Major Hugh George Bigg-Wither DSO
Sherwood Foresters (Pioneers), later 10th (Service) Battalion, (Cornwall Pioneers)
Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Date of Birth: 25 January 1884
Place of Birth: Hayling Island, Hampshire
Date of Death: 12 November 1966 aged 82
Buried: Died at Exe Vale Hospital, Exeter.
Distinguished
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Hugh George Bigg-Wither was born on 25 January 1884 on Hayling Island, Hampshire.
His father was Edward Julian Bigg-Wither. Edward was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire (1837-1909) and was a Major in the 28th Regiment of the Army.
Hugh's mother was Charlotte Laura Bigg-Wither née Hurst. She was born in Broadstairs, Kent c. 1861 and was the daughter of William, an Army Captain. Charlotte became a midwife in 1905 and was still on the Midwives' Roll in 1926.
Manydown Park (Hampshire), the seat of Hugh's Grandfather, the Revd Lovelace Bigg Wither. Previously the home of Harris Bigg Wither (Hugh's Great-grandfather) who proposed to Jane Austen. Lithographic. G. F. Prosser. (Public Domain)
Hugh was the grandson of Emma Jemima Orde (1810–1901) and Reverend Lovelace Bigg-Wither (1805 to 1874), Lord of the Manor of Manydown Park in Hampshire.
He had two sisters (Rose and Gladys) and a brother Gerald Chute Bigg-Wither.
The 1891 Census shows Hugh and his sister Gladys living with their maternal Grandmother Lilla Wimble Hurst née Ross (born c. 1850 in India) at 24 Montpellier Terrace, Cheltenham, Gloucester. Also present is his cousin Lilla Malcolm (who Hugh's brother Gerald later marries) and a general servant.
The 1901 Census shows Hugh's parents Edward and Charlotte living at 51 Manchester Street, Marylebone London. Edward is shown as a 'Retired Army Officer'. Also present are their daughters Hilda and Gladys, their son Hugh (shown as an 'Appentice District Railway') , Edward's Niece Lilla, three boarders and a housemaid.
In 1905 Hugh was an Engineer for the King of Siam.
When he returned to the UK Hugh married Ruth Catherine Mary Williamson in June 1914.
From 1914 to 1919 Hugh's wife Ruth Catherine Mary Bigg Withers was with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) at the Teignmouth Women's Work Depot. She served on the the commitee and assisted with the cutting out and making of garments such as pyjamas, pants, vests and socks for soldiers at home and at the front. When Ruth became engaged with VAD in 1914 she gave her permanent address as Haldon Avenue*, Teignmouth.
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
cap badge
Hugh joined the Sherwood Foresters in 1914 as a pioneer officer, transferring later to the 10th Battalion (Cornwall Pioneers) of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
Pioneer battalions were soldiers who performed engineering and construction tasks providing the Royal Engineers with skilled labour and relieving the infantry from some of the non-combatant duties, they often fought alongside the infantry in repelling enemy attacks.
Troops of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry who captured this trench, 11th June 1917. They are wearing German helmets or caps. © IWM Q 2820
His battalion landed at Le Havre in France on 20 June 1916 as Pioneers to the 2nd Division.
The Cornwall Pioneers were in the Battles of the Somme and the Operations on the Ancre. In 1917 they were in action during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battles of Arras.
Then from 16 July – 7 November 1917 they were temporarily attached as Pioneers to 66th Division and took part in Operations on the Flanders Coast and The Battle of Poelcapelle before returning to 2nd Division.
In 1918 they fought on the Somme, in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and The Battle of the Selle. The 2nd Division was selected to advance into Germany and formed part of the Occupation Force after the Armistice.
Hugh survived the war and in January 1919 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his service in France and Flanders.
His Majesty's Troopship HMT Derbyshire. Requisitioned in WW1 and continued as a Troopship into the 1920s. A one-class vessel with very comfortable facilities. Copyright © Simon Parker-Galbreath
In 1919 Hugh and Ruth travelled on His Majesty's Troopship HMT Derbyshire, giving 'India' as their permanent residence. Hugh is listed as a 'Manager'.
Ruth is shown as an Incoming Passenger to the UK arriving on 23 April 1921. Her country of last permanent residence is shown on the records as Siam, her new address is shown as 'The Old Vicarage, Shaldon'.
From 1926 - 1938 they both appeared on the electoral registers for the London area.
In 1939 Hugh and Ruth were living at Waterside, Riverside in Shaldon. Hugh is shown as 'Retired Civil Service'.
Hugh's mother Charlotte lived in the City of Westminster for many years then retired to 1 Devon Terrace Teignmouth in the late 1930s. She died in 1954 aged 92.
The 1950 British Phone Book shows:
Bigg-Wither Major H. G, Enfield ......Shaldon 171
Ruth died in 24 March 1964 at Torbay Hospital in Torquay. Her home address was listed as Enfield, Shaldon.
Hugh died 12 November 1966 aged 82, at the Exe Vale Hospital, Exeter.
The entire book Materials for a history of the Wither family by Bigg-Wither, Reginald Fitz Hugh, 1907 is available to view in searchable form, listen to, or download (for free) and gives an in depth history of the family.
