211207 Fitter Gunner Herbert Jeffes, RGA attached RFA.
- Amanda T
- Apr 26, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 27, 2021
Identification
There was only one H Jeffes on the CWGC database and investigation showed that he was from Toxteth.
Family Information
Herbert William Reuben Jeffes was born on 26th Feb 1893 and baptised on 11th April that year. His parents were Herbert William and Sarah Ann Jeffes of Windsor Street. Herbert Senior was a ship steward.
The 1901 census shows that the family were living at 40 Upper Stanhope Street, Sarah Ann and 3 children; Herbert aged 8, Albert aged 3 and Frank aged 1, were at home at the time of the census plus Sarah Ann's brother Mark who was aged 28 and a barman and billiard marker. There were also 3 boarders at the house, all riveters for a boiler maker and all from Loughborough.
At the time of the 1911 census the family were living at 60 Upper Stanhope Street, close to St James’ Church. The census shows that Herbert Senior aged 47 was working as a Warehouse Porter in a rubber warehouse. Sarah Ann was 40 years old. They had been married for 19 years and had only 4 children surviving from 10 born. All four children were still at home: Herbert William Reuben Jeffes (our soldier) aged 18 was a porter and trunk maker for Finegan's, Liverpool. Albert Stanley Jeffes aged 13 and Frank George Jeffes aged 11 were both at school and Ethel May Jeffes was 6 years old. There were several boarders and visitors at the house too.
Finnigans were a luxury travel-case manufacturer who specialised in leather cases for steamship voyages and, as this advert shows, car boots:
Military Information
Herbert William Reuben Jeffes volunteered for military service on 9/12/1915 it appears that he may have volunteered under the Derby Scheme (also known as the Group Scheme) whereby men could volunteer and choose to be placed in the army reserve for mobilisation later on. This is supported by the fact that there was a long gap between attesting an mobilisation – volunteers under the group scheme were mobilised in groups according to their age and Herbert’s group was mobilised Dec 1915-January 1916. However he wasn’t mobilised until May 1916, it could be that he worked in a reserved occupation and was needed for war work. For whatever reason, Herbert was mobilised on 4th May 1916 and the next day posted to the 3rd West Lancashire Royal Field Artillery (RFA) with the regimental number 3026.
The Army Medical Report shows that Herbert was 22 years and 8 months old, 5 feet 8 and 7/8 inches tall and weighed 164lbs.
His next of kin was Herbert W Jeffes of 145 North Hill Street, Liverpool (his father).
From the surviving service papers we can put together the following timeline:
Herbert attested on 9/12/15 at Princes Park Barracks, Liverpool, and was placed in the Army Reserve. He was mobilised (called up) on 4/5/16, it is possible that he had deferred his mobilisation. He was posted to the 3rd West Lancashire Royal Field Artillery with the rank of gunner on 5/5/16.
A certificate of trade proficiency shows that he passed the test to be declared a skilled fitter at the Ordnance College, Woolwich on 19/8/1916, this would have increased his pay.
He was appointed the role of fitter on 18/1/17. Fitters looked after the guns and had to have detailed knowledge of all the mechanical parts and how to maintain and repair them.
Embarked UK 23/1/17 and disembarked at Salonica on 3/2/17.
In 1917 the Territorial Force was renumbered and in October 1917 Jeffes was allotted the new RFA regimental number 686620. The 3rd West Lancs RFA were broken up in Feb 1917 and Jeffes was attached to Ordnance on 3/6/1917 then posted to the 99th Anti-Aircraft section on 15/8/1917, this required a transfer to the Royal Garrison Artillery which happened on 14/12/1917 with the rank of Fitter Gunner and regimental number 211207.
On 27/11/1918 Jeffes was posted to the Royal Artillery base depot at Salonica to report to 27th Division. It appears that he remained RGA, attached to the 96th Battery, RFA.
In early December 1918, Herbert's family were informed that he was seriously ill with bronchio pneumonia, in a hospital in Salonika. This must have been devastating news as they would have been celebrating the end of the war and expecting their son to return home shortly.
Death and Commemoration
On 14/12/1918 Fitter Herbert Jeffes died of Bronchio Pneumonia at Salonika.
His service file also contains the following papers which give a very poignant insight into this story:
13 Dec 1918 : Telegram from army records to Mr Jeffes
Regret inform you officer commanding 84th field ambulance BSF reports 11 Dec your son 211207 Fitter H W Jeffes RGA attached 96 Bty RFA dangerously ill Malaria Bronchitis regret permission to visit cannot be granted.
14 Dec: Telegram from family to Artillery Records, Dover
Ask officer commanding 84th field ambulance BSF to keep us informed as to Fitter Jeffes 211207 condition.
15 Dec: Telegram from Artillery Records, Dover to Mr H W Jeffes
No further news 211207 Fitter Jeffes received.
17 Dec 1918: Letter from Mr H Jeffes to Artillery Records. [at this point, Herbert had already died in Salonika]
Referring to your telegram Saturday last re fitter H W Jeffes 211207 attached 96th Battery RFA being dangerously ill with Malaria Bronchitis I would esteem it a great pleasure if you would kindly inform me of any further news from Salonika respecting his illness as we are waiting very anxiously indeed to hear what progress is being made in this very trying time for us.
Trusting you will kindly favour me with a reply as to further developments as soon as possible thanking you very much in anticipation.
I remain
yours respectfully
Herbert W Jeffes
19 Dec 1918: Telegram Woolwich to Dover
Wire received .... reports 16 Dec 96/19 RFA att from 99 anti a c section RGA died broncho pneumonia 14 Dec 211207 Fitter Jeffes H W R
Field report
To Actg 3rd Echelon OC 96 Battery RFA
Herewith report on illness and death of the late no 211207 Fitter Jeffes H W RGA who died in this field ambulance 14.12.18
Report of illness and death of no 211207 Fitter Jeffes H W RGA attd 96 battery RFA died in 84th Field Ambulance 14.12.18
This patient was taken ill on Dec 6th 1918 with a cough and pain over the spleen. He was admitted to 84 field ambulance on Dec 10th the chest signs quickly became pronounced and he suffered from general diffuse bronchitis and patches of bronchial pneumonia.
On Dec 11th his name was on the OI list from the first detention in the field ambulance was necessary as he was unfit for evacuation. The temperature ranged from 100 to 104. He was given quinine treatment without any avail. Stimulants were administered from the first ether and ammonia mixture, brandy, hypodermic injection of camphor without improving the condition. He complained of no pain.
He died at 0500 hours on 14 Dec 1918.
He has suffered from recurring attacks of Malaria contracted in Macedonia. His illness was undoubtedly accentuated by active service conditions.
Fitter Herbert Jeffes was buried at Janes Military Cemetery, Greece, 8 miles East of Lake Ardyan, due to this site being difficult to maintain all the burials there were later moved and Herbert Jeffes was re-interred at Sarigol Military Cemetery.
As you can see from the above photograph, Sarigol has the pedestal style CWGC markers which is usually due to the local weather and soil conditions being unsuitable for upright markers. The closer image below shows how the markers are a concrete pedestal with a stone plaque bearing an cross and inscription. Herbert's family didn't add a personal message but they did ensure his full initials were included.
Herbert's family would have received a standard memorial scroll and plaque as well as the British War Medal and Victory Medal that Herbert was eligible for.
The service records contain a list of belongings that were also returned to the family, it is not all legible but includes the following:
wallet, letters, photo, cards, gold ring, diary, story book, holdall, testament, scissors, comb, note book, French manual, knife, buttons, 2 model airplanes, badges, match, signings, chain, sundries.
In 1919 Herbert's mother wrote requesting copies of his death certificate and book for allotment of gunner H W R Jeffes to help her claim a pension.
There is a note to say that the requested documents were sent to her and the postage stamps she included as payment were returned. She was granted a dependent's pension.
The following notice was placed in local newspapers on 23rd and 24th December 1918:
Herbert's mother received a military pension of 12 shillings a week - this was a dependant's pension indicating she had relied on Herbert.
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