Tag Archives: Essex

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Gloucestershire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private Harold Randall

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Private Harold Randall

Harold Stanley Randall was born in Taunton, Somerset, in the autumn of 1898. One of twins, his parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Randall. Joseph was a carpenter, and when Elizabeth died in 1900, he was left with nine children to raise on his own. This led to Harold being raised Joseph’s brother and sister-in-law, George and Caroline, and he is noted as living with them in Bath, Somerset, in the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

There is little direct evidence of Harold’s life: at the time of the 1911 census he was still at school, so it is not clear what employment he took up once his education came to an end. When war broke out, he played his part, and had enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment by the summer of 1918.

Private Randall was attached to the 17th Battalion, a territorial force based in Essex. By the end of the war, Harold was billeted in St Osyth, and it was here that he fell ill. Details of his condition are lost to time, but his health was impacted enough for him to be admitted to the general hospital in Colchester.

Harold Stanley Randall’s illness was to get the better of him. He passed away on 7th December 1918, aged just 20 years old. His body was brought back to Somerset for burial, and he was laid to rest in Bath’s sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery. His next of kin was noted as his aunt Caroline, who had raised him from a toddler.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Essex, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, story, war

Private Walter Mitchell

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Private Walter Mitchell

Walter Soper Mitchell was born in the summer of 1878 in Newton Abbot, Devon. The fourth of nine children, his parents were Frederick and Mary. Frederick was a house painter and handyman, and records seem to suggest that he took the family to where the work was. The 1881 census found the family living in Chelsea, West London, and it seems that they stayed in London until 1890.

By the time of the 1891 census, the Mitchells were back in Devon, living at 10 Orchard Terrace in Paignton. Frederick was now working as a plumber, while Walter’s older siblings – brothers Frederick Jr, William and Alfred – were variously employed as a sailor, a painter and a plumber.

Walter, who was 12 years old by this point, was nearing the end of his schooling. When he left, he followed the family trade, and as soon employed as a house painter. The 1901 census found him as the oldest sibling still to be living with Frederick and Mary, although his circumstances were about to change.

In September 1903, Walter married Emily Jeffery. She was a couple of years younger than her new spouse, but, sadly, there is little information about her parents. The 1891 census found her living with her grandparents, while the 1901 return noted her boarding with her aunt and uncle.

Walter and Emily went on to have three children. By the time of the 1911 census, the family were living at 25 Norton Terrace in Paignton, Walter being employed as a house painter by this point.

War came to Europe in the summer of 1914, and Walter was called upon to play his part. Full details of his military service have been lost in the mists of time, but from what remains it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps at some point after July 1915. He was attached to the 67th Coy., but it is unclear whether he saw any action overseas.

Private Mitchell’s time in the army was not to be a lengthy one. He seems to have been based in Essex, and a later record confirms that he contracted bronchitis and anaemia. This would prove to be his undoing: he passed away in Colchester on 17th February 1916, aged 36 years old.

The body of Walter Soper Mitchell was brought back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in what would become the family plot in the sweeping Paignton Cemetery.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, County Antrim, Essex, Great War, history, Ireland, killed in action, Northern Ireland, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 2nd Class Frederick Sarell

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CWG: Stoker 2nd Class Frederick Sarell

Frederick Clifford Sarell was born on 6th July 1899, one of six children to James and Theresa. James was a general labourer from East London, and the family were born and brought up in West Ham, Essex.

The Sarell family were beset by tragedy: Frederick’s oldest brother, James, died in 1903, at the age of 23, while James Sr passed away three years later. By the time of the 1911 census, Theresa was raising her five remaining children in a small house in Fife Road, Canning Town, with her oldest three children bringing in some money to support the family,

In 1913, another of Frederick’s brothers, George, passed away, and the following year his oldest sister, Theresa Jr, also died. By the summer of 1917, with war raging across Europe, Frederick stepped up to play his part. It is unclear whether his motives were to support his mother, or because he was conscripted, but either way he enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Frederick had been working as a dock labourer when he signed up. He Employed as a Stoker 2nd Class, his naval records show that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He was noted as having a scar on his right knee, a distinguishing mark that would tragically help to identify his body before the year was out.

Stoker Sarell was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. On 10th October 1917, he was given his first posting, on board the destroyer HMS Racoon, which patrolled the seas between Ireland and Scotland.

Frederick was on board when, on 9th January 1918, the Racoon struck rocks off the coast of Northern Ireland in heavy seas and blizzard conditions. All of the crew – more than 90 men – were lost. Stoker 2nd Class Sarell was just eighteen years old when he died: he had been in the Royal Navy for less than six months.

The body of Frederick Clifford Sarell washed ashore near Ballintoy, County Antrim. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of the village’s church next to two other crew members, Ordinary Seaman Frank Green and Ship’s Cook Walter Griffin.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, County Antrim, Essex, Great War, history, Ireland, Kent, killed in action, Northern Ireland, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Surrey, war

Ordinary Seaman Frank Green

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Ordinary Seaman Frank Green

Frank Ernest Green was born in Stratford, Essex on 14th November 1889. One of nine children, his parents were printer’s compositor John Green and his wife, Susan. The family were raised in Leytonstone and, by the time of the 1911 census, they were living in a house in Elsham Road.

Frank found work as a clerk for a financial company when he finished his schooling. On 31st August 1912, he married sailor’s daughter Charlotte Greenland, who was four years his senior. The couple settled in Gibbon Road, Peckham, Surrey, where Frank continued his work.

When war broke out, Frank was called upon to play his part. On 3rd January 1917, he enlisted in the Royal Navy for the duration of the war. His service records show that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Green was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for training. He spent short periods of time on two ships before being assigned to HMS Racoon, a Beagle-class destroyer,

Initially patrolling the Mediterranean, by the time Frank joined the crew the Racoon she was part of the Second Destroyer Flotilla, based from Northern Ireland. In January 1918, she struck harsh weather:

HMS Racoon, Lieut. George LM Napier RN, in command, struck some rocks off the north coast of Ireland at about 2am on the 9th [January], and subsequently foundered with all hands.

Nine of the crew had been left behind at her last port of call, and these are the sole survivors.

Seventeen bodies have been picked up by patrol craft, and are being buried at Rath Mullan. Five more bodies have been washed ashore, and are being buried locally.

All the next of kin have been informed.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Monday 14 January 1918

Ordinary Seaman Frank Ernest Green was one of those to be washed ashore. He was just 28 years of age. He was laid to rest in the peaceful and picturesque graveyard of Ballintoy Church, County Antrim, not far from where he had come to land. He was buried next to two other crew members, Ship’s Cook Walter Griffin and Stoker 2nd Class Frederick Sarell.

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, injury, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Lance Corporal Frederick Gilbey

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Lance Corporal Frederick Gilbey

Frederick James Gilbey was born on 1st September 1888 in Walthamstow, Essex. The oldest of nine children, his parents were Alfred and Emily. Alfred was a general labourer, and the family initially lived on Chingford Road, before moving to an end-of-terrace house at 41 MacDonald Road.

On 28th August 1910, Frederick married Katherine Heathorn. Little more information is available about her, although the young couple’s marriage seemed to be the start of something bigger: the newlyweds emigrated shortly afterwards, arriving in Fremantle, Australia, in October 1910. Frederick’s immigration records noted that he was employed as a salesman, while Katherine was working as a dressmaker.

The couple settled into their new life well. The 1916 Electoral Records found the family living at 20 Oswald Street in the leafy Victoria Park suburb of Fremantle. Frederick was now working as a tram conductor, while Katherine was busy raising their two children, Leslie and Arthur.

By this point, Europe was two years into a bloody conflict. Frederick’s younger brother William, a Private in the Royal Fusiliers, had been killed at Gallipoli in August 1915, and it would seem that he also felt pulled to serve his King and Empire.

On 12th September 1916, Frederick enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. His service documents note that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall and weighed 140lbs (63.5kg). Private Gilbey had auburn hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

After initial training, he left Fremantle for the two-month journey back to Britain. Assigned to the 13th Training Battalion, his unit was based in Codford, Wiltshire. In November 1917, Frederick attended the 15th Rifle Course at the School of Musketry in Tidworth, where he qualified as 1st Class, with a fair working knowledge of the Lewis Gun.

The following February, Private Gilbey was transferred to the 51st Battalion of the Australian Infantry, and sent with his unit to France. On 20th April, days before the Battle of Villers Bretonneux, he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

The battle, however, was to prove to be his last. Wounded in the right thigh by gun shot, he was medically evacuated to Britain, and admitted to Bath War Hospital, Somerset, for treatment. His wounds were too severe, however: Private Gilbey passed away on 2nd May 1918, at the age of 29 years old.

With his widow and children on the other side of the globe, Frederick James Gilbey was laid to rest in the military section of Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, illness, photography, Royal Engineers, Sapper, Somerset, story, war

Sapper John Dyer

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Sapper John Dyer

John Phippen Dyer was born in the spring of 1896, and was the oldest of four children. His parents, John and Fanny Dyer, were from Somerset and it was in the town of Highbridge that they raised their family.

John Sr worked as a coach body maker for the railways, and his eldest boy joined him as an apprentice when he finished his schooling. When war broke out, however, John Jr was keen to be seen to be playing his part.

John Jr enlisted in Taunton on 15th November 1915, joining the Wessex Division of the Royal Engineers. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall and of god physical development. He was sent off to Essex for training, but came down with influenza the following January.

Sapper Dyer was admitted to hospital in Great Bentley, spending a fortnight there. He was released back to his unit, but his health continued to suffer. He had had bouts of rheumatism going back to 1911, and, by the spring of 1916, this had recurred, and was recorded as possible rheumatic appendicitis.

John’s condition led to him being declared permanently unfit for was service: he was discharged from the army on 30th March 1916, having served for just four-and-a-half months.

John Jr returned to Somerset, but at this point his trail goes cold. The next record for him is that of his passing, on 26th May 1919. He was just 23 years of age.

John Phippen Dyer was lair to rest in the cemetery of his home town, Highbridge, Somerset.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Essex, Great War, history, illness, Labour Corps, Nottinghamshire, photography, Private, Somerset, story, Suffolk, war, West Somerset Yeomanry

Private Richard Gale

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Private Richard Gale

Richard William Gale was born in the autumn of 1897 in the Devon village of Sidbury. The third of six children, he was the son of George and Emma Gale. George was a bricklayer and labourer, and the family had moved to Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, by the time Richard was ten, as this is where he had found work.

When Richard finished his schooling, he found employment as an errand boy for a school outfitters. By the time oft he 1911 census, there were four wages coming into the Gale household. Besides Richard and his father, his older brother, Frederick was working as a grocer’s apprentice, and his sister, Laura, was a dressmaker.

War was declared in the summer of 1914, and Richard was called upon to play his part. His service records no longer exist, so it is not possible to fully track his time in the army. However, he initially joined the 2nd/1st Battalion of the West Somerset Yeomanry and was sent for training in East Anglia.

As some point, Private Gale transferred to the Labour Corps, and became attached to the 949th Employment Company. Based in the London area, Richard’s duties are unclear, and his troop would have taken on any of a wide range of roles, from cooking and store work, to salvage, traffic control and telephone operating. Whether his previous work at the outfitters came into play is unclear, although Employment Companies were also involved in tailoring, shoemaking and laundry work.

Private Gale survived the conflict, and seems to have been based in the the Nottingham area after the Armistice. By March 1919, he had become unwell and, having contracted pleurisy, he was admitted to the Berridge Road Military Hospital. The condition took its toll on Richard, sadly, and he passed away on 19th March 1919. He was just 21 years of age.

Richard William Gale’s body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Burnham-on-Sea, a short walk from where his family lived.

Private Richard Gale
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Essex Regiment, Great War, Hertfordshire, history, illness, Lieutenant, Mauritius, Oxfordshire, photography, Second Lieutenant, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire

Lieutenant Arthur Devas

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Lieutenant Arthur Devas

Arthur Edward Devas was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, on 29th July 1877. One of ten children, his parents were Reverend Arthur Devas and Louisa. Arthur Sr was chaplain at the County House of Correction, the prison a short walk away from the family home, over the Kennet and Avon Canal. The 1881 census showed the Devas’ were living to the south of the town centre, and were supported by three servants.

Arthur standing as a vicar’s son earned him an education. He was sent to the prestigious Haileybury College in Hertfordshire. When his father died in 1901, he felt a pull to see more of the world, and joined the army. Enlisting in the Essex Regiment in September 1902, he was taken on as a Second Lieutenant.

Promoted to the rank of full Lieutenant in January 1906, the next census, in 1911, recorded Arthur at the Warley Barracks in Billericay. When war broke out in August 1914, he was based in Mauritius: he remained there for the next five months, before his battalion – the 1st – were brought back to England.

Setting up camp in Banbury, Oxfordshire, the aim was to train the battalion in readiness for an assault in Gallipoli. For Lieutenant Devas, however, this was not to be. He had fallen ill on the journey back to Blighty and, having contracted typhoid, he was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford. He died at the hospital on 15th February 1915, at the age of 37 years old.

Louisa and some of her children had moved to Minehead, Somerset, after her husband’s death, and this is where Arthur Edward Devas’ body was brought for burial. He was laid to rest in the extensive Minehead Cemetery, to be reunited with his mother when she passed away some eighteen years later.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, injury, London, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war, West Midlands

Private Henry Webber

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Private Henry Webber

Henry James Webber was born in Plaistow, Essex, in 1889. One of ten children, his parents were Frederick and Etty Webber. Frederick hailed from Somerset, but worked as a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police. By the time of the 1901 census, he had been promoted to Inspector: the family moved to Somerset when he retired in around 1905, settling in Minehead.

Of Henry, there is little information documented. He does not appear on the 1911 census, and there are no military records to confirm his service in the army. He had certainly enlisted by the summer of 1916, joining the Somerset Light Infantry.

Private Webber was attached to the 7th (Service) Battalion and certainly saw action overseas. His troop was heavily involved in the Battles of the Somme in 1916, and it was here that he was injured. Again, full details are not available, but his wounds were severe enough for him to be medically evacuated to Britain for treatment.

Henry was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham, but his injuries proved too severe. He died on 1st November 1916, at the age of 27 years old.

Henry James Webber’s body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in Minehead Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family were living in Cher Street.

Additional, Commonwealth War Graves, East Surrey Regiment, Essex, Great War, Hampshire, history, killed in action, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, story, Surrey, war

Lance Corporal Henry Rowell

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Henry Edward Rowell was born on 22nd May 1898 in Southwark, Surrey. One of five siblings, of whom only three survived childhood, his parents were Henry and Jane Rowell. Henry Sr was a bricklayer’s labourer from Southwark, and the family were brought up in a small terraced house on Brandon Street, Walworth.

When he finished his schooling, Henry Jr found work as a turner’s improver but, when war came to Europe, he was called upon to play his part. He enlisted on 29th May 1915, and, as a Private, was attached to the 12th (Service) Battalion (Bermondsey) of the East Surrey Regiment. His service records tell a little of the man he was, confirming that he stood 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall, and suggesting that he gave his age a 19 years old (he was just 16 at the time).

Henry seemed to have made an impression on his superiors as, in early October, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. His early service was based on home soil, primarily in Witney, Surrey.

In December 1915, Henry was temporarily released from military duty for munitions work. Sent to work for the engineering company Peter Hooker Ltd, in Walthamstow, Essex, Lance Corporal Rowell was to remain here for the next four months. On 25th March 1916, however, he was called back to service, as his battalion readied itself to move from its base, by that point in Aldershot, Hampshire, to Northern France.

Lance Corporal Rowell found himself in the thick of things very quickly. From 1st July, the 12th Battalion was caught up in the Battle of the Somme, and he remained entrenched there for the next couple of months.

On 15th September 1916, the British launched an attack on the German front line at Flers-Courcelette, mid-way between Albert and Bapaume. Lance Corporal Rowell was involved in the battle, which lasted until the end of the month, and was cut down on the very first day. He was just 18 years of age.

Henry Edward Rowell was laid to rest in the Bulls Road Cemetery in Flers, Picardie.

Henry Edward Rowell was my paternal grandmother’s first cousin.