Pte 35928 Herbert Hargreaves

• Age: 23
• From: Bolton, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Herbert Hargreaves was born on the 11th October 1894 in Bolton, Lancashire, the son of Thomas Hargreaves and his wife Esther (nee Redford). He was baptised on the 18th Nov 1894 at Christ Church, Walmsley, his father was a blacksmith of Rosehill Terrace. His father was first married on the 26th Feb 1876 to Sarah Crompton at the Parish Church, Bolton-le-Moor. They had 3 children, John, Hannah and James before Sarah died in 1883 aged 29.

Thomas remarried to Esther Redford on the 11th May 1884 at St Peter, Bolton in 1884.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 5 Bromley Cross, Bolton. Herbert is 6 years of age and is living with his parents and 6 siblings. His father is recorded as a Blacksmith born at Bradshaw in 1853, whilst his mother was born in Standish in 1859. His siblings all shown as born in Lancashire are listed as follows; John a piercer in a cotton mill born in 1875, Hannah a Jack Tender in a cotton mill born in 1878, James b.1881, Ernest b.1884 and Willie b.1897 are all piercers in a cotton mill and Katie b.1897.

The 1911 Census finds that the family have moved and are now living at 169 Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, Turton, Lancashire. Herbert is single, a block stamper at print works. Both parents are present in the household. Also recorded are William Hargreaves who is described as grandson and who is 2 years of age born in 1909. There is also a boarder Harold Menzies Bradbury recorded.

Bromley Cross is just 2 miles from Bradshaw. 

The father Thomas died in 1913 aged 58.

He enlisted in Bradshaw, Lancashire and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 35928 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. 

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. his was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity. 

Herbert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers effects went to his brother William. 

The mother Esther died shortly after Hebert's death in 1918 aged 59.

We currently have no further information on Herbert Hargreaves, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.