Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

L/Sgt 52138 Herbert Henry Bushill

Age: 21
From: Kenilworth, Warwicks
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 20th December 1917
Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Herbert Henry Bushill was born in Kenilworth, Warwickshire in the fourth quarter of 1896, the son of Matthew William Henry Bushill and his wife Harriet (née Timms). His father’s first name varies on records. His parents, both from Warwickshire, married in 1890 and had seven children, 3 of whom died young. Herbert was the eldest of the surviving children. He had a younger sister Jessie, born in 1900, and brothers Thomas, 1901, and James, born in 1903.

Herbert was baptised on 11th October 1896 in the Parish Church, Kenilworth.

By 1900, the family has moved to the Manchester area, and in 1901 are living at 32 Clifford Street, Chorlton upon Medlock. His father is 42, a builder’s labourer, his mother is 32, Herbert is 4, and Jessie is 1. They have a 19 year old boarder Thomas Maher.

The 1911 census finds them at 75 Barlow Street, Chorlton on Medlock, with four children. His father is 54, a clay miner, his mother is 41, Herbert is 14, an errand boy. Jessie is 11, Thomas, 9, and James 7.

Herbert enlisted in Manchester as Private 2775, Manchester Regiment. As his service record has not survived, the full details are not known, but based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Herbert served for about 26 months before he was killed, meaning he enlisted in about October 1915, which is when he would have turned 19.

At some point he was transferred to the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment as Private 52138, ‘B’ Coy, 19th (Pals) Bn. He achieved the rank of paid Acting Lance Sergeant. Herbert would have seen action during the summer of 1916, through 1917, and by December 1917 was with the 19th Bn at Passchendaele in the Ypres Salient.

Herbert was killed in action on the 20th December 1917, aged 21. He was originally buried but this grave must have been subsequently lost or destroyed as his name is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial, 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.

The 19th Bn War Diary for 20th December 1917 shows no casualties, but earlier in the month, on 7th December, the War Diary records that ‘B’ Coy of the 19th was attached to the 20th Bn K.L.R. The 20th Bn War Diary shows them in the Hedge Street Tunnels at Zillebeke, and records:

“During the day salving of material and local repairs continued. At 11 a.m. an order was received from Brigade to “Stand To” and be prepared to move immediately. Our artillery put down a barrage on the S.O.S. lines, CENTRE SUB SECTOR. [...]. A party of the enemy had been observed on the MENIN ROAD coming towards our lines. Owing to the heavy mist that prevailed it was impossible to ascertain their number. The S.O.S. was sent through by wire and the subsequent barrage dispersed the enemy. “Stand Down” was received from Brigade at 1 p.m. [...]. Enemy artillery shelled continuously during the day. Enemy machine guns were also very active during the night on tracks leading from reserve to front lines. Weather conditions good.”

A relative has posted on an online commemorative site, “Whilst in front line trenches a rifle grenade fell into the trench, four killed”. However, CWGC shows two K.I.A. on 20th December, 1917 from the 19th Bn: Herbert Bushill and Pte. 21247 James E. Hughes.

His mother Harriet, at 4 Bridge Street, Chorlton on Medlock, received Herbert’s Army effects, and a War Gratuity of £15. The pension card shows that a pension was refused, reason unknown. She later lived at 24 Coupland Street, Chorlton on Medlock.

Grateful thanks are extended to John Cowie for the photograph of Herbert's original grave. The photo was taken after the war so it is not known what happened to his burial place. Sad to say that his name is now on the Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot.

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

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