Husey had always been a highly respected and popular officer, but the demands of war elicited further Qualities. Stories and anecdotes of his bravery, leadership and resolution are legion. He was genuinely one of those commanders whose men would, literally, follow him anywhere. Husey always led by example and was determined to be in on every action in which the LRB was involved. For example, as Second in Command in 1916, he was ordered to remain at the transport lines during the diversionary attack by the 56th Division at Gommecourt on 1 July. Husey complained so bitterly and made such a nuisance of himself, that the job of liaison officer with the adjoining 48th Division was created especially for him to keep him quiet. This allowed him to get up into the front trenches and take a more active part in the battle.
During the course of the war, he was wounded four times and was awarded a bar to his DSO for leading the resistance to the German onslaught at Gavrelle on 28 March 1918. The LRB came out of that battle with 63 men. Shortly afterwards, in April 1918, Husey was appointed to command the 25th Brigade.
Although he had temporarily commanded two brigades of the 56th Division, this latest appointment was something of a surprise. It was still fairly unusual for a Territorial officer to rise to the rank of Brigadier-General, and for one to be appointed to command a brigade of regulars, was especially unusual. Husey was clearly a little unsure and apprehensive of how he would be received when he reached the 8th Division, then supposedly resting and reorganising near the Chemin des Dames. Reports following his death were to confirm that, regulars or not, the battalions and staff of the division quickly appreciated Husey's qualities.
The battalions of 25th Brigade lay immediately to the south of Lt-Col Buckle and the 2/Northants of 24th Brigade. When the German attack commenced on 27 May, Husey was at brigade HQ near Le Cholera crossroads. With the help of his Brigade Major, Capt Pascoe, he organised the defence of the HQ. Pascoe was killed (1) and, in danger of being surrounded, Husey led the remnants of his command back towards the Aisne and the village of Gernicourt. Taking position at the northern end of a bridge spanning the river, Husey ordered that it should be blown as soon as what was left of his command had crossed it. Men streamed past him as gas and high explosive rained down upon his position. Husey had always told friends he would never be taken alive and what happened next is unclear. When last seen, he was desperately firing at a horde of Germans as they closed in upon his position. One report later suggested that, although Husey was severely wounded, his resistance was only finally ended by a rifle butt to the head. He was evacuated by the Germans but died from his wounds two days later. He was originally buried by the Germans in the little village of Le Thour, some 15 miles to the north-east. However, after the Armistice, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the British cemetery at Vendresse.
Ralph Husey was 36 years old when he died and, besides the decorations mentioned above, was also mentioned in despatches four times and awarded the Montenegrin Order of Danilo (4th Class). Educated at Marlborough, Husey was fiercely patriotic and had an overwhelming faith in the Qualities of the British Territorial. Friends and colleagues constantly referred to his iron resolve and cheery nature, a man who would never let the conditions, no matter how extreme, cause him to lose his sense of humour or duty. An exceptionally brave and dedicated soldier, Husey lost his life in the manner all sources agreed he would have intended - leading from the front.
Footnote.-
1 Like Lt-Col Buckle, Capt Basil Pascoe's body was later recovered and he too is buried in La Ville-aux-Bois British Cemetery.
Sources
- The History of the London Rifle Brigade (Constable, 1921)
- Mitchinson, K W Gentlemen and Officers: The impact and experience of mar on a Territorial Regiment (Imperial War Museum, 1995)
