Part 96

=HAYTHORNTHWAITE, RYCHARDE MEAD=, 2nd Lieut., Special Reserve, 3rd. attd. 2nd. Battn. The East Kent Regiment (The Buffs), elder _s._ of the Rev. John Parker Haythornthwaite, of Agra Lodge, Northwood. Middlesex, M.A., Principal of St. John’s College, Agra, 1890–1911; Fellow of Allahabad University; by his wife, Izset, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., dau. of Samuel Mead, of Stratford-on-Avon; _b._ Agra, India, 4 Jan. 1894; educ. C.M.S. Children’s Home, Limpsfield; Haileybury College (Scholar, Head of the School 1912–13; Colour-Sergeant O.T.C.), and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (Oct. 1913–July, 1914, Exhibitioner in History); gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Buffs, 15 Aug. 1914; trained at Dover Sept. 1914–May, 1915; went to the front on 5 May, and was killed in action at the Second Battle of Ypres on the 24th of that month; _unm._ He was buried outside the garden gate of a ruined cottage on the right-hand side of the Menin Road, about 1,000 yards beyond the level crossing of the Ypres-Roulois Railway in one of three graves. In a letter written to his parents the day he was killed he said: “At 2.30 a.m. this morning the Germans started a terrific bombardment, using their vile gas. Our lads were splendid and stuck it. About 5.30 a.m. we got a message to reinforce the firing line, with my Company, ‘B.’ Unfortunately there was very bad communication, and our 1st Platoon did not reinforce. I went out to try and find out what was happening, and worked my way up to the front line, about 1,000 yards ahead, and found out what was happening, and then returned to our trenches. ‘B’ Company immediately pushed forward, as the line wanted reinforcing, but I stayed back to report to Headquarters. After doing that I started with one other fellow to work my way up. The shrapnel was terrific, but our luck was in, and we reached a ruined house just behind the firing line, and found there a good many wounded, poor beggars. I got a stretcher party together and we pulled in several badly wounded fellows in a field, but unfortunately they sniped at us, the brutes! Two of our poor chaps were hit. Since then we have done what we can to make them comfortable, but it is awfully hard for them. We can do so little for them till dark, and even then it isn’t safe. The shelling is something terrific, one burst on this house knocking bits over our wounded, and gave a few more nasty cuts. All we can do is to keep boiling water--it is not safe to drink otherwise--and give them sips of tea and Bovril, of which we have luckily got a certain amount. Unfortunately it is very hot, and their thirst must be terrific. I know mine is. It is just that fiendish gas. I have had nothing to eat since 7 p.m. last night, it is now 4 p.m. Only a few sips of different things, and this gas keeps up a horrible choking feeling, which prevents one working as hard as one wants to. What will happen to us I do not know. I think we are advancing now, and in that case all ought to be all right”; a Sergt.-Major W. Dunlop, Durham L.I., wrote: “I was with him on that memorable day. ‘Whit Monday,’ for about 10½ hours, at about 500 yds. from the Germans, without a British soldier in front and about 1,000 yds. from the nearest troops behind, attending to the wounded. First, I set away with a stretcher, my companion was either shot or fainted, so I went across to the ruins of an old cottage. There were a dozen or so wounded, with a wounded Corporal trying to dress the other poor souls. I could get no assistance there, so had to go to our reserves behind for someone to help me to get the stretcher in. I returned with two brave chaps, and on my return met Lieut. Haythornthwaite. He asked particulars and said it was certain death to venture out. I said, ‘I’m risking it.’ His answer was, ‘If you go, I’m coming also.’ The four of us set out, but could not find man or stretcher, and it was only by the protection of God Himself that we returned, for nothing human could have protected us from the murderous fire the brutes sent towards us, but not one of us was hit, thanks to God. It was after that I found the qualities of your son. The dressings of the wounded were not as they should have been, bandaged by little experienced hands, so your son and myself set about to try to stop the bleeding of the wounded.... After a while we got all made as comfortable as we could under the circumstances.... So he set to, and got a fire going, and we got some Bovril made. It was a God-send for the poor souls, as the water was not fit to drink if it had not been boiled, and the continual cry of the wounded was ‘water.’ It was during the time the water was boiling I saw your son sitting and writing the letter you eventually got, but the contents he did not mention at the time. After a while, the counter-attack started. Our troops started to advance. What a sight! Men falling right and left, but still the advance continued until they reached our cottage. Your son collected men on one side of the cottage, myself the other, and got them to dig themselves in so as to stop the brutes from advancing, and after a while we got a position formed which seemed strong enough to hold them in check. And then came more work, the poor souls who had been shot were either helped, or carried to us for ‘First Aid,’ and on several occasions your son and myself went out and brought men in, and it was on one of these that he got hit, the bullet passing through his left shoulder. I was dressing a chap with a finger blown off when it happened, but two men--I don’t know their names--carried him in, and set about dressing him. He called for me, and asked me to adjust his bandages, and said, ‘If there are any men about doing nothing tell them to try and get a rifle as every man is needed.’.... He was hit somewhere about 5 p.m., and after he was wounded he was as calm and cool as ever. He ordered a man--I don’t know his name--to take everything from his pockets, spectacles included, with the instructions, ‘See these things handed over to my people.’ The man repeated the words as he gave me the things I forwarded on to you.” Private James White, Royal Fusiliers, who brought him into the ruined cottage after he was wounded, in an interview with Lieut. Haythornthwaite’s father said that shortly after 4 p.m. the British counter attack began in great force. The Northumbrian Brigade led the attack, and one platoon as it drew near to the ruined cottage in one of its rushes, was left without its officer. He fell wounded and was brought in and laid with the others. Lieut. Haythornthwaite then said to him “Shall I take your men on?” He went forth to do so, and was almost immediately shot himself, and was left on the field until brought in by Private James White. This account is not inconsistent with that given by Sergt-Major Dunlop, as he admits that he did not actually see him fall, as he was busily engaged with the wounded. Lieut. Haythornthwaite was a keen athlete and long-distance runner at Haileybury. He won the half mile, under 16, in 1910, and the open mile in 1912. He also won his College Colours at Sidney Sussex, Cambridge, for athletics and football, and organised the Regimental Sports whilst in training at Dover.

=HAYWARD, ARTHUR CHARLES=, Private, No. 51231, 16th Battn. (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Richard William Hayward, of The Mount, Hooe, Battle, co. Sussex, Mercantile Clerk, by his first wife, Susannah, dau. of Joseph Bleak; _b._ The Mount, Hooe, 29 Oct. 1882; educ. Castle Gate School, Lewes; and went to Canada in 1904. He had always had a strong desire for a military career, and had been a member of a voluntary corps both in England and Canada. On the outbreak of the European War he threw up his post of ranch manager in California, proceeding to Victoria, B.C., where he enlisted with the Victoria Fusiliers, and was one of a draft from that regt. despatched to England to reinforce Princess Patricia’s L.I., but on arrival on Salisbury Plain was attached to the 16th Battn. Canadian Scottish. He took part in their historic action in the wood near Ypres for recovery of the French guns on the night of 22–23 April, 1915, receiving his mortal wound immediately after that action, in which he had borne a gallant part. He was buried in the new military cemetery at Poperinghe; _unm._

=HAYWARD, HARRY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6706), 220756, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAYWARD, THOMAS ALEXANDER=, A.B., S.S. 3057, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HAZEL, JOHN THOMAS=, Private, No. 12019, 5th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of the late William Hazel, of 40, Sutherland Street, Middlesbrough, by his wife, Mary Eliza (43, Lloyd Street, Middlesbrough), dau. of James Hutchinson, of Whitby; _b._ Middlesbrough, 13 Jan. 1891; educ. Linthorpe Schools there; went to Canada in 1908; and was a Farmer; volunteered after the outbreak of war and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force; came over with the first contingent; went to France in Feb. 1915, and died in No. 11 General Hospital, Boulogne, 26 May, 1915, of wounds received in action; _unm._

=HAZELDEN, JAMES=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 4555), 167431, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=HEAD, GEORGE FREDERICK=, Rifleman, No. 1874, 1/18th (London Irish Rifles) Battn. The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of George Head, of Vine Cottage, Limpsfield, Surrey, Decorator, by his wife, Annie M., dau. of Walter Miles; _b._ Limpsfield, 17 Dec. 1894; educ. there; was a Draper’s Assistant at Sir Frederick Cook’s, in St. Paul’s Churchyard; volunteered on the declaration of war and joined the London Irish Rifles, 11 Aug. 1914; went to France, 9 March, and was killed in action at Loos, 26 Sept. 1915; _unm._ Buried at Noeux-les-Mines. His officer (to whom he was acting as servant) wrote: “He was a splendid little fellow. Absolutely without fear and the cheeriest man in the Company. He was by my side as we left the front line trench for the attack on Loos, and he fell very early in the charge.”

=HEAD, REGINALD=, Capt., 1st Battn. The Border Regt., only _s._ of the late John Oswald Head, of Hackwood, J.P., by his wife, Dorothy (Hackwood, Hexham), dau. of William Kirsopp; _b._ Hackwood, co. Northumberland, 25 Nov. 1885; educ. Harrow and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to The Border Regt., 24 Jan. 1906, and promoted Lieut., 13 April, 1909, and Capt., 20 Dec. 1914, and served with his regt. in India and Burma. On the outbreak of the European war he was serving with the Border Regt. in Maymyo, Burma, and in Jan. 1915, returned with it to England, where they were stationed at Rugby, afterwards going out with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25–26 April, 1915, and was killed in action near Krithia, 28 April, 1915. He _m._ at St. Ambrose Church, Bournemouth, 5 Feb. 1914, Agnes Margaret (Sedaw, West Cliff Road, Bournemouth), yst. dau. of the late William Naunton Waller, of Bealings, Suffolk, D.L., and had a dau., Margaret Dorothy Pamela, _b._ 21 March, 1915.

=HEAD, WILLIAM ARTHUR=, Private, No. 169, B Coy., 4th Battn. 1st Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, eldest _s._ of the late William Head, of Bristol, Carpenter, by his wife, Charlotte (Stafford Street, Bristol), dau. of Robert Groves; _b._ Bristol, 26 April, 1890; educ. there; went to Australia 4 Oct. 1912, and entered the service of the Hospital at Parramatta; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force, 17 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt in Oct.; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, and was killed in action there, 10 June, 1915; _unm._ Buried in a small cemetery behind the firing line. Major Charles M. Macnaughton wrote to Mrs. Head: “You have probably before this heard of the death of your son, and how he died gallantly fighting.... Your son very nobly stopped with me until the stretcher-bearers came and took me down to the beach. Believe me, I am very grateful ..., and as I am unable to thank him personally, I write to you to express my gratitude.”

=HEAL, WILLIAM FRANCIS=, A.B., J. 13229, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=HEALY, THOMAS=, Private, No. 5195, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, eldest _s._ of Edward Healy, of Russelstown, Milltown, co. Galway, Farmer, by his wife, Mary, dau. of James Hughes, of Ballyglass, co. Mayo; _b._ Russelstown, March, 1876: educ. Dalgin School; enlisted 1 Oct. 1903, and after serving his time joined the Reserve; was employed in some iron works at Sheffield. On mobilisation he rejoined, went to the Front 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Rentel, 1 Nov. 1914; _unm._

=HEARN, CHARLES JAMES=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./8592, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HEARN, EDGAR FRANK=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7604), S.S. 102977, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HEARN, JAMES SAMUEL=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 10371), 299889, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was sunk in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=HEASTMAN, JOHN EDWARD=, Private, No. 12/1428, 16th Waikato Regt., Auckland Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, eldest surviving _s._ of the late John Edward Heastman, of Clapton, by his wife, Sarah, dau. of Christopher Saunders; _b._ Clapton, London, N.E., 24 Oct. 1887; educ. at Homerton Row Elementary School; was a Dairy Farmer. Served some time in the Essex Territorials; went to New Zealand in 1911, and finally settled at Hobsonville, Auckland; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on or about 24 Oct.; left for Egypt with the second reinforcement in Dec.; was drafted into the main body in or about March, 1915, being one of five men chosen to reinforce the main body; was taken ill and had to remain in hospital during the landing of the main body at Gallipoli, 25–26 April, 1915, but joined his regt. there 8 May, 1915, and was reported missing after the fighting on 8 Aug. following. On 25 Jan. 1916, he was reported “believed killed in action at Gallipoli on 8 Aug. 1915” by a Court of Inquiry held in Egypt. He was _unm._

=HEATH, ALBERT ARTHUR=, Private, No. 11854, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, eldest _s._ of Arthur Heath (18, Wilson Street, Winchmore Hill, N.), Gardener at Carter Page’s, 52–53, London Wall, by his wife, Kate, dau. of the late Jesse Knight, of Lodsworth, Sussex; _b._ Chichester 8 May, 1896; educ. Central Boys’ School there, and worked first at a Dairy Farm and then in a Greengrocery business at Winchmore Hill. After the outbreak of war he enlisted on 9 Sept. 1914, and made rapid progress with his training and was complimented by his company officer for good marksmanship. He left England with a draft for his regt. on or about 14 Jan., went straight into the firing line and was killed in action at Cuinchy, 7 Feb. 1915; _unm._

=HEATH, ALFRED JAMES=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., Ch. B. 10771), 205750, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HEATH, GERALD COUSSMAKER=, Corpl., No. 29524, 16th Battn. (72nd Canadian Seaforths) Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd _s._ of the late Col. Lewis Forbes Heath, Indian Army, formerly commanding 10th (now 110th) Mahrattas, by his wife, Susan Wilhelmina (Failand, Grosvenor, Paignton, Devon), dau. of Ezekiel Charles Petgrave; _b._ Mount Abu, Rajputana, India, 3 May, 1888; educ. Wellington College, Berks, and on leaving there went out to Canada, and for the five years before the war had been in Vancouver City, where he joined the 72nd Seaforths in 1911. On the declaration of war in August, 1914, he volunteered for service overseas, and left Canada with the first Canadian Contingent on 3 Oct. 1914; went to France early in Feb. 1915, and was mortally wounded in action at Langemarck, 25 April, 1915. He was carried off the field, but died shortly afterwards without recovering consciousness; _unm._ The Major of his regt. wrote: “His work in the hard fighting in which we were engaged on 22 April, and afterwards, was most excellent, and he had been noted for distinction for his gallant conduct.” Another officer who joined with reinforcements after the action, wrote: “Major Rae and all his comrades have nothing but praise for his work. Several times he volunteered and took out stretcher parties with wounded officers and men, always under fire. His efforts were evidently of the finest. He has been recommended for distinguished service recognition.” Heath was a fine athlete, and won many medals and prizes for hurdling and the broad jump. In 1912 he won the championship of British Columbia for hurdling, and the following year became champion hurdler of Canada. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatches [London Gazette, 22 June, 1915].

=HEATH, VOLTELIN PERCY=, 2nd Lieut., Royal Horse Guards, only _s._ of Sir James Heath, of Oxenden Hall, Market Harborough, 1st Bart., M.P., North-West Stafford (1892–1906), by his wife, Euphemia Celina, 2nd dau. of Pieter Gerhard Van-der-Byl, of Cape Town, and Elsenwood, co. Surrey; _b._ Clayton, Newcastle, co. Stafford, 10 Jan. 1889; educ. Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford; gazetted to the Royal Horse Guards, 21 Oct. 1911, and promoted Lieut., 13 April, 1912; left for France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914; was wounded in action at Néry, near Compiègne, 1 Sept., during the retreat from Mons, and was taken to the Château Baron, where he died, 4 Sept. following, and was buried in the garden of the Château; _unm._ His Colonel, Viscount Crichton, wrote: “Volly was wounded yesterday in a skirmish we had. He led his troop most gallantly, and first got a bullet in his thigh, breaking the bone, and then was hit again in the head, so we had to leave him behind. The doctor tells me when he got up to him he was conscious and most awfully plucky.” Lieut. Heath took a Second in History Schools at Oxford, and was a great leader of all social and political movements of the time. He was Master of the Oxford Drag for two years, and Capt. of the polo team, and in 1914 played for his regt. in the Inter-regimental Polo Tournament.

=HEATLY, HENRY FRANCIS=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Yorkshire Regt. (attd. 2nd Battn. East Lancashire Regt.), _s._ of Henry Louis Heatly, of 89, Tufnell Park Road, London, Artist, by his wife, Kate Sophia, dau. of Charles Simmonds; _b._ London, 30 Aug. 1890; educ. University College School, and London University (B.Sc.), and on leaving the latter received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 2nd Yorkshire Reserve of Officers, 2 April, 1913, and joined at Farnborough. On the declaration of war, he joined the 3rd Battn. at West Hartlepool; was attached to the 2nd East Lancashire Regt. in Oct. 1914; went to France with them that month, and was killed in action at Croix-Barbée, 22 Feb. 1915; _unm._ Buried in the East Lancashire cemetery there. Major A. A. Sanders wrote: “He was on duty with the company under my command on Monday, 22 Feb., and at about 2 p.m. he went with an Engineer officer to visit and inspect an advanced trench which is situated at no great distance from the German lines. He was talking to the Engineer Officer, Lieut. Drew, and also a subaltern, Lieut. Daw, of my company, when inadvertently he must have raised his head above the level of the parapet, and he was shot in the head by a German bullet. He became unconscious immediately, and passed away about five minutes later. Your son has been with my company ever since we left Hursely Park. He was a very good officer and very brave and fearless, and popular with the men under his command. I feel his loss in my company very much.” Both at School and University he took a keen interest in the O.T.C. At school he was the best shot during his last year, winning the Thompson Silver Rifle, and shot for the school three successive years in the Ashburton Competition at Bisley. He gained the “A” Certificate at school, among the first under Lord Haldane’s scheme for Reserve of Officers, and the “B” Certificate at the University.

=HEATON, EVELYN=, Private, No. 58005, 20th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of William Heaton, of 33, Victoria Road, Garswood, Lancashire, Colliery Engine Winder, by his wife, Anne, dau. of Joseph Barton; _b._ Ashton-in-Makerfield, co. Lancaster, 5 Aug. 1893; educ. Ashton Church of England School; went to Canada, 8 Aug. 1913, and in 1913 became Assayer of Silver at the McKingley Darragh Mine, Cobalt, Ontario; volunteered after the outbreak of war, and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Jan. 1915; came over with the second contingent, 24 May, 1915; went to France, 13 Sept. 1915, and was killed in action at Dickebusch, near Ypres, 14 Nov. 1915; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “Will you forgive me intruding on your sorrow just to tell you how much we, Tim’s comrades, sympathise with you in that sorrow, and how fully we share it with you. We have lived, shared blankets and grub with him, ever since he came to us in Toronto. And we got to love him for his cheerfulness, his courage, his generosity. There isn’t a man in the section who has ever had a quarrel with him. On our route marches in training, when we were cold and wet and tired--almost played out--it was Tim’s smile and Tim’s song that earned for us the name of the ‘singing section.’ There was not a nicer fellow, a kinder fellow, or a cleaner fellow than Tim, and I would like you to know, as I do, that he was an example to us all, not only in cheerfulness under hardship, and courage under pain, but clean living in barracks. In all the months he was with us there isn’t an episode that you would not be proud to know of. And there isn’t a man that isn’t keenly feeling the loss of our lovable laughing Tim. He was shot coming in on Sunday morning. Our trenches here are all filled with water and caved in, and there is an open space of perhaps 20 ft. that a man must cross to get to his gun. Three men crossed in safety, but the Germans must have seen and they got him just about half-way across. The bullet broke his arm and spine, though we didn’t know his spine was broken at first. He laughed when we went to help him, saying he had got his ticket for England. But he felt his legs dead, and he knew though no one told him. He was singing to himself going down on the stretcher, and never a word about his pain, nor was there to the end. He only lasted a few minutes after we got him to the dressing station. The stretcher-bearers say he was the best wounded man they have handled. So he died as he was, ever an example to the rest of us. And we, who loved him and miss him hourly in our work and fun, want to offer you, his mother, our deepest sympathy in your bereavement. And we wanted to tell you how he died bravely in his duty. Throughout this letter I have used the name we gave him, the one we knew him best by, though, of course, I know his real name was Evelyn. In Toronto there is a big firm, Timothy Eaton & Co., and we adopted that name for him because of the similarity in Heaton and Eaton. This letter is written by one of his comrades on No. 4 gun. The sentiments are those of us all; it is at the request of the others that I am writing.”