William Herbert Hammond
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Henry (Herbert) Hammond was born on 11th March 1897 at Muskham and was the son of George Walter and Mary Jane Hammond née Pearson. His father George Walter Hammond was born in 1869 at Pimlico, London, and his mother Mary Jane Pearson was born in 1870 at Redmile, Nottinghamshire. They were married in 1894 (Grantham Registration district) and went on to have the following children: George Walter b1895 Redmile, Annie Elizabeth b1896 Elston, William Henry 1897 Muskham, Albert Edward b 1898 Muskham (killed in action 11 April 1918), Ellen Mary b1902 South Collingham, John Thomas b1905 South Collingham, and Fred James Hammond b1907 South Collingham. In the 1911 census the family was living at 10 The Green, South Collingham, and shown as George Walter 42 yrs a coachman, his wife Mary Jane 41 yrs and their children George Walter 16 yrs a drayman, Annie Elizabeth 15 yrs a day girl, William Henry 14 yrs a house boy, Albert Edward 12 yrs scholar, Ellen Mary 9 yrs scholar, John Thomas 6 yrs scholar and Fred James 4 yrs. Their home, a 'three up, three down' cottage is now known at Trotters Cottage.
Private William Hammond enlisted on 9th November 1914 at Newark; he was living at 20 High Street, Mansfield. He gave his age as 18 yrs and 8 months and occupation as a pressman at Croft Miller Twist Company, Mansfield. He was posted to the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters where and trained as a Lewis gunner. He was killed in action on 7th October 1916 at Blairville and was buried at Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref. l.A.1).
His brother Private Albert Edward Hammond attested on 24th August 1916 at Newark. He gave his age as 17 years and 348 days, occupation gardener, religion Church of England. His father George Walter of South Scarle was named as his next of kin. Albert was posted to the reserves the following day and was mobilised on 16th February 1917 at Derby. He was posted to the 86th Training Reserve Battalion and then on 3 October 1917 to the 4th battalion Durham Light Infantry. The following year on 3rd February 1918 he was posted to the 5th battalion Durham Light Infantry and joined them in the field in France on 4th February 1918. Albert was killed in action on 11th April 1918; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium.
