Herbert Ormerod

Gunner 138270
Royal Field Artillery

Herbert was born in Burnley on 3 October 1888, the son of John Ormerod and Mary Ann Alice (née Sykes). His ancestry can be traced back through the Ormerods of Foxstones.

He is shown living at 103 Brunshaw Rd, Burnley, at the time of the 1891 Census, and was living at 101 Brunshaw Rd, Burnley, at the time of the 1901 Census, and at the time of his marriage to Flora Hirst in 1912.

Flora died in 1916, and Herbert later married Mary Cottam.

Herbert served in the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War, and sustained a serious injury test-firing a field gun.

The Burnley Roll of Honour for the Burnley Men Who Served in, and Survived, the Great War by Andrew Gill and Alan Mackay (http://burnleyinthegreatwar.info/burnleyservedindex.htm), records that Herbert served with 39 Bty, RFA, and was resident at 4 Pine Street, Burnley.

39 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, was originally part of XIV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, with 4th Division.

39 Battery moved to XIX Brigade in February 1915, with 27th Division. The Division subsequently fought in the Action of St Eloi and the Second Battle of Ypres, before moving to Salonika in November 1915.

The First World War Medal Rolls show that Herbert was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His brother, Henry (Harry) Ormerod, also served with the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.