The envelope, pictured right, is a sad reminder that letters would frequently not reach their intended reader, and it would be the lot of others to return the contents to the sender who might only on receipt realise that the person was dead. In the case of this envelope, there is no accompanying letter and it may be better to remain unaware of the contents.

In Charles Tempest-Hicks’ case he had died of wounds sustained while engaged in the fighting during the Battle of Amiens on 8th August 1918, a date described by General von Ludendorff as a “black day for the German Army”. The letter, posted in Barnet on 11th August, 1918, was marked 'Deceased and returned to the sender via the Royal Engineers Army Postal Service' by the 16th Lancers Quartermaster, a Captain J McConnell. Noting the Barnet postmark and the address of Charles’ parents, it is quite likely that the sender was a family member, and clearly the 8th would have proved a “black day” for the family also.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Monday 10 April 1916

An Old Jersey Family. The Times of 6 April states that on the day before the King at Buckingham Palace conferred the Military Cross on Lieutenant Charles Tempest-Hicks, 16th Queens Lancers. This officer is the grandson of the late Charles Hemery of Gladamuir, Monckton Hadleigh, who was the great-grandson of the Captain Hemery depicted in the historical painting of the Battle of Jersey; Captain Hemery is easily found in the many portraits of this event as he is holding up his extended right hand. It would be interesting to know if descendants of other officers appearing in the historic picture have had decorations conferred on them by their King. General Tempest-Hicks, the father of the decorated officer, is remembered as a popular Adjutant in the Militia. In the Green Street Cemetery is the memorial to D Hemery, brother of Charles Hemery.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Thursday 19 October 1916

Our Defenders. Captain C E H Tempest-Hicks of the Lancers (son of Brigadier General Tempest-Hicks CB) is reported wounded. Captain Tempest-Hicks, who has been decorated by His Majesty the King for conspicuous bravery in the field, had previously been wounded in this war. Captain Tempest-Hicks was reported severely wounded but we are glad to learn he is going on very well in hospital in London. The wound from a piece of shell happily proving less severe than was anticipated. Captain Charles E H Tempest-Hicks is a grandson of the late Mr Charles Hemery whose brother, Colonel Hemery, lives at Plaisance and whose sisters of Colomberie House are well remembered.