0512Lewis Stratford Tollemache HallidayPortsmouth 3(44)
Captain
Royal Marine Light Infantry
BORN14 MAY 1870Medstead House, Near Alton, Hants
BAPTISED12 JUN 1870Medstead, Hants
LIVEDBella Luce, St Martin's, Guernsey
Polzeath, Cornwall
1915Sinah Lane, Hayling Island which was next door to Major
Blake and his two daughters
Thursley, Surrey
1929Millswood, South Brent, Devon
1939-50The Cottage, Loddiswell, Nr Kingsbridge, Devon
Salcombe, South Devon
1954With his daughter Elizabeth Jane Sutherland
at 'Wycroft' `Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire
196523 Rose Hill, Dorking, Surrey With his daughter Elizabeth
Jane Sutherland
Cedar Cottage, Forton, Gosport (date unknown)
DIED 9 MAR 1966Dorking Hospital, aged 95 years and 299 days
CREMATED15 MAR 1966Randall’s Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, Surrey (ref. 3188)
His ashes are in the grave of his first wife, his parents and his brother Strattie at Meadstead, Hants
V.C. WON24 JUN 1900Peking, China
On the 24th June, 1900, the enemy, consisting of Boxers and Imperial troops, made a fierce attack on the west wall of the British Legation, setting fire to the West Gate of the South Stable quarters, and taking cover in the buildings which adjoined the wall
The fire, which spread to part of the stables, and through which and the smoke a galling fire was kept up by the Imperial troops, was with difficulty extinguished, and as the presence of the enemy in the adjoining buildings was a grave danger to the Legation, a sortie was organised to drive them out. A hole was made in the Legation Wall, and Captain Halliday, in command of twenty Marines, led the way into the buildings and almost immediately engaged a party of the enemy. Before he could use his revolver, however, he was shot through the left shoulder, at point blank range ,the bullet fracturing the shoulder and carrying away part of his lung. Notwithstanding the extremely severe nature of his wound, Captain Halliday killed three of his assailants, and telling his men to 'carry on and not mind him' walked back unaided to the Hospital, refusing escort and aid, so as not to diminish the number of men engaged in the sortie
LONDON GAZETTE 01 JAN 190127262/3
V.C.PRESENTED25 JUL 1901King Edward VII at St James's Palace, London
JOINED MARINES 1 SEP 1889Royal Marine Light Infantry
LEFT MARINES 1931General VC KCB [Mil] RM DL[Lieutenant-General?]
MEDALSBequeathed to the Corps and are now in the Royal Marines Museum, Eastney, Southsea, Hants
FAMILY
GRANDPARENTSMajor Francis Augustus Halliday RMLI and Catherine (nee White) They lived at Medstead House
FATHERLieutenant-Colonel Stratford Charles Halliday, R.A.
of Medstead House, Alton, Hants [1841-1921]
MOTHER1868Married Annie Louisa (Louie) daughter of Reverend Charles
Daniel Palmer Robinson of St Martin's, Guernsey
1934She died
BROTHER1876Alexander Tollemache Halliday [Died 1965] 1904 married Ethel Maud, daughter of George Mercer Gilbert
of Chiswick, London W
Lived:3 Palmerston Court, Clarence Parade, Southsea
SISTERBirdie Halliday
SISTERMaud Halliday
1912She married Weary Stapledon and went to Calcutta
SISTER Kitty Halliday
V.C.
EDUCATEDScalby
1880 Queen Elizabeth College,in St Peter Port, Guernsey
and Blackadder's at Boulogne
MARRIED (1)JAN 1906Florence (Florrie) Clara, eldest daughter of
Brigadier-General W.J. Budgen DSO RA
of Lansdowne Terrace, Bath,
At St Cuthbert's Church, Pilbeam Gardens, London
Lived: No 3 Terrace, Camberley
17 AUG 1919She died two days after giving birth to their only son, at
Camberley
SON15 AUG 1909John William Tollamache Halliday born at 3 The Terrace,
Camberley which was near the Yorktown Gate of the RMC
01 SEP 1927Naval Cadet
Lieutenant-Commander RN
Married (1) 1946 Pamela ,daughter of Major Sinclair RA
1947 son Mark Lionel Tollemache Halliday, born
05 APR 1969He married Julia Shaw Lawrence in London and had one son,
Luke
They later divorced
1950 daughter Elizabeth Jenny Halliday, born
1956 they divorced
Married (2)Margaret Jean Mayfield at Kensington
Lived Slapton, near Kingsbridge, Devon
1974He suffered a stroke and died and was cremated at Plymouth
His ashes were buried in the churchyard at Slapton
MARRIED (2)09 NOV 1916Violet Victoria ,daughter of Major Victor Blake
of Hayling Island, Hants
One son and a one daughter
25 JAN 1949She died at The Cottage, Loddiswell
28 JAN 1949Funeral at Loddiswell 2 p.m. (Friday)
SON 04 OCT 1919Francis Andrew Tollemache Halliday, born at Chatham
MBE in New Years Honours List 1957
Lived: Downwood Lodge, Came Down, Dorchester
1954 lived at West Mead, West Lane, Hayling Island
Commissioned RM 01 SEP 1937
Trained at Stonehouse, Portsmouth and Eastney
JAN 1944 he married at Bourne, near Farnham, to Jean Campbell daughter of late Captain William Simpson Kelso, Coldstream Guards. She wasserving with the Land Army at Bentworth
15 MAR 1954 son Roger Francis Tollemache Halliday, born
at Portsmouth
1978 Roger married Lavina Jane Lucas
1956-1958Lived Tudor Lodge, Kirkella Road, Yelverton, Devon
1959-1961Served at Eastney and lived at Bondfield, Old Burseldon
18 DEC 1961He retired from the Royal Marines asa Major
Lived; Downwood Lodge, Came Down, near Dorchester
1962-1967Lived; Knowle Cottage, Lustleigh, Devon
DAUGHTER21 JAN 1918Elizabeth Jane Halliday born
1948 married Henry Wilson Sutherland of
23 Rose Hill, Dorking, Surrey
Lived Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire
1949 daughter Alison Victoria Sutherland, born
1951 daughter Catriona Lucy Sutherland, born
1954 daughter Fenella Jane Sutherland, born
NOV 1977 she married Charles McMorland Hunter and lived
in London
The family moved to Cross Park, near Woodleigh, Devon
when Henry retired
MILITARY CAREER
1 SEP 1889Commissioned Second Lieutenant RMLI, Plymouth Division RMLI
OCT 1889Royal Naval College until JUN 1890
JUL 1890Lieutenant at Plymouth
27 OCT 1891HMS Invincible [Coast Guard in Southampton Water]
Plymouth
RM Depot at Walmer, Kent
JUL 1893Qualified as a Gunnery Instructor at Hythe
Plymouth
13 DEC 1894HMS Pembroke, Depot Ship at Chatham
17 JAN 1896HMS Magnificent, Flagship of the Channel Squadron
1 AUG 1896Transferred to Portsmouth Division
31 JAN 1898Captain
1898-1899Passed equitation course at Woolwich
FEB 1899HMS Orlando for China
29 MAY 1900Landed at Taku and was sent up the River Peiho with 50 men of the RMLI from the ship Proceeded to Pekin as Legation Guard
Was embarked with the other wounded in SS Jelunga and returned to England
Patient at Miss Agnes Kayser's hospital for officers at Grosvenor Square,London
[The hospital is now King Edward VII's Hospital]
12 SEP 1900Brevet of Major for Distinguished Service in the Field
NOV 1901HMS Galatea [Coast Guard]
1904HMS Empress of India, Home Fleet in command of a unit of the RMLI
RN College, Greenwich until JUN 1904
JUN 1906Passed Staff College
2 APR 1908Major
APR 1908-1911Royal Military College, Sandhurst and Commander of a Company of Gentlemen Cadets
GSO 2nd Grade
1912Royal Naval War College Staff at Portsmouth
HMS Sapho
1914-1915Malta; General Staff Officer [GSO 2)
Seconded to the Army as a General Staff Officer 2
2 APR 1915Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel
14 JUL 1915Lieutenant-Colonel
1915-1916Served in France GSO 1 (Army)
OCT 1916Canadian Training Division at Bramshott
JUL 1917Assistant Director of Operations, Admiralty War Staff, HMS President
c1918Member of the British Delegation to the Peace Conference
1 OCT 1920Colonel, Forton Barracks, Gosport, as Second Commandant
1920Attended the burial of Britain's Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey
1 JAN 1923Colonel Commandant, RM Depot at Deal until 1925
JUN 1924-1925ADC to KGV
11 DEC 1925Major General
16 JUN 1927Lieutenant-General
1 OCT 1927-31 Adjutant-General RM
1 OCT 1928General
1 OCT 1930Retired
1933-46Gentleman Usher of the Sword of State and conveyed it on State openings
1936-1950Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Devon
MEDALS
Victoria Cross
CB 3 JUN 1913
1 JAN 1930 Neck Badge and Star of the Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
China Medal with the Defence of Legation clasp
1914-15 Star
British War Medal 1914-1920
Allied Victory Medal
1935 King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
1937 King George VI Coronation Medal
1953 Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal
NOTES
HMS Orlando Memorial, Victoria Park, Portsea
His medals and his folding lamp are in the R.M. Museum, Eastney
Honorary Colonel-Commandant Plymouth Division RM
03 MAY 1966 Memorial Service to him at St Andrew's Church, Eastney, was attended by Admiral of the Fleet, Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Halliday Crescent, Eastney named after him
Memorial to him in St Andrews Church, Henderson Road, Eastney unveiled 23 APR 1967 (The church has since been developed into housing)
Halliday House, a part of the old Royal Marine's Barracks has been named after him [1996]
President of the British Legion for many years [?branch?]
Times Wednesday 06 APR 1887, Issue 32039, page 1/1 Death
03 APR 1887 Frances Tollemache Halliday, late Captain of the 24th Regiment at St jean de Luz, Basses, Pyranees, France
Dwelling:Rectory
Census Place:St Martin, Guernsey
Source:FHL Film 1342353 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5630 Folio 83 Page 1
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
Charles D.P. ROBINSONW66 MEngland
Rector of St Martins
Rel:Head
Occ:Rector Of St Martin
Mary E. ROBINSONU34 FJersey, Channel Islands
Daughter
Rel:Daur
Occ:Rectors Daur
Edith E. ROBINSONU24 FAlderney, Guernsey
Daughter
Rel:Daur
Occ:Rectors Daur
Ellen L. ROBINSONU19 FAlderney, Guernsey
Daughter
Rel:Daur
Occ:Rectors Daur
Lewis S.T. HALLIDAY10 MEngland
Grandson/Scholar
Rel:Grandson
Occ:Scholar
Francis C.T. HALLIDAY7 MEngland
Grandson/Scholar
Rel:Grandson
Occ:Scholar
Elizabeth COWLEYU41 FEngland
Cook
Rel:Serv
Occ:Cook (Domestic Serv)
Ada COOKU21 FSark, Channel Islands
Housemaid
Institution:"Les Salines" Courtes Fallaize
Census Place:St Martin, Guernsey
Source:FHL Film 1342353 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5630 Folio 67 Page 17
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
Stratford Charles HALLIDAYM39 MEngland
Captain RA (Active List)
Rel:Head
Occ:Capt Royal Artillary (Active List)
Annie Louisa HALLIDAYM36 FSt Heliers, Jersey
Wife
Rel:Wife
Stratford Dobree Tollemache HALLIDAY6 MEngland
Son
Rel:Son
Alexander Tollemache HALLIDAY4 MSt Martin, Guernsey
Son
Rel:Son
Eleanor Maud HALLIDAY3 FEngland
Daughter
Rel:Daur
John Fector Tollemache HALLIDAY10 mMEngland
Son
Rel:Son
Elizabeth BLAITU34 FSt Peter Port, Guernsey
Domestic Servant
The Times 27 JAN 1949, Issue 51290, Death, page 1, column 2
At The Cottage, Loddiswell, Violet Victoria, beloved wife of General Sir Lewis Halliday. On January 25, 1949. Funeral at Loddiswell, 2 p.m. Friday January 28, 1949
KD (Devonshire) 1939, page 896/2
General Sir LSTH VC KCB DL, The Cottage, Loddiswell, Kingsbridge
The Navy and Army Illustrated
Vol. XV, No 299, 25 OCT 1902, full page picture of Orlando Memorial, page 130
Vol. XIV, No 285, 19 JUL 1902, Orlando and Bell, page 453
KD (Hampshire & Isle of Wight) 1935, page 11, JP (Hants) Francis Charles Tollemache Halliday MVO of Box Cottage, Preston Candover, Basingstoke
0512HALLIDAY, Lewis Stratford Tollemache VC, later Sir Lewis VC KCB
Rank/Service: Captain, later Lt Gen - RM Light Infantry
Born: 14 May 1870 - Medstead House, Medstead near Alton, Hants.
Parents: Eld s. Lt Col Stratford Charles Halliday RA (4)
EducationQueen Elizabeth College, Guernsey 1880
Ranks, AppointmentsGaz. 2nd Lt RMLI 1 Sep 1889: Plymouth Div: Royal Naval College Oct
1889/Jun 1890: Lt Jul 1890: to Plymouth: Coastguard Duty, Southampton Water, HMS Invincible 27 Oct 1891
Plymouth: RM Depot Walmer. 1st Class Gunnery Instr. Jul 1893: Plymouth: to HMS Pembroke, Depot Ship, Chatham 13 Dec 1894/17 Jan 1896: Asst. Instr. of Gunnery, HMS
Magnificent (Channel): to Portsmouth Div. Aug 1896: Capt 31 Jan 1898: Equitation Course, Woolwich Feb 1899: to cruiser HMS Orlando: to China: to Pekin, wounded 24 Jan 1900, MID: to UK SS Jelunga: Hosp. for Officers, Grosvenor Sq: B/Maj 12 Sep 1900: Coastguard
Duties HMS Galatea Nov 1901: to HMS Empress of India (Home Fleet): RN College Greenwich (Hon. Cert 1904): Grad. Staff College 1906: Maj 2 Apr 1908: 1908/11 Coy. Cdr.
& GSO2 Sandhurst: to HMS Sappho: Staff, RN War Coll. & RN War Staff 1912: Sec. GSO Malta, sec. Army 1914: to France: Lt Col 14 Jul 1915: to Can. Trg. Div. Bramshott Oct 1916: Asst. Dir. (Ops) (5) Admiralty War Staff, HMS President Jul 1917: Sec. Special Duty
15 Aug 1917: Member British Delegation to Peace Conference: Col 1920: 2nd Cmdt. Forton: Col. Cmdt. RM Depot, Deal 1923/25: ADC to HM King George V 1924: Maj Gen Dec 1925: Lt Gen. Jun 1927: Adjt-Gen RM 1 Oct 1927/30 (1) Retired 1930 (2)
Honours & AwardsVC LG 1 Jan 1901 (3), Adm 25 Aug 1917, LG 4 Sep 1917 p9149 (8) CB 3
Jun 1913 (7), KCB 1931 (2): China Medal/clasp "Defence of Legations":
1914-15 Star: BWM, VM, Jubilee Medal 1935, Coronation Medal 1937, Coronation Medal 1953: £50 gratuity for wounds
(Award) action: VC China 24 Jun 1900 - British Legation, Peking
Decorated: VC 25 Jul 1901 by HM King Edward VII at St James' Palace
Medal HistoryMedals now held by RM Museum, Eastney
Post Service: Hon Col RM (Plymouth) 1930/40: DL Devon 1930s-1950: RM ADC to HM
King George V Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State 1933-36: President
of local branch RBL (6)
- Residing at Loddiswell near Kingsbridge & Salcombe, South Devon. later moving to Dorking, Surrey
Family: m. 1st wife Apr 1908 - Florence Clara died 1909 (childbirth) dau.
Brig Gen. WT Budgen DSO
Son born 1909
m. 2nd wife 1916 - Violet Victoria died 1949 dau. Maj Victor Blake of Hayling Island, Hants.
Son
Dau.
Grandson of Maj Francis Augustus Halliday RMA Feb 1830
Died: 9 Mar 1966 - Dorking Hospital, Surrey aged 95 (10)
Buried: Cremated 15 Mar 1966 at Randall's Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, Surrey Ref. 3188 Ashes buried in family grave, Medstead Churchyard
Memorials: AHeadstone (Cross) at Medstead
BMemorial in St Andrew's Church, Eastney, Hants
CStreetname: Halliday Crescent, Gosport, Hants.
DPlacename: Halliday House, RM Barracks, Eastney
EMemorial at HMS Orlando, Victoria Park, Portsea Hants
Remarks: Nov 1920 one of 100 VCs participating in the burial of the Unknown
Warrior
Bibliography: Refer to Victoria Cross Bibliography (VCB) 217pp hb
John Mulholland/Alan Jordan & VC Research Group, Spink, London 1999
C130, L45, P5, P59, W90
References:AMagazines
1OMRS Journal
aNo 152 p151 "Victoria Crosses Awarded to the Royal Marines" (9)
bNo 153 p176/177 Correspondence (SWF Martyn) arising from A1a.
quoting letter from Halliday VC about the action
2Journal of the RM "Globe & Laurel" 1965 n.d.
3This England Magazine c.1984 - England's Heroes
CBooks
1VCB mentions and general references
B14, H52, M124, P35, P36, T10/1981, 1988, 1997
A Specimen signature is shown in S100
DPublic
1Canon WM Lummis VC files at NAM, Imperial War Museum & War Office
Library
FReferences awaiting clarification
1For Valour: Awards of the Victoria Cross to The Royal Marines n.p. n.d.
10pp
Notes: (1)VCB L45 records prom. to Gen. during 1927-30
(2)VCB L45 states KCB Jan 1930 & ret. Oct 1930. Ref A2. confirms ret. 1930
(3)In 1965 Gen. Halliday himself declared this citation to be "Highly incorrect"
(4)Ref A3. gives father as Stratford E Halliday
(5)Ref A3. states Asst Dir. (Plans)
(6)Not yet known whether this is Devon or Dorking
(7)VCB C130 states 1914
(8) Secondment for special duties
(9)Part 7pp article N V Jago, giving brief details and citation of each of the 10 Royal Marine
recipients of the VC
(10)At his death was the oldest living recipient
London Gazette 1st January 1901 (3)
On 24 June, the enemy consisting of Boxers and Imperial troops made a fierce attack on the west wall of the British Legation, setting fire to the west gate of the south stable quarters, and taking cover in the building which adjoined the wall. The fire, which spread to part of the stables, and through which and the smoke a galling fire was kept up by the Imperial troops, was with difficulty extinguished, and as the *presence of the enemy in the adjoining buildings was a grave danger to the Legation, Captain Strouts, with my sanction, organised a sortie to drive them out
A hole was made in the Legation wall, and Captain Halliday, in charge of 20 Marines, led the way into the buildings and almost immediately engaged a party of the enemy. Before he could use his revolver however, he was shot through the left shoulder at point blank range the bullet fracturing the shoulder and carrying away part of the lung
Notwithstanding the extremely severe nature of the wound Captain Halliday killed three of his assailants and telling his men to "carry on, and not mind him" walked back unaided to the hospital
refusing escort and aid so as not to diminish the number of men engaged on the sortie. For some days the surgeons feared the wound was mortal but I am happy to say that, though still in the convalescent hospital Captain Halliday is out of danger
Report from Sir Claude MacDonald, Dean of the Diplomatic Colon