Name
Edward Jabez Firbank
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/01/1919
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31518
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn. Posted to Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARPENDEN (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD
O.O. 12.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Batford Methodist Church Memorial, Harpenden Town Memorial, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Edward Jabez was born in Hendon in 1897 to George Firbank, a railway signalman, and Mary Jane (nee Hambly).
By the 1911 Census the family were living at Batsford, Harpenden having moved from Tottenham, London.
Wartime Service
Edward served as Private 31518 with 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. In May 1916 following severe losses the majority of the 6th Beds were absorbed into 1/1 Hertfordshire Regiment as part of a larger reorganisation of the Expeditionary Force in France.
The Herts took part in many battles in the last 100 Days and during this period Edward was wounded. He was repatriated to UK and died in Chelsea Hospital on 11 Jan 1919. He was interned in Harpenden.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £13 and arrears of £17 5s 1 d paid to his mother. His father was recorded as living at 8 Cornwall Road, Harpenden after Edward’s death.
He is buried with his mother in St Nicholas Churchyard. His inscription reads:
"ALSO SON EDWARD JABEZ FIRBANK BEDFORDS DIED OF WOUNDS JAN 11, 1919 AGED 21 YEARS
"ASLEEP IN JESUS', BLESSED SLEEP""
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk), Jonty Wild
