Name
Herbert Robert Rolt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/02/1919
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/23558
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARPENDEN (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD
O. O. 8.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial
Pre War
Herbert Robert was born in 1898 in Harpenden to Robert Rolt, a farmer, and Annie (nee Freeman).
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Chapel Cottages, Lower Stondon, Beds and on the 1911 Census they were living at Heath Road, Harpenden, Herbert was at school and also working as a milk boy.
Herbert was the middle brother of 3 and he had 2 younger sisters.
Wartime Service
Herbert enlisted on 7 Dec 1914 as Private 4213 in the Hertford Regiment and a Territorial for 4 years. He was 16 years old and on 7 Mar 1915 was reclassified as Drummer.
Herbert’s service with Herts. Regiment was terminated on 20 Oct 1915 when he joined Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment as Private 9905, probably in one of the Territorial Force battalions but was re numbered as G/23558 on transfer to 2nd Battalion for service overseas.
The Queens Regiment were transferred to Italy in Dec 1917 and on the night of 26 Oct 1918 the Queens Regiment were in the reserve wave of an advance across the Piave river via Papadopoli island, while in their assembly area on the far bank of the island they came under heavy bombardment causing casualties. Herbert was probably wounded in this bombardment as the rest of the advance took place successfully.
Herbert was evacuated through the casualty chain and died from his chest wound in Manchester General Hospital and is buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, Harpenden.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £11 10s and arrears of £25 12s 5d paid to his mother. His elder brother Frederick served in Suffolk Regiment and was discharged as unfit for further service in May 1918.
Herbert has a personal headstone (not CWGC). His inscription reads:
"OUR DEAR SON
PTE. HERBERT ROLT DIED FEB 10. 1919 OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION OCT 27. 1918 IN ITALY, AGED 20 YEARS
"PEACE PERFECT PEACE"
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
