4th Queens Own Hussars in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project -

4th Queens Own Hussars

   4th Queens Own Hussars were based in Ireland when war broke out in 1914. The proceeded to France to join the BEF and served as part of 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division.

1st Sep 1914 In Action

5th September 1914 Rear guard action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA Started at 0400. Doing left rear guard action with 4th Hussars to 1st Division. Went into bivouac at 1700 in Vilbert.
War Diaries

12th September 1914 Ongoing Action for E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA  started at 0500 and marched to high ground south of the River Aisne, where Lt. Walwyn's Section, who had been detached with left flank guard with 4th Hussars reformed. This section had engaged dismounted cavalry a good deal.Battery then went on with 3rd Cavalry Brigade to high ground North East of Chassemy. Lt Walwyn's section went on again with 4th Hussars in attempt to seize Vailly which failed - section not in action. The remainder of the Battery in action against a surprise infantry attack. Finished firing at 1000 eventually when infantry were wiped out. Over 100 surrendering with remainder killed, wounded and dispersing in woods. Went into billets at Chassemy at 1830 - very wet all day.
War Diaries

12th Oct 1914 3rd Cavalry Brigade attack  On the 12th of October 3rd Cavalry Brigade were ordered to dislodge the enemy from Mont de Cats which they had recently occupied. The 4th Hussars and 5th Lancers undertook a dismounted attack, assisted by the 16th Lancers and reclaimed the hill. Amongst the German casualties was Prince Maximillian von Hesse, nephew of the Kaiser.
Holts Battlefield Guide

15th October 2014 In Action

25th Oct 1914 Holding the Line

29th Oct 1914 Holding the Line

22nd of November 1914 In the Line

30th Mar 1918 Reliefs

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There are:6590 items tagged 4th Queens Own Hussars available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served with
4th Queens Own Hussars
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Dickens Christopher Westley. Cpl. (d.3rd May 1915)
Smith Henry Thomas Bayard. 2nd Lt. (d.25th March 1918)
Welsh James. Pte. (d.24th May 1915)
White John Thomas. Pte. Machine Gun Corps 'C' Division

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248134

Cpl. Christopher Westley Dickens 4th Hussars (Queens Own) (d.3rd May 1915)

Corporal Christopher Dickens, 4th Hussars (Queens Own) died on 3rd of May 1915, at No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station. France, from injuries and the effect of gas.
Christopher was born in the first quarter in 1886 in Chelsea, London. His parents were William James Dickens who died in 1905, and Ellen Dickens. In 1901 at the age of 15 he was working as a gardener in (St Mary's Vicarage), Upper Froyle, Alton, Hampshire. In the 1911 census he is a Private in the 4th Hussars, at The Royal Artillery & Cavalry Barracks, Butt Road, Colchester England.
In his older brother William's War Records the family was living in Chawston in 1913, (William had also enlisted in the 4th Hussars). Christopher was a Reservist, and was called up on outbreak of hostilities and enlisted in Bedford. He was awarded the British War & Victory Medals. He is remembered on Roxton War Memorial, Bedfordshire.
Burial in 1915 at Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, France.
Newspaper reports, 28th of May 1915 in The Bedfordshire Times & Independent. Mrs Dickens of Chawston has received an intimation from the War Office that her son who was a Reservist, and was called up on outbreak of hostilities, has succumbed to injuries and the effect of gas. He died 24 hours after having reached the hospital.
30th of July 1915 in The Bedfordshire Times & Independent. Roxton; A memorial service was held in the parish church on Sunday evening to the memory of Christopher Dickens, of the Hussars, who died of gas poisoning
Maria Screen

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233988

2nd Lt. Henry Thomas Bayard "Bay" Smith 4th Queen's Own Hussars (d.25th March 1918)

Thomas Smith started his military carer in the RN and at some time went to Sandhurst where he passed out as a 2nd Lieutenant. At some point he was attached to the 9th Tank Battalion in Whippet tanks. He was killed in action on 25th March 1918 (sniping at the enemy at Pozieres). His body was never recovered, but he is remembered by his great nephews and nieces every year at Pozieres Memorial.

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219201

Pte. John Thomas White Machine Gun Corps 'C' Division 4th Queen's Own Hussars

My Grandfather John Thomas White known to the family as Jack served his King and Country in the Great War 1914-1918. He was born 10th October 1893 in Bristol and in 1914 had been working at Thrissell Engineering Works formerly Brecknolls in Easton, Bristol. He was one of 'Kitcheners Army' and enlisted during a Bristol rally on 28th August 1914. He served with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars.
As quoted to me by his son, my uncle, David White in his family tree research the story goes as follows- My mother later recalled the incident and told me "Your father and I went to the Colston Hall (Bristol) to witness the scenes, he had no intention to sign up, as being 21 he felt that it was a 'young man's' war." To her surprise at the end of the rally, when the chairman called for volunteers to come down and sign up, he suddenly jumped up from his seat and said "I am going to join!" He told mother not to wait for him but to go home as there were virtually hundreds of men waiting to sign up. She recalled that she was very angry at this but when she got outside she was quickly grabbed by the arm by one of the other single women and then all walked away from the Colston Hall singing 'God save the King' and other patriotoc songs. She said her anger quickly went and she then felt very proud that her then fiancee had joined the army and relieved that she would not face the angry outbursts that many women had to face if their husbands/boyfriends had not come forward to volunteer.
Jack had his call-up papers to join the Reserve Calvary and reported to an army barracks - possibly Tidworth - to be kitted out and was then transferred to the Curragh, Northern Ireland to begin basic training. He stayed in Ireland for the rest of of 1914 and learnt the rudiments of riding a horse in addition to the requirements of being a soldier. In 1915 he became a member of the 4th Queens Own Calvary Machine Gun Corps. He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and hence was number 1 of 6 on the machine gun team and responsible for carrying and sighting the tripod and for firing the machine gun. He was sent to France sometime after 1st January 1916 and engaged in numerous battles.
Although his cousin Pte. William White of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) died aged 18 on 29th July 1918 on the battlefields, Jack and also his younger brother Bill managed to survive the horrors and returned to marry his fiancee, my Grandmother Lily. They went on to have five children including my late father Jack (named after his own courageous father) and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He died on 15th February 1979 in his highrise flat in Easton, Bristol - a stone's throw from where he was born 85 years earlier.
I represent Jack's large family in saying that we recognise and are thankful for all he and Lily sacrificed for us to give us all a good life and how extremely proud we are of this once fearless soldier.
Caroline Bryant

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216252

Pte. James Welsh 4th Hussars (d.24th May 1915)

James Welsh served with the 4th Queens Own Hussars and died on the 24th May 1915. He is remembered at Palmer Cenotaph. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals.
James was born in Hebburn, son of Patrick and Jane Welsh of County Londonderry, Ireland. In the 1911 census the family is living at 82 Rose Street, Hebburn with Patrick(60) labourer in copper works and his wife of 37 years Jane(57) who had 9 children 8 of whom survived. James(28) is a plumbers labourer and Lewis(24) is a plumber both in the shipyard. Daniel(18) is a stocktakers assistant. Catherine(21) and Elizabeth(16) are at home. Lawrence Coady(37) widowed son in law, a platers helper in the shipyard has his daughter Sarah Jane who is 7 years old.
Vin Mullen

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4th Queens Own Hussars

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The Wartime Memories Project - 4th Queens Own Hussars during the Great War -

4th Queens Own Hussars

Want to know more about the 4th Queens Own Hussars?

Those known to have served with 4th Queens Own Hussarsduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 4th Queens Own Hussars during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
4th Queens Own Hussars
during the Great War 1914-1918.