Tag Archives: 1917

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

Stoker 1st Class Frederick Webber

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Stoker 1st Class Frederick Webber

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.

Able Seaman, Boy, Coastguard, Commonwealth War Graves, County Clare, County Cork, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Pembrokeshire, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, story, Wales, war

Petty Officer 1st Class George Bailey

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Petty Officer 1st Class George Bailey

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.

Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, injury, New Zealand, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, photography, Rifleman, story, war, Wiltshire

Rifleman Thomas Telford

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Rifleman Thomas Telford

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.

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

Private James McFarlane

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Private James McFarlane

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.

Private James McFarlane
(from findagrave.com)
Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, photography, Rifleman, story, war, Wiltshire

Rifleman Alexander Shaw

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Rifleman Alexander Shaw

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.

Berkshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, Lieutenant, photography, Rifle Brigade, Second Lieutenant, story, war

Lieutenant Charles Vanstone

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Lieutenant Charles Vanstone

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.

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.