Private Herbert Francis Sebright
| Date of Birth | c1896 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 21 |
| Date of Death | 21 April 1917 |
| Service Number | 24148 |
| Military Service | South Wales Borderers 12th Battalion |
| Merton Address | 9 Haydon Park Road, Wimbledon |
| Local Memorial |
Additional Information
Herbert Francis Sebright was born in Battersea, Surrey, c1896. He lived with his parents, Louis and Mary, and siblings at 126 Eland Road, Battersea. His father was a compositor. By 1911 Herbert, now 14, had moved with his parents, 4 sisters and a brother to 11 Gap Road Wimbledon.
The family had moved again to 9 Haydon Park Road, Wimbledon when Herbert, who sometimes used his second name Francis, signed up in Wimbledon. Now aged 19 years and 1 month, and working as a dispenser, he was recruited into the South Wales Borderers 12th Battalion. His service number was 24148.
The 12th(Service) Battalion was raised in Newport in March 1915 as a Bantam Battalion and landed at Le Havre on 2nd June 1916, as part of the 119th Brigade in the 40th Division, for service on the Western Front. The 40th Division was formed between September and December 1915. By 9th June 1916 it had concentrated near Liliers. It then served between June and late October 1916 on the front near Loos. It remained on the Western Front until the end of the war.
Private Sebright would have served in the Battle of Ancre in 1916. Other engagements of the Division included the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917 and the capture of Fifteen Ravine in April 1917. He died in action on 21 April 1917. He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 4A France Thiepval the memorial to the Missing of the Somme and the men of the UK and S African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave.
He is also remembered on the memorial tablet on the South Wall of the United Apostolic Church, formerly St. Peter’s Church, in Kohat Road Wimbledon.