LONDON GAZETTE, 4 JUNE, 1917. MC- Lieut. (T./Capt.) Hugh Nares Davenport, Oxf. &Bucks. L.I.

Family :

Education & Career :

Educated at Marlborough & Oriel College.

At the time of the 1891 census Hugh’s parents were away from home at the Beach Mansions Hotel, South Parade, Portsea with Gilbert (9) and Robert (8). Five of their younger children, including five-year-old Hugh, were left at Davenport House with the family’s seven servants (a nurse, cook, parlour maid, house maid, kitchen maid, under nurse, and nursery maid); while Louisa (11) was staying at Long Wittenham with her widowed grandmother Louisa Clutterbuck (82).

Hugh's eldest brother Henry Reginald Davenport died of typhoid at the age of 21 at the Acland Home in Oxford and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 13 January 1900.

At the time of the 1901 census Hugh (15) was boarding at Marlborough College. Two of his other siblings were at boarding school: Norah (16) was at Cheltenham Ladies College and Leonard (11) was Lockers Park School in Hemel Hempstead. Two of his brothers were in employment: Robert (18) was a midshipman at sea on the Niobe, and Gilbert (19) was a trainee land agent lodging at South Damerham, Hampshire. Hugh’s parents were still at Davenport House with their other five children and six servants.

Hugh went on from Marlborough to the University of Oxford, matriculating from Oriel College on 21 October 1904. He passed Responsions (the preliminary examinations for entry) in Hilary Term 1904 and compulsory examinations in Latin and Greek in Hilary Term 1905 and Holy Scripture in Michaelmas Term 1905. In the Final Pass School, in Trinity Term 1907 he passed examinations in the following groups: A1 (for which two books, either both Greek, or one Greek and one Latin, were studied); and in Michaelmas Term 1907 B3 (the Elements of Political Economy), and B4 (a branch of Legal Study). He was awarded his B.A. at a degree ceremony on 23 January 1908.

At the time of the 1911 census Hugh Davenport (25) was a law student, living at home with his parents in Davenport House. Also at home were his sisters Lucy (31), Norah (26), and Evelyn (24), and his brother Cecil (19), who was an Oxford undergraduate. His brother Gilbert (29) was a land agent near Salisbury (with a pupil of his own and two servants); Robert (28) was a naval lieutenant on the Blanche; and Leonard (21) and James (20) were probably abroad. His youngest sister Rachel (15) was boarding at St Winifred’s School, Eastbourne. None of the children was yet married.

Hugh Davenport (who was a Freemason: Churchill Lodge No. 478) was admitted as a solicitor in July 1911, and was a member of Davenport & Rose, County Hall, New Road. He was Deputy Clerk of the Peace, Deputy Clerk to the County Council for Oxfordshire, and Under-Sheriff of the County.

From 1914 to 1915 Davenport was Honorary Secretary of the British Workman in Old High Street, and when he went to war, his sister Evelyn took over the job.

By 1915 all six surviving Davenport sons were serving as officers in the First World War. Hugh Davenport’s parents were spared from seeing two of their sons killed, as his father Thomas Davenport died at Davenport House in 1913 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 1 September, and his mother Emily died at the Acland Home in 1915 and was buried with her husband on 17 August. Hugh was bequeathed all his father’s books, pamphlets, and engravings relating to Oxfordshire.

Hugh’s eldest sister, Lucy Davenport, continued to live in Davenport House until in 1920 she sold it with all its land to Headington School.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.

Detail :

LONDON GAZETTE, 4 JUNE, 1917. MC- Lieut. (T./Capt.) Hugh Nares Davenport, Oxf. &Bucks. L.I.

Masonic :

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley