Name
George Reginald Hyde
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/03/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2223
London Regiment *1
13th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEUVE-CHAPELLE FARM CEMETERY
N. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
SADLY MISSED OH FOR A TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial,
United Reformed Church Window, Wheathampstead
Pre War
George Reginald was born 1894 in Wheathampstead to James Hyde, a sawyer, and Lucy (nee Seabrook).
On the 1901 Reginald, together with his parents and younger sister, Gladys (born 96) were living at Marford, Wheathampstead. On the 1911 Census Reginald was recorded as a clerk in a Tourist Office, and was still living with his family in Necton Road, New Marford, Wheathampstead.
Wartime Service
Reginald enlisted in Kensington as Private 2223 in August 1914 as a Territorial Force soldier in the County of London Regiment, 1/13th Battalion (Kensington). He was reported to have been living in West Hampstead about this time.
Reginald went to France with his Battalion, landing at Le Havre on 4 Nov 1914 to serve with 25 brigade, 8 Division. In March 1915 they were to take part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10-13 Mar 1915). On the first day, after a short bombardment the attack was successful and over a mile of German Front Line was taken. The 1/13th Battalion were in reserve but moved up into the Old British Front Line. B Company was in support of 1 Royal Irish Rifles, C Company in support of 2nd Berks and 2nd Lincs and D Company in support of Royal Engineers.
On 11 Mar 1915 they remained in the old Front line but from early on 12 Mar there was a sustained heavy enemy bombardment for 9 hours and there were heavy casualties. Among the battalion’s many casualties during the battle was Reginald Hyde who was killed in action on 12th March.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £3 and arrears of £7 1s 10d was paid to his father James. The Bedfordshire Advertiser and Luton Times of 16 Apr 1915 reported that his parents had been informed of his death by shell explosion.
His father Mr J Hyde, Necton Rd., New Marford, Wheathampstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "SADLY MISSED OH FOR A TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND". His parents also erected the window in United Reformed Church Window, Wheathampstead.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (Kensington).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, https://londonwarmemorial.co.uk
