Philip Hamond

Who was Philip Hamond?

Major Philip Hamond, DSO and bar, MC was a decorated British Army officer who played a prominent part in the downfall of the Rector of Stiffkey and later collected Norfolk folk songs.

He was the eldest son of Charles Annesley and Mary Augusta Hamond, of Twyford Hall, East Dereham. He served in the Second Boer War and was commissioned in the Norfolk Regiment. He was dangerously wounded at the Battle of Rooiwal; was Mentioned in Despatches and in 1902 created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the youngest regular officer - at 18 - to that date to earn a DSO.

He rejoined the Norfolk Regiment in 1914 and won the Military Cross and, a second DSO. He was later attached to the Tank Corps, commanding F battalion at the Battle of Cambrai. Late on the morning of 20 November 1917, his battalion of twelve Mark IV tanks entered the town of Masnières. On reaching the Masnières River, it was found that the only bridge had been partially destroyed by the Germans. F22 Flying Fox II was ordered to attempt to cross but the weight of the tank caused the bridge to collapse further.