Lives of the First World War

The Roll of Honour, which hangs in St Peter & St Paul's Church, Little Gaddesden and lists 119 names of those from Little Gaddesden, Ringshall and Hudnall who served in the 1914 – 1918 War. Men who have answered their country’s call in defence of a “Scrap of Paper”. Joseph's entry reads: HING, Joseph, 1st Bn. Hertfordshire Regt.

The headstone of Joseph Hing and his wife Rosa in St Peter and St Paul Little Gaddesden New Churchyard, plot W43. The inscription reads: In loving memory of Joseph Hing died 23rd July 1965 aged 74 and Rosa Hing died 12th February 1973 aged 82.

Joseph and Sarah Hing with their eight children and nine grandchildren. Back row L to R: Rose, wife of Joseph Jnr, holding their daughter Joan; Kit wife of Frederick; Raymond son of Rose and Joseph Jnr. 2nd Row L to R: Minnie and Gladys Nash, daughters of Reuben Nash and Jane nee Hing; Arthur Putman husband of Dorothy; Reuben Nash; Herbert Andrews and his wife Minnie nee Hing; Joe Jnr; Edward and his wife Daisy; Edith, wife of William James, Joyce their daughter; Lewis. Seated on chairs L to R: Dorothy Putman nee Hing, wife of Arthur, with their daughter Iris; Jane Nash nee Hing, wife of Reuben; Joseph and Sarah; William James; Annie wife of Lewis with their son Edward Jnr. At the front: Frederick Jnr, son of William James; Leonard, son of Lewis and Annie. The appearance of the younger grandchildren suggests that the photo was taken in approximately 1929.

Part of a photo of pupils at Little Gaddesden School in 1930, which shows Joe's son Ray Hing standing back left, with his cousin Len Hing, son of Joe's brother Lewis, standing front middle.

1942 Photo of the Little Gaddesden Home Guard which includes Joe Hing seated at right hand end of bench

Hertfordshire Regiment First World War Cap Badge, included here as this was the regiment in which Joseph Hing first served.

The 1914 Star with clasp (left) awarded to those who served with the B.E.F. in France or Belgium between the outbreak of war and midnight 22nd/23rd November 1914. Those who were entitled to this medal were also entitled to the British War Medal (centre) and Allied Victory Medal (right).

Cap Badge of the Army Service Corps into which Joseph Hing transferred on 5th April 1916.

Copy of a postcard showing men from F Company, 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment during training at Bury St Edmunds in August 1914. As Horace Ruffett, who sent the postcard to his brother Ernest on 30th August, said that Ernest would know nearly all the men shown, at least some must be from Little Gaddesden. Horace is the Lance Corporal on the right hand end. We do not know who the others are, but likely candidates are: Vernon Batchelor, Harry Cutler, William Fenn, Joe Hing, Richard Hoar, Bert Impey and Arthur Whitman.