John Hipgrave

Name

John Hipgrave
1873

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

02/12/1914
42

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Corporal
4/6992
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

RATION FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA CHAPELLE-D'ARMENTIERES
V1.K.1
France

Headstone Inscription

None

UK & Other Memorials

Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City Memorial, Hatfield Hyde Village Memorial, St. Mary Magdalene, Church Memorial, Hatfield Hyde, We are not aware of any memorial in Roe Green

Pre War

John Hipgrave was born in Hatfield (quite likely to be more accurately Roe Green) in 1873, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Hipgrave of Roe Green, Hatfield and one of eleven children. He was baptised at Hatfield on 14 December 1973.

On the 1881 Census the family were living at Roe Green, Hatfield, where his father was working as a Labourer.  They were also in Roe Green in 1891.

He enlisted in 1895 and served as a Private with the Coldstream Guards under Reg. No. 135, fighting in the Boer War in South Africa. It seems that he later transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment, under Reg. No. 6437 before being discharged, having served seven years, and placed in reserve. 

His parents remained living in Roe Green on 1891 and 1901 Censuses.

On the 1911 Census John was a boarder at the home of widow Sarah Martin and her two sons in Hatfield Hyde, Herts and was working as General Labourer.

Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Hertford.

Wartime Service

When war broke out, John was mobilised in September 1914 as a reservist and served as Corporal Reg. no. 6992 with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and served in France from 11 November 1914.

At the time of his death he was said to be attached to the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment and was killed in action on 2 December 1914, aged 42. He is buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-D'Armentieres, France.

The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of September 1914, in the first list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “John Hipgrave – Roe Green – 3rd Beds.”

The Herts Advertiser dated 18th August 1917, reported on about eight members of the Hipgrave family: “Mrs Hipgrave, 1 Green    ……?  Cottages. Roe Green, Hatfield, contributed five sons and three grandsons to the Great War and furnishes a striking illustration of how international warfare lays its heavy tribute on peaceful village homes. The patriotism of the brave Hatfield sons is succinctly unfolded in the following brief explanation.

1) Private John Hipgrave, single, resided at Hatfield Hyde.   Joined August 1914, went to France November 1914, killed December 1914 aged 42.    Served through the South African War in Coldstream Guards.

2) Private George Hipgrave married.   Joined early 1915, was wounded in France April 1915, now in Egypt aged 40. Lived in Roe Green before enlisting.

3) Private William Hipgrave – Beds Regiment.   Single, joined August 1914, went to France April 1915.   Twice wounded, went to Egypt January 1916.   Killed July 1917, aged 37.   Lived Roe Green, served through the South African War.

4) Private Fred Hipgrave – Beds Regiment.   Single, joined August 1914.  Went to France Dec 1914. Killed April 1915 aged 29.    Lived Roe Green.

5) Corporal Frank Hipgrave – 1st Border Regiment.  Single.   When war broke out he was in India with Regiment Had served for ten years.  Came home, went to the Dardanelles, wounded, next went to France and again wounded.  Now discharged through wounds aged 29.   Lives at Roe Green.

6) G Hipgrave – on a destroyer aged 16.

7) Private Charles Payne – 1st Herts. Regiment.   Joined early 1916.   Killed in action in France Nov 1916 aged 21.   Lived at Wymondley near Stevenage.

8) Private John Wilmot – Herts. Regiment.  Served before war broke out.   Went to France Nov. 1914.

Has had two leaves from the Front and still out with the Herts. Regiment – aged 21.

Now all that is left to the bereaved parent is the memory of deeds bravely done, lives given to King and Country and a few letters from co-patriots.   A Company Sergeant-Major writes of one of the sons hit by a stray bullet behind the lines when returning to bivouac and killed instantly.  A company quarter-master sergeant quotes ‘it is with great regret that I write to inform you of your son’s death, Private Hipgrave, on the night of the 27th.   He had taken part in a night raid on the enemy trenches and had practically reached our bivouac when he was hit in the head by a stray bullet, his death was instantaneous.   I beg to sympathise with you in your loss and the only consolation I can offer you is that he died in the cause of his country.  Always willing to help his comrades and cheerful, he performed his duties well, and in the face of great odds he always carried them out to the letter.  His death is greatly lamented by all the officers, NCOs and men of the company who realised to the full his great worth.  By his example many of the men have improved the ways of work and, writing as NCO, it was always a pleasure to have such a man to work under one, who acted as a stimulus to the remainder by example and precept.’

Capt H G Armstrong, QC, also wrote August 1st 1917 

Dear Mrs Hipgrave,

I am writing to say how much I sympathise with you in the sad loss of your son, Private W Hipgrave.  He was killed on the night of July 27th.   He was an excellent soldier, a most willing worker, and his loss will be greatly felt by all.   Once again let me express my most sincere sympathies.’”

John was awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal and 1914 Star.

Additional Information

Acknowledgments

Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)