Category Archives: injury

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Private Robert Cantle

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Private Robert Cantle

Robert Cantle’s life is one of hope and of tragedy. There is very little documentation on him, but what there is gives a hint to his life.

The 1911 census recorded him a living on Temple Street in Keynsham, Somerset. The head of the household was 86 year old John Cantle, a retired platelayer for Great Western Railway. His wife, Mary, was 22 years his junior, and they shared the house with their son, stationary cutter Ernest, his wife, Elsie, and their daughter, Madge. Robert was noted as being John and Mary’s adopted son. His age was given as 13, but his place of birth is ‘unknown’.

When war broke out, Robert joined the Wiltshire Regiment. Private Cantle set off for camp in Wiltshire in August 1917, and had been there for just two days when tragedy struck.

There were heavy thunderstorms in the Warminster district on Thursday, and while men of a unit of the Wiltshire Regiment were on the parade ground, three of them were struck by lightning. Pte. Robert Cantle, aged 19 years, whose home is at Keynsham, was killed on the spot, and the other two, Pte. Rowe and Pts Murgatroyd, were severely injured…

Sergeant Major HJ Bennett, of the Wilts Regiment, stated [at the inquest] the deceased lad had only just joined them. About 3pm on Thursday a squad was on the parade ground, when the signal was given to dismiss, as a storm was approaching. Immediately after there was a flash and a crash and it seemed to stagger everybody on the parade ground. Witness was brought to his knees, and when he recovered himself he saw three men, who of whom were struggling, on the ground. Private Cantle was found to be dead, and the other men recovered after being attended by a doctor. The squad consisted of recruits, and none of them were carrying arms.

Major Stocker, medical officer, said the crown of deceased’s cap was ripped off, and the body was burned from head to foot.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from the effects of lightning.”

Somerset Standard: Friday 17th August 1917

Robert Cantle’s body was brought back to Keynsham for burial: he was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, Hampshire, history, injury, London, photography, Private, story, war

Private George Garrett

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Private George Garrett

George Garrett was born in early 1895 in Abbotskerswell, Devon. He was the oldest of five children to George and Annie Garrett. George Sr was a labourer and the family seemed to travel with his work: his and Annie’s younger children were born in Aldershot, Plymouth and London.

When he left school, George Jr found work as an errand boy – the family were back in Devon by this point. War was on the horizon, however, and he would feel compelled to play his part. Full details of his service are not available, but it is known that he enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment, and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion.

Private Garrett arrived in France in December 1915, and was soon entrenched on the Western Front. Hi battalion was caught up in the Battle of the Somme and George was badly injured, having received a gunshot wound to his spine.

Medically evacuated to Britain, his wounds proved too severe for him to return to duty, and he was discharged from the army on 28th December 1916. It is not clear whether he returned home, but it seems likely that he remained in hospital in Exeter. He would never recover from his injuries. He passed away at the hospital on 18th April 1917, at the age of 22 years old.

George Garrett was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Andrew’s Church in Ipplepen, Devon, where his family were, at that point, living.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Kent, Lancashire, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Stoker, story, war

Stoker John Campbell, AKA John Connolly

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Stoker John Campbell, AKA John Connolly

John Connolly was born on 7th April 1887 in Liverpool, Lancashire. There is little information available about his early life, although his parents were Thomas and Marianne Connolly. A Roman Catholic, he was baptised at St James Church and went on to marry a woman called Bridget, although details for the wedding are lost to time.

John must have had a level of proficiency when it came to ships and sea-faring as, when war had broke out, he was call up for service with the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). He enlisted as a Stoker on 1st October 1915, using the surname Campbell. His records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, had blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Stoker Campbell was based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. His time in service, however, does not seem to have been a happy one. In fact, within a few months of being conscripted, John had absconded and made his way back to Liverpool.

John was caught and was being brought back to Kent under escort, when the unimaginable happened.

John Connolly, a stoker of the RNR, attached to the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, was found dead on the railway near Warren House Crossing, between Sole Street and Cuxton, on Wednesday, with terrible injuries to his head.

Connolly, who is known also as Campbell, had been arrested as a deserter at Liverpool, and was returning to Chatham under escort on Tuesday… The train was very full, and deceased, with his escort, stood in the corridor, where several soldiers were also standing.

Some time after the train had left Herne Hill the escort, Leading Stoker John Edward Craig, left his prisoner to proceed to the lavatory, and when he returned one of the soldiers shouted “Jack, your prisoner had gone out the window.” The train was stopped, but the guard suggested that Craig had better proceed to Rochester instead of searching for the deceased, as the night was very dark. At Rochester Bridge the matter was reported to the military authorities, and a search along the line, then ordered, resulted in the discovery of the body of deceased…

A Lance Corporal of the 2/5th King’s Liverpool Regiment, one of the soldiers in the corridor, gave evidence at the inquest… He said he was standing close by deceased, but did not see him go out of the window, which was open at the time.

It was stated that is was usual in the Navy for one man only to act as escort, as all expenses connected with desertions had to be paid by the prisoners.

The jury found the death resulted from injuries received by deceased in a fall from the train, but that there was not sufficient evidence to prove whether the fall was intentional or otherwise.

South Eastern Gazette: Tuesday 8th February 1916

Whether John had intended to throw himself from the train will never be known. All that can be confirmed is that he died of his injuries on 1st February 1916, aged just 28 years old.

John Connolly was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the dockyard at which he had been based. His epitaph mentioned both of the names he chose to go by, and the inscription: “Beloved husband of Brigid, her one and only love. Re-united RIP. Jesus mercy Mary help.“

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gwynedd, history, injury, photography, Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, story, Wales, war

Private Owen Owen

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Private Owen Owen

Owen Jonah Owen was born in 1880, the oldest of eleven children to Jonah and Elizabeth Owen. Jonah was a quarryman at one of the slate mines around Llanberis, Gwynedd, and this is where the family were raised.

Owen followed his father into the slate quarries and, on 26th September 1903, he married Ann Jones, the daughter of another quarry worker. The couple went on to have four children: Richard, Jonah, Delia and Gwyneth.

He was well known and respected in the village, had a passion for singing and “had conducted singing festivals held by the Congregationalists of the district.” [Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald: Friday 24th November 1916]

War was closing in on Europe, and Owen was keen to play his part. Sadly his service records have been lost over time, but it is clear that he had enlisted in the army by May 1916. Private Owen joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and was assigned to the 14th Battalion.

Part of the 38th Division, the battalion was to be caught up in some of the fiercest and most desperate fighting of the First World War. In July 1916, Owen would have been entrenched at The Somme and, after the first few horrific days, his battalion was one of those involved in the fighting at Mametz Wood.

Private Owen was badly wounded during the battle and medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. Admitted to a military hospital in Birmingham, he was to remain there for a number of months until, on 12th November 1916, his body finally succumbed to his injuries. He was 36 years of age.

Owen Jonah Owen was brought back to his home village for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peris Church in Llanberis.

Air Mechanic, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, London, Middlesex, photography, Royal Air Force, story, Sussex, war, wireless operator

Air Mechanic 1st Class Albert Young

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Air Mechanic 1st Class Albert Young

Albert Franklin Young was born on 15th August 1899 in Marylebone, London. He was the older of two children – and the only son – to Kathleen (Kate) Young, and her photographer husband, Albert Antonio Young.

Albert Sr seemed to have made a successful of his photography business: Albert Jr attended St Hugh’s School in Chislehurst, Kent, before moving on to Margate College, also in Kent, and Watford Grammar School.

From leaving school, Albert Jr joined the Royal Flying Corps as a wireless operator on 28th September 1915. He was just sixteen years old, but within eight months he was serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France. He was involved in operations at the Somme and continued his flight training.

In November 1915, Albert was promoted to Air Mechanic 1st Class, and remained on the Western Front. On 28th March 1918, a German air raid hit No. 2 Air Depot, where Albert was working: he was badly wounded, and brought back to England for medical treatment.

Admitted to London Hospital in Chelsea, Air Mechanic Young was operated on a number of times, but was to finally succumb to his wounds on 9th June 1918. He was just 18 years of age.

As highlighted in de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, one colleague noted “I can assure you he was very greatly esteemed for his fine qualities by all with whom he came into contact, and the news of his death was received by all of us with most profound sorrow. He was a splendid boy.” Another said that the “great courage and coolness he always displayed at most critical moments were on many occasions an incentive to me. He was truly a gallant lad.”

Brought to West Sussex, where his parents were now living, Albert Franklin Young was laid to rest in Cuckfield Cemetery: “The scene… was very solemn and pathetic, yes beautiful and effective, and as all moved forward to the grave, and viewed the fair expanse of the Sussex Weald, the sweet melody of the Choir [was] ringing in our ears.” [Mid Sussex Tomes: Tuesday 18th June 1918]

Commonwealth War Graves, Glamorganshire, Great War, history, illness, injury, Merchant Navy, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Wales, war

Ordinary Seaman William Radford

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Ordinary Seaman William Radford

William Richard Radford was born in the spring of 1900 in Cogan, on the outskirts of Penarth, Glamorgan. He was one of eight children to coal trimmer turned dock labourer Richard Radford and his wife, Susan.

Little information is available about William’s life. What is documented is that he enlisted in the Royal Navy, and, by the time he came of age in 1918, he held the rank of Ordinary Seaman. William was serving at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard, by the end of the war.

At this point, details of Ordinary Seaman Radford’s life become a little unclear. He seems to have been stepped down to the Marine Mercantile Reserve, returning home in January 1919, when he passed away. His Pension Ledger Card gives the cause of death as a fractured shoulder, while another document states that he died from a sarcoma.

Whatever the cause of his passing, William Richard Radford was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Augustine’s Church in Penarth. He shared his grave with his mother, who had passed away the previous year. Richard Radford was also buried in the same plot when he passed away in 1926.

Commonwealth War Graves, Company Sergeant Major, Glamorganshire, Great War, history, injury, Northamptonshire, photography, South Staffordshire Regiment, story, Wales, war

Company Serjeant Major Henry Bird

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Company Serjeant Major Henry Bird

Henry Sidney Bird was born on 2nd December 1884 in Penarth, Glamorgan. He was the second of two children to painter and glazier Frederick Bird and his wife Emma. Henry’s mother passed away when he was only eleven years old and, by the time of the 1901 census, he was boarding with a family in the town, and working as a domestic gardener.

The next census – in 1911 – found the family back together again. Henry’s brother Frederick Jr was the head of the household, and she and his family – wife, Eliza, and three children – shared their home with Henry and his father. Harry, by this time, was working as a ship’s fireman.

Little information remains about Henry’s military service. He joined up when war broke out, and records show that he had enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment by the start of 1916. Assigned to the 8th (Service) Battalion, it is likely that he soon found himself on the Front Line.

Henry’s bravery seems to have been without fault. He went on to reach the rank of Company Serjeant Major in his battalion and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. The citation confirmed this was for “conspicuous gallantry. When the enemy rushed an isolated trench he saved the situation by collecting bombs and superintending the erection of stops and barbed wire. During the whole operations he set a splendid example to his company.“

Company Serjeant Major Bird’s battalion was caught up in the fighting at Ypres early in 1916 and, by the summer, was involved in the Battle of Albert. It was here that Henry was wounded, and he was quickly evacuated to Britain for medical treatment. Admitted to the General Hospital in Northampton, his wounds were to prove too severe, and he passed away from them on 18th July 1916. He was just 31 years of age.

Henry Sidney Bird’s body was brought back to Wales for burial: he was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Augustine’s Church in his home town of Penarth.

Commonwealth War Graves, Glamorganshire, Great War, Guardsman, history, injury, photography, story, Wales, war, Welsh Guards

Guardsman Bertie Thomas

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Guardsman Bertie Thomas

Bertie John Thomas was born in Penarth, Glamorgan, in 1890, one of twelve children to Henry and Elizabeth Thomas. Henry was a ship’s rigger, but much of Bertie’s life remains a mystery.

The 1901 census recorded the family living together in a small terraced house in Cliff Street, but ten years later, with the family having grown, many had dispersed. Bertie’s older sisters had moved on – Hannah as a live-in barmaid in nearby Barry; Gladys working as a dressmaker in the Rhondda, living with her aunt and uncle. Of Bertie himself, however, there is no record.

When war came to Europe, Bertie would have played his part. He had enlisted in the Welsh Guards by the spring of 1916, and was a Guardsman in the 1st Battalion. The Guards Division were involved in many of the key conflicts of the war, including at Loos in 1915 and at the Somme the following year.

Guardsman Thomas was caught up in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916, and was badly wounded. He was medically evacuated to home soil for treatment, and was admitted to a hospital in Cardiff. His wounds were to prove too severe, and he died on 26th September 1916, aged just 26 years of age.

Bertie John Thomas was brought back to Penarth for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Augustine’s Church in the town.

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

Corporal William Dunster

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Corporal William Dunster

William John Dunster was born in Uffculme, Devon, at the beginning of 1894. The older of two children, his parents were Robert and Mary Dunster. Robert was a carter and farm labourer, but when William left school, he found work on the railways. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Milverton in Somerset, and William was employed as an engine cleaner at the station in Taunton.

William had always had a keen interest in the army, and joined the Somerset Light Infantry early in 1914. His full service records are not available, but he was assigned to the 1st Battalion and, when hostilities were declared, he was dispatched to France.

On 26th August 1914, with the heroic men of his Regiment, he leaped over the trench amid a hail of bullets: a terrible gunshot wound laid him low, and he was taken prisoner by the Germans. For two years he remained in the hands of his captors, and endured all those sufferings and privations which our brave men have to bear in Germany.

[In 1916] he was removed to Switzerland Then all was done that could be done to save a young soldier’s life – the skill of the doctor, the comfort of the hospital, the care of the nurse – but unfortunately his constitution had been undermined.

In December 1916, by the kindness of [the secretary of the Prisoners of War Society] Mrs Walsh, he was enabled to see his mother, who paid him a visit, and this for a time revived him wonderfully.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 26th June 1918

By the spring of 1918, Corporal Dunster had been medically evacuated to England, and was admitted to a military hospital in Southampton. This gave Robert and Mary the chance to see their son again, and Mary remained at her son’s side until he passed away on 19th June 1918. He was 23 years of age.

William John Dunster was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Bartholomew’s Church in the village of Oake, where his family were living.

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

Private Samuel Troake

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Private Samuel Troake

Samuel Troake was born in Wellington, Somerset, on 24th August 1890. His parents were Samuel and Mary Troake and he was one of seven children to the couple. Mary had been married before, and had a daughter of her own. Samuel Sr was a shepherd turned labourer: when Mary died in around 1894, he married again, to widow Sarah Carter. She also had children of her own, something that is noted in the 1901 census, which records husband and wife sharing the house (from his perspective) with six of his children and five step-children.

By the time of the next census, ten years later, the Troake family home was a lot less crowded. Road contractor Samuel Sr and Sarah were recorded living with Samuel Jr and his younger brother, Charlie – both of whom were wool spinners , and the couple’s grandson, Percy.

Working at the wool factory came with benefits for Samuel Jr. It was there that he met Alice Slade, and the couple married on 10th December 1914, at the local parish church. The couple set up home not far from his parents, but war was soon to take him away from his new bride.

Full details of Samuel’s military service are not available: he enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry, and was assigned to the 8th (Service) Battalion. He served on the Western Front, and remained there until almost the end of of the conflict.

Private Troake was recorded as being caught up in the conflict, and was medically evacuated to England for treatment to a bullet wound. Sadly, the injuries to his abdomen and bladder were to prove too severe – he passed away in a Portsmouth hospital on 30th October 1918. He was 28 years of age.

Samuel Troake was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in Wellington Cemetery, not far from where his widow and father still lived.