No.32980, Private, Herbert Aveley DARNELL
Aged 35
|
Herbert Aveley Darnell was born in Soham on 22nd August 1881,(Newmarket Q4-1881 3B:533), baptised in Soham on 23rd September 1881, son of John and Eliza
Jane DARNELL (née ISAACSON).
1891 census...Aged 9, he was at East Fen Common, Soham with his father John DARNELL [37] millwright; his mother Eliza Jane [37]; sister Hannah Sophie [12] and brother George John [2]. All were born in Soham. 1901 census...Aged 19, a printer compositor, he was at East Fen Common, Soham with his parents; sister Hannah S; brothers George J, Basil S [9], Fred [7] and Leslie W [1]. The new siblings all born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 29, single, a compositor, he was lodging at 19 Frith Road, Leytonstone with his sister Hannah Sophia and her husband Walter ELSDEN [34] compositor born Soham and their daughter Ivy Cynthia [5] born Leytonstone and his brother George John DARNELL (compositor). His parents and brother Leslie William were living at Clay Street, Soham. 1 of Eliza's 7 children had died. |
|
He enlisted in Stratford, Essex. Steven Fuller's excellent website on the Bedfordshire Regiment - www.bedfordregiment.org.uk gives the war diaries which should be consulted for much greater detail. here is an extract:- Report on action at La Coulotte.. Lt. Colonel P.B. Worrall M.C. [Percy Reginald WORRALL, DSO, MC] Commanding 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Sir, I have the honour to report that I received orders to attack LA COULOTTE from T.1.d.1/9 to T.1.a.3/9. and attach a copy of my Operation Orders which I personally explained in detail to all Officers and NCO’s. Briefly, I had to make: (a) a frontal attack to the N. (b) a flank attack East on WATER TOWER TRENCH. AND (c) attack on triangle south of WATER TRENCH from the south, including a large part of CYRIL TRENCH held by the Germans. The whole undertaking seemed to be most hazardous. I considered the WATER TOWER TRENCH to be key to the situation and so attacked it frontally and in enfilade. Had I not got this footing, my Battalion must have been wiped out by WATER TOWER TRENCH if we were held up by wire. 92 men of the 1st Bedfords died in this seemingly impracticable operation, only 5 have identified graves.  
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
