Part 90

The enemy suddenly opened up with a very heavy barrage on the railway station, and a call was made for 20 men of the Durham L.I. to reinforce another unit in a house which was about 50 yards from the railway embankment. Major Hall immediately got on to the railway, and displaying the utmost coolness and disregard for personal danger, got together some men with a L.G. and M.G., and led them forward over the embankment and across a road, which was being badly sniped, to the assistance of the Regt. occupying a house, and firing on an enemy M.G.

This Officer again returned from the house and brought forward more men, and at the same time took across a most important message from Brigade H.Q., and at this time the occupied house was then being shelled very heavily by the enemy, he again came back to the railway, and took across to the French troops on the right a message as to the dispositions, etc., of our own men, he then returned for the third time to the house, and organised the men he had led across, and rendered most valuable services in withdrawing men of another unit and helping the wounded.

Without doubt, the cool and brilliant example set by this Officer at a very critical moment inspired all the men with the greatest confidence.

B. C. JAMES, Lieut.-Colonel, Cmdg. 22nd Bn. Durham L.I. (Pioneers).

=HALLETT, ARTHUR=, Ship’s Steward’s Assistant, M. 1451, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HALLETT, THEO BENNETT=, Trooper, No. 1884, Royal Horse Guards, yst. _s._ of the late George Henry Hallett, for many years H.B.M. Vice-Consul at Ghent, by his wife, Clara, dau. of the late John Lewis, of St. Albans; _b._ Ghent, 22 Feb. 1897; educ. L’Athenée Royal, Ghent; after the German occupation came to England with his family, 21 Aug. 1914; volunteered and enlisted in the Royal Horse Guards, Oct. 1914; went to France, April, 1915, and was killed in action on the Menin Road, Hooge, near Ypres, 13 May, 1915, while crossing an open space with his regt. with three machine-guns firing on them; _unm._

=HALLETT, WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman, 202703, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HALLIDAY, JAMES STOREY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5791), 177204, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=HALLIDAY, JOHN ALEXANDER=, Capt., 11th Hussars, eldest _s._ of the late John Halliday, of Chicklade House, co. Wilts (_d._ 13 Feb. 1915), by his wife, Maria (_d._ 25 Feb. 1916), dau. of Richard Brown, of Ebbw Vale, Monmouth; _b._ 10 April, 1875; educ. Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. from Militia to the 11th Hussars, then in India, 5 Jan. 1898, and promoted Lieut. 3 March, 1900, and Capt. 18 March, 1905; served in the South African War on the Staff as Special Service Officer, 25 July to 22 Aug. 1901, and as Signalling Officer, 23 Aug. 1901 to 14 June, 1902 (Queen’s Medal with five clasps); was Adjutant 11th Hussars, and afterwards of the Leicestershire Yeomanry; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, 15 Aug. 1914; served through the retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Marne, the 1st Battle of Ypres, &c., and died in the Duchess of Westminster’s Hospital at Le Touquet, 13 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action at Messines, 31 Oct. previously; _unm._ Capt. Halliday was a good all-round athlete, and was in both cricket and football elevens at Harrow; capt. of the Gymnasium eight; champion heavy weight boxer for the Public Schools Competition at Aldershot, 1894, and threw the hammer for Cambridge in the University Sports, 1896–7. He was well known in the hunting-field in Ireland and South Wiltshire.

=HALSALL, EDWARD=, Private, No. 3817, 10th Battn. (Scottish) King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), only surviving _s._ of Frederick Halsall, of Hougoumont, St. James’ Road, New Brighton, co. Chester, General Merchant, by his wife, Caroline Elizabeth, dau. of Frederick (and Caroline) Middleton; _b._ Rock Ferry, co. Chester, 27 Oct. 1882; educ. Wallasey Grammar School; joined the Liverpool Scottish when the Battn. was first formed and served five years. He was in business with the Johnstone Line, Liverpool, and on the outbreak of war when some of their ships were taken over by the Government for military purposes, asked for and obtained permission to join the s.s. Rowanmore to assist in transport work. At the end of two months the Rowanmore was recalled and he then rejoined his old regt., and though offered a commission elected to serve as a private. He left for France in Jan., and was shot by a sniper in action near Ypres, 17 March, 1915; _unm._ Halsall was a member of the New Brighton Football Club and of the West Cheshire Yachting Club, and in connection with the latter had held the cup and won several prizes; he was also a keen golfer.

=HALSEY, JOHN=, Stoker, Petty Officer (R.F.R., B. 3747), 299252, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HALSTEAD, ARTHUR FREDERICK=, Lieut., 15th Rifle Brigade, attached to 1st Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, only _s._ of Arthur Frederick Halstead, of Sale, co. Chester, M.I.Mech.E., A.C.I.S.; _b._ Rosario de Sante Fé, Argentine Republic, 26 May, 1893; educ. High School, Sale, and Shrewsbury School; was an articled pupil with the firm of Jones, Crewdson and Youatt, of Manchester, chartered accountants, but enlisted in the 8th Rifle Brigade following the outbreak of war, 30 Aug. 1914; was given a commission two months later, 1 Nov., and promoted Lieut. the 14th of that month. He was killed in action on the night of 28–29 June, 1915, during a counter-attack by the Turks on the British lines, and was buried on the west side of the Saghir (Dene) Mullah, Gallipoli; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote to his father that on this occasion “he was sent out with a platoon to reinforce the left of our line.... It was a very dark night and a very unfortunate one, as we lost 10 officers killed and one wounded”; and added: “The regt. being in the open and enveloped by Turks, I should like to tell you it was due to the gallantry of your son and other officers on that flank that a very serious situation did not arise.” Sergt. P. Doyle, No. 7 Platoon, X Coy., in sending Lieut. Halstead’s identity disc, said “his untimely end created a terrible blow to us (the platoon), who absolutely idolised and admired him for his fearlessness. There is scarcely a day that passes in the trenches but what his name is not mentioned in loving memory by those with whom he came in contact.” Lieut. Halstead was a fine athlete and had won his colours at Shrewsbury both for long distance running and cricket. He was a member of the Liverpool Ramblers, Brooklands Cricket Club and Sale Golf Club.

=HAMBRIDGE, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 399 No. 1 Coy., 9th Battn. The Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Thomas Hambridge, of Oxford, Gas Stoker, by his wife, Frances, dau. of William Harper, of Oxford; _b._ Chelsea, 9 Nov. 1871; educ. Edinburgh Road Board School, Notting Hill; enlisted about 1887; and served 10 years with the colours, buying his discharge in 1897; joined the National Reserve on its inception; rejoined the colours 29 Dec. 1914; and died in the Military Hospital, Neasden, 4 April, 1915, of syncope. He _m._ at Christ Church, North Kensington, 29 Dec. 1889, Emma Elizabeth (16, Appleford Road, North Kensington), dau. of Robert Rogers, and had eight children; William. L.-Corpl., No. 6347, 3rd Dragoon Guards, now on active service, _b._ 9 Nov. 1890, _m._; Frederick Thomas, _b._ 6 April, 1893, _m._; Joseph Robert, _b._ 17 Aug. 1905; Amy Emma, _b._ 6 May, 1895, _m._ to a sailor; Elizabeth Rose, b. 9 Aug. 1897, _m._ soldier; Eleanor Mary, _b._ 20 Feb. 1900; Ada Alexandra, _b._ 1 Dec. 1902; and Vera Grace, _b._ 26 March, 1914.

=HAMER, HUBERT JAMES TUDOR=, Lieut., 108th Infantry, attached 101st Grenadiers, Indian Army, 2nd _s._ of the late John Parry Hamer, of Glan-yr-Afon Hall, co. Salop, J.P. (formerly 8th King’s Regt.), by his wife, Sarah Margaret (Bronheulog, Llansilin, Oswestry), dau. of the late Owen Davies Tudor, Barrister-at-Law; _b._ Glan-yr-Afon Hall aforesaid, 12 Feb. 1883; educ. privately owing to delicate health; enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1904, having previously held a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 4th (Militia) Battn. of that regt.; served for three years in the ranks, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to his father’s old regt., the King’s Liverpool Regt., 28 Aug. 1907. He obtained his transfer to the Indian Army in Feb. 1909, entering the 108th Infantry, in which he was promoted Lieut. 28 Nov. following. In Sept. 1914, he was attached to the 101st Grenadiers (link battn. to the 108th Infantry) for service in East Africa, and was killed in action at Tanga while leading his men in the attack on that place, 4 Nov. 1914. The official communiqué states that “as an important German railway terminus was reported to be weakly held, a force was sent from British East Africa to seize it. On the evening of 2 Nov. one and a-half battns. were landed within 2 miles of the place and at once advanced. This small force became heavily engaged just outside the town, but as the enemy were in much superior strength it was compelled to fall back and await reinforcements. At 11 a.m. on the 4th the attack was renewed. When within 800 yards of the position the troops engaged came under very heavy fire. On the left flank, in spite of heavy casualties, the 101st Grenadiers actually entered the town and crossed bayonets with the enemy. The North Lancashire Regt. and Kashmir Rifles on the right pushed on in support under very heavy fire, and also reached the town, but found themselves opposed by tiers of fire from the houses, and were eventually compelled to fall back to cover, 500 yards from enemy’s position. The losses were so heavy and the position so strong that it was considered useless to renew the attack, and the force re-embarked and returned to its base to prepare for future operations. From recent reports just received the total casualties in this unsuccessful operation were 795, including 141 British officers and men.” Lieut.-Col. Baldock, 108th Infantry, wrote that Hamer was “a very able and zealous officer, and it is only a few weeks ago that the good work done by him in the training of the regimental signallers was the subject of favourable comment in regimental orders. As his commanding officer I always found him keen on his work and honest and straightforward in all his actions, in fact, a true officer and a true gentleman, whose loss will be deeply felt by the regt.”; and Capt. M. L. A. Gompertz, 108th Infantry, attached 101st Grenadiers, in a letter giving particulars of the action, wrote: “Unfortunately the regt. was widely extended and we were on opposite flanks, so that I can only give you hearsay news about your son, and as after the engagement, which was extremely heavy, we had to retire, we were unable to recover our dead, who were buried by the Germans (who treated our wounded with the greatest courtesy and kindness). I could not see his body. We lost seven British and six native officers, but one of the native officers who was with your son escaped, wounded. He tells me your son was leading his men on when he was shot in the throat and died instantaneously.” Two of his brothers are on active service: John Lawton Parry Hamer, of Glan-yr-Afon Hall, Lieut., 4th Battn. King’s Shropshire L.I. from 1909, now Capt. 2nd Garrison Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt.; and Lieut.-Commander Richard Lloyd Hamer, R.N., lately Flag Lieut.-Commander to Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Peirse, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies.

=HAMER, WILLIAM SHADRACH=, A.B., 215151, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HAMILTON, CHARLES=, Stoker (Native), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HAMILTON, FREDERICK CHARLES=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 6099), 192278, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAMILTON, JOHN GEORGE=, Stoker, R.N.R., 2128T, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAMILTON, ROBERT, JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8575), S.S. 104942, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=HAMILTON, ROBERT PEAT=, Private, No. 29555, 16th Battn. (Canadian Scottish) Canadian Expeditionary Force, only _s._ of William Mackintosh Hamilton, of Forres, co. Moray, draper, by his wife, Helen Anne, dau. of Robert Peat of Forres, Solicitor; _b._ Forres, 16 Aug. 1881; educ. Forres Academy; was for several years in the office of Messrs. T. & R. Ranken, W.S., Edinburgh, and passed as a solicitor before going to Canada in 1913. He enlisted at Vancouver on the outbreak of the war in Aug. 1914; came over with the first contingent in Oct., trained on Salisbury Plain during the winter; went to France Feb. 1915, and was killed in action, near Ypres, 22 April, 1915. He was a Brother of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No. 1. He _m._ at Edinburgh, 1 Nov. 1914, Mary Cowie Ford, yst. dau. of the late Robert Lawrie, of Edinburgh.

=BUCHANAN-BAILLIE-HAMILTON, ARTHUR=, Capt., 1st Battn. Seaforth Highlanders, 2nd surviving _s._ of the late John Baillie Buchanan-Baillie-Hamilton, of Arnprior, co. Perth, J.P., D.L. [gt.-gdson. of the Hon. George Baillie, of Jerviswood, yr. brother of Thomas, 7th Earl of Haddington], by his wife, Catherine Elizabeth Grace (Cambusmore, Callander, and Strathyre), only dau. and heir of Alexander Buchanan, of Arnprior; _b._ Cambusmore, Callander, co. Perth, 2 June, 1876; educ. Winchester. On the outbreak of the Boer War he joined the City of London Imperial Volunteers in Jan. 1900, taking part in operations in the Orange Free State, the Transvaal (including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill, and Lydenberg), and Cape Colony (Queen’s medal with five clasps). Gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs), 22 May, 1901, he was employed with the West African Frontier Force from Nov. 1902 to March, 1906, rendering signal service in the Kano-Sokoto Campaign (medal and clasp), and was promoted Lieut. 17 April, 1905, and received his company 8 Nov. 1911. From March, 1911, to March, 1914, he was Adjutant of the 6th Battn. Black Watch, Perthshire Territorial Force. Arriving with his regt. in Flanders in Oct. 1914, he was constantly in the trenches from that date, including the fighting before and at Neuve Chapelle, till he fell leading his company into action at the commencement of the attack on Festubert, 9 May, 1915. Buried south of Neuve Chapelle, close to the La Bassée Road. Capt. A. B.-Baillie-Hamilton was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915. He _m._ at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, 8 March, 1906, Ina Erskine, dau. of Sir Malcolm McNeill, C.B., Edinburgh, and niece of the late Sir John McNeill, of Colonsay, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., V.C.; _s.p._ Two of Capt. B.-Baillie-Hamilton’s brothers, Commander M. B.-Baillie-Hamilton, R.N., and Major N. A. B.-Baillie-Hamilton, Black Watch, are now (1916) serving with the Forces.

=HAMMOND, FREDERICK=, Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 926), 283493, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAMMOND, GEORGE THOMAS=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 7153), 192160, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAMMOND, GILBERT PHILIP=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, elder _s._ of the late Frederick Hammond, formerly a partner in the firm of Hammond & Co., Bankers, of Newmarket, by his wife, Florence Amy (The Cottage, Great Finborough), dau. of the Rev. John Denny Gilbert, Chedgrove Manor, Norfolk; _b._ Newmarket, co. Cambridge, 24 Nov. 1891; educ. Sandroyd, Cobham, Surrey, and Culvers Close, Winchester, where he played football for Commoners XV’s, and was described by the school magazine as one who is “never beaten and knows no fear”; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 2nd K.O.S.B. from Special Reserve, 4 Dec. 1912; was in Dublin with his regt. during the street fighting in July, 1914, and gave evidence at the subsequent inquiry; went to France with the Expeditionary Force the following month, and was killed at the Battle of Le Cateau, 27 Aug. 1914, his Coy. being cut off during the retreat; _unm._ A brother officer wrote: “He showed great bravery in the fight at Mons, and saved three women from a house under very heavy shell fire.”

=HAMMOND, HARRY=, Blacksmith, 341183, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAMMOND, MARK=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1379), 197787, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HAMMOND, SAMUEL HENRY=, A.B., 195418 (Chatham), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HAMMOND, THOMAS VERRAN=, Private, No. 406, 2nd Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of William Charles Hammond, of Clyde, Australia, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of (--) Verran; _b._ Orange, New South Wales, 21 July, 1894. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, and left with the 2nd Battn. for the Dardanelles, where he was wounded in action. He died, after having his leg amputated, at Valletta Hospital, Malta, 24 July, 1915, and was buried in Malta; _unm._

=HANCOCK, ALBERT EDWARD=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 24704 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=HANCOCK, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Private, R.M.L.I., 7691 (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1050), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HANCOCK, ERNEST WILLIAM=, Signalman, 236455, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HANCOCK, JOHN=, Ordinary Seaman, R.N.V.R. (Sussex), 296, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=HANCOCK, RALPH ESCOTT, D.S.O.=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Devonshire Regt., only _s._ of Francis Escott Hancock, of Ford, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, by his wife, Guita, dau. of Patrick Vans Agnew Reid; _b._ Llandaff, co. Glamorgan, 20 Dec. 1887; educ. Rugby; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 2nd Battn. Devonshire Regt. 29 Jan. 1908, and promoted Lieut. 1 Feb. 1911; served with his regt. at Crete, Malta, and Alexandria, returning to the depôt at Exeter in 1912; went to France, 30 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Festubert, 29 Oct. 1914, whilst endeavouring to reinforce another company who were in difficulties. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, and was awarded the D.S.O., having “on 23 Oct. displayed conspicuous gallantry, in leaving his trench under very heavy fire, and going back some 60 yards over absolutely bare ground to pick up Corpl. Warwick, who had fallen whilst coming up with a party of reinforcements. Lieut. Hancock carried this non-commissioned officer to the corner of a haystack, and then returned to his trench.” At Rugby he played for two seasons in the first XI, and at Malta played in the polo team that won the Regimental Cup, and also captained the Army Polo Team _v._ the Navy at Malta. He won several prizes for rifle shooting, and played cricket and football for the County of Somerset. He was a well-known follower of the West Somerset and East Devon Foxhounds, and won the East Devon Heavyweight Point-to-Point in 1913 and 1914, on horses taught and trained by himself. He _m._ at Milverton, 17 Sept. 1913, Mary Hamilton, dau. of the Rev. Philip Palfrey Broadmead, of Olands, Milverton, Somerset, and left a son, Patrick Frank, _b._ 20 June, 1914.

=HANCOCK, WALTER=, Corpl., No. 1603, 14th Battn. (Mounted Military Police) Australian Imperial Force, only _s._ of the late William George Hancock, of 379, High Street, Brentford, Refreshment House Keeper, by his wife, Fanny (27, Wingfield Place, Halfway Street, Sidcup, Kent), dau. of William Holness, of Hartford; _b._ Mile End Road, London, 26 Feb. 1887; educ. Private School (Mrs. Saunders), Brentford; went to Australia, 23 April, 1912, and settled at Sandringham; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and enlisted in the Commonwealth Force, Sept. 1914; left for Egypt, Jan. 1915, and died in No. 15 General Hospital, Alexandria, 8 Jan. 1916, of enteric fever contracted while on active service; _unm._

=HANDFIELD, CHARLES REGINALD=, Corpl., No. 579, Natal Light Horse, 6th _s._ of the late Frederick Oliver Handfield, by his wife, Mary Ellen (Hampton, near Melbourne), dau. of Edward Tatham, of Leeds, England; _b._ at South Yarra, Melbourne, 26 Aug. 1878; educ. East Malvern Grammar School; went to South Africa 1901, joined the Natal Light Horse 1914 at outbreak of war, and died of wounds received at the Battle of Gibeon, German South-West Africa, 6 May, 1915; _unm._

=HANDLEY, THOMAS FREDERICK JAMES=, Driver, No. 2225, Kent Fortress R.E. (T.F.), _s._ of the late Thomas Richard Handley, East Surrey Regt. (who died at Moori River, 29 May, 1900, in the South African War), by his wife, Eliza; _b._ Old Kent Road, London, S.E., 23 April, 1896; educ. High Brooms Council School, Tunbridge Wells; was in the employ of the Tunbridge Wells Co-operative Society; enlisted 25 May, 1915; left England for the East 20 Sept. 1915, and was drowned in a collision in H.M.S. Hythe, 28 Oct. 1915; _unm._

=HANDS, ARTHUR=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1393), 126838, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HANDYSIDE, GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4304), S.S. 102571, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HANES, GEORGE=, C.P.O., 151083, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HANKINSON, HARRY=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 109526, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HANLON, WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2161), 228961, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HANNA, JOHN WEIR=, Leading Seaman, S.S. 2626, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.