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Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, Kent, London, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Somerset, story, war

Private Frederick Sloley

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Private Frederick Sloley

Frederick Sloley was born on 7th April 1897 in Kingston St Mary, Somerset, and was the fourth of nine children to Walter and Mary Jane Sloley. The family were farm workers and were living with Walter’s parents – also agricultural labourers – in the 1901 census.

After he finished his schooling, Frederick found began working with the horses on the farm. When war broke out, however, he saw an opportunity to serve his King and Empire, and enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He joined up on 5th October 1914, and his service records show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall, with black hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Private Sloley was initially sent to the Reserve Depot in Deal, Kent, for training, before moving to the Plymouth Division in Devon in March 1915. He records do not make it clear where he served specifically, but by 1916 he has fought in the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia.

It was while he was in the Eastern Mediterranean that Frederick was injured. Wounded in the spine by enemy gunfire, he was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. Admitted to King George’s Hospital in London, surgery proved too late. Private Sloley passed away on 26th November 1916, at the age of just 19 years old. His mother, Mary, had managed to see him before he died.

The body of Frederick Sloley was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Mary’s Church in his home village of Kingston.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gunner, history, injury, Middlesex, photography, Royal Field Artillery, Somerset, story, war

Gunner Albert Board

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Gunner Albert Board

The funeral took place at Pitminster parish churchyard… of Gunner A Board, of the Royal Field Artillery, youngest son of Mr and Mrs W Board… who died in the 3rd Southern General Hospital, Oxford… from wounds received in action on 29th October. Deceased was only 21 years of age, and was buried with full military honours. Having been a former Boy Scout members of the Taunton and Trull Troops attended as a last tribute of respect and sympathy.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 26th December 1917

Concrete information about the young life of Albert Board is destined to remain lost to time, but entries in the 1901 and 1911 censuses suggest that he had been born in Willesden, Middlesex. His parents were William and Annie Board, and the family moved to Pitminster, Somerset, at some point between the two documents.

One of seven children, by 1911 Albert had left school, and had found work as an errand boy. The youngest of the household, he was living with two older siblings – William, who was employed as a gardener; and collar making sister, Lily – and his parents. William, by this time, was working as a boot repairer.

When war came to Britain’s shores, Albert stepped up to play his part. He had enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery by the summer of 1917, and was attached to the 168th Brigade. Private Board fought on the Western Front, and may have been involved in the Arras Offensive of 1917.

Caught up in the fighting on 29th October, he was injured, and medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. He was admitted to the hospital in Oxford, but succumbed to his wounds on 10th December 1917. He was just 21 years of age.

Albert Board’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest with all due ceremony, in the quiet graveyard of Saint Mary and Saint Andrew’s Church, Pitminster.

Canada, Canadian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Kent, London, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private John Cotterell

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Private John Cotterell

Much public interest was manifested in the funeral, on Thursday, of Private John St Clair Cotterell eldest son of Mr T Sturge Cotterell, JP, of Bath. Deceased, who was 26 years of age, was educated at Bath College, and left England to take up the life of a rancher in Canada. Here he joined the Alberta Rifles and saw service on the Western Front, where he was dangerously wounded in an attack on the Arras front on April 28th. He was, however, brought back to this country, only to succumb to his severe wounds in Westminster Hospital on Saturday. He leaves a widow and one child.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 19th May 1917

John St John Cotterell was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, on 17th September 1891. One of six children, his parents were wallpaper manufacturer turned quarry manager Thomas Sturge Cotterell, and his wife, Edith. John remains noticeably absent from both the 1901 and 1911 censuses in which his parents and sibling – and servants – are recorded, so his early life is hard to piece together.

By 1908 John had emigrated to Canada to become a farmer. It was here that he met and married Gladys Nettleton. The couple settled in Alberta and had a daughter, Nellie, who was born in 1915.

When war came to Europe, John stepped up to play his part for King and Empire. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 8th March 1916, and was assigned to the 192nd Overseas Battalion. Private Cotterell’s service records confirm that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, weighed 117lbs (53kg) and had fair hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.

Private Cotterell left Canada for Britain on 1st November 1916, arriving in Liverpool ten days later. He was transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, and barracked at St Martin’s Plain, near Folkestone in Kent. Early in 1917, he was moved to the 10th Battalion and, on 4th March was shipped off across the English Channel.

John’s arrival in France was not an auspicious one. Tightly packed barracks were a breeding ground for disease, and, by the time he had arrived in Le Havre, John had contracted mumps. He was laid up in a camp hospital for just over a month before returned to his battalion and heading to Arras.

Private Cotterell’s was severely injured in the fighting, and he received a gunshot wound to his spine. Medically evacuated to Britain, he was admitted to the Westminster Hospital in London. His medical report noted that his ‘1st lumbar vertebra [was] shattered and [spinal] cord [was] cut through‘. He had complete paralysis below the groin and that he was in a ‘hopeless condition‘. His injuries proved too severe, and he passed away on 13th May 1917, three days after being admitted. John was just 25 years of age.

John St Clair Cotterell’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in Bath’s Abbey Cemetery.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Private, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Somerset, story, war

Ordinary Seaman Bertie Clark

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Ordinary Seaman Bertie Clark

Bertie Baden Clark was born on 5th August 1900 in the hamlet of Dunball, near Puriton in Somerset. The third of seven children, his parents were quarry and cement works labourer George Clark and his wife, Bessie.

When war came to Europe, George stepped up to play his part. Despite being 44 years old, he enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps on 4th November 1915 and, within a year, was in France. He remained posted at the No. 4 Remount Depot until October 1918.

“On the morning of the 1st October 1918, I left the 26th Squadron 4 Base Remount Depot riding a horse and leading one to exercise about a mile & half from the Squadron while proceeding by the side of the railway line my horse was frightened by the whistle of a railway engine & ran away with me throwing me to the road and stepping on my right ankle.”

Private Clark was initially treated at the No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, but was soon invalided back to Britain and placed on furlough until being formally demobbed from the army early in 1919.

Bertie, meanwhile, could see the excitement of the war passing him by. Determine to play is part before it was too late, he gave up his job as a labourer on 13th July 1918 and enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Given the rank of Ordinary Seaman, his service records confirm that he was 5ft 6in (1.68m) tall (1in, or 2.5cm, taller than his father), with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He was noted as having a scar on his right knee.

Bertie was sent to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, for training. Tragically, this was to be his only posting. He was admitted to the dockyard hospital early in October, suffering from double pneumonia and influenza. The condition was to take his life, and he passed away on 10th October 1918, at the age of just 18 years old.

Bertie Baden Clark’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the quiet graveyard of St Michael’s Church in Puriton, the funeral attended by his family, including his recently returned father, George.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, photography, Rifleman, Royal Irish Rifles, Somerset, story, war

Rifleman Walter Radford

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Rifleman Walter Radford

Walter Samuel Radford was born in the summer of 1899, the oldest of eight children to William and Florence Radford. William was a farm labourer from Churchstanton, Somerset, but by the time Walter was born, the family had moved to Chedzoy, near Bridgwater.

Chedzoy was also where William’s parents lived, and the two families’ cottages were just three doors apart. Oddly, even though he was the oldest child, Walter was raised by his grandparents, Frank and Anna, and is recorded as living with them in both the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

Walter was just 15 years old when war came to Europe, and so was too young to enlist. He bided his time, though, and had joined up by the summer of 1918. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, and was sent to the Western Front in the closing months of the conflict.

Caught up in the final advance in Flanders, Rifleman Radford was injured, possibly during the action of Ooteghem. He was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment, but died of his injuries while admitted to a hospital in London. He passed away on 26th November 1918, aged just 19 years old.

Walter Samuel Radford was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Chedzoy.

Interestingly, while Walter’s pension ledger gave his father, William, as the recipient, the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects noted his grandmother, Anna, as the recipient of his belongings.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Malta, photography, Royal Engineers, Sapper, Somerset, story, Suffolk, Surrey, war

Sapper Frederick Macey

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Sapper Frederick Macey

Frederick John Macey was born in the spring of 1897, the fourth of five children to James and Rose. James was a labourer from Hampshire, Rose was born in Ireland, but the children were born and raised in Monkton Combe, Somerset.

When war broke out, Fred stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers, and was assigned to the 503rd Field Company. Full details of his military service are lost to time, so it is not possible to identify whether Sapper Macey served overseas – Malta, where part of the regiment were based – or on home soil – in and around Ipswich, Suffolk.

Wherever he was based, Fred was injured, and he was sent to a military hospital in Guildford, Surrey, for treatment. Sadly, his wounds were to prove too severe, and he passed away on 14th June 1915, aged just 18 years old.

Frederick John Macey’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Michael’s Church, in his home village of Monkton Combe.

Sapper John Macey
(from britishnewpaperarchive.co.uk)
Cheshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Lance Corporal John Harris

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Lance Corporal John Harris

John Henry Harris was born at the turn of 1879, the oldest of eight children to John and Florence Harris. John Sr was a mason’s labourer from Somerset, and his and Florence’s three oldest children were born in Bishop’s Hull, near Taunton. By 1890, however, the family had moved to Monkton Combe, on the outskirts of Bath, presumably to follow John Sr’s work, and this is where they settled.

When John Jr completed his schooling, he followed in his father’s trade and when the 1901 census return was completed, he was employed as a mason’s labourer, while his father had moved into carpentry.

Florence died in April 1901, and six years later, John Sr remarried. His new wife was Ann Gibbs, and the couple went on to have three children, new half-siblings to John Jr.

In the autumn of 1905, John Jr married in Eliza Mundy, a cowman’s daughter from Monkton Combe. The couple settled in a small cottage on Mill Lane, and had a son, Frank, who was born in 1907. By this point, John had found new employment as a gardener to the local vicar, Reverend Pitcairn.

When war came to European shores, John quickly stepped up to enlist. He joined the 7th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and arrived in France in July 1915 after his training.

Private Harris was wounded during the opening weeks of the Battle of the Somme, but recovered and returned to the Front Line. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, but in March 1917 he was wounded again. “A piece of his steel helmet was driven into his head at the temple, and little hope of his recovery was entertained from the first.” [Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 24th March 1917]

Medically evacuated to Britain, Private Harris was admitted to a hospital in Stockport, Cheshire. His “wife (who has been dangerously ill in hospital), Mr John Harris (his father) and a sister proceeded to Stockport, but, unfortunately, did not arrive until shortly after death had occurred.” [Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 24th March 1917]

Private Harris passed away on 13th March 1917, at the age of 38 years of age.

John Henry Harris’ body was brought back to Monkton Combe for burial and he was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Michael’s Church, his funeral being officiated over by his former employer, Reverend Pitcairn.

Eliza went on to marry again, wedding Walter Giggs in 1921. The couple went on to have a daughter, Margery, who was born two years later. Eliza lived on until 1949, when she died at the age of 69 years old. She was also laid to rest in St Michael’s Churchyard.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Sergeant, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, Surrey, war

Sergeant Albert Ferris

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Sergeant Albert Ferris

Albert Edward Ferris was born in the spring of 1884, one of six children to Charles and Juliana. Charles was quarryman turned farm labourer from Gloucestershire, but it was in the village of Claverton, near Bath, that the family were born and raised.

When he finished his schooling, Albert found work as a baker, but soon sought out a career in the military. On 2nd January 1903 he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private. His services records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Based out of Plymouth, over the next nine years Private Ferris served on four different ships and was recognised as having a very good character and an ability to match.

In 1910, Albert married Eliza Jane Warren, a mason’s daughter from Monkton Combe. The 1911 census found Albert on board the armoured cruiser HMS Cumberland, while Eliza was living with her parents. Military life was taking a toll on married life and, on 6th December 1911 bought an end to his naval career and was ‘discharged by purchase’.

Returning to Somerset, Albert found employment as a motor-man with Bath Electric Tramways. He and Eliza settled into married life, but war was on the horizon and things were to change.

At the outbreak of war, [Albert] promptly responded to his country’s call, and enlisted in the [Somerset Light Infantry], as a Private. When his battalion was sent to France, he distinguished himself in a short time by his excellent work as a sniper, speedily earning his first stripes as a consequence. With his battalion he participated in the heavy fighting around the Ypres district, over an extended period, without sustaining any serious injury. Later his battalion was moved further down the line to take part in the “Great Push,” where, for meritorious conduct, he was… promoted to Sergeant in the field…

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 7th October 1916

Sergeant Ferris’ luck was not to last, however, and things took a turn in September 1916.

In the… fighting around Delville Wood… Sergt, Ferris was severely wounded in the right thigh by a machine-gun bullet. One of his officers gave him the best first-aid treatment possible under the circumstances, and later he crawled nearly three miles in an endeavour to reach the nearest field dressing station. Through loss of blood, shock, and general exhaustion he was on the point of collapse when picked up by a field ambulance, after which he was transferred to the base and later to Tooting Military Hospital, where, despite skilled treatment and the greatest care, septic poisoning intervened and he passed away…

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 7th October 1916

Sergeant Ferris died while admitted in the Surrey hospital on 4th October 1916. He was just 32 years of age.

The body of Albert Edward Ferris was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Michael’s Church, Monkton Combe.

Commonwealth War Graves, Glamorganshire, Great War, history, injury, photography, Sergeant, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Serjeant Joseph Smith

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Serjeant Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith was born at the beginning of 1879 in Bath, Somerset. The fifth of six children – all boys – his parents were William and Sarah Smith. William was a carpenter and, while he did not follow in his father’s trade, Joseph found employment as a house painter when he left school.

Joseph married Alice May Martin in 1896: the couple were young, the groom being a year older than the bride, and they went on to have a daughter, Dorothy, who was born the following year. The newlyweds moved into a small, terraced house in Bath with Alice’s mother and sister, both of whom were widowed, and Alice’s nephew.

The 1911 census found the extended family living in larger home away from the centre of the city. Joseph was still employed as a house painter, Dorothy had left school and was apprenticed to a dressmaker. Alice looks to have been looking after the household, while her mother and sister were both living on their own means.

In his spare time, Joseph was also a member of staff at Bath’s Theatre Royal. He was sporty, with a keen interest in football and partial to a game of cricket. He was also very connected to St Stephen’s Church in the city, and was involved in parish life.

War was coming to Europe, and Joseph stepped up to play his part. Full details of his military service are lost to time, but from his gravestone and linked records, it is clear that he enlisted in the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. Further details are outlined in a contemporary newspaper report:

Though married, he was anxious to enlist practically as soon as the war began: and on January 16th, 1915, he offered himself for service, and was at once accepted. He did not leave England till 16th August [1916]. He had been selected for inclusion in 32 drafts on various occasions prior to that date; but had been obliged to remain behind from illness or some other cause. When he actually sailed, it was not as a member of a draft, but as one of five sergeants who had volunteered for special service.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 28th October 1916

Sergeant Smith made it to the Western Front, and was entrenched at the Somme. The newspaper report picks up on what happened next:

He was wounded in September, being struck by a bullet while leaving the trench preparatory to advancing. The bullet struck him in the thigh, and severed an artery… After doing what he could with his first-aid dressing, Sergt. Smith crawled some three miles from the firing line amid bursting shells. After five hours of this painful progress he was picked up by a stretcher party.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 28th October 1916

Sergeant Smith was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment, and was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff. Alice and Dorothy were a constant presence as his bedside, but the wound was to prove too severe, and he passed away at the hospital on 25th October 1916. He was 38 years of age.

Joseph Smith was brought back to Bath for burial. He was laid to rest in the Lansdown Cemetery, overlooking the city he called home.

Captain, Commonwealth War Graves, Dragoon Guards, Durham Light Infantry, Great War, Hampshire, history, injury, Ireland, Lieutenant Colonel, photography, Somerset, South Africa, story, war

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Holroyd-Smyth

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Lieutenant Colonel Charles Holroyd-Smyth

Charles Edward Ridley Holroyd-Smyth was born in Ballynatray, Co. Waterford, Ireland, on 16th August 1882. The seventh of nine children, his parents were John and Harriette Holroyd-Smyth. John was a colonel in the army and, while from a a renowned family, there is actually little documented about Charles’ early life.

Given his father’s military career, it seemed natural for Charles to follow suit. His service records are tantalisingly elusive, but he certainly served in South Africa during the Second Boer War at the turn of the century.

When war broke out, Charles took up the rank of Captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales’ Own). He set sail for France on 1st November 1914, and he found himself in the very thick of the fighting, where his battalion fought at Ypres, Loos and Arras. His conduct during the war earned him both the Distinguished Service Order and a Military Cross.

On 29th October 1916, Charles married Norah Layard, the daughter of another army officer, who had been born in Ceylon. Charles was soon back in France, however, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and given command of the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.

Over the course of 1918, Lieutenant-Colonel Holroyd-Smyth led his troop in the Battles of Bapaume, Messines, Kemmel and Aisne. However, it was during the Battle of Epehy that he was badly wounded. Initially treated on sight, he was quickly evacuated back to Britain for further treatment.

Lieutenant-Colonel Holroyd-Smyth was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley, Southampton, but his wounds were to prove too severe. He passed away on 23rd September 1918, at the age of just 36 years of age.

The body of Charles Edward Ridley Holroyd-Smyth was brought back to Somerset, where Norah was living. His funeral, at St Stephen’s Church, in Bath, was marked with some ceremony, and he was laid to rest in Lansdown Cemetery, overlooking the city.

(from ancestry.co.uk)

Charles’ death came just nine days after the passing of his mother, back in Waterford. He and Norah didn’t have any children, although tragically a newspaper report from July 1918 did note a birth: “On the 3rd July, at East Hayes House, Bath, the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel CE Holroyd-Smyth MC, a son (stillborn).” [Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 13th July 1918]