Remembering Robert HANSFORD who was killed on this day 100 years ago 25 Set 1915

HANSFORD, Robert George, DCM. 

Born : Dulverton C1876

Baptised :

Parents : John and Emily Hansford

Married : Rebecca Fry – 16^th April 1906 – St Andrews, Feniton

Died : 25^th September 1915

Buried : No known grave - listed on the Loos Memorial to the missing at Dud Corner Cemetery.

1881 Census : Causeway End, Broadhembury – aged 5

1891 Census :

1901 Census :

1911 Census : Lower Elstone, Chulmleigh – aged 35

Occupations : Labourer. Farmer in 1911.

Address on enlisting :

Regiment : 8^th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Rank : Serjeant

Service Number : 3/7458

Service Dates : 22^nd June 1895 to 21^st June 1907.

CWGC listing : Yes

Soldiers Died Listing :

Devon Roll of Honour : Yes under Dunkeswell

National Roll of the Great War :

Medal Card (NA WO372) : WO372/8/219636

Service Record (NA WO363) :

War Memorial : Feniton

Newspaper Listings :

Notes : He says he was exactly 19 years old when he signed his attestation papers on the 22^nd June 1895 and joined the Devonshire Regiment (number 4288) giving his next of kin as his father – John Hansford of Wolford, Dunkeswell. He lists himself as a labourer who had lived at his father’s house for the last three years. He had never been an apprentice, is not married and has not been to prison. When he enlisted he was already a member of the Militia (4^th Devonshire Regiment) but was taking up a full 12 year Short Service agreement (7 years with the colours, 5 years in reserve or if overseas 8 years and 4 years). He was 5’ 4” tall and weighed 123lbs, had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair.

He served at home from 23^rd June 1895 until 8^th September 1896 when he went to India until 20^th September 1899. He then served in South Africa until 18^th January 1902 and was Mentioned in Despatches on two occasions for his bravery in the Second Boer War. He was presented with the Queens South Africa Medal in 1900 with clasps for Belfast, Elandslaagte and the Defence of Ladysmith; Kings South Africa Medal, 1901-2, with 2 clasps; 1914-15 Star, and the British War and Victory Medals. He most likely earned his DCM for the action at Wagon Hill. During late 1899 and early 1900 the 1^st Devon’s were engaged against the Boers in the Siege of Ladysmith, in South Africa. Ladysmith is surrounded by hills and the garrison units were tasked with keeping the Boers from taking the heights to prevent Ladysmith coming in range of their artillery. On the 6^th January the Boers made a determined effort to assault Caesar’s Camp and the Devon’s were tasked with preventing its capture. Wagon Point formed part of Caesars Camp and it was successfully cleared by the Devon’s during a thunderstorm. During this action a Lt Masterson won the Victoria Cross.

Robert then returned to India until 25^th March 1903 when he came home and was transferred to the reserve from 27^th March 1903 until his discharge on 21^st June 1907. He was made a Lance Corporal on 18^th January 1900 and a full Corporal on 4^th January 1902. He had passed his Sergeants promotion exam on 19^th December 1902.

 

At the start of the First World War Robert re-enlisted as a Private in the 8^th Service Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. At some stage he was promoted to Sergeant the rank he had when he was killed (although he is listed as a Private in the Devon Roll of Honour). The 8^th was formed at Exeter on 19^th August 1914 as part of K1 (Kitcheners first volunteer army). They went to Rushmoor Camp, Aldershot (Barossa Barracks) in November 1914 as part of the 14^th Division. From December 1914 they were in billets in villages south of Farnham and came back to Aldershot in March 1915. They left the 14^th Division in May 1915. On the morning of July 25^th 1915 they moved to Southampton for embarkation and landed at Le Havre on 26^th July 1915 and were attached to 20 Brigade, 7^th Division at Carvin on 4^th August 1915. The 8^th were later attached to the 21^st Division and in late August moved to the area south of the La Bassee canal. On 24^th September preparations were made for the 8^th to attack positions around the villages of Hulluch, Cite St Elie and Haisnes on the 25^th during the battle of Loos. It was during this battle that Robert Hansford was killed. When the 8^th finally left the battlefield on the 30^th September they only had 6 officers and 263 men left out of around 1000.

Feniton History Group held the 60th meeting

It was good to be back together again, thank you all for an interesting evening.

We confirmed the details of the talk by Colin Harris on the 16^th Sept.

We had a discussion on how easy it is to lose saved data as things like floppy disk slots are not available on the modern computers.

Brenda is attending a seminar on schools 1844 to 1864 and asked if we have any notes that cover those years.

Jenny told us she has been working on her Notley ancestors from Cerne Abbass, one Thomas Notley went to America where he became a Judge in the 1600s.

Geoff related his work as a volunteer in the Devon Record Office. He has been cleaning and listing papers from the Payne family of Uffculm. It is a huge task and painstaking using a sponge to remove years of dust.

David told us about his research with Roger into the River Otter area at Fenny Bridges. This research confirms the name of the Roman Road in the area:

“The Roman Road at Fenny Bridges is usually considered to be the most south westerly end of the Fosse way from Exeter to Lincoln. The Fosse Way represents the first Roman/British 'frontier' line established in the first few years of the Roman take over. 'Street Pol'(meaning the pool by the road) is a marker in the Anglo Saxon boundary clause from Ottery's 1061 Charter. It refers to quite a large pool in the river Otter located on the south of the old A30 at Fenny Bridges. It was still there in the 1840s and is recorded on Ottery's tithe map (clip attached). It had disappeared by the time of the first large scale OS maps in the 1880s although the straight bank on the southern edge of the pool is still easy to spot.”

They have also found various records detailing the bridges, floods and lack of repairs. A trust of ten men was set up to correct the problems:

Hon. William Wells Addington, Sir Edmund Lansdown Prideaux, Bart. Sir John Kennaway, John ? Oliphant Esq., William Porter Esq., Charles Gordon Esq, Edward Simcoe Drewe Esq.,William Rennell Coleridge Esq.,             Daniel Bishop Davy Esq. and Rev John Huyshe this is dated 19 Sep 1750.

Other local names are Skinner, Northcote, Wright,  Kirkham and Pring.

David also noted that the name of   the stream running through Feniton was called the Fine and the name of the village derived from this phonically as the V and F sound very similar.

I omitted to say at the meeting that Jenny and I have put together a general history of the village to be used as part of the Neighbourhood Plan. I attach my document, which may well become an aid to the writing of our village book?

Next meeting is booked in the Nog Inn on  1^st October at 8pm. Looking forward to seeing you all on the 16^th Sept for Colin’s talk, just some help needed with teas and the door. Thank you.