Name
Hector Fussell Billinger
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/11/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
East Lancashire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 6 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, Congregational Church Memorial, Bushey, Royal Masonic School Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
Born on 18 Oct 1893 in Neath, Glamorgan Hector Fussell Billinger was the son of James Fussell and Margaret Jane Billinger, who later moved to 44 St. Barnabas Road, Cambridge.
Hector was educated at Cambridge County School before proceeding to St John’s College where he gained a second class honours degree in History Tripos in 1914. , Cambridge (BA 1914) and was appointed History master at Royal Masonic School in 1914.
Wartime Service
Gazetted in Oct 1914 2nd Lieutenant, entered France in Feb 1916 and was appointed Adjutant in Mar 1916. He was killed in action on the Somme.
When war broke out, he had just received an appointment as History Master at Royal Masonic School, Bushey. However, having been a member of the Officers' Training Corps during his school and college careers, he immediately applied for a commission. He was gazetted in October 1914 to the 10th Battalion as 2nd Lieutenant in the East Lancashire Regiment. He was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant.
He went out to France in February, 1916 and was acting Adjutant to the battalion commander from March !916. He was killed in action on the Somme on 23 November 1916, aged 23.
In conveying sympathy to Hector's parents, the officer commanding his battalion wrote:
"It is my unfortunate duty to have to inform you of the death of your son, who was killed whilst gallantly commanding his company in the front-line trenches. We are very cut up about it indeed, especially myself, for, although I have only commanded this battalion for a short time, I had seen a considerable amount of your son, as he was acting-adjutant to me for some weeks. I only hope the knowledge that he has always done his duty will help you to bear your great Ioss".
Hector is remembered with honour on the Thiepval memorial, Pier & Face 6 C, and is also commemorated on the Bushey memorial and on the plaque outside the former Congregational Church in Bushey High Street.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Old Masonians Association Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
