Tag Archives: bronchitis

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Clarence Jennings

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Private Clarence Jennings

Clarence Albert Carrison was born on 6th June 1896 in Port MacDonnell, South Australia. His early life is a challenge to uncover: his father is noted as being Robert Carrison, while his mother was Mary Jennings. His parents had eleven other children, whose surnames vary between Carrison and Jennings.

Papers confirm that Clarence went to Mount Schank School from 29th July 1902 to 10th November 1904, although his attendance seems to have been a little haphazard. Intriguingly, his parents are not recorded, but Mr H Ulrich, a carpenter, is noted as being his guardian.

When he finished his schooling, Clarence found work as a labourer. War broke out on the other side of the world in the summer of 1914, and he was called upon to play his part. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 30th June 1917, and, Robert having passed away nine years earlier, he seems to have reverted to his mother’s name, Jennings.

Private Jennings’ service papers outline the young man he had become. He was a little over 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, and weighed 168lbs (76.2kg). He was recorded as having brown hair, blue eyes and a medium complexion.

Clarence spent the next three months training. On 30th October 1917, his unit left Australia for Europe, a journey that would take some eight weeks. The voyage was not uneventful for Private Jennings: he spent a night in the ship’s hospital with seasickness, then three weeks back there with mumps. His gratitude to be back on dry land when the HMAT Aeneas docker in Devonport on 27th December is likely to have been palpable.

Private Jennings was marched into camp in Sutton Veny, Wiltshire. Attached to the 33rd Battalion of the Australian Infantry, he moved to the nearby ANZAC base in Codford on 2nd January 1918, and would remain there for the next few months. This was not without its hiccups either, and he went AWOL from midnight on 7th February until 9:30am on 12th February. For this offence, he forfeited thirteen days’ pay.

By the end of that month, Clarence had fallen ill again. He was admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital in Codford, suffering from measles and bronchitis. This combination of ailments would prove Private Jennings’ undoing: he passed away on 22nd March 1918, at the age of just 21 years old.

Thousands of miles from home, the body of Clarence Albert Jennings was laid to rest in the newly extended graveyard of St Mary’s Church, Codford.

Interestingly, Clarence’s burial report presents a clean slate to his family. He was noted as being “a keen soldier [whose] conduct was exemplary. He was very popular and his loss is very keenly felt.”

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, London, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Frank Cattermole

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Private Frank Cattermole

Frank James Cattermole was born in 1899 in the Australian town of Jeparit, Victoria. The third of eight children, his parent were William and Amelia Cattermole.

When Frank completed his schooling, he found work as a baker’s assistant but, when war broke out in Europe, he was keen to step up and play his part. He enlisted on 1st February 1917, joining the Australian Imperial Force.

After a year’s training on home soil, Private Cattermole’s unit – the 48th Battalion of the Australian Infantry – set off from Sydney on 22nd March 1918. The troop ship he was assigned to – A54 HMAT Runic – would take two months to reach its destination, London. Frank spent three weeks of the journey admitted to the ship’s hospital, although the condition is unclear.

Once disembarked, Private Cattermole was marched to the ANZAC camp in Codford, Wiltshire. He arrived there on 24th May 1918, to begin preparations for a move to the Western Front. This was not to happen, however, as he was admitted to the camp hospital on 1st June, suffering from bronchitis.

Over the next two weeks , Frank’s condition worsened, and eventually his body was too weak to take any more. He passed away on 14th June 1918, aged just 18 years old.

Thousands of miles from home, Frank James Cattermole was laid to rest alongside others from his battalion, in the ANZAC extension to St Mary’s Churchyard, Codford.

Private Frank Cattermole
(from findagrave.com)
Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Sydney Clarke

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Private Sydney Clarke

The early life of Sydney Clarke is a challenge to piece together. Born in St George, Queensland, Australia, his birth parents are not recorded, and his military records give his friend and foster mother Mrs Ellen Noud.

What can be determined is that he was working as a stockman when he enlisted in the army in April 1917, and was living in the town of Warwick.

Sydney’s service records give a little more information about the man he was. Aged 27 years and two months old, he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, and weighed 109lbs (49.4kg). He had black hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion.

Part of the Australian Imperial Force, Private Clarke left Australia on 31st October 1917. His journey on board the troop ship HMAT Euripides was not without incident, and Sydney was placed in the brig for seven days and docked two days’ pay for “neglecting to obey an order given by a superior officer”. The ship reached Britain in December 1917, and he marched in to the ANZAC base in Codford, Wiltshire, on Boxing Day.

The next six months would prove trying for Sydney’s health. On 9th January 1918, he was admitted to the camp hospital with bronchitis. This developed into pneumonia, and he would remain admitted until 18th May, when he was sent to his unit, the 49th Battalion of the Australian Infantry.

Less than a month later, however, Private Clarke was back in hospital, this time with influenza. This time his health would fail him, though: he passed away from the condition on 23rd June 1918, and the age of 28 years old.

Thousands of miles from home, Sydney Clarke was laid to rest in the newly extended graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Codford, not far from the base in which he had been billeted.

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

Stoker 1st Class Edwin John

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Stoker 1st Class Edwin John

Edwin John was born in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, on 18th February 1898. The youngest of nine children, he was the son of farmer Henry John and his wife, Caroline. Edwin’s mum died when he was just five years old, and Henry was left to raise the family alone.

When he finished his schooling, Edwin found work on the farm. When war broke out, however, he was called upon to play his part and, on 19th July 1916, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service papers show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall, with dark hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion.

Stoker 2nd Class John was sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, for his training. He remained there for three months, before being given his first assignment, the light cruiser HMS Liverpool. She spent the second half of the conflict patrolling the Mediterranean, and this is where Edwin would serve his time.

Edwin’s time in the navy was uneventful. He was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in March 1917, and, while he was consistently noted as being of very good character, his ability was recorded as being satisfactory.

On 28th April 1918, Stoker 1st Class John returned to shore to be demobbed. Given the war had another seven months to run, it is unclear why he was stood down, although it may have been on medical grounds. At this point his trail goes cold, but it is likely that he returned home.

Edwin’s health was certainly suffering by this point, and, on 7th March 1919 he passed away from bronchitis. He was just 21 years of age.

Edwin John’s body was laid to rest in St David’s Parish Cemetery, Pembrokeshire, not far from where his father and siblings still lived.

Australia, Australian Field Artillery, Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Driver, Egypt, Great War, history, illness, Lance Serjeant, Middlesex, photography, Private, Sergeant, story, war, Wiltshire

Serjeant Richard Ford

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Serjeant Richard Ford

Richard Oscar Ford was born in Williamstown, Australia, in July 1891. The oldest of four children – and the only son – his parents were Anthony and Mary Ford. Anthony was a soldier, but Richard chose a different route and took work as a labourer when he completed his schooling.

There is little information available about Richard’s early life, but when war broke out, he stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 9th November 1914.

By this point he was working as a bushman, and his service papers reveal something of the man he had become. Standing 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, he weighed 140lbs (63.5kg), Private Ford had auburn hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Assigned to the Light Horse Regiment, Richard left Australia for Europe on in March 1915. His unit arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 15th July, and he would remain there for the next five months.

In December 1915, Richard came down with a bout of influenza, and was medically evacuated to the island of Mudros, then on to Alexandria, Egypt. In January 1916, he was admitted to hospital again, this time suffering from gonorrhoea and, after treatment, he re-joined his unit on 2nd February.

Private Ford’s unit spent that spring training in Egypt, but on 29th May, they set sail for the Western Front. Within a week they had disembarked in the French port of Marseilles and headed north to Etaples.

The next couple of years would prove a little disjointed. Richard switched units in August 1916, and given the rank of Gunner, but within two months his role had changed to Driver. His service records suggest that he managed to avoid injury during the fighting he was involved in, but that did not mean that he avoided hospital completely.

In January 1917 Driver Ford was admitted to the 51st General Hospital with a heart murmur, returning to his unit on 16th March. He had a second spell in hospital in February 1918, having come down with laryngitis.

In July 1918, having spent some time at the 4th Army Corporal School, Richard was reassigned to the 3rd Australian Field Artillery. This move seemed to have been the focus he needed. Initially promoted to Bombardier, within a month he rose to Lance Corporal, and by December 1918 he was a full Sergeant.

After the Armistice was signed, Richard was given three weeks’ leave, which he spent in Britain. By January 1919, however, his health was becoming an issue again, and he was admitted to the military hospital in Fovant, Wiltshire, suffering from influenza. The condition worsened, and Sergeant Ford passed away from bronchopneumonia on 4th February 1919. He was 27 years of age.

Richard Oscar Ford was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery, Middlesex. While there seems to be no direct connection between the location and the man, his father, Anthony, had been born in Hackney, so it can be assumed that there was a family link to the area.

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

Private Edward Boland

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Private Edward Boland

Edward James Boland was born on 14th August 1885 in the town of Darfield, on New Zealand’s South Island. Details of his early life are sketchy, but he was the fourth of nine children to Francis and Annie Boland.

When he finished his schooling, Edward found work as a farm labourer. In 1906, he married Ellen – or Nellie – Shea: their first child, son Raymond, was born the same year, and they would go on to have three more children by the time war was declared.

On 18th June 1916, Edward answered the call to serve the Empire. Enlisting in Trentham, he joined the New Zealand Canterbury Regiment as a Private. His service record notes that he was 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall and weighed 144lbs (65.3kg). A Catholic, he had light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. A scar on his right thigh was also recorded as a distinguishing mark.

On 16th October 1916, Private Boland left from Wellington on board the steam ship Willochra. His unit – the 18th Reinforcements – arrived in Devonport, Devon, ten weeks later. They were then marched to their base at Sling Camp near Bulford, Wiltshire.

The journey from New Zealand, impacted Edward’s health. At the end of January 1917, he was admitted to the 3rd NZ General Hospital in Codford, Wiltshire, suffering from broncho-pneumonia. His condition deteriorated and would take his life. Private Boland died on 4th February 1917: he was 31 years of age.

As he was thousands of miles from his home, Edward James Boland was instead laid to rest in the newly extended graveyard attached to St Mary’s Church in Codford.

Private Edward Boland
(from findagrave.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, photography, Rifleman, story, war, Wiltshire

Rifleman Bertram Winterburn

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Rifleman Bertram Winterburn

Bertram Winterburn was born in the city of Hutt, on New Zealand’s North Island, on 23rd April 1877. The oldest of eleven children, his parents were Arthur and Ada Winterburn. Arthur was a postmaster from South Island, and it would be here that he and Ada would raise their family.

There is little concrete information about Bertram’s life. The 1913 Post Office Directory records him as working as a labourer, and living in Otaki, a town back on North Island. He seems to have moved wherever the work took him, however, and, by the time war broke out, he was living in Hunterville, 110km (68 miles) further north.

Bertram stepped up to serve the empire when the call came. He enlisted in Trentham on 27th June 1916, and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

Rifleman Winterburn left from Wellington on board the steam ship Willochra on 16th October 1916. His unit – H Company, 18th Reinforcements – would not arrive in Devonport, Devon, until 29th December. They were then marched to their base at Sling Camp near Bulford, Wiltshire.

The journey from New Zealand, would take its toll on the new recruits, with many falling ill before, or shortly after, they arrived. Bertram would not be immune from this and, at the end of January 1917, he was admitted to the 3rd NZ General Hospital in Codford, suffering from influenza. His condition worsened, developing into bronchitis, and this would take his life. Rifleman Winterburn died on 4th February 1917: he was 39 years of age.

Thousands of miles from his home, Bertram Winterburn was laid to rest in the newly extended graveyard attached to St Mary’s Church in Codford.

Air Mechanic, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Air Force, story, war, Wiltshire

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Jack Gauntlett

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Air Mechanic 2nd Class Jack Gauntlett

Jack Wallis Gauntlett was born in Burbage, Wiltshire, in the spring of 1898. The oldest of four children, his parents were George and Florence Gauntlett. On Jack’s baptism record, George gives his trade as a yeoman, while later census records confirm he was a farmer.

Jack was baptised in St Mary’s Church in Stapleford, near Salisbury, some distance south of Burbage, and, given that his parents had no connection to that area, it seems that his father’s work took the family around the county. The 1901 census record found them Gauntletts back in Burbage, but by the time of the 1911 return, they had moved to Middleton Farm in Norton Bavant.

When war broke out, Jack stepped up to serve his country. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in January 1917 and, as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class, was sent to Farnborough, Hampshire, for training.

Much sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs FG Gauntlett, of Middleton Farm, in the loss they have sustained by the death of their eldest son, JW Gauntlett… He came home three weeks ago on leave before proceeding to France, and was then sickening for measles and had bronchitis. He was taken to Sutton Veny military hospital and died there on Friday from an attack of pneumonia.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 19th May 1917]

Jack Wallis Gauntlett was just 19 years of age when he died on 11th May 1917. He was buried in the family plot in All Saints’ Churchyard, Norton Bavant.

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.

Canada, Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Private, story, Sussex, war, Wiltshire

Private John McKinnon, aka James Chalk

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Private John McKinnon, aka James Chalk

In Mere Cemetery, Wiltshire, is a headstone dedicated to JE Chalk, who served as Private J McKinnon in the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. He died on 25th June 1920, and gives his age as 53 years old.

Private McKinnon’s service records suggest, however, that he was born on 14th October 1874 in Inverness, Scotland, and give his army name as John. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission give his other name as James Edward Chalk. James seems to have been keen to disguise his background, and it is only with some digging that the real story comes out.

James was the youngest of five children to Edward and Mary Chalk. Edward was a carpenter from Mere, and this is where the family were born and raised.

When he finished his schooling, James found work as a booking clerk. Edward died in the 1880s, and the 1891 census found James living at home with his mother, who had taken on laundry work to help with their finances.

By 1901, Mary and James were living on Water Street, to the south of the town centre. There’s was now an extended household, and included James’ sister Olive. James is noted as being married, and while no marriage records exist, it would seem that his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Ivy, were also living there.

The next census, taken in 1911, suggests James’ life had taken a different turn. Employed as a railway foreman, he was now living with his older sister, Olive, in her home. He is noted as being married with a child, but neither Mary nor Ivy appear in the same census.

At some point in the next five years, James took the decision to move overseas, and create himself a new identity.

John McKinnon was living in Montreal when the call came to join up. He enlisted on 29th April 1916, by which point he was 41 years of age. Assigned to the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, his service records confirm that he was 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall, with greying brown hair, grey eyes and a sallow complexion. He was noted as having scars on both legs, and another on the second toe of his right foot.

Private McKinnon’s unit were quick to be dispatched to Britain, and he arrived in Shornecliffe, Kent, on 29th June. He spent the next five months at the army base, and had two spells of a month each in hospital during that time: the first for asthma, the second for bronchitis.

In November 1916, John moved along the coast to Shoreham, West Sussex. His health was badly impacted, though, the medical report stating that ‘his chest is of the emphysematous type but at present free from bronchitis. He will not do well in England.’ John was formally discharged from the army on 15th November 1916.

At this point, John’s already sparse trail goes cold once more. It is possible that he moved to Wiltshire to be nearer to family, although nothing can be confirmed.

James Edward Chalk, who serves as Private John McKinnon, died on 26th June 1920: His service records suggest that he was 45, but he was, in fact, 53 years of age. He was laid to rest in Mere Cemetery, on the outskirts of the town he had called home for so long.