No.3/10468, Private, Herbert GRASS
Aged 31
|
Herbert Grass was born in Brandon,(Thetford Q1-1885 4B:407), son of Willis and Elizabeth GRASS(née ASHLEY). 1891 census...Aged 6, he was at George Street, Brandon with his father Willis GRASS [26] sawyer; his mother Elizabeth [26]; brothers William [8] and Walter [5]; sister Milly [1] and aunt Polly GRASS [17]. All were born in Brandon. 1901 census...Aged 16, a fur puller and opener, he was at Chapel Square, George Street, Brandon with his parents, brother Walter (boy in Maltings) and sister Millie 1911 census...Aged 26, single, a labourer, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his parents (father now labourer). One of the siblings had died. |
click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
|
He enlisted in Bury in the Suffolk Militia # 5531 for six years on 24th October 1901. he gave his age as 18 (adding 2 years), single born and living in Brandon, employed by
Mr Edwards of Brandon. He was 5 feet 2.5 (158.8 cm)inches tall, weighed 110 lbs (50.1 kg), chest 33" to 35" (83.8 to 88.9 cm) blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England. Next of kin father Willis Grass
of George Street, Brandon. He had previously been refused entry due to his chest measurement being insufficient. He then enlisted in Bury St Edmunds in the regular Army, in the Rifle Brigade #8833, 7 years in colours and 5 on Reserve. He was slightly better built,now 115 lbs in weight. Posted to 15th Provisional Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 8th April 1902 he was then posted to the 1st Battalion on 1st November 1902 and went to Malta on 11th April 1904. He extended his service to 8 years in the colours on 17th June 1905. On 16th November he was posted to the 2nd battalion and went to India until 30th December 1909. He was discharged to the reserves on 3rd January 1910, transferred to "A" Reserve on 9th June 1910 and to the "B" Reserve on 3rd January 1911 and left the Army, having served his full term on 29th December 1913 Having completed his full 12 years service he was under no obligation to re-join the Army until conscription was introduced, but he was back in the Army, in the Norfolk Regiment in time to be sent to the BEF on 25th July 1915. Unfortunately his Army service record for that period has not been found. He survived the carnage of 1st July, and on the 19th July his battalion were ordered to be part of the attack on Delville Wood, to take all south of the centre avenue, Princess Street, then the 10th Essex and 6th Berkshire would move up to hold that area and they were then to take the northern part and hold it. The attack was to start at 6:15 am ,but heavy machine gun fire from north of Princess Street delayed them and they did not deploy until 7:15 at which time the barrage was shifted from the south to the north half of the wood. The South Africans were already in the south of Longueval and the SW of the wood.The machine gun fire from north of Princess Street was still troubling them but due to the barrage now being on that part, they could not send bombing parties to deal with it. They did secure the south east of the wood. The F Loraine Petre OBE book, "The History of the Norfolk Regiment" has a more detailed account. In the event, the Norfolks had to dig in, as did the other battalions sent to the northern part of the wood. Casualties for the Norfolks were quite substantial. Out of over 300 casualties, CWGC records 92 killed on the 19th. Herbert's body was later found and re buried in 1919 in the Delville Wood cemetery on the southern edge of the wood.
Herbert was found here and moved into Delville Wood Cemetery in 1919 photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
