Tag Archives: Middlesex

Captain, Commonwealth War Graves, Egypt, Great War, history, illness, London, Major, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, photography, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset, story, war

Major Montgomerie Boyle

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Major Montgomerie Boyle

Montgomerie Boyle was born on 20th March 1859 in Hendon, London. The youngest of three children, his parents were John and Jane Boyle. John was a barrister, and the family lived in some comfort – the 1861 census found them living in a house in Harrow, Middlesex, with four live-in servants and a groom.

[Montgomerie] joined the South Notts Yeomanry 22 years ago. Subsequently he obtained an appointment at Weston-super-Mare, under the Somerset Territorial Force Association, and did much useful work in co-ordinating the Army Service Corps in the county.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 2nd April 1919

In the spring of 1891, Montgomerie married Constance Smith. She was a banker’s daughter from Nottingham, and the couple tied the knot in Basford, now a suburb of the larger city. They went on to have a daughter, Marion, who was born the following year.

By the 1901 census, the young family had moved to Timsbury, Somerset. Montgomerie was recorded as living on his own means, and the family had a retinue of servants to support them. A decade later, they had moved into the manor house in Staple Fitzpaine, Somerset. Montgomerie was now listed as a Captain in the Army Service Corps.

Storm clouds were gathering over the continent and, when war broke out, Captain Boyle was called back into active service.

…he was stationed with his Regiment on the East Coast for twelve months, and then went to France, where he remained for six months. He was re-called for service with the Mechanical Transport Section of the Army Service Corps in German East Africa, contracted malaria at the end of fifteen months and was invalided home. On his recovery he was despatched to the Egyptian front, and was with the British troops in Jerusalem. He became ill while there, and, on going down to the base at Cairo, was for a month in the Citadel Hospital, where he was treated for a malignant disease. By slow stages, first in a hospital ship, then in a Red Cross train through France, he was conveyed to [Le] Havre. Here, curiously enough, the doctor in charge of the hospital ship upon which he was placed happened to be… an old friend and medical attendant. Major Boyle landed at Southampton, and went immediately to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth [Surrey], where he was examined by an eminent specialist. His condition was serious but on Monday week last he arrived at his old home, where, despite the devoted care of his wife and daughter, he passed away quietly.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 2nd April 1919

Major Montgomerie Boyle passed away on 27th March 1919, a week after his sixtieth birthday. He was laid to rest in the quiet graveyard of St Peter’s Church, on the outskirts of the grounds of the manor house the Boyles had made their home ten years before.

When Constance died ten years later, at the age of 70 years old, she was laid to rest in the family plot, reunited with her late husband once more.

Major Montgomerie Boyle
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Lieutenant, Middlesex, photography, Somerset, story, war

Lieutenant Vincent Mellor

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Lieutenant Vincent Mellor

Vincent Charles Serocold Mellor was born in Chelsea, Middlesex, in the spring of 1897. The younger of two children, his parents were Chief Solicitor to the Treasury – and later Sir – John Paget Mellor and his Australian-born wife, Mabel. The 1901 census recorded the family living on Chelsea Embankment, with four servants: a cook, a nurse and two housemaids.

For someone with a relatively high standing in Edwardian England, there is surprisingly little documentation relating to Vincent – who was known as Vin. His name does not appear in the 1911 census, although nor does his family.

At some point, Vincent was given a commission in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, but his service records are lost to time, which makes it impossible to find any specific information about his military career. Lieutenant Mellor’s headstone confirms that he served in Palestine, and that he fell ill while in the Middle East.

Vincent returned to Britain for treatment, and was admitted to the Red Cross Hospital for Officers in Portland Place, London. Whatever his condition, he was to succumb to it: he passed away on 21st March 1919, aged just 20 years of age.

Vincent Charles Serocold Mellor was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Paul’s Church in Churchstanton, close to the family’s country home, and the same church in which he had been baptised two decades before.

Lieutenant Vincent Mellor
(from findagrave.com)
accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, killed in action, Middlesex, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Phillip Clemett

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Stoker 1st Class Phillip Clemett

Phillip George Clemett was born on 5th December 1891, one of eight children to Albert and Mary Jane Clemett. Albert was a carpenter from Devon, Mary Jane came from Somerset, but by the time Phillip was born, the family had moved to Fulham in Middlesex.

The 1911 census records the family as having moved back to Somerset. Mary Jane had been born in the village of Huntspill, and it was here that the Clemetts returned. Albert was now working as a farmer, so it is possible that they had moved to work on the family farm.

Labouring was not a job to satisfy Phillip, though, and he sought a career on the high seas. On 3rd February 1913, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Clemett’s was initially sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Plymouth, Devon. Here he received a few months’ training, before being given his first posting, on board the battleship HMS Indefatigable. He remained on board for the next fifteen months, gaining a promotion to Stoker 1st Class in the process.

Over the next couple of years, Phillip served on a couple more vessels, but on 11th February 1917 he was assigned to the submarine HMS C16. Stoker Clemetts was on board for a couple of months, as she was patrolling off the Essex coast. On 16th April 1917, the C16 was accidentally rammed by the destroyer HMS Melampus. She sank to the bottom and a couple of attempts were made for the crew to escape, but they became trapped and all perished, including Stoker 1st Class Clemetts. He was 25 years of age.

Contemporary newspaper reports give little detail about the accident – stating simply that Phillip ‘perished at sea’ [Western Daily Press – Tuesday 01 May 1917] His service documents are equally cagy about the incident, confirming jus that he ‘lost his life on duty.’ The records, however, show that on each of his five annual reviews, his character was noted as ‘very good’, while his ability was ‘superior’.

When the submarine was salvaged, Phillip George Clemett’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Peter’s Church in Huntspill.

Captain, China, Commander, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, India, Kircudbrightshire, Lieutenant, London, Middlesex, Midshipman, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, Somerset, South Africa, story, Sub Lieutenant, war

Captain Frederick Walker

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Captain Frederick Walker

Frederick Murray Walker was born on 29th July 1862 in the village of Terregles, Kircudbrightshire, Scotland. The fifth of eleven children, his parents were Colonel Sir George Gustavus Walker, Member of Parliament for Dumfries & Galloway, and his wife, Anne. Sir George owned the Crawfordton Estate, and this is where Frederick was raised, with a retinue of fourteen staff to help the family.

Following his father’s military career, Frederick felt a draw to serve. On 15th July 1875, he entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman. He set out to build a dedicated career, visiting most parts of the world in the process.

While Frederick’s initial service took him to the Mediterranean – where he received the Egyptian Medal and Alexandria Clasp – by 1883 he was out in China, but he also spent time in India and South Africa. In 1882 he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant, three years later he rose to the rank of Lieutenant. By 1899, Frederick had become a Commander.

By his own request, Frederick retired from the Royal Navy on 1st August 1909. He was now 47 years old, and had spent 34 years in service and was given the rank of Captain as a mark of his career.

On 19th June 1891, Frederick had married Lucy Scriven in St Saviour’s Church, Paddington, London. They would go on to have seven children, and to begin with, the life of a Naval Captain took Lucy around the coastal ports of Southern England. When Frederick retired, however, the family settled in a large house in Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire, where they were supported by a governess, cook, parlour maid and housemaid.

When war broke out in 1914, Captain Walker stepped up once more to serve his King and Country. He remained in territorial waters and was given successive command of the yachts James, Zaria and Albion III. By 1917, Frederick’s health was beginning to suffer, and he was placed on HMS Victory’s reserve books, ready should Portsmouth’s Royal Naval Dockyard need his service.

Frederick was not to be called to action again. By the time the Armistice was declared Frederick’s condition was worsening. He had developed cancer of the tongue, and it was having a real impact. He was admitted to the Haslar Hospital in Portsmouth, and passed away there on 7th February 1919, at the age of 46 years old.

By this point the family had relocated to Bath, Somerset, and this is where Frederick Murray Walker’s body was brought for burial. He was laid to rest in the prestigious Lansdown Cemetery, overlooking the city.

Captain Frederick Walker
(from ancestry.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, London, London Regiment, Middlesex, photography, Rifleman, Somerset, story, unknown, war

Rifleman Edward Compton

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Rifleman Edward Compton

Edward Charles Compton was born in Islington, Middlesex on 4th July 1897, the only child to Charles and Ada Compton. Charles was an agent for the Prudential Insurance company, and the family lived on Devonshire Road, with Charles’ aunt, Mary.

When he finished his schooling, on 7th July 1911, Edward found work as a clerk for the North African Mission. When war came to European shores, he was eager to serve his King and Country. He enlisted on 10th September 1914, and was assigned to the 11th (Reserve) Battalion of the London Regiment.

Rifleman Compton’s service records confirm that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, with good vision and physical development. He wasn’t formally mobilised until the summer of 1916 and, after training, he was transferred to the 16th (County of London) Battalion, also known as the Queen’s Westminster Rifles. He was sent to France on 19th December 1916.

Edward would have been involved in the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in the spring of 1917, and the First and Third Battles of the Scarpe in April and May. At the end of July he returned to Britain and, while the reason for this is unclear, it seems that his health was suffering.

On 24th September 1917, Rifleman Compton was medically discharged from the army, after three years and fifteen days’ service. The cause for this isn’t documented, but there is no evidence that he was wounded, so it is likely to have been an illness of some description.

Edward returned to Islington and on 20th October 1918, he married Emily Backholer. She was a farmer’s daughter from Paignton, Devon, and was registered as living there when the couple’s banns were read during October.

Tragically, Edward and Emily’s marriage was not to be a long one: he died in Kelston, near Bath, Somerset, on 26th October 1918, less than a week after his wedding. He was just 21 years of age.

Edward Charles Compton was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Nicholas’ Church in Kelston, Somerset.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, London, London Regiment, photography, Private, Rifleman, Somerset, story, Training Reserve Battalion, war

Private Harry Izzard

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Private Harry Izzard

Harry Izzard was born early in 1900, in Chiswick, London and was one of six children to Albert and Florence Izzard. Albert was a groom, but when he died in 1905, Florence, left with a young family to raise, remarried. Things seem not to have gone well between Harry and his stepfather, Richard Warren, and he soon found himself resident of the Church Army Home in London.

In 1914, his schooling complete, he was sent to the village of Clandown in Somerset, where he was employed at the local colliery. He seemed to have flourished in his new life, and he “made friends with all he came in contact with, being of a bright and cheerful disposition and associated with the football club, Wesleyan Young Men’s Bible Class and an ardent temperance worker.” [Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 26th April 1918]

Harry was one of the village’s batch of miners passed for the Army ballot, but seemed eager not to wait to be officially called up. On the day of the ballot, he instead joined up voluntarily, enlisting in the 86th Training Reserve Battalion.

On enlistment he was sent to Clipstone Camp, Notts, where he quickly made friends. He, however, was placed on the sick list… and underwent [an] operation for appendicitis from which operation he never recovered.

Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer: Friday 26th April 1918

Private Izzard died on 20th April 1918, aged just 19 years old, a life of new promise cut tragically short. His connection with Clandown, and his disconnection from his family in London, was such that his body was brought back to Somerset for burial.

Harry Izzard was laid to rest in the quiet Holy Trinity Churchyard, his sister Mabel being the only family member represented at the service.

Harry’s older brother Herbert Izzard also served in the army. He had found work as a laundry labourer when he left school, and went on to marry Maud Woodage on 14th February 1915. The couple had a daughter, Winifred, later that year.

Herbert enlisted in the London Regiment as a Rifleman, and was assigned to the 17th Battalion, also known as the Poplar and Stepney Rifles. He soon found himself in France and was killed at the Somme on 19th April 1916. He is buried at the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in Souchez.

Tragically, Herbert’s widow died in Oxfordshire in December 1918, leaving young Winifred an orphan at just three years old. She went on to live a long life, dying in 1997, at the age of 81.

Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, London, Middlesex, photography, Somerset, story, war

Private Arthur Moore

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Private Arthur Moore

On Wednesday 1st March, the relatives of Private Arthur Moore, formerly of Whatley, heard with great regret the sad news that he had passed away. Private Moore, who belonged to the 5th Battalion Australian Expeditionary Force, left Whatley about fourteen years ago for Australia, where he lived until last year. When war broke out he was among the first in Australia to respond to the call of the Motherland. After undergoing his training he was sent to the Dardanelles, and there with many other brave Anzac received what was to prove his death wound, being shot in the head last August by a Turkish sniper. He was brought to King George’s Hospital, London, where he remained for some time and was thence sent to a convalescent home at Isleworth. But three weeks ago his friends, who were expecting him home, were alarmed to hear that he had been sent to the hospital to be again operated on, the wound not having satisfactorily healed. The operation took place on February 28th, but was not successful, as he never rallied, and died the next day… So has passed away another who had tried to do his duty, another of Britain’s many sons who are dying that England may liv. May he rest in peace!

Somerset Standard: Friday 17th March 1916

Arthur Moore had been born in Warminster, Wiltshire, in around 1880, and was the son of Henry Albert and Elizabeth Thurzia Moore. Little further information about his early life is available, but some details can be gleaned from his service records.

Private Moore enlisted on 12th January 1915 in Colac, Victoria, around 150km west of Melbourne. His service records note that he was working as a barman, and that he had spent five years volunteering in the Yeoman Cavalry. Arthur’s medical report confirmed he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall and weighed 168lbs (76.2kg). He had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Arthur gave his next-of-kin as Francis Moore, possibly his brother, but his service documents also noted that his father had died by the time he enlisted and recorded his mother’s details as well.

The Somerset Standard summarised Private Moore’s military career, cut tragically short when the Turkish sniper attacked. After he passed, Arthur’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest next to his father, in the quiet graveyard of Holy Trinity Church in Chantry, not far from the family home.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Lance Serjeant, Middlesex, photography, Private, Sergeant, story, war, Wiltshire Regiment

Lance Serjeant John Whiddett

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Lance Serjeant John Whiddett

John Whiddett was born in Hammersmith, Middlesex, in 1892, and was one of thirteen children to Alfred and Mary Ann Whiddett. Alfred was a house painter while Mary Ann worked as a charwoman to bring in some additional money for the growing family.

John worked as a porter when he left school, but when war came to Europe, he stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment in the summer of 1915, and was assigned to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion.

While Private Whiddett served in France, he returned to Britain, and promoted to Corporal and then Lance Serjeant. His battalion eventually formed part of the Thames & Medway Garrison. Frederick found himself in Kent by the autumn of 1917 and served out the remainder of the war there.

At some point during the autumn of 1918, Lance Serjeant Whiddett fell ill. He was admitted to the Preston Hall Military Hospital in Aylesford, suffering from a combination of influenza and pneumonia. Sadly he was not to survive these lung conditions, and he succumbed to them on 22nd November 1918. He was just 26 years of age.

Finances may have restricted John’s family’s ability to bring his body back to Middlesex. Instead, he was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Aylesford, Kent.

Commonwealth War Graves, Denbighshire, Great War, history, injury, Lance Corporal, Middlesex, photography, Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, story, war

Lance Corporal Thomas Roberts

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Lance Corporal Thomas Roberts

Thomas Roberts was born in Llangollen, Denbighshire, in 1895. One of seven children, his parents were William and Ellen Roberts. William was a butter merchant, and his wife helped in the business.

When Thomas left school, he found work as a greengrocer’s assistant, but when war was declared he saw an opportunity for glory. While full details of his military service are no longer available, it’s clear that he enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Private Roberts was assigned to the 13th (Service) Battalion (1st North Wales) and on 1st December 1915, found himself in France. For the next eighteen months, he was firmly ensconced on the Western Front, and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal for his service.

In April 1917, Thomas was injured in fighting and was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment to his bullet wounds. Admitted to the Edmonton Military Hospital in North London, his injuries were to prove too severe. Lance Corporal Roberts passed away on 22nd April 1917. He was just 21 years of age.

Brought back to Wales for burial, Thomas Roberts was laid to rest in the family plot in Llangollen’s Fron Cemetery.

Thomas was buried along with his brother David, who had passed away in 1912. They were joined by their father William, who died in 1919, and their sister Elizabeth, who passed away in 1945. The family were finally reunited with Ellen, when she died in 1947, at the age of 86.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorset, Great War, history, illness, Lieutenant, London, Middlesex, photography, Royal Garrison Artillery, Royal Navy, story, Tank Corps, war

Lieutenant Hugh Punchard

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Lieutenant Hugh Punchard

Hugh Punchard was born in February 1895, the oldest of three children to William and Jane Punchard. William was a civil engineer from London, and Hugh was born in Surbiton.

The 1901 census recorded the family living in the 14-room house, Pope’s Garden, in Twickenham. Along with the family, there were four members of staff – a governess, housemaid, cook and a nurse. By the time of the next census, sixteen-year-old Hugh was away at school, boarding with more than 400 others at Haileybury College in Hertfordshire.

War was coming to Europe by this point, and Hugh was keen to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 20th October 1914 and, while he was only there for a short period, his records shed some light onto the man he had become. He enlisted as a mechanic, and was noted as being 6ft 4ins (1.93m) tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.

Hugh remained in the Royal Navy for only a month, and, while full details of his service are no longer available, it would seem that it was at this point that he transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery. He appears to have performed his duties well, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He also made another transfer, when he was attached to the Tank Corps.

Lieutenant Punchard was based in Dorset by the last year of the war, and it was while he was serving there that he became unwell. He contracted pneumonia, and was admitted to Wareham Military Hospital. Sadly, the condition was to take his life, and he passed away on 31st October 1918, at the age of just 23 years old.

Hugh Punchard’s paternal grandparents lived in Devon, and, as William had passed away two years earlier, the decision was to lay him to rest in Totnes Cemetery.

Hugh’s will left his estate to his mother, Jane. When he passed, she became the beneficiary of his effects, totally some £3,600 7s 6d (around £250,000 in today’s money).

Jane stayed living in Twickenham: when she passed away on 29th July 1937, she was brought to Devon for burial, and was laid to rest with her son.

A number of documents relating to Hugh give his name as R Hugh Punchard. Sadly, I have not been able to unearth details of what his official first name might have been.