Tag Archives: Commonwealth War Graves

Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Driver, Egypt, Glamorganshire, Great War, history, illness, Mid-Glamorgan, photography, Royal Field Artillery, story, Wales, war, Wiltshire

Driver Jesse Lester

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Driver Jessie Lester

Jesse Herbert Lester was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in 1873. The second of six children, his parents were John and Annie. At the time of his son’s birth, John was a labourer in an iron foundry, and the family lived at 6 Havelock Street, to the south of the town centre.

By the time of the 1891 census, the family had grown, and moved to the next road – 90 Mortimer Street. John had changed trades, and was employed as a wool dyer, with Annie, and their two eldest children also working in the cloth industry. Jesse, now 18 years old, was earning money as a cloth presser.

In 1892, Jesse too the plunge and joined the army. He had already been volunteering for the 1st Wiltshire Rifles, and took the opportunity to see the world by enlisting in the Royal Artillery. His service papers show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall, and weighed 123lbs (55.8kg). His medical notes recorded brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. They also identified a scar on the underside of his left forearm.

As a Driver, Jesse enlisted for a period of twelve years. During this time he saw the world, serving more than four years in India, and three in South Africa. His papers note two occasions where he forfeited a day’s pay, although his misdemeanours have been lost to time.

On 26th May 1904, having been back on home soil for eighteen months, Driver Lester’s contract came to an end, and he chose to return to civilian life.

Like so many of his peers at the time, Jesse moved to South Wales for work. On 28th March 1903, he returned home to marry, but gave his address as Nant-y-Moel, Mid Glamorgan. His new wife was Eliza Clark, and the couple married in their parish church in Trowbridge.

Nant-y-Moel was where the newlyweds relocated to, Jesse’s job as a miner obviously paying him more than any equivalent role back home. The couple moved in to 43 Brynogwy Terrace, and had two children, William and Edith.

When war broke out, Jesse was quick to enlist, joining the Royal Field Artillery on 1st October 1914. Attached to the 3rd Glamorgan Battery, Driver Lester spent the first year of his service on home soil, gaining a promotion to Bombardier in the process.

In November 1915, the unit moved to France. During their short spell there, “For drunkenness and neglect of duty”, Jesse was demoted to Driver once more.

On 5th February 1916, Jesse’s unit left Marseilles, bound for Egypt. They arrived in Alexandria five days later, and Driver Lester would spend the next ten months there. In October he was admitted to hospital with heart disease. The condition warranted a return to Britain, and ultimately led to his discharge from duty, with a Silver War Badge. Jesse returned to civilian life once again on 22nd December 1916.

At this point, Jesse’s trail goes cold. He passed away on 28th November 1918, at the age of 45.

It seems likely that, in his absence overseas, Eliza and the children returned to Wiltshire. She buried her husband in Trowbridge Cemetery, a short walk from where she was living, at 2 Havelock Street.

Air Mechanic, Army Cyclist Corps, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Air Force, story, war

Corporal William Bailey

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Corporal William Bailey

William Bailey was born on 3rd May 1878, and was the oldest of five children. His father, Robert, was a cloth worker from Devizes, Wiltshire, but it was in the nearby garrison town of Trowbridge that he and his wife, Matilda, raised their children. The 1881, 1891 and 1901 census records all give the family’s address as 12 New Road, to the south of the town centre.

The 1901 census reveals some interesting information. By this point, Matilda records herself as widowed, and is financially supported by William, who is employed as a mattress maker, and two of his siblings. However, the same census states that Robert is, in fact, living and working in Llanwono, Mid Glamorgan, with another of their children, Frank. Father and son are both labouring in one of the local coal mines, Robert recording his status as married.

At this point, Matilda’ and William’s trail goes cold. The next census, taken in 1911, finds Robert still living in Llanwono, boarding with his brother in a fellow colliery work’s house on Rock Street. His records himself as ‘married, wife away’.

On 21st January 1915, William married Rose Hayward in their home town. War was raging across Europe by this point, and on 5th July 1916, he gave up his then job as a carpenter, to join the 2nd/7th Cyclist Regiment. Sadly, there is little information about his time in the army, although he rose to the rank of Corporal. Nine months after enlisting, however, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.

Initially taking the role or Air Mechanic 2nd Class, his service papers show that he was just 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall. By the summer of 1918, William had been moved across to the Royal Air Force, and promoted to Air Mechanic 1st Class. Attached to the 90th Squadron, then the 51st, he was based out of Waddington Airfield in Lincolnshire.

In the autumn of 1918 Air Mechanic Bailey contracted pneumonia, and was admitted to the 4th Northern General Hospital in Lincoln. The condition would prove fatal, and, on 22nd November, he passed away: William was 40 years of age.

The body of William Bailey was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery. His headstone commemorates his army rank.

Corporal William Bailey
(from ancestry.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, photography, Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Thomas Pepler

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Private Thomas Pepler

Thomas Pepler was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in December 1885. The third of six children, he was the oldest son to Henry and Rosa. Both of Thomas’ parents were wool spinners, and the family grew up on Holbrook Lane, to the south of the town centre.

When he completed his schooling, Thomas found work in an iron foundry. By the autumn of 1906, he had moved to South Wales, and it was here, in Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, where he met and married Emma (or Emily) Draper. The couple went on to have four children: Rosina, Thomas, Frances and Phyllis.

By 1911, Thomas had moved the family back to Trowbridge, and had set up home at 10 Sylverthorn’s Yard, off Duke Street, to the east of the town centre. Thomas was the only breadwinner, and is recorded as being a labourer in a trellis works.

War was on the horizon by this point, and Thomas would step up and play his part. On 8th May 1915, he gave up his work (then as a rubber worker) and enlisted as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps. While his service papers are incomplete, they do show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall when he joined up.

Private Pepler spent the next three years supporting medical teams at field ambulances and hospitals in France. Unfortunately, however, he was not to be immune to the illnesses of the patients he was helping. At the start of 1918, he was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment for bronchitis, spending more than four months in hospitals in Norfolk.

As winter came round once more, Thomas was admitted to hospital again. He had contracted influenza, and was given treatment at a hospital in Lincoln. Private Pepler’s body would ultimately succumb this time around, however, and he passed away on 8th November 1918 – just three days before the Armistice. He was 32 years of age.

A heavy bereavement has befallen Mrs Tom Pepler, 20, Dursley Road, and her four little children, in the death of her husband, Pte. Tom Pepler, RAMC, at the age of 32.

Pte. Pepler was… a rubber worker employed at Bradford, and joined the Army in May 1915, and after seeing service in France he was invalided home and did duty at a Red Cross Hospital in Lincolnshire, where his death occurred on Friday from bronchitis.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 16th November 1918]

The body of Thomas Pepler was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery, a short walk from where his family were living.

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

Private William Jacobs

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Private William Jacobs

William Jacobs was born in Shoeburyness, Essex, in 1884. The middle of seven children, his parents were John and Mary Jacobs. By the time William was born, John was employed as a domestic gardener, but it seems likely that he had been a military man, his children having been born in garrison towns across Britain and India.

William is missing from the 1901 census, but the family seem to have settled in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, by this point. On 7th October 1905, he married Laura Turner, a labourer’s daughter from the town. They went on to have two children, William Jr and Edgar.

By the time of the 1911 census, William was working as a painter and decorator for a local brewery. The family had set up home at 12 Wyke Road, to the north of Trowbridge town centre. War was on the horizon, however, and things were to change.

When war broke out, William stepped up to play his part. Full details of his time in the army have been lost to time, it is clear that he joined the Wiltshire Regiment as a Private, and was attached to the 1st Battalion.

Private Jacobs found himself in France by July 1915, and was certainly caught up in some of the the skirmishes of that summer and autumn. The following spring, however, he was wounded in the fighting, and was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment.

Admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Private Jacobs’ injuries would ultimately prove too severe. He passed away on 19th March 1916, at the age of 32 years old.

The body of William Jacobs was taken back to Wiltshire for burial: he was laid to rest in the garrison town’s cemetery, a short walk from where his widow and children were still living.

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.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, Lancashire, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Robert Hill

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Stoker 1st Class Robert Hill

Robert Hill was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, on 24th June 1876. One of seven children, his parents were Thomas and Catherine. Thomas was a dock labourer, and the family lived in a tenement in Upper William Street, to the north of the city centre.

Robert was destined to be drawn to the sea and, on 30th May 1900, he joined the Royal Navy, as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, with blue eyes, fair hair and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Hill was sent to HMS Pembroke for his training, and it was to the Chatham naval base that he would ultimately return between voyages. He enlisted for a period of twelve years and, over that time, would serve on six different vessels. During this time, Robert was promoted, gaining the rank of Stoker 1st Class.

When Robert’s contract came to an end, he was stood down to reserve status. His trail goes cold until May 1914 when, with war looming, he was re-engaged.

At the outbreak of war, Stoker 1st Class Hill was assigned to HMS Coquette, a D-class destroyer serving as a training ship for the navy’s gunnery school at Sheerness, Kent.

Being thrown overboard as the result of a jar caused through a liberty boat bumping into another Service Vessel, Petty Officer Hill, of HMS Coquette, lost his life at Stangate Creek as far back as March 8th, and his body having since been recovered, an inquest was held at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gillingham, on Saturday morning…

Charles Offord, stoker, HMS Coquette, identified the body as that of Robert Hill, a first-class petty officer, of the same ship. The body was quite unrecognisable, and witness was only able to identify it by the clothing and boots, and by two brass Service keys belonging tot he deceased’s ditty box and hat box. Hill was the only man of the ship with two keys. Both boxes had to be forced open, as the keys were missing. The laces found on the deceased witness identified as belonging to Hill, who purchased them ashore when witness was with him on March 8th. They went ashore from the ship to Cornwallis Pier, Sheerness, by the one o’clock boat, and were together after they landed. They returned to the liberty boat at 6:45. They had to call at other ships before reaching the Coquette, and it was while they were approaching TB9 at 8:15pm that the deceased fell overboard. At the time Hill was standing in the boat amidship on the port side, and as a result of the liberty boat striking the side of TB9 the deceased fell overboard, losing his balance in consequence of the jar. Witness was certain it was the jar that threw Hill overboard. Witness called our “Man overboard!” A strong tide was running. Every effort was made to rescue the deceased, but without result. The liberty boat went astern, and TB9 pulled her dinghy to the buoy, but could not see anything of Hill. It was a rough and windy night. Deceased could only swim a little, and he was quite sober. The dinghy went to the buoy because it was thought that the deceased might have got hold of it, but it was subsequently found that he had not done so. The searchlights were put on, and a lifebuoy was thrown to the man.

Walter Joseph Shoesmith, chief stoker, HMS Coquette, corroborated the previous witness as to the identity of the body, and added that Hill was about 39 years of age. Everything possible was done to find the deceased and rescue him, but he was not seen after he had entered the water.

Joseph Kelly, mortuary keeper at the Royal Naval Hospital, deposed that the body was brought to the mortuary from Stangate Creek, where the deceased went down. An evening newspaper, dated March 8th, and two packets of new bootlaces were found on the clothing.

[Chatham, Rochester and Brompton Observer: Saturday 22nd May 1915]

The body of Robert Hill was not found until some ten weeks after he fell overboard. His body was taken to Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, and he was laid to rest in the naval section of the burial ground.

Stoker Hill’s headstone incorrectly attributes his death to the sinking of HMS Bulwark in November 1914. Robert never served on that vessel, and no member of her crew had that name.

While the newspaper report gives Robert’s rank as Petty Officer, his service records record him as a Stoker 1st Class.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Wiltshire

Leading Seaman William Snook

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Leading Seaman William Snook

William Albert Snook was born on 8th December 1885, in the Wiltshire village of Mere, The was the second of nine children to Frank and Louisa Snook. Frank was an agricultural labourer, and when he finished his schooling, this is a trade into which his son followed.

William wanted a life of adventure, however, and, on 25th June 1901, he joined the Royal Navy. Given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, he was sent to the training ship HMS Boscawen to start learning the skills he would need.

Boy Snook spent the next year at Boscawen, during which time he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. Over the next year, he spent time on three ships – the cruiser HMS Minotaur, and the battleships HMS Agincourt and Hannibal.

While assigned to Hannibal, William came of age. Now formally inducted in the Royal Navy, he was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His papers show that he was 4ft 11.5ins (1.51m), and had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

William had enlisted for a period of twelve years, and during this time he would go on to serve on a further eleven ships, returning to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in between assignments. His annual review consistently showed a very good character and a superior ability in his role. In March 1905 he was promoted to Able Seaman, and in July 1913, William received a further rise in rank, taking the role of Leading Seaman.

In March 1915, William was moved to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner requisitioned on the outbreak of war and converted to a minelayer. On the morning of 27th May 1915, she was moored in the Medway Estuary and was being loaded with mines in preparation for a mission. At 11:14am, a faulty primer on board set off a series of explosions, and she blew apart and sank. More than 250 crew – including Leading Seaman Snook – were killed. He was 29 years of age.

The body of William Albert Snook was brought ashore and laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent. He was buried alongside some of the other crew whose bodies had been rescued and identified.

Leading Seaman Snook’s headstone states that he was assigned to, and killed during the sinking of, HMS Bulwark. This is incorrect, and he was with Princess Irene.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Wiltshire

Able Seaman John Poole

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Able Seaman John Poole

John Poole was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 11th May 1893. One of nine children, his parents were James and Mary Poole. James was a quarryman, and, at the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at 5 Cross Street, on the southern edge of the town centre.

John was keen to make his mark on the world and when he completed his schooling, he joined the Royal Navy. His service papers show that he began his naval career on 12th March 1909, a couple of months short of his sixteenth birthday. Given his age, he was assigned the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the training base in Devonport, to start learning his skills.

Boy Poole initially impressed his seniors, and, on 12th November, he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. The positive start to his career, however, was not to continue, and over the next five years, his service record is peppered with misdemeanours. The first of these came on 6th January 1910, when he did a bunk from base: the authorities caught up with him, however, and he was frogmarched back to Devonport some three weeks later.

On 1st February, John was given his first formal posting, on board the armoured cruiser HMS Donegal. He transferred to another cruiser – HMS Grafton – in April, but by August he has moved again, to the battleship HMS Swiftsure.

Swiftsure would remain John’s home for the next eighteen months, during which time he came of age. Now old enough to formally enlist in the Royal Navy, he was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His papers show that he was 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall, and had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Poole did not get off to a good start and, on 28th June 1911, he was sent to the brig for 28 days for refusing a duty. In April the following year, Swiftsure was docked in Portsmouth, and John saw a chance to go AWOL. Apprehended quickly, he was nevertheless sentenced to 42 days’ detention at HMS Victory, the city’s naval base.

Sent back to his duties on 3rd July 1912, Ordinary Seaman Poole was obviously no longer happy in his role. Going absent without leave again on 2nd December, a harsher sentence was granted when he was captured, and he was sent to the brig for 60 days.

As a new year dawned, John was assigned to another armoured cruiser, HMS Black Prince. The move did nothing to temper Ordinary Seaman Poole’s attitude, however, and he was sent to the brig on 5th September 1913, for refusing a duty. Intriguingly, he was released three weeks later, and just a fortnight after that, he was promoted to Able Seaman.

John remained part of Black Prince’s crew until April 1914. After a short stint at HMS Excellent – the gunnery school in Portsmouth – he was given another assignment, on board the battleship HMS Bulwark. Part of the Channel Fleet, she was tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast.

On 26th November 1914, Bulwark was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness. While she was being re-stocked with shells and ammunition, a number of poorly-stowed cordite charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. The body of Able Seaman Poole was amongst those to be recovered. He was 21 years of age.

The body of John Poole was laid to rest alongside the other victims of the disaster, in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Surrey, war

Ordinary Seaman William Wheeler

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Ordinary Seaman William Wheeler

William Leonard Wheeler was born in Epsom, Surrey, on 8th September 1896. He was the fourth of six children to John and Mary Wheeler. John was a carman in a brickyard, and the family lived in Nonsuch Cottage on Leith Road.

When William finished his schooling, he took work as a gardener. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, on 12th September 1912, he joined the Royal Navy. Too young to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship, to start learning the skills he would need.

Impregnable would remain Boy Wheeler’s home for the next nine months, during which time he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. On 18th June 1913, he was give his first posting, on board the cruiser HMS Gibraltar. In November 1913, William was reassigned, and took up a post on board the battleship HMS Bulwark.

William came of age in September 1914, and fully enlisted in the Royal Navy. Given the rank of Ordinary Seaman, his service papers show that he was 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, and had light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Bulwark was part of the Channel Fleet, tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast. On 26th November 1914, she was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being resupplied with shells and ammunition. That morning, a handful of the cordite charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The explosion ripped through the vessel, and more than 740 crew – including 18-year-old William – were killed.

Ordinary Seaman Wheeler’s body would be recovered from the wreckage until 8th July 1915. He was laid to rest in the naval section Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, a short distance from the the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Perthshire, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Scotland, story, war

Private Donald Bruce

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Private Donald Bruce

Donald Hendry Bruce was born on the 23rd July 1893 in the remote Logiealmond estate in Perthshire, Scotland. The oldest of six children, his parents were slate quarrier Hugh Bruce, and his wife, Ellen.

There is little information available about Donald’s early life, but the 1911 census records that he had enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private, and was based at the barracks in Deal, Kent.

By the time war broke out, Private Bruce was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark. Part of the Channel Fleet, she was tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast.

On 26th November 1914, Bulwark was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being stocked with shells and ammunition. That morning, some poorly stowed cordite charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. Donald’s body was among those recovered: he was 21 years of age.

Those who were killed in the explosion were buried in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his body had been identified, Donald Hendry Bruce was laid to rest in a marked grave.