Herbert Henry's Story.
Born Crewe, December 9, 1895, enlisted Crewe. Son of Herbert and Elizabeth Preece of 285, Alton Street, Crewe. Educated at Edleston Road School and was also in the choir at the Wesleyan Church in Earle Street. Member of the Crewe Brotherhood. Prior to enlisting on January 21, 1916, was employed at the Central Branch, Crewe Co-op (as a grocery assistant), where he had worked since March 4, 1912.
The local press reported his loss. Nantwich Guardian, Friday, August 11, 1916.
Private H. H. Preece
Private Herbert Henry Preece, of the Cheshire regiment, has been killed in action. His parents who reside at 285 Alton Street, received the news in a letter from the chaplain at headquarters, the reverend J. W. Hunting who wrote.
“He was killed on July 31st in the trenches, and we buried his body on August 1st in a little cemetery just behind them. It will be some comfort to you that his death was instantaneous and that he gave his life for his country, but I know what a sorrow it must be to you all. I pray to God to comfort you in your sad bereavement, and to enable you to think of your son as not lost but gone before, a cross with an inscription is being put over his grave and it lies in the midst of a number of graves of your sons’ comrades whose bodies were buried at the same time. We all unite and expressing to you our deepest sympathy.”
Private Preece parents have received a sympathetic letter from Mr. A. J. Barrett, headmaster of the Edleston road school, where the deceased received his education. Mr Barrett describes him as “one of the best boys in the school.” The deceased joined the army in January last he was a chorister at Earle Street Wesleyan Church and before enlistment was employed at the central branch of the Crewe Co-operative Society.
