Herbert Henry Storey

Herbert Henry was the son of Herbert Henry and Sarah Jane Storey (née Barwell). Herbert Henry snr. was born in Ketton in 1862, the son of James Storey and his wife Mary (née Wyles). Herbert, a labourer/groom, was still living with his family in the village in 1881 but joined the Royal Artillery on a 12 year engagement in 1886 having previously served in the Militia (4/Lincoln Regiment). He joined at Colchester on 5 October 1886 and served at home until 21 February 1888 when he was posted to India where he remained until 28 April 1894 (6 years 67 days). He was discharged on the expiry of his engagement on 28 September 1898 but enlisted in Section D (or Supplementary Reserve) 1st Class Army Reserve (RA/57176) on 30 September 1898 (service counting from 4 October 1898). Herbert was recalled to Army Service under Special Army Order of 20/12/99 and served in South Africa from 31 January 1900 to 1 August 1902 (2 years 199 days). He was awarded the South Africa 1899 medal with clasps (‘Belfast’, ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Orange Free State’ and ‘Laing’s Nek’) King’s Medal and Clasps 1901 & 1902. He was discharged on the termination of his second engagement on 4 October 1902. Sarah Jane Barwell was born in Ketton in 1872, the daughter of John and Lucy Barwell. In 1881 the family was living in Empingham. Sarah had a daughter, Dora Barwell, in 1895 who was baptised at Ketton parish church in November the same year. Herbert (36) and Sarah (26), were married at Ketton on 12 February 1898 shortly before his discharge from the army. They had three sons who were all born in Ketton: Cyril b. 13 February 1898 bap. 7 March d. 1898 (reg. March); Herbert Henry b. 26 December 1898 (reg. 1899 J/F/M) bap. 12 February 1899 and Albert Victor b. November 1903 (reg. 1904 J/F/M) bap. December 1903. At the time of the 1901 Census, Sarah (29) and her two children, Dora Barwell and Herbert, together with her sister Gertrude Barwell (9), were living in Geeston, Ketton. Sarah was head of household in the absence of her husband who had been serving in South Africa since January 1900 and did not return to the UK until August 1902. There is a schools admissions record dated 19 April 1909 which showed that Albert (b. 1903) attended Farthingstone School, Farthingstone, Northamptonshire, 'while on a visit' which ended on 20 July (no year given but probably 1909). He had previously been at school in Luffenham, suggesting that the family had moved there sometime after the 1901 Census. Sarah Jane died in 1910 (reg. J/F/M Uppingham Rutland) aged about 38. In 1911 her husband, a railway platelayer, was living in Newtown, North Luffenham near Stamford, with his sons Herbert and Albert, and Dora (Storey) who was described on the census as his daughter. Herbert was employed as a coal miner and living at 9 Fife Place, Victoria Street, Mansfield, when he attested in 1915. His service record gave his next of kin as his father, Albert (sic) Storey, of the same address. However, Herbert had both a brother and a cousin named Albert Storey and it might be that one of these was living and working with Herbert in Mansfield. Dora has not been traced after 1911, but her father and brother Victor were living at Lyndon Road, North Luffenham, when Harold was killed in 1916 and were recorded at the same address on the Electoral Rolls 1929-1931. Herbert snr. died in hospital at Epsom, Surrey in April 1938, although his home was still in North Luffenham. His surviving son Albert Victor may have also served in the army as there is a record of an Albert Victor Storey, age 29, of 159 Albert Road North, Woolwich, who was one of three soldiers who sailed from London on 11 April 1933 to Port Said, Egypt (SS Ballaratt, P&O Steam Navigation Co.). Albert died in 1981 (reg. Leeds).

He was a coal miner when he attested in 1915.

Victoria Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Enlisted Mansfield.

16th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Herbert attested on 29 April 1915 and enlisted on a Short Service Engagement (Duration of War). He claimed to have been born in 1896 and his age was recorded as 19 years and 127 days although as he was born on 26 December 1898 he was only 16 years old. Service in the UK: Derby 3 May 1915-4 May 1915. Buxton 4 May 1915-2 June 1915. Redmires 9 June 1915-2 September 1915. Hursley Park 2 September 1915-30 September 1915. Aldershot 30 September 1915-8 November 1915. Witley Camp 8 November 1915. Herbert embarked at Southampton on 6 March 1916 for BEF France. On two occasions he was awarded Field Punishment; 7 Days FP No. 1 on 24 March for not complying with an order and 28 Days FP No. 1 on 30 June for leaving his post without permission. Herbert was treated at No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station on 8 October 1916 for gunshot wounds to the head. He was transferred to No. 11 Stationary Hospital Rouen and then medically evacuated on 18 October (HS Gloster Castle) to England where he was admitted to King George's Hospital London the following day. The medical notes in his service record described his wounds on admission to King George's Hospital as 'GSW head multiple wounds of back, left arm and shoulder.' Herbert died from his wounds four days later at 12:45 am on 22 October 1916. The medical notes included additional details of his injuries and treatment: 'Multiple wounds – left arm, left shoulder, scalp, neck. (-) in Oct/16. Xrays (remainder undecipherable). On 21/10/16 had a (-) haemorrhage from the neck wound, which culminated in a (-) swelling in neck. At the (undecipherable) … but the patient did not recover from the shock and collapsed and died about 5 hours later.’ The hospital authorised the release of his body for burial 'after 1pm, Tuesday 24th inst.' Herbert was buried at Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, Peckham, London (Screen Wall. 89. 32488). Service: Home 3 May 1915-5 March 1916 (307 days). BEF France 6 March 1916-18 October 1916 (201 days). Home 19 October 1916-22 October 1916. Total 1 year 174 days. Herbert qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC History of Nunhead Cemetery (extract): 'Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery contains 592 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war. The majority are in three war graves plots; the United Kingdom plot (in Square 89) has 266 graves ... The graves in the United Kingdom plot and the remaining war graves scattered throughout the cemetery could not be marked individually; the casualties buried in these graves are therefore commemorated by name on a Screen Wall inside the main entrance gate to the cemetery.' (www.cwgc.org)

WMR 50906. North Luffenham War Memorial. St John the Baptist Church, Church Street, North Luffenham, Rutland LE15 8JR. Dedication on tablet: For God-Church-Country this tablet was erected in memory of the men of North Luffenham whose names are graven below who gave their lives during the years 1914-1918 while serving their country in the war for freedom [14 names including Pte Herbert Storey] Rest eternal grant them O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them www.rutlandremembers.org/fallen/412/storey-private-herbert-henry: '25753 Private Herbert Henry Storey, b. 26 December 1899 (sic) d. 22 October 1916 age 16 (sic). Herbert Henry Storey was the second youngest Rutlander to die in the First World War, aged just 16 years, ten months and ten days, after he was injured during the Battle of the Somme. The youngest of all to die was William Clifton. Herbert, whose cousin Albert also died in the war, was born at at Ketton on 26 December 1899 (sic), the son of Herbert Storey and lived at New Town Cottages in North Luffenham.' See also www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/casualty/view/21140 CWGC 137525: Albert Storey, 70687 Private Military Medal & Bar. 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters. Date of death 13 May 1918 aged 23 years. Buried Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium. 'Son of Amos and Annie Storey, of Geeston, Ketton, Rutland.' Formerly Leicester Regiment (24817). He enlisted at Oakham, Rutland, on 24 January 1916. Albert, who was born in Inghorpe, Rutland, in February 1895, was living in Ketton with his family at the time of the 1901 and 1911 Census; he was a gardener's labourer in 1911. Mansfield Reporter, 17 November 1916: ‘Local Casualties. Friday night’s casualty lists showed the following losses … 346 Sherwood Casualties. We regret to have to announce yet another heavy roll of casualties among the men of the gallant Sherwood Foresters. Wounded 196 … HH Storer 25753, Mansfield.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Stamford Mercury, 10 November 1916: ‘North Luffenham. Another local soldier has fallen at the front, information having been received of the death of private Herbert Henry Storey, of the Sherwood Foresters, He was 18 (sic) years of age, and the son of Mr HH Storey, playelayer.’ (ww.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Herbert's personal possessions were returned to his father, Herbert Storey, at Lyndon Lane, North Luffenham, Stamford, in March 1917. The items included photos, wallet, 2 knives, cards mirror, Soldiers’ Friend (sic - a brand of metal polish), German identity disc. His father also received his son's medals, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.