Pte
Herbert William Price
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 09/11/1894 |
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Place of birth: Tooting, Wandsworth, London, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 174 Mitcham Road, Tooting, Wandsworth, London, Belgium |
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Profession: Insurance clerk |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 203235 |
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Enlistment date: 13/04/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Tooting, Wandsworth, London, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — York and Lancaster Regiment, 1st/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Fleet Cottage, 's Graventafel, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XIX Row: H Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Herbert William Price was the son of Charles George and Louisa Maria Price. He was born on 9 November 1894 in Tooting, London, where he also lived. Before the war, he worked as an insurance clerk. He enlisted in April 1916 in the British Army and served in the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Regiment).
Herbert was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division’s objective was first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek, and then push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
Around 4:00 a.m., the battalion had reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall before 9 October, the terrain had become a quagmire. The first obstacle the battalion encountered was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide because of the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men from C Company managed to cross the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops from A and B Companies managed to cross the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops from A Company succeeded in reaching Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company tried to pass them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 casualties. Herbert also lost his life at the age of 23. After the war, his body was found near Fleet Cottage. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Herbert was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division’s objective was first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek, and then push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
Around 4:00 a.m., the battalion had reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall before 9 October, the terrain had become a quagmire. The first obstacle the battalion encountered was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide because of the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men from C Company managed to cross the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops from A and B Companies managed to cross the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops from A Company succeeded in reaching Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company tried to pass them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 casualties. Herbert also lost his life at the age of 23. After the war, his body was found near Fleet Cottage. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 5
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1911 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 118-123. Sources used |
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Percy, Douglas, The 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battn., York and Lancaster Regiment, 1914-1919 (London 1926), 79-87. Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO363). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=1afc4245-9d51-47f2-81cf-dc214f15f6c9 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3594357 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464331 |