Notes
His biography on the college website states: ‘Raymond Gilbert Hooker was born in Kensington, son of Lt. Col. Ernest Walter Yeatherd, The King‘s Own Royal Regiment, who fell at the Relief of Ladysmith aged 47, and Mabel E. Yeatherd of 31 Montpelier Square, Knightsbridge, London. Raymond was a Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) of the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line (including Yeomanry and Camel Corps). He was mentioned in Dispatches 1917.
“At the end of June 1916 the 1 Cavalry Division was moved up behind the Somme in the expectation that there would be a breakthrough, and after four days’ marching the Bays arrived at Querrieu, where they were concentrated with the rest of the division in readiness for the opening of the Somme offensive on 1 July. These hopes were to be dashed, and the Bays, together with the rest of the cavalry, moved in and around Querrieu for the whole of July, until on 9 August they were withdrawn to the north west of Amiens, still waiting hopefully for the breakthrough.
“On 6 September they were moved forward to the Carnoy valley, bivouacking and seeing tanks for the first time. On 15 September the Bays were ordered forward, and ‘A’ Squadron under Major Pinching, MC, advanced into a valley south west of Leuze wood. The ground, after the battle, was a wilderness, and two patrols under 2nd Lieutenants Yeatherd and Macnaughten were sent on to maintain contact with the infantry. Yeatherd’s patrol came under heavy fire as it advanced dismounted, every member being wounded, and Yeatherd himself missing. One of the wounded died the next day and Yeatherd’s body was discovered a week later. Major Pinching was also wounded during this action.”
His brother Captain Montagu Locke Yeatherd, Royal Lancers, died aged 33 on 11 April 1917 and is buried at Wancourt British Cemetery. Raymond and Montagu, the only sons of Ernest Walker Yeatherd are commemorated on the Yeatherd Tomb in Hertingfordbury. Raymond is also listed on the Thiepval Memorial.