Lieutenant Harcourt John SNOWDEN

Killed in Action 11th January 1915, aged 27.

Harcourt Snowden joined the battalion in June 1913 and was promoted to Lieutenant in September 1914. He became the first officer fatality of the war. Harcourt was the youngest son of the Reverend Harcourt C. V. Snowden (of St. Peter's in Broadstairs) and Mrs. Snowden and he lies in the Rue-des-Berceaux military Cemetery in Richebourg-L'Avoue, north of Bethune.

He can be seen in the officers group photograph here, which was taken in Bury St Edmunds in 1914.

Lieutenant Walter Williamson PARK

Killed in Action 2nd April 1916, aged 19.

Walter was born in Lewisham, London and was the son of James H. W. and Elizabeth Davie Park, of "Beechcroft," 18, Tyson Rd., Forest Hill, London. He is buried in the Pont-du-Hem Military cemetery, La Gorgue, 10km along the main road from La Bassee to Estaires.

Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Fontaine LAMBERT

Died of wounds 15th April 1916, aged 21.

Geoffrey was educated at Lancing College and joined Inns of Court O.T.C. in September, 1914. He was commissioned in March 1915 and sent to France in July.

He was the only son of Florence Olga Lambert, of "St. Merryn," Manorgate Rd., Kingston Hill, Surrey, and the late Walter Lambert, of Richmond, Surrey and lies in the St Sever cemetery, Rouen.

Second Lieutenant John Veere SMITH

Died of wounds 26th July 1916, aged 21

4th/8th battalion, Middlesex Regiment, attached to the 1st Hertfords.

John joined the battalion on the 10th October 1915, attached from the Middlesex Regiment and having initially served as Private 1903 in the 1st/9th London Regiment. He was wounded on the 24th July 1916 and died from his wounds two days later in the Casualty Clearing Station at Bethune. John was the son of the late Henry and E. Helena Smith, of Kingsbury, Middx and lies in the Bethune Town cemetery.

Captain Edward LEE

Killed in Action 14th October 1916, aged 30.

Captain Lee was the son of Arthur George and Clara Joanna Lee, of "Northcourt," North St., Sheringham, Norfolk and lies in the Lonsdale cemetery, Authuile, 5 kilometres north of Albert on the Somme.

Captain Eric Butler SMALLWOOD, MC

Killed in Action 7th January 1917, aged 21.

Eric was the son of Edward and Mildred Smallwood, of 30, Lordship Park, Stoke Newington, London and is buried in the Essex Farm cemetery, north of Ypres.

Lieutenant Frederick Reginald HART, MC

Died of wounds 28th January 1917, aged 23. Frederick was the son of Frederick and Lizzie Maria Hart, of 211, Camden Rd., London and lies in the Paddington cemetery, Middlesex, England.

Lieutenant Colonel Frank PAGE, DSO & Bar

Killed in Action 31st July 1917, aged 39

Frank Page was the head of Gilbertson and Page, game food makers in Hertford. He had served as a Corporal in the South African Wars and, through his good service, was commissioned afterwards.

In 1912 he became the Mayor of Hertford and went to France with the battalion in 1914. He battalion's commanding officer from early in 1916 until his death that day, having won the Distinguished Service Order in the spring of 1915 and a Bar to his DSO in November 1916.

Lieutenant Colonel Page was not one to hide in the background and had several very close calls, including having his periscope shot away from his face by a sniper and his trench coat being torn from his body by shrapnel during one of the many assaults he insisted on leading from the front.

Lieutenant Colonel Page was killed leading his men in the attack so has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Frank was the son of Alfred George Page and the husband of Margaret Payne Page, of "Thurcroft," 21, Talbot Hill Rd., Bournemouth.

He can be seen in the group photograph from 1914 here.

Captain Sidney Henry LOWRY, MC

Killed in Action 31st July 1917, aged 29.

Sidney was educated at Northaw Place, Potters Bar, Charterhouse and Pembroke College in Cambridge. When war broke out he joined the Inns of Court OTC and was commissioned an officer in September 1914. In November 1914 he became a Captain and was sent to the front in January 1915, where he served continuously until his death.

Sidney was the only son of Mr. Henry and Mrs. Alice Lowry of Northwood, Stevenage in Hertfordshire. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Acting Captain and Adjutant Alexander Richard MILNE

Killed in Action 31st July 1917, aged 21.

Alexander was born on the 13th June 1896 in Barnet, Herts, the son of Frank Alexander and Alice Emily Milne of Summerhill in Barnet. He was educated at Northaw Place, Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge and was a Sergeant in the OTC at Winchester. When war was declared he enlisted into the Inns of Court OTC immediately and was gazetted an officer in the Hertford a few weeks later. He went abroad in July 1915 and served with an entrenching battalion until rejoining the Hertfords. Captain Milne fell whilst leading reinforcements up under heavy fire to repel a German counter attack, just after Lieutenant Colonel Page had been killed, effectively handing control of the battalion's actions on the battlefield over to Captain Milne in the process. Alexander was much liked within the regiment as a whole, as letters following his death attest.

The Major of the 1st Herts, Sir Charles Longmore (who had been his original commanding officer) and Brigadier General Croft, his first CO in the 1st Herts, all wrote animatedly to his parents after his death, telling them how incredible their son had been.

Captain Milne has no known grave but is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Basil William HEAD

Killed in Action 31st July 1917, aged 26.

Lieutenant Head was the son of the Rev. William and Agnes Head, of "Springfield," Marldon, Paignton, Devon and lived in Whitney, Herefordshire himself. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Simmonds (Sidney) KING

Killed in Action 31st July 1917, aged 31.

Sidney was the son of William King, of 39, Maidstone Rd., Chatham. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Frank Gilbert LAKE

Killed in Action 31st July 1917

There is a mention of Lieutenant Lake being seconded to the RFC from January 1917 in a local paper, from which posting he returned in April 1917. Frank has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Second Lieutenant Eric MACINTOSH

Killed in Action 31st July 1917

Second Lieutenant Macintosh has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Second Lieutenant Reginald Herbert SECRETAN

Killed in action 31st July 1917, aged 22.

Reginald was educated at Hildersham House, Broadstairs and Oundle Schools. When war broke out he tried unsuccessfully to enlist eight times but failed due to poor eyesight, eventually securing a place in the Motor transport section of the Army Service Corps. From December 1914, he served for 18 months as a driver and despatch rider on the Western Front and returned to England in August 1917 to take up a commission. Second Lieutenant Secretan joined the Hertfords on the front lines in January 1917 and remained with them until he was killed in action.

Reginald was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Secretan, of Bennett's End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Richard Birbeck RAVENSCROFT

Killed in Action 16th August 1917

Richard was promoted to a Second Lieutenant in the Hertfords from the Inns of Court OTC in January 1916. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Herbert Norman BAKER

Died 30th August 1917, aged 26.

Lieutenant Baker was seconded to the Colonial Office in January 1917 and was killed whilst attached to the Nigeria Regiment, W.A.F.F. He is buried in the Morogoro cemetery in Tanzania, 195 kilometres west of Dar-Es-Salaam. He was the son of Lt. Col. H. Baker, V.D. and Mrs. H. Baker, of 27, North Crescent, Hertford.

His father, Major Herbert Baker, served abroad in 1914 as second in command until invalided home with rheumatism.

He rose to Lieutenant Colonel and can be seen in the 1914 officer's group photograph here.

Captain Charles Henry GIMINGHAM

Killed in Action 9th November 1917, aged 26.

Captain Gimingham was attached to the RFC from early in 1917, in which unit he was killed. He was the son of Mary Christmas (formerly Gimingham), of Stamford House, Harpenden, Herts, and the late C. H. Gimingham.

Charles is buried in the Struma Military Cemetery, 65 kilometres north-east of Thessaloniki.

Lieutenant Follett McNeill DRURY

Killed in Action 7th January 1918, aged 24.

Follett landed in France on the 20th September 1914 as a Private in Honourable Artillery Company and was wounded three times before being commissioned into the Hertfordshire Regiment. He was killed around 11pm when a German shell hit his Company HQ, killing him instantly. Follett was the son of Lt. Col. Richard Drury, C.B.E., and Gertrude Elizabeth Drury, of Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Herts.

He lies in the Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, near Boezinge.

Lieutenant Edward Frederick Montagu BROWN

Died of wounds 8th January 1918, aged 34.

Lieutenant Brown was wounded by the same shell that killed Lieutenant Drury (above) and died from his wounds the following day. He was the son of R. Montagu Brown and Phillippa Brown, of Edale, Sheffield and husband of Constance M. Brown, of "Kentons," Tilehurst Rd., Reading.

Edward lies in the Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, near Boezinge.

Second Lieutenant Edward Algernon TAYLOR

Killed in Action 11th February 1918, aged 38.

Second Lieutenant Taylor was commissioned into the Hertford in January 1917 and joined the battalion on the front lines 3rd February 1917. He was killed by a sniper a year later whilst out on an afternoon patrol. Edward was the son of Henry A. Taylor, of The Retreat, Bishop's Stortford, Herts.

He lies in the Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand, on the road between Cambrai and Peronne.

Major John Bolle Tynedale GOUGH

Killed in Action 22nd March 1918, aged 37.

Major Gough had served in Mesopotamia before joining the Hertfords. He was the son of Hubert and Alicia Jane Gough, of 2, Old Park Rd., Enfield, Middx and is buried in the Ste. Emilie Valley Cemetery in Villers-Faucon, about 14 kilometres north-east of Peronne.

Captain Thomas Pilling GIBBONS, MC

Killed in Action 22nd March 1918, aged 23.

Captain Gibbons had been serving on the front lines since January 1915 and was amongst the four officers killed that day. Thomas was the son of Sir Thomas Gibbons and Lady Gibbons and the husband of the late Edith Doris Gibbons (nee Evison).

He lies in the Roisel Comunal Cemetery Extension, 11 kilometres east of Peronne.

Lieutenant Donovan PERRY

Killed in Action 22nd March 1918.

Lieutenant Perry has no known grave and is remembered on the Pozieres memorial to the missing.

Second Lieutenant Charles Leonard KING

Killed in Action 22nd March 1918 aged 20.

Charles was born in Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk. He was the son of Alfred and Eva Mary King, of Selborne, West Byfleet, Surrey and is buried in the Roisel Communal Extention, 11 kilometres east of Peronne.

Lieutenant John Eric BROAD

Killed in Action 23rd March 1918, aged 23.

John was the son of Thomas John and Amelia Florence Broad, of "Earlsgate", Rickmansworth Rd., Watford, Herts. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Pozieres memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Richard Trollope North HICKLEY

Killed in Action 24th March 1918, aged 20.

Richard was educated at Winchester College and joined the battalion on the 6th January 1917. He was iInitially posted as missing in action and has no known grave but is remembered on the Pozieres memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Hickley was the son of Leonard William North and Sybil Louise Hickley of The Hill, Much Hadham in Herts.

Second Lieutenant Frank Roland STONNILL

Killed in Action 24th March 1918

Frank was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Hertfords in August 1916 and joined the battalion on the front on the 20th October 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Pozieres memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant John William CHURCH

Died of wounds 30th March 1918.

Lieutenant Church has no known grave and is remembered on the Pozieres memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant Angier Percy HURD

Killed in Action 30th March 1918

Angier was gazetted a Second Lieutenant from the Inns of Court OTC in April 1915 and joined the battalion on the 16th November 1917.

Lieutenant Hurd is buried in the Hangard Communal Cemetery, 5 kilometres south of Villers-Bretonneux.

Lieutenant Charles Stewart CAUTHERLEY

Killed in Action 26th April 1918, aged 37.

Served with Honourable Artillery Company between 1909 and 1915, after which he was gazetted as an officer in the Hertfordshire Regiment in October 1915. He joined the 1st battalion in April 1916 and in September 1916 was reported as suffering from slight shell shock, although he returned to the battalion soon afterwards. Lieutenant Cautherley spent time in the First Army Provosts, returning to the battalion on the 10th April 1918 and was killed two weeks later. Charles was the son of Charles and Mary Stewart Cautherley, of Far Headingley, Leeds and the nephew of George Cautherley of Royston.

He has no known grave but is remembered on the Tyne Cot memorial to the missing.

Lieutenant George ABBOTT

Killed in Action 23rd August 1918

Attached to the 1st battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.

Lieutenant Ronald Henry Preuss ARNHOLTZ

Killed in Action 23rd August 1918

Attached to the 1st battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.

Acting Captain Saxon Weston MOORE

Killed in Action 23rd August 1918, aged 31.

Captain Moore was the husband of Mrs. S. G. E. Moore, of Shenstone Lodge, Ashburnham Rd., Bedford and lies in the Foncquevillers Military cemetery, 18 kilometres south-west of Arras on the D3.

Captain Frederick John(s) SMITH

Died of wounds 23rd August 1918

Frederick had enlisted as a Private in the London Regiment and was commissioned into the Bedfords in 1916. On the surface, he appears to have served in the 8th battalion, then the 6th battalion, before moving into the 5th battalion (presumably a Reserve battalion).

Although he is remembered by the CWGC as falling in the 1st Bedfords, the Herts war diary records his death in their battalion.

He lies in the Fonquevillers cemetery, 18km south-west of Arras.

Second Lieutenant Laurence REEVES

Died of wounds 25th August 1918, aged 19

Laurence was educated at Sherborne School and joined the battalion on the 28th April 1918. He was wounded during the assault on Aciet Le Grand and died from his wounds two days later.

Laurence was the son of James B. and the late Josephine Reeves, of The Red House, New Barnet, Herts and lies in the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, 2 Kms to the south-west of the town of Doullens.

Second Lieutenant Percy James HOLT

Died of wounds 6th September 1918

This is a young man called Percy Holt. He was born on the 14th January 1896 at Cradley, near Malvern to Phlilip and Eliza Holt. His father died suddenly in 1907 and Percy went on to be educated at Tewkbury Grammar School between 1910 and 1912. He was a Drapers assistant at Rendale and Co. in Malvern when he enlisted into the army at Hereford on the 7th September 1914. Percy became Private 2210 in the 1st/1st Herefordshire regiment (later renumbered to 235660) and specialised as a Signaller. After initial training he embarked for Gallipoli on the TSS Euripides, 16th July 1915.

At 7am on the 9th August the battalion landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, and Percy survived what can only be called the difficult landings and assaults of that week. Whilst they were in reserve at Karakol Dagh he was admitted to the 26th C.C.S. on Gallipoli with shrapnel in his right foot on the 26th September 1915. He was moved to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria, arriving there on the 1st October, and onto No.6 Convalescent Hospital 3 days later. By the 6th November Percy was back at the Base Depot and returned to Gallipoli for the final phase of the campaign, but was off of the Peninsular again on the 4th December. The next year was spent in Egypt and on the 9th April Percy was made up to a Corporal and in September to a Sergeant while his battalion defended the Suez Canal.

Sergeant Holt applied for a commission in Egypt on the 30th December 1916 and was shipped back to England for his Officer training on the H.T. Arcadia, embarking on the 31st January 1916. He started his training at the 14th Officer Cadet Battalion at Berkhampstead on the 7th April 1917 and was granted a temporary commission in the 6th battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment September 1917.

On the 20th April 1918 2/Lt P.J. Holt arrived with the 6th battalion in the field along with a large replacement Officer draft and served with the battalion until they were disbanded in May. His first summer in France was, on the whole, uneventful. The 10th August onwards saw the battalion advancing as a part of the massive allied offensives that would lead directly to the end of the war that November and the 23rd August saw him involved in attacking and taking Achiet-le-Grand, for the cost of almost 200 casualties. On the 27th August he wrote to his mother on German notepaper he must have taken from the battlefield at Achiet-le-Grand. He remarks that he was very well, that he had "been busy as you may have seen in the papers" and how he expects to not be able to write very often after that note. Sadly, this was to be the last letter he wrote as he lost his life a week later.

During the Second Battle of Bapaume, the Hertfords assaulted German positions north east of Bapaume on the 4th September and suffered badly from machine gun fire and gas. The next day was spent consolidating their new positions under fire so Percy was wounded on one of these days. Sadly he died of wounds at 4.50am on the 6th September 1918, whilst on board the 14th Ambulance Train bound for Rouen. Included in his personal effects were a German pistol and case (perhaps taken at the same time the notebook was), his personal correspondence and ten buttons from his old Bedfordshire Regiment tunic he had kept as souvenirs. He is buried in the St. Sever cemetery in Rouen

After his death his mother entered into what can only be described as heartbroken correspondence with the War Office, desperate to understand more of her obviously much loved son's death.

The first photograph of Percy by himself (above) was taken in 1914/1915 just after he enlisted into the army at the age of 19.

The second one (above) as well as the one taken with his younger sister Kathleen shows him sporting a long service stripe, 2 oversees chevrons from Gallipoli, a wound stripe also from Gallipoli and the Signallers flags showing his specialisation. These two must have been taken in 1917 whilst in England for his Officer training.

(My thanks to Geoff Alford, Percy's relative, for agreeing for this biography to appear on the site)