Herbert Hamilton Northey (1870 - 1938): Safe and Steady Son
Alan Payne, Photos courtesy Diana Northey, February 2020
Alan Payne, Photos courtesy Diana Northey, February 2020
Herbert waving on family outing at Ashley near the Railway Station signals
Herbert was destined to serve in the army from an early age, attending the Hermitage House School , Bath, where he was a forward for the Hermitage Rugby side against Bath Seconds in 1886.[1] There are occasional references to him playing for Box Cricket Club including a notorious match in August 1889 when Bath scored 177 runs in their first innings and Box scored 28 runs and 41 runs in their two innings. Herbert managed 0 and 0 and so did some others.[2] He sat exams qualifying for entry into Sandhurst 1887, re-sat the exams in December 1889 and took up the position in 1890.[3] He entered the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1891, when he was 21.[4]
HM Troopship Malabar used to ferry army personnel to India before 1897
Military Service
Herbert served on the North-West frontier in India in 1897-98. He was a staff officer in the Tirah Expeditionary Force defending the frontier between Indian and Pakistan. Local tribesmen rose up against the ruling Alfidi class and captured The Khyber Pass near the city of Peshawar, so the British and Indian Punjab Army Corps were sent in to restore order. Herbert was awarded a medal with three clasps (for service in a more dangerous area of conflict) for his part in the Samana Range operations.
Herbert served on the North-West frontier in India in 1897-98. He was a staff officer in the Tirah Expeditionary Force defending the frontier between Indian and Pakistan. Local tribesmen rose up against the ruling Alfidi class and captured The Khyber Pass near the city of Peshawar, so the British and Indian Punjab Army Corps were sent in to restore order. Herbert was awarded a medal with three clasps (for service in a more dangerous area of conflict) for his part in the Samana Range operations.
Elma in 1896
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Herbert left India and almost immediately was sent to serve in South Africa to help quell the insurgent farmers in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic. He was present at the relief of Ladysmith and in the Transvaal, 1900-02. He was captured on 15 December 1899 at Colenso trying to hold a defensive position on the Tugela River. Colenso was renowned for being one of the most humiliating defeats for British soldiers and led to the replacement of General Buller by Lord Roberts. Herbert was sent to Pretoria Prisoner-of-War Camp.[5] It was a worrying time for his parents because newspaper reports of missing in action (usually meaning dead) were carried nationally.[6] Eventually he was released 6 June 1900.
Personal Life On his return from South Africa Herbert married Elizabeth Maud Thomson on 27 January 1903. She was usually called Elma, the daughter of Mr Neale Thomson of Strathdoon, a manufacturer of cotton goods. The wedding was in Scotland and the bridesmaids, six of them, wore dresses made in the family's factories of white cloth, white felt hats, and white muffs trimmed with Neapolitan violets.[7] Herbert gave the bridesmaids green enamel brooches. |
On George Wilbraham Northey's death in 1906 the majority of the Box estate was in trust, which kept it out of the single control of any person, including the eldest son George Edward. Herbert had established his reliability and was named a trustee at some time between 1906 and 1932, along with his uncle from Epsom, Sir Edward Northey, already a trustee.[8]
Herbert gave away Lilian, his younger sister, in 1904
First World War
Aged 42, Herbert continued to serve with the Fusiliers and was promoted from Captain to Major in 1912.[9] On the outbreak of the Great War he was given command of the first service battalion of the Fusiliers in 1914 and wounded in October 1915.[10] He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1915 and the notification of his injuries reports his service as He has seen a good deal of active service.[11]
Aged 42, Herbert continued to serve with the Fusiliers and was promoted from Captain to Major in 1912.[9] On the outbreak of the Great War he was given command of the first service battalion of the Fusiliers in 1914 and wounded in October 1915.[10] He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1915 and the notification of his injuries reports his service as He has seen a good deal of active service.[11]
Royal Flying Corps was part of the army
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Earliest tanks were vulnerable to incendiary attack
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He was honoured with the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by the personal investiture of King George V in 1916.[12] He appears to have retired from the Front at that time and contemporary newspaper reports are that his active service was 1914-16.[13] He officially retired from the army in 1919 and went to live in Ayr.[14]
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By 1919 he was in command in the Ayr Depot and involved in honouring his fellow servicemen.[15] In 1919 a service was held at Ayr for Fusiliers who lost their lives in the Great War. They numbered 5,953 men, killed or died of wounds. Herbert fulfilled the role as Colonel of the Regiment, a considerable honour respecting his many years of service.[16]
Conclusion Herbert and Elma's only son was Herbert Wilbraham Hamilton Northey (born 1906) who, on 28 October 1937, was appointed Chief Accountant Designate of the BBC.[17] In the early hours of 29 October he was driving home from a dance, struck a tree in Isleworth, Middlesex and was tragically killed. Herbert Senior died in Glasgow just a few weeks later, on 7 January 1938. His life seems to have been honourable and dutiful, but there is little evidence of light-hearted pleasure. Perhaps he never wanted that and was satisfied with having served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers for twenty-five years. Left: After centuries of service, the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot formally laid down its colours at Glasgow Cathedral in 1885 |
References
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 7 October 1886
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 31 August 1889
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 18 August 1887 and 25 September 1890
[4] The Scotsman, 10 January 1938
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 17 March 1906, Sunderland Daily Echo, 10 January 1900 and The Aberdeen Journal, 18 December 1899
[6] East Anglian Daily Times, 10 January 1900 carried news of Herbert's safety
[7] The Bath Chronicle, 29 January 1903
[8] The Western Times, 3 February 1933
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 9 March 1912
[10] The Scotsman, 19 October 1915
[11] Edinburgh Evening News, 19 October 1915
[12] Newcastle Daily Journal, 20 November 1916
[13] The Bath Chronicle, 1 November 1919
[14] The Scotsman, 10 January 1938
[15] The Scotsman, 4 February 1919
[16] The Scotsman, 6 November 1919
[17] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 30 October 1937
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 7 October 1886
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 31 August 1889
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 18 August 1887 and 25 September 1890
[4] The Scotsman, 10 January 1938
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 17 March 1906, Sunderland Daily Echo, 10 January 1900 and The Aberdeen Journal, 18 December 1899
[6] East Anglian Daily Times, 10 January 1900 carried news of Herbert's safety
[7] The Bath Chronicle, 29 January 1903
[8] The Western Times, 3 February 1933
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 9 March 1912
[10] The Scotsman, 19 October 1915
[11] Edinburgh Evening News, 19 October 1915
[12] Newcastle Daily Journal, 20 November 1916
[13] The Bath Chronicle, 1 November 1919
[14] The Scotsman, 10 January 1938
[15] The Scotsman, 4 February 1919
[16] The Scotsman, 6 November 1919
[17] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 30 October 1937