Tag Archives: 1915

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war

Private Joseph Symes

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Private Joseph Symes

Joseph Symes was born in the spring of 1871, and was the oldest of four children to William and Sarah. William was a farm labourer from Stoke Abbot in Dorset, and it was here that the family were born and raised. They set up home with Sarah’s parents, and were recorded as living with them in the 1871 census, and with Sarah’s widowed mother in the 1881 record.

William had died by the time the 1891 census return was taken, and Sarah took up work as a mill hand. The document found her living in the village of Netherbury, a few miles to the south east of Stoke Abbott, with her three younger children, William, Alice and Mary Ann. Joseph was noticeable by his absence, but later documents confirm that he had enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment by this point, and was likely serving overseas.

Joseph had returned to England by the turn of the century, setting up home back in Netherbury. On 24th September 1910, he married Sarah Jane Dunsbury in Beaminster parish church. The daughter of a blacksmith, she was 13 years Joseph’s senior – 52 years old to his 39. The couple lived in Netherbury, where he was working as a mason’s labourer.

When war broke out, Joseph stepped up to play his part once more. He re-enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment on 1st September 1914, and was attached to the 6th Battalion. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall and weighed 182lbs (82.6kg).

Private Symes remained on home soil during his time in the army. He switched to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion in March 1915, which was based in and around Weymouth. In the autumn of 1915, he was admitted to the Sidney Hall Military Hospital in the town, suffering from bronchial pneumonia. The lung condition was to prove his undoing, and he passed away on 22nd November 1915, while still admitted. He was 44 years of age.

Joseph Symes was taken back to Netherbury for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in the village.

Captain, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Middlesex, photography, Royal Horse Artillery, Somerset, South Africa, story, war

Captain Francis Leach

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Captain Francis Leach

Francis James Leach was born on 27th June 1878 in the Somerset village of Martock. He was the middle of four children to John and Louisa Leach. John was a solicitor who was 17 years older than Louisa, who was his second wife, and by whom he had had two children. The 1881 census found the family living in a house called The Lawn on Church Street, supported by five servants: a nurse, an under-nurse, a cook, a housemaid and a footman.

The next census return, taken in 1891, recorded the family having moved to Seaton in Devon. Louisa was living at 7 West Cliff Terrace with five of the children and a domestic servant. John, however, is not noted on the document, although Louisa is still recorded as married, which would suggest that he had not passed away.

A later newspaper report helps build a picture of Francis’ life growing up:

…Leach was educated at Allhallows School, Honiton, was a thorough sportsman in every sense of the word, a good shot, a keen rider to hounds, a polo player, and cricketer.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 7th May 1915]

When he finished his schooling, Francis felt drawn to an army career, and the newspaper confirmed his progress:

He served through the Boer War with the R Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, and was present at the relief of Kimberley and at the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Zand River, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill and Wittebergen, and was awarded the Queen’s medal with six clasps and the King’s Medal with two. He was given his commission in the Shropshire Light Infantry in 1901, attained the rank of Captain last August and was appointed Adjutant of his Battalion February 2nd, 1914.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 7th May 1915]

The 1911 census found Francis back with his mother. She was now living in the village of Hawkchurch, near Axminster, living in a 9-roomed house called The Vineyard. Louisa also had her daughter and two servants – a cook and a housemaid – supporting her. The census return also confirmed that Louisa was a widow, John having died some rears previously. Francis’ visit may have been a fleeting one, as his fiancée, Doris Maunsell-Smyth, was also visiting in preparation for a wedding.

Francis and Doris exchanged vows on 29th July 1911, the wedding taking place in Christ Church, Paddington, Middlesex. Their marriage certificate confirmed that the groom was an army officer, while the bride’s father, George Maunsell-Smyth, was noted simply as a gentleman.

When war broke out in the summer of 1914, Captain Leach and his unit was called up to play their part. Full details of his service have been lost to time, but he was sent to the the Western Front by December that year. Over the coming months, the battalion was involved in the Battle of Eloi and the Second Battle of Ypres.

The funeral of Captain Francis Leach of the 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, as taken place in the village churchyard amid every token of respect and sympathy. The officer died at Boulogne of wounds received in action in Flanders.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 7th May 1915]

Captain Leach died of his injuries on 26th April 1915. He was 36 years of age.

Interestingly, despite a decree that the conflict’s fallen would be buried overseas if that was where they died, it seems that Captain Leach’s family were able to circumvent that ruling. Whether that was because he died in a hospital ship in Boulogne’s harbour is unclear, but had he died in the town itself, he should have been laid to rest in France.

Either way, the body of Francis James Leach was brought back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St John the Baptist Church, Hawkchurch, not far from where his mother still lived.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, photography, Private, Royal Devon Yeomanry, story, war

Private Percy Coplestone

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Private Percy Coplestone

Percy Reginald Coplestone was born in Torquay, Devon, on 17th August 1890. The oldest of four children, his parents were bakers William and Louisa Coplestone. The family moved to Kinkerswell in 1895, and, by the time of the 1911 census, they had moved to Paignton.

The Copplestones had set up business in Church Street and Louisa’s widowed mother, Louisa Smallbone, had moved in with them. Percy, now 20 years of age, was helping in the business, while his younger sister, Gladys, was employed as a draper’s assistant.

When war came to Europe, Percy was called upon to play his part. Details of his service are tantalisingly scarce, but they suggest that he had enlisted no earlier than April 1915. He joined the Royal Devon Yeomanry, and was assigned to the 3rd/1st Battalion, although his time in the military was to be brief.

The funeral took place Friday of Pte. Percy Coplestone, eldest sone of Mr and Mrs Coplestone, Church-street, Paignton, who joined 1st Devon Yeomanry, sustained an injury while undergoing gymnastic training, was operated upon on Monday, and died in the evening.

[Western Times: Tuesday 23rd November 1915]

Percy Reginald Copplestone died on 15th November 1915: he was 25 years of age. He was laid to rest in Paignton Cemetery, a short walk from where his family still lived.

While researching Percy’s life, I came across a couple of articles relating to a legal action taken against his father, William, by Edward Elkington, for damaged caused in a car accident. Edward was suing for £15 damaged, while William counter-sued for £65.

The case was initially heard in November 1915 – sadly, a week after Percy’s passing – before being adjourned until the following January. In amongst a number of witness statements, a local newspaper reported William’s evidence:

William Joseph Coplestone… baker and confectioner, said he left the Gerston [Hotel] between 11.5 and 11.10 in his single motor, with Mr Tolcher and Mr Hicks. It was a rather heavy car for his size, very reliable and very slow. They went on second speed, about six or seven miles an hour, and at the corner of Hyde-road witness [William] sounded the hooter, nothing then being visible. Taking a wide turn following the Torquay lines leading to Torquay, witness got on the left side, the proper side. He saw the lights of a car approaching, also a tram-car, the car being 140 yards away and 50 yards ahead of the tram. The car was approaching on the wrong side, and there was practically an end-on collision. Witness expected every moment the other car would have gone over to its proper side. Witness had driven about 100 feet when the collision took place and his car was stationery at the time. Witness and his friends were thrown out. The car cost him about £80 and the estimate of repairs was £63 5s. Mr Elkington said, “It is a bad job.” Witness replies, “It is your fault absolutely; you are on the wrong side of the road.” Plaintiff said, “You were crossing the road fast,” and witness replied that he was bound to cross the road. Elkington remarked, £I did my best to avoid the accident. Immediately I saw you I applied my brakes, but the roads were greasy, and the wheels would not grip.” PC Clarke was not there when the collision took place. Later he suggested to the constable that measurements should be taken, and went back to look after Mr Hicks. Before he got back they had moved his car. Coplestone said he had often driven two people in the car. When his son left for the Dardanelles, witness drove his wife and son to Southampton in comfort.

[Western Times: Tuesday 25th January 1916]

The case was adjourned once again, to 11th February. Frustratingly, there seems not to have been any follow-up newspaper report, so there is no confirmation of the outcome of William’s case.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, New Zealand, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, photography, story, Trooper, war

Trooper James Hughes

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Trooper James Hughes

James Hughes was born on 12th November 1884 in the town of Kapuni, New Zealand. One of eleven children, his parents were Daniel and Margaret – or Peggy – Hughes. There is little specific information about James’ early life, but the service records he completed when he enlisted for the army confirms that he was working as a farmer by the summer of 1914.

James enlisted on 18th December 1914. He had had some voluntary experience with the army before the war, and was assigned to the New Zealand Wellington Mounted Rifles as a Trooper. His medical exam confirmed he was 5ft 10ins (1.77m) tall and weighed 174lbs (78.9kgs). He was noted as having brown hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion.

Trooper Hughes and his unit set sail sailed for the Mediterranean in April 1915, finally arriving in the Dardanelles by the summer. There is little specific confirmation of his movements, but he was reported wounded at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula on 27th August. Medically evacuated to Mudros (Moudros) on Greek island of Lemnos. He had received a gun shot wound that fractured his skull, and was shipped back to England for ongoing treatment.

James was admitted to the American Women’s War Hospital in Paighton, Devon. This was based at Oldham House, which had been conscripted for use from Paris Singer, part of the sewing machine manufacturing family.

Trooper Hughes’ wounds would ultimately prove too severe. He died from his injuries on 17th October 1915: he was a month short of his 31st birthday.

Yesterday, at Paignton, the funeral took place of Trooper James Hughes, of the Wellington (New Zealand) Mounted Rifles, who died on Sunday at Oldway Hospital… He was wounded in Gallipoli, the wound being perilously near the brain, and recover was hopeless from the first. However, he lingered for six weeks. Deceased being a Roman Catholic, Father Kirk officiated at the Roman Catholic Church and at the cemetery. Several members of the 7th Devon Territorials, under Captain Hunter, were present, as well as a firing party of the Battalion, and a party of wounded from Oldway and The Larches Hospitals also attended. At the graveside the firing party fired three volleys, and the bugles sounded the Last Post.

[Western Times: Wednesday 20th October 1915]

With his family thousands of miles away, James Hughes was instead laid to rest in Paignton Cemetery, not far from where he had spent his last days.

James’ younger brother Charles also fought in the Great War. Serving in the same regiment as his brother, he was injured in the Middle East, and died of his wounds on 19th April 1917: he was 25 years of age. Trooper Charles Hughes was buried in Gaza Cemetery.

Oldway Mansion, Paignton. It was taken over for war service from Paris Singer, of the sewing machine family, and became the American Women’s War Relief Hospital during the First World War.
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gunner, history, illness, photography, Royal Field Artillery, Somerset, story, war

Gunner William Dallimore

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Gunner William Dallimore

The funeral took place on Monday at Locksbrook Cemetery, with military honours, of Gunner Wm. Dallimore, B Battery, RFA, 88th Brigade, who died on Friday at the Kingswood School VA Hospital. Deceased, who was a single man, 32 years of age, living at 2 Spa Gardens, Larkhall, joined the Army only eight or ten months ago, and was brought to hospital less than a month ago, suffering from an incurable complaint…

The family mourners were Mr Frank Dallimore (brother), Private George Dallimore, 4th Somersets (brother), Mrs Frederick Dallimore (sister-in-law)…

[Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – Saturday 21 August 1915]

There is little concrete information about the early life of William Dallimore. The Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects name his siblings as his beneficiaries, and so it seems that his parents had passed away before war broke out. There are no census records matching his name with the brothers confirmed in the newspaper article, and so it is impossible to get definite information about his birth or parentage.

Only the first page of Gunner Dallimore’s service records remain, but this still provides some details about him. He enlisted on 14th August 1914, a matter of weeks into the conflict, giving up his job as a painter to do so.

While his brigade would go on to serve at the Somme and Ypres, there is no evidence that William saw any action overseas. In fact, the hospital to which he was admitted was in Bath itself, so it may be that he was based near the city.

William Dallimore passed away on 13th August 1915. He was laid to rest in Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery.

Artificer, Commonwealth War Graves, County Tyrone, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Kent, Northern Ireland, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Engine Room Artificer James Donnelly

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Engine Room Artificer James Donnelly

James Donnelly’s life is a challenging one to pin down. Based on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission information, he was born in 1888 in Cappagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and was the son of Owen and Mary Donnelly. Unfortunately, there are no baptism or census records to expand on his family background.

Military records are equally sparse. James enlisted in the Royal Navy as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class. He was assigned to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent; given how early in the conflict, and his position at the lower end of the ERA rankings, is it likely that he was posted there for training.

James’ time in the military was to be brief. He was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, suffering from cerebrospinal meningitis. The condition was to prove severe: he succumbed to it on 19th May 1915, at the age of 27 years old.

Finances may have prevented the Donnelly family from bringing their boy back home. Instead, James was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the naval base at which he had served.

Engine Room Artificer James Donnelly
(from findagrave.com)
Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, history, illness, King Edward's Horse, photography, Private, story, Sussex, war

Private Robert Perham

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Private Robert Perham

Robert Ivor Perham was born in the Dorset village of Purse Caundle in the autumn of 1892. The oldest of eight children – and thirteen years older than his youngest sibling – his parents were farmers Thomas and Annie Perham.

Thomas took the family where the work was: the 1901 census found them living at Manor Farm in West Chelborough, Dorset. Ten years later, they had moved north in the county, to Ryme Intrinseca. Robert was helping his father on the farm by now, his seven siblings all still being at school.

Robert saw an opportunity for farming to give him an adventure and, on 27th March 1913, he set off for Australia to work as a ranch hand. His time in the Antipodes was to be cut short, however, when, in the summer of 1914, war broke out in Europe. He made the lengthy journey back to Britain to serve his King, and was assigned to the 2nd King Edward’s Horse regiment.

Private Perham’s time in the army seemed not to have been a lengthy one. Full details of his service are lost to time, but it is likely that he arrived back in Blighty in the early weeks of 1915. He quickly fell ill – from ‘spotted fever’, or meningitis – and was admitted to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton, Sussex. Sadly, it was a condition to which he would succumb: Robert passed away on 17th April 1915, at the age of 22 years old.

The body of Robert Ivor Perham was taken back to Dorset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Hippolyte’s Church in Ryme Intrinseca.

Bedfordshire Regiment, Commonwealth War Graves, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, illness, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Lance Corporal George Fenn

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Lance Corporal George Fenn

Much of George Fenn’s life is destined to be lost to time. Born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, in the summer of 1878, details of his parents are unknown. His was a common name in the late Victorian period, and census returns from the time identify at least two men born in the area around the same time.

The first document that can be directly connected to George is the 1911 census. This recorded him living at 13 Tankards Close in Clifton, where he was working as a dock labourer. His is noted as having been married to Minnie since 1902. The couple had one child, a son called William who was six years old.

When war broke out, George was quick to enlist. Full details of his service are lost, but he had certainly joined the Bedfordshire Regiment by the end of 1914. Attached to the 7th (Service) Battalion, by the start of the following year, his unit had moved to Salisbury Plain in anticipation of being sent to the Western Front.

George seems to have made his mark in the army, and he was soon promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. In the spring of 1915, he contracted pneumonia, however, and was admitted to the military hospital in Codford, Wiltshire, close to where his unit was based.

Sadly, the condition was to prove Lance Corporal Fenn’s undoing: he passed away on 1st June 1915, at the age of 36 years of age.

George Fenn was laid to rest in the peaceful churchyard of St Mary’s, Codford, not far from where he had passed away.

George’s entry on the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects and his Pension Ledger card shed a little more light on the family he had left behind. The first divides his belongings between his widow, Minnie, and the guardian of his child, Mrs Sarah Clarke. George’s pension ledger gives Sarah’s address as 14 Tankard’s Close, Bristol, and confirms that he was, in fact, separated from Minnie when he passed.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Northumberland Fusiliers, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire, Yorkshire

Private Alexander Short

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Private Alexander Short

Alexander Coverdale Short was born in the Yorkshire village of Nafferton in the autumn of 1890. One of twelve children, his parents were labourer Benjamin Short and his wife, Emily.

Benjamin died in 1908, and the following year Emily remarried, to widow William Jefferson. He was a clerk for the council in neighbouring Driffield but, by the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Sculcoates, near Kingston-upon-Hull, where he had taken up employment at an auctioneer’s.

The 1911 census found the extended family living at 44 Hopwood Street in Hull, a seven-room property. William and Emily headed the household, sharing the house with William’s son Alfred, Alexander and four of his sisters, Alexander’s nephew, two boarders and two visitors – another of Alexander’s sisters and her son.

Alexander was employed as a bricklayer’s apprentice by this point, but at some point found alternative employment working for the North Eastern Railway Company. War was on the horizon, however, and he had enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers by the spring of 1915.

Private Short was attached to the 17th (Service) Battalion (North Eastern Railway Pioneers) and, by August 1915, his unit had moved to Codford, Wiltshire, on the edge of Salisbury Plain.

Knowing a trip across the English Channel was likely imminent, before he left Yorkshire, Alexander married Dora Harrison. The daughter of a butcher, she had been born and raised in Sculcoates.

Alexander’s time in the army was not to be a long one. Within a matter of months, his health began to deteriorate, and on 25th October 1915, he died of heart failure at Codford Military Hospital. He was just 24 years of age.

Finances appear to have prevented Private Short’s family from bringing their son and husband home. Instead, Alexander Coverdale Short was laid to rest in the peaceful St Mary’s Churchyard in Codford.

Private Alexander Short (from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Lancashire, Lancashire Fusiliers, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private James McEwan

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Private James McEwan

James McEwan was born towards the end of 1879 in Bury Lancashire. He was the older of two children to James and Mary McEwan. James Sr was a foundry worker, who died in the 1890s, leaving his widow to raise their two sons.

By the time of the 1901 census, all three members of the household were earning money: Mary was employed as a cotton card room hand in a mill; James was a wringing machine fitter, while his younger brother, Peter, was a printer’s apprentice.

The next census, in 1911, found James still living at home with his mother. He was now employed as a labourer in the local railway goods yard, and his maternal aunt, Annie, was living with them, working as a rover in the local mill.

When war broke out, James stepped up to serve his country. Full details are lost to time, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was attached to the 4th/5th Battalion. This was a service and training unit, and Private McEwan did not spend any time overseas.

In the winter of 1915, James was based on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. While billeted there, he contracted bronchial pneumonia, and was admitted to a camp hospital. Sadly the condition was to prove too much for his body to bear, and he succumbed to it on 26th December 1915. He was 36 years of age.

It seems that Mary was unable to afford to bring her sone back to Lancashire. He was laid to rest in the peaceful St Mary’s Churchyard, in Codford, Wiltshire, not far from where he had breathed his last.