Serjeant Herbert Gregory Pounds

Herbert was born in Camberwell on 19 September 1890. His mother Jane and his father Alfred lived at 15 Aulay Street, Camberwell. Alfred was employed as a General Labourer. During the 1891 Census, Herbert was aged just 6 months, and his siblings were Ethel 9, Alfred 6, Christopher 4, and William 2. Herbert was baptised the following year on 7 August 1892 at Mildenhall, Wiltshire where his mother was born. By the time of the next census in 1901, nothing much had changed, except a new addition to the family – David aged 8.

The next Census in 1911 reveals that Herbert had enlisted in the regular army with the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, as he is registered as residing in the Martinique Barracks, in Bordon, Hampshire. These barracks were training camps and were named after the capture of the island of Martinique in 1809.

At some point Herbert met and married Lily Ashford, and in 1915 they had a daughter, Lily Mary.

During his time in the regular army, it is possible that Herbert served in India and Burma, but by the time war broke out he had transferred into the 1st Battalion. He had by this time, been promoted to Serjeant.

The 1st battalion having transferred from India spent some time in England before landing on the shores of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 under heavy fire. The battalion held their position despite continuous bombardment and withstood the Turks throughout the months that followed.

On June 27, 1915, Herbert’s battalion were part of a mission to capture the Boomerang Trench which was held by the Turks. Although this was successful, the loss of life was great.

General Hamilton later described the attack by the 1st Battalion Border Regiment:

“At 10.45 a small Turkish advanced work in the Saghir Dere known as the Boomerang Redoubt was assaulted. The little fort, which was very strongly sited and protected by extra strong wire entanglements, has long been a source of trouble. After special bombardment by trench mortars, and while bombardment of surrounding trenches was at its height, part of The Border Regiment at the exact moment prescribed leapt from their trenches as one man, like a pack of hounds, and pouring out of cover, raced across and took the worst most brilliantly."

Herbert died of his wounds a week later on 3 July, but he was most probably wounded during this operation. He is buried at Pink Farm, Helles, Turkey and is commemorated on the Mitcham War Memorial.

Herbert’s widow Lily and their daughter are included in the 1921 census at her father’s address at 61 Boyd Road, Colliers Wood. Lily received her husband’s last pay of £16.18 plus the War Gratuity of £8.00. Lily died in 1954 aged 63.