Herbert Charles Billett
Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 2066
Parents: Charlotte Elizabeth and Henry James Billett
Marital status: Single
Home address: Buckover, South Glos
Date of birth: 1897
Place of birth: Thornbury, Bristol
Date of death: 29/09/1916
Buried/Commemorated at: Thornbury Cemetery (church 496.), Thornbury, Bristol
Age: 19
Further information:
Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board.
Herbert Charles Billett was baptised at St Mary’s Church on 29th August 1897. His family lived at Buckover where his father, Henry, worked as a general labourer or carter on a farm. Herbert had one brother and three sisters. Another brother died in infancy.
According to the family headstone in Thornbury Cemetery, Herbert served with the 5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, but the Commonwealth War Grave Commission records say he was serving with the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, at the time of his death. In 1916 both Battalions saw action at the First Battle of the Somme. Herbert was sent back to England and died in the Brompton Hospital in London. Herbert presumably died of wounds or illness. His body was brought home to Thornbury. The burial took place at Thornbury Cemetery on 4th October.
Herbert’s older brother William Henry Billett also served during the war.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Thornbury Roots Website, Thornbury and District Museum Research Group, Forces War Records and CWGC