Name
Bert Culverhouse
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266651
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
Benskin's Brewery Memorial, Watford,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of John and the late Rosetta (nee BAKER) CULVERHOUSE of Watford.
His parents married 9 July 1881 at St Peter's, Berkhamsted, Herts. Â Rosetta died 1915 in Watford aged 56, and was buried 18 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; John died 1920 in London aged 71, and was buried 17 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Bert was born 2 or 17 January 1898 in Watford, and baptised 23 December 1898 at St Mary's, Watford. He attended Victoria Junior School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 8 January 1907 to 12 January 1912. Â He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 3 he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 13, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was living in Watford, Herts when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford, and was formerly Private 5061 Hertfordshire Regiment, but renumbered to 266651 in 1917 during the renumbering of those who had enlisted as part of Territorial Force. This was largely related to the huge increase in the numbers of men serving in the infantry regiments and the need to avoid confusion.
Private 266651 Bedfordshire Regiment and .
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
The 1st Hertfordshire Battalion were in support of an attack on the Langemarck Line and a general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July 1917 and the planned assault began. It had three objectives to achieve known as Blue, Black & Green and units of the 116th Brigade easily captured the first two objectives, preparing the way for the forward companies of the Hertfordshire battalion, to take the third objective.
They had marched from Vlamertingue to their assembly position arriving by midnight on the 30th/31st July 1917. A general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July. At 05.00am the Hertfordshires left their assembly positions to attack their objective, which lay over the crest of a ridge.
As they made their way forward, they came under heavy fire from both German machine guns and snipers but after eliminating a German strongpoint moved up towards St. Juliaan, which was only lightly held. The Battalion crossed the Steenbeek with some difficulty and two of its supporting Tanks became bogged down in the mud. Things then went from bad to worse. A pre-arranged artillery barrage never materialised due to the guns being unable to move forward over the muddy terrain and the German barbed wire defences, which were fifteen feet deep in some places, were found to still be intact. It was soon realised that ground could only be won by section "rushes" supported by the unit’s own fire.
The Cheshire Regiment were on the right of the battalion but the Black Watch, who were due to cover the left flank, had been seriously delayed. This left the Hertfordshire Regiment seriously exposed, the Germans exploited this by bringing a hurricane of fire down upon the stricken troops. This was followed by a German counterattack and by 10.30am it was clear that the objective could not be achieved. Casualties were very heavy with 459 men being killed, missing or wounded. This was 100% of its Officers and about 75% of its Other Ranks.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
