Guest redrum Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 I think I am right that the oldest serving soldier in the British Army of this war was killed on the Somme at age 70. His head stone states his age. I think he enlisted aged 68. Please correct me if I am wrong anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InkyBill Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 I think his name was Webber, he is buried just south of Albert. Someone will know more. Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 Marc I think this is the chap you mean.. Name: WEBBER, HENRY Initials: H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lieutenant Regiment: South Lancashire Regiment Unit Text: 7th Bn. Age: 68 Date of Death: 21/07/1916 Additional information: Son of William Webber, M.D., and Eliza Webber (nee Preston); husband of the late Emily Webber (nee Morris). Native of Horley, Surrey. For over 40 years a member of the London Stock Exchange. Henry Webber is the oldest known battle death recorded for the First World War. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 54. Cemetery: DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT There were older men who have official war graves but they did not die in battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcderms Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 Webber was a pre-war regular who came back to help out in 1914. He was the battn transport officer and it was in this role that he managed to blag his way to France. Both his sons were serving officers and he took great pleasure in saluting them when they met - one was a capt and the other a major, I think. Henry was killed by a shell when at the forward transport lines on the evening of 21/7/16. I don't know if anyone has a picture to post or anymore information on his sons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 From Birmingham University website "No103: 'Squib' Webber Brigadier-General Norman William Webber (1881-1950) was a sapper who spent most of the war in staff positions, including periods as BGGS GHQ, BGGS Fifth Army and BGGS Canadian Corps in 1918. His father, Lieutenant Henry Webber (7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment), a London stockbroker, was killed in action on the Somme on 21 July 1916 at the age of 68, the oldest recorded battle death of the Great War" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 Martin Middlebrook's book on the first day of the Somme has some very interesting information on Henry Webber, the most amusing of which is the fact that he had to salute his sons!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 Here he is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 Martin Middlebrook's book on the first day of the Somme has some very interesting information on Henry Webber, the most amusing of which is the fact that he had to salute his sons!! But did subalterns salute captains? They certainly did not call them sir, did they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPotter Posted 7 October , 2004 Share Posted 7 October , 2004 I once owned the 1914-15 star trio (mint in boxes of issue) to Pte / 2.Lt James Green of the 7th Bn South Lancashire Regiment who was KIA on the same day as Henry Webber and is buried in the same cemetery. They are not side-by-side, their respective plots being 1.E. 54 and 1.D 50, but close. I never got round to researching them as they were one of my early extravangances, so still don't know if he was killed by the same shell as Lt. Webber. I wonder if a South Lancs expert could answer that for me? I still kick myself! Ah, if only..... Don't suppose a pal has them now? Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InkyBill Posted 8 October , 2004 Share Posted 8 October , 2004 Terry I think i'm right in saying in the same cemetery as Lt Webber is a father and son buried side by side. Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 11 October , 2004 Share Posted 11 October , 2004 Marc You're correct. Sergeant George Lee and his son Robert lie in plots 1.A.35 and 1.A.36 in Dartmoor cemetery. They were both KIA on 5th September 1916. SN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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