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Bandsman, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Egypt, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Lance Corporal, Lance Serjeant, photography, Private, Somerset, story, The Lancers, Trumpeter, Tyne & Wear, war, Wiltshire

Corporal John Ashton

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Corporal John Ashton

John Gordon Ashton was born at the start of 1885, and was one of at least two children to John and Elizabeth. Little information is available about his early life, although later records confirm that he was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and that the family were living on Elswick Road, leading west out of the city, by 1900.

John found work as a musician, but sought a bigger and better career for himself. On 3rd October 1900, he enlisted in the army, joining the 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers. His service records show that, at not yet sixteen years of age, he was just 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, and weighed 101lbs (46kg). He had brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion, and two moles on the front of his left shoulder.

Private Ashton joined up for a period of 12 years’ service, and spent most of it on home soil. The army seemed to suit him, and he steadily rose through the ranks. By August 1901, John was promoted to Bandsman; five years later, he took the rank of Trumpeter; the start of 1908 brought with it a promotion to Lance Corporal.

In September 1910, John’s unit was sent to Egypt: the move brought him a further promotion. Corporal Ashton spent two years in Cairo, before returning to Britain in the autumn of 1912. He had completed his contract of service with the 21st Lancers, and was formally discharged from service on 4th October.

Back on civvy street, John once again found work as a musician. Life outside of the army seemed not to suit him, however, and he joined the reserve forces in March 1913. The now Lance Sergeant’s service records show the man he had become: he now stood 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall, and bore a large oval scar on the underside of his right knee.

When war was declared the following summer, John was formally mobilised once more. He was attached to the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers and, by 27th August 1914, was in France. Lance Sergeant Ashton’s time overseas was not to last long, however; he returned to Britain just before Christmas that year, and was based at Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire.

John’s military record was not without its hiccups. On 11th March 1910, while based in Canterbury, he was severely reprimanded for being in neglect of his duty whilst in charge of a barrack room. In 1915, however, he received a more severe punishment: on 23rd January, he was found guilty of using insubordinate language to his superior officer – in front of six ranking witnesses – and was demoted to Corporal.

It would seem that John’s health was beginning to suffer, and, after a career of nearly sixteen years, he was medically discharged from the army because of a heart condition.

At this point, his trail goes cold. He remained in the Wiltshire area, and seems to have been receiving ongoing medical treatment. At some point, he married a woman called Mary, although no other information is readily available for her.

Early in 1921, John was admitted to the Pensions Hospital in Bath, Somerset, having contracted pneumonia. He passed away there on 25th February following an aneurysm of the heart. He was 36 years of age.

John Gordon Ashton was laid to rest in the sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, London, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Somerset, story, Surrey, war

Private James Kendall

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Private James Kendall

Much of the early life of James Kendall is destined to remain shrouded in the mists of time. Born on 10th June 1883 in Stalbridge, Dorset, his parents are recorded as James Kendall and Anna Louisa Yeatman.

The 1901 census recorded James as being the head of a household, despite being only 17 years old. He was working as an agricultural labourer, and was living with his maternal grandmother, Mary Ann Yeatman, and her daughter, Louisa (the census recorded her as James’ aunt, although she shared a name with his mother).

James sought a proper career, however, and, on 19th July 1901, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. His service records show that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, with brown eyes, light brown hair and a fresh complexion.

Private Kendall was sent to Deal in Kent for his training: he remained here for nine months, before being transferred to Portsmouth, Hampshire. Over the next twelve years, he served on ten ships – including the HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Egmont and HMS Renown – returning to the HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, in between each assignment.

James was billeted at HMS Victory when war was declared. During the conflict he remained based in Portsmouth, while being assigned to HMS Cornwall and HMS Birmingham for spells. It seems likely that his shore service helped support new recruits: Private Kendall’s experience would have been invaluable.

In 1915, James married a woman called Edith: there are no other details for her, other than that she his named as his next of kin on his service records.

When the armistice was declared, Private Kendall was serving on HMS President III, a shore base split between Bristol, Windsor and London. He returned to Portsmouth in the summer of 1919 and was formally stood down the following January, having been invalided out of the Royal Marines. He had served for more than eighteen years, and consistently received notices of high levels of character and ability.

James’ dismissal from service was as a result of an unrecorded illness, likely to be one of the lung conditions prevalent at the time. The next record for him is that of his passing, on 24th May 1920, at Bath War Hospital, Somerset. He was 36 years of age.

James Kendall was laid to rest in the city’s Locksbrook Cemetery. He was interred in the military section on the graveyard, often reserved for those servicemen whose families were unable to afford to bring their loved ones home.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, injury, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war, Worcestershire Regiment

Private Walter Mutter

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Private Walter Mutter

Walter John Mutter was born in the spring of 1899, the youngest of four children to William and Sarah. William was a lime burner from Pitminster in Somerset, but the family had settled in nearby Corfe by the time Walter was born.

The 1911 census recorded the Mutters as still living in Corfe; William and his two eldest sons – Harry and Francis – were working as farm labourers, while Walter was still at school.

When war came to Europe, Walter was keen to step up and play his part. Full details of his service are unclear, although he probably did not enlist early in the conflict, because of his young age. Private Mutter had joined the Worcestershire Regiment probably by the start of 1918, and soon found himself overseas.

An inquest was held at Bath… on Private Walter John Mutter, 8th [Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment]. It was stated that deceased was only 19, and had been a prisoner in German hands three months behind enemy lines carrying munitions. He told his brother he had been served badly by the Germans, and was kicked and struck with the butt end of a rifle. A doctor said his legs below the knees were covered with the scars of very severe sores. He was practically starved, his food consisting of two meals daily, a bit of black bread and a kind of turnip wash. He was admitted to Bath War Hospital in a starved, emaciated, and debilitated condition, and although he improved in health, he died in the hospital after spending Christmas at his home near Taunton. A post mortem revealed that the wall of deceased’s stomach, which was as thin as blotting paper owing to starvation, was ruptured. His appetite was good while home, and he had probably given his debilitated stomach too much work. Death was due to hemorrhage [sic], but the state of starvation was dur to ill treatment by the Germans. A verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned, the Coroner commenting on the German brutality to their prisoners that the case revealed.

Wells Journal: Friday 10th January 1919

Walter John Mutter died on 31st December 1918, aged just 19 years old. He was laid to rest in the army section of Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery, not far from the hospital where he had passed away.

Cadet, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Royal Air Force, Somerset, story, war, Warwickshire

Cadet Hubert Morley

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Cadet Hubert Morley

Hubert Arthur Morley was born on 28th July 1900, the second of two children to Arthur and Annie Morley. The family were raised in Coventry, Warwickshire, but Arthur had been born in Manchester. The 1901 census recorded him as working as a cycle works timekeeper, but by 1911 he had found other employment as a dealer in hosiery and hats.

By the summer of 1918, the war was showing hints of coming to an end, and Hubert was keen not to miss out on the action. On 9th July, a few weeks before his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force. His service record show that he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall, with brown hair, greenish brown eyes and a fair complexion.

Cadet Morley had previously been employed as an engineer, and was sent to the No. 7 Observers School of Aeronautics in Bath, Somerset. His time here, however, was to be tragically short. Hubert contracted pneumonia, and was admitted to the Bath War Hospital. The condition was to prove his undoing: he passed away on 27th October 1918, at just eighteen years of age.

Finances may have limited Arthur and Annie’s ability to bring their son home. Hubert Arthur Morley was laid to rest in the military section of Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Labour Corps, London, Middlesex, photography, Private, Somerset, story, unknown, war

Private Russell Smith

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Private Russell Smith

Russell David Smith was born in Shoreditch, London, in the summer of 1877. The second of four children, his parents were tailor Richard Smith and his wife, Emma.

When he finished his schooling, Russell found work as a bookbinder: by the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to a small terraced house in Cassland Road, Hackney.

On Christmas Day 1902, Russell married Alice Stretch. A year younger than her new husband, she had been born in Islington, and was the youngest child to cabman Edwin Stretch. When the couple married, she was working as a mantle maker’s assistant, making elements for gas lamps.

The newlyweds settled in a cottage in Walthamstow, and went on to have three children. The 1911 census recorded the young family living at 39 Ritchings Avenue: they had taken in a lodger, Alice Carter, to help pay the bills.

War came to Europe in the summer of 1914 and Russell was called upon to play his part. Details of his military service are sketchy, but from the documents available, it is evident that he had enlisted by the summer of 1917 joining the Labour Corps. Private Smith was attached to the 119th Labour Coy. which seems to be been based in Somerset.

It is impossible to trace Russell’s trail any further. The next record for him is that of his passing, on 17th October 1917. The cause of his death is not readily apparent, but he was 40 years old at the time.

Finances seem to have prevented Alice from bringing her husband home. Russell David Smith was, instead, laid to rest in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, probably as this might have been the closest burial ground to where he had passed away.

Commonwealth War Graves, Derbyshire, Great War, history, illness, Lancashire, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset, story, war

Private Thomas Bastow

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Private Thomas Bastow

Thomas Bastow was born in the spring of 1889, the youngest of five children to Frederick and Mary Bastow. Frederick was from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, but had met his Liverpudlian wife in Lancashire, and it was in the North West of England that the Bastow family had been raised. Mary passed away in 1898, when she was jus 40 years of age. Frederick remarried in 1901, Florence Travis becoming the young Thomas’ stepmother.

Frederick was an inspector for a mineral water company, but when Thomas left school, he found work as a clerk for the land registry. In the autumn of 1916, he married Margaret Hughes. Sadly, there is little more information about her, although their wedding was registered in West Derby.

It may have been that Thomas was in the army at this point, or at least on the verge of going. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps, and was attached to one of the supply units. He seems to have been based in Somerset, as this is where he was hospitalised when he came down with appendicitis.

Private Bastow’s condition was to get the better of him: he passed away on 4th May 1917 while admitted to the Bath War Hospital. He was just 28 years of age.

Finances seem to have limited Margaret’s options when it came to her late husband’s funeral. Rather then being taken back to the north wet for burial, Thomas Bastow was instead interred in Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Frederick Witt

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Private Frederick Witt

Frederick Charles Witt was born on 19th June 1888 in Amesbury, Wiltshire. The second youngest of eight children, his parents were journeyman baker Richard Witt and his wife, Elizabeth.

By the time of the 1901 census, Richard had set up a bakery in North Tidworth, ten miles north-east of Amesbury, with Frederick’s older brother, Alfred, helping out. This was a line of work that Frederick was also to go into when he completed his schooling: the next census return, in 1911, noted him as being his father’s assistant.

On 26th December 1912, Frederick married a woman called Kate Howard. The marriage took place at St Luke’s Church, Enfield, Middlesex. Kate was living in Enfield at the time, while hew new husband was based in Southampton, Hampshire. How a connection was made between the two is unclear, but the couple settled back in Southampton, and went on to have two children: Ivy and Doris.

When war was declared, Frederick was called upon to play his part. Full details of his service are unclear, but he had joined the Royal Army Service Corps by the start of 1917. Private Witt was attached to the Reserve Supply Personal Depot in Bath, Somerset, but, soon after enlisting, he contracted pneumonia.

Frederick was admitted to the Bath War Hospital in April 1917, but the condition was to prove too severe. He passed away on 20th April, at the age of 28 years old.

Frederick Charles Witt was laid to rest in Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery. Interestingly, a newspaper report of his funeral did not mention the attendance – or existence – of Kate or their children; instead his parents seemed to take centre stage.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset, story, war, West Midlands, Wiltshire

Private Alex Jacobs

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Private Alex Jacobs

Ephraim Alex Jacobs was born in the summer of 1883 in Birmingham, West Midlands and was the youngest child to Morris and Mary Jacobs. Morris was a tailor, but when he finished his schooling, Ephraim followed in his older brother’s trade, becoming a hairdresser.

This was not to prove a long-term career, however and, by the time of the 1911 census, things had changed. Ephraim, who now went by his middle name, had moved to Seend, near Melksham, Wiltshire. The document confirms that he had been married for four years by this point, although full details of his wife, the London-born Ethel, remain elusive. Alex was employed as a rubber worker in a factory in Melksham.

When war broke out, Alex stepped up to play his part. His service records no longer exist, but it seems that he enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps, and was attached to one of the Mechanical Transport units. He seems not to have served overseas, and was demobbed on 14th September 1919. At this point Private Jacobs was suffering from neuritis, or nerve damage.

Alex’s trail goes cold at this point. He seems to have spent some time at the Pensioner’s Hospital in Bath, Somerset, and this is where, on 22nd December 1920, he passed away. The cause of his death was noted as being a cerebral tumour and asthma. He was 37 years of age.

With finances seemingly leaving Ethel unable to bring her late husband back to Wiltshire, Alex Ephraim Jacobs was instead laid to rest in the sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath.

Canada, Canadian Infantry, Channel Islands, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Jersey, Kent, Oxfordshire, photography, Private, story, Surrey, Sussex, war

Private Philip le Cornu

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Private Philip le Cornu

Philip Francis le Cornu was born on 29th July 1894 in St Peter’s, Jersey. The youngest of five children, his parents were Philip and Mary le Cornu. Philip Sr was a farmer, but it seems that both he and Mary passed away not long after his youngest son’s birth. By the time of the 1901 census the children had been split between family members, and Philip Jr was living with his maternal grandparents.

Philip finished his schooling, and seems to have sought a purpose in life. He emigrated to Canada and, by the time war broke out, was living in Grande-Mère, Quebec. He found employment as a clerk, but with conflict raging on the other side of the Atlantic, he responded to the call to arms.

Philip enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 12th September 1916. His service records show that he was 22 years and 2 months old and stood 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall. He had black hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. Private le Cornu sailed to Britain, and arrived there on 7th April 1917.

Billeted in Shoreham, West Sussex, Philip was attached to the 14th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry. Within weeks he was sent to France, and, on 15th August 1917, was caught up in the Battle of Hill 70 near Lens.

During the skirmish, Private le Cornu was badly wounded in the thigh and sent to the 58th Casualty Clearing Station. Within days he was moved to the 4th General Hospital in Camiens, but his condition necessitated medical evacuation to Britain.

Over the next year, Philip had three operations on his leg, and spent time at the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford, the Manor War Hospital in Epsom, Surrey, and the 16th Canadian General Hospital in Orpington, Kent. Tragically, all of the medical treatment was to prove to no avail. Private le Cornu passed away from his injuries on 14th September 1918, more than a year after Hill 70. He was 24 years of age.

Philip Francis le Cornu’s body was taken back to the Channel Islands for burial. He was laid to rest in the quiet graveyard of St Mary’s Church on Jersey.

X-ray of Private Philip le Cornu’s left femur
(from uk.forceswarrecords.com)
Channel Islands, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Guernsey, history, photography, Private, Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, Sark, story, unknown, war

Private Hélier Carré

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Private Hélier Carré

Hélier Carré was born in April 1900, on the Channel Island of Sark. He was the second of two children to Hélier and Henriette (also known as Harriet) Carré. Hélier Sr was a fisherman, and the family, including siblings Hélier Jr and Harriet Jr, lived in a four-roomed cottage, La Collinette, with Henriette’s widowed mother, also called Henriette/Harriet.

Hélier Jr was just 14 when war broke out but, with France just 25 miles (39km) across the water, he was obviously keen to play his part. It was not to be until the summer of 1918 that he enlisted, and he joined the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry as a Private. His service records confirm that he had become a fisherman like his father, and they he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall.

Little additional information is available about Private Carré. He was sent to Guernsey for training, and it was there, on 13th November 1918 – just two days after the Armistice was signed – that he passed away. The cause of his death is not freely available, but he was just 18 years of age.

The body of Hélier Carré was taken back to Sark for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of the island’s church, St Peter’s.