Prince Maximilian von Hessen

[wilkokcl]

Can anyone provide details of the WWI service of Prince Maximilian of Hesse? - killed aged 21 serving in the Grand Ducal Hessen Dragoon Regiment. From what I can gather, he was captured by the British and provided them with a locket proving he was a grandson of Queen Victoria, but subsequently died 12 October 1914.

His mother was Landgravine Margarethe von Preussen - younger sister of Kaiser Willhelm II.

Any info much appreciated,

Mark

[eltoro1960]

Apparently this was what happened

"In October 1914, a company of the Germans Death's Head Hussars billeted in St, Jean monastery near Aisne. The British 3rd. Cavalry Brigade (16th Lancers I think) , which had also refuged nearby after the Mons retreat, learnt that the Germans were in St.Jean and on the dawn of October 13, they advanced towards the monastery and fired over it.

Prince Maximilian, who was in the monastery. ran from it towards the line of tethred horses but he was hit as his foot reached the stirrup. When the fire stopped, the British found him, lying on the ground. He was seriously wounded and he was told by the doctor he would live only an hour or so. The dying Prince requested the doctor to return to his mother a locket hanged from a chain around his neck, containing a picture of her.

The next day the doctor was killed but his widow sent the locket to Queen Mary (King George of Great Britain's consort), who sent it back to Princess Margaret, via Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden. Maximilian's body was secretly buried in the village of Caestre,by the local people, who had learnt he was the German Kaiser's nephew. The priest refused to identify the grave until the Germans had left Belgium and a compensation was paid. His brother Wolfgang appealed for help to the British authorities. Eventually, after an enquiry was made, Maximilian's body was returned to his family."

Hope this helps

[wilkokcl]

Thanks for the information John: I've not seen an account of his death in such detail before. Is he now buried in a military cemetary or perhaps back at the family mausoleum in Friedrichshof?

Mark