Name
Herbert (Charles) Currell (MM)
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/01/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
4119
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESSEX FARM CEMETERY
II. S. 21.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Codicote Village Memorial, Peace Memorial Hall, Codicote, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Welwyn Village memorials, We are not aware of any Langley village memorial
Pre War
Herbert, probably Herbert Charles, was born in 1892 in Langley Bottom, Knebworth, Herts. and his parents were William and Mary Currell (née Marshall) who married in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin on 3 November 1883.
In 1901 the family were living at Langley Village, Herts. Present were both parents: William (38) and Mary (43), with William and working as a horse keeper on a farm. Their children were: George (13), Ernest Samuel (11), Bertie (Herbert 8), John (4) and Ada (1).
By 1911 the family were living at Norfolk Cottages, Ayot St Laurence Nr Welwyn. Present were both parents, x now working as a farm labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 27 years with 8 children, of whom 2 had died. Of the above children Ernest, Herbert and John were all present. John at 18 was working as a farm labourer.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was living in Welwyn, Herts. when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
The service number 4119 suggests that he enlisted after 4 November 1914, and before 13 December 1914 and after training he landed in France on 10 July 1915
His award of the Military Medal was recorded in the Hertfordshires’ War Diary “22-12-16. It appeared in Divisional Routine Orders that the GOC II Corps had awarded the Military Medal to the undermentioned NCO's and men: 2684 Pte Taylor W, 4833 Pte Hansford, 3513 L/Cpl Linge E, 4119 Pte Currell, 2208 Pte Cherry, 2537 Pte Sweeney, 2563 Cpl Kingham, 4277 Sgt Clements, 4279 Pte Rowley, 2291 Pte Page, 2865 Cpl Reynolds, 2731 Sgt Longthorne, 2416 Pte Bowers, 3322 Pte Hart, 6090 Pte Holland. A draft of 12 OR joined the Bn from Base.”
The Hertfordshires were heavily engaged and did some outstanding fighting on the Somme in November 1916 and the action leading to his award may have happened there.
His body lies in Essex Farm Cemetery which was a ‘ Dressing Station’ cemetery so he died of wounds received on or just before the 7 January 1917. The War Diary for the date of his death reveals: “7-1-17. At 2.45am under cover of an intense barrage the Germans raided on the front held by the Bn. They managed to reach one of our posts and unfortunately 3 men were taken prisoner. From another post which was also attacked the Germans were driven off and for conspicuous gallantry at this post 2254 Cpl Beer was awarded the Military Medal. Our casualties were : Capt. E.B. Smallwood killed. 3 O.R.'s died of wounds. 1 O.R. killed and 14 O.R.'s wounded. A draft of 57 O.R.'s from base joined the Bn.”
An article in the Hertfordshire Express published on 20 January 1917 announced his death, stated: "A fortnight ago it was our pleasant duty to inform our readers that Lance-Corporal Herbert Currell had won the Military Medal for bravery on the field in France. Now it is our painful task to state that he has been killed. The sad news was sent to his parents this week."
Letters to his parents published in the Hertfordshire Express from Private W. Sell and Second-Lieutenant H. Nelson Smith describe how Herbert was killed by the concussion of a shell during a bombardment by the Germans. He was buried "in a pretty little cemetery" in the "presence of his great friend, Private William King, and of his company commander." Second-Lieutenant Nelson Smith added that he went out with the stretcher bearers and saw him brought in. "He just looked as if he was peacefully sleeping."
His Captain Aylmer G Clerk wrote: "Your son had served under me for many months in France and had done splendid for his regiment and his country. He was a magnificent soldier, and we shall all feel his loss very much."
(Herbert's award of the Military Medal is not mentioned on the Drill Hall War Memorial.)
Additional Information
His mother received pay owing of 10s 6d. Although pension cards exist they do not give an amount of pension paid. Herbert is mentioned in a very thorough biography for Jack Alfred Willmott by Paul Johnson, which appears in the website’s Archive section Here.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, Brenda Palmer, June Colegrove, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
