Tag Archives: 1917

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorset, Great War, history, illness, London, photography, Private, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war, Wiltshire

Private William Hasley

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Private William Hasley

William George Hasley was born on 14th June 1897. He was the oldest of three children to William and Sarah Hasley. William Sr, a former soldier, worked as a commissionaire, and the family lived at 11 Coach & Horses Yard, St James, Westminster.

Things had changed by 1900, and William Sr was employed as an engineer’s labourer. The family had moved to Dorset, setting up home in the village of Bourton, and their daughter, Susan, was born there at the turn of the century. Susan Sr came from just up the road in Zeals, Wiltshire, and it is likely that she was staying there when her youngest child, Sidney, was born in 1902.

By the time of the 1911 census, the family of five were living at Beach Cottage, Bourton. William Sr was drawing his army pension, but still employed at the engineering foundry; his eldest son, while still at school, was also listed as a news boy, possibly selling the periodicals to villagers.

War came to Europe in the summer of 1914, and William Jr was quick to step up and play his part. Giving up his job as an engineer’s fitter, enlisted on 1st September 1914, and joined the Somerset Light Infantry. His service records show that he stood 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall, and weighed 124lbs (56.3kg). Private Hasley was noted as having brown hair, brown eyes and a sallow complexion. He also had a scar on the tip of the middle finger of his left hand.

Assigned to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Private Hasley’s unit moved to Devonport, Devon, at the start of 1915. It was here that he contracted tuberculosis, which would ultimately lead to his medical discharge from the army in July. He served just 308 days.

At this point, William’s trail goes cold. It is likely that he returned to Bourton, although he had regular check-ups by the army inspection board. He was deemed totally incapacitated by the illness on 3rd January 1917.

William George Hasley’s lung condition would seal his fate. He passed away on 23rd March 1917: he was just 19 years of age. He was laid to rest in Bourton Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, India, Mesopotamia, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Samuel Harris

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Private Samuel Harris

Samuel John Harris was born in the spring of 1895, and was the oldest of three children to Samuel and Annie Harris. Samuel Sr was a cabinet maker from South Molton, Devon, and this was the village in which he and Annie raised their family.

The 1901 census found the Harrises taking rooms at 24 North Street, a house they shared with two other families. Move forward, and they were living four doors down the road at No. 28, a smaller cottage, but one they had to themselves.

Samuel Jr, at this point, was sixteen years old, but had completed his schooling and was working as a hotel waiter. His younger brother, Albert, had also started work, and was employed as an apprentice coach builder. Samuel Sr, meanwhile, was continuing with his cabinet making.

When war broke out, Samuel Jr was one of the first to enlist. While full details of his time in the army have been lost, it is clear that he joined the Devonshire Regiment, and he was initially attached to the 1st/6th Battalion.

Pte. SJ Harris proceeded to India and Mesopotamia with the Territorials. The hardships of campaigning and the trying climate in Mesopotamia proved too much for his constitution.

[Western Times: Friday 9th November 1917]

Samuel returned to Britain, and was admitted to the military hospital in Sutton Veny, Wiltshire. He passed away on 29th October 1917, from a combination of tuberculosis and a cyst in his back. He was 22 years of age.

Despite the apparent weakness in his constitution, the Western Times reported on his youth in South Molton:

The young man was very popular among his comrades in arms, and at Sutton Veny a general favourite. Prior to th war he was a familiar figure at football matches, having played for various teams at [South Molton] and in the district.

[Western Times: Friday 9th November 1917]

The body of Samuel John Harris was brought back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in the South Molton Cemetery, just a sort walk from his grieving family’s home.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, story, war

Private Alfred Ribbans

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Private Alfred Ribbans

Alfred Ribbans was born in Belvedere, Kent, in the summer of 1889. The sixth of nine children, his parents were Arthur and Sarah Ribbans. William was an iron turner from Ipswich, Suffolk, while his wife had been born in Jersey, Channel Islands. It is unclear how the couple met, but by the 1891 census the family were at No. 8 Coastguard Cottages in Erith.

When he finished his schooling, Alfred followed in his father’s stead, finding employment as a fitter and turner. By the autumn of 1908, he found an opportunity to turn this work into a career, and enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. His service records show that, at 19 years of age, he was 5ft 7ins (1.71m) tall, and weighed 132lbs (59.9kg). He had a fair complexion with brown hair and brown eyes. He was also noted as having a scar on his left eyebrow, another on the right side of his upper lip, and two noticeable moles: one on the left side of his navel and the other on the right side of his neck.

Private Ribbans’ initial term of service was for three years. He served on home soil, and when his contract came to an end on 27th October 1911, he was stood down to reserve status. When war broke out he was mobilised again, and by 14th August 1914, he found himself in France. It is unclear exactly where he served, but his time overseas was not to be a lengthy one.

By April 1915 Alfred was back on home soil, suffering from tuberculosis. The contagious nature of the condition meant he was no longer suited to the crowded barracks and billets of the Western Front, and so Private Ribbans was medically discharged from the army.

Alfred returned home to Kent, and, when he recovered, to his job as a fitter. On 3rd July 1916 he married dressmaker Armenia Tuckerman in the parish church in Erith. At the time, the couple were living at 9 Stanmore Road, but soon moved to Totnes in Devon, presumably to help with Alfred’s now-failing health.

The following January, Armenia gave birth to a daughter, Armenia Joy, but the young family’s happiness was to be short-lived: Alfred succumbed to his lung condition on 20th March 1917. He was 27 years of age.

Alfred Ribbans was laid to rest in Paignton Cemetery, Devon.

Private Alfred Ribbans
(from ancestry.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Grenadier Guards, Guardsman, history, injury, photography, story, Sussex, war

Guardsman Frederick Madge

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Guardsman Frederick Madge

Frederick Walter Smith Madge was born on 29th April 1886 and was the youngest of three children to Walter and Elizabeth. Walter was a painter from Paignton, and it was in the Devon town that the family was raised.

When Frederick finished his schooling, he found employment as a errand boy. By the 1901 census, the family were living on Princes Street, and his older sisters were both working as domestic servants. The next census found Frederick as the only one of the Madge siblings still living at home: he was also now working a a painter, presumably assisting his father.

Early in 1913, Frederick married Sarah Bishop. Sadly, there is little information about her, but her father’s name was Nicholas, and she was living in Newton Abbot, Devon, at the time of the wedding, which took place in nearby Wolborough.

When war broke out, Frederick stepped up to play his part. His service records are long gone, but it is clear that he had enlisted before March 1917, and had joined the prestigious Grenadier Guards. Guardsman Madge definitely saw service overseas, and his unit was heavily involved in some of the key battles on the Western Front.

It was during this fighting, possibly at the Battle of Polygon Wood, that Frederick was injured. He was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment, and admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton, Sussex.

The funeral took place, at Paignton, on Wednesday, Rev. AR Fuller officiating, of [Guardsman] FWS Madge, 31, Grenadier Guards, who died on October 6th in hospital at Brighton, following an amputation of the leg. Deceased, who was well known in Paignton, was a member of the town Fire Brigade, and highly respected.

[Western Times: Tuesday 16th October 1917]

Frederick Walter Smith Madge was laid to rest in Paignton’s sweeping cemetery.

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

Leading Stoker Charles Ching

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Leading Stoker Charles Ching

Charles Ching was born in Torquay, Devon, on 22nd March 1885. The oldest of three children, his parent were Joseph and Sarah Ching. Joseph died by the time Charles was just four years old. The 1891 census found Sarah living with their three sons – plus her other son from a previous marriage – on Pannier Street in Paignton. There is no evidence of work for any of the family, but it is likely that Charles’ half-brother, George, would have been bringing some money in, as he was 14.

Moving forward ten years, and Sarah was employed as a charwoman. Her three boys with Joseph were still at home, and Charles and his younger brother Henry were both working as errand boys.

Charles had his sights on bigger and better things, however, and on 21st March 1903, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records show that he had given up a job as a gardener, and he would continue with manual labour, taking on the rank of Stoker 2nd Class. The document also confirms that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

Throughout his naval career, Stoker Ching would be based out of HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport. Over the twelve years of his service, he was assigned to six ships, and rose through the ranks. In June 1904, he was given the rank of Stoker, and two years later was promoted to Stoker 1st Class.

On 1st July 1907, Charles was given a posting on board the cruiser HMS Forth. She would remain his home for five-and-a-half years, during which time, a number of things changed. A previously unblemished record was tainted by seven days in cells in November that year, although his misdemeanour is not noted.

In December 1908, Charles married Florence Tucker. The daughter of a carter from Totnes, her mother’s maiden name was Ching, although whether there was any connection to Charles’ late father is unknown.

On 1st September 1911, Charles was promoted again, taking on the rank of Leading Stoker. When his initial term of service came to an end in March 1915, war was raging around the world. He re-enlisted, and his records not that he had grown an inch (2.5cm) over the previous decade, but had also gained a number of tattoos. These included a woman’s head, a rose pierced by a sword and a Japanese woman on his right arm; there was also a peacock, clasped hand, heart and butterfly on his left.

Leading Stoker Ching’s health was beginning to suffer at this point, and by September 1915, he had returned to his short base, HMS Vivid. Suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, he was invalided out the Royal Navy just a month later.

At this point, Charles’ trail goes cold. He seems to have settled in Totnes with Florence, her father having passed away there in 1915. His health was to get the better of him, however. He passed away on 9th January 1917 at the age of 31 years old.

Charles Ching was taken to Paignton for burial. He was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.

Florence remained in Totnes after her husband’s passing. Her life there would not be a lengthy one: she passed away in March 1919, aged 29.

Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, photography, Private, Rifleman, story, war, Wiltshire

Rifleman John Delaney

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Rifleman John Delaney

Little information is available on the early life of Rifleman John Delaney. Born in Launceston, Ausrtalia, on 31st January 1888, by the summer of 1916 he was working as a shepherd in the New Zealand settlement of Whatatutu.

It was here that he enlisted in the country’s Expeditionary Force, and was assigned to the Rifle Brigade. His service records note that, at 28 years of age, he was 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall and weighed 143lbs (64.9kg). The record confirms that he had fair hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. He had tattoos on both forearms, and a scar on his left foot. The service docmentation also gives his next-of-kin as his friend, Mr G Garrett of Springbank, near Canterbury, on New Zealand’s South Island.

John’s unit boarded the TSS Maunganui in Wellington on 15th November 1916, embarking on the ten week voyage to Britain. Arriving in Devonport on 29th January 1917, Rifleman Delaney arrived at the ANZAC camp in Codford, Wiltshire, a few days later.

The journey had taken its toll on a lot of the newly arrived troops. John was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital on the outskirts of the camp with pneumonia on 10th February. His condition was to prove too severe, however, and he passed away just seven days later. He was 29 years of age.

John Delaney was laid to rest in the specially extended graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Codford.

Across the available documentation, John’s rank is given as both Private and Rifleman. I have used the latter rank, as this is what is provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Rifleman John Delaney
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Canterbury Regiment, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Charles Tombs

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Private Charles Tombs

Charles Tombs was born on 26th November 1875 in Sefton, New Zealand. The seventh of eight children, his parents were Job and Elizabeth Tombs.

There is little information available about Charles’ early life. He found work as a chainman, working as a labourer in a sawmill.

On 11th December 1899, Charles married Eliza Pound, the daughter of immigrants from Somerset. The couple settled in Wairau, and went on to have six children: John, Charles, Arthur, William, Ronald and Alice.

(The Tombs and Pounds seemed to have been closely connected: Charles’ younger brother John, went on to marry Eliza’s younger sister, Elizabeth.)

Sadly, Eliza died in 1910, leaving Charles to raise four children (John and Alice having died when just babes-in-arms), alone. A later document gives Charles’ next-of-kin as Mrs R Register, who was, in fact, his younger sister, Mary (who had married Robert Register in 1907).

War was coming, and Charles would be called upon to serve his long-distant King and Empire. On 26th July 1916, he stepped up, and enlisted in the New Zealand Canterbury Regiment. His service records show that, at 40 years of age, he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, and weighed 119lbs (54kg). He had brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion.

Private Tombs’ unit departed from New Zealand on 15th November 1916, making the journey to Britain on the RMS Tahiti. The journey took nearly three months, and Charles arrived in Devonport, Devon, on 29th January 1917.

The ANZAC camp near Codford, Wiltshire, was to be Private Tombs ultimate destination, and he arrived there a couple of days after landing in Britain. After a lengthy journey, his health had been impacted, as had many of the men he had travelled with.

Suffering from bronchitis, Charles was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital on the outskirts of the camp. The condition was to prove his undoing, and he passed away on 17th February 1917. He was 41 years of age.

Charles Tombs was laid to rest in the ANZAC extension to St Mary’s Churchyard in Codford, Wiltshire.

Private Charles Tombs
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Canterbury Regiment, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private William Allen

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Private William Allen

William Allen was born on 24th June 1888, and was the third of ten children to Joseph and Leah. The family lived in Oxford, on New Zealand’s South Island, and when Leah passed away in 1900, Joseph married again, and William soon had four half-siblings.

When he finished his schooling, William found employment as a labourer. At the outbreak of war, William was called to play his part, and he enlisted on 26th July 1916. His service documents note that he was small of stature, just 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, and weighing 120lbs (54.4kg). A Baptist, he had dark hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.

Private Allen was assigned to the New Zealand Canterbury Regiment. His unit departed from Wellington for the ten week journey to Britain, the SS Tahiti finally docking in Devonport, Devon, on 29th January 1917. From here the battalion marched to Codford, Wiltshire, where the developing ANZAC base was located.

Tragically for William, this would be the last stage of his journey. After weeks at sea, in cramped conditions, the incoming troops found they were battling a different enemy from the one they had expected. Many fell ill, and this included Private Allen. He was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital, which was connected to the base, with pneumonia on 19th February 1917. Treatment proved too little, too late, however, and he passed away just four days later, on 23rd February. He was just 28 years of age.

William Allen was laid to rest in the ANZAC extension to St Mary’s Churchyard, Codford, not far from where he had breathed his last.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Wellington Regiment, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Gordon McDonald

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Private Gordon McDonald

Gordon McDonald was born on 28th January 1893 in Pongaroa, New Zealand. The youngest of six children, and the only son, his parents were Scottish-born farmers John and Helen – or Ellen – McDonald.

Little information is available about Gordon’s early life. When he completed his schooling, he went into agricultural work, and this was his employment when, on 27th June 1916, he answered the call to play a part in a conflict on the other side of the globe.

Gordon’s service papers show that he would have been an imposing figure of a man. He was 6ft 3ins (1.91m) tall, and weighed 160lbs (72.6kg). A Presbyterian, he had brown hair, blue eyes and a medium complexion. He was also noted as having two scars, one on the outside of his right forearm, the other on his left thumb.

Assigned to the New Zealand Wellington Regiment, Private McDonald’s unit left the country of his birth on 16th October 1916. The SS Willochra would take two-and-a-half months to reach Britain, arriving in Devonport, Devon, on 29th December. From there Gordon and his unit were sent to Codford, Wiltshire, where their ANZAC base was set up.

Private McDonald’s time in Britain was to be tragically brief. At this point in the war, disease was rife in the Codford billets, and he was not to be immune to its effects. On 13th February 1917, he was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital, attached to the camp, with tubercular meningitis. The condition would prove too severe, and he passed away on 5th March 1917. He was 24 years of age.

Gordon McDonald was laid to rest in the ANZAC graveyard extension to St Mary’s Church in Codford, close to the camp where he had breathed his last.

Private Gordon McDonald
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Canterbury Regiment, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Walter Watson

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Private Walter Watson

Walter Robert Watson was born in Wai-Iti, to the south of Nelson, New Zealand, on 12th November 1889. The third of four children, his parents were Edward and Eliza Watson.

When he finished his schooling, Walter found farming work, and this is what he was doing when, in the spring of 1916, he married Beatrice Godbaz. By this point war was raging across Europe, and it seems likely that the couple exchanged vows ahead of his departure for the conflict.

Walter joined up on 26th July 1916, and, as a Private, was assigned to the New Zealand Canterbury Regiment. His service records show that he was 6ft (1.83m) tall and 161lbs (73kg) in weight. A Methodist by religion, he had fair hair, blue-grey eyes and a fair complexion.

Private Watson’s unit departed for Britain on 15th November 1916. Leaving from Wellington on board the SS Tahiti, the journey would take nearly three months. The Canterbury Regiment arrived in Devonport, Devon, on 29th January 1917, and from there the unit moved to their camp on the outskirts of Codford, in Wiltshire.

Walter was feeling every mile of the journey by this point. He contracted lobar pneumonia, and was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital on the outskirts of the camp. The condition was to prove fatal: Private Watson passed away on 20th March 1917, at the age of just 27 years old.

Walter Robert Watson was laid to rest in the ANZAC graveyard extension to St Mary’s Church in Codford.

Private Walter Watson
(from findagrave.com)

Walter’s younger brother, Herbert, had taken a different path in life. Also a farmer, he had volunteered in the 12th Nelson Regiment. When war broke out, he was one of the first to enlist, joining the Canterbury Mounted Rifles on 15th August 1914.

By December that year, his unit had left New Zealand and arrived in Egypt. On the subsequent journey to Britain, Herbert became unwell, and he was admitted to the General Hospital in Gibraltar with dysentery. The condition would prove his undoing, and Trooper Herbert Watson passed away on 30th August 1915, at the age of just 24 years old.

Herbert Percy Watson was buried in Gibraltar’s North Front Cemetery.

Trooper Herbert Watson
(from findagrave.com)