Pte 29706 Herbert Noble

Herbert Noble was born on 03rd April 1878 at Brow Cottages, Burnley Road, Skircoat, Halifax, Yorkshire to Boston Spa, Wetherby, Yorkshire born butler, Reuben Noble and his Yorkshire born wife Sarah Ann (nee Brown). They married in the March quarter of 1863 in York and had nine children (five daughters  and four sons). Herbert was their sixth child, he was baptised on 04th August 1878 at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge.

 

In the April 1881 Census, aged 2, he is still at Brow Cottages with his mother and brother Walter aged 9 sister Florence aged 5 and baby sister Edith aged 8 months.

His father Reuben is a butler living at Willow Field Hall with his 17 year old daughter Emily who is a servant there.

 

By the time of the April 1891 Census, aged 12, scholar Herbert, his parents and his siblings are living at 25 Second Avenue, Skircoat.

 

In the April 1901 Census when his age is shown as 23, he is a boarder at 53 Chapel Street, Chorley and he is now working as a boot shop assistant. 

 

On 26th September 1905, aged 28, he marries 23 year old Amy Pickles at St Augustine's Church in Halifax. They have four Children (two daughters and two sons). The marriage certificate declares he is now a manager of a boot and shoe shop.

 

29th August 1907 their first born is a daughter Amy Vera Noble.

 

08th January 1909 per her baptism record in February another daughter Gladys Irene is born

 

05th November 1910 a son Charles Sidney is born.

 

The April 1911 Census shows that the family have moved to Liverpool and are living at 74 Walton Road, Kirkdale. Herbert is a manager of a boot and shoe shop in Liverpool. The Census also shows Amy aged 3 and 4 month old Charles. Their 2 year old daughter Gladys is away from home staying at grandmother Sarah Ann Noble's home that night.

 

Herbert enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 29706. 

 

05th March 1915 another son, Harold Lewis Noble is born.

 

In 1916 he is transferred to the 13th K.L.R. and as part of the 3rd Division is sent to France

 

On the night of 14/15th August 1916 the 3rd Division relieve the 55th Division ready for the 4th attack on Guillemont on 16th August they were to attack with the Royal Fusiliers.

 

Herbert's body was never found and he was presumed to have been killed in action  on 16th August 1916, aged 38. His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Reported wounded in Liverpool Daily Post 21st Sept 1916

Originally posted as Missing his wife, Amy, placed an Advert in the Liverpool Echo on 28 October 1916 reporting Herbert as "Wounded and Missing". 

 

His Soldiers Pay of £2:5s:11d was sent to his widow Amy at 74 Walton Road, Kirkdale on 22nd December 1917

 

A War Gratuity of £4:10s was also sent to her on 13th September 1919 

 

She was awarded a dependents pension and also the children received one each until their respective 16th birthday.

 

Amy never remarried and died on 14th January 1951 at her son Charles's home in Wallasey.