The Post Office Rifles: 8th Battalion, the London Regiment, Pte H J Green

Pte Henry John Green, London Regiment, 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles) - DoW 19 April 1918

Henry John Green was born in 1887 to William Erwood Green and his wife, Eliza Jane. On enlistment - the date of which is not clear, but most probably not long after 4 September 1914 - he lived in Fulham. He was employed by the General Post Office in South Kensington as part of their delivery staff. He served as a Private (Rifleman) with the London Regiment, 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles) and entered the France theatre, presumably with the 1/8th battalion via Southampton to Le Havre, on 18 March 1915, for which he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star. At the time his regimental number was 2292, later changed as part of the renumbering of the Territorial Force Infantry to 370580. This entry date would have put him in line to serve with the battalion at Auchel (March 1915), Givenchy (April), and possibly Festubert (May). The latter was the battalion's first major battle experience, in which they cleared several hundred yards of enemy trench and a troublesome German strongpoint, J3. At around this time he was wounded, probably some time before the Battle of Festubert, being listed in the War Office casualty list dated 29 September 1915, for April-May 1915. His medal roll entry suggests unbroken service in France until April 1918, thus implying that his wound was not severe enough to cause him to be evacuated to England. This would probably have put him in line to fight possibly at Loos in 1915, then (most likely) at Vimy Ridge in March 1916, and then on the Somme at High Wood (September) and the Butte de Warlencourt (October 1916) and later that month at Hill 60, at Messines Ridge in June 1917, at Passchendaele (Third Ypres) and on the Somme during the German Spring offensive, March 1918. Pte Green died of wounds on 19 April 1918 at No1 Australian General Hospital, Racecourse, Rouen, possibly of wounds incurred either on the Somme during the German Offensive in March 1918 or near Villers-Brettonneux during the Battle of the Avre. He could have been one of over 150 gas casualties suffered between 17 and 19 April in the defence of Villers-Brettonneux, which formed part of the wider defence of Amiens. He was aged 31 when he died. He is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension and is commemorated on a war memorial to men of the Post Office's South Kensington branch at the Victoria Delivery Office, 53 Nine Elms Lane, London. His financial effects of £18 10 3 and War Gratuity of £17 went to his brother and administrator, William E L Green.

Holder's service details:

Henry J Green
Regiment or Corps: London Regiment
Regimental Number: 2292, 370580

H J Green
Military Year: 1914-1915
Rank: Rifleman
Medal Awarded: 1914-15 Star
Regiment or Corps: London Regiment
Regimental Number: 2292
Sub Unit: 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles)

Henry John Green
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Rifleman
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: London Regiment
Regimental Number: 370580
Sub Unit: 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles)
Previous Units: 8/Lond. R. Rfn. 2292

Henry John Green
Residence: Fulham
Death Date: 19 Apr 1918
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: London
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment: London Regiment
Battalion: 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles)
Regimental Number: 370580
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Entered France theatre 18 March 1915, died of wounds 19 April 1918. No1 Australian General Hospital.

Medal condition:

Heavily patinated.  On original ribbon.