Name
Herbert Harding
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/04/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
31853
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GOMMECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY NO.2, HEBUTERNE
IV. D. 26.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Herbert (junior) was born in 1897 in Hitchin and christened on 17 February 1897. His parents were Herbert (believed Herbert John) and Annie Maria (née Silsby), who married on 26 December 1892.
In 1901 the family were living at 5 At Andrews Place, Hitchin. Present were both parents: John (Herbert John and 30) and Maria (Annie Maria and 29), with Herbert John and working as a railway navvy. Their children were: Nellie (7), Lizzie (6) and Herbert (4).
They were still at the same address in 1911, although they recorded it in more detail at the family were living at No 5 Providence Row, St Andrews Place, Hitchin. Present were both parents, who had now reverted to Herbert and Maria. Herbert now working as a plate layer on the railways. The census recorded they had been married for 18 years with 4 children, of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above were present with Herbert (junior), now 14, and working as an apprentice coach painter.
Before joining up he was employed by R.E. Sanders & Son the coachbuilders of Hitchin. He also played for the Union Jack Football Club.
Officially he was recorded as born in born in and resided in Hitchin but enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Herbert was given Regimental Number 31853 in the 6th Battalion. He had been in France for 16 months when he was killed in action by shellfire.
The Battalion took over a length of trenches in the Rossignol Wood sector with three Companies in the front Line and one in support on the 1st April 1918 and remained there until the 9th April. The casualties during the period were 32 other ranks killed, 70 wounded, 35 gassed and 4 died of wounds although no major engagement was in progress.
His Company Commander wrote: “Your son was killed instantaneously by an enemy shell on April 1(*1) I was very much upset to hear of his death, as he was a very stout N.C.O. and was always smart and cheerful on parade.”
His Chaplain wrote: “Your loss is shared by the whole Battalion, and especially by his platoon. He died like a brave man and a Christian doing his duty.”
His parents also received sympathetic messages from his previous employer.
He was buried in Plot IV, Row D, Grave 26 in the Gommecourt British Cemetery in France.
Additional Information
After his death £4 6s 3d was authorised to go to Herbert, his father, on 22 August 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £6 was authorised to be paid to him on 28 November 1919.
His pension cards record Maria Harding, his mother, as his dependant, living at 3 Hill View Street, St Andrews Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 3s 6d a week from 22 October 1918. However, she died later (probably 1941) and the card was amended to his father Hubert at 61 White Hill, Hitchin.
*1 CWGC records the 2 April.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
