Alderton's WW1 War Dead
Below are the biographical and military details of the sixteen men listed on the Alderton War memorial. I have also included two men whose names do not appear on the Alderton village memorial. Only one of the two Grimmett brothers appears on the memorial, so details of both are included below, and Jesse James, who was born in Alderton but lived in Stanton, where he is commemorated.
Lance Corporal Harold Franklin
Name/Rank: Lance Corporal Harold Franklin
Regiment/Battalion: 1/4th battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry
Service No: 204097
Date died: 30/09/1918
Buried/Commemorated: Loos Memorial at Dud Corner cemetery
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial, the Gloucester War memorial and the Longlevens war memorial tablet situated in Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens
Harold Franklin was born in Gloucester on 4th January 1898. By 1901 he was living at 238 Tuffley Avenue, with his father Arthur Reginald Bennett a clerk at a timber works, his mother Isabel and his younger brother Frederick. The family had moved to Pilcroft, Tuffley Avenue by 1911, probably a larger property, as Reginald now had three further brothers, and the family also employed a servant, Kate Hopkins.
Harold was the nephew of Ernest Adamson, Alderton's school Headmaster and later secretary of the Alderton war memorial committee. Harold and his brothers Jack and Fred also attended the village school during 1912.
Harold enlisted some time in 1916 in the 1/4th Gloucestershire regiment, a territorial battalion, with the service number 202937. At some point before going abroad he was transferred to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, moving between the 5th, 1st and 1/4th battalions. Spells at the infantry base depot are also listed on his military records so it’s likely that Harold spent time back in the UK, possibly after being wounded or recovering from illness. There is a family story that his last letter home mentioned that he had been gassed. The 1/4th battalion were a territorial battalion and part of 56th brigade, 19th (Western) Division by February 1918.
By August 1918 the British and Allied forces had started a series of attacks that became known as the 100 days offensive and saw the Germans being pushed back along the whole of the Western Front. As part of this offensive the 1/4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry moved into the Mauquissart/Moulin de Pietre area on 27th September 1918. They carried out active patrolling to understand the strength of the enemy to their front. In the early hours of the 30th September the battalion moved out and attacked the enemy positions at Les Laies Ditch and it was during this attack that Harold Franklin was killed, alongside fifteen other members of his battalion. Harold has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner cemetery.
Following Harold’s death a memorial notice appeared in the Gloucester Journal of 19th October 1918, which read: “Information has been received of the death in action in France Lc.-Cpl. Harold Reginald Franklin, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R B. Franklin, Brookside, Cheltenham road. Gloucester. Deceased joined the Gloucester Territorials at the age of 17 in February 1915 and was transferred the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. He had been in France nearly two years and had been wounded once. Was formerly under foreman at Messrs. Moreland and Sons. Ltd. A letter from the Captain of deceased's company says Lce.-Corpl. Franklin was killed in a small attack which was entirely successful. He was shot through the head whilst leading his section and died instantly. The officer adds: " I am sure that the whole Company joins me in expressing our sorrow and our very deep sympathy with you. Personally, I feel the loss because he was one of the men I chose to be a leader, and I have always been pleased with his work. He was brave and efficient.”
A pension of 5s a week was awarded to Isabel Franklin from April 1919. Her address was listed as 187 Cheltenham Road, Gloucester. The pension record was originally marked to Harold’s father at the Brookside address, but he is noted as deceased, so it’s possible Harold’s mother had moved following her husband’s death.
Following Harold’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 18s 3d & £17 that were paid to his mother Isabel in 1919. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Harold’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Harold was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Harold is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial, the Gloucester War memorial and the Longlevens war memorial tablet situated in Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens.
*Additional information about Harold Franklin is taken from the article “Two Brothers, Two War Memorials” by David Adamson which appeared in The Western Front Association’s Bulletin No. 124 (June 2023).
Regiment/Battalion: 1/4th battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry
Service No: 204097
Date died: 30/09/1918
Buried/Commemorated: Loos Memorial at Dud Corner cemetery
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial, the Gloucester War memorial and the Longlevens war memorial tablet situated in Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens
Harold Franklin was born in Gloucester on 4th January 1898. By 1901 he was living at 238 Tuffley Avenue, with his father Arthur Reginald Bennett a clerk at a timber works, his mother Isabel and his younger brother Frederick. The family had moved to Pilcroft, Tuffley Avenue by 1911, probably a larger property, as Reginald now had three further brothers, and the family also employed a servant, Kate Hopkins.
Harold was the nephew of Ernest Adamson, Alderton's school Headmaster and later secretary of the Alderton war memorial committee. Harold and his brothers Jack and Fred also attended the village school during 1912.
Harold enlisted some time in 1916 in the 1/4th Gloucestershire regiment, a territorial battalion, with the service number 202937. At some point before going abroad he was transferred to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, moving between the 5th, 1st and 1/4th battalions. Spells at the infantry base depot are also listed on his military records so it’s likely that Harold spent time back in the UK, possibly after being wounded or recovering from illness. There is a family story that his last letter home mentioned that he had been gassed. The 1/4th battalion were a territorial battalion and part of 56th brigade, 19th (Western) Division by February 1918.
By August 1918 the British and Allied forces had started a series of attacks that became known as the 100 days offensive and saw the Germans being pushed back along the whole of the Western Front. As part of this offensive the 1/4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry moved into the Mauquissart/Moulin de Pietre area on 27th September 1918. They carried out active patrolling to understand the strength of the enemy to their front. In the early hours of the 30th September the battalion moved out and attacked the enemy positions at Les Laies Ditch and it was during this attack that Harold Franklin was killed, alongside fifteen other members of his battalion. Harold has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner cemetery.
Following Harold’s death a memorial notice appeared in the Gloucester Journal of 19th October 1918, which read: “Information has been received of the death in action in France Lc.-Cpl. Harold Reginald Franklin, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R B. Franklin, Brookside, Cheltenham road. Gloucester. Deceased joined the Gloucester Territorials at the age of 17 in February 1915 and was transferred the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. He had been in France nearly two years and had been wounded once. Was formerly under foreman at Messrs. Moreland and Sons. Ltd. A letter from the Captain of deceased's company says Lce.-Corpl. Franklin was killed in a small attack which was entirely successful. He was shot through the head whilst leading his section and died instantly. The officer adds: " I am sure that the whole Company joins me in expressing our sorrow and our very deep sympathy with you. Personally, I feel the loss because he was one of the men I chose to be a leader, and I have always been pleased with his work. He was brave and efficient.”
A pension of 5s a week was awarded to Isabel Franklin from April 1919. Her address was listed as 187 Cheltenham Road, Gloucester. The pension record was originally marked to Harold’s father at the Brookside address, but he is noted as deceased, so it’s possible Harold’s mother had moved following her husband’s death.
Following Harold’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 18s 3d & £17 that were paid to his mother Isabel in 1919. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Harold’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Harold was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Harold is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial, the Gloucester War memorial and the Longlevens war memorial tablet situated in Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens.
*Additional information about Harold Franklin is taken from the article “Two Brothers, Two War Memorials” by David Adamson which appeared in The Western Front Association’s Bulletin No. 124 (June 2023).
Name/Rank: Private Alfred Victor Grimmett
Regiment/Battalion: 8th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 17237
Date died: 21st October 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial and on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial. Alfred is remembered in the book “A Noble Band of Heroes” by John Dixon which commemorates the men from Tewkesbury who lost their lives in WW1.
Alfred Grimmett was born in December 1894 in Alderton. His parents Samuel and Millicent had a total of nine children, though by 1911 only seven were still living. Between 1901 and 1911 Alfred was living at Alstone Fields Farm with his parents and siblings which included brothers Wilfred and Cyril and sisters Millicent, Ruby and Winnifred. Alfred’s younger brother Aldred was living in Alderton with his Aunt and Uncle Thomas and Joan Sharp, who was Alfred’s father’s sister. Records suggest that Aldred had been adopted by the Sharps. Alfred is listed on the Tewkesbury Grammer School register between 1907 and 1913, though the 1911 census has his occupation as farmer’s son working on the farm.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Alfred enlisted in the Gloucestershire regiment at Tewkesbury in December 1914, initially with the 9th and 2/5th battalions before being transferred to the 8th battalion, which was part of 57th brigade, 19th (Western) Division. Alfred arrived in France on 20th September 1915 which qualified him for the 1914-15 Star medal. At some time during his war service, he was promoted to acting (unpaid) Lance Corporal.
By August 1918 the British and Allied forces had started a series of attacks that became known as the 100 days offensive and saw the Germans being pushed back as along the whole of the Western Front. On the 19th October the 8th Gloucestershire regiment paraded near the village of Haussy, east of Cambrai, in readiness for an attack the next day. On the 20th they took part in the general attack crossing the river Selle successfully taking the village of Haussy. During the attack the battalion lost twelve men killed, one of whom was Alfred Grimmett. Alfred is buried in Romeries Communal cemetery extension alongside six of his battalion comrades.
Following Alfred’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £44 16s 9d & £2 10s 8d that were paid to his mother Millicent in February and March 1919 respectively. These payments would likely have been the remains of Alfred’s army pay and also a war gratuity of £22 10s paid out to soldiers and their dependants. No pension records for Alfred Grimmett have been found.
Alfred was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star and the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Alfred is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial. Alfred is remembered in the book “A Noble Band of Heroes” by John Dixon which commemorates the men from Tewkesbury who lost their lives in WW1.
Alfred's father paid for a private inscription on the gravestones of both his sons, which reads "Rest in peace".
