Part 100

=HINMAN, ARTHUR GURR=, Lieut., 15th Battn., 4th Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of Arthur Hinman, of Moina, Elphin Road, Launceston, Tasmania, by his wife, Lucy Maud, dau. of William Gurr, of Launceston; _b._ Newstead, Launceston, Tasmania, 19 June, 1890; educ. at Launceston Church Grammar School, 1903–March, 1909, and on leaving there went to Ormond College, Melbourne University, for the course of Metallurgy and Mining Engineering. When he had finished his course there he did his practical work with the Mount Bischoff Tin Mining Company, Waratah, Tasmania, and took his degree of Bachelor of Mining Engineering at Melbourne University, 5 April, 1914. War breaking out the following Aug., he immediately volunteered for Imperial service; was given a commission, and left Melbourne for Egypt, 22 Dec. 1914. He took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25–26 April, 1915, and was killed in action at Quinn’s Post, 10 May, 1915; _unm._ On that night the 15th Battn. were ordered to carry the Turkish trenches directly in their front. This was accomplished but with heavy loss, and it was while gallantly leading his men in the charge that Hinman was shot dead. Writing to Mrs. Hinman, a brother officer, Capt. J. A. Good, said: “We landed, as no doubt you are aware, on the first day, and the various companies and platoons of the 15th Battn. were separated. Arthur’s platoon being out on the left, and apparently had a bad time. A few days after this we all rejoined the Battn., and took up our position on Pope’s Hill, but on the seventh day we were ordered to occupy the now famous position of Quinn’s Post. At this time he and I were the only officers of the original Tasmanian Companies in the 15th who remained, and often at night, as we sat in our dug-out, we wondered who would be the first to go, for it seemed impossible that we should remain long unwounded when so many had been hit. Arthur did splendid work on the post, and everyone sincerely regretted his death. The post was exceptionally difficult to hold owing to the close proximity of the Turkish trenches, which were only about 15 yards away in places. The position on the day prior to his death was as follows: The Turks held a line of trenches directly in front of our trenches; at either flank we were separated by about 50 yards, but in the centre our trenches were only 15 yards apart. Orders were issued that we were to go forward and occupy these trenches, and instructions were issued accordingly. Three parties, consisting of about 50 men each, were to be sent forward, one party to each flank and one to the centre. The intention being to occupy these trenches and dig communication trenches from our old lines to the new one. Lots were drawn by the Battn. officers to decide who would take charge of these parties, but Arthur drew a blank, and did not go with the first party, who had a comparatively easy time, as they surprised the Turks and captured the trenches, with the exception as we afterwards discovered of about 30 yards of trench in the left centre. Without capturing this extra line it was impossible to hold the remainder, and Arthur gallantly collected a number of men, and charged forward with the intention of securing this position. It was in this charge that he met his end. Although the conditions in Gallipoli were severe I never heard him once complain. He was ever ready and anxious to perform any work that was required. By his splendid work and control of his men (who speak highly of him and sympathise with you in your loss), he gallantly assisted to hold a position which was recognised by all as being the most difficult of all positions to hold”; and an officer of the 3rd L.H. Field Ambulance (Capt. G. Aberdeen) wrote: “The 15th Battn. had a bad time. It was owing to this fact that maybe none of them have been able to let you know details of Arthur that I am writing this. The 15th Battn. were stationed at Quinn’s Post, probably the most vulnerable and certainly the most dangerous part of our firing line, and had been stationed there almost since the day of landing. The Turkish trenches approach very closely to ours, at one spot being only 20 yards away. They are on the crest and we occupy the side of the hill. From the first day the position has been a real hell for our boys. A moment’s exposure meant a bullet, snipers, machine guns, shrapnel, high explosive, and hundreds of bombs are in almost daily use by the Turks in their endeavours to drive our men out of this important position. But in spite of the fact that about 40 officers and over 1,000 men out of a total of 1,400 have been hit, the 15th Battn. has never yielded up one inch of ground. The performance speaks for itself. Since our landing the Turks have been making persistent counter-attacks, and about 11 May they made a very determined and sustained one. At Quinn’s Post they were driven off time after time, and finally in a fine counter-attack our men went forward and seized their firing trenches. Arthur was in charge of ‘Supports’ who were brought up almost at once to dig in. Our men worked hard to make the trenches good. But the enemy had dug them very cleverly, and when daylight came commenced an enfilade of fire with hidden machine guns. The position soon became untenable. The order was given to retire to our own trenches, and our men obeyed it most unwillingly. Arthur saw all his own men safely started, but on the way back the hail of lead from the machine guns caught him, and in an instant he was gone. The Turkish losses had been so heavy that shortly after this fight they asked for an armistice to bury their dead. This was arranged. It may be some small comfort to you to know that Arthur’s body was recovered by his men, and that he was given a Christian burial by one of our Padres. He lies about 10 yards in front of No. 5 post, Quinn’s Post, a position which will be historic in Australian military history.” He was _unm._

=HINSON, OLIVER FRED=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5073), 180810, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HINTON, ERNEST HENRY=, Officer’s Steward, 3rd Class, L. 3046, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HINTON, SIDNEY ARTHUR=, Acting Bombardier, R.M.A., 12189, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HINVES, ALFRED EDMUND=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 67213), 206243, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HIPPISLEY, HAROLD EDWIN=, 2nd Lieut., 1st. Battn. Gloucester Regt., yr. _s._ of William John Hippisley, of Northam House, Wells, Somerset, Land Agent, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late Samuel Barnes, of Surlingham, Norfolk; _b._ Wells, 3 Sept. 1890; educ. King’s School, Bruton, Somerset, from which he passed the London University Matriculation Examination; and at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, where he was Gold Medallist (Estate Management and Forestry), and obtained the National Diploma of Agriculture; admitted Professional Associate of Surveyors’ Institute and passed Fellowship Examination; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Special Reserve of Officers, Gloucester Regt., from the Royal Agricultural College, O.T.C. 3 Aug. 1912; and was attached to the 1st Battn. on the outbreak of war; went to France with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, of the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914; took part in the Battle of Mons, the subsequent retreat, the fighting on the Marne and the Aisne, and the advance into Belgium, and was killed in action at Langemarck, 23 Oct. 1914, on which occasion his platoon lost three-fifths of its strength, but succeeded in holding the position. Buried near Langemarck. He was an excellent all-round sportsman. He was capt. of the cricket and football teams at King’s School, Bruton, and of the cricket and hockey teams at the R.A.C., Cirencester, and played cricket and hockey for Somerset, and cricket for the United Kingdom. He _m._ at St. Cuthbert’s, Wells, 5 Aug. 1914, Ivy Gwendoline, dau. of the late J. Hussey Cooper, of the Lodge, Wheatley, Oxford; _s.p._

=HIRST, EDWARD=, Sick Berth Steward, 351015, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HISCOX, THOMAS ANDREW=, Private, No. 1369, 15th Battn. (Civil Service Rifles), The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of William Thomas Hiscox, of H.M. Customs and Excise, and 18, Somerville Road, Bishopston, Bristol, by his wife, Jane E., dau. of Andrew Paterson, of Ayr; _b._ Charlestown, co. Cornwall, 4 Feb. 1891; educ. privately at Penzance and at Clark’s College, London; was appointed a 2nd Division Clerk in 1911, and when war began was a Clerk in the Treasury, Whitehall; joined the Civil Service Rifles in 1911; volunteered for foreign service; went to France, 17 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 27 May following, being shot by a sniper while in an advanced trench; _unm._

=HITCHCOCK, EDWARD WILLIAM=, Stoker, P.O. 308869, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=HITCHEN, ARTHUR BENJAMIN=, Rifleman, No. 2804, 1/7th Battn. (Leeds Rifles), West Yorkshire Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of John William Hitchen, of 35, Meanwood Street, Leeds, by his wife, Charlotte Adelaide, dau. of Charles Smith Butcher, of Leeds; _b._ Leeds, 18 Dec. 1896; educ. St. Peter’s Square Board School there; joined the Leeds Rifles, 19 Sept. 1914; went to the Front, 15 April, 1915, and was killed in action at Laventie, 7 May, 1915; _unm._

=HITCHINS, HENRY WILLIAM ERNEST=, Lieut.-Col., Commanding 1st Battn. The Manchester Regt., only _s._ of the late Major-Gen. Henry White Hitchins, R.E., and grandson of the late Lieut.-Gen. Benjamin Hitchins; _b._ London, 31 May, 1865; educ. privately and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 1st Battn. The Manchester Regt. (the Old 63rd), 25 Aug. 1886. He was promoted Capt. 11 May, 1895, and in Nov. 1897, was appointed Adjutant of the 3rd Volunteer (now the 9th Territorial Battn.) of his regt. In addition to his work us Volunteer Adjutant, he voluntarily performed the duties of Adjutant of the Depôt, and made great efforts throughout the district in recruiting. His organising powers were much appreciated by Col. Gunter, Commanding 63rd Regimental District, to whom he generally acted as staff officer. The number of volunteers increased from 600 to over 1,000, which fact proves his zeal and popularity. Later he commanded the Regimental Depot. To quote the local press: “As a Regimental Officer he enlisted the affection and respect of all with whom he had been associated. Officers and privates appreciated his high sense of duty, and loved him for his kindness of disposition and his chivalrous unselfish nature.” On 1 July, 1901, he obtained his Majority, and from 1 June, 1906, was second in command. He was thus 13 years and 9 months a Major, 8 years and 10 months of which as “appointed second in command;” his double period in that appointment being due to the absorbing of the senior second in command of the two battns., which were disbanded in 1906. During his 28 years of close association with the Regt., especially during his long period as Major and second in command, his zeal, good work and influence must have greatly helped to form the character and efficiency of the battn., qualities which were to be so splendidly demonstrated in France and Flanders. In 1906 Major Hitchins proceeded to India, serving with his old battn. the 1st Manchesters; was at Delhi for the Coronation Durbar; and for a time Commandant of the Pachmarhi Depot. On the outbreak of war in 1914, Major Hitchins was temporarily in Command of the 1st Battn., in the absence of the then Lieut.-Col. He was responsible for the mobilising of the battn. which left India with the Lahore Division at the end of August, and was first in action at Picantin on 23 Oct. 1914. In Nov. he was again in temporary command. The battn. had its full share of long and laborious work in the trenches, and on 20 Dec., at the critical fight for Givenchy, it was in action for 30 successive hours, and earned from the Gen. commanding the Lahore Division the name of “The Gallant Manchesters.” In his thanks to them and the 4th Suffolks, the Gen. paid a tribute to their “splendid work and gallant conduct first in recapturing some of the lost trenches at Givenchy on 20 Dec., then in holding those trenches on 21 Dec. against overwhelming attacks of the enemy.” He said: Givenchy was the most important point in the whole of the line held by the Lahore Division, and that its retention in our hands was due to the courage and steadfastness of the officers and men of those two brave battns. The General commanding the Indian Army Corps, addressing the 1st Manchesters, thanked them for “their very fine bit of work in the fight.” He described them as “a very gallant battn. holding the most important point on the right of the British line, and by their gallant conduct in holding on to it, rendering greater service than they probably realised.” Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener, in the House of Lords in Jan. 1915, in his survey of the then recent fighting, mentioned the engagement at Givenchy as the only important event of that period in which the British and German forces were concerned. At the taking of Givenchy, for which the battn. earned this praise, Lieut.-Col. (then Major) Hitchins was in actual command of three and a half out of four double companies of the Regt. During this action he was shot through the thigh. Arriving in England on Christmas Eve he was sent to hospital, where he received his Colonel’s thanks for his good work, and the valuable and very loyal assistance he had given him all along, and he expressed the hope that such “splendid services” would receive reward. On 1 April, 1915, he embarked again for the Front, and on the 19th the Commander-in-Chief inspected the 1st Manchesters, and spoke in the highest terms of their gallant behaviour, and congratulated Major Hitchins on being at the head of such “a splendid Battn.” Subsequently he was appointed to the Lieut.-Colonelcy of his own battn. (being gazetted two days before his death, to date from 10 March), and was in command at the Second Battle of Ypres. Col. Hitchins directed operations till on the night of 26 April, 1915, he was shot through the heart. He was carried by his men to a ruined farm house, where it was ascertained life was extinct. The imperturbable courage and coolness shown by Col. Hitchins impressed all ranks. To quote a brother officer, Capt. Buchan, D.S.O.: “The Colonel was as brave as a lion.” He is justly described as “the gallant Colonel of the Gallant Manchesters,” who met a soldier’s death whilst commanding with conspicuous bravery the battn. he loved so well, who trusted him so thoroughly, and who followed him so loyally to the death. A Military Memorial Service was accorded to Lieut.-Col. Hitchins at the depôt of his regt. at Ashton-under-Lyne, in the presence of the troops, the mayor and corporation and public bodies. Col. Hitchins was twice mentioned in despatches “for gallant and distinguished service in the field,” first on 31 May, 1915, and again on 1 Jan. 1916. General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien specially named the 1st Battn. The Manchester Regt. as deserving of the highest praise for its great services at the end of April, at Ypres. General Sir James Willcocks, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., K.C.S.I., D.S.O., commanding Indian Army Corps, in his personal tribute, wrote: “I had the honour and pleasure of knowing Col. Hitchins and his glorious battn. of the Manchesters very well.... His zeal and affection for his corps were remarkable; he was a very fine specimen of a soldier and a man, and commanded one of the finest battns. I ever served with. It is impossible to beat them at anything, and I always felt sure that any task they had to perform would be carried through, no matter at what cost. Col. Hitchins died as he had always lived, doing his duty nobly.” Lieut.-Gen. Sir Henry Watkis, K.C.B., late commanding Lahore Division, thus expressed himself: “He was an officer whose soldierly qualities came to be recognised at once under the great test of active service.... No one more deserved the promotion he received than Col. Hitchins, who so gallantly led the repeated charges of the battn. which I was so proud to address as ‘The Gallant Manchesters’ on that occasion. Five months afterwards he again led his battn. against the enemy in the second Battle of Ypres.... In him the service and his country lost a very brave officer and gentleman.” Major-Gen. Carnegy, C.B., late commanding the Jullundur Brigade, in his long personal tribute, mentioned: “Col. Hitchins was known as a very gallant officer, frequently exposing himself at the call of duty in the trenches with almost reckless bravery, and consequently was greatly admired by the men. He died as a gallant British officer and gentleman, laying down his life for his country, and I feel I have lost a good friend and comrade.” To these and other great testimonies to his fine qualities as a soldier is added the knowledge that he won the confidence and devotion of his men. A message from His Majesty was received by the family again graciously expressing his sympathy and condolence, and informing them of His Majesty’s high appreciation of the services of the late Lieut.-Col. H. W. E. Hitchins. Col. Hitchins was a zealous Freemason and belonged to several lodges in England and in India. His favourite sport was hunting, he was known as a fine horseman, a keen judge of a good horse, an enthusiastic polo player, he was interested in racing and devoted to animals. Col. Hitchins was _unm._

=HOAD, HENRY JAMES WILLIAM=, Cook’s Mate, M. 3079, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HOAD, PERCY EWART=, Private, No. 2196, 1/5th Battn. The Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of George Hoad, by his wife, Sarah (now wife of (----) Parsons, of White Cottage, The Strand, Rye), dau. of John Hoad; _b._ King’s Gate, Wittersham, co. Kent, 10 July, 1898; educ. Rye; enlisted 15 Aug. 1914; went to France, 10 July, 1915, and was killed in action there by a shell, 28 July following; _unm._

=HOARE, THOMAS=, Private, No. 9067, 2nd Battn. The Buffs (East Kent Regt.), _s._ of James Hoare, of North Street, Sheldwick, Faversham; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 3 May, 1915.

=HOARE, WILLIAM HENRY=, A.B., 238331, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HOBAN, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 6468, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards; _b._ Castlerea, co. Roscommon; enlisted 23 Nov. 1905; served in Egypt, 16 Jan. 1908 to 23 March, 1911, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914; killed in action at La Tretoire, 8 Sept. following. Buried by the side of the road through La Tretoire Wood; _unm._

=HOBBS, ALFRED HERBERT=, Signalman, No. 183651, R.F.R., Ch. 4295, R.N., 2nd _s._ of Harry Edward Hobbs, of 20, North Road, Brighton (for many years second officer of the Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade), by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of William Johnson; _b._ Upper Holloway, 20 Nov. 1877; entered the Navy, 1894; served in the Somaliland Expedition (medal); passed into the Reserve, 24 Nov. 1906, and was caretaker at the Croydon Gas Offices; mobilised Aug. 1914, and was lost on H.M.S. Cressy when that ship was sunk in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. He _m._ at Spurgeon Tabernacle, West Croydon, 10 March, 1904, Frances Kate (102, Albert Road, Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon), 2nd dau. of James Mugridge, of Brighton, and had four children: Herbert Lionel James, _b._ 13 May, 1913; Kathleen Eva Rose, _b._ 7 July, 1907; Vera Irene May, _b._ 24 March, 1909; and Eugenie Violet Joyce, _b._ 7 May, 1911.

=HOBBS, FRANK MATTHEW=, 2nd Lieut., 4th Battn. The Royal Fusiliers, only _s._ of Frank Henry Hobbs, of Carnarvon, Claremont Road, Tunbridge Wells, by his wife, Jane Ann, dau. of Matthew Vowles; _b._ Tunbridge Wells, co. Kent, 5 June, 1895; and was educ. at Ardingly College. There he was in the O.T.C., obtained Certificate A. and won the silver cup three years in succession for efficiency, also the silver medal, and was in the cricket XI and played goal for the College football team. He was also awarded the bronze medal for life saving from drowning, and the certificate as an instructor of the same. On 11 Dec. 1913, he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 4th Royal Fusiliers, and went to France with the first Expeditionary Force on 13 Aug. following. He served through the retreat from Mons, the Battle on the Marne, and retirement on Paris, and was killed at Vailly, near Braisne, during the Battle of the Aisne, 14 Sept. 1914, by shrapnel wounds in the head; _unm._ The late Brigadier-General McMahon wrote of him: “He is a very great loss to me, as he has done his duty most nobly and gallantly, always calm and thoughtful, and a most excellent and promising officer.”

=HOBBS, HERBERT=, Leading Signalman (R.F.R., Ch. B. 4295), 193651 H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HOBBS, JAMES WILLIAM BIGGS=, Gunner, R.M.A., 12509, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HOBBS, JOHN=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.), yst. _s._ of the late William Hobbs, of Toddington, co. Bedford, Butcher, by his wife, Millicent, dau. of John Carr; _b._ Toddington, 8 Feb. 1890; educ. Toddington National School; enlisted in Sept. 1908, in the Royal Scots, won his third, second and first certificates in the Army, and left for India in Oct. 1900; while there was sent to a college at Bangalore to qualify for the higher education, and received his certificate for acting schoolmaster. On the outbreak of war he returned to England with his regt. and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 14 Dec. 1914, leaving for France 19 Dec. the same year. He died of wounds received in action at Armentières 28 June, 1915, and was buried at Bailleul. Lieut. Hobbs was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field and received the Military Cross in June. He _m._ at St. Mary Bolton, South Kensington, 26 Nov. 1914, Helen Coote (8, Crown Road, Maldon), 2nd dau. of Arthur Brady, of Maldon, Essex; _s.p._ She is now a nurse at the Essex County Hospital.

=HOBBS, JOSEPH LEVINE=, Sailmaker, 167871, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._