Herbert Vallance

William and Alice Maud Vessey (nee Johnson) lived in Retford throughout their married life. They produced eight children, 7 boys and 1 girl, between 1886 and 1899, all born in Retford. William worked as a railway labourer and wagon greaser. Of their children, they were going to loose two of them in the war that lay ahead. Herbert was one of them. He was the fourth child born in 1893 and when he was 17 he worked as a cattle dealer’s labourer. The other was Samuel. He was the second born. Born in 1887, he joined the army well before the declaration of the First World War as in 1911 he was serving as a Private in the China, Hong Kong area in the 1st Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Their father and head of the family, William, died in Retford in 1916 age 53

He was a labourer/cattle dealer

Herbert enlisted into the army at Gainsborough he served with the 7th battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment where he was promoted to Corporal. On 8th March 1918 when he died of wounds, they were in the front line trenches near Flesquieres, France, where he is buried. Corpl Herbert Valance Retford Times 22nd March 1918 Mrs Valance, Garnett’s Yard, Bridgegate, Retford has received information that her son, Corpl Herbert Valance, Lincs Regt, was killed in France on March 8th. He was 23 years of age and was formerly in farm service with Mr Selby, Saundby Park. He has seen 2 ½ years service and had taken part in some hard fighting. Another son, Pte Samuel Valance was killed in France on September 15th 1916. Mrs Valance has five other sons serving – Pte W Johnson Valance, in France with the Sherwood Foresters who has been twice wounded: Pte John Valance, Leicester Regiment, who has served in India and Mesopotamia and is now in Egypt and has been wounded: Pte Ernest Valance, Sherwood Foresters, in Egypt, once wounded: Pte Albert Valance in the RAMC in Italy and Pte Bert Valance, RAMC in England. The Captain of the company in which Pte Herbert Valance was serving, in a letter to Mrs Valance writes:- “Nothing I can say will appease your sorrow for the loss of your brave boy but it will, I am sure, be some consolation to you to know that he met his death gallantly with his face towards the enemy. We all feel his death keenly as he was always a cheerful, trustworthy NCO and one of the most capable in his Company.”

He is buried at Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery,France. His elder brother, Samuel of the KOYLI was also killed in action on 15 Sept 1916 in France. Information on Herbert Vallance has been provided courtesy of the Beckingham and Saundby local history group.