Name
John Russell Hedges
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/11/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201230
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEIRUT WAR CEMETERY
312
Lebanon
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
John Russell Hedges was born in Tring to Robert Hedges and Elizabeth (nee Russell).
His parents had married in Camden, London on 22 Apr 1886. Robert had been previously married in 1873 to Mary Ann Russell and had children Louise May (born 1875) Frank (born 1877) and Arthur William (born 1881).
Mary Ann died in 1885.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, John, Madge Symonds (niece born 1887) and domestic servant Minnie West were living at Western Road, Tring.
On the 1911 Census the family consisting of widowed mother, Elizabeth , Louise May (stepdaughter), John, William (Russell (born 1828, Elizabeth's father and maid Ethel Bryant were living at Parsonage Place, Tring.
Wartime Service
John enlisted in Jan 1915 as a Territorial Soldier in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 5350 in 1st/5th Battalion and after training he went to Egypt in Jan 1916 to join his Battalion following their evacuation form Gallipoli. He became Private 201230 in the Territorial Force renumbering of 1917. The Battalion were part of 162 Brigade, 54 (East Anglian) Division and took part from 1917 in the Palestine Offensive including the 3 Battles of Gaza, and the Battle of Jaffa. In 1918 they were involved in Ras el Ain, (12 Mar) Operations at Benukim (9-10 Apr), the Battle of Sharon (19-23 Sep) and on 24 Sep began the march to Beirut. It was in Beirut that John fell ill with pneumonia and although he was treated in 1/2nd (East Anglian) Field Ambulance died on 16 Nov 1918.
This from the War Diary for the 31st October 1918: “Beirut 0746 Battn. moved with Bde. Group through BEIRUT. Bde. halted outside town & prepared for a Ceremonial march through. 1030 Bde. Group less wheeled & camel transport marched through BEIRUT. When in the SQUARE Corps Commander with other General officers British & French took the salute. Troops were received by populace with enthusiasm. Bde. bivouacked one mile E of town. Troops allowed into town until 1900. Official Wire received Re. Armistice between TURKEY and the ALLIES. During the month an epidemic of fever has been experienced malarial cases being numerous.”
From the Regimental War Diary for November 1918: 16 Nov 1918 Physical training 0800-0830. Working parties engaged on stables. A & B Coys amalgamated to form Y Coy. C & D coys to form Z Coy. Half holiday in afternoon.
[Private 201230 J. R. HEDGES died of Pneumonia at 1/2nd East Anglian Field Ambulance, Beirut].
17 Nov 1918 Bde. Church Parade 0900. Pte. Hedges buried at MAR TATLAR at 1300 with Military Honours.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of 22 10 and arrears of £22 14s was shared equally (£11 6s) between his mother, Brothers Frank & Arthur, and sister Mary.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
