Tag Archives: Private

Commonwealth War Graves, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, Labour Corps, Middlesex, photography, Private, Somerset, story, unknown, war

Private Edward Ham

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Private Edward Ham

Edward John Ham was born in Berrow, Somerset, in the spring of 1886. The second of seven children – all boys – his parents were Edward and Mary Ham. Edward Sr was a plasterer, but when he finished his schooling, his son found work as a jobbing gardener and nurseryman.

On 2nd October 1906, Edward married Annie Paddy. A carter’s daughter, three years older than her new husband, she was working as a domestic servant when the couple wed at St John the Evangelist’s Church in nearby Highbridge. They went on to have four children: Edward, Rose, Gladys and Horace.

The 1911 census recorded the family as living in Love Lane, Burnham-on-Sea, Edward continuing with his gardening work. War was on the horizon, though, and he was soon called upon to play his part.

Full service records are not available for Edward, but he had enlisted by the summer of 1917. Private Ham initially joined the Devonshire Regiment, but at some point transferred across the to Labour Corps. Edward was attached to the 149th Company and was based in Enfield, Middlesex.

At this point, Private Ham’s trail starts to cool. He passed away on 25th December 1917 at the age of 31 years old. The cause of his death is unclear, but his body was brought back to Somerset for burial.

After a service in Burnham’s St Andrew’s Church, Edward John Ham was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, injury, photography, Private, Regimental Serjeant Major, Scotland, Sergeant Major, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Regimental Serjeant Major John Wimble

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Regimental Serjeant Major John Wimble

John Henry Wimble was born in the autumn of 1870, in Bathampton, Somerset. One of seven children, his parents were William and Charlotte Wimble. Charlotte had been married before, but her husband, John Eastment, had died in 1862, leaving her with three children to raise. She remarried in 1864, and William helped support the growing household.

John sought an escape to adventure and, when he finished his schooling, he enlisted in the army. Full service records are not available, but by the time of the 1891 census, he was noted as being a Private in the Somerset Light Infantry, and was living in barracks in Farnborough, Hampshire.

In the autumn of 1891, John married Eliza Hammond. She had been born in Calne, Wiltshire, and, at the time of their wedding, which took place in Bath, she was working as a parlour maid. The couple would go on to have two children, Percy and Victor.

John completed his army service and, according to the 1911 census, the family had settled in Cheddon Fitzpaine, to the north of Taunton. He was noted as being an army pensioner and that he was working as a warehouseman in the government stores. By the time war broke out, the family had moved to Burnham-on-Sea, where John had taken up the role of caretaker at the local Institute.

The war has cost another gallant local soldier, in the person of Sergt.-Major Wimble, of the Somersets, his life. This brave man re-joined the Army when war broke out on condition he could go to the Front. He was wounded, and died in a hospital at Edinburgh. The War Office had the remains sent to Burnham on Tuesday, where they were placed in St Andrew’s Church, and a large attendance of the public and the [Volunteer Training Corps] attended the funeral on Wednesday.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 17th November 1915

John had been assigned to the 6th (Service) Battalion on re-enlisting, and was quickly sent to the front. Caught up in the Action of Hooge and the Second Attack on Bellewaarde, he was medically evacuated to Britain in the autumn of 1915, and passed away on 4th November, at the age of 45.

Here, though, accounts differ slightly. While the newspaper report suggests that he died of his wounds, the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects gives the cause of death as gastritis.

After the funeral at St Andrew’s Church, John Henry Wimble’s body was laid to rest in Burnham Cemetery.

Regimental Serjeant Major John Wimble
(from findgrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Essex, Great War, history, illness, Labour Corps, Nottinghamshire, photography, Private, Somerset, story, Suffolk, war, West Somerset Yeomanry

Private Richard Gale

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Private Richard Gale

Richard William Gale was born in the autumn of 1897 in the Devon village of Sidbury. The third of six children, he was the son of George and Emma Gale. George was a bricklayer and labourer, and the family had moved to Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, by the time Richard was ten, as this is where he had found work.

When Richard finished his schooling, he found employment as an errand boy for a school outfitters. By the time oft he 1911 census, there were four wages coming into the Gale household. Besides Richard and his father, his older brother, Frederick was working as a grocer’s apprentice, and his sister, Laura, was a dressmaker.

War was declared in the summer of 1914, and Richard was called upon to play his part. His service records no longer exist, so it is not possible to fully track his time in the army. However, he initially joined the 2nd/1st Battalion of the West Somerset Yeomanry and was sent for training in East Anglia.

As some point, Private Gale transferred to the Labour Corps, and became attached to the 949th Employment Company. Based in the London area, Richard’s duties are unclear, and his troop would have taken on any of a wide range of roles, from cooking and store work, to salvage, traffic control and telephone operating. Whether his previous work at the outfitters came into play is unclear, although Employment Companies were also involved in tailoring, shoemaking and laundry work.

Private Gale survived the conflict, and seems to have been based in the the Nottingham area after the Armistice. By March 1919, he had become unwell and, having contracted pleurisy, he was admitted to the Berridge Road Military Hospital. The condition took its toll on Richard, sadly, and he passed away on 19th March 1919. He was just 21 years of age.

Richard William Gale’s body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Burnham-on-Sea, a short walk from where his family lived.

Private Richard Gale
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Private Wallace Parsons

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Private Wallace Parsons

Wallace Waterman Parsons was born in the autumn of 1893 and was one of thirteen children. His parents were both Somerset-born, David and Mary Parsons, and it was in a small terraced house in Bampton Street, Minehead, that the family were raised.

David was a chimney sweep and by the time of the 1911 census, eight of the then household of nine people were earning a wage. Six of the Parsons children – ranging in age from 15 to 33 – were living with their parents, working variously as a chair caner, a labourer and a French polisher. Wallace, 17 years old by this point, was employed as a stone worker, presumably alongside his older brother, David, who was a mason.

When war came to European shores, at least two of the Parsons brothers enlisted. While full service records no longer exist, it is clear that Wallace joined the Somerset Light Infantry, and was attached to the 8th (Service) Battalion.

Private Parsons arrived in France on 11th October 1915, and may have been involved in the closing days of the Battle of Loos. Over the next year, he would have been caught up in the fighting at the Somme, but by the autumn of 1916, he had fallen ill and returned to Britain.

Whatever condition Wallace had contracted led to his discharge from the army: his final day in service was 19th December 1916. He was awarded a Silver Star for his service: this confirmed his honourable discharge, and he wore it to show that he had served his country and was not, in effect, a coward for walking the streets of his home town, while other sons, brothers and fathers were fighting for their country.

At this point, Wallace’s trail goes cold. It is likely that he returned home, but his health continued to dog him. He passed away from anaemia on 17th July 1920, at the age of 26 years old.

Wallace Waterman Parsons was laid to rest in the sweeping vista of Minehead Cemetery.

Wallace’s older brother Hubert also served in the Somerset Light Infantry. Attached to the 1st/5th Battalion, he fought in the Middle East and rose to the rank of Corporal. Hubert fell ill with enteritis, dying from the condition on 13th April 1916. He was laid to rest 3,500 miles (5632km) from home, in the Kut War Cemetery, Iraq.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, King's Own (Royal Lancashire Regiment), Lancashire, photography, Private, Somerset, story, Surrey, war

Private Charles Bagley

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Private Charles Bagley

Charles Sainsbury Bagley was born in the autumn of 1889, one of eleven children to Benjamin and Jane Bagley. The couple’s early life was an intriguing one: they had both been born in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The 1891 census recorded the couple living on board the barque Mizpah, with their three oldest children. Benjamin was the vessel’s master and there were ten other members of crew on board.

By the time Charles was born, the family had returned to shore and settled in Minehead, Somerset. By now Benjamin was working as a hairdresser and tobacconist on Park Street near the centre of the town.

Benjamin died in 1910, but left a thriving business to support Jane. At least three of the Bagley siblings went into hairdressing, while Charles’ older brother, Joseph, set up a bakery and confectioner’s in the town with his wife. Charles is absent from the 1911 census, although later records would suggest that he had moved to Lancashire, where he was also working as a hairdresser.

On 3rd July 1915, Charles married Celia Rogers in Lancaster. War was raging across Europe at this point and, in August 1916, he enlisted in the army. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall and weighed 128lbs (58kg). Private Bagley joined the 5th Battalion of the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) and by the end of the year he was on the Western Front, based around the Ypres salient.

The early part of 1917 proved relatively quiet for Private Bagley’s troop. At the end of July, however, he was caught up in the battle of Pilkem Ridge, and was shot in his left leg. Initially treated on site, the wound was severe enough for him to be medically evacuated to Britain for treatment.

Charles was admitted to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, but his wounds were to prove to be too severe. He passed away on 28th October 1917, at the age of 27 years old.

The body of Charles Sainsbury Bagley was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in Minehead Cemetery, reunited with his parents, Jane having died at the beginning of 1917. The seafaring headstone paid homage to his father’s maritime service.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Private Arthur Tudball

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Private Arthur Tudball

Arthur Moyle Tudball was born in the spring of 1893 in Minehead, Somerset. One of seven children, his parents were William Tudball and his Cornish wife, Mary.

When he completed his schooling, Arthur found work as a hairdresser. By the time of the 1911 census, there were seven in the Tudball household: William, Mary, four of their children, including Arthur, and their nephew, four-year-old William, who had been born in Ontario, Canada. There were four wages coming in: William, who was working as a general labourer, Arthur’s hairdressing salary. His older brother was a carpenter, and two sisters were employed as dressmakers.

Details of Arthur’s time in the army are sketchy at best. He certainly enlisted when war broke out, joining the Somerset Light Infantry. His Medal Roll Index Card seems to suggest that he didn’t serve overseas, despite both battalions he served with – the 1st/5th and 2nd/5th – fighting in India.

Private Tudball survived the war, returning to Somerset at the end of the conflict. The next record for him is that of his passing. His death, from disease, was recorded in the Taunton district, which would suggest that he was either still based at the army barracks in the town, or has been hospitalised there. He died on 24th February 1920, at the age of 26 years old.

Arthur Moyle Tudball was buried in Minehead Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family lived. His modest headstone was donated by his army colleagues.

Canada, Canadian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Henry England

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Private Henry England

Henry Edward England was born in Gloucestershire on 7th October 1893. One of seven children, his parents were Charles and Unity England. Charles was coachman and groom to Sir Charles Cuyler, and the family were raised in Bristol.

There are gaps in Henry’s life that are a challenge to fill. He seems to have sought to better himself, emigrating to Canada and becoming a bank clerk in Quebec.

When war broke out, Henry was quick to enlist. He joined up on 21st September 1914, becoming a Private in the 19th Battalion of the Alberta Dragoons. His service records show that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall and weighed 140lbs (63.5kg). He was noted as being of average physical development with dark hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.

Private England returned to home shores by December 1914, at which point he transferred to the 6th (Reserve) Battalion of the Canadian Infantry. His troop proceeded to Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire, on the edge of Salisbury Plain.

Army barracks at this time were melting pots: hundreds of men from different parts of the world cramped together in small billets proving breeding grounds for illness and disease. Henry was to prove a victim of the conditions: in the winter of 1914, he contracted meningitis. Admitted to the camp hospital, he was to succumb. Private England breathed his last on 14th February 1915, aged just 21 years of age.

Henry Edward England’s body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the sweeping vista of Minehead Cemetery, not far from where his family now lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Glamorganshire, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, Wales, war

Private Theodore Slade

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Private Theodore Slade

Theodore Slade was born early in 1885 in Buckfastleigh, Devon and was the second of two children to Frederick and Mary Slade. The 1891 census recorded the family four living with Frederick’s widowed mother and younger sister in Minehead, Somerset, where he had himself been born. Frederick was listed as a schoolmaster, while Mary was working as an organist.

Music definitely ran through the Slade family. The next census, in 1901, found Frederick now working as a gunsmith. Mary, meanwhile, was now noted as being a professor of music, while Theodore and his older brother, appropriately named Beethoven, were both employed as music teachers.

Ten years further on, and Beethoven had moved out of the family home, for a life with his wife and her widowed mother. Frederick was still working as a gunsmith, while Mary and Theodore were still teaching music. All three were self-employed, Theodore also working as an organist at St Andrew’s Church, Minehead, for more than a decade.

An interesting side note to the three document is how the census takers relied fully on the information they were given by residents. In 1891, Frederick gave his age as 41 and Mary 40; ten years later, Frederick was noted as being 56 and Mary 53; the 1911 census gave their ages as 71 and 63 respectively.

When war broke out, Theodore enlisted early on. He joined the Somerset Light Infantry, and was initially attached to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion. Private Slade was transferred across to the 1st Battalion, and soon found himself ensconced at Ypres.

Towards the end of 1915 Theodore came down with tuberculosis, and was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. He was admitted to St John’s Hospital in Penarth, Glamorganshire, and remained in hospital over the winter months. His lungs weakened, he contracted pneumonia, passing away from the condition on 23rd March 1916, at the age of 31 years old.

Theodore Slade’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in the sweeping vista of Minehead Cemetery.

Private Theodore Slade
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somerset, story, war

Private Leonard Floyd

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Private Leonard Floyd

Leonard Lionel Floyd (or Floyde) was born in the Somerset village of Watchet in 1898. The eldest of five children, his parents were journeyman tailor Thomas Floyde and his wife, Louise.

Interestingly, at the time of the two censuses in 1901 and 1911, Leonard was away from the family home: the earlier document recorded him living with his maternal grandparents on the outskirts of Minehead. Ten years later he was back in Watchet, residing with his mother’s brother and sister.

Little additional information is available to document Leonard’s young life. With war raging across Europe, he appears to have joined up as soon as he came of age. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire Regiment) and sent to Portsmouth, Hampshire, for training.

Tragically, it seems that Private Floyd fell ill while billeted in the cramped barracks there. He was admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in the city, but died soon after. He breathed his last on 21st April 1917, aged just 18 years old.

Leonard Lionel Floyd’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the sweeping Minehead Cemetery, not far from where his parents lived, on the outskirts of the town.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, injury, London, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war, West Midlands

Private Henry Webber

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Private Henry Webber

Henry James Webber was born in Plaistow, Essex, in 1889. One of ten children, his parents were Frederick and Etty Webber. Frederick hailed from Somerset, but worked as a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police. By the time of the 1901 census, he had been promoted to Inspector: the family moved to Somerset when he retired in around 1905, settling in Minehead.

Of Henry, there is little information documented. He does not appear on the 1911 census, and there are no military records to confirm his service in the army. He had certainly enlisted by the summer of 1916, joining the Somerset Light Infantry.

Private Webber was attached to the 7th (Service) Battalion and certainly saw action overseas. His troop was heavily involved in the Battles of the Somme in 1916, and it was here that he was injured. Again, full details are not available, but his wounds were severe enough for him to be medically evacuated to Britain for treatment.

Henry was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham, but his injuries proved too severe. He died on 1st November 1916, at the age of 27 years old.

Henry James Webber’s body was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in Minehead Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family were living in Cher Street.