Captain Benjamin Sumner HOARE
2/6th Battalion Manchester Regiment attached to the Grenadier Guards

Date of birth: 13th February 1892
Date of death: 25th December 1958

Died aged 66
Buried at St Bartholomew?s Church, Balcombe, Sussex
Benjamin Sumner Hoare was born at Sutherland House, Glebe Crescent, Stirling in Scotland on the 13th of February 1892 the son of Charles Sumner Hoare, a cotton merchant, and Dorothy Maria Ann (nee Smith) Hoare of Kermincham Lodge, Holmes Chapel in Cheshire.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1905 where he was a member of the Cricket XI in 1905. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1905 cricket season: - "A bat who only wants a little more strength and nerve to do quite well. The same with his fielding. A fine but erratic bowler."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "....goes to Harrow, where he should do well in all departments."

He went on to Harrow School where he was in Rendall's House under Mr. Graham from September 1905 to December 1908. He went on to Trinity College Cambridge in January 1910 after which he became a merchant.

Following the outbreak of war he applied for a commission in the 6th Battalion Manchester Regiment on the 6th of September 1914 when it was recorded that he was six feet three inches tall. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the battalion on the 31st of October 1914 and was posted to the 2/6th Battalion of his regiment. He was promoted to temporary Captain on the 1st of August 1915.

He embarked for France on the 5th of March 1917 but was taken ill on the 26th of March and was evacuated back to England on the 6th of April 1917 from Boulogne; he landed at Dover later the same day.

A Medical Board sat at Caxton Hall on the 17th of April 1917 to report on his case: -

"When at Cambrai, France, about 26th March 1917 he was taken ill with bronchitis and sent home arriving at the American Women's Hospital on 7 April. He was convalescent on admission though. The breath sounds coarse over both the pulmonary bases still. He is recommended for further treatment at the Princes Gate Hospital. He was been five weeks at the front. He is now at the American Women's Hospital."

He was granted leave until the 23rd of May 1917. He applied for a transfer to the Grenadier Guards, Special Reserve of Officers, on the 25th of May 1917 and transferred with the rank of Lieutenant on the 27th of June 1917, with seniority from the 15th of July 1915.

It became evident that he had suffered from bouts of bronchitis since childhood and that he was unable to return to the front. He received the following letter from the War Office dated the 5th of June 1918: -

"Sir,
I am directed to inform you that the Medical Board by whom you were recently examined, having expressed their opinion that you are permanently unfit for further service, it is regretted that there is no alternative but to gazette you as relinquishing your commission on account of ill health. The requisite notification will appear in the Gazette in due course, when you will be granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant, but such a grant does not confer the right to wear uniform except when attending ceremonial and entertainment of a military nature. The case will be submitted to the Ministry of Pensions for their consideration as to any claim to retired pay or gratuity on account of disability. The enclosed Army Form Z.15. is forwarded for your information."

He relinquished his commission on the 17th of July 1918 and applied for a Silver Wound Badge on the 9th of September 1918.

He was married at St Michael’s Church, Chester Square to Ella Violet (nee Hillas-Drake) on the 20th of December 1922. They later lived at Highdown Cottage, 40A Dyke Road, Brighton and at "Beechhill", Withdean Road, Hove.

He went into publishing in partnership with Alfred Edward Macdonald in the firm of Macdonald & Evans at 8 John Street, Bedford Row in London but the partnership was dissolved on the 31st of December 1945.

He died at 10 Eaton Gardens, Hove and his funeral took place on the 30th of December 1958.


Went on to Harrow School

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