Name
Herbert Ernest Alfred Minnis
17 Apr 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
204532
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No.2
X. G. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Willian War Memorial
Pre War
Herbert Ernest Alfred Minnis was born in Willian on 17 Apr 1898 (baptised 19 Jun 1898) to Alfred Minnis, farm labourer, and Susn (nee Carter).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Herbert, Florence J (born 1900) were living at 35, the Terrace, Willian, Hitchin.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Herbert, Florence, Gertrude (born 1906) and Emily L (born 1908) were living at the Terrace, Willian.
He later lived at 1 Lyles Row, Queen Street, Hitchin, Herts. Employed by W.B Moss & Son.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Herbert who enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 265738, he may have joined in 1915 as a Territorial but his 4 figure serial is not recorded, his 6 figure serial would have been issued during the Territorial Force renumbering of 1917.
At some time he was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 204532. He was posted the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion which had been converted to War Service in Jul 1916 and being part of 190 Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, a composite unit having Naval and Army troops) had taken part in the later Battles of the Somme and Arras in 1917. It is likely that Herbert joined 4th Battalion ater they had taken part in the Battle of 3rd Ypres at the 2nd Battle Passchendaele (26 Oct-10 Nov).
In Spring 1918 the German Spring Offensive was launched and 4th Beds were taken part in 1st Battles of the Somme at St Quentin (21-23 Mar), Bapaume (24-25 Mar) and Ancre (5 Apr).Later in 1918 in the Allied Offensive they took part in 2nd battales of the Somme at Albert (21-23 Aug). Herbert was wounded in this last action and died on 23 Aug 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £19 and arrears of £21 3s 3d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
