Regiment: Royal Lancaster Regt.
Died: 20 December 1916 aged 19 in France. Killed in action.
Cemetery: Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt III B 22
Son of Maj. H. R. and Mrs. Hildyard, of Hythe, Kent. b. 4th August 1897.
Lower IV—Army II.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; Royal Lancaster Regt. 1916.
1st Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).
'He was a boy of very decided character, full of cheeriness and fun, and a great authority on School form and custom. None will forget his courage, either moral or physical; his excitement at the outbreak of war to join up at once; or his chagrin when told that his age and size were against him. He was a fine character, whose gallant death all his contemporaries will mourn. He entered Sandhurst soon after leaving School, and was gazetted to the Royal Lancaster Regiment last April, proceeding to the front in July. He was killed on Dec. 20th, two days after re-joining his regiment from leave.' (Malvernian, Mar 1917).
He was gazetted 2nd Lieut, 6 April, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following July: was Battalion Signalling Officer, and was killed in action the day after returning from leave, 20 Dec. 1916, during the operations on the Somme. Buried in the French Officers' Cemetery at Maricourt. (De Ruvigny).
Memorial stained glass window at St Leonard's Church, Hythe
Service record:WO 339/59410