Name
Oliver Herbert Jeffreys
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1915
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2511
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo War Memorial Plaque Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo, Hertingfordbury Village Memorial, Church of St Mary and St John Church Roll of Honour, Hertingfordbury, Birch Green Village Memorial, Birch Green School Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, No. 4 Coy, Hitchin Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin Not on the Hertford memorials, We are not aware of any Colemans Green memorial
Pre War
Born in 1891 in Cole Green, to parents William and Sarah (nee Willis) and baptised on 28 Feb 1892.
He had three sisters and two brothers, one of whom also served and died, William Oswald, they lived in Cole Green, Hertford.
In 1901 the family were both parents: William (45) and Sarah (45), with William working as a house painter journeyman. Their children were: Oswald W Jefferys (20), Frank J Jefferys (16), Muriel M (12), Oliver Herbert (9) and Kathleen Mary (4).
By 1911 Oliver was still living with his parents, and at 19 was working as an apprentice upholsterer for a furniture dealer and upholsterer. Both parents were there, together with Oliver and Kathleen. The census recorded they had been married for 36 years with 6 children, all living.
As yet we have not found any connection to Bengeo.
Wartime Service
Joined his unit in 1914 at the outbreak of war and was then sent to France on 5th November 1914. On 11th they came under fire for the first time while near the town of Hooge. They moved onto camp near Zillebeke and then on to Bethune where they stayed until the end of the year.
They stayed there in most of January 1915 serving, at times, in the front-line trenches.
At the time of his death, the Herts were part of the 4th (Guards Brigade) in the 2nd Division. They were extremely proud that, as a Territorial Force Battalion, they were accepted by the regular Guards Battalions and even called themselves the ‘Herts Guards’. During the three months before his death, the Battalion was engaged in normal trench warfare routines such as digging and repairing trenches, putting up wire, etc., sometimes in the front line, sometimes in support and occasionally in reserve or at rest in or near a town such as Bethune.
On February 6th they came under heavy enemy fire near Cuincy and suffered a number of casualties. They stayed near Bethune through March and April and in early May moved to Le Touret where they took part in the battle of Festubert, when they attacked enemy positions in support of the Grenadier and Irish Guards and it was here that Oliver was killed on 18th May 1915, although he was initially reported missing. The Hertford Mercury dated 29th January 1916 reported that "were now reported killed or died in France".
An offensive operation began early on the 18th May 1915 at Festubert when the Brigade attacked positions known as P14 and Ferme Cour d'Avous. The Herts were working closely with the Irish Guards with part involved in the attack and others helping as stretcher-bearers for the large numbers of Irish Guard casualties. That evening the Herts relieved the Irish Guards due to the heavy casualties the Irishmen had sustained. The Herts in turn were relieved on the night of the 19th May, but in those forty-eight hours had sustained 25 killed and 91 wounded. The Commanding Officer of the Irish Guards sent a letter to the Commanding Officer of the Hertfordshires thanking them for all their assistance.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 47 of the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Additional Information
After his death his money owed was divided amongst his siblings: £2 1s 11d was authorised to go to William– states brother but probably father, sums of £2 1s 10d to Joseph and each of his sisters., Gertrude. All on the 29 February 1916. His war gratuity of £3 was divided between £2 5s to his brother Francis (Frank), sent 1 October 1919 and Elizabeth (15s) his widow(*1) on 13 January 1920.
This is the only mention found of Elizabeth or the suggestion that he was married, so at present this remains unconfirmed and could be an error.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins, Jonty Wild
