Col. Hilton-Green, DSO, MC Gloucestershire Regiment

[OldBraggs]

Another group from my Glosters collection, which I have been researching for 20 years and still find new things now and then.

HENRY FRANCIS LEONARD HILTON-GREEN, D.S.O., M.C.

Born 23 June 1886 in Montreal, Canada, son of Francis and Mary Hilton-Green.
Family home at Adderley Grange, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England.

Attended Bradfield College from September 1901 to July 1905.
To Royal Military College Sandhurst 1906.

2nd Lieutenant (2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment) 6 October 1906
Lieutenant 7 October 1908

To Malta 4 November 1910 to 5 January 1911
To Depot, Bristol 6 Jan 1911 to February 1912
To Malta February 1912 to 11 Sept 1913 (Commanding Cyclist Company)
To North China September 1913 to November 1914
Captain 24 October 1914
To Winchester 8 Nov 1914 to 11 December 1914
To France 12 December 1914 to October 1915

27 November 1914 seconded for service to the Army Cyclist Corps
Commanding 27th Divisional Cyclist Company in the Ypres sector.

28 November 1915 embarked on HMT Transylvania at Marseilles
14 December 1915 disembarked Salonika

London Gazette 1 January 1916: Mentioned in Despatches (France):
H.F.L. Hilton-Green, Captain, Glouc. R. (Divisional Cyclist Company).

London Gazette 14 January 1916: Military Cross: (no citation)
Captain Henry Francis Leonard Hilton-Green, Gloucestershire Regiment.

London Gazette 6 December 1916: British Salonika Army: Mentioned in Despatches: Army Cyclist Corps: Hilton-Green, Capt. H.F.L. Glouc. R., M.C.
December 1916 to command 16th Corps Cyclist Battalion

London Gazette 1 May 1917: Decorations conferred by the President of the French Republic: Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Chevalier: Captain Henry Francis Leonard Hilton-Green, MC, Gloucestershire Regiment.

Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 23 April 1918):
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack on a village. He advanced across most difficult country, overcoming considerable opposition, and, though part of his column was delayed, he attacked and cleared the village. He led his men with the greatest determination, and by his courageous leadership defeated a force of over double his own strength.”
Action at Kakareska 24-25th October 1917 (from the annotated Gazette)

11 June 1918 Mentioned in Dispatches
September 1918 Henry was posted to command the 10th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, which was in Bulgaria.

27 November 1918 orders arrived for the 10th Devons to proceed to Bucharest to represent the British Army when King Ferdinand and his British-born Queen Marie returned to their recently liberated capital. After a night crossing of the Danube, the battalion marched 40 miles in two days and then had a day to clean up and prepare. Having been told that no British troops could be present, the royal couple were delighted to find the 10th Devons lining the street as they entered the city. The Devons then joined the procession and marched to the central square, where the King took the salute. Queen Marie invited the British officers to tea the next day.

29 April 1919 Henry left his battalion and proceeded to Varna, en route to the UK.

London Gazette 5 June 1919: Mentioned in Despatches.
British Salonika Force, for services from 1st October 1918 to 1st March 1919:
H.F.L. Hilton-Green, Capt. & Bt. Maj. (A/Lt.Col.) Glouc. R. attached Devon R.

The London Gazette 19 September 1919:
Decorations conferred by His Majesty the King of Roumania
Officer of the Order of the Star of Roumania
Captain and Brevet Major (acting Lieutenant-Colonel) Henry Francis Leonard Hilton-Green, DSO, MC, Gloucestershire Regiment (attached 10th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment).

11 October 1919 Henry boarded the ship “Kashgar” at London and proceeded to Bombay, to rejoin the 2nd Gloucesters in India.

18 August 1921 married Isabel Hawkes Shannon Capel
1922 son born in India – Francis Michael Hilton-Green
1926 daughter born – Judith Natalie Hilton-Green

27 January to August 1927 served in Shanghai, China
8 August 1927 to Calcutta
26 December 1928 arrived Southampton
Retired 7 October 1929, appointed to Regular Army Reserve of Officers.

Lieutenant-Colonel (Commanding) 4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment (Territorial Army) 16 February 1932

1935 George V Silver Jubilee Medal Roll:
Green, H.F.L. Hilton- DSO, MC Lt.Colonel 4 Devon R. (T.A.)

16 February 1936 Brevet Colonel and retired.

1 November 1940 Mobilized
10 November 1940 posted as Permanent Ship's Staff (troopship) – voyage from UK to Mid-East and back to UK. Disembarked at Glasgow 8 March 1941.
Appointed D.A.Q.M.G. HQ Western Ports
Embarked as OC Ship's Staff (OC Troops) 28 July 1941 – Convoy WS10
Convoy WS10 departed Greenock 3 August 1941 for Freetown, Capetown and Suez. Return journey. Disembarked at Liverpool 28 November 1941

6 January 1942 embarked at Liverpool as OC Troops – WS15 Y13.
Convoy WS15 departed Liverpool 12 January 1942 to Durban. Return journey and disembarked Liverpool17 May 1942

Embarked 13 June 1942 – WS20 F10.
Convoy WS20 departed 21 June 1942 for Freetown. Return journey on SS Leopoldville, arrived 8 November 1942

Posted to No. 15 O.T.C. Colchester 27 November 1942
12 December 1942 to Unemployed List

London Gazette 1 January 1943: Lt-Col. H.F.L. Hilton-Green, DSO, MC, having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. Of Offrs, 12th Dec. 1942.

9 February 1944 his son, Lieutenant Francis Michael Hilton-Green, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, was killed in action in Italy. He is buried at Minturno War Cemetery.

Colonel Hilton-Green was appointed CO of a Home Guard Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry.

For his services he received the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, War Medal 1939-45.
Henry died 20 January 1965 at Bradford Court, Bradford-on-Tone, Somerset.

Obituary in The Back Badge
“The passing of Colonel Hilton-Green came as another shock in January. Joining the Regiment in October 1906, Henry Hilton-Green served the whole of his Regimental service in the 61st. Promoted Captain in October 1914, he accompanied the Battalion home in from China, but served with the Army Cyclist Corps for the earliest part of the 1914-18 war. He did excellent work in Salonica and commanded the 10th Devons from September 1918 to July 1919. He was awarded the D.S.O. and M.C., the Legion of Honour and the Star of Roumania, and was mentioned four times in despatches. In action he was cool and quite unperturbed, and a gallant example to his men. After the war, back with the 61st, he accompanied the Battalion to India and Shanghai and was one of the ten members of the Battalion who went overseas with the 2nd Battalion in 1910 to return home with them in 1928. From 1922-1926 he served as adjutant of the Simla Rifles. He retired in October 1929 and settled in Somerset. During the last war for a time he served as an O.C. Troopship. Unhappily, his only son was killed in Italy whilst serving with the Coldstream Guards. F.M. (Field Marshal), as he was affectionately called by his contemporaries, never quite got over the tragedy and was much of an invalid in his later years, under the devoted care and nursing of his wife and daughter. In his long ordeal he showed unending pluck and cheerfulness. A keen sportsman in his day and always, and ever, an absolute gentleman.”

[BobS]

Superb group & very sad his only son was KIA. Thanks for sharing.

BobS