Herbert Arthur Stockwell was born on 2nd June 1891 in Balcombe Street, London. His mother was Harriet Stockwell of Tetsworth, Oxfordshire. In 1901 Herbert (known as Bertie) was living with his grandfather Joseph in North Street, Thame.

He worked for nine years at Joseph Putman’s hardware shop in the Cornmarket. A member of the local Territorials of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, he was mobilised with them at the start of the war.

He was posted to the 5th Battalion, part of the 42nd Infantry Brigade, 14th Division and embarked with them to France on 20th May 1915 landing at Boulogne. By the end of the month they had moved into Belgium and were soon in action near the Hooge, just south of Ypres. Herbert was one of the many casualties sustained by the Battalion during this time, being reported as wounded in early August.

He saw regular action over the following years, including the Somme in 1916, followed by Arras and Passchendaele in 1917. Herbert rose through the ranks, being promoted to Company Sergeant Major in July 1917. In November 1917 the Battalion was fighting at Passchendaele, Belgium, where Herbert was awarded the Military Cross.

The German spring offensive through the Somme in March 1918 saw the 5th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry heavily engaged in the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin. Herbert, age 35, received a bullet wound to the head and was evacuated to one of the base hospitals in Rouen, where he died on 1st April 1918.

10951 Company Sergeant Major Herbert Arthur Stockwell MC, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. He is remembered in Thame on the War Memorial and on the Memorial Boards of St Mary’s Church and All Saints’ Church.

Military Cross citation published in the London Gazette on 5th March 1918.

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His company had to pass through an intense barrage when going forward to reinforce, and on reaching the position were subjected to five hours heavy bombardment. The success of the movement was largely due to his initiative and fearlessness. Though he was three time buried, he remained at duty, inspiring his men by his cheerfulness and gallant example. Later he again steadied the company under a heavy bombardment, and carried out a bombing attack on a party of the enemy who had penetrated the line”.