War Memorials - Surnames S
Index
Click on the name to jump to the relevant entrySARGENT, Alfred Henry
SAVAGE, George Henry (Revised 02/10/2011)
SAVORY, S
SAYER, H.G (New 05/05/2011)
SCOTT, Julius Murray
SCOTT, Walter Percy
SEAMAN, Ernest (New 01/03/2011)
SEARLE, George Henry
SHARPE, Nelson R (Revised 23/11/2010)
SHEPPARD, Isaac T (Updated 07/12/2010)
SHEPPARD, Thomas (New 03/12/2010)
SHRUBB, Oliver John
SIMMONDS, Alfred Montague
SIMMS, Thomas (New 26/01/2012)
SIMONS, John
SKELTON, Walter
SKILTON, A. W (Revised 18/09/2010)
SMITH, Albert
SMITH, C.J
SMITH, James Alexander
SMITH, Leonard Cecil
SMITH, Levi Henry (Revised 12/12/2010)
SMITH, Percival Robert (New 14/10/2011)
SMITH, Selling Daniel (Revised 27/06/2010)
SMITH, William
SMITHERS, William James (Revised 22/07/2011)
SNOOK, Walter (New 27/06/2010)
SPARROW, Henry
SPENCE, Colin George (New 20/01/2010)
SPIKESMAN, Thomas (New 13/12/2010)
STEDMAN, S (New 24/08/2010)
STEVENS, Gordon (Revised 18/09/2010)
STEVENSON, Alfred George
STEVENSON, Bessie Howe
STEWARD, Arthur A. (New 04/08/2011)
STOCKWELL, J.
STONE, Harry Douglas, (New 04/12/2010)
STREDWICK, Ernest Henry (New 06/12/2009)
STRIPP, William George
STURGESS, George (New 26/01/2010)
STURT, Reginald Phillip (New 12/08/2011)
SUTTON, Hedley Mackney (Revised 17/06/2010)
SWANNACK, Arthur (New 10/01/2010)
SYCAMORE, Albert Edward (Revised 10/06/2010)
If you are looking for someone whose name starts with a different letter please try:
Content
SARGENT Alfred Henry, Private
8th Bn, Devonshire Regt.Killed in Action 25 September 1915, aged 34
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
8th Bn, Devonshire Regt. Killed at Loos on 25 September 1915. Buried in the Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, France. Aged 34 years. Son of William H. and Amelia J. Sargent, Epsom. (Listed on the Ashley Road, Epsom and the St. Martin's, Epsom Memorials).
SAVAGE George Henry, M.M. Second Lieutenant.
12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.Killed in Action 19 October 1918, aged 27
George Savage
Image courtesy of Peter Collins, Sutton Grammar Archavist
George Henry Savage was born in the parish of Lambeth, on 7 May 1891 (GRO reference: Jun 1891 Wandsworth 1d 656) probably at 56 Hubert Grove Stockwell where his parents Frederick and Julia Ann Savage (Nee Waite) and older brother, Frederick William, were living when the 1891 census was taken. His father was described as an organ builder.
By 1901 the family had moved to 7 High Street, Sutton and George's father Frederick had become a 'Fishmonger & Poulterer Shopkeeper. Employer'. By then George had four siblings Frederick William 11, Harold 8, Leslie 4 and Edwin Gerald 1. They also employed a Domestic Nurse to assist with the baby.
In the 1911 census George's family was living at The Krall, Cornwall Road, Sutton. George's father was still working as a fishmonger and poulterer, with brothers Frederick and Harold assisting. Another sibling had arrived, Irene Gwendoline aged 3. George's mother stated that she had given birth to seven children and that six were still living. George was living at 113-115 Borough High Street, London, a boarder in the home of Walter Robert Inwood. George worked as an assistant in a provision warehouse.
George attended Sutton Grammar School. The following is an extract from the school magazine 'The Suttonian':
At school from 1901 to 1907. Joining the East Surreys on December 27th, 1916, he trained at Saltash for three months and went to France as Lance-Corporal, going into the front line almost immediately. On July 12th, he was awarded the Military Medal and recommended for a commission for a 24-hours reconnaissance in "No Man's Land," gathering valuable information (unobtainable even by aerial observation) which proved correct in every detail. Returning to England he joined the Cadet School at Romford in November, 1917. Passing out in April, 1918 he was gazetted to the 3rd East Surrey's in May, but did not go to France again till September, when he was attached to the 12th Battalion. After only 14 days in the front line, during which they were continually advancing, he was told off to capture a farmhouse infested with machine guns, and was shot through the head in two places by their fire, dying almost immediately, October 21st. He is buried near the spot at Courtrai.
After attending Sutton Grammar School, George served three years in the Rhodesian Mounted Police 1910-1913 as Trooper 1213 where he became an accomplished rider. He returned to England and married Kate Webb in June 1914 (GRO reference: Jun 1914 Epsom 2a 41). No references to children have been found.
Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.
Ewell High Street in 1924.
The open fronted shop on the left is the fish mongers run by the Savage Family.
On 27 December 1916 he enrolled for military service at Kingston on Thames, aged 25 years and 5 months. He, too, had become a fishmonger and was living at High Street, Ewell (according to his Attestation papers, although the recruitment register states Earlsfield.) He was quite tall compared with other recruits at 5 feet 10 inches, and weighed 197 lbs, with a chest measurement of 40 inches, expansion 2 inches. He also had a large, light mole on his left buttock. He had not been inoculated previously so this was done in February 1917. He had perfect 6/6 vision and was passed as medically fit A2. He expressed a wish to join the RGA but he was assigned to the 4th Battalion East Surreys, a training battalion, as Private 31365.
On 22 Mar 1917 he was posted with the BEF 7th Battalion East Surreys and served with them until 9 September 1917 when he returned to England to apply for a commission as an officer. During his period in the ranks, he was appointed Lance Corporal on 1 May 1917.
He distinguished himself in the field which culminated in the award of the Military Medal. The History of the East Surrey Regiment records: "For conspicuous service as a sniper during July 1917 with the 7th Battalion, L/Cpl GH Savage was awarded the MM", and the award is noted in the London Gazette supplement 14 September 1917. His award caused a lot of local interest. It was reported in the Epsom Advertiser 10 August 1917:
"Corpl. G. H. Savage, of High Street, one of the famous swimming family, has been decorated with the Military Medal on the field for bravery in reconnaissance, he and another having penetrated the enemy's lines and brought back very useful information."
Ewell Parish Council decided to send a letter of congratulation to his relatives upon receiving the Military Medal. At their next meeting, Councillor Henderson said Lance Corp. Savage had returned safely to Ewell after the experience for which he got the Military Medal, and that the Clerk had written to congratulate him on behalf of the Council. The medal was eventually delivered to him on 8 Dec 1917.
George's application for a commission was successful. It was noted that his standard of education was average but his military knowledge was above average and that he had set as splendid example to the battalion. He was good at work and all games and had a cheerful disposition, steady and reliable. He aspired to a regular commission with the Indian Army. On 9 November 1917 he was accepted to 15 Officer Cadet Battalion, Gidea Hall Romford, and was appointed Temporary 2nd Lieutenant attached to the 12th Service Battalion, for the pay of 10s 6d a day. He was posted to Belgium 30 April 1918.
The 12th East Surrey Regt was in the 122nd Brigade 41st Division. From the East Surrey History (1918) "On 19 October the Battalion crossed the River Lys near Bisseghem, Belgium and, after passing the night in the south-western outskirts of Courtrai, moved into that town on the following day. On the 21 October the battalion came into action near Sweveghem, three miles east of Courtrai and advanced about two miles to the Coutrai-Bossuyt canal south of Knokke, among the casualties being 2nd Lieut. G. H. Savage killed and 2nd Lieut. R. Northwood wounded." George was aged 27. Six men from the Battalion also died that day.
A brief telegram was sent to his wife "28 Oct 1918 Deeply regret 2/Lt G H Savage KIA Oct 21. Army Council express sympathy".
George's headstone in the Lijssenthoek Military cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
George is now buried in plot XXXII. A. 17. in Lijssenthoek Military cemetery. However, his service record states that he was first buried at a point north of St Denijs but was reburied at St Denijs Churchyard with a service conducted in the military chapel on 23 June 1919 as part of the consolidation of isolated graves into cemeteries. Then in 1981 the remains of George and 16 other soldiers were moved from St Denijs Churchyard to their present positions in Lijssenthoek.
In addition to the Military Medal, George was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
He is also remembered on the Sutton Grammar School War Memorial.
BH EW SGS
SAVORY S.
Died N/K, aged N/KPending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
(Listed on the Ashley Road Memorial, Epsom).
SAYER Herbert George, Sergeant. 6076.
9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment (Formerly 1st Battalion).Died 27 March 1916, aged 35
Herbert's headstone in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
Herbert George Sayer was born in 1881 (GRO reference: Sep 1881 Pancras 1b 42) to George Edward Hamby and Florence Jane Sayer (nee Dinham). Herbert's parents married in the Pancras registration district, recorded in the December 1873 quarter.
In the 1881 census, before Herbert was born, the family lived at 6, Percy Street, Pancras. Herbert's father was a 32 year old civil servant, employed writing reports. His mother's age was recorded as 40, but her birth was registered in the March quarter of 1849, which would have made her 32. In the next census her age was again recorded as 40. Herbert's siblings were Florence Adele aged 6, Ethel Margaret aged 3 and Percy Dinham aged 17 months.
| Name | Born - Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Florence Adele | Born: 1874 Pancras | |
| Cecil George H | Born: 1876 Pancras. Died 1876 | Probably Herbert's sibling |
| Ethel Margaret | Born: 1877 Pancras | |
| Percy Dinham | Born: 1879 Pancras | |
| Herbert George | Born: 1881 Pancras. Died: 27 March 1916 France | |
| Edith Winifred | Born: 1883 Norbiton | |
| Cyril Dudley | Born: 1885 Norbiton |
By 1891 the family had moved to 284, Kings Road, Kingston, Surrey. Herbert's father was still earning his living writing for the civil service. Herbert aged 9, had two more siblings, Edith Winifred aged 7 and Cyril Dudley aged 5.
The 1901 census shows Herbert's father living at 4, Dunbar Road, New Malden, with his son Cecil D, born in Kingston. Cecil D is shown as a 15 year old clerk working for a whisky distiller. I suspect that 'Cecil D' has been entered by mistake, and should read 'Cyril D'. Cecil G died in 1876, and Cyril D, born in 1885 would have been about 15 years old. I can find no other members of the family.
By 1911 Herbert's father, a civil service pensioner, was living at 2, Rosebery Terrace, Heatherside Road, West Ewell, with his unmarried 27 year old daughter Edith. Herbert's mother Florence was a patient in the Surrey County Council Lunatic Asylum, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey. The census shows that Herbert's parents had been married for 38 years, had produced seven children and that five were still alive.
I can't find Herbert in the 1901 or the 1911 censuses. Neither can I find any service or pension records, or reference to him in the Surrey Recruitment Registers. I suspect that before 1901, he had joined the Army and become a regular soldier. His medal card (misnamed Sayers) shows he went to France as a Corporal with the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 11 September 1914, almost a month after the 1st Battalion had landed in Le Havre on 15 August 1915. At some point he was transferred to the 9th battalion.
The 'Soldiers Died' CD states that Herbert 'died', implying that he died through a cause other than enemy action, perhaps from disease or other natural causes.
Herbert is buried in grave II. B. 38. in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension. Bailleul was an important railway centre and was home to many hospitals. He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal.
EP
SCOTT Julius Murray, Private. 7382.
2nd/14th London Regt (London Scottish)Died of wounds 30th September 1916, aged 35
Julius Murray Scott was born in 1880 (GRO reference: Sep 1880 Lambeth 1d 521). In the 1881 census he was one of fourteen people living in what must have been a large house at 328 Brixton Road, Lambeth. His father, George Murray Scott, a hemp merchant (manufacturer), and his mother Frances Prince Scott (nee Yeates) had married at Abingdon in 1884 and had produced two other sons, Henry Yeates Scott (GRO Reference: Dec 1874 Lambeth 1d 536) and John Christian (GRO reference: Mar 1879 Lambeth 1d 553) as well as two daughters, Harriet Mary (GRO Reference: Sep 1876 Lambeth 1d 513) and Annie Georgina (GRO Reference: Sep 1877 Lambeth 1d 502). Staying with them as a visitor, was Frances's mother, Mary A. Yeates. George had two of his brothers staying, Julius B. Scott, also a hemp merchant (manufacturer), and Henry J. Scott, a jeweller. They had four servants, namely two domestic nurses, a cook and a parlour maid.
This image came from Mark Davison's book 'Hook remembered again' ISBN 0953424057.
For more information please contact Mark at (opens email program)
By 1891 the family had moved to Whitehall, Lower Hook, Surrey. This house had been built c.1830 and was demolished in 1938. Julius's father, now 40, was shown as living on own means in the 1891 census. Two more daughters Mary Isabel (GRO Reference: Mar 1883 Lambeth 1d 549) and Fanny M (GRO Reference: Sep 1886 Lambeth 1d 464a) had been born plus another son George Burfield (GRO Reference:Sep 1883 Lambeth 1d 480). Mother-in-Law Mary Yeates was still living with them, as was a nurse (domestic), a cook and two housemaids. By now George was able to add a butler to his domestic entourage.
In 1901 they were shown as living in Manor House (I believe this to be another name for Whitehall) Clayton Road, Hook. The eight children were still living there, but the nurses were no longer required. The family was looked after by three servants: a butler, a cook and a housemaid. Julius Murray Scott was 21 and working as a "Farm Contractor and Farmer" employing people to assist with the farm. In the 1915 electoral roll he is shown as joint owner of Ruxley Farm, West Ewell with his older brother John Christian Scott.
Although according to the 'Soldiers Died' CD Julius enlisted in Epsom, I cannot find him in the 'Surrey Recruitment Registers' CD. Neither have I been able to find any record of marriage.
The 2nd/14th London Regiment (London Scottish) was in 179th Brigade in the 60th Division. They were holding the line at Neuville St Vaast near Arras. On the night of 29-30 September a trench raid was carried out. Two of the enemy were brought in and several were killed, but the London Scottish also lost some men, killed and wounded. On the 30 September 1916, six London Scottish died including Private Scott who was aged 35.
Private Scott is buried in the Aubigny-en-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension, 1 E 37.
Julius attested on 10 December 1915 aged 34 years 4 months. He was 5 feet 7 ½ inches tall and had a chest measurement of 37 ½ inches with an expansion of 3 inches. His father was named as his next of kin, and he was an unmarried dairy farmer at Ruxley Farm.
He was placed on the Army reserve and was not mobilised until 3 March 1916. He embarked from Southampton on 6 August 1916 and disembarked at Havre the next day. He joined his Battalion the 2/14 London Regiment (London Scottish) on 20 August 1916. The Battalion was in 179th Brigade in the 60th Division, and on 29 September they were holding the line at Neuville St Vaast near Arras. On the night of 29-30 September a trench raid was carried out. Quoting from 'The London Scottish in the Great War' by Lt-Col J.H. Lindsay;
"On the night of September 29-30 a very successful raid was carried out against the German trenches facing the northern end of the Paris Redoubt. The raiding party, which had undergone a special course of training under their leader, Lieut. T. D. O. Maclagan, was composed of 2 officers and 45 other ranks, divided into covering, right and left blocking, and body-snatching parties. Lieut. Tennant with 11 men and a Lewis gun was detailed to cover the right flank of the raiding party, which offered the enemy an opening for a bold counter-attack. Tennant took a telephone out with him through which he could get direct communication with the artillery providing the barrage. The raiders blackened their faces, wore football jerseys and bombing shields, and by midnight were " made up " ready for action. Colonel Ogilby had decided to put down a " box " barrage on that part of the line to be raided, shelling the two points on the front trench with Stokes guns and closing the barrage to the rear with the 18-pounders and 4.5 in. howitzers. The wire had previously been cut in several places by the field batteries.
The night was one of intense darkness, and the various parties crawled out into No Man's Land and formed up close to the enemy wire without detection. At 2.15 A.M. the barrage was put down and the raiders dashed forward. A strong opposition was met with between the German wire and their trench, but a footing in the enemy lines was quickly gained by the " Body Snatchers " under Lieut. Bethune, who at once sent back three prisoners. Later a corporal who spoke good English and a company sergeant major (Feldwebel) were secured and sent in. A few of the enemy were killed in their trench, but unfortunately the section selected did not include a dug-out in its length, so that the enemy casualties were probably less than had been hoped for. Maclagan being satisfied that he had achieved his object, which was primarily to obtain identifications, ordered the withdrawal. There were several wounded men to bring in, some of them badly hit, and the time limit for the barrage was almost up. Lieut. Tennant, appreciating that the party could not get in time, got through to the gunners and called for five minutes more fire, a prompt action which no doubt enabled the raiders to get in without further loss. The total losses were: killed 2, died of wounds 1, wounded 5, missing 1. Sergeant G. F. A. Jilbert, who died of his wounds at Aubigny, was a great loss. He had assisted Lieut. Maclagan in the training of the party and taken the keenest interest in the whole operation, during which he commanded the right blocking party. Major-General Bulfin visited him in hospital before his death and pinned the D.C.M. ribbon on his breast. Lieut. Maclagan was later awarded the M.C., and at the same time Lance-Corporal R. Scott and Private C. M. Ross were decorated with the M.M.
In acknowledging the report of the raid submitted by the Commanding Officer of the Scottish, Sir Charles Fergusson, commanding the 17th Corps, wrote on October 2 :
The arrangements appear to have been carefully worked out and the actual raid to have been carried out with gallantry and determination. The information and identifications secured are of great value.
Please inform all concerned that their work is much appreciated and is considered to reflect credit on those who planned and carried it out."
On the 30th September 1916, six London Scots died including Julius who died of wounds aged 35. and is buried in Aubigny-en-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension, 1 E 37. The CWGC states he was the 'Son of Mr and Mrs George Murray Scott, of White Hall, Hook, Surbiton, Surrey'.
His effects were sent to his father on 24 August 1918 and consisted of letters, open cheques (L&SW Ban, photos, metal mirror in case, penknife, watch-broken, tobacco box, cigarette case, clothing list, shoulder titles.)
SCOTT Walter Percy, Rifleman
1st Bn, King's Royal Rifle CorpsKilled in Action 27 July 1916, aged N/K
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
1st Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed on the Somme on 27 July 1916. Listed on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Aged 29 years. Brother of Mrs. Matthews, Epsom. (Listed on the Ashley Road, Epsom and the St. Martin's, Epsom Memorials).
SEAMAN Ernest, Private. 11756.
1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers (RF).Killed in Action 16 August 1916, aged 26.
Ernest's inscription on the Thiepval memorial to the missing
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
Ernest Seaman was born on 1 July 1889 in Epsom (GRO reference: Sep 1889 Epsom 2a 21) to Peter and Sarah Seaman (nee Wells). Ernest's parents married at Christ Church, Epsom Common on 11 December 1880. When they married, Ernest's father Peter was a 53 year old widowed carpenter living on Epsom Common, and the son of Peter Seaman (labourer). Ernest's mother, was a 31 year old spinster, also living on Epsom Common, and the daughter of Charles Wells (baker). They went on to baptise six children at Christ Church, Epsom.
| Name | Born - Died | Baptised | Married |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Maria | Born: 1882 Epsom | 19 February 1882 | |
| Charlie | Born: 5 August 1883 Epsom Died: 1958 Surrey Mid East |
7 October 1883 | Mary Ellen S Reynolds 1909 Epsom |
| May | Born: 1 May 1885 Epsom | 21 June 1885 | |
| Marian | Born: 13 April 1887 Epsom Died: 1967 Wandsworth |
3 July 1887 | Albert E Buss 1911 Epsom |
| Ernest | Born: 1 July 1889 Epsom Died 16 August 1916 France |
22 September 1889 | Mabel Warwick 1914 Wandsworth |
| Ethel Maud | Born: 1892 Epsom Died 1944 Surrey Mid East |
Not known | George W Battison 1916 Epsom |
The 1871 census, taken before Ernest was born, shows his father Peter, a 46 year old carpenter and joiner, as married to 20 year old Camilla. They were living in Spilsby, Lincolnshire and they had a son, 2 year old Harry, a half brother to Ernest.
The 1881 census, also taken before Ernest was born, shows his parents, Peter and Sarah living at Heath's Cottages, Epsom Common, with their children from their previous relationships; 12 year old Harry, Peter's son from a previous marriage was said to be a 14 year old errand boy, and Sarah's children William George Wells age 5, born in London and Eliza Ellen Wells aged 1, born in Epsom. Sarah herself was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Ernest's older sister Marian was baptised in 1887, and at the time the family was living in Maria Cottage, Epsom Common. Peter and Sarah with their children Eliza Ellen, Elizabeth Maria, Charlie, Marian and Ernest were still living there when the 1891 census was taken. Their second daughter May, seems to have been omitted in error, as there is no trace of her in the census, yet she was alive ten years later when the 1901 census was taken.
In 1901, living still in Maria Cottage, Ernest's mother Sarah was shown as a widow, his father Peter having died in 1900 aged 71, and buried at Epsom Cemetery in grave A161. The widowed Sarah was employed as a laundress, as was her daughter Eliza Ellen. Charlie aged 17 was working as a domestic gardener, while Ernest and his sisters, Marian and Ethel Maud, made up the rest of the family. Sister May was working as a nursemaid to a family in Cheam.
By 1911 Sarah, along with her daughters Elizabeth Maria and Ethel Maud, were all living with Ernest's sister Eliza Ellen and her husband, Thomas Lucas, at Ordnance Cottage, Lower Ashtead. Sister May was working as a parlour maid in Kenley, while brother Charlie along with his wife Mary and their 6 month old daughter Constance, were living in Albert Road, Epsom.
Ernest himself, in 1911 was boarding with 67 year old widow Sarah Warwick and her three children, Mary Hannah aged 30, Thomas aged 29, who worked as a domestic coachman, and Mabel aged 24, a bookkeeper at a Silksmiths. They lived at The Hatch Gate, Dorking Road, Ashtead. Ernest, aged 21, was employed as a domestic gardener.
Three years later, on 12 April 1914, Ernest married 26 year old spinster Mabel Warwick in St Anne's church Wandsworth, both giving their address as 37, Marcus Street, Wandsworth. When their daughter Daphne was born on 22 September 1914, and baptised in St Barnabas church, Temple Road, Epsom on 11 October 1914, they gave their address as The Hatch Gate, Dorking Road, Ashtead.
Ernest attested on 18 January 1915, at Kingston into the Royal Fusiliers. He gave his age as 25 years and 6 months. He was 5 feet 7½ inches tall, weighed 130 lbs, and had a chest measurement of 34½ inches with an expansion of 2½ inches. He stated that he was a gardener and that he lived at Hatch Gate, Ashtead.
He served originally in the 2nd Battalion RF, and from his medal card we see he was sent to fight in Gallipoli on 23 September 1915. His service papers did not survive the Blitz, but at some stage in his military career he was transferred to the 1st Battalion RF, which was in the 17th Brigade, 24th Division.
The following is an extract from the 1st Battalion RF war diary (WO 95/2207):
16 August 1916. Working parties as usual, still working on trenches for attack by Div on Guillemont. Bosch artillery still very active. Our gun fire continuous throughout day & night.
Casualties:- Killed O.R. 5. Wounded O.R. 17. Air fights are of daily occurrence. Aircraft on both sides displaying great activity. Reinforcement 1 Officer 2nd Lt V. K. Barnes
Ernest was probably killed by shell fire whilst working on digging trenches. His body was not recovered after the war, so his name appears on the Thiepval memorial to the missing.
Ernest was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal.
Ernest medal card.
Image courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk (Link opens in a new window)
Copyright 2010, The Generations Network, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
CWGC records show that he was the son of Peter and Sarah Seaman, of Epsom; husband of Mabel Seaman of Hatch Gate, Ashtead, Surrey. By the time the CWGC records were made, both Ernest's parents were dead. Father Peter having died in 1900 and mother Sarah in 1917 aged 67.
Christ Church war memorial is the only memorial in the Borough of Epsom and Ewell that bears Ernest Seaman's name. He is, however commemorated on the Ashtead war memorial.
The Ashtead War Memorial
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
Ernest's inscription on the Ashtead War Memorial
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
CC
SEARLE George Henry, Corporal. 413.
7th East Surrey RegtDied of wounds 10 April 1917, aged 32
(He is shown as G Searle, with no MM on Bourne Hall Memorial, but is shown as George Henry on the memorial in St Mary's Ewell)
George Henry Searle was born in 1884 (GRO reference: Dec 1884 Epsom 2a 19) to Alfred and Mary Ann Searle (nee Bax). He was baptised St Mary's Ewell on 6 September 1891, where his father is shown as a 'cowman'.
In the 1881 and 1891 census returns (in which the name has been mis-transcribed as Leale) and the1901 census they lived at Gibraltar, Ewell, and George's father was a labourer. George had at least eleven siblings, seven sisters and four brothers, all baptised at St Mary's Ewell: Alfred b. c 1880, Rosa 1880, Eliza c.1882, Clara May 1883, George H 1884, Florence 1886, Louisa 1889, Arthur 1890, Beatrice 1895,Daisy Isabel 1895, William Henry 1900, Percy Edwin 1903.
Gibraltar, Ewell
Copyright image courtesy of Clive Gilbert 2006
| NAME | St Mary's | 1881 CENSUS | 1891 CENSUS | 1901 CENSUS | GRO Reference | NOTES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father | Alfred Searle | Age 30 Chertsey | Age 44 Chertsey | Age 50 Chertsey | Sep 1850 Chertsey 4 104 | Marriage: Sep 1873 Kingston 2a 378 | |
| Mother | Mary Ann Bax | Age 28 Eastry | Age 38 Esher | Age 48 Esher | Mar 1852 Eastry 2a 599 | Marriage: Sep 1873 Kingston 2a 378 | |
| Children | |||||||
| 1 | Ellen | Age 7 1874 Esher | Mar 1873 Kingston 2a 281 | ||||
| 2 | Alfred | C 1880 | Age 4 1877 Poplar | Age 12 1879 Poplar | Mar 1880 Stepney 1c 469 | ||
| 3 | Rosa | 1880 | Age 1 1880 Ewell | Age 11 1880 Ewell | Sep 1879 Epsom 2a 25 | Rose in census | |
| 4 | Eliza | C 1882 | Age 9 1882 Ewell | Dec 1881 Epsom 2a 18 | |||
| 5 | Clara May | 1883 | Age 7 1884 Ewell | Age 18 1883 Ewell | June 1883 Epsom 2a 15 | Nora in 1891 census | |
| 6 | George Henry | 1884 | Age 6 1885 Ewell | Age 16 1884 Ewell | Dec 1884 Epsom 2a 19 | ||
| 7 | Florence | 1886 | Age 4 1887 Ewell | Dec 1886 Epsom 2a 22 | |||
| 8 | Louisa | 1889 | Age 2 1889 Ewell | Age 12 1889 Ewell | Mar 1889 Epsom 2a 26 | ||
| 9 | Arthur | 1890 | Age 2m 1891 Ewell | Age 10 1891 Ewell | Mar 1891 Epsom 2a 20 | Also Sep 1890 Epsom 2a 31 | |
| 10 | Beatrice Amy | Age 6 1895 Ewell | Jun 1895 Epsom 2a 17 | Beatrice in census. Twin. | |||
| 11 | Daisy Isabel | 1895 | Age 6 1895 Ewell | Jun 1895 Epsom 2a 17 | Daisy on census. Twin. | ||
| 12 | William Henry | 1900 | Age 4 1897 Ewell | Mar 1897 Epsom 2a 20 | William on census. | ||
| 13 | Percy Edwin | 1903 | Age 10m 1900 Ewell | Jun 1901 Epsom 2a 21 | Percy on census. |
George enlisted in Battersea into the 7th East Surrey Regt which was in the 37th Brigade 12th Division. By 25 April 1915 the battalion had completed a two month tour of duty on the Hohenzollern Redoubt front. A front much pockmarked by the explosion of many mine craters. From the East Surrey History: "The two months during which the tour lasted had been a period of hard fighting of a nature that tried the strongest nerves. When the Division took over that part of the line there were about five mine craters, and when it handed over there were at least thirty. The men occupying the trenches knew that at any moment a new mine might send their trench and them up in the air, and in the defence of the mine craters they were harassed by the continuous fire of the heaviest trench mortars. Small wonder, then, that an eye-witness has described one of these crater fights as a veritable inferno." For his part in the defence of the craters George Henry Searle was awarded the MM.
At 5.30am on 9 April 1917 the Battle of Arras commenced, and the 7th East Surrey's lost 41 men killed in action and 2 died of wounds. On the 10 Apr another 3 men died of wounds, including George aged 25. He is buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, 111 A 20.
SHARPE Nelson Richard, Private. 38433.,
41st Field Ambulance. RAMC.Died 14 October 1917, aged 24.
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
Nelson Richard Sharpe was born in 1893 in Croydon, Surrey (GRO ref: 1893 Croydon 2a 279), son of Nelson Henry and Mabel Bateman Sharpe (nee Baker). His parents married in the December 1891 quarter in the Strand registration district. The GRO entry spells Sharp without an 'e' at the end. His father was born in Tenterden Kent and his mother in Folkestone Kent.
Aged 8, Nelson and his parents were living in one of the Maria Cottages near Christ Church in Epsom Surrey (Epsom Common?) when the 1901 census was taken. With them were Nelson's younger siblings 6-year-old Madelene and 4-year-old Harry. Nelson senior worked as a coach smith to support his family.
In the 1911 census Nelson Richard Sharpe was listed as such but Harry appears as Harry George Jackson Sharpe, his mother as Mabel Bateman Sharpe and his father as Nelson Henry Sharpe. Madelene does not appear to be living with her family, but in 1916 she married Arthur G Bradley in Epsom.
Nelson died in Mesopotamia and is remembered on the XVI. E. 8 memorial in the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery.
Listed on the Ashley Road, Epsom, the Epsom Brotherhood and the Christ Church, Epsom Memorials.
Also remembered on the Burnley war memorial.
SHEPPARD Isaac Thomas, Sergeant. 230625.
2nd Battalion (City of London) Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).Died 19 May 1917, aged 32.
Isaac Thomas Sheppard was born on 6 January 1885 (GRO reference: Mar 1885 Epsom 2a 24) to Isaac and Annie Sheppard (nee Davis) of Epsom Common. His parents had married on Christmas Eve 1882 in Christ Church.
Although Isaac Thomas Sheppard was registered and baptised as such, it seems he was generally known as just Thomas Sheppard, and this is how he is styled on census returns. He had seven siblings but three had died before the 1911 census.
| NAME | BORN : DIED | BAPTISED | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Annie Davis | 28 May 1882: March quarter 1892 | 20 Aug 1882 | Born to Annie Davis before she married Isaac |
| Norah Julia | 7 October 1883: 1952 | 13 Jan 1884 | Married Herbert Marsland 1923 |
| Isaac Thomas | 6 January 1885 : 19 May 1917 | 12 Apr 1885 | DOW whilst prisoner of war |
| Charles Henry | 30 September 1887 : 1948 | 2 Dec 1888 | |
| Mary Cecilia | 28 August 1893 : 1923 | 11 Dec 1893 | |
| Alfred George | Dec Quarter 1895 : Mar quarter 1898 | Possibly a sibling | |
| Margaret Louisa | 15 October 1898 | 28 May 1899 | |
| Cecil Alfred | Dec quarter 1907 : Mar quarter 1911 | Possibly a sibling |
(Isaac) Thomas was baptised in Christ Church, Epsom on 12 April 1885, as were five of his siblings. It is interesting to note that Christ Church records spell the name Shepherd, not Sheppard.
The family lived at Stranger's Cottage, Epsom Common in 1891 when the census was taken, next door to the Tichener family who also lost a son in the Great War. This was in between the Blackburn and Vernon Cottages. Isaac's father, aged 32, was working as an Under Gardiner to support his wife 30 year old Annie and their children Annie aged 8, Norah aged 7, Thomas (Isaac) aged 6 and Harry (Charles) aged 3.
The family was still living in Strangers Cottage ten years later when the 1901 census was taken. The family now consisted of Thomas' (Isaac) father who had been promoted to Gardener, his mother Annie who was working as a Charwoman, Nora aged 17, Harry aged 13 who was selling papers, Mary aged 7 and 2 year old Margaret. Thomas (Isaac) himself was working as an assistant in a china shop.
The 1911 census shows Thomas (Isaac) a 25 year old motor driver still living at home with his mother and three siblings at Stamford Green, Epsom, probably still at Strangers Cottage. Mother Annie previously a charwoman in 1901 was now an assistant cook. Nora was a employed as a housekeeper, Harry was employed in some form of electrical engineering work, whilst Margaret was still at school. Also shown on the census, as the son of Annie was 3 year old Herbert Marsland Sheppard. It seems very likely that he was in fact the son of Norah, and therefore Annie's grandson. Norah married Herbert Marsland in 1923.
Sadly, the census shows Thomas' (Isaac) father I Sheppard to be an inmate in the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum, Netherne. He died in the December quarter of 1916.
Isaac Thomas Sheppard enlisted in Westminster as 'Thomas Sheppard' and joined the 2nd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers). It seems that none of his service papers have survived but his medal card shows he was originally given service No. 2426 which was subsequently changed to 230625, and that he went to France on 30 August 1915.
On 9 February 1916 his battalion joined the 169th Brigade in the 56th (London) Division. The battle of Arras raged from 9 April to 17 May 1917. Between 9 April and 19 May 1917, some 136 other ranks from the 2nd Battalion London Regiment lost their lives. It is quite likely that (Isaac) Thomas Sheppard was wounded and taken prisoner during this battle. He died on 19 May 1917 and is buried in grave number XI. D. 16. in the Cologne Southern Cemetery Germany. Cologne Southern Cemetery is located within the civilian cemetery Südfriedhof Köln. Cologne is approximately 30kms to the north of Bonn.
Thomas was awarded the 1914 - 1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal.
(Isaac) Thomas's medal card.
Image courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk (Link opens in a new window)
Copyright 2010, The Generations Network, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
The St Martin's church Roll of Honour states that:
THOMAS SHEPPARD, died in Germany on the 19th May 1917, from wounds received in the battle of Arras.
The names Sheppard I.T, and Sheppard T. both appear on the Ashley Road memorial. Having looked at all available information I believe them to relate to only one man. He appears on two church memorials (St Martins and Christ Church) and also on the Epsom Brotherhood memorial. I suspect that his mother had his full name entered on the Christ Church memorial and that chums from the Brotherhood entered him as only Thomas Sheppard on the St Martins memorial. Both churches then submitting the two names for inclusion on Ashley Road.
EP SM CC EB
SHEPPARD Thomas.
The names Sheppard I.T, and Sheppard T. both appear on the Ashley Road memorial. Having looked at all available information I believe them to relate to only one man. He appears on two church memorials (St Martins and Christ Church) and also on the Epsom Brotherhood memorial. I suspect that his mother had his full name entered on the Christ Church memorial and that chums from the Brotherhood entered him as only Thomas Sheppard on the St Martins memorial. Both churches then submitting the two names for inclusion on Ashley Road.
Therefore see entry for SHEPPARD I.T.
SHRUBB Oliver John, Private. 40281.
10th Battalion South Wales Borderers.Died of Wounds 3 August 1917, aged 19.
Oliver's headstone in Dozingham Military Cemetery, Belgium
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Oliver John Shrubb was born in Epsom in 1898 (GRO reference: Mar 1898 Epsom 2a 22) to Thomas and Annie Louisa Shrubb (nee Wickham). His parents married in 1892 in Epsom.
In the 1901 census the family lived Cheam High Street. Oliver's father was a 29 year old general labourer. His mother was aged 29, and he had two siblings, Charles aged 1 and Elsie age 3 months. Also living there was his mother's brother Alfred, a 21 year old labourer.
By 1911 the family had moved to 3, Stones Road, East Street, Epsom. Oliver's father was now a labourer in the brickworks, presumably on the site now occupied by Sainsburys in Kiln Lane. Seven more siblings had arrived, Elsie aged 10, Evelyn aged 9, Doris aged 6, Alfred aged 5, Emma aged 3, Frederick aged 1 and Mary aged 2 months. The census tells us that Oliver's parents had been married for 19 years, and that they had a total of eleven children but that two had died.
Oliver attested in Epsom on 20 May 1916, aged 18 years and 8 months, into the 4th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, a depot and training unit. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 126 lbs and had a chest measurement of 32 inches with an expansion of 2 inches. He was a labourer and lived at 5, Stones Cottages, Lintons Lane, Epsom.
He later served with the 10th Battalion South Wales Borderers which was in the 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. On 31 July 1917, at 3-50 AM the 38th Division attacked and captured the village of Pilckem. This was the first day of the third Battle of Ypres, often known as the Battle of Passchendaele. Oliver died of wounds on 3 August 1917 most likely sustained in the attack on Pilckem.
He is buried in plot II.G.13. Dozingham Military Cemetery, Belgium. In readiness for the Battle of Passchendaele the 4th, 47th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations were located here, and the troops dubbed the site Dozinghem.
Oliver was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
The St Martin's church Roll of Honour states that "OLIVER JOHN SHRUBB, was killed in action in France on the 3rd August 1917."
EP SM
SIMMONDS Alfred Montague, Sapper
Royal Engineers.Died 13 December 1918, aged 44
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
Royal Engineers. Died in UK on 13 December 1918. Buried in Epsom Cemetery. Aged 44 years. Husband of Edith M. Simmonds, 9 Horton Hill, Epsom. (Listed on the Ashley Road Memorial, Epsom).
SIMMS Thomas, Private. 9101.
2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment.Died of Wounds 17 October 1914, aged 27.
Thomas Simms was born in Ancoats, Manchester in 1887 (GRO reference: Sep 1887 Manchester 8d 211) to William and Maria Simms (nee Jackson).
The most likely entry in the 1891 census shows the family living at 29, Baird Street, Manchester. Thomas's father was a 30 year old 'Labourer, General', and his mother was 29 year old 'Weaver, Calico'. He had three siblings, William aged 5, Sarah Ann aged 2 and Samuel aged 1.
I have been unable to find any of the family in the 1901 census.
In 1911 the family was living at 10, Lelia Street, Ancoats, Manchester. Thomas's father was earning his living as a 'chip chopper'. Two more siblings are recorded, George aged 16 and Esther aged 12. George was employed as a 'railway nipper' (an assistant to a carter for delivering goods). Also at the address were his, now married sister, Sarah Richards working as a balloon blower, her husband Harry Richards and their son Harry aged under one month. Thomas's mother, working as a weaver, stated that she had given birth to 11 children but that only 5 were still living.
It is not known precisely when Thomas joined the Army but in the 1911 census he is recorded as a 25 year old Private serving with the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment in Kamptee, India. At some point Thomas transferred to the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, and when war was declared on 4 August, the Battalion was stationed in Ireland.
On 14 August the Battalion, with a strength of 26 officers, 51 NCOs and 937 Other Ranks (OR), embarked from Dublin, and on 16 August landed at Le Havre, France and joined the 14th Brigade, 5th Division. The Battalion then travelled by train to Le Cateau via Rouen and Amiens, marched 10 miles to Landrecies, arriving at 8pm on 18 August, and remained there for two days. Over the next few days the Battalion marched about 30 miles, and by 24 August had reached Dour where they fought a defensive action and lost 'a few men'. The Battalion fought in the famous retreat from Mons to Le Cateau, and on 26 August suffered many casualties south of Montay village, having 55 men killed in action. The Battalion continued to retreat, taking almost daily casualties, and reached the river Marne, east of Paris by 3 September.
It is not known when Thomas was wounded but during the Battalion's fighting retreat from the Mons area, starting on 26 August up to the end of September at Sermoise on the Aine (east of Soissons), the Battalion lost 97 ORs, 72 being killed in action and 25 dying of wounds. Then, between 1 October and 31 December the Battalion lost a further 196 men.
We do not know exactly when the wounded Thomas returned to England or where his wounds were first treated but he eventually arrived at the Epsom and Ewell War Hospital. This was a hospital of some 70 beds housed in the newly erected 1914 Luncheon Annex to the Epsom racecourse Grandstand (now demolished), and paid for by the people of Epsom and Ewell. The first ten patients arrived by motor ambulance on Tuesday 13 October, and another 30 on Thursday 15 October. Thomas was one of those admitted on 15 October. He died the next day from peritonitis and was buried in plot D220A in Epsom cemetery on Friday 19 October, the first victim of the Great War to be buried in Epsom. Another two soldiers who died at the Grandstand Hospital are also buried in plot D220A. They are Corporal Edmund Buchanan and Private William Edward Andrewartha.
Thomas's headstone in Epsom cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2012
Thomas was awarded the 1914 Star, British War medal and the Victory medal.
BC
SIMONS John, Private. 77804.
130 Labour Company.Died 27 January 1919, aged 39.
John is buried in Epsom cemetery in plot A352.
The plot is unmarked and has a large bush growing over it.
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2008.
John Simons was born in June 1879 to George and Sarah Simons (nee Anderson). I have been unable to find a birth entry for John, but his army pension record states that he was born at Tolworth, Surrey.
The 1871 census, before John was born, shows that his parents George and Sarah were living in Croydon, where George was a greengrocer.
The 1881 census shows the family living in Longfellow Road, Cheam. John's father George was a 36 year old hawker, as was his 28 year old mother. John had four siblings, Frederick aged 12, Sarah aged 10, Mary Ann aged 7 and George aged 5.
By 1891 the family lived at railway cottage, Epsom common. John's father was by then a general dealer. Three more siblings had been born, Harry aged 8, Alice aged 5 and Willie aged 2. I have been unable to find John, who would have been about 12, in the 1891 census.
1901 saw the family living at Myrtle cottage, Epsom Common. John's father had become a general labourer. Another sibling had arrived, Henrietta aged 9. But again no trace of 22 year old John in the 1901 census.
On 17 April 1909, at the Epsom registry office, John married Elizabeth Warwick, a widow (GRO reference: Jun 1909 Epsom 2a 60). They lived at 15, Woodlands Road, Epsom. From the 1901 census Elizabeth Warwick had four children.
John and Elizabeth had two children, John Frederick born 21 June 1912 (GRO reference: Sep 1912 Epsom 2a 56) and Elsie Lilian born 14 December 1913 (GRO reference: Mar 1914 Epsom 2a 50).
John attested at Kingston on 12 November 1916, originally into a labour company of the Royal West Surrey Regiment, later transferring to the 130 Labour Corps. When he attested he was 37 years and 9 months old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 141 lbs, had a chest measurement of 37 inches with an expansion of 2 inches, and had a mole at the base of his left arm. He was a labourer living at 15, Woodlands Road, Epsom. His medical grade was only C2. This meant that he was free from serious organic diseases, able to walk 5 miles, see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes, and was able to stand service in garrisons at home.
Although he attested on 12 November 1916 he was not called up for service until 2 March 1917, and despite being declared only fit for home service he spent 134 days in France from 13 March 1917 to 24 July 1917, serving with the 130 company Labour Corps.
John returned from France on 25 July 1917 and was admitted to Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley suffering from 'General Paralysis' that was first noted on 12 July 1917. On 29 March 1918 the Dykebar Medical Board certified that John should be discharged from the army, being permanently unfit for service, and that his condition had been aggravated by his service in France. He was formally discharged from the army on 24 April 1918 and admitted to the Netherne asylum, where he died on 27 January 1919 (GRO reference: Mar 1919 39 Reigate 2a 363).
John is buried in Epsom cemetery in plot A352. The plot is unmarked and has a large bush growing over it.
His medal record is available from NA but was not found in ancestry.
EP CC
SKELTON Walter
Killed in Action 5 May 1917, aged 27Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
Killed in France on 5 May 1917. Aged 27 years. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Skelton. (Listed only on their headstone in Epsom Cemetery).
SKILTON Arthur William, Private. L/10240.
1st Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).Died of Wounds 21 July 1916, aged 21.
Arthur's Headstone (with closeup) in Heilly Station cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Arthur William Skilton was born in Ashtead in 1895 (GRO reference: Jun 1895 Epsom 2a 20) to Joseph Frederick and Elizabeth Skilton (nee Judge).
In the 1901 census the family lived in Crampshaw Lane, Ashtead. Arthur's father (transcribed as Robert) was a 29 year old general labourer. His mother was 31, and he had three siblings, Mabel aged 4, Maud aged 2 and Nellie (Helen) aged 1.
By 1911 the family lived at 215, Hook Road, Epsom. Arthur, now 16 was working as a garden boy, and he had another 6 siblings, Percy Edgar aged 10, Leonard aged 6, Herbert aged 5, Reginald aged 3, Hilda aged 2 and Doris aged 1.
Arthur's first dealings with the army began on 24 April 1913 when he signed on for 4 years service in the UK, with the Territorial battalion the 5th East Surreys, and was given service number 1648. He provided the information that he was 18 years and 1 month old, his religion was C of E, he worked as a porter for William Taylor, greengrocer, and that he lived at 215, Hook Road, Epsom. Then on 8 October 1913 he signed up for 6 years service with the Special Reserve battalion the 4th East Surreys, and was given service number 6910.
Finally on 30 December 1913 he signed up into the Regular Army battalion, 1st Royal West Kents, for 7 years with the colours and 5 years with the reserve, and was given the service number 10240. He was 5 feet 6¼ inches tall, weighed 114 lbs, had a chest measurement of 34 inches with an expansion of 2 inches, a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair, and he had a small circular scar above his right eye.
On 26 February 1914 Arthur was described as 'Sober, punctual and never absent'. Then on 29 July 1914 as 'Willing and hard working'. Between 25 March and 27 April 1914 he spent 34 days in hospital in Dublin suffering with impetigo.
Arthur was not quite the perfect soldier as he had four minor blemishes on his record:
In Dublin, on 24 July 1914, 5 days CB for having a dirty and untidy cot.
In Dublin, on 31 July 1914, 7 days CB for
(i) Not getting his hair cut when ordered to do so.
(ii) Stating a falsehood to Sgt Burden.
In Chatham, on 29 October 1914, 10 days F.P. (Field Punishment) No. 2 for being absent from tattoo until 1.30am on 29 inst.
In Chatham, on 11 November 1914, 7 days CB for being absent from tattoo until 10pm.
Arthur landed at Le Havre on 7 December 1914, whereas most of the 1st Battalion Royal West Kents had landed in France between 14 and 15 August. The Battalion was part of the 13th Brigade, 5th Division.
Trench Map of High Wood
Click image to enlarge
During the night of 21 July 1916, Arthur's division relieved the 7th Division, which had earlier in the day attacked and taken part of High Wood up to Black Road. They were holding the line prior to mounting an attack the next day on the trench 'Wood Lane' in High Wood. This attack on 'Wood Lane' cost the lives of 132 men from the 1st Battalion Royal West Kents. Before the attack took place, Arthur was wounded by a gunshot to his head, probably from a sniper. He is buried in plot II. C. 53, Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, which was a centre that had several Casualty Clearing Stations.
Arthur was awarded the 1914 - 1915 Star, British War medal and the Victory medal. On 28 December 1919 his mother wrote acknowledging receipt of her son's belongings, consisting of a wallet, testament, photos and letters.
EP
SMITH Albert, Acting Bombardier. 23960.
63 Battery, Royal Field ArtilleryDied 28 August 1916, aged 33.
Albert Smith was born on 16th May 1883 at 1 James Terrace, Wimbledon Road, Tooting to George and Mary Smith (nee Jerrum).
From the 1891 census Albert's father George was a 43 year old gardener. His mother Mary was aged 37. Albert aged 7 had three older siblings, Lily aged 18, Ruth aged 16 and David aged 9. He also had two younger siblings, Myrtle aged 6 and Percy aged 5.
By the 1901 census the family lived in Rosebery Road, Langley Bottom, Epsom where his mother Mary took in laundry. Father George suffered long term ill health and was in hospital in 1901 with an ulcerated hip and fever and he died in 1902. David, now a carter working for a builder, and Percy were still at home. Mary had taken two boarders, Robert Oldham and Frederick J Warner, both carters. These were obviously hard times for the family so they either had to work at home or leave to seek their fortune elsewhere.
In 1901 Albert was a 17 year old gardener working at The Aspins, Worplesdon, and probably stayed in this employment until he enlisted in Guildford.
The rest of the family were still living in Langley Bottom. Albert's younger brother Percy eventually married and ran a greengrocery in Ewell High Street near the junction with Reigate Road. His elder brother David married in 1910 and worked at Epsom gas works until his death following a work accident in 1931.
Albert served in the 63rd Battery Royal Field Artillery in the 10th Brigade. The 10th Brigade was attached to the 6th Indian division.
After the battle of Ctesiphon (22 - 24 November 1915) the British retreated until they finally reached Kut-el-Amara on 3 December 1915. Here they dug in and on the face of it this was an ideal position situated in an oxbow bend in the river Tigris. However, the Turks crossed both sides of the river and completely surrounded the British forces. Attempts were made to relieve them but all were beaten back by the Turks. Food and ammunition started to run out and they men resorted to eating their horses. Eventually they were forced to surrender on 29 April. The Divisional commander, Townsend negotiated was taken into comfortable captivity but his men were treated very badly many being killed by the Turks, others dying of disease made worse by malnutrition.
They were marched north through the length of Mesopotamia into prisoner of war camps in Turkey. Many were made to work on the construction of the railway through the Taurus mountains in Anatolia. This railway had been started by the Germans in about 1900 to connect Europe to Mesopotamia. However, various engineering and financial problems held it up. With the outbreak of war the Germans increased pressure to finish the project to enable their military supplies to reach Baghdad. A website on the railways of Turkey www.trainsofturkey.com/w/pmwiki.php/Network/CilicianGates shows Cilician Gates which is the area where the British Great War prisoners worked.
It was whilst a prisoner of war in a labour camp that Albert Smith died of enteritis on 28 August 1916. After the war, Albert and many others were exhumed and reburied in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery. Albert did not marry, and as both his parents were dead, his brother David was his next of kin.
Thanks for information to Mr David Street, a great nephew of Albert Smith.
SMITH CJ, Captain.
Middlesex Regt.Died 20 December 1919, aged N/K
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
Middlesex Regt. Died on 20 December 1919. Buried in St. Mary's Churchyard, Ewell. (Not listed on any memorial).
SMITH James Alexander, Private
12/13th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers.Killed in Action 28 May 1918, aged 18
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
12/13th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed in France on 28 May 1918. Listed on the Soissons Memorial, France. Aged 18 years. Son of William and Annie J. Smith, Epsom. (Listed on the Ashley Road, Epsom and the St. Martin's, Epsom Memorials).
SMITH Leonard Cecil, Sergeant
2nd/2nd Bn, (City of London) Royal Fusiliers.Killed in Action 26 October 1917, aged 21
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
2nd/2nd Bn, (City of London) Royal Fusiliers. Killed in Belgium on 26 October 1917. Listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Passchendaele, Belgium. Aged 21 years. Son of Mrs. M. Smith, Waterloo Road, Epsom. (Listed on the Ashley Road, Epsom and the St. Martin's, Epsom Memorials).
SMITH Levi Henry, Private. 18017.
1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment.Died of Wounds 20 October 1916, aged 23.
Levi's headstone in the Gorre British and Indian cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Levi Henry Smith was born in 1893 in Leatherhead Surrey (GRO Reference: 1893 Epsom 2a 18) to Charles and Sarah Jane Smith (nee Carter). His parents had married in the latter part of 1881 in the Epsom district and had eleven children before the 1911 census was taken.
Details of the two deceased children noted on the 1911 census are unknown, but as Charles and Sarah married in 1881 and their first child recorded in the 1891 census was born in 1884, it maybe that the two children were born and died between 1881 and 1884. There are 4 Smith children who died in the Epsom registration district at this time to be considered: Rosina Hannah P aged 0, Evelyn Mary aged 1, John aged 0 and Lydia Blanche aged 1.
| Name | Born |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| Alfred Charles | 1884 Leatherhead, Surrey |
| Ann Lydia | 1886 Leatherhead, Surrey |
| Lily Rose | 1887 Leatherhead, Surrey |
| Mabel Kate | 1889 Leatherhead, Surrey |
| Daisy | 1891 Leatherhead, Surrey |
| Levi Henry | 1893 Leatherhead/ Chessington, Surrey |
| Rose | 1896 Leatherhead/ Chessington, Surrey |
| Walter Edward | 1899 Leatherhead/ Chessington, Surrey |
| James Percy | 1906 Ashtead, Surrey |
The Smith family were living at 6, Star Cottage, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey when the 1901 census was taken. Levi's father Charles was aged 42 (born 1859 Harbury Gloucestershire) and worked as brick maker while Levi's oldest brother, Alfred Charles aged 16, worked as a carter in the brickfield. Mother Sarah Jane was aged 38 (born 1863 West Grinstead, Sussex) and looked after her seven younger children: Lydia Ann aged 14, Lily Rose aged 13, Mabel Kate aged 11, Daisy aged 10, Levi Henry aged 8. Rose aged 5 and 2-year-old Walter Edward.
In the 1911 census, Charles and Sarah Jane appear at 1, Glebe Road, Ashtead, and living with them were Levi James aged 18, Rose aged 15, Walter Edmund aged 12 and James Percy aged 5. It is not known why Levi's middle name has been recorded as James and not Henry. His parents had been married 29 years and, of Levi's 10 siblings, two had died prior to 1911. Levi was working as a general labourer when this census was taken.
In 1915 Levi married Louisa E Wood in the Epsom registration district.
The Surrey Recruitment Register tells us that Levi attested in Epsom on 8 December 1915 giving his age as 23. He was 5 feet 8¼ inches tall, weighed 138 lbs and had a chest measurement of 37 inches with an expansion of 4 inches. He worked as a stoker at the gas works and lived at 36, Lower Court Road, Epsom.
The 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment was in the 96th Brigade, 5th Division. On 20 October 1916 the Battalion was holding trenches in the Cuinchy sector. Throughout the day the enemy had fired less than usual with their Minnenwerfers (Trench Mortars). However in the evening they opened heavy fire. Our guns fired in retaliation, but had only recently returned from the Somme having fired some 10,000 rounds each. Unfortunately two men from No. 2 Company holding an advanced sap were killed by our own guns firing short. Were they firing short due to being worn out on the Somme? It is fair to presume that Levi Henry Smith was one of the men killed.
Levi is buried in plot III. B. 5. Gorre British and Indian cemetery. The only other man from the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment to be killed on 20 October 1916 was Private Shack Lamb, aged 19. He is buried next to Levi in plot III. B. 6.
Levi was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
EP
SMITH Percy Robert, Private. 50984.
18th Battalion Manchester Regiment.Killed in Action 31 July 1917, aged 19.
Percy's inscription on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
Percy Robert Smith was born in 1897 in Epsom (GRO reference: Jun 1897 Epsom 2a 20) to Robert and Rose Smith. Robert's mother's maiden name was probably Somerville, as there is a marriage recorded in the Paddington registration district in the June quarter of 1894 between Robert Smith and Rose Somerville.
The 1901 census shows the family living in the High Street, Epsom. Percy's father was a 33 year old bricklayer's assistant. His mother was aged 30 and he had two siblings, Herbert aged 5 and George aged 5 months.
| Name | Born - Died | Notes |
| Herbert Kempton | Born: 1896 | |
| Percy Robert | Born: 1897 Died: 31 July 1917 |
|
| George Arthur | Born: 1900 | |
| Reginald Edward | Born: 1903 | |
| Victor William | Born: 1906 | |
| Dorothy Alice | Born: 1907 | |
| There were two other siblings, but both had died before the 1911 census. | ||
By the 1911 census the family had moved to 4, Ivy Terrace, South Street, Epsom. Percy's father was working for a builder as a house painter. His mother stated that she had given birth to eight children and that six were still living. Percy was working as a boot-maker's errand boy, brother Herbert as a grocer's errand boy and brothers George, Reginald and Victor attended school. Sister Alice was still only three. The family also accommodated three boarders, giving a total of eleven people living in six rooms.
Percy attested on 31 May 1916, stating his age as 18 years and 5 months. He initially joined the 6th Battalion Middlesex Regiment with service number G/19033. The 6th Middlesex Regiment was a training battalion, supplying drafts to whichever units required them. Percy was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 112 lbs and had a chest measurement of 33 inches with an expansion of 2 inches. He medical grade was A2, which meant he only lacked training and would be A1 once he was trained. He earned his living as a boot-maker and lived at 1, Ivy Terrace, South Street, Epsom.
At some point in Percy's military career, probably once his training had been completed, he was transferred to the 18th Battalion Manchester Regiment. This battalion was originally one of the Manchester Pals battalions, known as the 3rd City Battalion, and comprised of clerks and warehousemen, all from Manchester. However, after the devastating losses of the 1916 Somme battle, the geographical naming of battalions ceased to have any real meaning and men recruited from any part of the country were sent to any battalion in need of reinforcement. Hence Percy, a lad born and bred in Epsom, was sent to serve in a 'Manchester' battalion, by then, probably only Manchester by name. The 18th Manchesters were in the 90th Brigade, 30th Division.
The 18th Manchesters went 'over the top', leaving their trenches at 3-50am on 31 July at the commencement of the third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele). They followed an artillery barrage that moved forward at the rate of 25 yards a minute. Their attack, through Sanctuary Wood, had as its first objective 'Stirling Castle', once a fine building but now reduced to a pile of heavily fortified rubble. The attack was then held up at Inverness Copse by machine guns. The battalion was relieved on the night of 2/3 August.
Sanctuary Wood Trench Map - Click image to enlarge
Sanctuary Wood was a misnamed place, offering very little sanctuary. No tree was left unscathed by the shelling, the bleak and wasted landscape having only blasted stumps where mature trees once stood. Another problem was provided by the weather as heavy rain started to fill the shellholes with water. A badly wounded soldier sheltering in a shellhole now faced the prospect of drowning. The unseasonable heavy rain was to last for three days, turning the whole Ypres salient into the infamous muddy quagmire that came to characterise the battle of Passchendaele.
On 31 July 1917, 52 men from the 18th Manchesters lost their lives, including Percy, killed in action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing.
The St Martin's church Roll of Honour states that:
PERCIVAL (sic) ROBERT SMITH, of 1, Ivy Terrace, South Street, was killed in action in Belgium on the 30th July 1917.
Percy was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
EP SM
SMITH Selling Daniel, Private. 2715.
23rd Battalion London Regiment.Killed in Action 4 September 1915, aged 24.
Selling's headstone in Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Selling Daniel Smith was born in 1891 (GRO reference: Jun 1891 Epsom 2a 25) to Daniel Robert and Mary Ann Frederica Smith (nee Bayley) Selling's parents married in Thanet in 1884.
In the 1901 census the family lived at 31, East Street, Epsom. Selling's father was a 37 year old gas works manager. His mother was 44. He had a brother Frederick Selling aged 14 and a sister Miriam Louise aged 12. They employed 29 year old Annie Lillis Hooper as a domestic servant.
By 1911 they were living at 'Bankside', East Street, Epsom. Selling's father was still a gas works manager, his brother Frederick was an assistant gas manager and Selling himself was a clerk at the gas works. They now employed 16 year old Winifred Edwards as their domestic servant.
Selling joined the 23rd Battalion London Regiment, a Territorial Army unit, the on 8 September 1914 at 27, St Johns Hill, Battersea, giving his address as 1 Ashlea, Temple Road, and his age as 23 years and 3 months. He was medically examined, and having good vision and good physical development, was pronounced fit for the Army. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 154 lbs, and had a chest measurement of 35 inches with an expansion of 2½ inches.
Selling's brief time with the Army was relatively uneventful:
14 March 1915, embarked from Southampton.
02 August 1915, admitted to 6 Field Ambulance at Noeux-Les-Mines, with sore feet.
04 August 1915, returned to duty.
04 September 1915, killed in action after 175 days in France.
The war diary entries for the date of Selling's death and the days before and after are very brief:
03 September 1915. Battalion relieved 6 Bn. London Regt. in W3.
04 September 1915. 2 men killed 2 wounded.
05 September 1915. Battalion still in W3. Nothing special to note.
With no major battles being fought at the time of Selling's death the Battalion was just 'holding the line', prior to the Battle of Loos that started on 25 September 1915. So what killed the two men and wounded two others? Most likely shell fire, or possibly sniping. Even when no major battles were raging both sides were more or less constantly firing at each other.
In due course Selling's effects were sent to his next of kin, his father, and consisted of:
Leather purse
Birth certificate
Bunch of keys
Tobacco pouch
Small mirror
Tin of cigarettes
Packet of letters
Diary
Packet of photos
Writing pad
Testament
Dictionary
Air cushion
Pencil
Ingersoll watch
Holdall
Tooth brush
Comb
Shaving brush
Stick shaving soap
Selling is buried in plot III. B. 15. Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, and was probably moved there from an outlying remote grave, after the war. Selling is also remembered on his parents grave in Epsom cemetery.
Selling is also remembered on his parents grave in Epsom cemetery.
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
In 1920 Selling's father Daniel (his mother died in 1904) received his son's 1915 star, and in 1922 his British War medal and the Victory medal. He then lived at 'Childerplat' East Street, Epsom.
EP MC
SMITH William, Private. G4643.
2 Royal Sussex Regiment.Killed in Action 13 October 1915 aged 19.
Private William Smith's Inscription on the Loos Memorial
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2007
William Smith was born in West Ewell in 1896 (GRO reference: Sep 1896 Epsom 2a 21) to Richard and Leah Smith (nee Tidy).
The 1901 census the family lived in Chessington Road (near the Plough Inn), West Ewell. William's father was a 36 year old 'General Labourer'. He had three brothers Richard aged 8, George aged 7 and Bertie aged 1, and a sister Alice aged 2.
William attested on 23 November 1914 at Kingston-Upon-Thames, giving his age as a very precise 19 years and 75 days. This would mean he was born on 9 September 1895. However, the most likely GRO entry shows his birth in 1896. Perhaps he added a year to make sure he was accepted. He acknowledged that he had received a notice from the Epsom Recruiting Committee.
He was originally assigned to the 3 Battalion Sussex Regiment in Chichester, and probably transferred to the 2 Battalion when his training was completed. He was 5 feet 8 ¼ inches tall, weighed 144lbs, and had a chest measurement of 35 inches with an expansion of 3 ½ inches. He had been vaccinated in infancy and this had left two marks on his left arm. He was unmarried worked as a 'carter' and lived at 2 Godfrey's Cottages, Chessington Road. His father Richard was his next of kin, and his religion was C of E. His physical development was noted as good, and he had perfect 6/6 vision in both eyes.
On the 16 June 1915 he was given 3 days Confined to Barracks (CB) for 'Inattention in the ranks', awarded by Captain Finch.
The 2 Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment was in the 2 Brigade 1 Division. The Division attacked on the 13th October 1915 towards the end of the battle of Loos. At 1.00 pm gas and smoke was discharged to the south west of Hulluch, by the 1 Division between the Hohenzollern Redoubt and the Vermelles-Auchy road. Other Divisions also discharged gas and smoke. The discharge of smoke continued until 2pm but the gas was stopped at 1.50pm, which warned the enemy that an attack was soon to begin. At 2.00pm the attack commenced along the Lens-La Bassée road between Loos and Hulluch. Only four passages through the wire had been cut by the bombardment, and despite efforts to cut through, the attack was halted. The survivors withdrew after dark.
On 13th October 1915 thirty men from the 2nd Royal West Sussex Regiment lost their lives including William who was killed in action. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Panel 69 to 73. The CWGC states he was the 'Son of Mr and Mrs Richard Smith, of, 2 Chessington Road, West Ewell, Surrey.'
The Epsom Advertiser dated 12 November 1915, reported that the Ewell Parish Council, chaired by Mr Glyn, had heard of two other deaths since the last meeting. Mrs Smith, one of whose sons was mentioned then as being wounded, had lost another son in action. A letter of sympathy was to be sent.
On 27 January 1916 'Effects form 118A' stated that all William's effects should be sent to his father Richard, at 2 Godfrey's Cottages, West Ewell.
As his next of kin, William's father, Richard was given his sons;
- 1914-1915 Star, received August 1919
- Commemorative scroll, received 11 February 1920
- British War Medal, received 20 January 1921
- Victory Medal, received 29 October 1921.
BH EW ES AS
SMITHERS William James, Private. G/33239.
2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment.Killed in Action 28 November 1917, aged 39.
Williams headstone in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery.
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbery © 2011
William James Smithers was born in 1878 in Addlestone (GRO reference: Sep 1878 2a 39) to David and Emily Smithers (nee Miles). His parents had married in 1872 in the same registration district. David and Emily had ten children:
| Name | Born - Died | Married |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen Augusta | Born: 1874 | James William Arthur 1894 Epsom |
| Louisa Ann | Born: 1876 | George Mortimer 1899 Epsom |
| William James | Born: 1878 Died: 28 November 1917 | Martha Clark Mortimer 1904 Leighton Buzzard |
| Albert George | Born: 1880 | Sarah Sayers 1900 Epsom |
| Edith | Born: 1887 | Edwin F Moore 1928 Epsom |
| Ernest | Born: 1890 | Ethel A Wright 1913 Epsom |
| 4 other children | Details unknown |
The 1881 census shows that the family was living at Hyde Cottage, Wisley. William's 34 year old father was working as an agricultural labourer to support his 30 year old wife Emily and their children, Ellen aged six, William himself aged two and one year old Albert. Four year old Louisa was living with her maternal grandparents George and Elizabeth Miles.
The family was still living at the same address ten years later in 1891. Their two eldest daughters Ellen and Louisa lived and worked as servants at different addresses. William now aged 13 was working, like his father, as an agricultural labourer. Brother Albert aged 11 was a scholar, and two more siblings had been born, Edith aged four and Ernest aged 2.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 2, Park Farm Cottage, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey. William's father David, aged 54 was still working as an agricultural labourer to support his 50 year old wife Emily and his eleven year old brother Ernest. William aged 22 was working as a builder's labourer.
During the December quarter of 1904 William married Martha Clark Mortimer in the Leighton Buzzard registration district.
The 1911 census shows that William's parents were still living at their 1901 address with their son Ernest (spelt Earnest on the census form). They stated they had been married 40 years and had had ten children of whom six had died.
In 1911, William, his wife Martha and their four children were living at 2, Walton Cottages, Chessington, near Surbiton, Surrey. William was aged 32 and worked as a general labourer for the London County Council. His wife of six years, 32 year old Martha Clark had been born in Wing, Bucks. They had had four children, all still living. Martha's daughter from a previous relationship, Louise Norman (sic) Mortimer, born in Wing, Bucks, was also living with them.
William and Martha had two more sons in later years. Their children:
- Edith Emily, born Chessington, Surrey, 1905.
- Lucy Annie, born Chessington, Surrey, 1906.
- Doris Jane, born Chessington, Surrey, 1908.
- Thomas William, born Chessington, Surrey, 1910.
- George E, born Epsom registration district, 1912. Note: Chessington is within the Epsom registration district
- Edward F, born Epsom registration district, 1915..
Thomas Williams Smithers born 15 Feb 1910
Son of William James and Martha Smithers
Photo curtsey of Jo Smithers © 2011
William attested on 11 December 1915 at Epsom. He stated that he was aged 37, worked as a labourer and lived at 2, Walton Cottages, Chessington. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 130 lbs and had a chest measurement of 36 inches with an expansion of 3 inches. He served in the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment which was in the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division.
The battle of third Ypres officially ended on 12 November 1917. However, the front line had to be manned and the British policy of maintaining a show of threatening activity continued, and neither side stopped shelling and sniping.
In November 1917, to get from Ypres to the front line required a walk of several miles along duck-boards. To step off the duck-boards meant sinking to the knees in mud from which it was impossible to extricate oneself unaided. Some men who got into this mud in the dark, after many hours of exposure, died from cold and exhaustion. The old Passchendaele battlefield was a vast bog, seamed by narrow lines of duck-board tracks, which were well known to the enemy artillery, and were swept day and night with high-explosive and shrapnel. William's battalion alternated between holding the line and providing carrying parties taking supplies up to front line troops.
On 28 November 1917 the 2nd Middlesex were holding the line just north east of Passchendaele. The war diary recorded the following:
Battalion shelled almost constantly. Shelling became intense on Front Line, Bellevue & roads & tracks from 8.30pm to 10pm. Nearly all shelters of Coys at Bellevue were blown in & had to be redug when shelling slackened. Killed 6 OR. Wounded 10 OR.
William, aged 39 was most likely killed by shellfire whilst 'holding the line'.
William is buried in plot XI. A. 9. Passchendaele New British Cemetery. All of the 2,101 graves were created after the armistice when bodies were brought in from the surrounding countryside and reburied. 1,600 of the graves are unidentified, and bear words suggested by Rudyard Kipling, 'Known unto God'.
William was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
Before the war he worked for the London County Council as a labourer at the Manor Asylum. His name appears in the book 'RECORD OF WAR SERVICE, London County Council Staff 1914 - 1918', and on the Manor Asylum War Memorial (held in safe keeping at the Bourne Hall Museum).
EP MH
SNOOK Walter, Private. 4032.
9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.Died of wounds 13 January 1916, aged 29.
Walter's headstone in Brandhoek Military cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
No record of Walter's previous life has been found before 1911 when he appeared on the census as a boarder living with the Jones family in Forton Longparish Hampshire where he worked as a 25 year old domestic gardener. His birth year therefore has been calculated as being c1886. Walter's place of birth has been recorded as Redenham Hampshire. This is just outside Andover, the place that is recorded as Walter's birthplace on Soldiers Died.
During the next 4 years Walter must have moved to Ewell, maybe to work as a gardener in one of the large houses in the village such as Garbrand Hall, as the Surrey Recruitment Register shows a Walter Snook aged 27 attesting in Epsom on 7 September 1914, into the Bedfordshire Regiment.
The CWGC and the Medal Roll show him in the 9th East Surreys, so presumably he was transferred at some stage. The recruitment register also states he was born at Rederham [Redenham] Hants.
He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 118 lbs and had a chest measurement of 34 inches, with an expansion of 3 inches. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, and was a gardener.
Walter was in the 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment which was in the 72nd Brigade 24th Division. Between 7 and 13 January 1916 the battalion was not involved in any major battles, but was holding the line near Hooge in the Ypres salient. At this point of the Western Front some trenches were only 20 yards apart. During the six days in the line the battalion lost six men killed and two who died of wounds. At any time, the front line trenches might be subjected to artillery fire, trench mortars or snipers.
Apart from his enlistment in Epsom I have found no local connection.
Walter died of wounds on 13 January 1916 and is buried in Brandhoek Military cemetery, 1 J 24.
He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal.
BH EW
SPARROW Henry, Private. 30166.
4th Bedfordshire RegimentKilled in Action 13 November 1916, aged 28
Private Henry Sparrow was born at Ewell in 1888 and was baptised at St Mary's on 5 aug 1888. In 1901 he lived at 'Gibraltar' (now West Street near the railway). His father William was a general labourer. There is a marriage record between Henry Sparrow and Jessie Elliott in 1913 (GRO reference: Mar 1913 Epsom 2a 27). The birth of Leslie W.H. Sparrow was registered in 1914 (GRO reference: Mar 1914 Elliot Epsom 2a 49). He enlisted in Kingston, where he joined the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.
On Monday the 13 November 1916 the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment was in the 190th Brigade, 63rd (RN) Division, V Corps.
The 13 November 1916 saw the start of "The Battle of the Ancre" leading to the capture of Beaumont-Hamel. The 63rd Division was on the right of the Corps next to the Ancre River, and the 4th Bedfords were in support. By 6.30am it was clear that in places the line had not been captured and that strong points still existed. The Brigade was ordered to advance, but the 4th Bedfords were held up. Throughout the day many bombing attacks were made against the strong point on the spur.
On the 13 November 1916, 73 men from the 4th Bedfords were killed in action or died of wounds.
Private Henry Sparrow is buried in Y Ravine Cemetery Beaumont-Hamel.
SPENCE Colin George, Private. 121369.
3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment).Died, Bronchitis & Pneumonia 18 November 1918, aged 19.
Colin's headsttone in Epsom Cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Colin George Spence was born on 3 December 1899 (GRO reference: Mar 1900 Epsom 2a 20) to Colin and Jane Spence (nee Stone). His parents were married on 17 January 1895 in Epsom Registry Office.
In the 1901 census the family lived at Myrtle Cottage, Woodlands Road, Epsom. Colin's father, also Colin, born in Scotland, was a 36 year old cab driver. His mother was aged 42, and he had two older siblings, John Frederick aged 5 and Eleanor Jessie aged 3. Another sibling, Margaret Jane was born on 26 November 1902 but died soon after on 4 March 1903.
In 1911 the family were still living at Myrtle Cottage. Colin's father was now working as a porter for a local coal merchant, and brother John was a 15 year old telegraph messenger boy. They also had a lodger, 85 year old Peter Osborne.
Colin attested on 11 September 1916 in Kingston and was assigned to the 31st Training Reserve Battalion giving his age as 17 years and 9 months. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 112 lbs, had a chest measurement of 33 inches with an expansion of 2 inches and was medical category A4, which meant he would be A1 when old enough. He was living at 16, Woodlands Road, Epsom, and worked as a cab driver. Although attesting on 11 September 1916, he was not mobilised until 3 March 1917 and was transferred to 585 Agricultural Company to work as a farm labourer. He was posted on 9 October 1917 to the 486 Home Service (HS) Employment Company at Clipstone, and on 27 November to 490 Agricultural Company at Lichfield.
Finally on 3 November 1918 he was transferred to 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters at Sunderland as part of the Tyne garrison. His time there was short-lived as he died at Sunderland War Hospital on 18 November, another victim of the influenza pandemic. His official cause of death was bronchitis and pneumonia.
Colin's body was brought to Epsom, and he was laid to rest in plot D 368 in Epsom Cemetery on 23 November 1918. Also in the same plot are Colin's father who was buried on 11 February 1927, and his mother buried in October 1952.
All of Colin's war service was spent in the UK, he therefore received no medals.
EP CC
SPIKESMAN Thomas, Private. 206553.
2/4th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).Killed in Action 27 December 1917, aged 22.
Registered at birth as Thomas Whittington, Thomas Spikesman was born in 1895 (GRO reference: March 1896 Epsom 2a 18) before his mother Maria Whittington married Thomas Spikesman on 25 April 1896 at Christ Church. Thomas' father, also Thomas, was the 27-year-old son of John Spikesman, a shepherd. Maria's father was George Whittington, a deceased blacksmith.
Thomas' only sibling, his sister Lucy was born on 8 October 1897, was baptized at Christ Church on 4 November 1897, and died in 1977, aged 80. She married Albert Edward Kitcherside, in Epsom in 1921, the brother of Edwin Kitcherside who also appears on the Ashley Road and Christ Church memorials.
In the 1901 census, Thomas' family were living at 4, Woodland Cottages, Woodlands Road, the home of Thomas' maternal grandmother, Emma Whittington, a self-employed laundress. Thomas senior was a 31-year-old general labourer and his wife Maria, aged 26, looked after Thomas aged 5 and Lucy aged 3. They had all been born in Epsom.
The Spikesman family continued to live with Emma Whittington throughout the early years of the century and was again recorded as living with her in the 1911 census. Emma was still employed at home as a laundress and, although Maria was also a laundress, she was evidently working elsewhere. Thomas' father was now a coal porter, whilst Thomas himself, aged 15, was a Post Office telegraph messenger. Thirteen year old Lucy was still at school.
Thomas' service record has not survived but we know from the Soldiers Died CD that he enlisted, and lived in Reigate. His medal card tells us that he went on active service on 17 July 1915. Thomas served in the 2/4th Battalion Queen's Regiment, which was in the 160th Brigade, 53rd Division. The Division embarked from Devonport on 17 July 1915, sailing via Alexandria to Lemnos, arriving between 29 July and 7 August 1915. On 9 August it landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, and was evacuated in early December to Alexandria via Mudros. During that period 82 men from the battalion lost their lives.
During 1916 and 1917 the Division fought against the Turks in the Palestine campaign. Jerusalem was captured from the Turks during the period 7 and 9 December 1917, and then had to be defended.
The 2/4 Queen's war diary dated 27 December 1917 reads as follows:
At dawn on December 27th, the enemy bombarded our positions on ZAMBY, WHITE HILL, and the WALL and all the morning attempted to gain a footing on these positions, but was rejected, suffering heavy casualties from an artillery fire, and from grenades, rifles and machine guns. He succeeded, however, in reaching the forward slopes of ZAMBY, and working his way round the southern side of WHITE HILL: this rendered the position of our garrison on the reverse slope of WHITE HILL untenable, and it accordingly withdrew down the WALL to ZAMBY: a small post on the forward slope of WHITE HILL, sheltered by small scrapes, was able to maintain its position until nightfall. The enemy did not occupy the crest of WHITE HILL, nor did they succeed in reaching our line on ZAMBY. The Battalion, which sustained during the day, the casualties enumerated below, was reinforced at midday by 3 companies of the 2/10 Middlesex Regt. and at 21.00 was relieved by the 1/7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers after a severe day's fighting. The 1/7th R.W.F. re-occupied WHITE HILL by night and the enemy accordingly had gained nothing from a very costly attack. During the action
Lieut. C.M.W. JEPHSON, 2/4 Queen's
2/Lieut F.C.L. Ridpath, 2/4 Queen's were killed
and 2/Lieut R.JH. Harrison, 7th Middlesex attached 1/4 (sic) Queen's was wounded.
Also 33 O.R. were killed, and 67 O.R. were wounded
Thomas Spikesman was killed in action on 27 December 1917 whilst defending Jerusalem from the Turks. He is buried in plot R. 115. in Jerusalem War Cemetery.
Thomas was awarded the 1914 - 1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory Medal.
The CWGC states that he was the son of 'Thomas and Maria Spikesman, of 42, Woodlands Rd., Epsom, Surrey.'
EP CC
STEDMAN Sydney Edwin Barkshire, Private. 68599.
1st Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).Died of Wounds 18 April 1918, aged 42.
Sydney Edwin Barkshire Stedman was born in 1876 in Reading (GRO reference: Jun 1876 Reading 2c 371) to George and Elizabeth Stedman (nee Barkshire).
In the 1881 census the family were living at 9 Conduit Crescent Berkshire. Sydney's 36-year-old father George, who was from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was working as a clerk at a seed merchant to support his 34 year-old wife Elizabeth and their children George Percy aged 10, Reginald aged 8, Gertrude Marie aged 6, Sydney himself aged 5 and Arthur Brookes aged 2. Also boarding there was 64 year old spinster, Maria M Burt, a retired governess.
Sydney was aged 15 when the 1891 census was taken and he and his family were living at 40 Milman, Road, Reading. His father was now working as a commercial clerk while his brother George was working as an engineer's draftsman. Two more siblings had been born, Mary Ethel aged 8 and Leonard Brookes aged 5. Maria Burt was still boarding with them.
Sydney's name appeared in the Edinburgh Gazette on 6 January 1893 as a newly appointed Civil Servant's Boy Clerk. Later on 6 May 1898 he was again mentioned in the same paper under 'Post Office', as being "appointed to Clerkship grouped under the scheme for the Supplementary Establishment of the Secretary's office".
Sydney was still working as a clerk in a secretary's office for the GPO (General Post Office) when the 1901 census was taken. Living with him at 73, Park Lane, Stoke Newington was his 63 year old aunt Elizabeth Stedman, and a boarder, 23 year old Robert Adams from Ireland, also working as a clerk with the GPO.
On the 29 May 1907 Sydney married Beatrice Barnard (also from Reading) in Christ Church, Eastbourne East Sussex (GRO reference: Jun 1907 Eastbourne 2b 140). They produced no children.
In the 1911 census Sydney now aged 35, and still a clerk in the GPO, was living with his wife Beatrice, also aged 35, at 5, York Road, New Southgate. They employed a domestic servant, 20 year old Dorothy Hulford.
At the age of 39 Sydney was quite old to be volunteering for the Army for the first time. He also had very poor eyesight, rated at 6/60 in both eyes without glasses, but improving to 6/12 for the left eye and 6/9 for the right eye, with glasses. This was recorded on 19 August 1915 on Army Form B. 203, an application for the special enlistment of a recruit, and in Sydney's case specially enlisted into the RAMC. It was noted that he was 'up to standard' apart from vision. Despite bad eyesight he was recommended for recruitment into the RAMC. The reasons for recommendation being given as; Eyesight under standard. Is in possession of a first aid certificate of the St Johns Ambulance Association.
Having been told he would be accepted, Sydney attested on 4 September 1915 at 32, St Paul's Churchyard London into the RAMC, as Private 68599. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 130 lbs, had a 36 inch chest with a 3 inch expansion, a sallow complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, a mole on his left collar bone, and 9 vaccination marks from infancy. He gave his occupation as Civil Servant, and lived at 78, Brownlow Road, New Southgate.
Sydney embarked from Devonport with the 95th Field Ambulance (31st Division) on 10 January 1916, and disembarked at Alexandria on 23 January 1916. The Division was there to defend the Suez Canal. Sydney's stay there was short lived as on 9 March he embarked from Alexandria, arriving at Marseilles on 15 March. Then on 25 April he transferred to No. 1 General hospital at Etretat, and on to Rouen on 31 May. Finally on 21 June he was posted to No1 Field Ambulance, part of the 1st Division.
Sydney died of wounds received during the Battle of the Lys, 9 April to 29 April 1918. The battle, also known as 'Georgette', was the second of General Lundendorff's great offensives in 1918 to try to win the war before the Americans arrived in great numbers. The plan was to break through the British lines and capture the Channel ports, thereby denying the British Army its supply lines. The battle commenced with massive bombardments, and in some parts of the line the Germans did advance 5 miles, but although a breakthrough was never achieved the situation became so serious for the British Army that Douglas Haig issued his famous 'Backs to the wall', special order of the day.
To ALL RANKS OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS
Three weeks ago to-day the enemy began his terrific attacks against us on a fifty-mile front. His objects are to separate us from the French, to take the Channel Ports and destroy the British Army.
In spite of throwing already 106 Divisions into the battle and enduring the most reckless sacrifice of human life, he has as yet made little progress towards his goals.
We owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of our troops. Words fail me to express the admiration which I feel for the splendid resistance offered by all ranks of our Army under the most trying circumstances.
Many amongst us now are tired. To those I would say that Victory will belong to the side which holds out the longest. The French Army is moving rapidly and in great force to our support.
There is no other course open to us but to fight it out. Every position must be held to the last man: there must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause each one of us must fight on to the end. The safety of our homes and the freedom of mankind alike depend upon the conduct of each one of us at this critical moment.
General Headquarters D. Haig F.M.,
Tuesday, April 11th, 1918. Commander-in-Chief
British Armies in France
Sydney died from his wounds on 18 April 1918 and is buried in plot II. H. 4. in Fouquieres Churchyard Extension Cemetery. The village of Fouquieres-les-Bethune is about 1 kilometre southwest of Bethune. Buried next to Sydney in plot II. H. 3., and from the same unit is William White, who died of wounds on the same day as Sydney.
A memo dated 26 April 1918 shows that Sydney's widow Beatrice was granted a 'Separation Allowance' of 12 shillings and 6 pence (62½ p), payable until 27 October 1918. Then, another memo dated 12 October 1918, granted her a pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence (68¾ p) payable from 28 October 1918. At that time she was living at 2, Grove Road, Epsom.
On 1 August 1918 Sydney's widow Beatrice acknowledged receipt of her deceased husband's personal effects consisting of a disc, silver disc, letters, pocket book, wallet, scissors and a pipe pouch.
At some time in October 1919 it seems that Beatrice moved to 39, Ringwood Road, Eastbourne, probably to be near to her mother and sisters who lived in Eastbourne.
On 16 October 1919 Beatrice completed 'Army Form W. 5080' which required her to list all Sydney's close relatives who were still living. She declared that his parents were dead but his siblings George, Arthur, Leonard, Gertrude and May were all listed as still alive, and living in Reading and Essex. Beatrice acknowledged receipt of Sydney's Victory and British medals on 13 July 1921.
Sydney is also commemorated on the Eastbourne War Memorial.
The Eastbourne War Memorial with a close-up of Sydney's inscription
Images courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
EP
STEVENS Gordon, Corporal. 44598.
D Company 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI).Died of Wounds 7 October 1918, aged 23.
Gordon's parents John Edwin Stevens and wife Rhoda with Gordon
and his younger brother John Arthur Richard Stevens.
Image courtesy of Janice Pond © 2009
Gordon Stevens was born on 19 October 1895 (GRO reference: Dec 1895 Epsom 2a 21) in Pit Cottage, situated in a deep dip off of Burgh Heath Road in Epsom, surrounded by trees and not visible from the road. His parents, who married in the June quarter of 1895, were John Edwin Stevens, a coach driver who ran a taxi service in his horse drawn carriage from Epsom Station, which was then in Upper High Street and Rhoda Stevens (nee Hawkins), a ladies maid and fine seamstress who had accompanied her lady employer across Europe. Rhoda and John were two very different people, John a man of the soil from Hampshire who won a certificate for the best garden in Epsom and who possessed a great sense of humour and Rhoda, born in Kingston, educated at a Grammar School in Kingston, an accomplished woman who had had a taste of the finer things in life and conducted herself with the heirs and graces of a lady; she also had red hair and a temper to go with it. John was a widower with 8 children and his three youngest children, all sons, lived with the family in Burgh Heath Road.
Gordon's father John had previously married Eliza Luff in 1877, but Eliza died aged 46 and was buried in plot D49, Epsom cemetery on 21 March 1894. Eliza had given birth to nine children, all half siblings of Gordon.
| NAME | BORN | BAPTISED St MARTINS |
DIED |
| Charles Edwin | Mar 1878 Epsom 2a 13 | 13 Jan 1878 | |
| Kate Ellen | Sep 1879 Epsom 2a 24 | 13 Feb 1881 | |
| Fred | Dec 1880 Epsom 2a 24 | 13 Feb 1881 | |
| Annie | Dec 1882 Epsom 2a 5 | ||
| Rose | Jun 1884 Epsom 2a 15 | 21 Sep 1884 | |
| Joseph | Mar 1886 Epsom 2a | 6 Mar 1887 | |
| Alfred | Mar 1887 Epsom 2a 18 | 6 Mar 1887 | |
| Edwin (Jas) | Sep 1888 Epsom 2a 22 | 16 Sep 1888 | 1982 |
| Jessie | Jun 1890 Epsom 2a 20 | 1 Jun 1890 | Sep 1890 Epsom 2a 16 |
| Gordon | 19 Oct 1895. | 07-Oct-18 | |
| John Arthur Richard | 9 Oct 1897 | 04-Jun-57 | |
| Grace | 2 June 1899 | Mar-86 | |
| Harry Adair | 22-Dec-01 | Jun-82 |
Gordon and his siblings
Gordon is the tall one in the centre b. 1895, John b. 1898, Grace b. 1899 and Harry b. 1902 sitting
Image courtesy of Janice Pond © 2009
In the 1881 census before Gordon was born the family lived in Lintons Lane, Epsom. Gordon's father was a 28 year old Groom and his father's first wife Eliza was 28. There were three children, Charles aged 3, Kate aged 1 and Fred aged 5 months.
By 1891 the family had moved to a cottage in a chalk pit in Upper Downs Road. Gordon's father was now a domestic coachman. Another five children had been born, Annie aged 8, Rose aged 6, Joseph aged 5, Alfred aged 4 and Edwin aged 2. For reasons unknown, Edwin was always known by the family as Jas.
Joseph, Alfie and Edwin (Jas) were all under 10 when their mother died in 1894. Rhoda was 35 when she married the widowed John, and readily took on the care of the three young boys. The other five children had gone into service or other occupations to fend for themselves, the youngest girl being only ten.
Such was the household that Gordon was born into, a father full of fun and a strict but doting mother, plus three young half-brothers. His brother John was born in 1897, followed by sister Grace two years later and three years after that came brother Harry.
By the time of the 1901 census Gordon was 5 years old, and his father was a 'Fly' driver (a Fly being a small horse drawn carriage). Besides Gordon, John aged 3 and Grace aged 1 had arrived.
At the time Harry was born in 1902, the family were living in Down Hall Cottages in Burgh Heath Road. Gordon's father John was a 'fly proprietor', meaning he owned a 'fly' a one horse, two wheeled horse drawn carriage or more than one and hired them out to other fly drivers whom he employed; in other words he ran his own taxi service. Rhoda meanwhile made all her children's clothes and her own and was such a gifted needlewoman that the family were so well dressed, they appeared to be far more wealthy than they really were.
In the 1911 census they were living at Pembroke Cottages, 3 Church Road, Epsom. Gordon's 59 year old father described himself as a cab driver. His mother, 52 year old Rhoda stated she had been married 16 years, and had had 4 children, all still living. Gordon aged 15 was a groom, siblings John, Grace and Harry were at school, whilst half brother Edwin worked as a barman. Nearby was the stable where Gordon's father kept his horse, and so the young Gordon had grown up with horses and had become a groom when he left school.
NOTE: According to an 1889 edition of the Epsom Herald Pembroke Cottages, 3 Church Road had been used as the first hospital in Epsom before the old cottage hospital was built. When more houses were built in Church Road the numbering changed and Pembroke Cottages, 3 Church Road, became number 42 Church Road. Thus, by the time the First World War broke out in 1914, they were living at the same address but which was now numbered 42, Church Road.
Gordon's younger brother John was only 16 when war was declared, and he attested into the East Surrey Regiment on 26 January 1915, aged 17, although the Register states that he was 19. He no doubt looked older than his 17 years, as according to the Surrey Recruitment Register he was 5 feet 10¼ inches tall, which in those days was well above the average height. Generally it was the man himself who added years to his age to enable him to join up, however, family legend says that in John's case it was the recruitment officials who added the two years and not John himself, so eager were they to recruit him. John later grew to be well over 6 feet tall. According to his medal card he was sent to France on 18 May 1915.
Gordon himself attested at Kingston on 21 June 1915, aged 19, but stated that he was 20. He had a great love of horses, and joined the Army Veterinary Corps (AVC). He was a groom in civilian life, so it was logical to place him into a Corps where his knowledge of horses could be used. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 150lbs. His chest measured 35 inches with an expansion of 4 inches. He lived at 42, Church Road, Epsom, and stated his next of kin was his father, John Edwin Stevens.
His desire to join the AVC and thereby continue to work with horses is amply illustrated by the survival amongst his 'burnt' service papers, of a memo from a Lieutenant Colonel at the East Surrey Recruiting depot at Kingston, to the CO at the AVC Depot at Woolwich, dated 21 June 1915, that reads as follows:
Gordon Stevens. The above has been employed in the stables all his life. He has a thorough knowledge of horses and can both ride and drive. He will not join any other but the AVC and is therefore being sent for your kind consideration.
He was duly sent to the AVC depot at Woolwich on 22 June 1915 and given the rank of Horse Keeper.
His medical history shows that he had good physical development, had 4 vaccination marks from infancy, and had 6/6 vision in both eyes.
His mother adored him and by all accounts so did most of the local girls as he had grown into a fine looking young man, so it had caused great sorrow when he embarked at Southampton on 28 September 1915 and disembarking at Le Havre, France, the next day, just 3 weeks short of his twentieth birthday.
Whilst many of Gordon's 'burnt' service papers are available from Ancestry, they are very damaged and extremely difficult to read. However, there are a few events that can be gleaned from them. He was in hospital between 23 December and 27 December 1915, reason not stated.
He was granted 7 days leave 'In the field', from 20 June to 26 June 1916.
In November 1916 he was stationed at the 14th Veterinary Hospital, Abbeville, and he himself was hospitalised from 17 November to 20 November through being bitten on his right hand by a horse. His CO certified that the injury occurred whilst in the performance of military duty, and wrote ; 'He was bitten whilst balling a horse. He was not to blame'.
He was appointed Corporal 15 May 1917, and was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry on 15 October 1917.
It is most likely that Gordon received his injuries whilst fighting in the battle of Beaurevoir (a phase in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line). On 5 October 1918 the 25th Division was ordered to gain and consolidate the line Genève - Ponchaux - la Sablonnière - Guisancourt Farm, thus the capture of Beaurevoir was included. Eight tanks were to assist, as were six field brigades of artillery and the special cooperation of the 35th Squadron RAF. Zero hour was 6am. Four of the tanks were to clear Bellevue Farm then forward to clear Beaurevoir from the west or north. The other four tanks were to attack Beaurevoir from the south. The 7th and 74th Brigades (Gordon's Brigade) attacked and won some ground including Bellevue Farm and part of the Beaurevoir - Guisancourt Farm road, but when the fog began to clear not all the gains could be held and Bellevue Farm was lost. The bombardment seemed to have had little effect on Beaurevoir as every vantage point appeared to be bristling with enemy machine guns. Five tanks entered Beaurevoir and managed to eliminate many of the machine guns, but as the infantry failed to arrive, they had to retire loosing one machine.
Trench Map - Click image to enlarge
Later in the day at 6.40pm the 75th and 7th Brigades of the 25th Division were ordered to capture Beaurevoir, which they did, but attempts by Gordon's brigade to capture Guisancourt Farm failed. However, at 4.10am the next day the 11th Sherwood Foresters and the 8th Warwickshires did capture Guisancourt farm whilst Gordon's battalion pushed up the valley to the high ground north west of la Sablonniére.
Between 5 and 7 October the 13th Battalion DLI lost 60 men killed in action and 5 who died of wounds. Gordon died of his wounds on 7 October 1918, at the 12th Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) at Tincourt and is buried in plot VII.E.15. in Tincourt New British Cemetery.
Gordon's Headstone in Tincourt new cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
On 17 February 1919 Gordon's father signed a receipt for to say he had received the following items that had belonged to Gordon:
2 Discs
Letters
Photos
Pipe
Wallet
Note book
Wrist watch, damaged
Protector
Pencil case
Tobacco box
Cigarette case
Coin
On 27 September 1919 Gordon's father completed an Army form listing all Gordon's surviving siblings and half siblings. Jessie, who only lived a few months is not included, but neither is Joseph, so presumably he also had died by 1919.
After the war, it was said in Gordon's family that a handful of men were sent into battle to judge the enemies response, giving Gordon very little chance of survival. The news of Gordon's death devastated the family and until her death in 1954 at the age of 94, his mother Rhoda maintained that as Gordon's body was never found, it had not been proven that he had died. Although brother John returned from Africa and was warmly welcomed by his family, they never recovered from the shock of losing Gordon.
Gordon's story is typical of the great many sacrifices made in the Great War. Young men and women with their whole lives ahead of them who gave it all up for freedom and a better world. Gordon, like so many, never had a chance to have a family or to devote his life to his great love of horses but Rhoda's glowing stories of her beloved son ensured that he has been remembered long after her death and, along with the 700,000 other Britons lost during the Great War and the millions lost worldwide, Gordon will be remembered as a brave soldier who gave his life not for war but for peace.
Gordon was awarded the 1914 - 1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal.
The St Martin's Church Roll of Honour states that:
"GORDON STEVENS, was wounded in France and died in hospital at Tincourt on 7th October 1918".
Gordon's Bronze Plaque
Image courtesy of Janice Pond © 2010
With thanks to Gordon's Great niece Janice Pond for supplying family information.
EP SM
STEVENSON Alfred George, Private
12th Bn, Suffolk Regt.Killed in Action 27 September 1917, aged N/K
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
12th Bn, Suffolk Regt. Killed in France on 27 September 1917. Buried in the Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, France. (Listed on the Ashley Road, Epsom and the St. Martin's, Epsom Memorials).
STEVENSON Bessie Howe, Probationer Nurse
Pending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
(Listed on the Horton Hospital Staff Memorial).
STEWARD Arthur Amyot, Lieutenant.
11th Balloon Company, Royal Flying Corps (RFC).Killed in Action 6 October 1917, aged 35.
Arthur Amyot Steward
Arthur Amyot Steward was born on 14 July 1882 in Salisbury (GRO reference: September 1882 Alderbury 5a 192) the younger son of Rev. Canon Edward and Margaret Knyvett Steward (nee Wilson). Arthur's parents had married in 1878 in Fritton, Norfolk, where his mother's father was rector from 1874 until his death in 1900. They had four children.
| Name | Born - Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret Joan | Born: 1880 Bramshot, Hants Died: 1958 | |
| Edward Merivale (Major General, CB, CSI, OBE) |
Born: 1881 Salisbury Died: 1947 | |
| Arthur Amyot | Born: 14 July 1882 Salisbury Died: 6 October 1917 Belgium |
Married Miriam Agnes Carver 18 June 1912. Salisbury |
| Muriel Knyvet | Born: 1883 Salisbury Died: 1914 Boyton, Wilts aged 30 |
Committed suicide |
In the 1881 census before Arthur was born, the family lived in the Close of Salisbury Cathedral. Arthur's father, aged 29 was the Chaplain at the Diocesan Training College. His mother was aged 25 and he had two siblings, Margaret aged 1 and Edward aged 1 month. The family employed three servants.
In 1891 the family lived 1, Cedars, Manor Road, Milford, Salisbury. Arthur's father was a clergyman and schoolmaster. Arthur was aged 8 and sister Muriel was aged 7. The family employed two servants.
Arthur was educated at Wellington College and Magdalen College, Oxford and held a commission in the Norfolk Militia.
By 1901 the family had moved to St John Street, Salisbury. Arthur's father was still a clergyman and schoolmaster, and only his sister Muriel remained at home. In 1901 Arthur was away fighting in the South African Boer War.
A passenger list for October 1906 has the 24 year old Arthur sailing from Cape Town to Southampton aboard the Armdale Castle. Under the heading 'Profession occupation or calling' Arthur is described as 'Independent'.
The following announcement appeared in the Times dated Monday 13 November 1911:
MR. A. A. STEWARD AND MISS M.A. CARVER. The engagement is announced between Arthur Amyot Steward, of Wells Theological College, second son of the Rev. Canon Steward, of The Close, Salisbury, and Miriam Agnes, third daughter of the late S. H. Carver, of Alexandria, and Mrs. Carver, of Laverstock Hall, Salisbury.
Arthur resigned his commission, and took Holy Orders, being ordained by the Archbishop of York to a Curacy in Hull on 9 June 1912. A few days later on 18 June 1912 he married Miriam Agnes Carver. They had three daughters.
| Name | Born - Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lavinia Margaret | Born: 3 April 1913 Salisbury Died: 1993 Lymington |
Married Basil Thornton 1913 New Forest |
| Miriam Joan | Born: 25 March 1915 Probably Johannesburg Died: 1977 Winchester |
Married Maurice Elson 1940 New Forest |
| Aveluy Knyvett | Born: 8 October 1916 Died : 10 Feb 2004 Polperro Cornwall aged 88 |
Arthur again sailed to South Africa in July 1914 and was on the staff at St Mary's Johannesburg. He returned to England, with his wife and two daughters, arriving at the Port of London from Natal on 17 September 1915. They sailed aboard the Kildonan Castle, a ship belonging to the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company Ltd.
Arthur volunteered for active service and was gazetted Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 13 October 1915. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from April 1916, and was attached to the RFC (Kite Balloons) as an observation officer. He was killed in action near Ypres on 6 October 1917 by a shell bursting in his dugout and is buried in plot I. D. 25. Dunhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.
Arthur's headstone in Dunhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
The Times, obituary 16 October 1917:
Second Lieutenant A.A. Steward, R.F.A. attached R.F.C., who was killed on October 6th, was the younger son of Canon Steward of Boynton Rectory, Codford, Wilts, and the late Mrs. Steward. He was educated at Wellington and Magdalen College, Oxford. He held a commission in the Norfolk Militia during the South African War, in which he saw active service. He was subsequently ordained by the Archbishop of York to a curacy in Hull, and at the outbreak of the war was on the staff of St. Mary's, Johannesburg. He returned to England, offered his services as a combatant officer, and was given a commission in 1915 in the R.F.A., proceeding to the front in April 1916. He was transferred recently to the R.F.C. as an observation officer. He married in 1912 Miriam, third daughter of the late S.H. carver of Alexandria, and Mrs. Carver of The Moot, Downton, and leaves three daughters.
Arthur's granddaughter Ann Lunn has kindly allowed us to publish extracts of letters written about her Grandfather:
From Lt. Col. MacNeece, to Arthur's father, Canon Edward Steward. 6 October 1917
The four officers of the Section were sleeping in a big dug-out, which would have been proof against anything except a direct hit. Early this morning there was some desultory shelling around the Camp, and one of them came right through the roof of the dug-out, exploding on the floor.
Of the four officers inside, one beside your son was killed: and like him - painlessly and instantaneously: another seriously wounded. While the fourth escaped with a very bad shaking.
They are being buried today.From a very old friend - widow of a former headmaster of Haileybury who had known the family for many years writes:
I cannot forget how he instigated a little visit from G. and myself to his rooms to climb the Magdalen Tower with him on May Day, 1911. It was the most beautiful one of the past 30 years and a 'vision' to think over.From Major Tweedie: 336 Brigade, R.F.A. Oct 19, 1917
Being as I was in the same Battery with him for a year, I knew him pretty well and had a great admiration for him. He was always cheerful in the worst circumstances and whenever there was a nasty bit of work on he would volunteer for it. He was a great favourite with us all. I had recommended him to be Captain of the Battery, and if I had not left it I might have persuaded him not to go to R.F.C.
No one could help liking him. He was my favourite of all the many officers I have had under me in this war.From an old friend:
I saw so much of the four children during those happy visits to Sarum. You know how I loved their mother. I have a letter she wrote to me after she and Muriel had been to Oxford, which I call a "Magdalen Rhapsody" - telling of Arthur plunging into the river after a football, and then singing most beautifully for the Christmas practice.
The National Probate Calendar for 1918 published the following:
STEWARD the reverend Arthur Amyot of The Moat (sic Moot) Downton near Salisbury clerk second-lieutenant R.F.A. attached R.F.C. died 6 October 1917 in France or Belgium Probate London 18 March to Miriam Agnes Steward widow. Effects £3606 2s. 2d.
White Cottage built 1858 was the home of Arthur's widow Miriam, in the ealy 1920s
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
Arthur was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal, his medal card giving his widow's address as The White Cottage, The Common, Epsom. Kelly's Directory for 1922 also shows her living at this address. It is not known when she came to Epsom or when she left, and his biography in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour and the CWGC web site both give her address as The Moot, Downton, Salisbury. She died on 19 April 1977 in Hampshire at the age of 85, having been a widow for 60 years.
Note: Arthur's service record is held at the National Archives at Kew under reference WO 339/44387.
EP CC
With thanks to Granddaughter Ann Lunn for supplying additional information.
STOCKWELL J.
Died N/K, aged N/KPending further research this is what we have discovered about this person
(Listed on the Ewell Old Boys Memorial).
STONE Harry Douglas, Private. G/60223.
23rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment.Killed in Action 29 September 1918, aged 19.
Harry's inscription on the Tyne Cot memorial to the missing
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Henry (Harry) Douglas Stone was born on 11 December 1898 (GRO reference: Mar 1899 Epsom 2a 22) to Charles and Eleanor Stone (nee Ethrington). His parents married on 14 September 1901 at Christ Church, Epsom Common and had 11 children, all of whom were baptised at Christ Church.
| NAME | BORN | BAPTISED | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Florence | 8 Feb 1892 | 6 Mar 1892 | Married William H Clewer, 1915 |
| Charles William | 12 Feb 1894 | 1 Apr 1894 | Married Emily G Piner, 1919 |
| Nellie | 9 Jan 1896 | 2 Feb 1896 | Married William J Mayers, 1921 |
| Henry Douglas | 11 Dec 1898 | 8 Jan 1899 | Killed in action 29 September 1918 |
| Olive May | 18-Nov-00 | 16-Dec-00 | Married Frank Napper, 1926 |
| George Edward | 20-Jul-02 | 24-Aug-02 | |
| Ivy Kathleen | 13-Jul-04 | 21-Aug-04 | Married Henry J Cook, 1931 |
| Alice Rose | 31-Dec-07 | 26-Jan-08 | Married Ernest M Thomas, 1932 |
| Clara Grace | 18-May-09 | 04-Jul-09 | Married Harold F Killick, 1931 |
| Albert Ernest | 30-Aug-11 | 24-Sep-11 | |
| Phyllis Daisy | 26-Jul-13 | 07-Sep-13 | Married George C Tompkinson, 1946 |
Harry's parents spent the first years of their marriage in Epsom, and two of his siblings were born there. Around 1895 the family moved to Ashtead and at the time of the 1901 census they lived at Park Farm Lane, Ashtead, where Harry's father Charles was a 32 year old carter working on a farm. His mother Eleanor was aged 28.
By 1911 the family had moved to 9, Coronation Cottage, Woodlands Road, Epsom. Harry's father was still labouring on a farm, but his mother and sister Annie now worked in a laundry. Twelve year old Harry was a schoolboy.
Harry attested on 4 October 1916 at Epsom into the 23rd Training Reserve Battalion. His stated age was 18 years and 4 months, but he would have only been 17 years and 10 months. He was 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighed 113 lbs and had a chest measurement of 35 inches with an expansion of 3 inches. His medical grade was A4, which meant he would be A1 or A2 when reaching 19 years of age. He was a labourer and lived at 29, Woodlands Road.
Harry fought with the 23rd Battalion Middlesex regiment which was in the 123rd Brigade, 41st Division.
Harry was killed in action on 29 September 1918, when the war had only 43 days left to run. At this stage of the war the Allies were attacking and winning ground all along the front. About 5 miles south east of Ypres, a brigade of Harry's Division had been ordered to hold all crossings of the Comines canal down to the southern end of Houthem and form a line from the canal to the west of Tenbrielen. This it did by 8.30 a.m., and cleared Houthem. Harry's brigade, at 4 a.m., left Battle Wood at the elbow of the canal and was able to advance rapidly. When fired upon from the west bank of the canal, they crossed it and returned with 35 prisoners. On reaching the Comines - Menin railway the enemy could be seen fleeing in motor cars and lorries. However, the battalion's flanks were unprotected and casualties had become heavy, so they had to fall back to the Gladje beek (stream).
Houthem Trench Map - Click to enlarge
Harry, and 25 other men from the 23rd Battalion Middlesex regiment lost their lives that day. Harry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial to the missing.
The following appeared in the Epsom Advertiser dated 8 November 1918:
FALLEN FOR THE COUNTRY. - Pte. H. D. Stone, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Stone, 29, Woodlands-road, Epsom Common, has been killed in action.
Harry was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
EP CC
STREDWICK Ernest Henry, Private. 2190.
8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.Killed in Action 12 October 1917, aged 30.
Ernest's inscription on the Tyne Cot Memorial
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Ernest Henry Stredwick was born in 1887 (GRO reference: Mar 1887 Kingston 2a 326) the second son of Hubert Henry and Laura Alice Stredwick (nee Downey). His parents married on 13 July 1885 in Kingston, Surrey (GRO reference: Sep 1885 2a 549).
In the 1891 census the family lived in Willoughby Cottage, Epsom Common. Ernest's father was a 24 year old carpenter and joiner. His mother, 24 year old Laura has been recorded by her middle name Alice. Ernest had two siblings, older brother Hubert James aged 5 (also served in the war) and 1 year old younger sister Elsie Alice. Also living with them was Laura's 20 year old brother John Downey, who worked as a painter and paperhanger.
By the 1901 census the family had moved to 4 Kingston Terrace, Kingston Road, Ewell. Ernest, now aged 14 was a butcher's assistant. Two more siblings had been born, Harold Leslie aged 8 and Ethel Rosaly aged 2
By the 1911 census the family lived at Rosaly Villa, Wyeths Road, Epsom. Elder brother Hubert was not living there, Brother Leslie was working as a gardener and Ethel was a schoolgirl. Another sibling Charles Samuel, had been born on 24 December 1909.
Ernest's father Hubert Henry Stredwick, aged 48, attested on 28 September 1914. He was living at Rosaly Villa, Wyeths Road, Epsom, he was a carpenter and joiner and his religion was C of E. He transferred between various units before being discharged as medically unfit, having served for 4 years and 34 days at 'Home'. After the war Hubert, Laura and their younger children emigrated to Australia.
Ernest's service papers have not survived but the Soldiers Died CD shows he was born, and enlisted in Kingston, and served in the 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment. His medal card shows that he went to France on 12 August 1915 and was awarded the 1915 star, British war medal and the Victory medal. He was presumed dead on 12 October 1917, and as he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
The 8th Battalion East Surreys were in the 55th Brigade, 18th Division, and in October 1917 they fought in the battle of Passchendaele. The following is an extract from the East Surrey History for the 10th to the 12th October 1917:
At 3a.m. on the 10th a warning order was received saying that the 55th Brigade would relieve the 32nd Brigade that night in the front line near Poelcapelle, which lies about six miles north-east of Ypres, and would carry out an attack from that position on the I2th October. Commanding officers met the Brigadier at 8a.m. and went up with him to the new Brigade Headquarters at Varna Farm, two and a half miles south-west of Poelcapelle. The duty of bringing up the battalions was left to officers second-in-command. Company commanders were conveyed forward by motor-bus to give them an opportunity of looking at the ground. Those of the 8th Battn. East Surrey met the Commanding Officer at Varna Farm at about 10.30a.m., but no definite orders were issued nor objectives stated to him until about 1.30p.m. By this time Lieut.-Colonel Irwin was furnished with maps for each of the company commanders, marked with boundaries and objectives in coloured chalks. He had been informed that his new Battalion Headquarters were in a shell hole, and that not more than two or three people could get to them by daylight on account of sniping, so after a short conference with the company commanders he sent back two of them to meet the Battalion and then set off for his new headquarters with the other two, Major Place and Lieut. Shrapnel, commanding B and C Companies respectively. The new Battalion Headquarters consisted of a large shell hole, against the side of which a rough lean-to shelter had been constructed out of a few sandbags and two sheets of corrugated iron.
The necessary arrangements were made for guides to meet the platoons at the Steenbeek, near Varna Farm, the 32nd Brigade having undertaken to guide them thus far, and the first platoon was due to arrive at Battalion Headquarters at about 9.30p.m. Actually it did not arrive before 4a.m. on October 11th, the men being then absolutely exhausted. The 32nd Brigade had only supplied one guide, who had lost his way, so that the whole Battalion had been wandering about in unknown ground all night, and it was solely owing to the skill and perseverance of Major Wightman that it eventually reached its destination. By this time dawn was approaching, and though the relief was carried on with all speed it was never properly completed. Company commanders had only a general idea as to the whereabouts of their platoons, it being impossible to move about near the front line by daylight.
The position now taken up by the Battalion faced north-east and extended from its junction with the left of " The Buffs " near Gloucester Farm, which lies 500 yards south-east of Poelcapelle, to the Lekkerboterbeek, a small stream normally a couple of yards only in width. At this time, however, its banks were so pitted with shell holes full of water that the actual course of the stream was indistinguishable, and the valley in which it ran had become an impassable marsh. This marsh formed the boundary line between the 18th and 9th Divisions and Terrier Farm, on the south side of it, was used as the "liaison" post between the two divisions. Both Gloucester and Terrier Farms had been converted into concreted emplacements, and the former was used as C Company's headquarters.
About three-quarters of a mile in front of the Battalion lay a ridge with a command of some 20 feet above the valley, and on its summit two homesteads, Papa Farm and Hinton Farm. Half-way between the ridge and Poelcapelle, that is, on the left front of the Battalion, stood a knoll, of the same elevation as the ridge, surmounted by a fortified farm known as Meunier House. Except for these two features the ground, which like the marsh was pitted with shell craters containing water, sloped gently upwards for a mile and a half to Spriet, and thence more steeply up to Westroosebeek, on the summit of Passchendaele Ridge.
During the morning of the 11th October, Lieut.-Colonel Irwin received a fresh set of operation orders, which allotted new objectives to the Battalion, but was unable to communicate them to his company commanders during daylight. After dark he called them together and explained the new orders. It then commenced to rain and became intensely dark, with the result that the company commanders had great difficulty in finding their platoons and were then unable to point out to them on the map the new objectives, as they could not show a light. In these circumstances officers and section commanders had little chance of ascertaining what their objectives were, and no opportunity of looking at them in daylight. Lieut.-Colonel Irwin considered the situation so serious that he sent a formal protest to the Brigade Commander before instructing Captain K. Bell-Irving to lay out the forming-up tape from Gloucester Farm to Terrier Farm. This was no easy task and took several hours to carry out, but it was completed at last, in spite of the tape being broken several times by shell fire.
The dispositions for attack were as follows: B and C were right and left assaulting companies, with the road running south-east from Meunier House as their objective. A and D Companies were to "leap-frog" B and C and take the Papa Farm-Hinton Farm Ridge. As, however, the operation orders were again altered at the last moment, few if any of the officers and other ranks had a clear idea of what was expected of them. About midnight, Major Place, who had been visiting the platoons, came to Battalion Headquarters and reported that he had been unable to find No. 5 platoon, under 2nd Lieut. N. L. Riddett. Lieut.-Colonel Irwin went out with him, but could find no trace of them, nor was anything known of them until they were seen next morning getting up and going forward under our barrage. 2nd Lieut. Riddett set a very gallant example. He had had no orders and did not even know at what time the attack was to be made, but he did know that he could not do wrong if he went forward with the barrage.
Shortly after midnight the enemy shelled the sector held by the Battalion with "mustard gas." Respirators were put on, and there were no ill effects except a few blisters. At about 4 a.m. on October 12th, while moving his company up into position, 2nd Lieut. R. S. Franks, commanding D Company, was killed by a shell. He was a very promising officer, full of energy and high spirits, and much liked. His death was a great loss to the Battalion. Shortly afterwards 2nd Lieut. C. A. Heath, of D Company, was wounded, and the command of the company fell on 2nd Lieut. C. Whyntie, who was severely wounded at the moment of advance, so that the company went into action without any officers.
Zero hour was at 5.35a.m., but the barrage opened in an irregular way, commencing at zero minus four minutes. It was not sufficiently heavy, and, although it only moved at the rate of fifty yards in four minutes, the state of the ground was such that the men with ordinary equipment could not keep up with it, while those carrying the Lewis guns and their ammunition bags could not advance at all, as they sank too deep in the mud. Moreover, the barrage opened too far in front of our line, leaving untouched several enemy machine-gun posts between it and our front line. Heavy machine-gun and rifle fire was opened by the enemy all along our front and continued throughout the action. Shortly after zero, Lieut. G. A. G. Wix and 2nd Lieuts. H. Fearn and N. L. Riddett were killed by machine-gun fire, and Captain C. R. Holms, commanding A Company, was severely wounded. Captain G. A. Birnie (R.A.M.C.) and 2nd Lieut. H. S. Todd, of C Company, were also wounded.
The enemy barrage, which came down at zero plus four minutes, was not heavy, but consisted of shells of large calibre. At about 8.30 a.m., Major C. G. Place, commanding B Company, returned wounded to Battalion Headquarters and reported that some of our men had advanced 500 yards or more, but that they had passed several machine-gun posts which were still holding out. In particular a post with two machine guns about 100 yards east of Gloucester Farm caused a large number of casualties. All the men who passed these machine-gun posts were eventually killed or taken prisoners.
The situation was very obscure for some time, as all the officers except three and a large number of the N.C.O.'s had become casualties, and also from the fact that no runners could get back over that open ground owing to rifle and machine-gun fire. The mud was so bad that rapid movement from shell hole to shell hole was impossible, and most of the casualties among officers and N.C.O.'s were incurred in attempting to lead advances by short rushes after the barrage had been lost. The rifles and the men's hands were plastered with mud, so that each time that a fresh clip was inserted some mud went into the magazine with it, and the breach had to be cleaned after every few rounds. By degrees it became evident that, in spite of all its sacrifices, the Battalion had made but little way, and under the existing conditions of weather and ground could make no further advance. The Commanding Officer, therefore, sent a message to Brigade Headquarters, asking permission to reorganize his line in the evening 100 yards in front of the forming-up tape. This he proposed in order to have some definite mark as a guide, for there were no natural features suitable to the purpose. At about 2p.m. the Brigade Major, Captain C. Runge, arrived at Battalion Headquarters and told Lieut.-Colonel Irwin that the Battalion might perhaps be relieved at night, but that this was still uncertain. No relief, in fact, took place, and in the evening Lieut.-Colonel Irwin reorganized his posts as he had proposed, and got in touch with "The Buffs" on his left and with a battalion of the 9th Division on his right. The 6th Battn. Royal Berkshire Regt. also had formed up at a short distance in rear and was digging itself in there.
The unsatisfactory position of Battalion Headquarters has been mentioned, and search was made for a better place, but none could be found. During the night the headquarters was persistently shelled, and at 2.30a.m. on October I3th received a direct hit on one end, which killed 5 and wounded 2 of the personnel. Finding at 4a.m. that no orders for relief had arrived, Lieut.-Colonel Irwin communicated with Brigade Headquarters, and at 8a.m. received orders (timed 8.50p.m. the previous night) authorizing him to withdraw all men not required for his new line of posts to Gournier Farm. As it was now broad daylight, it was impossible to make any movement from the front line. Soon afterwards orders were received that the Battalion would be relieved at night by the 7th Battn. " Queen's," and at 5.30p.m. the relief was duly commenced, but took very long to complete. It was not, in fact, till 5.30a.m. on October I4th that the last platoon of the Battalion had reached Canal Bank Baths, near Boesinghe, three and a half miles north of Ypres, where all bathed, changed their underclothing and had a hot breakfast. At 1.45p.m. lorries conveyed the Battalion back to its quarters at Dirty Bucket Camp, near Vlamertinghe, whence it had gone up to the front line on the l0th.
During the intervening four days the following casualties had been sustained:-
Officers Other Ranks. Killed 4 52 Wounded: 6 137 Missing: - 42 Total 10 231
The narrative above indicates rather than describes the admirable gallantry and devotion shown by all ranks of the Battalion in these very arduous operations. Many instances of special gallantry were brought to notice, but a far greater number necessarily passed unrecorded. In his narrative, Lieut.-Colonel Irwin drew special attention to the two following officers, the words used being his own: "The gallantry displayed by Major C. G. M. Place and Captain G. A. Birnie, R.A.M.C., both before and during the action, was of a very high order, and was acknowledged by the award to them of the D.S.O. and M.C. respectively. Captain Birnie was wounded early in the action, and continued for eight hours to search for and dress the wounded. He searched the whole ground in front of our position, up to and even among the enemy posts, in spite of shelling and machine-gun fire, and did not give up his task until relieved and ordered to go down by Captain Lister, R.A.M.C."
The Soldiers Died CD shows that 85 men from the 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment died on 12 October 1917.
EP
We are very grateful for the additional information supplied by Ernest's nephew Alan Stredwick.
STRIPP William George, Gunner. 68639.
101st Brigade Ammunition Column Royal Field ArtilleryDied 7 November 1918, aged 25
Gnr Stripp's headstone at Brookwood Military cemetery
Copyright image courtesy of Clive Gilbert
William George Stripp was born in 1893 (GRO reference: Jun 1893 Epsom 2a 2) to Jesse and Eliza Stripp (nee Coombs). The marriage entry in the GRO index has Strip, only one 'P'.
In the 1901 census the family was living at 87 De Burgh Road, Wimbledon. William's father was a 'Carman', and his mother worked as a charwoman. He had a sister Dorothy Mary A. (GRO reference: Jun 1900 Kingston 2a 363).
There is a marriage record between William G Stripp and Annie Parker in 1914 (GRO reference: Mar 1914 Croydon 2a 515). The parish register of St Mary's Ewell records the baptism of Ronald Albert Stripp born 7 June 1914 and baptised on 5 Jul 1914 (GRO reference: Sep 1914 2a 835). His parents, William and Annie, were living at 5 Kingston Terrace, Ewell and William was a milk carrier.
The Surrey Recruitment Register shows a Stripp Wm S not G which I suspect is a transcription error, aged 22 11months attesting in Kingston on 11 January 1915, into the Royal Field Artillery. He had been born at Sutton and lived at 5 Kingston Road, Ewell, the revised name for Kingston Terrace. He was 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall, weighed 124 lbs and had a chest measurement of 34 ½ inches, with an expansion of 3 inches. He was still a milkman.
William was a gunner in the 101st Brigade Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery. He died of influenza on 7 November 1918, in the UK aged 25 and is buried in Brookwood Military cemetery, plot X111 B 1.
STURGESS George, Sergeant. 8677.
1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment.Killed in Action 8 May 1917, aged 29.
George's inscription on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
Image Courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
George Henry William Sturgess was born in 1888 (GRO reference: Mar 1888 Epsom 2a 20) to George William and Sarah Elizabeth Sturgess (nee Wells).
In the 1891 census the family lived at 2, Broughton Cottage, Lintons Lane, Epsom. George's father was a 28 year old painter. His mother was 26, and he had a brother, Harry aged 4 months.
By 1901 they had moved to 21, Beaconsfield Cottages, Epsom. George's father was still painting houses, and another 5 siblings had arrived, Ellen aged 9, Minnie aged 7, Frederick aged 6, Edward aged 4 and Ernest aged 2.
I have been unable to find them in the 1911 census, but according to his 'burnt' Army papers, George did acquire another two siblings, Sarah born 1901 and Cyril born 1903.
On 30 December 1905, at Kingston, George attested to join the East Surrey Regiment, for 3 years with the colours and 9 years in the reserve. His was 18 years and 2 months, unmarried, worked as a labourer, and his religion was C of E. At the time he attested George was already serving in the Militia with the 5th Rifle Brigade.
George was short at 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighed only 116 lbs, and had a chest measurement of 34 inches with an expansion of 2 inches. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. Tattooed on his right arm he had flags, an anchor and a woman's bust, and on his left arm another woman.
George's early Army service was with the 1st battalion, and until November 1907 he was based at Jersey, where on 7 March 1907, he received 10 days CB (confined to barracks) for being drunk in town and using obscene language in the public street. Despite this he was later awarded two good conduct badges, the first on 9 March 1909, the second on 9 March 1911.
In July 1907 he passed a course of instruction on mounted infantry at Longmoor, Hampshire. In November 1907 George was posted to the 2nd battalion in India where he was to remain until being recalled to England in August 1914. His 7 years in India were not very healthy years for George. He was hospitalised 14 separate times, staying a total of 396 days in hospital. His ailments included ague, dental problems, sprained leg, leg contusion, syphilis, malaria, inflamed middle ear, and stomach problems.
On 17 March 1911 he was appointed to the rank of Drummer, and on 16 June, signed to extend his army service to 12 years which would have ended on 29 December 1917. On 21 October 1911 he was appointed Lance Corporal, but this did not last for very long, as at his own request he reverted to Drummer on 23 January 1912.
The 2nd Battalion was sent France in January 1915. George, however remained in England, and was again promoted to Lance Corporal and transferred to the 3rd Battalion. This was a recruitment and training battalion that never left England. George it seems, as an experienced soldier, at that time was more useful to the Army training other men, rather than as a fighting soldier. By 1 June 1915 he was promoted to Corporal and on 19 February 1916 to Acting Sergeant.
George's time in England did not last, and on 2 February 1917 he embarked for France, but only served for 3 months before being killed in action in the Battle of Arras. Fresnoy, 9 miles north east of Arras, had been captured by the Canadians on 3 May, and now formed a salient that breached the enemy's main line of defence, albeit a narrow breach. On 8 May 1917 the 1st East Surrey's were defending the village of Fresnoy which was the target of a ferocious German counter attack. British forces were driven out of the ruined village and the line stabilised just outside the village. The Battalion War Diary for 4 May 1917 gives the Battalion strength as 936. The diary also provides some figures for casualties on 8 May:
| Other Ranks - | Killed | 21 |
| Wounded | 54 | |
| Missing | 420 | |
| Total | 495 |
The Soldiers Died CD tells us that 102 men from the 1st East Surreys were killed in action on 8 May 1917, including George who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
George never married, so his mother was the recipient of his British War medal on 23 March 1921, and his Victory medal on 18 October 1921. The CWGC states that he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sturgess, of 21, Beaconsfield Cottage, East Street, Epsom.
The St Martin's Church Roll of Honour states that "GEORGE STURGESS, was reported missing near Arras and was officially presumed killed in action on the 8th May 1917."
EP SM
STURT Reginald Philip, Sapper. 20213.
26th Field Company Royal Engineers (RE).Died 21 June 1917, Aged 27
Reginald's headstone in Epsom Cemetery
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2011
Reginald Philip Sturt was born in 1890 (GRO reference: Sep 1890 Epsom 2a 2) to Arthur and Mary Sturt (nee Hill). His parents married in the September 1871 quarter in the Epsom registration district. They had 13 children.
| Name | Born - Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Arthur | Born: 1871 Sutton | Registered Hill |
| Emily Gertrude | Born: 1872 Sutton | |
| Brena Rosetta | Born: 1874 Brixton | |
| Annie Elizabeth | Born: 1876 Brixton | |
| Joseph John | Born: 1878 Brixton | |
| Bertha | Born: 1880 Brixton Died: 1880 Brixton |
|
| Mary Ellen | Born: 1881 Carshalton | |
| Charles William | Born: 1883 Carshalton Died: 1883 Carshalton |
|
| Harry Alfred | Born: 1884 Banstead | |
| Maud Ethel | Born: 1886 Banstead Died: 1886 Banstead |
|
| Sidney Bernard | Born: 1888 Banstead | |
| Reginald Philip | Born: 1890 Banstead Died: 21 June 1917 Epsom |
|
| Hilda Lilian Frances | Born: 1892 Banstead |
In the 1881 census before Reginald was born, the family lived at 'The Old Farmhouse' Carshalton. Reginald's father was a 32 year old labourer. His mother was aged 28 and he had six siblings, Edward aged 10, Emily aged 8, Brena aged 7, Annie aged 5, Joseph aged 2 and Mary aged 6 weeks.
By 1891 the family was living in Bolters Lane, Banstead. Reginald's father was now working as a gardener, and three more siblings are recorded, Mary aged 10, Harry aged 7, and Sidney aged 3. Reginald himself was 10 months old.
The 1901 census shows the family living in Well Cottages, Banstead. Reginald was aged 10 and another sister was recorded, Hilda aged 8.
In 1911 Reginald's family was living in Shrubland Road, Banstead. Only three of his siblings remained at home, Sidney working as a chauffer, Brena working as a dressmaker and Hilda aged 18 with no occupation shown.
By 1911 Reginald had joined the Army and was living in barracks at Shornemead Fort, Gravesend. He is recorded as being a house painter.
Reginald went to France on 17 August 1914, less than two weeks after the start of the war, and was therefore one of the first to go. He was in the 26th Field Company RE, which was part of the 1st Division.
During the first battle of Ypres, on 31 October 1914, the Germans were threatening to break through the British line near the village of Gheluvelt on the Menin Road south east of Ypres. In order to stop their advance, all available men were sent into the firing line. Reginald's unit of the RE was ordered to the front without their engineers equipment, and to fight as infantry. Reginald was wounded the next day, presumably whilst helping to hold back the German advance.
Reginald's service record has not survived, so we do not know how severely he was wounded, but his medal card shows that he was discharged from the Army (date not shown) and was given a 'silver War badge' for services rendered, meaning that he was no longer fit for military service.
He died on 21 June 1917 at his home, 1 Ivy Cottages, 65, Burgh Heath Road, Epsom, of Phthisis (tuberculosis), and was buried in grave D 312 in Epsom Cemetery.
The St Martin's Church Roll of Honour states that
'REGINALD PHILIP STURT, was in the Army before the War and was wounded at Ypres on the 1st November 1914. He died at Home of Phthisis on the 21st June 1917'.
Reginald was awarded the 1914 Star, British War medal and the Victory medal.
Reginald is remembered on the Banstead War Memorial in addition to the St Martin's church and Ashley Road memorials.
EP SM
SUTTON Hedley Mackney, Private. 45478.
'A' Squadron Surrey YeomanryKilled in Action 28 August 1917, aged 26
Hedley Sutton
Image courtesy of Peter Collins, Sutton Grammar School Archivist
Hedley Mackney Sutton was born in 1891 (GRO reference Sep 1891 Epsom 2a 12) to Arthur Hedley and Katharine Jane Sutton (Nee Mackney). (Tpr on Bourne Hall memorial).
In the 1901 census the family lived in Greenford Road, Sutton. Hedley's father was a 34 year old Registrar to a public company. His mother was aged 37, and he had a sister Hilda aged 6, his only sibling.
Hedley studied at Sutton Grammar School between 1902 and 1904.
In the 1911 census the family lived at 'The Laurels' (no longer there), Park Hill Road, Ewell. Hedley's father was still working, on his own account, as a Registrar to public companies. Hedley was working as a sales assistant in a 'Gentlemens hosier and glover' shop. His sister Hilda was a 16 year old student. Also with the family that night were 18 year old visitor, Florence Cooper and 18 year old domestic servant Ethel May Ayling.
They still lived at 2, The Laurels, Park Hill Road, Ewell in the 1915 electoral roll.
Hedley enlisted in Dorking into 'A' Squadron Surrey Yeomanry, and went to Gallipoli with them as part of the 29th Division, on 3 April 1915.
The following is an extract from Sutton Grammar School magazine, The Suttonian:
Was at the School from 1902 to 1904. At the outbreak of War he quickly responded to his Country's call -joining the Surrey Yeomanry as a Trooper in September, 1914.
After training at Dorking and elsewhere, he was posted to C Squadron, and attached to that never-to-be-forgotten 29th Division which effected the first landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in April, 1915. After 14 weeks on the Peninsula he was stricken down with dysentery and removed to hospital in Malta, and thence to England.
He did not obtain much respite from the rigours of active service when restored to health, leaving England again-on a draft for A Squadron in Salonica-on 1st June, 1916. There he was occupied continuously in that dangerous Cavalry duty-reconnoitring-and it was, while thus engaged that he was mortally hit on 28th August last.
His body was laid to rest in the Church of England Military Cemetery outside a little village near their camp. The funeral service, conducted by the Principal Chaplain of the Division, was attended by the Squadron Commander, his Troop Officer, and a large number of the Squadron-comrades and friends.
In writing to his parents, his Officers pay a high tribute to his character as a man and as a soldier. In the belief that the record may prove an inspiration to others, they (his -parents") have expressed the wish that some extracts from those letters should be embodied in this memoir.
His Squadron Commander, writing on 29th August, after giving details of his death, says :-
"It is with the greatest sorrow that I write to record the death of so brave and gallant a man, but he fell as we should all like to do, surrounded by his friends, quickly, and in the fulfilment of his duty. The cause for which he has given his life is the noblest one a man can die for, and the particular duty your son was engaged on is a dangerous one but a very useful one, and one which calls for the highest qualities of courage and determination.
These qualities your son possessed in a very high degree, and his name had been given to me previously for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field. As his Commanding Officer, I feel I must tell you how much we shall all of us miss him."
And his Troop Officer under date 1st September:-
"I am writing to say how deeply sorry the Troop feel at your son's death in action, and how much they grieve for you in this great loss. All the Troop came to me and asked me to express what I could in writing to you of their feelings. His loss will be acutely felt for so many reasons. As a soldier he was so particularly dashing, yet imperturbable; cool and always reliable, and so quick to grasp instantly the nature of any complicated job that had to be done. I had already, as Troop Officer, reported to his Squadron Leader that I had the highest regard for him as a man and as a soldier. A man such as him needed only opportunities to show his qualities, and only a few weeks ago he had rendered great service to the Troop by a brilliant piece of scouting in face of the enemy. In his life and his death he is an example to us all. I think you must know how great the loss is to us. I cannot express how deeply we feel for you."
Truly another noble life laid down. A worthy follower of his namesake-Captain Hedley Vicars, whose memoirs he was so fond of reading, and who, it will be remembered, gave his life too for his Country at Sebastopol, in the Crimean War, not so far distant from this one's bodily resting place.
"His soul to Him who gave it rose,
God led it to its long repose,
Its glorious rest.
And though the warrior's sun has set,
Its light shall linger round us yet,
Bright, radiant, blest."
God led it to its long repose,
Its glorious rest.
And though the warrior's sun has set,
Its light shall linger round us yet,
Bright, radiant, blest."
From the Epsom Advertiser dated 14th September 1917:
EWELL PARISH COUNCIL. The son of Mr and Mrs Sutton, Park Hill Road had been killed in action. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy
Private Sutton's grave stone at The Struma Military Cemetery, Greece
Copyright Image courtesy of Rob Carr 2007
Private Sutton's grave stone is shown in the foreground
of this picture of The Struma Military Cemetery, Greece
Copyright Image courtesy of Rob Carr 2007
The Struma Military Cemetery, Greece
Copyright Image courtesy of Rob Carr 2007
Hedley was awarded the 1914-1915 Stat, the British War medal and the Victory medal. He is buried in Plot II. E. 1. Struma Military Cemetery, Greece, (Salonika).
He is also remembered on the Sutton Grammar School War Memorial.
BH EW SGS
SWANNACK Arthur, Private. 48766.
13th Battalion The King's (Liverpool Regiment).Died of Wounds 29 December 1916, aged 19.
Arthur Swannack was born in 1897 (GRO reference: Jun 1897 East Retford 7b 2) to Edward and Mary Ann Swannack (nee Bates). They married in 1888 (GRO reference: Dec 1888 Newark 7b 629). Transcribed as Edward Swannacks in free BMD.
The 1891 census, taken before Arthur was born, shows that the family lived at Low Street, North Wheatley, Nottingham. Arthur's father was a 30 year old agricultural labourer. His mother was aged 24 and there were two siblings, John aged 2, and Sarah aged 9 months. Sarah died aged 4 in 1894.
By 1901 census the family lived at 'The Beck', North Wheatley, Nottingham. Arthur's father was still an agricultural labourer. Three more siblings had arrived, Ellen aged 8, George aged 6 and Herbert aged 1.
By 1911 they had moved to "Wainwright Cottages" Gringley, Nottingham. Another 4 siblings had arrived, Thomas aged 7, Gertrude aged 5, Joseph aged 3 and Frank aged 9 months. Arthur and his brother George were both farm workers, and his father was also working on a farm as a waggoner.
Arthur's burnt papers do not seem to have survived but he is listed in the "UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War" database as having enlisted in Retford into the Notts. and Derby Regiment as Private 49758 but was then transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment 13th battalion. Here he was given the number 48766.
We do not know exactly when or how Arthur was wounded, but the 13th Battalion was in the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. During the summer and autumn the Division fought in France in the battle of the Somme. It is most likely that he was wounded severely enough to be evacuated to England (known as Blighty to the troops). He was transferred to Horton War Hospital in Epsom Surrey, where he died of his wounds on 29 December 1916 aged 19.
Arthur was buried in the CWGC section, plot K647, in the Ashley Road cemetery, Epsom, Surrey on 3 January 1917 and is listed on the memorial there.
Arthur was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
CWGC
SYCAMORE Albert Edward, Private. 30163.
3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.Killed in Action 11 February 1917, aged 29.
Albert's inscription on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert © 2010
Albert Edward Sycamore was born on 3 June 1887 (GRO reference Sep 1887 Epsom 2a 18) to William and Catherine Sarah Sycamore (nee Sanders). Baptised 7th August 1887 at St Mary's Ewell.
Mill Lane in 2006
Copyright image courtesy of Clive Gilbert 2006
In the 1881 census the family lived in Mill Lane, Ewell. Albert's father was a 'Shoeing Smith'. Albert, yet to be born, had a sister Catherine Mary born in 1880.
| ALBERT EDWARD AND HIS SIBLINGS | |||
| NAME | DATE OF BIRTH | BAPTISED | REG. DISTRICT |
| Frederick James | June quarter 1878 (died September quarter 1879) | 7 April 1878 | Epsom |
| Catherine Mary | September quarter 1880 | 5 September 1880 | Epsom |
| Harriet Rose | June quarter 1882 | 2 July 1882 | Epsom |
| George William | March Quarter 1885 | 5 April 1885 | Epsom |
| Albert Edward | 3 June 1887 | 7 August 1887 | Epsom |
| William John | 11 March 1893 | 21 May 1893 | Epsom |
By 1891 the family lived in West Street. Albert's father was now a 'Blacksmith', and he had another two siblings Harriet Rose aged 8 and George William aged 6. George William would also serve in the Great War as an Artilleryman.
Albert attended Ewell Boys school in West Street between 7 May 1894 and 25 January 1901, when he left to work as a house boy aged 13.
In the 1901 census they still lived in West Street, but Albert's father was now 'Journeyman Blacksmith', and Albert had another brother, William aged 8.
Albert married Beatrice Mary Richings in 1909 (GRO reference: Dec 1909 Maidenhead 2c 1011), and they produced four children.
In the 1911 census 23 year old Albert, now married to 22 year old Beatrice, was living at 14, Montague Terrace, Collingwood Road, Sutton, Surrey. They had a son, 10 month old George (GRO reference: Jun 1910 Epsom 3a 34). Albert was working as a domestic gardener.
They produced a total of four children:
| ALBERT EDWARD SYCAMORE'S CHILDREN | |||
| NAME | DATE OF BIRTH | BAPTISED | REG. DISTRICT |
| George | June quarter 1910 | Epsom | |
| Ivy | September quarter 1912 | Epsom | |
| Edward James | 30 April 1914 | 21 June 1914 | Epsom |
| Mabel Cathleen | 8 June 1917 | 2 September 1917 | Epsom |
The Surrey Recruitment Register tells us that Albert aged 28 years and 5 months attested in Sutton on 16 November 1915, into the 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He had been born at Ewell and lived at The Cottage Garrands Lane, Banstead. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 130 lbs and had a chest measurement of 34 inches, with an expansion of 2 ½ inches. He was a gardener.
The 3rd Bedfords were a reserve training battalion, and Albert must have transferred to the 4th Battalion, which was in the 190 Brigade 63 Division.
On the day that Albert was killed, 11 Feb 1917, the 4th Bedfords were in trenches about a mile east of Beaumont Hamel, the scene of much bloody fighting on the first day of the battle of the Somme, July 1st 1916. The Somme battle had officially ended on November 19th 1916, but fighting never ceased on the western front, every day brought bereavement to many families. The following account is taken from the battalion war diary of the 4th Bedfords:
11 February 1917, 4 Bedford Regiment, ordered to push forward their line of posts on the east side of the Puisieux Road from a line R.2.a.9.6. - R.1.b.6.4. to an advanced position R.2.a.9.6. - R.1.b.7.9. Two companies to attack and lined up on a tape running from R.2.a.5.3. - R.1. b.7.4. with 1 company in support holding trench R.2.c.3.9. - R.1.b.6.2. Company carrying party ready for consolidation. Zero hour 9p.m. Barrage on enemy front system of posts about R.1.b.5.7. - R.2.a.1.9. - R.1.a.4.8. for 5 minutes lifting gradually until 9.5p.m. At 9.5p.m. the line advanced. The left company was temporarily held up by enemy wire and heavy machine gun fire about R.2.a.2.8. and the company in support was then pushed forward. 12 February 1917 3a.m. Objective gained, line straightened out and post consolidated.
Click on the above thumbnail map of Puisieux to see a larger scale version
(Warning - This is a large file so is slow to download).
To straighten the line and gain another 250 yards on the 11th February 1917 cost the lives of twenty men from the 4th Bedfords, and another man on the 12 February 1917.
In the September quarter of 1921, Albert's widow Beatrice Mary married George W Sycamore, Albert's older brother, in the Epsom registration district. They produced three children: John Henry born 2 May 1921, baptised 14 August 1921, and twins Malcolm Douglas and Roy Geoffrey born 13 September 1927, baptised 5 February 1928. They lived at 3, Meadow Walk Ewell.
Albert was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.
Albert is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing, Pier & Face 2 C. The CWGC states he was the 'Son of William and Catherine Sycamore; husband of B M Sycamore, of 3 Meadow Walk, Ewell, Surrey.'
BH EW ES
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