POTTER Herbert

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral with the information: Lance Corporal, Canadians.

Herbert Potter enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 19th April 1915 at Winnipeg, Manitoba. On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 3rd June 1880 in Worcester, England, his occupation as a Bridgeman and his next of kin as his brother George Potter, Clent, Worcestershire, England. He had served 18 months in the South African Campaign. At the time of his attestation he was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and greyish hair. In his army will he left his property and effects to his sister, Mrs J. Raybould, Belbroughton, Nr Stourbridge. Herbert Potter arrived in England on 13th September 1915. On 8th November 1915 he was appointed a Lance Corporal but reverted back to a Private at his own request on 26th January 1916. On 3rd February 1916 he embarked for France, joining his unit in the field on 4th February 1916. He was killed in action on 22nd September 1916.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166 Box 7923 – 33

The following information has been researched by Jim Busby:
Herbert Potter was a veteran of the South Africa wars. He enlisted with the 44th Battalion, a “Manitoba” regiment, but was posted to the 7th Battalion, a “British Columbia” regiment. His body was not initially recovered, but was located after the war.

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Private Herbert Potter:
“Killed in Action.”
Location of unit at time of casualty: Trenches South West of Courcelette.

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers records the following information on Private Herbert Potter:
No record of burial. Killed in the area – The Somme (War Diary C.B.D.) Information added later states that he was buried Pozieres British Cemetery.