DEER, Herbert


2654, Private, Herbert DEER
Aged 30


50th Battalion, Australian Infantry
Killed in Action on Thursday, 18th October 1917

Herbert DEER was born in Balsham in 1886 (Linton Q4-1886 3B:513), son of James and Susannah Frances DEER (née BARKER).

1891 census...Aged 4, he was at West Wratting Road, Balsham with his father James DEER [39] farmer born West Wratting; his mother Susannah [32] born West Wratting; brothers Willie [10] and Walter [1]; sisters Maud [8] and Rose [6]. All the children were born in Balsham.

1901 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at High Street, West Wratting with his parents; brothers Willie (porter), Walter and Thomas [3] (born West Wratting); sisters Kathleen [9] and Emma [6] both born in West Wratting; cousin May WHITBREAD [2] born London.

1911 census...Aged 24 a farm labourer, he was at Frogs Hall, West Wratting Road, Balsham with his widowed mother, brothers Walter (farm labourer), Thomas, twins Edgar and Ernest [9], Leslie [4]; sisters Emma and Dorothy [7]. The new siblings all born in West Wratting; sister in law Susan Deer and her two children, Rose [7] and Walter [5], all 3 born in Steeple Claydon. All 12 of Susannah's children survived. His father had died in 1907.


He enlisted in Adelaide on 30th August 1918, giving his age as 24 years 9 months. He was 5feet 5.75 inches (170 cm) tall, chest 34" to 36"(86.4 to 91.4 cm) weighed 136 lbs (61.9 kg), hazel eyes, brown hair, Church of England. He gave his next of kin as mother, Francis Susannah DEER of Frogs Hall, Balsham.

Placed in the 6th Reinforcements, 50th Battalion, he sailed from Port Melbourne, Freemantle on 23rd October 1916 and disembarked at Devonport on 28th December and was sent to 13th Training Battalion at Codford, near Warminster.
On 13th March 1917 he embarked at Folkestone and sailed to France. At Etaples on 14th he was at 4th Australian Base Depot , joining his unit, the 50 Battalion, in the field on 18th March.
He was first reported wounded on 18th October 1917, then wounded and missing, and eventually on 27th December declared 'killed in action'
His documents record he was buried in Moorsleide Military Cemetery (see below) map 28.D.23.c.3.5. Since he is named on the Menin Gate and the village of Moorsleide has been completely re-built, it appears that his burial place was destroyed in later fighting.

Initially his will was not found and resulted in correspondence between the Army and his brother W.J.DEER Murray Bridge Post Office, South Australia.It is not clear if this brother was Willie or Walter. The will when eventually found gave all his belongings to his mother in Balsham.

In 1937 his British War medal was found by a boy (Stanley Mahlberg) in the allotments at Phillip Street, Parramatta. Attempts by the Army to find the owner failed. His documents show he qualified for the War Medal and Victory Medal.

On 18th October 1917 the 50th battalion, Australian Infantry were at Broodseide Ridge:-the war diary has
Broodseid Ridge Oct 18 1917- Usual moderate shelling during day. Heavy on back area in afternoon, two of our dumps blown up. Hostile aircraft active early in morning and rather more than usual in evening.
"C" and "D" Coys in front line relieved by "A" and "B" Coys by 6:40 pm without casualty. Patrols not pushed forward beyond about 500 yards to allow our artillery to shell enemy positions located on night 17/18th October. Wiring of front line started when Bn took over front line and now completed except about 100 yards. From 10:15 pm 18th Oct to 5:45 am enemy shelling was consistently active and much above normal a good number of gas shells being mixed with his bombardment which was mostly H.E. This bombardment fell mostly from 200 yards behind front line to rear.
Orders received for relief of 13th Aust Inf Bde by 12th Aust Inf Bde. Weather fine.

They were relieved on 19th. CWGC records show 16 of the battalion killed on 18th, 11 with no known grave and named on the Menin Gate.

Herbert is commemorated on the Menin Gate which proved to be too small (54,392 names) so a further memorial was incorporated in the cemetery at Tyne Cot for a further 34947 names.


Australian records show Herbert buried here




The destroyed landscape of the Passchendaele battlefield. Image: Library and Archives, Canada
Broodseinde would have looked similar to this,
no wonder the graves were lost later




Herbert Deer is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres panels 7-17-23-25-27-29-31

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


BACK to Balsham home page