▁in ▁Hamburg . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁Within ▁weeks ▁of ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁H ess ▁en list ed ▁in ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁Bav arian ▁Field ▁Art illery ▁Regiment . ▁His ▁initial ▁posting ▁was ▁against ▁the ▁British ▁on ▁the ▁Som me ; ▁he ▁was ▁present ▁at ▁the ▁First ▁Battle ▁of ▁Y pres . ▁On ▁ 9 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁H ess ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Infantry ▁Regiment , ▁station ed ▁near ▁Ar ras . ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Iron ▁Cross , ▁second ▁class , ▁and ▁promoted ▁to ▁Gef re iter ▁( cor por al ) ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 5 . ▁After ▁additional ▁training ▁at ▁the ▁Mun ster ▁Training ▁Area , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁V ize feld web el ▁( sen ior ▁non - comm ission ed ▁officer ) ▁and ▁received ▁the ▁Bav arian ▁Military ▁Mer it ▁Cross . ▁Return ing ▁to ▁the ▁front ▁lines ▁in ▁November , ▁he ▁fought ▁in ▁Ar to is , ▁particip ating ▁in ▁the ▁battle ▁for ▁the ▁town ▁of ▁Ne uv ille - Saint - V a ast . ▁After ▁two ▁months ▁out ▁of ▁action ▁with ▁a ▁thro at ▁in fection , ▁H ess ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Verd un ▁in ▁May , ▁and ▁was ▁hit ▁by ▁sh rap nel ▁in ▁the ▁left ▁hand ▁and ▁arm ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁in ▁fighting ▁near ▁the ▁village ▁of ▁Th ia um ont . ▁After ▁a ▁month ▁off ▁to ▁recover ,