Tag Archives: 1918

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, London, London Regiment, photography, Private, Rifleman, Somerset, story, Training Reserve Battalion, war

Private Harry Izzard

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Private Harry Izzard

Harry Izzard was born early in 1900, in Chiswick, London and was one of six children to Albert and Florence Izzard. Albert was a groom, but when he died in 1905, Florence, left with a young family to raise, remarried. Things seem not to have gone well between Harry and his stepfather, Richard Warren, and he soon found himself resident of the Church Army Home in London.

In 1914, his schooling complete, he was sent to the village of Clandown in Somerset, where he was employed at the local colliery. He seemed to have flourished in his new life, and he “made friends with all he came in contact with, being of a bright and cheerful disposition and associated with the football club, Wesleyan Young Men’s Bible Class and an ardent temperance worker.” [Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 26th April 1918]

Harry was one of the village’s batch of miners passed for the Army ballot, but seemed eager not to wait to be officially called up. On the day of the ballot, he instead joined up voluntarily, enlisting in the 86th Training Reserve Battalion.

On enlistment he was sent to Clipstone Camp, Notts, where he quickly made friends. He, however, was placed on the sick list… and underwent [an] operation for appendicitis from which operation he never recovered.

Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 26th April 1918

Private Izzard died on 20th April 1918, aged just 19 years old, a life of new promise cut tragically short. His connection with Clandown, and his disconnection from his family in London, was such that his body was brought back to Somerset for burial.

Harry Izzard was laid to rest in the quiet Holy Trinity Churchyard, his sister Mabel being the only family member represented at the service.

Harry’s older brother Herbert Izzard also served in the army. He had found work as a laundry labourer when he left school, and went on to marry Maud Woodage on 14th February 1915. The couple had a daughter, Winifred, later that year.

Herbert enlisted in the London Regiment as a Rifleman, and was assigned to the 17th Battalion, also known as the Poplar and Stepney Rifles. He soon found himself in France and was killed at the Somme on 19th April 1916. He is buried at the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in Souchez.

Tragically, Herbert’s widow died in Oxfordshire in December 1918, leaving young Winifred an orphan at just three years old. She went on to live a long life, dying in 1997, at the age of 81.

Air Mechanic, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Air Force, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Leonard Luke

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Air Mechanic 2nd Class Leonard Luke

Leonard Arthur Luke was born in the autumn of 1899 in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He was the fifth of ten children to railway guard George Luke and his wife, Georgina.

By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved north west, to the village of Wellow, where George continued his employment with the railway. The track and station have now since disappeared, but at the time, it was a busy stopping point for the mining village.

When Leonard left school, he found work as a porter with the Somerset & Dorset Railway, but by now war was raging across Europe, and he was keen to play his part. He initially enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry on 3rd January 1918, but moved to the Royal Flying Corps after a matter of weeks.

On 1st April 1918, Leonard transferred across to the Royal Air Force. Formally holding the rank of Air Mechanic 2nd Class, he was training to become a wireless operator in Winchester, Hampshire. He was admitted to the Red Cross Hospital in the city, having contracted rheumatic fever. Sadly, this was to take his life, and he passed away on 13th November 1918, two days after the Armistice. He was just 19 years of age.

Leonard Arthur Luke’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the quiet Wellow Cemetery.

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Leonard Luke
(from britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

While Wellow Station was a bustling place, it is highly likely that Leonard would have known Edward Bending, one of the clerks at the time he was there. Edward also went off to war, and his story can be found here.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Machine Gun Corps, photography, Private, Somerset, Staffordshire, story, unknown, war

Private Arthur Selway

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Private Arthur Selway

Arthur Ernest Selway was born on 30th October 1898 in Wellow, Somerset. The oldest of six children, his parents were Frederick and Mary Selway. Frederick was a coal miner, and this is likely to have been the line of work for Arthur to follow, had war not intervened.

Arthur enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps on 19th April 1918 and was assigned to the 44th (Reserve) Battalion. Sent to the Rugeley Camp in Staffordshire for training, Private Selway’s time in the army was not to last long, however. While his service records are lost to time, he is recorded as having passed away while at the camp on 3rd October 1918.

Private Selway was just 19 years of age and, having been in the army for just five months and two weeks, this meant that his family were not eligible to receive a war gratuity from the army, as he had not completed six months’ service.

Arthur Ernest Selway’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful Wellow Cemetery.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, Somerset, Stoker, story, war, Yorkshire

Stoker 1st Class Albert Aven

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Stoker 1st Class Albert Aven

Albert Aven was born on 18th December 1896 in the Somerset hamlet of Rodden. One of eleven children, his parents were Alfred and Elizabeth Aven. Alfred was a farm labourer, and farming was certainly something that his sons went into when they finished school.

When war came to Europe’s shores, however, Albert was keen to play his part. On 29th November 1915, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

The record also suggests that he lied about his age, giving his year of birth as 1895. It is likely that Albert would have done this because there was a minimum age requirement, although, as he was already over that minimum age, it wouldn’t have made that much difference anyway.

Stoker 2nd Class Aven’s first posting was to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, where he spent a couple of months undergoing training. At the end of January 1916, he was moved to HMS Gibraltar, an old cruiser, which patrolled the waters around the Shetland Isles.

After six months on board, and following a further month in Chatham Dockyard, Stoker Aven was assigned to HMS Test. She was a destroyer that patrolled the waters of the Humber Estuary, and Albert spent the next sixteen month with her. During this time, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class, but the Test was also to be the last ship he served on.

On 8th November 1918, Stoker 1st Class Aven was ashore at the naval base in Hull, when he fell into a dry dock, dying instantly. Little additional information is available – and indeed contemporary newspapers are silent on the matter – but his service records report “Death caused by accidental fall into dry dock at Hull. Verdict of accidental death returned at inquest.” He was just 21 years of age.

Albert Aven’s body was brought home to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the tranquil graveyard of All Saints’ Church in Rodden.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, photography, Private, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Somerset, story, Tyne & Wear, unknown, war

Private Albert Warr

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Private Albert Warr

Albert Warr was born in Chaffcombe, near Chard, Somerset, in the spring of 1900. He was the middle of three children to William and Edith. Edith, who was also known as Sophie or Sophia, was nine years older than her husband, and had been married previously. When her first husband passed away, she was left with three children under ten years old – half-siblings to Albert – and so married William to provide them and her a home.

William was an agricultural labourer, but by the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved east to Crewkerne, where both he and Edith took up work in a laundry. The household was complemented by the two older of Edith’s children – Edith, who helped with the laundry work, and Samuel, who was a fishmonger.

Little information is available for Albert’s military service, so his time in the army is a challenge to piece together. He enlisted no earlier than April 1918, and was assigned to the 5th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Private Warr’s troop fought in France and Italy, although it is unlikely that he saw any action overseas.

All that can be confirmed is that he was admitted to the 1st Northern General Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, although his condition is unknown. Private Warr passed away on 17th October 1918, aged just 18 years old.

The body of Albert Warr was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the Townsend Cemetery, within walking distance of the family home in Crewkerne.

Private Warr’s pension ledger notes that Edith had passed away, and that the beneficiary was to be William instead. As this document is not dated, it is not possible to determine when Albert’s mother died, but it is likely to have been between 1917 and 1919.

Australia, Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gunner, history, illness, injury, Lincolnshire, photography, Royal Garrison Artillery, Somerset, story, war

Bombardier Charles Newbery

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Bombardier Charles Newbery

Charles James Anderson Newbery was born in Misterton, a stone’s throw from Crewkerne, Somerset, in the spring of 1895. The oldest of eight children, his parents were Benjamin and Edith Newbery. Benjamin was a farmer, who passed away in 1908, when his son was just 13 years of age.

Charles seems not to have spent a great deal of time in the family home, however: the 1901 census found him living with his paternal grandmother, while the 1911 census, taken three years after his father’s death, recorded him as living with his paternal aunt, and working on their farm.

The farming life seemed to suit Charles: indeed he emigrated to Australia to pursue the life. When war broke out in Europe, however, he returned to England’s shores to better serve King and Country. He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 18th October 1915, and was given the rank of Gunner.

Charles’ service records confirm that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall and weighed 140lbs (63.5kg). He was noted as having a mole on his left shoulder and an upper denture.

Private Newbery was sent to France in April 1916 and, a little over a year later, was promoted to Bombardier. He was attached to the 137th Heavy Battery and all seemed to be going reasonably well for him. He had ten days’ in England in July 1917, and a further two weeks’ in March 1918.

On 13th August 1918, possible during the Battle of Amiens, Charles was injured by a gun shot wound to his right leg. He was initially treated at the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport on the French coast, but was medically evacuated to Britain for further treatment.

Charles was moved to the 4th Northern General Hospital in Lincoln. To complicate matters, he had contracted bronchitis and, while his injury was being managed, it was a combination of the lung condition and cardiac failure to which he succumbed. Private Newbery passed away on 2nd September 1918, his mother and sisters by his side. He was just 23 years of age.

Charles James Anderson Newbery was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in Crewkerne’s Townsend Cemetery, not far from the family home.

Bombardier Charles Newbery
(from ancestry.co.uk)

Edith had to write to the regimental office three times to get her late son’s belongings back, and in the end it took more than six months to do so. She received the items he had on him in Lincoln in April 1919: they included and “upper row [of] teeth, cigarette case, wallet containing letters, hair brush [and] comb, disc, letter, wristlet watch, note paper and envelopes.”

Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Devonshire Regiment, Glamorganshire, Great War, Gunner, history, illness, Labour Corps, photography, Private, Royal Field Artillery, Royal Garrison Artillery, Sergeant, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Albert Lowman

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Private Albert Lowman

Albert Lowman was born in Crewkerne, Somerset, in the autumn of 1876. He was the younger of two children to Charles and Sarah Lowman. The 1881 census recorded the family – Charles, Sarah and their boys Charles Jr and Albert – living in Back Lane. Charles Sr was noted as being a labourer, although in the column highlighting any medical conditions (‘deaf-and-dumb’, ‘blind’, ‘imbecile or idiot’, ‘lunatic’), is one word: “afflicted”.

Charles Sr passed away in 1886, when Albert was just 9 years old. The next census, in 1891, found Sarah working as a charwoman, while her youngest, who had left school by this point, was employed as a labourer. Mother and son also had a lodger, Alice, who was a dressmaker. Charles Jr, by this point, had left home, and was living in Penarth, Glamorganshire, where he was apprenticed to his paternal uncle, who was a tailor.

On 28th November 1896, Albert married Sarah Ann Dodge, a weaver’s daughter who was also from Crewkerne. Albert recorded his job as a drayman, although this seems to have been piecemeal employment.

The next census found more permanent work, as he was cited as being a shirt factory packer, while Sarah was employed by the factory as a machinist. Making up the household was young Charles Lowman, the couple’s first son, who was just a month old although sadly, he survived only a couple of months more before dying.

Further tragedy is highlighted by the 1911 census, as it highlights that the couple had had a further child, who had also died when just a babe-in-arms. The Lowmans were now living on Hermitage Street near the centre of the town. Albert was still a shirt packer, and, even though their cottage was small, they had two boarders and a visitor staying. The lodgers brought the couple a little rent, which meant that Sarah no longer had to work.

War was closing in on Europe and, while his full military records are lost to time, it is clear that Albert had stepped up to play his part. He had enlisted by January 1918, and was attached to the Devonshire Regiment, through which he served with the 380 Company of the Labour Corps.

Private Lowman was barracked on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, and in July he was admitted to the military hospital in Salisbury itself, suffering from appendicitis. He was operated on, but died following complications. He passed away on 10th July 1918, at the age of 41 years old.

Albert Lowman was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of his home town, Crewkerne.

Private Lowman’s pension ledger record shows the beneficiaries of his army service. The document identified Sarah as his widow, but also Phillis Annie Matilda Denning, the couple’s adopted daughter, who had been born in August 1904.

Sarah was not to outlive her late husband for long, however.

The death occurred with tragic suddenness on Sunday afternoon, January 7th, at her residence in Hermitage-street, of Mrs Sarah Ann Lowman… The deceased, who was of middle age, was about as usual attending to her ordinary household duties in the morning. Just before dinner hour, however, she complained of not feeling well and went upstairs to lie down. Her niece took her up a cup of how water, and she then apparently went to sleep. She awoke about 3:40pm, and then had to get out of bed owing to sickness. Upon going back into bed again she expired almost immediately. Dr Wolfenstein was called, but he could only pronounce life extinct.

Langport & Somerton Herald: Saturday 20th January 1923

Sarah was 47 years of age when she passed away. It is likely that she was laid to rest near her husband, although records to confirm this have been lost.

Albert’s brother, Charles, survived his sibling by less than six months. He had left tailoring behind him in South Wales, and instead embarked on a military career. He joined the Royal Field Artillery in 1895 and, over the course of his twelve years’ service, served in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

Charles married Florence Dodge in 1908, and the couple went on to have two children – Cecil and Freda. When war broke out in 1914, he stepped up once more. Having already risen through the ranks from Gunner to Bombardier and Corporal, he re-entered service as a Sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Based in Le Harve, Northern France, Sergeant Lowman was admitted to a hospital in Harfleur, having contracted bronchial pneumonia. Sadly, he passed away while admitted, on 8th November 1918, just three days before the end of the conflict. He was 43 years of age.

Charles Lowman was laid to rest in the Sainte Marie Cemetery, near the centre of Le Harve.

Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gunner, history, photography, Royal Field Artillery, Somerset, story, war

Bombardier Ernest Brooke

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Bombardier Ernest Brooke

Ernest Oliver Brooke was born in 1895 in Bath, Somerset. The oldest of four children, his parents were tailor Oliver Brooke and his wife, Kate. Ernest did not follow in his father’s footsteps, however, and, by the time of the 1911 census, when the family were living in a Georgian town house in the Lyncombe area of the city, he was noted as being employed as an engine fitter.

Storm clouds were brewing over Europe by this point and, when war was declared, Ernest was one of the first to step up to play his part. He enlisted in 1st September 1914, and was assigned to the Royal Field Artillery.

Gunner Brooke’s service records show that he was 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and weighed 138lbs (62.6kg). He had brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ernest spent ten months on the Home Front, learning and honing his skills. In July 1915 he was sent to the Mediterranean, and found himself in Gallipoli. After nearly a year in Eastern Europe, he was sent to serve on the Western Front in France.

His service records show that the now Bombardier Brooke was wounded on 10th November 1916. Little additional information about this is available, and he was certainly fit enough not to be sent back to Britain for treatment or recuperation.

Things had changed for Ernest, however, and by December 1916, he was transferred back to the UK, to serve on the Home Front once more. While serving in Gallipoli, he had contracted tuberculosis. Over the ensuing months, he had gradually lost weight and developed a distressing cough, which occasionally resulted in haemoptysis, or coughing up blood.

By the summer of 1918, Bombardier Brooke was admitted to a sanitorium. His health led to him being medically discharged from the army on 20th June, and his condition slowly deteriorating. On 14th August 1918 he finally succumbed, aged just 23 years old.

Ernest Oliver Brooke was laid to rest in the family plot in St James’ Cemetery, Bath.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Leading Stoker, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, Somerset, Stoker, story, war

Petty Officer Stoker William Dyer

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Petty Officer Stoker William Dyer

William Henry Dyer was born on 26th March 1895, in Bath, Somerset. He was the only child of William and Elizabeth Dyer. Elizabeth had had a son prior to her marriage to William Sr, and so William Jr had a half-brother, Sidney.

Elizabeth tragically passed away in December when her youngest was only a toddler. William Sr went on to marry again, to a Sarah Chivers. The couple went on to have a family of their own, giving William Jr and Sidney a further five half-siblings.

William Sr was a carman and, when his son left school, he also found carting work, the 1911 census recording him as being a milk carrier. He wanted bigger and better things, however, and, on 8th April 1913, a fortnight after his eighteenth birthday, he joined the Royal Navy.

William’s service records show that he was working as a van guard on the railway at the time of his enlistment. He was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with light hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He joined as a Stoker 2nd Class, and was initially assigned to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport.

After six months’ training, William was assigned to the dreadnought battleship HMS Ajax. She became his home for the next four years, patrolling the North Sea during the conflict and, in June 1916, was involved in the Battle of Jutland. During his time on board, William rose through the ranks, becoming Stoker 1st Class in August 1914, Leading Stoker in August 1916 and Petty Officer Stoker in October 1917.

In January 1918, William returned to HMS Vivid for a few weeks He was then given a new posting, on board HMS Sandhurst, based at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. Petty Officer Stoker Dyer was to spend the next ten months here, albeit with a short break that autumn.

It was during this period of leave that William married Lily Sarah Bethia Durbin. She was the daughter of a miner, and the couple married in Clutton, Somerset. Their time together was to be brief, however, as William soon returned to Scotland.

It was while Petty Officer Stoker Dyer was back at HMS Sandhurst that he developed pneumonia. Sadly, the condition was to get the better of him. He passed away on board on 27th November 1918, at the age of just 23 years old.

William Henry Dyer’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in St James’ Cemetery in Bath.

Lily had been a wife for just a matter of weeks, and was now left a widow. In 1926 she remarried, to baker and confectioner Albert Farmer. The couple lived a long and happy life, celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary before Albert died in 1985. Lily lived on, passing away in January 1997, at the ripe of age of 98 years old.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Leading Mechanic, London, Mechanic, Patty Officer Mechanic, photography, Royal Air Force, Sergeant, Somerset, story, war, Yorkshire

Serjeant Algernon Spurge

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Serjeant Algernon Spurge

Algernon Carlyle Graham Spurge was born on 27th August 1891 in Bath, Somerset. The middle of five children, his parents were Algernon and Ida Spurge.

Algernon Sr was a portrait photographer, based in the Twerton area of the city, and this was very much a family business. The 1901 census recorded the Spurges as living in Victoria Road, Bath, with Ida’s brother, Tom Leaman, who was working as a photographic reloader.

Later that year, however, things were to take a turn for the worst. Algernon Sr seems to have been having some business worries and, on the morning of 16th December, he set off for work as usual. His and Ida’s daughter, also called Ida, arrived at the studio to find her father in some distress, a bottle of potassium cyanide – used as part of the photographic process at the time – next to him. He asked Ida to fetch him some water and salt, but when she returned, he declared it was too late, and lost consciousness. A doctor was called, but Algernon passed away shortly after he arrived.

A note was found, which read “My dearest wife, I really cannot stand the worry and anxiety of another day, to say nothing of weeks and perhaps months. Ask Mr Ashman and Mr Withy to be kind enough to help you straighten out matters a little. My best love to you and all my dear ones. AS” [Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer – Saturday 21 December 1901] Ashman and Withy were family friends, who were also in the photography business.

An inquest was held and a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was recorded.

The family rallied round, and Algernon’s widow and children moved in with Ida’s widowed mother in Bristol. Algernon’s daughter Ida continued working in photography, and Algernon Jr also took up the business. The 1911 census found him boarding with, and working for, his uncle Tom in Bath.

War was closing in on Europe by this point and, when it was declared, Algernon stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service on 4th June 1915 as a Leading Mechanic (Photography). His service records show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.66m) tall, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.

Algernon was initially assigned to the shore establishment HMS President in London for three years, rising to the rank of Petty Officer Mechanic (Photography). In April 1918, when the Royal Air Force was created he transferred across to HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, and rising to the rank of Sergeant Mechanic.

That autumn, with the end of the war in sight, Algernon fell ill. He contracted influenza, and this developed into pneumonia. He was admitted to the Military Hospital in York, but the conditions were to prove too much for his body to take. He died on 27th October 1918, aged just 27 years old.

The body of Algernon Carlyle Graham Spurge was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in St James Cemetery, Bath, not far from his father. When Ida passed away in 1926, she was buried in the same cemetery, father, mother and son reunited once more

Serjeant Algernon Spurge
(from ancestry.co.uk)