Name
Herbert Kent (MM)
29/09/1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/08/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265874
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
R. II. G. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD NEEDED HIM FOR HIGHER WORK ELSEWHERE
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, St Albans Grammar School Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, London Colney Village Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour, St Margaret's Church Memorial, Ridge, St Margaret's Church Roll of Honour Memorial, Ridge, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, We are not aware of a Memorial in Tyttenhanger green
Pre War
Herbert KENT was born in Ridge, Hertfordshire, on 29th September 1893, son of Thomas Kent, a Domestic Gardener and Emma Jane Kent (nee Payne). One of their thirteen children although 2 died in childhood.
He was Baptised on 29th July 1894, at St Mary’s Church, Colney Heath, Herts.
1901 Census records Herbert aged 7, living with his parents, five sisters and four brothers, in Colney Heath, Herts. The fourth house from the Rectory. (The road is now known as Church Lane).
1911 Census, Herbert aged 17, is working as a Domestic Gardener, living with his parents, four sisters and four brothers, at The Lodge, The Gardens, Tyttenhanger, Herts.
Wartime Service
Herbert travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist, (possible in late October 1914) posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, then transferred to the Hertfordshire Regiment and issued with the service number 3175, (later 265874 when service number were standardised in late 1916, early 1917). On completion of his training Herbert was sent to France, arriving on the 21st January 1915. Seeing action the Western Front.
Herbert was awarded the Military Medal for bravery (he was Gazetted the Military Medal on 2nd November 1917).
Herbert died on 30th August 1918, aged 24, of wound he had received in action, he is buried at St Sever Cemetery, Extension, Rouen, France.
Additional Information
His effects of £17-04s-00d, pay owing and his war gratuity £19, went to his father Thomas Kent.
His Headstone inscription “GOD NEEDED HIM FOR HIGHER WORK ELSEWHERE” was requested by his father Thomas Kent, of The Gardens, Tyttenhanger Park, St Albans, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Gareth Hughes, Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild
