Name
Herbert Wilson Potton
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/06/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33191
East Surrey Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Not on the Markyate memorial
Pre War
Herbert Wilson Potton was born in 1885 in Markyate, Herts, the son of William Potton, farm labourer, and Sarah (nee Hobbs) and baptised on 11 October 1885 at the (Baptist?) church in Markyate Street, Herts.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living at Hicks Lane, Flamstead, Markyate, Herts where his father was a farm labourer. The family consisted of of parents, Annie E (born 1873), Arthur (born 1873), Frederick (born 1878), Kate (born 1884), Arthur E (born 1885), Herbert, Lily (born 1890), also recorded was father in law James Hobbs (born 1819). Arthur and Fredrick were working as farm labourers.
By the 1901 Census the family of parents, Frederick, Kate, Herbert, Lily, Edward (born 1892), William (born 1893),and Frank (born 1898) had moved to High Street, Markyate. Father William was now a shepherd, Mother Sarah and Kate were straw hat sewers and Frederick was a shoeing smith.
He married Emily Rosina Rowing on 25 December 1909 at Christ Church, Luton and on the 1911 Census, the couple were living at Manor View, Ebberns Road, Hemel Hempstead. Herbert was listed as a book cutter.
Their first child Alice was born on 17 June 1911.They later had another two children, Herbert (born 25 September 1912 and Hilda (born 16 January 1915 and lived at 3 Backwood Road, Markyate, Beds.
Prior to enlistment he was employed at Apsley Mills (John Dickinson & Co).
Wartime Service
Herbert enlisted in Bedford as Private 33191 in the East Surrey Regiment. No Service Record was found for Herbert.. He was likely to have been posted to France in 1917 to join she 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. His Battalion were part of 72 Brigade, 24 Division who were engaged in the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9-14 Apr 1917) prior to a move to the Ypres Sector.to take part in the Battles od 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele).
The 1917 war diary records that ‘the Battalion had moved from Chateau Segard, near Voormezele, Belgium to Mount Sorrel on 10th June and were living in trenches and deep tunnels. Hostile shelling had continued very heavily for several days.’
Herbert was killed in action on 13 June 1917 when hostile shelling was still very heavy and casualties for the day were 12 killed and 50 wounded. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 3s 6d. She also received a pension of £1 6s 3d a week for herself and her children. (N.B. There are two Pottons named on the Hemel Hempstead Memorial but it is possible that HW Potton and H Potton are the same person).
His widow later lived at 50 Kimpton Road, Luton, Beds.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org., www.hemelatwar.org.
