HERBERT, Alfred Richard


No.31254, Private, Alfred Richard HERBERT
Aged 36


1st Battalion, Essex Regiment
Killed in Action on/since Saturday, 14th April 1917


Born in Bury St.Edmunds (2nd qtr 1881 4a:624) son of Nicholas Prynn and Jane HERBERT (née AVIS)

1891 census...Aged 9, he was at 29 Church Walk, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Nicholas P. HERBERT [36] carpenter; his mother Jane [39]; sister Minnie [15] staymaker; brothers Charles [13] errand boy born Wolverhampton, Staffs, Fred [11], Frank [8], Sidney [5] and Tom [3]

His mother died in 1891

1901 census...Aged 20, he was a footman for George TROTTER at the Abbey, Storrington, Sussex. His widower father was at 35 Hospital Road, Bury St. Edmunds with his sister Minnie (housekeeper); brothers Sidney (greengrocer's assistant) and Thomas (school)

On 4th June 1907, at Kislingbury, Northants, he married Minnette Violet AYRES [28-4-1885].

1911 census...Aged 30, a butler, he was at Braunston, Rutland, with his wife Minette Violet [26] born Kislingbury and their Minnie Vera [1-10-1910] born Braunston. His father had re-married to Eliza CROW and was at 120 Eastgate Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his wife Eliza [44] factory hand born Feltwell and her children Ethel CROW [17] factory hand, Maud CROW [16] factory hand, both born in Lakenheath, and Edith Ellen CROW [15] school born Brandon.

Alfred and Minnette had a son, Alfred John, born 22-9-1912.

His eldest brother Frederick Daniel died on the HMS "Good Hope" in November 1914 see here


He enlisted in Market Drayton when resident in Kislingbury, Northants The 1st Essex were in the line at Monchy-le-Preux and on 14th April attacked the German line at 5:30, suffering heavy casualties -17 Officers and 644 other ranks. This may explain a very brief war diary entry. What were left went into caves at Arras on the 15th.

CWGC has the death toll at 187, only 6 having a known grave.




photo C.W.G.C.


Alfred Herbert is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens bay 7

here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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