Harry Udall Gannett was born in the autumn of 1900, the second of four children to Charles and Clara. Charles was an agricultural labourer from Somerset, and it was here that the family were raised.
The 1901 census found Clara living with her brothers and two children in the village of Fivehead, while Charles was living and working just a few miles away in North Curry.
Charles passed away in 1906, aged just 48, leaving his widow to raise their now four children. The next census, in 1911, found Harry living in North Curry with his aunt and uncle, Francis and Emily Lee. Francis was noted as being a thatcher and hurdle maker. Harry’s mother was living elsewhere in the village with his three siblings. She was working as a farm labourer, while her brother, Russell, was also living there, helping support the family through his work, also as a hurdle maker.
Harry was keen to play his part when war broke out. His age initially prevented him from doing so, but he had enlisted by the late summer of 1918, joining the 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. His service records are no longer available, but his unit was based at Rollestone Camp in Wiltshire, and this is likely where he was sent to be trained.
Little further information is available for Private Gannett. He contracted influenza while billeted in the cramped army barracks and died on 13th January 1919. He was just 18 years of age.
Harry Udall Gannett was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Peter & St Paul’s Church in North Curry. His headstone reads “our dear nephew”, and it is likely that is was paid for by Francis and Emily Lee, the relatives who had taken him in after his father’s death.
Charles Walter Lavis was born in Iowa, USA, on 2nd April 1888. The second of eleven children, his parents were James and Martha Lavis. The only census record Charles appears from – the return from 1901 – shows that James was an agricultural labourer from Long Sutton in Somerset. The family’s move to America seemed not to have lasted for long – Charles’ immediate siblings – Mabel, who was two years older, and George who was two years younger – were both born in Long Sutton.
Charles was drawn to a life of adventure and, on 11th April 1906, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 5ins (1,65m) tall, with brown hair grey eyes and a fresh complexion. As a Stoker 2nd Class, he was initially sent to the training ship HMS Nelson, before moving to what would become his shore base, HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Over the next year, Charles serves on HMS Hecla and HMS King Edward VII, where, on 17th May 1907, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class. He remained on the King Edward VII for more than four years, before returning to Portsmouth in August 1911.
Back on shore, Stoker 1st Class Lavis was promoted to Leading Stoker, and spent the next nine months training for the role at HMS Fisgard, also in Portsmouth. He spent six months on the battleship HMS Revenge, before moving again to another battleship, HMS Britannia.
Charles spent two years on the Britannia, and it was while assigned to her that he got married. He wed Bessie Patten on 31st May 1914 in Martock, Somerset: the couple would go on to have a daughter, Eileen, who was born the following April.
It was while Charles was serving on HMS Britannia that was broke out. In November 1914, he returned to Victory for further training and, in the spring of 1915, he was promoted to Stoker Petty Officer.
Over the next three years, Charles served on three more vessels, before finally returning to Portsmouth in April 1918. The reason for his return was because of his health, and he was soon admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Haslar, Gosport, suffering from tuberculosis of the neck. The condition necessitated an operation, but Stoker Petty Office Lavis was not to survive the procedure. He suffered from heart failure, and died on 2nd May 1918. He had not long turned 30 years of age.
Charles Walter Lavis was taken back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the quiet graveyard of All Saints’ Church in Martock.
Records suggest that the Lavis family could not settle. Passenger lists from March 1912, show James and Martha travelling with nine children to Portland, Maine, before moving on to Huron in Ontario. James was still recorded as being a farm labourer, so it seems that opportunities for the family were better in North America than in Britain.
When war broke out, citizens of the Commonwealth were called upon to play their part and, despite being under age, Charles’ younger brother Arthur, stepped up to serve. Details of his time in the army are scarce, but he was assigned to the 14th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry. His troop set sail for Britain in October 1914: Arthur was just 14 years old at this point, and had lied when he joined up, giving his date of birth as 20th May 1897.
Private Arthur Lavis was in France by August 1916, taking up position on the Front Line at Coucelette. They met heavy troops, even before a full offensive got underway on 16th September. Ninety-two soldiers from the 14th Battalion were killed during the attack, Arthur included. He was just 16 years old, and his remains were never recovered. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France.
Edwin Reginald Barber was born on 26th November 1864 in Martock, Somerset. The oldest of three children, his parents were William and Julia Barber. William was a tailor by trade, but Edwin sought bigger and better things.
On 3rd March 1885, Edwin enlisted in the Border Regiment. Sadly, there are no further details of his military service, although a later report suggests that he spent seven years with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
By 1898, Edwin was back in civilian life. He married a woman called Gertrude and, according to the 1901 census, they were living in Wrexham, Denbighshire, where he was employed as a labourer.
Somerset beckoned Edwin home, and he and Gertrude took up residence as landlords of the Stapleton Cross Inn in Martock. They remained there for more than ten years, although the army wasn’t completely done with them as yet.
When war came to Europe, Edwin felt the need to step up and serve once more. Despite approaching his 50th birthday, he joined the Somerset Light Infantry on 15th November 1914, although he soon transferred to a less physical role in the National Defence Corps.
This seemed to have proven to strenuous for Private Barber’s body, however, and he was formally discharged from military service on 2nd October 1916. Edwin returned to Martock, and once again took up his landlord duties.
From here on, Edwin was dogged with poor health. He passed away at home on 18th May 1921, after a long illness. He was 56 years of age.
Edwin Reginald Barber was laid to rest in the graveyard of All Saints’ Church in Martock.
Edward Arthur Pullinger was born in Sutton, Surrey, in the summer of 1897. The oldest of three children, his parents were gardener Arthur Pullinger, and his wife, Ellen.
Arthur seemed to move the family to wherever the work was. By 1902 they had settled in Monkton Wyld, in Dorset, where he was employed on a local estate. Edward’s two siblings, sisters Constance and Nellie, were both born there, but the 1911 census shows that the Pullingers had moved again, to the village of Charlton Mackrell in Somerset.
When war came to Europe, Arthur stepped up to play his part. Sadly, full service records are no longer available, but it is clear from what remains that he enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. He remained in the army, until being discharged from duty on 21st May 1919.
Another sad death took place on Wednesday of last week in the person of Mr EA Pullinger, only son of Mr and Mrs A Pullinger… Deceased, who was of a bright and happy disposition and a favourite with all, was gassed in the Great War, from the effects of which he never really recovered. He was always ready and willing to help in the social life of the village and will be missed greatly.
Langport & Somerton Herald: Saturday 12th March 1921
Edward Arthur Pullinger had succumbed to tuberculosis on 2nd March 1921, at the age of 23 years old. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Mary’s Church, in Charlton Mackrell.
Frederick Henry Jacob Beavan was born in Street, Somerset, in the summer of 1891. There is little information available about his early life, although later records suggest that his parents were Mr & Mrs Tom Beaven.
Frederick married a woman called Elsie late in 1910 or early in 1911 and, while there is little information about her, they went on to have three children, Harwood, Hubert and Tom. The 1911 census noted that Frederick was working as a boot and shoe maker in the town’s factory, Clark’s.
The only other documents for Frederick relate to his passing. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment, although it is not possible to determine which battalion he was assigned to. Private Beaven did serve overseas, however, and, by the summer of 1918, had been promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
Frederick was injured during a German gas attack that summer, and was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. His weakened condition was to prove too severe, however, and he passed away on 10th July 1918, from double pneumonia. He was 27 years of age.
Frederick Henry Jacob Beaven was brought back to Street for burial. He was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.
Frederick James Gilbey was born on 1st September 1888 in Walthamstow, Essex. The oldest of nine children, his parents were Alfred and Emily. Alfred was a general labourer, and the family initially lived on Chingford Road, before moving to an end-of-terrace house at 41 MacDonald Road.
On 28th August 1910, Frederick married Katherine Heathorn. Little more information is available about her, although the young couple’s marriage seemed to be the start of something bigger: the newlyweds emigrated shortly afterwards, arriving in Fremantle, Australia, in October 1910. Frederick’s immigration records noted that he was employed as a salesman, while Katherine was working as a dressmaker.
The couple settled into their new life well. The 1916 Electoral Records found the family living at 20 Oswald Street in the leafy Victoria Park suburb of Fremantle. Frederick was now working as a tram conductor, while Katherine was busy raising their two children, Leslie and Arthur.
By this point, Europe was two years into a bloody conflict. Frederick’s younger brother William, a Private in the Royal Fusiliers, had been killed at Gallipoli in August 1915, and it would seem that he also felt pulled to serve his King and Empire.
On 12th September 1916, Frederick enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. His service documents note that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall and weighed 140lbs (63.5kg). Private Gilbey had auburn hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.
After initial training, he left Fremantle for the two-month journey back to Britain. Assigned to the 13th Training Battalion, his unit was based in Codford, Wiltshire. In November 1917, Frederick attended the 15th Rifle Course at the School of Musketry in Tidworth, where he qualified as 1st Class, with a fair working knowledge of the Lewis Gun.
The following February, Private Gilbey was transferred to the 51st Battalion of the Australian Infantry, and sent with his unit to France. On 20th April, days before the Battle of Villers Bretonneux, he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
The battle, however, was to prove to be his last. Wounded in the right thigh by gun shot, he was medically evacuated to Britain, and admitted to Bath War Hospital, Somerset, for treatment. His wounds were too severe, however: Private Gilbey passed away on 2nd May 1918, at the age of 29 years old.
With his widow and children on the other side of the globe, Frederick James Gilbey was laid to rest in the military section of Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery.
John McClymont was born in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia, in 1865. Full details of his early life are lost to time, but later documents confirm that his mother was called Sophia.
Most of the information relating to John’s life comes from his army service records. These confirm that he enlisted on 13th September 1915, and that he was assigned to the 8th/20th unit of the 5th Australian Infantry Brigade. He was noted as being a labourer when he joined up, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. The record confirms that he stood 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall, and weighed 169lbs (76.7kg).
Private McClymont arrived in Egypt in February 1916, and transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force. He was initially based at Tel-el-Kebir camp, close to Cairo. From here on in, he seems to have been beset with poor health, and had numerous hospital admissions for heart ailments and haemorrhoids.
By April 1916, John’s unit had arrived in France, and his commitment to the job was not to go unrewarded. On 13th July 1916, he was appointed to the role of Acting Sergeant, and just three months later, he was reassigned to the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade Headquarters, where he was mustered as a Driver.
He was still battling health issues, however, and, in 18th August 1917, he was admitted to a hospital in Boulogne with heart disease. Within a month, Driver McClymont had been medically evacuated to Britain for treatment, and he was taken to Bath War Hospital in Somerset. It was here that he was diagnosed with diabetes, and, having slipped into a diabetic coma, it was here that he passed away, on 9th October 1917. He was 42 years of age.
With all of his family on the other side of the world, John McClymont was laid to rest in the military section of Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery.
Albert Graham Sweetland was born on 6th January 1895 in Kensington, Middlesex. The oldest of seven children, his parents were mechanical engineer Albert Sweetland and his wife, Edith.
A work ethic was instilled into Albert Jr from an early age. By the time of the 1911 census, he had been sent to Truro, Cornwall, where he worked as a servant to the Faull family, tending to their poultry.
Albert was set on developing a life for himself and, in the next few years, he emigrated to Australia. He settled in the town of Liverpool, now a suburb of Sydney, and found work as a station hand. War was on the horizon, however, and people of the empire were called upon to serve their King.
Albert enlisted on 22nd January 1916, joining the 18th Battalion of the Australian Infantry. His service records tell a little about the man he was becoming. He was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, and weighed 143lbs (64.9kg), with fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. The document also notes that he was a Methodist, and that he had tried to enlist in the British army before emigrating, but that a slight defect in his right eye had prevented him.
Private Sweetland set sail for Europe on 9th April 1916. His unit sailed via Suez, reaching Folkestone, Kent, that November. His time back in Britain was to be brief, however: within a matter of days he was in Etaples, France.
Albert was thrown into the thick of things. On 5th May 1917, he was wounded while fighting at Arras. He was shot in the legs, and medically evacuated to Britain for treatment and recuperation. He was to remain on home soil for the next year, before returning to his unit in June 1918.
On 3rd October 1918, Private Sweetland was injured during the Battle of the Beaurevoir Line. His unit’s push forward was initially successful, but ultimately failed to capture the the village. The German forces attacked with gas, and Albert was caught up in it, receiving a gun shot wound to his back.
By the time Beaurevoir was in Australian hands three days later, more than 430 Allied soldiers had been killed. Albert was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery during the battle.
Private Sweetland was medically evacuated to Britain once more, and was admitted to Bath War Hospital for treatment. This time, however, he was not to be as luck as he had been eighteen months previously. He died on 7th November 1918, from a combination of appendicitis, pneumonia and heart failure. He was just 23 years of age.
Albert Graham Sweetland was laid to rest in the military section of Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery, not far from the facility where he had passed. His parents and his sister Winifred attended the funeral.
Alfred Pollard was born in the spring of 1869 in Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset. His early life seems to have been a little disjointed. The son of Harriett Pollard, who had him out of wedlock, his baptism record gives no details of his father.
The 1871 census found him living with his mother and her widowed father, Thomas Pollard. Ten years later, Harriett is living with her husband, Walter Hayden, and four children, including Alfred – who has also taken the name of Hayden. Thomas is also recorded as living with the family.
Alfred is missing from the 1891 census return. Harriett, however, is now listed as married and the head of the household. She and Walter had a further three children – their youngest, Percy, being just three months old. Times must have been tough for her: the same census recorded Walter as being an inmate of the Somerset and Bath Asylum, where he is listed as being a lunatic.
Harriett died at the start of 1892, aged just 46 years old: Walter died three years later, at the age of 55. Both are buried in the graveyard of St John the Baptist Church, Hinton Charterhouse.
The passing of his mother and the diminishing health of his stepfather seems to have spurred Alfred into building a career to support his siblings. Having been working as an engine driver, on 7th December 1892, he enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry.
Alfred’s service records give his height as 5ft 7ins (1.7m) and his weight as 137lbs (62kg). He was noted as having black hair, bark eyes and a coarse complexion. He also had a number of tattoos, including a cross on his right forearm; a circle of dots on his right wrist; crossed flags, an anchor and Jubilee 1887 VR and crown on his left forearm; and a bracelet on his left wrist. The records also noted the loss part of the middle finger on his right hand.
Private Pollard quickly became a career soldier. Over 21 years, he rose through the ranks to Lance Corporal (July 1902), Corporal (April 1906), Lance Sergeant (November 1907) and Serjeant (June 1911). He spent more than 14 years in India, and was involved in the Mohmand Campaign of 1897. He was formally discharged on 6th December 1913, having served as a signaller for eleven years, and a Provost Sergeant for three. His discharge papers confirmed his exemplary character, and that he was “thoroughly hardworking, sober and reliable.“
Back on civvy street, Alfred found work as a labourer in an iron foundry. This was not to last long, however, as he stepped up once more when war was declared in the summer of 1914. Joining the Somerset Light Infantry on 12th October, he retook his previous rank of Serjeant.
Alfred served on home soil during this second period in the army. Initially attached to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, his unit was based in Devonport, Devon. In September 1916, Sergeant Pollard was transferred to the 2nd Garrison Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, which was based in nearby Plymouth. In January 1917, he moved again, to the Hampshire Regiment. He spent most of the year with 18th (Home Service) Battalion in Aldershot, Hampshire, and by December had moved to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, which was based in Gosport.
Sergeant Pollard remained on active service until the end of February 1919, when he was formally demobbed. At this point, his trail goes cold, although he seems to have settled in Bath, Somerset. He went on to marry, although details of his wife are limited to the name Mrs AE Pollard and her date of birth, 15th March 1879.
Alfred Pollard died of cardiac failure on 7th March 1921: he was 52 years of age. He was laid to rest in the army section of Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery.
John Gordon Ashton was born at the start of 1885, and was one of at least two children to John and Elizabeth. Little information is available about his early life, although later records confirm that he was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and that the family were living on Elswick Road, leading west out of the city, by 1900.
John found work as a musician, but sought a bigger and better career for himself. On 3rd October 1900, he enlisted in the army, joining the 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers. His service records show that, at not yet sixteen years of age, he was just 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, and weighed 101lbs (46kg). He had brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion, and two moles on the front of his left shoulder.
Private Ashton joined up for a period of 12 years’ service, and spent most of it on home soil. The army seemed to suit him, and he steadily rose through the ranks. By August 1901, John was promoted to Bandsman; five years later, he took the rank of Trumpeter; the start of 1908 brought with it a promotion to Lance Corporal.
In September 1910, John’s unit was sent to Egypt: the move brought him a further promotion. Corporal Ashton spent two years in Cairo, before returning to Britain in the autumn of 1912. He had completed his contract of service with the 21st Lancers, and was formally discharged from service on 4th October.
Back on civvy street, John once again found work as a musician. Life outside of the army seemed not to suit him, however, and he joined the reserve forces in March 1913. The now Lance Sergeant’s service records show the man he had become: he now stood 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall, and bore a large oval scar on the underside of his right knee.
When war was declared the following summer, John was formally mobilised once more. He was attached to the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers and, by 27th August 1914, was in France. Lance Sergeant Ashton’s time overseas was not to last long, however; he returned to Britain just before Christmas that year, and was based at Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire.
John’s military record was not without its hiccups. On 11th March 1910, while based in Canterbury, he was severely reprimanded for being in neglect of his duty whilst in charge of a barrack room. In 1915, however, he received a more severe punishment: on 23rd January, he was found guilty of using insubordinate language to his superior officer – in front of six ranking witnesses – and was demoted to Corporal.
It would seem that John’s health was beginning to suffer, and, after a career of nearly sixteen years, he was medically discharged from the army because of a heart condition.
At this point, his trail goes cold. He remained in the Wiltshire area, and seems to have been receiving ongoing medical treatment. At some point, he married a woman called Mary, although no other information is readily available for her.
Early in 1921, John was admitted to the Pensions Hospital in Bath, Somerset, having contracted pneumonia. He passed away there on 25th February following an aneurysm of the heart. He was 36 years of age.
John Gordon Ashton was laid to rest in the sweeping Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath.
Death and Service 