Herbert James Roe

A Private with 2nd Battalion, Herbert died on 26th of February 1917 at the age of 23. 

Herbert was born at Gillingham, near Beccles, on 12 June 1893, a son of Herbert James and Emma Charlotte Roe. He was baptised at Gillingham on 17 September 1893. By 1901 his family were living at Gate House, Marsh Lane, Carlton Colville. This was still their address in 1911 when Herbert worked as a bullock tender on a farm. Later his parents lived at 118 Old Palace Road, Norwich. 

Herbert was working as a railway porter and shunter when he volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Norwich on 2 September 1914. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 13987, and was posted to the 3rd Battalion. He was posted to the 10th Battalion on 21 October 1914. He was a qualified army signaller.

Herbert was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 10 October 1915 and embarked at Devonport that day. He arrived at Basrah on 7 January 1916. By this time the 2nd Battalion was besieged at Kut-al-Amarah and he did not join the battalion there. 

Herbert developed diarrhoea and was admitted to 19 Field Ambulance. He was then found to have dysentery and transferred to D-2 Base General Hospital, on 19 February 1916. On 12 March 1916 he was transferred to 3-A Nase General Hospital at Basra before, on 15 March 1916, being transferred to India for treatment. He arrived at Bombay on 22 March 1916.

Once recovered Herbert returned to Mesopotamia. He embarked at Bombay on 27 November 1916 and disembarked at Basra on 5 December 1916.

While Herbert had been in India a new 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment had been formed from the members of the old battalion that had not gone into Kut and the reinforcements sent out from the U.K. Herbert joined this ‘new’ 2nd Battalion at Sheikh Said on 15 December 1916.  

Herbert was wounded by a gunshot to his head and died of wounds on 26 February 1917. His service papers do not record where this took place, but he is buried at Amara and in early 1917 this was the location of many military hospitals. 

Herbert’s personal effects, an identity disc, a pocket book, one letter, and five photos, where sent to his family. 

Herbert’s brother Charles died in 1918 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.