Person

Percy Frederick Hone. the son of the Rev. Evelyn Joseph and Constance Jane Hone, was born in Allington, Lincolnshire, near Newark, Nottinghamshire on 29 May 1878. He had five brothers and four sisters. After going to school in Blackheath, London he attended the Royal School of Mines. He then went up to Downing College, Cambridge University, where he joined the University Volunteer Rifles and obtained a BA degree in 1900. After leaving Cambridge he went to work in the Mines Department in Southern Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] and served as a trooper in the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers. In 1905 he moved to the Managing & Contracting Department and seven years later moved to Panama as a General Manager of a timber company. Whilst on leave in England in 1908 he married Edith Frances Monro in Hampstead, London. In 1912 he was Secretary for Viscount Rhondda’s American interests and in January 1915 was given a temporary commission as a lieutenant in the 17th (Glamorgan) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, being promoted to temporary captain a week later.

Percy landed in France in May 1916 and was appointed staff captain in the 119th Infantry Brigade and saw action in the battles at Ancre and Cambrai. In May 1917 he was mentioned in despatches and in the December was awarded the Military Cross. Early In 1918 he was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross and in May was appointed temporary lieutenant colonel whilst commanding the 21st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Later in the year he won a second Bar to his Military Cross and in October was given command of the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI). In the same month he was shot in the leg, which caused a compound fracture, and he was invalided back to England. In December he was again mentioned in despatches and his award of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) was listed. He was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order in April 1919 and, as he had not fully recovered from his injuries, he resigned his commission in December, retaining the rank of lieutenant colonel and being awarded the Silver War Badge. He was a Commissioner of the National Savings Committee from 1919 until 1938 and died in April 1940 following an accident.

His award of the DSO was gazetted on 31 December 1918 and no citation is available. The Bar to it was gazetted on 1 April 1919 and the citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded his battalion during the attack north-east of Le Cateau on 23rd and 24th October, 1918. He personally led his battalion in the attack south-east of Fontaine au Bois, having previously gone forward to reconnoitre. On the 24th October 1918, when reconnoitring in advance of his battalion, he was wounded. His fine example of courage and determination contributed in a large measure to the success of the operations”.

His award of the Military Cross was gazetted on 28 December 1917 and no citation is available.

The first Bar was gazetted on 15 February 1918 and citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in reconnoitring a large area of fire swept ground and obtaining valuable information. In an extreme forward area he found isolated detachments of men without officers, and rallying these, he led them, under heavy fire to a neighbouring battalion, to which he attached them. His fine example undoubtedly steadied a portion of the line”‘.

The second Bar was gazetted on 13 September 1918 and the citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Throughout six days’ hard fighting this officer was continually in the front line of the battle zone, keeping touch with all that was going on under heavy fire of all sorts. His cheerful demeanour and continual presence day after day in the line, where he moved about without concern for his personal safety, had a most excellent effect on the men, and greatly contributed to maintain the morale of the brigade”.

Birth date: 29-May-1878

Death date: 19-Apr-1940

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: The Vicarage, Bursledon, Hampshire (1881 Census)
Little Wix, West Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1940)

Education: Blackheath High School, Blackheath, London, Kent
Royal School of Mines
Downing College, Cambridge University (B.A. in 1900)

Family: Father: Rev. Evelyn Joseph Hone
Mother: Constance Jane Hone (nee Monro)
Siblings: Frances Jane, Sophia Constance, Campbell Richard, Eva Catharine, Henry Evelyn, Arthur Richard, Leonard M, Ernest A & Muriel Decima Hone
Wife: Edith Frances Hone (nee Monro)
Son: Evelyn Dennison (Later C.C.M.G.)

Military service:

Cambridge University Rifle Volunteers
Private
Southern Rhodesia Volunteers
Trooper
17th (Glamorgan) Battalion, The Welch Regiment
Captain
21st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Temporary Lieutenant Colonel

Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross & 2 Bars
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Silver War Badge

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards