Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Morpeth Herald 16/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
MIDDLEMISS [sic].- Killed in action on Oct. 23rd, 1917, 2nd Lieut.Herbert Henry Middlemiss [sic], only son of the late John Storey Middlemiss [sic], and grandson of the late Michael Middlemiss [sic], schoolmaster, Mitford, also grandson of the late Thomas Hemstead, fruiterer, Bedlington.- Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother and stepfather, A. Mavin, and sisters Emma and Betty, and rest of family.- (Ever remembered by what he has done).
Morpeth Herald 07/12/1917 carries the following obituary:
DEATH OF A BEDLINGTON OFFICER
Great regret is felt at Bedlington at the news of the death of Lieut. H.H. Middlemass [sic], of Front Street, Bedlington. The gallant officer had a wonderful career. He enlisted just after the declaration of war in the Coldstream Guards. He took part in the battles of Ypres and Loos. After being wounded three times he was promoted sergeant, and afterwards received his commission on the battlefield in the Tyneside Irish. After taking part in the recent battles he was killed on October 23rd.
Lieut Middlemass [sic] was a Morpeth Grammar School boy.
The following letter from his officer has been received by his father:- It is with the deepest regret that I write to you to tell you that your son Harry was killed at 2-3pm on the afternoon of the 23rd October. His death was instantaneous, and therefore painless. I know it must be a great blow to you as such a fine character could not be but very much loved. But I hope you will find a little comfort from knowing that he died a very, very gallant death, the circumstances of which I will tell you.
The company made an attack on the morning of the 21st, and later that day we suffered from snipers. But the next morning we had them more or less under control, so your son collected a party and was endeavouring to capture some of them who were in a shell hole about three hundred yards from us. While going to them – he was within 2 yards of them – one saw him and shot him, the bullet going through his head.
It is sad that this very gallant effort to save his men cost him his life. You cannot realise what a loss he is to us, as he was the very best type of officer we get, and although he had been with us so short a time was loved by his men and his fellow officers, this to a much greater degree than I have ever seen before.
I sincerely trust that it will be a comfort to you to think that he was a very gallant officer, who gave up his life in a noble cause. His work up to the time of his death was brilliant, and there is little doubt that he would have received a decoration.
Col. Temple, the Commanding Officer, will write to you shortly. We both have been unable to until now, as we have just come out of the line and are moving to a new area.
We got out to your son’s body, and I have his personal effects, which I will forward to you as soon as we arrive in the new area. His kit will be sent on to you also. I’m sorry to say that we are unable to bring his body back to bury, as it was too far into No Man’s Land; but the location is just north of Poelcapelle.
If you wish me, I will try and see you when next I am on leave, which will be in January, I think – Yours very sincerely, Rex Steel, Captain.
Carole Fife has told that he was a serjeant in the Coldstream Guards when he was commissioned into the 24th NF (1st Tyneside Irish) on 14/9/1917 as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
Herbert Henry Middlemiss was born in Bedlington about 1894. In 1911, he was living with his step father Mr Anthony Mavin and his mother Mrs Hannah Mavin. At this time his occupation was a butcher, he was single and the family were living at Front Street, Bedlington. His will was published in 1920.
The CWGC entry gives his surname as "Middlemis"
Herbert Henry Middlemis is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.07 and in B15.26 page 9 as Middlemiss, H.H. at Morpeth on M17.06 and as Middlemiss, Herbert Henry on M17.12
