The emotive Great War Second Battle of Ypres casualty group to Sapper H.R. Mount, 28th Home Counties Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers who was brutally murdered by a German officer on 8th May 1915 near St. Julien when he was captured in a trench having assisted in the escape of a wounded Sergeant from a dug-out housing the Headquarter Dressing Station. Confronted by the Officer with the false accusation of having used Dum-Dum bullets, he was shot with a revolver and killed. The recipient’s family would three years later, receive a letter, the original of which is included, from the wounded Sergeant, now an interned prisoner of war in Switzerland detailing the events of Mount’s death and expressing remorse for what happened. Mount is now remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Group of 4: 1914-1915 Star; (1208 SPR. H.R. MOUNT. R.E.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (1208 SPR. H.R. MOUNT. R.E.) Great War Memorial Plaque; (HENRY ROBERT MOUNT)
Condition: Extremely Fine
Together with card folder and O.H.M.S. envelope for plaque addressed to ‘Mrs A.E. Mount, The Tridnon, St. Leonards Road, Deal, Kent.’
Forwarding envelopes and enclosure slips for medals.
Card medal boxes for medals
Original typed letter from Sergeant A.E. Bosten, sent as an interned prisoner of war in Switzerland to Mount’s mother.
Two photographs of Mount in uniform
Small newspaper article covering Mount’s death
Memorial Card ‘In loving memory of our dear son Henry Robert Mount who was killed in action on May 8th, 1915. At Freyenburg Ridge, near St. Julienne, between Konnebeke Village and Ypres.
Henry Robert Mount saw service as a Sapper (No. 1208) with the 28th Home Counties Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers, the son of Alice E. Mount of the Trianon, St. Leonards Road, Deal, Kent he was killed in action on 8th May 1915 near St. Julien during the Second Battle of Ypres and is now remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The harrowing details of Mount’s death are covered in a letter from Sergeant A.E. Bosten to his mother, sent whilst Bosten was an interned Prisoner of War in Switzerland on 30th July 1918:
‘It has been my intention since my arrival in Switzerland to get into communication with you with reference to your son. It was under such unjust circumstances that your son was killed that I thought it was my duty to acquaint you of the manner in which he met his death so heroically. I could not possibly write you the circumstances while I was still in Germany as the letter would certainly not have passed the German censor, although I furnished our War Office with a fairly good detail of the Circumstances, and stated that what I said I was perfectly willing to state on oath.
Your son, Pte. Mount of the ‘Home Counties Territorial Signal Company’ was in the 28th Division and was attached to the 84th Brigade at the time he sailed for France on the 14th January 1915. I was signalling Sgt. Of the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers at the same time and your son was periodically attached to my battalion as a telegraphist. On the 7th May, 1915, whilst my battalion was still in the trenches, your son was sent to my battalion head-quarters in the trenches as telegraphist to work the Brigade Head-quarter wire. We had been attacked during the two previous days very strongly and great fears were held that we would be eventually captured, or killed or wounded, as the orders were, that we were to hold on at all costs. Your son and I were in the telephone dug-out about 5pm when I was wounded very badly in the left foot, by a German at 2 foot range, who fired at my foot from outside the dug-out and it was plain to see that it was a matter of moments before the Germans would enter the dug-out, as it was certain that the Germans would kill everybody who was found inside, as we could not trust them as far as wounded were concerned. Here I may mention that the dug-out was the head-quarter dressing station and, was at the time , full of wounded. Your son very bravely helped me outside, as he at the time, was slightly wounded in the stomach, but not too badly to prevent him making good his escape, if he had so wished , but he saw that I could not get along without assistance, and he most self-sacrificingly came and helped me. On arriving outside the dug-out, we met a German soldier who accused your son of using Dum-Dum bullets, this was a distinct false accusation, and the German undoubtedly knew it, but he was desirous of having another victim under and any pretext. Your son denied it, as also did I for him as I knew that he did not carry or use a rifle, as with the telegraphists at this period they did not carry arms, as it was very seldom that they went into the first line and so, they therefore had no use for them. The German soldier was not satisfied, and he at once left to fetch a German officer. The German officer arriving, he made the same accusation against your son, who again denied it, stating that he did not carry a rifle. The German soldier undoubtedly avowed to the officer that he had seen your son use dum-dums as the officer drew his revolver and shot your son dead. This was murder in cold blood, and I can assure you, that I thought my time had come also, but they did not shoot me. I sincerely regretted that I was unarmed at this moment otherwise I would have shot the officer and risked my own life for him, as your son had already done for me. I was desirous of removing his ‘Pince Nez’ which your son was wearing at the time, in the hope that sooner or later I would be able to return them to his parents. As he laid there, I bent down to remove them, but was butted very cruelly in the back by the same German soldier. I was in great pain myself, as my left foot had been blown entirely open and I was losing bloody very quickly.
So, Madame, with this short narrative of events, you will be able to see that you son very bravely gave his life for a comrade, although had he remained in the dug-out he would have been killed as they all were with a shovel on the head. I sincerely trust, Madame, that I shall have an opportunity of seeing you after the war or perhaps before, if I am fortunate enough to tbe repatriated, and then thank you personally and relate to you once more the bravery of your son for which I shall owe to his memory a great debt of gratitude, and to his family my deepest regret that a dear son was taken away from them in such a dastardly manner by our greatest enemy ‘The Germans’. In concluding, Madame, excuse me if I have caused you any remorse and accept my deepest gratitude. Trusting to hear from you soon accept my kindest regards. Do not forget, that I am willing at any time to state the circumstances of your son’s death before any official court of enquiry.
I beg to remain, Madame, Yours truly, A.E. Bosten. Sgt.’
Shortly afterwards an article would appear in the local newspaper:
‘Brutally shot when wounded’
As stated in our last issue, Mrs, Mount of Trianon, Upper Deal (caretaker to ex-Inspector Scantlebury, formerly of the House of Commons police), has received particulars, in a letter from an interned prisoner of war in Switzerland, of the death of her only son, wantonly murdered by a German officer, Spr. Mount was reported missing on 7th May 1915 and subsequently presumed killed, but more than three years have elapsed before Mrs. Mount has been able to obtain and definite details of her gallant son. He was only 19 years of age. Born at Maidstone, he was educated at Maidstone Grammar School and was a member of the choir of the fine old church of All Saints. He was also well known at Ashford, passing first among the competitors in a Post-office entrance examination, he took up duties at Deal Post-office, and subsequently at Sandwich. He was a skilful musician, playing the violin with either hand excellently, and being also a capable pianist and organist. A member of the choir of St. Andrew’s, Deal, he played the organ at Sunday afternoon services at that church while in Deal, during the rectorship of the Rev. C.P. Banks. He was also clever with his pencil, and could draw well. He enlisted voluntarily early in the war in November 1914 as a telegraphist, and went to the front in January, 1915. He was an unassuming young fellow, of an affable and affectionate disposition, and was well liked by all who knew him. Mrs. Mount received in 1916, a certificate signed by Mr. Pease, then Postmaster-General, expressing regret at his death ‘after three years honourable service to the State’
The letter, from a Sergeant of Northumberland Fusiliers, interned as a wounded prisoner of war in Switzerland, and written on 30th July last, was as follows. It gives a vivid description of the brutal methods of Huns who killed men by striking them on the head with shovels.
A poignant and tragic group to a young man murdered on the battlefield having falsely been accused of using Dum-Dum bullets.
