Sgt 300445 Herbert Eaves

• Age: 23
• From: Newton le Willows
• 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 Eaves was born on 20 February 1895 at 59 Fairclough Street in Newton Le Willows to railwayman father Charles William Eaves also born in Newton Le Willows and Fanny (nee Evans) who was born in Warrington. Charles married Fanny Evans on the 6th July 1889 at St Elphin, Warrington, he was a 29 year old labourer of Wargrave Rd, Earlstown, Fanny was 24 years old of Winnick Rd, Warrington. They had two sons; Thomas Arthur born 1891 then Herbert in 1895. Herbert was baptised on 24th March 1895. 

At the time of the 1901 Census the family were all still at 59 Fairclough Street, Newton Le Willows.
His father is 41 years of age and a railway signalman, whilst his mother is 37 years of age.  Thomas Arthur is 10 years of age whilst Herbert is 6 years old.

Herbert enlisted in Earlestown and originally served as Private 25018 of 1^st Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry . Following a transfer he was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant No 300445 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 23, 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. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity. 

Herbert's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he 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.

His death was reported in the Warrington Guardian on 01st June 1918:

SERGEANT H. EAVES

Miss Evans, 143 Winwick-road, Warrington, has received news that her nephew, Sergeant Herbert Eaves, the King's (Liverpool Regiment) was killed in action on the 29th of last month. His Captain, writing on the 4th inst. to the parents, Mr and Mrs Charles Eaves, who live at 59, Fairclough Street, Earlestown, says that Sergeant Eaves was killed instantly, and died as a soldier should, doing his duty without any regard for his own safety. "He was" he added, "a splendid soldier and a topping chap in every way, and I feel his loss very keenly. I was very much attached to him". 

Sergeant Eaves who was 23 years of age, joined the Colours at the outbreak of war, having been formerly employed at the Viaduct Works, Earlestown. He had seen three years active service. His brother, private Arthur Eaves, is serving with the Grenadier Guards.          

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