Stockwell War Memorial

Friends of Stockwell War Memorial & Gardens

France

Bertie Hoft

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B. C. Hoft
Service no. 10050
Private, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 10th Battalion
Born in Lambeth; enlisted in Battersea
Died of wounds at around age 19 on 7 May 1916
Remembered at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), France

Information from the 1911 census

Bertie Hoft and his brother Hermann Hoft (who served in the war and survived) were sons of Hermann Hoft. Hermann Senior, 47, worked as a syrup maker for a mineral water factor. He was born in Germany. His wife, Christiana Hoft, 48, was born in St George’s, London. They had 6 children:
Christiana M. Hoft, 21
Hermann L. Hoft, 19, a van guard in the mineral water factory
James F. Hoft, 17, a builder’s labourer
George C. Hoft, 15, a machine cleaner in a tobacco factory
Bertie C. Hoft, 13, at school and working as a newsboy
Lilian M. Hoft, 10
All were born in Lambeth.
Two boarders lived with the family: Elizjah Gathercole, 22, a single baker from Brandon, Norfolk, and William E. Wright, 32, a married butcher from Newbury, Berkshire.

Information from the 1901 census

In 1901 the family lived at 65 Bond Street, Lambeth.

Ernest Austin Hoare

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Ernest Austin Hoare
Ernest Austin Hoare

E. A. Hoare
Service no. 106556
Corporal, Royal Engineers, 186th Special Coy
Killed in action aged 18 on 21 December 1915
Son of John A. and Martha Hoare, of 12 Lansdowne Rd., Clapham, London.
Remembered at Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France

At the time he signed up on 7 August 1915, Ernest Austin Hoare was living with his family at 12 Lansdowne Gardens, Stockwell. He described his “Trade or calling” as “Chemist”.

He was one of six children of John, a police constable, and Martha Hoare, the others being brothers Arthur, 24, Stanley, 17, and Leslie, 15; and sisters, May, 26, and Madge, 20.

Hoare went to St Olave’s School (until 1968 located in Southwark and now in Orpington, Kent) between 1909 and 1912.

After six months at the Albany Engineering Works, Hoare became assistant to Dr. Fyleman, an analytical chemist, of Victoria Street. He was so interested in this work that in September 1913 he decided to join The Borough Polytechnic Institute. When war broke out, his employer became works chemist at Osram’s lamp factory (this may have been the large complex at Wembley, north London)and Hoare went with him. In July 1915 he gained a scholarship at the Imperial College of Science and after gaining a promise that this would be held over for him on his return, joined the Royal Engineers.

There is not much service history for Hoare in the National Archives. However, one interesting document, bearing Hoare’s name, outlines the Army’s appeal for chemists:

Form 121/1/1 (A. G. 2B)
Men with training in Chemistry are required for service with the Royal Engineers overseas.

The particulars of service are as follows:

(1) Term of service will be for General Service for the duration of the War;
(2) Age 19 to 45 years;
(3) Ordinary standards of height and chest measurement will be waived provided the candidate is organically sound and fit for service in the field. The eyesight test may be passed with the aid of glasses;
(4) Men selected will be enlisted in the Royal Engineers and at once promoted Corporal;
(5) Pay will be 2/6 a day with 6d Engineer Pay, with the usual Separation and Dependants allowances under Army conditions. (Further promotion to the rank of Serjeant will be given to selected men in the field.)
If you are willing to enlist under these conditions you are requested to take this circular to the nearest Recruiting Officer, who is hereby directed to medically examine you, and, if you are passed fit, give you Army Form B. 178 (Medical History Sheet) and a railway warrant to London.
On arrival you should present yourself to the Chief Recruiting Staff Officer, Central Recruiting Officer, Great Scotland Yard, Whitehall, who will carry out your enlistment and despatch you to Chatham to be clothed and equipped.

After a month as a “pioneer” Hoare was promoted to Corporal. He embarked for France with the British Expeditionary Force on 16 August. He survived only until 21 December.

On 17 January 1917 Hoare’s father received a letter from the Records Office at Chatham:

Sir
Special information has been received with regard to the burial of your son the late Corporal E. A. Hoare R. E.

He was interred in Cambrin Churchyard on the 23rd of December last.

The village of Cambrin was only 800 yards (730 metres) from the front line trenches and the Extension, where Hoare is buried, was used for front line burials until February 1917. Hoare is in Grave ref J1.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 the Hoare family lived at 228 South Lambeth Road. John Hoare, 45, a police constable from Chatham, Kent, and Martha Hoare, 45, from Troston, Norfolk, had 4 children (all born in Sidcup, Kent, apart from Stanley and Leslie, who were born in South Lambeth):
May Hoare, 17, a sorter for the G.P.O. (General Post Office)
Jack Hoare, 16, an apprentice car body maker
Ernest Hoare, 13
Madge Hoare, 12
Stanley Hoare, 8
Leslie Hoare, 7
In addition, there were 2 boarders: Anne Watts Bray, 69, from Plymouth, and Ada Inwood, 33, a single dressmaker from Croydon.

Information from the 1901 census

In 1901, the Hoare family was living at 2 Cromer Villas in South Lambeth.

St Olave’s School

The picture of Hoare is taken from a presentation by Peter J. Leonard available on the St Olave’s School website at www.saintolaves.net. When you enter the site, click on ‘Welcome’ then on ‘Chaplaincy’ and scroll to the bottom. There is a thread on St Olaves at the Great War Forum.

Hoare attended the school between 1909 and 1912.

William George Hilton

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W. G. Hilton
Service no. 688
Private, East Surrey Regiment, 7th Battalion
Died of wounds age 21 on 5 October 1915
CWGC: “Son of Sarah Annie Hilton, of 1 Trigon Road, Clapham, London.”
Remembered at Chocques Military Cemetery, France

Brother of Frederick Hilton

Information from the 1901 census

In 1901 William Hilton was 8 and living with his family at 70 Harleyford Road. His father, also called William, was 36 and working as a house porter. William (Senior) was born in Worcester. His wife, Sarah A. Hilton, 30, was born in Lambeth. Annie E. Hilton, 10, William G. Hilton, and Frederick Hilton, 4, were all born in Lambeth.

John Thomas Hills

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J. T. Hills
Rifleman, London Regiment, 1st/17th Battalion
Born in Chelsfield, Kent; enlisted in Lambeth; lived in Stockwell
Died of wounds age 38 on 30 November 1917
CWGC: “Son of Tom and Elizabeth Hills, of Well Hill, Chelsfield, Kent; husband of Emma Harriet Hills, of 31 Hargwyne Street, Stockwell, London.”
Remembered at Orival Wood Cemetery, Flesquieres, France

NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

HILLS, J. T., Rflmn., 1/17th London Regt. (Rifles)
He joined in 1916, and in the same year embarked for France. Whilst on the Western Front he fought in the Battle of the Somme and in an engagement at St. Eloi. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle at Arras in November 1917, and was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“And doubtless he went in splendid company.”
31, Hargwyne Street, Stockwell Road, S.W.9.

Information from the 1911 census

John Thomas Hills was a dustman. In 1911, aged 31, he lived with his wife Emma Hills, who was from Crockenhill, Kent in 3 rooms at 31 Hargwyne Street, Stockwell. They had one child: Dorothy Hills, 6, who was born in Lambeth.

Charles F. P. Hillier

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C. F. P. Hillier
Service no. L/7574
Private, Royal Fusiliers, 4th Battalion
Born in Cork, Ireland; enlisted in London
Killed in action on 27 October 1914, aged 35
CWGC: “Son of Daniel and Ellen Hillier, of 9 Hemans Street, Lambeth, London. Served in the South African Campaign.”
Remembered at Le Trouret Memorial, France

Tentative identification

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database lists a Charles Hillier, whose parents lived at 9 Hemans Street, off Wandsworth Road. However, this man was christened Charles James John in Cork, Ireland, the son of Daniel Hillier, a coal porter from  Stratfield Saye, Berkshire, and Ellen (née Pierce)
from Cork. 

The CWGC database also states that Hillier served in the Boer War. On 24 October 1900 Charles  Hillier, a private with the South West Borderers, was admitted, for unknown reasons, to Brookwood Asylum in Surrey.