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Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Signalman, story, Suffolk, war

Ordinary Signalman Frederick Timms

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Ordinary Signalman Frederick Timms

Frederick James Timms was born on 21st January 1897 in Watford, Hertfordshire. One of ten children – and the oldest surviving boy – his parents were Frederick and Rosina Timms. Frederick Sr was a farm labourer, but when his son completed his schooling, he found work with a blacksmith.

Frederick Jr wanted bigger and better things, however, and, on 18th April 1913, he enlisted in the Royal Navy, set on a life at sea. As he was below the age to be a full recruit, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS Ganges, the navy’s training base on the outskirts of Ipswich, Suffolk, for his induction.

During his initial training, Boy Timms seems to have had some educational affinity. Seven months after enlisting, he was moved to the signal corps, and ranked as Signal Boy accordingly. In April 1914, a year after enlisting, he was transferred to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, for posting. He was assigned to the battleship HMS Duncan, his first formal service at sea.

Over the next year, Frederick served on three further ships, coming of age on board the cruiser HMS Latona. Now formally inducted into to the Royal Navy, he was assigned the rank of Ordinary Signalman.

In March 1915, Frederick was transferred again, to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner built in 1914 for the Canadian Pacific Railway. With the outbreak of the war, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy, and converted to a minelayer. In the spring of 1915, she was involved in laying a minefield to the north west of Heligoland, but spent much of her time in and around the Thames Estuary.

On the morning of 27th May 1915, Princess Irene was moored in the Medway Estuary and was being loaded with mines in preparation for a mission. At 11:14am, she exploded and disintegrated, taking two neighbouring barges with her. More than 250 crew – including Ordinary Signalman Timms – were killed. He was just 18 years of age.

Frederick James Timms body was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, alongside some of the other crew whose bodies had been rescued and identified.

Frederick’s death was the second tragedy to strike the Timms family in less than a fortnight. Back in Hertfordshire, Rosina had been pregnant with her eleventh child. On 16th May, she had had an internal haemorrhage, which resulted in the loss of both mother and child.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Lance Corporal, photography, Royal Fusiliers, story, Sussex, war

Lance Corporal Frank Page

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Lance Corporal Frank Page

Frank Arthur Page was born early in 1891, and was one of seven children – and the youngest son – to Matthew and Emily Page. Matthew was a bricklayer’s labourer from Lancing in Sussex, while Emily had been born in Norfolk. It was in the village of Steyning, however, that the couple raised their family.

By the time of the 1901 census, Matthew had been invalided out of work. The family had moved to a small cottage in Lancing by this point, and Frank’s older brothers were working to bring in some money for the family.

The next census return, taken in 1911, found Matthew and Emily living Frank and his older brother Sydney at 2 Ivy Cottages in Lancing. Both of the Page siblings were working as market gardeners by this point, bringing in some money to help support the family.

War came to Europe in the summer of 1914, and Frank stepped up to serve his King and Country. Full details of his military service are lost in the mists of time, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, and was attached to the 26th (Service) Battalion (Bankers).

Frank’s unit served in both France and Italy, although, without his documents, it isn’t possible to determine where, and for how long, he served. During his time in the army, however, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, underlining a level of dedication on his part.

Matthew passed away in the spring of 1917, and it appears that Frank was demobbed at some point after the Armistice. By the autumn of 1919, he was back in Sussex, living with his now widowed mother. His time in the army seems to have impacted on Frank’s health by this point, and he died ‘from disease’ on 24th October 1919. He was 28 years of age.

Frank Arthur Page was laid to rest in the graveyard of St James the Lesser Church in Lancing, not far from where his father had been buried.

Canada, Canadian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, Huntingdonshire, illness, photography, Private, story, war

Private John Gaunt

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Private John Gaunt

John Alfred Gaunt was born on 15th October 1893, the fourth of five children to John and Jane Gaunt. John Sr was a cattle dealer from St Ives in Huntingdonshire, and it was in the nearby village of Needingworth that the family were born and raised.

John Sr sought out opportunities to support his wife and children and, in 1902 he moved the family to Canada, settling in Pincher Creek, Alberta. There isn’t a great deal of detail available about the Gaunts’ time in North America, but it is likely that farming became their way of life.

Tragedy struck the family in October 1912, when John Sr died, at the age of 61. By this point it seems that they had moved on to British Colombia. Just six months later, Jane also died, John Jr was left an orphan while still a teenager.

Most of the family seemed to remain on the west coast – a later document shows John’s older sister Julia living in Cranbrook, British Colombia – but John was working as a farmer by this point and had either returned to Pincher Creek after his parents’ deaths, or had remained there when they went west.

When war broke out in Europe in the summer of 1914, the Empire were called upon to serve, and John was to return to the country he had left more than a decade earlier. He enlisted on 20th January 1916, joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Private Gaunt’s service records show that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall, 130lbs (59kg) in weight and had light brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. It was also noted that he had a fine scar, some 3.5ins (9cm) long, on his upper left arm and had a slight defect in his speech (although this is not elaborated on).

John departed for Europe on 21st August 1916, boarding the HMS Olympic for Liverpool, Lancashire. His unit was initially based in Witley Camps near Aldershot, Hampshire, and he would remain on base until the end of the year. This included eight weeks admitted to the Connaught Hospital, when he was suffering from a bout of syphilis.

By January 1917, John was transferred to the 21st Reserve Battalion, which meant a move to Seaford, East Sussex. He transferred again to the 50th Battalion on 19th March, a move which included being shipped off to France.

Over the next couple of months, things were to change dramatically for Private Gaunt. His service records note that he was wounded on 10th May, but that he remained on duty. On 21st July, he wad admitted to the No. 11 Ambulance Station in Rouen, suffering from jaundice.

He was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment, initially to the Auxiliary Hospital in Exeter, Devon, then to Uplyme Hospital, just to the north of Lyme Regis. By this point, John was severely ill. He passed away on 13th August 1917, at the age of 23 years of age.

With the majority of his family living on the other side of the Atlantic, John Alfred Gaunt was, instead, laid to rest in the churchyard of Ss. Peter & Paul Church in Uplyme, not fat from where he had breathed his last. He is also among those servicemen to be commemorated on the Pincher Creek War Memorial.

Cadet, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Midshipman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Sub Lieutenant, war

Sub-Lieutenant Denys Puttock

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Sub-Lieutenant Denys Puttock

Denys Ernest Puttock was born on 14th September 1895 in the Devon village of Halwill. The middle of three children, his parents were Edward and Alice Puttock. Edward was a vicar of the village’s St Peter & St James’ Church, but died tragically early:

The Red. E Puttock, Rector of Hallwill died on Wednesday, after a brief illness… Mr Puttock had been in charge… for six and a half years. He was much beloved by those among whom he labourer and universally respected. His devotion to the due performance of all his sacred duties was unceasing and his visitations among the poor and afflicted were much appreciated by the whole parish. He was fond of all manly sports, and under his captaincy the Cricket Club at Halwill attained considerable success. Up to the day of his death he could hardly believe that he was ill, and up to the last it was hoped that his wonderful constitution might have carried him through the illness. About a fortnight since he contracted a chill. He would not be deterred from carrying out his duties, and against the advice of his friends, he persisted in taking every service at the church long after he was fit for it. On Sunday, the 24th January, although then in a high fever, he took both the morning and evening services at Halwill Church unassisted, and also the Sunday School in the afternoon. Pneumonia set in at the end of last week, and on Tuesday evening, the 2nd February, the action of the heart failed. He leaves a widow and three young children to mourn their loss.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 5th February 1897]

After Edward’s death, Alice moved the children to Okehampton. The 1901 census found the family living at 4 Brondage Park, Alice by this time living off her own means. She felt that learning was important, and Denys was sent to Twyford School and St Edmund’s School in Canterbury, Kent. From here he took up a career in the Royal Navy, enlisting in September 1913.

He served in the Highflyer as a Cadet, and was Midshipman in HMS Conqueror, and later Sub-Lieutenant in the destroyers Patriot and Valorous. Long exposure to the rough weather in the North Sea during the winters of 1916 and 1917 brought on tuberculosis, which incapacitated him for further war service. He was invalided our of the Navy and spent many months in a Sanitorium.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 4th April 1919]

Denys Ernest Puttock’s health was failing him, and he passed away on 20th March 1919, while still admitted. He was 23 years of age. The report of his funeral included comments from those who knew him:

His Headmaster writes: “He has not lived in vain, for he has exercised the power of unconscious influence on all those around him. He knew the secret of happiness – purity of soul and unselfishness of heart.” His Commanding Officer has written: “He was a zealous and capable young officer. Possessed of great charm of manner, he was popular with both officers and men.”

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 4th April 1919]

Alice, having moved to Paignton by this point, laid her son to rest in the town’s cemetery. When she passed away in 1932, she was buried alongside him.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, photography, Private, Royal Devon Yeomanry, story, war

Private Percy Coplestone

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Private Percy Coplestone

Percy Reginald Coplestone was born in Torquay, Devon, on 17th August 1890. The oldest of four children, his parents were bakers William and Louisa Coplestone. The family moved to Kinkerswell in 1895, and, by the time of the 1911 census, they had moved to Paignton.

The Copplestones had set up business in Church Street and Louisa’s widowed mother, Louisa Smallbone, had moved in with them. Percy, now 20 years of age, was helping in the business, while his younger sister, Gladys, was employed as a draper’s assistant.

When war came to Europe, Percy was called upon to play his part. Details of his service are tantalisingly scarce, but they suggest that he had enlisted no earlier than April 1915. He joined the Royal Devon Yeomanry, and was assigned to the 3rd/1st Battalion, although his time in the military was to be brief.

The funeral took place Friday of Pte. Percy Coplestone, eldest sone of Mr and Mrs Coplestone, Church-street, Paignton, who joined 1st Devon Yeomanry, sustained an injury while undergoing gymnastic training, was operated upon on Monday, and died in the evening.

[Western Times: Tuesday 23rd November 1915]

Percy Reginald Copplestone died on 15th November 1915: he was 25 years of age. He was laid to rest in Paignton Cemetery, a short walk from where his family still lived.

While researching Percy’s life, I came across a couple of articles relating to a legal action taken against his father, William, by Edward Elkington, for damaged caused in a car accident. Edward was suing for £15 damaged, while William counter-sued for £65.

The case was initially heard in November 1915 – sadly, a week after Percy’s passing – before being adjourned until the following January. In amongst a number of witness statements, a local newspaper reported William’s evidence:

William Joseph Coplestone… baker and confectioner, said he left the Gerston [Hotel] between 11.5 and 11.10 in his single motor, with Mr Tolcher and Mr Hicks. It was a rather heavy car for his size, very reliable and very slow. They went on second speed, about six or seven miles an hour, and at the corner of Hyde-road witness [William] sounded the hooter, nothing then being visible. Taking a wide turn following the Torquay lines leading to Torquay, witness got on the left side, the proper side. He saw the lights of a car approaching, also a tram-car, the car being 140 yards away and 50 yards ahead of the tram. The car was approaching on the wrong side, and there was practically an end-on collision. Witness expected every moment the other car would have gone over to its proper side. Witness had driven about 100 feet when the collision took place and his car was stationery at the time. Witness and his friends were thrown out. The car cost him about £80 and the estimate of repairs was £63 5s. Mr Elkington said, “It is a bad job.” Witness replies, “It is your fault absolutely; you are on the wrong side of the road.” Plaintiff said, “You were crossing the road fast,” and witness replied that he was bound to cross the road. Elkington remarked, £I did my best to avoid the accident. Immediately I saw you I applied my brakes, but the roads were greasy, and the wheels would not grip.” PC Clarke was not there when the collision took place. Later he suggested to the constable that measurements should be taken, and went back to look after Mr Hicks. Before he got back they had moved his car. Coplestone said he had often driven two people in the car. When his son left for the Dardanelles, witness drove his wife and son to Southampton in comfort.

[Western Times: Tuesday 25th January 1916]

The case was adjourned once again, to 11th February. Frustratingly, there seems not to have been any follow-up newspaper report, so there is no confirmation of the outcome of William’s case.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, India, killed in action, Machine Gun Corps, Mesopotamia, photography, Private, story, war

Private James Ellery

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Private James Ellery

James Ellery was born in the autumn of 1889, and was the middle of seven children. His parents – Frederick and Mary – were born in Dorset, and the family were raised in the hamlet of Lillington. Frederick was a farm labourer, but James found his way into building work when he finished his schooling.

When war came to Europe, James stepped up to play his part. Full details of his military service have been lost to time, but it is clear that he had enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment and was attached to the 1st/4th Battalion.

Private Ellery’s unit served in India and Mesopotamia during the conflict, but it is unclear whether James saw any action overseas. Certainly by early 1919 he was back in Britain, as he was hospitalised in Sherborne following a bout of influenza. This developed into pneumonia, and he was admitted to the town’s Yeatman Hospital.

James’ immune system had become weakened during the conflict, and the pneumonia turned septic. It proved to be fatal, and James passed away on 1st March 1919. He was 29 years of age.

James Ellery’s body was taken back to Lillington for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Martin’s Church.

James was not the first of the Ellery siblings to die during the Great War. His eldest brother, Frederick, had enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps Cavalry. He was killed in action on 21st August 1918, leaving behind a widow and three children. He was 36 years of age and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois British Memorial in Haucourt. France.

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

Private Reginald Lane

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Private Reginald Lane

Reginald William Lane was born in the autumn of 1886, the eighth of ten children to Joseph and Sarah. Joseph was an agricultural labourer and he and his wife raised their family in their home village of Thornford in Dorset.

When he finished his schooling, he found work as a gardener’s boy. He went on to make a career out of this and was employed as a gardener when he married Evelyn Sharp on 15th April 1914. The couple exchanged vows in St Swithun’s Church, Hinton Parva, Dorset, the marriage certificate noting that the groom’s father was now employed as a woodsman.

War came to Europe later that year, and Reginald enlisted to serve the King and Empire. Little information is available about his military career: he joined the Dorsetshire Regiment, but there is no confirmation that he spent any time overseas. Private Lane transferred over to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment, his new unit serving on home soil. Based in Kent, Reginald was part of the Thames & Medway Garrison.

Joseph died at the end of August 1915, and was laid to rest in the St Mary Magdalene Churchyard. Just weeks later, Reginald’s younger brother, Gilbert, a Private in the 3rd Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, was killed during the Battle of Loos. He was commemorated on the Loos Memorial in Dud Corner Cemetery in France.

Private Reginald William Lane survived the war, but only by eleven days. While based in Kent, he contracted influenza and pneumonia. He died on 22nd November 1918, aged 32 years. His body was brought back to Dorset, and was laid to rest alongside his father.

There is no further information available for Evelyn.

Reginald’s mother, Sarah, however, only lived for another couple of months. She passed away on 25th February 1919, at the age of 69 years old. She was reunited with her husband and son in St Mary Magdalene Churchyard, the family headstone commemorating Private Gilbert Lane as well.

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

Private Ernest Brister

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Private Ernest Brister

The early life of Ernest Brister is a challenge to piece together. His baptism record – at St Mary Magdalene Church in Thornford, Dorset – suggests that he was born in the summer of 1891, but gives only the name of his mother, Rosina Brister.

The 1901 census identifies the 9-year-old Ernest as a visitor to the house of Eliza Brister, a 65-year-old widow working as a laundress. There are several other Bristers in the village – including Eliza’s own to children – but Rosina is nowhere to be seen.

The next census, taken in 1911, sheds a little more light on the situation. Ernest is still living with Eliza, but he is now recorded as being her grandson. Aged 75, she was still taking in laundry, but Ernest was employed as a mason.

In the autumn of 1913, Ernest married Beatrice Chalker. She was a shepherd’s daughter from Dewlish in Dorset. The couple wed in Dorchester and went on to have two children, Doris and Edwin.

When war broke out, Ernest stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment, and found himself in France by the summer of 1915.

There is little information about Ernest’s time in the army, but later in the war, he seems to have transferred over to the Wiltshire Regiment. Attached to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, his new unit served on home soil and, based in Kent, was part of the Thames & Medway Garrison.

Private Brister was based in Maidstone in the autumn of 1918, when he contracted influenza and pneumonia. He was admitted to the military hospital in Aylesford, but the conditions were to prove to severe. He passed away on 24th November 1918, aged 27 years old.

Ernest Brister’s body was taken back to Dorset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary Magdalene Church. His grandmother, Eliza, passed away just a month later, at the age of 82. She was laid to rest close to her beloved grandson.

The 1910s were harsh for Ernest’s widow, Beatrice. Her youngest son was born in March 1915, her mother dying a couple of months later. She lost her brother, Edwin, to the war – he was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, when he was killed on 28th August 1916. He was just 19 years of age. Two years later, she was widowed when Ernest passed away.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, history, photography, Private, story, unknown, war

Private Mark Lane

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Private Mark Lane

Mark Lane was born in the summer of 1900 in Thornford, Dorset. One of ten children, his parents were estate drainer Albert Lane and his wife, Sarah. Sadly. there is little concrete information about Mark’s life.

When war broke out, his eldest brother, Gilbert, served in the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, rising to the rank of Serjeant. Having fought at, and survived, Gallipoli. his unit moved to France in July 1916. Involved in the Battle of the Somme, Gilbert was killed and was laid to rest at Bulls Road Cemetery in France.

His oldest brother dead, Mark seems to have wanted to serve his country and do Gilbert’s memory proud. He did not turn 18 until the summer of 1918, and he seems to have used this as an opportunity to enlist. He also enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment and, as part of the 4th (Reserve) Battalion was sent off to do his training.

Unfortunately, details of what happened to Private Lane are lost in the mists of time. He was admitted to a military hospital in the autumn of 1918, and died there on 22nd Octover. He was just 18 years of age.

The body of Mark Lane was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary Magdalene Church in his home village of Thornford.

Channel Islands, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Jersey, Lancashire, photography, Private, Royal Jersey Militia, story, unknown, war

Private Alexander Cain

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Private Alexander Cain

Alexander Bertram Cain was born on 31st July 1885 in Ormskirk, Lancashire. He was the ninth of eleven children to concert promoter Robert Cain and his wife, Sarah.

By 1901, Robert and Sarah had moved the family to Jersey, setting up home in St Saviour’s. Robert was noted as living off his own means, but Alexander, who would have been 15 by this point, is noticeable by his absence and, in fact, does not appear on that year’s census return.

Robert died in 1909, and on 26th January 1911, Alexander married a woman called Hilda Bedford. They settled down in St Helier, and went on to have two children, daughters Yvonne and Elizabeth. The census taken three months after the couple’s wedding recorded Alexander as living on his own means, so money appeared not to be an issue for the young family.

When war came to Europe, Alexander was called upon to play his part. On 12th March 1917, he enlisted in the Royal Jersey Militia, and was attached to the regiment’s Garrison Battalion, stationed on the island. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, and that he had a scar on his left cheek. The document also suggests that he had spent time in the Gloucestershire Regiment, but no further information about this is available.

Private Cain spent the next two years in the army. Towards the end of this time, however, his health appears to have been impacted, to the point that, on 6th May 1919, he was medically discharged from the Royal Jersey Militia.

Whatever his condition, it was to prove fatal. Alexander passed away at home on 31st May 1919: he was 33 years of age.

Alexander Bertram Cain was laid to rest in the family plot in La Croix Cemetery in Grouville, Jersey, Hilda left widowed and with two children – Elizabeth just four months old – to raise.