Category Archives: illness

Coldstream Guards, Commonwealth War Graves, Cornwall, Great War, history, illness, injury, Labour Corps, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private Roland Roberts

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Private Roland Roberts

Roland Roberts was born in September 1896, one of three children – all boys – to Albert and Minnie Roberts.

Minnie, who was originally from Yeovil, had married Walter Shury, a Londoner, in 1874, and the couple had six children together. Walter then went on to have four children with Alice Norwood, and the couple married in 1898. Minnie, meanwhile, had met Albert Roberts, who was from Dundalk in Ireland, and, while no marriage seems to be confirmed, the couple had three boys, including Roland. (It is pure speculation, but as Minnie’s maiden was also Roberts, this might have provided a good enough cover for any divorce or re-marriage.)

Albert had been a Band Sergeant in the 4th Hussars, and continued that passion by becoming a music teacher Travel was also definitely in his blood: the couple’s first child, Willie, was born in South London, Roland was born in Somerset, and his younger sibling, Glencoe, was born in Penzance, Cornwall. Albert’s musical success led him to become bandmaster for the Penzance Town Band. Sadly, it was not all positive for him; in 1901, Minnie passed away, and in the same year, Willie also died, at the tender age of six.

It was the military that drew Roland in, and, in 1910, aged just 14 years old, he enlisted in the Coldstream Guards. According to the following year’s census, he was stationed at the Ramillies Barracks in Aldershot, and held the rank of Boy.

Differing from the naval rank of the same name, lads of 14 or over could serve in any regiment as musicians, drummers, tailors, shoemakers, artificers or clerks, and all were ranked as boys. It seems likely, therefore, that his father’s enthusiasm for music served him well.

When war broke out, he was of fighting age, and, as part of the “Old Contemptibles”, he was involved in the Battle of Mons, the first major confrontation for the British Expeditionary Force.

During the war, Private Roberts took part in some of the most severe fighting on the Western Front, was wounded three times, as well as being gassed. He was also recommended for the DCM for gallantry in action.

He transferred to the Labour Corps, and spent time doing land work in Somerset. It was here that Roland met and married Gladys Pyne, whose family was from Bridgwater, and the couple tied the knot in March 1918.

Sadly, it was during this war service that Private Roberts contracted influenza and pneumonia and he passed away as his in-laws’ home on 10th November 1918, the day before the Armistice was signed. He was just 22 years old.

The local newspaper reported on Roland’s continued gallantry in its article on his funeral:

[Roland] held the medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving a woman’s life.

He was also the hero of an incident that occurred in Bridgwater a few weeks ago, when he succeeded in checking the career of an infuriated bull through pluckily catching the animal by its horns.

His disposition was always most cheerful, and although suffering from his [war] wounds a good deal, he never complained.

The Cornishman: Wednesday 27th November 1918

Roland Roberts lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his adopted home town of Bridgwater, Somerset.

Commonwealth War Graves, Driver, Great War, history, illness, photography, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset, story, war

Driver Stanley Pearce

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Driver Stanley Pearce

Stanley Arthur Robert Pearce was born in September 1895, the fourth of five children to Edwin and Rosetta Pearce from Bridgwater, Somerset. Edwin was a painter and sign-writer, and it was in the creative trades that his children followed.

Stanley’s eldest brother Clifford became a gardener; his next oldest Edwin Jr was a mason’s labourer; while his older sister Dorothy became a cardboard box maker. By the time of the 1911 census, when Stanley was 16, he was listed as a painter’s errand boy, presumably helping out his father.

War was on the horizon, and Stanley was keen to do his bit. In October 1914, he enlisted, becoming a Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. Assigned to the 662nd Heavy Transport Company, he was based in London. There was still time for visits home, however, and the local Bridgwater newspaper reported on an ASC football match in which Driver Pearce was involved in October 1915.

By this time, Stanley had met Flossie Vickery, from nearby North Petherton. The couple married the following year, and had two children, Ada and Geoffrey.

In 1916, Driver Pearce’s battalion was shipped off to Salonica in Greece, as part of the British Expeditionary Force in the Balkans. While there, he contracted malaria and dysentery, and was evacuated back to England for treatment in September 1918.

Driver Pearce recovered well enough to enjoy a month’s recuperation, but fell ill again, with a recurrence of malaria, combined with influenza and pneumonia. He was admitted to the Brook War Hospital in South East London, but sadly not recover, and passed away on 10th November 1918, a day before the Armistice was signed. He was just 23 years old.

Stanley Arthur Robert Pearce lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater.

Stanley’s older sister Dorothy – the cardboard box maker – contracted influenza around the same time as her brother and, tragically, died just five days after him. The siblings were buried in a joint funeral at the cemetery.

Army Cyclist Corps, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private James Godden

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Private James Godden

James Godden was born in the autumn of 1879. The youngest of six children to Charles and Mary Ann Godden, the family lived in Bridgwater, Somerset. Charles was a labourer and, while his older brothers followed in a similar vein, by the time of the 1901 census, aged 21, was listed as a hairdresser.

James married Hester Addicott in 1906, and the couple had three children – Ruby, Leslie and Freda. Hairdressing may not have been that well paid; according the to 1911 census, the young family had four boarders, ranging from 17 to 60 in age.

War was on its way, and James enlisted at the end of 1914. Initially joining the Somerset Light Infantry, he was soon transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps. Sadly, full details of his military service are not readily available, but it seems likely that he was part of the company’s First Line, who saw service overseas.

Private Godden served three years before being medically discharged from the army. His discharge records give a startling insight into his health.

Originated at Chiseldon Camp: April 12th 1917.

He is in a condition of violent excitement, talks without ceasing and suffers from insomnia. Refuses solid food, but will take a little milk. Not result of, but aggravated by, strain of ordinary military service.

Permanent total incapacity. Treatment in an asylum required.

Cause of discharge: Medically Unfit – Acute Mania

James Godden: WW1 Pension Records

James was admitted to the Somerset & Bath Asylum in the village of Codford, near Taunton. For good or bad, his time there was brief. Within a couple of weeks, he contracted bronchitis. Sadly, James was to succumb to this, and passed away on 29th April 1917. He was 27 years of age.

An additional twist in the tail came from the local newspaper report on his passing:

Somerset Athlete Killed

The death is reported of a former well-known athlete in the person of Mr James Godden, who before joining the Army carried on business as a hairdresser at Bridgwater. The deceased, who was 37 years of age, enlisted in December 1914, and was subsequently transferred to a cycle corps. He death occurred at a Somerset institution after a short illness. The deceased was well known throughout the West of England as a crack cyclist, and competed at big athletic meetings at Exeter, Plymouth, Bath and Bristol, in addition to local sports. He had won altogether over 400 prizes. He leaves a widow and three children.

Wells Journal: Friday 4th May 1917

James Godden lies at rest in the Wembden Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater, Somerset.

James Godden, celebrated on an Ogden’s Cigarettes card
(with thanks to John Boyland)
Artificer, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, story, war

Engine Room Artificer George Millard

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Artificer George Millard

George Edmund Millard was born in 1887, one of seven children to Edmund and Annie Millard, from Bridgwater, Somerset. Edmund was an engineer by trade, something George’s elder brother followed him into.

Sadly, little of George’s life remains documented. He enlisted in the Royal Navy, in January 1915, working as an Engine Room Artificer (or engineer). Stationed in Kent, his initial training was at HMS Pembroke II base on the Isle of Sheppey.

Artificer Millard spent nine months on HMS Dido, which formed part of the Royal Navy’s force based in Harwich. At start of 1916, he was transferred back to HMS Pembroke II. This may have been for health reasons, as he was subsequently discharged with tuberculosis in April.

George’s records finish there, and it is likely that he succumbed to his lung condition after an 18-month fight. He died at home in Bridgwater on 26th January 1918, aged 21 years old.

George Edmund Millard lies at rest in the family grave at the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Somerset, story, war

Private William Vickery

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Private William Vickery

William George Vickery was born in the summer of 1894, the youngest of three children to George and Mary Vickery. George was a labourer in a brickyard, and this is work that his son followed him into once he left school.

William seems to have progressed with work as, by the time he enlisted for military service, he was recorded as a miner, working in the collieries of South Wales. Initially joining up in February 1916, is seems like his job gave him a level of protection for a couple of years at least; he was not formally mobilised by the Royal Welch Fusiliers until May 1918.

Initially serving on the home front, Private Vickery was shipped to France in September 1918, serving two months there, before returning home. William was eventually discharged from the army on medical grounds; having contracted tuberculosis while on active duty.

There is little information about William after his discharge. It seems likely that his health deteriorated, however, as he died just a year later, on 28th November 1919. He was just 26 years of age.

William George Vickery lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater, Somerset.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Somerset, story, war

Private Walter Perry

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Private Walter Perry

Walter Perry was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1874. He was one of ten children to James Perry, a general dealer, and his wife Hannah. After he had left school, Walter became a labourer; his older siblings had all become labourers or factory workers in the area.

In November 1899, Walter married Rebecca Cavill; their first child, Hilda, was born at the end of March the following year. By this time, Walter was working for a brewery, while his new wife was working at a shirt collar factory. The young couple went on to have two further children – Walter and Beatrice – before Rebecca tragically passed away in June 1906.

Walter married again in November 1908, this time to a Mary Ann Reed also from Somerset. The couple went on to have two children, Joseph and Edna, and the family lived together in the centre of Bridgwater.

The Great War was on the horizon. While details of Walter’s military service are not readily available, it is unlikely that he was called up as soon as hostilities broke out – he turned 40 in 1914, and so was too old to qualify immediately.

Walter enlisted in the 2/1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry; he was based primarily in England, where his battalion acted as a training/reserve for the 1st Battalion, who were serving on the Western Front. It was while Private Perry was based in Essex, that he contracted appendicitis; he was admitted to the General Military Hospital in Colchester, but passed away on 6th June 1917. He was 43 years old.

Walter Perry lies at peace in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, injury, Lance Corporal, photography, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Lance Corporal Stanley Southwood

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Lance Corporal Stanley Southwood

Stanley James Southwood was born in 1896, the oldest of six children to John and Florence Southwood from Bridgwater, Somerset. John was a labourer and ship’s mate, while Stanley, who was the only boy in the family, started work loading barrows in a brickyard.

Military life was pulling Stanley, however. According to another researcher, he enlisted in the Special Reserves of the Somerset Light Infantry in October 1912. Six months later he joined the regular army, and was there when the war began.

While I have not been able to corroborate this information, it appears that Southwood was reported missing on 11th September 1915, after being wounded in the chest. He was taken prisoner of war, and, while being held, he developed tuberculosis in both lungs.

After his release (no documents confirm when this was) he was discharged from the army as medically fit to continue. He was in a military hospital at the time – the beginning of November 1918 – suffering from tuberculosis, which had been exacerbated by the chest wound he had received three years earlier. At the time he was discharged, he had the rank of Lance Corporal.

Sadly, it seems that Stanley never fully recovered from his wartime experience. He died on 8th September 1919 from consumption (tuberculosis), aged just 23 years old.

Stanley James Southwood lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater in Somerset.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, injury, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Private Ernest Lewis

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Private Ernest Lewis

Ernest George Lewis was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, in the spring of 1895, one of fourteen children to labourer Frederick and his wife Harriett Rose. Two of his older brothers went to work for the local brickworks, but Ernest hauled coal to earn a living once he left school.

When war broke out, he was eager to do his part; he enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry early on, serving as a Private in the 1st Battalion. His troop was to see some of the fiercest fighting in the conflict, including the Battles of Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne, Messines within the first six months.

Private Lewis’ troop was also involved in the Second Battle of Ypres in the spring of 1915, but it was later that year that his fate became sealed. At some point he was caught up in a German gas attack; he was evacuated home, but there is no confirmation whether he was hospitalised as a result (although it seems likely).

The gas was to damage his lungs to the extent that he would not recover. There are conflicting reports as to the cause of Private Lewis’ passing, with one source identifying the gas in France, while another put it down to pneumonia and typhoid. (It seems probable that the attack ultimately resulted in Ernest catching pneumonia, although this is not clear.)

Either way, Private Lewis passed away at home on 27th October 1915. He was just 20 years old.

Ernest had eleven brothers, four of whom would have been old enough to be enlisted to fight. Ernest was the only one of the family to perish.

Ernest George Lewis lies at peace in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Private Albert Pow

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Private Albert Pow

Albert Francis Pow was born in the autumn of 1886, one of five children to Albert and Annie Pow from Somerset. Albert Sr. was a farm labourer, but by the time he left school, Albert Jr. started work as a porter in the Singer sewing machine factory in Bridgwater.

Albert’s father passed away in 1905, at the age of 51, and his son – who was by this time repairing the sewing machines – became head of the household.

He was obviously good at what he did, because, by the time he married in 1913, he was able to support his wife Leonora as branch manager for the Singer store in the town. The young couple soon moved on, as, when war broke out, he was manager of the shop in Barnstaple.

War came calling, and while the date of his enlistment is absent from his records, Private Pow joined the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. Sent to the front, he quickly became ill, suffering from dysentery and trench foot, which led to him being hospitalised for nearly two months.

Returning to his troops, Private Pow’s health remained unsteady, and he soon contracted trench fever. He was evacuated back to England for treatment, and was admitted to the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.

Sadly, Albert was not to recover this time; he died at the hospital on 11th May 1917 as a result of empyema (pleuritis) and an abscess of the axilla (armpit). He was just 30 years old when he died.

Albert Francis Pow lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in Bridgwater.

Albert left behind his widow, Leonora and their child Vanessa. Leonora was to be reunited with her late husband; she died in August 1986, and is buried with her beloved.

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

Private Tom Cox

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Private Tom Cox

Thomas Cox was born in September 1900, the oldest of four children to William and Ellen Cox from Bridgwater, Somerset. On Thomas’ baptism records, William listed himself as a manufacturer, but there is nothing to confirm what he made.

Sadly, William died in 1905, leaving Ellen to raise four children under five years old – including a babe-in-arms. Determined to look after her young family, however, by the time of the 1911 census, she gave her occupation as a grocer.

War was on the horizon and, while his full records are not evident, it is clear that Thomas must have looked to enlist as soon as his age would allow. He was assigned to the 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment, a training unit based not far from Warminster.

Sadly, Private Cox’s service was not to be a long one. While training, he contracted pneumonia, and passed away on 31st October 1918. He had just turned 18 years old.

Thomas Cox lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater, Somerset.