Category Archives: Surrey

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, London, photography, Second Lieutenant, story, Surrey, war, Wiltshire

Second Lieutenant Charles Hales

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Second Lieutenant Charles Hales

Charles Edward Hoare Hales was born in Bournemouth, Dorset, in the summer of 1886. The fourth of five children, his parents were Arthur Hales – a Major General in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – and his wife, Maria.

Arthur’s career stood the family in good stead: the 1891 census records the Hales living in a house in Crystal Palace Park, South London, with five servants supporting their – and their two visitors’ – every need. Arthur also believed in education for this two sons: Charles was dispatched to Hartwood House School in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.

Arthur died in 1904 and at this point the Hales family disappears – there is no record for Maria or her five children in any of the 1911 census returns.

When war came to Europe, Charles and his older brother Arthur, stepped up to play their part. Both joined the Wiltshire Regiment, both being attached to the 1st Battalion. Sadly, neither of the brothers’ service records remain, so it is difficult to piece together their military careers.

Arthur achieved the rank of Captain, gained a Military Cross for his dedication and service. He was caught up in the Battle of Albert – one of the phases of the fighting at The Somme – in 1916. He was initially reported killed in action, then, to the elation of Maria, this was changed to missing. Tragically, he was subsequently confirmed as dead, having passed away on 6th July 1916, aged 34 years of age. He is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial in Northern France.

A further tragedy was to strike the Hales family the following year, when Charles, who had risen to the rank of Second Lieutenant, also passed away.

The internment took place in Bathwick Cemetery on Monday, of Mr Chas. Edward Hoare Hales, 2nd-Lieutenant Wiltshire Regiment, who died on Thursday, after a long illness contracted on active service. He was the last surviving son of the late Major-General A Hales, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Commandant of the Straits Settlements, and of Mrs Hales… The young officer, whose body was brought from Buxton, was buried in the same grave where rest the remains of his father, who died in April 1904.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 1st December 1917

Details of Charles’ illness, from which he passed on 22nd November 1917, are unclear. He was 31 years old when he died. He left his estate – which amounted to £6524 18s 1d (the equivalent of £579,000 in today’s money) to his youngest sister, Sophia.

Maria Hales passed away in 1924, at the age of 74. She was buried in the family ploy, reunited with husband and younger son once more.

Second Lieutenant Charles Hales
(from findagrave.com)
Captain Arthur Hales
(from findagrave.com)
Army Veterinary Corps, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, London, photography, Private, Somerset, story, Surrey, war

Private Louis Stevens

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Private Louis Stevens

Louis Blake Stevens was born in the spring of 1870 in Pilton, now a suburb of Barnstaple, Devon. One of nine children, his parents were Devon-born sawyer John Stevens and his wife Mary, who was from Swansea.

When he left school, Louis found work in the leather industry, working as a parer and grinder. In the autumn of 1890, he married an Edith Turner, the couple went on to have two children – Edith and Albert – although they seem to have parted company soon after.

On 4th April 1896, Louis married again, this time to a Mary Webber. The couple set up home in Stoke-under-Hamdon (now Stoke-sub-Hamdon), Somerset, and went on to have seven children of their own. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to South Petherton, Somerset, where Louis and Albert were working as a glovers.

Storm clouds were brewing over Europe and, despite his age, Louis was keen to step up and play his part and, on 7th August 1915, he enlisted in the Army Veterinary Corps. His service records confirm he was 42 years old, 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall, with a dark complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes.

After some initial training at the Army Veterinary Corps depot, Private Stevens was sent to France. Arriving there on 25th October 1915, he spent the next nine months overseas. During this time, he had issues with his teeth, breaking several on the hard biscuits the army were provided with.

Private Stevens was sent to a camp hospital in Boulogne, where his teeth were extracted, and he was then sent back to Britain to recover. The operation identified epithelioma (a malignant tumour) on his tongue and face, caused by the state of his teeth. He was initially sent to a hospital in Epsom, before being transferred to the Horton City of London War Hospital in Woolwich.

Treatment was ongoing, and, in the end, Private Stevens was finally discharged from the army on medical grounds on 2nd July 1917. The report noted permanent total incapacity, and that treatment was required.

At this point, Louis’ trail goes cold. He returned home to Somerset, and, died there on 23rd January 1918, aged 47 years old. Louis Blake Stevens was laid to rest in South Petherton Cemetery, within walking distance of his widow and family’s home.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, London, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Somerset, story, Surrey, war

Ordinary Seaman Walter Pearce

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Ordinary Seaman Walter Pearce

Walter John Pearce was born on 15th June 1900 in Clapton, East London. One of ten children, his parents were James and Lily Pearce. Both were from Somerset, but cowman James went where the work was and they soon moved back to the South West, where he and Lily were from.

When he finished school, Walter found work as an errand boy for a grocer, but war was coming to Europe and, while he was too young when the conflict began, it was clear that he wanted to play his part as soon as he was able.

Walter enlisted in June 1918, joining the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. His service records show that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, and had brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. Ordinary Seaman Pearce was sent to HMS Crystal Palace in South London for training, arriving there on 17th June 1918.

Tragically, Walter’s service was to be short. Being billeted in close proximity to other men and boys from across the country, meant that disease was readily transmitted, and Walter contracted pneumonia. Admitted to the nearby Norwood Cottage Hospital, the lung condition was to prove fatal: Ordinary Seaman Pearce died on 19th July 1918. He was just 18 years of age, and had been in active service for just 33 days.

Walter John Pearce was brought back to Somerset – where his parents were now living – for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Mudford.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, injury, Kent, Monmouthshire, Monmouthshire Regiment, photography, Private, story, Surrey, Wales, war

Corporal John Cudby

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Corporal John Cudby

Frederick John Cudby – who was known by his middle name – was born in the summer of 1884 in Farnham, Surrey. The fourth of six children, his parents were William and Caroline Cudby. William was a bricklayer from Essex, while his wife was from Ramsgate in Kent. The family went where his work was, and by the mid-1890s, they had moved to Blaenavon in Monmouthshire.

When he left school, John found employment as a mechanic, working as an engine oiler at a local works. William passed away in 1901, and by the time of the next census, in 1911, John was working as a mason’s labourer. The family were all still living in Blaenavon, helping Caroline by keeping money coming in .

When war came to Europe, John was quick to serve King and Country. He enlisted in the Monmouthshire Regiment and, as a Private, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion. His troop was soon sent to France and, by November 1914, he was entrenched at Ypres, near Ploegsteert Wood.

Promoted to Corporal, little of John’s service information survives. It is clear that he was wounded during a skirmish and that he was medically evacuated back to Britain. It seems likely that he was admitted to the Preston Hall Military Hospital in Aylesford, Kent, and that this is where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Corporal Frederick John Cudby died on 6th June 1915, at the age of just 30 years old. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Aylesford, Kent.

While buried in the churchyard, the location of John’s grave is not known. Instead, he is commemorated on a joint headstone in the First World War section of the graveyard.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Lieutenant, photography, Royal West Surrey Regiment, story, Surrey, Sussex, war

Lieutenant Frederick Tugwell

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Lieutenant Frederick Tugwell

Frederick William Tugwell was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, in the autumn of 1888. The youngest of three children to John and Mary Tugwell, his father was a tailor in the village.

Little more is known about Frederick’s early life, but, when war broke out, he wad there to play his part. He enlisted in The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and, by July 1916 was in France. Frederick obviously made an impression in the army and rose through the ranks, reaching Lieutenant by the time the Armistice was declared in November 1918.

Lieutenant Tugwell remained overseas when the war ended and was based in Cologne. In March 1919, he returned home on leave, staying with his sister, Constance, who lived in Guildford, Surrey. It was here that he fell ill and here that he passed away, breathing his last on 2nd March 1919. He was just 30 years old.

Frederick William Tugwell was brought back to West Sussex for burial – he lies at rest in the cemetery of his home village, Cuckfield.

A mystery surrounds Frederick’s next of kin. His medal record suggests that it was his widow – Mrs FW Tugwell – who applied for that recognition. The address given for her is the same as for Constance. The newspaper report of his death gives no mention of a widow, only that he died at his sister’s home. There is also no clear evidence for Frederick getting married, although this may have been lost to the passage of time. His widow may, of course, have been living with her sister-in-law, but again, this cannot be confirmed either way.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Lieutenant, photography, Royal Field Artillery, story, Surrey, Sussex, unknown, war

Lieutenant Harry Street

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Lieutenant Harry Street

Henry Street – known as Harry – was born on 22nd April 1875 in Oxted, Surrey and was one of thirteen children to Jacob and Emma. Jacob was an agricultural labourer, and this is work Harry initially went into when he left school.

However, it seems that Harry was after more of a career, and looks to have enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery by 1895. His trail goes cold for a while, and it can be assumed that he served abroad, although exact details of his career are lost to time.

By 1906, Harry was back in England, and, on 15th October he married Janette Street at St Peter’s Church in Tandridge, Surrey. The marriage record confirms that Harry was a soldier, while his new wife was the daughter of a labourer. Janette was three years Harry’s junior, and there does not seem to be any close family connection, in spite of their shared surname.

Again, information on Harry’s life at this point is sparse. When war was declared, he was either still serving with the Royal Field Artillery, or was called back in to duty. By December 1914, he had been promoted to Lieutenant: this was to be a rank he would continue to hold until the end of the conflict. He certainly served abroad, and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, in addition to the Victory and British Medals. He was also given the French Medaille Militaire, although reasons for this award are lost to time.

Lieutenant Street survived the war, and by the autumn of 1919, he was living at Bright Farm in Cuckfield, West Sussex. It was here, too, that he passed away, through causes unknown. He died on 5th October 1919, at the age of 44 years old.

Harry Street was laid to rest in Cuckfield Cemetery, in the shadow of the village’s Holy Trinity Church.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Leicestershire, photography, Royal Engineers, Sapper, Somerset, story, Surrey, Training Reserve Battalion, Wales, war

Sapper Walter Wigginton

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Sapper Walter Wigginton

Walter Wigginton was born in the Leicestershire village of Illston-on-the-Hill in the summer of 1880. The second of seven children, his father John was a grazier, managing cows over a six-acre pasture. His mother, Rebecca, who was also born in Leicestershire, raised the family and managed the home.

Walter turned his hand to carpentry, and, by the time of the 1901 census, he was boarding with a widow in Frimley, Surrey, employed for his woodworking skills. By 1905, his journeyman life had taken him to the Somerset village of Trull. It was here that he met and married Annie Oaten, and here that the couple settled down to raise their family. They had two children, Dorothy, born in 1906, and Winifred, who was born two years later.

War was closing in on Europe and, by the summer of 1916, Walter had joined up to play his part. Initially assigned to the 65th Training Reserve Battalion, he had not long transferred across to the Royal Engineers as a Sapper when he fell ill.

Sapper Wigginton was admitted to the Kinmel Park Military Hospital near Abergele on the North Wales coast, suffering from bronchial pneumonia. Sadly, this lung condition was to get the better of him, and he passed away at the hospital on 29th December 1916, at the age of 36 years old.

Walter Wigginton’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of All Saints’ Church in Trull, where his widow and children still lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Machine Gun Corps, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, Surrey, unknown, war

Private Robert Creasey

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Private Robert Creasey

Robert Thomas Creasey (also known as Thomas Robert Creasey) was born in the village of Ash, near Farnham in Surrey, on 3rd January 1896. He was the youngest of four children to Edwin and Elizabeth Creasey. Edwin was the landlord of the Standard of England public house in the village.

When he died in 1902, Elizabeth moved her family to Somerset, where she had been born and where she still had relatives living. With four young children to raise, she married again in April 1903, to local dairy farmer Frederick Gould.

Robert was working as a farmer when war was declared, but was one of the first to step forward and volunteer. He enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry and in the autumn of 1915 was involved in the fighting in Gallipoli.

In July 1916 Private Creasey transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. Sadly, little further information about his military life is available, but he survived the war, and returned home to Somerset on furlough, before being demobbed.

This is where Robert’s trail ends. He passed away at home on 15th February 1919, presumably from one of the lung conditions running rampant across a war-torn continent. He was just 23 years of age.

Robert Thomas Creasey was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Michael and All Angel’s Church in Angersleigh, Somerset, not far from where his mother lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Labour Corps, Middlesex Regiment, photography, Private, story, Surrey, war

Private Herbert Macklin

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Private Herbert Macklin

Herbert Macklin was born in Lambeth, Surrey, on 14th August 1897, the youngest of six children to Enos and Sarah Macklin. Enos was a general labourer and, after his mother died in 1909, Herbert worked around his school as a baker’s errand boy, to bring in a little more money for his family.

After Enos passed away in 1912, and with his older sisters all having families of their own, Herbert and his older brother William did what they could to survive, getting some support from the local poor school.

The outbreak of war gave the brothers a sense of purpose, and both enlisted. William joined the Royal Field Artillery, and was sent to France in September 1915.

Herbert, being six years younger than his brother, enlisted later than his sibling. He joined the Middlesex Regiment, on 10th May 1916, and his service records show that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, 126lbs (57.2kg) in weight and had a fair physical development. While Herbert had a fair physical development, he was also recorded as having flat feet, which somewhat limited his army service.

Private Macklin transferred across to the Devonshire Regiment a few months after enlisting. He was then assigned to the regiment’s Labour Corps in the summer of 1917, and remained with them for the rest of his service.

While William was serving abroad, Herbert remained on home soil for the duration. By the spring of 1918, he was working in Kent, but was admitted to hospital in Faversham, suffering from acute tonsillitis. Sadly, this was to prove too much for Private Macklin’s body to take: he suffered cardiac failure, and died on 12th April 1918. He was 21 years of age.

Herbert Macklin was laid to rest in the Borough Cemetery of the town in which he passed, Faversham.

Tragedy was to strike again for the Macklin brothers: as the war moved into its closing months, Driver William Macklin was based in Salonika, Greece. He was not to see England’s shores again, sadly: he passed away on 23rd November 1918, aged just 27 years old.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Private, Royal West Surrey Regiment, story, Surrey, war

Private Thomas Wilson

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Private Thomas Wilson

Thomas Charles Wilson was born in the summer of 1897 in South London, His parents were John and Ellen Wilson, and they appear to have passed away when their son was still young. He had a sister – also called Ellen – but there is little more concrete information about Thomas’ early life.

In fact, the bulk of the information available about Thomas comes from the newspaper article reporting on his funeral:

The death occurred at The Mount Hospital [Faversham] of Private Thomas Charles Wilson of the [3rd Battalion of The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)]. The deceased was a medical case admitted from Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham, on July 1st. He had not been to the Front; as a matter of fact he only enlisted in April, and was only 19 [sic] years of age.

The deceased, who belonged to Bermondsey, seems to have had very few friends. His nearest relative, a sister, is at present in a hospital.

Faversham News: Saturday 31st July 1915

There is little further detail to add to this life cut short. Private Wilson seems to have been a loner, with no family other than his sister, and the army may have been an opportune escape from his life. He passed away on 18th July 1915, and was just 18 years of age.

Thomas Charles Wilson was buried in the Borough Cemetery of the town in which he passed away, Faversham, Kent. The newspaper report does not mention many mourners, but he would have been proud to have been afforded full military honours as he was laid to rest.