We Will Remember Them – Captain Francis Hemming, former RGS pupil
At this time, we pause, reflect and remember those who gave their lives so we may live ours. The following is a short epitaph for Francis Hemming, who attended RGS prior to serving in the Army during World War I.
Francis Hemming was the only son of James and Lucy Hemming of 91 Cromer Road, St Johns, Worcester. It is obvious from copies of the Worcesterian that he was fully involved in all aspects of school life. He was secretary of the debating society, involved in drama productions and appears in photos of the 1st XI as umpire. He left school in 1906 after being Head Boy, with a Maths Scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford, and by 1912 he had passed his finals for the Law society. He enlisted in the Worcestershire Territorials in 1912, becoming a signals specialist with them.
Captain Francis Hemming arrived in France with the 1/8th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment on 1 April 1915. By 24 April 1917 the Battalion found itself involved in operations against the famous Hindenburg Line near the small town of Epehy. Plans had been made to capture a key position on a spur overlooking this defensive work, called Gillemont Farm. In the small hours of the morning, the attacking companies of the 1/8th moved forward to the line and deployed. At 3:45am, under heavy fire, the attack commenced. C and D companies stormed the farm and started to dig in. As light grew, this captured position was bombarded from the north east and south and, although the men held their ground, officers and men fell fast.
At 8.30am the enemy mounted a counter-attack and the position became more and more hopeless and eventually the order to retire was given. Still suffering under the incessant shell-fire, the survivors of the two companies fought their way back to the original position. The losses had been very heavy, nearly 100 in all, including 7 officers killed. Both the company commanders were amongst these, including Captain Hemming, who had been wounded twice, before eventually being shot through the head.
A very moving ceremony was held in the new Perrins Hall in 1918 when Francis Hemming’s father presented a cup to the School in his memory, to be awarded to the most deserving Cadet in the OTC. The cup continues to be awarded to this day at the annual Prize-Giving.
Dr Howard Smith
Head of Science
Source for additional information: In Dedication to a Future World by Mark Rogers, 1999