Menin Road : view from Hooge Crater by George Edmund Butler
This year revealed a particularly tragic aspect of the war, of friends enlisting together in the army, training and fighting together, and finally dying together. Three men from Great Bedwyn died at the battle of Loos. Only two of them were not men; they fought as men, they died as men, but they were hardly 17 years old, and still only boys. Another three men, this time from Little Bedwyn, also enlisted and fought together. They were fatally wounded at Gallipoli in September, probably on the same day. However, they died far apart, all of them unable to survive their wounds despite medical care. They died on a return journey to England which they were never able to complete.
La Bassée
The British army had been fighting in the area of La Bassée since October 1914. In the north, men of Bedwyn had died at Neuve Chapelle. This area included the villages of Fromelles, Festurbert, and Fleurbaix. North of this area lay the town of Armentieres, and Belgium. In the southern part of La Bassée lay the villages of Cuinchy and Givenchy. South of this area lay Loos, Vimy Ridge, and the Somme.
Rifleman Butler January 29, 1915
Albert Edward Butler was the son of Joshua and Elizabeth Butler of 14 New Buildings in Froxfield. However, he was not a local boy, and he probably only lived in the village for a couple of years before the war. He was born in 1896, at Lilly near Beedon in Berkshire, and his family moved to Welford in 1899. In 1911, he was living with his family in the neighbouring village of Weston, where he worked as a ploughboy.
Albert Butler was a very young man of 17 years, hardly passed 16 years when he enlisted in the 2nd battalion, the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, at the depot in Winchester. He may not have been alone, for Alfred Dean from Weston enlisted at the same time. Perhaps bonds of childhood friendship influenced his choice of regiment.
His basic training may have been shorter than normal due to the need to replace casualties in the battalion. Albert Butler arrived in France at the end of November, shortly after fighting at the first battle of Ypres had reduced the battalion to a nominal roll of 150 men. From November 1914 to March 1915, the battalion endured five months of alternate spells of trench warfare, and of rest with training and fatigues, in the area of La Bassée in France.
The battalion moved into trenches at Cuinchy, near the Rue de Bois in Cambrin, on 2nd January. The front line lay 800 yards to the east of Cuinchy church. The area was very flat, except for the embankment of the Bethune - La Bassée railway, which ran along the canal. The frontline was dominated by the infamous brickstacks, which aided the German defences and hindered any British advance. Behind the German lines lay the railway triangle, which gave the Germans an invaluable defensive area dominated by the railway embankments.
On December 22, the battalion supported the Indian corps at Givenchy to recover trenches seized by the Germans. At the beginning of January 1915, the Germans captured several British posts on a railway embankment at the brick stacks, near La Bassée Canal in the vicinity of Cuinchy, held by the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division.
Two counter attacks on January 2 failed to dislodge the Germans. On January 10, a larger counter attack recovered the posts, but they fell to the Germans again on January 12. The battalion suffered 50 fatalities during this period of fighting
On January 25, the Germans attacked a British salient formed by a line south of the canal, the railway triangle, and the main La Bassée - Bethune Road. The enemy broke through the salient and advanced towards the brick stacks:
"The London Scottish had in the meantime been sent up in support, and a counter-attack was organised with the 1st Royal Highlanders, part of the 1st Cameron Highlanders, and the 2nd King’s Royal Rifle’ Corps, the latter regiment having, been sent forward from the Divisional Reserve. The counter-attack was delayed in order to synchronise with a counter-attack north of the canal which was arranged for 1 p.m. At 1 p.m. these troops moved forward, their flanks making good progress near the road and the canal, but their centre being held up"
In all probability, Albert Butler was wounded during one of the earlier actions in January. He would have been taken via Aid Posts to Field Ambulance, possibly at Beuvry, then to a Casualty Clearing station, and from there, evacuated to Boulogne. Sadly, he succumbed to his wounds.
Albert died of wounds at the age of 18 years. According to the Newbury Weekly News, he received his wounds 'immediately after arriving at the trenches'. However, he was in the trenches for a couple of months and was involved in at least one action. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern cemetery, grave III B7. He is remembered not only on the war memorial at Froxfield, but on the Roll of Honour at Welford church as well. His name is also on the war memorial, which is located halfway between Wickham and Welford. The headstone at Boulogne has the following inscription:
The British army had been fighting in the area of La Bassée since October 1914. In the north, men of Bedwyn had died at Neuve Chapelle. This area included the villages of Fromelles, Festurbert, and Fleurbaix. North of this area lay the town of Armentieres, and Belgium. In the southern part of La Bassée lay the villages of Cuinchy and Givenchy. South of this area lay Loos, Vimy Ridge, and the Somme.
Rifleman Butler January 29, 1915
Albert Edward Butler was the son of Joshua and Elizabeth Butler of 14 New Buildings in Froxfield. However, he was not a local boy, and he probably only lived in the village for a couple of years before the war. He was born in 1896, at Lilly near Beedon in Berkshire, and his family moved to Welford in 1899. In 1911, he was living with his family in the neighbouring village of Weston, where he worked as a ploughboy.
Albert Butler was a very young man of 17 years, hardly passed 16 years when he enlisted in the 2nd battalion, the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, at the depot in Winchester. He may not have been alone, for Alfred Dean from Weston enlisted at the same time. Perhaps bonds of childhood friendship influenced his choice of regiment.
His basic training may have been shorter than normal due to the need to replace casualties in the battalion. Albert Butler arrived in France at the end of November, shortly after fighting at the first battle of Ypres had reduced the battalion to a nominal roll of 150 men. From November 1914 to March 1915, the battalion endured five months of alternate spells of trench warfare, and of rest with training and fatigues, in the area of La Bassée in France.
The battalion moved into trenches at Cuinchy, near the Rue de Bois in Cambrin, on 2nd January. The front line lay 800 yards to the east of Cuinchy church. The area was very flat, except for the embankment of the Bethune - La Bassée railway, which ran along the canal. The frontline was dominated by the infamous brickstacks, which aided the German defences and hindered any British advance. Behind the German lines lay the railway triangle, which gave the Germans an invaluable defensive area dominated by the railway embankments.
On December 22, the battalion supported the Indian corps at Givenchy to recover trenches seized by the Germans. At the beginning of January 1915, the Germans captured several British posts on a railway embankment at the brick stacks, near La Bassée Canal in the vicinity of Cuinchy, held by the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division.
Two counter attacks on January 2 failed to dislodge the Germans. On January 10, a larger counter attack recovered the posts, but they fell to the Germans again on January 12. The battalion suffered 50 fatalities during this period of fighting
On January 25, the Germans attacked a British salient formed by a line south of the canal, the railway triangle, and the main La Bassée - Bethune Road. The enemy broke through the salient and advanced towards the brick stacks:
"The London Scottish had in the meantime been sent up in support, and a counter-attack was organised with the 1st Royal Highlanders, part of the 1st Cameron Highlanders, and the 2nd King’s Royal Rifle’ Corps, the latter regiment having, been sent forward from the Divisional Reserve. The counter-attack was delayed in order to synchronise with a counter-attack north of the canal which was arranged for 1 p.m. At 1 p.m. these troops moved forward, their flanks making good progress near the road and the canal, but their centre being held up"
In all probability, Albert Butler was wounded during one of the earlier actions in January. He would have been taken via Aid Posts to Field Ambulance, possibly at Beuvry, then to a Casualty Clearing station, and from there, evacuated to Boulogne. Sadly, he succumbed to his wounds.
Albert died of wounds at the age of 18 years. According to the Newbury Weekly News, he received his wounds 'immediately after arriving at the trenches'. However, he was in the trenches for a couple of months and was involved in at least one action. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern cemetery, grave III B7. He is remembered not only on the war memorial at Froxfield, but on the Roll of Honour at Welford church as well. His name is also on the war memorial, which is located halfway between Wickham and Welford. The headstone at Boulogne has the following inscription:
Peace perfect peace
With loved ones far away
In Jesu’s keeping
We are safe, and they
With loved ones far away
In Jesu’s keeping
We are safe, and they
HMS Queen Mary
Leading Stoker Vivash February 20, 1915
There are over 200 years of Vivash family history in the Bedwyn area. Harry Walter Vivash’s parents, Henry and Alice, came from Tidcombe, but he was born in Plymouth. His father served in the Marine Artillery for 22 years, and probably spent many years of service in the town. Harry’s place of birth can have been of little surprise.
When war broke out in 1914, Harry Vivash enlisted in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth. He was posted to HMS Queen Mary as a stoker, and his service number was K/6808. He may have seen action in Battle of Heligoland Bight in August 1914 and in December during the raid on Scarborough. Then again, he may actually have seen very little, his job keeping him below decks within the boiler rooms. In January 1915, Harry Vivash was an acting Leading Stoker, and HMS Queen Mary was in dock for a refit. However, when the ship returned to the North Sea fleet in February, Harry Vivash was no longer on board. He was seriously ill, and he died of enteric fever in hospital at Queensferry, Rosyth.
In May 1916, HMS Queen Mary was sunk by enemy fire during the battle of Jutland. 1,266 crewmen were lost at sea, and there were only eighteen survivors.
Leading Stoker Vivash February 20, 1915
There are over 200 years of Vivash family history in the Bedwyn area. Harry Walter Vivash’s parents, Henry and Alice, came from Tidcombe, but he was born in Plymouth. His father served in the Marine Artillery for 22 years, and probably spent many years of service in the town. Harry’s place of birth can have been of little surprise.
When war broke out in 1914, Harry Vivash enlisted in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth. He was posted to HMS Queen Mary as a stoker, and his service number was K/6808. He may have seen action in Battle of Heligoland Bight in August 1914 and in December during the raid on Scarborough. Then again, he may actually have seen very little, his job keeping him below decks within the boiler rooms. In January 1915, Harry Vivash was an acting Leading Stoker, and HMS Queen Mary was in dock for a refit. However, when the ship returned to the North Sea fleet in February, Harry Vivash was no longer on board. He was seriously ill, and he died of enteric fever in hospital at Queensferry, Rosyth.
In May 1916, HMS Queen Mary was sunk by enemy fire during the battle of Jutland. 1,266 crewmen were lost at sea, and there were only eighteen survivors.
Harry Vivash is buried St. Michael's church, Tidcombe. Tragically Alice Vivash lost a husband and a son in a very short period of time. Henry Vivash had died in 1914 aged 62. Father and son lie in the church yard, west of the tower, their graves only a few yards apart. Harry Vivash is also remembered on the Roll of Honour inside the church, and on the war memorial at Burbage. The crew of HMS Queen Mary paid for Harry Vivash’s churchyard memorial.
La Bassée
Private Mullins February 23, 1915
Oliver Noah Mark Mullins was born in Wootton Rivers, but in 1914, his parents, Mark and Elizabeth, lived at Bratton, near Westbury. In 1911, he was living at Bishops Cannings. There were members of the Mullins family in the Bedwyn area, but his connection with Cadley may have been due to employment.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and was posted to the 2nd battalion. This battalion had been virtually destroyed in fighting at Reutal in October 1914, but it was subsequently brought back to strength by the end of December. Oliver Mullins was one of the replacements.
In January and February, the battalion enjoyed a comparative lull in the fighting. It was deployed to Fleurbaix, an area of the front often used for trench familiarisation and training. However, the men lived and learned to survive a dreary routine of rotation between waterlogged trenches and billets. During this period, Oliver Mullins was one of 12 fatalities. He was one of the many who survived the big battles to fall victim to the daily dose of shelling and sniping, euphemistically called trench wastage. He shared his fate with Arthur Corbett, a Swindon man from the same battalion, who died on the same day.
Private Mullins February 23, 1915
Oliver Noah Mark Mullins was born in Wootton Rivers, but in 1914, his parents, Mark and Elizabeth, lived at Bratton, near Westbury. In 1911, he was living at Bishops Cannings. There were members of the Mullins family in the Bedwyn area, but his connection with Cadley may have been due to employment.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and was posted to the 2nd battalion. This battalion had been virtually destroyed in fighting at Reutal in October 1914, but it was subsequently brought back to strength by the end of December. Oliver Mullins was one of the replacements.
In January and February, the battalion enjoyed a comparative lull in the fighting. It was deployed to Fleurbaix, an area of the front often used for trench familiarisation and training. However, the men lived and learned to survive a dreary routine of rotation between waterlogged trenches and billets. During this period, Oliver Mullins was one of 12 fatalities. He was one of the many who survived the big battles to fall victim to the daily dose of shelling and sniping, euphemistically called trench wastage. He shared his fate with Arthur Corbett, a Swindon man from the same battalion, who died on the same day.
According to the CWGC Concentration records, he was killed in action, and originally buried with 14 other men at map reference 36 H34.C.0.7. This location was several hundred yards west of the Rue David Military Cemetery, where he was reburied in 1919. His grave is I H42. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour in St. Jame’s church, Bratton, as well as on the Roll of Honour of Christchurch, Cadley [now at St. Mary’s church, Marlborough].
Lance Corporal Kimber March 12, 1915
William Charles Kimber was the son of Charles Kimber and Naomi Fribbence of Grafton, who married in 1894. William Kimber was born the following year in Crofton. In 1901, the family were recorded in the census for Burbage.
William Kimber also served in the 2nd battalion the Wiltshire Regiment, and it was his fate to participate in the disastrous battle of Neuve Chapelle [10 - 13 March]. He enlisted with the Wiltshire Regiment at Devizes, and was originally posted to the 1st Battalion. He went to Flanders as a Lance-Corporal in August 1914. However he apparently lost his rank, and was subsequently posted to the 2nd battalion. His army number was 8997. His 1914 Star medal was awarded to the Lance Corporal, the British War and Victory Medals to the Private.
The British offensive of March 10th was successful in capturing the village of Neuve Chapelle and the German frontline trenches, but no further progress was made. The 2nd Battalion was held in reserve at Cameron Lane, just north of the village of Neuve Chapelle. About 2.30pm, the battalion assembled between Moated Grange farm, originally La Ferme van Biesen, and an orchard in preparation for an advance. This advance was delayed by 3 hours, because the Corps commander wrongly believed the orchard to be held by the Germans as a strongpoint. None of the troops facing the orchard knew of the reason for the delay. Only after it was established that there were no Germans in the orchard, the battalion was finally ordered to advance. The delay enabled the Germans to reinforce their defences, and progress ceased after 200 yards, when the battalion reached a wide ditch still held by the enemy.
Nine men were killed on this day. No further advance was made on the following day, although the battalion was exposed to shell and rifle fire. Ironically, the battalion suffered more casualties, with thirteen men killed.
On 12 March at 05.30, the battalion was attacked by a group of Germans, just as the men were about to receive their rations. In the confusion, A and C companies were driven back, but the attack was halted by D company. C company, supported by bombers of the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, launched a counterattack. Corporal William Anderson of the Yorkshires was awarded the VC for his role in bombing the Germans. Unfortunately their advance was halted by machine gun fire, and they were driven back.
After the failure of two more counterattacks, a composite group of B company and bombers of the Grenadier Guards made the fourth attack of the morning. This assault was successful, doubtlessly aided by the actions of Lcpl Wilfred Dolby of the Grenadier guards, who was awarded the second VC of the day for his role in the fighting. However, William Kimber died during the course of this intense fighting.
William Charles Kimber was the son of Charles Kimber and Naomi Fribbence of Grafton, who married in 1894. William Kimber was born the following year in Crofton. In 1901, the family were recorded in the census for Burbage.
William Kimber also served in the 2nd battalion the Wiltshire Regiment, and it was his fate to participate in the disastrous battle of Neuve Chapelle [10 - 13 March]. He enlisted with the Wiltshire Regiment at Devizes, and was originally posted to the 1st Battalion. He went to Flanders as a Lance-Corporal in August 1914. However he apparently lost his rank, and was subsequently posted to the 2nd battalion. His army number was 8997. His 1914 Star medal was awarded to the Lance Corporal, the British War and Victory Medals to the Private.
The British offensive of March 10th was successful in capturing the village of Neuve Chapelle and the German frontline trenches, but no further progress was made. The 2nd Battalion was held in reserve at Cameron Lane, just north of the village of Neuve Chapelle. About 2.30pm, the battalion assembled between Moated Grange farm, originally La Ferme van Biesen, and an orchard in preparation for an advance. This advance was delayed by 3 hours, because the Corps commander wrongly believed the orchard to be held by the Germans as a strongpoint. None of the troops facing the orchard knew of the reason for the delay. Only after it was established that there were no Germans in the orchard, the battalion was finally ordered to advance. The delay enabled the Germans to reinforce their defences, and progress ceased after 200 yards, when the battalion reached a wide ditch still held by the enemy.
Nine men were killed on this day. No further advance was made on the following day, although the battalion was exposed to shell and rifle fire. Ironically, the battalion suffered more casualties, with thirteen men killed.
On 12 March at 05.30, the battalion was attacked by a group of Germans, just as the men were about to receive their rations. In the confusion, A and C companies were driven back, but the attack was halted by D company. C company, supported by bombers of the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, launched a counterattack. Corporal William Anderson of the Yorkshires was awarded the VC for his role in bombing the Germans. Unfortunately their advance was halted by machine gun fire, and they were driven back.
After the failure of two more counterattacks, a composite group of B company and bombers of the Grenadier Guards made the fourth attack of the morning. This assault was successful, doubtlessly aided by the actions of Lcpl Wilfred Dolby of the Grenadier guards, who was awarded the second VC of the day for his role in the fighting. However, William Kimber died during the course of this intense fighting.
Over 40 yards of trenches were cleared and several hundred prisoners were captured. An assortment of men from the Gordons, Warwicks, and Guards, including A and B companies from the 2nd battalion, established a new line of trenches, some 150 yards east of the Mauquissart - Chapigny road.
The 2nd battalion returned to billets on Cameron Lane on 13 March. During this short period of fighting, there were 295 casualties in the battalion; 64 men were killed, and 162 men were missing. William Kimber has no known grave. His name is remembered at Le Touret on Panel 33 and 34. He is also remembered on the war memorial at East Grafton and on the Roll of Honour inside the church.
The 2nd battalion returned to billets on Cameron Lane on 13 March. During this short period of fighting, there were 295 casualties in the battalion; 64 men were killed, and 162 men were missing. William Kimber has no known grave. His name is remembered at Le Touret on Panel 33 and 34. He is also remembered on the war memorial at East Grafton and on the Roll of Honour inside the church.
Ypres
The British famously defended the Belgium city of Ypres in 1914 during the first battle of Ypres. In 1915, another successful defence of the city, with the added horrors of gas warfare, resulted in the second battle of Ypres. The Germans continued to dominate the high ground around the city, and they desperately tried to dislodge the allies. William John Dixon died within a few days of William Kimber. both men belonged to the same parish and to the same regiment, but William Dixon belonged to a different battalion and another battlefield.
Private Dixon March 21, 1915
William Dixon was born in Grittenham, just outside Wootton Bassett, in 1884, and his parents were John and Mary Ann [nee Bollen] Dixon. In 1900, the family lived in Ogbourne St. George. The following year, William apparently worked as a cowhand, but by the end of 1903, his family had moved to Draycott, near Chiseldon.The Dixon family moved to Marten in Grafton parish between 1905 and 1911.
He originally enlisted with the 3rd Militia Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, in 1903, and he served in South Africa. His army number was 6749. He was called up in August 1914, and he served with the 1st battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
In March 1915, his battalion was located 10 km south west of Ypres, near a village called Locre, where a field ambulance station was located. On the day that William Kimber died, William Dixon survived an abortive attack on Spanbroek Molen, a small hill occupied by the Germans, which had been the site of a windmill before the war. The battalion returned to Locre on 13 March, where it remained in reserve. The war diary for 21 March provides William Dixon with a sad epitaph:
“A quiet day, nothing unusual occurred. 1 killed and 1 wounded”.
Locre was behind the front line but not beyond the reach of German artillery. It was in ruins by the end of the war. Many of the 1st battalion fatalities were buried at La Laiterie cemetery. William Dixon appears to have been the last man of the battalion to be buried in this cemetery. His grave is 1 A 17.
The British famously defended the Belgium city of Ypres in 1914 during the first battle of Ypres. In 1915, another successful defence of the city, with the added horrors of gas warfare, resulted in the second battle of Ypres. The Germans continued to dominate the high ground around the city, and they desperately tried to dislodge the allies. William John Dixon died within a few days of William Kimber. both men belonged to the same parish and to the same regiment, but William Dixon belonged to a different battalion and another battlefield.
Private Dixon March 21, 1915
William Dixon was born in Grittenham, just outside Wootton Bassett, in 1884, and his parents were John and Mary Ann [nee Bollen] Dixon. In 1900, the family lived in Ogbourne St. George. The following year, William apparently worked as a cowhand, but by the end of 1903, his family had moved to Draycott, near Chiseldon.The Dixon family moved to Marten in Grafton parish between 1905 and 1911.
He originally enlisted with the 3rd Militia Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, in 1903, and he served in South Africa. His army number was 6749. He was called up in August 1914, and he served with the 1st battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
In March 1915, his battalion was located 10 km south west of Ypres, near a village called Locre, where a field ambulance station was located. On the day that William Kimber died, William Dixon survived an abortive attack on Spanbroek Molen, a small hill occupied by the Germans, which had been the site of a windmill before the war. The battalion returned to Locre on 13 March, where it remained in reserve. The war diary for 21 March provides William Dixon with a sad epitaph:
“A quiet day, nothing unusual occurred. 1 killed and 1 wounded”.
Locre was behind the front line but not beyond the reach of German artillery. It was in ruins by the end of the war. Many of the 1st battalion fatalities were buried at La Laiterie cemetery. William Dixon appears to have been the last man of the battalion to be buried in this cemetery. His grave is 1 A 17.
Less than two weeks after William John Dixon’s death, the Sherwood foresters were billeted in Locre: “Some of us were more fortunate in our billets, and all who went to the Hospice can have nothing but the most pleasant recollections of the great kindness of the Mother Superior and other ladies. Padre Hales, who left us to be attached to Brigade Headquarters, when we crossed to France, was billeted there with our Field Ambulance, and we were allowed to go there for baths when out of the line, and always received much kindness and hospitality. The bathing arrangements in general at this time were somewhat poor, the nearest military baths being at Bailleul, about four miles away, so that we were very delighted at receiving during our stay at Locre, from Miss Gilstrap, of Winthorpe, Newark, three galvanised iron baths, with boiler complete. With these and other local devices we were able to get the men bathed at their own billets, which was a great boon”
At the time of William Dixon's death, the family had moved to Foxcott near Andover, but his death was commemorated in Grafton. He was 29 years of age and unmarried. A cousin, William James Dixon, lived in Rodbourne, Swindon. He joined the 2nd battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, and was sent to France in October 1915. Just one year later, he was killed in October 1915. For further information on both soldiers, please visit Sheridan Parson's Wootton Bassett in the Great War website.
At the time of William Dixon's death, the family had moved to Foxcott near Andover, but his death was commemorated in Grafton. He was 29 years of age and unmarried. A cousin, William James Dixon, lived in Rodbourne, Swindon. He joined the 2nd battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, and was sent to France in October 1915. Just one year later, he was killed in October 1915. For further information on both soldiers, please visit Sheridan Parson's Wootton Bassett in the Great War website.
Private McGeorge April 13, 1915
The news of two recent deaths in Grafton can hardly have subsided when a third local man was killed. Ernest William McGeorge was born in the parish, but his name does not appear on the war memorial. Before he enlisted at Battersea, he lived and worked in London as a Gas fitter for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Company. He was married and lived at 15 Pitcairn Street, Wandsworth Road, in Clapham.
Ernest McGeorge was in the 2nd battalion, the East Surrey Regiment. He was not a young soldier, for he was 38 years old when he was killed. His army number, 214, suggests he may have been part of the Special Reserve. These soldiers signed up for 6 years service, which consisted of a 6 month training period followed by annual training of 2 or 3 weeks.
The 2nd battalion arrived in France on January 19, having returned from India. It was part of the 85th Brigade in the 28th Division. The battalion was taken by train to Hazebrouck, and it spent the remainder of the month in training at Fletre Caestre. By February, training gave way to working parties and holding trenches east of Ypres. The battalion moved to Locre for a brief rest before manning trenches at Kemmel. At this time it was transferred to the 3rd Division. In March it remained in the locality, alternating between Locre, Dickebusch, and St. Eloi.
On April 10, the battalion moved through Ypres to trenches east of the village of Zonnebeke. These trenches were previously held by 153 Regiment d'infanterie, belonging to 39 (French) Division.
The village of Zonnebeke lay just inside British lines. On the 13 April there was a heavy bombardment and the central East Surrey trenches, which were held by B company, were badly damaged. These trenches may have been trenches 23-25, extending from the railway line in the north towards the Broodseinde road in the south.
The news of two recent deaths in Grafton can hardly have subsided when a third local man was killed. Ernest William McGeorge was born in the parish, but his name does not appear on the war memorial. Before he enlisted at Battersea, he lived and worked in London as a Gas fitter for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Company. He was married and lived at 15 Pitcairn Street, Wandsworth Road, in Clapham.
Ernest McGeorge was in the 2nd battalion, the East Surrey Regiment. He was not a young soldier, for he was 38 years old when he was killed. His army number, 214, suggests he may have been part of the Special Reserve. These soldiers signed up for 6 years service, which consisted of a 6 month training period followed by annual training of 2 or 3 weeks.
The 2nd battalion arrived in France on January 19, having returned from India. It was part of the 85th Brigade in the 28th Division. The battalion was taken by train to Hazebrouck, and it spent the remainder of the month in training at Fletre Caestre. By February, training gave way to working parties and holding trenches east of Ypres. The battalion moved to Locre for a brief rest before manning trenches at Kemmel. At this time it was transferred to the 3rd Division. In March it remained in the locality, alternating between Locre, Dickebusch, and St. Eloi.
On April 10, the battalion moved through Ypres to trenches east of the village of Zonnebeke. These trenches were previously held by 153 Regiment d'infanterie, belonging to 39 (French) Division.
The village of Zonnebeke lay just inside British lines. On the 13 April there was a heavy bombardment and the central East Surrey trenches, which were held by B company, were badly damaged. These trenches may have been trenches 23-25, extending from the railway line in the north towards the Broodseinde road in the south.
The battalion was relieved on 14 April, and moved into billets. Twenty men were killed during these two days, and another 50 men were wounded. Ernest McGeorge is one of nine men from the battalion who died on 13 April. He is also one of a group of 25 soldiers who were originally buried in Bedford House cemetery, but the location of their graves was lost after the Armistice. All of these men now have special memorial headstones, but no known grave. His name is included in the Ashford Railway Works Rolls of Honour which is now held at Ashford Library, and on the Roll of Honour for Clapham.
La Bassée
Lance Corporal French April 27, 1915
Albert Edward French came from Great Bedwyn where his parents, William and Sarah, were farmers. The family may have recently moved into Great Bedwyn. The 22 year Albert was originally born in Newbury, and in 1911, he was living in Upper Colthrop near Thatcham, where he worked as carter.
Connections with his place of birth may have influenced his choice of unit, for he enlisted with the Royal Berkshire regiment, and was posted to the 2nd battalion. His army number was 9769.
He arrived in France with his battalion on November 6th 1914. In March 1914, the battalion participated in the battle of Neuve Chapelle. As that battle wound down, they were moved north at the end of the month to Bac St. Maur, to billets where they could rest. On April 1, the battalion moved to new billets at Croix Blanche. Between the 5th and 12th April, the battalion alternated with the 2nd battalion, Lincolnshire regiment in holding trenches near Rue Pétillon or occupying the billets at Croix Blanche.
On April 12, the Battalion returned to Bac St. Maur, and the following day moved to Fleur Baix as Brigade Reserve. A major Harvey went to Neuve Chapelle on April 14 to commemorate the men killed there in March:
"in the afternoon Macgregor and I with orderly ride over to Neuve-Chapelle to read burial service over Tom Aldworth and those who fell. We got there without accident, though batteries on both sides were very lively. I was shown the actual positions of our companies and where our officers were killed. All had been buried where they fell, no time for any service, or even looking in their pockets. Our killed totalled nearly 100 in four days"
The burial of men on the battlefield, which continued to be fought over until 1918, may explain why the bodies of many soldiers were never recovered at the end of the war, either because the grave was no longer marked, or because it was destroyed by shelling.
On April 27, the battalion had again returned to Bac St. Maur. According to the battalion war diary, the day that Albert French died was relatively quiet:
“In billets near Bac St. Maur. Lieuts G.G. Hodgson and C.G. Watson, with a draft of 139 other ranks joined the Battn. 4 men to hospital”
The hospital trips invariably involved men suffering from trench feet.
Lance Corporal French April 27, 1915
Albert Edward French came from Great Bedwyn where his parents, William and Sarah, were farmers. The family may have recently moved into Great Bedwyn. The 22 year Albert was originally born in Newbury, and in 1911, he was living in Upper Colthrop near Thatcham, where he worked as carter.
Connections with his place of birth may have influenced his choice of unit, for he enlisted with the Royal Berkshire regiment, and was posted to the 2nd battalion. His army number was 9769.
He arrived in France with his battalion on November 6th 1914. In March 1914, the battalion participated in the battle of Neuve Chapelle. As that battle wound down, they were moved north at the end of the month to Bac St. Maur, to billets where they could rest. On April 1, the battalion moved to new billets at Croix Blanche. Between the 5th and 12th April, the battalion alternated with the 2nd battalion, Lincolnshire regiment in holding trenches near Rue Pétillon or occupying the billets at Croix Blanche.
On April 12, the Battalion returned to Bac St. Maur, and the following day moved to Fleur Baix as Brigade Reserve. A major Harvey went to Neuve Chapelle on April 14 to commemorate the men killed there in March:
"in the afternoon Macgregor and I with orderly ride over to Neuve-Chapelle to read burial service over Tom Aldworth and those who fell. We got there without accident, though batteries on both sides were very lively. I was shown the actual positions of our companies and where our officers were killed. All had been buried where they fell, no time for any service, or even looking in their pockets. Our killed totalled nearly 100 in four days"
The burial of men on the battlefield, which continued to be fought over until 1918, may explain why the bodies of many soldiers were never recovered at the end of the war, either because the grave was no longer marked, or because it was destroyed by shelling.
On April 27, the battalion had again returned to Bac St. Maur. According to the battalion war diary, the day that Albert French died was relatively quiet:
“In billets near Bac St. Maur. Lieuts G.G. Hodgson and C.G. Watson, with a draft of 139 other ranks joined the Battn. 4 men to hospital”
The hospital trips invariably involved men suffering from trench feet.
The village of Bac St. Maur lay on the canalised river Lys, and was the location of a dressing station. It lay behind the frontline at Fleurbaix. Rue Pétillon lay south of Fleurbaix, and east of La Croix Blanche. This area lay east of Lille and south west of Armentieres
Albert French has no known grave. He is remembered on Panel 7/8 at Ploegsteert cemetery, and on the war memorial in Great Bedwyn churchyard. Another man, Private William Beaver of Binfield, also died on the same day, and he also has no known grave. Both men probably died as a result of the daily routine of trench warfare. The battalion was not involved in any major battles nor in any small scale set engagements.
Albert French has no known grave. He is remembered on Panel 7/8 at Ploegsteert cemetery, and on the war memorial in Great Bedwyn churchyard. Another man, Private William Beaver of Binfield, also died on the same day, and he also has no known grave. Both men probably died as a result of the daily routine of trench warfare. The battalion was not involved in any major battles nor in any small scale set engagements.
Aldershot
Private Bushnell May 14, 1915
Frederick Charles Bushnell was born in 1897 in Great Bedwyn. He was the son of Charles and Alice Bushnell of 84 Jubilee Street, and his father was an agricultural worker. In 1911, Frederick worked as a carter boy. When he enlisted in the army, his parents were living across the parish boundary in Shalbourne 'barracks'.
Frederick Bushnell enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, and he was posted to the 5th battalion. His army number was 9274. The battalion was formed at Devizes as part of Kitchener’s new army and was stationed at Tidworth and Chilseldon in 1914.
By February 1915, the battalion had moved to Woking. In May, it moved to Bisley, and finally embarked on June 30th at Avonmouth, onboard the Franconia, for the Dardenelles. Frederick Bushnell never made that embarkation, for he died at Bisley. The cause of death, illness, or accident, is unknown.
Private Bushnell May 14, 1915
Frederick Charles Bushnell was born in 1897 in Great Bedwyn. He was the son of Charles and Alice Bushnell of 84 Jubilee Street, and his father was an agricultural worker. In 1911, Frederick worked as a carter boy. When he enlisted in the army, his parents were living across the parish boundary in Shalbourne 'barracks'.
Frederick Bushnell enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, and he was posted to the 5th battalion. His army number was 9274. The battalion was formed at Devizes as part of Kitchener’s new army and was stationed at Tidworth and Chilseldon in 1914.
By February 1915, the battalion had moved to Woking. In May, it moved to Bisley, and finally embarked on June 30th at Avonmouth, onboard the Franconia, for the Dardenelles. Frederick Bushnell never made that embarkation, for he died at Bisley. The cause of death, illness, or accident, is unknown.
Ypres
Private Stroud June 16, 1915
Stephen Stroud was born and bred in Froxfield. He was the son of Stephen and Elizabeth Stroud. In the 1901 census, he was described as an 18 year old cattleman.
Between 1906 and 1907, he enlisted in the 1st battalion of the Wiltshire regiment. His army number was 7884.
Towards the end of the second battle of Ypres, the Germans launch a successful attack over the Bellewarde ridge. The Germans gained a small salient between the the Roulers railway line and the hamlet of Hooge, which enabled them to overlook Ypres and to observe British positions. An unsuccessful attempt was made on 16 June 1915 to dislodge the Germans.
On the day that Stephen Stroud died, his battalion was involved in a supporting attack south of the battle area on the edge of Y wood. This wood, shaped in the form of the letter ‘Y’, is recorded in the battalion diary as Ypres wood. A British artillery bombardment began at 02.50am, followed by a successful attack on the German frontline :
04.20am "The 9th Bde had carried the first line of German trenches and 1 platoon of C Coy assaulted trench at S end of Ypres Wood which was taken without difficulty. A bombing party started to work up the enemy's trench in the direction of HOOGE and made rapid progress. The remainder of C Coy & D Coy followed up. The leading men (5a.m.) reached a point some 100yds from HOOGE village; meanwhile a Communication Trench was dug from culvert under Menen Road to S end of Ypres Wood and endeavours made to join up two pieces of German trench running E towards HOOGE. Until 6a.m. the situation remained unchanged"
At 09.00am, the Germans began a counterattack, "bombing heavily". However, the battalion ran out of grenades by 10.30am, and were slowly driven back: "In retiring we suffered heavy casualties during the period of the action". Further casualties were suffered as the battalion retreated :
11.00am "We evacuated the eastern portion of the German trench . We retired in the open and lost a considerable number of men in doing so. A counter charge was organised about this time to check the enemy's advance, but without success, as the officer and many men were shot down and the remainder made no progress"
For the remainder of the day there was considerable shelling, both British and German. In the evening, a number of gas shells were also fired, but reportedly "only caused temporary inconvenience". The following day, the battalion was relieved just after midnight by the Suffolk regiment, and returned to billets near Vlamertinge. The battalion had suffered a total of 298 casualties (22 men killed, 57 men missing, 115 men wounded, and 4 men taken prisoner).
Stephen Stroud was 33 years old when he was killed. He has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 53 on the Menin Gate, and on the war memorial in the churchyard at Froxfield.
Private Green July 19, 1915
Charles Henry Green was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, in 1885. His parents, Charles and Caroline Green, had a second son, James who died on October 12, 1918. Charles Green died before 1907, for his widow remarried and moved to Wexcombe in that year. A stepson, Fred Marsh, through her second marriage, was killed on 26, October 1916. The family paid a heavy price for the war.
Charles Henry Green enlisted as a regular soldier in the Middlesex Regiment in 1902, and he was posted to the 4th Battalion. His army number was G242.
Charles Green died less than two hundred yards away from the site of the action that claimed the life of Stephen Stroud. In July 1915, the men of the 4th Battalion were manning trenches south of the hamlet of Hooge. At the beginning of the month, Hooge chateau had been captured by the Germans, and the British were determined to recapture the building. It not only provided the Germans with a strongpoint but also gave them an excellent view of British positions towards Ypres. It was decided to place a mine under the German defences to take the enemy by surprise.
The 175th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, started work from Bull farm, south of the Menin road. Despite the difficulties caused by the water table, they were able to dig, albeit with the tunnel lying in 6” of water. Private George Clayton was one of the Royal Engineers who dug the tunnel:
“We were digging through a grey clay in the Ypres Salient that was easy enough to work, so you could get ten yards done in a shift, and thirty yards in a day – ten days of that made three hundred yards. We were heading towards the Hooge Chateau, where the cellar had become the headquarters of the German officers. When we got there we laid it with explosives, and then stemmed it with sandbags and tree trunks to stop the force of the explosion blowing back towards us. Then we ran the wire back up to the support line. When the Hooge Chateau was finally blown up I was about 250 yards away watching from my trench, and I saw the earth come up and shake the ground. It made a dull thud like an earthquake and left a hole like a quarry”
However the Chateau, which lay several hundred yards to the east of the mine, was to be untouched by the explosion. The target was a section of German trenches immediately north of the Menin road beyond what Lt 'Billy' Congreve called Island Posts.
The mine went off most successfully, and the Middlesex took the Crater without much trouble, also the piece of trench in front of Island Posts. The Middlesex worked down the trenches but were unable to stay there as they ran out of bombs. It was a real bombing battle. The Crater is huge, and the explosion greater than we thought possible; so great that several of the storming party were buried by falling debris, in spite of the fact that they were all withdrawn south of the main road
The mine was exploded at 7pm. Two companies from the battalion immediately advanced and occupied the lip of the crater, some 15 feet high around a crater that was 20 feet deep and approximately 120 feet wide. The falling debris was responsible for the deaths of ten Middlesex men. The initial success of the attack was compromised by the result of the ensuing fighting. The Germans had the better of the bombing within the trenches, and drove the British back to the rim of the crater.
Charles Green was killed either by the falling debris, or during the bombing that subsequently took place. He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Menin Gate (Panel 49, 51), along with the 23 comrades who died with him. He is also remembered on the war memorial at East Grafton.
There is a flooded crater at Hooge, near the Hooge Museum. This is often believed to be the crater created on July 19th 1915. However the British exploded other mines at Hooge as did the Germans. The flooded Hooge crater is actually the remains of three much smaller German detonated mines. The original Hooge crater was filled in after the war.
Bombardier Lovelock August 8, 1915
Frederick Albert Lovelock was born in Hungerford, and at the time of his enlistment, he lived in Frouds lane, Aldermarston with his wife Charlotte. He was the son of Charles and Sarah Lovelock of no 91 Great Bedwyn, hence the connection that put his name on the village war memorial. In the census for 1911, his father was 68 years of age, a labourer with Ramsbury Rural District Council. His mother originally came from Lambourn. A brother Alfred and a sister Ellen lived at home.
He joined the Royal Field Artillery and was posted to A battery in 46 Brigade. His army number was 88714. The 46 brigade was formed as part of Kitchener’s New Army, and was sent to France in May 1915. At this time there were four batteries, each of four guns. The 46th Brigade belonged to the 14th Light Division.
In August 1915, the battery supported the battle of Hooge. There are no details of Frederick Lovelock’s role in this battle, but he would have been at a considerable distance behind the frontline. The war diary for the 47th Brigade on 6th July provides an indication of a location which is unlikely to have changed much up to the time of his death:
“On the nights of the 6th, 7th and 8th July 1915, each battery relieved the opposite batteries of the 46th Brigade RFA in action at Ypres, near the Sally Port”
There are several sally ports at Ypres, small gates in the Vauban fortifications surrounding the city. This was not a safe area. The following extract suggests the Sally Port was the city gate leading to the Menin road:
"August 23rd. There was a good deal of shelling by field-guns on both sides in the morning. The C.O., Second in Command, and Company Commanders of the 5th K.S.L.I, came to our H.Q. in the morning to arrange about relieving us. They had walked up the railway from Sally Port to Hell-fire Corner, which was madness, as it can be seen from Hooge. They were, of course, shelled, and lost two officers"
[5th Service battalion, Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry, regimental chronicles]
All of the artillery positions were subjected to German counter battery fire. It was probably shrapnel or high explosive that killed Frederick Lovelock. On the western side of Ypres lay the village of Vlamertinghe. This settlement was considered to be a relatively safe area, and the wagon lines and ammunition column of 47 Brigade were based there, probably along side those of 46 Brigade. 'Relatively safe' is a term to be used cautiously, for on August 11th, Vlamertinghe was shelled morning and evening with 12-inch shells. At the time that Freerick Lovelock died, there was much shelling:
"From 6 p.m. the 8th to 6 p.m. the 9th the enemy kept up an almost continuous bombardment"
[ Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry]
Frederick Lovelock was buried near the Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) in August 1919. A cemetery was not established there until a year after his death, and he was originally buried elsewhere. According to concentration map reference 28.b.15.a.3.1, his first burial was north west of Ypres at Elverdinge, a few miles north of Vlamertinghe. His body was identified by his service number, which was found on papers in a bottle.
Elverdinge was at the edge of the extreme range of the German guns, and was used by several Field Ambulance stations. In July 1915, the North Riding Heavy Battery was deployed at Elverdinge. It was filmed in action, and the rushes were subsequently used as part of the film on the battle of the Somme produced in 1916. Unfortunately there is insufficient information to identify Elverdinge as the battery location or Field Ambulance of a dead or dying Frederick Lovelock.
Private Stroud June 16, 1915
Stephen Stroud was born and bred in Froxfield. He was the son of Stephen and Elizabeth Stroud. In the 1901 census, he was described as an 18 year old cattleman.
Between 1906 and 1907, he enlisted in the 1st battalion of the Wiltshire regiment. His army number was 7884.
Towards the end of the second battle of Ypres, the Germans launch a successful attack over the Bellewarde ridge. The Germans gained a small salient between the the Roulers railway line and the hamlet of Hooge, which enabled them to overlook Ypres and to observe British positions. An unsuccessful attempt was made on 16 June 1915 to dislodge the Germans.
On the day that Stephen Stroud died, his battalion was involved in a supporting attack south of the battle area on the edge of Y wood. This wood, shaped in the form of the letter ‘Y’, is recorded in the battalion diary as Ypres wood. A British artillery bombardment began at 02.50am, followed by a successful attack on the German frontline :
04.20am "The 9th Bde had carried the first line of German trenches and 1 platoon of C Coy assaulted trench at S end of Ypres Wood which was taken without difficulty. A bombing party started to work up the enemy's trench in the direction of HOOGE and made rapid progress. The remainder of C Coy & D Coy followed up. The leading men (5a.m.) reached a point some 100yds from HOOGE village; meanwhile a Communication Trench was dug from culvert under Menen Road to S end of Ypres Wood and endeavours made to join up two pieces of German trench running E towards HOOGE. Until 6a.m. the situation remained unchanged"
At 09.00am, the Germans began a counterattack, "bombing heavily". However, the battalion ran out of grenades by 10.30am, and were slowly driven back: "In retiring we suffered heavy casualties during the period of the action". Further casualties were suffered as the battalion retreated :
11.00am "We evacuated the eastern portion of the German trench . We retired in the open and lost a considerable number of men in doing so. A counter charge was organised about this time to check the enemy's advance, but without success, as the officer and many men were shot down and the remainder made no progress"
For the remainder of the day there was considerable shelling, both British and German. In the evening, a number of gas shells were also fired, but reportedly "only caused temporary inconvenience". The following day, the battalion was relieved just after midnight by the Suffolk regiment, and returned to billets near Vlamertinge. The battalion had suffered a total of 298 casualties (22 men killed, 57 men missing, 115 men wounded, and 4 men taken prisoner).
Stephen Stroud was 33 years old when he was killed. He has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 53 on the Menin Gate, and on the war memorial in the churchyard at Froxfield.
Private Green July 19, 1915
Charles Henry Green was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, in 1885. His parents, Charles and Caroline Green, had a second son, James who died on October 12, 1918. Charles Green died before 1907, for his widow remarried and moved to Wexcombe in that year. A stepson, Fred Marsh, through her second marriage, was killed on 26, October 1916. The family paid a heavy price for the war.
Charles Henry Green enlisted as a regular soldier in the Middlesex Regiment in 1902, and he was posted to the 4th Battalion. His army number was G242.
Charles Green died less than two hundred yards away from the site of the action that claimed the life of Stephen Stroud. In July 1915, the men of the 4th Battalion were manning trenches south of the hamlet of Hooge. At the beginning of the month, Hooge chateau had been captured by the Germans, and the British were determined to recapture the building. It not only provided the Germans with a strongpoint but also gave them an excellent view of British positions towards Ypres. It was decided to place a mine under the German defences to take the enemy by surprise.
The 175th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, started work from Bull farm, south of the Menin road. Despite the difficulties caused by the water table, they were able to dig, albeit with the tunnel lying in 6” of water. Private George Clayton was one of the Royal Engineers who dug the tunnel:
“We were digging through a grey clay in the Ypres Salient that was easy enough to work, so you could get ten yards done in a shift, and thirty yards in a day – ten days of that made three hundred yards. We were heading towards the Hooge Chateau, where the cellar had become the headquarters of the German officers. When we got there we laid it with explosives, and then stemmed it with sandbags and tree trunks to stop the force of the explosion blowing back towards us. Then we ran the wire back up to the support line. When the Hooge Chateau was finally blown up I was about 250 yards away watching from my trench, and I saw the earth come up and shake the ground. It made a dull thud like an earthquake and left a hole like a quarry”
However the Chateau, which lay several hundred yards to the east of the mine, was to be untouched by the explosion. The target was a section of German trenches immediately north of the Menin road beyond what Lt 'Billy' Congreve called Island Posts.
The mine went off most successfully, and the Middlesex took the Crater without much trouble, also the piece of trench in front of Island Posts. The Middlesex worked down the trenches but were unable to stay there as they ran out of bombs. It was a real bombing battle. The Crater is huge, and the explosion greater than we thought possible; so great that several of the storming party were buried by falling debris, in spite of the fact that they were all withdrawn south of the main road
The mine was exploded at 7pm. Two companies from the battalion immediately advanced and occupied the lip of the crater, some 15 feet high around a crater that was 20 feet deep and approximately 120 feet wide. The falling debris was responsible for the deaths of ten Middlesex men. The initial success of the attack was compromised by the result of the ensuing fighting. The Germans had the better of the bombing within the trenches, and drove the British back to the rim of the crater.
Charles Green was killed either by the falling debris, or during the bombing that subsequently took place. He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Menin Gate (Panel 49, 51), along with the 23 comrades who died with him. He is also remembered on the war memorial at East Grafton.
There is a flooded crater at Hooge, near the Hooge Museum. This is often believed to be the crater created on July 19th 1915. However the British exploded other mines at Hooge as did the Germans. The flooded Hooge crater is actually the remains of three much smaller German detonated mines. The original Hooge crater was filled in after the war.
Bombardier Lovelock August 8, 1915
Frederick Albert Lovelock was born in Hungerford, and at the time of his enlistment, he lived in Frouds lane, Aldermarston with his wife Charlotte. He was the son of Charles and Sarah Lovelock of no 91 Great Bedwyn, hence the connection that put his name on the village war memorial. In the census for 1911, his father was 68 years of age, a labourer with Ramsbury Rural District Council. His mother originally came from Lambourn. A brother Alfred and a sister Ellen lived at home.
He joined the Royal Field Artillery and was posted to A battery in 46 Brigade. His army number was 88714. The 46 brigade was formed as part of Kitchener’s New Army, and was sent to France in May 1915. At this time there were four batteries, each of four guns. The 46th Brigade belonged to the 14th Light Division.
In August 1915, the battery supported the battle of Hooge. There are no details of Frederick Lovelock’s role in this battle, but he would have been at a considerable distance behind the frontline. The war diary for the 47th Brigade on 6th July provides an indication of a location which is unlikely to have changed much up to the time of his death:
“On the nights of the 6th, 7th and 8th July 1915, each battery relieved the opposite batteries of the 46th Brigade RFA in action at Ypres, near the Sally Port”
There are several sally ports at Ypres, small gates in the Vauban fortifications surrounding the city. This was not a safe area. The following extract suggests the Sally Port was the city gate leading to the Menin road:
"August 23rd. There was a good deal of shelling by field-guns on both sides in the morning. The C.O., Second in Command, and Company Commanders of the 5th K.S.L.I, came to our H.Q. in the morning to arrange about relieving us. They had walked up the railway from Sally Port to Hell-fire Corner, which was madness, as it can be seen from Hooge. They were, of course, shelled, and lost two officers"
[5th Service battalion, Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry, regimental chronicles]
All of the artillery positions were subjected to German counter battery fire. It was probably shrapnel or high explosive that killed Frederick Lovelock. On the western side of Ypres lay the village of Vlamertinghe. This settlement was considered to be a relatively safe area, and the wagon lines and ammunition column of 47 Brigade were based there, probably along side those of 46 Brigade. 'Relatively safe' is a term to be used cautiously, for on August 11th, Vlamertinghe was shelled morning and evening with 12-inch shells. At the time that Freerick Lovelock died, there was much shelling:
"From 6 p.m. the 8th to 6 p.m. the 9th the enemy kept up an almost continuous bombardment"
[ Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry]
Frederick Lovelock was buried near the Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) in August 1919. A cemetery was not established there until a year after his death, and he was originally buried elsewhere. According to concentration map reference 28.b.15.a.3.1, his first burial was north west of Ypres at Elverdinge, a few miles north of Vlamertinghe. His body was identified by his service number, which was found on papers in a bottle.
Elverdinge was at the edge of the extreme range of the German guns, and was used by several Field Ambulance stations. In July 1915, the North Riding Heavy Battery was deployed at Elverdinge. It was filmed in action, and the rushes were subsequently used as part of the film on the battle of the Somme produced in 1916. Unfortunately there is insufficient information to identify Elverdinge as the battery location or Field Ambulance of a dead or dying Frederick Lovelock.
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli campaign started badly with an abortive attempt by the Royal Navy to force the Dardenelles straits. It was hoped that the capture of Constantinople would either force the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) out of the war, or cripple Germany by forcing the Germans to support weaker allies on a new front. An attempt was subsequently made to capture the guns defending the straits by landing an Allied army on the peninsular. Poor planning and lack of leadership led to abject failure and absolute misery for all combatants.
There were nine men from Bedwyn who died during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. Four of them served in the 5th battalion, the Wiltshire regiment. They left Avonmouth with 1,000 men onboard the RMS Franconia on 30th June. The ship reached Malta on 1st July and Alexandria on 9th July. By the 15th July, the ship reached Mudros on the island of Lemnos, and thoughts of battle were probably by then uppermost in most men’s minds.
The Gallipoli campaign started badly with an abortive attempt by the Royal Navy to force the Dardenelles straits. It was hoped that the capture of Constantinople would either force the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) out of the war, or cripple Germany by forcing the Germans to support weaker allies on a new front. An attempt was subsequently made to capture the guns defending the straits by landing an Allied army on the peninsular. Poor planning and lack of leadership led to abject failure and absolute misery for all combatants.
There were nine men from Bedwyn who died during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. Four of them served in the 5th battalion, the Wiltshire regiment. They left Avonmouth with 1,000 men onboard the RMS Franconia on 30th June. The ship reached Malta on 1st July and Alexandria on 9th July. By the 15th July, the ship reached Mudros on the island of Lemnos, and thoughts of battle were probably by then uppermost in most men’s minds.
Cape Helles
The battalion was initially landed on “V” beach at Cape Helles on 17th August, but by the end of the month, the battalion had returned to Mudros. They were to participate in an assault on the heights of Chunuk Bair above Anzac cove. This attack was timed to coincide with landings at Sulva Bay, and both operations were intended to break the existing stalemate in the campaign.
ANZAC Cove
On August 4th, the battalion landed on ANZAC cove, and occupied a position in White Valley. The battalion was initially in reserve. The summit of Chunuk Bair was captured on Sunday 8th August, and on the following day there was optimism that the fighting was over:
“During the day counter attacks by the Turks were expected but did not develop. Rations were drawn at 5.30p.m and rumours were current of 24 hours rest. It should be noted that the men had had no rest, and very little water and food since Friday evening and were consequently in a very exhausted condition”
Unfortunately, at 01.00 on 10th August, most of the battalion was moved forward from a small plateau known as the Farm onto the summit. The battalion arrived at 03.00, and the men were told to improve the dugouts. Hence at first light, when the summit was attacked by the Turks, the men of the battalion were caught by surprise.
TD company, and part of B company, were held in reserve at the Farm. However their position was attacked later in the morning, and at one stage surrounded. Survivors of the battalion drifted into Allied lines at night.
Many men were missing after the battle. Some died in the gullies, unable to get away, and suffering from exhaustion and starvation. Others returned alone or in small groups, demoralised and without equipment. When a roll call was held, there were only 420 men in the battalion, and this total included men recently arrived from Lemnos. Altogether, the battalion suffered 600 casualties as a result of the battle. On August 10th, 145 men died at Chunuk Bair.
The battalion was initially landed on “V” beach at Cape Helles on 17th August, but by the end of the month, the battalion had returned to Mudros. They were to participate in an assault on the heights of Chunuk Bair above Anzac cove. This attack was timed to coincide with landings at Sulva Bay, and both operations were intended to break the existing stalemate in the campaign.
ANZAC Cove
On August 4th, the battalion landed on ANZAC cove, and occupied a position in White Valley. The battalion was initially in reserve. The summit of Chunuk Bair was captured on Sunday 8th August, and on the following day there was optimism that the fighting was over:
“During the day counter attacks by the Turks were expected but did not develop. Rations were drawn at 5.30p.m and rumours were current of 24 hours rest. It should be noted that the men had had no rest, and very little water and food since Friday evening and were consequently in a very exhausted condition”
Unfortunately, at 01.00 on 10th August, most of the battalion was moved forward from a small plateau known as the Farm onto the summit. The battalion arrived at 03.00, and the men were told to improve the dugouts. Hence at first light, when the summit was attacked by the Turks, the men of the battalion were caught by surprise.
TD company, and part of B company, were held in reserve at the Farm. However their position was attacked later in the morning, and at one stage surrounded. Survivors of the battalion drifted into Allied lines at night.
Many men were missing after the battle. Some died in the gullies, unable to get away, and suffering from exhaustion and starvation. Others returned alone or in small groups, demoralised and without equipment. When a roll call was held, there were only 420 men in the battalion, and this total included men recently arrived from Lemnos. Altogether, the battalion suffered 600 casualties as a result of the battle. On August 10th, 145 men died at Chunuk Bair.
Sulva Bay
The Royal Munster Fusiliers, 6th battalion sailed from Liverpool on RMS Mauretania on 9th July. After arriving in Mudros, the battalion was landed at Sulva Bay on the 7th of August 1915. The battalion immediately came under fire, and found part of the beaches to be mined.
"At 13.30 the 6th Royal Munster Fusiliers captured what was to become Jephson’s Post, but the combined effects of heat, thirst and exhaustion meant that they got no further"
The landings and subsequent operations at Sulva Bay were commanded by an extremely inept general whose incompetence unfortunately resulted in the failure of the landings to establish little more than a beachhead and to throw away the last opportunity to defeat the Turks. On the 15th August, the battalion participated in an attack cobbled together to secure high ground overlooking Sulva Bay
“At the same time the 6th Munsters and 6th Dublin Fusiliers charged along the crest of Kiretch Tepe until the highest point was captured”
By the 20th August, the battalion returned to A beach, where they held trenches until September 5th. Although no longer in line, shellings ensured that casualties were still suffered. The battalion had landed in Sulva bay with 774 officers and men. Despite receiving some reinforcements on 14 August, there were only 519 officers and men on August 21.
Three Bedwyn men served in the the 6th battalion. They were all from Little Bedwyn, but none of them were killed during the fighting. All of these men were badly wounded, and were evacuated from Sulva Bay. However, they sadly died of their wounds in hospital. What was particularly tragic was that these men were probably close friends. They possibly signed up together, and almost certainly suffered fatal wounds in the same battle.
Perhaps it is surprising that three men from one small Wiltshire parish should have enlisted in the Royal Munster Fusiliers. However this regiment had recruiting problems, and their regiment of choice, the Wiltshire regiment, was oversubscribed. Consequently several Wiltshire men were posted to the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Lance Corporal Knight August 9, 1915
William Thomas Knight was the first of nine Bedwyn men to die as a result of the Gallipoli campaign. He is remembered on the war memorial at St. Katherine’s church in Savernake parish. However, his connection with the parish appears to be slender. He was born in Bagshot, Surrey, and at the time of his enlistment he lived with his parents, Thomas Edwin Knight and Clara Ann Hallet, at Holly Grove Lodge in the Great Park, Windsor. His mother was born in Rotherfield in Sussex, and married his father at Hartfield church, also in Sussex, in 1891.
Presumably his parents were employed by the Earl of Ailesbury on the Tottenham estate, and moved to Windsor Great Park for similar work. William Knight was probably brought up in Savernake parish. When he enlisted with the Wiltshire regiment at Devizes, he seems to have signed up with friends. One of these was Henry Whitbread of Crabtree cottages, Savernake.
9297 Lance Corporal Knight
9295 Private Whitbread
He was one of four men in the battalion killed on the day before the Turkish attack at Chunuk Bair decimated the battalion. The battalion was in reserve, but not immune to shelling which may have caused the fatalities:
“Remain behind Hampshire's, in rear of the FARM position below crest of hill. Heavy fighting was in progress in front, and the Battalion was shelled. Capt R.W.F Jesson (wounded). During the day counter attacks by the Turks were expected but did not develop”
He is remembered on the Helles memorial and has no known grave. His name also appears on the war memorial in the village of Clewer.
Private Choules August 10, 1915
Frederick James Choules was the son of the late Charles William (born 07/02/1858) and Mary Jane Choules (m 1876). There were two elder sisters, Emily Kate and Edith Ellen. He was born in Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire, lived in West Grafton, and enlisted at Devizes.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, 5th battalion, and his army number was 9361. He was killed on Chunuk Bair at ANZAC Cove.
He received the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory medals. The original registered envelopes for the medals were addressed to Miss S. M. Choules of 287 West Grafton. His name appears on the war memorial at Grafton, the only name on the south panel. His name was added at a later date to the marble wall memorial inside the church. His name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, and he has no known grave.
Private Head August 10, 1915
Horace Head was born in Cadley. He lived in Milton at the time of his enlistment in the Wiltshire regiment, 5th battalion. He was 28 years old, when he was killed on Chunuk Bair at ANZAC Cove.
He was a harness maker, and the son of Jesse & Mary Jane Head of the Severalls in Milton Lilbonne. He has no known grave but is remembered on the the Cape Helles memorial (panel 156 158). His name is also recorded on the Cadley roll of honour. This memorial was originally in Christchurch, Cadley, but is now in St. Mary’s church, Marlborough.
Corporal Whitbread August 10, 1915
Henry Frank Whitbread was from Savernake parish. He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, 5th battalion, with William Knight. He was killed on Chunuk Bair at ANZAC Cove, the day after his friend died.
He was the son of Sydney and Hannah Whitbread of Crabtree Cottages. He had a brother, Andrew George Whitbread, who survived the war, and who was awarded the Military Medal.
Henry Frank Whitbread has no known grave but is remembered on the the Cape Helles memorial (panel 156 158). His name also appears on the war memorial at St. Katherine’s church in Savernake parish.
Private Stroud 6 September 1915
Renford Earle Oswalde Stroud was from Savernake parish and he was the son of Edwin Earle & Alice Maud Stroud of Bedwyn Common. He enlisted in the Welsh regiment and was posted to the 8th Battalion. This battalion was part of Kitchener’s New Army and was based at Chiseldon in October 1914. It was perhaps at this time that Renford Stroud took the opportunity to join up.
In June 1915, the battalion embarked at Avonmouth, and landed at ANZAC cove late in the evening of Wednesday 4th August. The battalion strength was 774 men. By first light the next day, the battalion was in a bivouac halfway between the beach and the front line. Their location was Shrapnel gulley, and over the next few days men were lost to shelling during attempts to fetch water.
On Friday night, the battalion moved to a new location in preparation for an attack on Chunuk Bair. This was to be an epic New Zealand battle, but there several British battalions, two of which were to lose Bedwyn men. On Saturday 7th August, the battalion moved to the bottom of Rhododendron Ridge in preparation for an evening attack, but it was postponed until Sunday morning. The 8th battalion were to follow the Wellington Mounted Rifles in the assault:
“When we arrived on top of Rhododendron Spur and passed over our own trenches there was about 500 yards of open country before one reached the foot of Chunuk Bair. The Wellingtons went over this in the dark and lost very few in the attack itself. The Gloucesters hung back and lost heavily through this. We going up in the light lost very heavily before we even reached the top of the hill”
The battalion suffered 400 casualties. When the battalion was relieved, and withdrew towards the beach, the muster rolls revealed that 8 men had been killed, 163 were wounded, and 270 were missing. The fate of many of the wounded and missing was unenviable. Second Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant Walter Evans described the fate of the wounded of the 5th battalion, the Wiltshire regiment:
“The [Auckland Mounted Rifles] were relieved in the night [9th August] by the 5 Wilts who lost the place on Tuesday morning[10th August] and were driven back to the Western end of Rhodedendron Spur where we started from Sunday morning and where they still are. They were obliged to abandon all their wounded and that is why there are so many missing. The wounded in the gully remained there all day, many dying, and in the evening when it was dark all who were able ran back over the hill to where our bivouac was Saturday night”
“Some of the wounded who could not walk were brought in that night but it was a difficult job and there were few men, so many were not discovered either that night or Monday night and it was impossible after Monday night because all that ground was lost”
Renford Stroud was wounded at ANZAC Cove, and evacuated to Lemnos, and subsequently to Alexandria in Egypt. However, he sadly succumbed to his wounds and died at the age of 19 years. He is buried at Alexandria Chatby Cemetery (Grave H14), and is remembered on Savernake war memorial at St. Katherine’s church.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the Gallipoli campaign was the absence of adequate medical facilities. Wounded men were initially evacuated to Mudros on the island of Lemnos. They were subsequently moved to Egypt, or to England via Malta. Many soldiers died on wounds or of complications endured through their transportation to hospitals. The following three men died of wounds at different stages of the medical evacuation. Their deaths were all the more tragic in that they were all from Little Bedwyn and were also friends.
Private Bartholomew September 9, 1915
Herbert William Bartholomew was from Chisbury, and he was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Bartholomew, of Ivy Cottage. He probably intended to join the Wiltshire regiment, but was posted to the 6th battalion, the Royal Munster Volunteers. The Munsters had recruiting problems so a number of English recruits were added to their ranks.
Herbert Bartholomew and Charles Fisher probably signed up together, and were wounded within hours of each other. They died of their wounds within the same 10 day period. Their personal tragedy may have extended to another Little Bedwyn man, Jesse Powell.
The Royal Munster Volunteers, 6th battalion
Private 3007 Bartholomew, age 19
Lance Corporal 3031 Fisher, age 23
Private 1273 Powell, age 21
Herbert Bartholomew was probably the most severely wounded of the three men. He was evacuated to Lemnos, where he succumbed to his wounds. He lies in East Mudros cemetery (Grave II. M. 232). He is also remembered on the roll of honour in St. Michael’s church in Little Bedwyn.
Lance Corporal Fisher September 20, 1915
Charles Frederick Fisher was born in Grafton, and was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fisher. In 1911, they lived in Little Bedwyn, where he was a 19 year old farm labourer.
He probably intended to join the Wiltshire regiment, but was posted to the 6th battalion, the Royal Munster Volunteers. He served in C company and went with the battalion to the Dardenelles. The 6th battalion was involved in actions in Sulva Bay, one of which resulted in the wounding of Charles Fisher.
Charles Fisher was evacuated to Lemnos. From there he was taken to Alexandria hospital in Egypt. Sadly he died of his wounds, and he is buried in Alexandria Chatby Cemetery. Grave D166. He is remembered on the war memorial in East Grafton, and on the Roll of Honour in St. Michael’s church in Little Bedwyn.
Private Powell September 25, 1915
Alfred Jesse Powell was born in Bedwyn Brail, but was a resident of Little Bedwyn when he enlisted at Devizes. He probably intended to join the Wiltshire regiment, but was posted to the 6th battalion, the Royal Munster Volunteers.
His death in Malta suggests that he may have endured his wounds with some hope of survival, having passed so far through the medical system. He died at the age of 21 and is buried in Pietra cemetery (grave B XV 5) on the island of Malta. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour in St. Michael’s church in Little Bedwyn. His medals were sold in 2002 for £170: 1914-15 Star, and British War and Victory Medals.
The Royal Munster Fusiliers, 6th battalion sailed from Liverpool on RMS Mauretania on 9th July. After arriving in Mudros, the battalion was landed at Sulva Bay on the 7th of August 1915. The battalion immediately came under fire, and found part of the beaches to be mined.
"At 13.30 the 6th Royal Munster Fusiliers captured what was to become Jephson’s Post, but the combined effects of heat, thirst and exhaustion meant that they got no further"
The landings and subsequent operations at Sulva Bay were commanded by an extremely inept general whose incompetence unfortunately resulted in the failure of the landings to establish little more than a beachhead and to throw away the last opportunity to defeat the Turks. On the 15th August, the battalion participated in an attack cobbled together to secure high ground overlooking Sulva Bay
“At the same time the 6th Munsters and 6th Dublin Fusiliers charged along the crest of Kiretch Tepe until the highest point was captured”
By the 20th August, the battalion returned to A beach, where they held trenches until September 5th. Although no longer in line, shellings ensured that casualties were still suffered. The battalion had landed in Sulva bay with 774 officers and men. Despite receiving some reinforcements on 14 August, there were only 519 officers and men on August 21.
Three Bedwyn men served in the the 6th battalion. They were all from Little Bedwyn, but none of them were killed during the fighting. All of these men were badly wounded, and were evacuated from Sulva Bay. However, they sadly died of their wounds in hospital. What was particularly tragic was that these men were probably close friends. They possibly signed up together, and almost certainly suffered fatal wounds in the same battle.
Perhaps it is surprising that three men from one small Wiltshire parish should have enlisted in the Royal Munster Fusiliers. However this regiment had recruiting problems, and their regiment of choice, the Wiltshire regiment, was oversubscribed. Consequently several Wiltshire men were posted to the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Lance Corporal Knight August 9, 1915
William Thomas Knight was the first of nine Bedwyn men to die as a result of the Gallipoli campaign. He is remembered on the war memorial at St. Katherine’s church in Savernake parish. However, his connection with the parish appears to be slender. He was born in Bagshot, Surrey, and at the time of his enlistment he lived with his parents, Thomas Edwin Knight and Clara Ann Hallet, at Holly Grove Lodge in the Great Park, Windsor. His mother was born in Rotherfield in Sussex, and married his father at Hartfield church, also in Sussex, in 1891.
Presumably his parents were employed by the Earl of Ailesbury on the Tottenham estate, and moved to Windsor Great Park for similar work. William Knight was probably brought up in Savernake parish. When he enlisted with the Wiltshire regiment at Devizes, he seems to have signed up with friends. One of these was Henry Whitbread of Crabtree cottages, Savernake.
9297 Lance Corporal Knight
9295 Private Whitbread
He was one of four men in the battalion killed on the day before the Turkish attack at Chunuk Bair decimated the battalion. The battalion was in reserve, but not immune to shelling which may have caused the fatalities:
“Remain behind Hampshire's, in rear of the FARM position below crest of hill. Heavy fighting was in progress in front, and the Battalion was shelled. Capt R.W.F Jesson (wounded). During the day counter attacks by the Turks were expected but did not develop”
He is remembered on the Helles memorial and has no known grave. His name also appears on the war memorial in the village of Clewer.
Private Choules August 10, 1915
Frederick James Choules was the son of the late Charles William (born 07/02/1858) and Mary Jane Choules (m 1876). There were two elder sisters, Emily Kate and Edith Ellen. He was born in Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire, lived in West Grafton, and enlisted at Devizes.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, 5th battalion, and his army number was 9361. He was killed on Chunuk Bair at ANZAC Cove.
He received the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory medals. The original registered envelopes for the medals were addressed to Miss S. M. Choules of 287 West Grafton. His name appears on the war memorial at Grafton, the only name on the south panel. His name was added at a later date to the marble wall memorial inside the church. His name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, and he has no known grave.
Private Head August 10, 1915
Horace Head was born in Cadley. He lived in Milton at the time of his enlistment in the Wiltshire regiment, 5th battalion. He was 28 years old, when he was killed on Chunuk Bair at ANZAC Cove.
He was a harness maker, and the son of Jesse & Mary Jane Head of the Severalls in Milton Lilbonne. He has no known grave but is remembered on the the Cape Helles memorial (panel 156 158). His name is also recorded on the Cadley roll of honour. This memorial was originally in Christchurch, Cadley, but is now in St. Mary’s church, Marlborough.
Corporal Whitbread August 10, 1915
Henry Frank Whitbread was from Savernake parish. He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, 5th battalion, with William Knight. He was killed on Chunuk Bair at ANZAC Cove, the day after his friend died.
He was the son of Sydney and Hannah Whitbread of Crabtree Cottages. He had a brother, Andrew George Whitbread, who survived the war, and who was awarded the Military Medal.
Henry Frank Whitbread has no known grave but is remembered on the the Cape Helles memorial (panel 156 158). His name also appears on the war memorial at St. Katherine’s church in Savernake parish.
Private Stroud 6 September 1915
Renford Earle Oswalde Stroud was from Savernake parish and he was the son of Edwin Earle & Alice Maud Stroud of Bedwyn Common. He enlisted in the Welsh regiment and was posted to the 8th Battalion. This battalion was part of Kitchener’s New Army and was based at Chiseldon in October 1914. It was perhaps at this time that Renford Stroud took the opportunity to join up.
In June 1915, the battalion embarked at Avonmouth, and landed at ANZAC cove late in the evening of Wednesday 4th August. The battalion strength was 774 men. By first light the next day, the battalion was in a bivouac halfway between the beach and the front line. Their location was Shrapnel gulley, and over the next few days men were lost to shelling during attempts to fetch water.
On Friday night, the battalion moved to a new location in preparation for an attack on Chunuk Bair. This was to be an epic New Zealand battle, but there several British battalions, two of which were to lose Bedwyn men. On Saturday 7th August, the battalion moved to the bottom of Rhododendron Ridge in preparation for an evening attack, but it was postponed until Sunday morning. The 8th battalion were to follow the Wellington Mounted Rifles in the assault:
“When we arrived on top of Rhododendron Spur and passed over our own trenches there was about 500 yards of open country before one reached the foot of Chunuk Bair. The Wellingtons went over this in the dark and lost very few in the attack itself. The Gloucesters hung back and lost heavily through this. We going up in the light lost very heavily before we even reached the top of the hill”
The battalion suffered 400 casualties. When the battalion was relieved, and withdrew towards the beach, the muster rolls revealed that 8 men had been killed, 163 were wounded, and 270 were missing. The fate of many of the wounded and missing was unenviable. Second Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant Walter Evans described the fate of the wounded of the 5th battalion, the Wiltshire regiment:
“The [Auckland Mounted Rifles] were relieved in the night [9th August] by the 5 Wilts who lost the place on Tuesday morning[10th August] and were driven back to the Western end of Rhodedendron Spur where we started from Sunday morning and where they still are. They were obliged to abandon all their wounded and that is why there are so many missing. The wounded in the gully remained there all day, many dying, and in the evening when it was dark all who were able ran back over the hill to where our bivouac was Saturday night”
“Some of the wounded who could not walk were brought in that night but it was a difficult job and there were few men, so many were not discovered either that night or Monday night and it was impossible after Monday night because all that ground was lost”
Renford Stroud was wounded at ANZAC Cove, and evacuated to Lemnos, and subsequently to Alexandria in Egypt. However, he sadly succumbed to his wounds and died at the age of 19 years. He is buried at Alexandria Chatby Cemetery (Grave H14), and is remembered on Savernake war memorial at St. Katherine’s church.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the Gallipoli campaign was the absence of adequate medical facilities. Wounded men were initially evacuated to Mudros on the island of Lemnos. They were subsequently moved to Egypt, or to England via Malta. Many soldiers died on wounds or of complications endured through their transportation to hospitals. The following three men died of wounds at different stages of the medical evacuation. Their deaths were all the more tragic in that they were all from Little Bedwyn and were also friends.
Private Bartholomew September 9, 1915
Herbert William Bartholomew was from Chisbury, and he was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Bartholomew, of Ivy Cottage. He probably intended to join the Wiltshire regiment, but was posted to the 6th battalion, the Royal Munster Volunteers. The Munsters had recruiting problems so a number of English recruits were added to their ranks.
Herbert Bartholomew and Charles Fisher probably signed up together, and were wounded within hours of each other. They died of their wounds within the same 10 day period. Their personal tragedy may have extended to another Little Bedwyn man, Jesse Powell.
The Royal Munster Volunteers, 6th battalion
Private 3007 Bartholomew, age 19
Lance Corporal 3031 Fisher, age 23
Private 1273 Powell, age 21
Herbert Bartholomew was probably the most severely wounded of the three men. He was evacuated to Lemnos, where he succumbed to his wounds. He lies in East Mudros cemetery (Grave II. M. 232). He is also remembered on the roll of honour in St. Michael’s church in Little Bedwyn.
Lance Corporal Fisher September 20, 1915
Charles Frederick Fisher was born in Grafton, and was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fisher. In 1911, they lived in Little Bedwyn, where he was a 19 year old farm labourer.
He probably intended to join the Wiltshire regiment, but was posted to the 6th battalion, the Royal Munster Volunteers. He served in C company and went with the battalion to the Dardenelles. The 6th battalion was involved in actions in Sulva Bay, one of which resulted in the wounding of Charles Fisher.
Charles Fisher was evacuated to Lemnos. From there he was taken to Alexandria hospital in Egypt. Sadly he died of his wounds, and he is buried in Alexandria Chatby Cemetery. Grave D166. He is remembered on the war memorial in East Grafton, and on the Roll of Honour in St. Michael’s church in Little Bedwyn.
Private Powell September 25, 1915
Alfred Jesse Powell was born in Bedwyn Brail, but was a resident of Little Bedwyn when he enlisted at Devizes. He probably intended to join the Wiltshire regiment, but was posted to the 6th battalion, the Royal Munster Volunteers.
His death in Malta suggests that he may have endured his wounds with some hope of survival, having passed so far through the medical system. He died at the age of 21 and is buried in Pietra cemetery (grave B XV 5) on the island of Malta. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour in St. Michael’s church in Little Bedwyn. His medals were sold in 2002 for £170: 1914-15 Star, and British War and Victory Medals.
The Battle of Loos
The use of six Divisions in the battle of Loos represented the only large scale British offensive in 1915. The first day saw some success at the cost of high casualties followed by several days of attrition where casualties were continuously incurred for little or no gain. The battlefield area is uniformly level, dominated by drainage ditches, and in 1915, a variety of of mining villages accompanied by slag heaps and industrial buildings.
Private Hart September 25, 1915
Private Stagg September 25, 1915
Leonard Hart and George John Stagg died on the first day of the battle of Loos. They were bound together in life and death, for they both came from Great Bedwyn, enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment together, and were both posted to the 6th battalion. These two friends were not alone, for a third man, Frank Edwards from Crofton, enlisted with them. He survived the first day of the battle of Loos, only to fall victim on the close of the battle on 2 November.
Wiltshire regiment 6th (Service) battalion
Private 12063 Hart, age 17
Private 12064 Stagg, age 28
Private 12065 Edwards age 17
Leonard Hart may have been the son of George Hart, a blacksmith in Great Bedwyn; the family lived in Jubilee street. George Stagg was the son of John and Elizabeth Stagg, and was born on August 8th 1887. His mother and father both worked on the railway and lived in Railway cottage. He was a plate layer and she was a railway crossing keeper. By 1911, the family lived at Jockey green, and George John was a general labourer.
Their battalion was raised at Devizes in September 1914, and formed part of Kitchener's New Army. It was sent to France in July 1915, and was initially located at St. Omer. The battalion was introduced to trench warfare through trench reliefs at Laventie and Festubert. The battalion was not directly involved in the battle of Loos. As part of 58 Brigade, it conducted a diversionary attack along the Rue d'Ouvert, which lay north of Givenchy:
“On the 21st, orders were received for the forthcoming Battle of Loos. On the evening of the 24th, we moved up into the reserve trenches, and on the 25th, at 5.15 a.m., received orders that a gas attack followed by an infantry attack would take place. Our Brigade was to attack the German trench by Rue d'Ouvert as soon as the Division at Givenchy signalled that they had been successful. Unfortunately, though they were at the start successful, they were forced back again and when the 9th Welsh and 9th RWF, supported by the 9th Cheshires and 6th Wiltshires, advanced, they were badly enfiladed and suffered very heavy casualties”
The 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division fought at Givenchy. The initial attack was preceded with an ineffective release of asphyxiating gas, and although the initial battalions seized the frontline trenches, they were soon dislodged by a strong German counter attack. The forward battalions of 58 Brigade, including the the 6th battalion, were consequently exposed to enfilading fire from Givenchy.
The casualties incurred by the 6th battalion were 40 killed and 75 wounded. The battalion casualties were lighter than those of other battalions in the brigade because only D company advanced against the enemy. The numbers were nevertheless severe for only one company.
Neither Leonard Hart nor George Stagg have a known grave. They probably died under that enfilade fire from Givenchy, and their bodies were never recovered. Their names are remembered on Panel 102 of the Loos memorial, and also on the war memorial at Great Bedwyn.
Private Coombs 27 September 1915
Arthur Henry James Coombs was born in Savernake parish in 1895. However his birth was registered in Pewsey, and by 1901, his family were living in Salisbury. In 1911, he was a 15 year old apprentice grocer living with his parents and 3 siblings at 1 Well Cottages, Compton Chamberlayne. His father, James, was a groom and gardener, and his mother Caroline, a laundress.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment at Devizes in 1914, and his war service entitled him to the British War & Victory Medals. Curiously there was some discrepancy over his enlistment, for a note on the back of his Medal Index Card states that he “fraudulently enlisted 25.12.14 Service reckons from 26.4.15”. His army number was 18245.
He was posted to the 2nd battalion on 4th May 1915, and joined C company. Doubtlessly participated in the battle of Festubert, which cost the battalion 158 casualties. The battalion also took significant casualties at Givenchy in June, otherwise it spent most of the summer alternating between rest periods and manning the frontline. In November, the battalion was directly involved in the battle of Loos, and thus the fate of Arthur Coombs was sealed.
The 2nd battalion belonged to 21 Brigade, 7 Division, and was initially held in reserve. The objectives of the Division were the capture of the Quarries, the village of Cité St. Ellie, the northern part of the town of Hulloch. The Quarries were opencast mines, very much a part of the local mining landscape as well as of the German defences.
“The Quarries are in the form like a flat bottomed square basin, 300 to 400 yards wide, the sides some 30 feet high and very steep and the bottom serverely dented into lumps and cavities”
The Quarries have been filled in today, but the site lies adjacent to modern opencast workings.
Shortly after midnight of 24 September, the battalion moved from Noyelles towards the British front line trenches east of Vermelles. As the battle progressed, the battalion occupied the former
German frontline trenches. Unfortunately, orders were then received to advance over open ground towards Cité St. Ellie. It was impossible to use captured German communication trenches because they were full of wounded men. The battalion came under heavy fire and suffered heavy losses. By the time the battalion reached Gun trench, south of the Quarries, they had suffered over 200 casualties. Subsequently a composite force, formed of survivors of the battalion, the 8th Devon and the 2nd Borders, held this new frontline.
At dusk, the battalion took up a new position at Breslau Avenue, a former German communication trench. This was part of a reorganisation brought about by the Divisional commander’s decision to abandon further attempts to capture Cité St. Ellie, and to concentrate on Hulloch. However, during the night a successful German counterattack evicted the British from the Quarries.
The commanding officer of the battalion was killed on 26th September. Major CG Forsyth took over command, while the battalion spent the day at Breslau Avenue and Stone Alley, consolidating the defences. At dusk, the battalion was relieved by the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders, and it retired to a position on the Hulloch road.
In the early hours of 27th September, the Germans opened an intense artillery barrage on the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders position, and this was followed by an infantry attack. Major CG Forsyth quicly ordered two companies of the 2nd battalion to advance over open ground to reinforce the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders. Other members of the battalion, lost in the morning mist, were collected by a now wounded Major CG Forsyth, and remained in Hulloch trench. The following day, the men of the battalion remained in their respective positions.
Arthur Coombs was one of 14 fatalities on 27th September, who died somewhere between Hulloch road and the trenches of the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders. He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 102 of the Loos Memorial. He is also remembered at St. Michael's Church, Compton Chamberlayne, but his name is not on Savernake war memorial. The 2nd battalion suffered 400 casualties in the Battle of Loos.
The use of six Divisions in the battle of Loos represented the only large scale British offensive in 1915. The first day saw some success at the cost of high casualties followed by several days of attrition where casualties were continuously incurred for little or no gain. The battlefield area is uniformly level, dominated by drainage ditches, and in 1915, a variety of of mining villages accompanied by slag heaps and industrial buildings.
Private Hart September 25, 1915
Private Stagg September 25, 1915
Leonard Hart and George John Stagg died on the first day of the battle of Loos. They were bound together in life and death, for they both came from Great Bedwyn, enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment together, and were both posted to the 6th battalion. These two friends were not alone, for a third man, Frank Edwards from Crofton, enlisted with them. He survived the first day of the battle of Loos, only to fall victim on the close of the battle on 2 November.
Wiltshire regiment 6th (Service) battalion
Private 12063 Hart, age 17
Private 12064 Stagg, age 28
Private 12065 Edwards age 17
Leonard Hart may have been the son of George Hart, a blacksmith in Great Bedwyn; the family lived in Jubilee street. George Stagg was the son of John and Elizabeth Stagg, and was born on August 8th 1887. His mother and father both worked on the railway and lived in Railway cottage. He was a plate layer and she was a railway crossing keeper. By 1911, the family lived at Jockey green, and George John was a general labourer.
Their battalion was raised at Devizes in September 1914, and formed part of Kitchener's New Army. It was sent to France in July 1915, and was initially located at St. Omer. The battalion was introduced to trench warfare through trench reliefs at Laventie and Festubert. The battalion was not directly involved in the battle of Loos. As part of 58 Brigade, it conducted a diversionary attack along the Rue d'Ouvert, which lay north of Givenchy:
“On the 21st, orders were received for the forthcoming Battle of Loos. On the evening of the 24th, we moved up into the reserve trenches, and on the 25th, at 5.15 a.m., received orders that a gas attack followed by an infantry attack would take place. Our Brigade was to attack the German trench by Rue d'Ouvert as soon as the Division at Givenchy signalled that they had been successful. Unfortunately, though they were at the start successful, they were forced back again and when the 9th Welsh and 9th RWF, supported by the 9th Cheshires and 6th Wiltshires, advanced, they were badly enfiladed and suffered very heavy casualties”
The 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division fought at Givenchy. The initial attack was preceded with an ineffective release of asphyxiating gas, and although the initial battalions seized the frontline trenches, they were soon dislodged by a strong German counter attack. The forward battalions of 58 Brigade, including the the 6th battalion, were consequently exposed to enfilading fire from Givenchy.
The casualties incurred by the 6th battalion were 40 killed and 75 wounded. The battalion casualties were lighter than those of other battalions in the brigade because only D company advanced against the enemy. The numbers were nevertheless severe for only one company.
Neither Leonard Hart nor George Stagg have a known grave. They probably died under that enfilade fire from Givenchy, and their bodies were never recovered. Their names are remembered on Panel 102 of the Loos memorial, and also on the war memorial at Great Bedwyn.
Private Coombs 27 September 1915
Arthur Henry James Coombs was born in Savernake parish in 1895. However his birth was registered in Pewsey, and by 1901, his family were living in Salisbury. In 1911, he was a 15 year old apprentice grocer living with his parents and 3 siblings at 1 Well Cottages, Compton Chamberlayne. His father, James, was a groom and gardener, and his mother Caroline, a laundress.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment at Devizes in 1914, and his war service entitled him to the British War & Victory Medals. Curiously there was some discrepancy over his enlistment, for a note on the back of his Medal Index Card states that he “fraudulently enlisted 25.12.14 Service reckons from 26.4.15”. His army number was 18245.
He was posted to the 2nd battalion on 4th May 1915, and joined C company. Doubtlessly participated in the battle of Festubert, which cost the battalion 158 casualties. The battalion also took significant casualties at Givenchy in June, otherwise it spent most of the summer alternating between rest periods and manning the frontline. In November, the battalion was directly involved in the battle of Loos, and thus the fate of Arthur Coombs was sealed.
The 2nd battalion belonged to 21 Brigade, 7 Division, and was initially held in reserve. The objectives of the Division were the capture of the Quarries, the village of Cité St. Ellie, the northern part of the town of Hulloch. The Quarries were opencast mines, very much a part of the local mining landscape as well as of the German defences.
“The Quarries are in the form like a flat bottomed square basin, 300 to 400 yards wide, the sides some 30 feet high and very steep and the bottom serverely dented into lumps and cavities”
The Quarries have been filled in today, but the site lies adjacent to modern opencast workings.
Shortly after midnight of 24 September, the battalion moved from Noyelles towards the British front line trenches east of Vermelles. As the battle progressed, the battalion occupied the former
German frontline trenches. Unfortunately, orders were then received to advance over open ground towards Cité St. Ellie. It was impossible to use captured German communication trenches because they were full of wounded men. The battalion came under heavy fire and suffered heavy losses. By the time the battalion reached Gun trench, south of the Quarries, they had suffered over 200 casualties. Subsequently a composite force, formed of survivors of the battalion, the 8th Devon and the 2nd Borders, held this new frontline.
At dusk, the battalion took up a new position at Breslau Avenue, a former German communication trench. This was part of a reorganisation brought about by the Divisional commander’s decision to abandon further attempts to capture Cité St. Ellie, and to concentrate on Hulloch. However, during the night a successful German counterattack evicted the British from the Quarries.
The commanding officer of the battalion was killed on 26th September. Major CG Forsyth took over command, while the battalion spent the day at Breslau Avenue and Stone Alley, consolidating the defences. At dusk, the battalion was relieved by the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders, and it retired to a position on the Hulloch road.
In the early hours of 27th September, the Germans opened an intense artillery barrage on the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders position, and this was followed by an infantry attack. Major CG Forsyth quicly ordered two companies of the 2nd battalion to advance over open ground to reinforce the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders. Other members of the battalion, lost in the morning mist, were collected by a now wounded Major CG Forsyth, and remained in Hulloch trench. The following day, the men of the battalion remained in their respective positions.
Arthur Coombs was one of 14 fatalities on 27th September, who died somewhere between Hulloch road and the trenches of the 1/4th Cameron Highlanders. He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 102 of the Loos Memorial. He is also remembered at St. Michael's Church, Compton Chamberlayne, but his name is not on Savernake war memorial. The 2nd battalion suffered 400 casualties in the Battle of Loos.
Somme
In 1915, the Somme was a relatively peaceful sector of the Western front, without any of the connotations attributed to the area later in the war. There was no major battles, but occasional shelling, mining, and sniping ensured a remorseless toll of casualties.
Corporal Crees September 29, 1915
Henry William Crees lived in Marten in 1911. He was the son of Henry Crees [1843 - 1936] and Fanny Crees, nee Millard [1846 - 1892] of Marten Manor. His father was a farmer, who previously farmed Sevenhampton farm in Highworth (1891 and 1901). He lived on the Bath road in Lymington, and in 1881, described himself as a 'Farmer At Present Out Of Business'. (1881). Henry William Crees was born at Lymington in 1883.
Henry Crees enlisted in the Dorset Regiment and joined the 1st Battalion. His army number was 12863.
This battalion saw service from the beginning of the war. In May 1915, it was one of two battalions defending Hill 60 at Ypres which stood firm under gas attack, then a new horror of war introduced by the Germans. After this battle, the battalion was sent to the relative calm of the Somme, in the area of Carnoy. This was a new sector of the western front for the British, who had only begun to take over the defence of the area from the French in August. The village of Carnoy lies 3 or 4 kilometres from the Somme river, and in 1915, it lay behind the frontline.
Casualties were considered to be infrequent in this sector. On September 10, the battalion came out of line at Susanne after 7 days in the trenches, having only suffered one casualty. The lines were 2,000 yards apart and separated by marshland, which may explain part of the inactivity on the front. Allegedly a well known quiet sector, Carnoy was nevertheless subject to a daily roll call of death from sniping, shelling, and mines; tunnelling was a daily activity, and two or three mines were detonated each month. One of these many hazards claimed the life of Henry Crees.
In 1915, the Somme was a relatively peaceful sector of the Western front, without any of the connotations attributed to the area later in the war. There was no major battles, but occasional shelling, mining, and sniping ensured a remorseless toll of casualties.
Corporal Crees September 29, 1915
Henry William Crees lived in Marten in 1911. He was the son of Henry Crees [1843 - 1936] and Fanny Crees, nee Millard [1846 - 1892] of Marten Manor. His father was a farmer, who previously farmed Sevenhampton farm in Highworth (1891 and 1901). He lived on the Bath road in Lymington, and in 1881, described himself as a 'Farmer At Present Out Of Business'. (1881). Henry William Crees was born at Lymington in 1883.
Henry Crees enlisted in the Dorset Regiment and joined the 1st Battalion. His army number was 12863.
This battalion saw service from the beginning of the war. In May 1915, it was one of two battalions defending Hill 60 at Ypres which stood firm under gas attack, then a new horror of war introduced by the Germans. After this battle, the battalion was sent to the relative calm of the Somme, in the area of Carnoy. This was a new sector of the western front for the British, who had only begun to take over the defence of the area from the French in August. The village of Carnoy lies 3 or 4 kilometres from the Somme river, and in 1915, it lay behind the frontline.
Casualties were considered to be infrequent in this sector. On September 10, the battalion came out of line at Susanne after 7 days in the trenches, having only suffered one casualty. The lines were 2,000 yards apart and separated by marshland, which may explain part of the inactivity on the front. Allegedly a well known quiet sector, Carnoy was nevertheless subject to a daily roll call of death from sniping, shelling, and mines; tunnelling was a daily activity, and two or three mines were detonated each month. One of these many hazards claimed the life of Henry Crees.
Henry Crees is buried in the cemetery at Carnoy Cemetery in grave T1. He was 32 years old. He shares the cemetery with another comrade from the battalion, both of whom were killed between August and end of October 1915. Another 10 men from the battalion lay in nearby Fricourt cemetery. Henry is also remembered on the war memorials at Grafton and Burbage.
Loos
Private Edwards November 2, 1915
Frank Edwards was the son of Charles Henry Edwards and Mary Bartholomew, and he was born in 1897. At this time the family may have lived with Mary's parents on Bedwyn Brail; however by 1911, the family lived at 178 Brook Street. Both father and son were farm labourers.
Frank Edwards enlisted with his friends George Stagg and Leonard Hart in the 6th (Service) battalion, the Wiltshire regiment, at Devizes. The battalion was formed in September 1914, and trained in England until July 1915. The battalion had moved to France by July 21, and was assembled at St. Omer. It was deployed at Pietre, in a supporting role during the Battle of Loos. This battle had ground to a halt by the end of October. On the day of Frank Edward's death, the battalion war diary was preoccupied with the weather:
“1st - 2nd Weather was extremely bad these two days and the trenches became in a very bad state and a great majority of the dug outs fell in”
There is no mention of any casualties. Two men had been wounded on 25th October due to shellfire. It is tempting to suggest that Frank Edwards may have been wounded and died of those wounds on 2nd November. However, if that had been the case, he would probably have been buried in one of the many cemeteries adjacent a Field Ambulance station.
Frank (Francis Henry) Edwards has no known grave. He is remembered on Panel 102 on the Loos memorial, and on the war memorial in Great Bedwyn. A younger brother, Godfrey Charles Edwards, survived the war. He was 6ft 4ins tall. I don’t know if Frank Edwards was of a similar height. Godfrey Edwards continued with the army after the war. In 1921, he was serving with the 2nd Pack Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Private Edwards November 2, 1915
Frank Edwards was the son of Charles Henry Edwards and Mary Bartholomew, and he was born in 1897. At this time the family may have lived with Mary's parents on Bedwyn Brail; however by 1911, the family lived at 178 Brook Street. Both father and son were farm labourers.
Frank Edwards enlisted with his friends George Stagg and Leonard Hart in the 6th (Service) battalion, the Wiltshire regiment, at Devizes. The battalion was formed in September 1914, and trained in England until July 1915. The battalion had moved to France by July 21, and was assembled at St. Omer. It was deployed at Pietre, in a supporting role during the Battle of Loos. This battle had ground to a halt by the end of October. On the day of Frank Edward's death, the battalion war diary was preoccupied with the weather:
“1st - 2nd Weather was extremely bad these two days and the trenches became in a very bad state and a great majority of the dug outs fell in”
There is no mention of any casualties. Two men had been wounded on 25th October due to shellfire. It is tempting to suggest that Frank Edwards may have been wounded and died of those wounds on 2nd November. However, if that had been the case, he would probably have been buried in one of the many cemeteries adjacent a Field Ambulance station.
Frank (Francis Henry) Edwards has no known grave. He is remembered on Panel 102 on the Loos memorial, and on the war memorial in Great Bedwyn. A younger brother, Godfrey Charles Edwards, survived the war. He was 6ft 4ins tall. I don’t know if Frank Edwards was of a similar height. Godfrey Edwards continued with the army after the war. In 1921, he was serving with the 2nd Pack Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Gallipoli
Private Daw November 10, 1915
Albert Daw was the son of Frank and Sarah (Worsdell) Daw of Enford. He was born in 1889, and had two brothers and two sisters. The family were settled in Enford, and many of his mother’s relations were sadly claimed by the war. However, Albert Daw at least had moved to Tidcombe by 1911.
He enlisted with the Wiltshire Regiment, and he served in the 5th battalion. Albert Daw was to be the last local casualty of the Gallipoli campaign. In early November, his battalion was on the beaches near Lala Bala hill. Most of the time seems to have been dedicated to fatigue duties. However, there were casualties, primarily due to Turkish shelling. Albert Daw may have been wounded as a result. The battalion diary for the 8th November records the only fatality in the days preceding his death. Albert Daw may have been wounded on the Beaufort Road :
“Turkish artillery directed chiefly on beaches at LALA BABA and WEST BEACH. Plentiful water supply from new well started by R.E. from which Bn. Water carts are now filled and supply drawn. In the afternoon about a dozen shrapnel shells burst over our support and reserve lines killing one of a fatigue party at work on the BEAUFORT ROAD. Work continued on new H.Q. and support trench”
The cause of his wounds may only be guessed. Having been wounded, he was evacuated from Sulva Bay to Lemnos. He died in hospital in Mudros.
Albert Daw was 27 years old when he died, and and he is buried in East Mudros cemetery. He is also remembered on the Roll of Honour in St. Michael’s church, Tidcombe.
Private Daw November 10, 1915
Albert Daw was the son of Frank and Sarah (Worsdell) Daw of Enford. He was born in 1889, and had two brothers and two sisters. The family were settled in Enford, and many of his mother’s relations were sadly claimed by the war. However, Albert Daw at least had moved to Tidcombe by 1911.
He enlisted with the Wiltshire Regiment, and he served in the 5th battalion. Albert Daw was to be the last local casualty of the Gallipoli campaign. In early November, his battalion was on the beaches near Lala Bala hill. Most of the time seems to have been dedicated to fatigue duties. However, there were casualties, primarily due to Turkish shelling. Albert Daw may have been wounded as a result. The battalion diary for the 8th November records the only fatality in the days preceding his death. Albert Daw may have been wounded on the Beaufort Road :
“Turkish artillery directed chiefly on beaches at LALA BABA and WEST BEACH. Plentiful water supply from new well started by R.E. from which Bn. Water carts are now filled and supply drawn. In the afternoon about a dozen shrapnel shells burst over our support and reserve lines killing one of a fatigue party at work on the BEAUFORT ROAD. Work continued on new H.Q. and support trench”
The cause of his wounds may only be guessed. Having been wounded, he was evacuated from Sulva Bay to Lemnos. He died in hospital in Mudros.
Albert Daw was 27 years old when he died, and and he is buried in East Mudros cemetery. He is also remembered on the Roll of Honour in St. Michael’s church, Tidcombe.
La Bassée
Captain Bond November 25, 1915
Charles Gordon Bond was born in Savernake parish on 18 July 1881. He was the son of the Reverend John Edward Gordon Bond, who had been vicar of Savernake parish in 1880, and who lived at Ditchampton House, Wilton, in 1915.
In contrast with most of the Bedwyn men who died in the war, Charles Bond enjoyed an upbringing, which only privilege and wealth could bestow. His education included Sherborne School (1892 - 1900) and Trinity College, Cambridge. His name is remembered by both institutions.
He was a keen sportsman, playing in the 1st XI cricket team in 1900, and the 1st XV rugby football team in 1899. He joined Marylebone Cricket Club, better known as MCC in 1905, and was one of 330 members who served in the war. His name is remembered on the Roll of Honour on the top staircase of the Lord’s pavillion.
His interest in cricket had followed him into the army, which he joined in 1903. His death was also recorded by an obituary in Wisdens, which described him as “a very useful cricketer who played for his Regiment, Tidworth Garrison and Free Foresters”. The Free Foresters was, and still is, a wandering club with a reputation for first class cricket.
He originally enlisted with the 1st Wiltshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, joining the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire regiment in July, 1903 as a Second-Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1905, and to Captain in 1912. From October 1912 to 1915, he served as Adjutant with the 4th Territorial Battalion, Wiltshire regiment. This battalion sailed to India in October 1914, where it stayed until 1917. In November 1915, Charles Bond returned to the 2nd battalion. He was killed the day after he joined the battalion on the frontline at Givenchy. He led C Company in an attempt to seize the craters of two mines blown in the enemy line by the Royal Engineers:
“All quiet during the morning one company of the RF are again attached to us for instructions. At 5.40pm the RE exploded a small mine in front of our trench in the German lines, later a much larger mine was exploded forming a large crater in their line immediately the Battalion bombers pushed forward and captured the position. 'A' Company who had previously in reserve were brought up to consolidate the position which was carried out with a comparatively few casualties. Capt CG Bond was killed by a piece of falling earth. 2Lt JC Badgely then assumed command of 'C' Coy. Capt GP Steer received a bullet wound in the leg Lieut FC Whiting then assumed command of 'B' Coy. The enemy did not attempt to counter attack. His nerves appeared to be shaken, for the remainder of the night he was very quiet.”
Charles Bond was also the husband of Dorothy Melian Pembroke, and father of an infant, Charles. They lived in Thistledown, near Bude in Cornwall. She remarried, becoming Mrs Snelgrove, and passed away in 1936. Their only son, Charles Frederick Gordon Bond, was born in 1912, and was tragically killed in April 1945, a few weeks before the end of the Second World war. He followed his father into service with the Wiltshire regiment, but in 1945 he was attached to B Squadron, of the 1st Special Air Service Regiment. He was killed by a sniper near Borgerwald in Germany during Operation Howard.
Captain Bond November 25, 1915
Charles Gordon Bond was born in Savernake parish on 18 July 1881. He was the son of the Reverend John Edward Gordon Bond, who had been vicar of Savernake parish in 1880, and who lived at Ditchampton House, Wilton, in 1915.
In contrast with most of the Bedwyn men who died in the war, Charles Bond enjoyed an upbringing, which only privilege and wealth could bestow. His education included Sherborne School (1892 - 1900) and Trinity College, Cambridge. His name is remembered by both institutions.
He was a keen sportsman, playing in the 1st XI cricket team in 1900, and the 1st XV rugby football team in 1899. He joined Marylebone Cricket Club, better known as MCC in 1905, and was one of 330 members who served in the war. His name is remembered on the Roll of Honour on the top staircase of the Lord’s pavillion.
His interest in cricket had followed him into the army, which he joined in 1903. His death was also recorded by an obituary in Wisdens, which described him as “a very useful cricketer who played for his Regiment, Tidworth Garrison and Free Foresters”. The Free Foresters was, and still is, a wandering club with a reputation for first class cricket.
He originally enlisted with the 1st Wiltshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, joining the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire regiment in July, 1903 as a Second-Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1905, and to Captain in 1912. From October 1912 to 1915, he served as Adjutant with the 4th Territorial Battalion, Wiltshire regiment. This battalion sailed to India in October 1914, where it stayed until 1917. In November 1915, Charles Bond returned to the 2nd battalion. He was killed the day after he joined the battalion on the frontline at Givenchy. He led C Company in an attempt to seize the craters of two mines blown in the enemy line by the Royal Engineers:
“All quiet during the morning one company of the RF are again attached to us for instructions. At 5.40pm the RE exploded a small mine in front of our trench in the German lines, later a much larger mine was exploded forming a large crater in their line immediately the Battalion bombers pushed forward and captured the position. 'A' Company who had previously in reserve were brought up to consolidate the position which was carried out with a comparatively few casualties. Capt CG Bond was killed by a piece of falling earth. 2Lt JC Badgely then assumed command of 'C' Coy. Capt GP Steer received a bullet wound in the leg Lieut FC Whiting then assumed command of 'B' Coy. The enemy did not attempt to counter attack. His nerves appeared to be shaken, for the remainder of the night he was very quiet.”
Charles Bond was also the husband of Dorothy Melian Pembroke, and father of an infant, Charles. They lived in Thistledown, near Bude in Cornwall. She remarried, becoming Mrs Snelgrove, and passed away in 1936. Their only son, Charles Frederick Gordon Bond, was born in 1912, and was tragically killed in April 1945, a few weeks before the end of the Second World war. He followed his father into service with the Wiltshire regiment, but in 1945 he was attached to B Squadron, of the 1st Special Air Service Regiment. He was killed by a sniper near Borgerwald in Germany during Operation Howard.
Charles Bond is buried at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Plot II.G.6. He was 34 years old. He is remembered on the war memorial at St. Katherines church, Savernake.
Mesopotamia
British troops were sent to Mesopotamia from India at the beginning of the war to ensure the continued supply of oil. However, the government saw an opportunity to threaten the Ottoman Empire. Politically the campaign was dominated by opportunism rather than by carefully considered strategy, and militarily was poorly led and organised. The disaster that befell the British army at Kut-el-Amara in April 1916 was due to a military incompetence that was tragically endemic in the senior ranks of the British army.
Private Burden December 28, 1915
William Henry Burden may have been born and bred in Burbage, but his name does not appear on the churchyard war memorial. He may have been more closely associated with Marlborough, where a “W Burden” appears on the town war memorial. He was the son of John and Emily Burden of Marlborough.
He enlisted as a volunteer with the Wiltshire regiment, and he was initially posted to the 2/4 Territorial battalion which was formed at Trowbridge in October 1914. After completion of training in December, his battalion was sent to India, and it arrived in Bombay in January 1915. The battalion took over garrison duties from a regular battalion, and remained in India for the duration of the war.
Unfortunately William Burden was posted, or perhaps volunteered, to the 1st battalion, the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. This battalion had been sent to Mesopotamia (Iraq) in November 1914, where it was to remain. In April 1916, the survivors of the battalion were captured after the notorious surrender of the British Garrison at Kut el Amara.
At the beginning of 1915, the battalion was based at Basra. Its first major action, as part of the 6th “Poona” Division commanded by General Townsend, was the capture of Amara in June. Part of the assault force used long boats called “Ballums”, which were punted across the marshes. These boats were made of teak, riveted with iron nails, and covered with bitumen.
On September 2nd, the 6th “Poona” Division advanced north to Kut el Amara, which was captured at the end of September. Approximately 100 casualties were inflicted on the battalion. The fighting continued as General Townsend continued northwards in an attempt to capture Baghdad. The British were thwarted at the costly battle of Ctesiphon, which resulted in 450 casualties in the battalion, and a retreat to Kut for the “Poona” Division. Turkish forces rapidly surrounded the British, and besieged the city; it was completely invested by December 7th. It is unlikely that any wounded were ever evacuated to Amara after this date. After a 5 month siege, the British surrendered in April 1916.
William Burden died long before these disastrous events unfolded at Kut. He was probably posted to Mesopotamia as part of the draft to replace the battalion casualties incurred in September 1915. It is unlikely that he ever joined the battalion at Kut before it advanced north towards Baghdad. Disease or sickness rather than bullets and shrapnel, may have claimed his life. Medical conditions in Mesopotamia were basic, and more men were lost through sickness than were killed in action.
He is buried in Amara War Cemetery, plot I A27, and he may have been among the first men to be buried there. Amara was the location of seven military hospitals during the war.
End 1915