No. GS/34655, Private, Herbert B. BLISSETT
Aged 30
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Herbert BLISSETT was born in Islington (Islington Q1-1886 1B:302), son of Charles and believed to be Mary Ann (née REED).
His father's first wife, Louisa HUNT, died in 1884. Although his mother's maiden name is given as REED, a Blissett/Reed marriage has not been found On May 6th,1889 he was admitted to Buckingham Street School, Islington, where his date of birth is given as 2nd December 1885, address 73 Wynford Road, later 9 Bath Place. 1891 census... Aged 5, he was living at 9 Carlsbad Street with his grandfather Charles BLISSETT [72] a general shop dealer born in Wantage, his grandmother Mary [73] born Wantage; presumably his widower father Charles BLISSETT [42] cabman/groom born Wantage, his widowed aunt Brenda WOOLLEY [36] born Wantage, cousins Nelly Wood [18]and Sarah Wood [14] both born in Islington. It seems likely his mother was Mary Ann BLISSETT who died in 1887 in Islington. 1901 census... Aged 16 he was at The Street, Worlington, a boarder with Charlotte LEVERINGTON [34] single, sub post mistress and grocer, born Tuddenham. He was employed as a grocer/post office assistant.Also there were Walter R Fritz [13} and Thomas Holmes [5], places of birth unknown. 1911 census... Aged 24, Herbert was at the Post Office, Worlington, boarding with Bernard John PALMER [29] a builders clerk, born Chesterton and his wife Charlotte PALMER (née LEVERINGTON) [40] born Tuddenham, a post mistress at home. This would be the Charlotte referred to by CWGC as Herbert's foster mother and as Aunt in "Soldier's Personal Effects".. The other boarder was Walter Richard FRITZ who is named on the Worlington Memorial as serving during the Great War as a sergeant, winning the Military Medal |
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He enlisted in Mildenhall whilst residing in Worlington The 8th Royal Fusiliers were in trenches north of Auchonvillers, Bois de Warnimont at the time of his death, having moved from Mailly-Maillet, but list of Missing from the Times of 9-9-1916 shows he was attached to the Manchester Regiment. The 19th Manchesters were part of 30th Division and at 3.40am on 23 July attacked the village of Guillemont advancing with 3 companies from Trones Wood. They suffered badly from uncut wire, but some men managed to get into the village, but were forced to withdraw by a heavy counter attack in the early afternoon. The 8th Royal Fusiliers lost 25 killed on the 23rd July 1916, only 1 has an identified grave. Of the 145 men of the 19th Manchesters who died, only 16 have identified graves. |
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