Private Herbert Charles Cole
| Date of Birth | c. 1889 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 27 |
| Date of Death | 4 August 1917 |
| Service Number | 55133 |
| Military Service | 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment |
| Merton Address | 12 Homewood Road, Mitcham |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
Herbert was born in Bermondsey in 1889, and baptised at St James Church. The 1891 Census records the family living at Grange Walk, Bermondsey. Besides Herbert’s mother Ellen and father Samuel, the rest of the family were Robert 5, George 4, Alfred 2, and baby Frank aged 3 months.
Samuel was employed as a Leather Dresser, most certainly working for the Grange Tannery which was situated next to his residence in Grange Road. Bermondsey had a long history of leather production, due to the proximity of the River Thames.
By 1901 the family had moved to Mitcham, and Samuel was now working as a Chamois Leather Worker, for JS Deed and sons, at the Eagle Leather Works. The family lived at 13 Chapel Road, and had grown to include Ernest 8, Arthur 4 and Clara aged 3. Ellen had eleven children in total, but sadly four of the children had died.
In 1910 Herbert married a local girl named Emily Maud Cassie. They were married at St. Saviours Church, Croydon, while they were living nearby at Forster Road, Croydon.
The 1911 Census shows that Samuel Cole and his family had moved to 4 Homewood Terrace, off Church Road. Frank, Ernest, Arthur and Clara were still living at home. Herbert aged 21, a General Labourer, was included on this census although he was married. It is possible he was only living there temporarily while looking for lodgings in Mitcham, as by 1912 the couple were living at 8 Church Road when their first child Ellen Victoria was born. Their son Ernest James was born in 1914, when the family were living at 12 Homewood Road.
During the war Herbert attested at Wimbledon, initially with the East Surrey Regiment (Service No.33461) then transferred to the14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Little is known about his military history, but his battalion would have seen action at The Battle of Albert in 1916 and the Battle of Pilkelm Ridge in 1917. It is most probable that Herbert was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres which began on 31 July 1917, just four days before his death.
Herbert is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium and locally on the Mitcham War Memorial. After his death, according to his wishes, his widow Emily and their children received his last pay of £4.5.10 plus the War Gratuity of £12.10.
Tragically for the Cole family, Herbert was not the only member to be killed during the First World War. His brothers George Frederick and Frank Harold Cole also lost their lives. Their stories are told on this website.