Tag Archives: Wiltshire

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, story, war, Wiltshire

Private William Garrett

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Private William Garrett

William Garrett was born in Warminster, Wiltshire, on 18th October 1880. The fourth of seven children, he was the fourth son to Henry and Mary Garrett. Henry was a groom, and the family lived at 80 Portway, a Victorian villa to the north of the town centre.

The 1901 census records the family having moved from No. 80. The document notes their address as 14 Portway and with this move, there appears to have been a change of circumstances. At some point in the previous ten years, Henry had given up working with horses, and had gone into baking instead. This too had taken a back seat, however, as the census confirms his employment as former baker. William, now 21 years of age, was still living with his parents, and was working as a printer for a local newspaper.

On 5th August 1905, William married Kate Macey. A labourer’s daughter from Bishopstrow, Wiltshire, the couple exchanged vows in her parish church. They settled in a house on Deverill Road, Warminster, and went on to have five children,

When war broke out, William would eventually be called upon to play his part. “He was previously employed at the ‘Warminster Journal’ office as monotype caster and operator, and served his apprenticeship at the office. It was very largely through his services that the ‘Journal’ was forced to suspend publication and though he might have obtained further exemption from military service, he preferred to leave civil employment and enter into the service of his country” [Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 25th May 1918]

William enlisted in the Army Service Corps on 1st May 1918. As a Private, was attached to the Mechanical Transport Depot in Sydenham, Kent. His service records show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.59m) tall and weighed 126lbs (57.2kg). His medical records note that he was of good physical development.

The newspaper report continued:

[Private Garrett] left Warminster only a week or two ago and was billeted at Sydenham, being apparently in the best of health and spirits. On Tuesday his wife… received the following telegram from an officer: “I regret to have to inform you your husband died suddenly in his billet around 1:30pm today. All ranks convey deepest sympathy.”

The distressing news was confirmed by a letter from a comrade, Pte. Manley, who is a native of Taunton. He wrote “It is with extreme sorrow I write this letter to you. Your husband and I arrived here the same day and he slept in my room with two others – very nice fellows. We all send you our heartfelt sympathy in your sorrow. He spoke to me today about 1.10pm and then fell forward. I and others did everything possible for him but he was beyond human aid from the start. He only lived about two minutes and suffered no pain. We all liked him very much in our bedroom and indeed in the billet. I am sure he would have proved a credit to the ASC.”

[William] was a member of the Oddfellows Society and filled all the local lodge offices, and was also a member of the committee of the Co-operative Society. He belonged to the Warminster Volunteer Training Corps, and jus as he left to join the regular army he was about to be promoted.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 25th May 1918]

The inquest into Private Garrett’s death found he had died of natural causes. He was 37 years of age when he passed away on 21st May 1918. He had been in the army for just 20 days.

The body of William Garrett was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of Christ Church, Warminster.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, photography, Private, Somerset, story, unknown, war, Wiltshire

Private John Adlam

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Private John Adlam

John Adlam was born in the spring of 1883 in Warminster, Wiltshire. The youngest of seven children, his parents were William and Emily Adlam. William was a maltster’s labourer, and the family lived in a small cottage at 66 Pound Street, to the south west of the town centre.

When John finished school, he found work as a garden labourer. By this point the Adlam family had moved, and home was 29 Chapel Street. William himself wasn’t recorded there, however. Work had taken him away and he was living at Holcombe Malthouse, on the outskirts of Kilmersden, Somerset.

On Christmas Day 1906, John married Ethel Brown, a plasterer’s daughter from Westbury, Wiltshire. The couple would go on to have three children, and 1911 census shows them living at 24 Chapel Street, Warminster with John’s recently widowed mother.

When war broke out, John stepped up, or was called upon, to play his part. His service records no longer exist, although it is clear that he served as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private. He was based at on of the regimental depots, and served through to the end of the war.

The only other record for John are those relating to his passing. He died on 29th November 1918 and, as his death was registered in Warminster, it seems likely that he died at or close to home. He was 35 years of age.

The body of John Adlam was laid to rest in the graveyard of Christ Church in his home town of Warminster.

Interestingly, while an initial grant was paid to Ethel, John’s entry on the Pension Ledger stated that they had been “instructed to cease [temporary] payment as widow not eligible for pension in respect of her late husband.” There is no indication as to whether this was later overturned.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Machine Gun Corps, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Victor Creed

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Private Victor Creed

Herbert Victor Creed was born in Warminster, Wiltshire, towards the end of 1898. One of eight children, his parents were David and Mary Creed. Davis was a railway porter, and, at the time of the 1911 census, the family were living at 41 Vicarage Street, to the west of the town centre.

When he finished his schooling, Herbert – who had begun to be known by his middle name – found employment working alongside his father. When war broke out, however, he stepped up to play his part. His service papers have been lost to time, but it is clear that he enlisted by the spring of 1918, and he was attached to the Machine Gun Corps.

Private Creed was sent to the Western Front. Where and when he served is not known, but he would definitely have been in the thick of it.

Victor Hubert Creed [sic] (21), third son of Mr and Mrs DJ Creed… who was attached to the Machine Gun Corps, was seriously wounded in action on October 21st. He was taken t a hospital in Manchester, where he passed away on Friday.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 9th November 1918]

Herbert Victor Creed – plain Victor to his friends – was 21 years of age when he died on 1st November 1918. His body was taken back to Wiltshire for burial and he was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Denys’ Church.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Private Harry Carr

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Private Harry Carr

Harry James Carr was born on 17th October 1893 in Warminster, Wiltshire. The youngest of four children, his parents were Joseph and Annie Carr. Joseph was a plasterer and tiles, and also a sexton for the local church: the 1901 and 1911 census returns found the family living at 22 Church Street, towards the west of the town centre.

When Harry completed his schooling, he found work as a plasterer alongside his father. War was coming, and he stepped up to play his part. Full service records have been lost to time, but he would have enlisted no later than the summer of 1916, joining the 1st Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. Private Carr’s unit became entrenched on the Western Front, fighting at the Somme during that year.

Harry was wounded during the Battle of Ancre Heights. The details of his injuries are unclear, but they were bad enough for him to be medically evacuated for treatment. Admitted to the Graylingwell Hospital in Chichester, West Sussex, he would remain there for the next four months. Ultimately, his wounds were too severe: Private Carr passed away on 17th February 1917, aged just 23 years old.

The funeral took place at the Minster on Thursday of Pte. Harry James… The deceased was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs J Carr, the respected sexton and sextoness for many years at the Minster Church.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 24th February 1917]

Harry James Carr was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Denys’ Church, in his home town of Warminster.

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Sydney Devenish

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Private Sydney Devenish

Sydney Milton Devenish was born in Perth, Western Australia, on 27th October 1884. One of eight children, he was the oldest son to Ralph and Ann Devenish. There is little information about his early life, but when he completed his schooling, he found work as a carter.

On 28th December 1912, Sydney married Matilda Durnin. They set up home in Fremantle, and had four children: Olive Harold, Sydney and Flora.

When war was declared, Sydney was keen to play his part. He tried to enlist at the start of 1916, but was turned down because of a heart issue. He tried again a year later, and was taken on as a Private in the Australian Imperial Force. His service records show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, and weighed 139lbs (63kg). He was noted as having light brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Private Devenish set sail from Perth on 29th June 1917. The voyage to Britain would take two months and, after arriving in Plymouth, Devon, he was marched into base at Durrington, on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. The journey took a lot out of the soldiers, and many fell ill because of it. Sydney was soon admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital with influenza, and spent a week there.

Sydney was discharged from hospital on 15th September, and would continue with his training as part of the 51st Battalion. His health was still causing a problem, however, and he was admitted to a military hospital again, this time in Sutton Veny, Wiltshire.

This man paraded in sick at 1.30pm on 8.2.18.. He had a diffuse swelling on the right side of the jaw. This did not extend down to the next, nor were there any other signs of Oedema found. There was a history of these sudden swellings …three day’s medicince [sic] given [to] this man; he complained of no pain.

I was awakened at 3.25am this morning [9th February] and told by two men that a man was choking… On my arrival there I found that life was extinct but did artificial respiration for a few minutes proving that there was a block in the lower respiratory passages somewhere, as air was difficult to force out of the chest. This man was cyanosed and there was a diffuse swelling of the face and neck…

Private Devenish died of an acute angioneurotic odema: he was 33 years of age.

The body of Sydney Milton Devenish was taken to nearby Warminster for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Denys’ Church.

Sydney’s personal effects were forwarded to Matilda. The extensive list included ‘5 prs sox, 1 pr knee pads, 3 khaki collars, 3 balaclavas, water-proof cap cover, 1 money belt, 2 hair brushes in case, 1 safety raxor & blades in tin, 1 tin cigarette cards, 1 coo-ee wallet with letters, 2 note books, 2 religious books, 1 Cpl’s chevrons, 1 holdall (containing 2 razors, 1 comb, 1 clasp knife, 1 razor strop, cotton, buttons, cord, badges, metal ring and ribbon), 1 pr mittens, 1 parcel addressed Bailey Devenish, Guildford (containing 5 pieces music, 1 housewife, 2 handkerchiefs, 1 religious book, 1 letter, 1 French book, 1 book of views, 3 pipes, 2 masonic books), 1 tin (containing letters, postcards, signalling and playing cards), 2 novels, 1 prayer book, 1 motor manual, 1 purse, 1 damaged watch, 1 leather watch case, 1 watch protector on strap, 1 pr pliers, 2 kit bag handles & 1 lock, 1 tin opener, 1 pipe, 1 scarf’.

Private Sydney Devenish
(from ancestry.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves, Dorsetshire Regiment, Egypt, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, illness, Lance Corporal, Mesopotamia, photography, story, war, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Regiment

Lance Corporal Herbert Sims

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Lance Corporal Herbert Sims

Herbert Rowland Sims was born in Warminster, Wiltshire, on 27th May 1895. One of nine children, he was the youngest son to Edward and Mary Sims. Edward was a railway signalman, and the family lived on Imber Road, to the north east of the town centre.

When Herbert finished his schooling, he found employment as a tailor’s apprentice. When war broke out, however, he was keen to play his part. His service records no longer exist, but a later newspaper report fills in some of the details.

The death took place on Wednesday in last week at the Tewkesbury Red Cross hospital of Lance-Cpl. Herbert Rowland Sims… [He] went to India on the outbreak of war with the Wilts Regiment, and subsequently volunteered for service in Mesopotamia, being transferred to the Dorsets. He contracted typhoid, and after being in hospital in Egypt he was invalided home. He was about to receive his discharge, but was again laid low by an attack of pneumonia which, after the illness contracted in Mesopotamia, proved fatal.

A memorial service was held in Tewkesbury Abbey on Saturday, the body being escorted by wounded comrades from the hospital. From the Abbey the coffin was taken to the railway station to be sent to Warminster, and on Monday the internment took place in the Minster churchyard with military honours.

[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 26th October 1918]

Herbert Rowland Sims was just 23 years of age when he died on 16th October 1918. He was laid to rest in St Denys’ Churchyard in his home town of Warminster.

Lance Corporal Herbert Sims
(from ancestry.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, Lancashire, Lance Corporal, Lance Serjeant, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, Monmouthshire, photography, Private, story, unknown, Wales, war, Wiltshire

Lance Sergeant Henry Lewis

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Lance Sergeant Henry Lewis

The early life of Henry Watkin Lewis is a challenge to piece together, and a lot of the detail comes from his later service records.

The document confirms that Henry was born in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, in December 1885. It gives his next of kin as his aunt, Ann Dunning, and there are no details about his parents.

Henry joined up in the days after war was declared. He was working as a plumber by this point, and enlisted in Preston, Lancashire, although it is not clear whether he was living in the area at this point. His records showing that he was 5ft (1.52m) tall and weighed 116lbs (52.6kg). With brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion, he had a scar across the bridge of his nose and another on his lower lip.

Henry’s military career is an intriguing one. Assigned to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, he was initially given the rank of Private. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 5th September 1914, just two weeks after enlisting. Four days later his rank was increased to Corporal, and by 14th October he had been promoted again, this time to Lance Sergeant. There is no evidence of any previous military background for him, and the cause of this rapid rise is unclear.

With any rapid rise, a rapid fall is often likely to follow, and Henry’s case was to be no different. He service records note that he was discharged from the army on 16th January 1915, as he was ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier’. Again, there is no further record as to why, although his papers do not suggest the cause was anything medical.

Lance Sergeant Lewis’ unit was based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, by this point, but he must have moved to Warminster following his discharge. It was here that he died on 23rd April 1915, the cause of his passing unknown. He was 29 years of age.

Henry Watkin Lewis was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Denys’ Church, Warminster.

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Alexander Pollock

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Private Alexander Pollock

Alexander Pollock was born on 17th April 1893 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The oldest of eight children, his parents were David and Annie. There is little information about his early life, but when he completed his schooling, he found work as a general labourer.

When war broke out, Alexander – who was better known as Ike – stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 12th July 1915, just four months after his father had passed away. Private Pollock’s service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall and weighed in at 13st 4lbs (84.4kg). He had dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion, with a scar on his left bicep.

Private Pollock’s unit – the 57th Battalion – left Australia at the start of 1916, arriving in Egypt towards the end of February. They spent the next couple of months training at the Tell el Kebir camp, to the north of Cairo, before setting off to France, arriving in Marseilles on 23rd June.

Ike’s first taste of battle came within a matter of weeks, when his unit acted as a back-up force during the Battle of Fromelles. Described as the worst day in Australia’s history, the AIF suffered more than 5,000 casualties. The 57th Battalion, held in reserve, did not incur as many losses as other units and, as a result, Private Pollock would have remained entrenched on the Front Line after the worst hit battalions pulled back.

The next few years would see Ike remain on the Western Front. His service papers suggest that he did not see any leave until March 1918, but he was soon back in the action.

After the Armistice was declared, Private Pollock remained in France. He had a second period of leave from 22nd December 1918, spending the festivities in Britain. Back in France on 13th January 1919, he was moved to a training camp in Le Havre. By this point, however, his health was suffering, and he was moved back to Britain weeks after arriving.

Billeted at the ANZAC base in Codford, Wiltshire, Ike came down with influenza and pneumonia. He was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital not far from the base, but the conditions were to prove fatal. He died on 21st February 1919, at the age of 25 years old.

Thousands of miles from home, and with his mother having also passed the previous year, the body of Alexander ‘Ike’ Pollock was laid to rest in the graveyard extension to St Mary’s Church, Codford.

Private Alexander Pollock
(from findagrave.com)
accident, Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Devon, Great War, history, photography, Private, Sergeant, story, war, Wiltshire

Corporal Albert Button

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Corporal Albert Button

The early life of Albert James Button is a challenge to piece together. Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1892, his father was also called Albert. When he finished his schooling, he found work as a hotel clerk, settling at 58 Stirling Street, Fremantle. He married a woman called Gladys, and, in his free time, he volunteered in the local militia.

When war broke out, Albert stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 9th December 1915, his service papers confirming that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall and weighed 129lbs (58.5kg). He was noted as having fair hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion: he also had two vaccination marks on his left arm, and a mole on the right side of his neck.

Private Button spent the first half of 1916 training. His voluntary experience put him in good stead, and, he was promoted to Sergeant on 28th March. Towards the end of July, his unit – the 44th Battalion – left Fremantle for Britain, and he arrived in Plymouth, Devon, some two months later.

Sergeant Button was billeted at the ANZAC camp in Codford, Wiltshire. For a unknown reason, when he arrived at the base on 19th September, he was demoted to the rank of Corporal – it is unclear whether or not this was his choice. At this point, he was transferred to the 51st Battalion.

While in Wiltshire, Albert’s training continued. A local newspaper described what happened next:

Mr FAP Sylvester held an inquest at Codford, on Saturday, relative to the death of Corporal Albert James Button, 23, of the Australian Imperial Forces. The deceased, with several of his comrades, was in a bay awaiting his turn to throw a hand grenade, when a private named Taylor, who was in the throwing bay with an instructor, landed his grenade in the opposite direction to that intended, with the result that it pitched into the midst of the soldiers in the waiting bay. Being warned most of the men got away, but the deceased seemed paralysed and stayed until the bomb exploded. He was struck in the head and died almost immediately. Several of his comrades were struck i the legs, but their wounds were not serious. Pte. Taylor’s explanation was that the lever of the grenade caught in his thumb and caused him to swing his arm around. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

[Devizes and Wilts Advertiser: Thursday 30th November 1916]

Albert James Button died on 23rd November 1916: he was 24 years of age. He was laid to rest in the recently extended graveyard of St Mary’s Church, Codford. The epitaph on his headstone starts “In loving memory of my comrade”, but it is unclear who specifically paid for it. Was it Private Taylor? We may never know.

Gladys seems to have distanced herself from her husband’s passing. His memorial plaque and medals were returned undelivered, and his pension seems to have gone unclaimed. It was only in 1923 that the Australian Military Forces were able to confirm that she had remarried, and moved to Sydney.

Private Albert Button
(from findagrave.com)

Private Button’s service papers shed more detail on the incident that took his life. Evidently a summary of notes taken during the inquest, they are light on punctuation:

Inquiry into the death of a soldier in that he on 23.11.16 at Codford whiles in the bay of a live bomb throwing pitch was killed. The bomb was known by 2264 Pte Taylor of 50th Btn now attached to the 13th Inf Btn, which struck against the top of the parapet to the head of the thrower, owing probably to the spin of the bomb came back and dropped on the inside edge of the bay. All men were warned… to reach cover with the exception of 1870 Cpl Button AJJ 51st Battn. who seemed paralysed with fear. He remained in the bay and was found after the explosion lying across the sandbags which were placed at the entrance to prevent the bombs which were thrown against the parapet from falling into the pen. Other soldiers were wounded by shrapnel effect, because instead of falling down flat when a short distance from the bay, continued to run. The bomb not being as was thought a five second bomb, exploded in three seconds (witness 2nd Liet. JW Swanse 45th Bn)… The Court declared that the occurrence was purely accidental owing to the inexperience of live bomb throwing and nervousness on the part of the thrower, also that no blame is attached to any persons concerned in the practice.

[Service papers for Corporal Albert Button]

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Michael Smith

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Private Michael Smith

Michael Smith was born in Melbourne, Australia, in the spring of 1878. Details of his early life are scarce, but he seems to have been one of five children to Michael and Mary Smith.

Michael Jr married Lucy Mungovan, twelve years his senior, on 7th August 1915. By this point he had moved to Sydney and was working as a cook. The couple had had a son, William, in 1903, and the wedding seems to have been a way of formalising their relationship in anticipation of the coming war.

Michael Jr enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13th July 1916. His service records show that, at 38 years of age, he was 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall and weighed 125lbs (56.7kg). A Roman Catholic, he had brown hair, although he was balding, blue eyes and a fresh brown complexion. He was also noted as having two scars: one on the back of his right shoulder, the other on the back of his right thigh.

Assigned to the 45th Battalion of the Australian Infantry, Private Smith’s unit left Sydney on 7th October 1916 for its seven week voyage to Britain. The A40 Ceramic troop ship reached Plymouth, Devon, on 21st November, and Michael was marched to the ANZAC base in Codford, Wiltshire the same day.

The voyage took its toll on the soldiers, and Private Smith was not to be immune. Within a fortnight he had been admitted to the Military Hospital in Sutton Veny, five miles to the north west. He was suffering from pneumonia, but it was to prove too late. He passed away on 5th December 1916 – the day he arrived at the hospital – at the age of 38.

Thousands of miles from home, the body of Michael Smith was laid to rest in the extension to St Mary’s Churchyard in Codford, Wiltshire.

The shock of her husband’s death was to prove too much for Lucy. She passed away on 16th January 1918, at the age of 52.