Captain Humphrey Evans Hall 2nd Norfolks Killied in Action Ctesiphon 1915

This picture appeared in the edition of The Sphere dated Saturday 1 Janury 1916.

 

Captain H.E. Hall

 

2nd Norfolk Regt. Aged 25 years. He served for a year at Gibraltar (1909-10) and then proceeded with his regiment to Belgaum, India. He left India for the Persian Gulf in November 1914.

 

Captain HALL, HUMPHREY EVANS

Died:…………………… 23/11/1915

Aged:………………….. 25

Unit:…………………….2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment

Mentioned in Despatches

Son of Frederic Evans Hall, and Helen Elizabeth Hall, of Cumberland Cottage, Redbourn, Herts.

Commemorated at BASRA MEMORIAL

Location: Iraq

Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/865644/hall,-humphrey...

 

Full length picture at the Winchester College site.

www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/archive/humphrey-evans-hall/

 

His entry in De Ruvignys Roll of Honour reads:-

 

HALL, HUMPHREY EVANS, Capt., 2nd Battn. (9th Foot) The Norfolk Regt., yst.s. of Frederic E, Hall, of Redbourn, Herts; b. 22 March 1890; educ. at Temple Grove, East Sheen; Winchester and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst: gazetted 2nd Lieut. Norfolk Regt. 18 Sept 1909, and promoted Lieut. 16 March, 1912, and Capt. Sept. 1914; served in the European War and was killed in action at Ctesiphon. Mesopotamia, 24 Nov.1915; unm.

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Lieutenant \ Temporary Captain

Humphrey Evans Hallwas Killed in Action on the 27th November 1915 whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. As with all officers, no place of birth or residence is shown.

 

The Medal Index Card for Captain Humphrey Evans Hall, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference: WO 372/8/209698

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6476299

He qualified for the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The card is noted that he first landed in Mesopotamia in “1915” The Remarks column was originally noted that he was “Dead 27.11.15” subsequently amended to read 24.11.15. As an Officer his medals had to be applied for. This came from his father in 1922. Mr F.E. Hall Esquire gave his address as Cumberland Cottage, Redbourn, Hertfordshire.

 

It would also appear he was Mentioned in Despatches. This appeared in the London Gazette dated 13th July 1916.

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6446720

 

His Officers’ Service Records are held at the National Archive under reference WO 339/7388 Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1061329

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County Image Archive.

 

No obvious Missing Persons enquiry received by the International Red Cross.

 

The 1916 Probate Calendar records that Humphrey Evans Hall of Cumberland Cottage, Redbourn, Hertfordshire, a Lieutenant in the Norfolk Regiment, who died on the 24th November 1915 at Ctesiphon in Mesoptamia. Administration was granted at the London Court on the 18th August 1916 to Frederic Evans Hall, stockbroker.

Source: probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Hall&ye...

 

Humphrey is remembered on the War Memorial at Redbourn, Hertfordshire as H.E. Hall. The name above is G.E. Hall.

www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1161

His brother, Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Evans Hall would die serving with the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment in France on the 25th April 1917.

www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/523128/hall,-geoffrey...

 

 

22nd March 1890 – birth………….

(Source - De Ruvignys Roll of Honour)

 

The birth of a Humphrey Evans Hall was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Kensington District of London in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1890.

 

Then, as now, you had 42 days after the event to register the birth without facing prosecution and a fine. Thus the date of birth in De Ruvignys and the period of registration in the civil record are not incompatible.

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The family were initially difficult to find, so I had to work back from the details on the 1901 & 1911 Censuses. Parents “Firrich” E Hall, aged 43 and a Stockbroker born Kensington. London, was head of the household at 9 Powis Square, Kensington. A married man he lived there with his wife Helen E, (aged 38, born Bloomsbury, London) and their children:-

Phillis H…..aged 11…born Kensington

Geoffrey E…aged 10..born Kensington

Roger M……aged 7…born Kensington

Humphrey E..aged 1…born Kensington

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The 11 year old Humphrey E. Hall, born London, was recorded as a Boarding School pupil at Temple Grove School, Sheen Lane, Mortlake, Surrey

 

His parents, Frederick E, (aged 53, a Stockbroker, born London, Middlesex) and Helen E., (aged 48, born London, Middlesex), were recorded living at 86 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London. Living with them was their daughter:-

Phillis H…….aged 21…….born London, Middlesex

The couple had a visitor. The household had 7 live in servants.

 

18th September 1909 – Joins the Norfolk Regiment…..

 

The edition of the London Gazette dated September 17th 1909 has a long list of Gentlemen Cadets from the Royal Military College who were appointed Second Lieutenant, with effect from September 18th 1909. Humphreys’ name appears against the Norfolk Regiment along with Thomas Algernon Fitzgerald Foley.

Source: www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28289/page/6961/data.pdf

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The 21 year old 2nd Lieutenant Humphrey Evans Hall, born London, was recorded in barracks at Belgaum, India with the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He was still unmarried.

 

His parents, Frederic Evans Hall, (63, a Stockbroker, born Kensington), and Helen Elizabeth Hall, (58, born Bloomsbury, Middlesex), were now recorded living at Cumberland Cottage, redbourn, Hertfordshire. The couple have been married 34 years and have had 4 children, all then still alive. Living with them is their unmarried son, Geoffrey Evans Hall, (aged 30, a Stockbrokers Clerk, born Kensington). There are also 5 live in servants.

 

 

On the day…………………………………

 

For the following the sources are the journals of Major F.C. Lodge, commanding the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum), and Captain A.J. Shakeshaft, also of the 2nd Battalion (The National Archives).

The force which advanced on the road to Baghdad, on 19th November 1915, consisted of the 6th Division, the Cavalry Brigade, the 30th Brigade (12th Division), and forty two guns of all sorts – a total strength of under 14,000 combatants, of whom 8,500 were infantry. Of the Turkish forces, Captain Amarinder Singh writes this:

‘Townshend now estimated the enemy strength at 13,000 regular infantry and thirty-eight guns, The Turkish account puts the strength of the 15th Division comprising the 7th, 9th, and 44th Regiments, which had recently arrived, up to 18,000 troops. The Turkish account further adds that the 35th and 38th Divisions were in a better condition than they had been at Kut, although their morale was comparatively low. The 51st Division, comprising Anatolian Turks and the 45th were in good shape.’

 

20th November 1915: “Left Zuur about 8 am. We formed the vanguard with the 110th as the main guard, cavalry ahead. A certain amount of opposition from the enemy’s cavalry. Reached Lujj… [A seven mile march on a dusty road] Received orders to move with 110th at least 2 miles up the Baghdad road… [To reconnoitre, take ranges, and cover the Lujj camp] Saw a few of the enemy’s cavalry who ‘haired off’ as we approached. I could see the Arch of Ctesiphon quite distinctly this morning. Had a conference of C.O.’s and Adj’s at 12 noon on the prospected night march… Battalion marched off to our starting point at 6.40 pm. We had a meal about 5 pm. … Left divisional rendezvous at 8.30 pm in 3 columns, A. B. C. & Cavalry. Bad going at first but improved later. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

We now obtained a good view of the famous arch of Ctesiphon, said to be the ruins of the banquetting hall of the Phoenician kings. It stands out like some gigantic building as compared to the puny objects around. The enemy’s position consisting of many miles of trenches and reboubts formidably protected by barbed wire entanglements, all around the famous arch.” (Diary of A.J. Shakeshaft)

 

21st November 1915: On the 21st, Townshend issued his operational orders. Column ‘A’ under Major General Delamain consisting of the 16th Infantry Brigade (2nd Dorsets and 104th Rifles) and the 30th Brigade (24th Punjabis, less half battalion, the 2/7 Gurkhas, the 66th Punjabis, and the 117th Mahrattas), the 82nd Battery Royal Field Artillery (six guns), the 1/5 Hants Howitzers (four guns), and half a company of the 22nd Sappers.

Column ‘B’ under Brigadier General W.G. Hamilton comprised the 18th Infantry Brigade (2nd Norfolks, 7th Rajputs, 110th Mahrattas, and the 120th Infantry [Rajputanas], the 63rd Battery R.F.A. (six guns), and half a company of the 22nd Sappers.

Column ‘C’ under Brigadier General F.A. Hoghton included the 17th Infantry Brigade (1st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 22nd Punjabis, 103rd Mahrattas (less half battalion), and the 119th Infantry, 76th Battery R.F.A. (six guns), 86th Heavy Battery R.F.A. (one section two guns), 17th Company Sappers, 48th Pioneers, and one squadron of the 23rd Cavalry Divisional Cavalry).

A ‘flying column’ under Major General Mellis comprised the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 6th Battery R.F.A. (six guns), 7th Lancers (four squadrons), 16th Cavalry (three squadrons, 33rd Cavalry (three squadrons), Maxim Battery, motor machine-gun section (two armoured cars and two lorries), 76th Punjabis with enough transport to carry half the battalion at a time.

His plan, in brief, was for Column ‘C’ to carry out a preparatory attack, Column ‘B’ with the ‘Flying Column’ to launch the turning attack, and Column ‘C’ would then carry out the decisive onslaught. The columns would move out on the night of 21-22 November.

 

At 0700 on the 22nd, the naval bombardment of the Turkish defences commenced. All the columns advanced as planned and the battle continued all day with the Turks moving in reinforcements as and when required to check any British breakthrough. Townshend had no reserves.

 

2nd Norfolks

 

“Reached our rendezvous, ie the gap in the dry high level canal about 2 am. … We took up a position of readiness and then took any rest that was going… At dawn we could see the enemy in formed bodies about 4 miles off; a squadron of Turkish cavalry approached but no notice was taken as we did not want to disclose our whereabouts. … The 110th and ourselves issued from our position about 7.45 am in Artillery formation. We were on the right. We moved over perfectly level ground with no cover of any sort. The visibility of objects was very difficult owing to mirage. We advanced in perfect silence for some time when suddenly rifle & machine gun fire was opened upon us and we were soon heavily engaged. … We could make very little progress and we were being heavily fired into from our right. … I was hit… just as I had got into the 1st line, the shot came from the right point and luckily for me I had just turned to the left to see how things were going, the bullet passing obliquely under my left ribs. It knocked me over for a time. Cramer Roberts took over command from me. I had a most unpleasant hour or so lying out in the open: there were 3 or 4 machine guns firing hard, luckily they were all high. … I reached the field dressing station where I found several officers and men, some badly wounded, also a Turkish officer. … Stayed at the field ambulance for some considerable time and then orders came for us to move to V.P. or (Vital Point) the strong point in the Turkish position, which had been captured by us. We made to make a long detour as the Turkish Artillery was busy. At last we reached a point somewhere near V.P. and were preparing to doss down when we were ordered to move inside the barbed wire round V.P. as it was not considered safe outside owing to marauding Arabs. The trenches were filled with dead Turks and, where I eventually laid down, the odour was so unpleasant that they had them either removed or buried. Spent a most uncomfortable night, ground very hard and there was constant movement of carts close to us which raised clouds of dust. No food since yesterday except a tin of milk between 4 of us. Luckily the Turks had had enough so there was little or no firing during the night. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

 

In all we were 21 officers and 519 men in the Battalion. Two of the officers… were with Brigade Headquarters.

 

We tried to snatch a few hours sleep, but it was a bitterly cold night and lying on the hard ground without even a blanket was hardly conducive to sleep. As a matter of fact I did get and hour or two sleep and woke up about daybreak, with a dreadful cramp and feeling stiff in every joint of my body. We sat and shivered munching hardboiled eggs and biscuits, awaiting events.

 

At about 8 a m. our Battalion moved out from behind the cover of the sandhills. … After advancing for about half an hour in artillery formation, we came under very heavy rifle fire… Even at this early stage of the day we began to get a large number of casualties. Cooke was hit in the foot, whilst I was talking to him, so I had to leave him to be carried back by the stretcher bearers. Major Lodge was also wounded early in the day, probably from the fire of one of the machine guns, which the Turks had cleverly concealed.

By about 11 a.m. the whole Battalion was in the firing line and we were advancing by short rushes under a hail of bullets. About 11.30 we found it impossible to advance further owing to the heavy casualties we were suffering…

About 1 p.m. …the order came down the line from Major Cramer-Roberts, now commanding the Battalion, to advance. So we sprang forward and gained another 100 to 150 yards by short rushes. Just as we were about to move off, my company sergeant major Porter was hit in the foot. I pulled off his boot and told Corporal Edwards who was near me to look after him, as I had to lead my company forward.

About 2.30 or 3 p.m. I noticed a number of troops, possibly about 3 battalions, advancing across our left front out of a sunken road on the river bank, at about 1400 yards range. The question was were they Turks or our own Column C. Owing to the dense mirage I could not make out for certain. But presently our guns opened fire on them and there was no longer any doubt. They were Turkish troops who had crossed the river and were preparing to launch a counter-attack. … To our front the view was distinctly unpleasant, the country appeared to be black with troops massing for the counter-attack. They proceeded to advance in thick masses, all had their bayonets fixed. I distinctly saw the sun’s rays shining on them.

Our left flank [was] exposed, so we had to retire back to our original positions. As soon as we reached our old position Corporal Edwards asked me if he might go back and bring some men in. He went out three times a distance of some 100 yards, under a hail of bullets, bound up three men’s wounds and carried them back on his shoulder in rear of our line. I recommended this act of heroism very highly and the G.O.C., Division, recommended him for the V.C. Northcote was dangerously wounded during this retirement and had to be carried in.”

 

It was great relief to me when the sun went down, for we all felt sure that the enemy would never counter-attack by night., after the appalling loses he must have suffered during the day.

As was usual in all our battles there were no ambulances, nothing but transport carts in which the wretched wounded had to suffer hellish agonies, jolting over the uneven ground. It was a hideous nightmare, this walk back some 1400 yards, through a mass of dead or suffering and shattered humanity. I found Major Drum, our Brigade Major, he gave me orders that we were to retire on V.P. and some limbered wagons, the only sort of vehicle available, were sent out to bring in the wounded. I shall never forget the sight of one poor fellow with a compound fracture in the leg trying to sit or hang on to a limbered wagon. Before retiring we searched round the field and brought in all our wounded, the dead had to be left on the field. At about 8 p.m. the Battalion formed up and commenced retirement on V.P. There was no firing now, but the numerous camp fires in the distance showed that the Turks had not fled to Baghdad or even beyond the Diala.

 

We reached V.P. about 11 p.m. after a very tiring march and were allotted a position inside the wire enclosure by the Staff captain. The place was one mess of corpses after fighting here earlier in the day. Fortunately we met our mess cart at V.P. and had some hot tea and food and then tried to snatch a few hours sleep in preparation for what might await us on the morrow. The night was dreadfully cold. Hall and I lay side by side with our greatcoats and a Turkish blanket over us, but the cold was so intense that every now and then we had to get up and walk about.” (Diary of A.J. Shakeshaft)

 

Fighting for their lives, Townshend’s exposed men found their rifles jammed with dust, and were obliged to kick back the bolt after each shot – thereby exposing their heads to the sniper’s bullet. … Separated from their battalions, men formed scratch units and fought till they had no more ammunition. Then they lay low and fell instantly asleep. …

 

By 1700 hours, Townshend had come to the conclusion that he would not make any further advance that day and ordered the columns to concentrate at ‘VP’ (‘Vital Point’ – Ctesiphon) for a renewed attack the next morning. As the concentration took place, Townshend, however, came to the conclusion that casulaties were exceedingly high and it would not be possible to renew the attack. General Hoghton could muster 700 men, General Delamain 1000, and General Hamilton about 850.

The casualties suffered by Townshend were very heavy. Of the 317 officers, 130 had been killed or wounded; 111 Indian officers had become casualties out of the 255 that went into battle that morning and of the 12,000 other ranks, over 4,200 had been killed or wounded. The 24th Punjabis, 104th Rifles and the 110th lost 60 per cent of their strength. The Turkish casualties were put at 9,500, though Turkish accounts put them at 6,188.

 

When day dawned on 23rd November the results of yesterday’s battle were clearly seen on the bloodstained field, strewn with the dead of both sides; for if the British had suffered heavily, the enemy had lost still more. The casualties in the Norfolk battalion had been terrible; half the machine-gun section had been wiped out but the rest of it were doing determined service, for which Lieutenant Campbell afterwards received the Military Cross. At nightfall General Townshend decided to establish his force in the captured Turkish first line trenches, and the 18th Brigade were withdrawn to V.P.

 

Trenches were full and spewing over with dead. Piles of Turkish corpses, dyed yellow with lyddite, lay everywhere. In every irrigation ditch the water ran red as those who were slightly wounded attempted to keep those who were helpless or unconscious from dying. Every dried-up water-course was littered with wounded who, frozen over-night, groaned with thirst now that the sun was high. A crazy convoy of of ammunition and commissariat carts jolted load after load of bleeding men to the river’s edge – passing an endless line of men who preferred to crawl.

 

Colonel Lodge being now one of the wounded, his diary departs for a few days from that of Captain Shakeshaft.

 

“In the morning I found that the regiment was near & Cramer Roberts came round to see me and from him I learnt that our casualties had been very heavy especially amongst the officers, 14 out 19 had been either killed or wounded. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

 

When day dawned a dreadful sight presented itself to our gaze, the trenches in V.P. were filled with dead Turks and outside the wire were scores of bodies of our own men. Early in the morning Q.M. Sergeant Eastel arrived with ration carts from Lejj, so that the men were able to have a meal, the first they had had since leaving Lejj on the evening of the 21st. Shortly after breakfast I had to read out to a “battalion” of 250 men a communiqué from Sir John Nixon to the effect that we were to remember that the goal set before us by our King and Country was still to be attained – namely the capture of Baghdad… This published to a force that had lost more than 50 percent of its fighting strength, while the enemy had been reinforced by several divisions sent down by rafts from Mosul.

 

Soon after breakfast the Turks began shelling V.P. and this continued all morning… The evacuation of the wounded had now started and long lines of carts were on their way to and from Lejj. … About 2 p.m. the Division left V.P. for High Wall.

 

On our arrival at High Wall we were told to halt and await further orders as a Turkish counter-attack was expected. About twenty minutes later we were ordered to reinforce the position on the left of the 16th Brigade, who were at Delamain Redoubt. Just as we got into the trenches at Water Redoubt, a hail of bullets passed overhead and we could hear Turks or Arabs singing in the distance. … It was now just getting dark and it looked as if there would be some hot work during the night. Major Cramer-Roberts sent Hall off to the left to get in touch with the 120th. As he did not return after having been gone some twenty minutes I went off to look for him. On reaching the 120th trenches I found one of their officers who told me that an officer of my regiment had just been killed, while passing an exposed place in the trench. He showed me the body and to my grief I saw that Hall had been shot through the head, probably by a sniper concealed nearby. … We suffered two casualties that night, Hall and a man of A Company. (Diary of A.J. Shakeshaft)

 

Colonel Nur-ud-Din, aware of Townshend’s predicament, launched an attack at 14.30 hours which carried on throughout the night and the next day, and by 1930 hours on the 25th, General Townshend had ordered the withdrawal to Lajj.

norfolkinworldwar1.org/2016/02/19/the-second-battalion-of...

 

(I’ve highlighted in bold the references to Captain Hall).

 

The 22nd November 1915 saw the Battle of Ctesiphon involving British and Indian Army units who were attempting to advance on Bagdhad,.A British force of 11000 defeat a Turkish force of over 18000. Battle ends with a bayonet charge across open ground. Norfolks suffer 6 officers killed 27 men killed, 225 wounded and 2 missing.

 

However by the 24th the Brigade under the command of General Townshend suffering losses and sickness has to withdraw to Kut. The Norfolks form the rear guard as the Brigade withdraws. The 44 miles to Kut is covered in 36 hours. The 2nd Norfolks now comprise half their effective fighting force.

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

 

Abandoning the battlefield to the advancing Turks, it is perhaps not surprising that Humphreys’ final resting place is now unknown.

 

 

Done