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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment



   1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment was a unit of the Territorial Force serving with the East Midland Infantry Brigade, East Anglian Division. It had its HQ in Hertford and consisted of Companies A to H.

1st Nov 1914 Orders

2nd Nov 1914 Preparations

3rd Nov 1914 Preparations

5th Nov 1914 1st Herts proceed to France

6th Nov 1914 On the Move

7th Nov 1914 In Camp

8th Nov 1914 On the Move

9th Nov 1914 On the Move

10th Nov 1914 Inspection

11th Nov 1914 On the March  location map

12th Nov 1914 Entrenching  location map

13th Nov 1914 In Bivoauc  location map

14th Nov 1914 Relief  location map

15th Nov 1914 Holding the Line  location map

16th Nov 1914 Reliefs  location map

17th Nov 1914 Relief Completed  location map

18th Nov 1914 In the Trenches  location map

19th Nov 1914 Snow  location map

20th Nov 1914 On the March  location map

21st Nov 1914 On the March  location map

19th Dec 1914 In Billets  location map

22nd Dec 1914 On the March  location map

22nd Dec 1914 On the March  location map

23rd Dec 1914 In Support  location map

24th Dec 1914 Reliefs  location map

24th Dec 1914 Sniper

25th Dec 1914 In the Trenches  location map

27th Dec 1914 In the Trenches  location map

2nd Jan 1915 Relief Complete  location map

6th Jan 1915 Parcels from Home

8th Jan 1915 On the March  location map

10th Jan 1915 Reliefs  location map

11th Jan 1915 In the Trenches

11th Jan 1915 In Support  location map

11th Jan 1915 Water Rising

12th Jan 1915 Reliefs  location map

12th Jan 1915 Enemy Sighted

14th Jan 1915 In the Line  location map

14th Jan 1915 Quiet

15th Jan 1915 In Front line.

16th Jan 1915 In the Line

17th Jan 1915 Pain Killers in Demand

18th Jan 1915 Reliefs  location map

20th Jan 1915 Into Reserve  location map

25th Jan 1915 Orders  location map

26th January 1915 Promotion

27th January 1915 Route March

29th January 1915 On the March

30th January 1915 On the March  location map

31st January 1915 Reinforcements  location map

1st February 1915 Reliefs

2nd February 1915 Move  location map

3rd February 1915 Attachment

4th February 1915 In Support

5th February 1915 In Support

6th February 1915 In Action

7th February 1915 In Support

8th February 1915 Attack Made

9th Feb 1915 Lost Teeth

10th February 1915 Message

12th February 1915 In the Trenches

14th February 1915 French Attempt Advance

20th February 1915 Stand To

21st February 1915 Mention in Dispatches

28th February 1915 Into Corps Reserve  location map

1st March 1915 In Corps Reserve  location map

2nd March 1915 Change of Billets

5th March 1915 Change of Billets  Remaining two companies of 1st Herts joined up with the battalion at Vendin.

War Diary of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment



6th March 1915 In Reserve  1st Herts are in Corps Reserve at Vendin.

War Diary of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment



7th Mar 1915 In Reserve

8th March 1915 In Reserve

9th March 1915 In Reserve

10th March 1915 Into Support

11th March 1915 Reliefs

13th March 1915 Valiant Rescue

14th March 1915 Brigadier Congratulates 1st Herts

16th March 1915 Working Parties

17th March 1915 Working Parties  location map

18th March 1915 Heavy Artillery Fire

19th March 1915 Quiet

31st March 1915 Reliefs  location map

1st April 1915 Into billets

2nd April 1915 Reliefs

6th April 1915 Reliefs

8th April 1915 Reliefs

10th April 1915 Reliefs

13th April 1915 Reliefs

15th April 1915 Reliefs

17th April 1915 Reliefs

19th April 1915 Trenches handed over

22nd April 1915 Reliefs

23rd April 1915 Reliefs

25th April 1915 Reinforcements

27th April 1915 Reliefs

1st May 1915 Reliefs

3rd May 1915 Reliefs

4th May 1915 Daily Battery Activity 6th London Brigade RFA   15th London Battery fired eight rounds at 1115 on enemy's communication trench S.27.d.11 and subsequently fired eight rounds on enemy's breastwork at 2350. Thirty nine rounds were fired at A.2.d.77 and A.2.b.95. 16th London Battery fired eight rounds in direction of trenches north of the ‘S’ Bend. Both Batteries also fired twelve special 65a fuses. Report received that the 1st Herts. in front line trenches, had been overcome by gas. This was untrue.

War Diaries



6th May 1915 Draft

12th May 1915 Reliefs

13th May 1915 Bivouac

14th May 1915 Into Billets

17th May 1915 In Support  1st Hertfords moved up in support of the 1st Irish Guards in trenches three quarters of a mile East of Rue L'Epinette.

War Diary of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment



18th May 1915 Attack Made

19th May 1915 Heavy Casualties

20th May 1915 Into Billets  location map

22nd May 1915 In Billets

24th May 1915 GOC praises conduct of 1st Bn Herts

31st May 1915 On the March

6th June 1915 Into Billets  1st Hertfords moved at 9.15pm. Nos. 1 & 2 Coys went into billets at Cambrin.

War Diary of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment



13th June 1915 Awards

18th Jun 1915 Widening communication trenches  location map

20th June 1915 Exchange  location map

21st June 1915 Reliefs

23rd June 1915 Mentioned in Dispatches

25th June 1915 Reliefs

27th June 1915 Reliefs  location map

28th June 1915 Message

30th June 1915 In Billets

1st July 1915 Award

5th July 1915 Reliefs  location map

6th Jul 1915 Equipment

8th July 1915 Posting

8th Jul 1915 Inspection

11th July 1915 Holding the Line

13th July 1915 Reliefs

14th July 1915 Draft from England

21st July 1915 Reliefs  location map

26th July 1915 Posting

29th July 1915 Reliefs

30th July 1915 Reliefs

2nd Aug 1915 Relief Completed  location map

4th Aug 1915 Reliefs  location map

6th Aug 1915 Reliefs

8th Aug 1915 Reliefs

10th Aug 1915 In Action

10th Aug 1915 Reliefs

12th Aug 1915 Attack Made

13th Aug 1915 Reliefs

15th Aug 1915 Reliefs  location map

19th Aug 1915 Reorganisation  location map

24th Aug 1915 Two Meals a Day  location map

25th Aug 1915 On the March

27th Aug 1915 Working Parties

30th Aug 1915 HQ Moves

31st Aug 1915 Trench Work

31st Aug 1915 Reliefs

1st Sep 1915 On the March  location map

6th Sep 1915 HQ Relocates  location map

8th Sep 1915 Reliefs

12th Sep 1915 Reliefs  location map

16th Sep 1915 Reliefs

19th Sep 1915 Reliefs

24th Sep 1915 Reliefs  location map

25th Sep 1915 Attack Made  location map

26th Sep 1915 Reliefs  location map

27th Sep 1915 Brave Actions

27th Sep 1915 Gas  location map

30th Sep 1915 Reliefs  location map

1st Oct 1915 In the Line

1st Oct 1915 In Support  location map

2nd Oct 1915 Award  location map

3rd Oct 1915 Attack  location map

8th Oct 1915 Reinforcements  location map

17th Oct 1915 On the March  location map

21st Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete  location map

21st Oct 1915 On the March  location map

24th Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete

26th Oct 1915 Recce  location map

26th Oct 1915 In the Trenches

27th Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete  location map

27th Oct 1915 Relief  location map

30th Oct 1915 Bombing  location map

1st Nov 1915 In Billets  location map

2nd Nov 1915 Reliefs

3rd Nov 1915 In the Trenches

6th Nov 1915 Reliefs  location map

16th Dec 1915 Reorganisation

25th Dec 1915 Christmas  location map

27th Dec 1915 On the Move

29th Dec 1915 Eating Meals in Decency

31st Jan 1915 In Billets  location map

3rd Feb 1916 Reliefs  location map

4th Mar 1916 At Buckingham Palace

1st May 1916 Reliefs

6th Jun 1916 Reliefs  location map

22nd Jun 1916 Reliefs  location map

26th Oct 1915 1st Herts in the Trenches

29th Jun 1917 Move

30th Jun 1917 Reliefs

1st Jul 1917 In Reserve

7th Jul 1917 Reliefs

16th Jul 1917 Reliefs

17th Jul 1917 On the March

18th Jul 1917 Training

22nd Jul 1917 Move

23rd Jul 1917 Training

29th Jul 1917 Preparations

30th Jul 1917 Into Position

31st Jul 1917 Attack Made

2nd Aug 1917 In the Trenches

2nd Aug 1917 Message of Congratulation  location map

3rd Aug 1917 Continuous Rain

5th Aug 1917 In Bivouacs

7th Aug 1917 On the Move

9th Aug 1917 In Camp

10th Aug 1917 Inspection

11th Aug 1917 Reinforcements

12th Aug 1917 Reinforcements

14th Aug 1917 On the Move

19th Aug 1917 Reliefs

23rd Aug 1917 Reliefs

27th Aug 1917 Reliefs

30th Aug 1917 Reinforcements

2nd Sep 1917 Reliefs

5th Sep 1917 In the Trenches

6th Sep 1917 Reliefs

8th Sep 1917 Reliefs

10th Sep 1917 Reinforcements

11th Sep 1917 In Camp

12th Sep 1917 On the March  location map

13th Sep 1917 Reinforcements

14th Sep 1917 Reinforcements

18th Sep 1917 On the March

19th Sep 1917 Equipment

20th Sep 1917 Attack Made

21st Sep 1917 Reliefs

22nd Sep 1917 Reliefs

23rd Sep 1917 Reliefs

25th Sep 1917 Into Position  location map

26th Sep 1917 Into Support

27th Sep 1917 Bringing in the Wounded  location map

30th Sep 1917 The Cost

1st Oct 1917 Inspection

2nd Oct 1917 Inspection

3rd Oct 1917 Training

4th Oct 1917 Working Parties

6th Oct 1917 Change of Command

9th Oct 1917 Reinforcements

10th Oct 1917 New Adjutant

11th Oct 1917 Reinforcements

16th Oct 1917 Working Parties

17th Oct 1917 On the March  location map

18th Oct 1917 Special Work

19th Oct 1917 Reinforcements

20th Oct 1917 Reinforcements

20th Oct 1917 Cinematographer Visits Camp

23rd Oct 1917 On the March

24th Oct 1917 Party Rejoins Battalion

25th Oct 1917 Concert

26th Oct 1917 At the Ready  location map

27th Oct 1917 At the Ready

28th Oct 1917 Reliefs

29th Oct 1917 In the Trenches

31st Oct 1917 Reliefs Completed

21st August 1918 Attack Made

4th Nov 1918 Attack Made

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment?


There are:5488 items tagged 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Chisholm Douglas William. Sgt.
  • Davis Henry Croft. L/Cpl.
  • Lennings Cyril John. L/Cpl. (d.27th September 1917)
  • Mason George Albert. Pte. (d.6th November 1917)
  • Munkman Frank. Pte (d.10th Jul 1916)
  • Page Ernest. Pte.
  • Peachey William Thomas. Pte. (d.13th Nov 1916)
  • Thompson Ernest Samuel. Pte.
  • Vaughan Thomas Llewellyn. Pte. (d.22nd March 1918)
  • Warren Alfred Arthur. Pte. (d.18th Mar 1918)
  • Young VC. Frank Edward. 2nd Lt. (d.18th Sep 1918)
  • Young VC Frank Edward. 2nd Lt. (d.18th Sep1918)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment from other sources.


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  2nd Lt. Frank Edward Young VC 1st Btn. Hertfordshire Regiment (d.18th Sep1918)

Frank Young was killed in action on 18th September 1918 aged 23 years during the action for which he gained his award. He is buried in the Hermies Hill British Cemetery in France. He was the son of Frank and Sarah Ellen Young, of 46, Wood Avenue, Folkestone, Kent

An extract from The London Gazette No. 31067, dated 13th Dec., 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, determination and exceptional devotion to duty on 18th September, 1918, south-east of Havrincourt, when during an enemy counter-attack and throughout an extremely intense enemy barrage he visited all posts, warned the garrisons and encouraged the men. In the early stages of the attack he rescued two of his men who had been captured, and bombed and silenced an enemy machine gun. Although surrounded by the enemy, 2nd Lt. Young fought his way back to the main barricade and drove out a party of the enemy who were assembling there. By his further exertions the battalion was able to maintain a line of great tactical value, the loss of which would have meant serious delay to future operations. Throughout four hours of intense hand-to-hand fighting 2nd Lt. Young displayed the utmost valour and devotion to duty, and set an example to which the company gallantly responded. He was last seen fighting hand to hand against a considerable number of the enemy."

s flynn






  L/Cpl. Henry Croft Davis 1st Btn, A Company, 2nd Platoon Herefordshire Regiment

We have a few letters that my grandfather, Harry Davis wrote to his then fiance. It is difficult to put into a timeline as some are not dated. He spoke about his friends from home that were fighting alongside him. He was shot, had frostbite and almost drowned, but was always positive and had a great sense of humour that came through in the letters. Wish I had got to know him better.

Janet Gee






  Pte. Ernest Page C Coy. 1/1st Btn. Hertfordshire Regiment

Ernest Page was a Territorial Force member. He had joined in 1912 in Ware and volunteered for Imperial Service at the very start of the war. He arrived in France in early November 1914 and took part in the Mons Canal, Cuinchy and Loos combats.

When his time as TF came to a close in 1916 the New Conscription Law had been past and he was given the choice of being demobbed, going home and being recalled or staying on and choosing in which unit he would serve. Having taken part in the battles that cost huge numbers of losses, spent 2 winters in wet, cold trenches he decided to join the Artillery. However, the casualty numbers were so large that experienced men were needed with the newer recruits. And 6 months later he was transferred to an infantry unit with the Northumberland Fusiliers, at first in the 26th Battalion, then in the 23rd Battalion of 34th Division (4th Tyneside Scottish)

He took part in most major battles until 11th of April 1918 when his group was taken prisoner near Armentieres. During the night of the 10th the Germans had managed to cross the River Lys and cause a wedge between 22nd and 23rd Brigades. Ernest's unit was over-run it only had one remaining officer who advised they surrendered to the enemy, in this case a German Cavalry Unit, You have fought well, lads, and we can now only surrender.

He spent the remainder of the conflict in the Gardelegen Camp. Saxony. He was awarded the 1914 star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

Danielle Rand






  Pte. Thomas Llewellyn Vaughan 1st Btn. Z Coy. Hertfordshire Regiment (d.22nd March 1918)

Thomas Vaughan was the son of Thomas Philip and Lilian Vaughan, Rossdale, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, He lived and enlisted in Ampthill, serving with Z Company, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 22nd of March 1918 in France, aged 21 years and is buried in Ste. Emilie Valley Cemetery, Somme, France. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com

Caroline Hunt






  L/Cpl. Cyril John Lennings 1st Btn. No 3 Company Hertfordshire Regiment (d.27th September 1917)

Cyril Lennings was just 21 when he died. He was the youngest of four brothers who served in WW1 and he was the second of the four to die. His brother George died a month before him. While George's body was never recovered Cyril is buried at the Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery and Extension. Both were serving in Flanders and both were casualties of the Battle of Passchendaele, the Third battle of Ypres.







  Pte. George Albert Mason 1st Btn. Herefordshire Regiment (d.6th November 1917)

I only know that my grandfather's body lies in Beersheba War Cemetery. It would never have been visited by any family, as my father was his only child and he did not know any details of George's army life, only that he died in WW1. It appears that George Mason went to war when his wife was pregnant with my father, but I am unable to ascertain whether he even knew she was pregnant when he left. I cannot find out when he left Hereford. He was killed in the Battle of Beersheba.

Christine Rose Smith






  Pte. Ernest Samuel Thompson 1st Btn. Hertfordshire Regiment

My Grandfather Ernest Thompson was an early volunteer and went to France in January 1915; He served with the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. He was wounded - shot through the right hand and elbow - in May 1915 and subsequently sent home. He was honourably discharged in January 1916.

Although he didn't talk about his experiences I do have a postcard he sent to my Grandmother when he was in France asking her to knit some more socks as they were standing in constant mud. I remember him telling me about the Christmas football match, which he probably heard about on his arrival in France. In later life, he worked around his injuries, which also included being gassed, and he always said that he would be all right if he could get a new set of lungs! Not many years later, hearts and lungs were being transplanted.

My Grandfather painted a postcard-size picture of the Hertfordshire Regiment insignia with his left-hand (as his right hand was injured), possibly during his recuperation? He played cricket for Baldock Town at some stage but more especially for Kryn and Lahy where he was primarily a bowler. I used to sit with my Grandfather listening to cricket and cleaning his medals - wonderful days and memories. He invariably had bronchitis as a result of his damaged lungs and subsequently succumbed to this damage; He never received a war pension which would not be allowed today.

Pearl Townsend






  Pte. William Thomas Peachey 1st Btn. Hertfordshire Regiment (d.13th Nov 1916)

William Thomas Peachey enlisted in Hertford as Private in the 1st Battalion the Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action at The Battle of the Ancre, 13th November 1916 and is buried in the Connaucht Cemetery, Thiepval.

Chris Allan






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