Herbert was born on February 4th, 1898. He enlisted in July 1916 at Adelaide. At the end of the next month he boarded the HMAT Anchises and traveled to Europe. He disembarked at Plymouth in October. On the 12th of that month he marched into the 12th training battalion at Codford.
Three days after Christmas 1916, Herbert boarded the Princess Clementine and headed for France.
On arrival in France Herbert spent some time unattached in Etaples, until in early February he was taken on strength by 48 Battalion.
Eight days later, on the 14th, he was wounded by shrapnel in his left foot.
Passing through the 12th Australian Field Ambulance for a short time, Herbert spent the next month in hospital in Rouen. He finally rejoined his unit on the 29th of March.
Thirteen days after rejoining his unit he was reported missing in action.
A court of enquiry was held in December which found that Herbert must have been killed in action.
Herbert appears to have only spent a total of 21 days with his unit up to the time of his death.
As late as 1918 Herbert’s family was still being advised he was missing. The Red Cross continued to look for him amongst prisoners as late as October 1919. No evidence of what happened to him was ever discovered.His father collected Herbert’s medals and other mementoes in January of 1923.
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