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Herbert Hart (general)

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Brigadier-General

Sir Herbert Ernest Hart

KBE CB CMG DSO
Herbert Hart, in the uniform of a Brigadier-General
Born(1882-10-13)13 October 1882
Taratahi, New Zealand
Died5 March 1968(1968-03-05) (aged 85)
Masterton, New Zealand
Allegiance New Zealand
Service / branch New Zealand Military Forces
RankBrigadier-General
CommandsWellington Infantry Battalion
4th Infantry Brigade
2nd Infantry Brigade
3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade
Battles / warsFirst World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Dispatches (5)
Croix de guerre with palm
Other workAdministrator of Western Samoa
Imperial War Graves Commission

Brigadier-General Sir Herbert Ernest Hart, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (13 October 1882 – 5 March 1968) was an officer in the New Zealand Military Forces who served during the Second Boer War and the First World War. He later served as an Administrator of Western Samoa and worked for the Imperial War Graves Commission.

Hart volunteered for the Ninth New Zealand South African Contingent, which was raised for service in South Africa during the Second Boer War. By the time the contingent arrived in South Africa, the war was largely over. He saw extensive action during the First World War as a volunteer with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, firstly at Gallipoli and then on the Western Front. By the end of the war, he had advanced in rank to brigadier-general, commanding a number of brigades in the New Zealand Division.

Trained as a lawyer before the war, after his discharge from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Hart returned to New Zealand to resume his legal practice. He later served as Administrator of Western Samoa from 1931 to 1935 and was knighted for his services in this role. From 1936 to 1943, he worked in the Middle East for the Imperial War Graves Commission, a task made difficult by the outbreak of the Second World War and the subsequent fighting in the region. Following his retirement in late 1943, he became involved in Rotary International. He died at his home in Masterton on 5 March 1968.

Early life

Hart was born at Taratahi, a small community near Carterton in the Wairarapa. His father, William, was a farm labourer and the grandson of John Hart, a three time Premier of South Australia. One of four children, he was educated firstly at Dalefield School, and then Carterton School. After finishing his formal education he worked for his uncle, an auctioneer and land broker, while also studying bookkeeping.[1]

In 1900, Hart's brother Walter traveled to South Africa for service with the Fourth Contingent in the Second Boer War. This inspired Hart to volunteer for the Eighth New Zealand South African Contingent but his application was declined. However, he, along with another brother, George, successfully enlisted for the Ninth Contingent. The minimum age for volunteers was 20 and he falsified his age in order to enlist. By the time he reached South Africa in April 1902, the war was effectively over. He was discharged in July 1902 with the rank of lance-sergeant but traveled to England instead of returning to New Zealand with the rest of the contingent.[1]

Hart eventually returned to New Zealand in early 1903. Shortly after his return he married Minnie Renall, the daughter of a farmer. The couple would have four children, one of whom died in infancy. He resumed working at his uncle's business and would eventually become a director of the company. However, rather than pursue bookkeeping as a career, he commenced legal studies. He qualified as a solicitor in 1907, becoming a partner in a Carterton practice which he had joined the previous year.[1]

Hart was also active in the Volunteer Force.[1] It was common practice in the Volunteer Force for the men of a unit to elect their officers although they sometimes directed by their superiors to vote for certain candidates.[2] Hart was duly elected a lieutenant in the Carterton Rifle Volunteers. When the Volunteer Force was abolished in 1910 and replaced with the Territorial Force, which was organised more like a conventional military, he chose to continue his service. He was well regarded by his superiors and was promoted to captain in 1911. When he was promoted to major the following year, he was the youngest officer with that rank in his battalion. He was serving with the 1st Battalion of the 17th (Ruahine) Regiment when the First World War broke out.[1]

First World War

Hart immediately volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) which was being raised for service in the war on Britain's behalf.[1] He was appointed second in command of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone. The battalion embarked from Wellington in October 1914 for Egypt,[3] and upon arrival, was primarily engaged in training before it was deployed along the Suez Canal late in January 1915 to support Indian troops stationed to guard against a rumoured Turkish attack. Three weeks of sentry duty ensued for the battalion before returning to Cairo.[4]

Gallipoli

By this time, the New Zealand and Australian Division, under the command of Major-General Alexander Godley (also commander of the NZEF), was being formed for operations in the Dardanelles, and the battalion was attached to the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, one of the two infantry brigades (the other was the Australian 4th Brigade) that formed the bulk of the division. In April, the division embarked for Gallipoli and the Wellington Battalion was landed at Anzac Cove on the afternoon of 25 April, and made its way up to Plugge's Plateau.[5]

The battalion was involved in defending against Turkish attacks on Walker's Ridge on 27 April. Hart was wounded in the thigh while supervising establishment of defensive positions. His wounds necessitated his evacuation to Alexandria the following day.[6] He was later awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his leadership of the battalion during this action.[7]

Hart was promoted to lieutenant-colonel while recovering from his wounds in England. He returned to the Dardanelles in September 1915 as commander of the Wellington Battalion, Malone having been killed in action in early August during the Battle of Chunuk Bair.[7] The battalion had been decimated during the battle but remained in the line manning positions at 'The Apex', a knoll near Chunuk Bair. Along with the rest of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, the battalion was transferred to the Greek island of Lemnos on 14 September for a period of rest and recuperation while it was also being built up with reinforcements from New Zealand. While on Lemnos, Hart commanded the brigade for a 12 day period, while its nominal commander, Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston, was hospitalised.[8]

Hart would lead the battalion back to Gallipoli in early November, where it returned to its former positions at 'The Apex'. With no major offensive operations conducted since its return, he and his battalion would eventually evacuate the peninsula during December,[9] with Hart amongst the last of his unit to leave on 19 December.[10]

Western Front

Brigadier-General Hart inspecting men of 4th Brigade, 6 July 1917

Returning to Egypt, Hart was heavily involved with the training of his command, which included a substantial number of replacements. He was also required to divest a number of his more experienced officers and non-commissioned officers to help with the formation of a new 2nd Battalion of the Wellington Regiment.[11] His battalion was re-designated as 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment, while the New Zealand Infantry Brigade was reformed as the 1st Infantry Brigade. The brigade was one of the three infantry brigades to make up the newly formed New Zealand Division, intended for service on the Western Front and it was duly shipped to France in April 1916.[12]

The division was initially based near Armentières and Hart's battalion was among those manning the trenches in the sector. The battalion had to contend with artillery and repelling localised attacks and raids by the opposing Germans.[13] Hart organised a counter-raid to be conducted by his battalion, and this was successfully executed.[7] The division would remain in the Armentières sector until August 1916, at which stage it was withdrawn for use in the forthcoming Somme Offensive in September.[14] Hart led his battalion during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the subsequent period in the trenches. During this time, he had spells as temporary commander of the brigade while Johnston was on leave.[15] He also had a month long period from December 1916 to January 1917 in command of 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade.[15]

In March 1917, Hart was promoted to brigadier-general and appointed commander of the newly formed 4th Infantry Brigade. The new brigade was intended for service with the New Zealand Division.[16] After a brief training period in England, the brigade was transferred to France for further training and a period in the front line. In October, it saw service during the successful attack on the Abraham Heights on the Gravenstafel Spur in what was known as the Battle of Broodseinde and was commended for its services by both Godley, still commanding the NZEF, and the commander of the New Zealand Division, Major-General Andrew Russell.[17] The brigade was in reserve for the subsequent First Battle of Passchendaele, and, apart from a brief period in training, would remain in the Ypres sector until January.[18]

Hart was made commander of 2nd Infantry Brigade when 4th Brigade was disbanded in February 1918. His new brigade absorbed many of the soldiers of his previous command.[19] However, on 18 February, just two weeks after taking command, he was badly gassed during an artillery barrage on his headquarters. The barrage, using a mixture of high explosive and mustard gas shells, also incapacitated most of his staff. Temporarily blinded, he was evacuated to a hospital in the rear and then to Étaples. After recovering his sight, which took about a week, he was dispatched to the south of France to convalesce.[20]

Hart (right front) with His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales (centre front) and officers of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade, Cologne, January 1919

Upon recovery from the effects of his gassing, and aided by the temporary presence of his wife Minnie, Hart returned to England and was placed in command of the New Zealand reserves at Sling Camp in Bulford. Here he was responsible for the training of reinforcements and casualties who were regaining fitness. On 3 June, his leadership of the 4th Brigade was honoured with an appointment as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, although he took little personal satisfaction in the recognition.[7]

Hart's duties at Sling Camp ended in July, when he was recalled to France to take over command of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade.[7] He led the brigade through the Hundred Days Offensive, which included an action during the Second Battle of Bapaume which impressed his commanding officer, Russell. During the battle, Hart's headquarters was shelled with mustard gas. After his previous experience of being gassed, Hart found the shelling 'annoying'.[21] The brigade also participated in the capture of Le Quesnoy in November 1918.[22]

Hart led the brigade into Germany for occupation duties with the remainder of the New Zealand Division. His headquarters was based near Cologne and in January 1919, played host to the Prince of Wales.[23] The division itself was in the process of demobilising, with around 1,000 men returning to New Zealand via England every week,[24] and the Rifle Brigade was disbanded in early February. Hart received his orders in mid February to return to New Zealand, leaving England on 12 March 1919.[23]

Hart arrived in Carterton, New Zealand to a hero's welcome on 25 April 1919, five years to the day after being landed at Gallipoli. He was discharged from the NZEF in May 1919. His services in the war were subsequently recognised with the appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Bath. The French government also awarded him with a Croix de guerre.[25]

Post-war career

Upon discharge from the NZEF, Hart resumed his legal work, establishing a law firm in Masterton. After an initial spell on the reserve of officers, he resumed his involvement with the Territorial Force serving as commander of the 2nd (Wellington) Infantry Brigade. He was eventually returned to the reserve of officers in 1925. He was appointed honorary colonel of his old Territorial Force unit, the Hawkes' Bay Regiment (formerly 17th (Ruahine) Regiment), and in 1930, retired from the military.[25]

Western Samoa

Hart (left centre, saluting) receiving the salute upon arrival in Apia, Western Samoa in April 1931

In 1930, Hart applied for and was appointed to the position of Administrator of Western Samoa, which was controlled by New Zealand under a mandate from the League of Nations. This was a difficult period of time for the colony as many of its citizens wanted independence. The Mau movement in particular was agitating for self-determination and employed tactics of civil disobedience as means of opposing the New Zealand administration. After some heavy handed management of protestors by his predecessor had resulted in several deaths amongst the movement, Hart made progress in improving relationships with the Mau when he took up his position in 1931. He also returned some financial stability to the colony which had struggled during the Great Depression. Hart was knighted for his services in Samoa shortly before completing his term as administrator and returning to New Zealand in July 1935.[26]

Imperial War Graves Commission

In 1936, Hart accepted a position with the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission). This position was usually the preserve of an Australian and New Zealander due to the number of dead from these two countries buried in the area. His new role involved overseeing the upkeep of the cemeteries and memorials established by the Commission in the Middle East, Turkey and Greece. Although the position, 'Deputy Controller of the Eastern District', was nominally based in Jerusalem, he and his wife initially moved to Cairo because of the Arab revolt against the British Mandate in Palestine.[27] It was not until March 1937 that the conditions in Palestine sufficiently improved that he was able to base himself in Jerusalem.[27]

Ensuring the upkeep of the various cemeteries and memorials in the area required extensive travel, and Hart's duties also became more difficult when Italy joined in the Second World War in June 1940 and conflict broke out in the Middle East. This required the creation of an organisation to be responsible for the graves of Allied personnel killed in the region. Consequently, Hart became Assistant Director, Graves Registration and Inquiry Section for the Middle East, in addition to his existing Commission duties. His new position entailed him becoming a serving officer in the British Army as a lieutenant, but with the acting rank of brigadier. He set up grave registration units, new cemeteries and organised the relocation of existing graves in remote areas to the new cemeteries. This work struck a personal note when his nephew was killed during the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942. Early the following year Hart visited the El Alamein battlefield and the nearby cemetery, the establishment of which was partly due to the infrastructure he helped put in place, to lay flowers at his nephew's grave. [28]

Although he found the work satisfying, Hart retired from the Commission in September 1943.[28] He and his wife returned to New Zealand later that month. His work with the Graves Registration section had finished a year earlier.[29]

Later life

Settling back in the Wairarapa, Hart became involved in Rotary International,[29] having set up the Masterton chapter of the charitable organisation in 1925.[26] He served a spell as president of Rotary for the North Island district, and attended overseas conventions. He was also interested in the Returned Services Association and in the face of a growing argument that the First World War was an unnecessary conflict, continued to advocate the importance of the war in countering Imperial German aggression. He attended reunions of his former units, including the Wellington Infantry Regiment and the Rifle Brigade.[29]

With age, Hart's involvement in community affairs decreased but he remained physically active, regularly playing golf and bowls. He died at his home in Masterton on 5 March 1968, his wife having predeceased him by nearly 18 months, and was buried with full military honours.[29]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Crawford 2008, pp. 17–21.
  2. ^ Cooke & Crawford 2011, p. 85.
  3. ^ Waite 1919, p. 302.
  4. ^ Waite 1919, pp. 47–59.
  5. ^ Waite 1919, p. 87.
  6. ^ Pugsley 1984, pp. 165–168.
  7. ^ a b c d e Crawford 1996.
  8. ^ Crawford 2008, pp. 77–78.
  9. ^ Pugsley 1984, pp. 329–341.
  10. ^ Crawford 2008, pp. 88–91.
  11. ^ Crawford 2008, pp. 93–97.
  12. ^ Stewart 1921, pp. 14–16.
  13. ^ Gray 2010, pp. 56–57.
  14. ^ Gray 2010, p. 59.
  15. ^ a b Crawford 2008, p. 148.
  16. ^ Crawford 2008, p. 171.
  17. ^ Crawford & McGibbon 2007, pp. 260–263.
  18. ^ Stewart 1921, p. 328.
  19. ^ Crawford 2008, pp. 218–219.
  20. ^ Crawford 2008, pp. 223–228.
  21. ^ Harper 2007, pp. 367–368.
  22. ^ Gray 2010, pp. 363–368.
  23. ^ a b Crawford 2008, pp. 276–281.
  24. ^ Stewart 1921, p. 606.
  25. ^ a b Crawford 2008, pp. 285–288.
  26. ^ a b Crawford 2008, pp. 290–291.
  27. ^ a b Crawford 2008, p. 293.
  28. ^ a b Crawford 2008, pp. 292–294.
  29. ^ a b c d Crawford 2008, pp. 295–296.

References

  • Crawford, J. A. B. (1996). "Hart, Herbert Ernest 1882–1968". In Orange, Claudia (ed.). Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Volume 3. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press. p. 201. ISBN 1869402006. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Crawford, John; McGibbon, Ian, eds. (2007). New Zealand's Great War: New Zealand, the Allies & the First World War. Auckland, New Zealand: Exisle Publishing Limited. ISBN 9780908988853. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Crawford, John, ed. (2008). The Devil's Own War: The First World War Diary of Brigadier-General Herbert Hart. Auckland, New Zealand: Exisle Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781877437304. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Cooke, Peter; Crawford, John (2011). The Territorials: The History of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Random House New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-86979-446-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Gray, John H. (2010). From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth: The New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916 – 1918. Christchurch, New Zealand: Willson Scott Publishing. ISBN 9781877427305. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Harper, Glyn (2007). Dark Journey: Three Key New Zealand Battles of the Western Front. Auckland, New Zealand: HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand Limited. ISBN 9781869505790. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Pugsley, Christopher (1984). Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story. Auckland, New Zealand: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0340338776. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Stewart, H. (1921). The New Zealand Division 1916–1919. Auckland, New Zealand: Whitcombe & Tombs. OCLC 2276057. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Waite, Fred (1919). The New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Auckland, New Zealand: Whitcombe & Tombs. OCLC 8003944. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

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