Trafford

Born Herbert Walter Flaxman at Honing during the March quarter 1885 in the
Smallburgh R.D. - ref: 4b/50, the son of Benjamin & Agnes Sophia Flaxman
(nee Hannant).

1891 Census - Part of Gazes Farm House, Crostwight Road, Honing, Dilham,
Norfolk.    Son - aged: 3 - born: Honing, Norfolk.    Head of household -
Benjamin Flaxman - Married - aged: 39 - occ: Agricultural Labourer - born:
Honing, Norfolk.   Also - Agnes Flaxman - Wife - aged: 34 - born: Dilham,
Norflok.  Plus 1 elder brother.

His mother - Agnes Sophia Flaxman, died in 1896 - aged: 40.

1901 Census - Gaze Loke, Honing, Norfolk.   Son - aged: 16 - occ:
Agricultural Labourer - born: Honing, Norfolk.     Head of household -
Benjamin Flaxman - Widower - aged: 48 - occ: Teamsman on Farm - born:
Honing, Norfolk.    Plus 1 elder brother and a housekeeper.

1911 Census - Crisp Cottages, Pentney, Near Swaffham, Norfolk.     Boarder
- Unmarried - aged: 25 - occ: Gamekeeper - born: Honing, Norfolk.  His
widowed father, together with his eldest son and the same housekeeper, was
still residing at Honing at this time.

WO363 - By 1915 he is residing at Rostherne and Attested at Knutsford on
the 25th November 1916, going into the Army Reserve.   He enlisted into the
14th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment at Chester on the 2nd March 1916.  
Occupation: Rabbit Catcher (Gamekeeper).   Height: 5 feet 3½ inches -
Weight: 108 lb - Expanded chest: 34½ inches with a 2 inch expansion.  His
only brother - Charles Flaxman was deceased.   His father "made his mark". 
 Posted to France on the 16th July 1916 and into the 12th Battalion,
Cheshire Rgt on the 18th and to the 10th Battalion on the 23rd July 1916.

Killed during an attack on Stuff Redoubt during the Battle of the Ancre
Heights.   During this attack, 2nd Lt. William Hunter was killed and eight
other officers wounded.   137 NCO's and men were killed wounded or
missing.

The 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment were part of the 7th Brigade, 25th
Division.   By the 15th July 1916, the Battalion had lost 400 men, so
Herbert would have been a replacement for the losses sustained at the start
of the Battle of the Somme 1916.  On the 30th September 1916, they moved
from Hédauville and into forward trenches along the south face of Stuff
Redoubt.  The planned attack was cancelled and they returned to support
trenches on the 2nd October.   Forward to Stuff Redoubt again on the 7th,
but that proposed attack was also cancelled and they returned to their
support trenches on the 8th.   Forward, yet again on the 9th and by 12.35
hrs that day they had taken the German held north face of the Redoubt. 
Forward posts were established and German counter-attacks repulsed during
the evening.    It is not known whether Herbert died during the initial
assault on the Redoubt or during the German counter-attacks.  His comrade
from Rostherne - Samuel Rustage was also killed in this battle.

SDGW also states that he was residing at Rostherne.   I have no record of
the address.

Awarded the two basic war medals - BWM & the VM.