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.
Name/Rank: Private Reginald James Agg
Regiment/Battalion: 2/5th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 4651
Date died: 25/09/1916
Buried: Pont-Du-Hem military cemetery, La Gorgue, France.
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial and the 1/5th & 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park, Gloucester
Reginald James Agg was born in Alderton in 1896. His parents George and Emma had six other children, Walter, Charlotte, George, Charles, Rosetta and Albert. Next door lived a William and Emma Agg, who were possibly Reginald’s grandparents. The 1911 census shows Reginald living at the Post Office, Alderton with his father, mother and the following siblings, Charlotte (Post Office assistant), Charles (boot repairer), Rosetta (domestic help) and Albert (horseman on farm). Reginald is also listed as a horseman on a farm.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Reginald enlisted in the 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment at Cheltenham, between November and December 1915. The 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment was a territorial battalion formed initially in Gloucester in September 1914 and part of 184th brigade, 61st Division. Following a period of training in England the battalion landed in France in May 1916.
During September 1916 the 2/5th battalion were in and out of the line in the Laventie sector, Northern France. On the night of 25th September Reginald’s battalion were holding trenches at Mauquissart when the Germans blew a mine under the trenches killing six members of the battalion. One of these six was Reginald Agg. He is buried alongside his five mates at Pont-Du-Hem military cemetery, a short distance from the trenches where he was killed.
Following Reginald’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £5 5s 8d and £3 that were paid to his mother Emma in December 1916 and August 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Reginald’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants. In addition, a pension of 10/- in respect of Reginald Agg was awarded to George Agg from 25/01/19 for life.
Reginald was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Reginald Agg is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial, the 1/5th and 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park and is buried in the Pont-Du-Hem military cemetery, La Gorgue, France.
Regiment/Battalion: 2/5th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 4651
Date died: 25/09/1916
Buried: Pont-Du-Hem military cemetery, La Gorgue, France.
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial and the 1/5th & 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park, Gloucester
Reginald James Agg was born in Alderton in 1896. His parents George and Emma had six other children, Walter, Charlotte, George, Charles, Rosetta and Albert. Next door lived a William and Emma Agg, who were possibly Reginald’s grandparents. The 1911 census shows Reginald living at the Post Office, Alderton with his father, mother and the following siblings, Charlotte (Post Office assistant), Charles (boot repairer), Rosetta (domestic help) and Albert (horseman on farm). Reginald is also listed as a horseman on a farm.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Reginald enlisted in the 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment at Cheltenham, between November and December 1915. The 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment was a territorial battalion formed initially in Gloucester in September 1914 and part of 184th brigade, 61st Division. Following a period of training in England the battalion landed in France in May 1916.
During September 1916 the 2/5th battalion were in and out of the line in the Laventie sector, Northern France. On the night of 25th September Reginald’s battalion were holding trenches at Mauquissart when the Germans blew a mine under the trenches killing six members of the battalion. One of these six was Reginald Agg. He is buried alongside his five mates at Pont-Du-Hem military cemetery, a short distance from the trenches where he was killed.
Following Reginald’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £5 5s 8d and £3 that were paid to his mother Emma in December 1916 and August 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Reginald’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants. In addition, a pension of 10/- in respect of Reginald Agg was awarded to George Agg from 25/01/19 for life.
Reginald was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Reginald Agg is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial, the 1/5th and 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park and is buried in the Pont-Du-Hem military cemetery, La Gorgue, France.
Name/Rank: Private Arthur Bishop
Regiment/Battalion: 7th & 12th battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry
Service No: 17051/290038
Date died: 14th February 1919
Buried: Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial
Arthur William Bishop was born in Northleach in 1894. His parents John and Susannah had four other children Rose, Lizzie, Helen & Frances and census records show the family moving around between Northleach, Salfords Prior in Warwickshire and Alderton. By 1911 they were living in Alderton and Arthur was aged 17, and his occupation was a worker in a canning factory.
Sometime after the outbreak of war Arthur enlisted in the 7th battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry in Deptford, Kent, though his place of residence at that time was Grove Park, Middlesex. There are no records available to provide details of Arthur’s service but from analysis of casualty records of 7th battalion members with similar service numbers to Arthur’s, it’s likely that he served in France and Flanders with the 7th battalion from the middle of 1916. Later Arthur was transferred to the 12th battalion of the Somerset’s and given the new number 290038. The 12th battalion had been formed in Egypt in 1917 from members of the dismounted Somerset Yeomanry. They moved to France in May 1918 in the 229th brigade, 74th Division. It is unknown whether Arthur served with the 12th battalion in Egypt.
On 7th September 1918 the 12th Somersets moved up into the line around Longavesnes, in the Somme region. They were relieved on the 9th September except D company who remained with the 12th Black Watch in the line. Arthur was in 14 platoon, D company. On the 10th September Albert’s D company were subjected to a very strong German counter-attack. Following this action 24 other ranks were missing alongside a Capt. F.F. Edbrooke MC (taken prisoner). During this action Arthur received a gunshot wound to his upper thigh and was taken prisoner. He was at Quedlinbourg POW camp where he died in hospital on 14th February 1919. Arthur was buried in the Niederzwehren cemetery, Kassel, Germany which was used as a concentration cemetery after the war for allied POWs who had died whilst interned.
According to handwritten notes on Arthur's Red Cross POW card he had a contact listed as a Miss Griffiths, The Shack, Chipping Campden, Glos. She had presumably written to the Red Cross asking for information about Arthur. There was a prominent Griffiths family in Chipping Campden of which a daughter Josephine was noted as: “During WW1, she was continually active in raising funds for the Red Cross and other military associations by organising knitting and garden parties and door to door collections. Her descriptions of Armistice Day celebrations are all recorded in local history books, as well as the part she took in the erection of the Town War Memorial in 1921.” According to the 1901 census Arthur’s oldest sister Rose was employed as a parlour maid for the Griffiths family, Bedfont House, Chipping Campden and through this relationship Josephine Griffiths contacted the Red Cross asking for information about Arthur Bishop. By 1911 Rose had married Frederick Benfield (Army Service Corps 1915-1919) and was still living in Chipping Campden, where she remained until her death in 1958.
Following Arthur’s death, a pension was paid to his mother Susannah, though no amount is noted on the pension record. The pension record has an address of 28 Heather Road, Grove Park, Lee, London which is crossed out. This could have been Arthur’s London address and tallies with his enlistment record.
Following Arthur’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists an amount of £46 5s 11d which was paid to his mother Susannah in 1919. This amount included the remains of Arthur’s army pay and a war gratuity payment of £24 paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Arthur was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Arthur Bishop is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and is buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany.
Regiment/Battalion: 7th & 12th battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry
Service No: 17051/290038
Date died: 14th February 1919
Buried: Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial
Arthur William Bishop was born in Northleach in 1894. His parents John and Susannah had four other children Rose, Lizzie, Helen & Frances and census records show the family moving around between Northleach, Salfords Prior in Warwickshire and Alderton. By 1911 they were living in Alderton and Arthur was aged 17, and his occupation was a worker in a canning factory.
Sometime after the outbreak of war Arthur enlisted in the 7th battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry in Deptford, Kent, though his place of residence at that time was Grove Park, Middlesex. There are no records available to provide details of Arthur’s service but from analysis of casualty records of 7th battalion members with similar service numbers to Arthur’s, it’s likely that he served in France and Flanders with the 7th battalion from the middle of 1916. Later Arthur was transferred to the 12th battalion of the Somerset’s and given the new number 290038. The 12th battalion had been formed in Egypt in 1917 from members of the dismounted Somerset Yeomanry. They moved to France in May 1918 in the 229th brigade, 74th Division. It is unknown whether Arthur served with the 12th battalion in Egypt.
On 7th September 1918 the 12th Somersets moved up into the line around Longavesnes, in the Somme region. They were relieved on the 9th September except D company who remained with the 12th Black Watch in the line. Arthur was in 14 platoon, D company. On the 10th September Albert’s D company were subjected to a very strong German counter-attack. Following this action 24 other ranks were missing alongside a Capt. F.F. Edbrooke MC (taken prisoner). During this action Arthur received a gunshot wound to his upper thigh and was taken prisoner. He was at Quedlinbourg POW camp where he died in hospital on 14th February 1919. Arthur was buried in the Niederzwehren cemetery, Kassel, Germany which was used as a concentration cemetery after the war for allied POWs who had died whilst interned.
According to handwritten notes on Arthur's Red Cross POW card he had a contact listed as a Miss Griffiths, The Shack, Chipping Campden, Glos. She had presumably written to the Red Cross asking for information about Arthur. There was a prominent Griffiths family in Chipping Campden of which a daughter Josephine was noted as: “During WW1, she was continually active in raising funds for the Red Cross and other military associations by organising knitting and garden parties and door to door collections. Her descriptions of Armistice Day celebrations are all recorded in local history books, as well as the part she took in the erection of the Town War Memorial in 1921.” According to the 1901 census Arthur’s oldest sister Rose was employed as a parlour maid for the Griffiths family, Bedfont House, Chipping Campden and through this relationship Josephine Griffiths contacted the Red Cross asking for information about Arthur Bishop. By 1911 Rose had married Frederick Benfield (Army Service Corps 1915-1919) and was still living in Chipping Campden, where she remained until her death in 1958.
Following Arthur’s death, a pension was paid to his mother Susannah, though no amount is noted on the pension record. The pension record has an address of 28 Heather Road, Grove Park, Lee, London which is crossed out. This could have been Arthur’s London address and tallies with his enlistment record.
Following Arthur’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists an amount of £46 5s 11d which was paid to his mother Susannah in 1919. This amount included the remains of Arthur’s army pay and a war gratuity payment of £24 paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Arthur was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Arthur Bishop is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and is buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany.
Name/Rank: Lance Corporal Charles Box
Regiment/Battalion: 10th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 17365
Date died: 22-23 July 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme
Commemorated: Alderton and Sedgeberrow War memorials
Charles Box was born in Bourton-on-the-Hill in 1881. His parents George and Fanny also had a daughter Agnes who was born in 1890. Census records show the family moving around between Cropthorne and Willersley. By 1911 Charles was living in Alderton and was married to Angelina and had a son, William aged 1. Charles’s occupation is listed as a general labourer. His sister-in-law Hilda aged 13 was also living with them. The Sedgeberrow Parish magazine of August 1915 notes Charles as serving in France, and the November 1916 edition lists his death alongside other Sedgeberrow men. So it's likely that Charles was living in Sedgeberrow when he enlisted.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Charles enlisted in the 10th battalion the Gloucestershire regiment at Cheltenham in December 1914. After a period of training the battalion arrived in France on 9th August 1915, forming part of the 1st brigade, 1st Division. The 10th Gloucesters took part in the battle of Loos* in September 1915 and suffered horrendous casualties with 8 officers and 159 men of the battalion losing their lives (including Alderton’s William Diston - see later entry). Several other Alderton men were in the 10th Gloucesters at Loos including Albert Agg (see Reginald Agg entry) and brothers Harry, Frederick and Arthur Chandler. From medal records for the 1914-15 Star and analysis of casualty records of 10th battalion members with similar service numbers to Charles’s it’s likely that he was with the battalion during the attack at Loos and was one of the fortunate survivors.
Later in the war the 10th Gloucesters took part in the battle of the Somme in July 1916. They were in the front-line south of Martinpuich on 21st July in preparation for an attack on the German Switch trench on the 23rd. It was during this attack that Charles Box was killed alongside fifty-six of his battalion comrades. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thievpal memorial to the missing on the Somme.
Following Charles’s death pension records show his wife Angelina Elizabeth Box living in Dumbleton with 3 children, William George, Arthur Charles (4) and Gladys (1). They received a pension of 20/6 a week paid from 22/01/17. Angelina died in 1968 aged 82 in Surrey (St. John the Baptist church). Her address was 76 Inkerman Road, Knaphill.
Following Charles’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £2 17s 5d & £6 10s that were paid to his wife Angelina in November 1916 and September 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Charles’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Charles’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
Charles Box is commemorated on the Alderton and Sedgeberrow War memorials, and the Thiepval memorial on the Somme, France.
* For an excellent study of the 10th Gloucester’s formation, training and action at Loos see “In the Shadow of Lone Tree “by Nick Christian.
Regiment/Battalion: 10th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 17365
Date died: 22-23 July 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme
Commemorated: Alderton and Sedgeberrow War memorials
Charles Box was born in Bourton-on-the-Hill in 1881. His parents George and Fanny also had a daughter Agnes who was born in 1890. Census records show the family moving around between Cropthorne and Willersley. By 1911 Charles was living in Alderton and was married to Angelina and had a son, William aged 1. Charles’s occupation is listed as a general labourer. His sister-in-law Hilda aged 13 was also living with them. The Sedgeberrow Parish magazine of August 1915 notes Charles as serving in France, and the November 1916 edition lists his death alongside other Sedgeberrow men. So it's likely that Charles was living in Sedgeberrow when he enlisted.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Charles enlisted in the 10th battalion the Gloucestershire regiment at Cheltenham in December 1914. After a period of training the battalion arrived in France on 9th August 1915, forming part of the 1st brigade, 1st Division. The 10th Gloucesters took part in the battle of Loos* in September 1915 and suffered horrendous casualties with 8 officers and 159 men of the battalion losing their lives (including Alderton’s William Diston - see later entry). Several other Alderton men were in the 10th Gloucesters at Loos including Albert Agg (see Reginald Agg entry) and brothers Harry, Frederick and Arthur Chandler. From medal records for the 1914-15 Star and analysis of casualty records of 10th battalion members with similar service numbers to Charles’s it’s likely that he was with the battalion during the attack at Loos and was one of the fortunate survivors.
Later in the war the 10th Gloucesters took part in the battle of the Somme in July 1916. They were in the front-line south of Martinpuich on 21st July in preparation for an attack on the German Switch trench on the 23rd. It was during this attack that Charles Box was killed alongside fifty-six of his battalion comrades. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thievpal memorial to the missing on the Somme.
Following Charles’s death pension records show his wife Angelina Elizabeth Box living in Dumbleton with 3 children, William George, Arthur Charles (4) and Gladys (1). They received a pension of 20/6 a week paid from 22/01/17. Angelina died in 1968 aged 82 in Surrey (St. John the Baptist church). Her address was 76 Inkerman Road, Knaphill.
Following Charles’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £2 17s 5d & £6 10s that were paid to his wife Angelina in November 1916 and September 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Charles’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Charles’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
Charles Box is commemorated on the Alderton and Sedgeberrow War memorials, and the Thiepval memorial on the Somme, France.
* For an excellent study of the 10th Gloucester’s formation, training and action at Loos see “In the Shadow of Lone Tree “by Nick Christian.
Name/Rank: Driver Sydney Cook
Regiment/Battalion: Royal Army Service Corps (H.Q. Coy. 1st Div. Train)
Service No: TS/9647
Date died: 19th July 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Becourt Military Cemetery, Becourt-Becordel, France
Commemorated: Sydney Cook is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on the WW1 memorial plaque in St Mary's Church, Acocks Green.
Sydney Cook was born in Alderton in 1887. His parents Michael and Elizabeth had sixteen other children between 1883 and 1905. By 1901 Sydney was aged 14 and living at 2 Home Road, Toddington where he is listed as a servant/blacksmith to the blacksmith Richard Stanley. By 1911 Sydney was aged 24 and living as a boarder at 6 Station Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham and his occupation was a blacksmith.
Sydney attested on 20th November 1915 in Birmingham, where he was living at 185 Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Green. He was aged 28, unmarried and his occupation was a shoeing smith, he was 5ft 7in. On attestation his next of kin was listed as his mother Elizabeth Cook, of Alderton, Gloucestershire. Sydney embarked from Southampton aboard the S.S Viper on 20th December 1915, arriving in Le Harve on 21st making him entitled to the 1914-15 Star.
Sydney Cook was a driver and farrier with the Army Service Corps part of the 1st Division. His company moved to the Somme in July 1916 and were stationed around the Becourt Wood area, just behind the Somme front line. On the 19th July the company carried out various supply duties and at some point during the day four men of the company were killed by shellfire, Sydney Cook was one of these. Amongst Sydney’s surviving service papers there is a letter from the Officer Commanding the 1st Divisional train saying Sydney was KIA by artillery fire. He is buried alongside two of his pals in Becourt cemetery.
Fortunately, several of Sydney’s service papers survive and from these we can see that there was a record of an allowance of 6d per day paid to a Miss J Hunt from 31/07/16, also a request that any of Sydney's effects & medals to be sent to Miss Mary Jane (Jeanie) Hunt of 23 Deakin Road, Birmingham. Then a later record noting Mary Hunt's change of address to 23 Cupid Street, Belmont Road, Anfield, Liverpool. There is also Army Form W.5080 asking for details of all Sydney Cook's living relatives, which notes his father as dead and lists seven brothers & seven sisters alongside his mother. All at various locations including Alderton, Bournebrook, Birmingham, Bradford, Cinderford and Westmancote/Bredon. This form is witnessed by the Rector of Alderton Arthur Pennington. Rather poignantly Sydney's mother wrote back to the War office casualty branch thanking them "sincerely for the certificate in memory of my dear son". A notice of Sydney being KIA also appeared in both the Birmingham Daily Mail of the 26th July & the Birmingham Daily Post of 27th July. It noted he was a Birmingham man, and his address was the Forge, Tyseley. Separately a copy of a memorial notice was published in an unknown paper, entitled “In loving memory of our dear brother Farrier Sydney Cook” and it ends with “Ever remembered by his loving mother, brothers and sisters and sweetheart Jeanie Hunt”.
Following Sydney’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £18 15s 6d & £3 that were paid to Mary Jane Hunt in 1916 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Sydney’s pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Sydney’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
Sydney Cook is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and is buried in Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France. There is an S Cook listed on the WW1 memorial plaque in St Mary's Church, Acocks Green. The church is situated between Station Road and Fox Hollies Road so it’s quite likely that it was Sydney's local church
Regiment/Battalion: Royal Army Service Corps (H.Q. Coy. 1st Div. Train)
Service No: TS/9647
Date died: 19th July 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Becourt Military Cemetery, Becourt-Becordel, France
Commemorated: Sydney Cook is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on the WW1 memorial plaque in St Mary's Church, Acocks Green.
Sydney Cook was born in Alderton in 1887. His parents Michael and Elizabeth had sixteen other children between 1883 and 1905. By 1901 Sydney was aged 14 and living at 2 Home Road, Toddington where he is listed as a servant/blacksmith to the blacksmith Richard Stanley. By 1911 Sydney was aged 24 and living as a boarder at 6 Station Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham and his occupation was a blacksmith.
Sydney attested on 20th November 1915 in Birmingham, where he was living at 185 Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Green. He was aged 28, unmarried and his occupation was a shoeing smith, he was 5ft 7in. On attestation his next of kin was listed as his mother Elizabeth Cook, of Alderton, Gloucestershire. Sydney embarked from Southampton aboard the S.S Viper on 20th December 1915, arriving in Le Harve on 21st making him entitled to the 1914-15 Star.
Sydney Cook was a driver and farrier with the Army Service Corps part of the 1st Division. His company moved to the Somme in July 1916 and were stationed around the Becourt Wood area, just behind the Somme front line. On the 19th July the company carried out various supply duties and at some point during the day four men of the company were killed by shellfire, Sydney Cook was one of these. Amongst Sydney’s surviving service papers there is a letter from the Officer Commanding the 1st Divisional train saying Sydney was KIA by artillery fire. He is buried alongside two of his pals in Becourt cemetery.
Fortunately, several of Sydney’s service papers survive and from these we can see that there was a record of an allowance of 6d per day paid to a Miss J Hunt from 31/07/16, also a request that any of Sydney's effects & medals to be sent to Miss Mary Jane (Jeanie) Hunt of 23 Deakin Road, Birmingham. Then a later record noting Mary Hunt's change of address to 23 Cupid Street, Belmont Road, Anfield, Liverpool. There is also Army Form W.5080 asking for details of all Sydney Cook's living relatives, which notes his father as dead and lists seven brothers & seven sisters alongside his mother. All at various locations including Alderton, Bournebrook, Birmingham, Bradford, Cinderford and Westmancote/Bredon. This form is witnessed by the Rector of Alderton Arthur Pennington. Rather poignantly Sydney's mother wrote back to the War office casualty branch thanking them "sincerely for the certificate in memory of my dear son". A notice of Sydney being KIA also appeared in both the Birmingham Daily Mail of the 26th July & the Birmingham Daily Post of 27th July. It noted he was a Birmingham man, and his address was the Forge, Tyseley. Separately a copy of a memorial notice was published in an unknown paper, entitled “In loving memory of our dear brother Farrier Sydney Cook” and it ends with “Ever remembered by his loving mother, brothers and sisters and sweetheart Jeanie Hunt”.
Following Sydney’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £18 15s 6d & £3 that were paid to Mary Jane Hunt in 1916 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Sydney’s pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Sydney’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
Sydney Cook is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and is buried in Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France. There is an S Cook listed on the WW1 memorial plaque in St Mary's Church, Acocks Green. The church is situated between Station Road and Fox Hollies Road so it’s quite likely that it was Sydney's local church
Name/Rank: Private Frank Cook
Regiment/Battalion: 1st battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Service No: 36204
Date died: 29th June 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Aire Communal Cemetery, France
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial
Frank Cook was born in Alderton in 1894. He was the younger brother of Sydney Cook (see earlier entry). Frank’s parents Michael and Elizabeth had sixteen other children between 1883 and 1905. By 1911 Frank was 17 and living and working at the Beckford Hotel as an ostler/servant for the owners Frederick and Eva Pope. Frank married Elizabeth Nellie Moore on 20th September 1915 at Kings Norton Registry office, both their addresses are listed as 8 Harrow Road, Bournbrook. They are both aged 21 with occupations bricklayer/labourer and bullet examiner respectively.
Frank enlisted in the 1st battalion the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (DCLI) sometime in early 1917 in Birmingham and proceeded to France several months later. The 1st DCLI were part of 95th brigade, 5th Division. According to the medical records of the 14th brigade Field Ambulance unit Frank was admitted on 7th December 1917 with PUO, or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin a common medical term for general illness such as fever and high temperature etc. He was later transferred to 59th Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) at Hesdin for further treatment.
On 28th June 1918 the 1st battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry carried out an attack on the German positions at L'Epinette in northern France. The attack was a success, however the battalion suffered around 35 casualties either killed in action or subsequently dying of wounds. Frank Cook was one of those who died on the following day. He is buried at Aire Communal cemetery which was in the vicinity of several CCS in 1918.
Pension records for Frank (his brother Sydney’s details are on the same record) has Mrs. Elizabeth Nellie Cook as his widow, living at 8 Harrow Road, Bournbrook, Birmingham. There are no details on the card as to how much was paid. Electoral records show Elizabeth Nellie Cook still living at Harrow Road in 1939.
Following Frank’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £4 1s 6d & £4 10s that were paid to his widow Elizabeth in 1918 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Frank’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Frank was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Frank is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and is buried in Aire Communal cemetery, France.
Regiment/Battalion: 1st battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Service No: 36204
Date died: 29th June 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Aire Communal Cemetery, France
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial
Frank Cook was born in Alderton in 1894. He was the younger brother of Sydney Cook (see earlier entry). Frank’s parents Michael and Elizabeth had sixteen other children between 1883 and 1905. By 1911 Frank was 17 and living and working at the Beckford Hotel as an ostler/servant for the owners Frederick and Eva Pope. Frank married Elizabeth Nellie Moore on 20th September 1915 at Kings Norton Registry office, both their addresses are listed as 8 Harrow Road, Bournbrook. They are both aged 21 with occupations bricklayer/labourer and bullet examiner respectively.
Frank enlisted in the 1st battalion the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (DCLI) sometime in early 1917 in Birmingham and proceeded to France several months later. The 1st DCLI were part of 95th brigade, 5th Division. According to the medical records of the 14th brigade Field Ambulance unit Frank was admitted on 7th December 1917 with PUO, or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin a common medical term for general illness such as fever and high temperature etc. He was later transferred to 59th Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) at Hesdin for further treatment.
On 28th June 1918 the 1st battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry carried out an attack on the German positions at L'Epinette in northern France. The attack was a success, however the battalion suffered around 35 casualties either killed in action or subsequently dying of wounds. Frank Cook was one of those who died on the following day. He is buried at Aire Communal cemetery which was in the vicinity of several CCS in 1918.
Pension records for Frank (his brother Sydney’s details are on the same record) has Mrs. Elizabeth Nellie Cook as his widow, living at 8 Harrow Road, Bournbrook, Birmingham. There are no details on the card as to how much was paid. Electoral records show Elizabeth Nellie Cook still living at Harrow Road in 1939.
Following Frank’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £4 1s 6d & £4 10s that were paid to his widow Elizabeth in 1918 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Frank’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Frank was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Frank is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and is buried in Aire Communal cemetery, France.
Name/Rank: Private William Diston
Regiment/Battalion: 10th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 13349
Date died: 25/09/1915
Buried/Commemorated: Loos Memorial to the Missing
Commemorated: William Diston is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on the war memorials at St John the Baptist Church in Beckford and All Saints Church, Cheltenham (listed as Walter).
William Diston was born in Walsall in 1895. His Father William and mother Annie-Maria had a further twelve children, though by the 1911 census only five were still alive. At some point between 1901 and 1911 the family moved to the Alderton area and the 1911 census shows William living at Wrens Nest Villas alongside his father, mother, his brother-in-law Arthur Manders, his sister Ada Jane Manders and his niece Edith Elizabeth Manders. William’s father was a haulier and James Tilling, Arthur Manders and William Diston are listed as farm labourers.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 10th battalion the Gloucestershire regiment at Cheltenham in September 1914. After a period of training the battalion arrived in France on 9th August 1915, forming part of the 1st brigade, 1st Division.
On 25th September 1915 the 10th battalion Gloucestershire Regiment took part in the opening day of the battle of Loos. The battalion went over the top just after 6am at Lone Tree just north of the town of Loos. This was the 10th Gloucestershire's first major action since arriving in France in August, this truly was their baptism of fire. The battalion lost 8 officers and 159 men that day including William Diston, who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing.
At the time of William’s death his parents were living at of Brook Farm, Mount Pleasant, Teddington, Tewkesbury. William Diston’s picture and memorial notice appeared in the Cheltenham Chronicle and Graphic on 13th November 1915 alongside which his father said, "although out there for a short time he did his little bit". The Gloucestershire Echo also printed the following notice on 5th November 1915 KILLED ON THE FATEFUL 25th. Latest notifications of casualties in the fight at Loos Sept 25 include the following: Private William Diston (killed), of the 10th Gloucesters, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Diston, of Brook Farm, Teddington near Tewkesbury.
Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £4 2s 8d & £3 10s that were paid to his father William in December 1915 and September 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants. No pension records for William Diston have been found.
William’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
William Diston is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on the war memorials at St John the Baptist Church in Beckford and All Saints Church, Cheltenham (listed as Walter). William Diston is also recorded in the book "Leaving All that was Dear by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker the seminal work on Cheltenham’s WW1war dead.
William’s brother-in-law Arthur Manders enlisted in the 7th East Surrey regiment (No.4261) and went to France in May 1916. He was later transferred to the 16th Manchester regiment (No.41877) and then the 1st Border regiment (No.29845) and unfortunately died of wounds in October 1918. Arthur’s wife Ada-Jane, William’s sister, pre-deceased Arthur and their daughter Edith was subsequently cared for by William’s mother. There is a letter written in April 1920 by William Diston senior, asking for any medals and effects belonging to Arthur Manders to be forwarded to his daughter Edith, at their address in Teddington.
Regiment/Battalion: 10th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 13349
Date died: 25/09/1915
Buried/Commemorated: Loos Memorial to the Missing
Commemorated: William Diston is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on the war memorials at St John the Baptist Church in Beckford and All Saints Church, Cheltenham (listed as Walter).
William Diston was born in Walsall in 1895. His Father William and mother Annie-Maria had a further twelve children, though by the 1911 census only five were still alive. At some point between 1901 and 1911 the family moved to the Alderton area and the 1911 census shows William living at Wrens Nest Villas alongside his father, mother, his brother-in-law Arthur Manders, his sister Ada Jane Manders and his niece Edith Elizabeth Manders. William’s father was a haulier and James Tilling, Arthur Manders and William Diston are listed as farm labourers.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 10th battalion the Gloucestershire regiment at Cheltenham in September 1914. After a period of training the battalion arrived in France on 9th August 1915, forming part of the 1st brigade, 1st Division.
On 25th September 1915 the 10th battalion Gloucestershire Regiment took part in the opening day of the battle of Loos. The battalion went over the top just after 6am at Lone Tree just north of the town of Loos. This was the 10th Gloucestershire's first major action since arriving in France in August, this truly was their baptism of fire. The battalion lost 8 officers and 159 men that day including William Diston, who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing.
At the time of William’s death his parents were living at of Brook Farm, Mount Pleasant, Teddington, Tewkesbury. William Diston’s picture and memorial notice appeared in the Cheltenham Chronicle and Graphic on 13th November 1915 alongside which his father said, "although out there for a short time he did his little bit". The Gloucestershire Echo also printed the following notice on 5th November 1915 KILLED ON THE FATEFUL 25th. Latest notifications of casualties in the fight at Loos Sept 25 include the following: Private William Diston (killed), of the 10th Gloucesters, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Diston, of Brook Farm, Teddington near Tewkesbury.
Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £4 2s 8d & £3 10s that were paid to his father William in December 1915 and September 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants. No pension records for William Diston have been found.
William’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
William Diston is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on the war memorials at St John the Baptist Church in Beckford and All Saints Church, Cheltenham (listed as Walter). William Diston is also recorded in the book "Leaving All that was Dear by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker the seminal work on Cheltenham’s WW1war dead.
William’s brother-in-law Arthur Manders enlisted in the 7th East Surrey regiment (No.4261) and went to France in May 1916. He was later transferred to the 16th Manchester regiment (No.41877) and then the 1st Border regiment (No.29845) and unfortunately died of wounds in October 1918. Arthur’s wife Ada-Jane, William’s sister, pre-deceased Arthur and their daughter Edith was subsequently cared for by William’s mother. There is a letter written in April 1920 by William Diston senior, asking for any medals and effects belonging to Arthur Manders to be forwarded to his daughter Edith, at their address in Teddington.
Name/Rank: Private Frank Ambrose Fisher
Regiment/Battalion: 1/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment
Service No: 307465
Date died: 27th August 1917
Buried/Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial
Frank Ambrose Fisher was born in Winchcombe in 1886. He was the youngest of thirteen children born to Charles and Amelia Fisher between 1862 and 1886. At the time of the 1891 census Frank was living in Gloucester Street, Winchcombe with his parents and siblings George, Ernest, Francis, Bessie and Percy. By 1901 Frank had moved to Cheltenham and was living as a boarder at 38 Duke Street and was working as a porter. In 1907 Frank married Louisa Lucy Lloyd and by 1911 they were living at 10 Station Street, Cheltenham with her father, Albert Edward Lloyd; they’d had two children, neither of whom survived. Louisa was 37 at the time of the 1911 census, so 12 years older than Frank whose occupation was listed as furniture shop assistant.
Frank enlisted in 1916 in Cheltenham and was subsequently posted to the 1st battalion the Royal Warwickshire regiment, transferring to the 1/8th battalion on arrival in France in November 1916. Medical records show Frank was diagnosed with I.C.T on his heel in December 1916. I.C.T is an abbreviation for Inflamed Connective Tissue very commonly caused by marching, or more marching than normal and in poor weather conditions. After being treated in France Frank returned to the UK for treatment/hospitalisation in January 1917. Frank returned to France in June 1917 and was posted to 1/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment, who were part of 143 brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division.
The Third Battle of Ypres had started at the end of July 1917 and the 1/6th battalion Royal Warwickshires moved into position in the St. Julien area in the Ypres region on the 27th August and attacked the German positions at Winnipeg Farm. The advance was impossible due to the state of the ground and the heavy machine gun fire from concrete pill boxes. During the attack Frank Fisher was killed, though originally listed as wounded and missing, alongside fifty-one men from his battalion. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial near Ypres. Notices appeared in both the Gloucestershire Echo and Gloucester Journal in early October 1917 listing Frank as missing, and later that month the Gloucester Journal listed him as wounded and missing.
Following Frank’s death, his wife Louisa received a pension of 13s 9d from 29th April 1918. In addition, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £1 19s 11d and £4 that were paid to Louisa in September 1918 and to his sister-in-law Fanny Hurcombe in April 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Frank’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants. Records held under the National Probate Calendar show an amount of £238 16s 2d in respect of Frank Ambrose Fisher of 10 Station Street, Cheltenham was granted to the Secretary of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building society in January 1918.
In December 1920 Fanny Hurcombe wrote to the Infantry Record Office advising them that Frank’s widow Louisa Fisher had died on the 1st of October 1918. Louisa Fisher was living at The Laurels, Cainscross, Stroud with her sister at the time of her death.
Frank's father Charles Fisher had remarried ~1894 following the death of his first wife Amelia in 1893 and had moved to live in Great Washbourne by the time of the 1911 census. Records suggest he had three further children with his new wife Jane - Margaret, Dorothy/Dolly and Raymond.
Frank was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Frank is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and the Tyne Cot memorial in Belgium.
Regiment/Battalion: 1/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment
Service No: 307465
Date died: 27th August 1917
Buried/Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial
Frank Ambrose Fisher was born in Winchcombe in 1886. He was the youngest of thirteen children born to Charles and Amelia Fisher between 1862 and 1886. At the time of the 1891 census Frank was living in Gloucester Street, Winchcombe with his parents and siblings George, Ernest, Francis, Bessie and Percy. By 1901 Frank had moved to Cheltenham and was living as a boarder at 38 Duke Street and was working as a porter. In 1907 Frank married Louisa Lucy Lloyd and by 1911 they were living at 10 Station Street, Cheltenham with her father, Albert Edward Lloyd; they’d had two children, neither of whom survived. Louisa was 37 at the time of the 1911 census, so 12 years older than Frank whose occupation was listed as furniture shop assistant.
Frank enlisted in 1916 in Cheltenham and was subsequently posted to the 1st battalion the Royal Warwickshire regiment, transferring to the 1/8th battalion on arrival in France in November 1916. Medical records show Frank was diagnosed with I.C.T on his heel in December 1916. I.C.T is an abbreviation for Inflamed Connective Tissue very commonly caused by marching, or more marching than normal and in poor weather conditions. After being treated in France Frank returned to the UK for treatment/hospitalisation in January 1917. Frank returned to France in June 1917 and was posted to 1/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment, who were part of 143 brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division.
The Third Battle of Ypres had started at the end of July 1917 and the 1/6th battalion Royal Warwickshires moved into position in the St. Julien area in the Ypres region on the 27th August and attacked the German positions at Winnipeg Farm. The advance was impossible due to the state of the ground and the heavy machine gun fire from concrete pill boxes. During the attack Frank Fisher was killed, though originally listed as wounded and missing, alongside fifty-one men from his battalion. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial near Ypres. Notices appeared in both the Gloucestershire Echo and Gloucester Journal in early October 1917 listing Frank as missing, and later that month the Gloucester Journal listed him as wounded and missing.
Following Frank’s death, his wife Louisa received a pension of 13s 9d from 29th April 1918. In addition, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £1 19s 11d and £4 that were paid to Louisa in September 1918 and to his sister-in-law Fanny Hurcombe in April 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Frank’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants. Records held under the National Probate Calendar show an amount of £238 16s 2d in respect of Frank Ambrose Fisher of 10 Station Street, Cheltenham was granted to the Secretary of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building society in January 1918.
In December 1920 Fanny Hurcombe wrote to the Infantry Record Office advising them that Frank’s widow Louisa Fisher had died on the 1st of October 1918. Louisa Fisher was living at The Laurels, Cainscross, Stroud with her sister at the time of her death.
Frank's father Charles Fisher had remarried ~1894 following the death of his first wife Amelia in 1893 and had moved to live in Great Washbourne by the time of the 1911 census. Records suggest he had three further children with his new wife Jane - Margaret, Dorothy/Dolly and Raymond.
Frank was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Frank is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and the Tyne Cot memorial in Belgium.
Name/Rank: Private Ralph Cecil Fletcher
Regiment/Battalion: 12th battalion Royal Sussex regiment
Service No: G/17078
Date died: 20th October 1917
Buried/Commemorated: Outtersteene Communal Cemetery extension in northern France
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial and on his parent’s gravestone in St. Margarets church in Alderton. Ralph is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial and on the Cheltenham war memorial
Ralph Cecil Fletcher was born in London on 31st August 1898 and was christened in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Ralph’s parents Phillip, who was born in Alderton, and Rebecca also had another son Phillip, who was six years older than Ralph. In 1901 the family were living at 16-17 Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate, London and Ralph’s father's occupation was listed as Housekeeper. By 1911 the family had moved to Alderton and Ralph’s father and brother were both listed as working as closers in a canning factory. Ralph was a pupil at Tewkesbury Grammar school. Later Ralph’s parents ran the Hobnails Inn situated on the main road just outside Alderton. After leaving school Ralph was apprenticed to the military outfitters Slades in Cheltenham. Ralph enlisted in Cheltenham in 1917 and joined the 12th battalion Royal Sussex regiment, who were part of 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
The 12th battalion Royal Sussex regiment were involved in the Third battle of Ypres which began on 31st July 1917. Ralph’s battalion spent three days in the front-line trenches in the Tower Hamlets sector near Ypres between 15-17th October 1917. During this period of holding the line Ralph Fletcher, who by now was a Lance Corporal (acting/unpaid), was wounded on 16th October. He was taken to the Australian Casualty clearing station where he subsequently died of his wounds on the 20th October. He is buried in the Outtersteene Communal cemetery extension in northern France.
Following Ralph’s death his mother Rebecca received a pension of 7s a week from May 1918. The Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £2 16s 9d and £3 that were paid to his mother Rebecca in May 1918 and September 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Ralph’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
An In Memorium notice was published in the Cheltenham Chronicle on 19/10/18 from his brother and mother. It reads: “Lce.-Corpl. R. C. Fletcher. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Fletcher, of the Hobnails, Alstone, have also received sad news, for they have been notified by the War Office that their youngest son, Lce- Corp. Ralph Cecil Fletcher, of the Royal Sussex Regiment, died from wounds, received in action, on the 20th October. They first received news that the brave lad was wounded on the 16th October, and a kindly letter from the sister of the hospital supplemented the official notice of his death. She said his wounds were bad, and he passed quietly away. Lce.-Corpl. Fletcher was only 19 years of age he and his brother, who is also on service, were christened in St. Paul's Cathedral by Archdeacon Sinclair. He attended Alderton School and Tewkesbury Grammar School until he was apprenticed to Mr. Slade, outfitter, of Cheltenham. He joined the Army in February last. His parents mourn the loss of a steady worthy lad, who was much liked by all who knew him, and much sympathy is extended to them in their sorrow."
Rebecca Fletcher also paid for a private inscription on his gravestone which reads "His life he freely gave".
Ralph was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Ralph is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on his parent’s gravestone in St. Margarets church in Alderton. Ralph is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial and on the Cheltenham war memorial, and he is buried in Outtersteene Communal cemetery extension in northern France.
Ralph Fletcher is also recorded in the book "Leaving All that was Dear by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker the seminal work on Cheltenham’s WW1 war dead and in “A Noble Band of Heroes” by John Dixon which commemorates the men from Tewkesbury who lost their lives in WW1.
Regiment/Battalion: 12th battalion Royal Sussex regiment
Service No: G/17078
Date died: 20th October 1917
Buried/Commemorated: Outtersteene Communal Cemetery extension in northern France
Commemorated: Alderton war memorial and on his parent’s gravestone in St. Margarets church in Alderton. Ralph is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial and on the Cheltenham war memorial
Ralph Cecil Fletcher was born in London on 31st August 1898 and was christened in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Ralph’s parents Phillip, who was born in Alderton, and Rebecca also had another son Phillip, who was six years older than Ralph. In 1901 the family were living at 16-17 Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate, London and Ralph’s father's occupation was listed as Housekeeper. By 1911 the family had moved to Alderton and Ralph’s father and brother were both listed as working as closers in a canning factory. Ralph was a pupil at Tewkesbury Grammar school. Later Ralph’s parents ran the Hobnails Inn situated on the main road just outside Alderton. After leaving school Ralph was apprenticed to the military outfitters Slades in Cheltenham. Ralph enlisted in Cheltenham in 1917 and joined the 12th battalion Royal Sussex regiment, who were part of 116th Brigade, 39th Division.
The 12th battalion Royal Sussex regiment were involved in the Third battle of Ypres which began on 31st July 1917. Ralph’s battalion spent three days in the front-line trenches in the Tower Hamlets sector near Ypres between 15-17th October 1917. During this period of holding the line Ralph Fletcher, who by now was a Lance Corporal (acting/unpaid), was wounded on 16th October. He was taken to the Australian Casualty clearing station where he subsequently died of his wounds on the 20th October. He is buried in the Outtersteene Communal cemetery extension in northern France.
Following Ralph’s death his mother Rebecca received a pension of 7s a week from May 1918. The Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £2 16s 9d and £3 that were paid to his mother Rebecca in May 1918 and September 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Ralph’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
An In Memorium notice was published in the Cheltenham Chronicle on 19/10/18 from his brother and mother. It reads: “Lce.-Corpl. R. C. Fletcher. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Fletcher, of the Hobnails, Alstone, have also received sad news, for they have been notified by the War Office that their youngest son, Lce- Corp. Ralph Cecil Fletcher, of the Royal Sussex Regiment, died from wounds, received in action, on the 20th October. They first received news that the brave lad was wounded on the 16th October, and a kindly letter from the sister of the hospital supplemented the official notice of his death. She said his wounds were bad, and he passed quietly away. Lce.-Corpl. Fletcher was only 19 years of age he and his brother, who is also on service, were christened in St. Paul's Cathedral by Archdeacon Sinclair. He attended Alderton School and Tewkesbury Grammar School until he was apprenticed to Mr. Slade, outfitter, of Cheltenham. He joined the Army in February last. His parents mourn the loss of a steady worthy lad, who was much liked by all who knew him, and much sympathy is extended to them in their sorrow."
Rebecca Fletcher also paid for a private inscription on his gravestone which reads "His life he freely gave".
Ralph was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Ralph is commemorated on the Alderton war memorial and on his parent’s gravestone in St. Margarets church in Alderton. Ralph is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial and on the Cheltenham war memorial, and he is buried in Outtersteene Communal cemetery extension in northern France.
Ralph Fletcher is also recorded in the book "Leaving All that was Dear by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker the seminal work on Cheltenham’s WW1 war dead and in “A Noble Band of Heroes” by John Dixon which commemorates the men from Tewkesbury who lost their lives in WW1.
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 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 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 Aldred Vincent Grimmett
Regiment/Battalion: 13th battalion Royal Fusiliers regiment
Service No: G/65012
Date died: 23rd August 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Commemorated: Memorial plaque in St. Margaret's church in Alderton, and on his adopted father’s gravestone. Aldred is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial. Aldred 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.
Aldred Grimmett was born in March 1898 at Rectory Barn, Alderton. His parents Samuel and Millicent had a total of nine children, though by 1911 only seven were still living. By 1901 Aldred was living with Thomas and Joan Sharp his uncle and aunt, Thomas was a baker. Joan was his father’s sister and it’s likely that Thomas and Joan adopted Aldred as they had no children of their own. In 1911 Aldred was living with his uncle and aunt and is listed on the Tewkesbury Grammar School register for 1911-1913.
Aldred volunteered in December 1914, enlisting at Grove Park in London even though he was still living officially in Alderton. His casualty record suggests that he was initially assigned to a Mechanical Transport Company in the Army Service Corps (No. M2/268037). Later in the war Aldred was transferred to the infantry, initially posted to an Infantry Base Depot with the number 268037 before being assigned to the 13th battalion The Royal Fusiliers, forming part of 112th brigade, 37th Division. From analysis of Aldred’s army service number, it’s likely he joined the battalion in France in late 1916 or 1917.
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. During August 1918 the 13th Royal Fusiliers were involved in the Battle of Albert. In the early morning of 23rd August, the battalion attacked the enemy near Achiet-le-Grand. Although the attack was a success and the objectives were gained the battalion lost thirty-one men killed, one of whom was Aldred Grimmett. Aldred is buried in Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension alongside all thirty-one of his battalion comrades.
Following Aldred’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £6 2s 7d & £8 that were paid to his Aunt Joan in 1919. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Aldred’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Aldred was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Aldred is currently only commemorated on a memorial plaque in St. Margarets church in Alderton, and on his adopted father’s gravestone. Aldred is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial. Aldred 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.
Aldred's father paid for a private inscription on the gravestones of both his sons, which reads "Rest in peace".
Aldred’s adopted father Thomas Sharp’s funeral notice in the Cheltenham Chronicle of 1st November 1919, noted that “For some time past Mr Sharp had been in failing health and succumbed to a heart attack; in fact he had never been his former self since the death of his nephew and adopted son, Aldred Grimmett, a bright and promising youth who fell in the Great War.”
Regiment/Battalion: 13th battalion Royal Fusiliers regiment
Service No: G/65012
Date died: 23rd August 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Commemorated: Memorial plaque in St. Margaret's church in Alderton, and on his adopted father’s gravestone. Aldred is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial. Aldred 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.
Aldred Grimmett was born in March 1898 at Rectory Barn, Alderton. His parents Samuel and Millicent had a total of nine children, though by 1911 only seven were still living. By 1901 Aldred was living with Thomas and Joan Sharp his uncle and aunt, Thomas was a baker. Joan was his father’s sister and it’s likely that Thomas and Joan adopted Aldred as they had no children of their own. In 1911 Aldred was living with his uncle and aunt and is listed on the Tewkesbury Grammar School register for 1911-1913.
Aldred volunteered in December 1914, enlisting at Grove Park in London even though he was still living officially in Alderton. His casualty record suggests that he was initially assigned to a Mechanical Transport Company in the Army Service Corps (No. M2/268037). Later in the war Aldred was transferred to the infantry, initially posted to an Infantry Base Depot with the number 268037 before being assigned to the 13th battalion The Royal Fusiliers, forming part of 112th brigade, 37th Division. From analysis of Aldred’s army service number, it’s likely he joined the battalion in France in late 1916 or 1917.
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. During August 1918 the 13th Royal Fusiliers were involved in the Battle of Albert. In the early morning of 23rd August, the battalion attacked the enemy near Achiet-le-Grand. Although the attack was a success and the objectives were gained the battalion lost thirty-one men killed, one of whom was Aldred Grimmett. Aldred is buried in Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension alongside all thirty-one of his battalion comrades.
Following Aldred’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £6 2s 7d & £8 that were paid to his Aunt Joan in 1919. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Aldred’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Aldred was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Aldred is currently only commemorated on a memorial plaque in St. Margarets church in Alderton, and on his adopted father’s gravestone. Aldred is also commemorated on the Tewkesbury Grammar school memorial. Aldred 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.
Aldred's father paid for a private inscription on the gravestones of both his sons, which reads "Rest in peace".
Aldred’s adopted father Thomas Sharp’s funeral notice in the Cheltenham Chronicle of 1st November 1919, noted that “For some time past Mr Sharp had been in failing health and succumbed to a heart attack; in fact he had never been his former self since the death of his nephew and adopted son, Aldred Grimmett, a bright and promising youth who fell in the Great War.”
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".
Name/Rank: Private John (Jack) Hall
Regiment/Battalion: 2/5th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 4517
Date died: 21st June 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Royal Irish Rifles cemetery in Laventie, in northern France
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial, the Winchcombe War memorial and the 1/5th & 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park
John Hall was born on 15th July 1893 in Winchcombe. His parents Thomas and Elizabeth Hall also had five daughters Elsie, Lydia, Kate, Una and Matilda. By 1901 the whole family were living at Silk Mill Lane, Winchcombe and Thomas Hall’s occupation was gardener. In 1911 John, now aged 17, was still living at home with his parents and three youngest sisters and his occupation was a clerk in a jam factory. Their address on the 1911 census is listed as Tanyard, Winchcombe. There was a Tannery in Silk Mill Lane during this period, but whether this was the same address as in 1901 is unknown.
According to the Llanelli Great Western Railway (GWR) memorial site John Hall moved to Llanelli in September 1914 and worked as a fire cleaner at the GWR locomotive and carriage department, and later became a stores man. According to this site he enlisted in August 1915 and was posted to D company 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment. At some point in early 1916 John married Matilda Banks from Alderton, probably just before he left for France with his regiment.
The 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment was a territorial battalion formed initially in Gloucester in September 1914 and part of 184th brigade, 61st Division. Following a period of training in England the battalion landed in France in May 1916. At the end of the month, they went into the trenches near Laventie in northern France. On 15th June they entered the trenches in the Fauquissart sector and on the evening of the 20th they carried out a raid on the German lines, with the purpose of identifying the enemy regiments. During this raid John Hall was killed alongside nine of his battalion pals, five of whom are buried alongside him in the Royal Irish Rifles cemetery in Laventie.
Whilst serving in the 2/5th Gloucestershire battalion John became friends with the poet Ivor Gurney who wrote a poem commemorating John and his friend Ernest Skillern - ‘To Certain Comrades’ (ES and JH) who were killed in action on 20th and 21st June respectively.
John’s death is listed in the casualty list in the Gloucester Echo of Friday 14th July 1916. Gloucestershire regiment- Killed - Pte J Hall, Alderton
Matilda received a pension of 10s a week from the 8th January 1917. Sometime after the war Matilda married again to Garnet Holmes becoming Matilda Holmes and having a daughter Joyce, born in 1925. Matilda was still living in Alderton in 1939.
Following John’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £2 8s 5d & £3 that were paid to his wife Matilda in 1916 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of John’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
John Hall was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
John Hall is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, the Winchcombe War memorial and the 1/5th & 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park, and is buried in the Royal Irish Rifles cemetery in Laventie, in northern France.
Regiment/Battalion: 2/5th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 4517
Date died: 21st June 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Royal Irish Rifles cemetery in Laventie, in northern France
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial, the Winchcombe War memorial and the 1/5th & 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park
John Hall was born on 15th July 1893 in Winchcombe. His parents Thomas and Elizabeth Hall also had five daughters Elsie, Lydia, Kate, Una and Matilda. By 1901 the whole family were living at Silk Mill Lane, Winchcombe and Thomas Hall’s occupation was gardener. In 1911 John, now aged 17, was still living at home with his parents and three youngest sisters and his occupation was a clerk in a jam factory. Their address on the 1911 census is listed as Tanyard, Winchcombe. There was a Tannery in Silk Mill Lane during this period, but whether this was the same address as in 1901 is unknown.
According to the Llanelli Great Western Railway (GWR) memorial site John Hall moved to Llanelli in September 1914 and worked as a fire cleaner at the GWR locomotive and carriage department, and later became a stores man. According to this site he enlisted in August 1915 and was posted to D company 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment. At some point in early 1916 John married Matilda Banks from Alderton, probably just before he left for France with his regiment.
The 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment was a territorial battalion formed initially in Gloucester in September 1914 and part of 184th brigade, 61st Division. Following a period of training in England the battalion landed in France in May 1916. At the end of the month, they went into the trenches near Laventie in northern France. On 15th June they entered the trenches in the Fauquissart sector and on the evening of the 20th they carried out a raid on the German lines, with the purpose of identifying the enemy regiments. During this raid John Hall was killed alongside nine of his battalion pals, five of whom are buried alongside him in the Royal Irish Rifles cemetery in Laventie.
Whilst serving in the 2/5th Gloucestershire battalion John became friends with the poet Ivor Gurney who wrote a poem commemorating John and his friend Ernest Skillern - ‘To Certain Comrades’ (ES and JH) who were killed in action on 20th and 21st June respectively.
John’s death is listed in the casualty list in the Gloucester Echo of Friday 14th July 1916. Gloucestershire regiment- Killed - Pte J Hall, Alderton
Matilda received a pension of 10s a week from the 8th January 1917. Sometime after the war Matilda married again to Garnet Holmes becoming Matilda Holmes and having a daughter Joyce, born in 1925. Matilda was still living in Alderton in 1939.
Following John’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £2 8s 5d & £3 that were paid to his wife Matilda in 1916 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of John’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
John Hall was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
John Hall is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, the Winchcombe War memorial and the 1/5th & 2/5th Gloucestershire regiment memorial in Gloucester Park, and is buried in the Royal Irish Rifles cemetery in Laventie, in northern France.
Name/Rank: Private Jesse James
Regiment/Battalion: 13th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 18248
Date died: 22-23rd March 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Perrone Communal Cemetery Extension
Commemorated: Stanton War memorial located in the boundary wall of Stanton Court, in the centre of Stanton. Jesse James is not currently listed on the Alderton War memorial.
Jesse James was born in Alderton in 1881. There is no record of his parents and between 1891 and 1901 he was living with his grandparents Israel and Charlotte Law in Stanton. By 1901 his occupation was a farm labourer. Jesse married Elizabeth sometime in 1902 and they lived in Stanton.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Jesse enlisted in the 13th Gloucestershire regiment, known as the Forest of Dean Pioneers, at Cheltenham in February 1915. The Dean Forest Mercury newspaper carried the news that the local MP, Sir Harry Webb, was to raise a new Pioneer Battalion from the men of the Forest of Dean. The job of a pioneer unit included digging trenches, wiring and building encampments for other troops, as well as ordinary infantry work. They were paid an extra tuppence a day. The battalion spent a period of training in Malvern and became the pioneer battalion for the 39th division. Following further recruitment and training they moved to France in March 1916.
By March 1918 the 13th Gloucestershire’s were carrying out their pioneer duties and preparing defences in the Templeux la Fosse area in readiness for the expected German Spring offensive. The huge German offensive commenced on 21st March and by the 22nd the 13th Gloucestershires had moved up to the line to fight as infantry. They fought a rear-guard action during the 22nd and 23rd March eventually retiring on Herbecourt, near Peronne. It was during these actions that Jesse James was very likely killed in action. Battalion casualties both killed, wounded and missing for the period between 22-31 March were 326 of whom over 80 were killed or later died of their wounds. Jesse James, along with other men of the 13th Gloucestershires appears on a German list of British soldiers buried by the Germans in the churchyard at Templeux la Fosse during this period. Commonwealth War Graves records show that following the end of the war a burial plot containing the remains of forty-one men was discovered at a map reference very close to the church in Templeux la Fosse, and these men were subsequently reburied in the Perrone Communal Cemetery Extension. We can safely assume that these bodies including Jesse James had been buried by the Germans, who had taken this area during their Spring offensive. The cemetery had originally been started by the British during their time in this region.
Jesse’s wife Elizabeth received a pension of 13s 9d paid weekly from 7th October 1918. In addition, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £11 16s 3d and £14 that were paid to Elizabeth in August 1918 and December 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Jesse’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Jesse was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Jesse James is commemorated on the Stanton War memorial located in the boundary wall of Stanton Court, in the centre of Stanton, and is buried in the Perrone Communal Cemetery Extension.
Regiment/Battalion: 13th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 18248
Date died: 22-23rd March 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Perrone Communal Cemetery Extension
Commemorated: Stanton War memorial located in the boundary wall of Stanton Court, in the centre of Stanton. Jesse James is not currently listed on the Alderton War memorial.
Jesse James was born in Alderton in 1881. There is no record of his parents and between 1891 and 1901 he was living with his grandparents Israel and Charlotte Law in Stanton. By 1901 his occupation was a farm labourer. Jesse married Elizabeth sometime in 1902 and they lived in Stanton.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that Jesse enlisted in the 13th Gloucestershire regiment, known as the Forest of Dean Pioneers, at Cheltenham in February 1915. The Dean Forest Mercury newspaper carried the news that the local MP, Sir Harry Webb, was to raise a new Pioneer Battalion from the men of the Forest of Dean. The job of a pioneer unit included digging trenches, wiring and building encampments for other troops, as well as ordinary infantry work. They were paid an extra tuppence a day. The battalion spent a period of training in Malvern and became the pioneer battalion for the 39th division. Following further recruitment and training they moved to France in March 1916.
By March 1918 the 13th Gloucestershire’s were carrying out their pioneer duties and preparing defences in the Templeux la Fosse area in readiness for the expected German Spring offensive. The huge German offensive commenced on 21st March and by the 22nd the 13th Gloucestershires had moved up to the line to fight as infantry. They fought a rear-guard action during the 22nd and 23rd March eventually retiring on Herbecourt, near Peronne. It was during these actions that Jesse James was very likely killed in action. Battalion casualties both killed, wounded and missing for the period between 22-31 March were 326 of whom over 80 were killed or later died of their wounds. Jesse James, along with other men of the 13th Gloucestershires appears on a German list of British soldiers buried by the Germans in the churchyard at Templeux la Fosse during this period. Commonwealth War Graves records show that following the end of the war a burial plot containing the remains of forty-one men was discovered at a map reference very close to the church in Templeux la Fosse, and these men were subsequently reburied in the Perrone Communal Cemetery Extension. We can safely assume that these bodies including Jesse James had been buried by the Germans, who had taken this area during their Spring offensive. The cemetery had originally been started by the British during their time in this region.
Jesse’s wife Elizabeth received a pension of 13s 9d paid weekly from 7th October 1918. In addition, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £11 16s 3d and £14 that were paid to Elizabeth in August 1918 and December 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Jesse’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Jesse was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Jesse James is commemorated on the Stanton War memorial located in the boundary wall of Stanton Court, in the centre of Stanton, and is buried in the Perrone Communal Cemetery Extension.
Name/Rank: Private William Lane
Regiment/Battalion: 2nd battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 16320
Date died: 21st October 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika (Greece)
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
William Lane was born in 1887 in Alstone, near Alderton. His parents William and Jane had three other sons, Hedley, Allen and Victor and a daughter Eunice who was blind from birth. In 1891 the family were living in Great Washbourne and William’s father’s occupation was a general labourer. William’s father died sometime after 1891, and the family later moved to Alstone and by 1911 all four sons were farm labourers.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 2nd Gloucestershire regiment at Tewkesbury in December 1914. The 2/Gloucestershire were a regular battalion and on the outbreak of war were stationed in Tientsin, China. The battalion sailed back to the UK in September 1914 and became part of 81st brigade, 27th Division. They joined the rest of the British Expeditionary France (BEF) in France in December 1914. William joined the battalion in France in May 1915. In November 1915 the 2nd battalion embarked for Salonika (moving to the 82nd brigade) to join an allied force comprised of French, Serbian, Italian and British soldiers Although often considered a sideshow Salonika was the scene of several major battles against the Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians and Germans between 1915 and the conclusion of the campaign in 1918. As well as enemy activity the troops also had to contend with extreme heat and disease such as malaria and influenza which combined for over hundred and thirty deaths in the battalion during its time in Salonika. William Lane was admitted to the 28th General Hospital in Salonika on 16th October 1918 suffering from bronchial pneumonia. He sadly died five days later with less than a month to go until the end of the war. He is buried at the Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika (Greece).
A pension of 3s and 6d was awarded to William's mother and then sister effective from 29th April 1919 for life. William’s mother paid for a private inscription on his gravestone which reads "I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say Come Unto Me And Rest".
Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists an amount of £33 5s 11d which was paid to his mother Jane in 1919. This payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and also included a war gratuity of £22 10s paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
William was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star and the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
William is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and is buried at the Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika (Greece).
Regiment/Battalion: 2nd battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 16320
Date died: 21st October 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika (Greece)
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
William Lane was born in 1887 in Alstone, near Alderton. His parents William and Jane had three other sons, Hedley, Allen and Victor and a daughter Eunice who was blind from birth. In 1891 the family were living in Great Washbourne and William’s father’s occupation was a general labourer. William’s father died sometime after 1891, and the family later moved to Alstone and by 1911 all four sons were farm labourers.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 2nd Gloucestershire regiment at Tewkesbury in December 1914. The 2/Gloucestershire were a regular battalion and on the outbreak of war were stationed in Tientsin, China. The battalion sailed back to the UK in September 1914 and became part of 81st brigade, 27th Division. They joined the rest of the British Expeditionary France (BEF) in France in December 1914. William joined the battalion in France in May 1915. In November 1915 the 2nd battalion embarked for Salonika (moving to the 82nd brigade) to join an allied force comprised of French, Serbian, Italian and British soldiers Although often considered a sideshow Salonika was the scene of several major battles against the Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians and Germans between 1915 and the conclusion of the campaign in 1918. As well as enemy activity the troops also had to contend with extreme heat and disease such as malaria and influenza which combined for over hundred and thirty deaths in the battalion during its time in Salonika. William Lane was admitted to the 28th General Hospital in Salonika on 16th October 1918 suffering from bronchial pneumonia. He sadly died five days later with less than a month to go until the end of the war. He is buried at the Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika (Greece).
A pension of 3s and 6d was awarded to William's mother and then sister effective from 29th April 1919 for life. William’s mother paid for a private inscription on his gravestone which reads "I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say Come Unto Me And Rest".
Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists an amount of £33 5s 11d which was paid to his mother Jane in 1919. This payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and also included a war gratuity of £22 10s paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
William was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star and the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
William is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and is buried at the Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika (Greece).
Name/Rank: Private William Pearson
Regiment/Battalion: 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 19088
Date died: 22nd October 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, (Greece)
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
William Pearson was born in Winchcombe in 1875. His parents William and Julia had three other children Laura, Frederick and Harry. Between 1881 and 1901 the family lived in Bull Lane, Winchcombe, though by 1891 Wiliam’s father had died. The 1911 census records show that William had married Edith Jane Pearson and they had two children a daughter May and a son William Charles. William’s occupation was a shepherd and the family were living in Alderton.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment in January 1915. The battalion was formed in September 1914 as part of the 78th brigade and 26th Division. Following training in the UK William and the battalion embarked for France, arriving on 21st September 1915. However, the 26th Division were soon moved to Salonika in November 1915.
Although often considered a sideshow Salonika was the scene of several major battles against the Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians and Germans between 1915 and the conclusion of the campaign. As well as enemy activity the troops also had to contend with extreme heat, malaria and influenza. William Pearson was taken sick with dysentery in September 1916, and he died on 22nd October 1916 as a result of this illness. He is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Following William’s death a pension of 22s 11d was paid to his wife Edith each week from 7th May 1917. Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 14s 11d & £7 10s that were paid to his wife Edith in March/April 1917 and November 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Edith paid for a private inscription on his gravestone in Salonika which reads "He died that we might live". At the time Edith’s address was 11 Hasfield, Nr. Gloucester. Edith Pearson died aged 79 on 9th December 1961, and she was living at 30 Sherwood Green, Longford, at the time of her death.
William’s death was also listed in the casualty list in the Gloucester Journal of Saturday 25th November 1916 and in the Gloucestershire Echo of Monday 20th November 1916.
William’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
William Pearson is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Regiment/Battalion: 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 19088
Date died: 22nd October 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, (Greece)
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
William Pearson was born in Winchcombe in 1875. His parents William and Julia had three other children Laura, Frederick and Harry. Between 1881 and 1901 the family lived in Bull Lane, Winchcombe, though by 1891 Wiliam’s father had died. The 1911 census records show that William had married Edith Jane Pearson and they had two children a daughter May and a son William Charles. William’s occupation was a shepherd and the family were living in Alderton.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment in January 1915. The battalion was formed in September 1914 as part of the 78th brigade and 26th Division. Following training in the UK William and the battalion embarked for France, arriving on 21st September 1915. However, the 26th Division were soon moved to Salonika in November 1915.
Although often considered a sideshow Salonika was the scene of several major battles against the Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians and Germans between 1915 and the conclusion of the campaign. As well as enemy activity the troops also had to contend with extreme heat, malaria and influenza. William Pearson was taken sick with dysentery in September 1916, and he died on 22nd October 1916 as a result of this illness. He is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Following William’s death a pension of 22s 11d was paid to his wife Edith each week from 7th May 1917. Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 14s 11d & £7 10s that were paid to his wife Edith in March/April 1917 and November 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Edith paid for a private inscription on his gravestone in Salonika which reads "He died that we might live". At the time Edith’s address was 11 Hasfield, Nr. Gloucester. Edith Pearson died aged 79 on 9th December 1961, and she was living at 30 Sherwood Green, Longford, at the time of her death.
William’s death was also listed in the casualty list in the Gloucester Journal of Saturday 25th November 1916 and in the Gloucestershire Echo of Monday 20th November 1916.
William’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
William Pearson is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Name/Rank: Private Victor George Pullom
Regiment/Battalion: 18th battalion Army Cyclist Corps
Service No: 22487
Date died: 26th June 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Terlincthun British cemetery, near Boulogne, France
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial and the Conderton and Overbury War memorial
Victor Pullom was born in Cutsdean on 23rd January 1899 and the 1901 census records show that he was still there in a house with his grandparents John and Jane, mother Rose, brother Frank and uncles Frederick and George. By 1911 Victor was living at Corner House in Alderton with his Father Frank John, mother and brother. Victor’s parents were both labourers in the fruit industry and his brother was a farm boy.
Victor attested for the military in January 1917 at Tewkesbury, when his address was Hollow Brooks, Conderton, Worcestershire and occupation was farm labourer. The records show he was 5ft 6in and in good physical condition. Victor initially enlisted into 2/1st Warks Yeomanry (No. 313817) in March 1917. However, following a period of training and recruitment the 2/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry became a cyclist unit in September 1917 and were attached to 214th brigade, 71st division. This brigade was formed into a special formation due for Murmansk in Russia, but in March 1918 all fit men in the brigade were drafted to France. Victor embarked from Southampton on 15th April 1918 arriving at Le Harve the next day and joined the Army Cyclist Corp at Rouen from where he was posted to the 18th battalion on 6th May 1918.
During June the battalion was supporting frontline troops in the Camblain L'Abbe area north of Arras. Between the 15-16th June they were setting up camouflage screens and suffered several casualties as a result of enemy shelling. Victor was reported wounded on the 16th with wounds to his back, right leg and left hand and due to a gas gangrene infection, his right leg was amputated from the thigh. Victor subsequently died of wounds on 26th June 1918 at 32 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, a base hospital used to care for the wounded away from the front-line areas. Victor is buried in Terlincthun British cemetery, near Boulogne, a cemetery used mainly for burials from the nearby base hospitals.
A pension was paid to Victor's father from December 1918, though the records aren’t clear as to the exact amount. Unfortunately, Victor's mother, Rose, died in August 1918 in the Union Workhouse, Tewkesbury less than 2 months after his death.
Following Victor’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £10 4s 5d & £5 that were paid to his father in September 1918 and November 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Victor’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Victor was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Victor's father paid for the following private inscription on his gravestone "Born January 23rd 1899".
Victor is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial and the Conderton and Overbury War memorial, and is buried in Terlincthun British cemetery, near Boulogne.
Regiment/Battalion: 18th battalion Army Cyclist Corps
Service No: 22487
Date died: 26th June 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Terlincthun British cemetery, near Boulogne, France
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial and the Conderton and Overbury War memorial
Victor Pullom was born in Cutsdean on 23rd January 1899 and the 1901 census records show that he was still there in a house with his grandparents John and Jane, mother Rose, brother Frank and uncles Frederick and George. By 1911 Victor was living at Corner House in Alderton with his Father Frank John, mother and brother. Victor’s parents were both labourers in the fruit industry and his brother was a farm boy.
Victor attested for the military in January 1917 at Tewkesbury, when his address was Hollow Brooks, Conderton, Worcestershire and occupation was farm labourer. The records show he was 5ft 6in and in good physical condition. Victor initially enlisted into 2/1st Warks Yeomanry (No. 313817) in March 1917. However, following a period of training and recruitment the 2/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry became a cyclist unit in September 1917 and were attached to 214th brigade, 71st division. This brigade was formed into a special formation due for Murmansk in Russia, but in March 1918 all fit men in the brigade were drafted to France. Victor embarked from Southampton on 15th April 1918 arriving at Le Harve the next day and joined the Army Cyclist Corp at Rouen from where he was posted to the 18th battalion on 6th May 1918.
During June the battalion was supporting frontline troops in the Camblain L'Abbe area north of Arras. Between the 15-16th June they were setting up camouflage screens and suffered several casualties as a result of enemy shelling. Victor was reported wounded on the 16th with wounds to his back, right leg and left hand and due to a gas gangrene infection, his right leg was amputated from the thigh. Victor subsequently died of wounds on 26th June 1918 at 32 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, a base hospital used to care for the wounded away from the front-line areas. Victor is buried in Terlincthun British cemetery, near Boulogne, a cemetery used mainly for burials from the nearby base hospitals.
A pension was paid to Victor's father from December 1918, though the records aren’t clear as to the exact amount. Unfortunately, Victor's mother, Rose, died in August 1918 in the Union Workhouse, Tewkesbury less than 2 months after his death.
Following Victor’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £10 4s 5d & £5 that were paid to his father in September 1918 and November 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Victor’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Victor was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Victor's father paid for the following private inscription on his gravestone "Born January 23rd 1899".
Victor is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial and the Conderton and Overbury War memorial, and is buried in Terlincthun British cemetery, near Boulogne.
Name/Rank: Private William Edward Shakespeare
Regiment/Battalion: 1st battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 16323
Date died: 26th September 1915
Buried/Commemorated: Loos Memorial to the Missing, France
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial and on his parent’s grave in St. Margaret’s church, Alderton
William Shakespeare was born in Alderton in 1893. His parents Thomas and Emily also had a daughter Mary who was two years younger than William. William was still living at home in 1911 and both he and his father were employed as general labourers.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 1st battalion the Gloucestershire regiment at Tewkesbury in December 1914. The 1/Gloucestershire were a regular battalion and were part of the original BEF, landing in France in August 1914, forming part of 3rd brigade, 1st Division. William joined the battalion in France on 4th May 1915.
As part of the 1st Division the 1st battalion Gloucestershire regiment moved up to the trenches in the Loos area in preparation for the attack on the 25th September. The battalion followed up the initial assault with orders to take the Bois Hugo a wooded area south of the division's original attack. They consolidated the area and dug in overnight and were relieved on the 26th, during which they came under heavy machine gun fire. William was likely killed during this relief alongside fifteen of his battalion mates. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in northern France.
Following William’s death a pension was awarded to his father, but no amount is recorded on the pension record. The Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £6 2s 11d & £3 that were paid to his father Thomas in 1916 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
William was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star and the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
William is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial and on his parent’s grave in St. Margaret’s church, Alderton and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in northern France.
Regiment/Battalion: 1st battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 16323
Date died: 26th September 1915
Buried/Commemorated: Loos Memorial to the Missing, France
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial and on his parent’s grave in St. Margaret’s church, Alderton
William Shakespeare was born in Alderton in 1893. His parents Thomas and Emily also had a daughter Mary who was two years younger than William. William was still living at home in 1911 and both he and his father were employed as general labourers.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 1st battalion the Gloucestershire regiment at Tewkesbury in December 1914. The 1/Gloucestershire were a regular battalion and were part of the original BEF, landing in France in August 1914, forming part of 3rd brigade, 1st Division. William joined the battalion in France on 4th May 1915.
As part of the 1st Division the 1st battalion Gloucestershire regiment moved up to the trenches in the Loos area in preparation for the attack on the 25th September. The battalion followed up the initial assault with orders to take the Bois Hugo a wooded area south of the division's original attack. They consolidated the area and dug in overnight and were relieved on the 26th, during which they came under heavy machine gun fire. William was likely killed during this relief alongside fifteen of his battalion mates. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in northern France.
Following William’s death a pension was awarded to his father, but no amount is recorded on the pension record. The Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £6 2s 11d & £3 that were paid to his father Thomas in 1916 and 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
William was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star and the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
William is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial and on his parent’s grave in St. Margaret’s church, Alderton and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in northern France.
Name/Rank: Private Albert Taylor
Regiment/Battalion: 2/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment
Service No: 26580
Date died: 24th October 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Crucifix Cemetery, Vendegies-Sur-Ecaillon
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
Albert Taylor was born in Toddington in 1899. His parents George and Sarah had thirteen children born between 1887 and 1909 though by 1911 only ten were still living. Albert’s father George was at times a groom and a farm labourer and from the birthplaces of the children it’s clear that the family moved around the Alderton area, with the children being born in Conderton, Winchcombe, Toddington, Greet and Pamington.
By 1911 Albert was at school and living in Oxenton with his parents and siblings Ellen, Henry, Florence, Annie, Ernest, Walter, Gertrude and a niece Emily. There were eleven people living in a four-room house. Sadly the 1911 census shows one of Albert’s sisters Margaret was living in the Tewkesbury Workhouse, Gloucester Road, with a son Arthur George aged two months. She was listed as a former domestic servant. Another sister Winifred was working as a servant at Middle Farm, Aston on Carrant, for the Yeend family. It’s likely that one of Margaret or Winnifred was the mother of Albert’s niece Emily.
Sometime between Albert leaving school and enlisting in the army he was working as a farm labourer, as Albert's picture from the Cheltenham graphic/Chronicle notes him working for a Mr. Mead of Dumbleton. The 1911 census has a Cuthbert John Mead living at Didcote Farm, Dumbleton and listed as a farmer. Albert was probably a farm labourer for him.
Albert enlisted at Cheltenham in the 2/6th Royal Warwickshire regiment sometime after the outbreak of war. The 2/6th Royal Warwickshires were a territorial battalion formed in Birmingham in 1914. They were part of the 182 brigade, 61st Division. Following a period of recruitment and training they arrived in France in May 1916. From analysis of Albert’s army service number, it’s likely he joined the battalion in either 1917 or 1918.
On the 23rd October 1918 the 2/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment moved up to the front line in preparation for an attack. The following day the village of Vendegies was attacked and the river Ecaillon was crossed, but the battalion had to withdraw following strong enemy resistance. During this attack the battalion suffered over one hundred and eighty casualties of which thirty nine were killed in action or subsequently died of wounds. Albert Taylor was one of these and is buried alongside his battalion comrades in the small cemetery in the village of Vendegies-Sur-Ecaillon.
A pension of 5s was paid to Albert’s mother Sarah Taylor from 13th May 1919. Her address was Alderton, Nr. Tewkesbury.
Following Albert’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 9s 5d & £6 10s that were paid to his father George in 1919 and 1920 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Albert’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Albert was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Albert is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial and is buried in the Vendegies-Sur-Ecaillon village cemetery, northern France.
Regiment/Battalion: 2/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment
Service No: 26580
Date died: 24th October 1918
Buried/Commemorated: Crucifix Cemetery, Vendegies-Sur-Ecaillon
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
Albert Taylor was born in Toddington in 1899. His parents George and Sarah had thirteen children born between 1887 and 1909 though by 1911 only ten were still living. Albert’s father George was at times a groom and a farm labourer and from the birthplaces of the children it’s clear that the family moved around the Alderton area, with the children being born in Conderton, Winchcombe, Toddington, Greet and Pamington.
By 1911 Albert was at school and living in Oxenton with his parents and siblings Ellen, Henry, Florence, Annie, Ernest, Walter, Gertrude and a niece Emily. There were eleven people living in a four-room house. Sadly the 1911 census shows one of Albert’s sisters Margaret was living in the Tewkesbury Workhouse, Gloucester Road, with a son Arthur George aged two months. She was listed as a former domestic servant. Another sister Winifred was working as a servant at Middle Farm, Aston on Carrant, for the Yeend family. It’s likely that one of Margaret or Winnifred was the mother of Albert’s niece Emily.
Sometime between Albert leaving school and enlisting in the army he was working as a farm labourer, as Albert's picture from the Cheltenham graphic/Chronicle notes him working for a Mr. Mead of Dumbleton. The 1911 census has a Cuthbert John Mead living at Didcote Farm, Dumbleton and listed as a farmer. Albert was probably a farm labourer for him.
Albert enlisted at Cheltenham in the 2/6th Royal Warwickshire regiment sometime after the outbreak of war. The 2/6th Royal Warwickshires were a territorial battalion formed in Birmingham in 1914. They were part of the 182 brigade, 61st Division. Following a period of recruitment and training they arrived in France in May 1916. From analysis of Albert’s army service number, it’s likely he joined the battalion in either 1917 or 1918.
On the 23rd October 1918 the 2/6th battalion Royal Warwickshire regiment moved up to the front line in preparation for an attack. The following day the village of Vendegies was attacked and the river Ecaillon was crossed, but the battalion had to withdraw following strong enemy resistance. During this attack the battalion suffered over one hundred and eighty casualties of which thirty nine were killed in action or subsequently died of wounds. Albert Taylor was one of these and is buried alongside his battalion comrades in the small cemetery in the village of Vendegies-Sur-Ecaillon.
A pension of 5s was paid to Albert’s mother Sarah Taylor from 13th May 1919. Her address was Alderton, Nr. Tewkesbury.
Following Albert’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 9s 5d & £6 10s that were paid to his father George in 1919 and 1920 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of Albert’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Albert was entitled to the two standard WW1 service medals, the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Albert is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial and is buried in the Vendegies-Sur-Ecaillon village cemetery, northern France.
Name/Rank:
Regiment/Battalion:
Service No:
Date died:
Buried/Commemorated:
Commemorated:
Regiment/Battalion:
Service No:
Date died:
Buried/Commemorated:
Commemorated:
They Also Served
The following table includes details where available of those men from Alderton and the surrounding villages who also served in WW1. The names have been taken from two sources; a memorial book held at the Alderton village church St. Margaret’s of Antioch which lists those men from Alderton who served and the list of absent voters on military service from the Alderton area compiled for the General Election held in December 1918. There is understandably some duplication across both lists and individual entries in the table have been annotated with * for the Alderton church list and # for the absent voters list. There are some names within the table where military or other biographical information has not been traced, so these individuals will remain a “work in progress”.
If anyone reading this knows of any further information relevant to any of the names on this site, then please get in touch with me.
The following table includes details where available of those men from Alderton and the surrounding villages who also served in WW1. The names have been taken from two sources; a memorial book held at the Alderton village church St. Margaret’s of Antioch which lists those men from Alderton who served and the list of absent voters on military service from the Alderton area compiled for the General Election held in December 1918. There is understandably some duplication across both lists and individual entries in the table have been annotated with * for the Alderton church list and # for the absent voters list. There are some names within the table where military or other biographical information has not been traced, so these individuals will remain a “work in progress”.
If anyone reading this knows of any further information relevant to any of the names on this site, then please get in touch with me.
Name/Rank |
Residence |
Battalion/Regiment |
Attested/Enlisted |
Service No. |
Military service |
Private Cyril Ferdinand Adamson |
Alderton |
Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) |
16/11/1915 |
98626 |
Home service only with 327 Home Field Ambulance due to his being C1/B1 medical category; no medal entitlement |
Private Albert Edward Agg |
Alderton |
10th & 12th Gloucestershire regiment & 1st East Surrey regiment |
February 1915 |
19211 (Glos) & 29523 (East Surrey) |
Albert was the older brother of Reginald Agg and was gassed at Loos in 1915 and then later wounded in 1916 on the Somme. Albert was entitled to the 14-15 Star, Victory Medal & British War medal. |
Private Charles Frederick Agg |
Alderton |
Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) |
Unknown |
18119 |
Entitled to the Victory medal and British War medal |
Private Frederick Robert Agg |
Alderton |
Royal Engineers & Labour Corps |
Value |
262580 (RE) & 596864 (Lab) |
Entitled to the Victory medal and British War medal |
Private George Andrew Agg |
Alderton |
1/4th Wiltshire regiment |
Unknown |
200835 |
Entitled to the Victory medal and British War medal |
C Banks |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Sergeant Peter Banks |
Alderton |
895 Motor Transport Coy, Army Service Corps |
23/08/1915 |
M2/119105 |
Entitled to the Victory medal and British War medal |
Private Richard Wilfred Banks |
Alderton & Manchester |
1st Gloucestershire regiment |
March 1915 |
18814 |
Discharged 11/12/1917 with GSW right-arm (60% incapacitated). Entitled to SWB. Entitled to 1915 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Private Thomas Lyndsay Banks |
Alderton |
2nd Gloucestershire regiment & Suffolk regiment |
December 1914 |
16325 (Glos) & 38695 (Suffolk) |
Entitled to the Victory medal and British War medal |
Private William James Banks |
Alderton |
Gloucestershire regiment, attached 1st Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry |
Unknown |
55330 |
Entitled to the Victory medal and British War medal |
Private Arthur John Banner |
Alderton |
3rd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry |
Unknown |
3/6339 |
3/DCLI was a reserve battalion stationed in the UK, so Arthur never saw overseas service. Discharged 09/05/1918 with D.A.H – disease of action of the heart, which was aggravated by his military service. Entitled to a pension. |
Sergeant/Farrier Francis Samuel Bennett |
Paddington, London |
Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) |
Unknown |
SE/373 |
In 1911 Francis was a Farrier working on the railways in Paddington, London. Francis arrived in France on 04/10/14 so may have been a regular soldier at the outbreak of war. Entitled to 1914 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Henry Bennett |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Samuel Bennett |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Private Frederick Medcroft Betteridge |
Alderton |
2nd Gloucestershire regiment |
December 1914 |
16324 |
Discharged 25/09/16 with GSW to both legs. Entitled to SWB issued 08/01/17 No. 106431. Entitled to 1915 Star, Victory medal and British War medal. |
Frank Betts |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Sapper George Grainger Brown |
Cheltenham |
Royal Engineers |
Regular soldier |
11240 |
To France on 23/08/14. Entitled to the 1914 Star, Victory medal and British War medal |
Charles Carter |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
George Carter |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Private Albert Henry Cashmore |
Alderton |
2nd Gloucstershire, 7th Gloucestershire & Labour Corps |
December 1914 |
16302 (Glos) & 486162 (Lab) |
Enlisted in 2nd Glos and suffered a GSW to his leg in May 1915 and then later transferred to 7th Glos. He was at Gallipoli between Sep-Nov 1915 and was injured with frostbite, later transferring to Macedonia. Later transferred to Lab Coy. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, Victory medal & British War medal. |
Sapper Ernest Alfred Cashmore |
Unknown |
Royal Engineers (RE) |
Unknown |
560143 or 160660 |
Military records show two Ernest A Cashmores, both are in the RE. I have been unable to ascertain which is the Alderton one. |
Private Percy William Cashmore |
Alderton |
1st Gloucestershire & Machine Gun Corps (MGC) |
December 1914 |
16301 (Glos) & 147040 (MGC) |
Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, Victory medal & British War medal. |
Private/Sapper Albert George Chandler |
Alderton |
Worcestershire regiment & Royal Engineers |
Unknown |
26038 (Worc) & 312693 (RE) |
Entitled to the Victory medal & British War medal |
Private Arthur Robert Chandler |
Alderton |
10th & 8th Gloucestershire regiment |
February 1915 |
19212 |
Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Private Cecil Chandler |
Alderton |
2/5th Gloucestershire regiment |
October-December 1915 |
4545(TF) & 241575 |
Medically discharged from the army in June 1918. Entitled to SWB No. 447113. Entitled to the Victory medal & British War medal |
Private Frederick William Chandler |
Alderton |
10th & 8th Gloucestershire regiment |
5th September 1914 |
13338 |
Wounded on 06/11/1918 - GSW L/Hand & R/Leg. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Private Hubert Chandler |
Alderton |
9th Devonshire regiment |
Unknown |
31475 |
Entitled to the Victory medal & British War medal |
Private John Henry "Harry" Chandler |
Alderton |
10th & 8th Gloucestershire regiment |
February 1915 |
19210 |
Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Frederick Clarke |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Arthur Cook |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Cecil Cook |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Private Egbert Thomas Cook |
Beckford |
13th Devonshire (works) regiment, 3rd Labour Corps & Military Foot Police (MFP) |
June 1916 |
29826 (Devon), 140965 Lab) & P/10630 (MFP) |
Saw no overseas service. Discharged April 1920 after requesting to continue service. Entitled to a pension due to varicose veins, hernia & rheumatism caused by military service. |
Frederick Cook |
Birmingham |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Private Harry Cook |
Alderton |
8/Gloucestershire, 12/Gloucestershire, 1/Royal West Kent (RWK) |
Unknown |
32908 (Glos) & G/21633 (RWK) |
Wounded by gas 23/05/18. Awarded Military Medal (MM) whilst in 12th Glos. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30940/supplement/11826 Transferred to RWK in October 1918 after return from gas wound. Entitled to MM, Victory medal and British War medal. |
Private Harry Francis Cook |
Cheltenham |
8th Gloucestershire, 12th Gloucestershire, 1st Gloucestershire & 8th Gloucestershire |
December 1914 |
17262 |
Discharged 15/03/1919 with a pension due to a GSW R-thigh. Entitled to 1915 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
James Reginald Cook |
Leicester |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
James Cook was a policeman in Leicester between 1909-1934. In 1911 he was living with his older brother Charles Cook who was also a policeman. There is a newspaper article and picture of James https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19340116/005/0001 |
Stephen Cook |
Wales |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Lance Corporal Victor Cook |
Alderton |
8th Gloucestershire regiment & Labour Corps |
Unknown |
30200 (Glos) & 630069 (Lab) |
GSW L-leg in Aug 1917 & then later transferred to the Lab Coy. Entitled to SWB No. B306899 issued in Oct 1919. Entitled to the Victory medal & British War medal. |
Private William Cook |
Cinderford |
8th Gloucestershire, 1/5th Gloucestershire |
September 1914 |
13815 |
Transferred to 1/5th battallion in 1918. Entitled to 1915 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Maurice Day |
Gretton Fields |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Pioneer Edward Cecil Eaton |
Alderton |
Royal Engineers (RE) |
Unknown |
162574 & WR/255888 |
Cecil Eaton was a boarder in Alderton. Entitled to Victory medal and British War medal |
John Fletcher |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Phillip Fletcher |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Private James Fluck |
Alderton |
1st Gloucestershire regiment |
November-December 1915 |
25692 |
Entitled to the Victory medal & British War medal |
Private Henry "Harry" Richard Greening |
Gretton Fields |
11th Worcestershire regiment |
September 1914 |
18308 |
To France 22/09/1915 & then to Salonika in Nov 1915 for the remainder of the war. Entitled to Entitled to the 1915 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Company Sergeant Major Charles Grimmett |
Alderton |
1st Gloucestershire & 12th Gloucestershire regiment |
August 1914 |
2586 |
Regular soldier between 1901 – 1913 when transferred to the reserve. Charles Grimmett was either recalled to the colours on the outbreak of war or re-enlisted. He was given the rank of L/Cpl and went to France on 19/01/1915. He later became a CSM with the 12th battalion. Entitled to 1915 Star, Victory medal & British War medal |
Value |
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