Tag Archives: Kent

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Lancelot Cramp

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Stoker 1st Class Lance Cramp

Lancelot Percival Cramp was born in the Kent village of Sutton on 7th June 1891. The youngest of five children, his parents were bootmaker Alfred Cramp and his wife Elizabeth.

Lancelot – who preferred to be called Lance – seems to have had a disjointed childhood. Neither of his parents are recorded in the 1901 census, while he is noted as living with his widowed aunt, also called Elizabeth, in Ticehurst, Kent.

By the time he completed his schooling, Lance found work as a tinsmith. However, he sought a bigger and better career and, on 30th April 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Assigned the role of Stoker 2nd Class, his papers note that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, with auburn hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Cramp was sent to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He was then sent to the battleship HMS Renown for his first assignment.

Over the next four years, Lance would serve on seven ships in total, returning to Portsmouth in between assignments. His service record notes a very good character and satisfactory ability and, in September 1911, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class.

On 8 February 1914, Lance was given a new posting aboard the battleship HMS Bulwark. When war broke out, she was assigned to the Channel Fleet, which had the responsibility for patrolling and protecting Britain’s southern coastline.

On the morning of 26 November 1914, Bulwark lay anchored in the River Medway near Sheerness while taking on shells and ammunition. During the process, improperly stored cordite charges overheated and ignited nearby munitions. The massive explosion that followed tore the ship apart, killing more than 740 members of the crew. Stoker Lance Cramp was amongst those who died: he was 23 years of age.

Those who were killed in the explosion were buried in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. The body of Lancelot Percival Cramp was identified, and laid to rest in a marked grave.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, County Donegal, County Down, Great War, Hampshire, history, Ireland, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Ordinary Seaman William Gubbey

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Ordinary Seaman William Gubbey

William Ernest Gubbey was born on 21st February 1896 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. He was the only child to William and Alice Gubbey. William Sr was a Petty Officer in the Coastguard, and the family travelled to where he was needed. The 1901 census found them in Malinmore, County Donegal, while ten years later, they were living in Tara, County Down.

It seemed natural for William Jr to follow in his father’s footsteps and, on 3rd August 1912, he joined the Royal Navy. He was too young to formally enlist, and was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Sent to HMS Impregnable, the school ship based in Devonport, she would remain his home for the next ten months while he was trained.

William was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 17th June 1913, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Gibraltar the following day. After six months on board, and a short stopover at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, he received his next posting, the battleship HMS Bulwark.

Boy Gubbey would spend the next year attached to Bulwark and, during this time, he came of age. Now formally inducted into the navy as an Ordinary Seaman, his service papers show the young man he had become. He was recorded as being 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion.

When was was declared in the summer of 1914, Bulwark was assigned to the Channel Fleet, patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast. On 26th November 1914, she was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, Kent, being reloaded with ammunition.

Some of the new cargo overheated and the resulting explosion ripped through the battleship. More than 740 crew were killed, including Ordinary Seaman Gubbey: he was just 18 years of age.

The bodes of the dead were laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his had been identified, William Ernest Gubbey was laid to rest in a marked grave.

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

Able Seaman Percy Cronshaw

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Able Seaman Percy Cronshaw

Percy Cronshaw was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, on 10th January 1885. The second of five children, he was the oldest son to Thomas and Alice Cronshaw. Thomas was a loom overseer in a local mill, and when Percy completed his schooling, he found work as a calico weaver. Alice had died by the time of the 1901 census, and the family has moved to a cottage on Loxham Street in Bolton.

Percy wanted a better life for himself and, on 12th February 1902, he joined in the Royal Navy. Too young to fully enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Northampton for his training. Over the next year he learnt the tools of his trade, rising to Boy 1st Class after just three months.

By the time of Percy’s eighteenth birthday, he had had three further postings: the shore bases HMS Calliope in Gateshead and HMS Victory in Portsmouth; and the cruiser HMS Good Hope. It was with her that he came of age, and was in a position to formally enlist in the Royal Navy.

The now Ordinary Seaman Cronshaw’s papers show the man he had become. He was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, with auburn hair, black eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having moles on the right side of his face and neck, and two tattoos: his initials on his right forearm, and an anchor on his left.

Percy remained aboard HMS Good Hope until the spring of 1905. By this point, he had been promoted, taking the rank of Able Seaman. With his promotion came more training, and he spent the next year split between HMS Victory and HMS Excellent, another shore base in Portsmouth. His annual reviews noted a very good character and an ability to match.

Over the next seven years, Able Seaman Cronshaw would go on to serve on two further ships – HMS Venus and HMS Superb. In between voyages he returned to Portsmouth, with HMS Excellent becoming his home port. This land base offered some continuity, and the unexpected bonus of romance. On 28th January 1912, Percy married Frances Stubbington, a shoemaker’s daughter from the city: the couple would go on to have a child, Violet, who was born later that year.

By this point, Percy had been given a new posting, on board the battleship HMS Bulwark. When war was declared, she became a part of the Channel Fleet, 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 charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. Able Seaman Cronshaw was among those to be recovered: he was 29 years of age.

Percy Cronshaw’s body as laid to rest alongside his colleagues in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his body had been identified, he was able to be buried in a marked grave.

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

Private Frederick Pagett

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Private Frederick Pagett

Frederick Pagett was born in the Worcestershire village of Hanley Castle on 27th July 1892. The seventh of eight children, he was the youngest son to Samuel and Ann Pagett.

Samuel was a policeman, but when he completed his schooling, Frederick found work as a miner. This seemed not to suit him, however, and, on 20th December 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

Private Pagett’s service records show that he was 5ft 4.5ins tall, and that he had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He had two small scars on his upper lip, and was noted as being able to swim.

Frederick was sent to Deal in Kent for his training. Over the next couple of years, he learnt his trade, and would serve in the Hampshire towns of Gosport and Portsmouth. His papers noted a very good character.

On 12th June 1912, Private Pagett was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark. He would remain part of her crew for the next couple of years.

On the 26th November 1914, when Bulwark was moored close to Sheerness, Kent, an explosion ripped through the ship, sinking it and killing more than 740 people. Frederick was on board at the time, and was amongst those to be killed: he just was 22 years of age.

The body of Frederick Pagett was laid to rest in a marked grave in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, London, Middlesex, photography, Royal Marines, story, Surrey, war

Sergeant Edwin Ward

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Sergeant Edwin Ward

Edwin James Ward was born at the start on 3rd December 1879 in London. The oldest of four children, his parents were William and Emma Ward. William, who was a printer, had also been born in London, and the family lived initially in rooms on Trafalgar Street, Walworth, then Hardaker Street in Shoreditch.

There are tantalising gaps in Edwin’s life, and it is a challenge to piece together what happened to him after the 1891 census. He disappears from the records for nearly two decades, and is it likely that he had enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and spent time overseas.

On 21st August 1908, Edwin married a woman called Kate. There is no further information available about her, although the couple went on to have a daughter, Kitty, who was born in Portsmouth on 13th November 1911.

Edwin’s trail goes cold again at this point. He appears to have risen through the ranks with the Royal Marines and, by the summer of 1914, was a Sergeant. He was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark, and was on board on the 26th November 1914, when she was moored close to Sheerness, Kent. That morning, an explosion ripped through the ship, sinking it and killing more than 740 people. Sergeant Ward was amongst them: he was 34 years of age.

The body of Edwin James Ward was laid to rest in a marked grave in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, history, Ireland, Kent, Middlesex, photography, Royal Horse Artillery, Sergeant Major, Staffordshire, story, unknown, war

Regimental Serjeant Major Thomas Wilson

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Regimental Serjeant Major Thomas Wilson

The life of Thomas Henry Wilson is challenge to piece together, and it is only through fragmented documents that the trail can be uncovered.

Thomas’ headstone confirms he was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Royal Horse Artillery, and that he died on 4th July 1916, at the age of 52.

The Commonwealth War Graces Commission’s records confirm that he was married to Mary Ann Wilson (née Ralph), who lived in West Stour, Dorset. The couple’s wedding took place in Holy Trinity Church, Woolwich, Kent, on 14th February 1888. The marriage certificate gives their fathers’ names – farriers Charles Wilson and James Ralph. The document also confirms Thomas’ role as a a Sergeant in the RHA, and gives his age as 27, and Mary’s as 21.

The Wilsons’ appearance in the the census records is a little sporadic. They are not recorded on the 1891 census, but ten years later, they were living in Bilston, Staffordshire. They were listed as being caretakers of the town’s Conservative Club on Church Street. Their ages are given as 41 and 31, and Mary’s place of birth is given as Kington Magna, Dorset.

By 1911, Thomas and Mary had moved to London, and were boarding at the house of Joseph and Rosetta Johnson, at 5 Knivet Road in Fulham, Middlesex. Thomas was listed as being an army pensioner, while Mary was employed as a domestic cook.

At this point, Thomas’ trail goes cold. It is likely that he was called upon when war broke out, but there are no records to confirm where or how he served. He passed away in July 1916, and was laid to rest in All Saints’ Churchyard, Kington Magna, which would suggest that he and Mary had moved there to be closed to her family.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, history, injury, Kent, London Regiment, photography, Private, story, war

Private William Cox

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Private William Cox

William John Cox was born in the autumn of 1893, and was the second of seven children. His parents – William and Kate Cox – were from Kington Magna, Dorset, and this is where they would raise their family.

William Sr was a farm labourer, and this is work into which his son would follow. By the time of the 1911 census, the family were living in a cottage on Church Street, with William Jr and his younger brother, Frederick, both agricultural workers.

When war came to Europe, William would step up to play his part. Full service details have been lost, but it is clear that he had enlisted in the army by the summer of 1916. As a Private, he was assigned to the 4th Battalion of the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).

Private Cox certainly saw action overseas, and would find himself entrenched at the Somme. At some point, he was wounded, and his injuries were bad enough for him to be sent back to Britain for treatment. He was admitted to hospital in Chatham, Kent, but his wounds would prove to be too severe. William passed away on 20th December 1916: he was 23 years of age.

The body of William John Cox was taken back to Dorset for burial. He was laid to rest in the tranquil surrounds of All Saints’ Churchyard in Kington Magna.

William’s younger brother, Frederick, also fought in the First World War. Read his story here.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire Regiment, photography, Private, story, war

Private Thomas White

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Private Thomas White

Thomas White was born on 17th October 1889, and was the fourth of nine children to William and Minnie White. William was an agricultural labourer for Hartwell, Northamptonshire, but the family were raised in the village of Hardingstone, to the south of Northampton.

When they finished their schooling, Thomas’ older siblings also found work on local farms, and Thomas was to do the same. By the time of the 1911 census, the white family had moved to Wootton, and were living in a four-roomed cottage on the village’s high street.

On 25th July 1914, Thomas married Nellie Westbury. The daughter of a groom from Wootton, she was employed as a cook at The Hermitage in the village when they couple exchanged vows. They would go on to have a daughter, Phyllis, the following year.

Details of Thomas’ military service are a challenge to pull together. His entry on the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects confirm that he enlisted on 20th July 1918, joining the 3rd Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment. This was a training and depot unit, and, by the time Private White signed up, they were based in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.

Thomas’ time in Kent was to be brief. While training, he came down with a combination of influenza and pneumonia, conditions to which he would succumb. Private White passed away on 11th November 1918, the day that Armistice was signed: he was 29 years of age.

The body of Thomas White was taken back to Northamptonshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful surroundings of St George’s Churchyard in Wootton.

Nellie went on to make a life for herself and her daughter. The 1921 census found them living at 28 Alton Street, Far Cotton, Hardingstone, Nellie working as an office cleaner for the Midland Railway.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, Herefordshire, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Herbert Lee

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Stoker 1st Class Herbert Lee

Herbert Lee was born in the Herefordshire village of Dilwyn on 16th August 1896. The sixth of eight children, he was one of five sons to Charles and Frances Lee. Charles was a waggoner on a local farm and, when he finished his schooling, his son found work as a farm hand there.

When war broke out, Herbert was quick to step up and play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 14th October 1914, taking on the role of Stoker 2nd Class. His service papers show that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Lee was sent to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – also known as HMS Pembroke – for his training. Over the next five years, he seems to have been mainly shore-based, transferring between units in Chatham and at HMS Victory, the navy dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire. In August 1915, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class, and his records note a very good character with a superior ability.

Herbert survived the war and, by the start of 1919, he was back in Chatham. He had fallen ill by this point, and, having contracted the highly contagious tuberculosis, he was medically discharged from navy service on 19th March 1919.

Herbert Lee battled his condition bravely, but would ultimately succumb to it. He passed away on 8th October 1920, at the age of 24 years old. He was laid to rest in the tranquil surrounds of St Mary’s Churchyard in his home village of Dilwyn.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Leicestershire, Ordinary Seaman, photography, story, war

Ordinary Seaman Harold Vernon

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Ordinary Seaman Harold Vernon

Harold William Vernon was born on 23rd March 1896. The older of two children, his parents were John and Julia Smith. Harold’s early life is a bit of a mystery: the 1901 census found him living with mother, who was running their newsagent and tobacconist on Wilberforce Road, in their home town of Leicester, Leicestershire. John is absent from the census, and Julia died in 1908. On the following census return, taken in 1911, all of the remaining members of the Vernon family are noticeable only by their absence.

In January 1913, Harold joined the Royal Navy. He had been working as a turner by this point, but a life on the oceans seemed too good an adventure to pass up. Und the age to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard, for his training.

Boy Vernon must have shown promise, because he was promoted to Boy 1st Class just four months after enlisting. He was assigned to the battleship HMS Prince of Wales in May 1913, and transferred to HMS Bulwark, another battleship, that autumn. In March 1914, Harold came of age, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy. His service papers show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, with light brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also recorded as having a scar on the middle of his right arm, a large mole above his navel and two further moles on either side of his neck.

When war broke out, Bulwark was assigned to the Channel Fleet, whose task was to protect Britain’s southern shores. On 26th November 1914, she was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being reloaded with ammunition. Deep in the ship’s stores, a number of the charges overheated and detonated, causing a chain reaction in the bowels of the battleship. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. Ordinary Seaman Vernon amongst them: he was just 18 years of age.

A mass funeral was held in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the dockyard in Chatham. Harold William Vernon was laid to rest in a marked grave, a burial not afforded to the those unfortunate individuals whose bodies had not been identified.