Category Archives: Somerset

accident, Canadian Engineers, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, Somerset, story, United States of America, war, Wiltshire

Second Lieutenant Leo Aldrich

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Second Lieutenant Leo Aldrich

Leo Edwin Aldrich was born on 14th July 1897 in the Ohio city of Elyria, and was the only child to Hiram and Agnes Aldrich. Hiram was a machinist from New York and, by the time of the 1910 census, he had found work as a toolmaker for a motor company, and the family has moved to Detroit, Michigan, 150 miles (240km) along Lake Erie’s coastline.

When war came to Europe, Leo seemed keen to get involved. Full details of his military service are lost to time, but it seems that he enlisted in the Canadian Royal Engineers. By the summer of 1918, Leo was in Britain, and had transferred to the Royal Air Force. He had reached the rank of Second Lieutenant and was based at Yatesbury Airfield in Wiltshire.

On 14th November 1918, just three days after the Armistice was signed, he was flying in a Bristol F2b fighter aircraft, when it nosedived into the ground. Both Second Lieutant Aldrich and his passenger Second Lieutenant McDougall were seriously injured, and were taken to Bath War Hospital for treatment.

Sadly, Leo’s injuries were to prove to be too severe. He passed away the same day: he was just 21 years of age.

Leo Edwin Aldrich was laid to rest in Locksbrook Cemetery, not far from the hospital in which he passed.

Leo’s service records suggest that his next of kin was his wife, Mrs Leo Aldrich of 480 East 112th Street, Cleveland, Ohio. There are no identifiable marriage records for him although, intriguingly another one does exist.

This confirms the wedding of a George L Aldrich to a Helen J Seymour on 6th August 1918 in Cuyahoga, Ohio. As the names do not match, the record would normally be dismissed, but the parents’ names – Hiram and Agnes – match Leo’s, as does the place of birth – Elyria – and his occupation – Second Lieutenant.

Further details for Helen Seymour, and why Leo may have given the name George, are lost to time.

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

Private Percy Wall

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Private Percy Wall

Percy James Wall was born in the Somerset village of Kilmersden in the summer of 1880. The fifth of ten children, his parents were called Robert and Amelia. Robert was a cashier for a local colliery, but it seems that Percy did not follow into his father’s line of work.

The 1901 census found Percy working as a draper’s assistant for Jolly & Son’s in Bath. He was one of 27 boarders at the company’s lodgings on Milsom Street in the city centre. By 1911, he was still working for the same company, but as a draper’s clerk, and had moved to some new lodgings just to the north in Lansdown Road.

When war broke out, Percy stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment, although his full service records are no longer available. Private Wall was attached to the 1st/4th Battalion, and, by the autumn of 1916, he found himself caught up in fighting at the Ancre, part of the Battles of the Somme.

Percy was badly wounded, and evacuated to Britain for treatment. Full details are unclear, but his injuries were enough for him to medically discharged from the army. He was awarded the Silver War Badge – proof of his genuine discharge – but at this point his trail goes cold.

Percy struggled on with his injuries for a further two years. Hhe may have remained in hospital since his original injuries, but there are no records to corroborate this either way. At the start of 1919, he had been admitted to the Bath War Hospital, his family having also moved to the city by this point. He finally succumbed to his wounds, passing away on 3rd March 1919: he was 38 years of age.

Percy James Wall was laid to rest in the sprawling Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, his pain finally eased.

Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, Gunner, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Field Artillery, Sergeant, Somerset, story, war

Serjeant William Dutch

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Serjeant William Dutch

DUTCH, WILLIAM BENJAMIN, Sergt., No. 83812, 47th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, [son] of William Dutch, of Bladud House, Bath, Accountant, by his wife, Alice, [daughter] of Alderman Alfred Taylor, of The Red House, Bath; b. Lower Weston, Bath, 21 April 1894; educ. Bathforum, and Bath City Secondary School 93 years’ Scholarship), and was employed in the engineering works of Stothert and Pitt Ltd., of Bath. He joined the Army, 17th Aug. 1914; was made Bombardier, 1 November 1914; Corpl., 14 November 1914; and Sergt., 1 January 1915; and died at the Thornhill Isolation Hospital, Aldershot, 11 April 1915, of septic scarlet fever; [unmarried]. He was buried at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, will full military honours. His Capt. wrote: “I cannot exaggerate the loss he is to me personally and to the whole battery, had picked up a wonderful knowledge of gunnery and his work in general was out and out the best sergeant I had, and would have gone far in the service.” He was a keen sportsman and a popular football player.

[De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1919]

William Benjamin Dutch was the second of five children to William and Alice. His father initially worked as a grocer and wine and spirit shopkeeper, and the 1901 census found the family living above the shop on the corner of Chelsea Road and Park Road, Bath.

By the time of the 1911 census, however, things had changed. The Dutches had moved to Walcot, nearer the centre of Bath, and William was working as a tramway clerk. Alice was running the family home – 3 Bladud Buildings – as a boarding house, and employed a housemaid and kitchen maid to help look after the lodgings.

William’s dedication to his army role – and his rapid rise through the ranks – is outlined in the article above. He seems, however, to have spent his time on home soil, remaining at his Hampshire base from his enlistment to his passing. His service records give an insight into his physical nature: he stood 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, and weighed 153lbs (69.4kg). He had light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Serjeant Dutch’s illness seems to have come on him quickly:

On Sunday a telegram reached [his parents] saying that their son… was seriously ill in hospital at Aldershot. Mr Dutch went thither at once, only to find that his son had passed away. He was attacked last week with bronchial pneumonia, and tracheotomy was performed in the hope of saving his life, but in vain. The deceased was… a young soldier of rare promise and fine physique.

[Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – Saturday 17 April 1915]

William Benjamin Dutch was just 20 years old when he passed away. His body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery, within sight of William Sr’s former shop on Chelsea Road.

Serjeant William Dutch
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, injury, photography, Royal Engineers, Sapper, Somerset, story, war, Yorkshire

Sapper George Bush

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Sapper George Bush

George James Bush was born in the autumn of 1889 in Bath, Somerset. One of eight children, his parents were Edward and Sarah Bush. Edward was a general labourer turned fishmonger and the family lived in a ramshackle cottage in Griffin’s Court, off Milk Street towards the centre of the city.

When he finished his schooling, George found employment as a general labourer. By the time of the 1911 census, he and three siblings were still living at home with their parents, and all of them were working to bring together an income for the household. Times were obviously hard for the Bush family, and the list of trades reads like something from one of Dickens’ novels: fishmonger, charwoman, box maker, carter and daily domestic.

Edward died in 1912, and this put a further strain on the household. When war came to Europe two years later, a career in the army seemed a price worth paying for the additional financial support it would bring George and his family. He had enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper by the spring of 1917.

Attached to the 503rd Field Company, George’s full service details are lost to time. He definitely saw action overseas, however, fighting in some of the fiercest battles of the war, at the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917. It was here, at Passchendaele, that Sapper Bush was wounded, his injuries severe enough for him to be medically evacuated to Britain.

George was admitted to Sheffield War Hospital, but complications set in.

Sapper G Bush, RE, formally employed by the Corporation as a motor lorry driver, died in the Warecliffe Hospital, Sheffield, on Saturday. He was wounded a short time ago, but the cause of death was pneumonia, which supervened. Sappe Bush, who was… unmarried, was a son of Mrs R Bush, of 19, Denmark Road, Twerton. He had been in the army close on two years. He was one of three brothers, all of whom joined the army. A younger brother, who enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, is now in Egypt with the Somersets.

[Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 1st December 1917]

George James Bush died on 24th November 1917: he was 28 years of age. His body was brought back to Somerset for burial, and he was laid in the family plot in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, reunited with his father far too soon.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Defence Corps, Somerset, South Africa, story, Surrey, war

Private Henry Hutchings

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Private Henry Hutchings

The funeral of Mr Henry Hutchings, the Zulu war veteran, who died suddenly at Lower Weston on Tuesday, took place on Saturday afternoon…

The principal mourners were: Mrs Hutchings (widow), Sergt. Hutchings (son)(who wore the Mons ribbon and a Zulu war medal), Mr AE Adams (step-son), Mrs A Hutchings (daughter-in-law), Mr David Adams (step-son), and Mrs Emily Pickworth (step-daughter).

In order to attend the funeral Mr AE Adams had returned from France, where he has been carrying out work for a local firm.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 16th February 1918

Tracking down Henry Hutchings’ early life is a bit of a challenge, but working backwards through census records sheds some light onto his later years.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record states “Hutchings, Pte. Henry, 14475. Royal Defence Corps. 5th Feb., 1918. Age 59. Husband of Theresa Hutchings… Served in the Zulu War (1877-79) with Army Service Corps.”

The 1911 census recorded Henry and Theresa living in Shepherd’s Bush, Hammersmith. The document confirms they had been married for less than a year and, unusually, suggests both were twice married. Henry had been born in Notting Hill, and was employed as a smith’s hammerman. Theresa was born in Byfleet, Surrey, and the couple were living with Henry’s son, Henry Jr, and Theresa’s daughter, Alice.

Turn the clock back ten years, and the 1901 census tells a more confused story. Henry was living in Edmonton, Middlesex, where he was employed as a general labourer. Theresa is noted as being his wife – in contrast to the later census return – and the couple were living in Gilpin Crescent with Henry’s sons – Henry Jr, Edward and Sidney – and Theresa’s two children – Alice and Albert.

Going back a further ten years leads to a dead end. Neither Henry nor Theresa are readily identifiable on the 1891 census, even though both should have had their older children by that point.

An 1877 military record confirms Henry’s earlier time in the army. It was in July of that year that he enlisted, joining the Army Service Corps. At 18 years of age, he had been working as a carman, but a dedicated career is what he sought out. His record confirms he was 5ft 4ins (1.63m tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. Henry lists his next of kin as brother Robert Hutchings, although, again further family details are lost in the mists of time.

Private Hutchings spent twelve years in the army. After eighteen months on home soil, he was dispatched to South Africa, as the later newspaper report suggests, and spent a year overseas. He returned home in March 1880, and was stood down to reserve status until the end of his contract in July 1889.

The documentation uncovers details of Henry’s second period of time in the military. He enlisted in the Royal Defence Corps in September 1915, and was based at Alexandra Palace in London. His time there was limited, however, as he began to show signs of heart disease. By the following summer, Private Hutchings suffered from breathlessness and chest pains, to the point where he was medically discharged from service on 21st August 1916.

Henry and Theresa had moved to Somerset by January 1917, presumably for the cleaner air that their home in Bath would provide. This was not to be enough, however. Henry died a little over a year later, at the age of 59 years old.

Henry Hutchings was laid to rest in the sweeping grounds of Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath. He was to be reunited with Theresa when she passed away in 1926.

Bedfordshire Regiment, Captain, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Egypt, Glamorganshire, Great War, history, illness, photography, Somerset, story, Sussex, Wales, war

Captain William Blundell

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Captain William Blundell

William Kennedy Blundell early life seems anything but ordinary. Born in Cardiff, Glamorgan, in the summer of 1890, he was the only child to bank clerk Edmund Blundell and his wife, Annie. Edmund was born in Staplegrove, Somerset, while Annie had grown up in Lahore, India.

The 1891 census found William living with his maternal grandparents James and Edith Kennedy in the Walcot area of Bath, while his parents were firmly based in Cardiff. Edmund died the following year, so it is possible that he was placed out of the way while Annie tended to her husband (along with her sister-in-law and a domestic servant).

By the time of the next census return, Annie and William were reunited, and were living in Avenue Road, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. Anne was living off her own means, and had a servant, Emily Chaffey, to hep look after the home.

Both Annie and her son disappear from the 1911 census. It is likely that William had embarked on a military career by this point, and may have been serving overseas. Sadly, his trail goes cold, but scraps of later information help identify some of what became of him.

By the outbreak of the First World War, he was serving in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was based in Egypt from January 1916, and rose to the rank of Captain by the end of the conflict. By 1918, he was attached to the 12th (Transport Workers) Battalion, and was back in Britain.

Captain Blundell was in Sussex by the time of the armistice, and it was here that he fell ill, contracting pneumonia. He was admitted to the General Eastern Hospital in Brighton, but the condition was to prove too severe. He passed away on 13th December 1918, at the age of 28 years old.

William Kennedy Blundell’s body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the sweeping grounds of Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath.

Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, killed in action, Lincolnshire, photography, Pioneer, Royal Engineers, Sapper, Somerset, story, Sussex, war

Sapper Arthur Naile

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Sapper Arthur Naile

Arthur Edward Naile was born in the summer of 1888, the youngest of ten children to James and Mary Naile. Both of his parents were born in Bath, Somerset, and this is where they raised their growing family.

The Nailes lived in the Camden area of the city, consecutive census returns showing different addresses, as the children grew and then left home. In 1891, they lived at 11 Malvern Buildings, a small terraced house on a steep hill. Ten years later, they had moved to 3 George’s Road, to another terraced cottage close to their old home. By 1911, only Arthur was still living at home, which was now the four-roomed terrace at 51 Brooklyn Road, in the more built up Larkhall area no the northern outskirts of the city.

During all of this time, James had worked as a printer’s compositor. By 1911 he was 64 years of age, and was employed by a newspaper in the area. Arthur, meanwhile, was working as a grocer’s assistant.

On 9th August 1914, he married soldier’s daughter Bessie Brine. She was working as a dressmaker, and lodging with Charles and Eleanor Richman, in a small cottage in Dover Place. Their marriage certificate shows that Arthur was living three doors down, so it is likely she caught his eye not long after he moved in. They went on to have a son, Leslie, in November 1916.

War was raging across Europe by this point, and Arthur had stepped up to serve his country. He joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, but there is little concrete information about his time in the army. He was awarded the Silver War Badge, which was given to men medically discharged from military service during the conflict, which would suggest that he was badly wounded at some point. He died in a hospital in Hastings, East Sussex, an annexe of which was dedicated to personnel who had been blinded during the war.

Sapper Arthur Edward Naile passed away from a combination of influenza and diabetes on 31st October 1918: he was 30 years of age. His body was taken back to Somerset for burial, and he lies at rest in a peaceful corner of Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery.

After Arthur’s death, Bessie was left to bring up their young son. In the autumn of 1923, she married again, to John Forman, and not long afterwards the three of them emigrated to Australia, in search of a better life. They settled in Bunbury, Western Australia, and went on to have two children, Ron and Nan.

When war broke out again, Leslie was old enough to step up, and joined the Royal Australian Air Force. By 1943, he found himself as a Flight Sergeant in Waltham, Lincolnshire. He had joined 100 Squadron of Bomber Command and, on the night of 25th June 1943, was piloting a Lancaster over the Netherlands. His plane was hit and destroyed, killing all those on board. Father and son both lost to war, Flight Sergeant Naile was just 26 years of age when he passed. He was buried in Westbeemster, and commemorated on memorials in Runnymede, Surrey, and Canberra, Australia.

Bessie lived on until her early 70s. She died on 8th December 1960, and is buried in the family plot in Bunbury Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, history, North Somerset Yeomanry, photography, Private, Somerset, story, unknown, war

Private Charles Morris

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Private Charles Morris

Charles William Morris was born in the summer of 1887, the third of four children – and the only son – to James and Emily Morris. James was a house painter: both he and Emily came from Bath, Somerset, and this is where the Morris family were born and raised.

When he completed his schooling, Charles found work as a clerk: by the time of the 1911 census, he was employed by the Urban Sanitary Authority. Only two of the children were still living at home by this point, and so James and Emily had taken in a boarder, 25-year-old motor engineer Zackarias MacPherson Jackson, to bring a little more money in.

When war was declared, Charles quickly stepped up to play his part. A later newspaper report provides an insight into his service:

The death occurred on Saturday midnight, at 11, Margaret’s Buildings, Hedgmead, of Mr Charles W Morris, at the age of 33. Previous to joining the forces in 1914, he was a member of the Coleford (Somerset) Cricket Club. Joining the North Somerset Yeomanry as a trooper, he went to France, afterwards being transferred to the 5th Dorsets (Cyclist Corps). Eventually he was taken prisoner and was in Germany for two years suffering great hardships. On his return to his native city he joined the St Stephen’s Rugby FC. He was a member of the Walcot Liberal Club, and at the time of his death was employed by his brother-in-law (Mr Z McJackson [sic], motor engineer). Another brother-in-law us Mr W Hollick, headmaster of Coleford schools, and formerly an assistant master at Holy Trinity School, Bath.

The funeral took place at Locksbrook Cemetery on Thursday. The deceased was extremely well known in the neighbourhood in which he resided, and quite a large number of friends attended the cemetery to pay their last respects.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 4th June 1921

Zackarias had married Charles’ younger sister, Gladys, in 1915, the one time lodger having literally become a member of the family.

Charles William Morris died on 28th May 1921, through causes unknown. He was laid to rest in a peaceful corner of the sprawling Bath cemetery.

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

Private George Tucker

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Private George Tucker

George Edward Tucker was born in Lyncombe, Bath, Somerset in the autumn of 1883. The fourth of eight children, his parents were stone mason Edward Tucker and his wife, both of whom were from northern Somerset.

When he finished his schooling, George found work as an errand boy. By the time of the 1911 census, however, he had taken a job as a painter, possibly being employed by his father’s boss.

George married Rosina Hurley at Bath Register Office at the start of 1913. the couple set up home and went on to have two children, Edina and Audrey.

George enlisted in the opening weeks of the First World War, joining the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private. His time in service was not to last long, however. He was out on a route march on 1st December, when he was pulled up with acute pain in the chest.

Private Tucker was sent back to barracks, and given light duties. A subsequent medical confirmed an enlarged heart, and he was medically discharged from military service on 31st December 1914.

At this point, George’s trail goes cold. The next record for him is that of his passing, on 2nd January 1917. He was 33 years of age.

George Edward Tucker was laid to rest in Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, photography, Private, Royal Engineers, Sapper, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, unknown, war

Private Stanley Newman

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Private Herbert Newman

Stanley Herbert Newman was born on 14th May 1890 in the Walcot area of Bath, Somerset. One of at least six children, his parents were Charles and Sarah Newman. Charles was a stonemason and, when Sarah died in 1904, he married again, to widow Matilda Shearn, raising her children as part of the family.

When Stanley left school, he found work as a mason’s labourer – presumably either assisting his father, or having found work through him. On 3rd August 1912, he married Rosa Bean, a farm worker’s daughter from Bathwick, to the east of the Bath. The couple set up home at 7 Margaret’s Hill, and went on to have two children, Mabel and Albert.

With a growing family to support, Stanley’s work as a labourer was not going to bring enough money in, and he sought a more reliable career. On 2nd September 1912, he enlisted in the army, joining the Royal Engineers. His service record shows that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall.

Detailing Sapper Newman spent just over two years in the Royal Engineers, his time there coming to an end on 11th December 1914 when he was deemed medically unfit to serve.

At this point Stanley’s trail goes cold. At some point he joined the Somerset Light Infantry, although his service documents for this period of time in the army as lost to time. Attached to a Depot Battalion, it seems likely that he remained in Somerset, although this is not conclusive.

Private Newman died in a military hospital on 28th July 1917, through causes unknown. He was 27 years of age.

Stanley Herbert Newman was laid to rest in the family plot in Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery. He was reunited with his mother, who had been buried there thirteen years before. His father, Charles, was buried with them in 1921.