2nd Lt Hubert Gaukroger 1st Bn. Manchester Regt. KIA 2.4.17

[PhilipG]

When I say that the death of this officer plays an important part in the "Wilfred Owen Story" I do not exaggerate, for Owen is understood to have sheltered in the remains of Hubert Gaukroger, whose body had been blown up by enemy shellfire on Savy Wood after the 2nd Bn's attack on the Hindenburg Line around 13th April 1917.  I have even been to the railway cutting in Savy Wood (Nr. St Quentin), where Owen is reputed to have lain when this event took  place.  Obviously Owen was suffering from shell shock at that time and what he wrote his mother could be wrong.  There is some mystery about all this, the position not being helped by the Regimental History reporting Gaukroger as departing for Mesopotamia around the beginning of January 1916 with the 1st Bn., where they were in action until August 1917.   Offficers Died and the CWGC have him down as being in the 1st Mcrs.  The War Diary WO95/2392 listing the names of all officers involved in the Francilly-Selency attack of 2.4.17, reports Gaukroger as being in the London Regt!  His MIC records him as being in the 1st Bn.   A copy of his Will, however, states that Gaukroger was in the 2nd Manchesters at the time of his death. From the foregoing you will sense my feeling of frustration as to the true position.  Historians clearly have skirted over the matter.

I have always believed that Gaukroger joined up in the 8th Worcesters, was commissioned in the 1st  Manchesters and at some time was posted from that battalion to the 2nd Bn.   All I need is for some record to reveal the date he left the 1st Bn. for the 2nd. Bn.  Can anybody help in this connection, please? PhilipG.

[timberman]

Hi Philip

The army list of 1916 has him listed as joining the 1st Bn 7th Nov 1915.
Can't find him in the Manchester's in the list of 1917?

I'll have a look in the War diary and see if I can see when he came to the 2nd.
Possible he went to the London Regiment when the 1st left France,
then got posted to the 2nd Bn but still registered under the London Regiment?

The 2nd 0f April 1917 makes good reading in the extended write up in the War Diaries.

Timberman

[timberman]

Hubert GAUKROGER
Second Lieutenant

1st Battalion Manchester Regiment

Died aged 31 on 2nd April 1917 

Son of Mr. Young Gaukroger, of Didsbury, Manchester; husband of Eva Mary Gaukroger of 14 Lansdown Parade, Cheltenham
 
Buried in Savy British Cemetery, France, Grave I. Q. 6.

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral under Badsey and Bretforton casualties.

The Badsey parish magazine of May 1916 reports that Lieutenant Gaukroger's slight wounds are now reported to be severe.  The May 1917 edition reports that Lieutenant Gaukroger had volunteered early in the war and had seen active service in France and Mesopotamia, being wounded on the latter front over a year ago.  He returned to France in March before being fully recovered from his wounds and was reported missing and then killed in action on 2nd April.

Source for additional information:
http://www.badsey.net/past/wnews.htm#c

Appears on:

Badsey St James's Church

Bretforton St Leonard's Church

I don't know what the London connection is but reading this,
he was wounded with the 1st Bn was out of action for a year
that may account for him not being on the army list I think
(I'll check the list for the 3rd and 4th Bn)
He returned to France in March 1917 and was posted to the 2nd Bn.

Timberman

[mack]

thats the same info i found philip,no mention of the london regiment
he was born in didsbury manchester,his parents lived at the beeches,barlow moor rd,didsbury,his father young gaukroger died on 19-4-1915 and left nearly £80.000

mack

[PhilipG]

To  Timberman and Mack:_

Very many thanks, indeed, for letting me have the results of your brilliant research into this man. Gaukroger was a close friend of Wilfred Owen and the death of Gaukroger and the "remains" incident are always prominent in the writings of eminent authors in their books on Wilfred.    A gap in our knowledge of Owen's life has, at last, been filled.  If today I were to be writing a book on Wilfred Owen, I would write on the "Acknowledgements page"- "Grateful thanks are due to Timberman and Mack for their valuable contribution to this work..........."    Knowing a little about Didsbury, having worked in that attractive Manchester suburb when I finished working for King George Vl at the end of WW2, I suspect that the family had connections with the Manchester Stock Exchange. 

Thanks again. PhilipG.

[mack]

hiya philip.
his father was a stocks+shares broker,hubert was a fruit grower.

mack

[PhilipG]

Mack, Thanks again.  The 2nd Bn. called him "Cock Robin".    A couple of years ago, I was speaking to probably the world's expert on Wilfred Owen, who told me the nick name was based on the way Gaukroger pronounced his name. The expert tried to speak with what he thought was a Worcestershire accent saying "Gog" for "Gauk".  As to the "roger" part of the name we were at a loss to imitate for that part. We finished with the assumption that the "Gog" part so sounded like "Cock" that the officers in the mess just added the word "Robin".  A bit of trivia, but that is what takes place in some officer's Mess in an attempt to create a family atmosphere.
As regards Didsbury. I can well see it being "A Stockbroker's belt", like parts of Surrey today. PhilipG.

[mack]

i believe his old family home,the beeches in didsbury,still exists.

mack

[PhilipG]

Mack. Thanks. I must have passed the house many times "in a previous life".  I am trying to  get a photo of his widow's house in Cheltenham. From what you say the family must have been wealthy. PhilipG.

[Tim Bell]

Just to extend the thread on 2/Lt Gaukroger, here's an excellent record with photos etc
https://www.badseysociety.uk/war-memorial-badsey-church/gaukroger-hubert-1885-1917-second-lieutenant-manchester-regiment