Name
Archibald Halsey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/09/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4719
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, MESNIL-MARTINSART
E. 45.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN JESU'S KEEPING HE IS SAFE
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Archibald Halsey was born in Tring in 1897 (baptised 14 Feb 1897in Tring) to James Halsey, estate carpenter, and Ellen Halsey (nee Jones).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Hubert (born 1893), Ella (born 1895) and Archibald were living at 10, Langdon Street, Tring.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Hubert (now a carpenter), Ella, Archibald, Arnold (born 195) and Kenneth (born 1909) were living at 38, Albert Street, Tring.
Wartime Service
Archibald enlisted as a Territorial Soldier as Private 4719 (about Feb/Mar 1915) in 1/1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment. He trained at Halton Park in Signals and wad was promoted to Corporal but reverted to Private when posted to the 1st Battalion in the Field. At this time the Battalion were part of 6th Brigade 2 Division but on 29 Feb transferred in to 115 Brigade 39 Division. Archibald died on 21 Sep 1916 on the Somme during a period when the Battalion were not engaged in a major action but were holding the Front Line in rotation.
From the Bucks Herald, 7th October 1916: “PRIVATE ARCHIE HALSEY: not yet 20, a lad of attractive disposition and sterling character, Archie Halsey has willingly and cheerfully laid down his life at the call of duty. A son of Mr. and Mrs. James Halsey, Archie was a choirboy at the Parish Church, and one of the first to join the local troop of Boy Scouts, of which he remained an enthusiastic member until he joined His Majesty’s Forces. A quiet, unassuming lad who, when once he saw his duty clear, performed it cheerfully and unflinchingly. Archie Halsey was looked up to as being absolutely trustworthy, not only in Scout circles, but beyond. Now the promising young life is ended, and for his bereaved parents and friends the greatest sympathy is felt. This has found expression in numberless letters which have been received from the members of the Company with which Archie served, and from others. As far as can be gathered from the letters to hand, Archie was one of the party who were left as caretakers of a trench on September 21, and was in a dugout with several other men, when a shell dropped in the doorway, a piece of it going through his heart. Death was instantaneous. He was buried in a little cemetery behind the lines where many another heroes rests."
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £6 10s and arrears of £4 6s 1d was paid to his father James.
Archibald’s Medal card shows Hanpshire Regiment and his award of British War and Victory Medals. Based the information above this should be Herfordshire and include the 14/15 Star.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
