John Robert Webb was born at the start of 1894, and was the youngest of eight children to William and Catherine Webb . William’s work as a wharf labourer found the family in Wapping, East London, and this is where John was born.
According to the 1901 census, the Webbs were living in rooms at 1 Meeting House Alley, close to the docks. William, Catherine and John were still living there in the next census, taken in 1911. By this point, John was 17 years of age, and employed as an office youth.
Over the next few years, John’s trail goes cold. By the time war broke out, he had changed careers, and was working as a Stoker for the Mercantile Marine Service. The boat he was assigned to – a tug named Labour – was based out of Chatham in Kent.
Sadly, there is only one more document connected to Stoker Webb, and that relates to his passing. His pension record confirms that he died on 18th December 1917 from an illness. While the location of his passing is unclear, it is likely to have been either at the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, or the town’s dockyard. He was 23 years of age.
The body of John Robert Webb was laid to rest in the military section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.
Thomas Fleet was born on 3rd February 1879 in Kingswear, Devon, and was the sixth of nine children to Thomas and Emma. Thomas Sr was a fish dealer, and the family lived on Lower Street over the river in Dartmouth. Most of the family were involved in the fish industry, and by the time of the 1901 census, Thomas Jr was also working as a fisherman.
On Christmas Day 1901, Thomas Jr married Hannah Jury. She was a farm labourer’s daughter from Torquay, Devon. The couple married in Hannah’s home town, but settled back in Dartmouth. They had five children – Reginald, Elspeth, Edith, Florence and Thomas – and set up home in a five-roomed house on Victoria Road.
By the time of the 1911 census, Thomas had changed jobs, and was working as a yachtsman. The following year, Reginald died, at the age of just 9 years old. It is unclear how he died, but he passed in August 1912, and was buried on 2nd September, in St Clement’s Churchyard, Dartmouth.
When war broke out, Thomas would be called upon to serve. Unsurprisingly, given his job, he joined the Royal Navy, enlisting on 30th March 1917 as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records show that, at 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, he had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.
Ordinary Seaman Fleet was sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, for his formal training. Tragically, however, his time in the service was to be a brief one. He contracted lobar pneumonia and was admitted to the barracks’ sick quarters. He passed away from heart failure on 13th May 1917, at the age of 38 years old.
The body of Thomas Fleet was taken back to Dartmouth for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in St Clement’s Churchyard, reunited with his oldest son, Reginald.
Jack Wallis Gauntlett was born in Burbage, Wiltshire, in the spring of 1898. The oldest of four children, his parents were George and Florence Gauntlett. On Jack’s baptism record, George gives his trade as a yeoman, while later census records confirm he was a farmer.
Jack was baptised in St Mary’s Church in Stapleford, near Salisbury, some distance south of Burbage, and, given that his parents had no connection to that area, it seems that his father’s work took the family around the county. The 1901 census record found them Gauntletts back in Burbage, but by the time of the 1911 return, they had moved to Middleton Farm in Norton Bavant.
When war broke out, Jack stepped up to serve his country. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in January 1917 and, as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class, was sent to Farnborough, Hampshire, for training.
Much sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs FG Gauntlett, of Middleton Farm, in the loss they have sustained by the death of their eldest son, JW Gauntlett… He came home three weeks ago on leave before proceeding to France, and was then sickening for measles and had bronchitis. He was taken to Sutton Veny military hospital and died there on Friday from an attack of pneumonia.
[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 19th May 1917]
Jack Wallis Gauntlett was just 19 years of age when he died on 11th May 1917. He was buried in the family plot in All Saints’ Churchyard, Norton Bavant.
The funeral of Corporal GH Collins, of the Royal Engineers, who died at Devonport at the age of 46, took place at Tiverton, where his mother and stepfather and sister reside. Corporal Collins’s wife and two children are at present in India. He had been in the army since 1899, and served in the South African War, for which he received the Queen’s and King’s medals with four clasps. He went to India in 1902, where he remained until the outbreak of the present war, when he came to France with his regiment. Corporal Collins was wounded, losing two fingers. He afterwards contracted fever, from which he died. The funeral was accorded military honours.
[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Monday 29 October 1917]
George Henry Collins was born in West Anstey, Devon, and was the son of George and Harriett Collins. There is little additional information about his early life available, and his was not an uncommon name in the area at the time.
George married Stella Euphrasia Constance O’Leary on 11th October 1911. At the time he was stationed in Myanmar, and the couple exchanged vows in the town of Maymyo, to the west of Mandalay. They would go on to have two children: Mary was born in August 1912, with Gertrude arriving the following November.
When the First World War broke out, it seems that Corporal Collins initially joined the Devonshire Regiment, but soon transferred to the Royal Engineers. Documentation suggests that he was assigned to the Special Brigade Depot at Saltash, Cornwall. However, this may have been the unit he was nominally allocated to when arrived in Britain for treatment to his injuries.
Frustratingly, there is little additional information available about George’s life. He died on 21st October 1917 was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery.
Frederick Webber, of Westexe-south, Tiverton, stoker in the Royal Navy, has died at the age of 40. He had been in the Navy 15 years, and was on board HMS Dartmouth when she was torpedoed, and on HMS Sylvia when she sank a submarine. While home on leave in November he was taken ill. He partially recovered, but had a relapse and died on December 28th.
[Tiverton Gazette (Mid-Devon Gazette): Tuesday 1st January 1918]
The early life of Frederick Webber is a challenge to piece together, as his is not an uncommon name for the area and period.
His widow is recorded as Elizabeth Webber, and marriage record from August 1907 suggests his father’s name was also Frederick. Stoker Webber’s entry on the military pension ledger confirms two children – Frederick and Frank.
When he enlisted on 10th February 1903, he gave his date of birth as 26th December 1880 and his place of birth as Exeter, Devon.
This combination of details doesn’t give any definite results from the 1891 or 1901 census, so it’s not possible to confirm the early stages of his life.
Based on Frederick’s naval records, he was working as an engine driver when he joined up. He was 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall, with dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a tattoo on his right forearm
Stoker 2nd Class Webber was sent to HMS Vivid – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport. Enlisting for an initial period of 12 years, he would spend that time serving on a total of ten ships, returning to his Devon base in between voyages.
Frederick’s career seems to be one of doing just enough to satisfy his superiors. His annual reports noted his character and ability as being good or satisfactory, and he spent three periods of time in the brig – for three days in 1904, 14 days in 1906 and five days in 1910.
Frederick’s was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in July 1906 and, unusually, he remained at that rank for the rest of his career. It may be that promotion didn’t come his way, or simply didn’t appeal to him, and he was happy doing what he was doing.
Stoker Webber came down with bronchitis while he was on leave in November 1917. Based on his service records, he had just turned 47 years of age when he passed.
Frederick Webber was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery, not far from his grieving family’s home.
George Bailey was born in Bedminster, Somerset, on 20th August 1871. One of six children, his parents were George and Anna (or Hannah) Bailey. George Sr was a labourer and, when he died in 1876, Anna moved the family to Clifton, near Bristol.
The 1881 census found the family living in a small cottage at 5 Crosby Row in the then village. Hannah was listed as a late general labourer’s wife, while her three older children were all working for a dairy.
When George finished his schooling, he sought out a career. Joining the Royal Navy, this would prove a long-term role, bringing in a relatively decent wage for him and his family, but also gave him some adventure, not surprising given the number of ships he would have seen going to and fro from Bristol.
George was only 15 years old when he joined up on 25th September 1886, and so was below the age to formally enlist in the navy. Taken on with the rank of Boy 2nd Class, he was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship based in Devonport, Devon. Over the next three year he learnt his craft, and served on a few ships, including the battleship HMS Iron Duke.
In October 1887, George was promoted to Boy 1st Class and, on 20th August 1889, while assigned to the Iron Duke, he came of age, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy. Ordinary Seaman Bailey’s service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with auburn hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a spot tattooed between the finger and thumb of his left hand, a scar on his left leg and another in the centre of his back.
Over the next seven years, George served on a total of ten ships, and saw the world. In between voyages he returned to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport. In 1895 he married Elizabeth Bull, from Burrington, Somerset, and the couple went on to have six children.
George’s naval career continued, and he rose through the ranks, to Able Seaman in September 1890, Leading Seaman in June 1895, and to Petty Officer 2nd Class and 1st Class the following year.
In January 1899, George’s life took a different direction. After some time training at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire, he joined the Coastguard service, and would spend the next twelve years serving on the coast of Southern Ireland. This opportunity allowed him to have his family with him, and his and Elizabeth’s four youngest children were born in County Clare and County Cork.
By 1911, the family returned to Britain, setting up home in Brixham, Devon. That year’s census found the Baileys living at 6 Coastguard Station on the waterfront. The family remained there through to October 1913, when George was transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve, having served for 26 years.
George found work as the caretaker of the Electric Theatre in Tiverton, Devon, and this is where he and Elizabeth settled down.
Petty Officer Bailey’s time out of active service was to be limited, however, as, just nine months later, war was declared. Called back into action, he was sent to Western Stack Fort in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
An interesting personality has passed away in First-Class Petty Officer George Bailey, who died suddenly on Tuesday… He came home about a fortnight ago on sick leave, and seemed to be improving in health, and on Tuesday went out for a walk. After retiring to bed his death came suddenly as a result of heart failure.
[Crediton Gazette: Saturday 24th March 1917]
George Bailey died on 13th March 1917: he was 45 years of age. He was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery.
Thomas Telford was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia, on 31st July 1873. The fifth of eleven children, his parents were James and Mary Telford.
There is little additional information about Thomas’ early life. By the time war broke out, he had moved to New Zealand, and was working as a bushman, based out of Whanganui on the south coast of North Island.
Thomas enlisted on 18th January 1916, and would be assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. His service records show that, at 42 years of age, he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, and weighed 149lbs (67.6kg). A Roman Catholic, he had iron grey hair, blue eyes and fair hair.
Rifleman Telford’s unit left New Zealand in the spring of 1916. After five weeks in Egypt, he arrived on British soil on 7th August, marching from Southampton, Hampshire, to the Sling Camp in Wiltshire.
By 20th August, Thomas was in France, fighting on the front line. He was injured less than three weeks later and, after initial treatment in France, he was medically evacuated to Britain at the end of September.
Rifleman Telford spent time convalescing in a military home in Hornchurch, Essex, before being transferred to the ANZAC base in Codford, Wiltshire. That winter he contracted pneumonia, and he was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital on the outskirts of the village.
Sadly, the lung condition was to prove the better of Thomas. He passed away on 2nd February 1917, at the age of 43 years old.
Thousands of miles from home, Thomas Telford was laid to rest in the graveyard extension to St Mary’s Church in Codford, not far from where he had breathed his last.
James Malcolm McFarlane was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 24th April 1893. Little is known about his early life, although his parents are recorded as Peter and Helen.
When he completed his schooling, James found work on a farm. By the time war broke out, he was employed as a shepherd for Patrick Burke of Woodgrove, in the country’s Canterbury region.
James gave up his work to join the army, enlisting on 24th March 1916. He would have cut a striking figure, standing 6ft 3.5ins (1.92m) tall, and weighing 184lbs (83.5kg). He had dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His records note that he had a small scar on his right shin, from an old pellet wound.
Assigned to the New Zealand Wellington Regiment, Private McFarlane spend three months in Trentham, on the North Island, for his training. His unit boarded the SS Maunganui and left Wellington for Europe on 26th June 1916. The troop ship arrived in Devonport, Devon, in late August, and James and his colleagues were sent to their camp in Sling, near Bulford, Wiltshire, arriving after a 4-day march.
Private McFarlane would not see any enemy action. In November 1916 he was moved to the ANZAC base near Codford, Wiltshire, and he was admitted to the No 3 New Zealand General Hospital located there. Suffering from pleurisy, he would remain there for the next two months. James passed away from pneumonia on 25th January 1917: he was just 23 years of age.
James Malcolm McFarlane was buried alongside his comrades in the newly extended graveyard attached to St Mary’s Church, Codford.
Alexander Richardson Shaw was born in Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia, on 10th February 1884. The second of seven children – although two of his younger siblings died when just babes-in-arms – his parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Shaw.
Little is known about Alexander’s early life. Thomas passed away in 1890, and Elizabeth was left to raise the family alone.
The next document for Alexander is his army service record, confirming that he enlisted on 27th June 1916. By this point he had moved to New Zealand and settled in Wellington. He was employed as a labourer and working for a GG Holmes.
It seems that Alexander had tried to enlist before: his records show that he had previously been turned down because of poor eyesight. At this point, however, with the war raging in Europe, and thousands of New Zealanders being called upon, he was taken on. His service records show that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall, and weighed 12st 6lbs (78.9kg). Alexander was also noted as having fair (reddish) hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.
Rifleman Shaw was sent to Trentham, outside Wellington, for his basic training. His time there was not without incident, however, and on 21st July he was confined to barracks for three days for failing to comply with an order.
On 16th October 1916, Rifleman Shaw’s unit – the New Zealand Rifle Brigade – set sail from Wellington on the SS Willochra for their ten-week voyage to Europe. Discipline remained tight on board and, as the ship was nearing the end of its journey, Alexander was again pulled up. His records simply state that his offence was ‘for clothing issued’, and he was stopped the sum of 3d 6d from his pay.
The Willochra arrived in Devonport, Devon, on 29th December 1916 and, while the rest of his unit was sent to their base at Sling Camp near Bulford, Wiltshire, Rifleman Shaw was admitted to the port’s military hospital. His condition is unclear, but by 10th January he was well enough to be moved to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital in Codford, Wiltshire.
Private Shaw was suffering from influenza, and this quickly developed into pneumonia. He passed away on 15th January 1917, just five days after being admitted. He was 32 years of age.
Thousands of miles from home, the body of Alexander Richardson Shaw was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard extension to St Mary’s Church in Codford, not far from where he had died.
Charles Douglas Howard Vanstone was born in Paignton, Devon, on 27th October 1888. The fourth of seven children, he was the second son to Frederick and Charlotte Vanstone. Frederick was an architect’s surveyor and civil engineer, and the family lived comfortably in the seaside town.
The 1891 census found them living at Sorrento, a villa on Esplanade Road, overlooking the sea. By the time of the next census, they had moved to Torbay Park, and lived in a 12-room property. The family’s three sons all followed in their father’s trade, and, according to the 1911 return, four of the Vanstones were recorded as being civil engineer architects and surveyors.
When war came to Europe, Charles stepped up to play his part. He received a commission in August 1915 and, as a Second Lieutenant, was assigned to the Rifle Brigade. Attached to the 15th (Reserve) Battalion, the records suggest that he was in France by 23rd March 1916.
Lieutenant Vanstone seems to have been part of a Trench Mortar unit at the Somme. Wounded during the battle, he was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. Admitted to the Reading War Hospital in Berkshire, his injuries were to prove too severe. Charles passed away on 7th February 1917: he was 28 years of age.
Charles Douglas Howard Vanstone’s body was brought back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in his home town’s sweeping cemetery.
Charles’ death was the third loss for the Vanstone family in as many years. His older sister, Constance, had died in 1914, while his younger brother, Stanley, a Lieutenant in the 20th Royal Fusiliers, died of wounds he received on the Western Front in October 1915. Just 25 years of age, he is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery, France.
Death and Service 