Preston John Hurman
Preston John Hurman (26 January 1915 – 12 November 2005) was an Army major during World War II and afterwards an estate agent in Woking, Surrey.[1][2][3]
Major Preston John Hurman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 26 January 1915 Pimlico, London, England |
| Died | 12 November 2005 (aged 90) Hindhead, West Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Other work | Estate Agent |
Early life[edit]
Preston John Hurman (John) was born at 36 Westbourne St, Pimlico the third son of William Hurman, Foreman at London Electricity Board, Westminster and Alice Henrietta Purkiss. Alice, the daughter of Preston Henry Purkiss, died of Peritonitis two months later. Young Preston was sent off in 1917 to Barnado's in Brighton until the age of 11. He rejoined the family home in Wandsworth from 1926. From the age of 14 he began work as a factory worker then delivery driver. At 17 he left home and rented a flat in Kensington where he worked in sales for McHughes Silk Stocking Company and later as Sales Manager at Banham Security.[4][5][6]
Galitzines[edit]
At McHuhes Hurman met Prince Emanuel Galitzine, the younger son of Prince Vladimir Galitzine, and by 1934 aged 20 was invited to live with the Galitzine family in Croxted Road. He was treated as an adopted son to Princess Ekaterina Galitzine. He joined the young Galitzines on trips to the South of France, where they stayed with their parents' friend and Russian emigre, Betty Buzzard, at Manoir de l'Etang in Mougins. In 1939 as war broke out he rushed back from another trip to Mougins with other friends to join up.[7][8]
World War Two[edit]
He joined the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). He was soon selected for a commission and before the Officer training began an unusual opportunity came along, as an inveterate volunteer his old friends, the Galitzines (who knew Mannerheim very well), persuaded him to go to help Finland during The Winter War in her valiant fight against Russia. Photos of Emmanuel Galitzine under his pseudonym as Edward Graham and Hurman appeared in Picture Post magazine – but Finland had capitulated before Hurman could be released from the army.[9][10]
After being commissioned from the ranks in,[11] he was posted to Eaton Hall near Farrigdon, Oxfordshire. Where he soon voluteered for a posting to North Africa with the Eight Army. His unit was 345 Lines osf Communications Company RASC. He had a narrow escape during the retreat from general Rommel's fast advancing forces. He met General Neame, Gen O'Connor Brigadier Combe and Lieutenant Lord Ranfurly at a Y Junction. They were going to take the mountainous but shorter route bypassing Derna. His heavily loaded vehicles needed to take the longer coastal route. An advancing enemy patrol captured the Generals - the story is recounted in "To War with Whitaker" by Lady Ranfurly.[12]
In 1941, reaching the new front line safely Hurman found himself under siege at Tobruk. After six months under siege he was evacuated to Palestine for recuperation, having lost over 2 stone in weight. He soon returned to take part in the Relief of Tobruk operation with the 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats).[13]
In 1942, he was posted to The Sudan Defence Force, where he soon volunteered to work with the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) and the newly formed Special Air Service (SAS), at Kufra. Hurman was Mentioned in Dispatches for his efforts during the Raid on Jalo.[14][15]
In 1943, he was posted to 30 Corp's 231 Malta Brigade as the Brigade RASC officer (BRASCO) for their preparations and participation during Operation Husky. He took part in the Amphibious assault landing on Amber beach at Marzamemi and retaking of Sicily during which, he took part in a counterattack against German Para landing at Regalbuto Ridge. During the early landings in Italy, he had a close escape when a German artillery strike hit an ammunition dump that he was walking towards, the resulting explosion blew him back down the road and caused some mild concussion. A full and detailed account of 231 Malta Brigade's part in this campaign called "Roys Boys" using personal diaries and photographs has recently been published by Christopher Jary.[16][17][18]
In 1944, Hurman was promoted to major as officer commanding 536 DUKW company RASC. He landed on the eastern edge of Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day at 0730 hrs. On D+2 he was injured in a mine explosion. He was evacuated to UK, and six weeks later he returned to re-join his company to take part in crossing the Seine, the advance to Holland with 30 Corps and 1st Canadian Corps taking part in Operation Market Garden and Operation Plunder the Rhine Crossing.[19][20]
Post war[edit]
On cessation of hostilities he was tasked as "Town Major" of Seelze west of Hannover during the recovery and restitution of Germany. He was then posted back to the UK and De-Mobilised at Stoughton Barracks, Guildford. In 1946 he married Kathleen Macleod (1928–2013) Prince Nicholas Galitzine was his best man. His wedding certificates shows Mrs Elizabeth Buzzard of Cannes as his adopted mother. Princess Ekaterina Galitzine having been killed during a German Bombing raid in 1941.[21]
Estate agency[edit]
Soon after the war he established Preston & Co Estate Agents in Woking and worked there until retirement in 1980 and sold the business. He was involved with much post war development in the Woking area.[22][23][24]
Retirement[edit]
Prior to retirement Hurman had established a strong interest in French 19th-century bronze Animalier sculpture. He was so well known at the London Auction Houses that when Christopher Payne of Sotheby's took over the Bronze department that Hurman and his wife Kate were introduced to him and helped him write a book on the subject called "Animals in Bronze". The book was published in 1986. He lived his final years in Haslemere, and for his 90th lllBirthday January 2005 lllHis younger son Jim organised a family lunch trip in a WW2 Amphibious DUKW. They were driven to the Wheatsheaf Pub in Grayswood; the event was published in The Haslemere Herald. Hurman died on 12 November 2005 in the Hindhead Nursing Home aged 90.[25][26][27]
References[edit]
- ↑ The Surrey Advertiser, County Times 07 Dec 1946,Page 6. Accessed 26th February 2024.
- ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 761/1A entry 203. Accessed 26th February 2024.
- ↑ "Hurman, P J in UK, Army List, 1945". Forces War Records.
- ↑ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1935 for Alice Henrietta Purkiss St Barnabas, Pimlico > 1897-1914 p.152. Accessed 27 February 2024.
- ↑ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 Accessed 27 February 2024.
- ↑ Hurman Family Archive dated March 2003. accessed 26th February 2024
- ↑ Imperial War Museum collections/item/object/1030008843 pages 4,5,6,8,20 and 32.
- ↑ Buzzard, Charles Norman (1946). <Shining Hours>. London: Collins. p. 180. Search this book on
- ↑ Supplement to the London Gazette 21 May 1940 p.3022 Accessed 26th February 2024.
- ↑ Picture Post Magazine March 16th 1940 Vol 6 No 11 Accessed 27th February 2024 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John Hurman and Emanuel Galitzine as Edward Graham.jpg
- ↑ "Page 398 UK, WWII, London Gazette, Military Notices, 1939-1945". Forces War Records.
- ↑ https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030008843 page 9.Accessed 26 February 2024
- ↑ Imperial War Museum/collections/item/object/1030008843 pages 10-16.Accessed 26 February 2024 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030008843
- ↑ Supplement to The London Gazette 22nd June 1943
- ↑ Imperial War Museum/collections/item/object/1030008843 pages 18-22.Accessed 26 February 2024
- ↑ Malta Strikes Back by Major RT Gilchrist Naval & Military Press pages 22 and 52-54 accessed 27th February 2024.
- ↑ Roy's Boys by Christopher Jary 2021 Pages 15,33,37,47,56,74,89,124,137,140,161,173,181and 185.
- ↑ Imperial War Museum/collections/item/object/1030008843 pages 25-28.Accessed 26 February 2024
- ↑ National Archives WO 171 2493 536 Coy RASC War diary Jan-Dec 1944 Accessed 23 June 2023
- ↑ National Archives WO 171 6314 536 Coy RASC War diary Jan- May 1945 Accessed 23 June 2023
- ↑ The Surrey Advertiser, County Times 07 Dec 1946,Page 6. Accessed 26 February 2024.
- ↑ The Surrey Advertiser, County Times 19 Aug 1961, Page 13 accessed 27th February 2024.
- ↑ The Surrey Advertiser, County Times 23 Jun 1962, Page 9 Accessed 27th February 2024
- ↑ The Surrey Advertiser, County Times 10 Nov 1962, Page 2 accessed 27th February 2024.
- ↑ Haslemere Herald 11 February 2005 front page. Accessed 27 February 2024.
- ↑ Animals in Bronze By Christopher Payne Antique Collectors Club 1986 P.9 Accessed 27 February 2024.
- ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 761/1A entry 203. Accessed 26th February 2024
Further reading[edit]
- Gill & Groves, Ronald & John (1946). Club Route into Europe: The story of 30 Corps in the European Campaign. Werner Degener. Search this book on
- Gilchrist, Major R T. Malta Strikes Back: The story of 231 Brigade. Naval & Military Press Ltd. Search this book on
- Jary, Christopher (2021). Roys Boys: The Devons, Hampshires & Dorsets in Sicily July - September 1943. Semper Fidelis Publications. ISBN 978-0-9929033-8-1. Search this book on
- Payne, Christopher (1986). Animals in Bronze:. Antique Collectors Club. ISBN 0907462456. Search this book on
External links[edit]
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