War Memorial – Casualties of World War I

Albert John Acock

Albert (his birth certificate only has John) was born 14 January 1878 at Taynton, Burford, Oxfordshire.  The son of George and Selina (nee Farbrother) Acock.  He married Sarah Ellen Flint at St Paul’s, Birmingham on 29 October 1904 when he was described as a window cleaner.

According to the North Wilts Herald of Friday 14 September 1917, “Private Albert John Acock 23236, eldest son of Mrs Acock of Bradfield Cottages (Grove) …. has been killed in action.”  Death was instantaneous.  Albert joined up in October 1916 and was posted to the 1 Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.  Before joining up he had been employed by the Co-operative Society at Harborne, south west Birmingham.  He was 39 and left a widow and two children.

Albert Acock was killed during the Battle of Third Ypres (Passchendaele) on 18 August 1917.  He was 39 and left a widow and two children.  His battalion was in support of the 8th Battalion The Warwickshire Regiment as they crossed the stream at Steenbeeke nr St Julien.  He was one of 85 casualties for his unit during the period 16 – 21 August 1917.  Private Acock is remembered at New Irish Farm Cemetery (Belgium) grave reference X.E.17.

James Broad

James was born 14 September 1886 at Letcombe Regis the son of James and Lucy (nee Francis) Broad.  The family can be found in the 1911 census living at Canal Cottages in Grove.

He married Priscilla Fairbridge Aitchison on 8 April 1912 at St Luke’s, New Brompton, Gillingham, Kent.  He was described as a Sick Berth Steward RN.  The marriage must have been short lived as the CWGC has his wife as Priscilla Hughes formerly Broad and living in 24 Stanmillis Gardens, Belfast. However, the Navy death records shows Priscilla’s address as 140 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent.

James had joined the Navy on 4 February 1903 aged 16 on HMS Victory as a Sick Bay Attendant and had served in a variety of ships and hospitals.

James Broad 351213 Sick Berth Steward Second Class was killed when Formidable was sunk on 1 January 1915 when he was 28.  James is commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial.

HMS Formidable

HMS Formidable, the third of four ships of that name to serve in the Royal Navy, was the lead ship of her class of pre-dreadnought battleships.  The ship was laid down in March 1898, was launched in November that year, and was completed in September 1901.  Formidable served initially with the Mediterranean Fleet, transferring to the Channel Fleet in 1908.  In 1912, she was assigned to the 5th Battle Squadron, which was stationed at Nore (mouth of the River Thames).

Following the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the squadron conducted operations in the English Channel, and was based at Sheerness to guard against a possible German invasion.  In the first days of the war, the 5th Battle Squadron covered the crossing of the British Expeditionary Force to France.  On 31 December, the squadron was conducting training exercises in the English Channel, and despite the risk of German submarines, was without anti-submarine protection; the German U-24 stalked the ships during the day and in the early hours of 1 January 1915, torpedoed Formidable twice, sinking her with very heavy loss of life.

Charles Frederick John Busby

Charles was born 9 August 1898 at Watchfield, Shrivenham, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) the son of Frederick Richard and Amelia Agnes (nee Nye) Busby.  They later became the landlords of the Bell, Main Street, Grove.

Charles Busby joined the Army through the Training Reserve in late 1916 and was eventually transferred to serve with the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry on the Western Front.  He was wounded in action on 5 November 1917 in the Ypres Salient whilst his battalion was on fatigue duties and wiring.  This entitled his to wear a wound stripe.

28152 Private Charles Frederick John Busby of 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry died Tuesday 12 March 1918 at City Hospital, Yardley Road, Aston, Birmingham of scarlet fever aged 19 and as is commemorated at Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery screen wall B10.6.479C.

Harold Russell Harvey

Harold was born 16 October 1895 at Swingfield, Folkestone, Kent the son of Russell Frederick Carter and Louisa Jane (nee Thompson) Harvey.  His father was a school master.  He attended King Alfred’s, Wantage and is commemorated on the World War I board off Portway, Wantage as one of the old boys who gave their lives for their country.  The “Alfredian” magazine recorded his school life as follows:

“He entered the School in September 1907, and had quite a distinguished career, doing extremely well in Examinations and winning Intermediate and Senior County Scholarships.  He was also a member of the Cricket Eleven, one of the best Goal keepers the School has ever had, and an able prefect.  He passed into the 2nd Division of the Civil Service straight from the School, and left in July 1914, receiving an appointment in the War Office.  In May, 1915 he joined the Civil Service Rifles and after training in England went to France with his regiment in March, 1916.  He was the first member of the O.T.C. to gain Certificate A and could have obtained a commission when he joined the Army, but then and afterwards preferred to serve in the ranks, passing safely through the fighting on Vimy Ridge in May of 1916, and the attack on High Wood in September before he fell in October.”

He was hospitalized with influenza 20 – 23 March 1916 when he was still a Private.  Sadly, he was killed in action on 7 October 1916 during his battalion’s attack on the Butte de Warlencourt.  During the attack, the Civil Service Rifles had to negotiate the ruined village of Eaucourt L’Abbaye which was being bombarded by enemy artillery and the survivors of this were cut down by machine gun fire on emerging from the ruins.

3792 Lance Corporal Harold Russell Harvey of D Company, London Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own Service Rifles) died on 7 October 1916 on the Somme aged 21 having previously been reported missing.  His parents by this time were living at Palmer Cottage, Main Street, Grove.  He is commemorated at Warlencourt (France) British cemetery VI.E.1.

Frederick Thomas Hitchcock 

Frederick was born 21 September 1897 at Grove the fourth son of Arthur and Julia (nee Barwick) Hitchcock.  Arthur was a railway labourer and he and Julia had 12 children.  Arthur was well known as he had a race with the local tram.  According to the 1911 census Frederick was living at Kent’s Cottage, Main Street, Grove.

Frederick joined the Army in May 1916 under the Derby scheme.  He did most of his training at Bovington Camp, Dorset.  After about three months’ service he was ordered abroad.  He was educated at Grove.  He was a promising runner and a good footballer.  Before joining the colours, he was employed at the Wantage Engineering Works, and previous to that he was in the service of Mr A Pinnell.

What happened to Frederick Hitchcock is contained in letters, received by his mother from his platoon officer, 2nd Lieutenant L G Hopkins and the Battalion Chaplain, the Reverend H E Clark.  Writing from Salonika in Greece, 2nd Lt Hopkins says “It is with much regret I have to announce the sad news of your son being killed.  He was engaged on sentry duty in the trenches yesterday morning and at about nine o’clock we were being rather heavily shelled by the Bulgarians.  One shell landed on the edge of the parapet where your son and others in the sentry group were on duty and the nature of the wounds he received in the head and leg caused death to be practically instantaneous”.  He goes on “Your son had been with me but a short while, and as his platoon officer I must say he always performed his duties in an excellent and solder like manner and was very popular amongst his comrades.  The chaplain conducted a funeral service for Frederick and another solder in a nearby graveyard.  The Rev Clark wrote “Although he has not been out here very long, his Company Officer speaks very highly of him”.

Private FT Hitchcock 23449 7th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment died Friday 19 January 1917 aged 19 and is buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery B 229 (Polykastro, Greece).

Frederick Ireson

Frederick Ireson headstone in St John’s graveyard

Frederick Ireson was born in Grove on 5 June 1897 the son of Christopher and Betsy (nee Clark) Ireson. Christopher was a General Labourer and he and Betsy had 11 children. In the 1911 census, Frederick was still at school and the family was living in Kent’s Cottage, Main Street, Grove.

Private F Ireson 126559 Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) died 20 April 1918 in Coventry Hospital of head wounds aged 20 and is buried in Grove churchyard.

The Berkshire Herald and the Faringdon Advertiser of 27 April 1918 described his military funeral:

“… through wounds received in the recent severe fighting in the front. He Joined the Gloucester Regiment in 1915 at the age of 17 years, and was wounded in the head in 1916. He was then transferred to the Army Service Corps, and was gassed and wounded in the foot in April 1917; he was again transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was wounded in the head and hand, from the effects of which he died. The body was brought to Grove, and the funeral took place on Wednesday last. The band of the Royal Air Force, Milton, was in attendance under Sergeant Richfield, and also a firing party under Sergeant Saunders. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and the solemn procession proceeded to the Church…. three volleys were fired over the grave and the “Last Post” was sounded.”

Edward William Kent

Edward William Kent was born 13 April 1894 in Grove, the son of Isaac Walter and Mary Jane (nee Skinner) Kent. He was described as a Farm Labourer. In the 1911 census Edward was shown as a boarder in the Bowyer household in Gravel Hill, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire working as a cowman on a farm as was Alfred Bowyer the householder.

Edward married Edith Violet House on 4 December 1915 at the Register Office, Reading, where he was described as a Railway Worker on the GWR (Great Western Railway) as was by then his father.

Edward Kent went to France with his battalion (2/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment) in May 1916.  At some point he must have had leave back in the UK, as his son Albert Edward Kent was born on 20 June 1917.  Sadly, Edward was killed in action on 21 March 2018, when the battalion was overwhelmed by the advance of the Germans during the first day of the their Spring Offensive (also known as the Kaisherschlacht) near the village of Ugny-LEquipee to the east of Saint Quentin.

Private Kent 35289 2nd/4th battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment died Thursday 21 March 1918 aged 23 and is remembered on the Pozieres memorial Panel 56 and 57.

Horace William Eugene Knight

Horace William Eugene Knight was born 29 December 1898 in Grove the son of John and Edith Elizabeth (nee Green) Knight. He was described as a Journeyman Sawyer.  In the 1911 census shows Horace still at school and living on Grove Green, Grove. When he joined up he was described as a coach builder. However, his Corps record describes him as a body builder.

He was fined for being late in reporting at Victoria Station after a leave on 14 July 1919.

Private Knight M/288843 406 MT Company, Royal Army Service Corps died Wednesday 13 August 1919 (sic) aged 20 and is remembered on the Cologne Memorial, Addenda panel.

Horace’s death, by drowning, and that of Private Richardson was subject to a Court of Enquiry held at Mulheim on 19 August 1919.  According to the statement made by Corporal P Jones [Corporal Jenkins according to Major Evans –see below] on the day after the accident:

“At 14:20 (approx.) I was passing with Pte Greef and another man (unknown to me – in a boat, just below Leverkusen & Wiesdorf [Rheindorf mentioned in other statements] when I saw Ptes Byrne, Richardson and Knight, together with 3 German girls, on the left bank of the river.

Ptes Richardson and Knight, and two of the girls were bathing, the third girl and Pte Byrne were standing on the bank.

I landed our boat about 50 yards below the bathers, and behind a breakwater, and was in conversation with Pte Byrne, when the girl who was not bathing, appeared on the breakwater calling for assistance.

I directed my attention towards the river and saw two bathers passing down the river in apparent difficulties.

Both boats immediately put out, and Pte Byrne was able to rescue one of the girls.  The other bathers had disappeared before the boat reached the spot.

The boats then rowed about in the vicinity, and below the scene of the accident for about 20 minutes, but returned without seeing any trace of the others.”

Similar statements were provided by Private Grief and Corporal Byrne and summarized by Major Evans for the Court of Enquiry.  Two of the girls were identified as Elsie Anrkoetz aged 19 and Else Korer aged 17 who was saved, the unknown girl being drowned.

Alfred Newman

Alfred was born 28 April 1886 at Grove the son of Frederick and Catherine (nee Gauntlett) Newman. He was described as a Stone Mason and he and Catherine had 12 children. He was living in Bell Close, Grove in 1891 and in Main Street, Grove in 1901 census but his father was living in Bell Close, Grove.

Alfred Newman headstone in St John’s graveyard

He married Ethel Elizabeth Knowles 13 May 1916 at the Register Office, Bristol. When he was called up on 28 June 1916 he was living at 59 Great Ann’s Street, St Jude’s, Bristol. He was 5 foot 10 1/2 inches tall and weighed 168 pounds.

On reaching France in December 1916, Alfred was initially posted to the 12th Battalion The Rifle Brigade.  However, 10 days after arrival he was transferred to the 178th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers with whom he was to serve until October 1917.  He was wounded on duty in the Somme area on 23 June 1917.  In October of that year Alfred Newman was transferred to the 107th Labour Company.  As the names suggests the Labour Corps cooked, cleaned carried and cared for solders on the front line and behind the lines.  They built roads and railways, carried the wounded and buried the dead.  They were unarmed but in times of need did fight.  The 107th Company was one of four companies of the Labour Corps who were cut off at Gouzeaucourt during the Battle of Cambrai and became involved in fighting, defending themselves until relieved by 6th Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry.  Subsequently, they dug trenches for this battalion and carried their ammunition, food, water and wounded.

Alfred Newman was transferred to the 12th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment on 8 July 1918 and served with them until 1919.  In January 1919 he was taken ill and taken to hospital via the 137th Field Ambulance and 24th Ambulance train on 27 January 1919 suffering from valvular disease of the heart.was transferred to North Staffordshire Regiment 8 July 1918. Unfortunately, his service record is partially destroyed.

He was in the 137th Field Ambulance and then transferred on 24th Ambulance train 27 January 1919 suffering from valvular disease of the heart.

Lance Corporal Newman 44373 12th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment died at Grovelands Auxiliary Military Hospital, Southgate, Middlesex aged 33 on Thursday 27 March 1919 (sic) and is buried in Grove churchyard.

Ethel (his widow) went onto marry Harry Lipscombe in the autumn of 1919 at Newport, Monmouthshire and died in early 1952 in Leeds.

John Percy Powell

John Percy Powell was born 17 January 1888 at Newbury Street, Wantage the son of John and Frances (nee Looker) Powell. He was described as a General Gardener. He was baptized at St Peter and St Paul (Wantage Parish Church), Wantage on 1 April 1910. John married Kate Emily Eliza Carvey on 12 December 1910 at St Peter and St Paul, Wantage. He was described as a Dairyman and living in Grove. In the 1911 census he was living in Fairview Cottage, Main Street, Grove and was described as a Milk Dealer. They had four children – Kathleen Mary Frances Powell (1911 – 1998), Edward John Powell (1913 – 1991), Percival James Powell (1914 – 1994) and Alfred Powell (1917 – 1977).

John joined the Coldstream Guards on a short service commission (three years in the colours and then nine years in the reserve) as a private 7194 on 4 April 1907 at Devizes, Wiltshire when he had served with 1st battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. He had previously been rejected by the Household Cavalry as “under chest measurement”. He said he was a carpenter. On joining he was 5 feet 11 ¾ and weighed 147 ¾ pounds but after six months training his weight had increased to 155 pounds. John was mobilized in 1914 and was posted to the Coldstream Guards on 6 August 1914, being sent to France 13 August 1914. He was hospitalized 4 October 1914 with epilepsy being returned to England 18 October 1914 on the hospital ship HMS Oxfordshire. He was discharged from the Army 12 February 1916 as “no longer fit for war service”, with epilepsy.

John died 11 November 1918 (Armistice Day) aged 30 in Grove of influenza and pneumonia and was buried in Grove churchyard. As he had been invalided out of the Army he is not recognized by the CWGC as a war casualty. His widow Kate survived another 51 years dying 28 December 1969.

Arthur Spicer

Arthur Spicer was born 3 January 1894 in Grove the son of Alfred and Sarah Ann (nee Butler) Spicer. He was described as a Driver of a Tram Engine and he and Sarah had 14 children. He was a cousin of Percival Robert Spicer. In the 1911 census he was living in Oxford Lane, Grove and described as a Tram Labourer.

Arthur Spicer enlisted in the Army under the Derby scheme during the early months of 1916 and joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment.  However, he eventually transferred to the Machine Gun Corps possible when it was formed in September 1915.  He joined A Company, 40th Battalion The Machine Gun Corps and was with them under Acting Major D J Amery-Parkes near Fleurbaix on 9 April 1918.  On this day the Germans attached the Lys sector of the Wester Front as part of their series of Spring 1918 offensives.  Most of the forward posts of the unit were surrounded and the defenders either killed or forced to surrender.

Corporal Spicer 29172 40th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) died Tuesday 9 April 1918 aged 24 and is remembered at Ploegsteert (Belgium) Memorial Panel 11.

Percival Robert Spicer

Memorial to Percival Robert Spice

Percival Robert (known as Bob) Spicer was born 23 July 1900 in Grove the eldest son of Edwin and Maria (nee Tuckey) Spicer. He was a cousin of Arthur Spicer. He was described as a General Labourer and he and Maria had five children. In the 1911 census he is shown as “Roberts” Spicer and living in Cane Lane, Grove. He was educated at Grove School.

Private Spicer TR/8/30540 51st Battalion Hampshire Regiment died 10 November 1918 (Armistice Day) aged 18 at Maitlands Hospital, Old Heath, Colchester of the flu and pneumonia and is buried in Grove churchyard. Note that the death certificate states he died 10 November 1918 but his CWGC memorial states 11 November 1918.

His death is recorded in the Berkshire Times of 22 November 1918. He was a prominent member of Grove Junior FC and had recently joined up and stationed first in Ipswich and then Colchester where he became ill and died in the Military Hospital there.

Thomas George Welch

Thomas George Welch was born 15 August 1896 in Grove the son of Isaac James and Susan Martha (nee Kent) Welch. He was described as a Railway Labourer and he and Susan had seven children. In the 1911 census Thomas was described as a Farm Labourer and living in Grove.

Private Welch 9767 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment died Tuesday 2 November 1914 aged 18 (but his CWGC certificate states that he was 20). The 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment relieved the 2nd Battalion The Welch Regiment in Herenthage Wood near Ypres on 1 November 1914.  The lies astride the Menin Road on the Ypres side of Gheuvelt.  The battalion occupied trenches lining the road and later for a time held the crossroads near Veldhoek.  They held these positions in spite of increasing infantry attacks by the Germans and constant heavy shellfire.  As Thomas is commemorated on the Menin Gate his body was never found suggesting no-one knows exactly what happended to him. There was much confused fighting around Ypres in the 1st Battle of Ypres and pockets of men were separated in defensive positions. As Thomas is commemorated on the Menin Gate his body was never found suggesting no-one knows exactly what happened to him.

He is remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) (Belgium) Memorial Panel 45.

William James Welch

William James Welch was born 1 June 1894 in Grove the son of Isaac James and Susan Martha (nee Kent) Welch. He was described as a Railway Labourer and he and Susan had seven children. In the 1911 census William was described as a Hay Binder and living in Grove.  He like his brother was a pre-war regular solder and was in India with his battalion when World War 1 began.

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment was in trenches at Rue Baquerot near Fauquissart in November 1914 and William was one of six casualties for the battalion on 17 November 1914 due to enemy shelling.  Private Welch 9768 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment died Tuesday 17 November 1914 aged 20, (15 days after his younger brother Thomas, see above). His identity number is one more than his brother’s suggesting they signed up together.

He is remembered at Fauquissart Military Cemetery, Laventie (France) A 10.

Ernest Wheeler

Ernest Wheeler was born 13 February 1878 at Haresbrook, Tenbury, Worcestershire the son of Helwick Sophia Wheeler (nee Jones) – father’s name is blank on the birth certificate.

Ernest Wheeler joined the 1st Battalion the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was allocated the army number 28305.  In 3 May 1917 he was with his battalion in trenches near the village of Fampoux during the Battle of Arras.  His battalion was involved in a three day operation to capture German positions in this area.  According to the war diary Ernest was one of 112 men missing on the first day of the operation.

The Berkshire Times of 13 July 1917 reported that Mrs. Wheeler living at Bridge Side, Station Road, Grove had received notification that her son Ernest was missing in action since 3 May 1917. Ernest had been in Argentina for five years or so and held a good position. Shortly after returning to England he joined the colours and was in the Hussars before transferring to the infantry. He was about 29. This was either a misprint or wrong as he was 39 when he died.  His mother Helwick, received a pension and gratuity of £3 10/-.  She had by this time moved to live at 73 Mill Street, Wantage.

Private Ernest Wheeler 28305 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment died 3 May 1917 aged 39.  He is remembered at Arras (France) Memorial Bay 3.