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Cadet, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gunner, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Royal Garrison Artillery, Sergeant, story, Sussex, war

Cadet Sergeant Henry Clark

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Cadet Sergeant Henry Clark

Henry John Clark was born on 17th January 1885 in Tufnell Park, Middlesex. The oldest of five children, his parents were wire worker and brass finisher Henry Clark and his wife, Louisa.

The 1891 census found the family living at 51 Cromwell Avenue, Highgate, Middlesex, and this would certainly remain Henry Sr and Louisa’s house for the next ten to fifteen years at least. Henry Jr – who was better known as Jack – is missing from the 1901 census, but by the next document, taken in 1911, he had moved back in with the family.

By this point the Clarks were living in a thirteen-room house on Shepherd’s Hill, Highgate. Henry Sr was now listed as an employer, manufacturing fenders, fire guards and metal good generally, with Jack and his brother, Cyril, also working in the business. The family were supported by two servants, with Henry Sr’s niece and another boarder living with them. Tragically, the census records that Louisa had had five children, although only Jack and Cyril were still alive.

The family business, according to De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Messrs. J Clark, Ltd, of High Street, Bloomsbury, and Jack was one of the directors. The publication also notes that, in his spare time, Jack was “a prominent and active member of the Kit Marlowe Dramatic Club, and the Vaudeville Dramatic Club, and was a popular member of the Highgate Special Constabulary, which body he joined as soon as it was formed.”

On 19th June 1912,Jack married Alice King. Born in Finsbury Park, she was the daughter of a wine and spirit valuer and merchant. The couple exchanged vows at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London, and would go on to have a child, John, in 1916.

When war broke out, Jack was called upon to play his part. He enlisted on 4th December 1916, joining the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner. His service papers note that he was just over 6ft 2ins (1.89m) tall, and weighed 159lbs (72.1kg).

Gunner Clark served with the British Expeditionary Force from March 1917, returning to home soil just three months later. He had obviously impressed his superiors, as he was sent to the No. 2 RGA Officers’ Cadet School in Uckfield, Sussex, to be trained as a Sergeant.

While here, however, Jack came down with pneumonia, and was admitted to the No. 2 Eastern General Hospital in Brighton. The condition was to get the better of him, sadly, and he passed away on 16th January 1918, the day after his 33rd birthday.

Henry John “Jack” Clark was taken back to Middlesex for burial. He was laid to rest in the majestic Highgate Cemetery, a short walk from his grieving family.

Cadet Sergeant Henry Clark
(from De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour)
Boy, Chief Yeoman of the Signals, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Isle of Wight, Kent, Leading Signalman, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, Signalman, story, Surrey, Tyne & Wear, war, Yeoman of Signals

Chief Yeoman of Signals Charles Welling

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Chief Yeoman of Signals Charles Welling

Charles James Welling was born on 23rd October 1860, and was the oldest of three children to Charles and Ann Welling. The Wellings were a military family, Charles Sr employed as a Serjeant Instructor of Musquetry in the Parkhurst Barracks on the Isle of Wight when his son was born.

Ann had been born in South Africa while her Irish parents were based out there. She and Charles Sr married in Farnham, Surrey, presumably where the families were based by that point.

Charles Jr’s mother died in 1863, just a month after giving birth to his youngest sibling. His father married again, to Sarah Ash, and by 1871, the Wellings were living in barracks at the School of Musketry in Hythe, Kent.

Being his father’s son, Charles Jr was set to make his own mark on the world and, on 21st January 1876, he joined the Royal Navy. Too young to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent off to HMS Impregnable, the shore base in Devonport, Devon, for his training.

Over the next eighteen months, Boy Welling learnt his trade, spending time at HMS Ganges – another shore base near Ipswich, Suffolk – and the sloop HMS Penguin. It was here that Charles came of age in 1878, and he officially joined the Royal Navy with the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was just 4ft 10.5ins (1.49m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Welling career was to take a turn in 1880, when he began training as a signaller. His initial contract with the navy was for ten years, and, by the time that came to an end in May 1889, he had served on eight ships in all, rising through the ranks from Signalman 3rd Class, to Signalman 2nd Class in August 1881 and Qualified Signalman seven years later.

When Charles’ term of service came to an end, he immediately renewed it, and with the new contract came a promotion to Leading Signalman. The next decade saw him travel the world, returning to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, in between voyages. His commitment to the role paid off: in March 1894 he was promoted to 2nd Class Yeoman of Signals. Just eight months later he took the rank of Yeoman of Signals.

It was around this time that Charles married the love of his life, Harriet Carlaw. Born in London, the couple exchanged vows in St Pancras, Middlesex, on 13th January 1894 and had a son, also called Charles, the following year.

Charles’ naval career continued its upward trajectory, and on 1st March 1898, he was awarded the rank of Chief Yeoman of Signals. By this point HMS Pembroke had become his permanent base and, at the end of his contract in 1899, he was stood down to reserve status.

The 1901 census shows what may have been a downward step for the Wellings: it recorded the family living in rooms at 136 Bayham Street, Camden, Middlesex, where Charles was working as a messenger.

Opportunities come in the most unexpected of places, however, and the following census found them living at Pier House, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, where Charles was employed as a lighthouse keeper.

By this point, Charles had been invalided out of the navy for medical reasons. The writing on his service papers is unclear, and his dismissal seems to have been as a result of disease of gestes, possibly the neurological disorder dystonia.

When war broke out in 1914, however, anyone with experience was called upon to play their part. Given his age at the time, it seems likely that Charles volunteered for service, reporting to HMS Pembroke on 2nd August 1914. He was given his old rank of Chief Yeoman of Signals, and remained at the naval base for the next two years.

Charles’ health was definitely suffering by this point, and he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, in September 1916. Suffering from the heart condition endocarditis, this would take his life. He passed away on 16th September, at the age of 55 years old.

With Harriet still living in Sunderland, Charles’ body was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the base he had called home for so long.

Charles and Harriet’s son had also stepped up to play his part when war broke out. Enlisting in the Royal Engineers, Pioneer Welling soon found himself in the Middle East. While serving in Palestine, he contracted malaria, and passed away from the condition on 16th October 1918. Charles was just 23 years of age, and was laid to rest in Haifa War Cemetery.

It is tragic to note that Harriet had lost her husband and her son within two years.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, story, Surrey, war

Able Seaman Harry Vince

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Able Seaman Harry Vince

Harry Cooper Vince was born in Battersea, Surrey, on 14th January 1896. The 1901 census noted he was the son of Elizabeth Vince, a cook for barrister and solicitor Robert Purvis. The next census found Harry, Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s husband Harry, as one of four families to have taken rooms at 47 Bessborough Place, Pimlico.

Harry sought a life of adventure and, on 21st March 1912, he gave up his work as a kitchen boy to enlist in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class. He was dispatched to the training ship HMS Impregnable.

On 6th September 1912, having been promoted to Boy 1st Class, Harry was assigned to the battleship HMS Vanguard. Over the next couple of years he learnt his trade, and would come to be based out of HMS Pembroke – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – in between voyages.

Harry came of age on 14th January 1914, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records note that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also recorded as having small moles on his right buttock,

By the late spring of 1916, Harry had been assigned to the submarine depot ship HMS Bonaventure. He would remain on board for two years, during which time he was promoted to Able Seaman.

The next four months would go by in a bit of a blur for Able Seaman Vince. During this time he moved between three ships – the submarine depot ships HMS Dolphin and HMS Maidstone. The last of the three was HMS Lucia, originally the British-built steamship Spreewald, captured from the German Navy in 1914.

In September 1916, Harry was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, suffering intestinal obstructions. These would prove too severe, and he succumbed to peritonitis on 13th October 1916. He was 20 years of age.

The body of Harry Cooper Vince was laid to rest in the military section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the naval base he had called home.

Interestingly, Harry’s service records not an irregularity in his name: “Registered at Somerset House in the name of Ball. Boy kept in ignorance of the fact for obvious reasons.” It would seem that Elizabeth may not have been married at the time her son was born. It also throws some potential doubt as to who his father was.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, story, war

Petty Officer 2nd Class George Ball

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Petty Officer 2nd Class George Ball

The early life of George John Ball is a challenge to piece together.

His naval records confirm that he was born in Bedminster, Somerset, on 11th October 1865. There are census records that link his name to parents coal miner Luke Ball and his wife, Ann, but these cannot be confirmed.

George’s papers show that he found work as a butcher when he finished his schooling. He was set on a life at sea, however, and, on 25th November 1880, he joined the Royal Navy. Given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, he was sent to the training base HMS Impregnable for his induction. The Devon establishment would remain his home for the next two years, and, during this time, he rose to the rank of Boy 1st Class.

On 10th October 1882, George was given his first sea-faring assignment, on board the armoured cruiser HMS Northampton. He stayed with her for the next two years, during which time he came of age. Now formally inducted to the Royal Navy, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman. His service records from the time give an indication as to the man he had become. Short of stature, he was just 5ft 1.5ins (1.56m) tall, and had light brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Ball signed up for a ten-year contract. Over that time, he would serve on a total of eight vessels, rising to the rank of Able Seaman in January 1889. George’s slate was not completely clean, however, and his record notes three serious demeanours in that time.

In the spring of 1888 George spent 27 days in Canterbury Gaol for ‘breaking out of [the] ship’ he was then serving on, HMS Duncan. He was sent to the brig for a further fourteen days in January 1892 for an undisclosed crime.

Able Seaman Ball was also fined £3 10s (£575 in today’s money) for staying away beyond his allotted shore leave. His papers note an absence of seventeen weeks from 10th October 1893, and this time would have been added to the end of his contract.

George re-enlisted on 9th February 1894, and his service record noted that he had grown half and inch (1.3cm) since he enlisted. He had also had a number of tattoos in that time, including an anchor on his right arm and a bracelet and sailor on his left.

Over the next decade, Able Seaman Ball continued his steady progression through the ranks. He would serve on seven ships, returning to what had become his shore base – HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – in between assignments. In October 1897, George was promoted to Leading Seaman: by the following July he was given the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class.

On 29th April 1904, after more than twenty years in service, George was formally stood down to reserve status. The next document for him – the 1911 census – gives an insight into his life away from the sea. By this point, George was living in a small terraced house at 234 Luton Road, Chatham, Kent.

The document confirms he had been married for fourteen years, to a woman called Sarah. The couple had a daughter – six-year-old Doris – and Sarah’s son from a previous marriage, Albert, was also living with them. George had not distanced himself too far from the sea, however. He was employed as a Ship’s Canteen Manager, a position his stepson also held.

When war came to Europe, George was called upon to play his part once more. Taking up the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class again, he would be based at HMS Pembroke – Chatham Dockyard – and he remained in service for the next two years.

In August 1916, George was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, with a combination of pychtis and a stricture. The conditions were to prove fatal: he breathed his last on 31st August 1916, at the age of 50 years old.

George John Ball was laid to rest in the military section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the dockyard that had been his home for many years.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Farrier, Great War, history, illness, Life Guards, Middlesex, photography, story, Sussex, war

Farrier Staff Corporal Reginald Lambert

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Farrier Staff Corporal Reginald Lambert

Reginald Harold Lambert was born in the spring of 1878 in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. One of eight children, his parents were Henry and Elizabeth Lambert. Henry was a surgeon dentist, who had five more children from first marriage, giving Reginald a total of twelve siblings.

When Reginald finished his schooling, he took up work as a dental assistant, presumably under his father’s tutelage. Away from this, he volunteered for the Royal Sussex Regiment, and the military life drew him in. On 8th July 1897, he joined the 1st Life Guards: based in London, he took on the role of Farrier, tending to the regiment’s horses and looking after their hooves in particular.

On 25th April 1909, Reginald married Lilian Burns at St George’s Church in Tufnell Park, Middlesex. There is little information about her background, but she was the daughter of a grocer and, at 38 years old, seven years her new husband’s senior.

As the point of his marriage, Reginald was listed as a Corporal, and gave his address as Knightsbridge Barracks. By the time of the 1911 census, however, he and Lilian had set up home in second floor rooms at 6 Princess Road, Camden.

When war broke out in 1914, Corporal Lambert was called upon to play his part. His service records are long since lost, but the 1st Life Guards fought in some of the key battles of the conflict: at Ypres in both 1914 and 1915, at Loos in 1915, and at Arras in 1917. Exactly where and how Reginald served, however, is unknown, but by the end of the war he had risen to the rank of Farrier Staff Corporal.

The next record for Reginald is that of his death, which was registered in Islington, Middlesex. It seems likely that he either returned home, or was hospitalised close to home. He passed away through illness on 4th September 1918, at the age of 40 years old.

Reginald Harold Lambert was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery, not far from where his widow still lived. His epitaph gave a nod to her pet name for him: In loving memory of dear Rex. Apart yet not afar.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Royal Fusiliers, Sergeant, story, Sussex, war

Serjeant William Shanly

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Serjeant William Shanly

William Michael Shanly was born in Hampstead, Middlesex, in the summer of 1892. The fourth of eight children, of whom three died in infancy, he was the eldest son to Michael and Mathilde Shanly. Michael was the owner of a coffee and refreshment company.

The Shanly family lived at 78 Sumatra Road, Hampstead, but by the time he was nine years old, William had been sent to Sussex, and was boarding at the Xavarians Brothers School in Uckfield.

There is little further information available about William’s life. His epitaph on the family headstone suggests that he died on active service and was a Platoon Sergeant of the 18th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. His unit was also known as the 1st Public Schools, although exactly what role he held is unclear. His entry on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Grave Index suggests that he was attached to the 15th (Reserve) Battalion, but his military records no longer exists, so it isn’t possible to confirm either way.

Serjeant Shanly died on 5th February 1915, aged 22 years of age. He had had an operation for appendicitis five days earlier, but had succumbed to peritonitis.

William Michael Shanly was laid to rest in the family plot in Highgate Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family were living.

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

Clerk 1st Class George Townsend

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Clerk 1st Class George Townsend

George Wilson Townsend was born in St Pancras, Middlesex on 13th September 1885. The youngest of three children – although his older brother Joseph had died before George was born – his parents were piano maker Samuel Townsend and his wife, Eliza.

When he finished his schooling, George found work as a clerk for a shipping company. In the summer of 1909 he married Ellen Gibbins: the couple went on to have two children, daughters Kathleen (born in 1910) and Elsie (born in 1912).

The 1911 census found the family in a small cottage at 43 Leighton Road, Kentish Town. George was still working as a shipping clerk, while Ellen was look after baby Kathleen.

When war broke out, George was called upon to play his part. He enlisted on 12th May 1917, and joined the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 3rd Class. His service records show that he stood 5ft 9.75ins (1.77m) tall.

When the Royal Air Force was formed in April 1918, George was immediately transferred across. Reclassified as a Clerk 3rd Class, he was quickly promoted to Clerk 1st Class, the skills he had learn in civilian life coming to the fore. Attached to 85 Squadron, then 62 Training Squadron, which was based in Gosport, Hampshire.

By the autumn of 1918, George had returned home, although the circumstances for this are unclear. He may have been on leave or recuperating from an illness. Certainly he passed away from pneumonia while at home on 5th October. He had not long turned 33 years of age.

George Wilson Townsend was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery, not far from where his family still lived.

Air Mechanic, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, London, Middlesex, photography, Royal Air Force, story, war

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Ernest Dean

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Air Mechanic 2nd Class Ernest Dean

Ernest James Dean was born in the autumn of 1898 in St Pancras, Middlesex. The older of two children, he was the only son to Ernest and Caroline Dean. Ernest Sr was a bootmaker, and the family lived at 51 Lismore Road.

Ernest Jr found work as a clerk when he completed his schooling. However, when war broke out, he was keen to play his part. He enlisted on 6th February 1917, joining the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 3rd Class. His service record shows that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, and he must have proven to be a keen student: within four months he had been promoted to Air Mechanic 2nd Class and was being trained as a wireless operator.

When the Royal Air Force was formed on 1st April 1918, Ernest’s transfer was automatic. It is unclear exactly where Air Mechanic Dean served, but he seems to have been based in Kent by that autumn.

In October, Ernest was admitted to the Lees Court Hospital in Faversham, Kent, having come down with pneumonia. The condition, sadly, was to prove fatal: he passed away on 29th October 1918, at the age of just 20 years old.

The body of Ernest James Dean was taken back to Middlesex for burial, and he was laid to rest in the majestic grounds of Highgate Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, London Regiment, Middlesex, photography, Private, story, Sussex, war

Private Albert Bentley

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Private Albert Bentley

Albert John Bentley was born in St Pancras, Middlesex, in the spring of 1885. The second of six children, his parents were John and Eleanor (also known as Elizabeth) Bentley. John was a piano maker, and the family lived at 27 Hampshire Street in St Pancras.

When his father died in 1910, Albert had already started to follow in his footsteps. The following year’s census recorded him living with his mother and three younger siblings. Employed as an organ builder, his was one of three wages being brought into the household.

Albert stepped up to play his part when war broke out. Full details of his military service have been lost to time, but it is clear that he enlisted in the London Regiment, and was assigned to the 1st/19th (County of London) Battalion (St Pancras).

It is unclear whether or not Private Bentley spent any time overseas. By the summer of 1918, however, he had fallen ill, and was admitted to a military hospital in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex. He succumbed to a combination of influenza and pneumonia on 28th June 1918: he was 33 years of age.

The body of Albert John Bentley was taken back to Middlesex for burial. He was laid to rest in the sweeping grounds of Highgate Cemetery.

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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.