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Captain Maurice Lake HILDER MC
D Company, 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (1st Sportsman's) Date of birth: 7th February 1895 Date of death: 3rd May 1917 Killed in action aged 22 Commemorated on the Arras Memorial Bay 3
Maurice Lake Hilder was born at "Cliveden", Pelham Road, Gravesend in Kent on the 7th of February 1895 the third son of Edward Hilder, a solicitor, and Kathleen (nee Lake) Hilder of 55 Wellington Road, Regent’s Park in London. He was educated at Cottesmore School in Hove and at Lancing College where he was in Heads House from September 1909 to July 1914. He was a member of the Cricket XI from 1911 to 1914, where he scored 303 runs in his final season at an average of 30. He was also a member of the Football XI from 1911 to 1914, was appointed as a House Captain in 1912 and as Head of House. He was appointed as a Prefect in 1913. On leaving school he was articled to his father's firm of solicitors, Edward Hilder of 36 Jermyn Street, St James in London but war broke out almost as soon as he'd started there. Following the outbreak of war he enlisted at 66 Victoria Street in London as Private 2335 in the 18th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (1st Public Schools), University and Public School Corps on the 16th of September 1914. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was six feet tall, that he weighed eleven stones and that he had a fair complexion, blue eyes and very light brown hair. He was posted to Epsom where he was promoted to Corporal on the 3rd of October 1914. On the 29th of October 1914 he applied for a commission in the 13th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps, in an application which was supported by the Reverend Bowlby, Head master of Lancing College. He underwent a medical examination at St John's Wood Barracks on the 20th of November where he was passed as fit for general service. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on the 5th of December 1914 and was posted to the 122nd Company, 13th Divisional Train at Bulford Camp on the 5th of December 1914. He embarked at Devonport with his unit on board the "Argyllshire" on the 28th of June 1915 and arrived at Alexandria on the 10th of July 1915. On the 12th of July they landed at Gallipoli where he spent some months before he was evacuated from the peninsular on board the Hospital Ship "Valdina" on the 5th of September 1915 suffering from enteric fever. He landed at Malta on the 11th of September where he was taken to the Blue Sisters Hospital on the island. On the 19th of October 1915 a Medical Board sat at Latifa Military Hospital to consider his case: - "At ANZAC region on Spt. 3rd he had early symptoms of enteric. He was invalided on the 4th, reached Malta on Sept. 11. He was sent to Blue Sisters Hosp. and then transferred to Latifa M.H. on 15th Sept. During convalescence he had an attack of malaria. He is still weak and anaemic and two stone underweight." He embarked on the Hospital Ship "Brasile" on the 25th of October 1915 to return to England where he suffered a "vicious" attack of malaria on the 3rd of November. On his recovery he was posted to the Horse Transport Reserve Depot at Blackheath on the 26th of February 1916. He was declared fully fit on the 23rd of June 1916. He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on the 25th of May 1916 and was confirmed in that rank on the 9th of September 1916. On the 26th of August 1916 he applied for a transfer to the Royal Fusiliers and was transferred to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the regiment on the 8th of September 1916. He landed in France in September 1916 where he was attached to the 23rd Battalion of his regiment. He was promoted to Temporary Captain on the 18th of February 1917 while in command of D Company. On the 10th of March 1917 the 23rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was part of an attack on Grevillers Trench near Courcelette on the Somme. Maurice Hilder and his men from D Company were specifically tasked with the capture of a German position known as the "Lady's Leg" Ravine. Their advance began at 5.15am while it was still dark and a mist was covering the ground. Grevillers Trench fell after a short, sharp fight, in which some twenty of the enemy were killed with a further thirty being captured. Maurice Hilder quickly established a strong point at the north east end of "Lady's Leg". Shortly after this the Germans opened an artillery barrage on the positions which lasted most of the rest of the day but the captured position was held. Casualties for the attack were seven other ranks killed with twenty eight wounded of which two men died of their wounds. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 11th of May 1917. The citation read:- “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company in a most gallant manner and succeeded in capturing a strong enemy position. He set a fine example of courage and good leadership.“ On the 2nd of May 1917 the 23rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers were only two companies strong after recent severe fighting. To these were added two companies of the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment and the new formation attacked at Oppy that night with the objective of taking the enemy position of Oppy Trench. The attack was successful but lost direction slightly and left a number of Germans still in possession of the northern part of the trench although around 70 prisoners were captured. Shortly after capturing the enemy trench they linked with the Canadians who had attacked the southern part of the trench system and had consolidated their gains. The following day the Germans launched a heavy counter attack at 5.45am, forcing the Fusiliers out, but they soon rallied and retook the trench again. During this attack Maurice Hilder led his men over the parapet to the attack and was killed almost at once by a shell. Lack of ammunition and the loss of all their officers forced the survivors to withdraw from the trench during the day and they fell back to shell holes until they were relieved by the 15th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment that night. His father received the following telegram dated the 14th of May 1917: - "Deeply regret to inform you Capt. M.L. Hilder 5 Royal Fusiliers Att 23 Batt. was killed in action May three. The Army Council express their sympathy."

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