WEBB, Herbert Edward
| Service Number: | 773 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 24 June 1890 |
| Home Town: | Bundaberg, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Brickmaker |
| Died: | Suicide, Pond Copse, Hurdcott, England, No 7 Camp, Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, 26 October 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fovant (St. George) Churchyard, Wiltshire - South West, England Fovant (St George) Churchyard (Plot I, Row A, Grave 4), Wiltshire., Fovant (St George) Churchyard, Fovant, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bundaberg War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 773, 7th Machine Gun Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1917: | Involvement Private, 773, 7th Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Nov 1917: | Embarked Private, 773, 7th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 26 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 773, 7th Machine Gun Company, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, SW right knee | |
| 26 Oct 1918: | Involvement Private, 773, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 773 awm_unit: 1st Australian Machine Gun Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-10-26 |
Help us honour Herbert Edward Webb's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 25th October..... Private Herbert Edward Webb was born at Brisbane, Queensland in 1890. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 24th January, 1917 as a 27 year old, single Brickmaker from South East Bundaberg, Queensland.
Herbert Edward Webb married Olive Stokes on 12th February, 1917 at Presbyterian Church, Bundaberg Queensland, after he enlisted. A birth was registered in 1911 for Thelma Eileen Stokes – daughter of Olive Stokes. A birth was registered in 1915 (born 12th July, 1915) for Phyllis Edna Stokes, daughter of Olive Stokes. A birth was registered in 1917 for Stanley Herbert Thomas Webb, son of Herbert & Olive Webb.
Private Herbert Edward Webb embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Nestor (A71) on 21st November, 1917 with 14th Reinforcements of 7th Machine Gun Company. He disembarked at Suez on 15th December, 1917. Private Webb embarked from Alexandria & disembarked at Southampton, England on 24 January, 1918. He was was marched in to 1st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 24th January, 1918 & transferred to 9th Battalion from 7th Machine Gun Company the same day.
Private Webb proceeded overseas to France on 15th April, 1918 & was transferred to 1st Australian Machine Gun Corps.
Private Webb was wounded in action in France on 26th August, 1918. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship & admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth, England on 29th August, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to right knee – severe.
Private Webb was absent without leave from Hospital from 7 p.m. on 3rd September, 1918 till 6 p.m. on 5th September, 1918 when he was handed over by the Civil Police. He was awarded a total of 4 days forfeiture of pay.
Private Webb was transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford on 30th September, 1918 & on furlough from 1st October, 1918 to 15th October, 1918. He was then to report to No 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on his return. Private Webb was marched in to Hurdcott Camp on 15th October, 1918. A hospital report dated 16th October, 1918 reported that Private Webb “Feels well, Knee wound negligible”.
A Court of Inquiry was held at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 26th October, 1918 for the purpose of “investigating the circumstances under which a man (unidentified and dressed in the uniform of an Australian Soldier) met his death.”
(See report of Inquiry in full research on website)
The Court Finding was, on the evidence available, “that the man found dead is No. 773 Private Webb, H. E. of the 1st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force and that he met his death by hanging, attributable to his own hand.” He had committed suicide by hanging himself on or about 25th October, 1918 in Pond Copse, Hurdcott.
A Coroner’s Inquest was held on 26th October, 1918 at No. 7 Command Depot, Hurdcott, Wiltshire with Coroner Frank Henry Trethowan & 7 Jurors. The Verdict of the Inquest was “Herbert Edward Webb was found dead at Pond Copse, Baverstock on the 25th day of October, 1918 and that the cause of death was hanging and so do further say that the said Herbert Webb, whilst of unsound mind, did kill himself. “
Private Herbert Edward Webb was found hanging in woods at Pond Copse, Baverstock, near No 7 Camp Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 26th October, 1918. Private Herbert Edward Webb died on or about 25th/26th October, 1918 from suicide.
Private Herbert Edward Webb was buried in St George’s Churchyard, Fovant, Wiltshire, England
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
photos courtesy of Andrew Stacey
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/h---w.html
Click images to start slideshow.