Captain Maynard Percy Andrews MA was born in Whitchurch, Shropshire, the only son of Matilda Frances (née Clarke), of Harrogate, and the Rev Percy Andrews.
He was educated at Wem School, Shropshire, Oriel College Oxford and The Sorbonne in Paris.
On leaving university, he studied modern language teaching in Germany and France before becoming a school master at Leicester, Bolton and at Lancing College [1908 to 1910]. While at Lancing he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Officer Training Corps [29th October 1909].
He moved to Yorkshire and was appointed headmaster at Hipperholme Grammar School [1911].
On 22nd April 1897, he married Charlotte Jane Gray [1872-19??] from East Lothian, Scotland, in Edinburgh.
Children:
The family lived at
On moving to Hipperholme, he was attached to the 1st/4th Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant [21st July 1911].
He was promoted to Lieutenant [1st October 1911], and to Captain [October 1914].
He was a member of the Brighouse Territorials.
He landed with his battalion in France at Boulogne [14th April 1915] as second-in-command of A Company.
At Ypres, on Saturday 14th August 1915, the Germans had shelled the trenches heavily from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The battalion were in trenches about a mile to the north-west of Ypres when a shell burst amongst a working party of 6 men who were making dugouts, killing 3 men outright and wounding 3 others.
Due to the narrowness of the trench, it was found necessary to carry the wounded over the top of the trench, over open ground and in full view of the enemy. Around 5:00 pm, when it was almost dark, Company Commander Captain Andrews volunteered to accompany the rescue team – which included Private John Shelley, Lance-Corporal Charles Wood, and Private G. Holt - who went to do this.
The enemy spotted them and opened fire.
Captain Andrews was hit by a bullet in the throat and died shortly afterwards.
Shelley, Wood and Holt were recommended for an award for distinguished service.
He was buried at Colne Valley Cemetery [C 7].
His Brigadier wrote
Your husband was killed whilst not only doing his duty, but going almost beyond it in assisting wounded men. He died a noble death. I can only say that his battalion has lost, in my opinion, its very best officer, and the Brigade a most gallant and exceptionally good officer. A short time ago, I was pleased to able to tell your husband that the Major General commanding the Division had mentioned to me that in all his visits to the trenches, and many regiments, he had seldom or never met any officer who was so thoroughly conversant with every detail of his duty, as your husband. The Major General told me he was one of the best company officers he had ever met. I can endorse that opinion thoroughly
Another officer wrote
Your husband was heroically helping to carry some of his wounded over a very exposed piece of ground when he was shot in the head and died shortly afterwards. He need not have been doing it, but he went because he would not send another on so dangerous a task. It was an act of magnificent calculated bravery, but it was to be expected of him, for he has acted so ever since he came out here. Both as a soldier and a friend he has set a standard which we can only set before ourselves as an ideal. That is the legacy he has left us and it shows to you in some small way what lengths he went to in serving his country, and how nobly he played his part
He was mentioned in Sir John French's despatches [1st January 1916].
He is mentioned on the School's war memorial, and there is a wooden carving of him
Maynard P. Andrews MA Ypres 14 August 1915 Headmaster, Soldier, Hero Sons of the School True Till Death |
This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley, John Hamblin & Alan Longbottom
Page Ref: MMA98
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