Tag Archives: 1919

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Private Arthur Park

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Private Arthur Park

Arthur Albert Park was born in the autumn of 1890, in Devizes, Wiltshire. The second of six children, he was the youngest son to Arthur and Bridget Park. Arthur Sr was a labourer in a rubber factory, and, by the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to Church Lane in Melksham.

Arthur Jr sought a life of adventure for himself, and joined the army. By 1911, he had enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and, as part of the 1st Battalion, he was stationed in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Sadly, there is little specific information available about Arthur’s military life. His medal roll card notes that he was re-engaged in the army on 7th October 1914, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion of his former regiment.

Private Arthur Park… joined the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment in 1907. He went to France in 1914, and was captured while acting as a stretcher bearer during the German offensive in March 1918. He was released in December, and came home in the beginning of January, but he was far from well, his ill-treatment in Germany having undermined his constitution…

Private Park comes from a military family, his late father having served with the Colours, and a brother is at present a private in the Rifle Brigade. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

[Wiltshire News: Friday 14th February 1919]

There is no information about Arthur’s award, and the newspaper report comes after his passing:

[He] was staying in Trowbridge. He was sent up to the hospital in an unconscious state, and was apparently dying. He passed away on Sunday from double pneumonia and exhaustion, owing to the deprivations he had undergone in enemy hands.

[Wiltshire News: Friday 14th February 1919]

Arthur Albert Parks died in Trowbridge Hospital on 9th February 1919. He was 28 years of age. His body was laid to rest in Trowbridge Hospital, not far from the hospital in which he had passed.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal West Kent Regiment, story, unknown, war

Private Edward Larraman

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Private Edward Larraman

Edward William Larraman was born in Rochester, Kent, in December 1882. The third of seven children, he was one of five sons to Alfred and Mary Larraman. Alfred was a mariner who died when Edward was just ten years old.

Mary took work as a housekeeper, moving the family from their home at 4 Davis Square to rooms at 18 Northgate. Edward is missing from the 1901 census but, with later service records suggesting he volunteered with the Royal West Kent Regiment, it is possible that he was training with them when the return was taken.

The military life seemed to suit Edward and, on 4th November 1902, he gave up his job as a riveter to formally enlist, joining the Army Service Corps as a Private. His service papers from that time show that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall and weighed 120lbs (54.4kg). Hr was noted as having light brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Private Larraman spent the next four years on home soil, using the opportunity to gain a 3rd Class certificate in education, and rising to the rank of Lance Corporal.

On 23rd December 1907, Edward married Mabel Green. Born in Chatham, she was the daughter of a carpenter. The couple set up home at 3 Almon Place, Rochester – just a short walk from where Mary was living – and went on to have two children, Irene (born in 1908) and Thora (born in 1915).

Lance Corporal Larraman was medically discharged from the army on 18th May 1908. While it is unclear what affliction meant he was no longer fit to serve, he was awarded a pension for his service.

The next census, taken in 1911, found him and Mabel living in Almon Place with Irene and Mabel’s father Henry, and brother, George. Edward was listed as an army pensioner, while there were two salaries coming into the household: Henry was a carpenter and joiner at Chatham Dockyard, while George was a shop assistant.

At this point, Edward’s trail goes cold. It is clear that he re-enlisted when war broke out, although in what capacity, and for how long, is unclear. The only other record for him is that of his passing, on 22nd August 1919: he was 36 years of age.

The body of Edward William Larraman was laid to rest in St Nicholas’ Cemetery, Rochester, a short walk from where his family were still living.

Private Edward Larraman
(from ancestry.co.uk)
Berkshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, South Africa, story, Sudan, war

Corporal Alfred Storey

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Corporal Alfred Storey

Alfred Story was born in the summer of 1876 in Poplar, Middlesex. The youngest of three children, his parents were Benjamin and Margaret. Benjamin was an engine fitter from North Shields, Tyne and Wear, but he and Margaret had moved to London by the time their eldest was born in 1863.

Margaret died in the 1880s, and, when Alfred left school, he found work as a draper’s assistant. He did not carry out this trade for long, however, and took up a career in the Royal Army Medical Corps. His First World War service papers suggest that he remained in the army for twelve years, gaining the Kedive’s Star for service in the Sudan in 1898, and the Queen’s Medal with five clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps for his time in South Africa.

By the time of the 1911 census Alfred was living at 1 Belle Vue, Eton, Berkshire, and that he was a house porter at Eton College. He was recorded as having married Alice in 1905 (although a later document suggests they did not exchange vows until 26th October 1916), and the couple were living there with their daughter, May, who was three years old. While no formal marriage certificate is available, it would seem that Alice was a widow when they got together: also living at 1 Belle Vue were her children, William Mallaband (who was 15) and Violet Mallaband (13).

The next record for Alfred is his service papers for the First World War. He enlisted on 26th February 1917, and was assigned back to his former regiment as a Private. His medical confirms that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m), and that he weighed 160lbs (72.6kg). He was recorded as having brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Private Storey carried out his duties on home soil, and was attached to 18th Company. He survived the conflict, and rose to the rank of Corporal, then Acting Sergeant. When he was stood down on 16th February 1919, we readily volunteered to extend his service for a further twelve months. On 20th November that year, he collapsed and died from a cerebral haemorrhage. He was 39 years of age.

The body of Alfred Storey was taken back to Berkshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St John’s Church, Eton. He was reunited with Alice when she died in 1956: husband and wife buried together after 37 years.

Berkshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Driver, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, London, photography, Royal Engineers, story, unknown, war

Driver John Green

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Driver John Green

The life of John James Green is a challenge to piece together. Born in Chatham, Kent, in the spring of 1880, he was the older of two children to David and Frances Green. David was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, but when he died in 1883, his widow was left with two young children to raise.

Frances moved the family back to Eton, Berkshire, where she had been born. She married again, to groom Robert Edwards, and the couple went on to have a child of their own, John’s half-brother, Robert.

When John completed his schooling, he followed in his father’s footsteps. He joined the Royal Engineers, and went on to be a Driver for the regiment.

The 1901 census recorded him as being a patient in the Connaught Hospital, attached the North Camp in Aldershot, Hampshire. While not confirming John’s condition, it does note that he was married, although there does not appear to be any other record confirming this.

On 29th October 1903, however, John did get married. His new bride was Alice Morton, and the couple exchanged vows in St Mary Magdalene Church in Southwark, London.

Sadly, Alice seems to have died young, and in December 1905, John wed for a second time, to grocer’s daughter Ellen Mansey. Now based back in Aldershot, the two married in Holy Trinity Church, and went on to have five children: John, Ernest, May, Charles and Alice.

The 1911 census found the Green family in rooms at 25 Lyson’s Road. A small terraced cottage, they shared it with the Scotts – married couple John and Edith, and their baby, William.

At this point, John’s trail goes cold. War broke out, and it is certain that he served in some capacity, but how and where is unclear. Driver Green survived the conflict, but passed away in Aldershot on 22nd May 1919: he was 39 years of age.

The body of John James Green was taken back to Berkshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St John’s Church in Eton, where his mother was still living.

It appears that Ellen may also have passed away by this point, as John’s pension was split equally between their five children. Tragically, his pension card notes Ernest and Charles’ guardian as the Sister in charge of St Augustine’s Home for Boys in Clewes, Berkshire. May and Alice were being looked after by Miss J Angerous of Pembroke Gardens, Windsor; while oldest son John Jr was in the care of Mrs B Evans Baldwin’s End, Eton College.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, India, Mesopotamia, photography, story, war

Corporal Harry Fletcher

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Corporal Harry Fletcher

Harry Luke Fletcher was born in the spring of 1889 in the Dorset town of Gillingham. The youngest of eight children, his parents were James and Mary Fletcher. James was an agricultural labourer-turned-gardener, but when his youngest left school, he took a different path.

The 1911 census found the family living in a four-roomed cottage on Wyke Road, Gillingham. James was retired by this point, and he and Mary shared their home with their daughter Bessie, who was employed as a glover. Harry completed the household, and he was working as a printer in the local iron works.

When war broke out, Harry was called upon to play his part. His service records have been lost to time, sadly, but, it is clear that he enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment, and was assigned to the 1st/4th Battalion. They served in South Asia, and it is likely that Harry – who rose to the rank of Corporal – spent the war in India and Mesopotamia.

Harry survived the conflict, and returned to Britain after the Armistice, waiting to be demobbed. During this time he fell ill, and passed away on 5th April 1919. He was 29 years of age.

The body of Harry Luke Fletcher was laid to rest in Gillingham Cemetery, not far from where his family were still living.

Commonwealth War Graves, Crete, Dorset, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, Lancashire Fusiliers, Malta, photography, Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, story, war

Private Arthur Coward

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Private Arthur Coward

William Arthur Coward was born in the autumn of 1878 in Gillingham, Dorset. The youngest of three children, his parents were Arthur and Sarah Coward. Arthur died around the time his son was born, and, while he was baptised William, he was known by Arthur from there on in.

Sarah was left to being up her children alone and, by the time of the 1891 census, she had taken work as a laundry woman. The family were living on Gas House Lane, and Arthur’s older brother Hubert, or Bertie, had finished school and was working as an errand boy.

When he had completed his education, Arthur took a job as an ostler for a local inn, but wanted a reliable career and, on 30th October 1897, he enlisted in the army. Joining the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private, his service papers show the young man he was becoming. His medical record notes that, at 19 years of age, he was a little under 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, and weighed 127lbs (57.6kg). He had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a sallow complexion. He was also found to have a scar on the left side of his neck, and slight varicose veins.

Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, Arthur spent the first few months training on home soil. In February 1898, however, his unit was sent to the Mediterranean and, that December, he transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. Over the next three years, Private Coward was based in Malta and Crete, but things were to go awry.

Bertie had passed away in the spring of 1899 and, on 25th February 1901, Arthur was imprisoned for an unrecorded felony. Tried ten days later, he was convicted of the offence, and imprisoned for three months. On his release, on 12th June, he was formally discharged from the army, and sent back to Britain.

By the time of the 1911 census, Arthur was back home. Taking up his former job as a ostler, he is recorded as living in a four-roomed house on Cemetery Road, Gillingham, with his mother. His older sister, Emily, was also living at home, the census noting that she had been an imbecile since birth.

When war broke out in the summer of 1914, Arthur would be called upon to play his part as part of Kitchener’s Army. He joined the Army Ordnance Corps on 14th April 1916, his papers suggesting little change in stature or looks, bit noted that he now suffered from eczema.

Private Coward survived the war, but in the winter of 1918, he fell ill with influenza, and this became bronchial pneumonia. His illness led to a medical discharge from the army on 15th March 1919.

At this point, Arthur’s trail goes cold. He returned home, but his health appears to have hampered him. He passed away on 24th October 1919 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was 41 years of age.

The body of William Arthur Coward was laid to rest in Gillingham Cemetery, just a short walk from where his mother and sister were living.

Sarah had now lost her husband and two sons and, in her early 70s, she was looking after her disabled daughter. The 1921 census found them still living on Cemetery Road, where Sarah was undertaking home duties, Emily being unable to work. She outlived her youngest child by a decade, her daughter dying just five months later, in May 1930.

Commonwealth War Graves, County Wicklow, Great War, history, India, Ireland, Labour Corps, photography, Private, Royal Artillery, Royal Field Artillery, South Africa, story, unknown, war, Wiltshire

Gunner Robert Dobson

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Gunner Robert Dobson

In the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, is a headstone dedicated to the memory of Gunner R Dobson of the Royal Field Artillery. The early life of Robert Dobson, however, is a challenge to unpick.

Born in Kilbride, County Wicklow, in 1873, he was the son of John Dobson and, according to his later service papers, he had three brothers: William, John Jr and Richard.

When he finished his schooling, Robert found work as a gamekeeper, but he wanted more adventure, and, on 27th April 1891, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery. Given the rank of Gunner, his papers note that he was a little over 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, and weighed 150lbs (68kg). A Presbyterian, he had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Gunner Dobson signed up for a period of seven years, and during this time he travelled the world. From March 1893, he was based in India, but was invalided home for reasons unclear in November 1894. He would remain on home soil for the next three years, and was stood down to reserve status in April 1898.

While back on home soil, love had blossomed and, on the 14th May 1898, Robert married Mary Bull. A labourer’s daughter from Steeple Ashton, the couple wed in the parish church. Robert gave his address as the same village, and, given the proximity of the garrison town of Trowbridge, it is likely a local posting is how the couple met.

On 3rd November 1899, Gunner Dobson was called into duty once more. Attached to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Field Artillery, his unit headed to South Africa, and he was quickly caught up in the Boer War. He would remain overseas until the spring of 1901, at which point he returned to Britain once more.

After a total of twelve years’ service, Robert was formally stood down from army service on 26th April 1903, returning to Steeple Ashton and Mary. The 1911 census – the only one of the four returns taken during his lifetime on which he appeared – found the couple living in a cottage on Common Hill, to the north of the village centre. Robert, now 38 years old, was working as a farm labourer.

When war broke out in Europe, Robert stepped up to serve his country once more. He initially re-joined his old unit, but seems to have transferred over the Labour Corps, and was attached to the 95th Company. His service records for this period have been lost, so it is unclear when or how he served.

Robert survived the conflict, but would pass away on 28th July 1919. The cause of his passing is unclear, but he was 46 years of age when he died.

The body of Robert Dobson was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Steeple Ashton.

Berkshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Edward Kent

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Private Edward Kent

Edward Kent was born in the Berkshire village of Little Coxwell on 8th December 1887. One of fourteen children, his parents were John and Agness Kent. John was a mason’s labourer, and by the time of the 1901 census, the family had relocated to Fisherton de la Mare in Wiltshire.

Edward found work as a general labourer when he completed his schooling, but when war broke out, he was called upon to serve his country. Conscripted in the spring of 1916, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private. His service papers show that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a scar on the back of his neck.

Private Kent was sent to Deal, Kent, for his training, but by September 1916, he had moved to Portsmouth, Hampshire. Change was afoot, however, and in November Edward was assigned to the 3rd Battalion and sent to the Aegean, where he would remain for the rest of the conflict.

Edward returned to Portsmouth in January 1919, and was admitted to the Haslar Hospital, suffering from pneumonia. The condition would prove fatal, however, and he passed away on 2nd February 1919: he was 31 years of age.

The body of Edward Kent was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Nicholas’ Church, Fisherton de la Mere.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, photography, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Sussex Regiment, story, Surrey, Sussex, unknown, war

Private Frederick Searle

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Private Frederick Searle

Frederick George Searle was born in the Sussex village of Warminghurst in the spring of 1894. One of thirteen children, his parents were William and Annie Searle.

William was a carter, and moved the family to where the work was. The 1901 census found the Searles living in Wiggonholt, between Pulborough and Storrington. By 1911, however, they had moved south, and were living in a cottage on the golf links in Broadwater, to the north of Worthing.

By this point, William was employed as a carter at the golf course, while three of the Searle children were also working at the club. Frederick – now 16 years of age, was a caddie, while his older brothers did mainly grounds work.

As one of thirteen siblings, Frederick was keen to make his own mark on the world and, on 24th September 1912, he enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment. His papers show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, and weighed 121lbs (54.9kg). He had light brown hair, grey eyes, and a number of scars – two on his back, one on the left side of his head and one at the base of his right forefinger.

When war broke out, Private Searle’s unit – the 2nd Battalion – was sent to France. He survived the Battle of Mons and subsequent retreat, but was badly wounded in the left arm on 13th November 1914, and medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. Frederick was moved to a depot while he recuperated, but because of his injury, he was formally discharged from the army on 30th April 1915.

Frederick returned to Sussex, and family life. In time, he took up his role on the golf club once more, but this seemed not to be enough for him. On 31st May 1917, he re-enlisted, joining the Mechanical Transport unit of the Army Service Corps as a Private. He was posted to Isleworth, Surrey, but his injury seemed to still be nagging at him. Despite his best efforts, and with the support of his superiors, at the end of August he took the decision to stand down, and was discharged from duty once more.

At this point, Frederick’s trail goes cold. What can be confirmed is that he passed away on 28th June 1919: he was 25 years of age.

The body of Frederick George Searle, former Private in two regiments, was laid to rest in the family plot in Broadwater Cemetery, not far from where his family still lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Private Frederick Kyte

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Private Frederick Kyte

Frederick George Kyte was born on 23rd January 1899. The youngest of five children, his parents were Wiltshire-born market gardener John Kyte, and his wife, Esther. Frederick’s mother had been born in Chelsea, Middlesex, but it was in John’s home county where the family lived, on 16 Wine Street, Bradford on Avon.

Education was important to John and Esther. The 1911 census found his older brothers working as clerks, one to a rubber works, the other to a solicitor.

In his spare time, Frederick was a chorister and the local parish church, and was ‘an enthusiastic member of the Church Lads’ Brigade’ [Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 13th December 1919] When he completed his schooling, he also found work as a clerk, and was employed by a local insurance broker.

On 13th January 1915, Frederick joined the Wiltshire Regiment, and, as a Bugler, was attached to the 8th Battalion. He was only 15 years of age, but remained with the unit for the next two years, until he was invalided out of the army for medical reasons.

After some time he partially recovered, and resumed his occupation as an insurance agent, but took to his bed some three months ago.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 13th December 1919]

The lung condition Frederick had contracted would be the one to which he would ultimately succumb. He passed away in the family home on 7th December 1919, aged just 20 years old.

The body of Frederick George Kyte was laid to rest in the family plot in Bradford on Avon cemetery.

The newspaper report provides some further information about Frederick’s brothers. Both also served in the army, and both rose to the rank of Serjeant.

The eldest [Edward] is now with HM Forces in Palestine, whilst the younger, Herbert, who was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Medal for good work during the retreat, is demobilised.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 13th December 1919]