TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Queen's Sudan (89698: Dr: G.W. Hambrook. R.A.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (89698 Dvr. G.W. Hambrook. 65th Bty: R.F.A.);
KSA (2) (89698 Dvr. G.W. Hambrook. R.F.A.);
1914-15 Star (Deal 902-S. Spr. G.W. Hambrook. R.M.);
British War and Victory Medals (207470 Cpl. G.W. Hambrook. R.E.);
Khedive's Sudan (1) Khartoum (89698. Dr. G.W. Hambrook 32.F.B.R.A.), contemporarily impressed naming

George William Hambrook was born at Sutton, Kent on 6 October 1873 and was a farm labourer when he enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 6 April 1892. He served in the 32 Field Battery at Omdurman which used lyddite for the first time when they opened fire at 6.45 am on 2 September during the opening phase.

The Opening Phase & 32nd Field Battery

About 50 yards from the zareba, two shells exploded, the bursts gouging holes in the gravel and red sand. The shells were from Mahdist artillery, but the guns were so poorly served that they fell short. The Anglo-Egyptian artillery replied, but with a far more deadly accuracy. On the right, Ibrahim al-Khalil and his men pressed forward, spilling over the ridge that marked Jebel Sergham's eastern boundary. Guns from the 32nd Field Battery opened up at 2,800 yards, a rain of shells that produced terrible carnage. As many as 20 shells hit the advancing black mass in the first minute, throwing up dirty blossoms of flame and red dust with each detonation.

Men were decapitated, eviscerated, torn limb from limb; yet others came forward with incredible courage and resolution. Al-Khalil was blown from the saddle, tumbling in the dirt when his horse's head was nearly severed by a shell fragment. Mounting a fresh horse, he led his men forward-but by this time they were within range of the Maxim machine guns and the Lee-Medford rifles. The machine guns opened up, chattering a steady hail of death, and the Grenadier Guards stood up and poured a steady fire on the enemy's shredded ranks. Ibrahim al-Khalil was shot in the head and chest, and the bloodied survivors reluctantly fell back.

Sheikh Osman al-Din's attack in the centre was equally disastrous. British shells tore bloody gaps in the ranks and tossed men like rag dolls into the air, yet the Dervishes refused to give up the fight. A carpet of spent cartridge shells gathered around each British soldier, and rifles grew so hot that they had to be replaced by weapons from the reserve.

The Dervishes fared no better on the left. The Sudanese regiments had little love for their Mahdist countrymen, and some probably wanted revenge for the khalifa's depredations. The Sudanese opened up at 800 yards, great gouts of smoke, flame, and lead spouting from their Martini-Henrys. Dervish leaders pressed forward, but human flesh and blood could not stand against this hurricane of lead and metal.

The ground was now clear for the 21st Lancers.
Hambrook served in the 65th Battery, a howitzer Battery, during the Boer War which took part in the battle of Magersfontein on 11 December 1899. They pursued Cronje, and did great work at Paardeberg, being specially mentioned in General Colvile's report. Hambrook was discharged on serving his first period of engagement on 5 April 1904.

He re-enlisted in the Royal Marine Engineers on 12 January 1915 and was posted to the 63rd Royal Naval Division which served at Gallipoli where he was wounded on 19 June 1915 and again on 24 July 1915. He subsequently transferred to the Royal Engineers after recovering from his wounds and served at home for the remainder of the war.

George died at Thanet, Kent in March 1947.

Picture courtesy of Spink

CMG n/b;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt. E.C. Sandars. R.F.A.);
KSA (2) (Capt. E.C. Sandars. R.F.A.)

CMG London Gazette 3 June 1918.

MID London Gazette 6 July 1918.

Edward Carew Sandars born in July 1869 the son of Samuel Sandars. Educated at Harrow he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery at Woolwich in 1889. He served in South Africa from January 1900 until September 1902 as Adjutant 15th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, later Station Staff Officer from 11 September 1900.

Promoted to Major on 14 February 1905 he retired as Major in 1911 and was appointed Assistant Deputy Remounts and given the job of surveying for the three counties: Buckinghamshire , Berkshire and Oxfordshire. He had to live in one of the counties and bought The Manor House, Little Tew in 1913 and carried out the surveys from there.

He was recalled to service in 1914 and kept an office in Little Tew, keeping in touch with the War Office by motor cycle during the night. In 1915 he was appointed as Assistant Director to Remounts and in 1916 he was elevated to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.

Competent at dealing with disciplinary problems he was moved to Romsey, one of the demobilisation camps in 1918. Mentioned in despatches and awarded the C.M.G. for his services during the Great War, he is not entitled to any Great War medals. Sandars resumed his appointment as Remount officer in the Southern command from 1919 until 1924.

He died on 21 March 1944.