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WESTCOTT

andys320 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:33:29 CST

If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)
Westcott War Memorial comprises of a stone tablet of Remembrance inside the Holy Trinity Church, Logmore Lane. It commemorates 36 men from the parish who did not return from the First World War.

Major Thomas Hubert BARCLAY	1/1st Bn Surrey (Queen Mary’s Regiment) Yeomanry	Born 1884. Educated at Harrow and Cambridge. Grew up at 'Bury Hill', Westcott, Dorking. Gazetted 2/Lt 17/07/1908. Arrived in France, 22/12/1914. Died from exhaustion after saving many lives in the sinking of H.M.T 'Transylvania', 04/05/1917, aged 33, for which the award of the Board of Trade Silver Medal for saving life at sea was posthumously made. The ship was en route from Marseilles to Alexandria with reinforcements when it was sunk by torpedo from U63 off Cape Vado, Italy (west of Genova) with the loss of 414 lives. Buried in Savona Town Cemetery, Italy, along with a further 82 casualties from the 'Transylvania'. The cemetery also contains a memorial to the men lost on the 'Transylvania' who have no known grave. Son of Laura Charlotte Rachel Barclay of 'Hurst Lea', Albury Heath, Surrey, and the late Robert Barclay, brother of George Eric Barclay. (See Individual Soldiers Research for more information)
Captain George Eric BARCLAY	The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), attached to 4th Bn Nigeria Regiment	Born 25/07/1889, Son of Laura Charlotte Rachel Barclay of 'Hurst Lea' Albury Heath, Surrey, and the late Robert Barclay. Educated at Harrow and RMC Sandhurst. Grew up at 'Bury Hill', Westcott, Dorking. Brother of Thomas Hubert Barclay. Arrived in Africa in 1914. Killed in Action in Africa, 24/01/1917, aged 27. Mentioned in Despatches. Buried in Morogoro Cemetery, Tanzania. ( see Individual Soldiers Research for more information)
2Lt Boyd Burnet GEAKE	9th Bn The York & Lancashire Regiment	Born London 1888, the only son of John Burnett & Emily Geake of Westcott, Dorking. Educated at Ashton Grammar School, Dunstable. Married Dorothy May Geake (nee Cutforth) in 1915. Lived in Norman's Cottage, Newdigate (one daughter). Arrived in France (Bolougne) as part of 70th Brigade on 27/08/1915. Killed in Action 01/07/1916, aged 28, first day of the Battle of the Somme, buried in Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood. (Private memorial in Westcott Church, north of altar). Boyd's battalion lost 6 officers and 157 men killed in action on this same day (SDITGW).
Pte Edward James ARTHUR	2/4th Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/3190, later T/240926. Born Dorking 1890. Landed in Gallipoli 17/07/1915. Died at sea, 11/10/1915, aged 25. Residence & enlisted Dorking. Son of Edward Thomas & Rose Arthur, of Milton Street, Westcott, Dorking. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli
Pte Gilbert Ruben BRIDGER	1/5th Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	. T/1247. Born in Westcott, 1893. Son of David & Mary Bridger Enlisted in Dunsfold. Arrived in Mesopotamia 10/12/1915. Died 15/11/1916 in Mesopotamia & buried in the Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.(incorrectly stated as Worcestershire Reg on memorial) .
Pte N T BROADGATE (Pte Ernest Theodore BROADGATE)	10th (Service) Bn Lincolnshire Regiment	1359. Born 1892 in Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Son of Joseph Palfreyman & Lydia Marion Broadgate. Lived in Institute Road, Westcott, with his mother. Draftsman. Enlisted 02/02/1915 in Lincoln. Arrived in Fance 09/01/1916. Killed in Action attacking Fricourt, 01/07/1916, The first day of the Battle of the Somme. Commemorated on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France.(service record online) (see Individual Soldiers Research for more information) .
Pte P C J COOK	Queens RWSR	Inconclusive .
Pte Frank William COVEY	9th Bn Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)	25570. Born Pulborough 1895, son of David James & Emma Covey of 'Meadow View', Watson Road, Westcott. Milkman. Enlisted Guildford 24/08/1914. Arrived in France 22/09/1914. Admitted to Hospital 08/06/1915, transferred to Convalescent Camp, Etaples, 23/06/1915, transferred to No 6 Reserve Park, 13/07/1915.Returned home on leave 02-08/10/1916. Compulsorily transferred to 8th Bn West Riding Regiment on 24/09/1917, in the 'interests of the Service' and joined the battalion 16/10/1917. Returned home on leave 06/01/1918, and transferred to 9th Bn West Riding Regiment, joining it in the 'field' on 09/02/1918. Killed in Action, 14/02/1918, aged 22. Formerly Driver T/34391 Royal Army Service Corps. Residence Westcott, enlisted Guildford. Buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France. The battalion lost two men on this day. (service record online) .
Pte J EDE	Queens RWSR	Inconclusive .
Pte Albert James ETHERIDGE	9th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment	G/3568. Born Holmwood, Surrey, 1887. Son of James & Mary Hannah Etheridge of 'Tudor Cottage', Westcott (the family lived in Shere in 1901). Brother in Law of Pte Henry W Jeater (see below). Arrived in France 31/08/1915. Died of Wounds 07/06/1917, aged 30. Born Holmwood, Surrey, enlisted Haywards Heath. Burird in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery (which was associated with a nearby dressing station), near Ypres, Belgium. .
Rfm William George FRITTER	9th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps	12320. Born Wimbledon 1894, son of James & Fanny Fritter. Enlisted Guildford, arrived in France 14/07/1915. Killed in Action 15 days later in the afternoon of 30/07/1915 as the 9th Bn counterattacked the German 'liquid fire' (flamethrower) attack in the vicinity of the Hooge Chateau, east of Ypres 30/07/1915. No known grave but commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. .
Pte Thomas William GATFORD	12th Bn East Surrey Regiment	25355. Born Haywards Heath, 1895. Son of Thomas H & Annie Gatford of 6 Rose Cottage, St John's Road, Westcott. Stockman, Enlisted 09/12/1915 becoming Pte 2937 27th Bn Middlesex Regiment. Arrived in France on 26/09/1916. Transferred to 12th Bn E Surreys on 11/10/16. Wounded 3 times, 05/08/17, 07/08/17, 21/09/17. Reported missing in action on 25/03/1918. Notification received via official German List of Dead that Thomas had been found dead on 25/03/1918 near a sap, and buried in a large grave. Now buried in Douchy-les Ayette British Cemetery, near Arras.The battalion lost 33 men on this day, the varst majority of whom have no known grave and are remembered on the Arras Memorial. (service records online) .
Pte Alfred James HOPKINS	9th (Service) Bn East Surrey Regiment, 72nd Brigade, 24th Division	827. Born Market Lavington, Wilts.1881. Son of William & Eliza Louisa Hopkins of Milton Brook, Dorking. Enlisted Guildford. Arrived in France 06/10/1915. Killed in Action, 05/08/1917, aged 37. No known grave but commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. Alfred was killed on the same day as his battalion commanding officer Lt Col Henry de la Fontaine DSO, who was shot by a sniper whilst making a personal reconnaissance of the newly captured German front line trenches near Klein Zillebeke. .
Pte Edwin Robert W HUGGETT	1st/9th Bn Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)	G/57065. Born Sutton, 1886, son of Edwin J & Alice S Huggett of Westcott Green, Westcott. Formerly Pte 60370 of the Queens RWSR. 17/11/1918, buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq. .

Pte Henry John HYGATE	59th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps	24235. Born Warlingham, 1871, son of Henry & Mary Ann Hygate. Husband of Caroline Hygate (nee Gibson, married Reigate 1904). Resident of 1 Bailey Road, Westcott. Enlisted 5th (Reserve) Bn Queen's RWSR 16/10/1914. Served at Guildford as Pte 20183, attended Hounslow hospital with acute bronchitus 07/01/1915. On 21/05/1915, when Henry was discharged as being medically unfit for service. Subsequently served with The RDC. Died 05/06/1918. Buried in Reigate Cemetery, Surrey. (Pension Record online) .
Cpl William John JAMES	15th (The King’s) Hussars	2916. Born Moulsford, 1889. Son of William James of "Deerleap", Westcott. Moved with the Hussars from Longmoor to France, landing at Rouen on 16/08/1914. Killed in Action 24/05/1915, aged 26. Residence Wootton, near Dorking, enlisted Aldershot. One of 8 men of the unit lost on this day. No known grave but comemmorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. .
Pte Henry William JEATER	1st Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 100th Brigade, 33rd Division.	G/37927. Son of Henry & Louisa Jeater of Institue Road, Westcott . Husband of Alice Amy Jeater (nee Etheridge), of Tudor Cottage, Westcott (younger sister of Pte Albert J Etheridge, see above). Married March 1912. Killed in Action near Ypres, 25/09/1917. Residence Westcott, enlisted Dorking. No known grave but commemorated on the Tyne Cott Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium .
Pte G KENNISON (Pte George Kenison)	Queens RWSR	Thought to be George Kenison (born Guildford 1893), son of Henry & Annie Kenison. George was living in Westcott for 1911 census. No mention on CWGC or Soldiers Died in the Great War. .
Sapper P KING	Royal Engineers	inconclusive .
Driver J MARSHALL (thought to be Dvr Henry MARSHALL)	32nd Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery	(thought to be) 132386. Born Wotton 1881, son of John & Mary A Marshall. Resident of Westcott in 1911. Enlisted Dorking, Killed in Action 28/10/1917, Buried in Vlamertinghe New Mil Cem, Belgium. Brother of Thomas Marshall (see below). .
Pte Thomas MARSHALL	6th (Service) Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/22266 (G/22260 in SDITGW records).Born Leigh 1874. Son of John & Mary A Marshall. Husband of Mary Ann Marshall (nee Dean, married in 1899) of 180, Thornhill Road, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey. Enlisted Dorking, resident of Westcott. Died of Wounds in the UK 02/05/1917, aged 44. Buried in Greenwich Cemetery, London. Brother of Henry Marshall (see above). .
Sapper Percy B MILLAR (thought to be Spr Percy Arthur MILLER)	70th Field Company, Royal Engineers	165087. Born Wotton, 1881. Son of Ann Miller. Husband of Emily Miller (nee Smithers, married Dorking June 1908). Living in Westcott in 1911. Killed in Action 01/07/1918. Buried in Senlis Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Pte Frank Harold PAGE	1/5th Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	(believed to be) T/1626. Born Westcott 1894 .Resident in Westcott in 1911.Enlisted in Dorking. Killed in Action in Mesopotamia, 16/05/1916. aged 22. No known grave but commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. .
L/Cpl William James RAZZELL	1/5th Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/1614. Born Westcott,1885. Son of William & Alice J Razzell, of 3 Victoria Cottages, Bailey Road, Westcott. Resident and enlisted in Westcott. Killed in Action in Mesopotamia 11/09/1916, aged 31. Buried in the Basra Wr Cemetery, Iraq. .
Sapper Henry RHOADES	New Zealand Engineers	8/3475. Born Westcott, 1887. Son of Fred & Emma Rhoades of Tattershall, Lincoln. England, Native of Westcott, Dorking. Died, 24/06/1918, aged 30, at No1 New Zealand General Hospital, near Brockenhurst. Buried in Brockenhurst (St Nicholas) Churchyard. .
Pte Leonard ROBINSON	7th (Service) Bn Gloucestershire Regiment	22377. Born Westcott 1890. Son of Stephen & Rhoda Robinson. Arrived in Gallipoli, 16/08/1915. Killed in Action in Mesopotamia, 25/04/1916. enlisted Portsmouth. No known grave but commemorated on the Barsa Memorial, Iraq. .
Rfm James SPOONER	3rd Bn Rifle Brigade	S/317093. Born 1895. Son of Alfred & Ann Spooner. Painter. Enlisted Guildford, 24/11/1915. Mobilised 18/03/1916. Arrived in France 05/06/1917. Killed in Action 21/03/1918, aged 23. Formerly Pte G/18178 Queen’s RWSR. Born Dorking, Residence Mill Cottage, Logmore Lane, Westcott, Surrey, No known grave but commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France. .
Pte Harry STILL	1/8th (T.F) Bn Duke of Cambridge’s (Middlesex Regiment)	241842 (formerly 6683). Born Westcott, 1880, son of William & Elizabeth Still, of Milton Street, Westcott. Enlisted Dorking. Died of Wounds in a Casualty Clearing Station at Brandhoek, west of Ypres, 08/08/1917, aged 37. Buried in the Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No3, Belgium. (personal records online) .
Cpl James STILL	Royal Army Ordinance Corps	03879. Died. 23/11/1918. Buried in the Westcott (Holy Trinity) Churchyard. (Thought to be son of William & Elizabeth Still, brother of Harry Still, see above). .
Sgt George Henry TARRANT M.M.	9th Bn The Norfolk Regiment	19155. Born 1893, Westcott. Son of Thomas William & Sarah Tarrant, James Farm, Westcott. Clerk. First attested 08/09/1914, documents lost. Re-enlisted Shoreham 29/03/1915. Arrived in France 30/08/1915. Killed in Action, 28/04/1917. MM gazetted 11/05/1917. (mentioned on the Shere War Memorial, Surrey). The battalion lost 12 men killed in action on this day. George is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Loos, France. (service record online). .
Pte Alfred James UFFOLD	101st Coy Labour Corps	26613. Died 27/05/1918, aged c35, formerly Pte 26613 34th Bn Royal Fusiliers. Born Shere c1883, residence Westcott, enlisted Dorking. Remembered on the Westcott War Memorial, Surrey. Buried in Westcott Churchyard.

Rfm Frederick Charles UFFOLD	6th (City of London) Bn, London Regiment, London Rifle Brigade.	323672. Died of Wounds, 23/03/1917. Formerly Pte 1429 A.P.C. Born & resident Tooting, enlisted London.
L/Cpl Lionel James WARD	23rd (County of London) Bn, London Regiment	703142. Died of Wounds, 04/04/1918. Formerly Pte 2322, Queen’s RWSR. Born & resident Westcott, enlisted Dorking.
Sgt Frank WOODMAN	2/4th Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/206411. Killed in Action 29/07/1918. Born Marlebone, Middx, residence, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, enlisted Dorking.
Pte William P WOODS	22nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s) London Regiment	682416. Died of Wounds 03/05/1917. Formerly Pte 1635, 5th Bn Queens RWSR. Born and enlisted Dorking, residence Westcott.
Pte Cecil E P WRIGHT	8th Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/2240. Killed in Action, 25/09/1915. Born & resident Westcott, enlisted Guildford.

Ommitted from the War Memorial in Westcott Church, but buried in the graveyard of St. John’s Chapel, Westcott:

Pte Frederick Charles BARNES

18th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps

72739. Died in the UK 31/03/1918, aged 40. Born Deal, Kent, enlisted Dover. Son of Frederick and Harriet Barnes, of St. Margarets, Dover; husband of L. L Barnes, of 2, Chapel Rd., Westcott, Dorking. “Greater love hath no man than this who giveth his life for others”, Buried in Westcott (St.John) Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapelyard.

The following Soldiers are mentioned as Soldiers Died in the Great War with a connection to Westcott but are not mentioned on the War Memorial:

Sgt Arthur William CHITTY	2nd Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	L/9089. Killed in Action 30/10/1914. Born Westcott, residence Bromley, Kent, enlisted Guildford.
Sgt Edward James MORTIMER	1/5th Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/240020. Died, Mesopotamia, 31/07/1916. Born Westcott. Resident &enlisted Dorking.
L/Cpl Thomas Cecil ROSE	2nd Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	L/10352. Killed in Action. 01/07/1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Born Westcott, residence Dorking, enlisted Guildford.
Pte WARD	2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbyshire Regiment)	306966. Killed in Action 27/04/1917. Born Westcott, residence Dorking, enlisted Guildford.

Index of Research on Individual Soldiers

andys320 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:25:29 CST

BARCLAY, Thomas Hubert, Major, 1/1st Bn Surrey (Queen Mary’s Regiment) Yeomanry

Thomas Hubert Barclay was born on 13/04/1884, the son of Robert Barclay, of Bury Hill, Dorking, Surrey, and Laura Charlotte Rachel Barclay (nee Wyvill). He was the brother of Ellen Rachel Barclay, George Eric Barclay, Arthur Victor Barclay, and Robert Wyvill Barclay. Thomas was educated at Harrow (his father's former school), and then Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1906 with a B.A. Thomas joined the Surrey (Queen Mary's Regiment) Yeomanry in 1903, and on the outbreak of the War held the rank of Captain. He arrived in France on 22/12/1914 and his Squadron saw service from December, 1914 with the 27th Division, in France, Belgium, and Salonica, as Divisional Cavalry. He was employed for some months on the Divisional Staff, but rejoined to command his Squadron, then part of the 16th Corps Cavalry in Salonica.

In April, 1917, he came home on leave, and was returning to Salonica in the following month the ship, H.M. Transport "Transylvania", on which he was travelling, was torpedoed by U63. The vessel had departed Marseilles the day previously with an escort of two Japanese destroyers, the Matsu and the Sakaki. At 10 a.m. on the 4th the Transylvania was struck in the port engine room by a torpedo from a submarine. At the time the ship was on a zigzag course at a speed of 14 knots, being two and a half miles S. of Cape Vado, Gulf of Genoa. She at once headed for the land two miles distant, while the Matsu came alongside to take off the troops, the Sakaki meanwhile steaming around to keep the submarine submerged. Twenty minutes later a torpedo was seen coming straight for the destroyer alongside, which saved herself by going astern at full speed. The torpedo then struck the Transylvania and she sank very quickly, less than an hour having elapsed since she was first hit. 414 men lost their lives in the sinking.

Major Barclay was rescued by an Italian tug-boat after being three and a half hours in the sea, but died on board on May 4th, 1917, aged 33.

The following is an account of his gallant conduct, supplied by the President of the Board of Trade (Marine Department), for which His Majesty made the posthumous award of the Silver Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea : —

" M. 36,134. 14th Nov., 1917.

"On the 4th May, 1917, the hired Transport Transylvania was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea and many lives were lost. Major Barclay and Captain A. R. Hill swam alongside a raft on which were three men who could not swim. They tried to support the men on the raft, and twice when it capsized they righted it ; but it capsized again, and on this occasion the men disappeared. Major Barclay, who was a good swimmer, might easily have saved himself, but by remaining with his comrade he was overcome and died from exhaustion. Captain Hill was picked up in an unconscious state. A very rough sea was running at the time."

Major Barclay was buried with full military honours at Savona, Italy. His grave is inside the Church, on the right of the grave of the Captain of the
Transylvania. His younger brother, Captain George Eric Barclay (also educated at Harrow) was killed in action in East Africa, on January 24th, 1917. Both men are commemorated on the Westcott War Memorial, Surrey.

BARCLAY, George Eric, Capt, Royal Lancaster Regiment, attached to 4th Nigeria Regiment

George Eric Barclay was born on 25/07/1889, the fourth son of Robert Barclay, of Bury Hill, Dorking, and Laura Charlotte Rachel Barclay (nee Wyvill) His elder brother, Major Thomas Hubert Barclay, Surrey (Q.M.R.) Yeomanry, died on board an Italian Tug-boat after being torpedoed on H.M.Transport Transylvania on his way to Salonika, on May 4th, 1917 (see above). Both men are commemorated on the Westcott War Memorial, Surrey. George was educated at Harrow and at the R.M.C. Sandhurst, graduating in 1908.

Captain Barclay was gazetted to the King's Own in February, 1909, being stationed for some time at Jersey. In 1912 he went to West Africa and was attached to the 2nd Nigeria Regiment. He served with them all through the Cameroon Campaign, being one of the first to enter Garva. In May, 1916, he came home on leave, but returned to Nigeria in October to pick up troops on his way to German East Africa. He arrived at Dar-es-Salaam in December and was attached to the 4th Nigeria Regiment.

George was killed in action on January 24th, 1917, aged 27, near the Rufigi River, when reinforcing the firing line with his Company at a critical moment. An extract from Routine Orders by Lieut.-Col. J. Sargent, commanding 4th Battalion Nigeria Regiment, dated January 27th, 1917 stated: —

"The CO. wishes to express his appreciation of the services rendered by all ranks of the Battalion engaged in the operations on the 24-25th Jan. He particularly wishes to emphasize the gallant action of the two sections of No. 13 Company, under the late Captain Barclay, who stemmed the attack on the 3rd Nigeria Regiment by their advance."

Major C. E. Roberts, 4th Nigeria Regiment, also wrote to George's mother : —

" Captain Barclay had only taken over the command of No. 13 Company that morning, and, with half the Company was the first to extend his men in the bush, facing the Germans and covering the first force, which had got disorganised. The Germans were barely 100 yards away then, and were fixing bayonets even, but the arrival of fresh troops checked them. Your son behaved splendidly, walking about and encouraging his men, as cool as a cucumber, and quite regardless of his own safety in the critical situation. The Germans were keeping up a very heavy fire from rifles and machine guns, and it was while more of our men were hurrying up to the front line that Captain Barclay was mortally shot through the lungs and died soon after."

He was mentioned in Despatches, 30th, May, 1917, (for service with the East African Force) and buried in Morogoro Cemetery, Tanzania.

BROADGATE, Ernest Theodore, Private 1359, 10th (Service) Bn Lincolnshire Regiment (Grimsby Chums)

Ernest Theodore Broadgate was born in 1892 in Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Son of Joseph Palfreyman & Lydia Marion Broadgate. Lived in Institute Road, Westcott, with his mother. Draftsman. Enlisted 02/02/1915 in Lincoln. Arrived in Fance 09/01/1916. Killed in Action attacking La Boiselle, 01/07/1916, as part of 34th Division, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. A mine was detonated under the German positions and 10th Lincs, as a part of 101st Brigade, were tasked with attacking to the right of the crater (now Lochnegar Crater). The mine was detonated at 0728, with the British advance set to commence at 0730. The Lincolns, however, were instructed to delay their advance by 5 minutes, to allow the mine's debris to fall. This time gave the German defenders the opportunity to recover their positions. Ernest has no known grave but is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France. He is also remembered on the Westcott War Memorial, Surrey (although incorrectly as N T Broadgate). (service record online). After the first few days in the battle that battalion had lost 15 officers and 487 men. History of the 10th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment
The Grimsby Roll of Honour describes the events of the day:
At 7 o'clock on the morning of July 1st, the young officers of the Battalion sprang on to the parapet, and the next instant a large portion of the unit was pouring over the top, eager to come to grips with the Bosch. La Boisselle, battered and ruined, lay to their left; in front the ground was poch-marked with craters, the result of a week of gunfire, during which the men had crouched in the trenches, almost stunned by the inferno of artillery, lacking proper meals because the commissariat found it impossible to bring meals through the barrage, and cursing the methods which had made war so horrible. When the moment came to attack there was no need to urge them, for every breast burned with the desire to come to grips with the foe, and fight the matter out. So they swarmed up, over the top, and across No Man's Land, only to discover that in warfare things do not work with clock-like accuracy. The barrage on the enemy's trenches lifted too earIy, and hereabouts "Jerry" had been anticipating the attack for weeks, and preparing against it with an unlimited sypply of machine guns, so that before the "Chums" were far advanced there came a scythe of lead which mowed them down with merciless slaughter.
We are apt to look back with pity, almost with terror, on the day and yet it was then that Grimsby lived its noblest, for despite the fact that officers were falling, that large gaps were torn in the ranks, the "Chums" kept their faces towards their objective, and never a word has come of any man finching. Of that magnificent body, only two officers came back unwounded, and only about 100 men, leaving some 400 or 500 dead and wounded behind. Yet one of the officers, Lieut. Hendin, with four men, reached the enemy's trenches, and went through to the third line, and hung on there for four days, collecting scattered parties and consolidating his defence. All touch was lost with the rear, the lieutenant and men were counted among the casualties, but to the surprise of headquarters he returned, and was later awarded the M.C. He was killed leading another attack in 1917.

CATHCART, Augustus Ernest, Capt, 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps

Augustus Ernest Cathcart was born in Wensley, Yorkshire,on 04/03/1875, the son of Col Hon. Augustus Murry & Jeane Mary Cathcart of Mowbray House, Ripon. After schooling at Eton, Augustus joined the KRRC from the Militia in January 1897, becoming a Lieutenant in February 1899. He served in the South African War, as a Special Service Officer and was also employed with the Mounted Infantry, participating in operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. He was awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. He commanded a Company as of January 1902. Augustus's elder brother, Lt William Harold Cathcart died of enteric at Mafeteng, Basutoland, South Africa on 07/01/1902. Aged 21 In 1913 Cathcart married Hilda Renee Lee in Kensington, London and the couple had one child, Eva Renee Cathcart (b 10/03/1914). Augustus was killed in action on the slopes above the village of Troyon, France on 14/09/1914, aged 39. His death is described by Bradlaugh Saunderson in "The Soldier's War" by Richard Van Emden. "It was a rainy morning, simply pouring. We went gingerly through a village, Troyon, and up the slope of a big spur in front. We got to the top, re-formed, and were going through a cutting in the hillside when a terrible rain of bullets came amongst us. Our officer, Captain Cathcart, was hit, and shouted 'Extend over the ridge right and left.' " Cathcart is buried in Paissy Churchyard, France.(Picture)

DAVISON, Stuart, 2/Lt, 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps

(Stuart Davidson) Born at Lea Park, Godalming, on 02/07/1895, the son of Col. Thomas Davison (formerly commanding the 16th Lancers) and Margaret Davison. Educated at Wellington College and RMC Sandhurst where he won the mile and two mile races, and the Victor Ludorum medal in 1913, for winning the cross country and two-mile race. Joined the KRRC in February 1914, and won the 1914 regimental point-to-point (heavyweight) on 'Nutmeg'. Davison was killed in action on the slopes above the French village of Troyon on 14/09/1914, aged 19, and is buried in Vendresse British Cemetery, France. His death is described by Bradlaugh Saunderson in "The Soldier's War" by Richard Van Emden. "It was a rainy morning, simply pouringWe went gingerly through a village, Troyon, and up the slope of a big spur in front. We got to the top, re-formed, and were going through a cutting in the hillside when a terrible rain of bullets came amongst us. Our officer, Captain Cathcart, was hit, and shouted 'Extend over the ridge right and left.' I went with my platoon officer, Mr Davison. We extended about three paces up to the edge of a mangold patch. Day was just breaking when we got into position. We had two killed in a few seconds. Then the Germans turned two machine guns on us from a haystack not ten yards to our front. My officer (Davison) eized hold of a man's rifle, stood up and deliberately fired. I shouted 'Get down, sir!' He was shot through the eye immediately, and died a few minutes after. Before he did die, however, he said, 'Hold on to this position, as it is on the flank, don't retire until you get orders'."

HUNT, Samuel Henry, Rfm. 6244, 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps

(Samuel Henry Hunt) Born St John's, Derby 1888. Son of the Samuel & Mary Hunt. Husband of Lucy Hunt (nee Lucy Johnson), of 86, Shaftesbury Crescent, Derby. Father of Mary Elizabeth Hunt (b 19/07/1914, d 21/07/1981). Died of Wounds, 14/09/1914, aged 27. No known grave but remembered on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Samuel had been a soldier before the war, having transfered to the reserves in 1913, and was then mobilized upon commencement of hostilities.He married Lucy Johnson in Derby in June 1914. Mentioned in 'The Soldier's War' by Richard Van Emden, in an extract from Sgt Bradlaugh Sanderson. "One of my men, Hunt from Derby, got shot through both lungs. He came back with me. I helped him down to the rear. He wanted a {cigarette} before he died. He said 'It's wonderful how soothing a {cigarette} is'."

SANDERSON, Bradlaugh, Sgt. 6336, 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps

(Bradlaugh Sanderson) of Far Cliff, Holmfirth. Born 1885, Wooldale, Yorkshire. Diary of service with the Battalion from August 5th - November 1st 1914. Son of Walter, brother of Frank, Hannah, Clara, and Walter.Marriage registered in Elham, Kent 1911 A Reserve soldier mobilized with the start of hostilities, arrived in Le Havre on 13th August 1914. Wounded in action in November 1914 Around 12,000 words, first published in the Holmfirth Express, January 1915. PDF DOC (Contributed by simonwpb 21/12/2007). Extracts used in "The Soldier's War" by Richard Van Emden

SMITH, William Pte. 4763 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps

(William Smith) Bio including War Diary entries for the period 2 Nov 1914 - 25 Sept 1915 PDF File (Contributed by simonwpb 21/12/2007)

War Memorial Research

andys320 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:58:37 CST

INDEX

SURREY

COLDHARBOUR

andys320 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:00:19 CST

(If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)

Coldharbour features a granite War Memorial bearing the names of the men of the parish who fell in or returned from the First World War. It includes Lt R Vaughan Williams, more famously remembered as the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who lived at nearby Leith Hill Place.The Church also contains a memorial panel to those who fell, and a memorial stain glass window dedicated to Captain Raymond Heath of 2nd Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), who was killed in action at the Battle of Loos.

Capt Gordon Hargreaves BROWN	1st Bn Coldstream Guards	Killed in Action, aged 34, on the 29/10/1914. Son of the late Sir Alexander Brown, 1st Bart., & Lady Hargreaves Brown; husband of Editha, Lady Brown, of Broome Hall, Holmwood, Surrey (nee Editha Ivy Pigott). Educated at Eton & Sandhurst; joined 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards Jan 1900. Served in the South African Campaign with the 2nd Bn. (1901-2). Remembered on the Ypres Memorial, Belgium. Father of Joan, John (became Capt Sir Hargreaves Piggott-Brown, and was killed in action on 25/12/1942 in North Africa, fighting with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards) and Patience.
Capt Raymond Leopold Greig HEATH	2nd Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	Killed in action at the Battle of Loos, aged 30, on the 25/09/1915. Eldest son of Mr. A. R. & Mrs. Heath, of Kitlands, Holmwood, Surrey. Remembered on the Loos Memorial, France. Also remembered on the Ewhurst War Memorial.
QMS William Sydney LONGHURST	1st Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/5300. Died, aged 37, on 18/04/16. Arrived in France 19/01/1915. Son of William & Amelia Longhurst, of Rowe Mount, Cold Harbour, Dorking. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France. 15Star, BWM, VM. Brother of Horace John Longhurst (see below).
Pte Ebenezer AYLING	1/5th Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/1713. Died at sea whilst at service aboard H.M Transport Alanner, aged 18 on 05/11/1914. The battalion had left the UK on 29/10/1914 bound for India. Born Holmwood 1896. Son of Henry & Emily Ayling. Remembered on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton
Pte Harry CAPON	1st Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/4051. Arrived in France on 21/04/1915. Killed in Action, aged 35, on 15/07/1916. Born Wotton, Surrey. Son of the late Benjamin & Mary Capon. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme. (note, joined with Alfred Hunt).
Pte Alfred John HUNT	1st Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/4050. Arrived in France 21/04/1915. Died of Wounds, aged 26, on 11/05/1916. Son of Alfred & Emily Hunt, of West Lodge, Midgham, Reading. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France. (note, joined with Harry Capon).
Pte Arthur LIPSCOMB or LIPSCOMBE	6th Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/873. Arrived in France 01/06/1915. Died, aged 26, on 12/11/1916. Son of Arthur James & Sarah Lipscomb, of Plough Inn, Cold Harbour, Holmwood, Surrey. Buried in Avesnes-le-Comte Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Pte Herbert CAPON	Royal Army Medical Corps	Thought to be 40014.
Gnr Richard EDE	161st Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery	85912. Killed in Action 24/10/1918, aged 36. Born Coldharbour 1882. Gardener. Son of Alfred & Hannah Ede. Enlisted 24/02/1916. Arrived France 26/08/1916. Joined 161 S Bty 26/04/1917. Equipt with 6x9.2in Howitzers. Buried in St. Souplet British Cemetery, France. (Service Records Online)
Driver Charles Henry HUNT	Royal Engineers	60579. First served in Gallipoli, arriving on 29/06/1915. Died, 25/03/1919. Remembered on Kirkee Memorial, India.
Pte Horace John LONGHURST	9th Bn Leceistershire Regiment	15004. Arrived in France 29/07/1915. Killed in Action, aged 28, on 14/07/1916. Son of Mrs. A. Longhurst, of 2, Weald View Cottages, Cold Harbour, Dorking, and the late William Longhurst. Brother of William Sydney Longhurst (see above). Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme.
Pte Frederick James MARTIN	8th Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)	G/7345. Born Coldharbour 1881, resident & enlisted Lindfield, Sussex. Died 04/08/1918, aged 37. Formerly 3019, Royal Sussex Regiment. Son of James & Edith Martin. Husband of Jeanie Martin of Bradcaster House, Bradcaster, King's Lynn. Buried in the Cambrai East Military Cemetery, France. Awarded BWM & VM.
Pte Walter PENFOLD	'C' Coy, 1/4th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment	200932 (formerly 4/3263). Arrived in Gallipoli 02/12/1915, in time to take part in the evacuation of the pennisular. Killed in Action in Palestine, aged 21, on 06/11/1917. Son of Stephen & Mary Penfold, of "Highlands," Broome Hall, Holmwood, Surrey. Buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.

OAKWOOD HILL/ OKEWOOD HILL

andys320 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:48:42 CST

(If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)

The Parish War Memorial takes the form of a stone memorial plaque on the internal southern wall of the church of St John the Baptist, Okewood Hill. It details the names of 15 men of the parish who gave their lives in the First World War. Of these men Lance Corporal Harry Duffell DCM MM , of the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment, is also mentioned on the Ewhurst War Memorial. The men from Oakwood Hill also appear on the Forest Green War Memorial.

Lt Hugh Delafosse SIMPSON	8th Bn Kings Rifle Regiment	Born 25/03/1896. Educated Haileybury 1910-14. Died, aged 21 on 24/08/17. Son of the Rev. and Mrs. R. H. B. Simpson, of Whinfield, Longdown Rd., Guildford. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres
2Lt Geoffrey Douglas Lothian NICHOLSON	4th Bn Worcestershire Regiment	Died, aged 19 on 23/04/17. Only son of Maj. Gen. C. Lothian Nicholson, C.M.G., and Mrs. Nicholson, of Hursley, Camberley, Surrey. Remembered on the Arras Memorial and also the Forest Green Memorial.
Sgt William Frank CHARMAN	'D' Battery, 23rd Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery	64665. Killed in Action, on 08/01/1918. Son of Frank and Elizabeth Charman, of Sunnyside, Ewhurst, Guildford, Surrey. Brother of Henry James Charman. Buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Ypres. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
Cpl Henry James CHARMAN	41st Battery, 42nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery	70295. Killed in Action, aged 24 on 26/07/1916. Son of Frank and Elizabeth Charman, of Sunnyside, Ewhurst, Guildford, Surrey. Brother of William Frank Charman. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
L/Bombr Benjamin William BUSS	197th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery	42135. Died, aged 26 on 02/11/18. Son of Christopher and Olive Alice Buss, of Ditches Green, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey. Born at Tismans Common, Rudgwick, Horsham. Buried in the Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
L/Cpl Alfred ROSER	2/7th Bn The King's (Liverpool Regiment)	Died, aged 35, on 27/09/1918. Son of George and Ellen Roser, of Ockley, Surrey; husband of Emma Jane Snape (formerly Roser), of 7, Coventry Rd., South Norwood, London. Buried in Queant Communal Cemetery British Extension, France. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
L/Cpl Harry DUFFELL DCM MM	2nd Royal Irish Regiment	Killed in Action 21/08/1918. Buried in Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
A/Cpl George Eric BRADY	10th Bn Rifle Brigade	Killed in Action, aged 19, on 03/09/16 Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Brady, of Tillies Cottage, Forest Green, Ockley, Surrey. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme
Pte Charles Henry ETHERINGTON	'C' Coy, 9th Bn Essex Regiment	49514. Died, aged 18 on the 06/09/18. Son of Henry and Ellen Etherington, of Oakwood Hill, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey. Buried in the Fins New British Cemetery, France. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
Pte Mark MOORE	3rd R.M Bn Royal Naval Division.	PO/1507. Died, on the 17/02/18. Buried in the East Mudros Military Cemetery, Greece. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
Pte George COOPER	Manchester Regiment
Pte Edward J CURTIS	6th Bn Bedford Regiment	12808. Killed in Action, 15/07/1916.Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and the Forest Green Memorial.
Pte John Reginald Foord	18th Veterinary Hospital Army Veterinary Corps	18226. Died, aged 24, on the 11/01/1917. Son of Elizabeth Foord, of Oakwood Hill, Ockley, Surrey. Buried in the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
Pte Henry ELMS or Harry ELMS	48th Bn Australian Infantry	2654. Died, aged 37, on 03/05/17. Son of Thomas Elms; husband of Mrs. K. Elms, of James St., West Guildford, Western Australia. Native of Forest Green, England. Buried in Crucifix Corner Cemetery, France. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.
Pte John MUGGERIDGE	1/6th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment	242006. Died, aged 37, on 22/04/1917 Born in Warnham. Son of Henry and Martha Muggeridge Buried in Canadian Cemetery No2, Neuville-St. Vaast, France. Also remembered on the Forest Green Memorial.

Okewood Hill War Memorial Plaque

Within the church there is also a Roll of Honour, detailing all of the parish men who served, including the men who returned. In the graveyard there is a monument (a very weathered sandstone cross) to the memory of Lt Richard Henry Powell, of the 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action on 9th May 1915 during the battle of Aubers Ridge.Whilst Lt Powell does not appear on the Okewood Hill Memorial Plaque or Roll of Honour, it is interesting to note that this officer was the subject of a short poem by Robert Laurence Binyon, "In Memory of Richard Henry Powell":

"2nd Lieut., Cinque Ports Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment strong, loyal-souled, full hearted, blithely brave only remembering love knows all he gave: beautiful be the stars above his grave."

Binyon also wrote the poem For The Fallen, the fourth verse of which is so well known from Remembrance Services:

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

Other men mentioned in Soldiers Died in the Great War with a conection to Oakwood Hill:

L/Cpl William Muggeridge	2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment.	SD/2967. Killed in Action, 24/09/1918, aged 26. Born Abinger, 1892. Son of George and Ellen Muggeridge, of Myrtle Cottage, Oakwood Hill, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey. Remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.

Library

andys320 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:32:04 CDT

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIRS

"There's a Devil in the Drum" (2nd Bn Royal Irish Rifles)	John F Lucy	ISBN 189763205 3
"With a Machine Gun to Cambrai" (6th Bn Queen's and Machine Gun Corps)	George Coppard (1969, R1999)	ISBN 0304352586
"Storm of Steel" (German Army Officer, review)	Ernst Junger	ISBN 0141186917
"To the Last Ridge" (57th Bn Australian Infantry)	W H Downing	ISBN 1904010202

REGIMENTAL HISTORY

"History of the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment in the Great War" (all overseas battalions)	Col. H C Wylly (1925, R2003)	ISBN1843425394
"The War the Infantry Knew" (2nd Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers)	Capt. J C Dunn	ISBN 071060485 8

RESEARCH & GENERAL REFERENCE

Bond of Sacrifice, A biographical record of all the Officers who fell in the Great War	L A Clutterbuck
More Sources of World War 1 Army Ancestory	Norman Holding (1986)	ISBN 0907099610
The Soldier's War	Richard Van Emden	ISBN 9780747598732
World War 1 Army Ancestory, Fourth Addition	Norman Holding (2003)	ISBN 1860061796

Links

andys320 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:28:31 CDT

Geoff's 1914-1921 Search Engine
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
National Roll of the Great War 1914-1919
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1924

Bond of Sacrifice, A biographical record of all the Officers who fell in the Great War

The Fallen of Ewhurst & Ellen's Green, Surrey

Volunteers and Conscripts in the British Army

andys320 — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:56:01 CDT

Prior to July 1915 the British Army comprised of "Regular" soldiers, "Reserve" soldiers, "Territorial" soldiers, or "volunteers".

REGULAR SOLDIERS
A man could present himself at a recruiting office or Regimental Depot, and provided he was between the ages of 19-38, taller than 5ft3in and able to pass the medical and physical requirements of the Army, enlist in the Regiment of his choice. A man would then serve typically 7 years in full service of the colours and a further 5 years on the National Reserve. On completion of his service to the colours, a man could opt for 3 sections of National Reserve:

(A) an undertaking to rejoin at a time of emergency not requiring a General Mobilisation,
(B) an requirement to rejoin on General Mobilisation,
(C) having completed the 5 years of Reserve, an undertaking to a further 4 years on Reserve.
On completion of his Nation Reserve service, a soldier could also enlist in he Special Reserve.

TERRITORIAL SOLDIERS
Created in 1908, the Territorial Force consisted of locally raised battalions of part time soldiers who trained on evenings, weekends and at summer camps. Men had to be aged between 18-38, taller than 5ft3in and physically fit. They would be required to serve at a time of war, but not necessarily overseas.

SPECIAL RESERVE SOLDIERS
The Special Reserve was effectively a form of the National Reserve, where a volunteer, having signed up for a 6 year period of service, would receive 6 months full time training. This would then be augmented with periods of annual training. After the initial 6 years, a Special Reserve soldier could extend his service by a further 4 years. Special Reserve soldiers were not excluded from overseas service at the time of Gerneral Mobilisation.

VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS
The "volunteers" were the result of the movement of the male population to serve their country due to the commencement of the conflict in August 1914. They answered the call from the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, and were incoporated into a number of "New Armies", sometimes known as "Kitchener's Armies". The Armies that these men formed were allocated K numbers to signify when they were created.

11th August 1914
Kitchener announces his first "call to arms". The men signed up for 3 years service, or the duration of the war. The initial target of 100,000 men was reached in two weeks, and was used to create 6 Divisions. This new army was referred to as 'K1', and it's battalions were allocated to existing regiments, with the inclusion of the word "Service" in their title to distinguish their origin. The divisions were numbered 9 to 14, and the first units arrived in France in May 1915.

28th August 1914
Kitchener asks the country for another 100,000 men to form a further 6 divisions. These become the 'K2' divisions, numbered 15-20. They first started to arrive in France in May 1915.

The situation in France and Belgium at this time led to a large number of men volunteering, and the excess were formed into 'K3', the third 100,000. Their divisions were numbered 21-26 and they first started to arrive in France from August 1915.

Once K3 had been completed, a fourth army of volunteers, 'K4' was commenced. Initially formed as reserve battalions, for a short period they were organised as divisions, before once again being broken down into Training Reserve Brigades.

10th December 1914
Commencement of the creation of the fifth, or 'K5' army. They tended to be locally raised units, such as the famous "Pals" Battalions. When the K4 units were returned to Reserve Units, K5 became K4, and its divisions were numbered 30-35. Units arrived in France from late 1915 onwards.

March 1915
Recruitment starts for the sixth, or 'K6' army, which became K5 with the disolution of K4. As with K5, the units tended to be locally raised "Pals" Battalions. Divisions were numbered 36-41.

July 1915, National Registration Act
The requirement of everyone aged between 15-65 years to register.

September 1915
Government in receipt of all figures regarding men eligable for service but yet to enlist.

16th October 1915 - 15th December 1915: The Derby Scheme
Introduced by Lord Derby (Director General of Recruiting), allowing men one last chance to enlist voluntarily. Men could also choose to attest, commiting themselves to service when called upon. Men who volunteered had a choice of unit in which to serve.
Attested men were divided into married & single, and then into 23 'year' "groups" by age between 18 and 41. Groups 1-23 were single men, Groups 24-46 married men

December 1915
Re-organisation of Divisions and Brigades to integrate Regular and New Army battalions, with the idea of bringing experience into the Kitchener Armies.

27th January 1916: The Military Service Act
Conscription introduced for all single British men, or widowers without dependants, aged between 18 (on 5/08/1915) and 41 (on 02/03/1916). These men were then divided into 23 'year' "classes", numbered Classes 1-23. Conscripted men had no choice of unit.

25th January 1916
First groups of Derby men called up, Groups 2-5 (19-22 years old and single). This continued at 2 week intervals, ending with Group 1 on 28/03/1916.

3rd March 1916
First classes of single conscripted men called up, the last class being called on 25/03/1916.

7th March 1916
Derby married men groups called up, the last group being called on 13/06/1916

23rd May 1916
Conscription extended to married men born between 1875 and 1897. These men were then divided into 23 'year' "classes", numbered Classes 24-46.

3rd June 1916
Remaining men (conscripted married) called up, ending 24/06/1916.

Home

andys320 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:14:07 CDT

FIRST WORLD WAR RESEARCH SITE
A compliation of various elements of research on the First World War

Contact andys320 to join site.

Regimental War Diaries
6th (Service) Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Jun-July 1915
2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps, Sept-Oct 1915
22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers, April 1917

Geographic Locations
Belgium
France
United Kingdom

War Memorial Research
Surrey

Roll of Honour
Index of Research on Individual Soldiers

Notes
Volunteers & Conscripts in the Bitish Army
Researching a Soldier from the First World War

Library
First World War Books & Research Guides

Links
Ewhurst Fallen
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Western Front Association
The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker's excellent source site
Battlefields1418 Paul Reed's excellent source site

Our Service men & women are still fighting in the name of freedom, and suffering
trauma and injury as a result. It is vitally important that they receive our support.
Please take the time to visit:

PEASLAKE

andys320 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:18:02 CDT

(If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)
Peaslake features a stone Cross of Remembrance bearing he names of the men of Peaslake who fell in the First World War, with the later addition of 12 men who fell in the Second World War. Within the village church there are also two bronze plaques of Remembrance bearing the men’s names. The village also features the War and Spottiswood Remembrance Hall. Peaslake fell under the Shere Parish at the time of the First World War, hence many of the men are noted as having been born in Shere, when in fact they were residents of Peaslake.

Pte Harry (Henry) ABREHART

1st Bn The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

3539. Died of Wounds, 06/01/1916. Buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery, France. Born Peaslake 1893, son of Joseph & Selina Abrehart. Brother of Edward, Florence Henry & Ernest. Enlisted in Guildford.

Gnr Charles Robert AYLWIN

72nd Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

25160. Died, aged 31. Born Halnaker, Sussex, 1885. Son of Edwin R. & Emma Aylwin. Brother of William John Aylwin. Remembered on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate).

Gnr William John AYLWIN

Clearing Office, Royal Garrison Artillery

25928. Died 15/06/1918, aged 31. Born Halnaker, Sussex, 1887. Son of Edwin R. & Emma Aylwin. Brother of Charles Robert Aylwin. Buried in Peaslake, Surrey

Sgt Richard Leslie DOWNING

'D' Battery, 63rd Brigade
Royal Field Artillery

8503. Died 11/05/1917, aged 25. Birth Reg 1892, Honiton. Son of Richard and Lucy Downing, of Broadfield, Gomshall, Guildford. Brother of Herbert George Downing. Educated at Framlington School (1905-07). Buried in Dusains British Cemetery, Etrun, France.

2/Lt Herbert George DOWNING, M.C

29 Sqn Royal Air Force

Killed in Action 06/11/1917, aged 24. Shot down whilst flying a Nieport (?). Claimed by Ltn Hans Riter von Adam or Ltn Gottfried Stumpf, both of Jasta 6. Birth Reg 1893 Honiton. Son of Richard and Lucy Downing, of Broadfield, Gomshall, Guildford. Brother of Richard Leslie Downing. Educated at Framlington School (1905-08). Remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France. MC Gazetted 1806/1917. For consistent skill and gallantry as an observer. On one occasion when on patrol, by holdig his fire until within very short range and by skilful co-operation with his pilot, he succeeded in shooting down two hostile machines"

Pte Albert EDSER

Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry.

20269. Died 24/12/1918, aged c29, having transferred to Pte 353433 (Southern Command Labour Centre) The Labour Corps. Born at Peaslake, 1889. Son of William and Elizabeth Edser; husband of Rosaline Edser, of Manor House Cottage Hamble, Southampton. Brother of George Henry Edser. Buried in Peaslake

Gnr George Henry EDSER

94th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

58905. Died 19/11/1917, aged 20. Born Shere 1897, Son of William & Elizabeth Edser, brother of Albert Edser. Residence Peaslake. Buried in Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, France.

Frank ELLIOT

Army Service Corps

inconclusive

Gnr Albert James GODDARD

29th Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery

75971. Died 23/10/1915. Remembered on the Mikra Memorial, Greece.

George W HUNT

Queens

inconclusive

Pte Frederick MANSELL

6th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

G/674. Died 19/07/1915, aged 29. Born Shere c 1886, son of Charles & Lucy Mansell, Redidence Horsham. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.

Gnr Harold Victor MANSELL

'D'Battery, 174th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

246595. Died 03/10/1918, aged 20. Born Shere, 1898 Son of Joseph and Kate Agnes Mansell, of 3, "The Hales," Hoe, Gomshall, Guildford. Native of Peaslake, Guildford. Buried in Sains-les-Marquion British Cemetery, France.

L/Cpl Frederick O’DOHERTY M.M.

9th Bn Royal Fusiliers

133. Killed in Action, 06/08/1916, aged 38. Born Shere c1878, son of John M & Elizabeth O'Doherty. Residence, Gomshall.

Pte Bertram Henry PETO

1st Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

G/182. Killed in Action, 15/07/1916, aged 20. Born Shere, 1896. Buried in Caterpiller Valley Cemetery, Somme, France.

Pte Frederick William PETO

17th Bn Notts & Derby Regiment

70272. Killed in Action, 09/10/1916, aged 25. Born Fulham, c1891, son of William & Lydia Peto, Residence, Shere. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

1/Air Mech. Oliver James PULLEN

Royal Naval Air Service

F/24817, HMS ‘President II’ (an accounting base for personnel), Died 02/03/1917, aged 25. Son of William and Ellen Catherine Pullen, of Charlton Cottage, Peaslake, Gomshall, Guildford. Buried in Peaslake, Surrey

Sgt Mornington TICKNER M.M.

1st Bn Coldstream Guards

10868. Killed in Action 15/09/1916, aged 19. Born Shere c1897. Son of George and Mary Tickner, of Downside, Peaslake, Guildford, Surrey. Gazetted for M.M. 27/10/1916. Residence Peaslake.Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Also mentioned in Soldiers Died in the Great War with a connection to Peaslake:

Pte Louis COLLIS

8th Bn Bedfordshire Regiment

33256. Killed in Action, 05/05/1917, aged 32. Born Cheam,1885. Residence Peaslake.Son of Mr. and Mrs. Collis, of 6, Highlands Rd., Leatherhead, Surrey; husband of Emily Collis (married 1910), of 6, Tannery Cottages, Gomshall, Guildford. Buried in the Lillers Communal Cemetery, France.

Researching a Soldier from the First World War

andys320 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:33:35 CDT

"SOLDIERS DIED IN THE GREAT WAR"
http://www.military-genealogy.com/ A "pay by enquiry" site for soldiers died in the Great War, including more than 703,000 names. Based on a CD ROM that is available from the Naval and Military Press . Some libraries and records offices i.e. Surrey History Center have copies of the CD ROM for public access.

If researching a soldier killed in a certain action, the names of other soldiers who fell in that action should be obtainable by searching battalion and date of death (this facility will only work on the CD ROM).

Details given will be Regiment/Corps, Battalion, Name, Place of Birth, Place of Enlistment, Residence, Rank, Service Number, Date of Death, Reason for Death, Theatre of War, and any supplimentary notes.

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
www.cwgc.org A free site detailing the casualties known by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Searches require name (and usually initials) although returns can be narrowed by other information such as year of death or nationality. The site also provides information on cemeteries and memorials, including history of development, location and cemetery plans.

Often information store on a casualty will include personal information such as age at death or 'son of/husband of'.

Types of cemetery. In the event of a known grave, the history of the cemetery from the CWGC website can be very informative. It will indicate whether the grave is in a ‘battlefield cemetery’ (i.e. on or just to the rear of the front line), a cemetery associated with a ‘dressing station’ or a ‘hospital’, or is a ‘concentration’ cemetery, made up from other, smaller cemeteries. By referring the date of the casualty to the history of the cemetery, a reasonable idea of how the casualty came to be interred in that site can be gained, i.e. Killed in Action, Died of Wounds.

Geoff's 1914-1921 Search Engine provides another excellent method of searching the CWGC records, enabling casualties to be located with minimal details, such as date of death and unit. This provides the ability to deduce was action a particular soldier's unit was experiencing on the day of his death, i.e. full sacle action or 'holding the line/fatigues'.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES
The majority of archives from the First World War that are open to the public are held at the Public Records Office, Kew, London. Some of the archives are available through the internet. The National Archives site also provides some excellent research guides, see Research Guides.

MEDAL RECORDS ONLINEsearchable site of over 5 million First World War campaign medals. Offers a complete index of Officers and Soldiers who served during the First World War. A PDF file of a soldier's medal card is purchasable at £3.50 over the internet.

All members of the Armed Forces were entitled to the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, and other campaign awards were applicable depending on when the soldier commenced overseas active service. Service Numbers often change from low numbers (that were allocated on a Regimental basis at the start of the war, indicating early service or service prior to the war) to longer numbers with the reform of the Service number allocation system (1917). Details tend to be minimal but can include when the soldier arrived overseas. The cards have only been scanned on one side, and apparently the reverse often contained notes. The cards are now held by the Western Front Association who will review the reverse for information on application.

SOLDIER'S PERSONAL RECORDS. Contained the service details of Soldiers served (died and survived) the First World War. The Records were damaged in the Blitz in the 1940s, and therefore incomplete. About 60% were totally destroyed, some 25-30% partially burnt (referred to as the Burnt Papers) and about 10% were undamaged (the Unburnt Papers). All that remain have been converted to microfiche and are available at the National Records Office in Kew. The Burnt Papers form WO363 and the Unburnt Papers form WO364. Most of WO364 concerns men who were subsequently paid a Pension due to their war service. The records are now in the process of being made available online (WO364 is already available via www.ancestry.co.uk). The details contained can be very varied and require careful examination to interpret.

WO363 - THE BURNT PAPERS - SOLDIER'S PERSONAL RECORDS. Currently (2007) available via microfiche at the Public Records Office, Kew. Contains only 25-30% of men who served (due to war damage). Eventually these records will be available online through www.ancestry.co.uk (subscription required).

WO364 - THE UNBURNT PAPERS - SOLDIER'S PENSION RECORDS. Available online through www.ancestry.co.uk
(subscription required).

BATTALION WAR DIARIES The National Archives holds copies of the Battalion War Diaries, detailing what duties each unit was involved with on a daily basis. Officers generally are referred to by name, other ranks (ORs) are seldom distinguished. These documents are available at the Public Records Office, Kew, although some are available for download via the internet as PDF files (normally they are broken into files of a few months, and cost £3.50 per file). The diaries are held under the file of WO95. (see Research Guide). Searching for the document concerned is a little complex. From Documents Online Advanced Search enter the unit's details in the Key Words section, i.e. 22 Battallion Royal Fusiliers.

The contents of WO95 are listed by Division, Brigade and Battalion here.

HOSPITAL RECORDS DATABASE searchable through the National Archives, detailing where records are held.

CENSUS RETURNS
Census returns are filed every decade.1911, the last census before the First World War, has now been released at www.1911census.co.uk .
The returns are available via the National Archives at Census Searches which requires credits, or by subscription through www.ancestry.co.uk.

Generally, the oldest age of service was 41, and the youngest 18. Notwithstanding that many servicemen lied about their age on enlistment, this suggests that the earliest year of birth for a serviceman would be 1873, and the latest year of birth would be 1900, a 27 year spread.

Be aware that Census returns have been transposed from handwritten forms and often there are errors. If a person is missing in an applicable census, try searching for a parent or a sibling to see if you can trace the family.

BIRTH/MARRIAGE/DEATH REGISTRY
Free search available on www.freebdm.org.uk or with subscription at www.ancestry.co.uk. Births/marriages/deaths are registered by local administrative area and by county. A breakdown of which parishes are contained in each administrative area is accessible. Full name is provided on registration of birth. Spouse can be discovered by reviewing “other entries on page”.

LOCAL INFORMATION AND GENERAL INTERNET SEARCHES Information on Parish War Memorials is gradually being included online at a variety of sources, but is still very fragmented. An internet search of key words currently appears to be the best way of finding such details without visiting the parish of residence. Local newspapers regularly included details of enlistments and casualties.

FOREST GREEN

andys320 — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:41:00 CST

(If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)
Forest Green war memorial takes the form of a stone tablet of Remembrance set into the village hall western wall as part of a Seat of Remembrance. It bears the names of the men of the who fell in the First World War. Within the village church there is also a bronze plaque commemorating the lives of the four nephews of Harriet Harrison of Forest Green House, who fell in the First World War.

John BECKETT	inconclusive	inconclusive
Pte Ernest Andrew BONE	3rd Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/22498. Died, 11/11/1918, aged 31. Born Basingstoke. Son of Henry & Mary E Bone. Husband of Florence Bone, of 16, Glenhaven Avenue, Boreham Wood, Herts. Buried in Abinger (St James) Churchyard.
Eric BRADY
L/Bombr Benjamin William BUSS	197th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery	42135. Died, aged 26 on 02/11/18. Son of Christopher and Olive Alice Buss, of Ditches Green, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey. Born at Tismans Common, Rudgwick, Horsham. Buried in the Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
L/Cpl Herbert William CARPENTER	7th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	64014. Died, 29/09/1918, aged 33. Son of Albert and Mary Carpenter, of Reigate; husband of Mary Ellen Carpenter, of The School House, Abinger Common, Dorking. Schoolmaster of Abinger Council School. Buried in Unicorn Cemetery, Vend'huile, France.
Sgt William Frank CHARMAN	'D' Battery, 23rd Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery	64665. Killed in Action, on 08/01/1918. Son of Frank and Elizabeth Charman, of Sunnyside, Ewhurst, Guildford, Surrey. Brother of Henry James Charman. Buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Ypres. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
Cpl Henry James CHARMAN	41st Battery, 42nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery	70295. Killed in Action, aged 24 on 26/07/1916. Son of Frank and Elizabeth Charman, of Sunnyside, Ewhurst, Guildford, Surrey. Brother of William Frank Charman. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
George COOPER
Pte Edward Jack CURTIS	6th Bn Beford Regiment	12808. Killed in Action, 15/07/1916.Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
Pte Henry ELMS or Harry ELMS	48th Bn Australian Infantry	2654. Died, aged 37, on 03/05/17. Son of Thomas Elms; husband of Mrs. K. Elms, of James St., West Guildford, Western Australia. Native of Forest Green, England. Buried in Crucifix Corner Cemetery, France. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
Pte Charles Henry ETHERINGTON	'C' Coy, 9th Bn Essex Regiment	49514. Died, aged 18 on the 06/09/18. Son of Henry and Ellen Etherington, of Oakwood Hill, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey. Buried in the Fins New British Cemetery, France. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
2Lt Geoffery Douglas Lothian NICHOLSON	4th Bn Worcestershire Regiment	Died, aged 19 on 23/04/17. Only son of Maj. Gen. C. Lothian Nicholson, C.M.G., and Mrs. Nicholson, of Hursley, Camberley, Surrey. Remembered on the Arras Memorial and also the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
Pte John Reginald FOORD	18th Veterinary Hospital Army Veterinary Corps	18226 Died, aged 24, on the 11/01/1917. Son of Elizabeth Foord, of Oakwood Hill, Ockley, Surrey. Buried in the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
Cpl Charles Russell FOREHEAD	211 Sqn, Royal Air Force	239101. Born Abinger 1899. Died 15/03/1919, aged 19. Son of Charles and Charlotte Forehead, of Abinger Hammer, Dorking, Surrey. Buried in the Marcinelle New Communal Cemetery, France.
Pte George GADD	1st Bn (Sherwood Foresters) Notts & Derby Regiment	71149. Died of Wounds after capture. 17/04/1917, aged 27. Son of the late William and Edith Gadd, of The Dene, Abinger Hammer, Dorking; husband of Violet Gadd, of Friday St., Abinger Common, Dorking, Surrey. Buried in Caudry Old Communal Cemetery
Pte Thomas HOLLOWAY	1st Bn Hampshire Regiment	5414. Died 14/05/1915, aged 35. Husband of Amy Holloway, of Sutton. Abinger, Dorking, Surrey. Served in the South African Campaign. Buried In Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.
Herbert William HUNT
Canteener Grace KING	French Red Cross	Daughter of George & Elizabeth King, born Abinger 1893. First arrived in France, March 1917, died in September 1917, aged 24.
William MITCHISON
Pte Mark MOORE	3rd R.M Bn Royal Naval Division.	PO/1507. Died, on the 17/02/18. Buried in the East Mudros Military Cemetery, Greece. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill, Memorial.
Pte John MUGGERIDGE	1/6th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment	242006. Died, aged 37, on 22/04/1917 Born in Warnham. Son of Henry and Martha Muggeridge Buried in Canadian Cemetery No2, Neuville-St. Vaast, France. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.
2Lt Walter Selwyn ORPEN	2nd Bn (attached to the 10th Bn) Lancashire Fusiliers	Killed in Action, 06/07/1916, aged 22. Youngest son of the late Rev. T. H. Orpen and Mrs. Amy 0. G. Orpen of 5, Herschel Rd., Cambridge. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Albert Edward SMITH
L/Cpl Alfred ROSER	2/7th Bn The King's (Liverpool Regiment)	99735. Died, aged 35, on 27/09/1918. Son of George and Ellen Roser, of Ockley, Surrey; husband of Emma Jane Snape (formerly Roser), of 7, Coventry Rd., South Norwood, London. Buried in Queant Communal Cemetery British Extension, France. Also remembered on the Oakwood Hill Memorial.

SHERE

andys320 — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:10:40 CST

(If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)

Shere village war memorial consists on a 'nameless' stone cross to the west of the St James's Church, and a bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen on the inner northern wall of the church. It features 33 names. In the 1800's the parish of Shere also encompassed Gomshall and Peaslake, hence some men on the Peaslake War Memorial being referred to as born or resident in Shere.

Pte Joseph Thomas ATKINS	1st Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/6805. Killed in Action, 23/04/1917, aged 40. Husband of Alice Elsie Atkins, of Rose Cottage, Shere, Guildford, Surrey. Remembered on the Arras Memorial, France
Cpl Frederick Charles BATCHELOR	5th Tank Corps	95722. Killed in Action, 09/08/1918, aged 26. Born 1892, Shere. Son of George & Louisa. Formerly Pte L/9475 of 2/Queens (RWSR). Buried in Caix British Cemetery, France.
Pte Walter BATCOCK	2nd/4th Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	206535. Killed in Action, 27/12/1917. Believed to be William A Batcock. Born Shere 1895. Buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
Frank COLLIS		inconclusive
Pte Leonard CUMPER	10th Bn Royal Fusiliers	G/43614. Killed in Action 23/04/1917, aged c26. Born c1891 Croydon, mentioned as a pauper in 1901 Census. Resident Gomshall. Buried in Chili Trench Cemetery, Gavrelle, France
Frederick EDE		inconclusive
Pte George EGERTON	2nd/13th Kensington Bn. London Regiment	492653. Died 08/12/1917. Son of William and Laura Egerton, of Gomshall Mill, Guildford. Buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
Frederick H FOORD		inconclusive
Pte George Herbert GROVER M.M	2nd/4th Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	206755. Killed in Action, 27/12/1917, aged 22. Son of Mr. E. A. and Mrs. Ellen I. Grover, of Shere, Guildford. Buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
George INWOOD		inconclusive
Charles JACK		inconclusive
L/Cpl Walter Herbert KILLICK	1st Bn Wiltshire Regiment	10886. Killed in Action 25/05/1916, aged 23. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Killick, of Mitre Cottage, Shere, Guildford, Surrey. Brother of Horace Albert. Buried in the Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Pte Horace Albert KILLICK	2nd Garrison Bn, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry	25121. Died 07/11/1917, aged 23. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Killick, of Mitre Cottage, Shere, Guildford, Surrey. Brother of Walter Herbert. Formerly Pte 10820 Wiltshire Regiment. Buried in Shere Churchyard Cemetery.
Rfm Thomas Harvey LANGRISH	13th Bn Rifle Brigade	S/16206. Killed in Action 11/04/1917, aged 21. Son of Thomas and Susan Langrish, of Shere, Guildford, Surrey. Remembered on the Arras Memorial, France
Capt Benjamin Eastlake LEADER	3rd Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) attached to 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)	Killed in Action at Le Transloy, 12/10/1916, aged 39. Served in France from Jan 1915. Son of the late B. W. Leader, R.A., and Mary Eastlake Leader, of Burrows Cross, Gomshall, Guildford; husband of Isabella Leader (nee Anderson), of Rosemerrin, Bude, Cornwall. Educated at Charterhouse and Cambridge. An Artist. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. (See Below)
Lt Richard Brereton MARRIOTT-WATSON M.C.	2nd Bn Royal Irish Rifles	Died of Wounds, 24/03/1918. One of the war poets, his most known poem is entitled "Kismet". Son of the author and journalist Henry Brereton and Rosalind Marriott-Watson. Remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
George A MURRAY	-	-
Jack MASON	-	-
Sgt Oliver Victor POULTON D.C.M.	15th Field Coy, Royal Engineers	17319. Died 28/06/1917. Husband of E. A. Benstead (formerly Poulton), of 3, Salters Hill, Upper Norwood, London. Born Portsmouth, Residence Upper Norwood, Surrey. Buried in Belgian Battery Corner Cem, Ypres.
Pte George PIZZEY	1st Bn Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	205359. Died 21/09/1918, aged 32. Born Gomshall. Son of George and Ellen Pizzey, of 1, Station Rd., Gomshall, Guildford. Buried in Meath Cemetery, Villers-Guislain, France
Pte Ernest RAGGETT	23rd Bn Middlesex Regiment	G/72684. Killed in Action 09/05/1918, aged 33. Born Bentley, Hants. Son of David and Eliza Raggett, of Stakes Corner, Littleton, Guildford; husband of Annie Eleanor Gertrude Raggett, of 10, Path Fields, Shere, Guildford.Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Gnr George William REYNOLDS	336th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery	164114. Died 01/11/1918, aged 38. Born Shepherdswell, Kent. Son of William James and Ellen Reynolds, of Shere, Surrey; husband of Mrs. L. M. Reynolds, of 14, Melville Rd., Maidstone, Kent. Brother of Doulgas Reynolds. Buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.
Rfm Douglas REYNOLDS	17th Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps	C/4695. Died 03/09/1916, aged 21. Born Sherbourne, Surrey. Son of William and Ellen Reynolds, of Orchard Leigh, Shere, Guildford. Brother of George Willam Reynolds. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme
Pte George William SWEET	5th Bn Suffolk Regiment	45455. Died at sea 30/12/1917, aged 19. Born, Gomshall 1898, son of James & Mercy Sweet (known as William George in CWGC). remembered on the Chatby Memorial, Egypt.
Sgt Algernon Rupert TAYLOR	4th Bn London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)	295661. Died 30/06/1918, aged 20. Born Shere, 1899, son of Son of George and Eva Taylor, of Rectory Cottage, Shere, Guildford, Surrey. Buried in Pernes British Cemetery, France.
Sgt George TARRANT M.M.	9th Bn Norfolk Regiment	Thought to be George Henry Tarrant (details specified). 19155. Died 28/04/1917, aged Born Westcott 1893. Son of Thomas & Sarah Tarrant. Buried in St Patrick's Cemetery, Loos, France.
Pte Albert James TOREVELL	119th Company, Labour Corps	71242. Died 31/12/1917, aged 41. Born Morden, Dorset. Son of James & Elizabeth Torevell. Husband of Alice Torevell, of 5, Queen St., Gomshall, Guildford, Surrey.(married 1903). Buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, France.
Hubert Henry J VINCENT	inconclusive	Born Shere 1893, son of Charles & Henrietta, brother of James Thomas Vincent.
James Thomas VINCENT	inconclusive	Born Shere 1900, son of Charles & Henrietta, brother of Hubert Vincent.
Capt Geoffrey Launcelot WATSON	'A' Company, 3rd Bn, attached 1st Bn East Surrey Regiment	Killed in Action, 20/04/1915, aged 35. Born East Farleigh, Kent 1880. Son of the Rev. Christopher S. Watson and Eliza M Watson. Remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Sgt Cyril James WHITTY	1st Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/205992. Killed in Action 14/04/1918, aged c25. Remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Born Shere, 1893, son of Mark Brett & Sarah Lorice Whitty. (Mark was the cousin of and grew up with Nelson and Edward Whitty, both lost in WW1 and remembered on the Ewhurst Memorial).
Rfm James WORSFOLD	1st Bn Royal Irish Rifles	9120. Killed in Action 10/03/1915 at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, aged 28. Born Ewhurst, 1886 , Son of Walter & Emily Worsfold of Church Cottages, Shere. Living at New Scotland, Albury (1901 Census) Brother of Wallace Worsfold. Remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, France
Pte Wallace WORSFOLD	11th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/7103. Died, 30/01/1918 in Italy, aged 22..Born Ewhurst, 1886 , Son of Walter & Emily Worsfold of Church Cottages, Shere. Living at New Scotland, Albury (1901 Census) Brother of Wallace Worsfold. Buried in the Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy.

Other Men mentioned in Soldiers Died in the Great War with a Shere or Gomshall connection:

Pte Charles William CHILDS	2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment	10410. Died 26/08/1915, aged 21. Born East Clandon 1893, residence Shere. Son of Harry & Sarah Childs. Buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, France
Gnr George Henry EDSER	94th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery	58905. Died 19/11/1917, aged 20.Born Shere 1897, son of William & Elizabeth Edser. Brother of Albert Edser (also killed in WW1) Residence Peaslake.Buried in Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, France. Remembered on the Peaslake War Memorial
Pte Arthur EDWARDS	6th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/4138. Killed in Action, 04/04/1916, aged 23. Born Shere c1893, Son of William & Emily Edwards of Littleton Farm, Reigate, Surrey. Residence Reigate. Brother of James Edwards. Remembered on the Loos Memorial, France.
Pte James EDWARDS	8th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/4137. Killed in Action, 01/02/1917, aged 21. Born Shere c1895, son of William & Emily Edwards of Ivy Cottage, Reigate Heath, Reigate. Residence Reigate. Brother of Arthur Edwards. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France.
Pte Walter HUNT	1st Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/246. Killed in Action 06/07/1916, aged c26. Born East Clandon c1890, son of William T & May Hunt. Residence Shere. Buried in Cambrin Churchyard Cemetery, France.
Pte Fred MANSELL	6th Bn the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/674. Killed in Action 19/07/1915, aged 29. (CWGC 09/07/1915). Born Shere c1886, son of Charles & Lucy Mansell. Residence Horsham. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Remembered on the Peaslake War Memorial.
Pte Arthur MORRIS	7th Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	T/241023. Killed in Action.19/09/1918 Resident in Gomshall. Enlisted Guildford. Remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.
L/Cpl Frederick O'DOHERTY M.M	9th Bn Royal Fusiliers	133. Killed in Action, 06/08/1916, aged 38. Born Shere, c1878, son of John M & Elizabeth O'Doherty. Residence Gomshall. Remembered on the Peaslake War Memorial. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Pte Frederick William PETO	17th Bn (Sherwood Foresters) Notts & Derby Regiment	70272. Killed in Action 09/10/1916. Born Fulham, c1891. Son of William & Lydia Peto. Residence Shere. Remembered on the Peaslake War Memorial and the Thiepval Memorial, Somme France.
Pte Charles REMNANT	2nd Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)	G/22187. Killed in Action 26/10/1917, aged 20. Born Northchapel, Sussex 1897. Son of Edwin & Emily Remnant. Had previously enlisted in the KRRC in 1914, but been discharged on medical grounds. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Sgt Mornington TICKNER M.M.	1st Bn Coldstream Guards	10868. Killed in Action 15/09/1916, aged 19. Born Shere c1897. Son of George and Mary Tickner, of Downside, Peaslake, Guildford, Surrey. Residence Peaslake.Remembered on the Peaslake War Memorial and the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Pte Alfred James UFFOLD	34th Bn Royal Fusiliers transferred to 101st Company, Labour Corps	26613 (60499 with Labour Corps). Died 27/05/1918, aged c35. Born Shere c1883, residence Westcott, Dorking. Buried in Westcott (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Surrey.

KISMET

Opal fires in the Western Sky

(For that which is written must ever be)

And a bullet comes droning, whining by,

To the heart of a sentry close to me.

For some go early and some go late

(a dying scream on the evening air)

And who is there that believes in Fate

As a soul goes out in the sunset flare?

Lt R.B. MARRIOTT-WATSON M.C., killed in action 1918

EWHURST AND ELLEN'S GREEN

andys320 — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:06:35 CST

(If you have any enquiries or comments regarding the men named on this site, please contact andy@ewhurstfallen.co.uk)

FOR INFORMATION, SEE www.ewhurstfallen.co.uk

Regimental War Diaries

andys320 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:00:13 CST

1st Division

2nd Brigade
- 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps - (Sept-Oct 1915)

2nd Division

99th Brigade

22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers (April 1917)

12th (Eastern) Division

37th Brigade

6th (Service) Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) - (Jun-July 1915)

Roll Of Honour

andys320 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:49:26 CST

MEN WHO FOUGHT AND DIED OR SURVIVED THE FIRST WORLD WAR

22nd BATTALION ROYAL FUSILIERS

PTE JOHN BROWN, GS/6436 Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood (see Battalion War Diary). Interred in the Orchard Dump Cemetery, France.
LT JAMES WALTER CARR, M.C. D.C.M. Mentioned in Despatches. Died of Wounds 16/11/1918, aged 25, whilst attached to 99th Trench Mortar Battery. M.C. D.C.M. MiD. Brookwood Mil Cem (UK).
PTE CHARLES VICTOR COLE, G/41291 Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood, aged 38 (see Battalion War Diary). Interred in the Orchard Dump Cemetery, France. Son of Herbert George and Mary Cole, of Sussex; husband of Minnie Mary Cole, of 3, Melchbourne Villas, West Hoathly, Sussex.
SGT EDWARD ARTHUR EVANS, L/11805, Born Islington 09/02/1889. Son of Alfred Frank and Annie Elizabeth. Enlisted Hounslow, Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood (see Battalion War Diary). Remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 3.
2/LT STANLEY FERNS JEFFCOAT, MiD. Commissioned 24/01/1917. Joined 22nd Bn RF in France on 3/04/1917. Wounded in Action on 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood (see Battalion War Diary). Died of Wounds 30/04/1917. Interred in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, France. Extract from Royal Fusilier's History: "On the right B Company found the wire still unpenetrable & 2nd Lt. J. Steele had a whole platoon shot down. At this juncture Second Lieutenant S.F. Jeffcoat, a newly joined Officer, found a gap & with a handful of men jumped into the trench & throughout the morning was engaged bombing up it to the right. At every traverse the Germans resisted, but JEFFCOAT, assisted by a few men of the 73rd Division, cleared a considerable length of the trench by sheer personal courage & leadership. He was mortally wounded and was recommended for the V.C......the whole objective of the battalion was taken chiefly owing to Jeffcoat's fine work". Jeffcoat was awarded a posthumous Mentioned in Despatches, gazzetted London, 18/12/1917.Born Stretford, Lancashire, England 1884, son of John Joseph (salesman) and Alice. in 1901 the family were living in Urmston, Lancashire, and Stanley was noted as an Estate Agent's apprentice. In 1915 Stanley married Ada Burton, their marriage being registered in Pewsey, Wiltshire. Stanley was a member of the pre war Fell & Rock Climbing Club and is remembered with 19 more members who fell in the 1914-18 War on the Great Gable War Memorial, Lake District, which was unveilled in 1924. The Great Gable was purchased for the National Trust in memory of the group's fallen members.
2/LT FRANK MAYVOUR PERRATON, M.C. Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood, aged 19 (see Battalion War Diary). Remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 3. Born Plymouth 1898, son of William and Rosina,
2/LT RALPH SAWORD, Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood, aged 26 (see Battalion War Diary). Remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 3. Born Croydon 1890, son of Frederick C E and Alice M Saword.
2/LT FREDERICK STEVENSON, Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood (see Battalion War Diary). Remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 3.
MAJ CHRISTOPHER REYNOLD STONE, adjutant. M.C. and D.S.O. Survived the war, and author of History of the 22nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Born Eton 1882, and educated at Eton School. Letters published in "From Vimy Ridge to the Rhine: The Great War Letters of Christopher Stone DSO MC"
2/LT MILES EDWARD WARDLEY, Killed in Action 29/04/1917, near Oppy Wood, aged 28 (see Battalion War Diary). Remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 3. Birth registered St Saviour's, Southwark 1889,
PTE SYDNEY ARTHUR WOOLFORD, K/2121, Killed in Action 29/04/1917 near Oppy Wood, aged 29 (see Battalion War Diary). Interred in the Orchard Dump Cemetery, France. Birth registered Hungerford 1887, son of Sarah A Woolford (widow).

FRANCE LOCATIONS

andys320 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:23:21 CST

A-C

Location	Notes

D-G

Term	Definition

H-L

Location	Notes
OPPY WOOD	East of Arras. See 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers Battalion War Diary for action of 29/04/1917
ORCHARD DUMP CEMETERY	Arleux-en Gohelle, East of Arras. Containing casualties from the fighting around Oppy Wood, including members of 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers

M-Q

Location	Notes

R-Z

Location	Notes

Geographic Locations

andys320 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:22:51 CST

France

Belgium

United Kingdom

22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers April 1917

andys320 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:47:26 CST

BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR

22nd (SERVICE) BATTALION ROYAL FUSILIERS

Operations in the Battle of Arras, and near Oppy Wood

The 22nd (Service) Battalion (Kensington) Royal Fusiliers was raised on 11th September 1914. It moved to Roffey Camp in Horsham, Sussex, in October 1914 and then to Clipstone Camp (near Mansfield) in June 1915 to join and serve with the 99th Brigade, which was a part of 33rd Division. In August 1915 the battalion moved to Tidworth and finally to France, landing in Boulogne in November 1915. On 25th November 1915, the 99th Brigade joined the 2nd Division. In April 1917 the battalion was commanded by Lt Col R Barnett Barker D.S.O. It's battalion war diary (WO/95/1372) was compiled by Capt C R Stone M.C. (Adjutant), who subsequently wrote a battalion history.

1 April 1917
The Battalion was in billets at FIEFS, Brigade H.Qs. being at TANGRY

2 April 1917
Lt Col R BARNETT BARKER DSO resumed command of the Battalion at FIEFS on return from commanding 99th I.B. (temporarily)

3 April 1917
The Battalion remained at FIEFS. 2/Lt D W WRIGHT this day rejoined from hospital and 2/Lt S F JEFFCOAT joined for duty. 2/Lt F W PALMER was awarded the V.C. in the London Gazette of this date.

4 April 1917
The Battalion remained at FIEFS.

5 April 1917
Capt. T H EVANS was awarded the M.C., L/Cpl F G MILES the D.C.M. and L/Cpl FAHEY the M.M.. 2/Lt W H SKINNER returned from a course on Aeroplane Contacts with Infantry.

6 April 1917
The Battalion remained at FIEFS. 2/Lt GIBBONS returned from a course on Lewis Guns at LE TOUQUET.

7 April 1917
The Battalion marched from FIEFS to LA THIEULOYE. 2/Lt E C HUDSON rejoined from hospital.

8 April 1917
The Battalion remained at LA THIEULOYE. A party of 6 officers and about 50 other ranks under Capt MARTIN M.C., proceeded to Corps Training (?) at ROBECQ. Capt J B SCOTT returned from hospital, 2/Lt STEVENSON from a bombing course. Rev. E P St JOHN, CF, left the Battalion this day, having volunteered for service in MESOPOTAMIA.

9 April 1917
The Battalion remained at LA THIEULOYE.

10 April 1917
The Battalion marched to ‘C’ Camp and ‘Y’ hutments in 11 c and d near MAROEUIL.

11 April 1917
The Brigade moved forward in the afternoon, and the Battalion relieved the 1/6 GORDON HIGHLANDERS in the old German front support and reserve lines in A 30 a and b.

12 April 1917
The Battalion remained in the old German trenches.

13 April 1917
The Battalion moved in the morning to B20 a and b, and in the night 13/14th relieved the 1/KRRC in (the) front line opposite GAVRELLES, having the BEDFORDS (63rd DIV) on the right and 1/R.BERKS on the left.

14 April 1917
The Battalion was relieved during the night 14/15th by the 7/R.FUS, and proceeded to (the) old German lines at A30 a and b.

15 April 1917
The Battalion remained in trenches.

16 April 1917 Ditto

17 April 1917
The Battalion marched to billets at BRAY.

18 April 1917
The Battalion remained in billets at BRAY.

19 April 1917
The Battalion remained in billets at BRAY. Major E R ORME assumed duties of Town Mayor of BRAY, and Major J DUFF those of Divisional Water Officer

20 April 1917
The Battalion remained in billets at BRAY. 2/Lt PIMM admitted to hospital.

21 April 1917
The Battalion remained in billets at BRAY.

22 April 1917
The Battalion remained in billets at BRAY.

23 April 1917
The Battalion remained in billets at BRAY. A draft of 24 Other Ranks received, 2/Lt F CARTER temporarily attached to 99th Trench Mortar Battery.

24 April 1917
The Battalion left BRAY and marched to dug outs and bivouacs near ECURIE in A27a.

25 April 1917
On the night on the 25/26th the Battalion took over the front line from The 1/KINGS LIVERPOOL REGT, D Coy in front, B Coy in support, remnants of A and C Coys (under Capt. KELLY) in reserve.

26 April 1917
The line was in B18 and 17 opposite OPPY WOOD. The 1/R BERKS were on the left, and a battalion of the RMLI on our right. During the days the front line was evacuated in order to allow the heavy artillery cut wire.

27 April 1917
On the night of 26/27 the front trenches for 400 yards north of the RAILWAY in B24a were taken over by 1/RMLI. Some of D Coy were withdrawn to the vicinity of Bn H.Qs.in RAILWAY CUTTING B.20.c.7.7
On the 27th the front line was again cleared for cutting/ On the night of 27/28th the Battalion was relieved in the front line, the 17/MIDDLESEX coming into battle positions in front of the line. The 1/KINGS LIVERPOOL took over Bn H.Qs. in RAILWAY CUTTING and Bn H.Qs. moved to a gun pit at B.20.a.3.6, the Companies going on relief to GIN TRENCH and KLEEMANS STELLUNG. Bn H.Qs. were at DEUTSCHER HOUSE.

28 April 1917
During the day the Battalion remained in reserve, the 5th and 6th Infantry Brigades having attacked the German positions at 4.25am The four Companies were amalgamated, B and C Companies under Major GREGG M.C., A and D Companies under Captain T H EVANS M.C. They were equipped with battle stores. In the afternoon 3 officers and 150 other ranks of the 1st Bn KRRC were attached to the Battalion (the diary notes this figure as 150, but later, and more correctly 50 men).
The progress of the events of this and the following day are in the Narrative of Operations Attached. (see below for narrative by Lt Col Barnett Barker D.S.O.) On the night of the 28/29th the Battalion moved to battle positions, Bn. HQs being in the support trench at about A17C9?.
The following officers went into action. Lt Col R BARNETT BARKER DSO commanding, Major W J PHYTHIAN ADAMS MC, 2nd in command, Capt CR STONE MC, adjutant, 2/Lt E C HUDSON, signalling officer, Right front company, Major R C GREGG MC, Capt D N de WET, 2/Lts F M PERRATON, F STEVENSON, J STEEL and S F JEFFCOAT. Left front Company Capt T H EVANS MC, 2/Lts H PARKS, M E WARDLEY, F W PALMER VC and R SAWORD. MO Capt C N COAD (?) RAMC. Capt J E T KELLY was in charge of a 1st Bn KRRC carrying party, and 2/Lts H A HOLMES and J W CARR were in charge of stragglers posts (?) under APM 2nd Division.
The weather was extremely fine but the visibility on the morning of the 29th was not good.

30 April 1917
During the night of 29/30th the Battalion was relieved by the 11th EAST YORKS REGT in the line and returned to the RAILWAY CUTTING and GIN TRENCH.
The casualties, as far as ascertained, during the action were as follows: Killed, 2nd Lt M E WARDLEY, Wounded Major R H GREGG, Capt T H EVANS, Capt D N de WET, 2nd Lt E C HUDSON,; missing 2nd Lts R SAWORD, F M PERRATON, F STEVENSON. 2nd Lt S F JEFFCOAT was mortally wounded and died on 30th. OR (other ranks) 19 killed, 48 wounded, 30 wounded and unaccounted for, 46 unaccounted for and 19 more or less seriously gassed. The enemy bombarded us with gas shells on the night of 29/30th. Only Head Quarters Officers and 40 men marched out of the action.

22nd (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

Narrative of attack on German Line south of OPPY WOOD.

(by Lt Col R Barnett Barker, Officer Comanding)

ORDERS – PRELIMINARIES TO ATTACK

There was a Brigade conference on this impending attack at Brigade Headquarters on April 28th about 3.30pm. I did not reach my rear Bn H.Qs after the conference till 7.30pm.
I took down verbal orders pending the written Operational Orders. These were to the effect (a) that my Bn. had to pass the starting point – MAISON DE LA COTE – at about 9pm., (b) I had to take over the sector occupied by the ESSEX REGT and (c) ZERO would be at 3 am.
As My Company H.Q.s in the rear were somewhat scattered it took some time to collect my Officers. I had sufficient time, however, to make them thoroughly acquainted with all details of the attack. I attach (No1) a copy of the Bn. Operational Orders – time did not allow any detailed orders.
Fortunately I had kept my men in battle order for the last 10 days, viz: each man carrying 3 bombs, sandbags and filled water bottle, but owing to some misunderstanding with Brigade Transport about rations, I was unable to obtain the next days rations. The men, therefore, left with only emergency rations and water in bottles.
The men had just done 3 days in the front line and had only reached their rear positions at 4.30 am that morning. They were therefore tired.
They passed the starting point almost at the time ordered and reached their battle positions at 2 am.
A schedule as to where I might find dumps and their contents was given to me by Brigade. Only one dump was within reach. On arrival at my Battle H.Qs and NCO was sent to examine the contents of this dump. It was found mostly blown up and contained no water and a few boxes of bombs and 5 boxes of S.A.A (small arms ammunition).
50 men of the 1/KRRC who had been carrying the night and day before for the 6th Brigade were given to me to act as carriers. I left these men behind my rear Bn. H.Q.s to bring up rations – they apparently lost their way and did not appear on the scene again until 3pm the next day.
50 men of the 60th (?) who had also been carrying for the 6th Brigade were attached to me to form a defensive flank on my right as no touch had been made with the 63rd Division for 4 days and their exact position was not known.

SITUATION ON ARRIVAL AT BATTLE HEADQUARTERS

I received about 10.15pm a message stating that ZERO hour would be at 4am and not 3 am. I at once dispatched runners to my Company Commanders. This message reached them as they were forming up in battle position.
On arrival at my battle H.Qs. at 3am Lieut-Col MARTIN, ESSEX REGT, informed me (a) that there were no bombs, tools, SAA etc in any of the trenches (b) that the dump at RAILWAY TRUCK had been heavily called on the day previous, and (c) that the GERMAN WIRE ON THE FRONT OF THE SECTOR I HAD TO ATTACK HAD BEEN BADLY CUT AND IN FACT WAS NOT CUT AT ALL ON THE PORTION FACING MY RIGHT COMPANY. On the receipt of this information I at once informed Brigade H.Qs. and my 2 Company Commanders (see R.B.B 22, 23, 24, (1) (2) (3). I made suggestions to the Coy. Commanders as to how to meet the difficulty and to confer together if time allowed.

THE ATTACK
1. As my Battalion was only of the strength of 2 Companies, they were formed up in waves, covering (the) whole front, with 50 men of the 1/KRRC on (the) right to form a defensive flank. A company of 23rd R. Fus. (B Company) was given (to) me as a reserve to share with 1st R. BERKS. This was placed at our battle H.Qs.
2. The waves were formed up in perfect order and went forward directly the barrage opened, led by the subaltern officers. They were at once hung up by the wire in the dark - By the time gaps had been formed, the barrage had lifted off the German trenches. They were thus left exposed to rifle and machine gun fire, and also bombs while looking for gaps and endeavouring to cut the wire. I will now describe the movements of the right Coy. throughout the fight and then describe the movements of the left Coy. (D Coy.).
3. B Coy. managed with difficulty to get through the first row of German wire. By the time they reached the second row the barrage had lifted – the second row was found (to be) impenetrable. S/Lt J STEELE had the whole of his platoon shot down and he and one man managed to get into a shell hole in the wire and remained there all day. Major R H GREGG and all other officers except 2/Lt JEFFCOAT became casualties together with most of the men.
2/Lt JEFFCOAT and Acting Sergeant Major HOGAN managed to find a gap on the extreme right. They, with a platoon jumped into the German line and captured it with a few prisoners. 2/Lt JEFFCOAT bombed down to the right to try and get in touch with the 63rd Division. A/C. S.M. HOGAN bombed up to the left to try and get in touch with my D Coy. The fighting was very desperate and 2/Lt JEFFCOAT informed me that no quarter was asked or given and many Germans were killed. He succeeded in bombing down to within a point 100 yards of the railway (vis: 400 yards outside Divisional area). There, he obtained touch with the BEDFORD REGT. A/C S.M. HOGAN meanwhile worked up about 100 yards to the left. There he established a block.
Word was brought to him that 2/Lt JEFFCOAT was in trouble, dealing with a heavy counter attack , so he went down to assist him. On his return to the left, he found it had also been heavily counter attacked and driven in. All the bombs having been exhausted, the survivors, about 15 in number had retired to the O.B.L. He at once went after them and organised them for an immediate counter attack. He also wrote me a message describing the situation. 2/Lt JEFFCOAT, finding his rear (left) unprotected, placed a stop, and sent a message to me, giving me the situation.
4. LEFT COMPANY (D)

The right platoon of this company found the wire uncut and so were all shot, 2/Lt PALMER V.C. being the only survivor – He found a shell hole in the wire in which he lay all day. Platoons 14 and 15 appear to have suffered a similar fate and 2/Lt PARKS found himself against impenetrable wire with only 3 Lewis Gunners. He therefore returned to O.B.L. and took up a position there. No. 13 platoon side slipped to the left, meeting with heavy opposition – on (the) right they formed a block – on (the) left they joined up with (the) R.BERKS. I left this platoon under Lieut-Col HARRIS, DSO R.BERKS and they shared the fortunes of the Royal Berks.
5. The 50 men of the 1/KRRC dug a defensive flank of posts on (the) right flank and garrisoned it. Parties of them got intermingled with the front line fighters and were of the greatest assistance.
6. I AM OF (THE) OPPINION that the men who had established themselves in the German Line could have maintained their position there till I could reinforce them, if proper dumps had been formed and all administrative arrangements been made in perfect order previous to the attack – they only carried three bombs each and the ordinary supply for bombers. The fighting was of a desperate character and the bombs quickly gave out. The Lewis Gunners crawled out of the trenches and used their guns as sprays and were shot accordingly.
7. Owing to all Officers becoming casualties, I could get no information from the front line at 6am. I sent up my Intelligence Officer – 2/Lt HUDSON – to report on (the) situation. He sent back word at once, and also that bombs must be sent up – he himself became a casualty, - the message reached me at 7am. I at once sent up half (of) A Coy. 23rd. R.FUS. under Capt TAYLOR with orders to garrison O.B.L. and take the situation in hand. – I sent with him all the bombs I could find. On arrival at O.B.L. he was in time to prevent A/C.S.M. HOGAN (from) wasting men’s lives by making a fruitless attack across “No Mans Land. He reported to me at once on the situation as far as he could ascertain it – I sent him S.10 (4). Feeling anxious about the O.B.L. I sent up Capt TAYLOR, 1 platoon of 23rd. R. FUS and a Lewis Gun.
8. At 9.15am Col.HARRIS informed me that the 1st R BERKS and my platoon were driven back to O.B.L.
9. AT 9.30 (?) am I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM 2nd Lieut. JEFFCOAT STATING THAT
(a) HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH BEDFORDS
(b) THAT I COULD DRIBBLE MEN UP TO HIM VIA THE RAILWAY and
(c) THAT IF I SENT HIM REINFORCEMENTS AND PLENTY OF BOMBS, HE COULD ATTACK AGAIN AND PROBABLY CAPTURE THE LINE.
10. I SENT HIM R.B.B.27 (5) I ALSO SENT CAPT TAYLOR HOLDING THE O.B.L., R.B.B.28 (6)
11. I ALSO SENT FOR Capt. BOWYER, 23rd ROYAL FUSILIERS AND GAVE HIM VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS (7)
12. At 10am Capt. BOWYER and about 100 men of the 23rd. R. FUS. Well supplied with bombs which had in meanwhile been sent me by the 99th I.R., started up the railway – they reached the German Line with practically no casualties. Capt. BOWYER at once started operations and he bombed up (the) trench in (the) following order, 23rd R.FUS, 63rd Division consisting of 7th Bn R. FUS, BEDFORDS, H.A.C.. The operation was entirely successful and he established himself firmly at B.12.d.6.7 (?), vis about 900 yards south of OPPY WOOD. He did not proceed past this point, although convinced that he could do so, as he thought the BERKS might be bombing down to meet him. Also fearing strong counter attack he wished to keep a large supply of bombs. In the meanwhile, I sent up to him every bomb I could lay my hands on, and also several boxes to Capt TAYLOR in the O.B.L. to get across “No Man’s Land” to him. The supply now arriving from 99th I.B. was ample. Also water and SAA strated to arrive, both of which were badly needed.
13. AT ABOUT 10.25am the O.C. BEDFORDS arrived at my Bn. H.Qs. and gave me the situation on the left. This coincided exactly with 2/Lt JEFFCOAT’s report. HE AGREED TO WORK EVERYTHING IN CONJUNCTION WITH ME AND WE WORKED MOST HARMONIOUSLY TOGETHER.
14. At 10.25am Lt-Col HARRIS informed me that a report (unreliable) had reached him that the Germans were attacking in force against the O.B.L. and might drive a gap between 1st R BERKS and my left. I therefore kept back 6 Lewis Guns of 23rd ROYAL FUSILIERS and 1 platoon and also phoned 99th I.B. to ask for reinforcements. This report was afterwards found to be false. Capt TAYLOR, 23rd R. FUS in O.B.L., during the morning sent his patrols across “No Man’s Land” and kept in touch with Capt. BOWYER’s attack. The information he sent me was of the greatest value and his patrols must have acted with great gallantry, as the O.B.L. and “No Man’s Land” were swept with machine gun and rifle fire from OPPY WOOD.
15. AT 3.15pm THE 99th I.B. INFORMED ME THAT OPPY WOOD AND VILLAGE WERE REPORTED TO BE IN THE PROCESS OF EVACUATION BY (THE) ENEMY. I AT ONCE SENT OUT TO CAPTS. BOWYE AND TAYLOR MY R.B.B.30 and 31.
16. I asked O.C. BEDFORDS to come to my H.Qs. (as previously agreed) to confer. We agreed that he should push out patrols to practise trenches (B13 C and D) and keep in touch with my right and in the event of being able to advance that he should capture (the) practise trenches. We also sent for (the) Brigade M.G. Officer and instructed him to train his guns on (the) practise ground and sweep (the) approaches south of the village.
17. I then telephoned to Brigade what my future arrangements would be, which were entirely dependent on patrol reports. They were (a) that Capts. BOWYER and TAYLOR would push on with their remnants of troops and occupy any good positions south and east of (the) village, (b0 that I would push up the EAST YORKS behind and in support of them and (c) when touch was once more obtained with the enemy, I would relieve them with the EAST YORKS and drw them back into reserve.
18. At 5.30(?)pm I received a patrol report from Capt. BOWYER to the effect (a) THAT ENEMY WERE HOLDING A TRENCH JUST WEST OF THE SUNKEN ROAD, (b) THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL HOSTILE POSTS PROTECTED BY WIRE – HE ADDED THAT THE TRENCH SEEMED TO BE A COMMUNICATION TRENCH RUNNING IN A HALF CIRCLE STARTING FROM OPPY LINE AND JOINING UP AT SUNKEN ROAD. (c) THE OPPY WOOD PATROL REPORTED “ENEMY STILL IN OCCUPATION, ABOUT 200 OF THEM BEING SEEN PROCEEDING FROM SUNKEN ROAD TO WOOD”
19. It was reported to me during the day that our second objective did not exist as it had been completely obliterated by our artillery. 20. I AM OF OPINION
(a) that our failure to take the first objective in the first place was simply owing to the wire not being cut and the difficulty in finding the few gaps in the dark.
(b) that in spite of (the) above, men of the 22nd R FUS. Who got into (their) first objective, would have cleared it and maintained themselves there, if bombs had been available. The fight was simply a bombing fight as it was in trenches – rifle fire and bayonets were useless.
(c) the supply of bombs and SAA when once they began to arrive from 99th I.B. was ample, and that had more time been allowed us to properly organise dumps and carrying parties, the attack could not have failed.
(d) the enemy were guardsmen and fought magnificently. The losses on both sides were therefore about equal.
(e) Their counter attackers appeared to be splendidly trained and organised and had unlimited bombs,
(f) our barrage of 6 mins did not allow sufficient time for men to advance over 150 yards and get through two belts of wire. The barrage had lifted before our men reached the second belt. 21. I wish to place on record the splendid gallantry of 2/Lt JEFFCOAT (mortally wounded. It was entirely owing to the excellent report he sent (to) me on the situation that I was able to push up the 23rd R FUS and so capture practically the whole of the objective given me.

The O.C. BEDFORD REGT gave me most excellent advise and assistance and our co-operation together was everything that could be desired.

I cannot speak too highly of the most valuable services of Capt. BOWYER and Capt. TAYLOR, 23rd R.FUS. The success of our counter attack and the gaining of or objectives was greatly due to their excellent leadership and gallantry. The information they gave me, placed me in a position to give them the assistance they required. It would be impossible to say enough about all the Officers and me of the 23rd R. FUS. Who came under my command. They were ready, eager and prepared to move at a moment’s notice, quickly understood their orders and carried them out to perfection.

Notes on Casualties/Mentioned Men

Jeffcoat, Stanley Ferns 2/Lt, aged ? Roclincourt Mil Cem (DoW) (apparently reccommended for a V.C. for his action on 29th April 1917, but actualy awarded a Mentioned in Despatches)

Perraton, Frank Mayvour 2/Lt, aged 20, M.C. Arras Memorial, Bay 3(KiA)

Saword, Ralph 2/Lt, aged 26 Arras Memorial, Bay 3(KiA)

Stevenson, Frederick 2/Lt, aged ? Arras Memorial, Bay3 (KiA)

Wardley, Miles Edward 2/Lt, aged 28 Arras Memoral, Bay 3(KiA)

Carr, James Walter, Lt, aged 25, DoW 16/11/1918 whilst attached to 99th Trench Mortar Battery. M.C. D.C.M. MiD. Brookwood Mil Cem (UK)

From CGWC.ORG

Brown J Pte, G/6436, age ? Orchard Dump Cemetery
Cole, Charles Victor Pte, G/41291, age 38 Orchard Dump Cemetery
Woolford S A Pte, 2121, age ? Orchard Dump Cemetery