Gerard Croft Hoare: 1899 to 1918

GERARD’S parents were Geoffrey De Mountenay G Hoare, born in Godstone, Surrey in 1871 and Joyce Margaret Page Croft, Born in Ware, Hertfordshire in 1870. Thy married in Ware in the spring of 1898. Gerard Hoare was born in Harlow in 1899.

The 1901 cents shows Gerard residin gin Harlow aged two; he was in the care of domestic staff in Piper House in the household of Henry Johnson, a solicitor and his family. Th census shows Gerard’s parents residing in Chelmsford with Geoffrey’s brother where he was working as a general merchant. The 1911 census shows Gerard as a pupil at St peter’s Court, Broadstairs, Kent. His parents were residing in Harlow where Geoffrey was working as a produce broker.

Second Lieutenant Gerard Croft Hoare enlisted in The Officer Corps Battalion serving in The 6th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own).

Gerard died of his wounds in a Bournemouth hospital on August 1st, 1918 at the 19 after being wounded near Rheims on May 28th 1918. Gerard is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, in old ground near the North boundary. Register Index Number UK Essex 167.

From the Winchester College website

He was the son of Captain Geoffrey de Mounterrey Gerard Hoare of Harlow and Joyce, (nee Croft of Fanhams Hall, Ware). His younger brother Geoffrey Benyon Hoare was in I House, 1916-1920. He entered Sunnyside (Turner’s) from St. Peter’s Court, Broadstairs and became Head of his House and a Commoner Prefect. During his last year he played in O.T.H. VI and Association XI. He left in August 1917 to join an Officer Cadet Battalion and was gazetted in the following December to the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, going to the front in April 1918. In May the enemy launched their third great attack, on the Craonne Plateau, and Lieutenant Hoare fell wounded while crossing the Aisne under heavy fire during the retreat of the Allied Forces. He was evacuated to England, and a complete recovery looked possible but septic poisoning set in, and he died at Bournemouth on August 1st 1918.