SHEPPARD, SAMUEL GURNEY, Lieutenant,
was born 23 March 1865, at Walton-on-Thames, son of Samuel Gurney Sheppard,
of Leggatt's, Potter's Bar, and of Mary Ann Sheppard. He was educated at
Rottingdean, at Thorpe Mandeville, and at Eton, and afterwards travelled for
a year, before going into the Stock Exchange. He served in the South
African War of 1899-1901, with the Imperial Yeomanry. He took part, in the
several operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony,
April 1901 to 31 May 1902. He received the South African Medal, and was
mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 3 December 1901]: "32nd Company,
Imperial Yeomanry, Lieutenant S G Sheppard, on 18 September headed a party
which swam to some islands on the Vaal River, held by armed Boers, and took
them prisoners. On 19 September rescued a man from drowning at great,
personal risk". He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service
Order [London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "Samuel Gurney Sheppard, Lieutenant,
Imperial Yeomanry. In recognition of services during the operations in
South Africa". (The DSO was awarded for the former of the acts mentioned
above). He was invested by the King 24 October 1902. He became Major
in the Herts Yeomanry 20 December 1905. He went to Egypt as
Second-in-Command of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry 10 September 1914; was
promoted Temporary Lieutenant Colonel in January 1915; left for Gallipoli 14
August 1915, and was killed in action in the advance on Chocolate Hill 21
August 1915. The following is an extract from a letter written by a
sergeant in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry: "Among the first to fall was our
gallant leader, Lieutenant Colonel S G Sheppard. He was bravely marching at
the head of the regiment, when he was terribly wounded by shrapnel, but as
his men reached him he very gallantly sat up to urge them on. His last
command: 'Go on, the Herts! Go on, the Herts!' will be remembered by all
ranks for all time to come". He had married, 27 June 1906, at Hayes, Kent,
Eileen Mary Winchester, daughter of Winchester and Ellie Clowes, of Hitchin,
Herts, and their children were: Kathleen Penelope; Daniel Gurney, born 21
December 1908; Ellie Dorothea and Graham Hugh, born 3 April 1913.
