On this day...Death of Herbert Henry Hiley

Herbert Henry Hiley was killed in action, aged 21, on this day 21st August in 1915.

Herbert was born in 1894 in Windsor, Berkshire, the son of John, the Court Postmaster, and Sarah. He attended the County Boys' School in Windsor and was School Captain in 1910-11. He was an all-round sportsman, especially in rowing, and competed in the Windsor and Eton Amateur Regatta on the River Thames in Windsor on 3rd August 1914, the day before war was declared.

Herbert worked for Parr's Bank at its London Threadneedle Street branch. His obituary in the bank's staff magazine noted 'He was a very great favourite with all who knew him, especially so with the members of the Football Club, who regarded him as one of their most skilful players.'

He joined the Berkshire Yeomanry (regimental no. 1967) and was sent to Sulva Bay in 1915 as part of the Gallipoli Campaign. He was killed in fighting that took place on Chocolate Hill and Scimitar Hill. 

Trooper Herbert Henry Hiley

The Eton Excelsior Rowing Club Memorial

The Helles Memorial in Turkey is the main Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli Campaign, and also commemorates the 20,956 Commonwealth servicemen with no known grave who died in the campaign from 1915–1916 during the First World War.

The Helles Memorial

Herbert's name commemorated on the Helles Memorial
Included courtesy of Steve Rogers, The War Graves Photographic Project.

St Mary's Church, Luddenden

St Mary's Church in Luddenden has been in existence since the late 15th century. It was rebuilt in 1600 and then demolished in 1814.

Consecration of the church took place in 1624. This meant that it became a 'parochial chapel' rather than a 'chapel of ease' and so baptisms, weddings and burials could be carried out.

The present church was re-opened in 1817. A new chancel was added in 1866 and the church extended in 1910.

Stoddart's Old Halifax Series No 2
With thanks to Calderdale Libraries
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/wtw/

Photo taken in 2017

There are a number of baptisms and burials recorded for Hileys and Highleys (and some Hyleys) at Luddenden, and a small number of Hiley marriages.

The first recorded Hiley baptism was that of Martha, daughter of James Hiley of Warley, on 21st March 1668. The first recorded Hiley burial took place the following year on 17th October when Sarah Hiley was buried.

There were four Hiley marriages recorded at Luddenden. The first one was the first recorded marriage at the church and was between Henry Hiley and Mary Swaine on 1st May 1661. Henry was living at the Hileley (Hiley) messuage at the time and went to live at nearby Hathershelf with Mary. These were properties just off Sowerby Lane on the hillside above Luddendenfoot in the Upper Calder Valley.

Marriage of Henry Hiley and Mary Swaine
(with the permission of West Yorkshire Archive Service)
www.wyjs.org.uk/archives

The other marriages at Luddenden were between Henry Hiley and Sarah Cockcroft in 1691 and Henry Hiley and Sarah Bedford in 1707 (most likely the same Henry), and between Deborah Hiley and Michael Oldfield in 1714. Deborah was the daughter of Henry and Sarah Cockcroft.

The churchyard was closed for burials in 1853 and a public cemetery over the other side of the river was opened in 1860. The earliest surviving gravestone is dated 1625. Research is continuing to establish whether there are any remaining gravestones which bear the Hiley/Highley surname.