BEST H.

HENRY BEST 1894-1918

35177 Private Henry Best, 7^th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action 18 September 1918 and is buried at Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery.[1] He was 24 years old and is commemorated on the war memorial in St. John’s Church, Ingleton, Co. Durham.

Family Details

Henry Best was born 1894[2] at Wackerfield, Co. Durham the son of George and Elizabeth Catherine Best. There were at least 4 children:[3]

Mary bc.1885 at Hilton
John George bc.1888 at Wackerfield
Herbert bc.1890 at Wackerfield
Henry born 1894 at Wackerfield

In 1901 the family lived at Wackerfield where 42 year old George worked as a general labourer.[4] By 1911, the family still lived at Wackerfield, George still worked as a labourer and 23 year old John George worked as a mason, 21 year old Herbert worked as a coal miner (hewer) and 17 year old Henry was a “store wagon boy”.[5] By 1915, Henry worked at the Evenwood Co-op as a draper.[6]

Service Details

8 December 1915: Henry Best attested aged 21 yrs. 9 months and joined the 16^th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry. He was allocated the regimental number 28388. He stood 5’4” tall and weighed 120lbs and was deemed fit for service.[7] Private H. Best was with the Army Reserve until he was mobilized 24 January 1916.

25 January 1916: posted to 16/DLI[8]

3 December 1916: embarked for France[9]

4 December 1916: transferred to 7^th Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment and allocated the regimental number 35177[10]

31 December 1916: to battalion, in the field[11]

The 7^th (Service) Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment was formed at Beverley in September 1915 as part of K2 Kitchener’s New Army and came under the orders of the 50^th Brigade, 17^th (Northern) Division.[12] The 50^th Brigade comprised the following units:[13]

10^th, the West Yorkshire Regiment
7^th, the East Yorkshire Regiment
7^th, the Yorkshire Regiment disbanded February 1918
7^th, the York & Lancaster Regiment left March 1915
6^th, the Dorsetshire Regiment joined March 1915
50^th Machine Gun Company joined February 1916 and left to move to 17^th MG Battalion February 1918
50^th Trench Mortar Battery formed June 1916

The Division entered France during July 1916 and concentrated near St. Omer. Private H. Best joined 7/EYR in December 1916 and the Division saw action at the following engagements:[14]

9 – 14 April 1917: The First Battle of the Scarpe
23 – 24 April 1917: The Second Battle of the Scarpe
13 – 14 May 1917: The Capture of Roeux

All phases of the Arras Offensive

12 October 1917: The First Battle of Passchendaele
26 October – 10 November 1917: The Second Battle of Passchendaele

Both phases of the Third Battle of Ypres

21 – 23 March 1918: The Battle of St. Quentin
24 – 25 March 1918: The Battle of Bapaume

Both Phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918

8 – 11 August 1918: The Battle of Amiens
21 – 23 August 1918: The Battle of Albert
31 August – 3 September 1918: The Second Battle of Bapaume

All are phases of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918

12 September 1918: The Battle of Havrincourt
18 September 1918: The Battle of Epehy. Private H. Best was killed in action on this day

The Division then saw action at:

8 – 9 October 1918: The Battle of Cambrai 1918

All phases of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line

9 – 12 October 1918: The Pursuit to the Selle
17 – 25 October: The Battle of the Selle
4 November: The Battle of the Sambre

All phases of the Final Advance in Artois

Private H. Best served a total of 2 years 285 days[15].

Private H. Best was awarded the British Wat and Victory medals.[16]

Burial

Private H. Best is buried at grave reference VII.F.6 Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery. His headstone is inscribed as follows:[17]

In the Midst of Life

We are in Death

Report of his Death

The following report appeared in a local newspaper:[18]

“Pte. Henry Best son of Mr. G. Best of Wackerfield was killed 18^th September. He was formerly employed at Evenwood Co-op Stores.”

Commemoration

Private H. Best is commemorated on the war memorial in St. John’s Church, Ingleton, Co. Durham.

Photographs:

BEST H.
Headstone

Cockfield FC were winners of the Auckland Nursing Cup 1913-14 and H. Best was the captain. Henry Best lived at Wackerfield near Cockfield and this MAY be him. But Henry was quite short in stature, about 5’4″ and this player seems taller. It may be his brother Herbert Best. Further research is required to confirm or otherwise.