In Bazetin-le-Petit Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, is the Commonwealth War Grave of Second Lieutenant Hugh Clarkson Annett, serving with the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, who died 15/09/1916.
He was the son of Edith Crawford (formerly Annett), of Stanton Fence, Morpeth, and the late Henry Annett. He was a native of Widdrington.
Morpeth Herald 22/09/1916 carries an obituary:
SECOND LIEUT. HIGH [sic] CLARKSON ANNETT
Second-Lieut. Hugh Clarkson Annett, D.L.I., was killed in action on September 16th (sic)
Lieut. Annett was the second son of the late Mr. Henry Annett of Widdrington, who was well known in agricultural circles, the family having farmed in Widdrington and neighbourhood for nearly 400 years. The name of Annett is a household word among the agricultural community in the north.
Lieutenant Annett was educated at Guisborough Grammar School, and became a graduate of Durham University. He took his degree of Bachelor of Science in mining at Armstrong College. He then became an articled pupil to Professor Merivale at the Broomhill Collieries, where he received his practical training in mining.
He had a distinguished college career, and was given the Daglish Fellowship. In accordance with Mr Daglish’s bequest founding the fellowship, he studied mining in France and in Germany. On his return he obtained an appointment as assistant manager with the Cramlington Coal Company, and was afterwards appointed manager of their Hartford Colliery.
On leaving Cramlington Coal Company he received an appointment with the Horden Collieries, County Durham. He was with them until he received his commission in the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He went to France in March this year.
He was exceedingly popular, being of a particularly bright and sunny disposition. On leaving Hartford he was made the recipient of a very handsome testimonial from the officials and workmen of the colliery. He had the knack of gaining the regard of all those who worked under him. In mining circles he was regarded as a young man who had before him prospects of a brilliant career.
ANNETT.- Killed in action on the 16th inst., aged 30 years, Hugh Clarkson Annett, 2nd Lieut., Durham L.I., second son of the late Henry Annett of Widdrington and of Mrs Crawford, Stanton Fence, Morpeth.
Reg Hornsby adds the following:
2nd Lieut. Annett was probably killed during the 6th Battalion’s unsuccessful assault on the enemy trenches near Martinpuich during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (a subsidiary battle of the Somme), 15th-22nd Sept.
Hugh Clarkson Annett is remembered at Horden on H130.05 and H130.08, at Morpeth on M17.06, at Newcastle on NUT009, NUT063, NUT238 and NUT263, at Widdrington on W54.01 and W52.03 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 244.
