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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 658

(x) A fine 1918 'Attack on Happy Valley' D.C.M., M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant H. F. Hemington, Royal Fusiliers, who took command at a critical stage and successfully captured his objectives in 'blazing heat' and amidst the crashing of German gas and high explosive shells

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2825 L.Cpl. F. Hemington. M.M. 23/R. Fus:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (G-2825 Pte. F. Hemington. 23/R. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (GS-2825 Cpl. F. Hemmington. R. Fus.), note surname, polished, nearly very fine (4)


D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a raid. He early assumed command of the raiding party and led them successfully to the first objective and then to the second and final objective. He set a fine example of courage and good leadership.'

M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1918.

The 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman's): A Record of its Services in the Great War, 1914-1919, by Fred W. Ward gives a thorough account of the events which led to the award of the M.M.:

'Amongst the gallant services mentioned by Major-General Pereira in the special order of the day, dated December 17, 1917, is the following:

No. 1079 Lance-Sergeant James Cochrane, M.M., and No. 2852 (sic) Private Frank Hemington: In the enemy lines west of Bourlon Wood there was a derelict tank, from which the enemy snipers were very active at only 70 yards from our line, causing many casualties.

On December 1, Lance-Sergeant Cochrane and Private Hemington volunteered to deal with them. Creeping out through our wire, they succeeded in reaching the tank in spite of heavy enemy fire. They put two Mills' bombs into the tank, and on the bombs exploding they came under heavy machine gun fire, but returned in safety. No further sniping came from this tank. By their gallant work we were saved many casualties, and this daring feat cheered and encouraged the men in the line…'

Hubert Frank Hemington was born in 1893 at Winchmore Hill, the second son of William and Ellen Hemington of 7 Hoppers Road, Winchmore Hill, London. A baker by trade, Hemington set aside his first forename and attested for the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, as Private Frank Hemington. Posted to France on 28 December 1914, he arrived too late to serve during his Battalion's defence of the Aisne Heights but was likely witness to the first German flamethrower attack against British troops in 1915:

'On 30 July the Germans attacked Hooge against the front of the 14th Division, which had held the line for a week. The area had been suspiciously quiet the night before and at 3:15 a.m. the site of the stables exploded and jets of fire covered the front trenches' (Military Operations France & Belgium, 1915, by J. E. Edmonds, refers).

Remaining with the 1st Battalion, Hemington was present at Wulverghem on the Ypres salient when the Germans launched chlorine and phosgene gas attacks on 30 April and 17 June 1916. Having experienced similar attacks during the Second Battle of Ypres in May 1915, the British troops ditched the improvised masks of the previous year and successfully utilised the new 'PH' phenate helmets; featuring two mica eyepieces, its flannel layers of cloth dipped in sodium phenolate and glycerine offered greatly improved protection to the simpler hypo helmet, enabling the men to repulse the German raiding parties with small-arms and artillery fire. The first attack caused the defenders 562 gas casualties and 89 gas fatalities, the second attack a similar number, but on both occasions the line held firm and panic was averted.

Hemington went on to fight with the Battalion on the Somme during the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont. Promoted Corporal, he served with the 1st Battalion during the Battle of Vimy Ridge from 9-12 April 1917 and Battle of Messines from 7-14 June 1917, returning home to England on 19 June 1917, possibly wounded. He subsequently returned to France on 15 October 1917 and served with the 22nd Battalion until 6 January 1918, before transferring to the 23rd Battalion (1st Sportsman's), Royal Fusiliers, an early 'Pals' Battalion which had initially earned the nickname as the 'Hard as Nails Battalion' and was largely made up of men who had made their name in sports such as cricket, golf, football and boxing. The 1st Battalion - which accepted fit and healthy men up to the age of 45 - had been formed at the Hotel Cecil on the Strand in early September 1914, and included several first class cricketers, Ernie Hayes, Bill Hitch and Andy Sandham, besides a lightweight boxing champion.

Joining the Battalion at Ribecourt near Compiègne, Hemington arrived amidst a period of intense enemy artillery fire, 2 other ranks being killed on 10 January 1918 (The Official War Diary of the 1/23rd, refers). Relieved and sent to billets at Bertincourt three days later, he likely paraded during the presentation of medal ribbons by Major-General Sir F. Gorringe, Commanding 47th (London) Division, to 19 members of the Regiment for operations in December 1917. A few weeks later, Hemington was himself awarded the Military Medal, the Battalion continuing to hold the frontline trenches at Ribecourt and repel enemy incursions.

D.C.M.-Winning Exploits

Having survived the onslaught of the German Spring Offensive, Hemington spent early July 1918 stationed with the Battalion at Bougainville on the Somme. Following grenade demonstrations and training in the grounds of the Chateau at Oissy, the Battalion relieved the 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, in the front line near Briquemesnil at 11pm on 12 July. Moved to trenches between Henencourt and Senlis on 6 August, the men faced steady casualties from enemy artillery, before being relieved by the 19th Battalion on 21 August and sent to an area east of Heilly - where they gratefully took the opportunity to bathe in the River Ancre and take a brief respite.

At 11.40pm that night the Battalion moved to assembly positions in preparation for a significant attack. Amidst heavy enemy counter-preparation shell fire, 'A', 'B' and 'D' Companies of the 23rd Battalion advanced at 5am and passed through the front line of the 141st Infantry Brigade and on to their first objective, with 'C' Company in support 200 yards west of Forked Tree. At 8.05am, the second objective was met when the assaulting companies reached the second line and established contact with the 24th Battalion on the left and 22nd on the right. Advanced Battalion Headquarters were established in Happy Valley, the Battalion War Diary noting 'casualties moderately heavy'.

That afternoon the Germans launched a heavy counter-attack which turned the left flank and compelled Allied forces to withdraw to the Brown Line. Relieved that night by 142nd Brigade, the 23rd Battalion withdrew to reserve positions near Marett Wood, estimated casualties totalling 12 officers and 261 other ranks. The next day the war diary notes 'Reorganisation continued'; Hemington departed France on 24 August 1918 and was later awarded the D.C.M., being discharged on 5 May 1919. According to family repute he struggled to find employment in England after the war and emigrated to South Africa as a consequence in August 1920. It was here that Hemington met and married Bessie Reid in 1925, with whom he had 7 children. He died on 31 October 1951 and is buried in Durban (Stellawood) Cemetery; sold with copied MIC which notes entitlement to a 1914-15 Star, together with extensive copied research.

For further details on the advance, please see:
https://www.londonirishrifles.com/index.php/first-world-war/1-18th-battalion-in-the-first-world-war/august-september-1918/


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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£950