VE Day #3: Egbert Alexander de Hamel

The third and final person that our mini-series of posts on people connected to Middleton Hall who served in the Second World War focuses on is Egbert Alexander de Hamel. He was the youngest son of Egbert and Ernestine, who were the tenants of Middleton Hall from 1886 to 1925, and Alexander was born on 30th October 1889 at Middleton Hall. In 1916, Alexander married Evelyn Violet Myddleton-Gavey and soon after moved to Wigginton Lodge in Tamworth. Alexander continued his father’s role as a tape and webbing manufacturer at Bolehall Mill.

In the First World War, Alexander joined the South Staffordshire Regiment and it was stated in the Tamworth Herald newspaper, on 5th September 1914, that he had received a commission as a lieutenant of the 4th Battalion. On the 25th September 1915, Alexander received shrapnel shell injuries whilst fighting in France with the 4th Battalion attached to the 2nd Battalion and, on 14th January 1916, it was reported that he had been awarded the Military Cross. By the end of the War, he had been promoted to captain.

Alexander de Hamel at Middleton Hall. Courtesy of Philip and William de Hamel.

Soon after the start the Second World War, on 23rd October 1939, Alexander transferred from the South Staffordshire Regiment to the newly established Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC), whose name was changed to the Pioneer Corps on 22nd November 1940. On 9th April 1942, Alexander was promoted to the rank of major. He remained with the Pioneer Corps for the duration of the War and his medal card suggests that the medals he received were: 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; and War Medal 1939-1945.

Pioneers are known to have been part of the English military since the 14th century. In the First World War they were known as the Labour Corps but it was disbanded in 1919. At the start of the Second World War, it was formed again from a number of infantry and cavalry reservists. This then became the AMPC. Unlike the regular regiments, the Pioneer Corps did not have an age or citizenship restriction. Wherever labour was required in the War to keep the military machine operating, Pioneers were involved. The Corps undertook a wide variety of tasks including: building camps, airfields, fortifications, roads, railways and bridges; clearing rubble and roadblocks; loading and unloading trains, ships and planes; involvement in all types of stores and ammunition; and many more. However, they did more than just provide labour; they also served on the front line alongside the regular troops when required. Furthermore, they were involved in every British theatre of War.

Alexander’s niece, Ernestine Isabel March née Barton, stated that Alexander was also part of the Observer Corps around the time of the Second World War. The Observer Corps was established on 29th October 1925 and was a civil defence organisation that was composed primarily of civilian volunteers but were under the command of the RAF. Their main focus was on the visual detection, identification, tracking and reporting of aircraft over Britain and they are credited with having played a vital role in the defence of Britain during the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of Britain.

Alexander died on 30th June 1959 in Wiltshire but was buried at Middleton Parish Church.

Further Reading: "Tamworth Officers on Service", Tamworth Herald, 5 September 1914.

"Casualty Lists", Birmingham Daily Gazette, 6 October 1915.

"Award the Military Cross", Birmingham Daily Gazette. 14 January 1916.

"De Hamel-Myddleton-Gavey", Maidstone Telegraph, 22 January 1916.

"Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps." Supplement to the London Gazette, 29 November 1940.

"Regular Army Reserve of Officers", Supplement to the London Gazette, 10 April 1942.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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