BENDALL Herbert Henry Sergeant, died 28/04/1917 aged 23 born Newport, Essex resided at Ugley. Enlisted Service No. 12069, Essex Regiment 13th Battalion. Parents lived at the Gatehouse, Ugley. Remembered at The Arras Memorial. The picture was taken of Herbert in May 1916 aged 22.
Herbert was wounded and gassed at Loos Cot in 1915, The Battle of Loos Cot took place between 25 September and 8 October 1915 in France on the Western Front. It was the biggest British attack of 1915 and the first time Britain used poison gas. Herbert was wounded again at Pozieres in August 1916. The Battle of Pozieres lasted between 23 July and 3 September 1916. It was the highest point on the battlefield held by the Germans and therefore was a key position to take.
Herbert was Killed in Action when his regiment were taking part in an early morning attack on Oppy Wood/Village on 28th April 1917. His body was never recovered form the battle field and has no known grave therefore like many others his name is inscribed on The Arras Memorial.
At the time the war diary stated that over 200 soldiers were missing presumed dead in the attack, this figure probably reduced as some soldiers found their way back to their line but it was a massive loss for the 13th Essex Regiment.
The Essex Newsman reported on 4 May 1918 that Mr and Mrs Bendall from Heham had received news that their only son Sgt H. Bendall who was missing since 28 April 1917 was now presumed dead. He had served nearly two years in France, and was 23 years of age.
Thanks to Glyn Warwick for providing details from the battalion war diaries. He is written a book about the fallen heroes of Stansted Mountfitchet, “They Sleep In Heroes Graves” ISBN 978-0-9558964-0-8
The data is the editor’s interpretation of documents from the:
The National Archives London, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Ancestry and Find My Past.