Thank you to Jane Anthony for this research.
Private Herbert Gadd: 2nd Battalion Queens Own Royal Surrey Regiment (G/4498)
Bertie Gadd was one of thirteen children born to James and Harriet Lucy Gadd. James earned his living as a general labourer but later became a bricklayer’s labourer. The family lived at various addresses in Holmwood including Peter’s Cottages and Redlands Cottage. As well as the children of the family; several relations from from the extended family lived in the household. Herbert, or Bertie, was born in 1893 and in 1901 was the sixth surviving son in the household. In 1911 he was working as a stableman. By this stage his father had died and his mother was the head of the household. Unusually she was unable to write and left her mark on the census form. This is possibly why his sister Lily was listed as his next of kin with regard to his effect and also on his headstone.
He enlisted at Guilford and was killed in action on 16th October 1915. At that time there was no particular offensive on the Western Front. His body was buried at the Woburn Abbey Cemetery, a name given to a nearby house, which had been used as Battalion Headquarters and as a Dressing Station. It was utilised by the Royal Berkshire Regiment in June 1915 and closed in January 1916 on account of its exposed situation. He appears to be the only person from the regiment to have been killed at that time .
| Born | Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Lived | Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Son of | James and Harriet Lucy Gadd | |
| Enlisted | Guildford, Surrey | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion. The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | G/4498 | |
| Date of Death | 16th October 1915 | |
| Place of Death | Pas de Calais, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 22 | |
| Cemetery | Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Ciunchy, France |
