Name
Abel James Pomphret
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/11/1918
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
37143
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEIRUT WAR CEMETERY
181
Lebanon
Headstone Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND FROM HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN ENGLAND
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Heath Village Memorial, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Little Amwell, Not on the Hertford memorials
Pre War
Abel James was born in 1878 (baptised 5 May 1878) in Benfield, Stansted, Essex to Mary Lavinia Pomfret.. On the 1891 Census Abel, aged 13, was lodging in Main Street, Hunsdon, Herts with the Wallen family and was working as a farm labourer.
Abel enlisted on 31 Aug 1897 as Private 5780 in 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers for a term of 7 years and 5 years on reserve. He used the alias Abel James Knight. Abel served in the South African War from 1899 to 1902. He was awarded the Queen’s Medal with Clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (where he received a slight scalp wound) and the King’s Medal with two clasps 1901, & 1902. Abel returned to UK and placed on Reserve was discharged 30 Nov 1903.
Abel married Mary Chance in Stevenage on 19 Jun 1907. They were to have 4 children – Herbert James (born 1909). Dora Elizabeth (born 1911), Ernest William (born 1913), Primrose Mary (born 1915). On the 1911 Census Abel, a house painter, with wife, Mary and son Herbert in Little Amwell, Herrtford Heath.
Wartime Service
Abel enlisted in 1/5 Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 37143. Probably joined his battalion in Egypt where they were stationed on the Suez Canal . In 1917/18 the Bedfords were taking part in the Palestine campaign and following Battles of Gaza, Jaffa and Sharon were in Beirut in Oct 1918 following the Turkish Armistice when Abel contracted Malaria and died on 21 Nov 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £14 and arrears of £5 13s 8d was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
