The

Military Profile
Of
Lieutenant Edward John Hicks MC

A Report
by
The Royal Hampshire Regiment
Museum

September 2021

The copyright of the information contained within this report remains with the Royal
Hampshire Regiment Museum and is intended for the recipient only for private and
personal usage. It is not to be transmitted externally, uploaded onto websites or social
media, published in any form or used for any commercial gain. If you wish to use anything
contained within this report, you must contact the museum for a copyright licence.

Report Prepared for:

 Emma Salisbury
489A New Cross Road
2 Theatre Place
London
SE14 6TQ
07986575473
emma.salisbury@gmail.com

This report was written by Susannah Jarvis and Roger Coleman MBE at The Royal Hampshire
Regiment Museum.

Serle’s House
Southgate Street
Winchester
Hants SO23 9EG
museum@royalhampshireregiment.org

We are always trying to improve the service we provide for the relatives of those that served in our
Regiment and would be grateful, if you have found our work to be helpful, if you would send us
some feedback that we might be able to use as a testimonial on our website.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further explanation or advice as to where you
might get additional information.

Records we have available to us

The primary and most comprehensive source of information concerning a soldier’s military career
is his service record. The various forms and other documents making up the record covered the
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 entire process between enlistment and discharge. If they can be found they often provide personal,
family and medical details, in addition to the facts of his training, postings to units, disciplinary
record and so on. There are three primary collections of records at the National Archives: WO363
(“burnt”), WO364 and PIN26 (“pensions”) collections, which originally included between them the
records of all men, other than the Guards and Household Regiments, who were discharged from
the army prior to 1922. Only some 30% of soldier’s papers now exist in these collections as the
remainder were destroyed in the War Office storage warehouse from a fire caused by an air-raid
on London in 1940. The records of soldiers from the Hampshire Regiment were mostly destroyed
in this fire.

Therefore we have to look to other sources for information on the service of Hampshire Regiment
soldiers. These include what we hold as a regimental museum but also those that are in the public
domain and available to view at the National Archives.

If a soldier served outside the UK and was entitled to any medals he will have a Medal Index Card
(MIC). These are available at the National Archives itself, on their website or via websites such as
Ancestry.co.uk. The Medal card should provide us with basic information on a soldier such as
name, regimental number (s), rank, regiments served in, medals to which they are entitled, date of
entry into a theatre of war and where, information on what happened to that soldier and also what
happened to the medals themselves.

The MIC will give us the page number on the various medal rolls where details of the soldier’s
service will appear. For example, the British War and Victory Medal Rolls of a regiment will tell us
which unit of that or another regiment the soldier served in a theatre of war with. Once we know
this we can look at the war story of that particular unit.

If the soldier was killed in action, died of wounds or died for any other reason while serving, his
details will be recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he will either have a
known grave or his name will appear on a memorial. This often gives us the name and address of
that soldier’s next of kin and will also confirm date of death. Soldiers Died in the Great War, a
contemporary database, gives place of birth and residence as well as details of death and former
service.

Regimental Histories and Battalion War Diaries will give us details of what the soldier’s unit or
battalion was doing on or around the soldier’s date of death or wounding. These publications will
generally mention officers who were serving and occasionally other ranks.

Specific to the Hampshire Regiment was a Regimental Journal published monthly throughout the
war and containing valuable information on officers and other ranks who served. The Journals
include lists of casualties and obituaries, gallantry awards as well as details of each battalion.

The Hampshire Regiment Archive contains regimental histories and copies of war diaries, diaries
and notes of officers and other ranks, personal papers and photographs, enlistment and casualty
ledgers, unit histories, details of Prisoners of War, nominal rolls, Army Lists, books and maps. All
these things will be used to help us gather information on individuals and their service.

Report on Lieutenant Edward John Hicks MC

This report of Lt Edward John Hicks MC has been based on the initial information about him
provided by the enquirer. Research has used the Regimental History of the Hampshire Regiment
Volume II (RH Vol II), Regimental Journals (RJ), and links to ancestry.co.uk. and findmypast.co.uk.
Edward’s Service Record is not available.

 Edward John Hicks was born on 24 October 1890. It is almost certain that Edward volunteered to
join the army at the outbreak of the Great War sometime in August 1914. His Medal Index Card
(MIC) provides the details of his early military service.

Along the top can be seen Edward’s Name with his first names amended to read in full, his
regiment Ox & Bucks LI (Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry), his rank LCpl (Lance
Corporal) which is amended to Cpl (Corporal) and his regimental number 10293.
The number according to research says that the Ox & Bucks LI continued with their pre-war
numbering and by the end of August 1914 the numbers had reached the high 10000s. Hence
Edward would have enlisted on or about the month stated. A regimental number was unique to the
man and the regiment he joined. Had he been transferred or posted to a new regiment then he
would have been given a new number and his old discarded.
At the bottom of the MIC it says Theatre of War entered ‘(1) France and under the date 22-7-15.
This shows that Edward arrived in France on 22 July 1915, which corresponds to the date that the
6th Battalion Ox & Bucks LI arrived in France. A further document (see below) confirms that Edward
was with this unit.
6th (Service) Battalion was formed at Camberley in September 1914, where it received 500 men
from the 5th Ox & Bucks LI as part of Kitchener’s 2nd Army and placed under orders of 60th Brigade
in 20th (Light) Division. Training took place in the Aldershot area until April 1915 when it moved to
Salisbury Plain before leaving for France on 22 July 1915; landing at Boulogne.
There is no record as to why Edward joined the Ox & Bucks LI; possibly he was living or working in
Oxford or Camberley. Edward’s training would have consisted of learning to fire his rifle, drill and
being made fit for battle. A battalion, normally 1000 strong for war would have consisted of four rifle
companies which were sub-divided into four platoons.

 Service with 6th Ox & Bucks LI. The following is a short history of the battalion after it had arrived
in France

From this history Edward would have experienced some very heavy fighting and at some time
been promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal. A small book on the history of the 6th Ox &
Bucks LI is available from the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum link
https://www.sofo.org.uk/product/ww1bnbook6thservicebn/
Edward was selected for officer training as he had shown that he had leadership skills.

Officer Training. Edward’s officer training followed in this way. In February 1916 a new system of
training for officers was introduced, after which temporary commissions could only be granted if a
man had been through an Officer Cadet unit. Entrants would have to be aged over 18 and a half,
and to have served as a soldier or to have been with an Officer Training Corps. The training course
lasted four and a half months, and the Officer Cadet Battalion had an establishment of 400 cadets
at any time (although this was raised to 600 – if the unit could accommodate them – in May 1917).
More than 73,000 men gained infantry commissions after being trained in an Officer Training
Battalion, with increasing numbers coming from ‘the ranks’ as the war went on. In total there were
27 OCBs in the UK, which one Edward attended is unknown. However, a fragment of an order
shows Edward being discharged to a commission on 26/7/1917 into the Hampshire Regiment. It
gives his number as 10293 and his rank as Cdt (Cadet). As to why Edward was commissioned into
the Hampshire Regiment is not known, certainly casualty rates amongst Second Lieutenants was
always high, the average life on the Western Front being just fourteen days, so replacement of
casualties was always required swiftly.

It is possible that after training he may have been granted leave before being posted to the
Hampshire Regiment or even attended a specialist course. In addition to the harsh world of “on the
job” training in action, many training schools and facilities were developed behind the lines in
France and Flanders and the other theatres of war. Specialist courses on tactics and technologies
such as the machine gun and poison gas were developed, and all officers were regularly
5

 withdrawn from duty in order to attend. Not only did they update the officer on developments but
they provided a welcome respite from the strain of frontline command

Whatever the circumstances after 16 July 1917, the War Diary (WD) of the 2nd Hampshire reports
him having joined the battalion 2 September 1917.

2nd Still in PADDINGTON CAMP.

Casualties
Other Ranks
a Sick to Hospital
Reinforcements
4 Other Ranks
2Lt EJ Hicks joined the Battalion

The 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment. The 2nd Hampshire was one of two regular battalions of
the regiment. At the beginning of the Great War, it had been stationed in India but had been
brought home to join the 29th Division with which it took part in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey
from 25 April 1915. Following this it came to France and was in the Battle of the Somme, 1916,
and those around Ypres. When Edward joined, the 2ndHampshire was participating in the Third
Battle of Ypres (usually known as Passchendaele) 31 July – 10 November 1917. Its companies
were lettered ‘W’, ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’. There would have been a small battalion HQ with the
Commanding Officer at its head.
WD entry for 30 September. The following WD for 30 September 1917 is of interest as it shows
Edward being taken onto the strength of the battalion and the fact that he joined ‘Z’ Company. The
term ‘casualty’ does not only refer to those killed and wounded but those being posted in and
posted out etc. Normally officers are named but soldiers not so unless for some specific act
especially of bravery.

 30th Battn proceeded to DUBLIN CAMP at 2pm. Good camp in FOREST AREA.
Casualties
Other Ranks
1 Sick to Hospital
2Lt PH Robertson arrived at Corps Depot.

Casualties during the month.

2Lt HEV Cutmore re-joined from Hospital
2Lt AH Alexander joined Corps Depot from Hospital
2Lts EJ Hicks, WA Slater, Lieut AG Smith MC, Lieut (A/Capt) J Mudge, Lieut
(A/Capt) BO Bircham MC, 2Lt LL Sarchet joined Battn. 2Lts HR Brooke, LOW
Howcroft, & PH Robertson.
Other Ranks
9 Killed
23 Wounded
32 Sick to Hospital
8 re-joined from Hospital
Reinforcements – 175

Strength of Battalion
42 Officers 908 Other Ranks

Officers on strength of the Battalion.

Lieut Col TC Spring Commanding

Capt HC Westmorland 2nd in Command
Capt RP Lord MC Adjutant
Capt FH Harrod MC Asst Adjutant
Capt AG Cardy Transport Officer
Lieut SH Askew Quartermaster
Capt WJ Knight RAMC Medical Officer
Capt The Rev CH Mosse Chaplain

W Company Capt PB Cuddon MC

Lieut DC Knott
2Lt F Yates
2Lt GE Niner
2Lt L Lloyd
2Lt GR Singleton-Gates
2Lt IR Hatch
2Lt HR Brooke
X Company Capt CT Ball MC
2Lt FC Ternent
2Lt JAH Scutt
2Lt JR Cross
2Lt FW Parry
2Lt G McLachlan
2Lt RJ Scott
2Lt EJA Tunks
2Lt AH Alexander
2Lt S Gleeson
2Lt LW Howcroft
Y Company A/Capt BO Bircham MC
Lieut AG Smith MC
2Lt FA Perren
2Lt HEV Cutmore
2Lt CTG Pearce
2Lt G Alexander
2Lt WC Bates
2Lt LL Sarchet
7

 It is worth noting that the bn was at almost full strength with 42 Officers and 908 soldiers following
an influx of 175 soldiers to reinforce them.
Edward awarded the MC 9 October 1917. The events of the day Edward earned the Military
Cross are recorded in both the WD and RH Vol II.
Maps. The first is from the RH Vol II and the second is an original trench map of the same area.
The coloured lines show the objectives referred to in the text.

 The diagonal line is the railway line referred to in the text.

WD 8/9 and 31 October 1917.

 8th/9th Reconnoitred route for assembly march with all Officers in the morning. The
Battalion marched from PARROY CAMP to its assembly position leaving at
9.15pm. At 3.30pm heavy rain came on, which made roads etc very heavy. The
men had a good hot meal just before starting. The night was very dark and the
climatic conditions could not have been much worse. The route followed by the
Battn was PARROY FARM – CHEAPSIDE – RAILWAY STREET – SPRING
FARM to positions behind RED LINE. No shelling was experienced until the
STEENBEEK was reached. About LANGEMARCK STATION W & X Coys were
shelled and suffered some casualties, a complete LG Section of W Coy, & gun
being knocked out, and X Coy lost some men. At 1.30pm the Battn was
successfully assembled.

The Advance. At 5.20am our barrage opened and the 2 leading Battns of the
Bde advanced. At Zero + 1.46, the Battn started its advance. Coys advanced
in artillery formation, no difficulty was experienced in keeping direction and
although the enemy’s artillery was laying down a barrage on BROENBEEK, it
was no so regular and heavy as it was a little later in the day and Coys went
through with slight losses. The marshy nature of the ground minimised
casualties. These would have been more numerous had the ground been
harder. At about 9.30am, the Battalion was disposed and dug in behind 1st
Objective. At Zero + 3.35, the Battn advanced to the 2nd Objective in artillery
formation and consolidated a line. During the whole of the advance we were in
close touch with the Guards on our left, in fact the Guards were inclined to get
right into the Brigade front, especially in the initial advance. In the advance from
the 1st to 2nd Objective we were not in touch with 86th Bde on right, but touch
was subsequently gained near TRANQUILLE HOUSE. At about 4pm line of
enemy infantry were seen advancing from direction of Taube HOSPITAL and
ground NORTH of that point. At this time the NFLD Regt was in front line,
behind them the Worcesters, while the Battn was immediately in rear of
Worcesters. The Guards on the left of the NFLD were seen retiring; shortly
afterwards and later the NFLD retired to the line of the POELCAPELLE – LES –
5 CHEMINS ROAD. Shortly after this the Battn relieved the NFLD Regt in front
line, the NFLD taking over WORCESTERS trenches, the WORCS were brought
out of action. This relief was carried out smoothly and successfully.
9th Casualties
Other Ranks
9 Killed
34 Wounded, 1 wounded (at duty)
4 Missing
2Lt L Lloyd Killed
A/Capt CT Ball MC Wounded
A/Capt J Mudge Wounded
Lieut AG Smith MC Wounded
2Lt EJ Hicks Wounded
2Lt HEV Cutmore Wounded at duty

31 Oct. 17

10

 31st BIENVILLERS. Weather much brighter. Practice Brigade Ceremonial Parade.

Casualties
Other Ranks
Nil
2Lt HEV Cutmore sick to hospital.

Casualties during the month.

2Lt L Lloyd Killed in Action
A/Capt CT Ball MC Wounded in Action
Lieut AG Smith MC Wounded in Action
2Lt EJ Hicks MC Wounded in Action
2Lt HEV Cutmore Wounded in Action (at duty)
Lieut LL Sarchet Sick to Hospital
2Lt GR Singleton-Gates Sick to Hospital
2Lt HEV Cutmore Sick to Hospital
Lieut LL Sarchet Re-joined from Hospital
Lieut WFK Henny Joined Battn
2Lt LW Howcroft Joined Battn
2Lt H Brooke Joined Battn
2Lt RH Robertson Joined Battn
2Lt JH Perry Joined Battn
Capt KA Johnston Joined Battn

Casualties – Other Ranks

Killed in Action 13
Wounded in Action 74
Wounded (at duty) 1
Missing 5
Sick to Hospital 33
Re-joined from Hospital 17
Reinforcements 116

Strength of the Battalion

41 Officers 862 Other Ranks

TC SPRING Lt Col
Comdg 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt
1st November 1917

The abbreviation NFLD stands for Newfoundland Regiment. Note the casualties amongst the
soldiers.
The same action described in RH Vol II.
‘If the 1st Hampshire had not shared in the attack of October 9th, that day had given the
2nd some hard fighting. The Twenty-Ninth Division was attacking North of Langemarck,
now half a mile behind our front line, with its left brigade, the 88th, astride the Roulers
railway. Of its objectives the 4th Worcestershire were to capture two, from Namur
Crossing to Koekuit and from Tranquille Farm Westward, after which the Newfoundland
Regiment would come through to take a third, from the railway, through Egypt House, to
Les Cinq Chemins. It was some indication of the new German methods that both the

11

 other battalions were retained to deal with counter-attacks. The 2nd Hampshire, who
left Parroy Camp at 9 .15 p.m. on October 8th, found moving up into the assembly
positions more than usually difficult : the expanded Steenbeek had to be crossed, the
German shelling was fairly heavy and caused both W and X Companies several
casualties, while it rained hard all the time ; but if conditions could hardly have been
worse,' somehow the positions were duly taken up, and at 7 a.m., 100 minutes after `
Zero ', the battalion started forward in ' artillery formation '. The fire was heavy, but it
was some compensation for the mud that it partly smothered the shell-bursts, direction
was well kept, thanks partly to having the railway line to go by, and before long the
Hampshire were digging in on the Namur Crossing Line, which the Worcestershire had
taken well up to time, subsequently going forward again. Advancing again at 8 .50 a.m.,
the Hampshire were heavily shelled but, admirably directed by Colonel Spring,
established themselves just behind the second objective, which also the Worcestershire
had duly secured despite stubborn opposition, taking 200 prisoners. On this line they
dug in, 2/Lt. Hicks, though wounded and then buried by a shell-burst near him, set a
splendid example, continuing at duty and holding on to his post. Then, about 4 p.m.,
counter-attacks from the NE. forced the Newfoundlands back from the third objective,
which they had reached, their left being pushed back across the Poelcapelle—Cinq
Chemins road. They rallied, however, and Colonel Spring was prompt to reinforce them
and fill up any gaps in their line, while 2/Lt. Scutt formed a defensive flank on the left
with his platoon, rallied officer less men who were retiring and restored the situation.
After dark the Hampshire relieved the Newfoundlands in what was now the front line,
running about NW. from near Tranquille Farm across the Poelcapelle—Cinq Chemins
road,' the relief being smoothly effected. During the night, while patrols successfully
located the enemy, taking several prisoners, the line was consolidated, with support and
reserve lines behind it. Sergeant Sillence, acting as C.S.M., who had been conspicuous
during the advance in assisting his officers and setting a fine example, was now much
to the fore in directing the consolidation despite heavy shelling. The enemy's snipers
were active, especially from Taube Farm to the right front, causing several casualties,
and during the night several times fighting patrols approached our lines, two of about 30
each being dispersed by Private Bray, who was out with a Lewis-gun in front of our line,
while Sergeant Martin beat off another and Lance-Corporal Jerram and Private Smith
did useful work in scouting and detecting the enemy's efforts to advance. Except for
barraging a line the battalion was not holding, the German artillery was inactive, and
though such wet ground made the work difficult, real progress was made next day with
the consolidation, very good work being done by the battalion runners in keeping up
communications. Early in the afternoon the Brigade Major reached battalion head-
quarters, now at Pascal Farm, East of Koekuit, with orders for the capture of a
troublesome ` strong point ' to the left front near Cairo House. There was barely time to
organize an attack before the barrage came down, but Lt. Colonel Spring went forward
through a heavy barrage to W Company's head-quarters to arrange the attack, and W
was just ready before our barrage began at 5 .30 p.m. Advancing with two platoons in a
front wave and one supporting, the company, well led and skilfully directed by Captain
Cuddon, who was well backed up by Sergeants Trethewy and Parker, mastered its
objective, despite stubborn opposition. Many Germans were accounted for, a Lewis
gunner, Private Gosling, dispersing one party of 30 single-handed, and a good line was
established 50 yards NE. of the buildings and linked up to the rest of the line. That
evening the 7th Lincolnshire (Seventeenth Division) arrived to relieve the Hampshire. A
dark night made this difficult, but thanks to good arrangements for guides everything
went off smoothly and by 8 a.m. next day (October 11th) the Hampshire were back at
Elverdinghe . 2/Lt. Lloyd and 18 men had been killed and Captains C. T. Ball and
Mudge, Lt. A. G. Smith, 2/Lts. Cutmore and Hicks and 74 men wounded. One
noticeable feature of the action had been the increased expenditure of rifle ammunition;
in bringing up reinforcements the enemy had given better targets than of late and, with
more chances of using the rifle, battalions which had been careful to maintain their
standards of musketry had reaped the benefit. Lt. Colonel Spring's skilful handling of
12

 the situation was recognised soon afterwards by a D.S.O., while Captain Cuddon was
given a bar to his M.C., 2/Lts. Hicks and Scutt receiving the M.C. Sergeant Trethewy,
who besides leading his platoon with great determination during the attack had done
great work in consolidation, was awarded the D.C.M., while 21 M.M.s were awarded to
the battalion, Lance Corporal Fielder, who had worked untiringly to succour the
wounded, searching for them under heavy fire, getting a bar, while about the same time
Sergeants Oram and Finch and Corporal Whitaker received the French Croix de
Guerre.

The award of the Military Cross, and notification in the Regimental Journal (RJ). The RJ was
published monthly throughout the war, and contained details of those wounded, killed and taken
prisoner, alongside reports from the frontlines, training depots, welfare funds and the like.

RJ Nov 1917 Edward’s wounding.

RJ December 1917. Notification of the award of MC to Edward

RJ April 1918 Presentation of MC by King George V.

13

 RJ May 1918. The citation for the MC. This would also have been published in the London
Gazette.

Edward re-joins the 2nd Hampshire. Following Edward’s wounding he does not appear in the WD
of the 2nd Hampshire until 6 August 1918 where he goes back to ‘Z’ Company. But a period of 10
months had elapsed between the battle of 8/9 October 1917 and his re-joining. How severe his
wound was and where he was treated is unknown, as we cannot find him in the Casualty Register
we hold in the museum archives, or in any available at the National Archives.

6th A wet afternoon, but finer in the evening. The King visited Divnl HQ today.
Capt HC Ingles, Lt FW Parry Bt, JJ Sims & 2Lt EJ Hicks MC joined Bn

Edward wounded a second time in action 1-5 September 1918. In just under a month Edward
is involved in another major action by the 2nd Hampshire. A map shows the area of the action and
the WD and RH Vol II to describe the action.
a. Map.

14

 It is worthy of note that the wood to the right of Ploegsteert had been held partly by the 1st
Hampshire October/November 1914.
b. WD 1-5 September and 30 September 1918.

15

 1st to 5th The Battalion embussed with the remainder of the 88th Inf Brigade at LA
KREULE on the morning of the 1st September at 6am and proceeded to a
point on the METEREN – BAILLLEUL road, 500 yards east of BAILLEUL. The
Battalion marched via BAILEUL to the old aerodrome, south of the BAILLEUL
– RAUELSBERG road, 600 yards West of BAILLEUL. The Bn rested here the
night and the following day (the 2nd) moved forward to old trenches North and
South of the ARMENTIERES – BAILLEUL road in Square 8.29.b.& d. One
Company occupied the trench they had dug on April 10th, when the enemy
attacked in this sector. The Bn moved forward the following morning, the 3rd to
the old GHQ Line, which had been secured by the Worcestershire Regiment
during the previous night. In view of the impending attack on the enemy
positions on Hill 63, it was considered necessary to previously secure the line
of the road east of BUESCHEMESRSOREN, from T.11.d.0.3 to T.23.b.8.1.
This operation was commenced at 4.30pm on the 3rd and was done in 2
bounds. W Company secured the line of the road T.16.d.3.7 to T.23.c.5.7 with
very slight opposition, but upon pushing forward of this line, they met with
heavy enfilade MG Fire causing 27 casualties. An attempt by Z Coy to push
further forward was also held up. It was decided to wait till dark and then
secure the objective, which was to be the assembly area for the attack on Hill
63. This securing of the assembly line was only accomplished at night with
difficulty, owing to the alertness of the enemy & his MG Fire.

The assembly for the attack on the morning of the 4th was accomplished also
under heavy MG fire, the enemy seemingly having knowledge of a projected
operation, if his activity may be taken as an indication. The attack on Hill 632
was under a barrage, with the Leinster Regt on the left and the Hampshire
Regiment on the right, with two companies in the attacking line, one company
mopping up and one company as Battalion reserve. The barrage, a very fine
smoke effect, opened at 8am and the leading Coys moved forward.
Considerable opposition was met with, soon after the start from the enemy MG
posts but these were dealt with in spirited fashion. There was some difficulty
in keeping the men back till the barrage had lifted as they were too eager to
advance. As the companies reached the crest of the hill they came under
heavy MG fire. Enemy posts were dealt with and numbers of enemy killed &
MGs captured. The two forward companies cleared GAS TRENCH and
pushed on to trench from CREST HOUSE through U.13.b. and this line was
held continuously. During the advance the mopping up company killed and
rounded up many of the enemy and finally rested in GAS TRENCH, whilst the
reserve company remained on the reverse slope of the hill in Square 18.d.
Throughout the day the enemy made several demonstrations against our new
positions by working up scouts and MGs under covered approaches. A
demonstration of this character on the right flank was frustrated by the reserve
company, 1 of the enemy killed and 5 taken prisoner. The enemy shelled and
trench-mortared the positions wrested from him with considerable consistency
during the ensuing 24 hours. The Battalion held the positions gained until the
night of the 5th Sept when it was relieved by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 31st
Division. The Battalion made 50 enemy prisoners and captured 3 trench
Mortars, 11 Heavy Machine Guns, 1 Light Machine Gun and large quantities of
enemy SAA and material.

16

 3rd Casualties
Other Ranks
5 Killed
14 Wounded, I died of wounds received in action
Capt WJ West MC MM & 2Lt AJ Irwin Killed
2Lt EJ Hicks MC wounded

Casualties during the month.

Capt WJ West MC MM } Killed
2Lt s AJ Irwin, RL Jarvis & D Phelps }
Capts HC Ingles, RJ Scott MC, } Wounded
2Lts EJ Hicks MC, Lieut JJ Sims, }
Capt WA Slater, 2Lts WI Wallis, }
RJ Payne & JM Cooper }
Lieut WY Hollingsworth & 2Lt RA Perry wounded (at duty)
2Lt JW Pedder & Capt CD Wooldridge to hospital
2Lieut LJL Cotton from hospital
Capt CD Wooldridge, 2Lts H Hill, FS Gay & Lt FG Fall, 2Lts A Ewens & WI Wallis joined Bn
2Lt FC Morant Classified B.11

Other Ranks.
37 Killed
190 wounded, 5 wounded (at duty), 9 died of wounds
13 Missing
30 to Hospital

Strength of Battalion.
40 Officers 765 Other Ranks

HC WESTMORLAND
Lieut Col
Comdg 2nd Bn Hampshire Regiment
The Commanding Office of the 2nd Battalion was now Lt Colonel Westmorland. He had originally
come to France with the 1st Hampshire as a 2Lt, been wounded three times and won the DSO
(Distinguished Service Order) twice.
Extract from RH Vol II.
17

 ‘The 2nd had been in line beyond the Meteren Becque from August 24th to 26th, being
heavily shelled and having Lt. Currie and seven men killed and Captain Prendergast
(for the fourth time) and 16 men wounded. During the last week of August large fires
behind the German lines suggested preparations for a further withdrawal, and early on
August 30th patrols reported that their front line had been evacuated. The 87th Brigade
promptly pushed forward and advanced well beyond Bailleul, meeting hardly any
enemy but ample evidence of the effective work of the British artillery in the broken-up
wagons and dead animals which littered the country and in the shellholes thickly
clustered round the battery positions. The next day's advance brought the 87th Brigade
to the Steenwerck–Kemmel road at La Creche, the 88th coming up next day on the left
and continuing the line Northward, with the 4th Worcestershire in front and the 2nd
Hampshire at an old aerodrome between Bailleul and the Ravelsberg Ridge.
September 2nd saw the advance continued, the Hampshire reaching the trenches they
had dug on April 10th and so successfully defended. The Twenty-Ninth Division was
now just West of Ploegsteert Wood and Hill 63, where the Germans were showing
some disposition to stand, so a systematic attack had to be arranged, the 88th Brigade
assailing Hill 63 and the 86th on its right going for Ploegsteert. Next day, after the
Worcestershire, who had been leading the brigade, had taken the old G.H.Q. line, the
2nd Hampshire were ordered to push forward and clear Germans out of a position just
East of it, to secure a good starting line for the assault. This was done mainly by W
Company, now under Captain Harrod,' 2/Lt. Gibbons doing great work and handling his
men most successfully, but when a further advance was attempted, opposition
stiffened, machine-guns inflicting several casualties. Z Company (Captain West), which
also tried to push forward, was likewise held up and it was decided to postpone any
further attempts till after dark when a fresh advance secured the objective, which lay on
the Western slopes of Hill 63, but only after sharp fighting, our killed including Captain
West. The final arrangements for the next morning's attack were completed with some
difficulty, as the Germans were found to be holding a large crater on our right and were
only evicted by the Hampshire after sharp fighting in the dark. Eventually the 2nd
Leinster having got into their assembly position on the Hampshire's left, the attack went
forward at 8 a.m. (Sept. 4th) behind a good barrage. The enemy were in force and had
many machine-guns, while thick belts of uncut wire had to be tackled. However, the
attackers were not to be daunted; keeping right up to the barrage, they cut the wire,
swept over the hill, rushed the machine-gun posts, killing and capturing many enemy,
and secured their objective, Gas Trench. One ' strong point ' was successfully tackled
by Sergeant Stone and four men who disposed of its whole garrison of 14. From here
the leading companies pushed ahead and secured a trench running past Crest House,
which they consolidated, while behind them a third company was ` mopping up '
systematically and successfully. Consolidation was then put in hand, 2/Lt. W. M.
Cooper, who had been prominent in organizing the attackers, now going out to
reconnoitre and bringing back useful information after a sharp encounter with some
Germans lurking in a wood, of and drove back the attackers, taking an officer and
several men and a machinegun. A company of the Worcestershire had filled a gap
which had opened between the Leinster and the Hampshire and helped to repulse the
counterattacks. The position was heavily shelled and machine-guns were pushed
forward to impede our consolidation, but this went on well nevertheless, the
Hampshire's hold on the hill remaining unshaken, and next day they were relieved by
the Thirty-First Division and went back by La Creche to a camp near Meteren.
Casualties had not been light, Captain West and 2/Lts. Irwin and Jarvis and 34 men
were killed or missing with Captains Scott and Ingles and 2/Lts. Hicks and Sims and
140 men wounded. But the enemy had been hard hit, the 2nd had taken a dozen
machine-guns and three large trench mortars with at least 50 prisoners, and the capture
of Hill 63 had deprived the Germans of a valuable position. 2 /Lts. Cooper, Gibbons and
Lambert all received the M.C., which was also awarded to Lt. Vicars-Miles, who had
done devoted and invaluable work in bringing up ammunition and rations under heavy

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 shell-fire, though once blown off a shelled road and rendered unconscious for some
time.’

RJ October 1918 Notification of wounding for second time.

There is no evidence of where Edward was sent having been wounded, how severe his wound
was, nor is there any further evidence of him being named in the WD.
The following photograph of the officers of the 2nd Hampshire appeared in the RJ September 1918
but further research found that Edward was not one of them.

Edward, the Army List and his medals. Edward probably continued to serve to 1920. His name
is in the December 1918 Army List. This is an index of every serving officer in the British Army and
was published quarterly. This is Edward’s entry,

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 The date 27 December 1918 is his seniority date as a Lieutenant. The (2) refers to the 2nd
Hampshire, the * indicates a Temporary commission and the crossed swords as someone serving
with Special Reserve of Officers, Territorial Force Reserve of Officers etc all of whom have War
service.
As already shown, Edward had a Medal Index Card, showing he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star
and recorded with the Ox & Bucks LI, and the British War Medal and Victory Medal which were on
the Hampshire Officers’ Medal Roll. It also shows ‘MC’.
The reverse of the MIC shows

Officers had to apply for their medal entitlement and the date 17/7/23 suggests this is when
Edward’s application had been received and sent to his home address.
The two Medal Rolls.
1914-15 Star MR of Ox & Bucks LI, showing the date he landed in France, and that he left in 1917
when commissioned.

BWM & VM Hampshire Officers’ MR

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 There is no evidence he received any pension for the wounds received.

Edward and 1939 Register. Edward appears on the 1939 Register as being an Optician
Spectacle Frame Maker, is married to Ethel born 19 July 1897 living at 46 Brompton Road,
Birmingham with their daughter Barbara born 10 January 1920 who is a Qualified Dispenser.
In the original register it shows against Edward’s entry

Which tantalisingly doesn’t quite show Hampshire Regiment.

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