Corporal Herbert Metcalfe
24551 367th Royal Field Artillery
Missing in Action 30th November 1917
Lived at 4 Norman Street
Commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, France
Burnley Express
Commemorated on the Cameron Mill Memorial
25th November 1916 - 5th January 1918 - 31st August 1918

Burnleys Great War Centenary

Sponsored by: Max Ardern

Herbert Metcalfe was born in Burnley the son of George William and Mary E. Metcalfe of 4 Norman Street, Burnley. He enlisted in Nelson serving as Corporal 24551 in the 376th Battery, 169th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action aged 24 on Friday 30th November 1917. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, Nord France Panel 1.

The Burnley Express of January 5th 1918 reported:-
“Fourth loss for Burnley Parents.
Few families have suffered such serious bereavements as Mr and Mrs Metcalfe of 4 Norman street, Burnley. Two of their sons have been killed in the war – Fred, of the Manchester Regiment, who met his fate on October 31st 1916, and Sam of the East Lancashires, aged 26, who was killed on an Eastern Front on August 28th 1917. In addition another son who was not a soldier, died in June 1917. News of a further misfortune has reached them this week. Their son Bombardier Herbert Metcalfe of the R.F.A., is officially reported missing since November 30th.,This soldier was wounded in the neck and foot by a shell as reported in the “Express” at the time.”

Burnley Express of August 23rd 1918:-
“Third Son to Fall. Burnley Lane Family’s Loss.
Few families have suffered such a series of bereavements as Mr and Mrs Metcalfe of 4, Norman Street, Burnley. Three of their sons have been killed in the war. Fred, of the Manchester Regiment, who met his fate on October 31st 1916 in France. Sam, of the East Lancashires, aged 26 who was killed on April 28th 1918 in Salonika and now Corpl . Herbert.of the R.F.A who after a long period of uncertainty, has now been officially presumed dead as from November 30th last. In addition another son, aged 32, who was not a soldier, died in June 1917.
Corpl. Herbert Metcalfe (24551) of the R.F.A. had been reported missing from November 30th 1917, and the most that could be learned of him that he was wounded in the head and lower part of the body, but none of his comrades seemed to have known what had afterwards became of him, and he is now presumed to have died then. He was 24 years of age and enlisted a month after the outbreak of war, and had been out since about April 1915. He was wounded in the neck and leg and leg on November 5th 1916. Previous to enlisting Corpl H Metcalfe was a skip weigher at Messrs. Grey’s Mill.”