Service No: 17518
Died: 01/07/1916
Age: 31
Recorded on Thiepval Memorial
Recorded on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery
Herbert (known as Herbie) was born William Herbert in Lisburn, Co Antrim, on 25th May 1885. He was the son of Alexander Cumming, a grocer, and his wife Marianne nee Macartney, and was the second of their three children.
The family moved to Bangor and it was here his younger sister Edith was born. The family lived in Ballymagee Street (later to become part of High Street) where his father Alexander was a grocer and car driver.
 |
| Postcard of Ballymagee Street, Bangor (later High Street) from www.postcardsireland.com |
Before the war Herbert was a half-company commander in the North Down Regiment, UVF, and worked as a plumber in the firm of Workman & Clark.
An obituary in the Herald and Co Down Independent of 7th July 1916 records: "...permission was obtained by the firm [Workman & Clark] for him to return home to take up munition work, but having joined with the other boys he preferred to remain at what he believed to be his post of duty to the end. A genial, cheery friend and companion 'Herbie' ... will be much missed."
Herbert's brother Percy also enlisted and served with the Canadian infantry and died the following year. Although Percy is recorded on the family memorial alongside Herbert he is actually interred in Bangor Abbey.
No comments:
Post a Comment