Military History

Herbert is listed as being killed in action on 20 Sep 1917, the war diary entry for that day is transcribed below:

Camp - Fermoy Farm - Wed 19.9.17: Battalion prepared for operations. Battalion accessories issued to the men. In the evening the Battn was conveyed in lorries from Au Pampier Estaminet to St Eloi. Thence they marched by tracks to preliminary assembly positions in I.34 Ravine Wood. Battn HQ near Transport Corner. Assembly was completed just before midnight (Casualties 1 OR)

Strength of Battalion going into action was: Officers 19, OR 661. Lt Col Heath was attached. Bde HQ & supervised consolidation Bde objectives.

Officers present with Battn: Major A.S. Fitzgerald (in command) Capt & Adjt H.R. Brindley, 2nd Lts L. Hatwood (Signalling) G.H. Cusworth (Intelligence) H.J. Latham (OC A Coy) A.J. Moyes (OC B Coy) C Bastock (OC C Coy), R. Hewett (OC D Coy) H.A Parker, E.H. Riscon, H.T. Meacham, C.M. Beaufoy, A.E. Brazier, M.D. Phillips, R. Aston, R.H. Birmingham, H.D. O’Callaghan (the Carrying party).

Trenches - Ravine Wood - Thur 20.9.17:  57^th Inf Bde took part in an attack on a wide front. Bttn was in Brigade Reserve. Zero was t 5.40am. At zero plus 29 (when the leading platoons of the attacking Battalions where do to reach the Green Line). The Bttn moved forward to the support line within the Bde boundaries. Coys were ordered to take up following positions approx: A Coy I.36.g.9.7½ to 7.4½; C Coy I.36.g.7. 4½ to Klein Zillebeke; D Coy Klein Zillebeke to about I.36.c.9.7½; B Coy trench running through wood from I.36.g.0.4 to g.4.7. Bttn’s HQ shared HQ of 8/Glous R at I.36.g.2.3 (Klein Zillebeke).

A number of casualties were sustained during this move forward through enemy shelling. Coys we're not called upon to support any of the attacking battalions and reminded in or very near their original positions. Enemy shelling was fairly heavy, particularly near the BN HQ, and the number of direct hits were obtained on Coy positions. The night was quiet and Russian parties sustained no casualties.

Casualties
Killed: 2^nd Lieuts C Bostock and AE Brazier and 20 OR (including Harry)
Died of wounds: RSM EJ Pratt
Wounded: Lt G.H Hammond and 64 OR
Missing: 7 OR

Trenches - Ravine Wood - Friday 21.9.17: In morning Battalion HQ moved back to former HQ near Transport Corner to make room for HQ of 2/N Staffs R. Coys remained in their positions in support line all day.

Casualties: Wounded 25, Missing 4
Departures: 2/Lt A C Teague to Lewis Gun course in Le Touquet