Name
Herbert George Priest Maddams
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/11/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Sergeant
7514
Suffolk Regiment
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY
9. F. 14.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THESE ARE THEY WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION REV. VII
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Ashwell(*1)
Pre War
Herbert George Priest Maddams was born in Biggleswade, Beds in 1889, the son of Thomas and Kate Maddams (nee Cowley), and was baptised on 5 May 1889 in Biggleswade. He was one of seven children, although three died in infancy, and was educated at the Merchant Taylor's School in Ashwell.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 4 Hope Terrace, Biggleswade and his father's occupation was described as agriculturist. They had moved Melbourn, Cambridgeshire by 1901 and his father was a farm foreman. His parents had moved to Royston, Herts by 1911, but Herbert had joined the army, having enlisted on 19 January 1907 at Melbourn, Cambs, and was recorded as a Lance Corporal with the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment which was then stationed in Cyprus.
He married Ann Anthony Cummings on 11 May 1915 in Ashwell and they had two children, Frank born in 1916 and Eileen born 1917.
Wartime Service
Herbert was a serving soldier at the outbreak of war and served on the Western Front with the Suffolk Regiment as part of the 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. At some point he was promoted to Lance Sergeant.
He was killed in action on 2 November 1917, aged 28, and is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £20 and pay owing of £5 15s 9d for herself and her children. She also received a pension of £1 6s 8d a week. Her address was later given as 21, Norwich Street, Cambridge.
N.B. Banns were called at St Alfege Church, Greenwich, London in November 1913 for the marriage of Herbert and Ann, with his residence recorded "of Cairo, Egypt", presumably where Herbert was stationed at the time, but the marriage for some reason did not take place. Ann had been baptised at St Alfege Church in 1890.
*1 The St Mary's Church Roll of Honour incorrectly indicates that he survived.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
