This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
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Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.

Private. 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Service number 29804.

Private Herbert Jarman.

Early life:

Herbert was born in 1878 and his birth was registered in the third quarter of the year at Keighley.
His mother Martha Elizabeth Jarman married Henry Cooper on 26th February 1881 at Keighley Parish Church. Henry was a 30 year old bachelor of 1, Fruit Street and a labourer at a foundry. Martha was a 28 year old spinster of 13, Bingley Street.

In the 1881 census Henry is the head of the household and Herbert's relationship is described as his son which implies Henry was the father but he still retains his Jarman surname, which implies he is not. They are living at 7, Fruit Street in Keighley which was in the Worth Village area off Dalton Lane, but all these streets have since been demolished and replaced with industrial units. Herbert was their only child at the time.

In the 1891 census they were living at 106 Market Street in Keighley, Henry was a general labourer aged 42 and Martha is looking after the family home. Herbert is now aged twelve and a worsted doffer in a mill, working part time with school. He has four siblings, Alfred aged seven, William aged six and Edgar aged four were all of school age and the youngest was Sarah, aged just six months.

In the 1901 census the family is still living at 106, Market Street in Keighley, Henry is 52 and an ironfounders labourer, Martha is 46 and at home and Herbert is aged 22 and now he is stated to be Henry's stepson. He is employed as a washing machine fitter. Alfred is still at home aged 17 and a worsted mill warp setter, William is a 16 year old worsted doffer as is 14 year old Edgar. Sarah, the youngest at ten years of age is at school.

Henry died before the 1911 census, we could not find a definite death record for him but there is one for a man of the same name but born in 1852. He died in Keighley aged 55 in 1907. It might be him but only a death certificate would confirm this for sure.

In the 1911 census Martha is now a widow and the head of the family aged 57 years. For the first time we see Herbert's full name of Herbert Edgar Mead Jarman and he is 32 years old. Also here is Alfred Cooper aged 27, William Thomas Cooper aged 26 and all three sons are Mechanic's labourers at a textile spinning machine makers, which is almost certainly Messrs. Prince Smith and Sons Ltd. Sarah Martha Cooper is also still living at home and is a 20 year old cotton spinner. Edgar is missing from the family and may have married as he would be 24 at this time.
Martha also indicates that she had been married for 30 years and produced five children, none of whom had died. If the 30 years statement is correct then Henry would have died in 1908, so the death record on 1907 above, may be correct.

War service:

Herbert enlisted at Keighley in June 1916 and after training went out to join his unit in the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers at Salonika. He served with them for about two years until the Battalion was posted to France, leaving the coast on 1st July 1918 and arriving at Serquex, Northern France on the 5th and detraining at Forges-les-Eaux before proceeding to a rest camp at Serquex.
They proceeded to the Martin-Eglise area for training etc until the 15th September when they were moved to the Pommera area for more of the same. Route marches, training and they carried out a divisional tactical exercise in preparation for an eventual attack on a massive scale against the Hindenburg Line the next month.

WO-95/2836/1. War diary extract from 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, October 1918.

For reference, this trench map shows these postions (at the top left corner)
1.10.18 COMBLES AREA:
Weather dull. Battalion under 2 hours notice to move. Orders received at 1300 hrs for Battalion to proceed by march route to NURLU, arrived 1800 hrs billeted in village. Battalion in Divisional reserve.
2.10.18 MAY COPSE:
Weather dull, occasional showers. Orders received at 1200 hrs for Battalion to proceed by march route to MAY COPSE. When we were to bivouac for the night. Enemy guns very active, shelling MAY COPSE heavily with gas shells. Casualties during the day, nil. Orders received at 2400 hrs for Battalion to take over HINDENBURG LINE at BONY. Pt. A. 15. Central, before dawn, 3rd.
3.10.18 NEAR LE-CATELET.
Weather dull. Battalion left MAY COPSE at 0230 hrs. Route heavily shelled with gas shells. Arrived reserve at about Pt. A.15 Central. 0615 hrs Battalion ordered to attack and to move along the Eastern outskirts of GOUY and seize PROSPECT HILL. This position was known to be very strongly held with machine guns. The attack was carried out by A & B Companies with C & D Companies in support. The attack commenced at 0610 hrs, and the enemy put down a heavy artillery barrage on our advancing troops, causing slight casualties.
Temporary Lieutenant Stephenson, when the attack was held up with machine gun fire, led his platoon with great dash, capturing 36 prisoners and 2 machine guns, and allowing the attacking troops to push forward. 1200 hrs objective taken and consolidation in progress. Battalion remained in position until relieved by the 7th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (150th Brigade) at 2000 hrs and withdrew to reserve about A.11.c. About 2200 hrs orders were received from the 150th Brigade that the attack would recommence at 0610 hrs 4th October with object of capturing the high ground in S.28., S.29 - LA PANIERRE SOUTH. Casualties during the day: officers Captain H. S. King M.C. killed. Lieutenant T. S. Crighton wounded. Other ranks 7 killed 46 wounded 9 missing.
4.10.18:
The Battalion formed up South of LE-CATELET at 0600 hours in support to the Munster Fusiliers and were responsible for the mopping up of LE-CATELET.
At 06.10 hrs our barrage came down on LE-CATELET and Battalion moved forward keeping pace with it, until held up by heavy machine gun fire from North of village and machine guns firing from copse at Pt.A.5.1.6.4.???
Enemy also put down a heavy artillery barrage on village, owing to casualties, the C.O. (Major C. R. Freeman M.C.) decided to withdraw to trench South of village at Pt.A.11.a.c. at about 15.00 hrs, the fire having quietened down we pushed forward down the trench and took up a position at Pt.A.5.c.2.5. to A5.c.5.5. from which we were to advance and capture the trench and copse at Pt.A.5.a.6.3. Enemy artillery very active shelling this point with 5.9's and gas shells.
C.O. decided to attack at 18.00 hrs, Battalion waded through the stream at point A5.c.4.5 amid terrific fire from machine guns and trench mortars, firing from copse. In spite of this the Battalion deployed on the North bank of stream, and attacked across the open with great spirit and irresistable dash, led by Major Freeman and they captured their objective, and took 250 prisoners, 18 machine guns and three trench mortars.
Unfortunately the casualties were heavy, the Battalion losing the C.O. (Major C. R. Freeman M.C.) wounded, Lieutenant O.F.C. Can-Ellison killed, Lieutenant E.K. Phillips wounded, 2nd Lieutenants Fridleston(?) and Williams wounded. Other ranks 2 killed, 41 wounded, 4 gassed. We held on to this line throughout the night, heavily shelled by 5.9's.
5.10.18:
Weather fine. Enemy artillery very active shelling vicinity heavily with gas shells, Battalion had a very bad time, as the S.B.R.'s [Small box respirators] were practically useless, owing to them getting wet, when crossing the stream yesterday. Luckily we were on high ground, consequently missing a lot of gas that gradually drifted into the valley.
11.00 hrs:
Battalion withdrawn into reserve at Pt. A.12.c.5 when we were issued with rations and hot food. 15.00 hrs orders received from 150th Infantry Brigade for Battalion to proceed to the LE-CATELET - NAUROY line and to hold it from Pt S.29 m.9.9 to S.2.b.a.1.0. with the Royal Munster Fusiliers on the right and the 115th Brigade on the left.

Keighley News 26th October 1918, page 3:

Private Herbert Jarman, Northumberland Fusiliers, of Ivy Cottage, Stockbridge, Keighley, died of wounds on October 4. He enlisted in June, 1916 and spent two years in Salonika and entered France in August last. In civil life he was employed by Messrs. Prince Smith & Son, Keighley.

Herbert must have been evacuated wounded from the fighting on either the 3rd or 4th of October and he died of his wounds at a casualty clearing station at Doingt. Number 20 CCS and no. 55 CCS were still operating at Doingt on this date, number 41 CCS having left on the 1st October. 20 CCS evacuated 140 sick and wounded on Ambulance train on the 3rd October and then evacuated 76 and 88 to ambulance trains on the 4th October. Herbert Jarman appears to be the only man from the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died on either of these dates and was buried at Doingt Cemetery Extension, so any other casualties from the attacks on 3rd and 4th October appear to have all been moved further along the casualty evacuation chain. Herbert was buried in plot III, row D grave 7. He was 40 years of age.

Herbert Jarman was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service and these would have been sent to his mother Martha, along with a bronze memorial plaque and King's scroll inscribed with his name. She would also have received his personal effects and she did receive his outstanding Army pay, which amounted to £10 11s 2d on 26th May 1919. She also received a war gratuity of £10 on 12th December 1919.
Martha also received a dependant's pension of 6 shillings per week beginning on 17th April 1919.

Riddlesden War Memorial institute - Great War memorial board.

Herbert is named on Riddlesden St. Marys church war memorial and the Riddlesden War Memorial institute panels, both inside and outside the building.

Martha was 66 years old and living at 6, Arthur Street, in Keighley in the 1921 census. Living with her was Alfred aged 37 and Sara aged 30.

It's likely that she was the Martha E. Cooper who died aged 73 in early 1928. Her death was registered at Keighley in the second quarter of the year.

Information sources:

West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
1911 England Census
WO-95/2836/1. War diary extract from 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Long Long Trail website
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
1921 Census Of England & Wales
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007