William Alexander Tanner Herbert and his wife Mary Ann (nee Cox) moved to live in the area of Normandy around 1908. He was born in St Mary Bourne, Hampshire in 1852 and she in Brimpton, Berkshire two years later.
When the census was taken in 1911 they were living at 'Vine Cottage, Henley Park Road, Normandy, near Guildford, Surrey'. He was working on his 'own account' as a 'Hire Carman & Carter'. Residing in the household with him were his wife Mary Ann and their three youngest children; son, (William John) known as Jack, who was in employment as a 'Nurseryman Assistant', daughter Mary who was given as being of 'Feeble Mind from birth' and the youngest of the family Frank who was working as a 'Grocer's Assistant'. William also bred pigs, cured his own bacon and kept chickens. The couple had nine children all of whom survived to adulthood. He passed away on the 20th January 1931 and was buried in the churchyard of St Mark, Wyke three days later on the 23rd January. She died at her daughter's home in Mytchett, Surrey and was buried in the same churchyard as her husband on the 13th June 1939. A newspaper report at the time reveals that most of her children were present at her funeral.
Son Henry Charles (Charlie)'s marriage followed at the same church on the 10th July 1920 when he wed Rose Ellen Cooper and brother Jack signed as a witness to the ceremony. Youngest son Frank, who enlisted in the First World War, was in the 8th Bn., of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and was tragically killed in action on the 27th August 1918. He is buried and commemorated at the Bernafay Wood British Cemetery in Montauban and his name is also on the Normandy War Memorial. June Clist 2018
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Frank Herbert