No.300383, Rifleman, Herbert Gordon ROLFE
Aged 25
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Herbert Gordon Rolfe was born in 1893 in Cheveley (Newmarket Q2-1893 3B:525),baptised in Cheveley in 1893, son of Charles and Susan Elizabeth
ROLFE (née BARBER ?).
1901 census...Aged 8 (Gordon H) he was at Main Street, Cheveley with his father Charles ROLFE [41] a baker; his mother Susan Elizabeth [41], brothers Stanley F [11], Garnet W [6] and Charles M. [3] and sister Beatrice E [9], twin sister Eveline R [8] and twins Violet E and Lily F [5] and twins Constance E and Olive I [1]. All except his Ashley born mother were born in Cheveley. 1911 census...Aged 18, (Herbert G) a draper's assistant, he was at Cheveley Street, Cheveley with his parents, brothers Stanley (assisting in business), Garnet William (motor engineer), and Charles Marmion (scholar), and sisters Beatrice, Eveline Rose, Violet Ethel, Lily Florence, Constance Ellen, Olive Irene and Victoria Grace [9] born in Cheveley. Two of his mother's 13 children had died. |
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He enlisted in London in September 1914 His battalion was in the Gavrelle sector.The Germans had launched Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive (also known as the Kaiserschlacht) on 21st March and were advancing rapidly. They were in great strength (68 Divisions, more than the whole British Army), throwing everything they had left into their attack. The Germans put down a very intensive bombardment prior to the attack. All forward and lateral communication was cut. Wire and posts defending the front line were wiped out and when the enemy infantry advanced, they walked straight into British line, rushed the few men left at Belvoir and Brough, and began bombing towards Naval Trench. The battalion was almost wiped out, what was left later joined the Queen's Westminsters in Thames Valley and became mixed up with them. The fighting strength of the battalion at the start was 23 officers and 564 other ranks. at the end it was 8 officers and about 60 other ranks. Of the casualties 85 were killed, only 5 having identified graves.
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
