Archibald James Hepburn

Rank:Captain
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:08th Bn (Ardwick)
Name of Rgt or Ship:Manchester Rgt
Died:29/05/15Age:32
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:GallipoliGrave Photo:No
Cemetery or Memorial:Redoubt Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born at Ramsbottom, Lancashire on the 26th June 1882, his birth registered
during the September quarter 1882 in the Bury R.D. - ref: 8c/478, the only
son of William Archibald and Sarah Isabella Hepburn (nee Burnett).

1891 Census - The Grange, Wetherall, Cumberland.   Nephew to unknown person
- aged: 8 - born: Ramsbottom, Lancashire.  No head of household shown.  
Two visitors, Archibald's sister - Elsie M. Hepburn and 2 domestic
servants.

His parents were residing at Hillside House, Higher Summerseat, Elton,
Lancashire.   William A. Hepburn - Married - aged: 36 - occ: Bleacher and
Finisher - born: Scotland.   Also - Sara Isabella Hepburn - Wife - aged: 34
- born: Scotland.   Plus 2 relatives - 4 visitors and 2 domestic servants.

Attended Sedbergh Preparatory School, Yorkshire and later on at the
Manchester Grammar School.

1901 Census - Smedley Hydro, 23 Trafalgar Road, Birkdale, Lancashire. 
Visitor - aged: 18 - occ: Tea ??? Bleacher - born: Ramsbottom, Lancashire. 
 His mother Sara I. Hepburn was also a visitor there - Married - aged: 41 -
born: Dumfries, Scotland.

His father was at the family home "Maqueen" (???), Bury New Road,
Broughton, Salford.  Head of Household - Married - aged: 46 - occ: Bleacher
and General Manager of Bleachers & Dyers Association - born: Scotland. 
Plus 2 of Archibald's younger sisters and 2 domestic servants.

Smedley Hydro was a former Victorian Hydropathic Spa and Hotel which, since
1939, is now home to the UK national registration offices.

Married Lilian Una Tarbolton during the March quarter 1911 in the Bucklow
R.D. - ref: 8a.223.   She was recorded as 'Lilias U. Tarbolton'

1911 Census - 2 Crumpsall Green, Manchester.    Head of household - Married
- aged: 28 - occ: Manager Cotton Bleach Works - born: Ramsbottom,
Lancashire.   Also Lilian Una Hepburn - Wife - aged: 24 - born: Hale,
Cheshire.   Plus 2 domestic servants.

His parents were residing at "Oakdene", Crumpsall Lane, Manchester. 
William A. Hepburn - Married - aged: 56 - occ: Manager of Bleach Works -
born: Morningside, Midlothian, Scotland.   Also Sara I. Hepburn - Wife -
aged: 54 - born: Scotland.  Plus Archibald's two younger sisters and 3
domestic servants.

MIC - confirms that he was a Captain in the 1/8th Bn. Manchester Regiment.
and was posted to Gallipoli.  Although it gives no date, the card shows
that he was awarded the 15 Star, the BWM & the VM.  The card also states
that his widow - Mrs. L.U. Hepburn of 24 Kennedy Street, Manchester applied
for his medals on 31/10/1921.




From the book "Bond of Sacrifice".

Attended Sedburgh Preparatory School and Manchester Grammar School.  
Employed in his father's bleaching firm of Hepburn & Co. Ltd and succeeded
his father in 1906 under the Bleacher's Association Ltd, the position he
held until his death.

Previous to the formation of the Territorial Force, which he took an active
interest in, he was a well known amateur actor in the Manchester District.

His military career started in 1909 when he was Gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant
in the 8th (Ardwick) Battalion, Manchester Regiment.  Promoted to
Lieutenant later that year and to the rank of Captain in February 1913,
having qualified as an instructor of musketry at Hythe, Kent in 1911.

On the outbreak of war in 1914, his Battalion - part of the East Lancashire
Division - was ordered to Egypt in September.    In October, part of the
Battalion was ordered to Cyprus taking part in the annexation of the Island
in November 1914.  Captain Hepburn was Officer Commanding the troops at
Nicosia.

The Battalion became part of the 125th Brigade, 42nd Division and on the
3rd May sailed on the "Ionian", landing at Helles at 13.00 hrs on the 7th. 
They moved to bivouacs on the cliff near to "W" Beach and later to
positions west of Krithia Bridge.    On the 8th May, they moved up the
Krithia Road to support positions.   They took over the forward area in the
Krithia Nullah sector on the 11th and relieved the 1st Essex Battalion in
the firing line between Fir Tree Wood & Gulley Ravine on the 16th May.   
They moved back to reserve lines on the 21st, then went forward again into
reserve trenches on the 25th.  The Battalion took part in operations to
advance the line forwards on the 28th and some 120 to 200 yards were
gained.    Two platoons became isolated in the Turkish trench, when the
enemy attacked and regained the positions in the afternoon of the 29th -
killing Captain Hepburn in the process, being shot through the head whilst
strengthening the parapet of the front line trench, south of Krithia.

The Despatch of General Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander in Chief of the
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force states - "From 28th May till 5th June the
fighting seemed to concentrate itself around Quinn's Post. Three enemy
galleries had been detected there, and work on them stopped by
countermines, which killed 20 Turks and injured 30. One gallery had,
however, been overlooked, and at 3.30 a.m. on 29th May a mine was sprung in
or near the centre of Quinn's Post. The explosion was followed by a very
heavy bomb attack, before which our left centre subsection fell back,
letting in a storming party of Turks. This isolated one subsection on the
left from the two other subsections on the right."

He married Lilian Una Tarbolton,  the only child of Alfred & Hannah
Elizabeth Tarbolton of Bowdon, in the Bucklow R.D. during the March Qtr
1911 - ref: 8a/223.   His father-in-law, Alfred Tarbolton was a Solicitor
of Bowdon and Manchester and a Cheshire JP.    Archibald and Lillian had
two children - Patricia, born Mar Qtr 1913 and Philip Archibald, born Jun
Qtr 1915, a few weeks after his father's death.

His death was reported in the 11/06/1915 edition of the Altrincham
Guardian.

His parents formerly lived at Higher Crumpsall before moving to Lytham St.
Annes.    In June 1919, his widow's address was given as:- 2 Crumpsall
Green, Manchester.    This was also given as his address in November 1915.

Listed in the Altrincham Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1916.

Commemorated on the private Tarbolton family gravestone in Hale Cemetery.

N.B. Alfred Tarbolton 1861-1934, solicitor and J.P., was the first Chairman
of the Hale Urban District Council 1900-1903.  R. N. Dore's “A History of
Hale Altrincham” 1972, is dedicated to his memoir, and describes him as
'Hale’s' first historian'.



Memorials found on:
St. John's (Altrincham)
Manchester Grammar School
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