenue, Bournemouth, Merchant, by his wife, Clara, dau. of John Heseltine; b. Brasted, near Sevenoaks, Kent, 31 July, 1886: educ. Tonbridge School, University College, Oxford, and St. George’s Hospital, London, where he was House Surgeon and Physician; joined the Navy on the outbreak of war, was appointed Surgeon to H.M.S. Formidable, and was lost when that ship was sunk in the Channel, 1 Jan. 1915; unm.
Septimus Hibbert.
HICKLING, EDWARD ROBERT EYRE, Lieut., 3rd Battn. Gloucestershire Regt., att. North Lancashire Regt., only s. of the late John Bird Hickling, by his wife, Clara (4, Chestnut Avenue, Bournemouth), dau. of the late Alderman Robert Eyre Applegate Eyres; b. Lymington, 17 Aug. 1895; educ. privately (Mr. John Murray); Langharne House School, Victoria Road, Southsea and Bournemouth School (Dr. Fenwick) where he joined the School Corps in Jan. 1908; becoming L.-Corpl. Sept. 1911 and Corpl. Jan. 1912. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd Gloucestershires, 8 Oct. 1913; and promoted Lieut. in Aug. 1914; went to France in Sept., and was att. to the North Lancashire Regt. He died at No. 4 Clearing Hospital, Poperinghe, about 2 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action, 27–28 Oct. A brother officer wrote: “On the night of the 23rd we were in billets at a village quite near to ..., when we got the order to go forward suddenly and turn the enemy out of some of our trenches which they had captured near ..., and so we pushed forward at dawn of the 24th, and came under fire, and then I was told off with Hickling to act as a left flank-guard while the rest of the Battn. advanced, and there he and I stayed with half a company (100 men) until about 7.30 a.m. Then we, in turn, had the order to advance, and went forward over the turnip fields and then out on to open ploughed land without a vestige of cover anywhere, and bullets flying round us like bees. Then as we got to within 300 yards of the enemy’s trenches I got hit just above the knee and was, of course, to all intents and purposes, ‘down and out.’ But I yelled to Hickling to take the men on. Whether he heard me or not I can’t say, but I saw him afterwards running forward with his men, and I was told later that he got through alright. Then I lay there for about seven or eight hours unable to move until some ambulance people came along about 4 p.m., and took me back on a stretcher, and when I got back I heard that Hickling had been badly shot in the hip.”
Edward R. E. Hickling.
HICKLING, WILLIAM CHARLES, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3046), S.S. 100493, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HICKS, FREDERICK RICHARD, Lieut.-Col., 1st Battn. Hampshire Regt., only surviving s. of the late Francis Hicks, of Lanhainsworth, St. Columb, co. Cornwall, by his wife, Catherine, dau. of the late John Hicks; b. Plymouth, 10 Sept. 1871; educ. Sherborne and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and received his commission in the Hampshire Regt. 8 Oct. 1890, being promoted Lieut. 10 Aug. 1892; Capt. 17 April, 1898; Brevet-Major, 22 Aug. 1902; Major, 8 Aug. 1908; and Lieut.-Col. — Dec. 1914. He served in Uganda, 9 Jan. 1898, to 27 May, 1900 (medal), and was on Special Service in South Africa, 9 May to 26 July, 1900, being afterwards on the Staff of the Military Governor of Johannesburg (Major-Gen. Colin Mackenzie), and later (1 Dec. 1901 to 30 Nov. 1902) was employed with the Rand Rifles. For his services in this campaign he was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 29 July, 1902], and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He served with the 2nd Hampshires at Malta and Bermuda, and with the 1st Battn. at Londonderry and Colchester, and from 10 Oct. 1909, to 8 March, 1912, was Brigade Major, 16th Brigade, Irish Command, and from 9 March, 1912, to 9 Oct. 1913, General Staff Officer (2nd Grade), Coast Defence, Southern Command. He was a Staff College Graduate, and a first-class interpreter. On the outbreak of the European War, he went to France, 22 Aug. 1914. and assumed command of the 1st Hampshires (the old 37th) after Col. Jackson was taken prisoner. He was wounded at Le Cateau a few days later (26 Aug.), and invalided home, but returned to the Front on 9 Nov. and was again wounded in action near Ypres on 8 May. He was sent home, and died in Guy’s Hospital, of enteric and wounds, 12 June, 1915. Col. Hicks m. at Winchester Cathedral, 2 Nov. 1903, Grace Winifred (Lanhainsworth, St. Columb, Cornwall), yst. dau. of the late Rev. William Henry Hewett, and had issue: John Nettleton, b. 3 May, 1906; Roger Bertram Nettleton, b. 27 Dec. 1909; and Mervyn Nettleton, b. 28 Jan. 1911.
Frederick Richard Hicks.
HICKS, JAMES THOMAS WILLIAM, Private, No. 1849, 5th Batt. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), s. of Albert Hicks, of 3, Clyde Villas, Ladbore Road, Rye, by his wife, Emma, dau. of James Tapp; b. Rye, co. Sussex, 16 Jan. 1895; educ. Rye Council School; enlisted 22 May, 1914; went to France 18 Feb. 1915, and died of wounds received in action at Cambray, 24 May, 1915; unm.
HICKS, WALTER GERALD, 2nd Lieut., 8th (Service) Battn. Royal Fusiliers, only s. of the late Walter Hicks, of St. Austell, by his wife, Kattie, dau. of the late Samuel William Cooke; b. St. Austell, co. Cornwall, 2 Oct. 1893; educ. Blundell’s, and London University (at both of which he was a member of the O.T.C.); was studying at the University when war broke out; obtained a commission in the 8th Royal Fusiliers, 26 Aug. 1914; went to France 31 May, 1915, and died at Armentières, 11 Aug. 1915 of wounds received while scouting. His Colonel wrote: “He was one of the most gallant boys I have ever met and would go anywhere and do anything. His men adored him, and his Captain could not speak too highly of him. He was intensely gallant and did not know the word ‘fear.’” A brother officer wrote: “His men worshipped him, and no words of mine can describe to you what he did for them. I remember the platoon from the very start, and had never thought it possible that it could have been brought up to the pitch of efficiency that he had attained. He set a fine example of cool courage to us all—officers and men.”
Walter Gerald Hicks.
HIGGINBOTTOM, FRANK, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3228), S.S. 754, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HIGGINBOTTOM, THOMAS, Private, No. 1635, 14th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, s. of James Samuel Higginbottom; b. Salford, co. Lancaster, 10 Nov. 1886; educ. St. Bartholomew’s Schools there; and served four years in the Manchester Territorials; went to Australia early in 1914, and being there when war began, volunteered and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force, 13 Sept. 1914; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and served there continuously for four months, being killed in action, 25 Aug. 1915, and was buried in Australia Valley. He m. 12 Sept. 1909, Margaret Ann (9, Crokell Street, Salford), dau, of Timothy Leniham, and had issue three children: Thomas, b. 17 Jan. 1911; Stanley, b. 19 Feb. 1913; and Margaret, b. 1 July, 1910.
HIGGINS, FREDERIC, Shipwright, 1st Class, 345691, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HIGGINS, HARRY, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1987), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HIGGS, CHARLES, Leading Stoker, 300794, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
HIGH, GEORGE HENRY, Boy, 1st Class, J. 22784, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
HILEY, HERBERT, Stoker, R.N.R., 2196S., H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
HILDYARD, NONA MILDRED, Nurse, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, dau. of William Hildyard, of Lyttleton, New Zealand, by his wife, Betsy Ann, dau. of John (and Harriet) Libballie; b. Lyttleton aforesaid, 4 Nov. 1890; educ. Lyttleton Public Schools; entered the Christ Church Hospital, New Zealand, where she soon attracted the attention of her superiors, and on the outbreak of war was one of the nurses specially selected by the Government to go to the Front with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. She left for Egypt 11 July, 1915, and was for some time engaged in the Base Hospital, Port Said. When the New Zealand troops were being transferred to Salonika, she sailed for that port with the other nurses of the hospital, and was lost on the troopship Marquetta, when that ship was torpedoed in the Gulf of Salonika 23 Oct. 1915. Doctors who were eye-witnesses of the disaster affirm that she displayed wonderful courage and fortitude, and sang “Tipperary” and “Are we downhearted? No!” to the last to keep up the spirits of her comrades.
Nona Mildred Hildyard.
HILL, ALBERT, Stoker, 1st Class, 225607, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
HILL, CHARLES HAYDOCK, Private, No. 28739, 16th Battn. (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force, yr. s. of the late James Catesworth Hill, of Barnwood, Gloucester, by his wife, Frances, dau. of Charles Bird; b. Hereford, 5 Sept. 1890; educ. South-Eastern College, Ramsgate; qualified as an Electrical Engineer at the Central Technical College, London; went to Canada in 1912, and entered the employ of the British Electrical Co.; joined 50th Gordons at Victoria in 1913; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and enlisted in the Canadian Scottish; came over with the 1st Contingent in Oct. 1914; went to France, Feb. 1915, and died at No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station, 28 April, 1915, of wounds received in action the previous day near Ypres, when a shell took off his right leg. Buried in Bailleul Cemetery; unm.