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Canada, Captain, Commonwealth War Graves, Gloucestershire, Great War, Hampshire, history, Lieutenant, Major, photography, Royal Marines, Somerset, South Africa, story, unknown, war

Major Charles Hall

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Major Charles Hall

Charles Leigh Hall and his twin Maud, were born on 3rd April 1878 in Clifton, Gloucestershire. Two of eight children, their parents were Pedro and Anne Hall. Pedro, whose full name was Pedro Henrique Sinclair Hall, was better known as Henry, and was a mathematics tutor and Assistant Master at Clifton College, and it goes without saying that the Hall children had a educated upbringing.

Charles was always to be destined for great things. By the time of the 1901 census, when he was 22 years of age, he was a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines Light Infantry. Based on the cruiser HMS Amphion, he travelled the Pacific and, on the night the return was taken, was moored in Vancouver, Canada.

On 15th June 1910, Charles married Sophia Elinor Veale. Born in Caledon, South Africa, the couple wed in the village of Littleham, Devon. They set up home in Gosport, Hampshire – presumably as the now Captain Hall’s work was based from the docks there – and went on to have two children, Anthony and Nicholas.

By September 1915, Charles had been promoted again, this time to the rank of Major. His wartime service included a lot of work in Africa, including in Cameroon in 1914 – for which he was mentioned in Dispatches – German East Africa (Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania today) in 1915 and Saadani (Tanzania) in 1916.

In October 1916, he was invalided out of the Royal Marine Light Infantry for reasons that are unclear, and returned to Britain from Simonstown, South Africa. While Charles seems not to have gone to sea any more, his experience was still respected, and, on 15th January 1917, he was promoted to Brigade Major.

The family settled back down in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and remained there for the next eighteen months. By the summer of 1918, Charles was in Bristol – either based at the docks there, or hospitalised in the city – and passed away on 29th July 1918. He was 40 years of age.

Sophia and her boys were still in Portsmouth, but Charles Leigh Hall was laid to rest in the graveyard of St George’s Church in Easton-in-Gordano, Somerset. The headstone incorrectly gives the month of death as June. Charles’ will divided his estate – £4467 (£318,000 in today’s money) – between his brother, Arthur, and Charles Garnett, a barrister, possibly as a trust for his sons.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, County Louth, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, Ireland, photography, Pioneer, Royal Engineers, Somerset, story, war

Pioneer Patrick Craven

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Pioneer Patrick Craven

Patrick Craven was born in the summer of 1898 in Drogheda, County Louth. The oldest of three children, his parents were Francis (or Frank) and Mary Craven. Mary died in 1909, and the following year Patrick’s father remarried, to widow Kate Devin. The 1911 census found the extended family living in a cottage on North Road, Frank, Kate and their seven children.

Frank was a farm labourer, and this is work that Patrick also went into when he finished his schooling. War came to Europe in 1914, and he was to be called upon to play his part.

Patrick enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 6th June 1917. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, and weighed 127lbs (57.6kg). Pioneer Craven was assigned to the Inland Waterways Transport Division, and sent to Henbury, on the outskirts of Bristol, Gloucestershire, for training.

There was one blip on Patrick’s otherwise spotless service when, on 1st October 1917, he was confined to barracks for two days for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, leaving the ranks without permission‘. Shortly after this, Pioneer Craven was assigned to a unit in Portbury, Somerset.

The wet summer of 1917 had given way to a cold, harsh winter, and the conditions were to lead to Pioneer Craven’s tragic demise on 27th December. The detailed report from the Medical Officer explained what had happened:

This man was found dead… in a small harness room at the Lodway Brewery, Pill, a room occupied by the IW&D, Portbury. I was called in to see him and pronounced him dead, the body was quite stiff and cold and death had probably taken place several hours before. When first discovered the body was fully pronated, with the mouth flattened against the floor, the hands were gripping the Army greatcoat which he had pulled over himself.

The harness room was heated by a coke stove the flue of which passed through the room to the ceiling and was cracked, allowing the fumes of the burning coke to emanate into the room. There was no ventilation except through a door communicating with the stables, which was found shut at the time the cadavre [sic] was found. The stove was situate[d] between the position where the body lay and the door, in a cul-de-sac.

One other man slept in the same room the same night, the deceased man having evidently entered the place after the former had fallen asleep. The second man was not affected by the fumes to any degree, but was lying between the stove and the door under which there was a certain amount of draught.

Sheltering himself from the cold winter night, Private Craven had passed away in his sleep from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was just 19 years of age.

Patrick Craven’s family were unable to afford to bring him back to Ireland for burial. Instead, he was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St George’s Church in Easton-in-Gordano, not far from the brewery stables where he had passed.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, Royal Engineers, Somerset, story, war, Warwickshire, Worcestershire

Lance Corporal Charles Bayliss

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Lance Corporal Charles Bayliss

Charles Bayliss was born in Birmingham in 1861. Little concrete information is available about his early life, but later documents confirm his father was called John, and he was one of at least five children.

Charles married Ellen Kimberley on 8th April 1888. The couple wed at St Mary’s Church in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, and went on to have four children – Nellie, Charles, Burt and Eva.

Charles took up manufacturing work, and ended up being a machine belt maker. He also served in the South Staffordshire Regiment, although whether this was on a paid or voluntary basis is not clear.

When was came to Europe, Charles felt the need to serve his country once more. He enlisted on 23rd August 1917, taking five years off his age to ensure he was accepted. He was assigned to the Royal Engineers, and attached to the Inland Waterways and Docks unit.

Private Bayliss was based at Portbury Camp near Bristol, and records suggest that Ellen moved to be near him, finding lodgings on Myrtle Hill in Pill.

Charles was respected for the work that he was doing, and was promoted to Lance Corporal in May 1918. His health was against him, however, and just two months later he collapsed and died from a heart attack while at work. He was 58 years of age.

Charles Bayliss was laid to rest in the graveyard of St George’s Church, Easton-in-Gordano, not far from the docks where he had served, and the riverside home in which his widow still lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, injury, Lieutenant, photography, Sherwood Foresters, Somerset, story, Surrey, war

Lieutenant Hubert Cavell

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Lieutenant Hubert Cavell

Hubert John Cavell was born on 12th August 1882 in Bristol, Gloucestershire. The middle of three children, his parents were John and Annie Cavell. The 1901 census recorded John as a cycle manufacturer, and both he and Annie were keen to educate their children.

Hubert studied to be an architect, and was employed as such when, on 17th February 1910, he married Florence Shellard. Also born in Bristol, she was the daughter of an insurance agent. Hubert’s father, however, had changed career by the time of his son’s nuptials, and was working as a manufacturer of steel rope.

After their wedding, Hubert and Florence moved out to Easton-in-Gordano, Somerset, and went on to have two daughters: Phyllis, who was born in November 1910; and Dorothy, born in April 1912.

War was brewing across Europe by this point, and, when hostilities were announced, Hubert stepped up to play his part. Full service records for him are lost to time, although is it clear that he joined the Sherwood Foresters (the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment). He was assigned to the 11th (Service) Battalion, and, by the spring of 1917, was firmly entrenched on the Western Front.

News has just been received of the death from wounds, received in action, of Lieut. Hubert John Cavell, of Easton-in-Gordano. The deceased officer was educated at the Cathedral School, and had been associated with the firm of Messrs. Paul and James, architects, for the past 16 years. He was for some years a member of the Church Ringers’ Society, being engaged in that capacity at St James’s Church, Bristol. He joined the Sherwood Foresters in January, 1916, received his commission, and had for the past three months held the position of acting-adjutant. He was 34 years of age, and leaves a widow and two little daughters.

Western Daily Press: Tuesday 24th April 1917

Lieutenant Cavell had been caught up in the fighting near Ypres, and was medically evacuated to a military hospital in Dorking, Surrey. It was here that he succumbed to his injuries on 22nd April 1917.

Hubert John Cavell’s body was brought back to Easton-in-Gordano for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in St George’s Churchyard. He was reunited with Florence, when he died in 1971, and Dorothy, when she passed away in 1997.

Commonwealth War Graves, Gloucestershire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, Labour Corps, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Oliver Haskins

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Private Oliver Haskins

Oliver Edgar Haskins was born in 1896 in Portbury, Somerset. One of ten children, his parents were John and Hester Haskins. John was a gardener, and the 1911 census noted that Oliver was ‘working at home’, although no trade is listed.

When war came to Europe, Oliver stepped up to serve his King and Country, and was one of six Haskins brothers to fight in the conflict. He joined the Gloucestershire Regiment, and was initially assigned to the 15th (Reserve) Battalion. Based on home soil, his unit were barracked at Chiseldon Camp on the fringes of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

At some point Private Haskins transferred to the Labour Corps, and became attached to the 207th Employment Company. It is not possible to identify exactly where he served, but he remained on home soil during the conflict.

The funeral took place at Portbury on Saturday of Mr Oliver Haskins… He was very popular in the village and at business, by virtue of his cheerful disposition and sterling qualities, and was beloved by everybody who came into contact with him. Mr Haskins was taken ill some ten days ago, and confined to his room, but he apparently made a quick recovery until Monday last, when he was suddenly taken worse and died in a few hours, at the age of 24.

Bristol Times and Mirror: Monday 19th January 1920

Oliver Edgar Haskins died on 12th January 1920. He was laid to rest in the once peaceful graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Portbury.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Middlesex, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker Louis Theobold

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Stoker Louis Theobold

Louis Theobald was born on 27th January 1898 in Soho, Middlesex. There is little information available about his early life, and the only document that can be directly connected to him is his military service records.

Louis enlisted in the Royal Navy on 7th September 1915. He had been working as a miner at the time, and the document gives an insight into the man he was. He stood 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. The service records also confirm that he had a tattoo on his right arm.

Stoker 2nd Class Theobald was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He spent three months there, before being given his first posting, on board the minesweeper HMS Alyssum. He remained on board for three months, before transferring to the cruiser HMS Wallington in February 1916.

Louis’ health was starting to be impacted by this point: he had developed bronchitis, probably exacerbated by heat and dust of the confined engine room he worked in. By April 1916 he was transferred back to HMS Pembroke, and within two months, he was medically discharged from service.

Stoker 2nd Class Theobald had been admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham by this point, and his health began to deteriorate. He passed away from a combination of bronchitis and empyema on 15th September 1916: he was just eighteen years of age.

Louis Theobald was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic section of the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, not far from the dockyard where he had been based.

accident, Carpenter's Crewman, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, Shipwright, story, war

Shipwright 1st Class Thomas Collins

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Shipwright 1st Class Thomas Collins

Thomas Collins was born in the Blackfriars area of Glasgow on 12th March 1877. His was a common name, and it is a challenge to find identify much about his early life. He did, however, have a brother called Andrew, and, when he finished his schooling, he found work as a carpenter and joiner.

Thomas sought new opportunities and, on 21st January 1899, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Working as a Carpenter’s Crew, he was initially assigned to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport, Devon. His service records show that he was 5ft 5ins (1,65m) tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion.

Devonport was to become Thomas’ base, but, over the twelve years of his initial navy contract, he went on to serve on eight separate vessels. He records suggest that he was good at what he did, and his moved up through the ranks as a result. However, he seemed to have another side to him, which occasionally revealed itself.

Thomas was promoted to Leading Carpenter’s Crew on 19th December 1901, but what had been noted as a very good character seemed to take a downturn at this point. He was committed to cells for two weeks in January/February 1903, while serving on HMS Highflyer, with an incident leading to his demotion to Carpenter’s Crew once more. This also appears to match with a drop in his character: noted as Very Good in his reviews of 1899 to 1901, he slipped to Good in 1902 and fair in 1903 and 1904.

His imprisonment seems to have been the shake up Thomas needed. From here on in, his character was consistently recorded as Very Good and, by August 1909, he had regained the rank of Leading Carpenter’s Crew. There was, however, a serious blip in this good behaviour, noted in his service records:

This man was tried for the manslaughter of Richard Ernest Bell, blacksmith, on [illegible date], who died from injuries received in a fight with Collins on HMS Cambridge. Verdict of Jury at Assizes: “Not guilty”. Judge in summing up stated that he considered Collins was technically guilty of manslaughter.

Thomas had been on the mess deck of HMS Cambridge on 26th August 1905, when he became embroiled in a fight with Petty Officer Bell. Medical evidence showed that Bell died as a result of a blow behind his ear, the punch delivered by Leading Carpenter’s Crew Collins. While it seems likely that he unintentionally caused the Petty Officer’s death, he was cleared by the jury, and remained assigned to HMS Cambridge until November 1905.

Thomas’ initial term of service came to an end on 20th January 1911, and he had no hesitation in re-enlisting. On board HMS St George at the time, his new contract brought with it the rank of Shipwright 2nd Class. Over the next five years, he served on four more ships, and rose a rank to Shipwright 1st Class.

On 8th January 1916, Thomas married Flora Peacock. Little information is available about here, although the wedding took place in Harwich, Essex. Thomas was serving on board the cruiser HMS Conquest by this point, and was based out of the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

On Tuesday evening, March 28th, a cutter belonging to HMS Conquest, which was taking forty liberty men off to the ship, was caught in a blizzard and nothing was seen or heard of her again till the morning, when she was found cast up on shore many miles away. All hands were drowned.

The cutter was being towed out by a steam-launch. The hawser broke and the boat drifted away ad capsized.

Westerham Herald: Saturday 8th April 1916

Shipwright 1st Class Thomas Collins was one of those lost from the cutter. He had not long turned 39 years of age. He was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the dockyard at which he had been based.

Thomas’ headstone incorrectly gives his surname as Collings.

Commonwealth War Graves, County Cork, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker James Hurley

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Stoker James Hurley

James Hurley was born in Timoleague, County Cork, Ireland, on 1st August 1894. His was not an uncommon name so full details of his early life are a challenge to unpick. However, later records confirm that his father was also called James Hurley, and when he finished his schooling, he found work as a farm labourer.

When war broke out in Europe, James Jr was quick to step up and play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 12th January 1915, and took the role of Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker 2nd Class Hurley was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. However, his time there was to be tragically brief. He was admitted to the Welcome Hospital when he contracted pneumonia and empyema, but the condition was to prove too severe. He passed away on 6th February 1915, at the age of just 20 years old. He had been in the Royal Navy for just 25 days.

James Hurley’s parents were unable to bring him back to Ireland for burial. Instead, he was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic section of the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, not far from the dockyard in which he had so briefly served.

Commonwealth War Graves, Fireman, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Lancashire, Merchant Navy, photography, Stoker, story, Trimmer, war

Stoker Thomas McCall

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Stoker Thomas McCall

Thomas McCall was born in Bootle, Lancashire, in 1892 and was one of two children to Francis and Elizabeth. Frank was a stoker on the steamers leaving Liverpool docks and, after working at the docks himself, Thomas soon followed his father onto the ships. By the summer of 1911, he had worked as a trimmer on at least two liners, the RMS Carmania and the RMS Empress of Britain.

When war came to Europe, Thomas stepped up, joining the Mercantile Marine Reserve – now better known as the Merchant Navy. By the summer of 1915, he was assigned to the seaplane carrier HMS Vindex, which spent most of the war in the North Sea.

Stoker McCall’s time there was to be brief. Details are sparse, but he passed away on 14th October 1915, with records suggesting this was due to disease. He was just 23 years of age.

Finances may have limited Frank and Elizabeth from bringing their son back to Lancashire: Thomas McCall was instead laid to rest in the Roman Catholic section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, not far from the dockyard in which he had been based.

Thomas’ headstone gives MaCall as his surname. This is an error: his name was spelt McCall.

Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Seaman, story, war

Seaman Peter Bennoit

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Seaman Peter Bennoit

Peter Bennoit was born in 1897 in St George’s, Newfoundland. The son of fisherman and sporting guide Peter Bennoit and his wife, Selina, little more is known about his early life.

When war was declared in Europe, he was quick to take up the call to arms. He made the journey to St John’s, and enlisted in the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve on 14th October 1914. He set sail for Britain on board the training ship HMS Calypso and, having arrived in November, he was transferred to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

Seaman Bennoit remained in Chatham for the next couple of month, presumably to await a formal posting. This was not to happen, however: he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham with mastoiditis, a bacterial infection of the inner ear. The condition was so serious that Peter succumbed to it: he passed away on 20th January 1915, at the age of just 18 years old.

Peter Bennoit was 2500 miles (4000km) from home, so it was not possible for him to be interred in Newfoundland. Instead, he was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, not far from where he had passed.