Category Archives: Hampshire

Bugler, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, Sussex, unknown, war

Private Eric Fullilove

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Private Eric Fullilove

Eric William Fullilove was born in the Kent town of Deal on 25th April 1897. The middle of three children, his parents were Harry and Sarah Fullilove. Harry was a Sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and by the turn of the century, the family had rooms at 16 Victoria Street, not far from the seafront.

Harry retired from military service, and the family moved to West Sussex. The 1911 census found the family living in a house on West Street in Worthing. Harry was now working as a bath attendant for the borough council, while Eric was being paid for being an errand boy when he wasn’t at school. The family had four visitors, Henry and Stanley Parsloe from Devon, and Florence and Margaret Gill from London.

Eric sought adventure in his life, and, on the day after his fourteenth birthday, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Bugler. His service papers show that he was just 5ft (1.52m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.

Bugler Fullilove was assigned to the newly commissioned HMS Princess Royal, and would remain attached to her for the next four years. n the spring of 1915, he moved ashore, and was based in barracks in Portsmouth, Hampshire. While there, he came of age, and formally inducted into the Royal Marines. Now a Private, his papers show that he had grown 8.5ins (22cm).

Over the next five years, Eric served on two different vessels, returning to his Hampshire base in between assignments. His annual reviews noted a very good character, and a satisfactory/superior ability. Private Fullilove survived the conflict, but his health seems to have been impacted, and he was invalided out of the service on 1st April 1920.

Eric William Fullilove returned home, and his trail goes cold. He passed away on 23rd August 1920, through causes unconfirmed: he was 23 years of age. He was laid to rest in Broadwater Cemetery, to the north of Worthing, West Sussex.

Commonwealth War Graves, Engine Room Artificer, Essex, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Ireland, London, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire

Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Charles Barlow

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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Charles Barlow

Charles Edward Barlow was born on 3rd January 1886, and was the second of eight children to John and Agnes. John was a Serjeant Major in the Royal Fusiliers, and his work meant the family moved a lot. Charles and his older brother were born in Dublin, Ireland, while Agnes gave birth to his younger siblings in Essex, Ireland, Hampshire and London.

John died in the late 1890s, and the 1901 census found Agnes and four of the children – including Charles – living at 18 Ethel Road, a small terraced cottage in the centre of Portsmouth, Hampshire. Agnes was listed as a shirt maker, while Charles was apprenticed to a boiler maker.

The apprenticeship obviously stood Charles in good stead, and he later found employment as the local dockyard, HMS Victory. The 1911 census recorded mother and son living at 124 Ernest Road, in the Buckland area of Portsmouth. Slightly further from where Charles was working, this was, however, a larger property.

A new opportunity presented itself in the spring of 1912, when Charles formally enrolled in the Royal Navy. His engineering background served him well, and he took the rank of Engine Room Artificer 4th Class. Initial training was provided at Portsmouth Dockyard, and he then moved to the neighbouring bases HMS Fisgard that autumn, and HMS Dryad in February 1913.

After a two month posting on board the torpedo gunboat HMS Harrier, Charles would return to shore in the summer of 1914. On 1st January 1915, however, he was assigned to the depot ship HMS Dido, and she would remain his home for nearly four years. During this time, he was promoted to Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class.

In the autumn of 1918, with the war in its final weeks, Charles fell ill. He was disembarked and admitted to the War Hospital in Bath, suffering from pneumonia. The condition would prove his undoing, and he passed away on 17th November: he was 32 years of age.

The body of Charles Edward Barlow was taken to Bradford-upon-Avon for burial, possibly due to a familial connection in the area, and he was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Wiltshire

Boy 2nd Class William Bray

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Boy 2nd Class William Bray

William Clements Bray was born on 14th October 1900. One of six children, his parents were Frederick and Annie. Frederick was a Private in the Wiltshire Regiment, and was based out of Trowbridge, Wiltshire. His work took him away from home a lot, however, and so Annie was left to raise the children on her own.

By the time of the 1911 census Frederick had left the army, and had instead found work as a canal labourer for the Great Western Railway. The family of eight were living in a four-roomed cottage at 22 Prospect Place, to the north of the town centre. William was still at school, but two of his siblings – brother Frederick Jr, and sister Florence – were both employed and bringing a wage into the houshold.

War broke out in the summer of 1914, and it seems that William was keen to play his part. He enlisted on the 12th April 1918, joining the Royal Navy. As he was under age, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Powerful, a training ship based in Portsmouth, Hampshire. His service papers note that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a large scar across his chest.

Boy Bray’s time in the navy was to be tragically short. After just a few weeks he was admitted to hospital in Plymouth, Devon, with scarlet fever, and developed emphysema. He passed away on 25th November “after a long and painful illness” [Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 14th December 1918] He was just 18 years of age.

The body of William Clements Bray was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery, not far from where his parents were living.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, India, Mesopotamia, photography, Private, Royal Navy, story, war

Private Thomas Adams

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Private Thomas Adams

Thomas Charles Adams was born on 18th April 1891 in Ilfracombe, Devon. The oldest of four children, his parents were Thomas and Amanda Adams. Thomas Sr was a mason turned builder, but his son seemed keen to carve his own path in life.

On 5th October 1905, Thomas Jr enlisted in the Royal Navy. His papers show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, with dark hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. His time with the navy seems to have been brief, he was sent to HMS Impregnable for training, but was discharged on 9th November 1905, the reason given being “Invd”. Later documents suggest that he was dismissed because he was under the regulation chest measurement, but it was likely due to the fact that he had added two years to his age in order to be accepted.

Thomas returned home, and found employment as a fitter. He was not to be deterred, however, and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a volunteer. On 30th January 1907 he gave up his job, and enlisted in the army full time. Thomas’ papers give similar physical descriptions to his naval record, but also include his weight, 123lbs (55.8kg).

Private Adams was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, and spent the next two years on home soil. On 5th January 1909, however, the life of adventure he had wanted truly began. His unit was sent to India, and he would remain overseas for more than six years. His time overseas was not without incident, however, and he had four separate admissions to hospital with neuralgia (in April 1909), gonorrhoea (1910 and 1912) and malaria (in 1914).

By May 1915, Thomas was back in Britain. He was still having health issues, however, and he was admitted to Netley Hospital, Hampshire, suffering from tuberculosis. The condition would lead to his discharge from the army, and he was formally stood down on 15th June 1915.

At this point, Thomas’ trail goes cold. It is likely that he returned to his family, who were now living in Combe Martin, Devon. This is where he passed away, on 14th October 1915, at the age of 24 years old.

The body of Thomas Charles Adams was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter’s Church, Combe Martin.

accident, Berkshire, Ceredigion, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Gunner, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Garrison Artillery, story, Wales, war, Wiltshire, Yorkshire

Gunner James Cole

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Gunner James Cole

James Rees Cole was born in the spring of 1881, and was the oldest of four children to Thomas and Jane. Thomas was a groom from Pembrokeshire, Wales, and, at the time of James’ birth, he and Jane were living in the village of Chancery, to the south of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales.

The 1901 census recorded that the Cole family had relocated to England and had set up home at 15 Woolley Street, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. Thomas was employed as a domestic coachman, while James, now 19 years old, was an ironmonger’s assistant.

By 1911, James was boarding with widow Sarah Goodman in the Devon village of Withycombe Raleigh, now a suburb of Exmouth. His was engaged by this point, and just a couple of months later, on 5th July, he married his sweetheart, Bessie Livings, in Christ Church, Bradford-on-Avon. The couple went on to have two children, Irene and Dennis.

When war was declared, James stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in December 1915, by which point he and Bessie had moved to Reading, Berkshire. His service papers show that he was 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall, and weighed 135lbs (61.2kg). He had blue eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.

Assigned to the Royal Garrison Artillery, Gunner Cole was not formally mobilised until June 1917. Initially sent to Plymouth, Devon, by the following spring, he had moved to Fareham, ahead of his unit being sent to France. James would spend the next six months in France, before being medically evacuated back to Britain.

Gunner Cole had crushed the metatarsals in his left foot, although his medical notes are difficult to read, it is clear that he was inconsiderable pain. He was admitted to the war hospital in Reading, Berkshire, and remained there for a couple of weeks. When he was discharged, he was transferred to the 2nd Siege Artillery Reserve Brigade in Catterick, North Yorkshire, while he recuperated.

James would only be out of hospital for a matter of weeks. He contracted influenza and was admitted to the camp hospital, but the condition would prove too severe. He passed away on 1st January 1919, at the age of 37 years old.

The body of James Rees Cole was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of Christ Church, Bradford-on-Avon, not far from where his widow and children were living.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, India, Lance Corporal, Military Provost Staff Corps, photography, Private, Sergeant, South Africa, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Serjeant Frederick Bewley

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Serjeant Frederick Bewley

Frederick John Edwin Bewley was born in Calne, Wiltshire, on 10th May 1882. Noticeably absent from the 1891 and 1901 census records, his parents were Chelsea pensioner John Bewley, and his wife, Annie.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Frederick was drawn to a life in the army. Having already been a volunteer in the local militia, on 20th November 1900, he enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment. His service papers show that, at 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, he weighed 125lbs (56.7kg). He sported brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a scar on his right thigh and calf.

Private Bewley’s contract was for 12 years. During that time, he travelled the world spending three years in South Africa, and more than five in India. He was back in South Africa when his initial term of service came to an end, and he re-enlisted without thinking about it.

In May 1904 Frederick has been promoted to Lance Corporal, a rank he would hold for the next 12 years. During his second term of service, war broke out, but he would only spend short periods of time overseas.

…a member of the regular army, [Frederick] crossed to France with Lord French’s Expeditionary Force in August, 1914, and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Mons. After a short period at Netley Hospital he went to Flanders in the following November. The awful conditions prevailing in the trenches was responsible for an attack of frost-bite, and tuberculosis following, he was treated at Winsley and Harnwood Sanatoriums…

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 27th December 1919]

From 1th January 1915, Lance Corporal Bewley would remain on home soil. The sharp clarity of near-death experiences, along with a reconnection with home life, led to love blossoming and, on 6th May, he married labourer’s daughter Lilian Fidler. Both were living in Holt, Wiltshire, by this point, and it was in the village’s church that the couple exchanged vows.

Back on home soil, a new opportunity had opened up for Frederick, and he transferred to the Military Provost Staff Corps, a unit set up to police the army. In January 1916, he was promoted to Corporal; just weeks later, Vivian gave birth to their first child, Eric. and he rose to Sergeant eighteen months later.

On 1st August 1917, Corporal Bewley was promoted again, taking the rank of Serjeant. By this point, however, his bouts of poor health were coming back to haunt him, and, just six weeks after his promotion, he was medically discharged from the army.

After returning to Holt, Frederick welcomed a second son with Lilian on New Year’s Eve 1918, when Vivian was born. The following winter, his tuberculosis struck again, and this time it was clear the illness would prove fatal. He passed away on 21st December 1919, aged 37 years old.

The body of Frederick John Edwin Bewley was laid to rest in Hold Old Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Lancelot Cramp

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Stoker 1st Class Lance Cramp

Lancelot Percival Cramp was born in the Kent village of Sutton on 7th June 1891. The youngest of five children, his parents were bootmaker Alfred Cramp and his wife Elizabeth.

Lancelot – who preferred to be called Lance – seems to have had a disjointed childhood. Neither of his parents are recorded in the 1901 census, while he is noted as living with his widowed aunt, also called Elizabeth, in Ticehurst, Kent.

By the time he completed his schooling, Lance found work as a tinsmith. However, he sought a bigger and better career and, on 30th April 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Assigned the role of Stoker 2nd Class, his papers note that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, with auburn hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Cramp was sent to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He was then sent to the battleship HMS Renown for his first assignment.

Over the next four years, Lance would serve on seven ships in total, returning to Portsmouth in between assignments. His service record notes a very good character and satisfactory ability and, in September 1911, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class.

On 8 February 1914, Lance was given a new posting aboard the battleship HMS Bulwark. When war broke out, she was assigned to the Channel Fleet, which had the responsibility for patrolling and protecting Britain’s southern coastline.

On the morning of 26 November 1914, Bulwark lay anchored in the River Medway near Sheerness while taking on shells and ammunition. During the process, improperly stored cordite charges overheated and ignited nearby munitions. The massive explosion that followed tore the ship apart, killing more than 740 members of the crew. Stoker Lance Cramp was amongst those who died: he was 23 years of age.

Those who were killed in the explosion were buried in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. The body of Lancelot Percival Cramp was identified, and laid to rest in a marked grave.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, County Donegal, County Down, Great War, Hampshire, history, Ireland, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Ordinary Seaman William Gubbey

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Ordinary Seaman William Gubbey

William Ernest Gubbey was born on 21st February 1896 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. He was the only child to William and Alice Gubbey. William Sr was a Petty Officer in the Coastguard, and the family travelled to where he was needed. The 1901 census found them in Malinmore, County Donegal, while ten years later, they were living in Tara, County Down.

It seemed natural for William Jr to follow in his father’s footsteps and, on 3rd August 1912, he joined the Royal Navy. He was too young to formally enlist, and was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Sent to HMS Impregnable, the school ship based in Devonport, she would remain his home for the next ten months while he was trained.

William was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 17th June 1913, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Gibraltar the following day. After six months on board, and a short stopover at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, he received his next posting, the battleship HMS Bulwark.

Boy Gubbey would spend the next year attached to Bulwark and, during this time, he came of age. Now formally inducted into the navy as an Ordinary Seaman, his service papers show the young man he had become. He was recorded as being 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion.

When was was declared in the summer of 1914, Bulwark was assigned to the Channel Fleet, patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast. On 26th November 1914, she was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, Kent, being reloaded with ammunition.

Some of the new cargo overheated and the resulting explosion ripped through the battleship. More than 740 crew were killed, including Ordinary Seaman Gubbey: he was just 18 years of age.

The bodies of the dead were laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his had been identified, William Ernest Gubbey was laid to rest in a marked grave.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Lancashire, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Tyne & Wear, war

Able Seaman Percy Cronshaw

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Able Seaman Percy Cronshaw

Percy Cronshaw was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, on 10th January 1885. The second of five children, he was the oldest son to Thomas and Alice Cronshaw. Thomas was a loom overseer in a local mill, and when Percy completed his schooling, he found work as a calico weaver. Alice had died by the time of the 1901 census, and the family has moved to a cottage on Loxham Street in Bolton.

Percy wanted a better life for himself and, on 12th February 1902, he joined in the Royal Navy. Too young to fully enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Northampton for his training. Over the next year he learnt the tools of his trade, rising to Boy 1st Class after just three months.

By the time of Percy’s eighteenth birthday, he had had three further postings: the shore bases HMS Calliope in Gateshead and HMS Victory in Portsmouth; and the cruiser HMS Good Hope. It was with her that he came of age, and was in a position to formally enlist in the Royal Navy.

The now Ordinary Seaman Cronshaw’s papers show the man he had become. He was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, with auburn hair, black eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having moles on the right side of his face and neck, and two tattoos: his initials on his right forearm, and an anchor on his left.

Percy remained aboard HMS Good Hope until the spring of 1905. By this point, he had been promoted, taking the rank of Able Seaman. With his promotion came more training, and he spent the next year split between HMS Victory and HMS Excellent, another shore base in Portsmouth. His annual reviews noted a very good character and an ability to match.

Over the next seven years, Able Seaman Cronshaw would go on to serve on two further ships – HMS Venus and HMS Superb. In between voyages he returned to Portsmouth, with HMS Excellent becoming his home port. This land base offered some continuity, and the unexpected bonus of romance. On 28th January 1912, Percy married Frances Stubbington, a shoemaker’s daughter from the city: the couple would go on to have a child, Violet, who was born later that year.

By this point, Percy had been given a new posting, on board the battleship HMS Bulwark. When war was declared, she became a part of the Channel Fleet, tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast.

On 26th November 1914, Bulwark was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being stocked with shells and ammunition. That morning, some poorly stowed charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. Able Seaman Cronshaw was among those to be recovered: he was 29 years of age.

Percy Cronshaw’s body as laid to rest alongside his colleagues in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his body had been identified, he was able to be buried in a marked grave.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, war, Worcestershire

Private Frederick Pagett

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Private Frederick Pagett

Frederick Pagett was born in the Worcestershire village of Hanley Castle on 27th July 1892. The seventh of eight children, he was the youngest son to Samuel and Ann Pagett.

Samuel was a policeman, but when he completed his schooling, Frederick found work as a miner. This seemed not to suit him, however, and, on 20th December 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

Private Pagett’s service records show that he was 5ft 4.5ins tall, and that he had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He had two small scars on his upper lip, and was noted as being able to swim.

Frederick was sent to Deal in Kent for his training. Over the next couple of years, he learnt his trade, and would serve in the Hampshire towns of Gosport and Portsmouth. His papers noted a very good character.

On 12th June 1912, Private Pagett was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark. He would remain part of her crew for the next couple of years.

On the 26th November 1914, when Bulwark was moored close to Sheerness, Kent, an explosion ripped through the ship, sinking it and killing more than 740 people. Frederick was on board at the time, and was amongst those to be killed: he just was 22 years of age.

The body of Frederick Pagett was laid to rest in a marked grave in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.