Name
H Albert Hebbs*1
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/08/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23461 *2
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Redbourn Town War Memorial
Pre War
Born in Dec 1894 and lived in West Common, Redbourn, Herts. He was a farm labourer.
Albert attested in St Albans on 15th November 1915 becoming Private 23421 in the 4th Bedfords, he was 20 years and 330 days old and a farm labourer, unmarried and living at West Common, near Church End, Redbourn. He was described as 5' 9", 165 pounds with a chest of 40" and had a scarred back from old boils.
Wartime Service
He was on 'Home' service until 30th June 1916 during that period he was hospitalized for a week from the 22nd February 1916 with tonsillitis. His records was not unblemished. While in Harwich: in January 1916 he was confined to Camp (3-days) for irregular conduct and in March confined to Barracks (5-days) for making an improper to a M.C.O., then, again in March, 2 extra guard duties. Shortly afterwards he must have moved to Languard and there; 3 extra guard duties for being dirty on guard duty.
He was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 26th June as Private 23461 and landed in Etaples, France on 1st July 1916 and on that day was posted to the 9th Battalion on 1st July 1916. More serious, discipline-wise, was that he was absent from parage 'in the field' 0n the 18th July 1916 and given 14-days Field Punishment No 1. This consisted of the convicted man being placed in fetters and handcuffs or similar restraints and attached to a fixed object, such as a gun wheel or a fence post, for up to two hours per day. During the early part of World War I, the punishment was often applied with the arms stretched out and the legs tied together, giving rise to the nickname "crucifixion". This was applied for up to three days out of four, up to 21 days total.
Albert was posted missing on the 30th August 1916 and later presumed dead on that date.
Additional Information
*1 We assume this to me the same man, but listed H Albert Hebbs on the Village Hall memorial and A Hebbs on the others. *2 The service number is confusing because he enlisted as 23421 (4th Beds) but later was transferred and became 23461, 9th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment His pension record dependents card names Elizabeth Hebbs with Mother crossed out and corrected to 'Sister'. The card also records John Hebbs 15605 meaning, so we believe that John was Albert's brother.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild
