Corporal Herbert John Papworth
| Date of Birth | c. April 1896 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 21 |
| Date of Death | 23 March 1918 |
| Service Number | 9193 |
| Military Service | 13th Battalion East Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | 60 Normanton Avenue, Wimbledon Park |
| Local Memorial | St. Luke's Church, Wimbledon |
Additional Information
Herbert was born in Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire in April 1896. His father, also Herbert, was a carpenter and his mother was Elizabeth, nee Lowings. Herbert was the eldest and shared the family home with his siblings Thomas Henry, Dorothy Elizabeth, Frederick Charles and Irene Lowings.
The 1901 census shows that the family had moved to Battersea and by the 1911 census they were settled in a five roomed house at 60 Normanton Avenue, Wimbledon Park.
Herbert was a shop assistant when he enlisted on 6 May 1915 aged 19 years and 1 month. He was 5ft 7ins tall with a girth of 34½ins and an expansion of 2ins. He joined the 13th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. After training, he embarked with the Expeditionary Force on 1 January 1916.
His records show that he had scabies in April 1916 and was promoted to Corporal on 1 September 1916.
Herbert was killed in action on 23 March 1918 and is commemorated on the Arras memorial and in St Luke’s Church, Wimbledon Park.
The memorial in St Luke’s shows his name as “Papworth HJW” but I have found no record of what the W stood for. He is referred to as Herbert John on all official documents except the 1901 census where the W appears.