Author Archive: WW1 Photos

Snowden H J Lt 1st Hertfordshire Regiment

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Snowden H J Lt 1st Hertfordshire Regiment

JOHN SNOWDEN HARCOURT was the younger son of the Rev. Harcourt Charles Vaux Snowden, Preparatory Schoolmaster, and of Augusta Louisa Snowden, of St. Peter’s, Broadstairs.

He came to the School in 1901, won his Cap in 1905, and was in the XI in 1906.

He went to Trinity College, Oxford, in October, 1906, and took his degree in 1909, with Second Class Honours in the History School. At Oxford he played in the Freshmen’s Cricket Match, and, several times, for the University at Hockey.

From January, 1910, to July, 1914, he was a Master at Lockers Park Preparatory School, and during this time he joined the Hertfordshire Regiment, and was promoted Lieutenant in September, 1914.

He was killed in the early morning of January 11th, 1915, on the Rue du Bois, Richebourg St. Vaast, near Béthune. After seeing that the sentries were at their posts, he crossed the Rue du Bois, and in so doing was shot. Age 27.

His Major said :—

“I had such confidence in him that, when I was in his neighbourhood and knew that he was the Officer on duty, I never went round the posts to see that all was well.”

Another Officer wrote:-

“He was a fine example to all of us of a good and straight-living Englishman.”

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Snowden H J Lt 1st Hertfordshire Regiment

Source : The Sphere 30th Jan 1915

Snowden H J Lt 1st Hertfordshire Regiment

SNOWDEN, HARCOURT JOHN, Lieut., 1st Battn Hertfordshire Regt. (T.F.), yг. s. of the Rev. Harcourt Snowden, of St. Peter’s, Broadstairs, by his wife, Augusta, dau. of Martin Daniel; b. Ramsgate, 12 Dec. 1887; educ. Hildersham House, St. Peter’s; Park-ield, Haywards Heath; Rugby and Trinity College, Oxford. He joined the Hertfordshire Regt. under Lieut. Col. Viscount Hampden’s command, 2 June, 1913, and was promoted Lieut. 26 Sept. 1914. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service, served in France and Flanders, and was killed in action while visiting sentries early in the morning of 11 Jan. 1915; unm. He was buried near Richebourg L’Avoué. His Major said: “I had such confidence in him that, when I knew that he was the officer on duty, I never went round the posts to see that all was well.” Another officer wrote: “He was a fine example to us all of a good and straight living Englishman.”

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Snelgrove S H Lt 14th Attd 7th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

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Snelgrove S H Lt 14th Attd 7th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

SIDNEY HENRY SNELGROVE was the younger son of John Sidney Snelgrove (O.R., 1876-80), and of Gertrude Emily his wife, of Kingswood, Tunbridge Wells.

He entered the School in 1905, left in 1910, and went up to Trinity College, Cambridge. He was training as a Chartered Accountant at the time of the outbreak of War, when he applied for, and obtained a Com- mission in the 14th K.R.R.C. He was sent as a Reserve Officer to France on July 17th, 1915, and was attached to the 7th K.R.R.C.

At Hooge, on the 29th and 30th of this month, the trenches were attacked by liquid fire and taken by the enemy. Attempts to recapture them were made all through the 30th and 31st. Lieutenant Snelgrove was sent with his Platoon to the support of another Company, under heavy shell fire, when he fell, on July 31st, 1915. Age 23

In this action, of which no official account was given at the time, the 8th Rifle Brigade lost 21 Officers, and the 7th Rifle Corps 13. There were 63 Officer casualties in all. Second Lieutenant Woodroffe, of the 8th Rifle Brigade, won his V.C. and both the D.S.O. and Military Cross were awarded, the latter to an officer of the 7th K.R.R.C.

The Colonel of the 14th Battalion wrote:-

“He was quite one of my smartest Officers, and I was quite sure he would give a good account of himself at the Front. He was an Officer I could always rely on to see through any work I wanted particularly well done.”

And the Quartermaster-Sergeant wrote:-

“He was beloved by every man in the Regiment. How much he was liked by the Non-Commissioned Officers you may imagine when some of us offered to resign our rank to go anywhere with him as his servant.”

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 2

Snelgrove S H Lt 14th Attd 7th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1