Private Herbert George Hartwell (244152)

Herbert Hartwell was born Naunton Beauchamp, Worcs and joined the Worcestershire Regiment at Worcester, and was posted to the 8th Territorial Battalion. His home address was given as being in Churchill-in-Oswaldslow. He went overseas and was posted to D Company, 1/8th Worcestershire Regiment. On 21st July 1916 he was gassed on the Somme along with many other members of the battalion and was transferred to a Convalescent Depot.

It took a long time for many men of the battalion to recover, and Herbert Hartwell was no different – he did not return to the 1/8th Worcesters until 5th December 1916. However a large number of drafts had been received by the battalion to make up the loss of those men gassed, and with their return the unit was overmanned. On the 8th December a draft of around 150 men were transferred to the 1/7th Worcesters to make up the losses suffered on the Somme. Private Hartwell was one of these drafted men.

At some point Hartwell was transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served with the 16th, or 3rd Birmingham Battalion. He was killed in France on the 25th April1918. His death was reported in the Malvern News on the 15th June 1918. He is commemorated in Christchurch, Great Malvern.