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.
[Illustration: =Reginald Head.=]
=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.”
[Illustration: =William Arthur Head.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =Thomas Healy.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =John Edward Heastman.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =Albert Arthur Heath.=]
=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].
[Illustration: =Gerald Coussmaker Heath.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Voltelin P. Heath.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Henry Francis Heatly.=]
=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.”
[Illustration: =Evelyn Heaton.=]
=HEATON, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 5698, 3rd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, eldest _s._ of William Heaton, of 1/11, Stoke Street,
Birmingham, by his wife, Alice, dau. of John Gregson; _b._
Birmingham, co. Warwick, 8 Sept. 1883; educ. Severn Street Council
School, Birmingham; enlisted, 1 Sept. 1904; served in Egypt, 29 Sept.
1906 to 23 March, 1911; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914; died in No. 12
General Hospital, Rouen, 6 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action at
Soupir; _unm._ Buried in the Cemetière des Brugeres, Rouen.
=HEDEN, ALFRED HOWARD=, Sergt., No. 1226, 13th Battn. (Princess
Louise’s Kensington) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Alfred
Henry Heden, of 11, Grove Road, Barnes, S.W., by his wife, Hannah, dau.
of Samuel Skeats; _b._ Peckham, 25 Oct. 1894; educ. Wandsworth
Secondary School; was a Clerk; joined the Kensingtons, Oct. 1911,
and on the outbreak of war volunteered for active service; trained
at Abbots Langley, and went to France, 3 Nov. 1914. He took part in
the actions at Neuve Chapelle in March and at Aubers Ridge on 9 May,
1915, and was seen to fall shot through the lungs at the latter, and
was reported killed. Two months later a letter was received from him
saying he was wounded and a prisoner of war; he died of his wounds at
Valenciennes, 25 July, 1915, and was buried there; _unm._
[Illustration: =Alfred Howard Heden.=]
=HEDGE, LEONARD AUGUSTUS=, L.-Corpl., No. 2471, and Dispatch
Rider, 2nd Montgomery Yeomanry (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of the late
Charles Edward Hedge, of Stoke-on-Trent, Brewer, by his wife, Mary Ann
(54, Broomhill Road, Ipswich), dau. of George Thomas William Mugliston,
M.D., of Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex; _b._ Stoke-on-Trent, 14
June, 1888; educ. Dean Close School, Cheltenham; and when war broke out
was Senior Bank Clerk at the United Counties Bank, Ltd., Brecon, South
Wales. He volunteered, and joined the Montgomery Yeomanry, 29 Sept.
1914, and was killed in a motor cycle accident at Welshpool, co. Salop,
16 June, 1915, while going through his course of training; _unm._
[Illustration: =Leonard Augustus Hedge.=]
=HEDGES, HENRY THOMAS=, Private, R.M.L.I., Po. 8916, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=HEDGES, HERBERT=, Private, No. 9798, 1st Battn. East Kent Regt.
(The Buffs); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died
20 Oct. 1914, of wounds received in action.
=HEDGES, RONALD EGERTON=, Rifleman, No. 2869, 12th Battn. (The
Rangers) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Frederick John
Hedges, of The Shrubberies, George Lane, South Woodford, by his
wife, Charlotte Elizabeth, dau. of John Abraham, of Dunstable, Beds;
_b._ South Woodford, co. Essex, 9 Dec. 1896; educ. Woodford
College and Loughton School; was a Marine Engineer; volunteered on the
outbreak of war and joined the London Rangers, 9 Sept. 1914; went to
France, 9 March, 1915, and was killed in action at the Second Battle of
Ypres, 29 April, 1915; _unm._ Buried at Verlórenhock. His Adjutant
wrote of him that: “He was brave and cheerful, one of our best ... a
keen soldier, eager at all times to do his duty.”
=HEELEY, ARNOLD=, Private, No. 3426, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards,
_s._ of Abraham Heeley, of 20, Eastfield Place, Sutton Mill,
near Keighley, Yorks; _b._ co. York; enlisted 10 March, 1900;
served in South Africa, 15 April, 1902, to 4 Oct. 1902 (Queen’s medal
with two clasps, “Cape Colony,” “South Africa, 1902”), and in Egypt,
16 Jan. 1908 to 23 March, 1911; obtained his discharge, 9 March,
1912; re-enlisted following the outbreak of the European War, 22 Aug.
1914; went to France, 11 Sept., and died 23 Oct. following, of wounds
received in action at St. Julien; _unm._ Buried in St. Julien
Churchyard.
=HEFFERNAN, WILLIAM PATRICK=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. Royal Irish
Regt., attached 1st Gloucesters, 2nd _s._ of William Kickham
Heffernan, of Riversdale, Killenaule, co. Tipperary, and Harlow Moor
Drive, Harrogate, M.D., J.P. co. York; _b._ Riversdale, 10 Dec.
1885; educ. Ampleforth College, Yorkshire, and Trinity College, Dublin,
where he took honours in Mathematics. On leaving Trinity he settled
down at Brittas Cashel, co. Tipperary, and kept a number of hunters,
but on the outbreak of war applied for a commission, and was gazetted
to the 3rd Reserve Battn. of the Royal Irish Regt. 15 Aug. 1915, being
later attached to the Gloucesters. He was wounded at La Bassée in Feb.
and was invalided to the Hospital de Cimiz, Nice, but rejoined, and
was killed in action at Festubert, 9 May, 1915, leading the company,
his company officer having been previously killed. While at Trinity he
won a number of prizes, including the ’Varsity heavyweight at boxing
and the Viceroy’s quarter-mile, which in 1911 he did in 51 seconds.
Lieut. Heffernan was a regular follower of the Tipperary Hounds, and
was noted in the south of Ireland as a keen and fearless rider in the
Point-to-Point.
[Illustration: =William Patrick Heffernan.=]
=HEGARTY, DENNIS=, A.B., 234197, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship
was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=HELLIWELL, JOSEPH GRANT=, B.A.Sc., Capt., 1st Battn. 1st
Infantry Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2nd _s._ of
Grant Helliwell, of 526, Confed. Life Building, Toronto, Canada,
Architect, by his wife, Anna Maria, dau. of the late Isaac James Biggs
Fitzsimons; _b._ Toronto, 26 Nov. 1888; educ. Toronto Public
School, Collegiate Institute, and Toronto University, from which he
graduated in the department of applied science with the degree of
B.A.Sc. in 1910, and was an engineer. He was a member of the Cadet
Corps at Jarvis Street Collegiate and of the Engineers Corps at the
University, in which he held rank of Lieut., and joined the 21st (Essex
Fusiliers) Regt. at Windsor, Ontario, in 1911. After taking his course
at London, Ontario, he was gazetted Capt., 1 April, 1912, and on the
outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, was the first officer in the Windsor
Regt. to offer his services. He left Windsor with his regt. on 21 Aug.,
and after a few weeks at Valcartier, crossed to England with the 1st
Contingent and went into training on Salisbury Plain, where he was
given command of the Salisbury Piquet. They went to France in Feb.,
and he was killed in action at the Battle of Givenchy, 15 June, 1915;
_unm._ Lieut. Brian Henderson wrote: “At Givenchy the 1st Battn.
did the attack. His company and D Coy. were to start the attack. Our
artillery had been shelling the German trench and had made a very good
job of cutting the wire. On Tuesday, 15 June, the artillery opened up
a terrific bombardment of the German trench and kept this up for three
hours when at 5.58 p.m. a mine was blown up. One minute later these
two companies went over our parapet and in a few seconds had arrived
at the German trench which contained only a lot of dead; but machine
guns on the flank were working, also the German artillery was doing
terrific damage and the men began to fall in large numbers. At this
trench Capt. Wilkinson was hit, and Joe took over the company and led
them on to the next trench. An officer who saw him leading his men said
it was magnificent, especially as he thought Joe had already been hit
in the arm. He got as far as the next trench, but was seen to fall with
a bullet through his head. The trenches taken had to be given up as the
supporting divisions were unable to get on, and it was impossible to
stay out with both flanks unprotected.” His younger brother, Lieut. M.
R. Helliwell, is now (1916) on active service.
[Illustration: =Joseph Grant Helliwell.=]
=HELLYER, GEORGE PEABODY=, Corpl., No. 1972, 1/5th Battn. King’s
Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of John William Hellyer, of
Western, Kirk Ella, E. Yorks, by his wife, Sally May, dau. of John
Harris, of Brixham, Devon, and the nephew of Charles Hellyer, of
Brixham; _b._ Hull, 24 Nov. 1889, and educ. by a private tutor
there. He enlisted the day war was declared, 4 Aug. 1914; was promoted
Corpl., and died of wounds received in action at Boulogne Hospital,
France, 21 May, 1915, and was buried in the Boulogne English cemetery;
_unm._ Sergt. Benbow, of his Coy., wrote: “I was with Corpl.
Hellyer when he received his wounds. It happened on Sunday, 16 May,
when our company were ordered to charge the German position in front of
us. It was while charging that he received a slight wound in the foot
which compelled him to drop down. I was bringing in wounded comrades
when I found him and a brother N.C.O. dragging a wounded sergt. of
another regt., and I went to their assistance. While doing so a Maxim
gun was turned upon us and poor George got it all. One through the
right thigh and two in the arm. We dressed him in the open field and
then brought him safely to our trench. He was then carried out by the
stretcher-bearers to the dressing station, and it was with deep regret
we heard of him dying of his wounds. He was a true soldier and bore
his wounds with great strength as we fetched him in. He gave us every
assistance and did not murmur. He was quite conscious and cheerful. He
was well liked by the men of his section and platoon, and we all feel
his loss greatly.” His cousin, Lieut. Sidney H. Hellyer, was killed in
action, 28 April, 1915 (see his notice).
[Illustration: =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).
[Illustration: =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._
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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._
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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._
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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._
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.”
[Illustration: =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).
[Illustration: =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._
[Illustration: =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._
[Illustration: =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.”
[Illustration: =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.
[Illustration: =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.”
[Illustration: =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