WAR DIARY 19-24 Sep 1915 Work done in necessary improvement. Enemy quiet in front. Casualties. 1 L/Cpl missing from patrol, 2 men wounded. 2Lieuts [Robert Leslie] SHAW & [Herbert John] WEST [comment; later M.C.] joined the Battn. for duty 1 Oct 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Enemy bombarded our lines with light guns (H.E. shell) at intervals throughout the day. His fire enfiladed our trenches from the right, but did little damage. 2/Lt. [Herbert John] WEST and 1 man wounded. 20 Aug 1918 - Bucquoy As above. Bde Operation Order received for move to forward position ready to take part in the attack. Battalion moved up at 8.55 pm to assembly position near BUCQUOY See OO 162. 21 Aug 1918 Battalion moved forward to the attack at 4.45 a.m. meeting with very slight opposition. The objective was about 1500 yards from original German Front Line which had already been taken by the 37th Division. Battalion gained objective which they consolidated, remaining there in support to the 1/Norfolk Regt. who passed through to take the next objective. Casualties Capts G. de C.[Geoffrey de Carteret] MILLAIS & H.J.WEST M.C. wounded (since died of wounds) & 46 O.R.s Killed & wounded etc. The following provided by W.Bro. Rod Gibson (Suffolk) Capt. Herbert John West, MC. 4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. Died of Wounds 22nd August 1918. Age 30. Commemorated: Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt. Ref: VI. A. 17. Herbert John, the 3rd of 5 children, was born in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Islington, London, to William Frederick, a Civil Service Telegraph Superintendant, and Emma West. The 1911 census shows the whole family living at 15 Ellesmere Road, Chiswick, and Herbert is described as a Bank Clerk. Herbert was wounded during the battle of the Somme in 1916 and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. The London Gazette Issue 29824 dated 14th November 1916: His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Warrant Officers in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the field:- 2nd Lieut. (temp. Capt.) Herbert John West, 4th Bedford Regiment, Special Reserve; For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company in the attack and ensured the capture of the position, displaying great courage and determination. He was severely wounded. After recovering from his wounds Herbert was attached to the 1st Battalion and was serving with them when they went into action, at the 2nd Battle of the Somme in 1918 (specifically, the Battle of Albert), on 21st August 1918. The Battalion gained their objective with one Officer killed, Herbert severely wounded, and 46 Other Ranks killed or wounded. Herbert was evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Gezaincourt where he died the next day. Probate was granted to his Father in London on 13th December 1918 in the sum of £784 – 8 – 10d.

Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

21 August - 3 September 1918. Following the success at Amiens which Ludendorf described as "the black day for the German army" the conditions were right for the advance to be continued over the old Somme battlefield. Astonishingly the battlefield was crossed in 10 days, compared with the four months of the first battle. The Germans were pushed back towards the Hindenburg Line defences.

Detail :

After recovering from his wounds in 1916, Herbert was attached to the 1st Battalion and was serving with them when they went into action, at the 2nd Battle of the Somme in 1918 (specifically, the Battle of Albert), on 21st August 1918. The Battalion gained their objective with one Officer killed, Herbert severely wounded, and 46 Other Ranks killed or wounded. Herbert was evacuated to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Gezaincourt where he died the next day.

Citations & Commemorations :

Masonic :

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley