SHOTT, HENRY HAMMOND, Captain, was
born at Dover 13 October 1877, son of Chevalier Nils Schott (Chevalier,
Legion of Honour), of Dover. He was educated at Dulwich College, and joined
Colonel Plumer's Matabeleland Relief Force, as a trooper, 1896; served
throughout the Matabele War (Medal). He spent 1897 and 1898 in Rhodesia;
went home in 1899; left England again the day war was declared, and joined
Bethune's Mounted Infantry 15 November 1899, as a trooper. He became
Lance-Corporal in January; Corporal, and Sergeant, and Lieutenant, in 1900.
He served in the operations in Natal, 1899; at the Relief of Ladysmith,
including action at Colenso; operations of 17 to 24 January 1900, and action
at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 February 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz;
and during the operations on Tugela Heights 14 to 27 February 1900; in
Natal, March to June 1900, including action at Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June); in
the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to November 1900; also in Orange River
Colony, May 1902. He became Captain; was transferred to the Royal Berkshire
Regiment 8 February 1902; was three times mentioned in Despatches [London
Gazette, 8 February and 16 April 1901, and 17 June 1902J; received the
Queen's Medal with six clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26
June 1902]: "Henry Hammond Shott, Captain, Bethune's Mounted Infantry, (now
Second Lieutenant, Royal Berkshire Regiment). In recognition of services
during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia, Warrant, etc, were
sent to the GOC, Egypt, and presented at Cairo, by OC, 2nd Royal Berkshire
Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant 15 February 1905, and was
employed with the West African Frontier Force from October 1904 to July
1909, including active service in Northern Nigeria in the Kano-Hadeiga
Expedition, 1906 (Despatches [London Gazette, 2 July 1907]; Medal and
clasp); and was again employed with the West African Frontier Force from
July 1910 to July 1913. He became Captain, Royal Berkshire Regiment, 1911.
He served in the European War. A sergeant of his battalion thus described
the fight at Mons: "Captain Shott. DSO, of our regiment, was, I think, the
bravest man I ever met. On 23 August, when we were near and were lying in
our trenches with shell fire constantly around us, he walked out into the
open, and, with his cheery words, gave us good heart. He was puffing a
cigarette, and he said: 'Lads, we will smoke!' He was an officer and a
gentleman in every sense of the word, and when he was killed two days later
it was a great blow to us". This incident was mentioned by a French writer
(R P) in 'Le Temps' of the 15th September 1914, as an instance of "le sang
froid britannique". Captain Shott was reported in a War Office Communique
of 19 September 1914, as "believed to have been killed", and his name
appeared in the monthly casualty list published in October 1914, under the
heading of 'Casualties believed to have occurred' as 'believed to have been
killed in action', no place or date being mentioned. It was later
ascertained that he was killed on the 25th August 1914. After the
conclusion of the War it was established that he was buried at Maroilles by
French civilians. He had married at St Mary Abbots, Kensington, 16 June
1914, Hazel Morris Brown, of Yonkers, New York.
DSO, BSACoM
Rhodesia, QSA (6) CC T-H RofL Trans L-N OFS (Lt), KSA (2) (Lt), Africa GSM
(1) N Nigeria 1906 (Lt), 1914 Star and Bar, BWM, Victory Medal, Order of the
Medjidie (Turkey) 4th Class, Order of the Crown (Italy) 4th
Class, Golden Jubilee of Emp Franz Josef (Austria).
Regimental
Museum, Salisbury, 1996.
