Philip Hamond
Encyclopedia
Major Philip Hamond, DSO
and bar
, MC
was a British Army officer who played a prominent part in the downfall of the Rector of Stiffkey and later collected Norfolk folk songs.
He was the eldest son of Charles Annesley and Mary Augusta Hamond, of Twyford
Hall, East Dereham. He served in the Second Boer War
and was a commissioned in the Norfolk Regiment. He was dangerously wounded at Rooiwal
; was Mentioned in Despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
, the youngest regular officer - at 18 - to that date to earn a DSO.
He rejoined the Norfolk Regiment in 1914 and won the Military Cross
and (as a major), a second DSO. He was later attached to the Tank Corps
, commanding F battalion
at the Battle of Cambrai (1917). Late on the morning of 20 November 1917, his battalion of twelve Mark IV tank
s, entered the town of Masnières
. On reaching the Masnières River, it was found that the only bridge had been partially destroyed by the Germans. F22 Flying Fox II was ordered to attempt to cross but the weight of the tank caused the bridge to collapse further. The crew escaped but the tank blocked the progress of other tanks and cavalry units that were attempting cross the river in order to exploit the British breakthrough.
In 1918 he was sent to the USA as British Liaison Officer to teach tank warfare at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania
with Major Eisenhower
. The second award of the DSO was gazetted 3
June 1918.
In 25 Aug 1909 he married Rita Gladys Ethel Hammond. They moved to Morston Hall
in 1914. Between 1925 and 1928, he built Scaldbeck House, Morston
almost entirely from reclaimed materials retrieved from local properties.
As a prominent landowner and churchwarden, he clashed with the Rector of Stiffkey-with-Morston, Harold Davidson
. In 1930, Davidson missed the Remembrance Day
service; Hamond was furious and accused the priest of insulting the war dead. His complaints initiated investigations which led to the Rector's trial on charges of immorality and his eventual defrocking in 1932.
Hamond was convicted of assault in 1932. After his last service at Stiffkey, Davidson had called at Hamond's house, apparently to ask for a church key, but Hamond refused to speak to him and told him "Clear out, or I'll kick you out!". Hamond then kicked the Rector off the step, stating at the Magistrates' court that it was "a kick of finality and contempt". Hamond also kicked a companion of Davidson. He was convicted of two counts of assault and fined 20 shillings on each plus the court costs. Local legend states that Hamond received many letters from sympathisers paying part of his fine, and that one enclosed a packet of hobnails with a request that he put those into the soles of his boots for next time.
In his later life he lost his sight. Accompanying himself on the melodeon, he would sing folk songs in a rich Norfolk accent.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
was a British Army officer who played a prominent part in the downfall of the Rector of Stiffkey and later collected Norfolk folk songs.
He was the eldest son of Charles Annesley and Mary Augusta Hamond, of Twyford
Twyford, Norfolk
Twyford is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A1067 road, some south-east of the town of Fakenham and north-west of the city of Norwich....
Hall, East Dereham. He served in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and was a commissioned in the Norfolk Regiment. He was dangerously wounded at Rooiwal
Battle of Rooiwal
The Battle of Rooiwal was an engagement of the Second Boer War. It took place on 11 April 1902 and resulted in a victory by a British force commanded by Colonel Robert Kekewich over a Boer commando led by Generals Ferdinandus Jacobus Potgieter and Jan Kemp....
; was Mentioned in Despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, the youngest regular officer - at 18 - to that date to earn a DSO.
He rejoined the Norfolk Regiment in 1914 and won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and (as a major), a second DSO. He was later attached to the Tank Corps
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
, commanding F battalion
6th Royal Tank Regiment
The 6th Royal Tank Regiment was a regiment of the Royal Tank Regiment, of the British Army, until 1959. It originally saw action as 6th Battalion Tank Corps in 1917.-First World War:...
at the Battle of Cambrai (1917). Late on the morning of 20 November 1917, his battalion of twelve Mark IV tank
Mark IV tank
The British Mark IV tank was a British tank of the First World War. Introduced in 1917, it benefitted from significant developments on the first British tank the intervening designs being small batches used for training...
s, entered the town of Masnières
Masnières
-References:*...
. On reaching the Masnières River, it was found that the only bridge had been partially destroyed by the Germans. F22 Flying Fox II was ordered to attempt to cross but the weight of the tank caused the bridge to collapse further. The crew escaped but the tank blocked the progress of other tanks and cavalry units that were attempting cross the river in order to exploit the British breakthrough.
In 1918 he was sent to the USA as British Liaison Officer to teach tank warfare at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania
Camp Colt, Pennsylvania
Camp Colt was a military installation near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania used for Tank Corps recruit training prior to deployment in World War I. The camp used the Gettysburg Battlefield site of the previous Great Reunion of 1913 and the preceding 1917 WWI recruit training camp for U. S. troops along...
with Major Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. The second award of the DSO was gazetted 3
June 1918.
In 25 Aug 1909 he married Rita Gladys Ethel Hammond. They moved to Morston Hall
Morston Hall
Morston Hall is a hotel and restaurant located in Morston, Norfolk, England. The proprietor is Galton Blackiston., the restaurant holds one star in the Michelin Guide.- External links :*...
in 1914. Between 1925 and 1928, he built Scaldbeck House, Morston
Morston
Morston is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 86 in 42 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk....
almost entirely from reclaimed materials retrieved from local properties.
As a prominent landowner and churchwarden, he clashed with the Rector of Stiffkey-with-Morston, Harold Davidson
Harold Davidson
Harold Francis Davidson , sometimes known as the "Prostitutes' Padre", was a Church of England priest, often referred to as the "Rector of Stiffkey". In 1932 he was defrocked on charges of immorality...
. In 1930, Davidson missed the Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
service; Hamond was furious and accused the priest of insulting the war dead. His complaints initiated investigations which led to the Rector's trial on charges of immorality and his eventual defrocking in 1932.
Hamond was convicted of assault in 1932. After his last service at Stiffkey, Davidson had called at Hamond's house, apparently to ask for a church key, but Hamond refused to speak to him and told him "Clear out, or I'll kick you out!". Hamond then kicked the Rector off the step, stating at the Magistrates' court that it was "a kick of finality and contempt". Hamond also kicked a companion of Davidson. He was convicted of two counts of assault and fined 20 shillings on each plus the court costs. Local legend states that Hamond received many letters from sympathisers paying part of his fine, and that one enclosed a packet of hobnails with a request that he put those into the soles of his boots for next time.
In his later life he lost his sight. Accompanying himself on the melodeon, he would sing folk songs in a rich Norfolk accent.