German, Hugh Bernard
Yet another Guy's man has made the supreme sacrifice. While a student, he gained his Soccer blue on several occasions, and was the finest squash racket player in his time at Guy's. The letter which follows bears witness to the high esteem in which Major German was held, both by his colleagues at the Front and by his old friends at Guy's, who will join us in expressing our deep sympathy with his widow and family in their sorrow. Mrs German has received the following letter and we are indebted to her for kindness in allowing us to publish it:-
It is with the deepest sympathy that I write to tell you of the death in action of your husband, Major German, M.C. Major German and myself established an advanced Dressing Station on the night of 17th September, and during the following day were suddenly heavily shelled. Several men were hit including the Senior Roman Catholic Chaplain of the Division, and it was while going to the assistance of the latter that your husband met his death. I knew Major German for over two years, and he and myself were close friends. He was held in the deepest esteem and respect by all ranks and was fearless and untiring in his efforts for the wounded.
In deepest sympathy with you in your great loss, believe me to remain, Yours faithfully, F. H. L. Molland, Major, R.A.M.C. Guy's Hospital Reports Vol LXX, War Memorial Number
Biographical
| Surname(s) | German |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Hugh Bernard |
| Place of birth | Portsmouth |
| Family details | Son of Mrs. German and the late Mr. Alexander George German (of 1 Redcliffe Gardens. Southsea in 1914); husband of Constance Roberts German, of 96, Upper Grosvenor Rd., Tunbridge Wells, Kent. |
| Previous education | Portsmouth Grammar School |
| College | Guy's Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1898-1904 |
| Dept / course | Conjoint Diploma |
| Qualifications | L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. 1904 |
| Military unit | R.A.M.C., 17th Field Ambulance |
| Date enlisted | Naval Medical Services, May, 1904 |
| War / conflict | World War One (1914-1918) |
| Decorations / medals | M.C. and Bar; Insignia Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy |
| Citation(s) | M.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his dressing station was heavily shelled he organised the removal of 38 stretcher cases. He also rescued several wounded of another division under heavy shell fire. He established dressing stations without delay at various stages in an advance of four or five miles, and so enabled the wounded to be rapidly evacuated. Bar to M.C.: While in charge of stretcher bearers he supervised the evacuation of the wounded from the front line to the advanced dressing station, often under heavy shell fire. He also continuously dressed wounded in a dressing station unprotected from shell fire. |
| Date of death | 18 September 1918 |
| Age at death | 38 |
| Rank at death | Major |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Burial place | Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France |
| Commemoration(s) | Guy's Hospital Memorial |
| Sources | Guy's Hospital Medical School Records, King's College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Soldiers Died in the Great War |