Name
(Jack) Henry Charles Ebbs
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25378
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Memorial, Little Heath, North Mymms War Memorial, North Mymms War Shrine (now lost), St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, North Mymms, Northaw Village Memorial, Thomas A Becket Church Plaque, Northaw, Not on the Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Born at Mymwood Lodge, 21 July 1894. Baptised at Christ Church 19 August 1894. the younger of the two children of Joseph and Rosa, his father was a gardener and in 1901 they were living at Sheephouse Hill, North Mymms, now called Shepherds Way.
The family consisted of Father Joseph b. 1868, Gardener. Mother Rosa b.1857 and the 2 sons William Joseph b. 1893 and Henry b 1894, another child is shown as having died, they also had a gamekeeper as a lodger. In 1911 the family are living at Woodfield Lodge, Woodhill, Hatfield. Henry was an under gamekeeper lodging at Harpenden.
Recorded as born Hatfield and living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Bedford while resident at Hatfield in January 1916. Landed in France in April 1916.
He was killed during The Battle of The Somme, extract from the War Diary for that day (“The Battle of the Somme” The Battle of Flers-Courcelette,): 15 Sep 1916 Battalion ordered to take QUADRILATERAL assisted by the Heavy Section of the M.G. Corps with "TANKS" advance about 500 yds NE and dig in. Battn was in a position for attack about 4.30 a.m. ZERO hour 6.20 a.m. Three waves were supplied by C, D and A Coys under Capt Hatch MC], 2/Lt Hodges and Lt Draisey respectively to attack the QUADRILATERAL, which was on our left flank, whilst B Coy co-operated by bombing down trench leading to it. At 6.00 a.m. heavy artillery opened slow barrage on Line MORVAL - LES BOEUFS. At ZERO hour (6.20 a.m.) intense artillery barrage opened and unluckily was cut short where our 3 companies were drawn up for the attack in shell holes. This mistake caused many casualties.
The attacking companies pushed forward and though supported by 1/The Buffs and later re-enforced by the 2/York & Lancaster Regt failed to take the position. Tanks did not arrive to assist, and the position was not heavily shelled previous to the attack. Brigade ordered original trenches to be held and await orders. As battalion had suffered very severely in casualties, 6 Officers killed and 7 wounded (‘no mention of other ranks’) we were relieved by 2/Y & L at 6.00 p.m. and put in brigade reserve in trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT. Henry’s Officer wrote to his Mother “He was one of the best, always cheerful and a good lad, we miss him very much out to her in her great sorrow”.
Additional Information
‘Jack’ is also also shown as C.H. Jack Ebbs. His elder brother William Joseph also died in the War, after the War they moved to Woodfield Lodge Kentish Lane which is in Hatfield Parish.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk, Brian Lodge, Mike Allen
