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Able Seaman, accident, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, Kent, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Leading Seaman Reuben Pearce

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Leading Seaman Reuben Pearce

In the military section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, is a headstone marking the grave of Leading Seaman Reuben William Pearce. Little information is available about his early life, although later records suggest that he was born on 30th January 1875 in Plymouth, Devon.

When he completed his schooling, Reuben found work as a hawker. He had his heart set on bigger and better things, however, and, on 3rd June 1890, he signed up to the Royal Navy. Just fifteen years of age, he was too young to formally enlist, but he was accepted with the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent off to HMS Impregnable, the training ship based in nearby Devonport, for his induction.

Over the next two-and-a-half years, Boy Pearce learnt his trade. On 4th June 1891, he was promoted to the rank of Boy 1st Class, and the following February he was assigned to his first ship, the corvette HMS Boadicea. It was while he was on board the corvette that Reuben came of age, and he was officially inducted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion. He was noted as having an anchor and his initials tattooed on his left arm, with another anchor tattoo on his right.

Reuben enlisted for a twelve-year term of service. During this time, he served on nine vessels, returning to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in between voyages. He had a mixed career, and, on 1st February 1894, was promoted to Able Seaman. In January 1896, he spent three days in cells, for an unrecorded offence.

In January 1900, whole aboard the gunvessel HMS Rambler, Reuben was promoted to Leading Seaman. Within a day, however, he was back in the cells, where he spent the next 72hrs. This led to an immediate demotion, and he found himself back as an Able Seaman.

When his contract came to an end, Reuben immediately re-enlisted, and he would go on to serve for another thirteen years. In July 1906, he was promoted to Leading Seaman once again, and seemed to have learned the error of his ways, retaining the rank until his passing.

On 15th September 1916, Leading Seaman Pearce was mentioned in despatches. for his service during the Battle of Heligoland Bight. The ship on which he was serving at the time, the battlecruiser HMS Tiger, was heavily involved.

Reuben remained on the Tiger for three-and-a-half years, and during this time, his valour was recognised again, when he was awarded the Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare (Bronze Medal for Military Valour) by the King of Italy. Again, details are unclear, but he was again mentioned in despatches for his service.

By the spring of 1918, Leading Seaman Pearce was billeted on board HMS Hindustan, which was being used as barracks ahead of a planned raised on Zeebrugge and Ostend. On 13th April an accident occurred, and he received a gun shot wound to his leg. This fractured his femur, and, despite being rushed to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, Kent – not far from the dockyard where the Hindustan was moored – he passed away from his injuries later that day. Full details of the incident are unclear, but he was 43 years of age.

Reuben William Pearce was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the port which had served as his final base.

accident, Artificer, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Gerald Bowerman

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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Gerald Bowerman

A distressing fatality, involving the death of a member of the crew of HM destroyer “Rifleman”, and injury to two others, occurred at the harbour where his ship was on Saturday night. A party of four – one civilian and three Navy men – were on a motor cycle and side-car on their way to Provost Matthews’ Quay, from which the sailors were to join their ship. The cyclist, who was controlling the machine in the darkness of the night, failed to observe that the bridge at the dock gates was open to allow a vessel to pass out to sea. The motor cycle collided with the obstruction, with the result that the machine and side-car swerves round, and plunged headlong into the well from which the bridge swings.

The result of the accident was that Gerald Bowerman (25), engine-room artificer, fractured his skull, while his two ship-mates, Charles Morrice, chief engine-room artificer, and James Fulthorpe, engine-room artificer, were somewhat severely injured. Deceased belonged to Buckfastleigh, his residence being the Mechanics’ Arms.

[Western Times: Friday 25th September 1914]

Gerald Bowerman was born in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on 30th October 1888. The youngest of four children, his parents were James and Augusta Bowerman. James was a jack-of-all-trades, with the 1891 census noting that he worked as a grocer, coal dealer and cab proprietor, with his wife assisting in the business.

James seemed to seek out new opportunities, and, by the time of the next census, taken in 1901, the family had moved to Exeter, and were running the Red Cow Inn at the foot of St David’s Hill.

Gerald’s older brother, Harold, joined the navy in 1906, and his sibling was not to be outdone. By 1910, James and Augusta had moved back to Buckfastleigh, and were running the Mechanic’s Arms. Gerald, however, was drawn to the sea and gave up his employment as a fitter and turner to enlisted in the Royal Navy on 14th September 1910. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Bowerman was first sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, for his training. He joined the battleship HMS Bellerophon in February 1911, and she would be his home for the next two years.

After another short spell in Devonport, Gerald transferred to HMS Caesar, then to the depot ship HMS Blake, to which he was assigned on 30th August 1913. The following month he was promoted to Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class, and would remain on board Blake through to the outbreak of war the following year.

Engine Room Artificer Bowerman’s ship was based in Aberdeen when the motorcycle accident occurred. He was just 25 years of age when he died, on 20th September 1914.

Gerald Bowerman’s body was taken back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of Holy Trinity Church in his home town of Buckfastleigh.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, injury, Kent, Merchant Navy, photography, Scotland, story, war

Master Charles Crane

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Master Charles Crane

Charles John Crane was born in Canning Town, Essex, on 14th April 1879. One of at least five children, his parents were Charles and Sarah Crane. Charles Sr had been born in Bath, Somerset, but was working in London as a hairdresser when he met his wife, and settled in West Ham. The family lived in rooms at 52 Burnham Street, sharing the house with Sarah’s parents, Daniel and Rebecca King, and siblings.

By the time of the 1891 census, the family set-up had changed. Charles Jr was now living with Daniel and Rebecca at 56 Burnham Street, but his parents and siblings are nowhere to be found. Daniel was a dock labourer, and his job seems to have ignited a passion for the sea that was to direct his grandson’s life.

Charles took to a life at sea, working his way up to the rank of Master, and settling in the Montrose area of Scotland. He married Margaret McIntosh, and they went on to have six children.

When war broke out, Charles was assigned to the SS Innescroone, and served his time on board during the conflict.

FATAL BLOW WHILE WORKING AN ANCHOR.

An inquest was held at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gillingham, into the circumstances attending the death of Charles John Crane, aged thirty-nine, master of the s.s. Innescroone. The deceased met with an accident on the 8th inst. while working the anchor of his vessel, and was removed to the hospital, where he died from the injuries he sustained on 12th inst.

The Coroner (Mr. C. B. Harris) remarked that the deceased’s vessel was at sea, so that it would not be possible to conclude the inquiry that day, as witnesses from the ship would have to be called. Only necessary evidence would be taken, and the inquest would be adjourned. Evidence of identification was given by Mrs Crane, who stated that her husband was conscious when she saw him at the hospital, but he was in too bad a condition to tell her anything about the accident.

Surgeon Percy Gibson, R.N. stated that the deceased was admitted to the hospital from Sheerness, suffering from a blow in the stomach, which he received owing to the winch handle flying back. He was suffering from severe shock. He was operated on the same morning. He had ruptured a small intestine. Peritonitis set in, and he died on Sunday (12th inst.) from rupture of the intestine and general peritonitis. There was a bruise on the abdominal wall just over where the rupture was found, which showed that it was due to the accident.

At the adjourned inquest, the mate (Boynton) gave evidence as to the cause of the mishap. It appeared that the Inniscroone was lying at anchor near the Edinboro’ Channel on the morning of May 8. There was a strong wind blowing either from the north-east or the south-east. It was desired to heave the anchor, but owing to the strong wind the motor failed. In consequence it was intended to use hand power for the purpose. The winch handle was fitted to the winch, but the actual heaving process by hand had not commenced. Owing to a lurch of the ship the grip holding the anchor chain came open, and this sudden strain broke the pivot and part of the frame of the winch’s pawl. As a result the chain started, and many fathoms ran out. In revolving at high speed the winch handle flew off and struck deceased a blow in the stomach, knocking him down. He was attended to by the ship’s doctors, who were called, and admitted to the Sheerness Sickquarters in the afternoon of that day, and removed the next day to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham.

The jury found death to be due to peritonitis caused by the accidental blow from the flying winch handle.

The deceased, who belonged to London, had been resident in Montrose for the past sixteen years, and leaves to mourn his loss his widow and a family of six, who reside at 12 Gibson Place. For seven years he sailed on the local ketch Spartan. Full naval honours were given to his burial, which took place on 16th inst. to Gillingham Cemetery, Kent.

[Montrose Standard: Friday 31st May 1918]

Charles John Crane was 39 years of age when he passed away. He was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent.

Able Seaman, accident, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorset, Great War, history, Leading Seaman, Norfolk, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Petty Officer 1st Class Albert Hodder

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Petty Officer 1st Class Albert Hodder

Albert George Hodder was born on 27th December 1878 in Lyme Regis, Dorset. The oldest of three children, his parents were Samuel and Ellen Hodder. Samuel was a general labourer who died in 1886, when he was 35 years of age. By the time of the 1891 census, Albert had given up school, and was working as a live-in cowboy in the nearby Devon village of Uplyme, bringing in what would be the only wage for him, his mother and his two younger brothers.

Working on a dairy farm would not bring in the money his family would need. So, on 7th August 1894, Albert sought out more of a career and enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall with brown hair, grey eyes and a ruddy complexion.

Albert was under the age to formally enlist, and so was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was sent to the training ship HMS Boscawen, and, over the next eighteen months he received a basic education and naval induction. By the end of July 1895, he had been promoted to the rank of Boy 1st Class.

On 12th November 1895, Boy Hodder was assigned to the ironclad ship HMS Alexandra, and his naval career began. Over the next nearly two decades, he would serve on twelve separate ships, rising through the ranks as he did so.

When Albert came of age, on 27th December 1896, he was serving on board HMS Gibraltar. Formally inducted into naval service, he was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. He spent more than three years on board Gibraltar, and rose to Able Seaman on 1st January 1899.

From here his career continued: He was promoted to Leading Seaman on 18th May 1903, Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st April 1905 and Petty Officer 1st Class just two years later.

In the autumn of 1912, Albert’s career changed course. He was assigned to HMS Maidstone, a submarine depot ship, and a life under the ocean waves started to appeal. On 28th March 1914, Petty Officer Hodder was sent to HMS Dolphin, home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, where he was trained up for new duties. By October that year he was to be found serving on board the newly-commissioned submarine E11.

Over the next few months, he served in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and the E11 was involved in a minor way in the defence of Scarborough in December 1914 and the Cuxhaven Raid ending on Christmas Day that year.

At this point, Petty Officer Hodder’s trail goes cold. He remained on the E11 until early February, by this time she was based off the Norfolk coast.

An inquest was held on Friday on the body of Albert George Hodder… of Lyme Regis, Dorset, a member of the crew of one of HM vessels, who died from the effect of immersion.

Evidence showed that at 9.20 on the previous Thursday night a petty officer heart the shout of “Man overboard.” He got on to a collier moored in the river and saw a black object float past. Unable to reach it, he jumped ashore and got into the ferry boat. He was then able to reach the object, which he found was the deceased. He held his head above the water while the ferryman pulled the boat to the quay. The deceased was got out in an insensible condition, a doctor sent for, and artificial respiration tired. Efforts were persisted till breathing was established, and he was then wrapped in blankets, with hot water bottle; but he succumbed to the effects of immersion and shock shortly after eleven. No one saw how the deceased fell overboard.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

[Diss Express: Friday 12th February 1915]

Petty Officer 1st Class Albert George Hodder was just 35 years of age when he died on 4th February 1915. His body was taken back to Dorset for burial, and he was laid in Lyme Regis Cemetery.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, photography, Private, Royal Devon Yeomanry, story, war

Private Percy Coplestone

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Private Percy Coplestone

Percy Reginald Coplestone was born in Torquay, Devon, on 17th August 1890. The oldest of four children, his parents were bakers William and Louisa Coplestone. The family moved to Kinkerswell in 1895, and, by the time of the 1911 census, they had moved to Paignton.

The Copplestones had set up business in Church Street and Louisa’s widowed mother, Louisa Smallbone, had moved in with them. Percy, now 20 years of age, was helping in the business, while his younger sister, Gladys, was employed as a draper’s assistant.

When war came to Europe, Percy was called upon to play his part. Details of his service are tantalisingly scarce, but they suggest that he had enlisted no earlier than April 1915. He joined the Royal Devon Yeomanry, and was assigned to the 3rd/1st Battalion, although his time in the military was to be brief.

The funeral took place Friday of Pte. Percy Coplestone, eldest sone of Mr and Mrs Coplestone, Church-street, Paignton, who joined 1st Devon Yeomanry, sustained an injury while undergoing gymnastic training, was operated upon on Monday, and died in the evening.

[Western Times: Tuesday 23rd November 1915]

Percy Reginald Copplestone died on 15th November 1915: he was 25 years of age. He was laid to rest in Paignton Cemetery, a short walk from where his family still lived.

While researching Percy’s life, I came across a couple of articles relating to a legal action taken against his father, William, by Edward Elkington, for damaged caused in a car accident. Edward was suing for £15 damaged, while William counter-sued for £65.

The case was initially heard in November 1915 – sadly, a week after Percy’s passing – before being adjourned until the following January. In amongst a number of witness statements, a local newspaper reported William’s evidence:

William Joseph Coplestone… baker and confectioner, said he left the Gerston [Hotel] between 11.5 and 11.10 in his single motor, with Mr Tolcher and Mr Hicks. It was a rather heavy car for his size, very reliable and very slow. They went on second speed, about six or seven miles an hour, and at the corner of Hyde-road witness [William] sounded the hooter, nothing then being visible. Taking a wide turn following the Torquay lines leading to Torquay, witness got on the left side, the proper side. He saw the lights of a car approaching, also a tram-car, the car being 140 yards away and 50 yards ahead of the tram. The car was approaching on the wrong side, and there was practically an end-on collision. Witness expected every moment the other car would have gone over to its proper side. Witness had driven about 100 feet when the collision took place and his car was stationery at the time. Witness and his friends were thrown out. The car cost him about £80 and the estimate of repairs was £63 5s. Mr Elkington said, “It is a bad job.” Witness replies, “It is your fault absolutely; you are on the wrong side of the road.” Plaintiff said, “You were crossing the road fast,” and witness replied that he was bound to cross the road. Elkington remarked, £I did my best to avoid the accident. Immediately I saw you I applied my brakes, but the roads were greasy, and the wheels would not grip.” PC Clarke was not there when the collision took place. Later he suggested to the constable that measurements should be taken, and went back to look after Mr Hicks. Before he got back they had moved his car. Coplestone said he had often driven two people in the car. When his son left for the Dardanelles, witness drove his wife and son to Southampton in comfort.

[Western Times: Tuesday 25th January 1916]

The case was adjourned once again, to 11th February. Frustratingly, there seems not to have been any follow-up newspaper report, so there is no confirmation of the outcome of William’s case.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Ireland, killed in action, Northern Ireland, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Private Frederick Bundy

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Private Frederick Bundy

Private Frederick Arthur Bundy, of the 1st Somerset Light Infantry is to be buried in Locksbrook Cemetery tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon with full military honours. He met with a fatal accident in Belfast on Sunday last. In the afternoon when in quarters he was passing from one room to another when a rifle which was bring cleaned by a comrade in the room which he was entering went off. The bullet passed through Private Bundy’s wrist and entered the stomach. He was at once removed to the military hospital, but passed away at midnight, from internal haemorrhage. Deceased, was the son of Mr FA Bundy, of 93 High Street, Upper Weston, and enlisted at the Drill Hall, Bath, in August 1919, when only 15 years of age, being accepted as he was a youth of exceptionally fine stature. At the time of his death he was 16 years and 10 months of age. After a short period of training at Taunton he went with a draft of Somersets to Ireland and was stationed for some time at Carrickfergus Castle, being moved into Belfast when the riots occurred there.

[Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 4th December 1920]

Frederick Arthur Bundy was born early in 1904, and was the middle of three children to Frederick and Mary Ann Bundy. Frederick Sr was a labourer from Bath, Somerset, and it was in the Weston area of the city that the family were born and raised.

The 1911 census – the only one Frederick Jr would be recorded on – noted the family as living at 45 High Street, Weston. The household consisted of Frederick Sr, Mary Ann, Frederick Jr, his older sister Sarah, younger brother William and Mary Ann’s daughter from a previous marriage, Annie.

Sadly, due to his young age, there is little additional documentation to build a picture of Frederick Jr’s life. He passed away on 28th November 1920, and was laid to rest in Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery, not far from the family home.

Frederick Arthur Bundy’s funeral was shown in a photo-spread in the Bath Chronicle of 11th December 1920.

Editor’s Note: While Frederick enlisted nine months after the end of the First World War, his acceptance for a Commonwealth War Grave is because his passing being between the qualifying dates and the cause being as a result of his military service.

Able Seaman, accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, Leading Seaman, Norfolk, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Petty Officer Ellis Sayer

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Petty Officer Ellis Sayer

Much of the life of Ellis Edward Sayer seems destined to remained shrouded in the mists of time. Born in Attleborough, Norfolk on 31st January 1888, the only census return he appears on dates from 1891. This records him as living with his grandmother, Maria Simons, who was noted as being married and working as a laundress. Ellis’ 16-year-old uncle, William, was also living there and employed as a groom.

Jumping forward a few years and, on 31st December 1907, Ellis enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records note that he had previously been employed as a messenger, and there seems to have been some previous marine connection. The document shows that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m), with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having tattoos of a dragon, a rose and the word ‘unity’ on his left forearm.

As an Ordinary Seaman, Ellis was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He was only there for a matter of weeks before being assigned to the HMS Cochrane then HMS Natal.

On 7th April 1908, Ordinary Seaman Sayer was attached to the cruiser HMS Lancaster, and he was to remain with her for close to two years. Promoted to Able Seaman on 26th November 1909, his time on board came to a close in May 1910.

Over the next few years, Ellis continued his progress in his naval career. After a year on shore in Chatham, he was assigned to HMS Blonde, and was promoted to Leading Seaman in August 1912. He returned to HMS Pembroke the next month, and remained attached to the dockyard for the next year and a half: his experience likely being used to support newer recruits.

On 6th March 1914, Leading Seaman Sayer was assigned to the battleship HMS Commonwealth. Over the next three years she patrolled the North Sea, from the Norwegian coast and Shetland in the north to Dogger Bank in the south. On 1st August 1915, Ellis receive a further promotion, holding the rank of Petty Officer for the remainder of his time on board Commonwealth.

On 18th February 1917, Ellis’ life came to an abrupt end. There is little information available about his passing, one record stating that he died from an injury to his kidney which was as a result of an accident, while another states ‘rupture of kidney caused through [a] fall’. HMS Commonwealth seems to have been moored in Chatham, however, as he passed away in the town’s Royal Naval Hospital. He was 29 years of age.

Petty Officer Sayer’s next-of-kins were noted as his sister, Mrs J Andrews, who lived in Norwich, and a friend, Mrs Ethel Hampton, who lived in Gillingham, Kent.

Ellis Edward Sayer’s body was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the dockyard he had called home for so long.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, London, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, war

Private John Merritt

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Private John Merritt

John Merritt was born on 17th August 1880 in Shoreditch, London, and was the youngest of three children to James and Emily Merritt. James was a dock labourer, who passed away when his son was just four years old. Emily remarried the following year, having a child with her new husband, George Wise, in 1888.

When he completed his schooling, John found work as a stoker. However, he sought bigger and better things and, on 21st February 1898, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. Not yet eighteen years old, his service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.64m) tall, with grey eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. His service records also record a couple of tattoos: an anchor on his left forearm, and a crossed heart on his right.

Over the next two decades, Private Merritt sailed and saw the world. Primarily based out of the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, he served on ten ships in all. His superiors obviously thought highly of him, as his records note his character and ability as very good throughout his service.

On 3rd July 1909, John married Harriett Wise. She was a lighterman’s daughter from East London, who was working as a cork cutter when the couple exchanged their vows. They went on to have two children: Florence, who was born in 1910, and Reginald, who came along six years later.

By the time war was declared in the summer of 1914, John seems to have been mainly shore-based, his time being split between Chatham and Portsmouth, Hampshire.

On 7th March 1917, Private Merritt was on board the gunboat HMS Spey, which was carrying out diving operations in the Thames Estuary. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, in “bitterly cold and boisterous conditions” [Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald: Saturday 24th March 1917], the ship lost an anchor, and the decision was made to return to base at Sheerness, Kent. Another vessel, the HMS Belvedere, was close by and turned towards the Spey, and, despite trying to avoid a collision, the smaller ship was struck a glancing blow.

The Spey was 40 years old, and the impact sheered numerous rivets from the side. Water gushed in, and the gunboat sunk beneath the Thames within a matter of minutes. Some of the crew had managed to escape on a life raft, but it was not fitted with lights or flags. The boat drifted and was not found until five hours later, partially submerged: all on board had died.

In total, twenty of the thirty-seven crew perished on that March afternoon, including Private Merritt. He was 36 years of age.

It would seem that Harriett was unable to cover the cost of bringing her late husband’s body back to London for burial. Instead, John Merritt was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, not far from the naval base in Chatham which he had called home for so long.

Able Seaman, accident, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, London, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Able Seaman Horace Freeman

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Able Seaman Horace Freeman

Horace James Freeman was born in Hackney, East London, on 16th September 1879. The second of five children, his parents were Archibald and Mary Freeman. According to the 1891 census, Archibald was employed as a carman, but the next document had him listed simply as a ‘traveller’.

When he completed his schooling, Horace found work as a baker’s assistant. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, on 13th February 1897, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

A few months under full age, Horace was initially given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was sent to the training ship HMS Northampton, and seemingly impressed his superiors, rising to Boy 1st Class within a couple of months. He moved to another training vessel, HMS Calliope, in July 1897, and was serving on board when he came of age that September.

Now formally inducted into the Royal Navy, Ordinary Seaman Freeman began what was to be an eighteen year career at sea. He would become based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, and went on to serve aboard nine ships during his time.

Promoted to the rank of Able Seaman in October 1899, Horace’s time in the navy was not to be without incident. He spent eight separate periods of time in the cells, 158 days in total. Full details of his misdemeanours are lost to time, but at least on at least one occasion he was placed in the brig for refusing orders.

On Christmas Day 1911, Horace married Sarah Byatt. She was a bricklayer’s daughter from Tottenham, and the couple went on to have two children: Clifford, born in 1913, and Leslie, born two years later.

While Sarah was looking after their young family, Horace spent a lot of his time at sea. As time moved on, however, he was based at HMS Pembroke for longer spells, and it was while he was in Chatham early in 1916 that fate befell him.

The body of Horace J Freeman, an able seaman of the RFR, who had been missing from his ship since February 25th, was found floating in South Lock at Chatham Dockyard on Saturday.

[South Eastern Gazette: Tuesday 11th April 1916]

Little additional information is available about Horace’s death, and it is unclear how he had fallen into the lock. He was 36 years of age.

The body of Able Seaman Horace James Freeman was laid to rest in Gillingham’s Woodlands Cemetery, not far from the naval base he had called home for so long.

accident, Cadet, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Glamorganshire, Gloucestershire, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, Royal Artillery, Sergeant, Somerset, South Africa, South Wales Borderers, story, Wales, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment, Yorkshire

Serjeant Fred Maynard

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Serjeant Fred Maynard

Details of Fred Maynard’s early life are a challenge to piece together. His First World War service records give his age as 44 years old when he enlisted in September 1914, and confirm his place of birth as Melksham, Wiltshire.

A newspaper report of his funeral gives the name of three brothers – Charles, Frank and Arthur – while only one census return, from 1881, provides a potential match for the family. This suggests Fred’s parents were iron fitter Alfred Maynard and his wife, Deborah, and gives the family’s address as Waterworks Road in Trowbridge.

Fred joined the army in the autumn of 1888. Initially assigned to the Gloucestershire Regiment, he had transferred to the Wiltshire Regiment by the following spring. Private Maynard showed a commitment to duty: in December 1890 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, rising to Corporal in the summer of 1893.

Fred was stood down to reserve status after his seven years’ active duty, but was recalled to the army in December 1899, when war broke out in South Africa. Promoted to Serjeant, he was sent to fight in the Boer War, and was mentioned in dispatches on 2nd April 1901 for special and meritorious service in South Africa. He was stood back down to reserve status in October 1901.

On 21st November 1895, Fred had married Louisa Card. The couple set up home in Trowbridge, but soon moved to London. They went on to have six children: Ernest, Nora and Leslie, who were all born in the London; and Arthur, Martha and Stuart, who were born in Cardiff, the family having moved to Wales by 1910.

The army was not finished with Fred, however, and, within weeks of war breaking out in the summer of 1914, he was called back into service. Given the rank of Serjeant again, he was attached to the South Wales Borderers. Fred was 44 years of age by this point, his service records confirming that he stood 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, weighed 164lbs (74.4kg) and had brown hair and hazel eyes.

Attached to one of the regiment’s depots, it seems unlikely that Fred saw service overseas this time around. He was discharged from the army on 1st September 1916 and this seems to have been on medical grounds. Later documents suggest that Serjeant Maynard had been diagnosed with carcinoma of the pylorus, or stomach cancer.

Fred returned to Cardiff, but his time back home was to be short. He was admitted to the Lansdown Road Military Hospital, and passed away on 23rd November 1916. He was 46 years of age.

It seems that Fred’s brother’s had some sway in his funeral. Instead of being laid to rest in Cardiff, where Louisa and the children were living, he was, instead, buried in the Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, Somerset. His sibling Charles, who was a sergeant in Bath City Police, lived in the city, as did another brother, Frank.

Fred’s headstone also commemorates his and Louisa’s son, Leslie. He had joined the army in the 1920s and, in the summer of 1943, was in Yorkshire, undergoing officer training.

The death of an officer cadet through the accidental discharge of a rifle whose bolt had jammed was described at an inquest…

Captain WH Price said he was in charge of an exercise on the moors which involved the used of small arms and the firing of live ammunition. A squad of cadets lay on the ground in front of a trench firing over a range. All finished firing except Cadet Frank Holroyd, who said his bolt had hammed while firing a second round. [Price] told him to release the bolt by knocking the cocking piece up and back.

This attempt failed, and he told Holroyd to get back into the trench, turn the rifle magazine upwards, place the butt on the side of the trench, and kick the bolt down with his foot. While Holroyd was doing this he noticed Maynard standing in the trench about 4ft away from Holroyd and on his right-hand side.

Captain Price said he saw the rifle was pointing down the range when Holroyd kicked the butt. The cartridge suddenly exploded and Maynard dropped into the trench, shot in the head, and was dead when they reached him.

[Bradford Observer: Saturday 19th June 1943]

Officer Cadet Leslie Maynard was 36 years of age when he was killed. His body was taken back to Somerset for burial: he was laid to rest in the same grave as Fred, father and son reunited after 27 years.

Louisa remained somewhat elusive as time wore on. Fred’s military records confirm that she had moved from Cardiff to the Isle of Wight by 1922. By the time of her son’s death, she was living in Sidcup, Kent.