Herbert Heywood

Herbert Heywood became a solicitor’s articled clerk after leaving John Lyon School. He later married Dorothy Mary Jermain Steadman in 1916. Commissioned at the outbreak of the First World War, he served with the Middlesex Regiment and Tank Corps before dying of wounds at Passchendaele on 22 August 1917, aged 27.

Civilian Life - Herbert was born in Marylebone in 1890 and was baptised at Portman Chapel on 8 June that year. He was the son of John and Charlotte Jane Heywood and grew up with his siblings John Harris, Margaret Ellen and Charlotte Jane. His father was a baker, confectioner and caterer. By 1911, Herbert was living with his family and, aged 21, was working as an articled clerk to a solicitor, having studied law after leaving John Lyon School. On 22 January 1916, Lieutenant Heywood married Dorothy Mary Jermain Steadman at St Mary's Church, West Hampstead. The couple lived at 4 Cleve Road, West Hampstead.

Military Life - When the First World War began in August 1914, Herbert joined the Officers' Training Corps and obtained a commission. He served with the 5th Battalion, the Middlesex Regiment and went to France in January 1915. Much of his military service was spent on the battlefields of France. By 1917, Herbert was serving with the 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, and was attached to the Machine Gun Corps which in 1917 became the Tank Corps (and later, by Royal Warrant, the Royal Tank Regiment.)

Promoted to Captain, he was severely wounded while leading his section of three to four tanks into action during the fighting in the Battle of Passchendaele, Flanders. Herbert died of his wounds on 22 August 1917, aged 27, at a casualty clearing station in Belgium and was buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, in Plot IV, Row G, Grave 23.

His probate record identified him as a Captain of the Middlesex Regiment attached to the Tank Corps and names Dorothy Mary Jermain Heywood as his widow, his effects were £284. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Heywood, of Devonshire Lodge, Eastcote, Middlesex.