Henry Chambers Hammond
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Henry Chambers Hammond was born in 1890 in Hammersmith, London, and was the son of Edward Thomas, a platelayer foreman, and Harriett Hammond née Chambers, of 25 Hall Street, Nottingham. His father was born in 1855 in Warplesden, Surrey, and his mother Harriett Chambers was born in 1857 in Herefordshire; they were married on 17th October 1882 in Bradfield, Berkshire, and went on to have 8 children, three of whom sadly died in infancy or early childhood. Their children listed on the 1901/1911 census were, William Edward Valentine b1885 London, Margaretta b1889 London, Henry Chambers b1890 Hammersmith, Alice b1893 Bristol, Frederick b1894 Bristol and Bernard b1897. In the 1911 census the family are living at 25 Hall Street, Carrington, Nottingham, and are shown as Edward T Hammond 56 yrs a foreman plate layer, he is living with his wife Harriett 56 yrs, the only child still living with them is Frederick 17 yrs a tramway pointsman. In the same 1911 census we find that Henry Chambers is now 20 yrs of age and is working as a tramway road labourer; he is living at 81 New Bold Street, Leith, boarding with William Marshall 27 yrs and his family a tramway road foreman. Henry Chambers Hammond married his wife Alice Webley in 1915 in Nottingham, at his time of death his wife is residing at 49 Yorkshire Street, Blackpool.
Corporal Henry Chambers Hammond, enlisted at Blackpool in March 1915 and initially served with service number 32057 in the Machine Gun Corps, later transferring to G battalion Tank Corps, he was killed in action on 21st November 1917. He is buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery.
Entries in the Boys' Brigade Gazette ROH of February and June 1918 list him as: Corporal HC Hammond, but each give a different unit: MGC and Tank Corps. In memoriam published 4th December 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HAMMOND. – Killed in action, November 20th, Corporal H. C. Hammond, M.G. Tank Corps, late of Carrington and Blackpool, aged 28. A noble life down. – Mother, dad, wife, brothers, and sisters.” Article published 3rd December 1917 in the Lancashire Evening Post :- “TANK STRUCK BY SHELL. “HOW A BLACKPOOL SOLDIER WAS KILLED. “Mrs. Hammond, 49, Yorkshire-street, Blackpool, has received an intimation that her husband, Corporal H. C. Hammond, has been killed. Prior to enlisting in March, 1915, the deceased was employed by the Blackpool and Lytham Tramways Company. After service in the motor machine guns he joined the Tanks Corps. “Writing to his widow under date November 24th, Lieut. Austen Bradbury, of the Tank Corps, states: “During the action he did sterling work. The tank had been in action many hours when we were hit by a shell. Your husband was killed instantly, and I'm sure it will be a relief to you to know he suffered no pain. “I should like to add that throughout the company both officers and men held Corporal Hammond in the highest esteem. He was ever a most reliable and cheerful hard worker, and his presence will always be missed. My brother officers and the N.C.O.'s and men wish to express with me their deepest sympathy with you in your great loss.”. Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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