| Shott | Henry Hammond | | Captain | 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.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Bethune's Mounted Infantry |
