| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Herbert was born in Beverley in 1881, the third son of James John Firth and his wife Hannah Elizabeth Philpot, of Wood Lane, Beverley. James was a tailor and Herbert also became tailor. Hannah died in 1890, just before Herbert was 10 years old and his sister, Ada, aged 18, took over the duties of housekeeper until their father married again in 1893 to Sarah Jane Firth who was the widow of William Firth, who already had a family of her own. In 1901 Herbert married Elizabeth Hayton from Bishop Burton, they had five children Edith May, Florence Gertrude, Lily, John, and Martha. The 1911 census shows Herbert and Elizabeth living in Wood Lane, along with their three elder children; Herbert employed as a tailor.
Herbert enlisted in the York & Lancaster Regiment and subsequently transferred to the York & Lancaster Labour Corps. A report in the Beverley Guardian in Jan 1919 stated he was wounded twice; in the right leg and right shoulder while with the forces in Salonika where he had been serving for two-and-half years. More importantly it also states that he suffered several times from malarial fever which was widespread in Salonika. Herbert was demobilised in Apr 1919 and he was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Medical records show that Herbert continued to suffer from frequent malarial attacks and the level of his disability was assessed several times in the years following his demobilisation.
The 1939 Register shows Herbert and Elizabeth living in Bridlington where he was employed as a caretaker at a school. Elizabeth died in 1962, aged 81, and Herbert died in 1963
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |