Herbert Kirk
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Herbert was born in 1891 in Southwell and was the son of George a groom in a livery stable and Sarah Jane Kirk, née Hunt who lived in Southwell. His father George was born in 1854 in Southwell and his mother Sarah Jane was born in 1856 in Ossington, Nottinghamshire. They were married in Southwell in 1877 and had the following children all born at Southwell - George William b1878, John James b1879, Harry b1881, Mary b1883, Isabella b1885, Albert b1887 and Herbert b1891. In 1891 the family were living at Back Lane, Southwell. George was a groom living with his wife Sarah Jane and their children John James, Harry, Mary, Isabella, Albert and Herbert. His father George died in 1898 aged 43 at Southwell. By 1901 the family were still living at Beck Lane Southwell; the head of the house is now Sarah Jane 45 a widow living on her own means. She was living with her children, James 22 single and a puncher in a lace trade, Bella 16 single working as a spool winder in the lace trade Edward 14 single a threader in lace trade and Herbert 10 a scholar. Also living at the address was a boarder one year old Annie Kemp. In 1910 his mother Sarah Jane aged 56 years died in Southwell. By 1911 census the family were still living on Back Lane, Burgage, Southwell; the head of the house now was the eldest son of the family George William Kirk 33 a nursery clerk. He was living with his wife Alice 28 and their daughter Edith Louise 2. Herbert was living with his brother and family.
Herbert enlisted in Newark , giving his place of birth and residence as Southwell. He served with the 16th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Chatsworth Rifles) and was killed in action on 6th October 1916. He is buried at Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval, Somme, France. The war diary for the 16th battalion , for the 6th October shows that they were in trenches at Thiepval and due to enemy activity one man was killed, one man was missing and 26 men were wounded.
16th (Chatsworth Rifles) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was raised at Derby on the 16th of April 1915, by the Duke of Devonshire and the Derbyshire Territorial Force Association. They moved to Buxton on the 4th of May and then on to Redmires near Sheffield on 8th of June. On the 2nd of September they moved to Hursley near Winchester to join 117th Brigade, 39th Division. They moved to Aldershot on the 30th of September and then to Witley for final training. They proceeded to France on the 6th of March 1916, landing at Le Havre, and concentrating near Blaringhem. On the 30th June 1916 they were in action in an attack near Richebourg l'Avoue with the Sussex battalions suffered heavy casualties. They were in action during the Battles of the Somme, including, the fighting on the Ancre, The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre heights and the capture of Schwaben Reddoubt and Stuff Trench as well as The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood and The Second Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918 they were in action at The Battle of St Quentin, The actions at the Somme crossings, The Battle of Bapaume and The Battle of Rosieres before moving to Flanders. They took part in the fighting on Wytschaete Ridge, The First and Second Battle of Kemmel and The Battle of the Scherpenberg. The Division had suffered heavy losses and they were reduced to a cadre on the 16th of May and took on a role supervising courses of instruction for newly arrived American troops, beginning with units of the 77th American Division at Wolphus. On the 16th of August the 16th Sherwoods transferred to 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, returning to action in October in The Battle of Cambrai and The Pursuit to the Selle. They fought in The Battle of the Selle and on the 21st of October the Division was withdrawn for rest moving to the Serain area. On the 2nd of November they advanced through Le Cateau engaging in sharp fighting. On the 9th of November a number of units of the Division were selected to advance through Belgium to occupy the Rhone Bridgeheads and were placed under command of Bethell's Force. At the Armistice the advanced units of this Force were on the line of Pont de Republique through Grandrieu to Montbliart. They advanced into Germany and remained there until demobilised. The above is courtesy of www.wartimemoriesproject.com
