Tag Archives: Essex

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Essex, Great War, history, injury, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, Stoker, story, war

Petty Officer Stoker James Adams

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Petty Office Stoker James Adams

James Adams was born in June 1883, son of Robert and Eliza Adams from Bridgwater in Somerset. Robert was an agricultural labourer; James was one of seven children.

James was keen to get out and see the world. In November 1905 – aged just 12 years old – he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a stoker. After training in Devonport, Plymouth, Stoker Adams served on a number of different vessels, including HMS Victorious, Ramillies, Amphitrite, Monmouth, Andromeda and Halcyon.

By the time war broke out, James has been promoted to Leading Stoker, and was assigned to HMS Cornwall. This was an armoured cruiser that was involved in the Battle of the Falklands in December 1914.

Promoted to Stoker Petty Officer in October 1915, James continued to serve on HMS Cornwall until he was transferred to the brand new ship, HMS Valkyrie. The vessel was involved in offensive sweeps and convoy escorts based out of Harwich.

On 22nd December 1917, the Valkyrie was part of the escort for a convoy travelling to the Netherlands, when she struck a mine. In total, nineteen men were killed, twelve instantly; this included Stoker Petty Officer Adams. He was 34 years old.

James Adams lies at rest in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Somerset, story, war

Private Walter Perry

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Private Walter Perry

Walter Perry was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1874. He was one of ten children to James Perry, a general dealer, and his wife Hannah. After he had left school, Walter became a labourer; his older siblings had all become labourers or factory workers in the area.

In November 1899, Walter married Rebecca Cavill; their first child, Hilda, was born at the end of March the following year. By this time, Walter was working for a brewery, while his new wife was working at a shirt collar factory. The young couple went on to have two further children – Walter and Beatrice – before Rebecca tragically passed away in June 1906.

Walter married again in November 1908, this time to a Mary Ann Reed also from Somerset. The couple went on to have two children, Joseph and Edna, and the family lived together in the centre of Bridgwater.

The Great War was on the horizon. While details of Walter’s military service are not readily available, it is unlikely that he was called up as soon as hostilities broke out – he turned 40 in 1914, and so was too old to qualify immediately.

Walter enlisted in the 2/1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry; he was based primarily in England, where his battalion acted as a training/reserve for the 1st Battalion, who were serving on the Western Front. It was while Private Perry was based in Essex, that he contracted appendicitis; he was admitted to the General Military Hospital in Colchester, but passed away on 6th June 1917. He was 43 years old.

Walter Perry lies at peace in the Wembdon Road Cemetery in his home town of Bridgwater.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, East Yorkshire Regiment, Essex, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Private, story, war

Corporal Charles Cornell

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Corporal Charles Cornell

Charles Cornell was born in July 1885, the youngest of six children to Philip and Martha Cornell, from Ashdon in Essex. Philip was an agricultural labourer, and Charles and his older brother Daniel followed their father into the trade.

Charles was keen to further himself, however, and enlisted in the army. The 1911 census records him as a Private soldier at the Salamanca Barracks in Aldershot.

Private Cornell married Elizabeth Fanny Hoare in Strood, Kent, in October 1913. Beyond this there is little information on either Charles or Elizabeth.

Charles was assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment and was promoted to Corporal. This reserve battalion was initially based in the town of Beverley, before moving to Hull and then nearby Withernsea. It seems unlikely, therefore, that Corporal Cornell saw active service on the Western Front.

His passing seems to have been sudden; his pension record shows that he had been admitted to the Military Hospital at Wharncliffe with nephritis (inflamed kidneys). He passed away on 27th January 1918, aged 32 years old.

Corporal Charles Cornell is buried in the graveyard of St Helen’s Church in Cliffe, Kent, the village his widow’s family were from. He is also commemorated in his own family’s village of Ashdon in Essex (where the memorial states he had attained the rank of Sergeant).

The majority of the the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones in the UK are made from Portland stone, although, in face, over 50 different natural stones have been used.

Corporal Cornell’s headstone is one of two in St Helen’s Churchyard that have been fashioned from dark grey slate.