Herbert Arnott was born in Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday, 24th April 1894 and baptised on Wednesday, 10th October in the same year at Marlowes Baptist Church. He was the one of five children born to James Arnott and Elizabeth George and his siblings were: William, Edith, Kate and one other child who died in infancy but is not known.

When Herbert was born his family lived at 28 Bury Hill which was their home for over 40 years and where the children all grew up. His father James had been a regular soldier for almost twenty years in the 1870s and 1880s. On his discharge from the Army he returned to live in Hemel and met Herbert’s mother Elizabeth George, who was twenty-one years his junior. They were married in 1888.

James had worked for John Dickinson & Co. Limited for several years and his two sons would follow him into Apsley Mills. By 1911, seventeen-year-old Herbert was working as a ‘Box Carrier’ at Dickinsons and his father had retired and was living on his Army pension.

It was during his time at Apsley Mills that Herbert met Winifred May Hendin. Winifred was originally from Notting Hill in London and her family came to Hemel Hempstead in the early 1900’s possibly due to the availability of employment at Dickinsons where Winifred was a ‘Calerkess’[sic] (Clerk) in the Administrative department. The Hendins lived for many years at 39 Bridge Street in Hemel Hempstead. Herbert and Winifred became sweethearts but like so many other young couples, their lives were interrupted by the war.

On the outbreak of the conflict Herbert immediately enlisted in the Colours, travelling to Bedford to attest in mid-August 1914 and joining the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was posted to the newly formed 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, assigned to “C” Company and the following month sent to begin his basic training.

The 7th Battalion was part of 'K2' - Lord Kitchener’s New Second Army and it was initially attached to the 15th (Scottish) Division whilst training. In February 1915, the Battalion moved into the 54th Brigade of the 18th (Eastern) Division, where it remained until May 1918.

Herbert spent the next eleven months training near Warminster in Wiltshire until his Battalion was mobilised for service and sent to France in July 1915. The Battalion left Folkestone aboard SS Onward and disembarked at Boulogne-sur-Mer on 26th July 1915.

In late September Herbert was granted home leave and returned to Hemel Hempstead where he and Winifred married in October. They spent only a short time together as newlyweds before Herbert went back to France. Winifred continued to work at Dickinsons and lived at 54 Cotterells Road where she and Herbert intended to make their home on his return from the war.

Back in France, Herbert saw his first significant action in July 1916 when he fought in the Battle of Albert on the Somme where the 18th Division successfully captured its objective, Montaubin. He then fought in the Battle of Bazentin when Trones Wood was captured and finally the Battle of Delville Wood. These actions started on the 1st July and lasted until the 3rd September with little respite and were costly in terms of casualties for the Division and the 7th Battalion.

Having survived the actions in July and August, Herbert fought in the battle of Thiepval Ridge in late September. This was a precursor to the Battle of Morval planned to start 24 hours later and the Battalion War Diary recorded events as follow: "5.30 A.M. The morning was extremely dark & the assaulting Coys had great difficulty in forming up for the attack on the correct alignment. At about 5.45 AM all was ready & a few minutes later the two Lines advanced sweeping across the untaken portion of Ground & trenches. two M.Guns & a good deal of Rifle fire opened from the enemy's lines but our troops (7th Bn Bedfords C & D Coys.) continued to advance & in a short time were in possession of the German trenches on the North-Western face of THIEPVAL. Capt.Mulligan, 2/Lt Potts fell badly wounded during this action 36 prisoners were taken & about 100 Germans killed by Rifle fire & Bayonets. This action though apparently small was of the utmost importance as without the whole of the Village of THIEPVAL & the trenches surrounding it being captured the whole Line of Attack was held up. So to the 7th Bn.Bedfords (especially C & D Coys) belongs the honour & Glory of the final destruction of one of the Germans strongest position & one which they had boasted could never be taken (i.e. THE VILLAGE OF THIEPVAL & its defences) Our casualties were 2 officers above mentioned & about 110 O.R. in the above action’"

Herbert was a Corporal in “C” Company and he was one of the casualties recorded during the attack. He was killed in action on Wednesday, 27th September 1916.

His death was reported in the Hemel Gazette along with a note from his C.O. attesting to Herbert’s abilities and popularity.

Herbert was commemorated, along with seven other members of the congregation who had fallen, in a memorial service held at Marlowes Baptist Church on Sunday, 29th October 1916.

His wife Winifred posted an ‘In Memoriam’ notice in the Hemel Gazette in September 1917 on the anniversary of his death.

Herbert is Remembered with Honour on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 2 C

He was 21 years old when he died.

Herbert was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.