Egypt World War II: My grandfather’s graves

It was only when I visited Muriel Anderson in 2014 that I discovered my paternal grandfather had been buried twice.

Charles John Herbert (1889-1941) was already a widower when World War II broke out. He continued working for two years so his two children – my father, Charlie, and his younger sister, Violet – could finish their education; then he knocked six years off his age, persuaded his GP and the local recruiting sergeant to his cause, and enlisted in the army. He embarked for Egypt in August 1940 with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), and with the rank of sergeant, the same rank with which he had ended his World War I service. 

Soon after his arrival in Egypt, Charles John Herbert sent his daughter, Violet, a studio photo of himself (he sent the same to Charlie):

Sergeant C.J. Herbert in Egypt 1941     Photo: Herbert family collection

and he included an affectionate note:

Note to Violet Herbert from her father, 1941   Photo: Ann Barrie

Dear Violet,

This is Sunday so I am writing you a short note. I am not allowed to tell you much yet but will later on. We have a very good camp here and can see the pyramids quite plain. I was out at the zoo yesterday and it was one of the largest in the world, all kinds of animals. It would take you a full day to go round all of it. We got a gharry, that is a buggy and two horses, and drove along the bank of the Nile, and it was a very pretty drive.

Well dear, I will close this now, as I want to enclose a photo, and we are only allowed certain weights.

Regards to all. I am sending you a small parcel in a later mail.

Love from Dad xxx

He also sent Violet a leather handbag with a little card:

Christmas note to Violet Herbert from her father in Egypt 1941  Photo: Ann Barrie

On 2 February, 1941, five months after his arrival in Egypt, Charles John Herbert died. His official war record states that he died in Cairo General Hospital after a routine operation. There are records to show that he is buried in the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Alexandria.

All this I knew from my research and the Herbert family archives, but Muriel Anderson told me this was not the full story.

Muriel Borthwick Anderson (1916-2017) was a first cousin of my grandfather, but she barely knew him, as he was a great deal older than her, more like an uncle, and was simply one of many relatives.  When I visited Muriel at her Christchurch home in 2014 she was already in her late nineties, a vigorous woman with an independent spirit.

Muriel Anderson, Christchurch, 2014    Photo: Ann Barrie

Muriel’s eyesight was not good, and so I set out a tea tray with biscuits, and then we sat down to chat. She told me tales about our convoluted family history, and growing up in Central Otago, and how she had enlisted in World War II as a nurse and served in Italy and Egypt. Then she told me the story she had hinted at when I phoned her prior to my visit.

 “One night in Egypt,” she said, “I was called out of bed and was asked to go to the hospital. A man called Archie Aitcheson from Heriot was there. He was with the Intelligence Corps. He said Charles had been reported missing, and his family* had asked Archie if he could help. Archie went round all the military hospitals and the cemeteries. Finally, he discovered Charles had been buried in an English civilian cemetery. Archie arranged for me to have a week’s leave, and took me to see the grave.” Muriel handed me a snapshot. “Here, you should have this. It belongs to your family.”

Sergeant C.J. Herbert's first grave, Egypt 1941   Photo: Herbert family collection

Charles John Herbert is now buried where he belongs, in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Grave Cemetery My youngest sister Deborah visited Chatby in January 2012, with her youngest son Adrian, and found the experience unexpectedly moving. She sent me two photos. This one shows Adrian at the grave (plot N. 109):

Adrian Patterson at Sergeant C.J. Herbert's grave, Egypt 2012

and this one shows the tombstone:

Sergeant C.J. Herbert's tombstone, Chatby, Alexandria 2012

*C. J. Herbert's mother, Mary, was still living in Heriot and I believe it was she who initiated the search.