Herbert William Whitworth

Name

Herbert William Whitworth
1893

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

20/11/1917
24

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Corporal
23236
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
50th Coy.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
VI. E. 11.
Belgium

Headstone Inscription

None

UK & Other Memorials

Kimpton Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church, Kimpton

Pre War

Herbert William Whitworth was born in 1893 in Dinton, Buckinghamshire, the son of Clement and Elizabeth Whitworth and one of nine children. 

On the 1901 Census the family were living at the School House, High Street, Kimpton, Hertfordshire, where his father was the Schoolmaster and his mother was the Assistant School Mistress.

His mother remained living at the schoolhouse, Kimpton in 1911, where she was the Elementary School Teacher, with sisters Ethel and Margaret and brother Thomas.  Herbert was then working as a Clerk for a Coal Merchant. Meanwhile, his father was listed at 21 Court Road, Luton, Beds with sister Mabel and brothers Reginald, Alfred and Bertram and gave his occupation as Elementary School Teacher. 

His father died in late 1918. His mother later lived at 11 Alfred Street, Luton. 

Wartime Service

Herbert enlisted into the Territorial Force of the County of London on 3 September 1914 under reg. no. 2540, was sent to France on 15 March 1915 and attached to the 142th Company of the Machine Gun Corps. He served with them until 30 July 1916 when he was discharged in consequence of re-enlisting into the Regular Army, and joined the Machine Gun Corps on 31 July 1916, serving under reg. no. 23236 with 50th Company as Corporal. 

He was killed in action from shell fire on 20 November 1917 and is buried in Cement House Cemetery, Belgium. 

Additional Information

His father received pay owing of £17 14s 3d. A war gratuity of £15 10s was divided between his mother, brother Reginald and sister Ethel.

Pension cards exist in respect of Herbert and his brother Alfred but they do not indicate if a pension was awarded. 

Brother Alfred Joseph served with the 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) and was killed in action on 6 October 1915, He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. 

Herbert and his brother Alfred are also commemorated on the family grave in St. Peter & St. Paul Churchyard. Herbert's inscription reads:

Acknowledgments

Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild