Sjt. William Hewlett, 2nd Royal Sussex.

1914 Trio.
8093 Sjt. W. G. Hewlett, 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment.

William George Hewlett was born in the Parish of St John's, Lewes, Sussex, on 15th September 1886, the second child of William, a worker in a saw mill, and his wife, Ellen. The family are recorded on the 1891 Census as living at 36 North Street, Lewes with their four children: Nelly, William, Ethel and Albert . By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 31 North Street, four more children had been born, and William, now 14 years old, was working as a stable lad and groom. By the age of 18, William had followed in his father's footsteps and taken a job as a labourer in the saw mill. He had also enlisted as a volunteer in the 3rd Royal Sussex Militia, which gave him a taste of army life. One month after his 18th birthday, on 2nd November 1904, William attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment, enlisting for nine years with the Colours and three years in the Reserve. His Service Papers describe him as just over 5' 6" in height, weighing 125lbs and with grey eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.
If one reason for joining the army was the desire to see something of the world, William was not to be disappointed. Posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment on 27th September 1905, he accompanied them to Malta for a seven month tour of duty, and then to Crete for another nine months of foreign service. Following this, he joined the 1st Battalion in India, where he stayed for almost six years. Returning to England in December 1912, William was transferred to the Army Reserve. During his eight years in the army, he had been awarded two Good Conduct Badges and passed his 3rd Class Certificate of Education. He was a 1st Class Shot and had been employed as Company Cook for four years and Regimental Groundsman for six months. His conduct had been exemplary. He intended to find employment as a railway porter on the South Coast Railway, a train car conductor or a groom.
Recalled to the Colours on the outbreak of the First World War, William joined the 2nd Royal Sussex in France on 21st August 1914. One month later, William was back in England, probably having been wounded in one of the numerous engagements with the enemy as the Battalion retreated after the Battle of Mons. On 17th February 1915, he returned to France. Throughout March and April, the 2nd Battalion were engaged in routine trench warfare in the Festubert and Neuve Chapelle sectors. On the 9th May, the 2nd Royal Sussex took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, sustaining total casualties of 14 officers and 548 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Soon afterwards William Hewlett was appointed temporary Corporal; obviously capable of carrying out his new role, he was made temporary Sergeant in June.
On 25th September 1915, the 2nd Royal Sussex were called upon to play their part in the Battle of Loos. The Battalion were supposed to be in support but, due to the confusion caused by smoke and gas drifting back into the British trenches, soon found themselves in the forefront of the attack at a very early stage. Advancing across No Man's Land, the men reached the German wire only to find it uncut. According to the Battalion War Diary "all our officers and men who had reached or got close to the wire were either killed or wounded." At this point, 8088 Sjt Harry Wells took command of his platoon after his officer was killed and "with the utmost coolness and bravery .... rallied them and led them forward". Wells rallied his men and led them against the wire under close and continuous machine gun fire a total of three times. This "magnificent display of courage and determination" cost Wells his life and earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross. William Hewlett was wounded in the attack.

William's wound was probably not serious enough to necessitate his return to England but he does seem to have been granted some leave because on 20th November 1915 he married Gladys Evelyn Stephens at the church of St John's in Lewes. In January 1916, he began to keep a diary and write very brief comments for each day. At the end of the month, he went on a bombing course before rejoining his unit at the front. This was a time of routine trench holding with the Battalion having alternate periods in the front line and in reserve. William's diary entries mention whether he had received any letters or not and whether they were "resting", "packing up for the trenches" or "in trenches". On Monday 20th March, he was wounded and evacuated to hospital at Noeux les Mines and then to a convalescent camp at La Bouverie. On 18th April, he rejoined his unit and on 23rd the men marched back to the trenches. His diary entries for the next few days mention aeroplane activity, heavy bombardments and mines being exploded. Three of his fellow bombers were wounded before the relief on 26th April. His diary entry for the following day reads: "No letters. Wounded in abdomen at 3pm at bomb practice & 13 others." Another spell in hospital and a period of convalescing now followed before he was able to return to the Battalion on 25th May.
At the beginning of June, William enjoyed eight days leave in Lewes but was back in France on 10th June. On Sunday 18th he wrote: "Pack up for trenches. Wounded at 12 noon bomb." Nine days later he was back in England and admitted to Lewisham Infirmary. This time his wound was serious enough to preclude any idea of returning to France and he was eventually discharged from the army on 11th August 1917. His address on discharge was 1 Onslow Place, South Kensington. In addition to the 1914 Star Trio, William Hewlett was also awarded a Silver War Badge (no: 254843). He lived to the age of 84, dying in 1971 in Lewes.

Discharged as Incorrigible & Worthless.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Orange Free State" and "Transvaal".
4918 Pte. A. Petrie, 2nd Dragoons.

Alexander Morrison Petrie was born in the Parish of St Cuthbert's in Edinburgh around the year 1881. His parents, John and Ellen Petrie, already had five daughters and are recorded on the 1881 Census as living in Canongate, Edinburgh. By the time of the next Census in 1891, John Petrie had probably died and Alexander was living with his mother and four sisters at 4 St John Street, Canongate, where his mother was employed as a housekeeper. At the age of 18, he was working as a clerk but must have decided that life in the British Army would offer a more exciting alternative. On 26th March 1900, he enlisted for service in the Dragoons of the Line, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as over 5' 8" in height, weighing 144lbs and with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He also had various tattoos on his arms and hands. According to his family, he "fought like a tiger, sang like a nightingale and drank like a fish."
In March of the following year, Pte. Petrie was sent to join the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) in South Africa. The Greys had been in South Africa since December 1899 and, as part of General French's campaign to relieve the besieged town of Kimberley, had fought in the battles of Paardeberg, Driefontein and Diamond Hill. By 1901, the Boer War had become more of a guerrilla campaign as highly mobile and well-armed parties of Boers continued to evade and harass the British Forces. Cavalry had an important role to play in this kind of mobile warfare.
In October 1901, Alexander Petrie was tried by Field General Court Martial, convicted of "drunkenness on the line of march" and sentenced to 36 days imprisonment. He was returned to duty on 23rd December. One week later, a party of the Greys was ambushed at Groenfontein and lost 5 killed and 13 wounded. The fighting was far from finished. On 18th February 1902, there was a sharp engagement with the Boers at Klippan, during which a squadron of Greys was cut off, surrounded and partially captured. By the end of May, however, the war was over.

Alexander Petrie was to stay in South Africa for two more years. In April 1904, he was again on trial, this time for "striking his superior officer" and he was sentenced to 112 days imprisonment with hard labour. Sent back to England in June, Alexander was discharged as "Incorrigible and Worthless" on 30th July 1904. He had served a total of 4 years and 127 days, of which 3 years and 89 days had been in South Africa. Because of the circumstances of his discharge, none of his service counted towards a pension and his Queen's South Africa Medal was forfeited.

Walter Haw : 47th (London) Division RFA.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Victory Medal.
1242 Dvr. W. C. Haw, Royal Field Artillery.

Walter Charles Haw, a 17 year old van guard with the London and North Western Railway, residing at 10 Maclise Road, Hammersmith, joined the Territorial Force on 18th February 1913, enlisting in the 7th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. His Service Papers describe him as 5' 5" in height with blue eyes, brown hair, good vision and good physical development. The Territorial Force was originally intended for home defence but, following the outbreak of the First World War, the men were given the option of signing Army Form E624, by which a man subjected himself to "liability to serve in any place outside the United Kingdom in the event of National emergency." Walter signed the form on 8th September 1914.

The 7th London Brigade RFA consisted of three four-gun batteries - the 18th, 19th and 20th County of London Batteries, together with the 7th London Brigade Ammunition Column. Walter served in the 19th Battery, which, like the others, was armed with 15-Pounder B.L. guns. The Brigade became part of the 47th (London) Division and landed in France on 18th March 1915. At the beginning of May, Walter was in trouble with military authority; having fallen asleep whilst on stable picket duty, he was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No:1, and for most of the month would have spent two hours a day tied to a gun wheel. During this period, the 7th London Brigade RFA played their part in the Battles of Festubert and Givenchy. Later, in September, they contributed to the four day bombardment that preceded the Battle of Loos. In November, the Batteries were rearmed with 18-Pounder guns. They remained in the Loos Salient through the winter.

Walter Haw served with the 19th Battery until March 1916, when he was admitted to hospital with suspected enteric and subsequently sent back to England. He was discharged from the army on 16th June 1916, having served a total of 3 years and 120 days, and was awarded a pension of 4/8 a week and a Silver War Badge (List TP/61). His Discharge Papers describe his military character as "good" and include the comment "as far as can be judged from records is a steady man and can be recommended for employment in civil life." His intended place of residence was his mother's house at 2 Girdlers Road, Hammersmith. In 1917, he married Emma Barrett. Sadly, Walter Haw died the following year and one is led to conclude that the illnesses he contracted while on active service must have been a contributory factor.
In February 1920, Walter's mother wrote to the Artillery Record Office at Woolwich enquiring about her son's medals: "In respect of my son Walter Charles Haw no. 1242 Driver RFA who was invalided home from France unfit for further service & died in St Lukes Bayswater on the 4th July 1918 will you kindly forward me the medals that is due to him. I think he told me that there were three or four as he was in seven engagements out there."
In August, she wrote again: "Dear sir, I see by the press that the 1914-15 Star is ready for distribution and several have already received them so should feel greatly obliged if you will kindly forward my late dear sons on to me."
Walter Haw's widow remarried in 1921. Walter does not appear in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, perhaps because he died after being discharged from the army, but it is likely that he is just as much a casualty of the Great War as anyone who died in uniform. His full medal entitlement is the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and a Silver War Badge, the whereabouts of the first and the last being unknown.

With The 2nd Lincolns In South Africa.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Cape Colony" & "Paardeberg".
King's South Africa Medal with clasps "South Africa 1901" & "South Africa 1902".
1816 Pte. T. Slatter, Lincolnshire Regiment.

Thomas Slatter appears on the 1881 Census as a 15 year old packer in a mustard mill, the son of Isaac Slatter, a leather embosser, and his wife Charlotte of 3 King Edward Street, Bridewell, London. Thomas had an older sister but was the oldest of the family's three sons. On 1st March 1887, he joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, enlisting for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. Already serving in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers Volunteers, Thomas must have decided that the army life was for him. His Attestation Papers give his occupation as a groom and describe him as being just over 5' 4" in height, weighing 119lbs and having blueish-grey eyes, dark brown hair and a medium complexion. He also had scars on the back of his head, right hip and right shin.
Thomas joined the 1st Battalion of the Regiment at Lincoln on 4th March 1887 but his army career doesn't seem to have got off to a very auspicious start; he went absent and, once apprehended, was in confinement and then imprisoned by the Commanding Officer for some weeks. Once released, Thomas went absent again and suffered a subsequent 17 days imprisonment. A month after his release, he was sent overseas to join the 2nd Battalion, serving over four years in the East Indies and a further two years in the Straits Settlements (Singapore). Foreign service seems to have suited Thomas better and he was awarded his first Good Conduct Pay on 18th February 1890, his second Good Conduct Pay following three years later. Returning to England in 1895, Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve, his seven years of service having been completed.
On the outbreak of war with the Boers, Thomas Slatter was recalled to the Colours and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, which sailed for South Africa on the "Goorkha" on 4th January 1900. Arriving at the Cape about the 25th, the Battalion joined the 14th Brigade and later, on 18th February, took part in the Battle of Paardeberg. Thomas served with the 2nd Lincolns in South Africa till August 1902, thus earning entitlement not just to the Queen's but also to the King's South Africa Medal. Following his return to England, he was discharged from the army on 28th February 1903.

Raymond Nolan: An Officer In The Black Watch.

1914 Star. Lieutenant R. P. D. Nolan, Royal Highlanders.

Raymond Philip Drummond Nolan, the eldest son of Mr Philip Nolan of the Indian Civil Service, was born on 1st July 1883 in India. As a boy of 12, he accompanied his father on a tiger shoot and succeeded in killing a full-grown tiger with his miniature rifle, a unique exploit that was recorded in several well-known works on Indian big game shooting. Raymond was educated at Beaumont, Stoneyhurst (the 1901 Census records him as a 17 year old boarder there) and New College, Oxford, where he got his double half-blue, and was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, in 1908. He joined the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in May 1907, and in April 1910 was promoted to Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion. In 1912, he succeeded his uncle, Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. Nolan, MP, in the Balinderry Estate in County Galway and, on 27th November the following year, married Kathleen O'Connor, the eldest daughter of Mr C. A. O'Connor, Master of the Rolls in Ireland. A son was born to them on 7th September 1914.

Just 10 days after the birth of his son, Raymond left for France, where he joined the 1st Black Watch. The Battalion had spent September fighting on the Marne and had lost eight officers and 48 other ranks, either killed in action or died of wounds. In the middle of October, they moved up to the Ypres Salient. In the next two weeks, seven more officers and 100 other ranks were killed attempting to advance or repel the frequent German attacks.

On November 2nd, the Germans attacked down the Menin road towards Ypres. The 1st Black Watch was called upon to halt the enemy advance. It was here that Lieutenant Nolan gave his life for his country. To quote from the Regimental History: "On the 2nd the British line on the Menin road was again broken. The Battalion played a very considerable part in restoring the line by a brilliant counter-attack, in which A Company under Captain V. M. Fortune, B Company under Lieutenant J. L. Rennie and C Company under Captain H. Amery took part. These companies, which thus stopped the forward German movement on the Menin road and helped to fill the gap, were only 120 strong and were reduced to 75 in the course of the attack. Lieutenant Nolan was killed, Captain Amery so severely wounded that he died some months afterwards, and Lieutenant Rennie was also wounded." (Captain Amery was a long-serving officer who had served in Egypt from 1901 to 1911. He was fluent in Arabic, Persian and German and in 1906 had been appointed Assistant Director of Intelligence at Cairo. He died back in England and is buried in Kensal Green All Souls' Cemetery.) A letter written by one of Raymond Nolan's brother officers is quoted in the Stoneyhurst War Record: "Two companies of the Black Watch were ordered to counter-attack as the Germans had broken through on the right of the Brigade, and had apparently occupied some houses in the village of Veldhoek, about three miles east of Ypres. The attack was eventually made by two platoons of 'A' Company and 'C' Company.

"They got within about 150 yards of the houses, but could get no further owing to machine gun and rifle fire. The German advance was, however, also stopped. In trying to make a further advance, the Captain of 'C' Company - Capt. Amery - was hit in three places, and Lieut. Nolan in five places, by machine gun fire. He was killed instantaneously. After dark he was brought in and buried near the Dressing Station, which was a farm on the road running N. and S. just west of the village of Veldhoek, and the spot is marked with a cross with his name upon it. "His loss was deeply regretted by all of us, as he had proved himself a capable leader, and we were all very fond of him."

In the ensuing years, the ravages of war succeeded in obliterating the location of Lieutenant Nolan's grave and he is now commemorated on the Menin Gate, his name alongside those of so many of his fellow officers and men who died fighting in the Ypres Salient.

Cpl. John Marchant, 1st Middlesex Regiment.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
L-6609 Cpl. J. Marchant, Middlesex Regiment.

John Marchant was born in the parish of Old Ford, London around the year 1882. At the age of 18, he was working as a labourer but, deciding that the army life would be more to his liking, attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Stratford on 19th October 1900, enlisting for three years with the Colours and nine years in the Reserve. His Service Papers describe him as just over 5' 6" tall, weighing 117lbs and with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair and a scar on his right knee. He is recorded on the 1901 Census as a 19 year old private with the 4th Middlesex Regiment.

From March to September 1902, he served with the 3rd Battalion in St Helena and afterwards proceeded to South Africa, where he was granted his first Good Conduct Pay and appointed Lance Corporal. In June 1904, John returned to the UK and shortly after was transferred to the Army Reserve. In December of the same year, he rejoined the Colours in order to complete eight years service and in January 1905 was posted to the 1st Battalion in India. Here he was granted his second Good Conduct Pay and obtained a certificate in butchery. In November 1908, he returned to the UK and once more was transferred to the Reserve.

On the 18th July 1914, John Marchant married Kate Harvey but had little time to enjoy wedded bliss. Following the outbreak of the First World War, John was recalled from the Reserve and went to France with the 1st Middlesex on 11th August 1914. The Battalion took part in the Battles of Mons and Le Cateau and the subsequent retreat, and later saw action on the Aisne and the Marne. John stayed on the Western Front till returning to England in January 1915. Back in France in December, he rejoined the 1st Battalion and was promoted to Corporal in February 1916. At the beginning of the year, the 1st Middlesex had been engaged in routine trench warfare in the area of Cuinchy and had had a fairly uneventful time. March was enlivened by a number of bombing raids on the enemy trenches.

On 19th March, John Marchant was wounded in the eye and four days later was evacuated to England. He spent the rest of the war on home service and was eventually discharged on 23rd March 1919. In the years after the war, he worked as a pointsman at the Bow Depot of the London County Council Tramways Department.



John Marchant wearing Corporal's Stripes and an unidentified medal ribbon - possibly for the Queen's South Africa Medal. He also has the crossed rifles of a Marksman on his left sleeve.





Read more about the exploits of the 1st Middlesex in the Great War here.