Milverton War Memorial
The War Memorial at the back of St Mark’s Church commemorates all those who lost
their lives in the First World War who were connected with the Parish in some way,
though did not necessarily live in Milverton or even in Leamington. The following
attempts to give some information about each of these men, some of whom have
descendants still living locally.
Any further information that anyone has about the lives of these would be very
welcome. Please email sidney.syson@gmail.com
I am hugely indebted to Terry Fermor who spoke to his friend Graham Doughty who
did much of the original research of the Milverton War Memorial for “The County of
Warwickshire Roll of Honour 1914 – 2005” by Kenneth Fowler . Most of the
information comes from that book with a little more from my own research on
Ancestry.com.
I am also grateful to Simon Yarrow who first suggested doing something, and started
me off with the name of his grandfather Charles Alsop (or Allsop).
Sidney Syson June2014.
The First World War 4 August 1914 – 11 November 1918
At the start of the First World War the British Army was relatively small with 733,514
men but by 1916, with contingents from the British Empire numbered 7 million. In all
8.7 million men served at some time with 5.4 million serving in France and Flanders.
704,803 from the British Isles were killed in action, died of wounds, disease or injury
or missing presumed dead. Including the British Empire contingents a total of
956,703 died.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the First World War said in March
2009 that 587,989 personnel are buried in named graves, but this includes all three
services. 526,816 have no known graves, but listed on a memorial to the missing, of
which 187,861were buried but not identifiable by name and 338,955 are not buried at
all which includes those lost at sea.
The St Mark’s War Memorial is carved in oak and was unveiled and dedicated on
Thursday 9 September 1920 by the Bishop of Coventry.
The names are listed in the order in which they appear on the memorial.
1
Major William Henry Abell,
Duke of Cambridge's Own (4th Middlesex Regiment), was killed in action on 23
August 1914 at Obourg near Mons in Belgium and lived at Armathwaite House,
Leamington, the home of his father in law, James Wright Hassall, a solicitor.
He was born in Norton-Juxta-Kempsey,Worcestershire on 20 September 1873, the
second son of Martin Abell of Norton Hall, Worcestershire. He married Gertrude
Lilian Hassall here at St Mark’s on 20 July 1905. He and his wife were living at Lane
End, Headley, Hampshire at the time of the 1911 census, with his wife, Gertrude
Lilian, and 2 children Caroline Margaret (1907), and James Martin (1910).
He enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment from the Militia in December 1896. “He was
gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, Middlesex Regiment, from the Militia 9 December 1896,
promoted Lieutenant 9 October 1999, Captain 15 December 1900, and Major 28
September 1912. He served at St Helena in the South African War from March to 31
May 1902 (Queen’s medal); was Adjutant to the Volunteers from 1 September 1907
to 31 March 1908, and Adjutant to the Territorial Force from 1 April 1908 to 7 March
1910; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders and was killed in
Action at Obourg near Mons in 1914.“ (from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 19141924.)
At the outbreak of the First World War the battalion was stationed at Devonport. He
arrived in France on Friday 14 August 1914 and his battalion claims to have fired the
first shot of the Great War by a British Infantry regiment.
He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1914 Star and Clasp, the British
War Medal and the Victory Medal. His medals and death plaque are on permanent
display in the National Army Museum, London. He is buried in the St. Symphorien
Cemetery, Mons, Hainaut, Belgium.
Charles Percy Alsop (also Allsop)
was a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 145015 277th Siege Battery, died of
wounds on 19 December 1917, aged 35.
He was born in Leamington in 1881, the son of Charles (a moulder) and Rebecca
Allsop, who lived in Milverton, and was baptised in St Mark’s on 4 November 1883.
In the 1911 Census the family was living at 2 Quarry Street.
He married Celia Annia Stanton on 22 April 1903 at St Mark’s. The marriage
certificate describes him as a labourer and tells us that Celia was the daughter of the
coachman at Beech House, once the home of Dr Jephson. Celia later married a Mr
Merrick and lived at 12 Albert Street.
2
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is buried in the
Red Cross Corner Cemetery, Beugny, Pas de Calais, France, and is commemorated
on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial. At least one of his relatives still lives
locally.
Victor Anstead (also known as John Henry Victor Ansted)
was a private in the Somerset Light Infantry who died at home of TB on 15 June
1919, after treatment at Stepping Hill Military Hospital, Stockport.
He was born in Leamington Spa in 1898, the son of William Henry Ansted, a
gardener, and Annie Ellen Ansted (nee Tipper) who were married on 27 November
1889 at St Paul’s Church, Leamington.
Annie’s father was Robert Tipper, a cabinet maker, who lived at 29 Lansdowne
Steert. By the time of the 1911 census Annie Ansted, her sons Victor and William
and daughter Liley were living at 29 Lansdowne Street, with John Luckett, a
confectioner who was a widower. It is possible that he had married her mother,
Anne, following the death of her father. No mention is made of William Ansted. Annie
was described as “married” and has being his stepdaughter.
John Henry Victor Ansted regimental number 55171, enlisted, aged 18, on 21.2.16
at Budbrooke on 21 February 1916 and was described as a grocer’s porter. He was
not mobilised until 16 February 1917 and became a “rifle bomber”.
On 20 October 1917 he was posted to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force with the 3rd
Dorset regiment but on 23 December 1917 was compulsorily transferred to the
Somerset Light Infantry. On 14 October 1918 he was admitted to a military hospital
in Egypt with TB and on 26 November 1918 was invalided to UK on HMHS
Alexandria. On 9 December 1918 he was transferred to Stepping Hill Hospital
Stockport and died on 15 June 1919.
3
His mother had died in June 1917 and his address was given as 3 Woodbine Street
with his discharge papers being sent on 23 April 1919 c/o Mrs Payne 4, Woodbine
Cottage, Woodbine Street, Leamington Spa who might be his sister. His brother
William Robert Anstead also served and survived the war.
Victor Anstead is buried in Milverton Cemetery. He was awarded the British War
Medal and the Victory Medal.
Alfred Ashwell
2nd Lieutenant Alfred Ashwell 142662 of the 1st Battalion, 10th King’s Royal Rifle
Corps, 59th Brigade 20th (Light) Division was killed in action during the German
retreat from the Hindenberg Line on Wednesday 4 April 1917 in France, aged 22.
Alfred Ashwell was born on 5 May 1894 came from Half Acres, Bishops Stortford,
and was the youngest son of Jeffrey Ashwell, a retired farmer.
Before the war he was employed as a pupil clerk in Leamington Spa. He enlisted in
Leamington on Wednesday 13 January 1915. He previously served as Private
TR/13/8435, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He arrived in France on 30 July 1915. He was
commissioned in December 1916 (London Gazette Thursday 21 December 1916).
He is buried in the Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, Nord, France.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Harold Thomas Beasley
Private Harold Beasley, 42664, was killed in action on Wednesday 10 April 1918 in
France during the battle of Messines, aged 23.
He enlisted in Leamington and He served with the 8th Battalion of the Prince of
Wales’ (North Staffordshire Regiment) but was previously with the Royal
Warwickshire Regiment, number 4830, and 43682 Lincolnshire Regiment.
He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlananderen,
Belgium and on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
4
Herbert H Bennett
249176 Gunner, Royal Field Artillery died on Wednesday 26 February 1919, aged
42. He was the husband of Mrs J Bennett of 28 Albert Street, Milverton. He is buried
in Milverton Cemetery and commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa war
Memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Horace Boyt
Horace George Richard Boyt, 235966 Second Lieutenant, 3rd Fighter Squadron,
Royal Air Force, was killed on Wednesday 31 July 1918 aged 19.
He was born on Thursday 16 February 1899 in Bournemouth. By the time of the
1911 Census he lived at 11 Vincent Street, Leamington Spa with his parents Charles
(38), a domestic chauffeur, and Edith Boyt (34). He was then 12 and had a sister
Evelyn aged 6. His parents subsequently lived at Drayton House, Kenilworth Road,
Leamington.
Horace went to Leicester Street School in Leamington and before the war was
employed as an aircraft magneto assembler at the British Thomson-Houston
Company, Lower Ford Street, Coventry.
His death is recorded in 1918 at Docking, Norfolk and he is buried in the Stanhoe (All
Saints) Churchyard, Norfolk. He is also commemorated on the Kenilworth war
memorial, the memorial Screen, Saint John’s Church, Kenilworth and the Royal
Leamington Spa War Memorial.
George William Bradshaw
Corporal George Bradshaw died of wounds in France on Thursday 4 April 1918,
aged 26. He was a Corporal in the 8th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps 41st
Brigade, 14th (Light) Division, number A/3458 (or 9?).
He was born in 1892, in Leamington Spa, the son of Arthur and Elizabeth Bradshaw
of 5, Stamford Place, Leamington Spa. In the 1911 Census he is described as a
domestic gardener. He enlisted in Rugby and arrived in France on Tuesday 18 May
1917. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. His relative
David Bradshaw lives locally.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
5
John William Burt
Private John William Burt was killed in action during the Battle of Ypres on Sunday 5
August 1917 in France, aged 19.
He was born in Leamington, the son of William, a drayman, and Mary of 7 Quarry
Street. He enlisted in Leamington firstly in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment,
number 18949 but later served with the 15th (Service) Battalion, the Hampshire
Regiment (2nd Portsmouth), number 31729. He arrived in France in July 1916.
Private John Burt is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper,
West-Vlaaneren, Belgium and also on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial. He
was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Christopher Clarkson
Private Christopher Clarkson died of wounds in France on Saturday 7 October 1916,
aged 20. He was buried alive by earth following a shell explosion and though his
comrades dug him out he died in the dressing station.
He was born in Leamington Spa in 1896, the only son of John William and Annie
Clarkson of 15 Waterloo Place, Warwick Street. . He was baptised at All Saints
Parish Church on 6 September 1896. In 1901 the family were living at 6 Grove
Place, Leamington Spa. By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 104
Parade, Leamington Spa.
Christopher enlisted in Oswestry and served in the 6th Battalion of the King’s
Shropshire Light Infantry 60th brigade, 20th (Light) Division, number 11688.
He is buried in the Grove Town Cemetery, Meualte, Somme, France and is
commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial. He was awarded the
1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Samuel Coleman
Stoker Samuel Coleman was lost at sea on Sunday 1 November 1914, aged 29. He
was SS/103358 Stoker 1st Class HMS Good Hope, Royal Navy. He was the son of
Mrs M.A.Coleman of 119, Rugby Road, Milverton.
Samuel was born in Twickenham on 25 July 1885. He enlisted on 13 July 1906 and
was posted to HMS Nelson from 13 July 1906 until 6 December 1906. He was
posted to HMS Good Hope on Friday 31 July 1914. The Drake Class cruiser, HMS
Good Hope, was sunk in the east Pacific by the German Cruisers Schanhorst and
6
Gneisnau under the control of Admiral Maximilian Graf von Spee. Only 4 of the 900
crew survived.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Walter Cooke
Private Walter Cooke died on Monday 17 May 1915 in the Balkans, aged 40. He was
serving with the Royal Army Service Corps, 232nd Depot, Unit of Supply, number
S2/016235.
He was born in Melton Mowbray in 1875, the son of Mr and Mrs J.T.Cooke. In 1911
he was living at 10 Victoria Road, Leamington Spa with his wife Florence Annie (nee
Clarnill?) married on 4 April 1904. He was a butcher and also lived at 27 Hyde Place.
He enlisted in Warwick and arrived in Egypt on Wednesday 17 March 1915.
He is commemorated on the Dorian Memorial, Greece.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Oliver Cope (also known as Frank Oliver Cope)
Acting bombardier Frank Oliver Cope was killed in action in France on Monday 9
April 1917, aged 23. He was killed with 7 other men and 2 officers when a shell hit
their position. He served with 15th (Warwick) Brigade Royal Horse Artillery and with
the Royal Field Artillery territorial force, number 614035. He formerly served with the
regimental number of 281.
Frank Oliver Cope was born in Leamington in 1894, the son of John Cope (born
1858?), a police inspector, and Harriet Bertha Cope (born 1860?) of 42 Warwick
Street. He was a pupil at Clapham Terrace and Rugby Road Schools. In 1911 he
was living with his parents at 1 Union Road, and was described as a Law Clerk,
employed by Wright Hassall and Co, Solicitors. He had 2 sisters Victoria Agnes
(born 1897) and Ethel May (born 1889) and one brother Frederick Montague (born
1902).
He is buried in the Beaurains Wood Cemetery, Beaurains, Pas-de-Calais, France
and he is commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
7
Charles Davis (Charles William) (also Davies)
Sergeant Charles Davis was killed in action during local operations around St Julien
on Monday 27 August 1917, aged 26. He was a sergeant in the 1st/7th Battalion,
Royal Warwickshire regiment.(T.F.), 143rd (Warwickshire) Brigade), 48th (West
Midland) Division.
He was the husband of Elizabeth Davies, of 26 Lister Street, Attleborough,
Nuneaton. He was born in Milverton, lived in Nuneaton and enlisted in Coventry.
He is buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium and
commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Ernest Elliot Edlemann
Major Ernest Edlemann, DSO, 90414, 23rd Peshawar Mountain Battery, Royal
Garrison Artillary died of wounds, inflicted 3 days earlier on Wednesday 14 April
1917 at Shaiba, on Saturday 17 April 1915 at Basra, aged 46.
He was one of the most decorated men in Warwickshire being awarded the D.S.O.
(Distinguished Service Order) with two clasps and served in several different
theatres of war.
He was the fifth son of Major Joseph Ernest and Caroline Edlemann of “Kent
House” 6 Clarendon Place, Royal Leamington Spa; and the husband of Evelyn
Lorne Edlmann (nee Campbell) of Abbottabad, India. They were married on 19
September 1908 and had 4 children. He was born in Leamington Spa on 24
November 1868 and was a pupil of Leamington College for Boys and Sandhurst. He
was commissioned in 1883. Robert Eddlemann, his brother (?) also served in the
war but survived. He is buried in the Basra War cemetery, Iraq and commemorated
on the Royal Leamington Spa War memorial.
The following is the excerpt from De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1924
8
9
10
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order with two Clasps, India Service
Medal with Clasp Kachin Hills 1892-1893, Queen’s Sudan Medal with Clasps, the
1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
William Henry Feasey
Corporal William Feasey was killed in action in Flanders on Friday 10 August 1917,
aged 35. He was killed in his trench by shellfire at 09.45hrs whilst preparing for an
attack on an enemy position. He had been wounded by a shell and gassed on a
previous occasion. He served with the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, number
7909.
William was born in Leamington Spa in April 1889 and baptised St John’s Church
Leamington Spa on 2 June 1889. He was the son of Frederick Charles Feasey (1860
– 1931 ) and Emma Turner (1859-1925) a laundress of Gordon Place. He had a
sister Emily Maggie Louise Feasey, and brother Frederick George Feasey, baptised
on 1 April 1888.
At the time of the 1901 Census he was resident in Handsworth, Staffordshire. In
1911 he married Gertrude M Stubbs (born 5 September 1888 in Toronto, Canada –
died in 1959) in Bangalore, India and was a resident of Leamington at the time of his
death at 2 Belbans (?) Buildings, Rugby Road, Leamington Spa. He was a keen
pigeon fancier and a member of the “Star and Garter Homing Society”.
He enlisted in Warwick in 1914, having previously served in the Boer War and held
the Queens’ Medal and 5 clasps. He arrived in France on Wednesday 2 December
1914.
He is buried in the Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux, Pas de Calais, France. He is
also commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
11
Leslie Halcomb
Major Leslie Broughton Halcomb, “B” Battery, 295th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery,
was killed in action on Friday 25 October 1918, aged 21.
Major Leslie Halcomb was born in Sheffield the son of Sydney Broughton Halcomb
(born in Leek, Staffs 1864) and Marion Halcomb (Abell) who were married in
Warwick in the third quarter of 1891. His brothers were Harold Sydney and Reginald
John. They lived at “Beechwood”, Broad Lane, Coventry. His mother was the sister
of Major William Henry Abell, the first name on this War Memorial. She was born in
1868 in Worcester, the daughter of Martin and Caroline Abell, and grew up at Norton
Hall, Norton Juxta Kempsey.
In the 1911 Census the family was living at 7 Endcliffe Hale Avenue, Eccleshall,
Sheffield and Leslie was a boarder at St Anselms School Bakewell. Major Halcomb’s
wife was Marion and at the time of his death she was living at Wistour, West
Barnham, Sussex. She subsequently lived at The Bent, Wells Road, Malvern and
died on 3 December 1940 at Upton upon Severn, aged 75 and still a widow.
Major Halcomb’s connection with Milverton is that he was the grandson of Charles
Henry Halcomb of Moss Close, Milverton, a retired steel manufacturer who was born
in 1832 in Marlborough, Wiltshire.
Charles Henry’s first wife was Susan Frances Mary Hand (born 1834 in
Hamdsworth, Yorkshire). They married in Sheffield in 1857. The 1861 Census shows
them living in Leek, staffs with their son Charles (1) and Mary (6). By 1881 they were
at The Limes, 272 Bamsley Road, Brightside, Sheffield with their 7 children including
their 3rd son, Sydney. Susan died in the second quarter of1889.
In 1901 Charles was in Burbage Derby with his daughter Mary and granddaughter
Edith, born in Australia and he married Adery Ann Fell (Adery Alice?) in the third
quarter of 1902. It is not known when or why they moved to Leamington. Charles
died in Bath on 18 June 1918.
Major Halcomb arrived in France on Friday 19 October 1917. He is buried in the
Hem Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Croix-de-Guerre
(Belgium).
12
John Herringshaw (Jack)
Private John Herringshaw, 203504, 2/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment,
was killed in action on 13 April 1918 in France.
He was born in Leamington in 1899 the son of Abraham and Emma Herringshaw of
4 Guys Cliffe Road, Milverton. In 1911 he had two sisters Nellie, aged 14, and Mary.
His parents later moved to 9 Guys Cliff Road (or there was renumbering). Abraham
died on 23 June 1951 and Emma died on 11 December 1964 at Warwick Hospital.
John Herringshaw enlisted in Leamington and is buried at the Saint Venant-Robecq
Road British Cemetery, Robecq, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, Plot: II. D. 18.
Arthur Holmes
Lance Corporal Arthur Holmes died of wounds on Thursday 22 February 1917 in
France, aged 29. He served in the 8th (service) Battalion, King’s Own (Royal
Lancaster Regiment), 76th Brigade, 3rd Division, 9150.
He was the son of Edward and Alice H Hunt (formerly Holmes) of 81 Rugby Road,
Milverton. He was born in Coventry, enlisted in Warwick and arrived in France on
Friday 15 January 1915.
He is buried in the Avesnes-le-Comte Communal
cemetery extension, Pas de Calais, France, Plot: IV.
B. 16.
He is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington
Spa War Memorial. He was awarded the 1914 Star,
British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
His brother (see below) was also killed in the war.
Harry Holmes
Harry Holmes was the brother of Arthur Holmes, listed above. He was killed in action
on Tuesday 14th August 1917 in France, aged 27. Corporal Harry Holmes, 9151,
served in the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 12th Brigade, 4th Division.
He was born in Coventry and enlisted in Warwick. He arrived in France on Sunday
23 August 1914. He is buried in the St Nicholas British Cemetery, Pas de Calais,
France. He is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
13
Geoffrey Hughes
Geoffrey Leonard Hughes, 6465 Sergeant 24th (Service) Battalion, the Royal
Fusiliers (City of London regiment) (2nd Sportsman’s), 5th brigade, 2nd Division was
killed in action on Monday 13th November 1916. He was killed during the attack on
the Beaumont Trench in the Battle of the Ancre.
He was born in Stourbridge in 1895 the son of William Henry and Edith Harriet
Hughes and had a sister Margaret who was 5 years older.
At the time of his death he lived in Leamington at 1 Euston Place. He enlisted in
Birmingham and served initially with the Warwickshire Regiment, number 591, and
arrived in France on Sunday 14 November 1915.
He is buried in the Munich Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme,
France. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Frank Jackson (Francis)
Second Lieutenant Frank (Francis) Jackson, 209278, 2 nd/20th (County of London)
Battalion, London regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich) (Cyclist), 185th (2/1st West
Riding) Brigade, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division, was killed in action during the battle of
the Canal Du Nord on Friday 27 September 1918, aged 22.
He was the son of Mr J. T. Jackson, an art dealer and furnisher and Mrs Jackson of 28
Parade, Royal Leamington Spa. He was educated at Leamington College for Boys.
Before the war he was employed by the Newbury Branch of the Midland bank.
He previously served as 6609, Honourable Artillery Company. He arrived in France on
Monday 2 October 1916.
He is buried in the Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He is also
commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial and the Leamington
College for Boys War Memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
His brother, Paul Jackson, also died in the war – see the entry below.
14
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson, 614059 Corporal, 15th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, was killed in action
in France on Wednesday 11 April 1917.
He was born in Warwick in 1890 the son of Mr J. T. Jackson, an art dealer and furnisher
and Mrs Jackson of 28 Parade Royal Leamington Spa and brother of Francis Jackson –
see the entry above. He was baptised at St Nicholas Church, Warwick, on 17
September 1890 and married Mabel Bate Bradford in Warwick in the second quarter of
1914. She came from Bishops Tachbrook and at the time of his death was living at
Chapel Hill, Bishops Tachbrook.
He enlisted in Warwick and arrived in France on Saturday 31 October 1914. He is
buried in Tilloy British Cemetery Tilloy-les-Mofflaines,Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, Plot:
IV. A. 13.
He is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial, Leamington
Spa College, All Saint’s Church War Memorial, Royal Leamington Spa, the Bishops
Tachbrook War Memorial, and the Guy’s Cliffe Lodge Oddfellows War Memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His brother Frank was
also killed in the War – see the entry above.
Albert S Jones
Albert Shelley Jones, G/16442 private, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London
Regiment), 86th Brigade, 29th Division died on Monday 25 October 1915 at Gallipolli,
aged 18.
He was born and lived in Leamington, the son of Albert Edward and Rhoda Jones of
1 Cross Road, Milverton.
He enlisted in Warwick and previously served s as 21252, 9th Reserve Cavalry. He
arrived in the Balkans on Tuesday 3 August 1915 and is commemorated on the
Helles memorial, Turkey, but his final resting place is unknown.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
15
Herbert Jones
No one is entirely sure which Herbert Jones is commemorated here, but my best
guess, so far, is that he was George Herbert Jones born in Tamworth and served as
10745, Private Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 11th Battalion. He enlisted at
Atherstone and was killed in action inFrance on 13 August 1916. His connection
with Milverton is unknown as yet.
Arthur Keene (Keen)
Arthur Keene, 614384 Bombardier, 2nd/1st (Warwick) Battery, Royal Horse Artillery,
was killed in action on Friday 20 July 1917, aged 20. He was killed by enemy
shellfire with others of his gun crew.
He was born in Milverton, the second son of Henry, a local railway carrier, and
Harriet Keen of 12 Quarry Street, Milverton.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He is buried in the Vlamertinghe New Military cemetery, Ieper, West Vlaanderen,
Belgium. He is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa war memorial.
He enlisted on the same day as his brother Frederick Keen in Leamington Spa. Both
brothers died in the war – see the entry below.
Frederick Keen
Corporal Frederick John Keen, 614366, 1st/1st (Warwick) Royal Horse Artillery, was
killed in action by shellfire during the Battle of Poelcappelle on Tuesday 9 October
1917, aged 24. He died less than 3 months after his younger brother Arthur (see
entry above.)
He was born in 1893 in Milverton, the second son of Henry, a local railway carrier
(coal porter), and Harriet Keen of 12 Quarry Street, Milverton. He was baptised at
Lillington on 10 December 1893. He had two younger sisters Mabel and Beatrice.
16
He enlisted on the same day as his brother Arthur Keen in Leamington Spa. Both
brothers died in the war. He previously served with regimental number 349. He
arrived in France on Saturday 31 October 1914.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He is buried in Canada farm Cemetery, Ieper, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. He is also
commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War memorial.
John Kimble
Private John Kimble, T/3579, 2nd/4th Battalion, the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey
Regiment). (TF) 160th (welsh Border) brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division, died of wounds
on Sunday 22 August 1915, aged 21.
He was the son of George Robert and Julia Kimble of 19 Woodbine Street,
Milverton. He was born in Guildford, Surrey, and lived in Aldershot, Hampshire. He
arrived in the Balkans on Saturday 17th July August 1915.
He is buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and
War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria Al
Iskandariyah, Egypt, Plot: K. 67.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War
Medal and the Victory Medal.
17
Henry Alan Leeke
Lieutenant Henry Alan Leeke of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment died of fever on
29 May 1915 at the Royal Military Isolation Hospital, Aldershot, aged 35.
Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Leeke joined the Royal Warwickshire
Regiment, he was granted a commission as a temporary lieutenant on 22 September
1914, and placed in charge of machine guns for D Company, 9th Battalion. While
serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Lt. Henry Leeke was injured in action
in France on the eve of his battalion’s departure for Gallipoli and died shortly after
being repatriated to England.
He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Harriett Leeke, born on 15 November 1879
at Weston Hall, Weston, Staffordshire.
He was the grandson of the Reverend William Leeke, a noted Waterloo historian,
and at only 17 was the youngest ensign at Waterloo, famous for carrying the Colour
of the 52nd Light Infantry.
His father, also Henry Leeke, was one of the pioneers of British hammer throwing,
had been the AAC Champion three times (1868,1870, 1872), and was the winner for
Cambridge vs. Oxford in 1868. His father was born in Holbrook, Derbyshire and
married Elizabeth Wise the daughter of Matthew Wise of Shrubland Hall, Leamington
with whom he had five daughters and one son. He died at Cliffe House, Leamington
on 21 February 1922, aged 76.
Henry Alan Leeke attended Leamington College and Corpus Christi College,
Cambridge from 1899 to 1902 and became a well known athlete, competing in the
1908 Olympics.
He was a fine all-round thrower, winning the AAA hammer in 1906 and placing
second in the shot three times (1903, 1906, 1910). He won his blue (1901-03) in the
shot and hammer and won both events against Oxford in 1903.
He was one of the first British athletes to take up the discus and set a British record
in 1908. At the 1908 Olympic Trials, Leeke won the freestyle javelin with a throw of
135-8½ (41.37), but as the method used is not known, this mark was never
recognized as a UK record. Leeke competed in six different throwing events at the
1908 Olympics, but did not reach the final in any of them.
In 1898 he married Catherine Herbert, younger daughter of Charles G. Fullerton.
They had one son and one daughter, and resided in Hill, Leamington Hastings,
Warwickshire.
The Census of 1911 shows him living in the district of Marton ( Leamington
Hastings), of private means, with his wife Catherine Herbert Leeke and one son,
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Alan Charles Herbert Leeke aged 1. His parents were by now living at Cliffe House,
2 Guys Cliffe Avenue, Milverton.
At the time of his death he is listed as living at Hill
Leamington Hastings and his widow subsequently
lived at Southdown Cottage, Seaford, Sussex. He
is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.
Arthur Mountford
Arthur James Mountford R/8981 was a lance Corporal in the 12 th (Service) Battalion,
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 60th Brigade, 20th (Light) Division was killed in action west
of Trones Wood during the Battle of Guillemont on Tuesday 5 th September 1916,
aged 33. He enlisted in Leamington Spa and arrived in France on Saturday 24th July
1915.
He was born in Warwick in 1883, the son of James and Harriet Mountford of Wharf
Street. His father was an engineer. He was baptised on 29th March 1883 at All Saints
Emscote. In the Census of 1901 the family were living at 11 Wharf Street, and
Arthur, then aged 18, had two younger sisters Eva, aged 14, and Violet, aged 12.
He married Henrietta who came from Walcott, Lincoln. In 1911 they were living at 2,
Strathearn Road, Milverton, and he worked as a clerk for the LNER at Milverton
Goods Station.
Arthur Mountford was awarded the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial,
Somme, France, and on the Leamington Spa War
memorial.
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Kenelm Passman
Kenelm Granby Passman, 112290 Lieutenant, 2 nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, 76th
Brigade, 3rd Division was killed in action on Friday 30th August 1918, aged 24.
He was the son of Charles Herbert Passman, a solicitor, and Florence Kate his wife.
Charles Passman was a partner in Passman & Labrum, 48, Bedford Street,
Leamington Spa, Solicitors.
Kenelm was born on 22 or 23 November 1893, in France, and was baptised at St
Mary’s, Leamington Priors, on 24 January 1894. He was educated at Greyfriars
Preparatory School, Leamington, and Woodbridge Grammar School.
Before the war he was articled to his father. He enlisted in Royal Leamington Spa as
3723, “C” Company, 2nd/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, on Monday 21
December 1914. He was commissioned into the 12th Battalion, Essex Regiment
(London Gazette Tuesday 5 October 1915).
He transferred to the Suffolk Regiment on Saturday 1 July
1916. He arrived in France on Saturday 1 June 1918.
He is buried in the Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery, Pas
De Calais, France.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and
is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War
Memorial.
Roland B Poole.
Roland Barrett Poole, Second Lieutenant, 62nd Wing, 221st
Squadron, Royal Air Force was accidentally killed whilst flying
on Wednesday 18th December 1918, aged 19. He was the
only son of James and Mary Poole of 17 Strathearn Road,
Milverton. His father was a grocer’s manager. He was born
on 6 June 1899 and had a younger sister Marjorie May, 3
years younger than he was. He was educated at Leamington
College for Boys and he was also assistant organist at Christ
Church, Leamington, the church at the top of the Parade.
He volunteered in March 1918 while serving an apprenticeship with Alfred Herbert
Limited, Coventry. He was gazetted as an Observer Officer in September 1918, and
he was posted to the Aegean Squadron, on the island of Lemnos, Greece. He had
volunteered for mine clearance in the Dardanelles.
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He is buried in the East Mudros Military Cemetery,
Lemnos. He is also commemorated on the Leamington
College for Boys War Memorial and the Royal
Leamington Spa War memorial.
Richard M Prue
Richard Matthew Price Prue, 212219, Gunner, “D” Battery, 106 th Brigade, Royal
Field Artillery, died of wounds on Monday 6th August 1917, aged 27. He was the
eldest son of William, a gardener, and Alice Prue of 8 Garden Place, Milverton. He
was born in Leamington Spa in about 1890.
He resided and enlisted in Coventry. He served overseas at
some time after Saturday 1 January 1916.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He
is buried in the Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium and is commemorated on the Royal
Leamington Spa War Memorial.
William Russell
William Thomas Russell, 181 Lance Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire
Regiment, 10th Brigade, 4th Division, was killed in action on Monday 15th March 1915,
aged 24. He was born in Leamington Spa in about 1891, the son and eldest of 8
children of William Thomas and Sarah Russell of 2 Albion Row. His brothers and
sisters were George, John, Frederick, Sarah, Jane, Harry, Ernest and Annie.
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He enlisted in Warwick and arrived in France on
Saturday 22 August 1914.
He was awarded the Star and Clasp, British War Medal
and Victory Medal. He has no known grave and is
commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial,
Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.
Ernest J . Sayer
Ernest Sayer, 14981, Private, 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, 27th
Brigade, 9th Division was killed in action during the Battle of Loos on Sunday 26
September 1915, aged 24. He was the son of Thomas Sayer, a local labourer and
Alice Sayer of 3 Albert Street Milverton. Ernest was the husband of Jane Vass
Lambie Sayer of 1 Bank Street, Troon, Scotland. He was born in Leamington Spa
but lived in Troon and enlisted in Ayr Scotland. He arrived in France on Tuesday 11
May 1915. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and
on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial. He was awarded the Star, British War
Medal and Victory Medal.
Charles Richard Sewell
Charles Sewell, 121286 (or 12126), Gunner, 323rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison
Artillery was killed in action on Thursday 18th April 1918, aged 39. He was born in
Milverton in 1878, the second son of William Richard and Mary Sewell of Guyscliffe
Mews. In 1881 the family were living at 9 Gunnery Terrace and William was listed as
a “Car Proprietor”. Richard’s siblings were George Kemp, a year older, and Frederick
H a year younger. At the time of the 1891 Census they were living at 9 Cross Road
and Richard now had a sister, Lucy aged 7.
Charles married Rachel MIlls in Southam on the last quarter of 1902; Rachel was
born in Bascote. They lived at 5 Cross Street, Leamington Spa and in the 1911
Census he is described as a cab driver. He and Rachel had 3 children: Elizabeth
(born 1904), George (born 1906) and Constance (born 1910). Also living at 5 Cross
Street in 1911 was his unmarried sister in law, Fanny Mills then aged 29.
Charles enlisted in Warwick and served overseas for some time after 1 January
1916, but tragically was killed by shell fire as he was bringing in wounded comrades.
He is buried in the Gonnehem British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France Plot A.5. and
is commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial. He was awarded the
British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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James L Smith
James Leslie Smith, 4713 Rifleman, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince
Consort’s Own) 17th Brigade, 6th Division was killed in action at the River Marne on
Saturday 26th September 1914, aged 21. He was the younger son of James Edward
and Charlotte Smith. James Edward was a local jobbing gardener and they lived at
132 Lower Shrubland Street, Leamington Spa but at the time of the 1901 Census
lived at 92 Shrubland Street. James was born in Leamington Spa, his elder brother
was William born in 1888/89 and he had an elder sister Dorothy born in 1889/90.
He enlisted in Warwick and at
the outbreak of war the
battalion was stationed in
Cork, Ireland.
He is commemorated on the
La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre
Memorial, Seine-et-Marne,
France, but his burial place is
unknown.
James Smith is also commemorated on the All Saints War memorial, Royal
Leamington Spa, and the Royal Leamington Spa War memorial.
He was awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, the British War Medal and the Victory
Medal.
C Herbert Spencer
Charles Herbert Slingsby Spencer196086, Second Lieutenant, “C” Battery, 330th
Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was killed in action by a trench mortar bomb on
Saturday 5th October 1918, aged 25.
He was the only son of Charles and Mrs Spencer who lived at 12 Portland Street,
Royal Leamington Spa. Charles Spencer was a chemist.
Charles Herbert was born in Hammersmith London on 7 May 1893 and was
educated at the Royal Masonic School, Bushy, Hertfordshire. In 1917 he married
Gertrude Mary Harris of 2 Portland Street, Royal Leamington Spa. Before the war
he was employed as a moulder at the Britannia Foundry Company.
He enlisted into the Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery as 201 in 1909 and
subsequently became 614007 Sergeant. He arrived in France on Saturday 31
October 1914. He was commissioned on Monday 3 September 1917.
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He is buried in the Pont-D’Achelles Military
Cemetery, Nieppe, Nord, France in Plot: III.
E. 2. He is also commemorated on the
Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
At the time of his death he lived at 33
Clarendon Square, Royal Leamington Spa,
but his widow then moved to 94 Ashbourne
Rd., Aigburth, Liverpool.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Frederick Thompson
Frederick Thomas Thompson M2/156874 Private 648th MT C Army Service Corps,
died of dysentery in Mingiryo, East Africa on Friday 12 April 1918 aged 36. He
enlisted in Rugby and served overseas at some time after Saturday 1 January 1916.
He was the eldest son of John Harris (or Harriss) Thompson and Elizabeth
Thompson and born in Rugby in about 1882. His father was born in Haughton,
Wiltshire. At the time of the 1891 Census the family were living at 14 Paradise
Street, Rugby, and Frederick had a younger brother William (born 1883?) and
younger sisters Ann (born 1886?) and Alice (born 1889?).
By the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to 7 Albert Street, Milverton.
Frederick had left home by then but lived in Leamington. His father was an Engine
Driver with the LNWR.
He is buried in the Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania. He was awarded the
British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
Frank Wagstaff
Frank Wagstaff, 18849 Private No 1 Company, Coldstream Guards was killed in
action on Saturday 13 April 1918 aged 19. He was born in Holloway, Middlesex in
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about 1899 where his father was a policeman. By the time of the 1911 Census his
father had retired and the family had moved to 121 Rugby Road, Milverton, Royal
Leamington Spa. Frank’s parents were William and Avis Wagstaff and he had an
elder brother Frederick Henry (born about 1897) and Victor Robert (born about
1901).
All 3 brothers served in the war and are listed on the other memorial in St Mark’s
commemorating all those who served including those who survived, but so far I
cannot find the service records of the other two. Frank enlisted in Leamington and
served overseas at some time after Saturday 1 January 1916.
He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert
memorial, Comines-Warneston, Hainault,
Belgium and also on the Royal Leamington
Spa War memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and
the Victory Medal.
William Watson
William Nicolls Watson, 99410 Private, 70th General Hospital, Royal Army medical
Corps died of pneumonia at Kantara Hospital, Egypt on Sunday 18 August 1918,
aged 28. He enlisted in Leamington Spa and served overseas at sometime after
Saturday 1 January 1916.
He was the youngest son of William Walter Watson and Margaret Watson of 14
Portland Place, Royal Leamington Spa. His father was born in Braunston, and his
mother, his sister Florence Margaret (born in about 1886) and William (born in about
1890) were born in Grandborough. In the 1911 Census his occupation was listed as
Florist and Nurseryman.
He is buried in Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, El-Qantarah el-Sharqiyya, Al
Isma'iliyah, Egypt Plot: D. 157, and is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington
Spa War memorial.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Wiiliam T White
William Thomas White 2261 Corporal, 1st/7th Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F.).
143rd (Warwickshire) Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division. He was killed in action
25
near Poziers by shellfire during the battle of the Somme on Tuesday 25 th July 1916,
aged 20.
William was the son of Mertimus (Mortimer) and Helen White. Mortimer was born in
1865 in Harlow, Essex and Helen was born in Rowington in 1863. In the 1891
Census the family lived at 4 Rugby Road with children Francis aged 2, and twins
Leonard and Helen aged 1 month.
William was born in Milverton. At the time of the 1901 Census Mortimer (Mertimus)
was listed as a labourer and the family lived at 6 Rugby Road with Frances (12),
Leonard and Helen (11), Alice (7), Thomas (5), Arthur (4) and Epetima (9 months).
By 1911 Helen had been widowed and lived at “Dovers Cottage” 7a Garden Place,
Leamington Spa. William’s sister was Mrs Frances Potter of 117 Radford Road,
Leamington Spa and her husband, William’s brother-in-law, Alfred Higham Potter
was also killed in action in Flanders on 19 July 1916.
William enlisted in Leamington Spa and arrived in France on Monday 22 nd March
1915. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France and also on
the Royal Leamington Spa War memorial.
William was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory
medal.
Walter P Wilkins
Walter Parkes Wilkins, 136041 Private, 58th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (infantry)
died of wounds on Wednesday 7 August 1918, aged 20.
He was the elder son of Walter and Mary Jane Wilkins of 1A Rugby Road, Milverton.
In the 1911 Census the family was living at 12 Barratt Place, Milverton. Walter’s
father, born about 1870 in Leamington, was a Brewers Labourer. His elder sister
Nollie (born about 1893) was listed as a seamstress. Walter was born in about 1899
and his younger brother William in about 1904.
He enlisted in Leamington Spa. He formerly served as 42639, Royal Irish Rifles. He
served overseas at some time after Saturday 1 January 1916. He was wounded on
Thursday 1 August 1917.
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He is buried in the Franvillers Communal Cemetery, Extension, Somme, France. He
is also commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
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