Frederick Noel Herbert

A Corporal with the 8th Battalion, Frederick died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 23. 

Frederick was born at Oulton, Lowestoft, on 11 May 1893. A son of John Frederick and Susanna Herbert .He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville, on 16 July 1893 and his family lived at Oulton. In 1901 his family lived at 38 Victoria Road, Carlton Colville. Later his mother lived at 16 Esplanade, and then 7 Ontario Road. 

Frederick enlisted in the Army at Norwich. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 8448. In 1911 he was serving with the 3rd Battalion at Norwich. Frederick arrived in France with the 1st Battalion on 16 August 1914 and served with D Company. On 19 August 1915 he was admitted to 14 Field Ambulance with a fever and went to the Divisional Rest Station the next day. 

Frederick, and two other men, received accidental wounds from a grenade explosion. Frederick received wounds to his right arm and head. Frederick, and the other men, were admitted to 14 Field Ambulance on 20 October 1915 and then transferred to 5 Casualty Clearing Station. Once recovered Frederick was posted to the 9th battalion and then to the 8th battalion. 

On 1 July 1916 the 8th Battalion were involved in an assault on the German trenches north of Carnoy, and south-west of Montaubin. At 7.27 a.m. the first waves deployed form the trenches without loss. Mine Trench was reached and crossed almost with little opposition and without loss. C Company took 30 prisoners. Bund Support was reached and taken by 8 a.m. At this point the leading companies came under very heavy enfilade fire and suffered heavily. Men advanced to Pommier Trench but were then held up by machine gun fire and a strong point. By 3 p.m. B Company had taken The Loop and the assault companies advanced to take the Montaubin Alley line, the battalion’s final objective. In doing so C and D Companies took heavy casualties. At 6 p.m. consolidation work was undertaken and, from 8 p.m., there was a continuous bombardment on the battalion’s positions.

Casualties during the attack were: 
Officers: two killed, one died of wounds, eight wounded
Other ranks: 102 killed, 219 wounded, 13 missing

Frederick was among those killed in action on 1 July.  

The Lowestoft Journal, 5 August 1916, page 3, has the following report:

We regret to announce the death of Corporal Stanley (sic) Herbert, of the 1st Norfolks, son of Mrs. Herbert, 16, Esplanade, Lowestoft, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme on July 1st. His platoon commander writes: - “It is with much regret I inform you that your son has been killed in gallantly fighting in the cause of his country. You will be proud of the fact that the last I saw of him he was fighting most bravely, and that he died a hero’s death. He will be greatly missed by his platoon and myself, who join with me in extending to you our deepest sympathy.”