Tag Archives: 1916

Air Mechanic, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, London, Middlesex, photography, Royal Air Force, story, suicide, Surrey, war

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Thomas Dignam

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Air Mechanic 2nd Class Thomas Dignam

A verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity” was returned at a Westminster inquest on Thomas Patrick Edgerton Dignam, aged 28, a second-class air mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps.

The evidence was to the effect that Dignam’s final leave expired on the night of November 22. He and his wife got into a taxicab near the Law Courts, telling the driver to take them to their home in Pimlico. Dignam, however, altered his mind, and in the Strand bade his wife good-bye, saying he would drive straight to Waterloo. When his wife had gone, he again told the driver to take him to Pimlico. On the way he shot himself through the head with a service revolver. The only explanation of the tragedy was that Dignam might have been depressed as the result of influenza.

[Illustrated Police News: Thursday 30th November 1916]

Much of the life of Thomas Patrick Edgerton Dignam is a challenge to piece together. His service records suggest that he was born in the Ancoats area of Manchester, Lancashire, but give no indication as to his parents.

Thomas enlisted on 2nd July 1916, joining the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class. His service papers show that, at 32 years of age, he stood 5ft 10.5ins (1.79m) tall. Living at 83 Alderney Street, South Belgravia, Middlesex, he had given up his job as an NT Driver, privately employed to transport goods or people around the area. His papers show that he was married, having exchanged vows with Elinore Essex on 9th December 1915.

Air Mechanic Dignam was sent to Farnborough, Hampshire, for his training. However, from the start things went awry. On 26th August 1916 he went absent without leave, and was only apprehended back in Pimlico some three weeks later. Tried for desertion, Thomas was sentenced to 14 days’ detention, returning to duty on 26th October.

Given leave towards the end of November, the pressure of returning to base seemed to have proved too much, and Thomas took his life having bid Elinore farewell that last time.

The body of Thomas Patrick Edgerton Dignam was laid to rest in Streatham Park Cemetery, Surrey. His papers note one final tragedy in his tale. Elinore was pregnant when her husband died, giving birth to their daughter, also called Elinore, on 15th January 1917.

While Thomas does not appear in any census records, the 1911 document gives an insight into Elinore’s life. Born in Worthing, Sussex, in around 1884, she had moved to London and, at just 27 years of age, was the manageress of the Devonshire Inn Hotel at 136 Bishopsgate. On the night the census was taken, there were 25 guests and 16 other members of staff.

It is likely that Elinore gave up her position when she and Thomas married. By 1921, she was living with her daughter at 46 Wightman Road, Hornsey, Middlesex. Working as a clerk, she was employed by Frederic Smith & Sons at the West Central Hotel in Southampton Row, Camden. Frederic was the Secretary to the Band of Hope Temperance Society, and the hotel he ran with his sons was run with abstinence in mind.

Buckinghamshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Lieutenant, Middlesex, Northern Ireland, photography, Royal Army Service Corps, story, war, Warwickshire

Lieutenant Courtenay Lindsay

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Lieutenant Courtenay Lindsay

Courtenay Traice Lindsay was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on the 11th December 1874. The second of four children, he was the only son to Thomas and Ruth Lindsay. Thomas was an art teacher and examiner and, by the time of the 1881 census, he had moved the family to Rugby, Warwickshire, setting them up in the Temple Art Museum on Barby Road.

Education was important to Thomas, and it was obvious that his son’s passion was art. “He entered [Rugby] School in 1888 and left in 1892. He was afterwards Drawing Master at Seafield Park Engineering College, Hampshire, Trad Designer for textiles and pottery, and Examiner under the Board of Education in Geometrical Drawing.” [Memorials of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War, Volume VII]

On 10th January 1903, Courtenay married Charlotte Wetenhall. The daughter of a man of means, she was born in Stanwick, Northamptonshire, and the couple exchanged vows in her local parish church.

Courtenay’s mother died in 1905 and by the time of the 1911 census, he and Charlotte were living at 143 Beaufort Street, Chelsea, Middlesex. A five-storey Georgian building, they had let our rooms to aspiring artist Marion Forbes. Courtenay was an artist and designer himself, and he and Charlotte had an eight-month-old son, Courtenay Jr.

When war broker out, Courtenay stepped up to play his part. He gained a commission in the Army Service Corps, but did not see any service overseas. “He… was engaged on Road Transport, in the Northern Command. Hard work in the Transport Service undermined his constitution, and he died of heart failure, following on septic poisoning, on April 28th, 1916. Age 41.” [Memorials of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War, Volume VII]

Courtenay Traice Lindsay died at Burnham Abbey, near Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire. Interestingly, while Charlotte and their son were living four miles north in Burnham Beeches, he was laid to rest in Dorney Burial Ground, a short walk to the south of the hospital.

Lieutenant Courtenay Lindsay
(from Memorials of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War, Volume VII)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Private Ernest Bennett

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Private Ernest Bennett

Ernest Bennett was born in Calne, Wiltshire, early in 1887, and was the only child to Henry and Elizabeth. Henry was a general labourer and carter for a local mill, but when he son completed his schooling, he took work as a mason’s labourer.

Alongside his paid work, Ernest also volunteered with the local militia, as a Private in the 4th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. He also fell in love and, on the 6th December 1913, he married Emily Hitchens. The couple set up home in Trowbridge, and went on to have two children: Phyllis and Nelson.

When war broke out, Ernest’s time in the army proved invaluable. He was mobilised on the 1st September 1914, and assigned to the 3rd Battalion of his former regiment. Private Bennett’s medical report shows that he was 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall and weighed 140lbs (63.5kg). He had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Details of Private Bennett’s time in the army are sparse, but it is clear that he was sent to France by the end of November. He wasn’t overseas for long, however, and was back in Britain by the first week of February 1915. The reason for Ernest’s return is unclear, but it is likely to have related to his health: on the 2nd September 1915, he was medically discharged from the army.

At this point, Ernest’s trail goes cold. He appeared to have gone back home as, on Christmas Day 1916, this is where he passed away. He was 29 years of age.

The body of Ernest Bennett was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery: the exact location has been lost to time, but he is commemorated with a CWGC headstone close to some other war graves.

Berkshire, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Boy 2nd Class John Welch

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Boy 2nd Class John Welch

John Benjamin Welch was born in Eton, Berkshire, on 16th October 1899. The second of five children, his parents were Frank and Annie Welch. Frank was a house porter at Eton College, and the family lived at 4 Willow Place in the village, before moving to 8 Eton Square by the time of the 1911 census.

When he completed his schooling, John (who was known as Jack) found work in a local foundry. He sought a life of adventure, however, and, on 25th July 1916, he joined the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was just 5ft 3.5ins (1.6m) tall, with brown hair , blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Being below the age to formally enlist, John was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to the cruiser HMS Powerful to be trained on the job. Tragically for John, however, he contracted pneumonia, and the condition would take his life. He passed away on 14th November 1916: he was just 17 years of age.

The body of John Benjamin Welch was taken back to Berkshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St John’s Church, Eton.

John’s older brother, Frank, had also spent time serving his country. Enlisting in the Royal Field Artillery, and was attached to the 145th Brigade.

Gunner Welch served at Ypres and at Loos, and, by the spring of 1917, his unit was fighting in Salonika. He was wounded, and died of his injuries on 8th May that year: he was eighteen years of age.

By this point, through war and illness, Annie had lost a daughter, and three of her sons. The impact must have been unbearable: she died in the autumn of 1919, aged 43 years old.

Able Seaman, Berkshire, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Merchant Navy, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Able Seaman Albert Clements

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Able Seaman Albert Clements

In spite of unpropitious weather, an exceedingly large number of people of all classes paid a last tribute to Able-Seaman Albert Edward Clements, at Eton, on Saturday last. The deceased, whose home was at 3, Tangier-lane, Eton, was on HMS Princess Royal, which took part in the naval fight in the North Sea, and he as severely injured by burns. He was taken on board HM Hospital Ship Plassy, but died on 31st May, and his remains were brought home on Thursday evening last week from Scotland. Clements as a boy showed an affection for the sea, and when old enough joined the merchant service and made several voyages. Five years ago from the day he was laid to rest he joined the Navy, and was at first on HMS Warspite and afterwards on the ship on which he received his mortal wounds. He was a loyal and devoted son, and after the death of his father three years ago was of great assistance to his mother. His father was for 29 years in the Royal service at Frogmore and consequently served under three Sovereigns – Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George. His elder brother, Charles George, was in the Oxford and Bucks LI, and was killed at Loos a year ago. The Admiralty, through pressure, was not able to send a representative, but his mother had received from that department a letter expressing its sympathy and appreciation of his services. A letter of sympathy has also been received from the King.

[Windsor and Eton Express: Saturday 17th June 1916]

The early life of Albert Edward Clements is a challenge to piece together. Born in 30th October 1896 in Marylebone, details of his parents are unclear and, by the time of the 1901 census, he seems to have been adopted by his paternal grandparents, George and Louisa. By this point the family were living at 4 Sunbury Road, Eton, the household being made up of Albert, his grandparents, and his four uncles and aunts.

At 45 years of age, George was a gardener’s labourer, but, as the newspaper report suggests, Albert had a hankering for the sea. He served on merchant vessels, but enlisted in the Royal Navy on 12th June 1912. Sent to HMS Ganges – the training base near Ipswich, Suffolk – he was given the Rank of Boy 2nd Class, as he was too young to formally join up.

By January 1913, Albert was assigned to the dreadnought battleship HMS St Vincent. Within four months he had moved to the heavy cruiser-turned-aircraft carrier HMS Vindictive. By the end of the year, however, Boy Clements received his main move, to HMS Princess Royal.

Albert was formally inducted in the Royal Navy on 28th May 1914, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service records notes that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also recorded as having a birth mark on the back of his left arm.

Princess Royal would remain Albert’s home for more than three years and, on 1st April 1915, he received a promotion to Able Seaman. His ship would be involved in some of the Royal Navy’s fiercest skirmishes, including Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank, but it was during the Battle of Jutland, on the night of the 31st May 1916, that Albert was injured and died of his wounds. He was just 19 years of age.

The hospital ship Plessy brought the body of Albert Edward Clements back to shore, and he was taken home to Berkshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of St John’s Church in Eton.

Air Mechanic, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, story, Suffolk, war

Air Mechanic 1st Class Reginald Blowers

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Air Mechanic 1st Class Reginald Blowers

Reginald Blowers was born in Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, on 15th December 1892. He was the third of six children to Edward and Mary Bowers. Edward was a brickmaker, and the 1901 census recorded the family living at Brickyard Cottages, off Victoria Road.

The next census, taken in 1911, showed a big change for the family. Edward was now listed as a fisherman, the Third Hand on the vessel Passion Flower which, at the time the return was collected, was moored in Padstow, Cornwall.

Meanwhile, Mary and the children, along with her nephew Alfred, were living a 1 Stanley Road, Oulton Broad. Alfred was a fisherman, while Reginald was now employed as a carpenter. Two of his siblings were also working: sister Alice was a general servant, while 13-year-old brother Edward was an errand boy.

When war broke out, Reginald’s skills stood him in good stead. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 23rd November 1914, and was assigned to the Royal Naval Air Service as an Air Mechanic 1st Class. His service papers note that he was just under 5ft 5ins (1.64m) tall, with bark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Air Mechanic Blowers was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. In April 1915, he transferred to HMS President II, another shore base, which served ports in London, Chatham and Sheerness.

In the winter of 1915/16, Reginald fell ill. He had contracted tuberculosis, and was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham. Sadly, his condition would prove fatal: Air Mechanic Blowers passed away on 10th January 1916, at the age of 23 years old.

The body of Reginald Blowers was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the dockyard he had come to know as home.

Armourer, Armourer's Crew, Armourer's Mate, Chief Armourer, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Chief Armourer William Dimmick

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Chief Armourer William Dimmick

William Henry Dimmick was born in Titchfield, Hampshire, on 10th November 1871. The oldest of four children, his parents were John and Harriett Dimmick. John was a butcher, but when he completed his schooling, he became chose a different path.

The 1891 census recorded William as lodging with the Merritt family in Clanfield, to the north of Waterlooville, Hampshire. He was employed as a blacksmith, but either this was a means to an end, or he had itchy feet.

On 30th June 1893, William enlisted in the Royal Navy. Part of the Armourer’s Crew, his service records show that he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with light hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was sent to HMS Excellent, the shore base on Whale Island in the Solent, and she would become the home to which he would return over the next few years.

Armourer’s Crew Dimmick’s contract was for twelve years and, during that time, he would serve on five separate ships. A lot of his time, however, was spent ashore, and his service papers note spells at both HMS Wildfire and HMS Pembroke, both on the North Kent Coast.

William’s time was not mis-spent, however, and he started to rise through the ranks. On 20th April 1897 he was promoted to Armourer’s Mate; in November 1898 he was made an Armourer. On 1st November 1902 he rose to Acting Chief Armourer, a role that was made permanent twelve months later.

Away from work, William found love. He married Florence Dunford in around 1902, and the couple would go on to have three children – William Jr, John and Florence Jr – between 1902 and 1911.

When William’s contract came to an end, he immediately re-enlisted. Over the next few years, he was given five more postings, before being assigned to HMS Natal in September 1912. An armoured cruiser, she was attached to the Grand Fleet during the First World War, but did not take part in any battles.

On 30th December 1915, Natal was moored in the Cromarty Firth, when an internal explosion from faulty cordite ripped her apart. She sank, and at least 390 crew and civilians were killed.

The next record for William is that of his passing – from pneumonia, at home, on 28th January 1916. He was 45 years of age. It is unclear whether he had been on board Natal a month before, and whether there was any connection between his illness and the explosion.

The family were living in Sheerness, Kent, at the time of William’s death, His body, however, was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from HMS Pembroke, the dockyard in Chatham, Kent, which he had called home for some time.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 2nd Class Frederick Crane

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Stoker 2nd Class Frederick Crane

Frederick Leonard Crane was born in Sittingbourne, Kent, on 27th September 1896. The youngest of eleven children, his parents were brickfield labourer George Crane and his wife, Frances.

Frances died in the spring of 1900, and when Frederick left school, he initially found employment as a horse driver on a farm. By the time war broke out, however, he had changed careers, and was working as a blacksmith.

Frederick enlisted on 8th November 1915, joining the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service papers note that he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall, and had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. Stoker Crane was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training.

Tragically, Frederick’s time in the forces was to be a tragically brief one. At the end of December, he was admitted to the naval hospital in the town, as he was suffering from cerebro-spinal meningitis. The condition was get the better of him, and he passed away on 2nd January 1916. He was just 19 years of age.

The body of Frederick Leonard Crane was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the Kent port that he had started to call home.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal North Devon Hussars, story, war, Yorkshire

Private Ernest West

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Private Ernest West

Ernest West was born in the autumn of 1894 in Barnstaple, Devon. The middle of seven children, his parents were Charles and Eliza. The 1901 censes recorded Charles as being the innkeepers of a pub on North Street in Braunton, but ten years later he had changed career, and was a corn and manure merchant. The family had moved to Scur Farm to the north of the town centre.

War broke out in the summer of 1914, and Ernest stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal North Devon Yeomanry, and was attached to the 1st Battalion. Full service details have been lost to time, but by the autumn of 1915, Private West was in the Balkans, and was among those to land at Sulva Bay on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Ernest survived the fighting, but contracted dysentery. He was medically evacuated back to Britain, and admitted to the 3rd North General Hospital in Sheffield, Yorkshire. Sadly, the condition was to get the better of him, and he passed away on the 13th February 1916, at the age of just 21 years old.

The body of Ernest West was taken back to Devon for burial, and he was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Brannock’s Church, Braunton.

Ernest was not the only West sibling to die during the First World War. His older brother William enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment and, in the autumn of 1917, found himself in the fighting at Passchendaele. He was killed in action on 4th October, at the age of 27. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Able Seaman William Lang

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Able Seaman William Lang

William John Lang was born on 22nd August 1882, and was one of six children to Thomas and Elizabeth Lang. Thomas was a general labourer from the Devon village of Georgeham, and this is where the family were born and raised.

William initially followed his father into labouring work, but after Thomas died in 1891, he decided he wanted bigger and better things. On 28th February 1899 he joined the Royal Navy. Under the age to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the school ship based in Devonport, for his training.

It seemed that William impressed his teachers. By the end of November he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class, and in the spring of 1900, he was given his first assignment, on board the frigate HMS Agincourt. In August he was transferred to the battleship HMS Camperdown, and he was within days of arriving that he came of age.

William was now formally inducted into the Royal Navy, and given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was a little over 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Lang signed up for a period of 12 years, and during that time, he would serve on eight vessels, returning to what would become his shore base – HMS Vivid in Devonport – between assignments. In January 1903 he was promoted to Able Seaman but, while his annual reviews consistently noted a very good character, as time went on, his ability varied from good to moderate.

Able Seaman Lang’s contract came to an end in August 1912, and he immediately re-enlisted. In November 1913 he was assigned to the battleship HMS Colossus, and she would remain his home for the next three years. The posting seemed to suit William well, and his annual reviews reflected this, with superior ability being noted at the end of 1914.

By the start of 1916, William’s health was beginning to be affected and, he returned to HMS Vivid. He had contracted tuberculosis, and this led to his ultimate discharge from naval service on 22nd March.

At this point his trail goes cold, but it is likely that he returned home. Elizabeth had remarried by this point, and she and her husband, Thomas Physick, were living on a farm in Georgeham. William’s lung condition would get the better of him, and he passed away on 2nd September 1916. He had not long turned 34 years of age.

The body of William John Lang was laid to rest in the family plot in St George’s Churchyard, Georgeham: father and son reunited after 15 years.