Lt Hugh Launcelot Cass (29 April 1891 – 19 June 1915), born in India, the elder son of Tommy and Betty Cass, brother of Geoffrey Cass. Hugh was educated at Malvern College, where he excelled at shooting and cricket, before joining the Inns of Court Yeomanry OTC. He went back to India in 1912 as Assistant Manager for the Oxford University Press. He volunteered as a Sergeant in France over the autumn and winter of 1914-15 before being Gazetted to the South Wales Borderers in February 1915. He left Pembroke Dock for Gallipoli soon afterwards.
In June 1915, Hugh took part in intense fighting at Gully Ravine, had a few days break at Gully Beach and then returned to the front line on 17th June. At 3am on 19th June, Hugh led repeated attacks at Turkey Trench, a branch of Gully Ravine that was renowned for snipers, and was shot dead. There is more detail about his life here. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Twelve Tree Copse in Gallipoli.
He was the love of Dora’s life and she maintained contact with his family until 1932, when she turned her attention to John and his family. She always kept his letters, safely locked away in her mother’s vanity case.
This is Hugh’s penultimate letter to Dora, dated 4th June, 1915, when he foresees the possibility of his death. Transcript below.
4th June 1915
My Darling Little One
I had a very sweet and dear letter from you yesterday which was a great joy to me.
Dearest, I know very well that you are no sort of coward over this business and the way you bear yourself in it makes me very proud of you. But remember this, sweetheart, – if the worst does come, pride must come on Top of everything – and you must remember that the moment you hear any bad news, because if you let the other Thing get hold of you first you’ll find it very hard to shake it off. My sweetheart, God shield you from all that – but these Things do happen to others like ourselves – may happen – Tho’ in my present good spirits I’d lay 100 to 1 against it as far as I am concerned.
Goodbye my darling – God bless you. Big hug.
Your Hugh xx
A Bitter Equation 