Details from the 'Unburnt' series of soldiers records [WO 364] at the PRO, Kew. These are mainly men discharged to pension during the War.

Before the War, Henry had served with a Territorial Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders for three years, and had been discharged as unfit, as he had suffered from Infantile Paralysis [Poliomyelitis], which had left him with a slight weakness in his left leg.

He joined the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on 26 August 1914, and was passed fit, the Medical Officer noting that this constituted a 'slight defect, but not sufficient to cause rejection'. However it obviously was a problem, as he was discharged, unfit, on the 9th September 1914, having served 15 days.

There is some confusion about whether his middle name was 'Kentfield' or 'Kentford', but on all the documents at the PRO, including the original of his school leaving certificate, and letters from his father, it is spelt 'Kentfield', which I have used.

This information has been obtained from the Public Record Office, Kew. It comes from the records for Officers in class WO339/41879.

Was educated at University College School, London. The actual school leaving certificate is held within the records. It states that he was born on 10 March 1892 and had been a pupil for 4 years when he left if 'Midsummer 1908'. It shows that he had studied English Grammar, Language, and Literature, History and Geography, French, German, Mathematics, Science and Art. He passed exams in English, Mathematics, French, German and Mechanics, and thus was awarded his certificate.

On enlistment he joined the Public Schools Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment as a Private soldier, and received a temporary commission on 11th May 1915 to the 9th [Service] Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was posted on 6th May 1915 to the Oxford University School of instruction. It is not clear from the records when he transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment, but there was frequent transfer of junior Officers as the war progressed to fill depleted Regiments.

The 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment arrived in France, at Marseilles at 16.30hrs on 1st July 1916, from Egypt and moved through France to the Somme. There is an entry in the Battalion War Diary for the 11th August naming 2nd Lt. S.K.E. Hildersley as one of several officers 'rejoining' - not clear whether from leave or a course. They arrived near the village of AUTHUILE on the morning of the 8th of September, and were in the area of AUTHUILE WOOD for several days. There was heavy enemy action and shelling throughout this period, and although the diary does not name the Officers killed or died of wounds, it was during these actions that Stanley Hildersley died on the 12th September. He is buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuile Wood, Grave I.E.15.

The telegram received by his father [who was a widower] stated:

"16/9/16 Deeply regret to inform you that 2Lt. S.K.E. Hildersley 6th Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action September 12th. The Army Council expresses their sympathy. Please supply soon as possible name, address, relationship, next of kin, if married."

There was quite a lot of correspondence from his father following his death. Some of it concerned his belongings - on 7th December his father wrote saying that several personal items had not been received yet - a silver watch, ring, purse, binoculars, and a cigarette case.

He left no will, and it took many months to sort out the financial affairs. Letters of Administration dated 15 February 1917 show gross value of his estate to be £329. 13. 6d.

His brother Gilbert Edwards Hildersley died on the 10th October 1917, the last surviving son of Henry Joseph Hildersley.

Stanley Hector Hamilton HILDERSLEY, born 24 April 1900 in Dalston, London, N6, the sixth and youngest child of George Thomas William Hildersley and Harriett [nee BALL]. Educated at Clarks College and the City of London College, and living [May 1918] at 25 Eastbourne Road, Stamford Hill, N15, with his mother, his father, a tobacconist, having died in 1912. He was working as a clerk for the Inland Revenue.

He enlisted on the 24 May 1918 in the Officer Training Corps of the 2/28th Battalion, the London Regiment [Artists Rifles] - an interesting Battalion, but that's another story! On enlistment his 'vital statistics' were:

Height: 5ft. 11ins

Weight: 10st 6lbs

Chest: 34ins

He wore glasses.

There is no record of any overseas service, probably too near the end of the War by the time he was trained. He was discharged in April 1919, and went back to the Inland Revenue where he became an Inspector of Taxes.

He married Mildred Marshall in 1923.