Name
Herbert Francis Darby
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/10/1915
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
77443
Canadian Infantry
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD
I. F. 180.
France
Headstone Inscription
Forever in our thoughts
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not listed on the Ardeley memorials
Pre War
He was the son of James and Esther Darby (née Phypers), born on 23rd December 1884 in Ardeley, Herts. They had married on 29 September 1858.
In 1881 the family were living at Chequers Farm, Ardeley. Present were both parents: James (43) and Esther (44), with James working as a carpenter and farmkeeper(?). Their children were: William J. (19), Henry (17), Susan E. (15), Emily A. (12), Harriet L. K. (10), Walter Thomas (8), Albert Edward. (6) and Herbert Francis at just 3 months.
By 1891 the family had moved to 2 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, however James was absent, working as a farm foreman at Hare Street Farm, Ardeley. Esther was present and listed as the head of household and wife of farm bailiff. Their children present were Walter, Albert, Herbert and Nora Wilhelmena (7).
In 1901 the family were still living at 2 Hitchin Hill. Present were both parents, James still a carpenter and one daughter Nora (16). Herbert was working as a draper’s assistant boarding with many others of the same profession at The Poplars, Aberdeen Place, St Marylebone, London.
In 1910 he emigrated to Canada on the Empress of Ireland, arriving in Vancouver on 7 July.
By 1911 the family were living at . Present were both parents, x now working as a . The census recorded they had been married for x years with x children all living of whom x had died. All the children listed above were present except x, plus ).
He enlisted on the 9th November 1914 in Vancouver when he was 29 years and 10 months old. His was working as a clerk and his paper record him as 5’ 5 ½” 138lbs with a dark complexion with light brown eye and dark brown hair.
It seems that his mother died in 1911 and his father in Hitchin in October 1917.
He enlisted in Victoria, Canada on 9 November 1914. Miss K (Harriet L K) Darby, his sister from Hitchin was given as his next of kin – later recorded at 45 Palmerston Road, Southsea, Hants. He joined the 50th Regiment but transferred to the 30th on 30 November 1914. His unit sailed for England on 23 February 1915. His documents also record two brothers Harry at Hitchin was recorded as Walter Thomas Darby at 47 High Street, Sutton, Surrey.
Wartime Service
His Service Number was 77443 and he served with the 7th Battalion (British Columbia) Canadian Infantry. At the time of his death this unit was in the 2nd Canadian Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division.
He received a gunshot wound to his head on 26 October 1915 and was admitted to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station and he died of wounds on 31 October 1915.
He is buried in Plot 1, Row F, Grave 180 in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France. A private inscription on the stone reads “Forever in our thoughts" as requested by Miss K (Harriet L K) Darby of 45 Salter’s Avenue, Southsea, Hants.
Additional Information
His medals were sent to his father James at 65 Bunyan Road, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
A Dunne David C Baines, Jonty Wild
