The First World War threw up some amazing feats of bravery ... and one of the most courageous men of all was a sergeant from Holmfirth.

Sgt Henry Hirst served with the 1/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, was awarded the Military Medal and was remembered as ‘the bravest man in the company.’

Although he was discharged from the army midway through the war he joined up again and returned to the trenches and, ultimately, his death in Flanders during the German spring offensive in 1918.

Henry lived with his mother, Mary Hannah Hirst, in his grandfather’s home at 88 Hinchliffe Mill, Austonley, Holmfirth.

A pre-war Territorial, he enlisted on April 7, 1908, when he was 18 for two years with the 5th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, having previously been a member of the 2nd Vol Bn West Riding Regiment for only two months.

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By this time he was living with his mother at 158 Woodhead Road, Hinchliffe Mill, and was employed as a Weaver by W H & J Barber, Clarence Mills, Holmbridge.

Before the war he was actively involved with Saint David’s church at Holmbridge and the Sunday School where he was a teacher and a sidesman.

He went with the Battalion to France on April 14, 1915, where he was confirmed as a Corporal but paid as a Lance Sergeant.

For their first tour of duty the 5 Bn was posted to the fairly quiet Fleurbaix Sector.

British troops moving up to the trenches, 2.5 miles East of Ypres. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In July they moved to the Ypres Sector where they occupied trenches along the canal bank.

Henry managed to avoid being wounded, but was admitted to 2 West Riding Field Ambulance with influenza August 20, 1915, yet returned to duty eight days later.

He was promoted to sergeant on November 12, 1915.

But his war seemed to be over when he was admitted to 2 West Riding Field Ambulance again on January 26, 1916 with a high temperature and was sent to the 15 Casualty Clearing Station with an intestinal problem.

He returned to England and was discharged on April 6, 1916, because he had completed the period of service that he had signed up to do.

But he then rejoined the West Riding Territorials and once more found himself back in France.

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News of his death came in a letter from his cousin, Pte Hirst Naylor, also from Hinchliffe Mill, and in the same Battalion.

He wrote: “It is hard for me to write these few lines. It is to tell you that Henry has got killed and I did not want to be the first to break the news to you, but I think it is my duty to let you know because we have been like brothers out here. I can tell you I shall miss him and only God knows how I feel it, but we never know whose turn it is next. He has given his life fighting for the right and I can tell you he was one of the best NCOs in the Battalion and everyone liked him. I was with him the night before he went into the line and he was as happy as ever.”

An unnamed officer wrote that during a big German offensive: “Your son and I decided that it would be best to go forward and meet the attack, which we did. He was my platoon sergeant and was the most respected and best liked man in the company and his death creates a gap amongst us which can never be filled, a gap of sentiment, for he was almost idolised by officers and men alike.

Sgt Henry Hirst killed in April 1918

“Sgt Hirst was recommended by his company commander in an attack previous to this in which he was killed for his coolness and bravery and I again recommended him yesterday for his bravery previous to him being killed. I sincerely hope you will not fret, for he died a true man and a gentleman. Besides being my sergeant, he was my friend.”

The details of his death on the Kemmel Front in the area of Millekruisse, Belgium, on April 29 1918 – officially named the Battle of the Scherpenberg – is contained in the Battalion War Diary which states: “At 3 am Hun opened up with everything he had till 7.45 am when he attacked in mass formation. The brunt fell on D Company (Captain Conyers, MC) who went out to meet him. Our barrage, Lewis gun and rifle fire broke up the attack which was over by 8.10am.

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“The men were magnificent. Our casualties are heavy I am afraid. No movement by day is possible, runners being the only people who get about. I must say they were heroes, going through the heaviest barrages all day long. The Hun shelled practically all day. Sgt Hirst was killed instantly by a machine gun bullet, one of 100 other ranks killed and wounded on this day, and it was for his bravery in this action that he was awarded the Military Medal.”

Notification of the award – and that of the Meritorious Service Medal – was intimated in a letter from the Adjutant of the 1/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment to his mother which appeared in the Holmfirth Express on June 29, 1918.

Sgt Hirst has no known grave but is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Locally he is named on the Holme, Holmfirth and New Mill war memorial (Holme and Holmbridge section) and the Holmbridge war memorial.

* Ron wants to document all the officers and men who served in the 7th Battalion West Riding Regiment with a view to writing a book. He wants to hear from anyone who had relatives who served in the 7th Battalion West Riding Regiment, The Colne Valley Territorials.

Anyone who can help can email him at ronhartley@ntlworld.com or phone him on 01132 931639.