Military History

Herbert is listed as being killed in action on 15 Jun 1918. The Battalion war diaries for the Italy campaign are not avaialbe online and the following is an extract for The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment by C.L. Kingsford:

On June 15, when the 1/5th Royalk Warwickshire was in the front line, the Austrians opened a heavy bombardment at three o'clock in the morning. At seven o'clock the infantry attack developed in strength, and, breaking  through a part of the line, drove the Royal Warwickshire back from their post a Perghele House, nearly surrounding the battalion HQ, which were close behind the front line. Major E.A.M. Bindloss, who was in command, was killed but a gallant defence was made by details under Regimental Sert. Major Townley. The 1/8th, which was in support, at once moved up to a position in front of Cesuna Church, which they held throughout the day with great gallantry against repeated attacks. The 1/7th, which was in the rear, also came up at a haste at ten o'clock.

The Austrians were then cutting the wire in front of Bruniatti, but B Company brought their Lewis-guns into action and drove them back. D Company meantime made the Cesuna Switch secure, whilst others helped the artillery to haul an eighteen-pounder up on to the high ground, whence magnificent work of the gunners saved the situation. Fighting continued all the day, but the enemy held Perghele in strength and progress was slow.

During the afternoon the 1/6th came up, and next morning joined with the other three battalions in a counter-attack. In the course of the day the 6th and 7th recovered Perghele, together with the guns which had been lost the day before, thus completely re-establishing the line; the 6th carrier their counter-attack that evening into Ambrosini across the Ghelpac.

The loss of the enemy was severe, that on our side light. In the Royal Warwickshire the 5th had 2 officers and the 6th 1 officer killed. Of the men 22 were killed , and the total of other casualties was 155. The 2nd Royal Warwickshire, who were in billets in the rear, had orders to stand to during the offensive, but their services were not required.

After the Austrian offensive there followed three months of comparative quiet on the Asiago Plateau.