Photo: Radley College

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 3 page 124

Haggis Rope Works today

Tyne Cot Memorial

Haggie Family Headstone Sunningwell Churchyard

George Esmond Haggie was born in Sunderland on the 7th June 1890, at 7 'The Elms', Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, he was the son of George Alfred Haggie, a rope manufacturer, [who died on the 19th January 1918], and his wife Ada Elizabeth E, Brumcombe, Boars Hill, Oxford, [died on the 4th May 1914], daughter of a Captain Rogers. They had 5 children, George had 4 sisters, Gladys Mary Haggie, born 1886, Irene Ada, born 1888, Elaine Haggie born 1894 and Beryl Kathleen Haggie, born 27th January 1898.

George's father had retired by 1901, and was living at King's Road, Brighton with his parents. The family had moved to Link End, Gualfod, Worcestershire.

[The rope-making business from which the Haggies built their fortune originated in 1789 when William and Edward Chapman founded Willington Ropeworks, to serve the shipping industry].

Thanks largely to William Chapman, a gifted inventor who designed a machine which allowed ropes to be extended without the necessity of splicing, the business prospered and made many of the hemp ropes for the navy of Nelson's day.

In 1843 Willington Ropeworks was acquired by David Haggie, who had arrived in Tyneside around 1800 from the north of Scotland (his wife, a Sinclair, was an Orcadian). After an earlier career as a timber dealer he had set up in ropemaking at Gateshead in 1830.

Owing to family quarrels, the firm split into three separate concerns, but there was more than enough work for all of them, since ropes were also required by the mining industry. The railways afforded further opportunities; in 1854 Haggie's delivered a rope three miles long, eight inches in circumference and 13 tons in weight to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway].

George was educated at Radley College 1904 to 1908, at Abingdon, Berkshire. In 1910, George was boarding at a private school called St Lawrence, in Bexhill.

The 1911 census shows George’s family at Brumcombe with six servants (a housekeeper, butler, cook, lady’s maid, kitchen maid, and housemaid). George, now 20 and described as an undergraduate, was at home with his family during the Easter vacation. Despite the family’s obvious affluence, however, George’s sister Gladys (25) was working as a governess in Eastbourne. Irene (23) was a medical gymnastic student at St Stephen’s, 106 Cromwell Road, Kensington.

Then to Magdalene College, Oxford, 1909 to 1913, where he studied Law. After graduating, George was articulated to an Oxford firm of Solicitors.

[Though his name does not appear on the Law Society Roll of Honour].

His mother died at Brumcombe on the 4th May 1914 at the age of 49 and was buried at Sunningwell Church.

He enlisted in Oxford, approx. February 1917, into the 2/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry with the service number 5207, reaching the rank of Corporal, was sent to France in June 1917, then was transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment, before being gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment). Service number 235467.

The Yorkshire War Diary records that the 1/9th Battalion took over the line to the south of Polygon Wood and were in action over the next few days around Cameron Covert and Black Watch Corner.

1st October 1917, "The Battalion, plus one Coy 10th Duke of Wellingtons, took over from 8th Yorks as follows, "TRENCHES 1-10-17 The battalion, plus one coy 10th Duke of Wellington, took over from 8th Yorks as follows:- 'A' Coy in support by CARLISLE FARM. - 'D' Coy J.15d.50.45 to REUTEL BEEK J.15.d.60.85 - 'B' Coy REUTEL BEEK to JUT FARM J16.c.10.20 - 'D' Coy Duke of Wellington's JUT FARM j16.c10.20 to J.16.a.50.50 - 'C' Coy remained in same position. Very heavy barrage put up by enemy from 4.30am 'C' Coy on our left attacked, heavy casualties feared. Communications between HQ and Coys very difficult."

"RIDGE WOOD 2-10-17 Relieved by 1st East Surrey Regt, returned to STIRLING CASTLE for the night, afterwards at 11am, proceeding back to RIDGE WOOD. 1st Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry taking over vacated positions."

Casualties in 'C' Company 1 Officer and 10 Men. (This officer was 2nd Lieutenant George Esmond Haggie).

He was killed in action on the 2nd October, and was buried on the battlefield, but due to the continued fighting and conditions his body was lost.

His Captain had wrote:- Your son was liked and beloved by all the men, and was a universal favourite.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Some sources consulted: Sunningwell First World War Memorial, Radley College, Magdalene College.

George Esmond Haggie is remembered in Sunderland in S140.48 page 74.

He is also remembered at St Leonard's Church, Sunningwell, and Radley College War Memorial and at Scout Camp

Yorkshire Regiment Remembered
Radley College War Memorial
First World War Memorial, St Leonard’s Church
See Haggie Rope Works War Memorial G39.018
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Haggie