James Henry Skene

Hener was Isadora Duncan's pianist from 1908-1913. In 1913 he toured Russia with her. There is a suggestion that he was also her lover. He performed in the BBC proms in 1909, playing Camille Saint-Saens, Symphony No3 in C Minor, Organ in the Queens Hall on 18th August. He was in the same bohemian circle as Aleister Crowley and it would seem that although Crowley incorporated Hener into one of his plays, the two never really got on. Crowley refers to Hener as a 'prig'. 11/10/11 Hener invited Crowley to a party at the Savoy, Crowley went but only to meet Isadora Duncan. He enlisted into the 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment at the outbreak of the first World War. He was injured in the leg, three days before he was killed on 14th July. Family tradition says that he was completely blown up and there was nothing left to be buried!

The medal index card on the Dorking museum site shows that James was in the 5th Battalion of the Berkshire Regiment, reaching acting Sergeant. He was commissioned in April 1916 into the 4th Battalion (normally this would have been to a different regiment) He went to France on 26 May 1916 and was listed as missing on 14 July 1916, later changed to died that day. The war diaries at thewardrobe.org.uk of 2/4th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment give some details of his patrols. He is also in a group photo See below:

1916-05-25 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location England, Salisbury Entry Battn as in appendix (A) marched out of PARKHOUSE CAMP, SALISBURY, in 2 parties and entrained at TIDWORTH at 2.20pm and 3.40pm for SOUTHAMPTON. Battn (Less 6 officers, 192 OR and Transport) embarked for HAVRE arriving 4.am 26.5.16 (6 officers, 192 OR remained SOUTHAMPTON to load transport). Appendix (A). Marching Out State 25.5.16 Officers Others Lewis Guns Horses Two Wheel Vehicles 4 Wheel 35 850 4 64 4 17 In Hospital 30 Left Behind 2 24 Absent 3 Total 37 907 4 64 4 17 Nominal Roll of Officers Proceeding Overseas Lt Col 2nd Lieutenants M Wheeler Skene J H Brooke C E Majors Lambert E O C Webb G B R Simmonds J H Gale H J Brooke G A Captains Worlock G L Cecil C Anderson I M M Abbott G S Whittaker R Gibson R R Cave C J D Heathorne A T Lucas E P Hutchings D A Hadden F L Baker D C Palmer A L Bowles R D H Reeves J A Aylett E C Hawkes G H Lieutenants Dowson O J Adjutant Lieut J W Dilke Freeth R V C QM Lieut W H Morris Davis G W MO Lieut J H Deacon Imray R G Holland R

1916-06-23 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location France, Trenches Entry Quiet day. Heavy shelling of our new saps at night. 2/Lt Skene out with small patrol after shelling ceased to see if enemy approaching sap. Casualties 1 OR wounded.

1916-06-25 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location France, Trenches Entry Quiet day. Heavy shelling of enemy front line at 10-10.30. At 11.15 he opened intense MG fire on our line, probably 20 MG's, also Rifle Grenades and Trench Mortars. Ceased about midnight. Patrol under 2/Lt Skene went out 12.25 to report on enemy wire. Found it cut. Party fired on at close range. Skene carried a wounded man back to our line and received slight bayonet wound in leg (at Duty). 2/Lieut Brooke also out and report wire not well cut in front of "A" Coy. Casualties 1 OR wounded.

1916-06-26 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location France, Trenches Entry Quiet day and night. At 12.30am on 27th patrols under 2/Lieuts Skene, Baker, Bowles and Waddington (attached from 2/6 GLOUSTERS for instruction) went out to report on wire. 2/Lieut Baker hit in both arms. Waddington lost way and not seen again, supposed killed. Very wet night. 1 OR wounded.

1916-07-08 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location France, Ferme Du Bois Entry Morning quiet. Enemy Artillery and MG's active during the night. "A" Coy changed positions with "C" Coy. Patrol under 2nd Lieut R D H Bowles examined enemy's wire by LA BASSEE Road and found it uncut. A patrol under 2/Lt J H Skene visited Enemy's wire at S.10.d.4.9. and cut some gaps.

1916-07-10 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location France, Ferme Du Bois Entry Left Coy ("C") took over additional 500 yds of French farm from 2/5 ROYAL WARWICKS. "A" Coy moved back into Reserve at Bn HQ. 2 Patrols under 2/Lieut J H SKENE and 2/Lieut G L WORLOCK out at night. 2/Lieuts H E BINEMANN, G H ALLEN, F W BUSH, FDC WILLIAMS and G C MILLIS attached to Battn from EAST SURREY REGT (Casualty 1 OR wounded).

1916-07-13 Regiment. 2/4th Royal Berkshire Location France, Croix Barbee Entry Cleaning up. Preparation for Raid by party from "A" Coy, consisting of Capt E P LUCAS, LIEUT O V DOWSON, 2Lt J H SKENE, 2/Lt G A BROOKE, and 100 OR. Operation Orders and Supplementary Orders attached. Owing to casualties in RE party carrying Bangalore Torpedo only 2/Lieut J H SKENE with a small party were able to get through enemy's wire. Raiding party returned to our Trenches at 10.50pm (Casualties 1 Officer Killed (Lieut R V C F FREETH) 3 wounded (Capt E P LUCAS, Lieut O J DOWSON and 2/Lieut G A BROOKE) 1 missing (2/Lieut J H SKENE) Other ranks 6K, 14W, 1 Shell shock, 12 missing.

SKENE, JAMES HENRY

• Rank: Second Lieutenant
• Date of Death:14/07/1916
• Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment 4th Bn.
• Panel Reference: Panel 93 to 95.
• Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL
• CWGC