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"Two Gallant Flag Defenders" 5 days 14 hours ago #98659
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Whilst looking for mentions of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment in the British newspapers during the Second Boer War 1899-1902, I came across the following advert half a dozen times between 13th April 1901 & 5th October 1901 and only in the Sheffield Weekly Telegraph despite the firm placing the advert being Manchester based. The reason for the latter becomes apparent when one studies the bottom part of the advert.
Extracting the part of Worcestershire Regiment interest, which is found towards the bottom right of the advert under the sub-heading “Two Gallant Flag Defenders”: C.Coy., 2nd Worcester Regt., Field force, S.A., February 11th 1901. Sir – Received the “Briton” English Lever safely. Many thanks. Despite “DE WET” it is keeping excellent time. We are trekking day by day. Yours faithfully, (Pte.) W. E. HAINES. This set me wondering did Private Haines really exist and, if so, how worthy was he of the accolade of “Gallant Flag Defender”. Then looking to the left the same went for J. A. Hebb, Staff Sergeant-Major, Army Service Corps. The answer to the first question for both of them is yes, they both most definitely existed in real life. 3528 Private W Haines can be found on Medal Rolls for the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment; 6221 Company Staff Sergeant-Major J A Hebb can be found on a Medal Roll for the Army Service Corps. I will leave readers to make up their own minds regarding the second question. James Allen Hebb’s obituary in the Burton Observer & Chronicle of 19th January 1925 reads as follows: CASTLE GRESLEY - DEATH OF MAJOR J. A. HEBB The remains of the late Major James Allen Hebb, M.C., who passed away suddenly on Friday at his residence, “Crooksbury”, Mount Pleasant Road, Castle Gresley, were quietly laid to rest at the Gresley Cemetery on Monday afternoon. The deceased gentleman was 58 years of age, was a native of Nottingham, and enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps, and altogether served for 38 years. After service with the Colours for this long period, during which he rose from private to major, he retired in 1921. In that period he saw service in Bermuda, West Indies, the Gold Coast Expedition, 1895 and 1896, for which he was awarded Queen Victoria’s special award, the Ashanti Star; the Boer War, 1899 to 1902, for which he received the Queen’s Medal and the King’s Medal; Singapore 1908 to 1911, the Great War, 1914 to 1919, being awarded the Military Cross in 1915. Upon retiring, he came to reside at the above address, where he took up poultry farming. Of a quiet and retiring disposition he was greatly esteemed by all with whom he came into contact. It is interesting to add that Major Hebb was a burgess of Nottingham, where the family was established many years ago. During the last six months he had been in failing health. He leaves a widow and daughter to mourn his loss. The service in the cemetery chapel and at the graveside was taken by the Rev. E. F. F. Despard (Vicar). The bearers were Messers. C. Swain, G. Dawson, I. Coates and G. Gee. Choice tributes were placed upon the coffin from wife and daughter, the family, and Mr. and Mrs. S. King. ASC Boer War Medal Rolls show James’s Queen’s Medal had attached only the Cape Colony Clasp and his King’s Medal had both date clasps attached. This site (via the name search facility) shows he was Mentioned in Dispatches by Kitchener in June 1902. His wife, who was “entirely” satisfied with the 10 guinea watch & chain present from her husband, started out life as Catherine Anne Orme. Below is the record of their 21st August 1893 marriage. Catherine outlived James by nearly 40 years passing away in 1954. His array of medals never seem to have been on the market, were they the choice tributes placed upon the coffin? 
William Edward Haines was born on 30th April 1872 in Great Yarmouth. He is not apparent on the 1881 or 1891 Census. He attested in Worcester on New Year’s Eve 1892 and gave a London address for his father, Daniel and “Fisherman” as his own occupation. He was posted to Ireland four days later where the 2nd Battalion were based at the time. He was appointed Lance-corporal in March 1893 but reverted to Private three months later. A year after that he deserted on 20th June 1894 and was absent without leave for 112 days. He rejoined the battalion on 10th November 1894 and was placed in prison awaiting trial. He was tried on 22nd December 1894 and returned to jail. He appears to have been released on 5th February 1895 by when he had spent 84 days in jail. On release William was transferred to the 1st Battalion and posted to India to join them. Perhaps the 1st Battalion were not too happy with him, because 9 months later he was posted to Malta to rejoin the 2nd Battalion. Once again he was in trouble because 8 months later he was imprisoned for 10 days on the instructions of the 2nd Battalion commanding officer. Thereafter he stayed with the 2nd Battalion which saw him eventually disembarking in Cape Town during January 1900. Unless he was hospitalised at the time, as a member of C company he would have been directly involved in repulsing the Boers who attacked the Worcester Hill kopjes on 12th February 1900. The C Company started the day in reserve but were brought into the fray when Lt-Colonel Coningham, who had imprisoned William just over 4 years earlier, made his way from Slingersfontein Farm camp to join in the action. As a result of this engagement 22 members of William’s battalion were killed including Coningham and Captain Thomas, William’s company commander. At least another 30 were seriously wounded but William appears to have survived unscathed and saw the war through to the end. Thus, he earned the Queen’s Medal with three clasps, Wittebergen, Cape Colony & Transvaal, plus the King’s Medal with both clasps. He did not leave South Africa until September 1902 and disembarked in England on 1st October and his service record gives his South African service as 2 years and 228 days. Back in England he was immediately transferred to the Army Reserve but in 1905 & 1906 “failed to report” and was summarily “Struck off Strength” in June 1906. So one could say he blotted his copybook 4 times during his first period of engagement which lasted 13½ years but he paid the price as for pension purposes his service up to the time of his first release from jail was discounted. The 1911 Census found 40 year old William living at 49 Grove Road, Stoke-on-Trent. Also living there was widow Mary Plant, aged 38, and her 17 year old daughter Rachel and 12 year old son. William initially wrote “wife” against Mary’s name and then thought better of it, crossed it out and wrote “servant”! I will leave readers to make up their own minds’ about their relationship. William was employed as an “engine driver” at a colliery. On 12th January 1915 William, aged 42, attested in Stoke-on-Trent for service in the Army Service Corps and he gave his occupation as “Motor Driver”. His surviving service records provide limited information as they are highly damaged but his answer to Question 7 “Have you ever served in His Majesty’s Forces?” is clearly legible – “2 Worcester Regt, 16 years”. On a later page, also clearly visible, is his new regimental number 33040 and that 9 days after attesting he embarked on the SS Italian Prince at Southampton and proceeded to France where he was initially based at a Transport Depot in Rouen. He must either have returned from France by mid-September or been home on leave because on 12th September 1915 he & Mary attended the Stoke-on-Trent Register Office and became man and wife. A copy of Mary’s almost undamaged death certificate is included amongst William’s service records. It shows she died on 10th May 1916 of cancer (type illegible) at 44 Holly Place, Stoke-on-Trent and her sister was in attendance when she died. A totally legible hand written insert shows that on the 15th July 1916 his next of kin was changed from Mary to his “daughter” (actually step-daughter) Mrs Rachel Reson of 44 Holly Street. Another largely legible page indicates William received a fortnight’s leave immediately following the death of Mary and was promoted to Corporal 11 months later on 3rd May 1917. During this time he was a member of a Motor Transport Company but whether he was based at home or overseas is not apparent – I suspect the former. Then on 31st January 1918 he was “Absent without leave” and by 23rd March 1918 he was considered to have “Deserted” and was “Struck off Strength”. His Medal Roll Index Card supports some of the information given above and shows, despite his desertion, he was awarded the 1915 British Star, British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. 
The 1921 Census found William living at 12 Water Street, Stoke-on-Trent and indicates for the second time he had married a widow with a ready made family. Her name was Annie and she was a year older than William. William originally entered her 5 children, who had the surname of Barnett and were aged between 13 and 27, as his sons and daughters but somebody else (not the enumerator who used green ink) stepped in and added “Step” in each case. William was employed as an “Engine fitter” and the three eldest children were all gainfully employed (which is impressive for 1921) whilst the youngest was still at school. William left 15 year old Lucy’s occupation as a blank. Also interestingly the eldest, Frederick, was working as a “Motor Driver” for a wealthy widow living at “The Hawthorns” in nearby Trentham – I think we can take it he was her chauffeur (wonder what make of car she owned?). The 1939 Register found William and Annie still living in Water Street along with Lucy now aged 33, still unmarried and helping her mother with “home duties – unpaid”, I think we can presume Lucy had some sort of disability. 67 year old William was still working but now as a “Boiler Furnaceman”. William passed away in 1943 but even as a former soldier with over 19 years of service (according to him) under his belt and a veteran of two wars with 5 medals to show for it, his funeral did not make the local papers. Hopefully it was well attended despite him having no children of his own. The other intriguing thing is what reward did James & William receive for allowing their name to be used to promote the products of H White & co of Manchester. Perhaps I need to visit the Manchester Archives and see if they hold the records & accounts of the company. |
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