Died aged 26.  16 Jan 1891 – 23 April 1917Sapper 140389. 222^nd Field Company Royal Engineers (33^rd Division).

Herbert was born on the 16^th January 1891 at Broadwood in Carhampton and baptised in Dunster on 15 Mar 1891. He was the son of William & Elizabeth (nee Winter) Mogridge. William was a farm labourer.

At the time of the 1891 census, the newly born Herbert was living with his family at Hurwood House (between Broadwood Farm and Higher Kitswall), Carhampton. The family consisted of his father William (48, an agricultural labourer, born East Quantoxhead, Somerset), his mother Elizabeth J (41, born Carhampton), and siblings Ernest J (17, general labourer), Mary H (12), William S (9), Walter (7), Edward (5), and Alexander (2). All of Herbert’s siblings had been born in Carhampton. A daughter Edith was born c1895.

At the time of the 1901 census, 10-year-old Herbert was living with his family at Harwood Cottage (between Broadwood Farm and Aller Farm), Carhampton. The family consisted of his father William (58, Minder of a Sawing Mill, born East Quantoxhead, Somerset), his mother Elizabeth (52 born Carhampton), and siblings Alexander (12), Edith (5), and William’s mother-in-law (presumably Herbert’s grandmother) Mary Winter (86, retired labourer, born Somerset).

The next snapshot of Herbert’s life is the 1911 census; 20-year-old Herbert (a builder’s carpenter) was living with his family at Wind Whistle Cottage, Broadwood, Dunster, Somerset (the properties either side gave their address as Broadwood Cottages). The family consisted of his father William (68, Attendant At Saw Mills, born East Quantoxhead, Somerset), his mother Elizabeth (61 born Carhampton), and siblings Walter (27, a mason’s labourer), Edward (25, Invalided From Army), and Edith (15, a female dressmaker). Herbert’s brother Alexander (21) was at Verne Citadel with the 1^st Bn, Somerset Light Infantry – although place of birth is given as Minehead.

Herbert enlisted in Taunton and joined The Royal Engineers, who maintained the railways, roads, water supply, bridges, transport, telephones, wireless and other signalling equipment, and guns and other weapons. They operated the railways and inland waterways. The Royal Engineers designed and built the front-line fortifications and developed responses to chemical and underground warfare. The Royal Engineers provided a Signal Company for each of the 14 original Divisions of the Territorial Force (The Long, Long Trail website). Sappers would perform a variety of military engineering duties such as breaching fortifications, demolitions, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, preparing field defences, as well as working on road and airfield construction and repair (Wikipedia).

From Dunster Museum: “His company, the 222^nd (Tottenham) Field Company, served with 33^rd Division in K4 (New) Army Group. It is likely that he would have worked on constructing tunnels and caves, called boves, for Battle of Arras. Tunnels were immense requiring 2,000 men per section to work 18 hour shifts for 2 months. He was involved in tunnelling, where he would die attacking tunnels under enemy lines. In April 1917, he was involved in the Battle of Arras, where British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian troops attacked German forces near the French city of Arras. When the battle ended on 16 May, the British has made significant advances but were but were unable to achieve a breakthrough.”

Herbert was killed in action aged 26 in France or Flanders 23 April 1917. His parents William and Elizabeth Mogridge, were living in Park Street, Dunster.

Herbert is commemorated on the Arras Memorial Bay 1, and on the plaques in St George’s Church and on the Memorial Hall in Dunster, Somerset.