Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Heggs, a quarry engine driver, born 1856 in Leicester and his wife Hannah Heggs (nee Clarke, married q2 1883 in the Loughborough, Leics. district), born 1859 in Loughborough, Leics. Joseph Herbert was born on the 5th May 1898 in Markfield, Leics., his siblings were, Isaac, a quarry engine driver, born 1885 and Agnes, born 1887, the latter two siblings wrere both born in Loughborough, Leics., Randolf, born 1890, Phillip, born 1892, Hilda, born 1893 and Annie, born 1896, the latter four siblings were all born in Markfield, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Shaw lane, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leics. In the first quarter of 1911 Joseph’s father Thomas died, aged 54. In April 1911 Joseph was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Forest Rock Coalville, Whitwick, Leics., together with his widowed mother and siblings, Agnes, Thomas, a stone quarry drilling machine operator and Phillip, a stone quarry drilling machine operator. Joseph’s mother later remarried and became Hannah Sheffield. Joseph enlisted into the Royal Navy to serve a 12 year engagement on the 21st August 1913, his reckonable service to commence on the 5th May 1916, he was allocated the service numner J/26697 in Portsmouth, Hants. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 1¾ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 33½ inches, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes, his complexion was described as fresh, he gave his trade or calling as farm servant. His record of service began when he joined HMS Ganges as a Boy 2nd Class on the 21/8/13 – 12/2/14, when he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. HMS Ganges, 13/2/14 – 13/2/14. HMS Crescent, 14/2/14 – 8/6/14. HMS Victory I, 9/6/14 – 26/6/14. HMS Dreadnought, 27/6/14 – 8/6/15. HMS Victory I, 9/6/15 – 1/10/15. HMS Hampshire, 2/10/15 – 8/3/16, when he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman. HMS Hampshire, 9/3/16 – 5/6/16, when he lost his life when his vessel was sunk. The background leading to the circumstances in which Joseph lost his life is as follows. HMS Hampshire was assigned to the 7th Cruiser Squadron in January 1915 and was detached in November to escort shipping in the White Sea. She returned home in time to participate in the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. During the battle she was never actually engaged and only fired four salvos at the German II Scouting Group that fell well short of their targets in addition to shooting at illusory submarine periscopes throughout the day. Immediately after the battle, she was ordered to carry Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow on a diplomatic mission to Russia via the port of Arkhangelsk. Due to the gale force conditions, it was decided that HMS Hampshire would sail through the Pentland Firth, then turn north along the western coast of the Orkney Islands. This course would provide a lee from the strong winds, allowing escorting destroyers to keep pace with her. She departed Scapa Flow at on the 5th June 1916 at 4.45 pm and about an hour later rendezvoused with her two escorts, the Acasta class destroyers HMS Unity and HMS Victor. As the ships turned to the northwest the gale increased and shifted direction so that the ships were facing it head on. This caused the destroyers to fall behind HMS Hampshire. As it was considered unlikely that enemy submarines would be active in such conditions, Captain Savill of HMS Hampshire ordered HMS Unity and HMS Victor to return to Scapa Flow. Sailing alone in heavy seas, HMS Hampshire was approximately 1.5 miles off the mainland of Orkney between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head at 7.40 pm when an explosion occurred and she heeled to starboard. She had struck one of several mines laid by the German mine laying submarine U.75 on 28th/29th May 1916, just before the Battle of Jutland. The detonation had holed the cruiser between bows and bridge, and the lifeboats were smashed against the side of the ship by the heavy seas when they were lowered. About 15 minutes after the explosion, HMS Hampshire sank by the bows. Of the 655 crewmen and 7 passengers aboard, only 12 crewmen on two Carley floats managed to reach the shore alive; Kitchener and his staff were lost.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 30th, 1916

COALVILLE SAILOR ON THE HAMPSHIRE

Mrs H. Heggs, widow, of Bath House, Greenhill, has received information from the Admiralty, that the name of her son, Herbert Heggs, aged 18 years on May 5th last, rated as acting ordinary on H.M.S. Hampshire does not appear in the list of survivors received by the Admiralty, and it is feared that he must be regarded as having lost his life. Mrs Heggs has also received a letter signed by the First Lord of the Admiralty stating that the King commanded him to assure the sailor’s mother of the true sympathy of his Majesty and the Queen in her sorrow. The deceased joined the Navy three years ago, and before that was employed by Mr S. Berrington, farmer, Whitwick.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 30th, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT COPT OAK CHURCH

WINDOW DECORATED BY THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH

A large congregation was present at Copt Oak Church on Sunday morning to witness the dedication by the Bishop of Peterborough of a beautiful stained-glass window which has been placed in the church in memory of local men who gave their lives in the great war.

The window has three lights, the centre light being occupied by a warrior kneeling at the foot of Christ, with the inscription, “Faithful unto death, 1914 – 1918.” The following are the fallen who are commemorated:

E. Bowley, J. W. Brooks, J. H. Gibbins, H. Heggs, H. A. V. Hull, H. Hall, R. Irons, T. J. Kelham, A. H. Mason, G. H. Partner, P. B. Pearce, S. W. Richardson, H. Read, P. Tyers, S. A. Whyles and W. Wibberley.

Immediately preceding the service, a muffled peal was rung on the bells. The Rev. H. C. Gannell (vicar) took the first part of the service, which was fully choral, and the Rev. J. Martin, of Charley Hall, read the lessons. The special music rendered by the choir included the Te Deum (Hopkins) and the anthem, “Rejoice in the Lord” (Elvey). Mrs Gannell officiated at the organ, and at the close played the Dead March in “Saul.”

The Bishop, in his address from St. John, xx, 29, emphasised the power of the Resurrection, dealing with the introduction of Christianity into Britain, the progress made in Uganda, India and China. Instead of thinking of God as a kind of arch-magistrate seated on a distant star, we must think of one who is full of sympathy even for those whom many consider as beyond the pale. His Lordship continued, “We remember those gallant men who gave their lives in the war. They have cleared the way for a new Britain, a better Europe and a new world. Our task is to carry on, not to beat the Germans, but to form a truer fellowship, a lasting peace and goodwill. We must never falter until the great League of Nations is rooted and grounded in brotherly love, and a new comradeship is established, not every one grabbing for self, but each man loving his neighbour as himself.”

The congregation included many of the relatives of the deceased men. The collections at the services, including the Choral Communion Service at 8 am, at which the Bishop of Peterborough was the celebrant, were for the Window Fund. The service at 6.30 pm was taken by the Rev. T. W. Walters, Whitwick, Rural Dean.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/10/2017