Name
Herbert Edward Archibald Shinkins
16/08/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203506
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PERTH CEMETERY (CHINA WALL)
II. H. 25.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Herbert Edward Archibald Shinkins was born on 16th August 1894, in Abington, Cambridgeshire, son of John Shinkins an Agricultural Worker and Susannah R. Simkins (nee Fincham). The ninth of ten children.
1901 Census records Herbert aged 6, living with his parents, brothers John (17), William (14) and sister Gertrude (4), at “Summers” Netteswell Common, Great Parndon, Essex. His father is recorded as a Farm Bailiff.
1911 Census, the family have moved to Cheshunt, Herts, and are recorded as living at “Brookfield Cottage” Brookfield Lane, Herbert (16), is recorded as Hubert and is occupation is a Horse Keeper on a Farm. The family have a lodger Robert Morley a Cowman.
Herbert married Emily Ada Ruskin the daughter of Alfred “Henry Arthur” and Emma Ruskin of Cheshunt, in 1916, the marriage was registered in Edmonton, Middx. They had one daughter Emily Hilda Ada Shinkins born July 1917.
Wartime Service
Herbert enlisted at Cheshunt, posted to the Hertfordshire Regiment with the service number 203506. On completion of his training, he saw action on the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 20th September 1917, aged 23, at the Battle of the Menin Road (20th – 25th September 1917) part of the Third Battle of Ypres (31st July – 10th November 1917).
He is buried in Perth Cemetery (China Wall), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave ref: II. H. 25.
Additional Information
Emily received a grant of £5, on 18th October 1917, and a widows, pension of 18/9 a week from 15th April 1918, and his effects of £2-1s-00d pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
