Category Archives: Private

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.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, Lance Serjeant, North Somerset Yeomanry, photography, Private, Reserve Cavalry Regiment, Somerset, story, unknown, war

Lance Sergeant John Legg

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Lance Sergeant John Legg

John Thomas Legg was born in the summer of 1885, the oldest of five children to Benjamin and Sarah Legg. Benjamin was a carpenter from Dorset, and it was in Bridport that John was born. Within a year or so, however, the young family moved north to Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and this is where they settled.

When he completed his schooling, John found a job as a clerk. By the time of the 1911 census, he was working as a political assistant/clerk, and five of the six members of the Legg household were gainfully employed. Benjamin was still working as a carpenter, while John’s two sisters were dressmakers, and his younger brother Percy was a tailor’s assistant.

In the summer of 1914, war came to Europe, and John was one of the first to step up and serve his King and Country. He initially enlisted in the North Somerset Yeomanry, and was assigned to the 1st/1st Battalion. Private Legg’s unit was quickly sent to France, and fought at the Battle of Nonne Bosschen that November.

John’s service records are sparse, and so it is not possible to confirm exactly when and how he served. He moved from the North Somerset Yeomanry to the 6th Battalion of the Reserve Cavalry Regiment: his promotion to Corporal and then Lance Sergeant suggests that this move enabled him to share his skills with incoming recruits. It is unclear whether he was based in Somerset by this point, but it is certainly where he ended up by the start of 1917.

The remains of Sergeant JT Legg, North Somerset Yeomanry, were buried at Weston-super-Mare Cemetery on Wednesday. The first portion of the service was held at St Saviour’s Church, which the sergeant formerly attended, and the interior of which bears many evidences of his skill as an amateur wood-carver… Sergeant Legg was formerly chief clerk in the offices of the Well Division Conservative Association.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 10th March 1917

John Thomas Legg passed away on 2nd March 1917: he was 31 years of age. He was laid to rest in the sweeping grounds of Milton Road Cemetery, Weston-super-Mare, a short walk from where his family still lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, London Regiment, Oxfordshire, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war, Warwickshire

Private Wilfred Butler

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Private Wilfred Butler

Wilfrid Hinton Butler was born on 11th June 1895 in Cowley, Oxfordshire, one of four children to Alexander and Mary Butler. Alexander was a foreign stamp importer who, by 1899, had moved the family to the outskirts of Clevedon, Somerset.

The 1911 census found Alexander and Mary living in Clevedon, with Wilfrid’s two younger siblings. Wilfrid himself is missing from the document and, intriguingly, his parents are noted as having only two children: this is likely an misunderstanding over the number of children, and the number residing at home.

At this point, Wilfrid drops off the radar completely, and it is only through later documentation that we can identify what became of him. When war broke out, he joined up, enlisting in the London Regiment. Initially assigned to the 15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles), he moved across to the 13th (County of London) Battalion (Kensington) at some point during the conflict.

Private Butler was firmly ensconced in northern France by 1916 and his unit fought in some of the bloodiest battled of the Somme. He was not to come out unscathed, however, and it is likely that he was wounded during the Battle of Morval.

The injuries Private Butler had received were severe enough for him to be medically evacuated back to Britain for treatment. He was admitted to hospital in Kings Norton, Birmingham, but his wounds were to prove fatal. He passed away on 2nd October 1916: he was 21 years of age.

Wilfrid Hinton Butler was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, Walton Clevedon.

Commonwealth War Graves, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset, story, Surrey, unknown, war

Private Horace Broderick

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Private Horace Broderick

Horace Sydney Broderick was born in the summer of 1880, and was the youngest of ten children to Edward and Sarah Broderick. Edward was a clothier from Newport Pagnell, Bedfordshire, but the family were born and raised in Horfield, Gloucestershire.

By the time of the 1891 census, the family had moved to the south of Bristol, setting up home at Rugby House in Walton-in-Gordano, Somerset. Horace was still at school, and of the four other siblings living at the family home, only one, Horace’s older brother, Walter, was gainfully employed, assisting his father in the cloth trade. The Brodericks were supported by two live-in staff, a cook, Elizabeth Phipps, and a housemaid, Ada Perrett.

The next census, taken in 1901, found Horace and three of his sisters still living at Rugby House with their parents. Edward was now employing his son as a clerk to the family business, and two new staff had come on board, cook Lily Collier and housemaid Florence Hadeley.

By the time of the 1911 census, Edward and Sarah had been living in Rugby House for more than twenty years. Both now in their 70s, they still had their oldest daughters living with them, but Horace is nowhere to be found. Indeed, there is no sign of him on any of the UK census returns, and it is not until six years later that he seems to surface again.

When war broke out, Horace stepped up to enlist. He joined the Army Service Corps and, based on his service number, was employed as a Driver Mechanic. Beyond this, Private Broderick’s time in the military is lost to time.

New has been received in Bristol of the death at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, of Pte. Horace Sydney Broderick, youngest son of the late Mr Edward Broderick (of the firm Broderick & Co,. Limited, St James’s Barton, Bristol) and of Mrs Broderick, of Walton Park, Clevedon. Deceased soldier was in his 37th year.

Bristol Times and Mirror – Thursday 15 March 1917

The report appeared in a dozen or so contemporary newspapers and, as no specific detail is given, it is likely that Horace passed away from illness, rather than injury or any unexpected cause. He died on 13th March 1917, at the age of 36 years old.

Horace Sydney Broderick’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, Walton Clevedon, next to Edward, who had passed away two years before.

Commonwealth War Graves, County Antrim, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Lance Corporal, Northern Ireland, photography, Private, Royal Irish Rifles, story, war

Lance Corporal John Bowden

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Lance Corporal John Bowden

John Bowden was born in Slaght, Ballymena, County Antrim, in 1896. The third of four children, he was one of three sons to David and Margaret. David was a railway labourer, and by the time of the 1911 census, the family had four wages coming in. John, at 15, was working as a solicitor’s clerk, while his older brothers were both employed, one as a baker, the other as an engine cleaner.

On Saturday afternoon last there were laid to rest in the Ballymena New Cemetery the mortal remains of Lance-Corporal John Bowden, of the Royal Irish Rifles, whose lamented demise from scarlet fever took place at Newtownards Camp… to the intense regret of his commanding officers and comrades, with all of whom he was on the most intimate and friendly terms.

The deceased was a bright, intelligent young man, of a rather retiring disposition but by his unassuming personality, combined with a cheery and lovable disposition, he gained for himself hosts of friends wherever he went.

He served his apprenticeship to the law in the office of Mr John Owens, solicitor… where he was held in the very highest esteem by his employer and fellow clerks. Indeed he was on happy relations with all the law clerks and young men in the town, all of whom deeply deplore his demise.

He was for a considerable length of time a staunch and loyal member of Slatt LOL No. 475, and… [at] Ballymena District Orange Lodge very sympathetic allusions were made to his untimely death, and the District Secretary (Br. Hugh Ballentine) was instructed to forward a letter of sympathy and condolence to the bereaved parents and other relatives in this season of their affliction.

The deceased was a most enthusiastic member of the No. C Company Ulster Volunteers (Harryville Branch) and here is may be remarked that out of a hundred of a membership there at the present time thirty-nine members in Lord Kitchener’s army, together with eight reserve men at the front, which educed the company by almost fifty per cent…

Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities the deceased very gallantly volunteered for active service and was accepted, being attached to the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles… He was most attentive to his drill instructions, courteous and obliging to his officers, and a true comrade in every sense of the term.

Ballymena Observer: Friday 9th April 1915

Much of John’s service records are lost to time. His commitment to duty was underlined by his promotion to the role of Lance Corporal within months of enlisting.

John Bowden passed away from scarlet fever at Newtownards Camp on 1st April 1915. He was just 19 years of age. He was laid to rest in Ballymena New Cemetery, the newspaper report going on to outline the outpouring of grief at what would have been one of the town’s first military funerals of the war:

The tremendous crowds which formed in the funeral procession at the several squares and crossings en route to the cemetery testified to the respect in which the deceased was held by all who knew him.

The footpaths were lined and thronged with people all along the entire way, and as the funeral passed through the town business was suspended for the time being…

On arriving at the Cemetery the place was absolutely packed with spectators, all anxious to witness the carrying out of the obsequies… the scene was truly most pathetic, whilst to add to the sorrow and sympathy manifested on the face of everyone, the wailing and sobbing of deceased’s little sister as the remains were lowered into the grave were heartrending.

Ballymena Observer: Friday 9th April 1915
Lance Corporal John Bowden
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, County Antrim, Great War, history, illness, London, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, story, war

Private Alexander Reid

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Private Alexander Reid

Alexander Reid was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, in the autumn of 1898. Information about his early life is a challenge to pin down, as there were a number of boys with the same name growing up in the area at the time. However, his parents were John and Margaret – or Maggie – Reid.

When Alexander finished his schooling, he found employment as a mill hand. However, when war broke out, he received the call to play his part and, on 13th October 1917, he enlisted in the Army Service Corps. His service records show that he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall and weighed 138lbs (62.6kg). He was noted as having a tattoo of his initials on his left thumb, and that his right knee was stiff and swollen from an old injury.

Private Reid was sent to England to serve. He was attached to the Mechanical Transport Depot at Grove Park, Kent. Barracked in an old workhouse that had been taken over for army use, he remained there until the spring of 1918.

Alexander had contracted tuberculosis and was medically discharged from service because of the contagious disease. He returned home to Ballymena, but the condition worsened. He passed away at home on 12th November 1918, aged just 19 years old.

Alexander Reid was laid to rest in Ballymena New Cemetery, County Antrim, a twenty-minute walk from where his grieving family lived, in the centre of the town.

Commonwealth War Graves, County Antrim, County Donegal, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Lancashire, Northern Ireland, photography, Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, story, war

Private Rondaine Cary

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Private Rondaine Cary

Rondaine Tristram Cary was born in Lancashire in the autumn of 1896 and was the oldest of two children to Henry and Wilhelmina. Henry was an insurance agent, and, by the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to the parish of Linsfort in County Donegal, Ireland. This is near where Wilhelmina had been born, so it seems likely that the draw of family had been partially responsible.

The 1911 census found the Carys living a few miles down the road, in Buncrana. Rondaine was listed as being a scholar, while his younger brother, five year old John, completed the family setup. John was employed as a commission agent, and all four members of the household were listed as being Episcopalian.

When war came to Europe in 1914, Rondaine was keen to play his part. He seems to have enlisted almost at once, joining the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Assigned to the 11th (Service) Battalion (Donegal and Fermanagh), Private Cary was sent to Ballymena, County Antrim, for training.

Rondaine had only been in the camp for a matter of weeks, when he contracted measles. He was admitted to a hospital in Ballymena on 17th February 1915, but his condition worsened, and his father came to visit. Private Cary passed away on 27th February 1915, aged just 18 years of age.

The Cary family seemed unable to afford the cost of bringing their son’s body back to Buncrana. Instead, the local authority paid for Rondaine Tristram Cary’s coffin and funeral at Ballymena Cemetery, while his army colleague funded his headstone.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Jersey, photography, Private, South Africa, South African Infantry, story, unknown, war

Private John Payn

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Private John Payn

John le Caux Balleine Payn was born in South Africa in 1892. The sixth of seven children, his parents were Jersey-born Philip Payn and his wife, Mary, who came from the Eastern Cape.

There is tantalisingly little information available about John’s life. When war was declared in Europe, he answered the call from King and Empire, and enlisted in the South African Infantry. His regiment – the 1st – fought in North Africa and at the Somme, but it is not clear when and where he was based.

It is likely that Private Payn either had a base in the UK, or that he was hospitalised there following an illness or an injury. He passed away, through causes unconfirmed, on 4th March 1916. He was just 24 years of age.

It was impractical to repatriate John le Caux Balleine Payn’s body to South Africa for burial. Instead, he was laid to rest close to his father’s family, in St Martin’s, Jersey.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Jersey, photography, Private, Royal Jersey Militia, story, unknown, war

Private Henry Roberts

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Private Henry Roberts

The life of Henry George Roberts is destined to remain shrouded in mystery.

His entry in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records reads: “ROBERTS, Pte. HG, 668, Royal Jersey Garrison Bn. Channel Islands Militia. 29th Oct, 1918. In North-West corner [St Martin Churchyard]”, but there are no details of his next-of-kin.

No related military records are available for him, and, without Henry’s age an online search identifies too many results to be of any practical use.

Private Roberts lies at rest in the peaceful churchyard, his life lost in the mists of time.