| Regimental number | 9/2350 |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs E G Herbert, c/o Perpetual Trustees Company, Dunedin |
| Rank on embarkation | Lieutenant |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 11th Reinforcements, Otago Mounted Rifles, D Squadron |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on |
| Members of D Squadron left New Zealand on board two ships (HMNZT 49 'Mauganui' and HMNZT 50 'Tahiti'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Final rank | Captain |
| Final unit | 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 30 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Longueval, Somme, France |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John Francis and Agnes Herbert, 'Ardmore', Kelso, Dunedin; Wife: Evelyn Gladys Herbert, 'Moata', Anderson's Bay, Dunedin |
| Medals |
Mention in Despatches 'Operations Somme - 20th September - 4th October 1916. Lieut (Temp. Captain) J.L. Herbert took command of one of the Companies of this unit after it had suffered very heavy casualties, and by dint and keenness and capacity for work, build it up and made it one of the best in the Battalion. On the 25th September 1916, in the attack on Goose Alley, Captain Herbert's Company was in the front line, and after the enemy's trench was taken, this officer consolidated the position with such intelligence that, although the enemy was still holding a line on his left and at right angles to the position he had consolidated, the Germans were unable to make any impression by their bombing attacks. On 27th September 1916, Captain Herbert gallantly led his Company in the attack on Grid Trench, and was unfortunately killed alongside the enemy's wire, which was found to be uncut. Captain Herbert had the faculty of remaining cheerful even under heavy enemy bombardment, and the effect of this on the men in the Somme trenches, are most marked.'
Source: 'London Gazette' Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 28, p. 3 |