Official casualty records for the two regiments in which many men from Hatfield served during WWI show a greater human cost than the War Memorial and Memorial Book have revealed. Partly because these two sources relate to Hatfield as a Parish, while the official records refer to Hatfield District. But mainly because they also reveal the names of men who were born in the area or enlisted here (so probably had friends and / or family in the area). The Casualty Rolls also shed light on some of the contradictions between the War Memorial and Memorial Book, and – at least in the case of one family – cast doubt on both. They also reveal the names of eight men listed as Hatfield residents who are not recorded (but at least some of them are listed on neighbouring parish memorials). Finally, they act as a reminder that the ranks of the British Army was made up of men from near and far, that history can go in circles, and that the world – and not just Hatfield – was a very different place.
The bulk of the men from Hatfield who saw active service during World War One served in the British Army, in particular with the Bedfordshire Regiment (later renamed the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment to commemorate the large number of men from Herts in its ranks) and the Hertfordshire Regiment (formed from the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1915).
In 1919 the War Office, through the HMSO (the Government's official publisher), released details of nearly 42,000 officer casualties. It took a further two years to release the details – compiled from official casualty lists – of British Army soldiers who died in the Great War, 1914-1919 (some died from their injuries after the Armistice in November 1918).
First published in 1921, the names are recorded by regiment in 80 volumes. These were reprinted by publishers J B Hayward & Son, in collaboration with the Imperial War Museum, in 1989.
Today these records are also available on subscription genealogical websites (with free access available at some libraries). However, it is the 1989 reprint which has been the main source of information (please note variations between the printed and the online versions have been noted, so it is possible that there also may be variations between the two print versions).
Please note: names are listed first by Regiment, then by Battalion, and then in alphabetical order. So, Private Tyler of the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment will appear before Private Barnes of the 4th Battalion or Private Adams of the Hertfordshire Regiment.
Entries for individual soldiers generally also list the place they were born; where they enlisted; their home town at the time of their death; service number; rank; theatre of war (Western Front casualties being listed as French and Flanders campaigns); nature of death (KIA – killed in action; DoW – died of wounds; killed; and died – the last two being non-combat causes); and the date they died. In some cases, information in one or more data fields maybe incomplete or missing (generally birthplace or service number).
CORBEN, Percy, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: St Albans (St Albans) 4/6930 KIA France and Flanders 17 April 1915
COX, Walter James, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Codicote, Herts (Codicote ) 13043 KIA France and Flanders 20 April 1916
FRANKLIN, Walter, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Hertford (Hatfield) 13607 KIA France and Flanders 31 July 1916
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
HICKSON, Frank Herbert, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: North Mimms, Herts (North Mimms) 12927 KIA France and Flanders 18 April 1915
HIPGRAVE, Frederick, Private
Listed in main memorial section but as a 4th Battalion casualty.
JEFFRIES, Sidney, Private
Born: St Albans Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (St Albans) 10419 KIA France and Flanders 20 April 1915
MEAD, Arthur William, Private
Born: Watford Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (Watford) 10426 KIA France and Flanders 10 July 1915
MONK, Henry James, Private
Listed in main memorial section but War Memorial and Memorial Book names conflict
TYLER, Albert, Private
Listed in main memorial section
The men who served in the Bedfordshire and (later) Hertfordshire Regiments came from a variety of backgrounds and countries. Some were born in Ireland, others as far away as Australia and India (these are believed to be Britons born there rather than native Indians, who did serve in large numbers on the Western Front – notably early in the war when they played a crucial role holding the line at Neuve Chapelle). However, one entry under the 1st Garrison Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment stands out.
JOWZIELSKI, Joseph, Private
Born: Warsaw, Russia Enlisted: Chicago, USA (Chicago) 50607 (formerly 29051, Suffolk Regiment) Died India 1 November 1918
There's something poignant about a Polish emigre travelling from America to fight for Britain only to die in India (not a combat death so possibly due to heat exhaustion or disease).
His birthplace of Warsaw, Russia looks odd to modern eyes. However, Poland was torn between warring neighbours and underwent three partitions between the 18th and 19th Centuries. Following the defeat of Napoleon Warsaw became a part of the Russian Empire. Poland regained its independence after WWI in 1918.
There is also a certain historical irony in a Polish American fighting for the British. General Casimir Pulaski, the son of a Polish Count, who fought against Russian and Prussian (German) intervention in Poland was exiled by the Russians and emigrated to the States in 1777. He gained fame for his military prowess (some consider him to be the father of the American Cavalry). He was mortally wounded leading a charge at the Battle of Savannah in October 1779 – fighting against the British during the American War of Independence.
ALLEN, William Joseph, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Hertford (Colney Heath, Herts) 16471 KIA France and Flanders 16 June 1915
BLIGH, John, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Bedford (Hatfield) 8480 KIA France and Flanders 26 September 1915
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
BLIGH, Robert, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Bedford (Hatfield) 8479 DoW France and Flanders 27 March 1918
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
HIPGRAVE, John, Corporal
Listed in main memorial section but conflicting reports as to rank
MARDLING, Jesse Charles, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Hatfield (Ayots, Herts) 7305 KIA France and Flanders 28 May 1915
MUTIMER, George, Private
Born: Windsor, Berks Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (Upton Park, Essex) 4/5676 DoW France and Flanders 12 March 1915
OLNEY, Emmanuel, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: St Albans (Enfield, Middlesex) 9875 KIA France and Flanders 31 October 1914
PALMER, Frank Haddow, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Ampthill (Flitwick, Beds) 20310 KIA France and Flanders 28 March 1918
POLLARD, Thomas David, Private
Listed in main memorial section
SHARP, Christopher George, Private
Listed in main memorial section
TITMUS, George, Corporal
Born: St Albans Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (Aldershot, Hants) 5474 KIA France and Flanders 21 April 1915
MASSAM, Charles, Private
Listed in main memorial section
BARNES, John, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (London Colney) 4/5895 KIA France and Flanders 23 April 1917
RISEBERO, Walter, Private
Listed in main memorial section but conflicting reports as to year died
SHARP, David, Private
Listed in main memorial section
WARWICK, Bertie, Private
Born: Bishops Stortford Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (Bishops Stortford) 4/5502 DoW France and Flanders 1 December 1917
WEBB, Harry, Corporal
Listed in main memorial section but conflicting reports as to name (Harry or Henry)
FOX, William Henry, Private
Listed in main memorial section
HIPGRAVE, William, Private
Listed in main memorial section
BERRY, Walter Herbert, Private
Listed in main memorial section
RACHER, Roland Charles, Private, MM
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Hertford (Hatfield) 10547 KIA France and Flanders 28 April 1917
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
ANDREWS, William, Corporal
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Bedford (Luton) 22020 KIA France and Flanders 28 September 1916
Not listed Hatfield Memorial Book. Hatfield War Memorial lists a Private William James Andrews, Bedfordshire Regiment, who died in August 1916
HEDGER, John, Private
Listed in main memorial section but Casualty Roll entry lists birthplace as Roe Green, Herts; service number 4/7002 and date of death as 28 September 1916
STALLIN, William, Private
Believed to be listed as William Stallon on the Hatfield War Memorial and in the Memorial Book (one of three Stallons lost). 1911 Census and CWGC records suggest surname maybe spelt Stallan. Sergeant Henry E Stallon is listed as a survivor in the Memorial Book, however, the London Gazette citation for his DCM gives his name as Stallan.
SUTTON, Bert, Private
Born: Baldock, Herts Enlisted: Bedford (Hatfield, Herts) 15667 KIA France and Flanders 18 July 1916
SKEGGS, Albert Edward, Private
Listed in main memorial section
COOPER, William John, Private
Listed in main memorial section. Casualty Roll lists birthplace and residence as Hatfield Hyde, Herts
EBBS, Henry, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Bedford (Hatfield) 25378 KIA France and Flanders 15 September 1916
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
PALLETT, John Wallace, Lance Sergeant
Listed in main memorial section
TAYLOR, Wilfred, Lance Corporal
Born: Not given Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (Hatfield) 23678 KIA France and Flanders 15 September 1916
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
SHARP, William, Private
Born: Hatfield, Herts Enlisted: Chatteris, Cambs (Barnet, Herts) Died Home [UK] 17 December 1916
ADAMS, Ernest William, Private
Born: Not given Enlisted: Hertford (Hatfield, Herts) 266562 DoW France and Flanders 23 September 1917
BASILL, Frederick, Private
Listed in main memorial section
BRAY, Herbert William, Corporal
Listed in main memorial section
CANHAM, John Henry, Private
Listed in main memorial section
COE, John James, Lance Corporal
Listed in main memorial section
COOPER, Frederick Charles, Private
Listed in main memorial section
FROST, John Charles, Private
Listed in main memorial section
HALL, Hubert John, Private
Listed in main memorial section
RANDALL, Harry, Sergeant, DCM
Listed in main memorial section
STALLAN, Arthur, Private
Listed in main memorial section but surname spelt Stallon
WILLIAMS, Frederick, Private
Born: Kensington, Middlesex Enlisted: Hatfield, Herts (Hatfield) 1842 DoW France and Flanders 4 October 1915
Not listed Hatfield War Memorial or Memorial Book
Rest in Peace