2nd Lieutenant Eric Victor Hammersley

2nd Lieutenant Eric Victor Hammersley

Eric Victor Hammersley was born on the 15th April 1894 at Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire, son of Gilbert Hammersley and Helena Mary Godfrey Hammersley (nee Haynes).

Prior to joining up he was Manager of the Hammersley China Factory. He volunteered under the Derby Scheme on 6th December 1915 but wasn’t called up for service until 5th February 1917. He was unmarried at the time and should have been called up in 1916 but it was deferred as Eric had been effectively running the Hammersley China Factory since his father died in 1909 and was the family’s only “bread winner”. He was age 22 years when he enlisted.

On the 15th February 1917 he enlisted at Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire, and joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps ('D' Company) with the rank of Private (army number 10663).

On the 31st October 1917 he was commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutentant in the 14th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. On the 6th January 1918 he was posted overseas and eventually joined the 14th Battalion in France at Highland Ridge on the Cambrai salient on the 12th January 1918.

He was gassed during an incident with 'B' Company on 16th March 1918 in the area of the Hindenburg Support Line, Cambrai.

He married Eileen Louisa Haynes on the 2nd July 1918, near Kings Norton.

He relinquished his commission on the 20th March 1919.

He died in June 1977.

(photo submitted by Charles Woollam - Eric Victor Hammersley was his Great Uncle)