No.12807, Private, Herbert James JACOBS
Aged 22
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Herbert James Jacobs was born in 1893 in Little Livermere (Thingoe Q2-1893 4A:783), son of George and Mary Ann JACOBS (née HOLDEN).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Cottages near the Green, Ampton, with his father George JACOBS [38] under gardener on estate, born Little Livermere; his mother Mary Ann [30] born South Lopham, Norfolk; sister Beatrice Louisa [5] born Little Livermere. 1911 census...Aged 17, a labourer in woods, he was in Ampton with his parents and sister Beatrice. Married Gwendoline May Victoria PAYN (b.9-12-1891) (Bury St Edmunds Q1-1916)) later of 29 St. Andrew's Street South, Bury St.Edmunds. She married Frederick HODGES in 1926. |
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He enlisted in Culford.
The battalion was in the Ypres salient. The 2nd Battalion, Suffolks was in its assembly area on the night of 1st March near Bedford House on the St.Eloi-Ypres road. They were to try and retake our trenches recently lost to the Germans The attack started at 0445 'B', 'C' and 'D' companies on the south side of the Bluff. Immediately star shells were sent up by the Germans turning night into day. Our artillery then opened up on their 2nd line, our troops already being through the first line, having taken the enemy by surprise. 'A' company on the left was not so lucky, being caught by a counter barrage before they could leave King Street. By 0700 the lost trenches had been re captured. The ground was in a terrible state, churned up by the barrages and the battalion left the line sparsely occupied while they returned to the assembly trenches. An enemy barrage continued all day, but our artillery countered effectively. A successful operation result in the recapture of all the ground previously lost, but at the cost of 250 casualties out of the 500 employed. It was, incidentally, the first operation when they wore the newly issued steel helmets (the tin hats) CWGC records 53 killed, and only 6 having an identified grave.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
