Name
Herbert Christmas
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42100
Lincolnshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 35 to 37 and 162 to 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, St Paul's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead (now lost), St Paul's Church, Memorial Scroll, Hemel Hempstead
Pre War
Herbert Christmas was born in 1881 in Hemel Hempstead, the second of three sons of Walter and Frances Christmas. His father owned a coach building works started by his brother Thomas in 1870 and was involved in the introduction of motor cars to Hemel Hempstead, with advertisements in the local newspaper for many years.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at West View Road, Hemel Hempstead where his father 's occupation was given as a Carriage Painter. They remained there in 1901 at which time Herbert was working as a Clerk at a Builders' Merchant.
He intended to marry Louisa Isobel Monzani and the banns were read on 11 February 1917 at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead, but Herbert was unable to return from his war duties and was killed later the same year.
His parents later lived at 57 Alexandria Road, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 31 March 1916 in Hemel Hempstead and initially served with the Royal Flying Corps under reg. no. 24692 and was posted to train with the Balloon Section as a 2nd Air Mechanic. He was sent overseas in 1916 but was later transferred to the 7th Battalion. Lincolnshire Regiment which had lost a third of its fighting strength in the Battle of Arras. Herbert joined with 148 other men on 23 September 1917 and was in the trenches for the first time.
He was killed in action on 12 October 1917, aged 36, at the Battle of Passchendaele. It was a day which began at 4.25 am, followed by three hours of intense fighting and although the final objectives were reached, more than 240 men were killed wounded or missing. Herbert was one of the missing and has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
Probate of his estate was granted to his fiancée Louise Monzani on 5 June 1919 with effects of £175 10s. She also received a war gratuity of £7 and pay owing of £2 10s 9d. Herbert intended to marry Louisa Monzani, but was killed before the marriage could take place. She never married and died in 1944. Herbert's mother received a pension of 3s 6d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com
