Name
Herbert Catterill
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/06/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
27096
Royal Field Artillery
65th Howitzer Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ROCLINCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
II. C. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Herbert was born around 1885 in Ickleford and his parents were James and Susan Caterill Both were born in Pirton. Susan married James Caterill on 31 October 1878, so there was no change of surname, although spellings seem to vary.
James’ father was George who had been widowed by 1861 Susan’s parent were James and Abigail Catterill,
Herberts father, and Susan’s husband died in 1887. Widowed Susan Catterill, married Charles Sells 1889 in Ickleford.
In 1891 the family were living at 5 Kent Place, Hitchin. Present were Susan Sells (Herbert’s mother (37)) and Charles Sells (Stepfather), the latter a groom and gardener. Their children (Sells) were: Kate (9) and Frank (1) and Susan’s children (Catterills) Annie (12), Gerty (10), E John (8) and Herbert (6).
In 1901 the family were living at 3 Maxwell Cottages, Bedford Road, Hitchin. Present were Susan and Charles - working domestic gardener. Herbert was still present, now 15 and working as a butcher’s apprentice, but all his full blood siblings except Annie were absent, as was his half-sister Kate. The other children present (Sells – half-siblings to Herbert) were Frank, Grace (9), Charles (7), Harry W (5) and Bernard (2)
By 1911 Charles and Susan had been married for 22 years and had 6 children (Sells) all living. The were still at 3 Maxwell Cottages, Bedford Road, Hitchin, Charles and Susan were both present and Charles still a domestic gardener. Herbert Catterill was present, 25 and working as a labourer in a motor works. Children present (all Sells) were Grace, Charlie, Harry W, Bernard and new son Stanley (8).
Herbert married Matilda Hartfield (born 2/2/1893) in Croydon, Surrey in 1915
Officially recorded as born Hitchin (actually Ickleford) and he enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
We have not found a service record for Herbert. However, he was 27096 in the 65th/28 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, and was mobilised in August 1914 and landed on France on 15 August 1914. To enter this early means that he was already serving, either with a Regular or Territorial Artillery Force
Herbert was killed in action in France whilst with the 65th/28 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Howitzer Battery. His death was at 3.00pm when the dugout he was in near Roclincourt was struck by a gas shell. He was made unconscious by the gas and efforts to revive him in the fresh air were unsuccessful.
Roclincourt is immediately north of Arras. The 65th Battery was equipped with 4.5" howitzers and was part of the 28th Army Brigade Royal Field Artillery. It was probably in the XIII Corps in the 1st Army the day after the capture of Oppy Wood in the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe.
He was buried in Plot 2, Row C, Grave 23 in the Roclincourt Military Cemetery, France. His gravestone records him to have been in the ‘Royal Field Artillery’.
Additional Information
After his death £30 7s 5d was authorised to go to his widow on 1 January 1917 and later a war gratuity of £16 10s was authorised to be paid to him/her on 24 December 1919.
His pension cards record his widow as his next of kin, living at 3 Hancocks Cottage, Commonside, Mitcham, Surrey. She was awarded received a pension of 13s 9d a week from 14 January 1918.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
