Name
Herbert John Mason (MC)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/12/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Manchester Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAISTER OLD CEMETERY
E. 6. 302.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Eva Bathsheba (nee PICKARD) MASON of Watford, and William Willman MASON.
His parents married 4 July 1887 at Holy Trinity, Rugby, Warks. William died 17 March 1920 in Watford aged 59, and was buried 22 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Eva died 1931 in Bermondsey, London, aged 65, and was buried 16 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Herbert was born 1888 in Rugby, and baptised 9 December 1888 at St Andrew’s, Rugby. He was educated at Watford Fields School, and he died in the Great Yarmouth district.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Rugby, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 12 he still lived in Rugby, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive – somewhere with the Army, presumably
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted 23 February 1907 in Watford into the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Militia for a term of six years: a caddie aged 18, unmarried, 5’3½” tall, of Watford Fields.
He was transferred to the Scottish Rifles 25 June 1907 as Lance-Sergeant 9587. He was attached to the 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment, and was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 14 August 1914. He was awarded the Military Cross.
Additional Information
There is an article about Herbert in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 September 1917. His headstone inscription reads: "A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE SAD TO RECALL".
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
