Name
William Herring
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
12875
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End, Not on the Watford memorials(*1)
Pre War
It is believed that W Herring was William Herring, born in Watford in 1891, the son of William and Elizabeth Herring and one of eight children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Estcourt Road, Watford, where his father was working as a Labourer. They had moved to Shafford Bottom, Abbots Langley (in the parish of St Mary's, Apsley End), by 1901 and moved again in 1911 when the family were living at 11 Frogmore Crescent, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead. William was then working as a Stoker at the Apsley Paper Mill (John Dickinson & Co). The family later lived at 5 Winifred Road, Apsley Road, Hemel Hempstead by the end of the war.
Wartime Service
William served with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment under Reg. No. 12875 and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal.
After training on Salisbury Plain, the Battalion, left from Southampton on the Empress Queen on 30 July 1915, arriving at Le Havre the following day. For the rest of the year they were mostly in trenches with working parties and subjected to artillery bombardment from time to time.
In 1916, between 21 and 29 May a received leave. Later they were in action during the Battle of the Somme, particularly the Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres and Ancre. 1917 brought the Battle of Arras in April and the Battles of Ypres in September and October. During September he received another 10 days leave. At the beginning of 1918 they were in billets at Sercus and engaged in training, although the weather was said in the war diary to be very bad. The first major battle of 1918 was in April at the Battle of Ancre (1918).
The 6th Battalion was disbanded in May 1918 and the men were transferred into the 1st/1st Hertfordshire Battalion (Herts Guards). However, William was attached to thne2nd Bn. Bedfords on 12 June 1918 and then posted to the 1st Bn. 20 July 1918. He received a gunshot wound to his left foot on 29 August 1918 and war returned to England.
William was demobilised in February 1919. Prior to his discharge he complained of a hernia which effected his work however he refused an operation. He received a £35 Gratuity and was posted to Class Z which meant he could return to civilian life but was obligated to return to the military if called upon.
In all he served at Home between 29 August 1914 to 29 July 1915, France to 29 August 1918 and finally Home to 21 February 1919
His date and place of death is not known. however he is listed on the St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End.
Additional Information
*1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Watford. This may be the case, however Watford was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Not in the CWGC records.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
