Market Harborough Connection Discovered in WW1 Etchings

A historian is searching for relatives of a Market Harborough soldier after discovering a piece of First World War history in a cellar in France.

Chris Page, a First World War historian, spotted etchings created in 1918 by Sergeant Hugh Hercock of the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, during a recent visit to the Somme battlefields.

The etchings were found in the cellar of a property in the village of Mailly-Maillet

Sergeant Hercock was killed in action on September 29th, 1918, aged 32, during an engagement in which his battalion suffered more than 250 casualties.

He is buried at Villers Hill Cemetery in France and is also commemorated on the Market Harborough War Memorial.

The etchings were found in the cellar of a property in the village of Mailly-Maillet and Chris’s research has established that Sergeant Hercock’s home address was 29 Nelson Street in Market Harborough.

He believes descendants of Sergeant Hercock could still be living in the area and hopes to reconnect them with their family history:

Sergeant Hercock is commemorated on the Market Harborough War Memorial

Following the story being aired on HFM, information has been provided that Sergeant Hercock also has a headstone at All Saints Church in Dingley.

He is also included in the church’s Roll of Honour, which is read out each Remembrance Sunday.

Another listener has come forward with further details.

Anyone with information about the Hercock family is asked to contact Chris Page at chrislwpage@btinternet.com.