Herbert was born in Blofield, Norfolk, on 7th November 1879. In 1900, he applied for a position as an attendant at St Audry’s Hospital and began work there on 9th July that year. Shortly after joining the staff, he met a nurse, Florence Rose Burgess, and they were married in the spring of 1906. They set up their home together in a cottage in Bredfield.

At the outbreak of war, Herbert continued to work and, it was not until conscription was introduced in 1916, that he was called up for duty. St Audry’s Hospital employment records show that Herbert joined the services on 16th October 1916 and, at the end of the war, was serving with 14 Section, 183rd Labour Corps in France. He was discharged from the army in 1919 resumed his position at St Audry’s on 19th May. Although no further records can be found, Herbert would have been eligible to receive the British War and Victory medals for his war service.

Herbert worked at the hospital until his retirement on 23rd November 1934. In 1939, the couple were living on Edwin Avenue in Woodbridge. Florence died in 1946 and Herbert moved to Yaxley near Eye, where he died on 21st March 1961.