Name
Herbert Wilson Potton
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/06/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33191
East Surrey Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley,
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
Not on the Markyate memorial
Pre War
Herbert Wilson Potton was born in 1885 in Markyate, Herts, the son of William and Sarah Potton, and baptised on 11 October 1885 at the (Baptist?) church in Market Street, Hertford.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living at Hicks Lane, Markyate, Herts where his father was a farm labourer. They had moved to High Street, Markyate in 1901 when Herbert was working as a milkman.
He married Emily Rosina Rowing in 1911 and on the Census, the couple were living at Manor View, Ebberns Road, Hemel Hempstead. Their first child Alice was born a few months later. They later had another two children, Herbert and Hilda and lived at 3 Backwood Road, Markyate, Beds.
Prior to enlistment he was employed at Apsley Mills (John Dickinson & Co).
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford and served with the 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.
The 1917 war diary records that the battalion had moved from Chateau Segard, near Voormezeele, Belgium to Mount Sorrel on 10th June and were living in trenches and deep tunnels. Hostile shelling had continued very heavily for several days.
Herbert was killed in action on 13 June 1917 when hostile shelling was still very heavy and casualties for the day were 12 killed and 50 wounded. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 3s 6d. She also received a pension of £1 6s 3d a week for herself and her children.
(N.B. There are two Pottons named on the Hemel Hempstead Memorial but it is possible that HW Potton and H Potton are the same person. )
His widow later lived at 50 Kimpton Road, Luton, Beds.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org., www.hemelatwar.org.
