Reginald Hands : Rugby Player

This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread.

Gareth

Hands, Reginald Harold Myburgh played for England

Internationals: 2 : 1910 F+ S+

Reginald Hands was born on 26 July 1888, in Cape Town, son of Sir Harry Hands KBE and Lady Aletta Catherine Hands OBE, of Talana, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa.

Played as a Forward for: Diocesan College Rondebosch SA, Oxford University (Blue 1908-1909), Manchester, Blackheath, Barbarians, Middlesex

Profession: Lawyer; called to the Bar 1913.

Remarks: A Rhodes Scholar. His brothers, K C M Hands and P A M Hands, were also Oxford Blues. Played for Barbarians: v Cardiff (3-6) in 1908; v Penarth (8-3) v Cardiff (0-22) v Newport (8-19) v Leicester (9-9) in 1909; v Cardiff (8-15) v Swansea (8-18) v Cheltenham (8-3) in 1911. All three brothers played test cricket for South Africa v England in the 1913-1914 Season. In March 1916 he played in a South African Heavy Artillery Rugby team against a New Zealand Army team at the Queen’s Club London. The SA team won 7-0 thanks to a dropped goal and try by Reginald Hands, their captain.

War service: Second Lieutenant from 1 August and Lieutenant from 23 August 1915 (Temporary Captain from 15 February 1917 and Acting Major from 13 April 1918) South African Heavy Artillery: he served in German South West Africa and in France, where he was attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery/ 73rd Siege Battery South African Heavy Artillery.

He died of wounds on 20 April 1918 after being gassed, and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France [Grave VII. A. 39.].

 

In Memory of
Captain REGINALD HARRY MYBURGH HANDS

South African Heavy Artillery
attd., Royal Garrison Artillery
who died age 29
on 20 April 1918
Son of Sir Harry Hands, K.B.E., and Lady Aletta Catherine Hands, O.B.E., of Talana, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa.

Remembered with honour
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

Reginald Hands enlisted shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War. Initially he served with the Imperial Light Horse in their campaign in German South West Africa . This was essentially a police action to round up German settlers in what is modern day Namibia . Transferring to the South African Heavy Artillery Hands was eventually posted to the western front and was seconded, with his unit, to the Royal Garrison Artillery. This provided support and the required firepower to the Infantry and normally comprised of a four gun battery for each infantry division, which were normally clustered into formations known as Royal Garrison Artillery Brigades. On March 21st 1918 the Germans embarked upon a final attempt to land a decisive blow before significant numbers of American troops could arrive at the front. Despite initial success this spring offensive failed as the Germans were unable to consolidate their gains due to the fragmentary, if novel, method of their advances where they attacked in small units hitting command and logistical targets rather than more heavily defended areas which were avoided. Reginald Hands was at this time a Captain and second in command of his battery. Wounded in action defending the line he succumbed to his wounds on April 20th 1918.

http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/hands.html

Captain Reginald Hands, the oldest of three cricket-playing brothers, made only one Test appearance (alongside his brother, Phillip) against England at Port Elizabeth in 1913-14. Like his brothers, he won a rugby Blue at Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar and in 1909-10 was picked to play for the South v The Rest. In 1910-11 after two more trail games he played for England against France and Scotland. He was killed on the western front in 1918 while serving with the South African Artillery.

Brother Philip Albert Myburgh Hands

A right-hand batsman with a reputation for aggression at all times, Hands lost five of his best years to the Great War at a time he had just broken into the South African side. Against a rampant England side in 1913-14 he scored 281 runs, more than any other South African, with a best of 83 (made out of 98 in 105 minutes) at Port Elizabeth. He served on the western front in the war, winning the DCO and MC. He returned to England in 1924 but his tour was wretched - he made 426 runs in 26 innings. A good allround sportsman, he emulated his two brothers by winning a rugby Blue at Oxford.

Other brother Kenneth Charles Myburgh Hands

Kenneth Hands, who died in Paris on November 18, aged 62, was the youngest of three brothers who played cricket for South Africa, though his own appearance was in one of the unofficial Test matches against the Hon. Lionel Tennyson's English team of 1924-25. After gaining a Blue at rugby football in 1912, he was tried for the Oxford University cricket XI before returning to South Africa, where he played regularly for Western Province from 1921 to 1931. In all first-class matches, he scored 1,543 runs average 29.11. Of his three centuries, the highest was 171 not out against Natal in a Currie Cup match at Cape Town in 1925-26.

 

Reginald Hands - South African Cricketer and Rugby player

In Memory of
Captain REGINALD HARRY MYBURGH HANDS

South African Heavy Artillery
attd., Royal Garrison Artillery
who died age 29
on 20 April 1918
Son of Sir Harry Hands, K.B.E., and Lady Aletta Catherine Hands, O.B.E., of Talana, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa.

Remembered with honour
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

Reginald Hands died on the Western Front on April 20, 1918 in France. He had played his only Test for South Africa in 1914 against England at Port Elizabeth. He won a rugby Blue at Oxford University, as did his brothers.

Reginald Harry Myburgh Hands was born in Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa on July 26, 1888 and died in France on April 20, 1918, as a result of injuries sustained on the Western Front during the first Great War, aged just 19.

He was a South African cricketer who played in one Test match in February 1914. Not surprisingly given the period, his entire first-class cricket career lasted just 15 months in which time he played a few matches for Western Province in the Currie Cup (1912-13) and against the visiting M.C.C. led by J.W.H.T. Douglas (1913-14). During that English tour, Hands made his only Test appearance in the fifth match of the series, played at Port Elizabeth. A useful right-handed batsman, he scored 0 and 7 in a match won convincingly by the visitors by 10 wickets. No mention of his representative appearance was made in his Wisden obituary, nor that his brother, P.A.M. Hands, also played in that same Test. Reginald Hands was a talented rugby forward and played two international matches for England in 1910 against France and Scotland. He (along with his two brothers, incidentally) had previously won his rugby Blue at Oxford University. A lawyer called to the Bar in 1911, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his military service.

Captain Reginald Harry Myburgh HANDS
Attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery
Died of wounds (gas) on the 20th April 1918
Rest in peace in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery (Pas-de-Calais, France)

Reginald Harold Myburgh Hands (2 Caps, 1910: Forward)

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 26 July 1888, he was educated at Diocesan College (known as “Bishops”),Rondebosch, Cape Town, and Oxford University, earning rugby “Blues” in 1908 and 1909. He played for Middlesex and upon selection for England, played in 2 tests, against France and Scotland. A member of a well-known South African family, he and two brothers, namely K.C.M. and P.A.M. Hands all played test cricket for South Africa in 1913.
Reginald Hands served with the South African Heavy Artillery (which was affiliated to the Royal Garrison Artillery) during World war I, and was sadly killed in April 1918, having attained the rank of major.

http://peek-01.livejournal.com/

 

Reginald Harold Myburgh Hands (2 Caps, 1910 - Forward)

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 26 July 1888, he was educated at Diocesan College (known as “Bishops”),Rondebosch, Cape Town, and Oxford University, earning rugby “Blues” in 1908 and 1909. He played for Middlesex and upon selection for England, played in 2 tests, against France and Scotland. A member of a well-known South African family,he and two brothers, namely K.C.M. and P.A.M. Hands all played test cricket for South Africa in 1913. Reginald Hands served with the South African Heavy Artillery (which was affiliated to the Royal Garrison Artillery) during World war I, and was sadly killed in April 1918, having attained the rank of major.

 

Hi

I've just started doing some research on my great grandfather, (Sir) Harry Hands & his son Reginald Harry Myburgh (RHM) Hands. Any info would be appreciated.

RHM is, as far as I'm aware, one of

Sir Harry, Reginald's father, as Mayor of Cape Town and following discussions with a Mr Brydon (a fellow city councilor), initiated the two minute silent pause on the firing of the noon day gun on Signal Hill in Cape Town, and prayer meetings on the first Sunday of each month. The first minute is in remembrance of those who died for their cause, and the second in gratitude for survivors. Both had lost a son in the war in April 1918 – Captain (& acting Major) Reg Hands and Major Walter Brydon (three times wounded and once gassed, was killed on 12 April 1918). The midday pause continued daily in Cape Town and was last observed on 17 January 1919, but was revived in Cape Town during the Second World War. It had, however, become a pause throughout the British Commonwealth from 11 November 1919: Sir Percy Fitzpatrick – who also lost his son Major Nugent in the war in 1917 - was moved by the two minute pause in Cape Town and suggested to King George V that it should be observed annually to honour those who had fallen and this was implemented in 1919 – the two minute pause is a world-wide silent echo of Cape Town’s Noon Gun. Recommended reading is Joan Abraham's "Time from Africa. A Two Minute Silent Pause to Remember".

Taken from http://www.rugby365.com/opinion/oracle/1778800.htm :

Reg Hands was the player who came close. The 1910 British side arrived in Cape Town with an injured player, James Reid-Kerr, a forward. He did not move from Cape Town and eventually the South African Rugby Board told the manager of the team William Cail that it would "cease to be responsible for any expenditure whatsoever incurred by Mr Reid-Kerr". SARB Minutes of 27 July 1910) At this stage the tour was about seven weeks old.

It is worth mentioning that relations between the Board and Cail were strained to say the least and the tour was close to being abandoned.

Before the tour the Transvaal Rugby Union reported to the Board that two players, "Messrs Williamson and Flemmer, ex-Rhodes Scholars residing in Transvaal, had been approached by the International Rugby Board to play for the English team". The Board said that it was "strongly opposed" to their inclusion. (Rupert Williamson had played five times for England when up at Oxford. He played twice for Transvaal against the touring team.)

In the Board's meeting of 27 June the Board recorded that the "British Touring team having found it imperative to have the assistance of another forward" had received permission to ask England's Rugby Football Union for another forward. The RFU said that the only available was Reg Hands, who was back in Cape Town and playing for Villagers. Again the Board refused permission.

Hands, a Rhodes Scholar, had played twice for England in 1910 while up at Oxford. He had returned to South Africa and played cricket for South Africa before the outbreak of World War I. In the war he served in the South African Heavy Artillery and died of his wounds and gas poisoning in France on 20 April 1918.

Reginald Harold Myburgh Hands was born in Cape Town on 26 July 1888 and was educated at the Diocesan College.

He was nearly a South African Lion."​

Attached is a picture of RHM's grave, pages from "South Africa's cricketing Lawyers" on RHM and PAM Hands, and a picture of the plaque at the Lion's Battery, Signal Hill, Cape Town, and some pictures of the pause in Cape Town.

See also:

http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/hands.html
http://www.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/45405.html

 

A few more documents attached:

1. Picture of unveiling of plaque (CTimes)
2. Pamphlet from unveiling (14 May 2008: 90 years to the day from the last two minute pause in CT)
3.RHM Hands medal index card
4. KCM Hands medal index card
5. London Times Casualty List: RHM Hands

2 articles to follow.

 

Re: Reginald Hands : Rugby Player & Two Minute Silent Pause link

Attachments:

1. "A Debt of Honour" pamphlet (Joan Abrahams, South African historian).
2. "Time from Africa" booklet (Joan Abrahams, South African historian).
3. Picture silent pause Cape Town.
4. Recollections of Mid Day Pause and Cape Town citizens meetings.
5. Silent pause photo and Noon Day gun photo.

 

dhands

Thank you very much for the very interesting information on your great uncle. The additional background to the minute's silence is fascinating.

Again, thanks

Gareth

 

Hi Gareth

Thanks for your post - been great digging up info on family history.
Dave.

 

Re: Reginald Hands : Rugby Player: picture

Attached is:

1. A photo of RHM Hands
2. War office telegram to Sir Harry Hands on death of RHM Hands dated 3 May 1918.
3. Last Will and Testament of RHM Hands: hand-written and signed July 18th 1917.
4. Typed copy of Last Will and Testament of RHM Hands.
5. Imperial Service Contingents Certificate of Death: RHM Hands

Dave.

 

Re: RHM Hands: Rugby Player re 44th (South African) Heavy Artilery Brigade

Attached is:

1. Exerpt re the 44th (South African) Heavy Artilery Brigade attached - mentions Brydon and PAM Hands.
2. PAM Hands MC
3. PAM Hands service card (2 pages)

 

Attached is:

1. RHM Hands service card (1 & 2)
2. RHM Hands Death Notice
3. War Office Effects Form
4. Sir Harry Hands Acceptance of Administration est late RHM Hands

 

Further attachments:

1. Letters of Executorship iro RHM Hands.
2. Probate High Court London: RHM Hands.
3. Letters of Administration est late RHM Hands.
4. Diocesan College ("Bishops") receipt iro RHM Hands bequest.
5. Diocesan College ("Bishops") letter iro RHM Hands bequest.

 

Re: RHM Hands' father Sir Harry Hands

Some info on RHM Hands' father, Sir Harry Hands:

1. Photograph: Sir Harry hands
2. Newspaper clipping re award of portrait to Mayor Hands.
3. Programme: Final Pause 14 December 1918 (anniversary of Nugent Fitzpatrick's death - son of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick)
4. Death Notice: Sir Harry Hands.

 

Various references give Sir Harry Hands and Councillor R R Bryden as instituting a moment of silence after the firing of the noon gun in Cape Town was started.

The then Lieutenant Walter Brydon (Cape Garrison Artillery) gave his father Mr W W Brydon (36 Blissington Road, Blackheath London SE) as next of kin.

The Australians like to think that Edward George Honey was the originator of the Two-Minute Silence but the story is a bit more complex and involved Sir Percy Fitzpatrick (the father of Nugent Fitzpatrick) as well. Sir Percy was also the driving force behind the original Delville Wood Memorial in France

I will prepare and post a summary.

 

Buchan (The South African Forces in France) is not complete.

Here is a short summary prepared from all the known sources.

The training depot/s in England and the Reserve Brigade (the ‘Depot’)
The original contingent of five Batteries as well as the 125th (SA) Siege Battery trained at Cooden Camp (Bexhill-on-Sea) and at Lydd (about 30 kms north east of Cooden Camp / Bexhill). By 9th October 1916 the Reserve Brigade (Depot) had been moved to Stowlangtoft, on 5th July 1917 to Catterick and on 15th September 1917 to Fort Staddon (Plymouth).

Before embarking for France the 71st (SA), 72nd (SA), 73rd (SA) and 74th (SA) Siege Batteries were mobilised from Fort Fareham (Portsmouth) between 15th and 30th April 1916 while the 75th (SA) Siege Battery was mobilised from Clarence Barracks (Portsmouth). The 125th (SA) Siege Battery was mobilised from the camp at Stockcross (near Newbury) on the 20th July 1916.

First Brigade (ROSE)
No 1 Cape Province [73rd] Battery – four QF 4.7-inch naval guns (BRYDON)
No 2 Eastern Province [74th] Battery – four QF 4.7-inch naval guns (PICKBURN)
No 3 Transvaal [71st] Battery – four BL 4-inch (HARRISON)
Second Brigade (PEACOCK)
No 4 Central and Diamond [72nd] Battery – four QF 4-inch (ALSTON)
No 5 Natal [75th] Battery – four BL 6-inch 30-cwt howitzers (TRIPP)

This new Corps consisted of the above five (1916 six, 1917 eight and 1918 ten) batteries initially organized in two Brigades (Lt.-Col. J. M. Rose and Brevet Lt-Col P Peacock) and a later Reserve Brigade (Depot). The original contingent of 672 embarked for England on 31st August 1915.

The following interim reorganisation was approved on 9 October 1915 while the Corps was at Cooden Camp

First Brigade (PEACOCK)
No 1 Cape Peninsula [73rd] Battery – four QF 4.7-inch naval guns (BRYDON)
No 2 Eastern [Province] and Port Elizabeth [74th] Battery – four QF 4.7-inch naval guns (PICKBURN)
Second Brigade (ROSE)
No 3 Transvaal [71st] Battery – four BL 4-inch (HARRISON)
No 4 Central and Diamond [72nd] Battery – four QF 4-inch (ALSTON)
Unbrigaded
No 5 Natal [75th] Battery – four BL 6-inch 30-cwt howitzers (TRIPP)

During October 1915 the SAHA agreed to serve as Siege Artillery and on 29th October 1915 the [British] Army Council approved this reorganization

Northern & Central South African Siege Brigade (Old 2nd Brigade) (ROSE)
No 71 [3rd] (Transvaal) Siege Battery (HARRISON)
No 72 [4th] (Central & Diamond [Fields]) (Griqualand West) Siege Battery (ALSTON)
No 75 [5th] (Natal) Siege Battery (originally unbrigaded) (TRIPP)
Cape Province South African Siege Brigade (Old 1st Brigade) (PEACOCK)
No 73 [1st] (Cape Peninsula) Siege Battery (BRYDON)
No 74 [2nd] (Eastern [Cape Province] & Port Elizabeth) Siege Battery (PICKBURN)

The original animal drawn QF 4.7-inch, BL & QF 4-inch naval guns and 6-inch 30-cwt howitzers were then exchanged for Four Wheel Drive model B motor lorries and 6-inch 26-cwt howitzers. In March 1916 the South African Heavy Artillery was rated as siege artillery in the Royal Garrison Artillery and the 5 original units renamed as the 71st (SA), 72nd (SA), 73rd (SA), 74th (SA) and 75th (SA) Siege Batteries. On 4th April 1916 the [6th (Transvaal) Siege Battery] 125th (SA) Siege Battery (BEGBIE) was formed from South African volunteers in England.

On 10th March 1916 the 71st (SA) , 72nd (SA) and 75th (SA) Siege Batteries from the Northern & Central South African Siege Brigade were mobilized at Lydd as the 44th Brigade RGA and by the 23rd April 1916 had arrived at Le Havre in France. The units were separated from the Brigade and attached to other experienced RGA batteries in the 1st Heavy Artillery Group (HAG), Northern Heavy Group and the 27th HAG respectively while the Brigade became the 44th Heavy Artillery Group and slowly lost its South African identity. The 73rd (SA) and 74th (SA) Siege Batteries from the Cape Province South African Siege Brigade were mobilized on the 30th April 1916 as the 50th Brigade RGA / 50th Heavy Artillery Group and were attached to the 19th HAG on 7th May 1916. The 125th (SA) Siege Battery) was mobilized at Stockcross on 20th July 1916, arriving at Hendecourt near Doullens on the 24th July 1916 to be attached to the 35th Heavy Artillery Group.

The 71st (SA) and 73rd (SA) Siege batteries were allocated to the 44th Heavy Artillery Group on 26th December 1917 and the 125th (SA) Siege Battery on 9th January 1918 while the 72nd (SA), 74th (SA) and 75th (SA) Siege Batteries were allocated to the 50th Heavy Artillery Group on 19th, 22nd and 15th December 1917. The 20th Siege Battery RGA (4 8-in howitzers) was allocated to the 44th HAG 13th December 1917 and the 275th Siege Battery RGA (6 8-in howitzers was allocated to the 50th HAG on 21st December 1917. During January 1918 the 44th HAG and the 50th HAG were renamed as the 44th (SA) Brigade and the 50th (S.A.) Brigade and the RGA personnel were gradually replaced by SAHA personnel.

A further four South African Heavy Artillery batteries had been formed to supplement the original six batteries; these later ones being the 496th (SA), 497th (SA) (September 1917), 542nd (SA) (May 1918) Siege Batteries all with 6-inch 26-cwt howitzers). The six original 4-gun South African batteries were later upgraded to 6-gun batteries by incorporating sections from the 496th (SA), 497th (SA) (March 1918) and 542nd (SA) Siege Batteries (May 1918). In October 1918, the 552nd (SA) Siege) Battery with formed with 8-inch howitzers at Lydd but did not see any action.

 

Here are some links giving the history of the Two Minute Silence

http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.3165

http://samilitaryhistory.org/ross/opercy.html

http://www.defence.gov.au/ARMY/history/Silence.htm

11:00 being the time on the Western Front - in South Africa the silence is observed at local time but I am not sure what the practice is in those distant time zones in Australia, New Zealand and North America.

 

Hi Carl

Thanks for the post - see the attachments I posted re the silence which show conclusively that King George instituted the 2 minute silence based on recommendations from Sir Percy (friend of Byron and Hands) who in turn credits Byron and Hands for the idea. Joan Abrahams an SA historian from Pretoria has conducted extensive research on the topic.

Dave.

 

Dave

I agree but we as South Africans really need to reclaim the honour.

 

An image of the officers of the SAHA in 1915.

Note that the names of W Brydon and CJ Forder are incorrectly spelt.