Page 157 - WW1 - 1917

Redditch Local History Society Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1

On UK Royal Navy Register of Seamen’s Service

AB George Frederick Herbert, J.46418 (Po), HMS Torrent, Royal Navy. Killed or died as a
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direct result of enemy fire, 23 December 1917. Body not recovered for burial, father
Thomas Herbert, 35 South Street, Redditch. On UK Commonwealth War Graves, George
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Frederick Herbert, stated he was killed by mine explosion in North Sea, 23 December 1917
aged 21. His parents were Thomas and Emma Herbert of 35 South Street, Redditch.
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Remembered on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. His birth date was 28 February
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1896 in Redditch. His first service date was 9 November 1915 on the Victory.
Remembered on Redditch’s war memorial, Redditch and St Luke’s war memorial, Headless Cross.
(On 1901 census George aged 5, lived with his parents Thomas aged 32, Needle Pointer and Emma aged 33,
and siblings at 110 Evesham Road, Headless Cross.)
HMS Torrent was sailing to meet a Convoy with other ships when they ran into a German minefield near the
Maas light buoy near Rotterdam. HMS Torrent hit a mine first, HMS Surprise went to assist the sinking ship
and also hit a mine and sank. As HMS Tornado tried to get clear of the sinking ships, she detonated 2 further
mines and also sank with only one survivor. Only HMS Radiant got home. A total of 252 men lost their lives.

© RLHS 2014 Page: 157