Houston Stewart Hamilton's Story.
Houston Stewart Hamilton Wallace born in Birkenhead in 1893, he was the only child of William Hamilton and Emily Constance (nee Heap), of the Nook, Shrewsbury Road, Birkenhead. William was a J.P. for the borough; Emily was the daughter of Joshua Heap. Houston was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh 1906 to 1912.
Houston at Fettes College 1908-1909, third row standing in the center. Credit © Fettes College.
Houston at Fettes College 1908-1909, seated second row fifth from the right. Credit © Fettes College.
He then attended Merton College, Oxford.
Houston at Merton College, Oxford.
Both his parents had died by 1914, his father in a tragic accident in 1912, after playing golf at Wallasey, he returned home and had to post a letter, on returning the gate to his drive was jammed, he stepped up on to a ledge leaning over attempting to release it from the opposite side, slipped and impaled his arm on one of the railings, it severed an artery and he died shortly after from the loss of blood.
Liverpool Weekly Mercury. 14 September, 1912.
Hosuton's father, William Hamilton Wallace.
Houston’s mother, Emily passed away in April 1914, in North Wales, both are buried at Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead.
Houston at Merton College, Oxford.
Both his parents had died by 1914, his father in a tragic accident in 1912, after playing golf at Wallasey, he returned home and had to post a letter, on returning the gate to his drive was jammed, he stepped up on to a ledge leaning over attempting to release it from the opposite side, slipped and impaled his arm on one of the railings, it severed an artery and he died shortly after from the loss of blood.
Liverpool Weekly Mercury. 14 September, 1912.
Hosuton's father, William Hamilton Wallace.
Houston’s mother, Emily passed away in April 1914, in North Wales, both are buried at Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead.
He gained a commission into the 10th battalion Worcestershire Regiment 2nd October 1914, and went to France August 1,1915.
Houston seated first from the right. November 1914. Credit © Worcestershire Regimental Museum.
Houston was killed in action July 22, 1916. His battalion, 10 Worcestershire Regiment had orders to capture a German machine gun post, during the attacks that failed to capture the guns Houston was killed.
20/7/16. Rested in bivouac all day. 8.00pm Proceeded to line just north of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT to relieve 98th Brigade. On arriving at Brigade HQ found everything altered owing to our troops being driven out of HIGH WOOD. Great confusion during the relief owing to guides not knowing their way and the village being shelled with 'Tear' shells.
21/7/16. The Battalion eventually took up a line just before dawn as follows - S.8.a.8.7 East to S.2.d.8.2. then from S.8.b.5.8 to WINDMILL at S.9.a.3.0 where we joined with the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment. The Staffordshire. Regiment were in support in a line running WINDMILL CEMETERY - S.8.b.3.8. During the morning WINDMILL which was used as an Observation Post was shelled - about 15 casualties in 'D' Coy.
3.00pm Attempted to capture German machine gun about S.3.d.1.7 with bombers and Lewis Gun in support. Attack failed and gun was lost. Another attack was made after dark with strong patrols who were heavily fired upon and forced to retire. Patrols were sent out to try and locate German line to our front. They were partly successful in breaking line about 400 yards away behind reverse slopes of the hill.
22/7/16. 1.00am 'C' Coy closed in to the right towards HIGH WOOD, their place being taken by the North Lancashire Regiment 56th Brigade. 'B' Coy fell back at right angles to 'C' Coy facing east. 'A' and 'D' were in support. Another attack was made on the machine gun by 2 Platoons of 'B' Coy on South of road. The attack was a failure and the greater part of the 2 Platoons of 'C' Coy were missing, believed prisoner. It was afterwards reported by the Sergeant who was in charge of the lading Platoon of 'C' Coy that the machine gun was firing from the barricade at S.3.c.6.5. This N.C.O. spent 2 days in a dugout inside of road about S.3.c.4.4. and was bombed by our own men (58th Brigade) before he got back, his companion being killed. 11.30am Germans were observed on the HIGH WOOD road and were fired upon by our Lewis Gun. During the morning a scheme was evolved for the capture of the elusive machine gun. The Corps 'Heavies' would bombard for an hour and at zero hour the attack would be launched and the barricade dugouts, machine rushed by the Battalion. The scheme was a failure. No zero hour was notified and none of the 'Heavies' fired. 'D' Coy having mistaken the orders advanced to the attack but were driven back by machine gun fire and shrapnel. They had considerable casualties including 2nd Lt. H.S.H. WALLACE.
8.00pm Orders were received to attack German line located by aeroplane running from S.3.c.6.5 to S.2.d.4.9. The 8th Gloucestershire Regiment would attack on the left. At 9.30pm the order was cancelled, and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment would relieve us and attack. Inevitable confusion followed the changing of this order. The attack was to commence by 12.30am.
BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT - BECOURT WOOD
23/7/16 The village was badly shelled by the enemy and the WARWICKS failed to arrive in the line until about 1.00am. An attack was made with utter lack of co-operation which resulted in a bad failure and heavy casualties for the two Regiments concerned (GLOUC & ROYAL WARWICK). The Battalion made its way back by degrees to a point south of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD about S.14.c.4.7 where they rested for the remainder of the day. 8.00pm Proceeded back to BECOURT WOOD into bivouac.
Extracted from Stack p183-84 The night of July 21st/22nd proved very trying for the 10th Worcestershire. Reliefs on right and left entailed several shifts and contractions in the Battalion line. Another attack on the unconquered machine-gun was organised at 1 a.m. Four platoons worked their way down the 'Upper Road' - two platoons of "C" Company north of the road and two platoons of "B" Company south of it. In the darkness the listeners in rear strained their ears and heard, amid intermittent shell-fire, a sudden outburst of machine-guns and musketry. Presently some survivors of the "B" Company platoons came back to the trenches. The attack had failed under a withering fire; what had happened to the two platoons of "C" Company was a mystery not cleared up until two days later, when the sergeant who had led one of the platoons made his way back. The enemy machine-gun, it appeared had been pushed forward in the darkness to a bend in the road on the forward slope of the hill. In that new position the machine-gun post had surprised the attacking platoons, all of whom had been killed or captured. The sergeant himself, with one companion had found shelter in an abandoned dugout during the ensuing forty-eight hours. When firing died down the two survivors made their way back. Unfortunately, on arriving at the British trenches (the front held by another regiment) they were not recognised in the darkness and were bombed: and the sergeant's companion was killed. Furious at the defeat, the Battalion arranged yet another attack. Artillery support was requested, and a "set piece" attack was organised. All arrangements were made, but communication broke down and orders for the attack did not arrive. Mistaking their orders, "D" Company of the 10th Worcestershire advanced unsupported, only to be driven back by a storm of fire. That evening orders were received that the Battalion and the 8th Gloucestershire would attack a trench which the enemy had newly dug from the machine-gun position on the "intermediate spur" to the northward to link up with the Switch-Line. Preparations were in progress when counter-orders came that the 10th Royal Warwickshire would replace the 10th Worcestershire for the attack. That change was made at the last minute ("Zero" was midnight. The message arrived 11,20 p.m.) and inevitably caused confusion: the Royal Warwickshire were unable to arrive in time, and the attack, made disjointedly, failed with heavy loss. The platoons of the 10th Worcestershire made their way back through heavy shellfire to a position in reserve in the valley just north of Flatiron Copse. There the Battalion rested throughout July 23rd. The 57th Brigade was now being withdrawn to rest, and after dark the 10th Worcestershire marched back into bivouac in Becourt Wood. Casualties, 10th Worcestershire, July 20th-23rd:- Killed - 3 officers (Capt. W. F. Tree, Capt. H. S. H. Wallace, 2/Lt. J. Fish (all on 22nd) and 18 men. Wounded - 5 officers (2/Lt. W. M. Hartland and 2/Lt. O. A. Hicks (on the 21st), Lt. L N. Mason, Lt. W. S. Scammell, 2/Lt. C. G. Weld (on 22nd) and 71 other ranks. Missing - 64 N.C.O’s. and men. The Battalion remained in bivouac during the ensuing week. Two more drafts came to fill up the ranks. Once more those drafts were composed of men from other regiments - Yorkshire and Rifles.
Houston seated first from the right. November 1914. Credit © Worcestershire Regimental Museum.
Houston was killed in action July 22, 1916. His battalion, 10 Worcestershire Regiment had orders to capture a German machine gun post, during the attacks that failed to capture the guns Houston was killed.
20/7/16. Rested in bivouac all day. 8.00pm Proceeded to line just north of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT to relieve 98th Brigade. On arriving at Brigade HQ found everything altered owing to our troops being driven out of HIGH WOOD. Great confusion during the relief owing to guides not knowing their way and the village being shelled with 'Tear' shells.
21/7/16. The Battalion eventually took up a line just before dawn as follows - S.8.a.8.7 East to S.2.d.8.2. then from S.8.b.5.8 to WINDMILL at S.9.a.3.0 where we joined with the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment. The Staffordshire. Regiment were in support in a line running WINDMILL CEMETERY - S.8.b.3.8. During the morning WINDMILL which was used as an Observation Post was shelled - about 15 casualties in 'D' Coy.
3.00pm Attempted to capture German machine gun about S.3.d.1.7 with bombers and Lewis Gun in support. Attack failed and gun was lost. Another attack was made after dark with strong patrols who were heavily fired upon and forced to retire. Patrols were sent out to try and locate German line to our front. They were partly successful in breaking line about 400 yards away behind reverse slopes of the hill.
22/7/16. 1.00am 'C' Coy closed in to the right towards HIGH WOOD, their place being taken by the North Lancashire Regiment 56th Brigade. 'B' Coy fell back at right angles to 'C' Coy facing east. 'A' and 'D' were in support. Another attack was made on the machine gun by 2 Platoons of 'B' Coy on South of road. The attack was a failure and the greater part of the 2 Platoons of 'C' Coy were missing, believed prisoner. It was afterwards reported by the Sergeant who was in charge of the lading Platoon of 'C' Coy that the machine gun was firing from the barricade at S.3.c.6.5. This N.C.O. spent 2 days in a dugout inside of road about S.3.c.4.4. and was bombed by our own men (58th Brigade) before he got back, his companion being killed. 11.30am Germans were observed on the HIGH WOOD road and were fired upon by our Lewis Gun. During the morning a scheme was evolved for the capture of the elusive machine gun. The Corps 'Heavies' would bombard for an hour and at zero hour the attack would be launched and the barricade dugouts, machine rushed by the Battalion. The scheme was a failure. No zero hour was notified and none of the 'Heavies' fired. 'D' Coy having mistaken the orders advanced to the attack but were driven back by machine gun fire and shrapnel. They had considerable casualties including 2nd Lt. H.S.H. WALLACE.
8.00pm Orders were received to attack German line located by aeroplane running from S.3.c.6.5 to S.2.d.4.9. The 8th Gloucestershire Regiment would attack on the left. At 9.30pm the order was cancelled, and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment would relieve us and attack. Inevitable confusion followed the changing of this order. The attack was to commence by 12.30am.
BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT - BECOURT WOOD
23/7/16 The village was badly shelled by the enemy and the WARWICKS failed to arrive in the line until about 1.00am. An attack was made with utter lack of co-operation which resulted in a bad failure and heavy casualties for the two Regiments concerned (GLOUC & ROYAL WARWICK). The Battalion made its way back by degrees to a point south of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD about S.14.c.4.7 where they rested for the remainder of the day. 8.00pm Proceeded back to BECOURT WOOD into bivouac.
Extracted from Stack p183-84 The night of July 21st/22nd proved very trying for the 10th Worcestershire. Reliefs on right and left entailed several shifts and contractions in the Battalion line. Another attack on the unconquered machine-gun was organised at 1 a.m. Four platoons worked their way down the 'Upper Road' - two platoons of "C" Company north of the road and two platoons of "B" Company south of it. In the darkness the listeners in rear strained their ears and heard, amid intermittent shell-fire, a sudden outburst of machine-guns and musketry. Presently some survivors of the "B" Company platoons came back to the trenches. The attack had failed under a withering fire; what had happened to the two platoons of "C" Company was a mystery not cleared up until two days later, when the sergeant who had led one of the platoons made his way back. The enemy machine-gun, it appeared had been pushed forward in the darkness to a bend in the road on the forward slope of the hill. In that new position the machine-gun post had surprised the attacking platoons, all of whom had been killed or captured. The sergeant himself, with one companion had found shelter in an abandoned dugout during the ensuing forty-eight hours. When firing died down the two survivors made their way back. Unfortunately, on arriving at the British trenches (the front held by another regiment) they were not recognised in the darkness and were bombed: and the sergeant's companion was killed. Furious at the defeat, the Battalion arranged yet another attack. Artillery support was requested, and a "set piece" attack was organised. All arrangements were made, but communication broke down and orders for the attack did not arrive. Mistaking their orders, "D" Company of the 10th Worcestershire advanced unsupported, only to be driven back by a storm of fire. That evening orders were received that the Battalion and the 8th Gloucestershire would attack a trench which the enemy had newly dug from the machine-gun position on the "intermediate spur" to the northward to link up with the Switch-Line. Preparations were in progress when counter-orders came that the 10th Royal Warwickshire would replace the 10th Worcestershire for the attack. That change was made at the last minute ("Zero" was midnight. The message arrived 11,20 p.m.) and inevitably caused confusion: the Royal Warwickshire were unable to arrive in time, and the attack, made disjointedly, failed with heavy loss. The platoons of the 10th Worcestershire made their way back through heavy shellfire to a position in reserve in the valley just north of Flatiron Copse. There the Battalion rested throughout July 23rd. The 57th Brigade was now being withdrawn to rest, and after dark the 10th Worcestershire marched back into bivouac in Becourt Wood. Casualties, 10th Worcestershire, July 20th-23rd:- Killed - 3 officers (Capt. W. F. Tree, Capt. H. S. H. Wallace, 2/Lt. J. Fish (all on 22nd) and 18 men. Wounded - 5 officers (2/Lt. W. M. Hartland and 2/Lt. O. A. Hicks (on the 21st), Lt. L N. Mason, Lt. W. S. Scammell, 2/Lt. C. G. Weld (on 22nd) and 71 other ranks. Missing - 64 N.C.O’s. and men. The Battalion remained in bivouac during the ensuing week. Two more drafts came to fill up the ranks. Once more those drafts were composed of men from other regiments - Yorkshire and Rifles.
The casualty list shows that three officers were killed, listed as Lieutenant Warren Francis Tree and Second Lieutenant Jack Fish, as with Houston the rank of Warren Tree is incorrect both he and Houston were Captains.
After his death Houston bequeathed £3,000 to Fettes College.
Birkenhead News. 18 November, 1916.
As both his parents had passed away his aunt Beatrice was listed as his next of kin. After the war Beatrice searched for the location of Houston’s burial, sadly the location was lost. However, she had received a letter from his CO, in which he stated that Houston was buried near to a calvary at Bazentin. She identified the location of where the calvary had been and had a replacement made and dedicated it to Houston.
Beatrice started to write to the then Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) two days after the armistice was signed. Her first letter is dated 13 November 1918.
Letter from Beatrice
13 November 1918
To the Imperial Graves Registration Commission.
Sirs,
I should be much obliged if you could furnish me with particulars regarding the grave of the late Captain Houston Stewart Hamilton Wallace, 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment who was killed in action on July 22, 1916, at Bazentin-le-Petit. ***** from his commanding officer Colonel Sole that he was buried together with two brother officer’s (One I believe named Fish) at a point slightly west of Bazentin-le-Petit and that a cross has been placed over his grave.
Any particulars will be received with gratitude
Yours faithfully
(Miss) Beatrice Heap.
Beatrice at the memorial circa 1924.
Restored memorial in 1994.
In 2025 the memorial was fully restored by the Cheshire Roll of Honour.
As Houston has no known grave, he is named on Thiepval Memorial.
Beatrice started to write to the then Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) two days after the armistice was signed. Her first letter is dated 13 November 1918.
Letter from Beatrice
13 November 1918
To the Imperial Graves Registration Commission.
Sirs,
I should be much obliged if you could furnish me with particulars regarding the grave of the late Captain Houston Stewart Hamilton Wallace, 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment who was killed in action on July 22, 1916, at Bazentin-le-Petit. ***** from his commanding officer Colonel Sole that he was buried together with two brother officer’s (One I believe named Fish) at a point slightly west of Bazentin-le-Petit and that a cross has been placed over his grave.
Any particulars will be received with gratitude
Yours faithfully
(Miss) Beatrice Heap.
Beatrice at the memorial circa 1924.
Restored memorial in 1994.
In 2025 the memorial was fully restored by the Cheshire Roll of Honour.
As Houston has no known grave, he is named on Thiepval Memorial.