Herbert, Henry James
1019 Corporal Henry James Herbert - 36th Heavy Artillery Group
Henry James Herbert was born in Fremantle on the 29th April 1895 to Henry and Maria Herbert, being one of three siblings with Annie, 1890, and Ethel 1893.
He was educated in Fremantle with the family living at 7 Hampton Road Fremantle. (Later renumbered to 5 Hampton Rd and now Fremantle hospital land).
Henry had spent two years in the 86A Cadets while at school and after leaving continued his military service in the 11th Garrison Artillery which was based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks and also garrisoned Fort Forrest and Arthur Head forts in Fremantle.
After leaving school Henry had taken up employment as a clerk.
In 1915 a large number of the Permanent Artillery Men based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks departed for service in France. This left the part time Gunners of the 11th Garrison Artillery such as Henry to fill the gaps in the coastal defence positions around Fremantle Harbour.
However, more reinforcements were needed in France, so more of the Gunner at Fremantle were allowed to enlist. On the 16th April 1917 at Fremantle Henry offered his services and was accepted. The medical examiner recorded his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;
Weight - 149lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark.
Upon his successful enlistment, Henry was sent with the other Gunners from WA and sent across to NSW and then Victoria to complete his training. On the 26th November 1917 Henry and his reinforcement group left Port Melbourne aboard the transport ship Indarra and set sail for England. The ship reached Egypt and the men were disembarked. On the 9th January 1918 they re-embarked abord the transport ship Kashgar and set sail for England, disembarking at Southampton on the 2nd February 1918.
After being disembarked Henry was sent to the Australian Heavy Artillery Training Depot at Devonport. He had the next two months in England training and on the 9th April 1918 was sent across to France. After a week at the Base Depot Camp at Le Havre Henry joined the 36th Heavy Artillery Group on the 21st April 1918.
The 36th Heavy Artillery Group had just withdrawn from Belgium as the Germans had broke through the front. They had to set up their guns again in new positions in Northern France.
Henry, with the 1st Siege Battery (old 54th Battery) served with his unit for the remainder of the war. His first few months, were focused on stopping any further German advance but from August 1918, the British and New Zealanders on this front attacked and broke the German line. Thereafter the guns of the 36th HAG supported the offensives taking place.
On the 10th November 1918 Henry was sent to hospital ill and so was away from his unit when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. Henry returned to his unit on the 16th November 1918. On the 4th March 1919 Henry was given a fortnight's leave to England, returning to France on the 20th March 1919. During this time he was promoted to Temporary Bombardier and then Temporary Corporal.
It was not until the 26th May 1919 that Henry returned to England and was sent to No.2 Group Camp at Sutton Veny. He would remain here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home.
On the 12th July 1919 Henry boarded the transport ship City of Exeter and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 16th August 1919.
Henry was discharged from the AIF on the 9th September 1919.
He then returned home to 7 Hampton road and resumed his employment as a clerk.
In 1923 he married in Fremantle to Annie Emily Lippingwell. They set up home at 2 Hammand Street East Fremantle/Palmyra. They would live here through to the 1950's.
Henry's mother died in 1930 and his father died in 1948.
His wife Annie died on the 22nd October 1955 and Henry died on the 21st November 1957 in Perth. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.