Name
Eric Charles Halsey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/06/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment
7th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CROISILLES RAILWAY CEMETERY
Plot II, Row B, Grave 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford,
Watford Grammar School Memorial,
Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Eric was the only son of Charles Henry and Mary Ann (nee Holt) Halsey of Watford.
His parents married 24 February 1892 at St Mary’s, Watford. Charles died 14 July 1940 in Watford aged 73, and was buried 17 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Mary died 25 November 1957 in Watford aged 88, and was buried 28 November, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Eric was born 8 February 1896 in Watford, and baptised 27 March 1896 at St Mary’s, Watford. He went to Milton House School and later attended Watford Grammar School from September 1908 to July 1913. He subsequently joined his father's Estate Agent and Surveyor's business.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 15, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested in the Territorial Force 4 years service in the U.K. 24 July 1915 at Dukes Road, London W.C.: an articled clerk to an estate agent aged 19, 6’1″ tall; Private 4242 28th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles).
He served at Home 24 July to 19 December 1915.
He was gazetted into the 2/7th Battalion London Regiment 20 December 1915 and went to France in January 1917, where in May his unit fought in the battles to capture part of the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line south of Arras, around the villages of Bullecourt and Cherisy.
He was killed in action whilst in the act of getting a Lewis gun into position at Cherisy [and] fell victim to a sniper.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals; his father applied for his medals.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
entry reads: “HALSEY, ERIC CHARLES. School period: September, 1908, to July, 1913. Second Lieutenant, 7th London Regiment. Two years. France. Killed in action, 20th June, 1917.” - different date to official records.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Eric in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 30 June 1917. Also an article in the St Michael’s Church Parish Magazine dated July 1917; also articles in the Church magazine dated November 2013 reprinted September 2014.
Is featured in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.
Eric is also commemorated on his parent's headstone in Watford Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF ERIC CHARLES [Halsey] SON OF THE ABOVE [Charles Henry Halsey] KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 20. 1917 AGED 21 YEARS.
*1 CWGC records the date as 19th June.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
