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Surtees SHEFFIELD

Main CPGW Record

Surname: SHEFFIELD

Forename(s): Surtees

Place of Birth: Marylebone, Middlesex

Service No: ---

Rank: T/Lieutenant

Regiment / Corps / Service: Hampshire Regiment

Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion

Division: 29th Division

Age: 38

Date of Death: 1915-08-06

Awards: M.I.D.

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 126-135 or 223-226 228-229 & 328.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial(s): Not Listed (View Names Not Listed on a Local War Memorial)

Additional Information:

Isaac Surtees Sheffield (born 8 June 1878) was the son of Isaac and Mary Ann Sheffield, née Nelson. Isaac, senior, was born at Carlisle, Cumberland and Mary at London, Middlesex.

1881 London Census: 2, Stratford Place - Isaac Sheffield, aged 2 years, born Marylebone, Middlesex, son of Isaac and Mary A. Sheffield.

1891 Hammersmith, London Census: 42, Westcroft Square - Isaac S. Sheffield, aged 12 years, born Marylebone, London. [Surtees and his brothers and sisters, who were orphans, were living with Rosa Blackmore.]

Surtees's sister, Esther Fleming Sheffield married Charles Wayte Hicks in 1892 and lived at Dent, Yorkshire (see 'Craven Herald' articles). His brother, Major George Nelson Sheffield, 3rd Bn Essex Regiment died on the 1 January 1918 and is buried at Hastings, Sussex.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Lieut Surtees Sheffield, Hampshire Regiment. Theatre of war first served in: Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Date of entry therein: 6 May 1915.

Surtees is commemorated on a brass plaque in St Nicholas's Church, Wickham, Hampshire. "To the beloved memory of/Fanny Woodroffe-Hicks/widow of G. Wicks & Dau: of J. Wayte/Who entered into rest Dec: 21st 1917/Also/to the dear memory of/Surtees Sheffield/Lieut: 2nd Hampshire Regt./who fell at Achi-Baba Aug: 6th 1915/Make them be numbered with thy saints./1900-02 South Africa 1915 Gallipoli."

A short biography of Surtees is included in: ‘Sedbergh and District 1914-1918 – But who shall return the children?’ Compiled by Sedbergh and District History Society. Edited by Diane Elphick (2016).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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T/Lieutenant Surtees SHEFFIELD

T/Lieutenant Surtees SHEFFIELD

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Hampshire Regiment

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Hampshire Regiment

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 29th Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 29th Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: SHEFFIELD

Forename(s): Surtees

Born:

Residence:

Enlisted:

Number:

Rank: Lt (Tp)

Regiment: Hampshire Regiment

Battalion: 13th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 06/08/15

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War:

Notes: (Att 2nd Bn)

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: SHEFFIELD

Forename(s): Surtees

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number:

Rank: Lieutenant

Regiment: Hampshire Regiment

Unit: 13th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.

Age:

Awards:

Died Date: 06/08/1915

Additional Information:

View Additional Text

View Additional Text For Soldier Records

BRITISH REGIMENTS AT GALLIPOLI, by Ray Westlake (Pen & Sword Books Limited 1996)

2nd Bn. Hampshire Regiment

AUGUST 1915
Moved forward to firing line east of Gully Ravine (3rd). Attack on trenches H12A and H13 (6th). Went forward 3.50 p.m. C.T. Atkinson records Battalion advancing in 4 waves and reaching a low crest 50 yards to the front with little loss. Then machine gun fire swept the lines causing heavy casualties. Guns from across the Krithia Nullah to the right are recorded as doing particular damage. Few men reached Turkish lines, parties from ‘Z’ Company entering H12A and a small number H13. Unable to hold their gains the men were overcome by large numbers of the enemy and forced to retire. Casualties during attack – 18 officers, 224 other ranks killed and missing, 2 officers, 210 other ranks wounded. Wounded remained out in the open until nightfall when those able crawled back to their lines. Throughout the night tremendous courage was shown by many in bringing in the wounded.

[Lieutenant S. Sheffield lost his life during the action on the 6th.]

DE RUVIGNY'S ROLL OF HONOUR 1914-1918 - Part Two

SHEFFIELD, SURTEES, Lieut., 13th (Service), attd. 2nd (67th Foot), Battn. The Hampshire Regt., yst. s. of the late Isaac Sheffield, D.D.S.; b. Stratford Place, London, W., 8 June, 1878; educ. Godolphin School; was a Medical Student at Guy’s Hospital, London, but after the outbreak of the South African War, enlisted as a Trooper in the Middlesex Yeomanry early in 1900, and obtained a commission soon after; served through that campaign, for which he was mentioned in Despatches; received the Queen’s Medal with three clasps, and the King’s Medal with two clasps, the latter being personally presented to him by King Edward at Buckingham Palace in July, 1901, in recognition of his distinguished gallantry at Retief’s Nek. On the termination of the war he resigned his commission and went to Malaya, where he was engaged in rubber planting when war was declared in Aug. 1914. He returned to England at once and took up his commission, becoming Lieut. 13th Hampshire Regt. 29 Jan. 1915; went to Gallipoli 25 May, with a draft for the 2nd Battn.; was wounded in July, and sent to hospital at Alexandria; returned to his regiment 1 Aug. 1915, and was killed in action five days later, while leading his company in an attack on the Turkish trenches before Achi Baba. He was mentioned in Despatches by Sir Ian Hamilton [London Gazette, 5 Nov. 1915], for gallant and distinguished service in the field; unm.

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View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

11 December 1914

A BRITISHER’S PATRIOTISM

We have received from Mrs. Wayte Hicks, of West House, Dent, wife of Captain Wayte Hicks, the following extract from a letter received from her brother, Mr. Surtees Sheffield, who volunteered and served through the South African War, and who is again making a great sacrifice, and is on his way to England to give his services on behalf of the Empire. We publish it in the ‘hope’ that it will stimulate waverers to decide to fight for their King Country:-

Perak, F.M.S., October, 1914.

‘‘Well, the war has been on for months, and it will, I fear, be a good many more before all is quiet again. As you are an Englishwoman, I feel I can say it-otherwise I would not own up to it - but I am very nearly ashamed of my country, in that the recruiting has not been faster. Just think, 40 million people in. England alone, and of those 40 million at the lowest estimate 8 million are able-bodied (single men, between the ages of 19 and 35). Of those eight million, suppose three million are already serving or unable to serve owing to other duty or sickness, where are the other five million, as it took Kitchener over three weeks to get a paltry 1,000,000 men?

‘‘I read ‘The Times’ with painful surprise. I cannot suppose the men at- home are cowards, but only that, even now, they cannot realise that England is not fighting for the premier place, but for her very existence. The nut who only thinks about his clothes, I suppose, does not care whether England is ruled by German militarism or not; but look at the example set by India, Australia, Canada, and all the dependencies.

‘‘There never was a finer response in answer to the call to arms than that which has come from all corners of the Empire, while many in England still hold back. In this part of the world we are not numerous enough to form a contingent, but over 40 men have already left to serve, having thrown up jobs worth 600 dols a month, and paid their own passage money of 450 dols – just because they think the Empire requires them. They do not leave in a blaze of excitement and cheering with bands playing but just go off quietly. You miss a man, and, on inquiring, the reply is always the same, ‘Oh he left for home last week to enlist.’

‘‘Years ago the King said, ‘Wake ‘up England,’ and I trust by now, or anyway by the time this reaches you, things will have improved in this direction. As to myself I have decided to go home if it can possibly be managed, but I fee1 I have no right to leave the estate and the large number of coolies employed with no one in command. I have written and cabled to the Company and also written privately to H-----. If they will grant the leave, I shall sail as early as possible; if they won’t and things get worse at home I shall have to take French leave and chance my luck at getting another job after the war.

‘‘But I am not thinking of myself one little bit, though I can’t quite forget the help I might be to the family… But I don’t think that ought to be allowed to enter into the calculations, so I am still undecided whether to play the game by the Company I serve or the Empire, and the Empire must take the first place.

‘‘I see poor K----- among the list of killed. It is very sad, but what must be must be, and I fear there will be few families who will not lose someone. But what a cause in which to fall? All who fall and those who mourn them are offering their lives (and what is dearer than life in many cases) to save the Empire and the race. Can there be a finer cause?”

05 February 1915

DENT – War Item

Mr. Surtees Sheffield, youngest brother of Mrs. Wayte Hicks, of West House, Dent, has obtained a commission as first lieutenant in the Hampshires, now stationed at the Isle of Wight.

20 August 1915

DENT – War Items

Lieutenant S. Sheffield, of the 9th Hampshires, reported missing at the Dardanelles, is brother of Mrs. Wayte Hicks, of West House, Dent. Lieutenant Sheffield has been specially mentioned in dispatches by Sir Ian Hamilton. Early in July he was wounded and sent to hospital. He returned to the Front and was reported missing from August 9th.–Owing to the generosity of local farmers, Mrs. Hicks has been able to send to Red Cross hospitals a supply of Dent-dressed walking sticks. These have been most thankfully acknowledged, and it is hoped to send a further supply shortly.

29 October 1915

LIEUTENANT SURTEES SHEFFIELD KILLED – A GALLANT OFFICER AND TYPICAL BRITISHER

Lieutenant Surtees Sheffield, attached to the 2nd Hampshire Regiment, who was reported missing on August 6th, is now reported to have been killed on that day while leading his company in an attack on the Turkish trenches in Gallipoli. Lieut. Sheffield had only left hospital at Alexandria five days when he met his death. At the outbreak of war he was rubber planting in Malaga [Malaya], and at once returned to England to take up his commission, which he had resigned after the South African War. For that campaign he held the Queen’s medal with three clasps, and the King’s medal with two clasps, the former being personally presented to him by King Edward at Buckingham Palace in July, 1901, in recognition of his distinguished gallantry at Retief’s Nek. Lieut. Sheffield was in his 38th year, and was the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Sheffield, and brother of Mrs. Wayte Hicks, of West House, Dent.

Although not a native of Dent, he was well known there and his relations have taken an active part in local matters for many years.

On Sunday morning the Vicar (the Rev. E. S. Curwen) referred to him in his sermon as “A gallant officer who had fought in the South African War, and came from the other end of the world to fight for us.” Special hymns were sung and the organist played ‘O Rest in the Lord’ (Mendelssohn) as a voluntary.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

LIEUTENANT. S. SHEFFIELD

2nd Hants. Regiment, brother of Mrs. Wayte Hicks, West House, Dent, killed in action August 6th, 1915.

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