Name
Henry John Sapsford
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/09/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2778
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, MESNIL-MARTINSART
D. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints' Church Memorial(s), Hockerill, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Henry John Sapsford was born in 1894 in Great Hallingbury, Essex (Bishop's Stortford registration district) to Henry and Elizabeth Sapsford. He was baptised on 9 September 1894 at St Giles, Great Hallingbury.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Great Hallingbury, Essex. By 1911 they had moved to 36 Friendly Terrace, Dun Road, Bishop's Stortford. Henry John (known as John) was aged 16 and working as a moulder in an iron foundry.
Wartime Service
John enlisted into the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment on 4 Sep 1914 As Private 2778. He gave his occupation as Railway Labourer. Following his training he went to France from Southampton on 20 Jan 1915 as part of a Draft of 2 Officers and 1915 other ranks to join the Battalion near Givenchy arriving on 31 Jan 1915. The Battalion as part of 2nd Division took part in the Battles of Festubert (May 1915) and Loos (Sep 1915). In Feb 1916 the Battalion transferred to 39 Division who were newly arrived from UK (in Military parlance ‘stiffening’ that is providing an experienced body of troops) and then took part in the Somme Battles.
On 3 Sep 1916 39 Division launched an attack on enemy positions north of the Ancre. This failed and the Herfordshires having been in reserve for the attack took over the original front line positions to consolidate the trenches damaged by heavy shelling. During the work that night the Germans artillery as well as normal shells also put over Gas shells causing Gas Helmets to be worn. It was during this action that John was killed, his death being recorded as 4 Sep 1916.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £8 14s 2d. He also received a pension of 4 shillings a week from 4 Oct 1917, rising to 5 shillings a week for life. Brother Percy enlisted in Herts Yeomanry and served in France from 26 Dec 1916 with 12 Battalion Suffolk Regiment and was discharged on 6 jun 1919,
His mother, Mrs H Sapsford, of 36 Friendly Terrace, Dunn Road, Bishop's Stortford, ordered his headstone inscription :"HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
