Heroes of Great Glen

Heroes
of
Great Glen
0
The Lives
of
Men and Boys of Great Glen
who served in the
1914 - 1918 War
1
The Star, Victory and War Medals. This combination earned
itself the nickname of' Pip, Squeak and Wilfred'
Bronze death plaque issued to the next of kin of
every commonwealth man or woman who lost
their lives as a result of the Great War,
known as 'The Soldiers Penny'
Territorial Force War Medal
The Silver War Badge was issued to
service personnel who had been
honourably discharged due to
wounds or sickness during WW1
Plaque inside St Cuthbert's Church, Great Glen
Great Glen War Memorial
2
About this document: Research was carried out by members of Great Glen U3A Family History group. A special
mention should be made to Liz Adams and Eric Orbell, who with myself researched the
larger amount of the soldiers. However, my thanks to everyone that contributed. Anyone
using these stories should check the accuracy. We have done our best but are not experts!
In all, 152 soldiers were identified, and researched but in some cases the results were
disappointing as little material was found. With some, there were so many soldiers with the
same name that it was impossible to identify the one to which the records referred. There are
just three soldiers that can't be identified at all.
The soldiers names were taken from four sources;
 The War Memorial
 The Roll of Honour
 The Absent Voters List obtained from the County Record Office for Leicester,
Leicestershire and Rutland
 A list that was identified by searching in 'Find My Past' on the internet, for soldiers
from Great Glen.
 The Commonwealth War Grave Commission and 'Soldiers That Died in WW1' CD
It has taken around 6 months to do the research and put this document together. I am sure
there are still people living that can add to these stories, and that can be easily added if the
information is passed on to us.
I took the task of putting together the document, and adding many of the pictures to add
interest to the script. I just hope that it can be made available for all to see and refer to in
future years and that we can remember every one of the men that appear in this book.
Abbreviations used include:
Absent Voter A short census was taken to record the men that were absent from the village to
find others that were of an age that could be called up.
CWGC
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
KIA
Killed in Action
DoW
Died of Wounds
NoK
Next of Kin
References:
Ancestry.com
Soldiers that died in the Great War
Find My Past
Lives of the Great War
Family Search
The Genealogist
Information from local people
Free BMD
My thanks to everyone that helped. Without your help this document would not have been
made possible.
Toni Smith MBE
3
ALLEN, Leonard William
Absent Voter
Leonard was born 13 February 1899 in Great Glen, the son of Walter and Mary Ann Allen. Walter
Allen was the village blacksmith.
1901, Leonard (known as Len)
was living with his parents and
uncle Walter, and he was aged 2
years. The family lived at Top
End, Great Glen.
1911 - Leonard was, aged 12, a
scholar. in Great Glen. His
parents had been married for 20
years and had 3 children,
Florence Edith aged 19 and a
dressmaker, Walter Smith aged
17, a clerk, and Leonard William
aged 12. Walter was later to be
killed in the war.
Leonard joined up and served
Reg. No 136161 Garrison 31st
Batt., Machine Gun Corps. - 31st Batt. British Expeditionary Force. His medal card shows he received
the Victory and British War Medals
The ALLEN family outside the Smithy in Great Glen
On his return from the War he was a Plumber and
Sanitary Engineer.
In 1924 Leonard married Ada Mary Lee in Great Glen.
They had two sons, Walter James Allen (known as
Wally) born 1928 and Leonard Stanley Allen (known as
Stan) born in 1933.
Wally Allan's Blacksmiths 2010
In World War Two Leonard was in charge of
the Great Glen Auxiliary Fire Service. The
Fire Engine was a lorry pulling behind it a
trailer carrying a motorised pump.
The lorry belonged to Eric Clifford Gilbert,
father of Fraser Gilbert. In the daytime it was
used for Gilbert’s business and in the
evening Eric would drive it to the Royal Oak.
There the Fire Crew would sleep in the
Allen's Smithy c 1900
Skittle Alley, that being their H.Q.
Leonard William death is recorded in March 1972 in Leicester. He was aged 73 years. Ada M, his
wife, died in 1960 aged 89 years.
1
ALLEN Walter Smith
KIA Roll of Honour
Walter was born in Great Glen in 1894
In 1911 Walter's family lived in Great Glen High Street. It consisted of his
father, also Walter, a 46 year old self employed blacksmith, his mother Mary
Ann aged 45, older sister Florence Edith (19), younger brother Leonard (12) and
Walter (17).
Walter joined the 2nd / 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt) Durham Light
Infantry. Serial No: 45402
The Battalion, a Territorial Force battalion, was part of the 59th (North
Midland) Division and was based in the Noreuil/Bullecourt area in
Northern France on 21st March 1918. It suffered four hours of heavy
bombardment and then was attacked in force by the Germans.
There was a hard fought battle
during which the enemy took four
hours to penetrate 2000 yards.
Eventually the Battalion was
surrounded and cut off and all
records were lost. Walter Allen
was killed during this battle.
Awards: The British War and the Victory Medals
He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas De Calais, France.
ANDERSON, J.F. Rev.
Roll of Honour
Church Army
Military chaplains have long given pastoral support and care to the men and women serving at home
and overseas in the British military in a tradition which continues today on land, sea and air.
A quote from the Military Chaplains:
"Chaplains go wherever soldiers go to be with them in good times and in bad. You can share in their
sadness and sorrow and commend such things to God. You can celebrate and rejoice with them and
offer thanks to God. As Woodbine Willie said, 'you can pray with them sometimes but you can pray for
them always.
John Farnworth Anderson was born in Liverpool in 1862, he was the first child of Alexander Burns
Anderson and Sarah Farnworth. His parents were married in Liverpool in1861. Prior to his marriage,
Alexander, John's father, was already practicing as a solicitor living with his parents in Liverpool. He
was the son of a physician/surgeon.
In 1871, John was aged 8 and living with
his mother Sarah, sister Josephine, 7, and
brother Alexander Barnes aged 5 at North
Toxworth, Liverpool. Sarah describes
herself as married and a solicitor's wife.
Her husband was living in London,
obviously taking him where he was
working.
By 1881, John was a pupil at Trumpington
The Leys School, Trumpington, Cambs c 1875
2
Road 'The Leys School', aged 18. He was admitted to Trinity Hall, Cambridge where he gained BA.,
LLD., in 1884, and MA in 1888. He was Ordained Deacon 1886, priest in Liverpool and by 1890 was
vicar in Carham, Northumberland. His father was still working away from home and listed in 1881 as
retired solicitor, Chancery, aged 46 and married but living 2 Cowley Street, Hanover Square, London.
Sarah, John's mother was living with Josephine in Toxeth.
In 1899 John Farnworth Anderson married Fanny Evelyn Walker in Great Glen. She was the daughter
of Theodore and Annie E Walker of Great Glen. They also had a son Robert Wynne Stanley Walker
who died as a result of the war, and is recorded elsewhere in these pages.
In 1901 the newly married couple were living in The Vicarage, Carham, Northumberland, and they
had a cook, table maid and a housemaid.
By 1911John and Fanny Evelyn had 3 children, Theodore Farnworth Anderson aged 9,John Robert
Anderson 6, and James Walker Anderson 3, and had moved with the family to Clover Bank, Northam,
Devon. John was curate of Northam from 1905-1913. He then took up the curate of St Andrews,
Burton Overy and was there from 1913 - 1936. They lived in Glen Hall, Great Glen. Theodore
Farnworth Anderson died in Tonbridge, Kent in 1979.
No war records could be identified,
but in 1926 he was a beneficiary in
the will of Mary Ann Frances
Anderson of Denbigh, spinster. She
left shares in the Great Weston
Railway to Rev John F Anderson.
John took several trips to America,
one of which was to see his brother.
He travelled on 18 Jan 1903 when
The Cymric (used for troops in WW1)
he was 40, giving his occupation as
'Holy Orders'. He sailed on Cymric to New York on
the way to Santa Cruz, California.
A number of Titanic’s passengers had been booked to sail on another White Star Line ship, Cymric.
However, there was a coal strike in 1912. Miners in Britain were striking to get a national minimum
wage
Coal was taken from smaller White Star Line ships and loaded into Titanic so that she had enough fuel
for her maiden voyage. Passengers who had already booked to sail on the Cymric were transferred to
the Titanic.
This poster, from the early 1910’s, is advertising sailings on the Cymric from Boston to Liverpool,
calling at Queenstown. Top of the list of comforts is a ‘Piano in the General Room for use of
Passengers’.
The Great Glen church magazine tells us that J F Anderson gave a lecture on 'Hut Work among the
Tank Boys' illustrated by 100 slides. Chairman R Rowley Esq., JP attended. There was then a gold and
silver collection for the church army.
John Farnworth Anderson died 29 November 1942 in Maulden, a small village in Bedfordshire. He
was 80 years old. Fanny Evelyn, his wife died in Liverpool in 1956 aged 65 years.
3
ARNOLD, George
Absent Voter
George Arnold was born in 1878 in Rolleston, near Billesdon, Leicestershire. He was the third son of
Samuel Arnold and Sarah King. His father, Samuel was a groom. They seemed to move around as
they had 6 children in all. Harry born in Bitteswell, Tom in Wigston, George in Rolleston, Mary in
Gaulby, Ernest born in Smeeton Westerby, Elizabeth born in Gaulby.
At the age of 21, George was working as a blacksmith in Shearsby, living as a boarder.
George married, probably in Great Glen(registered in the Billesdon district) to Mary Johnson in 1903.
In 1911the family were living in Great Glen. George, aged 32, was working as a hosiery hand with his
wife aged 33, born in Great Glen. They had three children, Frank 7, Wilfred 3 and Aleck aged 11
months, all born in Great Glen.
George joined up in Leicester when he was 34 years old, in
November 1914. He had a sallow complexion, blue eyes
and light brown hair. He had a scar on his left shoulder. He
was embodied 12 Nov 1914 transferred to ACI 1 Sept 1916
and ASC appointed 30 sep 1915)
He was part of the Expeditionary Force and went to France
3 March 1915 to 25 Dec 1917. He was on board ship 26 29 Dec 1917. In all George served for 2 years and 296 days.
He was given a pension of 6/- a week allowance for 2 adults and 2 children.
George Arnold was a ‘Gunner’ (the equivalent of Private in an Infantry Regiment)
in the Royal Field artillery. The Royal Artillery at this time was split into 3. The
Royal Artillery, The Royal Field Artillery & The Royal Garrison Artillery. All
wore the same badges.
He was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal and 1914-15 star.
The RFA/103 reference is to the actual medal roll he is on. He was also entitled to
the Indian General Service Medal with clasp for Afghanistan & the North West
Frontier (Force) 1919.
George, of High Street, Great Glen died in St Luke's Hospital, Market Harborough on 19 March 1955.
Administration to Wilfred Arnold, carpenter and joiner, his son. Mary, his wife, died in 1941 aged 63
years.
ASHER, Albert Henry Gordon.
Absent Voter
Albert was born in Newton Harcourt in June 1890. He
was the fourth child of Frederick and Mary Jane Asher,
living at Lock House, Newton Harcourt. Frederick, his
father was a lock keeper.
In 1911, Albert was 20 years old and one of 13 servants
living in Newton Harcourt with the Hazelwigg family,
a county councillor living on private means at Noseley
Hall. He was employed as a servant helping at the
stables.
The Lock at Newton Harcourt
4
Albert married Mabel Helen Underwood of Swithland on 13th November 1916 in the Parish Church in
Swithland. Witnesses at the wedding were John Goodacre and Elizabeth Underwood. They had a son
called Gordon Lionel born on 13 November 1916 born in Woodhouse Eaves. His wife was then living
at Fleckney Road, Kilby, Leicester as her husband was now in the army.
Albert joined at Leicester 18 November 1914 in the North Midland Division until 16 Jan 1915 when
he was discharged into the regular army. On 16 Jan 1915, Albert joined up Reg No: 24863 Army
Service Corps. He was 24 years old at the time, and height 5 ft 7 inches, and had moved to Burton
Lane, Great Glen. His occupation at the time was motor driver. Transferred to 045367 / 034863 Pte.,
5th Army Brigade., Royal Horse Artillery. – Military Supply Corps
Served in France 16 Jan 1915 to 17 April 1915 Exp Force. He was promoted to Corpl 17 July 1917.
Transferred to Class Z (demobilisation) and disability claimed 14 Feb 1919 A.F.Z. 22 received
disability claim. Payable to his address in Burton Road, Great Glen.
Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Albert's return they moved to Leicester where it seems they had twin girls, Doreen and Joan, in
1920 and Marjorie E in 1923.
Albert Henry Gordon Asher died June 1968 in Leicester, aged 78 years. Mabel, his wife, died 1956 in
Leicester aged 72.
ASHER, Shirley William Henry – not on the absent voters or the roll of honour
Born in Great Glen in 1883. In 1891 census he was living with his parents – John and Elizabeth and
siblings Walter J O, and Millicent A, His father was a carpenter / joiner.
By 1901, his mother, Elizabeth was a widow and the family had moved to Earl Howe Street, in the
Spinney Hill district of Leicester, and Shirley was now a joiner apprentice.
1911 Shirley was now married for one year, to Elizabeth and they had a 2 month old daughter called
Valma May. He was living in Glossop Street, Evington Road and working as a joiner.
He joined the army in Wigston on 11 Sept 1917 in the 3rd Batt. The Buffs (Leicestershire Rgt.) No:
30385 and transferred to the 7th Batt East Kent Regt No: G13934 on 13 July 1917.
On examination height 5 ft 4” and weight 109 lbs. He gave his address as 63 St Peters Street, Syston.
He served in France, and had 5 admissions to hospital each for 3-4 weeks. He was discharged from
Cork.
He was then charged as a deserter, and was apprehended by police on 29th April 1919, in Syston
dressed in uniform. Was imprisoned in Hill Prison, Leicester. After much correspondence it was found
to not be his fault, as his papers did not give him a return date, and in spite of writing several times
asking for his back pay, he had had no reply. The case was dismissed without charge.
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals
Shirley Henry William of 40 St Peter Street, Syston died 11 November 1926 aged 43 years, leaving
effects to his widow Martha Elizabeth. Martha Elizabeth Asher died 1971.
5
ASHER Hiram Nichols
Absent Voter
In 1911 Hiram Nichols Asher was living with his parents Frederick & Mary Jane Asher in Newton
Harcourt. Frederick was a grazier
& carter but Hiram’s occupation
was described as ‘nothing’. He
was not even at school which
presumably, as he was 13, he had
left.
He started school at Newton
Harcourt on 17th March 1902 but
Labour Corps Badge
was shown in the register as
th
being withdrawn on 16 March (presumably 1903) due
to ill health. At that time his father was described as an ‘under gardener’.
He joined the 172nd Labour Corps No:
213945 Pte., in WW1 where he was
sent to the Western Front. He is
shown on the Absent voters List as
being in the BEF presumably in
Germany.
In 1933 Hiram married Ethel Burrows,
and they had a daughter, Sylvia A
Asher born in 1940.
School Admission Book for Hiram
Hiram died on 17th October 1969 aged 72. Ethel died on 18th June 1997 aged 92. Their cremations are
both remembered with a plaque in St Cuthbert’s churchyard in Great Glen.
BARNES, Walter John.
Absent Voter
At the age of 17, Walter was living in School Street, Great Glen with his parents, Joseph and Mary
Barnes, and his sister Annie. By the time he was 27, he had qualified as a carpenter.
Walter married Martha Ellen (Scott) of High Street, Great Glen 4 April 1908, and they had a son,
Thomas William born 17 November 1912 in Great Glen.
Walter was aged 31 years and 10 months when he was attested on 5th December 1915. He gave his
occupation as a joiner. He joined the Expeditionary Force in
France 1917: 205018 Gnr. R.D.A No 1 Section, 4th D.A.C.
British Expeditionary Force.
The death certificate of his wife was forwarded to him on 26
July 1917. Walter enquired as to the guardian of his children
and was told Mrs Dunkley of High Street, Great Glen. She
was Walter's sister, and the death certificate states she was
present at the death. He is recorded on the death cert as being
a Gunner Royal Field Artillery No: 205018.
British troops blinded by tear gas in
WW1
His wife had died 24 April 1917, and was 35 years old.
Walter was given 2/6 to pay for his wife's death certificate. He was stationed in Cork, Ireland at this
time.
Walter was wounded (gassed) 22 March 1918
6
After his demob, Walter re-married in March 1921, to Emily Elizabeth Clarke.
Walter John Barnes of 'Holmfield', 11 Stretton Road, Great Glen died 17 October 1961, probate to his
widow Emily Elizabeth Barnes and his son Thomas William, a materials manager. He was 77 years
old. Emily died in June 1967 aged 84.
The commemoration on the stone in Great Glen churchyard reads:
In loving memory of WALTER JOHN BARNES who died 17th October 1961aged 77 years also
MARTHA ELLEN wife of the above who died 27th April 1917 aged 35 years and infant son WALTER
died 7th October 1911 aged 10 weeks. EMILY ELIZABETH second wife of the above who died 29th
May 1967 aged 84 years - At Rest
BATCHELOR, Hedley Vere.
Absent Voter
Hedley was born in March 1882 in Glenn Magna, the son of John and Elizabeth Batchelor. John was a
builder living in Great Glen.
In 1901 the family were in Great Glen, and Hedley was the fourth of four children living with his
parent. He was aged 19, and a carpenter. His
older brother, Ernest was a partner in his father's
business. His older sister, Gertrude, was an
elementary school teacher.
Hedley Vere married Phillipa Elliott of Fleckney,
in Enderby on 8th June 1908.
By 1911, he was aged 29, still working as a
Carpenter / Joiner, married and living with his
wife Philipa and two of their three children at
Fenderby House, Glenn Magna. They had 3
children - Mary Hill born 1909, Arthur Vere born
1910 and Jeannie May born 1911.
By the age of 19 he was admitted to the trade
union on October 16 1901.
Hedley joined up in Market Harborough to the
Leicestershire Volunteers on 23 Nov 1916. His
description is aged 34 years and 36 days, trading
as a builder and contractor. He had a scar from a
boil on his left elbow.
Hedley Vere Batchelor's Protection Certificate
213294 L Cpl. No 2 Foreway Coy. Royal.Engineers. British Expeditionary Force. Other Reg No;
WR/284016., R.E.I.T.B.I. Promoted to Sergt 1 Dec 1918
He was home 16 Nov 1916 to 18 Jun 1917, then sent to France 19 June 1917.
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals
Hedley is listed in Kelly's 1925 directory as a builder in Fleckney.
Hedley of 18 Main Street, Fleckney died 13 June 1959. Probate to Arthur Vere (his son) a bachelor,
builder and Christopher John Smart, farmer.
7
BATES, Frederick James.
Absent Voter (On war memorial as F I Bates)
Born 1876, in Congerstone, the eldest child of Alfred and Mary Elizabeth Bates. He had 4 siblings and
at the age of 14 was living with his parents in Congerstone. His father was a coal merchant.
He was married in Great Glen on 28 Jan 1906, to Emily Annie Bates (nee Harris, born in
Congerstone), They had a son Frederick Morris, born 26 Dec 1906 in Nailstone.
In 1911, the family were living in Nailston. Frederick was working as a Farm Bailiff. They had been
married for 5 years and had one son, Frederick Morris born in 1907 in Nailstone. Frederick was a
chauffeur when he joined up.
At the time of joining the army the family were living at Albert Cottage, Great Glen.
Joined up on 11 Dec 1915 aged 38 years. Approved to join the Corps at the Mechanical Transport
Depot, Grove Park, Lee, London S.E. as a Driver, provided he has not attained the age of 46 and is
medically fit on 28 August 1916.
M2/203226 Pte., 606 Coy. M.T., A.S.C. Serial Number
83192, Transferred to the Army Reserves (Home Defence League), class Z 5 April 1919. He served in
the London District, as a heavy goods driver.
On 30 November 1916 he was charged with driving negligently causing damage to the vehicle. He
was fined 2 days pay.
Frederick died in Leicester June 1963 aged 72 years. (His birth was given as 1891)
No Frederick I Bates was found
BEET, John William
Absent Voter
John was born on 13 Sept 1889, in the Billesdon district of Leicestershire. He was the son of John
and Mary Ellen (Roebuck) Beet. His parents were married in December 1888.
In 1901 the family were living in Braunston, and indexed on the census as Best . John was aged 11
years with his parents and brothers Tom, Walter, Richard and sister Amy. His father was a stockman
(cattle) on a farm.
1911 - aged 21, a servant, Waggoner at farm of Burton Overy Lodge, Great Glen and living with the
Williams family - farmer.
John joined up 44526 Pte. 1st Batt., Yorkshire Regt. (Green Howards)
P.A., a horseman.
Attested 11 December 1915 aged 26 years 2 months. He was then living at Charity Farm, Stoughton,
and his occupation was Farmer. He later gave his address as The Nook, Great Glen.
Had a misconduct sheet for 'failing to keep covered off in his section of four'. Given 3 days C.B.
(confined to barracks). Transferred to India 19th March 1917 and Discharged 19 December 1919.
Awarded The British War Medal.
No marriage was found for John William. John William died in Leicester in Dec 1971, aged 82.
His brother, Tom, is researched elsewhere
8
BEET, Tom
Roll of Honour
Tom was born in Tugby in March 1897. He was the son of John and Mary Ellen (Roebuck) Beet, who
were married in December 1888.
In 1901 the family were living in Braunston, and indexed on the census as Best . Tom was aged 4 with
his parents and brothers John William, Walter, Richard and sister Amy. His father was a stockman
(cattle) on a farm.
1911 census - Living in Burton Overy, aged 14, working on farm and living with John, his father (a
farm labourer) and Mary Ellen Beet. Parents been married for 22 years and had 6 children, all living.
There were just 4 children living with them at this time.
Although he is listed on the Roll of Honour in the church at Great Glen, no military records can
positively identify this man.
He married Mary L (probably Lizzie of Fleckney) Capell in September 1928
Tom died in June1938 in the Billesdon registration district (includes Great Glen) aged 39 years. Mary
Lizzie died in Leicester in 1992 aged 89 years.
BEET, Walter
Absent Voter
Walter Beet was born 2nd Nov. 1891 in Tugby, the second son of John and Mary Ellen Beet
(Roebuck) of Burton Overy who were married in December 1888.
By the age of 19, he was working as a farm labourer, and still living at home with his parents and
brothers Tom and Fred and sister Amy in Burton Overy. His father was also a farm labourer
No military records can be found for this man. He is shown on the Absent Voters List as WR352233
Sap., I.W.D.R.E. Auesburg. The abbreviation stands for Inland Waterways and Docks, Royal
Engineers, which after the war became the British Waterways Board and later the Canal and Rivers
Trust. The Royal Engineers were, have been, and still are a huge Corps, they had so many diverse
rolls. They undertook many
rolls, including Railways.
There was a huge reorganisation
of transport in 1917 as result of
the Geddes report. As a result,
large numbers of men were
drafted to the railways and the
lnland Water Transport to
which the Docks were added.
Units in these organisation
came under the umbrella of a
new organisation Transportation
Troops.
Walter Beet with Mary his wife.
Mary's three daughters Maud, Emily and Hilda and son Jack and the
couple's eldest son Tom on Mary's knee.
Picture was taken before the birth of their second son Ronald.
9
In March 1918, all these men
were given a number with the
WR pre-fix which denoted them
as Transportation Troops. This
also included road construction
and quarrying units.
In 1919, Walter married Mary Cox in the Billesdon district. Mary had been married previously to John
Charles Cox of Burton Overy and they had 4 children. Sadly he died in 1918 aged 34 years. Mary
brought her four children with her. Walter and Mary had 2 children, Thomas born 1920 and Ronald
Walter born in 1926. After the war, they lived in Washbrook Lane, Burton Overy opposite the Bell
Pub.
Walter died in Leicester in 1972 aged 80 years. Mary died in Market Harborough in 1972. She was
born 25 May 1885, so would be aged 87 years. They are buried in St Andrews churchyard, Burton
Overy
BENNETT Fred,
Absent Voter
Fred Bennett was the 3rd of 5 children born to
William Henry Bennett & his wife Hannah. They
lived in Burton Lane Great Glen where William
was a coal carter.
Fred was born in 1893 and in the 1911 Census was
shown to be employed as a ‘Runner On’ in the
hosiery industry.
He joined the army on 24th June 1915 and was a
private No. 25332 in the 4th Battalion of the
Worcestershire Regiment.
Worcestershire Regt Badge
The Battalion was part of 88 Brigade which went
to Gallipoli with 29 Division on 16th December
1915 thus making Fred eligible for the 1914/15
Star.
They were evacuated from Gallipolli on 7th January
1916 and went to Egypt where they stayed until
Details of Fred as a prisoner of war as
March 1916 when they were sent to Marseilles and
recorded by the Red Cross
the Western Front.
Now on the Western Front they took part in the Battle of the Somme specifically Albert on 1st to 13th
July 1916 and then Transloy Ridges from 1st to 18th October.
Fred’s WW1 Medal Card showing the date he went to
Gallipolli.
British Prisoners of War captured near Bapaume
waiting for soup.
10
At some point he was wounded as he was given a Silver Wound Badge. After this on 18th December
1916 Fred was taken prisoner by the Germans and imprisoned at Bapaume in France.
He was finally demobbed on 12th December 1918.
In 1919 he married Frances Ellen Morris
They likely had 3 children, Hilda F born 1920, Joyce M in 1923 and John W in 1926
Fred died 10th December 1966 aged 73. Frances died 7th October 1984 aged 85. They are both
commemorated in the Cremations section of St Cuthbert’s churchyard.
Fred’s younger brother John William also fought in the war and is researched elsewhere
BENNETT John William.
KIA
John William Bennett, Pioneer No. 129020 of "P" Special Coy., Royal
Engineers. He was the son of William Henry & Hannah Bennett of
Burton Lane, Great Glen.
In 1911 William was a 48 yr old coal carter living in Burton Lane with his
wife, Hannah and 4 of their children , Ernest (20), Fred (17), Ada (16) and
the youngest John William aged 13. The whole family was born in Great
Glen.
Royal Engineers
John enlisted in Leicester into the 2nd (Regular) Battalion of the Leicestershire
Regiment (No. 22838) but was later transferred into the Royal Engineers into one
of their special ‘P’ companies. These companies were formed with the specific
intention of combating gas warfare.
John died on Wednesday 4th July 1917. Age 19.
John Bennett's
Grave
John is buried in grave reference I.N.3 in Essex Farm War Cemetery in Ieper,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He is also commemorated on his parent’s gravestone
in St Cuthbert's churchyard, Great Glen.
The gravestone in Great Glen cemetery reads:
In loving memory of WILLIAM HENRY BENNETT who died Aug 28th 1930 aged 67 years
“ The Master said unto him, come up higher”
also of HANNAH wife of the above died March 3rd 1947 aged 83 years Lifes work Well done
Also of JOHN WILLIAM youngest son of the above killed in action in
Belgium July 4th 1917 aged 19 years
BIGGS, Henry Elson.
Absent Voter
Commandant R.E.., 13 Wenlock Terrace, York
Born in Leicester 31 October 1896 he was the son of Henry James (born 1870 in Leicester) and Annie
Mary Biggs nee White (born 1880 in Great Glen). They were married in Leicester in 1897.
11
At the age of 4, in 1901, he was living with his
parents and younger sister, Annie A, in Leicester.
His father kept a grocers shop in Skipworth Street.
By the time Henry Elson was 14, in 1911, he was
living in Lea Bridge, Matlock Bath with his
grandparents Henry Biggs, a hosiery dresser and his
wife Mary Ann and their daughter Mary. His
parents were now living in Evington Road,
Leicester. Annie was running the grocery shop and
Henry was a factory manager for a hosiery
manufacturer. By this time they had had 6 children,
one of whom had died.
The only medal card for BIGGS, H E of the Royal
Engineers
The only medal card found for BIGGS, H E, of the Royal Engineers (as stated on the absent voters
list), is Regt No: 233548:
Henry married Gwendoline Wrigglesworth in York in June 1926.
Henry (Harry) Elson Biggs died in Leicester in 1973 aged 73 years. His wife Gwendoline died in
Leicester in 1967 aged 69.
The only connection to Great Glen found was that his mother was born here.
BLANCHARD, James Frank S.
Absent Voter
95609 3rd Batt Coldstreams B.E.F
James Frank S Blanchard was born in Great Glen in Jan 1890, the son of Frank and Mary H
Blanchard. Frank, his father was a groom, on the 1891 census and JFS Blanchard was just one year
old. They lived next door to The Sycamores and Station House in Great Glen. He was one of 9
children.
The family were in Great Glen in 1901 – Frank still
working as a groom and coachman in domestic work.
James was now 11 years old.
James F Blanchard joined 21 Aug 1914 into the
Coldstream Guards Pte. No:9301 (medal card)
He received the Star and British War medals
Jamed F S Blanchard married Elsie Butteriss in 1923
in the Market Harborough district. They do not
appear to have had any children.
James died in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset in June 1966 aged 77 years. No death record for Elsie
Blanchard was found.
12
BLANCHARD, J.L.
Roll of Honour
No J.L Blanchard is found. Could it be J.C.?
John Charles was born in Great Glen in July 1885.
In 1891 John Charles Blanchard was 5 years old living with his
parents Frank and Mary H. in Great Glen, his father was a groom.
(He is written as J G Blanchard)
In 1911, Charles is now at St Botolph without Aldegate, Mile End
Road, Whitechapel, and at the age of 27 is a private in the
Coldstream Guards. Regt No: 4612 (found on the medal card index
for Charles Blanchard born in Newton Harcourt).
The qualifying date for his medals was 21 August 1914 and entitled
to the Victory, British War and the 14 Star medals
He applied for his medals in January 1929 when his address was 26 Camberwell Grove, S E 5
John's two brothers were also in the war - Walter and James - both are researched elsewhere.
Nothing further is found for this man.
BLANCHARD, Walter Alphage.
Roll of Honour
Walter Alphage Blanchard was born 1892 in Great Glen. Parents Frank, a groom / coachman and
Mary H Blanchard.
In 1901, aged 8, he was living in The Mount, Great Glen . Walter's siblings were James F.S and
Annie. By 1911 Walter was a butler with Amy Speer living in Kingsland, Herefordshire and gave his
age as 28 when it should be 18!
Walter joined the Royal Flying Corps on 9th Dec 1914 giving his age as 29 years. He married
Florence May Phillips in Oxford on 4th April 1911 and they had a daughter, Dorothy in 1912 and a
second daughter, Vera in 17 Feb 1920 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
He gave his wife as his NoK in his military papers, and she was living in Knottinglay, Yorks.
Promoted to Cprl. 1 Oct 1917. His medals awarded were the Star medal and served in France as a
Driver Mechanic (M.T.)
On 23 July 1918 he went to USA on
military duties and came back several
times including departures in 1924 with
his wife and child.
He is on the 1920 USA census with no
address aged 25, living as a boarder in
Rockport Township, Lakewood City,
Ohio. In 1930 he, together with his wife
and two daughters were still in the USA,
and Walter was working as a Butler.
Walter Alphage Blanchard petition for Naturalization in the
He was working for Myron Herrick. He
US
was on the outgoing passenger lists in
1934 aged 42 years and noted as a valet to a banker David Bruce - a well known statesman in the
USA, and stating his address as Claridges Hotel in London.
13
In 1926 Walter Alphage Blanchard took out a petition for Naturalization in the US court of Ohio.
In 1942 Walter, aged 50, was drafted into the WW II - stated his place of residence as being New
York.
Florence May Blanchard of Toronto, Canada died in London 18 Sept 1932 aged 45 years. No death
has been found for Water - so probably died in the USA.
Their daughter, Vera (Disantis) died 21 March 1987 and interred in Ft Rosecrans National Cemetery,
San Diego.
BLAND Arthur F.
KIA
In 1911 Arthur, aged 19, was living with his widowed mother,
Elizabeth, in Post Office Row, and working as a factory hand. The
man of the house was Elizabeth's 3rd son Fred (22) and also living
there were the youngest son, Percy (17) and their young sister Beatrice
(14). William, a gardener by trade, had died in 1897 aged 37 leaving
Elizabeth with 7 children of whom 3 had already left home by 1911.
He had brothers Ernest William, Harry Elias, Bertie, Frederick Charles
and Percival Amos, and a sister Beatrice Mary Bland.
Arthur enlisted on 16 November 1915 and approved on 10 February 1915 and was 24 years and 93
days at this time. His next of kin was recorded as his mother Elizabeth.
His physical development was good and he was 5 feet 7 ½ inches tall
On enlistment he was in the Leicestershire Regt, Reg. No: 23170 and on 13th August 1916 was
transferred to the 61st Company, Machine Gun Corps which was part of 61st (2nd South Midlands)
Division. Reg. No: 53242.
He arrived in France on 14th September 1916 . as part of the British Expeditionary Force. The Division
took part in the Flanders Offensive between 7th June 1917 and 10th November 1917
The Battle of Langemark in August 1917 saw the British take the small town of Langemark from the
Germans (the Germans had taken it from the British in the Spring of 1915). This battle was part of the
Passchendale Offensive in the Third Battle of Ypres.
It was to change hands two more times before the end of the
war. It was during this battle that Arthur was killed in action
on 14th August 1917. His personal belongings were sent
back to his mother on 5th December 1917 and his medals
sent on 11th February 1920.
Arthur is commemorated in Artillery Wood War Cemetery
near Ieper, West-Vlaanderer
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal
His name is included on the stone plaque inside St
Cuthbert's church in Great Glen.
14
Artillery Wood Memorial
BLAND, Bertie. (absent voter)
Roll of Honour
Bertie Bland was one of six children of William and Mary Elizabeth Bland. He was born in 1886 in
Great Glen. His father was a gardener.
In 1901 Bertie had a job as errand boy.
In 1909, Bertie Bland married Mary Elizabeth Greenbank in Great Glen.
By 1911 Bertie was working in the woollen hosiery industry and living
with his wife in Great Glen.
During World War 1 he was a Gunner in the 198th Siege Battery of the
Royal Garrison Artillery – No: 94822. He was part of the British
Expeditionary Force, and was awarded the British and Victory medals.
Bertie and Mary Elizabeth had at least seven children. In 1965 they were living at 10 Stretton Road,
Great Glen and Bertie was a retired bricklayer’s labourer.
Bertie died on 27 January 1973 in Leicester. His wife Mary Elizabeth had died in 1965. They are both
buried in Great Glen in St Cuthbert’s Churchyard.
The inscription on the grave reads:
In loving memory of MARY ELIZABETH BLAND who departed this life 4th Sept 1965 aged 78 years.
and of her husband BERTIE BLAND died 27th Jan 1973 aged 86 years
BLAND, Ernest
Roll of Honour
Ernest William Bland was born in 1881 in Great Glen - the eldest child of William and Elizabeth
Bland. William Bland, his father, was a gardener.
Ernest married Mary Emma Jesson on 23 December 1903. They had at least
6 children, the last two being Harold H in 1911 and Florence E Bland in
1916. Ernest worked in the hosiery trade and was a framework knitter on the
1911 census, living in Great Glen.
Ernest attested for the army reserve on 3 December 1915. He was 34 years
old and was 5 feet 9 inches tall with a chest measurement of 38 inches. He
joined the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private – No. 202977 and was sent to
France on 25 April 1917. He then transferred to the 1st Battalion North
Staffordshire Regiment on 16 May 1917 – No. 235068. He was wounded on
28 June 1917 and discharged on 8 November 1917.
Framework
Knitter
He was awarded the British and Victory medals.
Ernest died in Leicester in December 1967 aged 86. His wife died in Leicester in 1970.
BODYCOTE, Edgar John Eli
Absent Voter
Edgar was born in 1897 in Great Glen, the son of John Thomas and Elizabeth of Great Glen.
His parents were married in 1882 registered in Rugby district. John Thomas was a boot maker.
15
In 1911 they lived in Glen Magna with their only son, Edgar John Eli. He was 13 years old and
attended school.
On attestation Edgar was 20 years old and working as a Boot
repairer. He was 5 ft 7 ¾ tall and weighed 119 lbs. He joined up
in Leicester 11 Dec 1915, 95609 Pte., 1/5 Sherwood Foresters.
B.E.F. in France Feb – April 1918. His father of High Street,
Great Glen was named as his next of kin.
A cobblers Shop, early 1900s
Edgar was invalided to England 20 April 1918. He had a gun
wound in neck. Sent to 23 Gen Hosp, France then admitted to the
3rd Scottish General Hosp. Glasgow, 24 April 1918 till 28 Aug
1918 where he had removal of shrapnel from jugular vein.
Transferred to Royal Defence Corps. No: 87503 – 1 March 1919. He then lived at High Street, Great
Glen.It seems that Edgar didn't marry.
He died in 1977, aged 79 years.
BOND, Alfred
Roll of Honour
Alfred was born in Shepshed in 1884, the son of Herbert and Annie Bond.
In 1911, Alfred was 27 and working as a glove maker, living with his parents and 4 siblings in School
Street, Great Glen. His parents had 7 children but sadly 2 had died. His father was a needle caster for
hosiery machinery.
Alfred Bond married Bertha Eleanor Johnson in the Parish Church, Great Glen in March 1913, and
they had children Annie Elizabeth and Thomas, born in Billesdon and Albert Herbert born in Great
Glen.
He joined up aged 32 years. Distinguishing marks included a woman's head (tattoo?) on his left arm.
He gave his occupation as a Hosiery Hand.
He joined the Leicestershire Regt No: 1812028
April 1915 and posted to the 520th H S E Cy,
York June 1915. He had a disability old facture of
spine. Discharged from 2nd Northern General
Hosp, Leeds as no longer physically fit for war
service, on 14 March 1918, having served 2 years
and 321 days.
2nd Northern General Hosp., Leeds
BONIS, Robert James - Captain
Alfred died in Sept 1953 also in Leicester and
Bertha E Bond died in Leicester in December
1954.
Roll of Honour
Robert James Bonis was born in 1883 in Colehill, Westmeath, Ireland. He trained as a doctor and
qualified in 1908 in Ireland as a licensed midwife and secondly as a surgeon. In 1911 he was a single
man living at The Cottage, Great Glen with two servants and was a medical practitioner.
In 1912 he was listed as a physician and surgeon, medical officer and vaccinator for the No. 1 Western
District, Billesdon Union. Sometime during 1912 he travelled to Ireland to marry Anna Pauline
16
Forsythe. They returned to Great Glen where their only child – Mary P. Bonis was born in 1913.
Robert divorced his wife Anna Pauline in 1916.
Robert joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1915 and was sent to Malta and Egypt. He was
promoted to the rank of Captain and was awarded the Silver War badge and the British and Victory
Medals. He applied for these in 1926.
Robert remarried in 1917 in Newcastle – to Edith May Young. They did not have any children. He
worked in the Newcastle area after the war ended but had returned to Leicestershire by 1926.
He lived in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and continued to work as a doctor. He retired to Devon and died in
Exmouth on 13 December 1962 aged 79. His wife Edith died in Devon in 1978.
His daughter – Mary Bonis – married Kenneth G. Hubbard in the Great Glen area in 1936 and they
had four children.
BOWN, J.E.
Roll of Honour
John Ernest BROWN born Gt Glen in 1909 - too young
John Player Brawn - born 1888 in Loughton, Essex, died Camborne/Redruth, Cornwall 1976 aged 88.
In 1911 he was in Gt Glen, a boarder aged 22, living with Elizabeth Cramp, a widow, and her 5
children. His occupation was a fruitgrower, and he was single.
There is a medal card for John Brawn.. He joined the Kings Own Rifle Co., No 95897. He was
awarded the Victory, British and Star Medals.
Possible person:
Essex Regt: 39145 awarded the Victory and British war medals? (medal card)
Can find no records to link this man with Great Glen, in spite of thorough searching by several
researchers
BRAY, Charles Henry
Roll of Honour
Charles Henry was born in Wigston Magna in 1890. He was the second child of Charles and Ann
Bray. At the age of 21 he was living at Main Street, Great Glen, with his parents and two younger
sisters who were both working in the hosiery trade. Charles was working as a carter. His father was a
general labourer working for the Rural District Council.
He joined up so serve in WW1 on 10th December 1915 aged 25yrs 9 mths, and unmarried. He was 25
years and 9 months old, and working as a carting manager in Great Glen.
He was mobilised 17th November 1916 in the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, Private No:
33629.Transferred to the 59th Division Royal Engineers on 26th May 1918 as a driver, No: 361270.
Transferred to the Rhine Army 8th August 1919 and signed a “No disability Statement” in Cologne.
Demobilised 14th November 1919, giving his home address as Chapel Street, Oadby.
He was Awarded the British and Victory Medals.
17
Charles married Rosa Scott in Leicester in1920, and it seems they had a son Charles H Bray in 1920
Charles died in 1970 aged 80 years, in the Blaby registration district. Rosa died in Leicester in 1964
aged 70 years.
BRAY, Thomas
Roll of Honour
Thomas was born in Wigston Magna in Sept 1891, the son of Charles and Ann Bray.
At the age of 10 the family had moved to Great Glen and were living with Thomas's grandparents,
Henry and Mary A Bray in Station Lane. Granddad was a farmer/grazier living on own account, whilst
he father was an accounts clerk. He had an older brother Charles and sister Sarah and a younger
brother, Bill.
By the time he was 19, in 1911, he was living at Main Street Great Glen, with his parents Charles and
Annie Bray. Occupation, hosiery hand, fabric machinist.
There are 123 Thomas Brays in the WW1 British medal roll and of these 31 have just the first name of
Thomas. Two served part of their time in the Leicester Regiment the remaining time with the Irish
rifles or a Manchester company. No leads on Ancestry.
It is not possible to positively identify if he was married, as there is no marriages in the area for
Thomas Bray
BRAY, William
Roll of Honour
William was born in Great Glen in 1897, son of Charles of Leicester and Annie of Derbyshire.
At the age of 4, he was living with his parents and grandparents Menry and Mary A Bray in Station
Lane. He had siblings Sarah M aged 14, a hosiery machinist, Charles aged 12, Ton aged 10 and
William was recorded as 'Bill' It is worth noting that both Charles and Tom were in WW1 and
researched elsewhere.
In 1911 aged 14, the family were living at Main Street,
Great Glen, William's occupation was a hosiery hand,
winder.
He enrolled for general service age 19 yrs 8mths,
unmarried, occupation hosiery hand, on 13th March 1916
into the 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, Private No
74361. He was discharged on 23rd December 1919.
There are too many William Brays in Leicestershire to
identify him positively in the marriage and death indexes.
Awarded the British and Victory Medals
18
Hosiery Hand, winder
CAPELL, Cyril Thomas.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Cyril Thomas Capell was born in Great Glen in 1892. He was the son of Thomas and Fanny Capell
His father Thomas was the parish clerk and sexton. He had an older brother, Leonard J Capell, born in
1887 in Great Glen.
In 1911 he was living in Great Glen with his parents. He was 19 years old and working as a coal porter
in the railway station.
During World War 1 he served as a Private with the 12th South Staffordshire Regiment – No. 31166,
and the 15th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry– No. 64429. He took part in the British
Expeditionary Force. He was awarded the Victory and British medals.
Cyril married Agnes May Hassell in 1922 in Great Glen. They do appear to have had any children.
Cyril died 7 April 1960 in Leicester. Administration to his wife Agnes May. His address on the
probate record was given as The Lodge, Cricks Retreat, Great Glen. His wife Agnes died in 1968.
CARTWRIGHT, Harold.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
27754 Pte., AYC No.50 C.C.S. of Burton Lane, Great Glen, discharged
Harold Cartwright was born in 1890 in Oadby. He was the third of eight children of Walter and Mary
Jane Cartwright. His father was a house painter. In 1911 Harold was a boot maker and living at home
in London Road, Oadby with his parents and seven siblings.
In 1912 Harold married Florence Emma Clowes from Great
Glen. They had four children.
In World War 1 Harold was a private in the Army Veterinary
Corps – No. 27754. No 50 C.C.S. His address was given as
Burton Lane, Great Glen.
He was awarded the British and Victory medals
Harold possibly died in Leicester in 1944 aged 54. His wife Florence died in 1971 in Leicester aged
83.
CLOWES, Cecil George
Absent Voter
Registered as George Cecil, he was born in Great Glen in Sept qr. 1889. He was the 6th of seven
children of Ruth and Alfred Clowes. His father was a platelayer on the railway.
The family were living in Main Road, Great Glen in 1901, and Cecil was 11 years old.
In 1911 he was aged 21, a hosiery hand working for Rowley & Co. He was still living with living his
parents and four of his 6 siblings in Kibworth Road, Great Glen.
Cecil enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment on 20th November 1915. Rank Private No 20025
and 203319. Was at Depot Home Defence League. Received guns shot wounds to his right thigh in
1918 and was discharged with a silver war badge on 8th March 1919, and was also awarded the British
War and Victory medals.
19
Cecil married Mary Snutch in 1926. They had one son, Maurice P Clowes in 1929, registered in the
Market Harborough district.
Cecil died in 1974 aged 85, and his wife probably died in Leicester in Dec 1971 aged 77.
CLOWES, Frederick.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Born in Great Glen in 1883, the second of eight children of Ruth and Alfred Clowes. His father was a
platelayer on the railway.
In 1901 he was working as a 'Tops, hosiery hand
1911 aged 27, a hosiery hand living in Kibworth Road,
Great Glen.
Attestation dated 7th December 1915 ages 32 years, height 5'
5 ½"and married to Elizabeth Tarry in Dec 1914 in Gt Glen.
Great Glen Railway station
Frederick joined the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st
(Reserve) c/o Home Defence League, Garrison Battalion as a
Private No. 52902 and 13th (Service) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment Private No 63851 Wounded in
April 1918 and in July at a military hospital signed a “No claim of disability” form.
Embarked Dundee 15 Oct 1918 and disembarked Russia 28 Nov 1918. Rejoined battalion 23 Jan
1919. Returned to England on S S Kildonan Castle 1 Sep 1919.
Demobilized 16 Oct 1919.
Awarded the British War and Victory medals, receipt 21 Jan
1922.
Frederick and Elizabeth appear to have had no children
Frederick died in Leicester in 1952 aged 69, and Elizabeth (born
3 August 1889) died in 1972 aged 83 years.
CLOWES, Joseph. Pte
S S Kildonan Castle
KIA - DoW
Joseph Clowes was a Private No. 25340 in "C" Coy. 4th Battalion.,
Worcestershire Regiment, a Territorial battalion. He died of wounds
on Monday 23rd October 1916, aged 31.
He was the son of Ruth Clowes of Kibworth Road, Great Glen and the
late Alfred Clowes. He enlisted in the army in Leicester and is buried
in St Sever War Cemetery in Rouen, France
Ruth Clowes, a Methodist, was one of the parents of school children
in Great Glen who on October 26th 1904 demanded to remove their children from religious instruction
and asked for secular instruction to be provided instead. There were 46 children involved in total. The
20
school managers finally agreed to let the children off religious instruction on Fridays only, when the
Anglican Catechism was taught. They were allowed, on Fridays, to bring in a teacher of their choice.
In 1911 the Clowes family were living in Kibworth Road,
Great Glen. Alfred, Joseph's father, was working as a plate
layer on the Midland Railway. In addition to Alfred's wife,
Ruth, there were also living in the house 4 sons and a
daughter. Joseph was the third son aged 25 at the time and
working as a hosiery hand for Johnson & Barnes in Kibworth.
His brothers Frederick (27), Cecil (21) & Reginald (16) were
all still living at home and all worked as hosiery hands for
Gt Glen Methodist Church 2002
Rowleys in Fleckney. His younger sister Florrie (22) was at
home. Assuming the Census form had been completed correctly there were 2 other children of Alfred
& Ruth who had left home.
Alfred's great granddaughter, Mrs Jones, states that, of the children, three still have relatives around
today (2006). They lived on the Kibworth Road in the first of a row of houses set back from the road.
There were no internal doors in the house and no staircase to the upper floor. They had to get into the
bedrooms by means of a ladder and a hole in the floor! They
were staunch members of Great Glen Methodist Church and
those who worked in the hosiery industry at Rowleys in
Fleckney all walked to and from work each day.
A number of the members of the family were in the Great
Glen Brass Band which used to go around the village on
Christmas Eve playing carols both out of doors and in
people’s houses. Joseph was the only child still at home when
he volunteered for the army and his death hit his mother very
hard.
Joseph went to join the 4th Worcesters in Gallipolli on 6th
December 1915 and came back with the battallion to France on
the 'Transylvania' which left Alexandria for France on 15th
March 1916. They
arrived at Marseilles on
20th March 1916.
On 1st July 1916 (the
first day of the Battle
of the Somme) the
Battalion, as part of the
29th Division, attacked the area around the village of
Beaumont Hamel and suffered appalling losses. They were
Beaumont Hamel
forced back and the village was not re-taken until 13th
November 1916. After the war land was purchased by the Canadian Government and a memorial to
the Division was erected.
th
4 Worcesters Boarding
‘Transylvania’ at Alexandria
15.03.1916
The Battalion, which was part of the 88th Infantry Brigade within the 29th Division, was sent to the
Bernafay Camp on 20th October 1916. On arrival they were provided with tea and rum. On 21st
October it was very cold and the men spent the day in considerable discomfort due to the lack of
protection. The time was spent in cleaning up. On 22nd they were paraded at 5.30am and leather
jerkins were issued to all men and they were put to work for 4 hours on the Longueval to Fleurs road.
Hostile areoplanes dropped 6 bombs on the camp inflicting little damage.
21
The 23rd dawned cold and wet and the camp suffered a heavy
artillery attack all day which resulted in casualties including Joseph
Clowes who died of his
wounds.
Joseph is buried in St Sever
Cemetery, Rouen, France.
It was in this area that a
number of hospitals were
set up during WWI and it is
assumed Joseph died there
from his wounds.
4th Battn Worcesters resting,
Louvencourt (Somme)
28.06.1916
St Sever Cemetery, Rouen
Joseph was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CLOWES, Reginald Arthur
Absent Voter
Reginald was born in Great Glen, the youngest of 7 children of Alfred and Ruth Clowes nee Coleman
in 1901. Both parents were born in Great Glen.
His father was a platelayer on the railway. His siblings were Harry 24, Frederick 18, Joseph 16, Florrie
13, Harriet 22, and Cecil 11. There was also a granddaughter living with them, Dorothy aged 3. It is
recorded that they had 7 children, two of whom had died.
At the age of 16, Reginald Arthur was working as a hosiery hand, as was two of his brothers, at
Rawley Co, of Fleckney, whilst his brother Joseph was at Johnson Barnes.. They were living on
Kibworth Road Great Glen, and his father was still working aged 60, as a platelayer with the Midland
Railway.
Reginald enlisted as a gunner in147 Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, No 4928 and 294949.
This was part of the British Expeditionary Force.
Reginald was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Reginald married Alice Heath in1922. No children could be found.
Alice died in 1962 aged 67 years, and Reginald died in 1 April 1965, aged 70. Their home address
being 1, High Street, Great Glen. He died in St Lukes Hospital, Market Harborough. There is no
commemoration in Great Glen churchyard. Probate granted to Violet Mary Clarke, spinster.
COLEMAN, Bert.
KIA
Bert Coleman was a Private (No.5248) in the 1st/14th (County of
London) Battalion of the London Regiment (London Scottish) and he
22
died on Saturday 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Bert, or Bertie as he was called in the 1911 Census, lived at the Station House in Great Glen where his
brother was the Station Master. The household consisted of Station Master George Stephen Coleman
and his wife and 3 children and Bert. Bert was described as a 24 year old Grocer's Clerk born in
Sawston, Cambridgeshire.
Bert signed on in London into the London Scottish, a
kilted Territorial Army regiment.
On the first day of the Battle of the Somme the
Battalion took part in an assault on the German trenches
east of Hebuturne. A heavy smoke barrage was put
down and it was difficult to keep moving in the correct
direction.
To the Somme!
The London Scottish occupied the Farmyard Trench. At 1.30am the British put down a heavy barrage
and a wire cutting party was sent out to thoroughly clear the front. Sniper positions were set up. The
Germans fired on the Farmyard Trench all day and a heavy loss of life resulted. 23 officers and 811
other ranks, including Bert Coleman, and 36 medical orderlies were killed leaving only 9 officers, 236
other ranks and 21 medical orderlies.
77% of the Battalion slaughtered on one terrible day!As with thousands of others Bert has no known
grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.
Bert was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Bert’s Thiepval Panel
Thiepval Memorial
COLEMAN, Harry
KIA
CWGC
(Not on the War Memorial)
'Pte 20665 Harry Coleman of the 2nd Batt Leicestershire Regt died 3 Sept 1917 - Killed in action in
Mesopotamia, in the Theatre of War in Asia'.
Harry was born in Great Glen and on attestation was living on Oadby
Harry Coleman was born in Great Glen in 1878. He was the son of Ezra and Emma Coleman. Ezra
was a hosiery hand. The family moved to Oadby and Harry was living at 12 Beaumont Street Oadby
in 1891.
In 1899 Harry married Agnes Holt and in 1901 they lived in Cross Street, Oadby with two children,
one of which had died. Harry was a boot and shoe riveter.
23
By 1911 they had had a further five children and Harry
was working as a general labourer.
Harry enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Battalion
Leicestershire Regiment – No. 20665. He was killed in
action in Mesopotamia on 9 March 1917, aged 38 and is
buried in Basra Cemetery, Iraq.
During the First World War, Basra was occupied by the
6th (Poona) Division in November 1914, from which
date the town became the base of the Mesopotamian
Expeditionary Force.
A number of cemeteries were used by the MEF in and around Basra; Makina Masul Old Cemetery
was used from December 1914 to October 1916 and the Makina Masul New Extension was begun
alongside the old cemetery in August 1917. These two sites, enlarged later when more than 1,000
graves were brought in from other burial grounds, now form Basra War Cemetery.
His wife and children were living at 9 Queen Street, Oadby at the time of his death.
His wife Agnes died in 1940.
COLEMAN, Leonard Ewart
Roll of Honour
Laurence Ewart Coleman was the son of George Stephen Coleman
and Lavinia and was born in Sawston, Cambridgeshire in 1899.
In 1911 he was living with his parents and younger brother and sister
in Great Glen at the Station House. His father was the station master.
Laurence was a railway goods clerk and working for the Midland
Railway Company.
Logo of the Midland Railway
Co. 1846-1922
Laurence enlisted for the army in World War 1 on 7 November 1917
but was immediately transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and then to
the RAF on 1 April 1918 with the rank of Private 2 – No. 100588.
His next of kin was stated as being his father, G.S. Coleman, who was
still living at Station House, Great Glen.
Laurence graduated to being a Flight Cadet on 25 May 1918. Laurence was promoted to Hon. 2
Lieutenant on 6 March 1919 and transferred to Class “G” RAF Reserve on 5 April 1919.
In 1931, Laurence married Dinah May Todd in Leicester. They did not have any children.
Laurence died in 1965 in Wellingborough. His home address was 197 Leicester Road, Narborough.
24
COLEMAN, William John
KIA
CWGC
Born in Great Glen in 1890 his name is in the Soldiers that died in the Great War.
William John Coleman was the son of William Coleman a
Metropolitan Railway signalman, born 1859 in Broadway,
Worcs., and his wife Matilda, born 1867 in Somerset.
William John was born in 1890 in Great Glen, Leics., his
siblings were, Frederick G., born 1886 and Charles Henry,
born 1887, the latter two siblings were both born in
Beeston, Notts., Arthur, born 1889 in Great Glen, Leics.,
in April 1891 the family home was at Top End, Great
Glen, Leics.
Arras Memorial
In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at
66, Moat Street, Wigston Magna, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Frederick, Arthur,
Albert, born 1896 in Great Glen, Leics., and Mabel Elsie, born 1900 in Wigston Magna, Leics.
In April 1911 William was employed as a fitter and was residing in the family home at 13, Leopold
Street, Leicester, together with his parents and siblings, Charles, Arthur, Albert, Mabel, Lilian Mary,
born 1901 in Wigston, Leics., and Hubert Reginald, born 1904 in Leicester.
He died 23 April 1917 aged 27 years, in France and Flanders, in the Theatre of war in Western
Europe. He was a private in the South Staffordshire regt., 8th Service Battalion. Reg No: 40437
formerly in the Leicestershire Regt No: 27193
William was awarded the Victory and British War Medals
His name is commemorated on the Arras, Pas De Calais
COLPMAN, Arthur Haymes
Roll of Honour
Arthur was born 19 July 1880 in Great Glen, the son of Frederick and Mary Colpman.
Arthur was the second of 2 children born to Frederick and Mary Colpman of Great Glen. His father
was born in Billesdon, and in 1901 they lived in School Street, Great Glen.
Arthur's father was a bricklayers labourer and Arthur, aged 20
was working as a baker's assistant. His sister, Annie was working
in the Hosiery trade.
Arthur Haymes Colpman married Beatrice Janet Grain on 13 July
1909 in Great Glen.
By 1911 he and his new wife were living in Great Glen, and had a
son, Frederick. Arthur was now 30 and Beatrice 29. He was still
working as a bricklayer.
Arthur enlisted to the Royal Flying Corps on 6 February 1917.
His wife Janet Beatrice Colpman was recorded as his NoK. He
was 5 feet 4 inches tall
On the Air Force Muster Roll he is listed as 58329 Colpman, A.H. Trade classification: Batman. Rank
on appointment: Air Mechanic 3, Private 2. Forces pay: 1s..6d and for the duration of the war.
25
On 6 December 1917 he was called into the W.E.E (Wireless Experimental Establishment. Royal
Flying Corps) No: 58329 3rd.A/M (Air Mechanic) He was classed as being in the army on his
attestation papers. His trade was a Batman. Transferred to the R.A.F 1 April 1918. The effective date
was 28 August 1918 until eventually he was dispersed at Harrowby on 22 January 1919. Transferred
to the RAF reserve on 20 Feb 1919 and discharged 30 April 1920.
Painting by Emile Antoine Verpilleux shows
an RFC airman carrying a Marconi pole
which was used to support a wireless aerial.
An original wireless system from WW1
The Wireless Experimental Establishment were responsible for the development of the radar system,
being under the Marconi Company and 'made considerable contributions to the RFC'.
Arthur H Colpman died March 1958 in Leicester aged 77 years. Beatrice J Colpman, his widow, died
in Catmose Vale Hospital, Oakham 11 January 1953. Probate granted to Frederick Arthur Colpman,
(son) tailors cutter.
COULSON, James Harvey
Roll of Honour (as H Coulson)
James Harvey Coulson was born in Great Glen, 14 September 1888. He was a son of William and
Emma Coulson. He was the youngest of 7 children. On the 1901 and 1911 censuses he is known as
Harvey.
Harvey was 12 years old on the 1901 census., and
living with his parents and older brother Fred in
Burton Lane (now Oaks Road). His father was a
Railway Worker and his older brother was a domestic
gardener. The family were all born in Great Glen
except his mother who was born in Ilston-on-the-Hill.
At the age of 22, Harvey was working as a Bricklayer.
His 64 year old father was still working on the railway
as a labourer, in Great Glen.
Burton Lane, Great Glen
Harvey Coulson is listed in the Trade Union Membership Registers 1914-16 and 16-18. He is next
listed in the book of Trade Union Members, Service and Casualties 1914-1918, as he was on active
service at this time.
Harvey Coulson served in the 428th Royal Engineers Field Coy - B.E.F. Reg No: 478668 Sap.,
(1681 allotted number in Huntingdon 1 Dec 1915)
No marriage is found for this man, and no further military papers.
James Harvey Coulson died Dec 1971
in Market Harborough aged 83 years.
26
COXON (aka COXEN), Arthur.
Roll of Honour
Arthur Coxon was born on the 6 January 1870 – probably the son of Edward and Sarah Coxon of
Netherseal. Arthur worked on the family farm.
Arthur joined the Royal Navy in World War 1 and served on HMS Ceres as a Head Schoolmaster.
Schoolmasters were employed on ships to provide training
and education for the crew. In 1917 HMS Ceres joined the
6th Light Cruiser Squadron as part of the Grand Fleet.
In 1919 she was transferred to the 3rd Light Cruiser
Squadron and served in the Mediterranean. In 1918 Arthur’s
service number was M4878. Schoolmasters were usually
given the rank of Warrant Officer. Arthur was awarded the
British and Victory medals.
In 1915 Arthur married Doris Crumbie in Leicester. They
HMS Ceres in WW1
had one daughter, Jose May Coxon, who was born in Great
Glen in 1917. His wife Doris lived at Ivydene, Great Glen during the war.
The date of Arthur’s death cannot be verified but is probably 1922 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch or 1929 in
Burton-on-Trent. His wife Doris married again in 1939 in Leicester, to Albert E. Goodman.
CRAMP, Frederick Arthur
(This man is not listed in the War Graves nor the Absent Voters or Roll of Honour, as he went
overseas before the war started. However he is included because his two brothers are listed as
absent voters, and he did participate in WW1 and his parents lived in Great Glen.)
Frederick Arthur Cramp was born on 17 July 1890 in Oadby. He was the son of Harry and Elizabeth
Cramp and was living with his eight siblings in Cramps Lane, Great Glen in 1901. His father was a
farmer who died in 1910.
On 13 May 1911, Frederick set sail for Canada on board the
“Teutonic”. He was 20 years old and his occupation was
stated as being a labourer. On the 1911 Canadian census he
was living in Winnipeg, was a lodger and his occupation was
electrician. He married Eleanor Shaw Allan on 4 September
1915 in Winnipeg. In 1916 they were living on McGee
Street in Winnipeg. Frederick’s occupation was telephone
installer.
Frederick enlisted in the Canadian Overseas
Expeditionary Force on 8 March 1916. It states that
he was born in Great Glen, Lancashire (sic),
England. His occupation is Electrician Telephones.
Arthur was 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a fair
complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair. He was
discharged on 4 December 1918 as a married man.
27
HMS Teutonic
(Was used from September 1914 to
October 1918, 10th Cruiser Squadron
Northern Patrol, North Russia, North
Atlantic convoys)
Arthur and Eleanor continued to live in Winnipeg. On the 1921 census Arthur’s occupation is
electrician for a telephone company. They do not appear to have had any children. They appear on
Voters Lists for many years. By 1958 Arthur had retired.
Arthur and Eleanor returned twice to England. They came in June 1956 aboard the “Saxonia” and
returned 3 months later. They visited again in 1959, staying c/o Mrs Hurst at Kilby Bridge.
CRAMP, Harold Reginald Edgar. Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Harold Reginald Edgar Cramp was born on 24 December 1898 in Great Glen. He was the son of Harry
and Elizabeth Cramp who were farmers, (fruit growers) living in Cramps Lane, Great Glen in 1901.
They were a large family – nine children were living at home in 1901. Harry Cramp , his father, died
in 1910.
By the age of 12 he was still with his parents in Great Glen (surname indexed as CLAMP) being the
youngest of the children. His father had died in 1910 and his wife was running the farm.
In World War 1 Harold joined the 1/8 Lancashire Fusiliers – No. 50426 – He participated in the
British Expeditionary Force.
Awarded the British and Victory Medals.
He married Barbara Carswell Roberts in 1933 in the Great Glen area. They had at least 4 children and
lived throughout the 1960s and 70s at 43 Westgate Drive, Thurmaston. Harold was a butcher in 1938
when he was named as an executor of his mother’s will.
Harold died in June 1976 in Leicester
CRAMP, Walter George.
Roll of Honour
Walter George Cramp was born on 22 November 1896 in Great Glen. He was the son of Harry and
Elizabeth Cramp and part of a large family. There were nine children living at home in Cramps Lane,
Great Glen, on the 1901 census. Harry Cramp was a farmer and died in 1910.
On the 1911 census he was aged 14, a schoolboy living with his widowed mother, Elizabeth and 4
siblings. The family were farming (fruit growers) of Great Glen
On 5 June 1914, at the age of 17, Walter set sail on the
“Calgarian” for Quebec, Canada, to join his elder
brother Frederick Arthur Cramp in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
On the ship’s manifest, it states that Walter was a clerk
and was unsure what his occupation would be in
Canada. He gave his age as 18 on the manifest when in
fact he was still only 17.
Walter enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary
Force on 26 August 1915. His next of kin was named as
HMS Calgarian in 1913
Mrs Elizabeth Cramp of Great Glen, Leicestershire,
England. Walter was 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes and
was 18 years and 9 months old. His occupation was cost clerk. He was accepted as medically fit –
“Subject to teeth”. He was possibly in the 61st Battalion (Winnipeg).
28
Walter appears on the 1916 Canadian Census, begun on 1 June 1916, as a lodger living at 726 Portage
Avenue, Winnipeg and was a waiter working in a hotel. On the 1921 census he is a lodger living at 65
Dagmar Street, Winnipeg. His occupation is printer.
Walter Cramp married Emily May Tydd in Winnipeg on 7 February 1925. They had one son – Walter
W. Cramp, who became an accountant. Walter George Cramp appeared on the Winnipeg Voters Lists
for many years. His occupation was pressman or printer.
By 1965 he was retired.
CROSS, Elward Guy Kynaston
Roll of Honour
(as Ed. K Cross)
Elward Guy Kynaston Cross was born on the 23 November 1884 in
Heaton, Lancashire. He was the only child of Joseph Cross, the
owner of a cotton spinning company and Ann Frances Cross
(formerly Ashworth).
His mother Ann was an active member of the National Women’s
Suffrage Movement and worked hard to ensure women were no
longer excluded from certain occupations and committees.
Elward Guy Kynaston Cross
Ann Frances Cross was a widow by
1911 and living at Glen House,
Great Glen.
She died in London in 1924.
Elward (or sometimes recorded as
Edward) was educated at Charterhouse
School in Surrey as a day boy. His father
Joseph was living in Godalming Surrey
in 1901 and Elward was living with him.
Pilot Licence for Elward
He left the school in 1901 and joined the army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Hussars in 1903.
By 1911 he was a Lieutenant. It was also in 1911 that he obtained his pilot licence. During World War
1 he fought in France and served as Adjutant of Yeomanry and Aide-de-Camp. He commanded the 1/8
Manchesters from July 1917 – May 1918. He then commanded the 3/4th Battalion the Leicestershire
Regiment from 1 July 1918 until the war ended.
He was awarded the D.S.O for distinguished operations in France and Flanders, as well as the British
and Victory medals with oak leaf and the 1914 star with clasp. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel. His medals were sold at Auction in 2001.
Elward went to live in London at 8 Eccleston Square and then moved to Ireland. In 1923, in London,
he married Florence Ada Dupen, the widow of Arthur Philip Leslie Dupen, who had been the captain
of HMS Dreadnought and had died in Malta in 1918.
29
Elward and Florence did not have any children. They were living in Bath in 1923, but by 1934 were
in London. It appears that Elward and Florence were living in France in the 1950s.
Florence died in Roquebrune in 1959. They named their house in France, Kynaston Cottage. Elward
lived at 56 Eaton Place, Belgravia throughout the 1960s. He died in Poole, Dorset on 15 November
1969.
DAVIS, Kenneth Elsan.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Kenneth was born in Great Glen in 1897, son of Alfred George and Laura Elson. Alfred George, his
father died in 1900 aged 33 years.
1911 - Aged 14, Kenneth was working as an apprentice carpenter and joiner. He was living with his
grandparents William and Emilie Elson of Great Glen.
Attested 7 December 1915 at Town Hall, Leicester at
the age of 18 ½ years old, a carpenter. Joined the
Lincolnshire Bombardier as Gunner. His Next of Kin
was named as Laura Davis (mother) of Great Glen.
He served as 165705 Gnr., D/84th Brigade Royal
Artillery F.A.
Misconduct was recorded as he left stables without
permission on 28 Jan 1917, in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Punishment was 4 days confined to Barracks.
Leicester Town Hall
Kenneth was admitted to hospital 23 June 1917 with Diphtheria and discharged from 46th Stationary
Hospital, Etaples on 29 August 1917
He was demobilized in Rhyl 11 Sep 1919. Awarded Victory and British Medals
In 1922 Kenneth married Emma Dorothy Coleman (born 29 February 18960 in Great Glen). No
children found.
Kenneth died in 1964 in Leicester aged 67 years. Emma Dorothy died in 1970 aged 74 years.
DEW Cecil
Absent Voter
Cecil was born in Eling, Southampton in 1894. In 1901 Cecil was living with his parents, Thomas (a
baker journeyman) and Sarah, in Totton, Hants, aged 4.
In 1911, when he was 14, the family had moved to Leicester living at 46 Noble Street. He was
working as an Art Metal Worker and his father was now a Master Baker. Cecil had two brothers,
Percy Fitzjohn Dew and Stanley Dew. All three brothers were in WW1. By 1916 his parents had
moved to The Nook, Great Glen.
Joined up to WW1, and served as 262255 Gnr. 22nd Res Batt R.F.A. From the Medal Roll we note
that Cecil was in the R.F.A. as a driver. Reg No: 1241 and later 780187. He entered 15 April 1915,
and his theatre of war was France.
He was awarded the Victory and 15 Star medals
30
Cecil Dew married Nearer McKinley Henson in Leicester in June 1921. Sadly Nearer died, Dec 1922
aged 21 years. They had one child, Mary B in 1922 but sadly she died in 1923 aged just 1 year old.
Cecil married a second time to Dorothy H Turner in Leicester Sept 1930 and no children found from
this marriage. She died in Sept 1957.
Cecil of 256 Narborough Road, Leicester died 14 Nov 1957 aged 60 years. Will administered by his
brother Percy Fitzjohn Dew.
DEW, Percy Fitzjohn
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Percy was born in Eling, Southampton in 26 November 1898
In 1901 he was aged 2 years, living with his parents in Eling, Southampton,
By 1911 Percy was 12 years old and living with parents, Thomas and Sarah Dew at 46 Noble Street,
Leicester. He had 2 brothers, Stanley and Cecil (both of whom were in WW1) and 2 sisters Daisy and
Linda. Percy was still attending school.
Percy enlisted 7 November 1916 aged 18 years and 66 days, into the Labour Corps. Reg No: 680598,
giving his address as The Nook, Great Glen, Leicestershire, where he was living with his parents,
Thomas and Sarah Dew. He was a shoe warehouseman. He was described as - weight 7st 1 lbs, poorly
nourished and poorly developed.
Attested to 6th Yorks., 226006 Cyclist 5th Yorks., P.A.
From the casualty form we learn that he was aged 17 years and 2 months, and his service began 20
Feb 1917 when he was mobilised. Posted to East Yorkshire 5th Cyclists on 6 March 1917 and
transferred to the 6th West York Regt 12 Sept 1918 (Pte). He noted his N.O.K as being his father,
Thomas Dew of The Nook, Great Glen. They had moved from Tewksbury Street, Leicester.
Percy was discharged 5 Nov 1919 with a disability of heart and chest problems. After this he had a
revision of pay from 5/6 for 39 weeks increased to 8/- a week Sept to Dec 1919. Pension expired in
Feb 1920. On discharge his address was given as 1 Darley Street, Leicester and he worked as a
warehouseman.
In 1922 he married Ella Wilson in Leicester and they had a daughter Marguerite T, born in the
Billesdon (probably Great Glen) district of Leicestershire in 1922.
Percy died Dec qr.1970 in Leicester
DEW, Stanley Thomas.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Stanley was born in Eling, Southampton in June 1894.
In 1901 Stanley was living with his parents, Thomas (a baker journeyman) and Sarah, in Totton,
Hants, aged 6 and in 1911, when he was 16, the family had moved to Leicester living at 46 Noble
Street. He was working as an Art Metal Worker and his father was now a Master Baker.
Stanley had two brothers, Percy Fitzjohn Dew and Cecil Dew. All three brothers were in WW1.
31
By 1916 his parents had moved to The Nook, Great Glen. They lived
in 'Basset's' a two storey house in The Nook that was the bakery. The
baker, Thomas, was nicknamed 'Dewdrops' as the heat of the oven
caused sweat to drip down from his nose!
Stanley enlisted 1 September 1914 in the Leicestershire Regt. Reg
No: 2569. Transferred to the Labour Corps N.C.L.C. Reg No: 11526
on account of disablement or sickness..
He was awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals, and also the
Silver War Badge no: 409052
He was discharged on 27 April 1918 on account of disablement or
sickness. His age at this time was 23 years.
Stanley went on to marry Nora A Storey or Nora A Baker -( a double
entry in the GRO records which indicated she may have been married
before....) in March 1923 in Marylebone.
The Silver War badge
Stanley died June 1950 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
DRURY, Walter .
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Walter was born in Long Melford, Suffolk in June 1886. He was the second son of Reuben and Lucy
Drury. His father was a general labourer.
By 1906, he had moved to Great Glen where he met and married Beatrice Annie Thompson.
In 1911, Walter was 27 years old and living with his wife Beatrice Annie and daughter Vera Evelyn
Drury aged 10 months, and working as a groom (domestic). had been married for 4 years, had three
children, two of whom had died. Their address was The Nook, Great Glen.
According to the absent voters list, Walter served
as 94817 Gar. Headquarters, Stafford 72nd Hy.
Artillery, Group R.G.A. He was in the British
Expeditionary Force.
He was awarded the Victory and British war
medals
There are far too many Walter Drurys' who were
in WW1 to be able to distinguish which is this
man.
However, his wife Beatrice Annie died 12 April 1955, in Burton Overy, leaving her affects to her
husband Walter. He was a retired council refuse sorter.
Walter died in Basingstoke, Hampshire in 1973 aged 87 years.
32
DUNKLEY, George Frederick.
AV
Roll of Honour
George Frederick Dunkley was born September 1879 in Weston Flavell, Northampton. He was the 5th
child of George and Eliza Dunkley.
In 1881, his father George was working as an agricultural labourer, and the family lived in Weston
Flavell. The family continued to live in Aston Flavell, and latterly moved to Northampton, where both
parents died by 1911.
George Frederick was the only child left at home with his parents by 1901 and was working as a
general labourer.
He met a lass from Great Glen, Emma Easom Barnes,
and they married in Great Glen in 1905. They moved
into Leicester.
By 1911 they had three children, Lilian G, George W
and Elsie A - all still living. They were at 114 Barrett
Street, Woodgate. George was now working as a Dyers
labourer.
George was called up and joined the 322nd Quarrying
Coy, Royal Engineers. in the W.R. 28677 B.E.F. Regt
No: 262085 of the Royal Engineers.
High Street, Gt. Glen
He was discharged 12 April 1919, and gave his address as High Street, Great Glen.
He received the Victory and British War Medals
George Frederick Dunkley died 20 July 1947 aged 67 years, at Hillcrest, Leicester. Administration to
John Leeson Ryland (daughter Lilian G's husband), an electrician and Alfred Thomas Goddard,
(daughter Elsie A's husband) a plumber. Emma, his wife, died in 1954 aged 72.
EAGLE William Henry
Listed in 'Find My Past' at Great Glen
William Henry Eagle was born in 1882 in Great Glen. His parents were James William and Margaret
Eagle. His father James was a signalman working for the Midland Railway Company and William was
a lithographic printer. His sister Margaret was a schoolmistress. By 1911 the family were living at 72
Bonsall Street, Leicester.
He enlisted 23 March 1916 at the age of 33 years in the printer group. He was called up on 23 March
1916 to the 6th Durham Light Infantry and later transferred to the 9th Black Watch No: 70995.
William was hospitalised with Trench Feet for 42 days in Woodcote Park Hosp and discharged 21
August 1917 whilst still complaining of pain in legs and feet.
Transferred to the 250 Protection Coy. R.D.C No 70995 and then on to the Royal Highlanders 1 July
1918. On 2 August 1918 transferred to R.D.C Edinburgh. . He was transferred to the Royal Defence
Corps on 14 December 1917 - No. 70995.
After the war ended he was awarded a pension of 5/6d a week due to arthritis in his knees. This was to
be reviewed after 52 weeks. His family home was still 72 Bonsall Street, Leicester.
33
He was demobilised 27th Sept 1919.
In 1923 he married Minnie Amy Matthews and
they possibly had one son – Stanley. They lived at
Minnie’s family home at 33 Leicester Road,
Wigston until their deaths.
William died on 5th November 1965 at 33
Leicester Road, Wigston Magna, aged 82. Probate
to Wilfred Edgar Gee and Ronald John Viney.
WW1 invalid soldiers at Woodcote Hospital,
Oxfordshire
EASOM, Edward Thomas
Roll of Honour
Born Edward Tom Easom in1897 in Great Glen, he was the son of Thomas Easom and Edith Freer
who married in1892 in Great Glen. At the age of 13, he was working as a box maker in Great Glen.
In 1901 was living on Burton Lane, Great Glen with his father Thomas 37 a bricklayer born in Great
Glen, his mother Edith 33 a dressmaker was born in Stretton Parva (Little Stretton) and his brother
Sidney, 7, born 1893 in Leicester.
On the 1911 census they are still on Burton Lane. Father
Thomas 45 bricklayer, mother Edith 44 , Sidney 17
apprentice master builder, Edward Tom, 14, box maker,
Dennis William Easom, 9, born in Great Glen. Dennis
William died age 15 in 1917, around the time Edward
enlisted.
Edward Tom enlisted as a Private in the Royal Army
Service Corps on 3rd June 1917, soldier number S/363520.
Burton Overy Lane
His silver war badge roll transcription shows he did not
serve abroad but was discharged on 11th Feb 1919 due to ill
health. His name appears on the “Roll of Honour” in St Cuthbert’s Church, Great Glen alongside his
brother Sidney.
Awarded Victory and British Medals
Edward Easom married Lily English in1921 Leicester. They had two Daughters Edith L Easom, born
1922, Margaret E Easom born 1927.
Lily Easom, his wife, died age 63 in 1963. Edward Tom died in 1975 in Leicester aged 77 years.
EASOM, Frederick Albert
Roll of Honour
Frederick Albert Easom born Sept qrt 1899, was the grandson of John Easom and Ann Haycock ..
John Easom in 1861 was cordwainer. Frederick was the cousin of Edward Tom Easom who is
researched elsewhere.
John Easom, his grandfather, died March qrt 1893
34
At the age of 2 years he was living on Burton Lane, Great Glen with his widowed grandmother Ann
Easom age 66, Emma Easom 39 her daughter and possibly Frederick’s mother age 39 a laundress, his
cousin John Henry Underwood age 17 a builder’s carter and John Easom age 7 who was possibly
Frederick’s brother or half brother.
On the 1911 census Frederick is 11 and recorded as a schoolboy. He is still living in Great Glen with
his grandmother Ann age 77, Emma Easom her daughter age 50 laundress, John Underwood, Ann’s
grandson age 27, a labourer, John Easom 17 a domestic gardener.
Frederick Albert Easom married Gladys Chritchlow March qrt 1936 Leicester She was born in 1903
Leicester. They had a daughter Pamela Easom born March quarter 1939 Billesdon district who died
June qrt 1939 Billesdon (most likely in Great Glen)
War records show a Frederick A Easom served as a Private 49515 with the Leicester Regiment but no
more evidence could be found. Awarded Victory and British Medals.
Frederick Albert Easom died age 90 Hinckley 1989. Gladys died Leics 1986.
EASOM, John
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
John Easom was born in 1894. There is no record of his birth. In 1901 and 1911 he was living with his
widowed grandmother Ann Easom and other family members, in Great Glen. In 1911 he was a
gardener.
John is from the same family as Fred Easom researched elsewhere. John was possibly the older
brother or half brother of Frederick Easom and cousin of Edward Thomas Easom. There is no record
of his birth. Possibly the son of Emma Easom.
During World War 1, John served as a Private with the 959th Motor Transport Company of the Army
Service Corps – No. DM2/154188. He was awarded the British and Victory medals.
John married Alice Emily Thorold in Oakham in 1921. They probably had two sons and two
daughters.
He died in Leicester in 1978 aged 83
EASOM, Sidney
KIA
years.
Roll of Honour
Sydney was born in Leicester in 1893. He was the son of Thomas Edward & Edith Easom who were
living in Burton Lane, Great Glen when the 1901 census was taken.
Thomas was a 37 yr old bricklayer born in Great Glen and
Edith a 33 yr old self-employed dressmaker from Little
Stretton. Sidney was 7 at the time and had a 3
year old brother Edward. Sidney was born in
Leicester although his brother was born in
Glen.
37th
Burton Lane, Gt Glen
At the time of Sidney's enrolment in the army,
Division
the family had moved to 39 Bonnsall Street in
Spinney Hills, Leicester and another brother,
Dennis William had been born. Sidney was a
qualified coach builder having completed his 7 year
35
apprenticeship in June 1914.
In 1911 Sidney was aged 17, apprentice to a master builder. Son of Thomas (a bricklayer) and Edith
Easom of Great Glen.
His records show he was 5ft 9.75 inches tall, weighed 8st 7lbs, had a sallow complexion, hazel eyes
and dark brown hair. His religion was shown as C of E.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has no-one by the name of S Easom in its records but
his army records do survive in the National Archives at Kew. The CWG do have a Sidney Eason as
does ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’. He is shown as a Lance Corporal No. 14575 in the 11th
Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, born in Leicester, enlisted in Leicester and resident in Great Glen.
It seems reasonable therefore to assume that these entries apply to Sidney Easom of Great Glen and
that he was killed in action in France on 22nd March 1918.
Sidney is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and his name can be found on
Bay 5. The panel on which Sidney’s name is inscribed refers to him as Lance Corporal S Eason.
The 9th Leicesters’ were formed in Leicester in September
1914 and were part of the 23rd Division until April 1915.
Sidney signed on 11th September 1914 in Leicester and
went to Glen Parva Barracks. The battalion moved to
Aldershot then Shorncliffe in Kent. Sidney and the rest of
the battalion arrived in Boulogne on 29th July 1915 and the
Division proceeded to the Western Front. In July 1916 the
Battalion was transferred to the 37th Division and they were
involved in the Battle of the Somme from the beginning.
Leicester’s Shoulder Title, WW1
They were also involved in all of the major battles of 1916
and 1917 including Passchendale and Sidney must have seen more fighting than anyone else on this
memorial.
The 9th Leicesters were disbanded on 20th February 1918 and the members of the battalion dispersed
between 6th, 7th, 8th & 11th Battalions. Sidney went to the 11th (Service) Battalion (Midland
Pioneers) in the 6th Division, IV Corps. This Battalion should therefore be the one which is shown on
the Great Glen memorial, not the 9th.
The 11th Leicesters were in the 6th Division at the battle of San Quentin 21 – 23 March 1918. They
were the Division’s Pioneer Battalion. The Battalion continued with general repairs and trench works
throughout the month of January and February when Sidney joined them. During this period the
Germans were building up for their last major offensive of the War. March 21st 1918 would mark the
start of the German Spring Offensive.
Tiger’s Service Batallions
No ‘Hindoostan’
The Battalion War Diary reads as follows :21/3/1918 - 12.10am Received orders to 'Stand to' in VaulxMorchies line. Companies in position by 5am. The enemy
attacked heavily after intense bombardment (which lasted for
about 5 hours) at 8am and established themselves in position in
front of the wire at Vaulx-Morchies line by the evening. 10pm Wire, rations, water and ammunition were sent up to
companies' original billets. 5.30pm - Received message from
Sgt Barratt ( D Coy) that all officers of the Company had
become casualties and he was in command - reinforcements
sent to D Company.
22/3/1918 - 9.30am Transport moved back, withdrew to Army
line. 4pm Transport moved to Pioneer Camp - Longeast Woods.
36
What remained of companies to new line. 30 o/r killed, 106 wounded, 81 missing. 4 officers killed, 7
wounded, 4 missing.
Sidney was one of the other ranks reported missing presumed killed on 22nd March 1918. He would
have been 24.
When his mother signed the various papers for his medals and
belongings her signature was witnessed by the vicar of Great
Glen although her address was still Spinney Hills. Sidney
came home on leave for a couple of weeks over the New Year
in 1916/17 which was presumably the last time his family
saw him. He had been promoted to Acting Corporal on 1st
October 1917 whilst still with the 9th Battalion.
When the War
Memorial inside St
Arras Memorial
Cuthbert’s church
Showing Bays
was unveiled it was to
have engraved upon it the names of those men from the
village who had died during the 'War to end all Wars'. Sidney
Easom’s name is not on that memorial probably because his
links with Great Glen at the time were tenuous.
Sidney was awarded the 1914-15 Star, having gone overseas
on 29th July 1915, the British War Medal and the Victory
Medal.
His medal record is in the name of Sydney Easom which
confirms the surname. It also shows him as an acting corporal.
Sidney's enlistment form
It seems that Sidney, for all of his fighting for King and
Country has received a raw deal when it comes to
remembering him. His name is spelt wrongly on the Arras
Memorial, it is also spelt wrongly on the 'Soldiers Died in the
Great War' CD, the wrong battalion is shown on the Great
Glen War Memorial and his rank is shown as Lance Corporal
instead of Corporal. Finally he does not appear on the War
Memorial in St Cuthbert's church.
He is, however, shown on the 'Roll of Honour' which hangs inside the church. His brother Edward
Tom also appears here. Edward was a private in the RASC for a short time before being invalided out
due to a pre war medical condition.
EGLESFIELD, Ernest Albert
Roll of Honour
Ernest Albert was the son of John and Elizabeth (Jane)
Eglesfield of Great Glen. He was born in the registration
district of St Neots in 1876.
In 1901 he is in Frimley, Nr Farnham, Surrey as a driver
in the Royal Field Artillery age 25 born Bedford.
In 1903 he was serving in India, returning home 1908. He
then named his father John of Great Glen as his NOK.
37
Enlisted 28 August 1914 for duration of war. His
occupation was a groom, and he was recruited to the
R.G.A. Described as 39 years 60 days old, and had
previously had 12 years with RFA.
Posted to 29th Divn for services with the Expeditionary
Force in Feb 1915. He was despatched November 1917
Reg No: 284063 (previously 57516)
The Post Office, Great Glen.
Underwent anti-aircraft training and discharged 8 April
1918 as being no longer physically fit for war service.
Registered his wife, Annie Eglesfield as his NoK, of The
Post Office, Great Glen.
Ernest and Annie (Neale) married 1 June 1915 in Leicester.
Ernest died in 1965 in the Market Harborough district, aged 78. (Death registered as Egglesfield)
EGLESFIELD, George
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
1901 George 22 a groom domestic born Easton Suffolk is living at the Fox and Goose Inn, Church
Lane, Great Glen, with his father John Eglesfield, 62 an innkeeper from Alwalton, Huntingdon. His
mother Mary J, was aged 61 from Carlby, Lincs, and his sister Ethel A Eglesfield, 19 from Easton,
Suffolk
In 1903 George married Elizabeth Tack of Great Bowden, a Hosiery Machinist. They had 6 children,
Easton Sidney born 1904, Constance Harding born 1906, Grace M born 1912, Dorothy M born 1918,
Joan J born 1920 and Joyce born 1923.
By the age of 33, George was still working as a groom, domestic, in Great Bowden, and living with
his wife, Elizabeth at 2, Station Rd.
George was a sapper RTS/2271 in the Army Service Corps but
later joined the 4th Worcestershire Regiment as a sapper number
41527. He was part of the Expeditionary Force to France.
George was awarded Victory and British Medals
George Eglesfield died March qrt 1969 Leicester age 90.
Elizabeth Eglesfield died March qrt 1939 Leicester age 59.
A domestic groom
FAIRBROTHER Charles Hopkins
Absent Voter
Charles Hopkins Fairbrother was born in Leek Wootton, Warwickshire in 1876. He was the son of
Robert and Harriet Fairbrother and was the fifth of six children. His father was a labourer.
In 1891 Charles was aged 14 and working as a stable boy, living with his sister Mary and her husband
in Kenilworth. In 1901 he was a coachmen and living over the stables at Pattishall House,
Northamptonshire. Mary Slade his future wife is working as a parlour maid at same residence.
38
By 1911 he was living in Great Glen at Stackley Lodge and working as a motor car driver (domestic).
He married his wife Mary Elizabeth Slade, in Helmsley near York on 23 September 1905. They did
not have any children.
Charles’ army career began before World War 1. On 15 April 1893, Charles enlisted with the Royal
Monmouthshire Engineers Militia – No. 1039 – for 6 years. He was a groom and was living in
Goldwore Lane, Monmouth. His previous employer had been Mrs Cook of Claydon, Oxfordshire. He
is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He
appears to have attended training camp with the rank of Sapper. The training camp in 1896 was
cancelled, he was on leave in 1897 and then was “discharged by purchase” on 11 November 1898. He
had to pay £1 in order to leave as he had only served for 5 years.
Charles enlisted again in the Army Reserve on 8 December 1915. He was still living at Stackley
Lodge, Great Glen and his occupation was farm bailiff.
He was sent to France with the Royal Army Service Corps on 2 January 1917, sailing from
Southampton to Le Havre on the “SS Hunscraft”. His rank was Driver – No. 207226. He agreed to be
trained as a motor driver on 30 August 1916 but it is not clear if he qualified. He spent some time in
hospital in Torquay at the Town Hall Hospital* and also at the Dispersal Hospital at Tidworth.
He was hospitalised from the end of October 1918 until 24 January 1919 and was suffering from
synovitis of the right knee. He was awarded a pension of 5/6 a week for one year following 26
February 1919. He was awarded the British and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.
Charles and his wife Mary moved to Daventry after the war. Mary died there at the beginning of 1930
aged 59. Later in the same year Charles married for a second time, to Bertha Charlotte Preston.
Charles died at 5 Foundry Place, Daventry on 6 June 1943 aged 66. His wife Bertha died in 1976 in
Daventry.
* Agatha Christie spent World War One in Torquay. She served as a nurse at the Red Cross Hospital
in the Town Hall, which is when she began her first novel.
Agatha Christie (Agatha Miller as she was at the start of the war) started work at the Torquay Town
Hall hospital in October 1914. According to her Red Cross service record she gave 3,400 hours.
She also worked in the hospital’s dispensary and it was here that she learned about poisons. In 1917
she took the Apothecaries Hall exam.
King George V and
Queen Mary visiting
the Town Hall
Hospital, Torquay
39
FANCOURT William Leopold
Found searching Find My Past
William Leopold Fancourt was born on 21 July 1884 in Great Glen. He was the son of William Henry
and Mary Fancourt and had a sister – Grace. His father William Henry was the Head Teacher at the
Elementary School in Great Glen and in 1891 the family were living in Main Street. His father
eventually moved to Roseville, Great Glen and died there in 1929.
William Leopold followed in his father’s footsteps and became a teacher. In 1901 he was a pupil
teacher at the Board School in Great Glen and in 1911 he was living at 19 Wyndham Road, Kingstonon-Thames and was an assistant teacher. He had married Edith Haycock 16 April 1907 in Meriden,
Warwickshire and they had one child, William, born in Leicester in 1907.
His mother had died by 1911 and his father William was
Head Teacher living in the School House in Great Glen
with his daughter Grace.
William L. attested at the start of World War 1. He joined in
Surbiton, Surrey on 4 November 1914. His records show that
he had previously been a private in the Territorial Army, in the
Leicestershire County Regiment. He initially joined the East
Surrey Regiment in the No. 3 Sup. Company 2/6 Railway
Company. He also served as a Gunner with the Royal Field
School House, Great Glen
Artillery – No. 201706 and in the Royal Defence Corps. He
was sent to France in October 1916 and also spent 4 months in
Italy in 1917/18. During his time he had trench fever - 17 days in Middlesex War Hosp. Next of kin at
this time was his wife, Edith, 'Roseville', Great Glen.
He was awarded the British and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.
During the war, his wife Edith moved from Surrey to Skegness and then to Great Glen to live with her
father-in-law William Henry Fancourt at Roseville, Great Glen.
After leaving the army in 1919 William L. was living at 158 Canbury Park Road, Kingston-onThames. It was after the war that William L. did some formal training to become a teacher. He trained
at St Paul’s Training College in Cheltenham and obtained a distinction in Elementary Mathematics
and a pass in Optional Chemistry.
He was entered onto the official Teachers Register on 1 January 1921. In 1921 he was teaching at
Bonner Hill Road Council School in Kingston-on-Thames. He was a member of the Kingston and
Surbiton branch of the National Union of Teachers in 1920.
William Leopold died in 1971 in Battle, Sussex aged 86. His wife Edith pre-deceased him and died in
1967 in Kingston-on-Thames.
FISH, William
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
William born1879 was the son of Charles Fish and his wife Matilda. In 1881 they are living in Easton,
Suffolk. Charles, his father, is a gardener aged 45 of Suffolk, Matilda is 40. They have 8 children,
Frederick 14, Thomas 12, Ada 10, Emma 8, John 6, Ellen 4, William 2 and baby Frank 0 all born in
Easton.
By 1901 William is living as a boarder at 62 Knighton St, Leicester working as a Goods Porter.
40
On 8th April 1906 he married Frances Elizabeth Austin at the Wesleyan Chapel Kettering.
The couple settled in Great Glen and in 1911 they were living in Orchard Lane Great Glen. He was 31
a Grocer’s Vanman. Frances, his wife was 25 and was born in Kettering. Their daughter Ena was 4
and born in Kettering. Henry Moore, 34, a single Timber Carter from Kettering was living with them.
William joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a driver on 2nd February 1916. He was 38 years old
grocers a van-man. He joined No2 reserve at Blackheath South East London. He was in 234th Horse
Transport Company, 668th Battalion soldier number T4/142576. He was a Lance Corporal 84th Labour
Corps., A.S.C. B.E.F. Horse Transport He embarked at Southampton 19/9/1916 and disembarked at
Le Havre 20/9/1916. Age 39 he transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment, 13th Labour Division
number T4/1.
He was transferred to UK for release on 2/6/1919. He was
demobilized on 6/7/1919 at Woolwich Dockyard. His
papers show his children as Ena King Fish b 21st Sept
1906 b. Kettering, Sylvia Joyce b 22nd Oct 1914 Billesdon
and Margaret b 10th Nov 1916 Billesdon.
Awarded Victory and British Medals
Horse Transport near Albert, Somme
1917
Sylvia died aged 8 in 1922. Ena married Harold Johnson
1928 Billesdon. Margaret married Hugh C MacLeod 1939
Billesdon.
William Fish died age 56 Sept qrt 1935 Billesdon. Frances
E Fish died March Qrt 1949 age 63 Leicester.
FISHER, Cecil William.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Cecil William Fisher was born June qrt 1880 Peterborough.
In 1911 he is living in Walton St Leicester age 30 , a butcher from Peterborough with his
wife Amy 36 from Longford Derby.
He married Amy Rose Ford 23rd Sept 1907 St Michael's Leicester.
Attestation papers show he was 35yrs and 240 days old when he enlisted 8/12/1915. His Regt. No was
376614, 27th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Resident town Market Harborough. He was from
Newton Harcourt. Next of kin was Amy Rose Fisher of Great Glen.
On discharge he was Pt in Durham Light Infantry No 205411 of 5th Reserves. Date of discharge
1/5/1919 age 38 living at The Nook Great Glen, married.
Casualty form says he was born 1879 , a butcher enlisted 29/5/1917. Wife was living at The Nook
Great Glen. He is discharged with rheumatism
Cecil died June qr. 1953 in Leicester. He was 73 years old. His wife, Amy Rose died in Leicester in
1948 aged 74.
41
FOLWELL, Herbert.
KIA
Herbert Folwell was born in Great Glen in 1897, the third child of
James William Folwell of Great Glen and Annie Elizabeth Coulson of
Little Stretton. Sadly, Herberts father died in 1908, aged 41, in Great
Glen, leaving Annie to bring up the three children. He was a coal
agent.
Private Herbert Folwell 13th (Service) Battalion The Manchester
Regiment
Herbert Folwell enlisted in Leicester into the Sherwood Foresters
Manchester Regiment
(Notts & Derby Regiment) where he was a private No.47558. He was
Badge
later transferred into the West Riding Regiment and finally to the 13th (Service) Battalion Manchester
Regiment (No.39104).
At the time of the 1911 Census Herbert was living with his widowed mother Annie and his older
brother Ernest in Manchester Cottages Great Glen. Herbert was described as 13 at the time although
having been born in the Spring of 1897 could not have been far off his 14th birthday. He was working
as an errand boy for a Master Baker.
On attestation, he was aged 18 years and 192 days. Height 5 ft 7 in. Herbert worked as a coal agent.
Next of kin – mother, Annie Folwell of Stretton Lane, Great Glen.
Enlisted in Leicester 13th Battalion Manchester Regt. No: 30093. He transferred to Leicester Regt
Depot 16 May 1916 then to Notts and Derby Regt 25 May 1916. Later transferred to Mancester Regt –
No: 39104. Embarked in Marseilles Nov. 1916, and disembarked Salonica 19 Nov 1916. Joined unit
21 November 1916.
The 13th Manchesters were part of 66th Brigade, 22nd Division which left France for Salonika in
October 1915 in order to help the Serbs in their fight against the Bulgarians. In the event the Serbs had
already been beaten when they arrived but they stayed on even against some Greek political
opposition. Herbert did not join them until sometime later.
During 1917, there was comparatively little activity on the British part of the front in Macedonia, due
in part to complex political changes in Greece throughout the year. The main fighting took place
around Lake Doiran, where the line was adjusted several times by each side early in the year. In April
1917, the British attacked, gained a considerable amount of ground and resisted strong counter-attacks.
There were 3 ‘Battles of Doiran’. The first took place on
24th/25th May 1917.
Lake Doiran Macedonia
The War Diary of 13th Manchesters for that battle
records ‘Heavy shelling was suffered on the western
slopes of the P5 ridge near Doldzeli where the Battalion
was dug in. The enemy attacked and got into our
trenches. They were driven back and were caught in our
fire. They attacked repeatedly but were driven back on
each occasion.
Intense bombardment took place over 6 days and
casualties were heavy on both sides.’
Included in the casualties was Herbert Folwell who died on Wednesday 25th April 1917 during the
Expedition Force, Salonica. . He was 19.
42
Herbert is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial in Greece.
< Doiran Memorial
Herbert's Family Memorial >
Annie Folwell, Herbert’s mother, signed the receipt for his medals – the British War Medal and
Victory Medal on May 2nd.
Herbert's name also appears on the family grave stone in St Cuthbert's Churchyard in Great Glen.
Freaks, Robert Ernest,
War Memorial - as died as a result of the war
Company Sergeant Major Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Robert Ernest Freaks was born on 8th May 1886 in
Chatteris, Cambridgeshire
KOYLI
Uniform
1910
In 1891, Robert was living with his grandparents and
two older brothers in Chatteris, and in 1901, Robert
was 15 years old and still living with his grandparents
in Chatteris.
Robert enlisted in the Kings Own Yorkshire Light
Infantry (No.4680646) on 5th December 1906. Prior to enlisting he was
working as an agricultural labourer in Chatteris.
Robert Ernest Freaks
He served in India, France and Germany and was awarded Long Service
chevrons and received the Good Conduct Medal. He was also entitled to
the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was
wounded twice during the war.
WW1 Medals +
On demobilisation he married Dorothy Louisa Druce at Burton Overy in
Good Conduct
the early 1920s. They lived on St Thomas’ Road and St Cuthbert’s
Avenue in Great Glen. It seems that they had 6 children. Ronald (1925),
Dorothy (1927), Thelma (1930), Cynthia (1933), Victor (1936) and Brian (1938)
43
Robert died in 1955 and it is puzzling to think that he was put on to the War Memorial as dying as a
result of war in 1923. He and his wife are buried in Great Glen
The slate headstone reads: In loving memory of ROBERT ERNEST FREAKS died March 28th 1955
aged 68 years
also his wife DOROTHY LOUISA died June 10th 1993 aged 94 years
KOYLI Badge
There was also a Warrant Officer 2nd Class Robert E Freaks (No. 9008) in the King's Own Yorkshire
Light Infantry during WW1 but so far no death record has been found nor any connection with Great
Glen.
FREESTONE, William
Roll of Honour
William Freestone was born in Oadby in 1870. He was the son of George and Sarah Freestone and his
father was a framework knitter.
In 1896 William married Edith Emma Woolman and by 1911 they had three daughters and a son and
were living in Post Office Row, Great Glen. William was a bricklayer’s labourer.
William’s army career began in 1887 when he was 18. He joined the Militia in the 3rd Battalion
Leicestershire Regiment – No. 2753. He was living at 49 Cranbourne Street, Leicester and working in
the shoe trade. He attested for 6 years. He was described as having blue eyes, sandy hair and a fresh
complexion and was 5 feet 6 inches tall. He then enlisted again on 12 March 1900 and joined the
Royal Reserve Regiment – No. 333. His occupation was shoe riveter. He was married with one child
and living in Great Glen. He was discharged on 11 March 1901.
Post Office
Row
< c1900
c2010 >
In World War 1, William served with the Service Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment – No.
17836 and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal.
William probably died in 1947 in the Great Glen area. His wife Edith died in 1948.
44
FRENCH, Edwin A Absent Voter Roll of Honour as EA
530725 Pte., 410th Agri. Coy., Labour Corps (Home Defence
League)
Edwin did not go abroad
He was in the Labour Corps as Pte; 530725.
He applied for a medal on 5 October 1919 and a reply from Mrs B
French.
He was discharged from the army and gave his address as:
Hall Cottages, Graziers Hill, Henley-on-Thames
Nothing further can be found of Edwin A French and the following
man was thought to perhaps be the one referred to on the AV and
RoH
FRENCH, Edwin Percy
DoW
Edwin Percy French was born in 1879 in Leicester, the son of Walter French, a painter, and his wife
Eliza Sarah. Both parents were born in Melbourne, Cambridge.
In 1901, Edwin was already working, aged 22, as a bricklayer's
labourer, and they lived in the Humberstone area of Leicester. His
father had died. They had previously been living in the St Martins area
of Leicester.
Percy married Eliza Ann Ryder in 1908 in Leicester, and by 1911 had 2
daughters, Elise and Florrie. They were living in the Humberstone area
of Leicester, with Edwin's mother who was now a widow.
By the time Edwin joined up, he had two further
children, Margaret, born 1913 and Ernest born
1914.
He joined up, first into the Leicestershire Regt No:
42957, and transferred to the Manchesters.Regt No:
36807 He was a Private.
Edwin died of wounds in a Casualty Clearing
Station in Brie after being wounded during an attack
near Joncourt, France on 1 October 1918.
(Information from Leicestershire soldiers that died
1914-18)
He is buried in Brie British Cemetery, France. >
Edwin was awarded the Victory and British Medals.
In October 2008 the Leicester Mercury published an
article about Edwin: When Private Edwin Percy French was shot during
the First World War, the bullet passed straight through the New Testament he was carrying in his
breast pocket. After his death, the book was returned to Pte French's widow in Humberstone,
45
Leicester, along with his other possessions. But she believed her husband would not have died if he
had been carrying his usual thicker Bible, and refused to have the New Testament – which had a bullet
hole in it – in the house.
Pte French was shot during an attack on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme line, near Joncourt, France, on
October 1, 1918. He died the same day at a casualty clearing station in Brie.
Pte French's grandson, Anthony Edgeley, 63, from Syston, said he remembered being told stories
about his grandad. He said: "After he was buried, all his possessions were sent back to my grandma,
Eliza.
"She refused to keep the New Testament because she said that if it had been his pocket Bible, he would
have survived." Pte French had previously always carried a full Bible with him, but opted for the
thinner New Testament when he began fighting in the conflict. Mr Edgeley said: "I later heard that a
relative of ours who emigrated to New Zealand had kept it because she didn't want to lose it from the
family.
"My grandad was a labourer and worked on building sites most his life. I was always told he was a
very loving man, but he was very strict with all his four kids." As well as wife Eliza, Pte French, who
was 39 when he died, left a son, Ernest, and three daughters, Florence, Margaret and Elsie.
Mr Edgeley said: "His name wasn't among all the others from Leicester who died so I wanted to put
information up there. "The picture (above) was taken while he was back visiting during the war. "He
died a few weeks after it was taken.
The attack on Beaurevoir-Fonsomme was made famous by the war poet Wilfred Owen. It was where
the poet, a platoon commander of the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, won his Military
Cross. The brutal attack lasted for four hours.
GIBSON, Albert
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Albert Gibson was born in Market Overton, Rutland, son of Joseph Gibson and Ellen Shelton (married
in Melton Mowbray in 1868). He was the 11th of 12 children.
By 1901 Albert was now 13, and working in his father's business as a saddlers assistant. His address
was Fountains Row, Market Overton.
In 1911, Albert had left the family home and was a
servant living with Jonas, a baker, and Clara Hudson
in Castle Bytham. His occupation was baker
journeyman.
1913 he had married Annie Bailey in Castle Bytham,
Lincolnshire. and they came to live in Great Glen.
He was a carrier by trade at this time.
Before Albert signed up they had one child, Maisie,
born in Glen in 1915.
A. Gibson, Carrier, of Great Glen
Albert joined up into the Machine Gun Corps in Wigston on 26 Jan 1917. He was 27 years and 28
days when he enlisted on 27 Dec 1915. Reg No: 118579. He was a group 33 ( carrier) M. in July 1917
he transferred to the Sherwood Foresters, and back to No 2 Battn. Machine Gun Corps 9 Sept 1917 to
30 Nov 1917. He was part of the British Expeditionary Force. Albert had been wounded whilst in the
46
army, and applied for a pension. He was in pain in abdomen and referred to doctor who admitted him
to the Leicester Infirmary. he underwent an operation for appendicitis, and was in hospital from 19
Feb 1919 until he was discharged home to convalesce in April 1919. He was then recommended for a
pension. This was disallowed on 11 June 1925 as he was no longer debilitated.
Transferred to reserves to disposal station at Belton Park 13 Jan 1919, and gave his address as Great
Glen, Leicestershire.
After the war Albert and Annie had two further children, Stanley R b 1922, and Sheila b 1924.
Albert died in Leicester Royal Infirmary 3 October 1946 aged 58 years. He then lived in Bindleys
Lane, Great Glen. Probate to Annie Gibson, widow.
They are buried in Great Glen churchyard, and the inscription on the grave reads:
In loving memory of ALBERT GIBSON died Oct 3rd 1946 aged 58 years
also his beloved wife ANNIE GIBSON died Feb 17th 1962 aged 70 years At rest
also their daughter SHEILA GIBSON died 11th Feb1985 aged 60 years Footstone
In loving memory of SAM SUTTLE died 26th Nov 1985 aged 83 years
also his beloved wife MASIE SUTTLE died 5th July 1998 aged 83 years (daughter)
Maisie died in a house fire in 1998 in Bindleys Lane. (details obtained from a relative)
GILBERT, R
Roll of Honour
Herbert Reginald was born in Leicester on 15 July 1899, the son of Herbert and Elizabeth Ann Gilbert.
His father was born in Cossington and his mother in Lutterworth.
Herbert, his father was working as a coachman groom in 1901, and they lived in St Leonards Street in
Leicester. They had two children, a daughter Marion and Herbert Reginald.
By the time Herbert Reginald was the age of 11, the family had moved to Great Glen and they had a
third child called Eric Clifford. Marion had already left home. They had been married for 16 years and
had 3 children - all surviving. His father was a domestic coachman.
There are too many Herbert Gilbert records to identify this man in the Military records and no Herbert
Reginald that is likely.
The following details from a medal card is a possibility as it's the only Herbert R Gilbert:
Herbert R Gilbert - Manchester Regt No: 76454
Awarded the Victory and British War medals.
Herbert Reginald Gilbert married Evelyn M Waters in 1940 in Leicester. They had at least two
children. A son James S in 1942 and a daughter, Jean M in 1944, both born in Great Glen.
Herbert Reginald died in Great Glen on 28 April 1949 aged 49 years. Probate to Eric Clifford Gilbert,
builder and John Porter auctioneers assistant. Evelyn Mary died in Market Harborough district in
1982 aged 85 years.
47
GOULD, George
Roll of Honour
George Gould was born 1892 in Brewood, Staffordshire, the sixth of 8 children of William and Sarah
Ann Gould.
The family moved from Staffordshire, first to Ashby de La Zouch in 1899, where his father was a
Game Keeper, Ratby in 1901, and then on to Wistow in 1902 and finally in 1911 the family were
living in Great Glen. William was a gardener (domestic) and son George was 19, and working as a
grocery packer.
There is no way of identifying which George Gould is from Great Glen in the military information.
However George is on the Roll of Honour hanging in St Cuthbert's church, along with his brother
John.
George's parents Sarah Ann and William are buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard. Their epitaph reads:
In loving memory of WILLIAM GOULD died July 17th 1932 aged 70 years
“The day thou gavest Lord is ended”
also SARAH ANN wife of the above died March 26 1937 aged 76 years
“Abide with Me” Love from all
In 1946, George married Ethel Jones - in Twycross. No children were found.
George of Twycross died 29 August 1956, aged 63 years - Probate to his widow Ethel Gould.
Ethel died in 1968 aged 74.
GOULD, John
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
John Gould was born in Ashby de La Zouch in 1899, son of William and Sarah Ann Gould, of Great
Glen. His father was a Game Keeper. The family moved to Ratby in 1901, and then on to Wistow in
1902 and finally in 1911 the family were living in Great Glen. William was a gardener (domestic) and
son John was 12 years old and attended school. His brother George is listed elsewhere.
John enlisted 30 January 1917 at Glen Parva, into the Border Regt. His regt. number being 29367, 8th
Batt., Border Regt. and W Riding Regt No. 40921 aged 20 years. He lived at 16 Packs Row, Great
Glen at this time and he worked as a hosiery hand. He named his father, W.W. Gould as his next of
kin.
His theatre of was France and Belgium. His medical report on discharge stated that he was gassed, had
weak eyes, weak heart, weak back caused by neglect whilst abroad where he suffered the hardship of
becoming a Prisoner of War by the Germans. He was brought to the hospital at Ripon. He suffered
scoliosis of the Spine, was 5 ft. 6 inches tall and weighed 12 st 6 lbs.
On 20 April 1918 he was reported missing. He was taken prisoner by the Germans, and eventually
repatriated 27 November 1918 (serving 7 months in enemy hands).
The following is an account of the time he spent as a P.O.W. It seems to be an application for a right
to a pension: John Gould was taken a prisoner by the Germans on April 10. 1918. He has been gassed: and also,
the med were entirely surrounded by the enemy. For five days, he and other English prisoners, were
given no food and had to pick up anything they could find while bringing in English and German
wounded.
48
About 11 days after capture, taken to Linselles, and remained there for about 7 weeks.
Food: One third of a loaf of coarse German bread, which was supposed to last all day, but was
always finished at breakfast; burnt barley coffee for breakfast and tea; ¼ pint of usual thin soup for
dinner; no supper. Worked on Motor Lorry 7.30 am to 7 pm; after returning to camp had to peel
potatoes etc. for German troops till about 11 pm.
Moved to Lille; road sweeping for five weeks. Three to four hundred British prisoners shut up at night
in shed, and left till morning. No convenience for washing etc.; prisoners fetched water and tried to
clean themselves with earth. Guards more rough; Gould and others were thumped with butt end of
rifle.
Moved to Courtral; Motor Lorry work again. There 14-21 days. Dysentery broke out among troops;
Gould had it but had to go to work – otherwise bread ration stopped.
Moved to Poubaix, for odd work, moving ammunition etc. Six to seven hundred British prisoners kept
in a Factory. Bread ration as usual; but soup made from Dogfish tainted. Dysentery broke out badly,
Gould had it badly. A German doctor saw med and pronounced complaint to be dysentery, but gave
no medicine, and no different food given. Men lay on straw. The rooms got very foul, owing to no
adequate toilet conveniences, and the stench was bad. The men, including Gould were alive with
vermin.
The soup was uneatable, so Gould portioned out his bread to last the day. Our own airmed constantly
bombing at night, but factory not hit.
Gould had dysentery about a fortnight; was often too ill to go to work; but prisoners had to go if they
could move, as German guards kicked them out. At Poubaix for about a month.
Taken by train to Ghent; open air camp in Craft Waggon Park, repairing, loading and unloading
Motor Lorries. Health improved. Worked from 5 am to 10 pm. Food about the same as at Linselles; at
first, but later got much worse owing to Germans being short of supplies. Men billeted 40 in a shed.
Food got so insufficient that men, including Gould, got almost too weak to work. Bread reduced to five
men to share loaf instead of three. N.C.Os gave orders men were not to go out to work as a protest.
Gould was lying on straw close to door, and did not see German guard enter: but heard him charging
men with fixed bayonet at far end of shed. Gould therefore hurried out of door and was met by the rest
of Germans who were about to enter, and others ready to receive men as they came out. He was felled
to the earth by butt end of rifle, and was savagely kicked by other German sentries.etc. Damage
probably caused by rifle blow which was right across back, with German’s full strength.
The other prisoners had to go off to work, but two or three N.C.Os carried Gould back to hut, and laid
him on floor. A British Red Cross man obtained some paper bandages, and with his own ointment did
what he could for Gould. – whose back was badly bruised. (Date about Aug 1, 1918).
For three weeks or a month, Gould lay there; as the dysentery returned badly. Had nothing but bread
and coffee, (water not fit to drink; soup made dysentery worse.) A British prisoner who went to work
at length brought some herbs given by some Belgians: and this stopped the dysentery in about 2 days.
Went to work for two half days; pain in back very bad still.
Taken by train to Dendermond (Belgium). Had to work all day, as sick men were kicked out. Pain in
back very bad night and day; bound puttee round, to try to give some ease. – This early in October
1918.
Moved to one or two more places, until Armistice was signed. Two days later, Gould and other British
prisoners marched to Frontier of Holland; sent by train to Rotterdam. There met by British Military
49
with cabs and motors: given a bath, good meal and Gould also given the first clean clothes since he
was taken prisoner.
Two days later sent at Hull; thence to Ripon, where all went
before a Medical Board. Gould was immediately sent to
Hospital; and was in such a bad state that the Doctor said
that if he had arrived three days later, that it might have been
serious. His stomach was much distended, and Doctor wanted
to operate. However, with treatment, the bad symptoms
disappeared; and after five days was able to appear before
another Medical board.
Ripon Community Hospital
By this was marked B.III (Certificate enclosed)
Was given two months furlough, and came home.
Firm applied for his release and Gould was demobilized. For this he had to go to Depot at Carlisle;
and there applied for Pension; during Feb 1919. There was no reply of any sort to this; Gould has
written about it several times.
Bing paper called in March 3. 1919 Gould could have started work next day. His back has continued
to give him pain; every day – or during the night, it gives trouble. Sometimes at night the pain is so
bad it keeps him awake. On different occasions he has had to stay away from work on this account, on
odd days; and for several days at a time, last August and January 1920
Signed
Evelyn Anderson (War Pensions Secretary for Great Glen)
John Gould
Feb 25th 1920.
John’s medical papers stated that he was struck by German sentry after which he was laid up for a
month then resumed duty behind the lines. Present condition was ‘Pains in back always present that’s
agitated by any special condition. All movements good tho’ deformity. Complains of tenderness on
percussion over sacrum. Slight scoliosis of spine pre-war. Weakness of muscles.
Particulars of pension – 222 – Nil.
John received the Victory and British War medals.
In December 1925 John Gould married Adelaide Poultney, in Leicester. They had two children,
Stanley J Gould born 1927 and Margaret V Gould born 1938, both in Leicester.
John's wife Adelaide died in September 1961 in Leicester and John Gould died in Leicester Royal
Infirmary on 31 January 1963. Administration to his son Stanley John Gould, Cashier.
GRAIN, John Edward
KIA
John Edward Grain was born in Great Glen, in 1891, son of William and Susan Grain. His father was
an agricultural labourer. He was the youngest of 4 children.
In 1901 John was living with his parents William and Susan in School Street, Great Glen. William was
a general labourer. Also in the household on Census night were John’s elder brother William (22), also
a general labourer, his older sister Janet, a 19 year old hosiery hand and his younger sister Florence
aged 7. John himself was 10 at the time
50
By 1911 he was working as a general labourer still living with his parents in Great Glen. His elder
brother, Thomas William also served in the war, and is researched elsewhere.
Private John Edward Grain 1st/24th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (The Queens)
24th London Regiment
John Edward Grain was a private No. 6454 in the 1st/24th (County of London)
Battalion , London Regiment (The Queens). Like so many other Leicestershire men
he enlisted in Leicester into the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (No.25192)
but was transferred at a later date into another regiment. In his case The Queens.
He was killed in action on the Somme on Thursday 14th September 1916. The
regiment was part of the 142nd Brigade, 47th Division.
47th Division
insignia
The Queens were in the Somme area and the Battalion
War Diary states ‘On 10th September 1916 the Battalion
moved into a forward area. The enemy bombardment was
intermittent. On 11th the bombardment became very
heavy and continued for three more days with resulting
casualties in our positions. John was killed on the third
day.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the
Thiepval Memorial in the Somme area of France
Thiepval Memorial
2. View of Panel
1. Close up of Panel
1. The close up photograph of the panel shows John’s name 4th from the bottom of the list of names.
2. The distance photo is a view of the panel which has John’s name on it.
John was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
John is also commemorated on his father's grave in St Cuthbert's churchyard (Ref J19)and also on the
War Memorial inside the church where, unfortunately his name appears as 'J F Grain'.
51
GRAIN, (Thomas) William
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
William Grain was born in Great Glen, in 1878 the son of William and Susan Grain. By 1901 he was
working as a general labourer.
Born in 1878, he was aged 32, General labourer in 1911, husband of Elizabeth Grain. They were
living in Great Glen and he was working as a general labourer. He had two children, Eric 6 and
Edward 3. They had had 3 children but sadly one had died.
On joining up he gave his occupation as Farm Hand. Had served in the 2/1 Leicestershire Yeomanry,
Regt no. 2740 and rank – Bandsman.
On 22 Feb 1915, joined the 5th Leicester's Labour. Coy Volunteers aged 36 years and 2 months. Regt
No: Pte. 32591. Declared his wife, Elizabeth, of Great Glen, as his next of kin. Was in the B.E.F.
William had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, light brown hair and his religion was C of E. He was 5 ft.
8 inches tall and weighed 154 lbs.
Transferred to Labour Companies 16th Lincolnshire Regt.(reg. No 48647) 31 March 1917 and
Demobilised 18 March 1919 in Nottingham. He was home 22 Feb to 11 April 1917. He was
hospitalised 16 Jan 1917 in Bishop Stortford with scabies for 5 days. He served in France in 833 area
Labs Corps. Discharged with no disability.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Thomas William Grain, otherwise William of The Hollow, Stretton Lane, Great Glen died 19 August
1962 at Staddon Farm, Holsworthy Hamlets, Holsworthy Devon. Probate to John Eric Grain, farmer
and Florence Martha Shepherd, widow.
GREENBANK, Henry William (Harry)
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Henry William Greenbank was born in Great Glen in June 1895, the third child of William and
Deborah Greenbank. His father was from Dent, Yorkshire and mother was from Tilton in
Leicestershire.
William, his father was a Railway Signalman in 1901 and they had 3 daughters and 2 sons
The family were living in Burton Lane - now called Oaks Road.
By 1911 they had 8 children living with them although they had actually had 10, with no deaths.
Henry, referred to as Harry, aged 16, was living with his parents and seven siblings in Great Glen and
was working as a hosiery machinist.
In World War 1, Henry was a Driver with the R.A.S.C – No. T4/242900. He was part of the British
Expeditionary Force.
He was awarded the British and Victory Medals.
Harry's father William died in Great Glen in 1912 aged 49 years.
Harry's mother is commemorated on a slate vase in St Cuthberts churchyard.
The memorial reads:
In loving memory of our dear mother DEBORAH GREENBANK
There is no further information on the life of Henry after World War 1.
52
GUILFORD Alfred (Arthur)
from Great Glen on Find My Past
Born Great Glen, Sept qr 1891. the son of William and Mahlah (nee Coulson / King) Guilford, He had
brothers Otho, Ernest, and sisters Lilly, Mahlah and Harriett. Mahlah was 25 years younger than her
husband William. Mahala had been married before, to Harry Coulson .
In 1901 the family had moved to Knighton Church Road, Leicester. Alfred was then 10 years old. At
the age of 19, in 1911, he was still living with his mother and she was a widow. Alfred, now calling
himself Arthur, was now working as a dairyman, and the family lived in Knighton Road East. Mahlah
stated that she had been married for 27 years and had 6 children, all living.
Alfred A Guilford married Lilian Meadon in Newcastle-under-Lyme 11 March 1916. . They had a
daughter, Joan E M born 7 June 1917, Newcastle
Alfred stated his age as 29 when he signed up in Newcastle. He had light coloured hair, blue eyes and
fresh complexion. He gave his occupation as press labourer, and born in Great Glen, Leicestershire.
NOK stated his wife, Lilian Guilford, 84 Albert Street, Newcastle under Lyme. He joined the 55th
Labour Corps. European War 1916 - 1920, then 5th North Staffs Regt. No; 503005
Height 5' 7", complexion Fresh, Eyes, blue, Hair brown.
21 June 1920 transferred to Territorial Force, and Discharged: 19 Dec 1920
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals in the field.
There is a death recorded for Arthur Guilford born in 1891, in Birmingham in December 1952. He was
aged 61 years. Lilian died in Birmingham in 1940 aged 47 years.
GUILFORD, Otho
of Great Glen in Find My Past
Born in Great Glen 1884, he was the son of William and Mahlah Guilford, The Nurseries, Knighton
Church Road, Leicester. He had brothers Ernest, Arthur and sisters Lilly, Mahlah and Harriett
In Dec qr. 1910 he married Ada Elizabeth Burdett in Leicester.
Had attested to the Leicestershire Regt at the age of 18 years and 11 months, in 1900. Had a small
brown mole in the bend of right arm. Lived in Clarendon Road, Leicester at this time.
Awarded the Victory Medal
Otho joined the Leicestershire Regt at the age of 18 years 11 months No: 5685 on 12 Feb 1900.
Transferred to reserves 11 Feb 1908 and re-engaged 23 Nov 1911
1908 Otho was a postman in Leicester. He had done 8 years with The Colours, was married and of
good character. Wife’s name was Ada Elizabeth Burdett and they married at the Register Office 5th
Dec 1910. Witnesses were Harry Coulson and Nellie Rose Hawkesworth.
They had 2 children – John Othella Burdett 30 June 1909 (letter stating he was born before the
marriage, but took the father's name when baptised) and Janet Irene Guilford 7 Dec 1911
On 24 Oct 1911 Otho wrote to The Office, Infantry Records as follows:
Sir
53
In reply to your notice Army Form D421 I should be very glad if you could send me further
instructions as I am desirous of re-engagement for section D if there is a vacancy hoping for a reply
as soon as possible I remain yours
Lee Cpl O Guilford G69
Leicestershire Regt.
Re-engagement carried out.
His address was 27 Edward Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester
Promoted to Sergeant 25 April 1916 as Transport Sergeant in the Machine Gun Corps. He worked as a
Telegrapher.
He was still serving at the outbreak of WW1,and served in the war in the Machine Gun Corps – to
France. Promoted to sergeant - Transport and Machine Gunner - No 27616, 25 April 1916(medal
card)
Wounded in the field 26 June 1916 – elbow, neck and hand. Able to rejoin 3 August 1916. Not
remaining in the Colours dated 24 Dec 1918
On discharge:
Height 5ft 7 ¾ inches, Chest 38, Waist 34 and size of helmet, 22. The size of boots was 8.3
Transferred to the 1st reserve Batt, recorded at Kensington. Family then living in Clarendon Road,
Leicester – 24 Dec 1918. Discharged 31 March 1920 having served 20 years and 48 days. His pension
accrued to 12 years and 169 days.
Otho died in 1932 in Leicester, aged 48 years. Probate to Ada Elizabeth Guilford, widow.
GUPWELL, Benjamin
KIA
Private Benjamin Gupwell 1st/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
Shoulder Title
Benjamin Gupwell was a private (No.235026) in the 1st/4th
Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. He was killed on Thursday
19th April 1917 aged 30. The battalion was a Territorial
Battalion.
In 1901 Benjamin was living with his parents in Main
Street,Crick, Northants. His father, Joseph, was a 57 year old shepherd and lived there with his wife
Sarah. They had 4 children living at home with them at the time. They were James, a 24 year old
domestic groom, Alice (22), William (19) a shepherd and 14 year old Benjamin who was a plough
boy. It is assumed they moved to Great Glen sometime
between 1901 and 1917 when Benjamin was killed. By this
time also, Sarah had been widowed.
Leicestershire Regiment
Territorial Battalions
The battalion was part of the 138th Brigade, 46th (North
Midland) Division and were brigaded with the 1st/5th
Leicesters and the 1st/4th & 1st/5th Lincolns. From 16th April
1917 the Battalion was at Vend in Ley, near Bethune. On 19th
April it relieved the 1st Battalion North Staffs in a sector NW
54
of Lens running through Cite St Laurent. The relief was completed by midnight. The Accident &
Emergency Corps were in the front line in a series of Pistoho trenches.
The enemy was occupying the
houses and cellars in the vicinity
and the Battalion was subjected to
heavy shelling by the enemy during
which there were many casualties
including Benjamin Gupwell.
Benjamin is buried in Maroc
British Cemetery, Nord, France.
For details of how to find the
cemetery click on the
Commonwealth War Graves
Commission link.
Maroc British Cemetery
Benjamin's Grave
There does not appear to be a Medal Record for Benjamin.
HALL Arthur
Find My Past List
Born Harpingdon, Herts in 1878. He was the 3rd of 4 sons of Josiah and Eliza (nee Bolton) Hall
In 1891 he was living in Harpendon with his parents and siblings and his grandmother, Margaret
Bolton who was an 83 year old wodow.
He married Gertrude Annie about 1908 and they had a son Percy Robert in 1910.
In 1911 he and his wife and child were living in St Aubans, Harpendon and Arthur was working as a
Civil Service Minor Staff Officer.
The following information is from his military records:
By 1915 he was living in Great Glen at 16 Packs Row and working as a stableman for Major Hobson
of Misterton Hall.
He enlisted 2nd November 1915 and noted to have a squint and flat feet. He was 34 years and 241
days old , 5' 6" tall, weighed 9 stone 7 lbs, and had good physical development. It was noted that he
had knowledge of horses. Joined the Leicestershire Regiment and went to Rugeley for his basic
training and was there for 6 months before transferring to the 1st/4th Devonshire Regiment & joining
the Indian Expeditionary Force D.
Served in the Indian Expeditionary Force D from
May 1916 to December 1918.
This Force went to Mesopotamia after the
humiliating defeat of the British & Indian forces at
Kut in April 1916 when 8,000 men surrendered to
the Turks. This involved fighting the Turks in
Mesopotamia (Iraq) and protecting the oil fields. He
had bouts of Malaria in Indian Hospitals in 1916
and 1918.
55
1st/4th Battalion
August 1914 : in Exeter. Part of Devon & Cornwall Brigade, Wessex Division.
9 October 1914 : sailed for India, landing Karachi 11 November 1914. Came under orders of 3rd
(Lahore) Divisional Area at Ferozepore.
February 1915: moved to the independent 42nd Brigade of the Indian Army.
2 March 1916 : landed at Basra with the independent 41st Indian Brigade and thereafter remained in
Mesopotamia for the rest of the war.
5 May 1916: transferred to 37th Brigade in 14th (Indian) Division.
February 1917: moved to Amara, 120 miles south of Baghdad and came under orders of the Tigris
Lines of Communication.
The Division was involved in the following battles against the Turks
Advance to the Hai and capture of the Khudaira Bend. 14 December 1916.
Capture of the Hai Salient. 25 January – 5 February 1917.
Capture of Sannaiyat. 17–24 February 1917.
Second Battle of Kut. 23 February 1917
Passage of the Tigris. 23–24 February 1917.
Fall of Baghdad (1917) . 8–11 March 1917
Passage of the ‘Adhaim. 18 April 1917
Action of the Shatt al Adhaim. 30 April 1917.
Second action of Jabal Hamrin. 16–20 October 1917
Third action of Jabal Hamrin. 3–6 December 1917.
Deolali Hospital
After the war ended he was posted to Salonica (Thessalonika)
arriving there on Boxing Day 1918. He remained there for the
rest of his service coming home for demob in May 1919. Transferred to the 10th Devons whilst in
Salonica and at the end of his time there.
Served in Mesopotamia, 18 months: India 1 year 4 months: Bulgaria 3 months and was hospitalised in
3 British Gen. Base: Hospital Deolali 100 miles north east of Mumbai. This was the origin of the slang
word ‘doolalley’ : Trislop War Hospital
Demobbed 29th May 1919
Small pension paid due to malaria attacks but only for 6 months then it was to stop
Nothing further is found for this man.
HALL, Clement Charles
Roll of Honour (as C C Hall)
Clement was born Sept 1896 in Leicester, the 5th of six children of George Henry and Lilian Sofier
Hall.
In 1911, Clement was aged 14, and the family were living at 31 Payne Street, Leicester. Father was
working as a carter for the Leicester Corporation Street Dept and Clement was a wicker basket maker
for the hosiery industry. He had 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
Clements medal roll tells us that he joined the Leicester regt. No: 2436 and transferred to the labour
Corps No: 296144
His theatre of war was France, and date of entry 3rd March 1915 (SWB list LC/4910
On 8 Oct 1915 promoted to Corporal in the field.
56
On 13 Oct 1915 he had a gun shot wound to chest and arm, and admitted to clearing station, and
admitted to hospital on 15 Oct 1915.N; 19GH Rouen and on 23 Oct was transferred to England St
Davids. Her was then transferred to the Labour Corps Centre at Ripon, N Somercotes.
Spent several times in hospital in the field with trench foot, during 1916 and came back to England in
April 1916 and admitted to Scottish Central Hosp, Aberdeen.. In 1917 in hospital in the field with
influenza and invalided back to England June 1917 to Princess Elizabeth Hosp. 1917 transferred to
Railway at Longmoor and then to Road Quarry Corps at Louth.
Re embarked in January 1918 Southampton to Rouen and joined field unit.
On 16 May 1918 transferred to 4th Res Leicestershire. From here he was transferred several times to
Transport Works Batt, 34th London Regt, Labour Sutton and finally to 301 Res Lab Corps. He was
demobilised at N0 6 Harrowby, Northampton.
In summary:
Clement was in France Feb 1915 - Oct 1915., Feb 1916 - May 1916., Dec 1916 - June 1917.
He got a bullet in right hip 8th Nov 1917 when nerves were wrecked being buried in shell hole. He
was in Huddersfield War Hospital. Applied for a pension due to injuries 1920.
In 1916 he was recorded an offence of smoking while in the ranks.
1918 again W.O.A.S overstaying embarkation leave - deprived 9 days pay.
On attestation, Clement gave his father of 31 Payne Street, Belgrave as his next of kin.
On demobilisation gave his job as a Joiner aged 19 years and 60 days.
Clement Charles Hall received the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 15 Star. Also awarded the
Silver War Badge
It seems that Clement Charles Hall never married.
No connection to Great Glen is found other than he is on the war memorial.
Clement died 3 Jun 1963, at 31 Payne Street, Leicester - administration to Stanley Henry Hall, retired
chauffeur (his brother)
HARBUTT, Leonard Stanley
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Leonard Stanley Harbutt was born on 18 February 1889 in Leicester. He was the son of Russell and
Frances Harbutt. The Harbutt family were grocers.
At the age of 22, Leonard was a nurseryman, seedman, florist of 162 Charnwood Street, Leicester
In 1910 he married Miriam Emma Neal in Leicester and they had two sons and two daughters. The
two younger children, Joan and Robert, born in 1916 and 1920, were born in the Great Glen area.
In World War 1 Leonard was a Private in the 23 Coy. Army Service Corps – M/270568 Pte., M.T.
(Motor Transport)
He was awarded the British and Victory medals.
Leonard ran nurseries in Leicester and later in Hendon. He died in Weymouth, Dorset in 1970 aged 81
years.
57
HARDY George William
Find My Past list
George William Hardy was born in Great Glen in 1897, the second of 3 children of John Henry D
Hardy and Jane Spencer.
In 1901, George W was 4 years old and the family
were living in Great Glen, and his father was a beer
house keeper at The Royal Oak. He had an older
sister Margery Dolman Hardy 7 and younger brother
Herbert just 11 months old.
By 1911, when George was 14, still living with his
parents, but they had moved to Kibworth where his
father was now publican at the Coach and Horses.
George was an apprentice for a grocer.
High Street with The Royal Oak
He enlisted in Market Harborough 26 June 1916.
WR257399 Unit ROD, and address given as Coach and Horses, Kibworth. His address for pay was
The New Inn, Oadby. Theatre of war, France
George was 18 years and 335 days old, and occupation Junior Clerk M.R. Height 5' 5" and NoK his
father J H Hardy of The New Inn, Oadby. Embarked to B.E.F 11 Sept 1916. Transferred to the
Midland Railway Co (Royal Engineers Railway and Canal Troops) 30 May 1916. He passed to be a
shunter.
Although the British army on the Western Front used the French standard gauge railways to move
men, equipment and supplies along the lines of communication from the Channel Ports to the
Divisional railheads from the earliest days of the Great War, it relied largely on horsed transport and
manual effort to move it from the railhead to the front lines.
The formation of the RE Light Railways companies in early 1917 was innovation that was one of the
factors that transformed the operational abilities of the army. Goods and men could now make the last
leg of the journey to the front by light rail. Until that time, ammunition supply in particular had been
subject to delays and required vast numbers of men and horses, and the light railways helped
overcome both problems. Traffic and wear on the roads and tracks leading up to the front was eased,
and fewer men were required to repair them.
In 1919 he was recommended for his engineer pay to rise from 1s/4d to 1s/8d
In June 1916 he was working at The Railway Operating Divn of the Royal Engineers.
Awarded a Good Conduct Badge 29 Jan 1918
In Dec qr 1925, George William Hardy married Lily Elizabeth Alexandra nee Hardy in Leicester.
They may have had, a daughter Miriam in 1933.
George William Hardy of 150 Harborough Road, Oadby died 4 December 1950 in Leicester aged 53
years. Probate to his widow Lily Elizabeth Alexandra Hardy.
58
HARNDEN, Lionel Arthur D
Roll of Honour
Lionel Arthur Douglas Harnden was born in 1893 in Great Glen. He was the only son and eighth child
of Henry and Mary Harndon. The family ran a laundry business and lived at Top End, Great Glen in
1911. Lionel had 8 sisters and the whole family worked in the laundry business. All the nine children
lived at home and none were married.
Lionel fought in World War 1, enlisting on 1st March 1916 and was discharged on 25 December 1917.
He was first as a Private in the Leicestershire Regiment – No. 13994, and then
in the Labour Corps. – No. 278689.
Also served in the 1st Devonshire Regt.
He married Mabel Pitcher in 1917 in Prescott, Lancashire. They probably had
several children born in the Great Glen area. In 1921 he moved to Leicester
and became a postman.
He died on 1 June 1936 aged 42, near the Leicester Royal Infirmary. His
address was given as 179 Winstanley Drive, Leicester. His widow Mabel
Harnden was named as the executor of his will.
HARRIS, C.R - Cecil Roland
Postman
delivering mail 1920
Roll of Honour
Cecil Roland Harris was born in Great Glen in 5th Sept 1899, the third of 6 children of Edwin Harris
and Hannah Haycock Easom. His father, Edwin, was a carpenter / joiner.
In 1911, Cecil Roland was 11 years old and his siblings were Harold E 14, working as a domestic
gardener, Edwin Victor 12, Lawrence 9, Vera 6, and Ethel 3. Sadly his brother Victor was later killed
in action in the war, and is researched elsewhere in the document.
The only possible record of his war is a medal card. This tells that he was a driver in the Royal Fiend
Artillery, Reg No: 148445.
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals
Cecil R (otherwise Roland) Harris married Jane Elizabeth Morris in June 1925 in Leicester. It is likely
that they had two children, Edna M born 1926 and Jean born 1928 - both in Leicester.
Cecil Roland Harris died September 1993 aged 94. Jane Elizabeth Harris died in 1966 aged 81 years.
HARRIS, Edwin Victor.
KIA
Private Edwin Victor Harris, 1st Battalion Lincolnshire
Regiment
Lincolnshire Regiment Badge
Edwin Victor Harris enlisted into the 15th Training Reserve
Battalion in Great Glen. He was later transferred to the
Leicestershire Regiment (No38080) and eventually into the
1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (No.42348) . He died on
Thursday 4th October 1917 aged 19.
59
He was born on 9th July 1898 in Great Glen and was the son of Edwin and Hannah Haycock Harris
(nee Easom). In 1911 the family consisted of Edwin a 50 year old carpenter & Hannah (41), 4 sons Harold (14), Victor (12), Roland (11) & Laurence (9) and 2 daughters - Vera (6) & Ethel (3). Harold
was working as a gardener and Ethel was still too young but all the rest of the 'children, including
Victor, were still at school. Every member of the family was born in Great Glen.
< Regimental Silk Postcard
It is possible that during his
time in the Lincolns Edwin
could have sent home a silk
postcard or a regimental
sweetheart badge to a local
girl or to his mother.
Sweetheart Badge WW1 >
October 3rd 1917 saw the Battalion moved to Zillebeke
during the afternoon. Tea was provided on arrival. They
were then issued with bombs, rifles, grenades, flares,
signal rockets & sand bags.
At 8.30pm they moved to Polygon Wood and dug in for
the night. Heavy German artillery fire commenced and the
battle continued over three days during which 24 other
ranks were killed 167 wounded and 34 missing. Edwin
Harris was killed on the first day.
Panel Close-up
As with many thousands of others Edwin has no known grave and is dedicated on a panel at the Tyne
Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Details of how to get to the memorial can
be obtained by clicking on to the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
web site link.
View of Panel
Tyne Cot Memorial
Edwin was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
60
HARRIS, Harold E
Roll of Honour
Harold Ernest was born in Great Glen in 1897 the firstborn son of Edwin and Hannah Harris who lived
at 26 School Street, Great Glen. In 1901 he was four years old, living with his parents and two
brothers, Victor and Cecil Roland.
In 1911 the family had increased and Harold now had three brothers and two sisters; Victor (12), Cecil
Roland (11), Laurence (9), Vera (6) and Ethel (3) and they were all still living at 26 School Street.
Harold, aged 14 was working as a gardener (domestic) and his father Edwin was a carpenter
There are too many Harold E Harris men to positively identify Harold in the military records.
There are two possible marriages of Harold Ernest Harris. One in 1951 to Violet D Burton in
Leicester, and the other Doris G Smith or Ashton in Leicester in 1955.
No deaths found for this family
HAYCOCK, Harry
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Lieut, 284th Siege Barry R.G.A.
Harry Haycock was born in 1885 in Great Glen. His parents were Edward Haycock, a builder and
Emma. Harry was the sixth of seven children and in 1901 he was living with his family in Stretton
Lane, Great Glen.
By 1911 he had moved to Kettering and was working as an architectural assistant. His father was
living at Glenville, Great Glen.
In World War 1, Harry was a Lieutenant in the 284th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He
applied for his British and Victory medals in February 1925. The address they were to be sent to was
55 Woodville Road, Golders Green, N.W 11.
There is no definite information about Harry after World War 1, apart from the fact that he was living
in London in 1925.
It is possible that he died in Buckinghamshire in 1939 aged 53.
HEATH, (George) Richard
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Richard Heath was born in 1877 in Oxted, Surrey. He was the third of 5 children of Richard and
Mercy Heath. He was baptised on 27th May 1877 at St Peters, Limpsfield, Surrey.
George Richard Heath married Annie Elizabeth Colpman of The retreat, Great Glen, on 22 April 1905
in Great Glen and they had four children - Gladys Emma in 1905 born in Blaston, Leicestershire,
Eileen Edith in 1907, Richard in 1908 and Nora Annie in 1914 all born in Great Glen. Richard was
working as a stud groom.
1911, Richard was aged 33, Stud Groom (domestic) (Born Oxted, Surrey)and the family were living in
Great Glen. husband of Annie Heath of The Retreat, Great Glen
Richard was 34 on joining up, was 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 120 lbs. On 22 Sep 1914 he passed
the examination as fit for duty. He was sent to France with the Expeditionary Force, 21 Oct 1914 to 20
61
Oct 1916 and overseas again from 17 July 1917 to 15 March 1918. Spent 5 days in Marseilles Hospital
October 1917. Service was with the R.T.S./2270 Pte., 7th Squad, 1st Base Remount Depot - B.E.F. His
rank was described as a 'strapper'.
On demobilisation gave his address as Great Glen. Issued with a Protection Certificate of Identity.
Awarded a Good Conduct Badge in 1916 and the Victory, British War and the 14 Star
Richard died 11 Jan 1940 in Great Glen, aged 62 years. Annie Elizabeth died 1 May 1928 aged 54.
They are both buried together with their daughter in Great Glen churchyard.
The inscription reads:
In loving memory of ANNIE ELIZABETH HEATH who died may 1st 1928 aged 54 years also
GEORGE RICHARD HEATH who died Jan 11th 1940 aged 62 years
At Rest
EILEEN EDITH PLACE died May 25th 1963 aged 56
HOLT, Arthur
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Arthur Holt was born in Dorchester, Dorset about 1873.
In 1902 Arthur married Fanny Allen in 1902 in Leicester.
In 1911,he was aged 38, Chauffeur (domestic) husband of Fanny Holt. nee Allen, Fern Cottage, Great
Glen. They had one son, John Bernard aged 4 years. Sadly they had had 3 children, two of whom had
died.
Examined for the army 16 Jan 1917 at the age of 44 years. He was 5' 5" tall weight 161 lbs. At this
time he stated his occupation as driver. He had a dot tattooed on his left wrist.
M2/ C33774 Pte., 74th Div., Motor Transport (supplying for horses) R.A.S.C., 5th Cav. Sup Col. B.E.F. He was described as a horseman.
Embarked on S S Italian Prince 21 Jan 1915 at Southampton to Rouen arriving 23 Jan 1915.
Admitted to hospital 5 Feb 1915 - 2 March 1915, again with debility 18 March 1915 - 19 March 1915.
He was transferred to 317 Aux Lorry Co 18 April 1915. Another couple of bouts in hospital with
rheumatism 1918 and 1919. He was given leave June 1917 and invalided to England R S Stad
Antwerpen 6 Sep 1918. Dispersal Hospital Woolwich Dockyard.
He was awarded the 1st G C Badge 1917 and claimed for disability 27 March 1919
Transferred to reserve 27 March 1919 and sent home in April
There are two possible deaths for Arthur - 1932 aged 65 and 1953 aged 76, both in Leicester.
HONEYWELL, William
Roll of Honour
Born Abbey Park area of Leicester 13 January 1891. In 1901 he was living with his parents, John and
Annie M Honeywell at The Stables, Elms Lea, Patcham, East Sussex. His father was a head gardener
(domestic). Harry was the youngest of three children.
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By 1911, William had left the family home and was aged 20, under-gardener – domestic, a boarder
with Brighty family at Home Farm, Great Glen Manor.
Joined up 15 February 1915 in Leicester and stated his
occupation as gardener.
Joined the R.A.M.C. Reg No: 2308, later being 426069.
He was hospitalised 9 June 1916 to 14 June 1916 at 5th
Northern General Hosp. with Gastritis, and again 29
March 1918 to 23 Apr 1918 (26 days)with bronchitis, at
the Red Cross Hosp, Gloucester, having been gassed.
In 1918 he refused vaccinations.
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals
The VA Hospital, Gloucester
William married Marion F S Wells in December 1967
in Leicester
William died in Leicester March 1977 aged 86 years.
HUBBARD, Frederick
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
255377 Sergt., 2/1 Leicester Yeomanry. Home Defence League
He was born in Great Glen in 1887 and in 1891 he was living with his parents 49 year old Henry
Hubbard, a framework knitter born in Countesthorpe and Henry’s wife, 41 year old Mary who was
born in Great Glen and working as a charwoman, in Main Street Great Glen. There were also 3 older
siblings.
By 1901 Henry was a widower working as a bricklayers labourer and living
with his children in School Street Great Glen. Frederick was 13 and working
as a hosiery winder.
Frederick married Grace Lewin in 1910 and in 1911, aged 23, living with
his wife at 108 Moira Street Leicester. He was employed as a tram
conductor.
Frederick Hubbard was a sergeant in the 2/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry. It is
not known when he joined or whether or not he was a member of the
Yeomanry before the war started. However what is known is that the 2/1st remained in England for the
whole of the war as part of the Home Defence Force. A Yeomanry Regiment was the mounted
equivalent of the Territorial Infantry Regiments.
The regiment was formed in September 1914 so if we assume
Fred was a member from the beginning then he would have
signed on in Leicester and moved with the Regiment to Norfolk
in October 1915. Whilst here the Regiment was converted from
cavalry to a Cyclist Unit.
In November 1916 they moved to Bishops Stortford where they
were converted back again to cavalry.
As cavalry they moved again in May 1917 to Leybourne in Kent
but were posted to Tonbridge in Kent in August 1917 and
converted back to a Cyclist unit.
63
British Army Cycling Unit WW1
In early 1918 they moved again to Canterbury and remained there until the end of the war.
As Fred did not go abroad during hostilities he was not entitled to any medals.
He died in 1974 aged 87.
HUBBARD, Ronald
Found when searching 'Find My Past'
Ronald Grant Hubbard was born in Great Glen in 1900. His mother was Mary Elizabeth Grant nee
Hubbard. In 1901 Ronald was living with his grandfather Henry Hubbard, together with his mother,
Mary Elizabeth Hubbard and several aunts and uncles. The family lived in School Street, Great Glen.
In 1911, Ronald was aged 10 and living in Great Glen with his widowed mother, Elizabeth Grant, who
was a laundress, and 2 boarders.
Ronald enlisted in the army in Leicester on 16 May 1918, aged 18 years and 30 days. His occupation
at that time was Domestic Gardener and his next of kin was his mother, who was living at the Fox and
Goose, Great Glen.
He joined 53rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment as a Private – No. 64800 - and was posted to
Rugeley. In June 1918 he was transferred to the 52nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and posted to
Worksop.
He was posted to France and arrived in Dunkirk on 23 November 1919. He then proceeded to the town
of Zulpich which is situated between Aachen and Bonn in Germany. He was evacuated to England on
No. 16 Ambulance train on 8 June 1919 and
discharged from the army on 30 June 1919. He
was judged to be 20% disabled.
The medical report stated – “Had heart trouble
when 8 years of age. Then acute rheumatism when
11 years. Was always not quite fit thereafter but
was passed A1 when joining the army. Felt much
worse during first 3 months of being in army. Was
put on permanent light duty at the end of that
period. Worse during last 7 months”
World War 1 Ambulance Train
He possibly married Mary J Carroll in 1940 and had
1 son and 2 daughters. He possibly died in Leicestershire in December 1968 aged 68 years. This
information cannot be verified.
HUBBARD, William George
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
329463 Pioneer, R.E. Inland Waterways and Docks, Rishborough
William George Hubbard was the son of Henry and Mary A. Hubbard. He was born in Countesthorpe
in 1879 and in 1901 was living in School Street, Great Glen with his widowed father, a labourer and 3
siblings.
In 1911 he was living as a boarder with the Williamson family in Great Glen and was a carter in the
building trade.
64
In World War 1 he served with the Royal Engineers – No. 329943 – in the Inland waterways and
Docks Department. He worked at Richborough Port near Sandwich in Kent.
The Royal Engineers were in charge of building and operating this secret port on the River Stour. A
railway line was built and the river widened. Barges were sent
across the Channel from Richborough loaded with vehicles,
ammunition and other supplies.
In 1918 the first roll-on roll-off ferry began operating which
could carry trains as well as motor vehicles. Five thousand
Jewish refugees passed through the port in 1938 and part of the
famous mulberry harbour was built there during World War 2.
The port at Richborough is now disused.
Richborough Port
It is probable that William never served abroad as no record of
medals can be found.
No marriage was found for William George that could be identified.
William George Hubbard died in Leicestershire in 1967 aged 88.
JAKEMAN, John Cecil
Found when searching 'Find My Past'
Born in Great Glen on 24 February 1899. He was the second of three children of Thomas and Sarah E
Jakeman. His father was born in Stowe, Northants, and mother is Barby also in Northants. He was
baptised in the church at Stowe-Nine-Churches in Northants on 30 April 1899
In 1901, John Cecil was aged 2 years and living with his family in Stowe Nine Churches. His father
was a gardener (domestic)
By 1911, John Cecil was 12 years old and the family now consisted of two further children. They were
still living in Stowe, and his father continued with his gardener occupation.
He was 18 years old when he joined up, giving his occupation as a gardener. He was 5' 6" tall, weight
126 lbs., physical development good, teeth defective and chest clear. His trade was stated as
Munitions.
He joined South Staffordshire Regt 2/5th (T.F. Batt) Formerly 30088 Leicestershire Regt.96579
Jakeman J.C. on 7 March 1917 at Dover
He was transferred to the Tank Corps and on attestation declared he was born in Great Glen. It was
the 30th F.R.B Depot Btn2 Jun 1917 Bovington Camp 2 June 1917 and then Transferred to Machine
Gun Corps 28 Jun 1918.
(T E Lawrence, better known as "Lawrence of Arabia", was
fatally injured in a motorcycling accident in the Bovington
camp. He swerved to avoid two boys riding their bikes in
1935.)
NoK Thomas Jakeman, of Blakesley, Northampton.
Transferred to B.E.F (non technical) Aug 1918. Took leave
to UK 8 Feb to 8 Mar 1919
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Garrison Church at Bovington Camp
He was charged with overstaying his leave in Jan 1920 after attending a tattoo at Park Royal.
Letter dated 25 Feb 1920:
96579 Pte Jakeman, J C From South Russian detachment taken on strength and posted to Coy. shewn
with effect from 12.2.20.
553 Attachments - 96579 Pte Jakeman Attached to Eastern Command Centre, Park Royal for ration
accom: with effect from 13.2.20
Ceases to be attached to Eastern Command Labour Centre, Park Royal, for rations & accom. with
effect from 24.2.20.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is entered on the Roll of Honour in Blakesley
and Woodend Church.
Nothing can be found for John Cecil after the war.
It seems that John didn't marry and he died in Peterborough March 1982 aged 83 years.
JENKINS, Harry.
KIA
Lance Corporal Harry Jenkins 2nd/5th Battalion South Staffordshire
Regiment
South Staffordshire Cap Badge
Harry Jenkins was a Lance Corporal in the 2/5th Battalion of the South
Staffordshire Regiment – a Territorial Battalion. He was No. 242164
and was only 19 when he was killed on Wednesday 26th September
1917. He enlisted in Leicester into the Leicestershire Regiment (No. 30088) but was later transferred
to the South Staffs.
He was the son of George & Ada Jenkins of Great Glen and was born in Burton Overy in 1898.
In the 1911 Census for Great Glen Harry, aged 12, was still at school living with his parents George, a
36 year old labourer born in Burton Overy and Ada, a 38 year old shop assistant born in Husbands
Bosworth. In addition there was his older sister Gertrude Emily, a 14 year old dressmakers apprentice.
The 2/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment was part of 176 Brigade in 1917 which was part of
the 59th (2nd North Midlands) Division. They were involved in the Flanders Offensive and Harry’s
battalion was at Winnezeale from the beginning of September 1917. On 19th September they moved
to the Red Rose Camp at Brandhock and on 21st September a further move took them to Goldfish
Chateau in the Ypres North Region.
On 25th September at 5.50am the Battalion advanced and dug in on a captured line running north east
from Primrose Cottage, then at 3.00pm they moved again to a position known as Pommern Castle. The
following day, 26th September, the line was subjected to a very heavy enemy barrage and at 6.00pm
the enemy counter-attacked. By 7.00pm the attack had been broken with the loss of 1 officer and 20
other ranks which included Harry Jenkins.
66
< Harry's Name on
Tyne Cot
Harry has no known grave
and is commemorated on
the Tyne Cot Memorial in
Belgium.
The Tyne Cot Memorial
>
Harry was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
JOHNSON, Alfred
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Alfred Johnson was born in 1888 in Great Glen. He was the son of Robert Newstead Johnson, a
carpenter, and Sarah Ann (Rowe).
Alfred was the youngest of seven children and in 1911 his occupation was
General Labourer. After the death of his father in 1906 the family lived at
the Royal Oak, Great Glen where his widowed mother was the beer house
keeper.
Alfred joined the army in World War 1 and was a Private, first in the West
Yorkshire Regiment – No. 42554 and then the Labour Corps – No 564927.
He was awarded the British and Victory medals.
In 1926 Alfred married Gertrude May Walker.
They had one son, born in 1930 – Richard Newstead Johnson. Richard
became a hosiery engineer and died in 1992.
The Royal Oak in 2010
Alfred was running the Royal Oak beer house in High Street, Great Glen until his death in 1952. His
wife Gertrude was still living there on her death in 1953.
JOHNSON, Fred
Roll of Honour
Fred Johnson was born in Great Glen in 1879, the son of Robert Newstead Johnson and Sarah Ann
(Rowe). His father was a carpenter and died in 1905. His mother Sarah Ann was a grazier and beer
house keeper at the Royal Oak, Great Glen in 1911 and the family appears to have remained at the
Royal Oak into the 1950s.
Sarah Ann died in 1926. Fred was unmarried and living at home with his widowed mother in 1911.
He worked as a Coal Agent.
Fred enlisted at Leicester in January 1916 at the age of 36 and joined the Leicestershire Regiment –
No. 38039. His occupation at that time was a Coal Wharf Manager.
67
He was mobilised in October 1917 and on arrival in France was transferred to the 5th Lincolnshire
Regiment. He served as a Private in France from 2 October 1917 to 17 April 1919. He was awarded
the British and Victory medals.
Fred died on 3 July 1952 at Hillcrest Hospital, Leicester, aged 73. His address was given as High
Street, Great Glen.
JOHNSON, Henry George Eric.
Roll of Honour
Henry George Eric Johnson was born in June 1899 in Leicester. He was the son of Ellis Charlsworth
Johnson and Hettie Hull who were married in Ecclesall Brierley.
When Henry was 2 he was living with his father, Ellis Charlesworth Johnson, and he was the second
of three children. His father was a hosiery manufacturer, employer. They lived in Tur Langton.
By the age of 11, Henry was away at boarding school in
Rugby, now calling himself George Henry Eric.
Joined up in the R.N.V.R. on 3 Nov 1917 and served on HMS
Simoom as a midshipman
Charles Hocking's Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam 1824-1962 states:
1919:-'There was a sharp exchange of salvoes before the S-50 discharged a torpedo which struck the
Simoom and exploded her magazine, causing heavy casualties. The S-50 then escaped into the
darkness. (S50 was a Torpedo Boat, not a U Boat).
The destroyer Morris took off all of Simoom's survivors
and she was then torpedoed and sunk by Nimrod on
Cdre. Tyrwhitt's orders. The Simoom carried a
complement of 90'.
Henry was awarded the Victory and British War Medals
He married in Sept 1938 in Chapel en le Frith,
Derbyshire to Marjorie A Mill.
HMS Simoom in WW1
Henry George E Johnson died in Hackney, London in 1983 aged 83 years.
JOHNSON, Walter
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
W.R./319660 Sap 4th Sec Building construction, Richborough
Walter Johnson was born in Great Glen in 1883, the son of Robert Newstead Johnson, a carpenter and
Sarah Ann nee Rowe. In 1901 Walter was living with his parents and 5 siblings at Top End, Great
Glen. He was an apprentice carpenter.
68
After the death of his father in 1905, his mother Sarah Ann Johnson took over the running of the Royal
Oak in High Street.
During World War 1 Walter was a Sapper, W.R./319660, seconded to building construction at the port
of Richborough in Kent. The Royal Engineers were in charge of building and operating this secret port
on the River Stour. A railway line was built and the river widened. Barges were sent across the
Channel from Richborough loaded with vehicles, ammunition and other supplies.
In 1918 the first roll-on roll-off ferry began
operating which could carry trains as well as motor
vehicles. 5,000 Jewish refugees passed through the
port in 1938 and part of the famous mulberry
harbour was built there during World War 2. The
port at Richborough is now disused. It is probable
that Walter never served abroad as no record of
medals can be found.
A Barge in France in WW1
Walter died on 1 January 1946. His address was
given as High Street, Great Glen, so he was
probably still living at the Royal Oak public house run by the family.
Probate was granted to his brother Alfred Johnson (his brother), a licensed victualler and William
Arnold, a journeyman carpenter.
KAYE, Ronald Leslie Downing
Roll of Honour
Born 13 June 1899, the son of Robert W Kaye
At the age of 11, Ronald was a boarder at Stanmore Park school,
Stanmore.
2nd Lieut. Ronald Leslie Downing Kaye., R.F.A NW/6/22598
Served in France from 4 Oct 1916 I.V.X/1528.. discharged
20/4/22
On the gate leading into the churchyard in Great Glen there is a
metal plaque which reads:
A.M.D.C. A thank offering for the safe return of their eldest son
form the war. This gate was given by Robert & Marian Kaye of
Glen Manor. Nov 1918
Ronald Leslie Downing
Kaye
After serving in Belgium
and Rhine Army in D Battery, 104 Brigade RFA he went
up to Queens College, Oxford, in 1919-1921
(Agricultural Course).
Great Glen Manor House
He married Evelyn Gertrude Eyre Coote on 18 Nov
1924. Their first child was born the following year, but
only survived for a few hours. His wife then spent time
in America.
69
They went on to have three further children, Moira Priscilla Kaye, 1931, Michael Ronald Coote Kaye
1934, and Patrick Charles Coote Kaye 1938
He then joined Thomas Henry Downing and Company of Leicester and was a Director under joint
Managing Directors Francis Strange Brice JP and his father Robert Walker Kaye JP MFH until 1930
when he joined Salmon & Welch (Leicester Ltd.) Hosiery manufacturers where he became joint
Director with Mr W Salmon in 1932.
Ronnie was commissioned 2nd Lt Territorial Force in the 239th Leicester battery RFA (91st / 4th
London Field Brigade RA TA) until he retired from the TA on 8 July 1932.
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals. Later awarded the Territorial Decoration (T.D.)
His medal card clearly records his address as Great Glen Manor.
In 1930 he was the founding Chairman of the Royal British Legion Rearsby Co., Leics branch and
became its President in 1936. At the same time he became a Special Constable and a Local Director of
the General Accident.
1940 Major Ronald L D Kaye was living in Queniborough Old Hall, Syston.
He was re-called to Colours in 1939 in various places including the defence of Kent, in 1943 in
Scarborough as OC C Battery 37th Signal Training regiment RA. He was awarded the Territorial
Decoration on 8 June 1943, until posted to the Middle East in November 1943 where he helped
organise the Churchill/Roosevelt/Stalin conference at
Mena (Cairo) on 24 November 1943, and finished the
war at the Middle East School of Artillery.
He sailed back from the Middle East on 30 June 1945
and was released from the TA on 14 September 1945.
Evelyn, of Queniborough Old Hall died 21 Feb 1960
aged 60. Probate to Messrs Hoare Trustees and Michael
Coote Kaye, (son) Colonial Planter. Ronald L D Kaye
died in the Loughborough area, 27 Feb 1982 aged 82.
The Kaye family gravestone
The inscription on the family gravestone in Great Glen
churchyard reads:
In memory of MARIAN KAYE who died August 5th 1946 for 48 years the ever loving wife of ROBERT
WALTER KAYE of Great Glenn Manor who died April 27th 1957 aged 85 years In memory of Major
C.L.W.KAYE T.D died Feb 12th 1972 aged 64 years and Major RONALD L.D.KAYE T.D died Feb
27th 1982 aged 82 years In loving memory of DAPHNE A MABEL KAYE died 27th Jan 1985 beloved
wife of Major PHILIP KAYE of Great Glen Manor who died 7th Jan 1989 aged 88 years
KELL, Walter
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
[Absent voters list gives the following information but no person with these details can be identified.
Several researchers have tried - 207474 Gnr., N/C Sig. Training Depot. R.G.A.
A.A. Res Bdj (Home Defence League)] The following information is the best match found: Walter Kell was born in Leicester in 1885. He was the son of Walter and Sarah Ann Kell and in 1891
was living in Gladstone Street, Leicester. His father was a beer house keeper. In 1901 Walter was an
apprentice pawnbroker, a boarder living at 52/54 Belgrave Gate. In 1911 Walter was a barman at the
Belgravia Hotel, 34 Spinney Hill Road, Highfields, Leicester. His father, Walter Snr, was the licensee.
70
In 1911 he married Nellie Jackson Glover in Leicester. They had 2 children – Nellie born in 1912 and
Walter in 1914.
Belgrave Hotel 1994
(is this the same hotel?)
There are no definite records of Walter’s World War 1 service.
There is a possibility that he served with the Home Defence
League, but can find no official record of this. He would not
have received any medals if he had not served abroad. He
appears on the Roll of Honour in St Cuthbert’s Church and on
the Absent Voters List. His Regimental number shown in the
Absent Voters List applies to a different man. There is also no
apparent link to Great Glen, though it is possible that members of
his wife’s family – the Glovers - were living in Burton Overy
and Little Stretton in 1911.
Walter took over the running of the Belgravia Hotel in Spinney
Hill Road, Leicester from his father after the war. His father, Walter Snr, died in Highfields Hospital,
Leicester on 15 May 1924. His home was 338 Humberstone Road, Leicester.
Walter Kell possibly died in Stamford in 1943 aged 58.
KNOWLES, Wilfred.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Wilfred was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, Sept 1891. He was the son of Edwin and Ethel Knowles.
Edwin, his father, was a cycle maker in Rotherham. Wilfred was the second of 7 children.
The family were living in Leicester in 1911, and Wilfred, now aged 19, was working as a shoe sewing
machinist.
Wilfred enlisted 24 June 1916 and served in the Army Service Corps, and was discharged 18 July
1919 - cause, sickness. He served in the RASC Reg No: M2/268040 Pte and RASC/4106
Awarded the Silver War Badge
His mother, Ethel, is buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard, and the inscription on her grave reads: Ethel
Knowles died 10 Dec 1918 aged 48 years. A dear mother who lived a life of sacrifice.
Wilfred died Dec 1921, aged 30. - death registered in the Billesdon district, so may have died in Great
Glen although there is no commemoration in the churchyard.
LEAROYD, Charles Douglas
Absent Voter
Stackley House
Charles Douglas Learoyd was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, 23 October 1859. He lived in Clare
Mill and was the fourth child of Charles William and Eleanor Isabel Learoyd. His father was the
manufacturer of woollen cloth employing 53 men 21 boys and 213 women. They had three servants
working in the house. At the age of 11, he was a pupil in a boarding school in Potter Street, Worksop,
Nottinghamshire, together with Ernest his older brother.
He joined up 18 December 1878.
At the age of 21, in 1881, Charles was already a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, and at the time of
the census was staying with his parents who were now living in Headland House in Huddersfield. His
71
father was still in the woollen business employing 300 persons.
His brother Ernest was in the family business.
Promotions continued, and be was a Lieutenant Colonel in August
1880, then colonel in Oct 1889 and in 1890 he transferred to the
Grenadier Guard
In 1893 he married Mary Clayton Cockburn in Kingston, Surrey.
He retired with pay from the Royal Engineers 1 October 1909
They had 3 sons: Peter Clayton
John Cockburn
Richard Cockburn
1898 - 1942,
1900 - 1997
1914 - 2013
Charles Douglas Learoyd
1912 the family were living in Stackley House, Great Glen. His brother, Alfred Ernest was staying in
Launde Abbey, Launde, having made his home in Williamstown Lodge, Co. Clare, Ireland.
Charles was in England 1913.
Charles' military duties spanned over 30 years.
Bt. Col. Charles Douglas Learoyd, late Royal Engineers.
Military History: 




Soudan Expedition 1885., Action of Hasheen. - Medal with clasp; Bronze Star.
Burmese Expedition 1885-86, Employed as Orderly Officer. Despatches, Lond, Gaz 22 Jun
1886 - Medal with clasp.
S African War, 1900. Service Officer Rhodesian Field Force (as C.R.E.) despatches, Lond.
Gaz. 10 Sep 1901. Brev of Lt Colonel - Queens Medal with 4 clasps, King's medal with 2
clasps.
CBE awarded later for his part in the 1914-19 war.
1 Jan 1919, To be Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order
Charles's son, Lt Cdr Richard Cockburn DSO was
listed in the roll of honour for flying in the Battle of
Britain in 804 Sqn, Fleet Air Arm on Fairy Fulmars.
Charles Douglas Learoyd Cockburn of Ayresham
House, Brackley, Northamptonshire died on 29
December 1946, aged 87 years. Probate to John
Cockburn Cockburn, retired colonel H.M. Army and
Richard Cockburn Cockburn lieutenant-commander
R.N.
Mary Clayton Learoyd Cockburn died 3 July 1932 at
Redlynch Park, Bruton, Somerset.
72
Redlynch Park
C.D. Learoyd home c1931-1935
LOCKWOOD, Samuel Harold
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Samuel Harold Lockwood was born in Leicester in 1893, the eldest of 4 children of Thomas Morris
and Florence May Lockwood.
In 1911, aged 17, he was working as a warehouseman, in
the hosiery trade living with his parents and siblings at
Windsor Terrace, Loughborough Road, Leicester. His
father was a Commercial Traveller in the Book or Boot
trade.
In 1916, Samuel Harold Lockwood married Grace Mildred
Fancourt of Great Glen in 1916 in Great Glen. They did
not appear to have any children.
The Old School House
24 Main Street
Grace Mildred's father was a head teacher in Great Glen
Elementary school. Grace's brother, William Leopold
Fancourt, was also a teacher, and he served in WW1 and
is researched elsewhere.
Samuel joined up and served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Reg No: 426009 S- Serg. T F section
D Coy Depot - Kantara. Proxy Area.
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals
Samuel Harold Lockwood of Roseville, Great Glen died 15 November 1953 at the Royal Infirmary.
Probate to Grace Mildred Lockwood, widow. Grace Mildred Lockwood of Roseville, 24 Main Street,
Great Glen died 24 September 1964. Probate to William Fancourt, (probably her brother), claims
assessor.
Both Samuel Harold and Grace Mildred are remembered in Great Glen cemetery with a small granite
vase which reads:
Front
MILDRED LOCKWOOD died Sept24th 1966,
Back
In memory of HAROLD LOCKWOOD beloved husband of MILLIE died
Nov 15th 1953 “One of the best”
MARTIN, J.
Roll of Honour
John C Martin was born in Mansfield, Notts,in 1878, the second of three children of John C and
Hannah Martin. His father was a Cotton Mill Manager and in the 1881 census John was 3 years old.
They were living in Mansfield at this time.
In 1905 John Charles married May Wilson registered in the Billesdon district which could have been
Great Glen, and by 1911 John was 33 years old and they had one child, John Charles Martin junior.
The family were living in Mere Road, Leicester and John was working as a Printer Lithographer.
Military records cannot be identified as there are too many J Martins to positively say which is this
man.
No deaths were found for this family.
73
MASON, Walter Harold
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
(423150 Pte R.A.M.C. 59th C.B.S. B.E.F)
Walter Harold Mason was born in Great Glen in 1892. He was the son of Esra and Mary Mason and
one of a large family consisting of 5 sons and 2 daughters. His father Esra was a gardener. In 1901 the
family were living in Top End, Great Glen. In 1911 Walter was an apprentice carpenter. He joined the
union in 1914.
Walter appears on the Roll of Honour in St Cuthberts Church, Great Glen, although I can find no
reliable information as to his military service in World War 1. It is possible that he was a Private in the
Royal Army Medical Corps, as suggested in the absent voters list. He was engaged in the British
Expeditionary Force so would have gone abroad.
Walter may have married Esther Browne in Potterspury, Northamptonshire in 1926. No proof this is
correct.
Walter died in 1971 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
MATTHEWS, Frederick Ernest
Find My Past in Great Glen.
Son of Ernest and Eliza Matthews, born in Dec 1893, Fred was a miner (coal) .
In 1901 he was living with his parents at Junction Road, Leicester, and in 1911 aged 17, the family
had moved to Penselwood, Bath, Somerset.
Attested to the 6th Sherwood Forresters when living in Great Glen, Leicestershire, aged 21 years and
single, on 26 October 1914 Regt No: 3354
Later transferred to the 16th Battn. York and Lancs Regt No: 59548
Date of discharge – 13 March 1919 with pension of eight shillings and three pence, to be reviewed in
52 weeks having 30% disablement of Gun Shot Wound. (Single bullet) both legs.
Address of discharge – Hampton Villa, Tibshelf, Derby.
Awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Frederick Ernest Matthews probably died in Ashford, Kent in 1973 aged 77 years
MEASOM, Charles Newitt
Absent Voter
51102 Pte 5th North Staffs., B.E.F.
Charles was the 5th child and 3rd son of Tom & Ellen Measom of Great Glen. He was born on 5th
January 1900 and married Lucy Shipley in 1961 when he would have been 61.
Although he appears on the Great Glen Absent Voters List and is shown as being a Private in the
North Staffordshire Regiment with the number 51102 and engaged in the British Expeditionary Force,
no records have been found for him. It is probable that he never served abroad due to his young age on
enlistment and would therefore not have been awarded any medals.
74
Charles appears to have married twice – to Edith M. Jackson, in 1928 in Oundle, Northamptonshire.
Edith died in Leicester in June 1961. He married again to Lucy Shipley in Leicester in December
1961.
Lucy died in 1964 in Leicester. Charles died in Leicester in 1975.
MEASOM, George
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
George Measom was born on 12th March 1892 to Tom &
Ellen Measom of Little Stretton. He was the eldest of 10
surviving children born to Tom & Ellen.
Tom was a bricklayers labourer when George was born
but later moved to Burton Lane Great Glen where he was
employed as a shepherd.
George worked as a domestic groom and joined the army.
He was a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, a
branch of the Royal Artillery which specialised in heavy artillery.
George, No.9223 in the RGA and 297411 when the army re-numbered with individual numbers, was a
member of 157th Heavy Artillery Group of the RGA. They specialised in large calibre (usually 60
pdrs) guns with a low trajectory and concentrated on destroying enemy artillery pieces.
In July 1916 George’s unit went to Mesopotamia (Iraq) where they joined the 1st Indian Heavy
Artillery Brigade attached to the 13th Western Division. In May 1918 they transferred to 101 HAG
(Brigade) and stayed in Mesopotamia until March 1919.
George was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal. He died in 1970 in Leicester
MEASOM, Harold
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Harold Measom was listed on the Great Glen Absent Voters List. He was born on 9th June 1898 to
Tom & Ellen Meason of Little Stretton and was their 4th child and second son. Altogether there were
10 children – 6 boys and 4 girls.
He enlisted in Leicester on 27th February
1917 and began his service with the 12th
Training Battalion of the Leicestershire
Regiment.
His records at the time show he was 5’6”
Harold Measom's medal card
tall and was 18 years and 8 months old. His
address was given as Church Lane, Great Glen and his occupation as a Vanman.
On 11th July 1917 he was transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry but 4 months
later on 2nd of November 1917 he was again transferred to the 8th Battalion of Alexandra, Princess of
Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment and given the number 34578.
75
On 9th November 1917 he was sent to Italy arriving 4 days
later.
Whilst in Italy he was on guard duty on December 12th 1917
at night when he slipped in a trench and damaged his knee.
This was to prove so troublesome that he was eventually
repatriated back to England in March 1918 and sent to
Dalmeny Hospital in Edinburgh where his cartilage was
removed. His knee eventually returned to full use and range
and he was finally demobbed from Harrowby Camp,
Grantham on 19th September 1919.
Ellen and Tom Measom
Parents of Charles Newitt, George
and Harold - brothers who all served
in WW1
He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal and
was put on the Z Reserve.
There are two possible marriages. One in 1924 to Olive Clarke
in the Blaby district, She died in Leicester 1987 aged 88, and one in 1946 to Margaret E Johnson in
the Market Bosworth district.
Harold died in the Market Harborough district in 1984 aged 86 years.
MOORE, Arthur Edgar
Roll of Honour
Arthur Edgar Moore was the son of Samuel Arthur Moore and Edith Ellen Moore nee Johnson. He
was born in Great Glen on 18 November 1900 and lived with his parents and maternal grandfather in
The Nook, Great Glen in 1911. His father was a labourer at the saw mills and also served in World
War 1.
Arthur was a Bombardier with the Royal Field Artillery – No. L/33462. He was awarded the British
and Victory Medals.
Arthur Edgar Moore married Millicent Gertrude Honeyman (of Middlesborough, Yorkshire) in Dec
qr 1929 in Great Glen.
It seems that they didn't have any children.
He died in Leicestershire in 1981 aged 82. His wife Millicent died in 1987 aged 91.
MOORE, C.
Roll of Honour
Cyril Moore was born in 1895 in Husbands Bosworth. He was the second of nine children of William
and Annie Moore. In 1901 the family were living at Blaby Wharf, Glen Parva, where his father
William worked for a coal merchant.
In 1911 they had moved to Great Stretton where William was a farm labourer and his son Cyril was
just “a worker”.
Cyril enlisted in January 1915 and his occupation was listed as Butcher. His address was given as
Stretton Hall, Farm, Oadby and his next of kin was William Moore (his father) of the same address.
76
Cyril joined the Army Service Corps in the 18th Division Field Butchery – No. S4/041959 . His skills
had been tested by Freda Whittle, a butcher from 43 Holden Street, Leicester and he was issued with a
Certificate of Trade Proficiency.
He was promoted to Corporal in March 1915 and left England for France on 7 July 1915.
On 18 October 1917 he was compulsorily
transferred to the 16th Battalion Rifle Brigade – No.
B202132. He was reported missing 21-30 March
1918 and had been sent to the Limburg Prisoner of
War camp in Germany. He was released at the end
of the war and arrived back with his regiment on 21
November 1918.
July 1916, the prison camp at Limburg-am-Lahn
in Prussia.
He spent 18 days in hospital suffering from
tonsillitis at the Magdalan Camp in February 1919
and was demobilised on 3 April 1919.
He was awarded the 1914/15 Star and the British and Victory medals.
Cyril married Ada Bennett in the Billesdon area – possibly in Great Glen – in 1920.
Cyril died on 4 September 1973 aged 78 years. His wife Ada died on 15 May 1983. They are both
buried in St Cuthbert’s Churchyard in Great Glen.
The grave inscription reads –
“In loving memory of a dear husband Cyril Moore, died 4 September 1973 aged 78 years.
Also Ada, dearly loved wife of Cyril, died 15 May 1983 aged 88 years. Re-united.”
MOORE, Samuel Arthur
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Samuel Arthur Moore was born in Oadby in 1876. He was the son of Samuel and Mary Ann Moore. In
1891, aged 15, he was living with his parents and 5 siblings at 30 Oadby Street, Oadby and was a shoe
finisher. By 1901 Samuel was married and living in the Nook, Great Glen.
He had married Edith Ellen Johnson in Great Glen in 1900 and their son Arthur Edgar was born in
1901.(Samuel Edgar Moore was also in WW1 and is researched elsewhere)
In 1911 he was still living in Great Glen with his wife Edith, son Arthur and his father-in-law and was
working as a labourer at the saw mills.
Samuel enlisted in the army on 27 December 1916 and was
a Private in the 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers –
No. 36139. He was part of the British Expeditionary
Force.
2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds
During the war he was a patient in Ward 8 at the 2nd
Northern General Hospital, Beckett Park, Leeds. This
hospital was originally built as a teacher training college
but became a hospital during the war. It reverted to
education use after the war but again became a hospital,
treating the wounded from Dunkirk in World War 2.
77
Samuel was awarded the Silver War Badge and the British and Victory medals. He was discharged on
24 October 1919.
Samuel and his wife Edith both died in Great Glen within months of each other in 1944. Samuel was
68 and Edith 72.
MORRIS, James.
Absent Voter
DOW Roll of Honour
A.B. R/4378 Command Depot., R.N.D. Perham Down - Discharged.
Nothing can be found of this soldier. And no connection to Great Glen with this name can be found.
NEALE, Harry William
Roll of Honour
Harry was born December 1877 in Great Glen. He was the son of Elizabeth and William Neale, Jnr.
His father worked as a farm labourer. Harry was the second youngest of 6 children.
By 1901he was now 23 years old and working as a hosiery hand - circular rib. He was still living with
his parents in School Street, Great Glen.
In June 1905, he married Rose Alice Kettle in the Bourne
District of Lincolnshire
1911 aged 33, Hosiery hand. Husband of Rose Alice (from
Bourne, Lincs), living in The Nook, Great Glen. Had been
married 5 years with no children.
Harry W Neale, on the Medal Rolls, R/AOC Pte 034911.
No other information.
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Demobbed 15 September 1915
It is a long standing joke in the army that the cannonballs shown on the
badge are the wrong calibre for the cannons.
It became the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1918
On 5th April 1993 it became part of the Royal Logistic Corps.
This is the WW1 Army
Ordnance Corp’s cap
badge before they
became the Royal Army
Ordnance Corps.
Harry William Neale died 20 January 1964 at The Caravan, The Grange,
Cross Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire. Probate to Violet Sharpe Smith.
78
NEALE, John Henry
KIA
Lance Corporal John Henry Neale 1st/14th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment
(London Scottish)
John Henry Neale was a Lance Corporal, No. 5739 in the 1st/14th Battalion, London Regt (London
Scottish) and he died on Sunday 10th September 1916
aged about 26.
56th
All of the family were born in Great Glen and in 1901
they lived in School Street. There were 9 in the house.
John’s parents 57 year old William and his wife
Elizabeth, his 2 older brothers, Harry (23) and Walter
(22), two unmarried sisters Florence aged 19 and Lilian
aged 8 and the eldest child, 28 year old Phoebe and her
husband Samuel Coleman. William was described as a
general labourer.
London Scottish badge
and tartan
The London Scottish was part of the 4th Army, XIV Corps, 56th Division, 168 Brigade when the
Battle of the Somme opened on 1st July 1916.
Their Division was involved on the first day at Gommercourt. The Division was involved in the Battle
of Ginchy on 9th/10th September, part of the Somme offensive which went on until 18th November
1916.
Maltz Horn Farm Battle Site
On 7th September 1916 the Battalion was in reserve at Maltz
Horn Farm. On 9th September they received instructions to go
out and attack the enemy. It was a very dark night. The
following morning, the 10th, the weather was misty, and when
the Battalion attacked they met about 200 Germans. Severe
casualties were inflicted on both sides and the trench system
under attack, known as Quadrilateral, remained in enemy
hands. John Neale was killed during this exchange.
John's entry at Thiepval
John, like many thousands of other WW1 soldiers, has no
known grave. He and his colleagues are commemorated at the
Thiepval Memorial on the Somme in France. Their names are
on ‘Pier and Face 9C and 13C of that memorial. For directions
on how to find the memorial please click on the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site link. A
major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1st July each year
– the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme in
1916
London Scottish
burying dead
The London Scottish
was, of course, a kilted
regiment and during
WWI a khaki apron
was issued to cover the
kilt. The photograph
79
View of the Thiepval Memorial
shows men of the London Scottish burying their dead comrades and the kilt and apron can be clearly
seen.
Bert Coleman was also in the London Scottish at the same time as John.
ORR, Edward Percival - Captain,
Roll of Honour
Lieut, 5th East Surrey Regt
Edward Percival Orr was born in 1891 in Birmingham. He was one of seven children of John and
Catherine Orr. John Orr was a clergyman and was vicar of Great Glen from 1910-1927.
During World War 1, Edward was a captain in the East Surrey Regiment and served in India and
Mesopotamia. In 1914 and 1915 he was involved in training exercises in Windsor, Tunbridge Wells
and Reigate. The London Gazette reported on 28 August 1014 that he was promoted to Second
Lieutenant.
After the war he joined the Territorial Reserves. He is recorded as applying for the British War Medal
in August 1919 and the TFW medal in October 1927. He was not issued with a regimental number.
After studying in Ireland – his father’s birthplace - Edward followed in his father’s footsteps and
became a clergyman. He served in parishes in Peterborough, Leeds, Ilkley, Elmsall, near Pontefract
and Littlehampton.
He married Dorothy Evelyn Hine in 1923 in Ilkley and they had three daughters and one son. He died
in 1970 in Suffolk at the age of 79.
OVERTON, G.F.
Roll of Honour
This man is probably George Frederick Overton, the son of Joseph and Mary Ann Overton.
George was living with his family at 46 Layton Road, Leicester in 1911. His parents had had 8
children, 4 of whom had died. Joseph Overton was a boot riveter and his wife Mary Ann a boot
machinist. George was 18 years old and worked as a boot preparer.
There is no verifiable information about his WW1 service.
In 1916 he married Margaret Ethel Hayward. Margaret was born in Great Glen and lived in Main
Street in 1901. Her father was Harry Hayward, a gardener.
No further information is available about George and Margaret’s life after WW1. They do not appear
to have had any children.
George Frederick Overton died on 17 December 1962 in Markfield Hospital. He had been living at 32
Parklands Avenue, Groby. His wife Margaret Ethel Overton died in 1979 in the Coalville area.
80
PACKE, Edmund Christopher.
Roll of Honour
Edmund Christopher Packe was a member of the well known Packe family of Great Glen, the owners
of land and property. He was the son of the Rev. William James and Margaret Lucy Packe and was
born in Feering, Essex in 1877. In 1891 he was boarding at a preparatory school in Eastbourne.
He went to Magdalene College, Cambridge but left in 1899 before completing his degree, in order to
join the army. He joined the Royal Fusiliers and fought in the Boer War.
He was severely wounded when a bullet narrowly missed his heart during the Relief of Ladysmith. He
was awarded the Queen’s medal. He eventually took his examinations at Cambridge and was awarded
a BA.
During World War 1, Edmund fought in France and
Belgium with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers and
was mentioned in dispatches three times. He
received the D.S.O – Distinguished Service Order in 1917. He was awarded the O.B E in 1919. After
World War 1 he served in Ireland during the Sinn
Fein rebellion and in India, before retiring with the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1920. He had served
in the army for 21 years.
Edmund married Olivia Rachel Nora Maclean in
Edmund Packe with his sons and daughter.
Pretoria, South Africa on 24 February 1908. They
had four sons and one daughter. Their eldest son Charles William Christopher was born in 1909 in
South Africa and died in WW 2. His second son, Arthur James was born in 1910, but died of
tubercular meningitis aged 10. His third son, Robert Julian, born in 1913, died in India of dysentery
aged 22. His fourth son Michael, born in 1916, was the only son to outlive him, and died in 1978.
Margaret, his daughter, was born at Stretton Hall in 1921.
In 1921 Edmund became a Justice of the Peace and in 1935 was Deputy
Lieutenant of Leicestershire.
Edmund inherited the Stretton estate from his father in 1909 but didn’t
move into Stretton Hall until he retired from the army in 1920. In 1910 he
was the biggest land and property owner in Great Glen.
When his other house, Glen Hall, became vacant, he sold Stretton Hall and
moved to Glen Hall in about 1931. Stretton Hall was sold as a hospital.
County Lieutenant
badge of honour.
Edmund’s wife Olivia died on 17 April 1933.
During World War 2 soldiers were billeted in the outbuildings of Glen
Hall and Edmund also took in evacuees. Edmund lived at Glen Hall until 1953 when he moved to a
smaller more modern home – Dell House. Much of his land and many properties were sold in the
preceding years in order to provide an income.
Edmund was a kind man and popular with the villagers. He died on 24 April 1961 aged 83 and is
buried in St Cuthbert’s Churchyard, Great Glen, with his wife Olivia and son Arthur.
The slate headstone reads:
OLIVIA RACHEL NORA PACKE died 17th April 1933 aged 48 years beloved wife of EDMUND
CHRISTOPHER PACKE Lieutenant Colonel Royal Fusilliers died 24 April 1961 aged 83 years.
For many years patron of this living also their son
ARTHUR JAMES PACKE died 2nd August 1920 aged 9 years
81
PEBERDY, Reginald Arthur
KIA
Private Reginald Arthur Peberdy 1st/5th Battalion
Leicestershire Regiment
Leicestershire Regiment Terrier Battns.
Reginald Arthur Peberdy enlisted in Leicester as a
private (No.23842) in the 1st/5th Battalion.,
Leicestershire Regiment – a Territorial battalion. He died
of wounds on Thursday 28th June 1917 aged 24.
He was the son of Alfred and Emma Peberdy of St
Thomas’s Road, Great Glen.
In 1911 the family lived in Great Glen and consisted of father Alfred (50), a signalman on the railway,
his wife Emma (51), their 23 year old son William employed as a joiner, Reginald, then aged 18 and
working from home in the Hosiery Industry, 15 year old daughter Nora & Leonard aged 10 and still at
school. The whole family, with the exception of Emma were born in Great Glen. Emma came from
Sywell in Northamptonshire.
Shoulder Title
Reg went abroad on 29th December 1915 just as the 46th
Division, of which his battalion was a part, was ordered
to move to Egypt. On 21st January 1916 this order was
countermanded and they returned to France. They then
moved to the Somme area and were involved in the
attack on the
Gommecour
t Salient in July 1916. Large casualties were suffered.
They were then involved in operations on the Ancre in the
spring of 1917.
It is not certain when Reg was actually wounded but
during the period leading up to his death the Battalion
moved to Marqueffles Farm on 22nd June 1917
On 23rd they rested and cleaned their weapons and on
24th a Church Parade was held which was attended by the
GOC who complimented the Battalion.
British Trench WW1
On 25th/26th training took place and on the evening of the 27th the Battalion moved to the Right Subsector. A heavy enemy barrage started at 2.30am on 28th and it was a very noisy night. At 4.00pm on
28th an assaulting force climbed out of the trenches, which were very deep, and lay down in front. At
zero hour the force advanced against little opposition other than enemy artillery and machine gun fire.
The objective was seized and consolidation commenced. The force suffered casualties during the
operation which included Reg Peberdy at some point.
Reg is buried in the Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, in France. This cemetery
was used by the 7th Casualty Clearing Station.
82
Reg is also commemorated
on the family monument in
St Cuthbert's churchyard in
Great Glen.
At some point he may have
sent home a regimental
Christmas card to a girl in
'Blighty' or to his parents.
The 1917 card is shown.
Noux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery
Some men were adept at
passing their time in 'Trench Art'. This involved making artistic or
utilitarian items out of old shell cases etc. This example is from an 18pdr
Reg's family grave
shell case showing the Tigers badge without the 'Hindoostan' arch as
used by Territorial and Service Battalions. Reg was in a Territorial
Battalion and would not have had 'Hindoostan' on his cap badge and this jug was actually made by a
man from Reg's battalion.
Reg was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal - the 'Pip, Squeak
and Wilfred ' full set.
Tigers Trench Art 18lb Shell
<
Tigers Christmas
Card 1917
>
PEBERDY, William Barker
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
96980 R.F.C (Royal Flying Corps) Air Mechanic Flying. 3 Stores Dip., H.D.L.
William Barker Peberdy was born in 1888 in
Great Glen - the son of Alfred and Emma
Peberdy. His father was a railway signalman
and the family lived in Burton Lane, Great
Glen in 1901. William had 2 sisters and 2
brothers.
William became a carpenter and joiner and in
1911 joined the Wigston branch of the
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and
Joiners.
Burton Lane, Great Glen c1900
83
On 11 September 1913 William married Alice Bennett in Great Glen and they had 2 children – Alfred
William born in 1914 in Leicester and Kathleen May born in 1916 in Great Glen.
William commenced service in World War 1 on 20 January 1917. He joined the Royal Flying Corps –
No. 96980 2nd/A.M.,. On 1 April 1918 he transferred to the RAF. His rank was Air Mechanic 2 in the
Royal Flying Corps and Air Mechanic 3 in the RAF. His pay was 2 shillings. He was discharged on 30
April 1920.
William died in Market Harborough in 1978 aged 90. Both he and his wife are buried in Great Glen
churchyard.
The inscription on the slate memorial reads:
ALICE PEBERDY died May 4th 1968 aged 79 years also her husband
WILLIAM died April 27th 1978 aged 90 years
PEERS, Charles Arthur (or Arthur Charles).
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Arthur Charles Peers is the probable name of C. D. Peers whose name appears on the Roll of Honour
in St Cuthberts Church. Charles Arthur Peers is on the absent voters list.
Charles Arthur was born in Ruyton, Shropshire in 1890, the third of six children of Harry and
Elizabeth Peers. His father was a domestic coachman.
In 1901 Arthur was living in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire
In 1911 Arthur Charles Peers was 21 years old. He had left home and was a boarder, living with his
married sister Marion and her husband in Kibworth and working as an Hotel Coachman. His name
was given as Charles Arthur.
In 1914 Arthur married Isabella Maud Mason. She was the daughter of Esra – a gardener – and Mary
Mason. In 1901 the Mason family were living in Top End, Great Glen. In 1911 Isabella was working
at the Asylum in Narborough. Arthur and Isabella had one daughter – Eileen – who was born in
Leicester in 1914.
He was called up into the 4th Battalion Leicestershire
Regiment where reached the rank of Acting Corporal No.
4619 but was then transferred into the Military Mounted
Police where he became a Corporal No. P5542
He went to France 28.10.1915 where he stayed until
returning to England on 07.08.1919. For this service he
was awarded the
British War Medal,
the Victory Medal
& the 1914/15 Star.
A Military Mounted Policeman of
the first World War.
Charles Peer’s Medal Card
If the information that he was attached to the 49th Division HQ
is correct then he would have arrived in Flanders about 6
months into their tour of duty which began in April 1915.the
49th (West Riding) Division was part of the Territorial Force
which was quickly mobilised on 5th August 1914 while they
were still on their summer camp.
84
Charles first encounter with the enemy would have been in December 1915 when the Division was
the first unit to be attacked with phosgene gas. 1916 saw the various components of the Battle of the
Somme and in 1917 the Division was involved on the Flanders coast. In 1918 there were numerous
parts of the Battle of the Lys involving the Division and then the final push into Picardy.
On 11th November 1918 the Division was resting and soon began the task of demobilisation although
it was to be almost a year before Charles came back.
In 1925, his wife Isabella died in Great Glen aged just 38. Arthur remarried in Camberwell, London in
1945 to Doris Evelyn Bray. They were living at 37 Selbourne Road in Camberwell, London when
Arthur died at The Hospital, Coulsdon, Surrey, on 9 April 1956 aged 66 years. Probate to his widow
Doris Evelyn. She was born 9 Nov 1896, and died in May 1984 in Birkenhead, Cheshire aged 87.
POTTER, Harry
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Harry Potter was born in 1881 in Leicester. His mother was Rose Ellen Potter. Harry had 2 brothers
and 1 sister - Thomas and Horace E and sister Rose M and the family lived for some years in Birstall
Street, Leicester. In 1911 Harry was still living with his widowed mother Rose Ellen at 38 Berner
Street, Leicester. Harry was a carpenter/joiner.
In 1913 Harry married Mary Elizabeth Grant in Great Glen. He was living there when he enlisted in
1915.
Harry enlisted at Leicester Town Hall on 6 December 1915 aged 34 years and 160 days. He was 5 feet
3 inches tall and weighed 116lb. His occupation was joiner and his last employer was J. Bailey of 38
Brougham Street, Leicester. He was in the Royal North Lancashire Regiment – No. 3453 – and
transferred to the 91st Company Labour Corps – No. 418332.
He fought in France for 2 years 2 months. While he was
there he was burned by a shell in 1917 which gave him
defective vision. He was admitted to 2 hospitals – 10
General Hospital at St Omer and 4 General Hospital at
Arques. He also suffered from rheumatism due to war
exposure. His disability was not severe enough for him
to be awarded a disability pension.
He was demobilised on 20 March 1919 and was
awarded the British and Victory Medals. His character
was described as “Good”.
St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British
Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916.
Lord Roberts died there in November 1914.
L'Hopital Anglais, a Saint-Omer
Harry died in Great Glen on 4 October 1946 aged 64. His wife Mary Elizabeth died in Leicestershire
in 1970 aged 95. They do not appear to have had any children.
85
POTTER, Horace Edgar
Roll of Honour
Horace was born 1888 in Leicester, the third son of Rose E. At the age of 15 he was working as an
errand boy and living with his widowed mother and 2 brothers - Thomas and Harry, and sister Rose M
in Birstall Street, Leicester.
In 1891 Horace was three years old and living in Leicester with his mother, Rose and 2 brothers and
sister. His mother was married but father was not at home.
Horace married Elizabeth A Crain in Dec 1910 in Great Glen. At this time Horace was an oil merchant
and hardware dealer, and they settled and lived at The Fox and Goose, in Great Glen.
Horace joined the S Staffs Regt. No 202204 on 9 Dec 1915.
Medical report dated 10 May 1916 from Cambridge: Horace was suffering from the effects of Gas
Poisoning: - Slight astigmatism, and was blind for 10 days. Eyes now itch and are weak. Photophobia
30%. C/o loss of appetite and suffering from weakness and giddiness.
29 Sept 1920: - States eyesight now all right.
Tongue furred and teeth fair. Total disability
20%, this being his lungs. Eyes water in
artificial light, and he is nervous and no
appetite.
Discharged on 9th April 1919 as being no
longer physically fit for war service.
Awarded the war, victory and British medals
In 1925 he was living in Adderley Road, in the
area of Victoria Park, Leicester
Soldiers blinded by gas poisoning in WW1
Elizabeth, his wife died in 1949, aged 61 years. they didn't appear to have any children.
Horace married again in 1953, to Agnes Patricia Williams in Leicester
Horace Edgar Potter of Chellaston Road, Wigston Fields, died 26 Dec 1962, aged 74. Probate to his
widow Agnes Patricia Potter.
PRATT, William Proudman.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Born in Broughton Astley in December 1881. He was the son of John and Susannah Pratt. His father
worked on a farm. Siblings were Percy William, Julia Mary and Francis Dora.
In 1901 William was in Great Glen and a visitor to the Lovett family, working as a chemist's assistant.
In June 1903, William Proudman Pratt married Mary Duckett in Southam district, Northamptonshire.
By 1911 they had been married for 8 years and had 4 children, but only 3 had survived, Percy
William, Julia Mary and Francis Dora. They lived at Merevale Hall Stables, Atherstone and William
worked as a coachman / chauffeur, domestic. They went on to have a further child in 1913 called
Maurice H Pratt, born in Great Glen.
William served in WW1, as M2/178146 Pte., M.T.,R.A.S.C. 44th A.S.P. 62nd Coy. (Army Service
Personnel) - B.E.F. Nothing further found of his military service
William died 30 June 1946 in Greenhill, Crick, Northampton. Probate to his wife, Mary Pratt, widow.
86
PYWELL, Matthew
'Find My Past' from Great Glen.
Matthew Pywell was born in Great Glen in 1884. He was the son of Joseph and Ann Pywell. His
father was a boot maker and in 1891 the family were living in Burton Lane, Great Glen. Matthew was
one of 7 boys – his brothers being William, Charles, Thomas, Thompson, Sydney and Frank. At the
time of the 1901 census Matthew was living in Kettering – a
boarder – and was a railway labourer aged 17.
Railway workers c1900
In August 1901 Matthew joined the army. He enlisted in
Leicester on 20 August 1901 and joined the Leicestershire
Regiment. He gave his age as 19 years when he was actually
only 17. He was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed
141 lbs. He had a fresh complexion with light brown hair and
eyes.
His occupation was bricklayer’s labourer.
Before WW1 he served in India and Egypt and on the 1911
census was living in barracks in Aldershot with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He was
promoted from Private to Lance Corporal on 11 January 1905 (unpaid) but reverted to Private at his
own request at the end of the year. He was awarded the 2nd and 3rd class Education Certificate in 1905
and completed a course on Chiropody in 1913.
At the outbreak of war in August 1914 Matthew, with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire regiment, was
serving in India as part of the Gharwal Brigade, Meerut Division of the Indian Army. In October 1914
the 2nd Battalion landed in Marseilles for service in France. Matthew fought in France until November
1915, taking part in the battle of Neuve Chapelle. By December 1915, Matthew was in Egypt but was
swiftly moved to Mesopotamia where the 2nd Battalion, with the 7th Indian Division, fought for the
next 2 years, taking part in many battles against the Ottoman Empire including the reoccupation of
Kut and the capture of Baghdad in 1917.
In January 1918 Matthew moved with the 2nd Battalion to Palestine, where he took part in various
actions against the Turkish Army including the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918.
Matthew was promoted to Sergeant on 10 January 1916, and then on the same day to Acting Quarter
Master Sergeant. On 15 January he received his final rank of Colour Sergeant. On the 15 April 1916
he was awarded the DCM – Distinguished Conduct Medal – for an exceptional act
of bravery. The citation reads –
“6205 Pte. M Pywell 2nd Battalion. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
He took charge of the Section Reserve Ammunition when the Company Quartermaster Serjeant was wounded, and himself carried up ammunition under heavy
fire”
Matthew ended his war in Palestine and was discharged from the army on 20
December 1919 after 18 years and 123 days of service. He received an army
pension.
He was awarded Victory, British and Star medals and also the clasp and roses as
well as the DCM.
Matthew married Ethel Mary Wilson on 7 June 1919 at Trinity Church, Leicester.
They do not appear to have had any children.
Distinguished
Conduct
Medal
Matthew died in Lincolnshire in 1949 aged 65, and was buried in Grantham Cemetery on 28 October
1949. His wife Ethel Mary died in 1974 aged 84, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
Matthew does not appear on any of the rolls of honour in Great Glen.
87
REYNOLDS, Albert.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Albert Reynolds was born in 1886 in Derby. He was the only son of
William and Elizabeth Reynolds who were fruiterers. Albert married
Alice Clements at Knighton Church, Leicester on 4 March 1907 and
they lived on South Knighton Road, Leicester.
By 1911 they had moved to 125 Evington Road, Leicester and were
fruiterers. They had two children – Violet Elizabeth, born 1908 and
Douglas Ellis born 1911.
In December 1911, Albert left England for Vancouver, Canada. He
sailed on the “Empress of Ireland” and arrived in St John, New
Brunswick on 6 January 1912.
Albert on his wedding day
He made his way to Victoria, Vancouver Island and worked as a steward on the “Princess Sophia”, a
coastal passenger steamer, owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway which plied the route from
Victoria to Alaska.
The Princess Sophia as
a troopship in Victoria
>
1915
The Princess Sophia
Albert enlisted with the 88th Battalion (Victoria Fusiliers) – No. 180397 47th Canadians - Egyptian
Expeditionary Force, 7 on 15 December 1915. His occupation was steward and his address given as
S.S. Princess Sofia, c/o CPR Wharf, Victoria B.C. Albert was described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall,
with a fresh complexion and brown eyes and hair. He gave his next of kin as his wife, Alice Reynolds
of 125 Evington Road, Leicester.
The 88th Battalion left for Britain on 31 May 1916. It provided reinforcements in France for Canadian
Corps in the field until 18 July 1916 and was then absorbed into the 30th Reserve Battalion. It was
disbanded on 1 September 1917. Once the 88th battalion reached England they were broken up and
sent in small groups to France to fill in the gaps of those battalions already there.
Albert survived the war and on the 1921 Canadian census was living as a lodger at 603 Belleville
Drive, Victoria, BC. His occupation was steward on a Canadian Pacific Railway boat, so he had
returned to his previous occupation. He is down as being single. He died on 4 April 1960 at Saanich,
Victoria, BC aged 73.
Albert’s family – his wife Alice and children Douglas and Violet - moved from 125 Evington Road,
Leicester in 1912. They went to live with Albert’s mother Elizabeth in Glen Gorse Lane, Oadby. His
wife Alice died on 16 April 1973 in Houghton-on-the-Hill. His son Douglas lived in Glen Gorse Lane
until his marriage in 1938 when he moved to Saffron Lane, Leicester. I can only think that Albert
Reynolds’ name was placed on the roll of honour in Great Glen Church because his family lived near
Great Glen.
88
RICHARDSON, W.
Roll of Honour
After extensive research by several volunteers nothing has been positively found to allow us to
identify this soldier.
ROBERTSON, Leslie Crauford (Crawford on Absent Voter)
Roll of Honour
Leslie Craufurd Robertson was born in 1898 in Scotland. He was the son of James Craufurd
Robertson and Lucie Rowley and the grandson of Robert Rowley, the well known Leicester Hosiery
Manufacturer.
The family lived in Stoneygate, Leicester but on the 1911 census Leslie was staying with his
grandparents at Glen House, Great Glen. He had a younger sister, Vera Lucie, who did not marry.
During World War 1, Leslie served with the Royal Garrison Artillery with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
In 1937 Leslie received a large bequest from his uncle – Thomas Stirk Rowley. He became the
Governing Director of R. Rowley & Co Ltd.
Leslie married on 16 February 1939 at St George, Hannover Square, London. He married Jane Mary
Cynthia Headly of Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire. They had one daughter, Sarah, born in 1942 in
Great Glen. Leslie lived in Oadby, Stoughton and Bushby during the 1930s.
Leslie became the Sheriff of Leicestershire in August 1946. At this time he was
living at Sludge Hall, Billesdon.
The Office of High Sheriff is at least 1000 years old having its
roots in Saxon times before the Norman Conquest. It is the oldest
continuous secular Office under the Crown. The High Sheriff
remains The Sovereign’s representative in the County for all
matters relating to the Judiciary, and they are responsible for the
well-being and protection of Her Majesty’s High Court Judges
when on circuit in the County.
Insignia and badge of The High
Sheriff
ROWE, Ernest
Leslie died in Genoa, Italy, in 1976. He was 78 years old. His
wife Jane lived another 20 years and died in 1996 in the Melton
Mowbray area.
Find My Past List
Ernest Row was born in Gt Glen in 1880, the fourth son of Johnathan and Jane Rowe. His father was a
Framework Knitter and his mother also worked in the trade as a needle woman.
By the time Ernest was 19, the family had moved first to North Kilworth and then to Leicester. He was
working as a shoe and boot clicker.
Ernest married Rosetta Ward in Leicester in Sept 1910. They settled in Myrtle Road, Leicester. Ernest
had by this time changed his vocation and was a coach painter, and Rosetta was a hosiery overlocker.
89
Ernest joined up at the age of 35 years and 7 months. He was a Boot Warehouseman at that time. He
was 5' 7" tall and weighed 140 lbs.
He was Gunner 83808 in the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) and was posted overseas to France 3
Sept 1916 and served in the field.
Ernest was admitted to hospital 3 Nov 1918, and discharged after 3 months having had influenza. His
discharge address was 35 Medway Street, Leicester.
He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Ernest Rowe died 3 March 1957. Probate to his widow Rosetta.
ROWE, John Henry
Find My Past List
John Henry Rowe was born in Gt Glen, as was his father, in 1876, the eldest child of Johnathan (sic)
and Jane Rowe. His father was a Framework Knitter and his mother also worked in the trade as a
needle woman.
By the time he was 15, the family had moved first to North Kilworth and then to Rosslyn Street in
Leicester. John too was a hosiery hand. In all there were 5 children - 4 boys and just one girl. His
brother Ernest was also in the war, and is researched elsewhere.
John married Elizabeth Ann Whitehead in 1901 and
they settled in Diseworth Street, Leicester. They
had 3 children, one of whom had died by 1911.
John was still working as a Hosiery Hand at the age
of 35.
John Henry joined up 6 Dec 1915, RASC (Motor
Transport) Reg No: 414142 and 237542. He was 39
years and 277 days old. He had brown hair, clean
complexion, physical development was good 5' 7"
tall and he had a mole on his back.
Lorry driver from WW1
Served in France 17 Nov 1918 - 9 May 1919 (174
days). He was a heavy lorry driver.
John died 19 December 1957. Administration to Cecil Ernest Rowe, joiner.
RUSSELL, Bruce Bremner
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Bruce Bremner Russell was born on 25 August 1859 in Kensington, London. He was the eighth of
nine children of John Alexander and Laura Cotie Russell. His father was a merchant doing business in
the East Indies and in 1861 the family appeared to live comfortably with servants and a governess.
Bruce attended Cheltenham College from 1872 to 1876 and The Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
in 1877. Bruce joined the Royal Engineers and was a Lieutenant in 1878. In 1888 he was serving in
India and was Inspector General of Military Works in Simla. He was promoted to Captain in 1889, to
Major in 1897 and Lt. Colonel in 1904. He retired as Colonel in 1912.
90
Bruce was a talented footballer and played for the Royal Engineers. He also played for England on one
occasion in 1883. His position was left back.
At the outbreak of World War 1, at the age of 56, Bruce came out of retirement
and was sent to Alexandria, Egypt. He did not have a regimental number. He
became Colonel, Deputy Director of Works B.E.F. It is noted that he was
voting by proxy by: Rev John Orr, The Vicarage, Glen Magna. (John Orr was
in WW1 and is researched elsewhere)
He applied for his medals in 1921 and was awarded the 15 Star and the British
and Victory medals. He was also awarded the D.S.O.
Bruce was living at The Mount, Great Glen in 1911 and 1912. He moved to
London and was living in Westbourne Mansions, Paddington in the 1920s.
D.S.O. Medal
Bruce died, aged 82, on 13 May 1942 in Hove, Sussex.
SCOTT, Walter. D.S.O.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
(Absent voter info - 175601 Gnr., 168 Siege Batt., R.G.A. - Military Hosp. Jock . Home Defence
Service.)
Walter Scott appears in the Absent Voters list as a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery No175601.
He also is said to have been awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order for Gallantry) and is thus
entitled to have the letters DSO after his name in perpetuity.
The Medal Card for Walter Scott of the RGA No. 175601 shows he was a Gunner in the RGA.
Walter William Scott was born in Kidderminster and
lived in Great Glen with his wife & family at Glenholme,
Oaks Road, Great Glen in 1911. Glenholme is now the
offices of EC Gilbert Ltd.
In 1911 Walter was a 37 year old Timber Merchant
married 13 years to his wife Rose.
They had a daughter & 4 sons all too young to have fought in the First World War. It seems strange
that the Walter Scott with this number was a gunner in the RGA as if that is correct then he could not
have been awarded the DSO as that is a gallantry award for officers only.
There is another Walter Scott in the village in the 1911 Census
who was a Framework Knitter born in 1890. He lived in Great
Glen with his widowed mother and his older brother & sister.
It seems to me that he is the Walter Scott shown in the list as
an absent voter in the Royal Garrison Artillery and as such he
could NOT have been awarded the DSO.
He is on the list as being a member of 168th Seige Battery of
the RGA. This battery went to France on 22nd September 1916
& became part of Vlll Corps. Over the next 2 years the Battery
6” Howitzer 26cwt
moved around quite a lot until 1st October 1917 when it finally
became part of 68th Heavy Artillery Group with which it
remained until the end of the war. It was equipped with 4 (later 6) 6” Howitzers, 26 cwt.
Walter died in 1971.
91
SIDDONS, John.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Lance Corporal 255256 Leicestershire Yeomanry., B.E.F.
Disembodied
Nothing can be found of this man in civilian life.
John Siddons was a member of the Leicestershire
Yeomanry, the mounted part of the Territorial Forces when
war broke out in August 1914.
The Leicestershire Yeomanry was part of the Territorial
Force Cavalry Reserve and John Siddons was serving with
John Siddons Medal Index Card showing
them with the service No 2179 when he first entered a
nd
he went to France on 2nd November 1914
Theatre of War on 2 November 1914. He would have
thus entitling him to the 1914 Star.
been with the 1st/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry. In March
1917 the whole of the Territorial Force was renumbered
and at the same time Yeomanry Cavalry units were affiliated to Reserve Cavalry Units. The
Leicestershire Yeomanry was placed with the Corps of Hussars and John Siddons allocated his new
number of 255256.
Leics Yeomanry Cap Badge &
Bradgate Park Memorial to
Leics Yeomanry
1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry






August 1914 : after completing mobilisation the regiment moved with the rest of the brigade
to Norfolk and was placed under orders of 1st Mounted Division.
3 November 1914: having left brigade, the regiment landed in France.
12 November 1914: came under orders of 7th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division.
November 1917: moved to 8th Cavalry Brigade in same division.
14 March 1918: left brigade with intention of being converted into a cyclist unit. This
intention was dropped and instead the regiment merged with the North Somerset Yeomanry to
form a machine gun unit. This was short lived and the regiment remounted.
4 April 1918: regiment split up, one squadron going to each one of the 4th Hussars and the 5th
and 16th Lancers, all in 3rd Cavalry Brigade.
SLANEY, L.
Roll of Honour
Louis Slaney was born in 1892 in Leicester. He was the only child of Archibald Slaney, an iron
founder and Ada Wheatley. Archibald Slaney lived apart from his wife and child, in Nottingham and
then in Leicester.
92
In 1901 Ada and her son Louis lived with her parents Thomas and Sarah Wheatley in Bindleys Lane,
Great Glen. Ada was a hosiery hand. At some point before WW1 Louis Slaney went to Australia and
lived in the Melbourne area. He was an electrician.
Louis joined the Australian Imperial Force on 19 July 1915, aged 23 years and 10 months. It stated on
attestation papers that he was an electrician – now a farmer. He was a Methodist.
He agreed that 2/5ths of his pay should
be sent from time to time to his mother,
living in Great Glen.
Louis embarked for Europe from
Melbourne on 7 March 1916 on the ship
HMAT Wiltshire. He was a Gunner – No
4996. During his time in France he was
hospitalised 6 times with an ongoing
complaint. He was also sent to hospital in
England – to Norfolk Military Hospital
and to Harefield Hospital – from where
he absconded for a day and lost 2 days
pay as a result.
On 2 May 1917 he was transferred to the
duties of Driver and remained a Driver
until the end of the war. He served with
numerous Brigades with the Australian
Field Artillary.
While on leave in England he married Gladys Muriel Dorothy Walker on 19 November 1917 at the
Leicester Registry Office. Louis had sent a telegram asking for 3 extra days leave but this request was
refused. His wife then lived at 37 ½ St Peters Lane, High Cross Street, Leicester. Louis joined her
there at the end of the war.
When the time came for demobilisation Louis put in an application to be demobilised in the UK. He
arrived in England from France on 3 April 1919.
His wife was expecting a baby at the end of 1919 and did not want to go to Australia with him. Louis
kept changing his mind as to whether he wanted to stay or go back to Australia which delayed the
proceedings.
At first the Australian authorities refused his application but eventually permission was granted for
him to stay in England. His wife became ill after the birth of the baby and needed operations and this
was cited as one of the reasons for him to stay in England.
Louis was in work at T.H. Wathes, Electrical Engineers, of
High Street, Leicester in 1919 and then with F. Webb,
Electrical, Heating and Gas Engineers of Kelvin Works,
Cank Street, Leicester. Louis was eventually demobilised in
London on 20 August 1920, after 5 years and 32 days
service.
He was awarded the British and Victory Medals and also the
Badge and War Certificate from the Australian Army.
Louis and Gladys did go to Australia. On 3 August 1922,
93
S.S. Benalla - built 1913
they set sail from London on the S.S. Benalla with their 2 year old daughter Ena. The family lived in
the Melbourne area and Louis continued to work in the electrical trade. By the early 1940s he and his
wife were living apart.
Louis died in 1975 in Heidelberg, Victoria aged 83. His wife Gladys had died in 1972 in Starke,
Victoria aged 81.
SLATER, Edwin Thomas
KIA
Find My Past
CWGC (not on the war memorial)
Edwin was born in Great Glen in 1882. He was the son of William Thomas Slater, a corn miller born
in Market Harborough & his wife Eliza born in Glenfield.
In 1901 he was living with his widowed mother (a laundress) at 5 Court, 44 Northgate in Leicester
where he was working as a leather
cutter. By 1911 things had
improved and he was working in
Leicester as a Tram Conductor but
still living with his mother at 22
Slater Street in Leicester.
Edwin enlisted in the 6th Battalion
Leicestershire Regiment at the
beginning of the First World War.
His number was 30809.
In April 1915 the battalion was part of the 37th Division which began to form up at
Cholderton on Salisbury Plain and were inspected by the King on 25th June 1915. From
22nd July they started to cross the Channel and by 2nd August 1915 were concentrated near
Tilques.
The Battalion became part of 110th Brigade within
37th Division and actually landed in France on 29th
July 1915.
110th Brigade was known as Leicester Tigers Brigade
as it was made up of 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th Leicesters,
110th Machine Gun Company (From March 1916) &
110th Trench Mortar Battery (From March 1916).
Cholderton 1918 crossroads
A year later on 7th July 1916 the Brigade
st
was transferred to the 21 Division and
took part in the various Battles of the Somme from that date until 8th October 1916.
During this time the Brigade captured Geudecourt during the Battle of Morval (part of The
Battles of the Somme).
Later the 21st Division was transferred to Vll Corps in the 3rd Army and were involved in the German
Retreat to the Hindenberg Line from 14th March 1917 to 5th April 1917. This was followed almost
immediately by the First Battle of the Scarpe which lasted from the 9th to 14th April 1917 and during
which battle Edwin was killed in action.
He is buried in the Boyelles Communal Cemetery Extension.
Edwin was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal but as can be seen from his Medal
Card these were returned by his mother to the War Office
94
SMITH, Bertram Edward KIA Find My Past
CWGC (Not on the war memorial)
Bertram was born in Great Glen in 1888 and died in
France on 3rd April 1917.
In 1891 he was alone visiting Samuel & Hannah Sharpe
in Shepshed.
In 1901, aged 10, Bertram was boarding at 1 Chestnut
Street in Leicester. There appears to be no members of
his family in the house and he had no occupation written
against his name, nor was he listed as at school.
In 1911 Bertram was boarding at 39 Napier Street in Leicester & working as a tailor.
He enlisted in the 8th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (No 18535) near the beginning of the
War and they were attached to the 23rd Division. The Division began to assemble in Hampshire in
September 1914 and moved to Aldershot in December. In April 1915 they were transferred to the 37th
Division 110th (Leicester Tigers) Brigade.
110th Brigade was known as Leicester Tigers Brigade as it was made up of 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th
Leicesters, 110th Machine Gun Company (From March 1916) & 110th Trench Mortar Battery (From
March 1916).
In April 1915 the Division began to form up at Cholderton on Salisbury Plain and were
inspected by the King on 25th June 1915. From 22nd July they started to cross the Channel
and by 2nd August 1915 were concentrated near Tilques.
Just over a year later on 7th July 1916 the Brgade was transferred to the 21st Division and
took part in the various Battles of the Somme from that date until 8th October 1916. During
this time the Brigade captured Geudecourt during the Battle of Morval (part of The Battles
of the Somme).
Later the 21st Division was transferred to Vll Corps in the 3rd
Army and were involved in the German Retreat to the
Hindenberg Line from 14th March 1917 to 5th April 1917.
The Arrass Offensive began on 9th April 1917 until 16th June
1917 and was to include many notorious battles. Bertram’s
Division took part in 1st Battle of the Scarpe 9th to 14th April and
3rd Battle of the Scarpe 3rd & 4th May during which battle
Bertram was to lose his life. He was 29 years old and has no
known grave. He is listed on the Arras Memorial. He was
entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal.
SMITH, Gerald Aylwin
Arras Memorial, France.
Absent Voter
Gerald Aylwin Smith was born on 8 December 1898 in Old Humberstone, Leicester. He was the
second of three sons of Stephen and Helen Smith. The family lived in The Cottage at Great Glen
Manor, where Stephen Smith was a groom.
1911, Gerald Aylwin, aged 12, brothers and sons of Stephen George and Helen Smith. The Cottage,
Great Glen Manor
95
Gerald joined the army at Glen Parva Barracks
in 1917 and his occupation was listed as a motor
driver. He was 18 years and 60 days old. He
gave his N0K as Stephen George - his father, of
The Cottage, Great Glen.
He was a Private and served in the Mechanical
Transport Division 149th Company of the Army
Service Corps, Motor Transport. M/287149 Pte.
In September 1919 he was transferred to the
RASC Record Section and on to the 3020
M.A.C.
Glen Parva station with the Barrack buildings on
the right.
He was transferred to class 2 on 26 March 1920.
He was part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
It seems that Gerald didn't marry, and he died in Kings Lynn, Norfolk in February 1985.
SMITH, G. (Geo)
2nd Lieut
Roll of Honour
R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps)
Nothing found for this soldier. Is it George or perhaps Geoffrey?
SPRIGGE, Charles Cooper.
Roll of Honour
DoW
Charles Cooper Sprigge was born in Leicester in 1896. He was the son of George Cooper Sprigge and
Isabella. His father was a solicitor with offices in Loseby Lane, Leicester. Charles’ mother died in
1896, the year he was born and his father remarried in 1899 in Ballymena Ireland to Ralphiena
Victoria Sloan. Charles had a sister Margaret and three half siblings – Benjamin, Georgina and
Kathleen. In 1911 Charles was a boarder at a school in Bedford.
Charles enlisted with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment – No. 24688 - on 10 December 1915 at
Hinckley, Leicestershire. He was attested for labour only and not for general service. His medical
report stated that he had defective eyesight. His occupation at the time of enlistment was farmer’s
assistant and his address was Park Farm, Hinckley.
He continued to work on the farm until he was
recalled on 26 January 1916. The owner of the
farm asked the authorities to allow Charles to
remain on the farm as he could not manage with
reduced labour. The request was granted and
Charles remained on the farm for another two
months. On the 1 April 1916 he was sent to
France.
He had attempted to join the 5th City of London
Regiment but this was rejected because he was
attested for labour only. He was eventually
Carnoy Military Cemetery
96
assigned to the 12th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment – No. 21186.
He died of wounds on 23 October 1916 and died in the Main Dressing Station. He is buried in the
Carnoy Military Cemetery, in France, near Albert and Peronne where the battle of the Somme was
fought.
There was a delay in informing his family of his death because Charles’ home address of Park Farm,
Hinckley had been entered as the address of his next of kin, his father George Cooper Sprigge. The
letter was returned to the authorities with the note that the recipient had gone away.
His father received Charles’ belongings from the authorities in December 1917. They comprised of –
New Testament, spectacles (broken), photo, letters, plan of religious services and cards. He also
received his son’s Victory and British medals in 1921.
Charles’ father George Cooper Sprigge continued to practice as a solicitor and on his death in 1937
was living at The Sycamores, Great Glen. He and his wife Ralphiena are buried in St Cuthberts
Churchyard, Great Glen.
The commemoration in the churchyard reads:
In loving memory of GEORGE COOPER SPRIGGE the dearly loved
husband of RALPHIENA VICTORIA who died 23rd April 1937 and was
cremated also our dear mother RALPHIENA VICTORIA SPRIGGE who
died 30th January 1950
SUTTON, Thomas Harold
DoW
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
M2/031494 Pte., M.T. A.S.C., 10th Motor Ambulance Corps. A.C., B.E.F.
Thomas Harold Sutton was born in Billesdon district in early 1883, the son of James Sutton and Zillah
Simpson.
In 1901 Thomas Harold Sutton was aged 18 and living in Newton Harcourt with his widowed mother,
Zillah, his 19 year old brother Edgar and his maternal grandfather Thomas Sutton. Zillah worked as a
self employed laundress and Edgar was working as a clerk with the Railway. Thomas was a groom.
On 14th April 1914 he married Annie Matilda Allen at St Cuthbert's church in Great Glen and they set
up home together in High Street
Great Glen
<<<Thomas is the gentleman
sitting in the centre of the
photo with Annie, the bride,
on his left.
97
Thomas was a heavy lorry driver, not a common occurrence in those days, and volunteered whilst in
London on 21st December 1914. After what must have been virtually no training he was posted to
France on 1st January 1915 as a member of 26th Division MT Company Army Service Corps (ASC).
This Division was part of 5 Corps and he appears to have been with the same division and corps for
the whole of the War. It seems therefore that he spent the whole time he was in the army driving
backwards and forwards from the Channel to the front wherever 5 Corps were involved. He had 14
days home leave in March 1918
After being in Germany for a time with the Army of Occupation he was sent back to England and
Glen Parva Hospital from where he was discharged to Harrowby
near Grantham and eventually demobbed on 24th May 1919.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the
Victory Medal but it seemed that all was not as it should have been.
He was diagnosed as suffering from nemasthenia (now called
neurasthenia) better known as 'shell shock'. A tribunal awarded him
a disability pension of 12/- per week from 28th June 1920.
His disability was not physical but mental and he died in 1921. His
widow Annie received her Widows Pension with effect from 24th
August 1921. She was thus left to bring up her son Edgar, aged 7,
alone.
Army Service Corps
The Army Service Corps became ‘Royal’ late in 1918.
SYMES, G.J.
Roll of Honour
George James Symes was the son of Louis and Annie Symes. He was born in 1898 at Upwey, near
Weymouth in Dorset. He was baptised on 25 September 1898 in Upwey, Dorset. His father was a
gardener.
In World War 1 George joined the North Staffordshire Regiment – No. 51062, and was awarded the
Victory and British medals.
George married Florence Eva Sturgess from Fleckney in 1923. They had three children – Vivienne in
1927 who was born in Great Glen and Alan and David in 1929, born in Leicester.
George died on 24 October 1964 aged 66. He was living at 2 Kimberley Street, Kibworth Beauchamp.
Probate was granted to his son David Symes, a building Society manager.
TAILBY, George
Absent Voter
George Tailby was born in 1889 in Gumley. He was the son of Walter, a tailor, and Mary Tailby.
In 1907 he married Elizabeth Mary Thompson in Kettering and they had a son – Gordon Harry.
In 1911 George was working as a house painter and lived at Stretton Hall Lodge, Great Glen. They
had at least two children, a son Gordon Harry born in Market Harborough district in 1908 and a
daughter, Mary, born in Great Glen in 1915.
98
In World War 1 George joined the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, 5th Reserve Battalion – Private 18951.
He was awarded the British and Victory medals.
George died on 28 January 1954 aged 65 at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. He lived at 180 Queens
Road, Leicester. Probate was granted to his wife, Elizabeth Mary Tailby.
His wife died on 14 March 1960 at Abbotts Langley, Hertfordshire. Her address was given as 180
Queens Road, Leicester and probate was granted to Gordon Harry Tailby (her son), a plastics
manufacturer.
THOMPSON, Lawrence William Frederick
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Lawrence was born in Great Glen June 1889, the son of John and Emma Thompson.
In 1891 he was with his parents, being the youngest of 3 children.
1911, aged 21, Lawrence was working as a grocers assistant and still living with his parents at Glen
Brook, Great Glen.
In September 1913, Lawrence married Elsie Sykes in the Blaby district. They had one child - Brenda
M Thompson born in Leicester, Dec 1921.
He worked as manager for the Industrial and Provident Society in Great Glen in 1925
On attestation he was a store keeper, on 25 May 1916. He joined the Leicestershire Regt. No:30186.
Later joined the Cheshire Regt. 50621 Pte., 10th Cheshires - Discharged 11 Sept.1918
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals
Lawrence William Frederick Thompson of Sunbreak Bungalow, Main Street, Great Glen died in
Leicester on 7 May 1961, aged 72. Probate to his widow Elsie Thompson. Elsie died in Market
Harborough in 1967 aged 74
TOWERS, Alfred.
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Alfred was Born in Billesdon, in 1892, the youngest of 4 children of Tom and Dinah Towers. The
children were all born in the village of Billesdon and Tom, his father,
was the village chimney sweep.
In June 1914 Alfred married Elsie Mary Measom (born 1892) in Great
Glen on 27 April 1914.
They had a child Rose Ellen, born 22 Aug 1914 in Great Glen. Further
children were Verdun George Alfred b 6 March 1916 and Harold born
13 April 1918 both in Billesdon. A further child Gordon was born in
1920.
At aged 23 he was a factory hand. And enlisted in Market Harborough as
Pte 238320 the 10th Leicestershire Regt. on 3rh June 1915. His address was Great Glen.
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Alfred was given a protection certificate, giving his new address in Burton Overy, Great Glen.
He had been in the Territorial’s for 4 years prior to enlisting. He
was posted 19 June 1915
238320 Pte., 410 Agri. Coy., Labour Corps H.D.L. Discharged
0n 4 April 1919, giving his address as Burton Overy. Theatre of
war was France.
He had 20% disability and awarded a pension of 13s..10d until
2 Sept 1919
Alfred Towers died in Leicester in Jun 1967, aged 75 years.
Rose Ellen died in Hinckley in 1976 aged 79 years.
WALKER, Robert Wynne Stanley
Soldiers that Died CD
In 1891, Robert was visiting a chemist called Herbert Wathers in Blackpool, and seems to have three
elder siblings with him, Herbert C Walker aged 13, Fanny S Walker aged 11, Annie G aged 9. Robert
was ages 2. (all born in Leicester.)
1901 census was at school in Rugby. Aged 17. Born Leicester
The marriage took place between Robert Wynne Stanley Walker aged 26 and Alice May Le Breton
aged 28 in Langham, Westminster 4 November 1909. Marriage banns were called in All Souls
Church, St Marylebone, London. On this we learn that Clement, her father was a Barrister K.C. They
were living in Great Portland Street, whilst his father Theodore Walker was a Manufacturer, and they
were living at Meadow Cottage, Sandhill Wormley, Godalming
In 1911 Robert was aged 28, married and living with wife Alice May
Walker, born in Jersey aged 29. They had been married for 1 year and
no children. Living with them were two servants - a parlour maid and
cook. The address was 50 Don Road, Jersey. Occupation was Doctor
of Medicine.
Robert joined up 7 September 1916, and served in the Royal Army
Medical Corps, as a Lieutenant. He served in Salonica. He was
awarded the Victory and British War Medals and silver war badge.
He applied for B.W. in Rib and 22 Dec 1919. He gave his address at
this time as 50 Don Road, St Helens, Jersey.
Robert W S Walker died in Great Glen on 22 August 1922 aged 39
years.
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Dr Walker’s gravestone in
Great Glen Churchyard
Postscript from 'Leicestershire Soldiers that Died':
He was the son of Theodore, a Hosiery Manufacturer, and his late wife Annie Walker. Robert
died of tuberculosis after the cessation of hostilities. Robert had embarked for Salonica in 7th
September 1916. He was educated at Rugby Public School. His father presented half an acre
of ground for a cemetery extension in memory of his son.
His obituary in the British Medical Journal : -
We regret to record the death after a prolonged illness of Dr Robert Wynne Stanley Walker of
St Helier, jersey which took place at the residence of his father, Glenn Hall, Leicester, at the
age of 39. Dr Walker was educated at Cambridge University College, London. He graduated
at Cambridge University and University College, London. He graduated M.A., M.B., B.Ch. in
1908 and proceeded M.D. in 1910, being awarded the Raymond Horton-Smith prize for his
M.D. thesis on congenital heart disease. After holding resident posts in University College
Hospital, the Hospital for Women, Soho, and the Great Northern hospital, he went into
practice in Jersey where he was appointed honorary surgeon to the Jersey Dispensary and
Infirmary. He was honorary secretary and treasurer of the Jersey Division of the British
Medical Association. During the war Dr Walker joined the R.A.M.C. and went to Salonica,
and on war service he contracted tuberculosis trouble, and a few years he had spent the
winters in Switzerland and the summers between Jersey and Glenn.
Dr Walker made several contributions to medical literature. His many friends will regret the
untimely end to what had promised to be a brilliant career.
Robert Wynne Stanley Walker of Glenn Hall died 22 August 1922. Probate to Ernest Theodore
Walker, company director, Robert William Elder, solicitor and Alice Mary Le Breton Walker, widow.
WARD, Percy Albert
Find My Past List
Air Force Records
Percy was born in Great Glen 10th April 1901, He was the son of Herbert Edward Ward and Hetty
(Harriet Elizabeth Collins). Herbert, his father was a railway signalman on the Midland Railway. His
parents were living in Great Glen before Percy's birth in 1901.
Percy was 10 on the 1911 census and had gone with his father to stay with the Sprigg family in
Caldecott, Rutland. He is described as a schoolboy.
Percy joined the RAF on 30 September 1918 aged 17 + years old for the
duration of the war. His civilian occupation was noted as a motor
mechanic. He was 5 ft 8 inches in height, light hair and blue eyes with a
fresh complexion. Percy was a Wesleyan Methodist.
He was discharged as unfit 4 Feb 1919 having suffered a fracture of the
occipital bone.
Awarded the Silver War Badge on 13 March 1919.
Percy Albert Ward married Harriett Mary Cave in Leicester in 1922
They had one child, Eileen S Ward, born in Sept Qr. Leicester in 1923
Percy Albert Ward of 144 Coleman Road, Leicester died 29 December 1923 at the Isolation Hospital,
Gilroes. Administration to Harriet Mary Ward, widow. He may have been a victim of flu or
tuberculosis as so many soldiers were when they came back from the trenches
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WARNER, David
KIA
Lance Sergeant David Warner 1st/4th Battalion Northamptonshire
Regiment
201385.
David WARNER was a Lance Sergeant No. 201385 in the 1st/4th
Battalion of the
Northamptonshire Regiment.
He had previously been No.
3/18119 in the Leicestershire
Regiment
David was born in Kibworth
Beauchamp on 2nd May 1882
and enlisted in the Leicester's
Northamptonshire Regt.
at Leicester and later was
transferred to the Northampton's. He was killed in action in
Palestine on Thursday 19th April 1917.
Gaza War Cemetery
He is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel, Grave
Reference X111.D.5.
Unloading a British Ration Camel
>>>>>>>
Gaza is 3 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean coast,
65 kilometres south-east of Tel Aviv.
1/4th Northants were part of 54th (East Anglian) Division which went to Palestine in December 1915.
After defeating a Turkish/German army in August 1916 the British took control of the Suez Canal and
began to build railways and communication lines for the 1917 offensive. A large British force together
with Indian troops and ANZAC mounted troops attacked Gaza twice and failed both times. The first
time was on 26th/27th March and the second time was 17th – 19th April 1917 when Lance Sergeant
David Warner was killed.
David was the son of David & Susan Warner of Kibworth Beauchamp. He married Grace Jane Neale
of Great Glen in 1909 and in 1911 they were living
in Great Glen with their daughter 1 year old Susan
Elizabeth. Both David & Grace worked in the
hosiery industry.
His name also appears on the Kibworth War
Memorial.
When the Census was taken on 31st March 1901
David jun. was an 18yr old Ordinary Seaman No.
197348 on HMS Renown which was at Gibraltar as
HMS Renown
part of the Mediterranean Fleet. She was a fairly new
battleship having been built in 1895. She did not see
the Great War as she was sold for scrap in April 1914.
It can only be assumed his tour of duty in the Navy finished before the 1911 Census was taken and
that he then returned to civilian life in Great Glen/Kibworth, married and when war broke out
preferred the Army to the Navy.
David was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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WARNER, William Broughton
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
William was born in Kibworth in Jun 1876.
1881 William was aged 4 living with his parents, Adam and Georgina Warner, and 4 siblings. Adam,
his father, was a coal porter. By 1891 he was 14 and an apprentice, still living with the family in
Kibworth.
In 1901, he had left his family home and had moved in with
his brother-in-law and wife, James and Hannah Wand in
Great Glen. They were wine and spirit merchants, and
William was working for them. 1911 aged 35 years, and
single, still living with his brother-in-law, and wife - James
Barber Wand and Hannah Elizabeth in Great Glen. He and
his brother-in-law now ran a grocery shop which also sold
wine and spirits, and recorded also as a flour dealer. James
Barber Wand was born in Great Glen.
Coal Portering with mules in 1900
In 1913 William Broughton Warner married Ella Vendy in
the Market Harborough area - probably Great Glen. They
had two children, Charles S born 1915 and Arthur B born in
1919, both in Great Glen.
William served in as P/387347 Pte. R.A.S.C. Remounts (army service corps, training horses) at
Romsey, and was part of the Home Defence League.
William Broughton Warner of Great Glen died 10 October 1944. Probate granted to Ella Warner,
widow, and Oscar Alfred Watson incorporated accountant. His wife Ella died Sept 1970 in Leicester.
WATKINS, Alfred Ernest
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Alfred Ernest Watkins was the son of John and Rebecca Watkins and was born in 1892 in Kettleburgh,
Suffolk. He was one of four children and had one brother and two sisters.
The family were living in Great Glen in 1911. Alfred worked as a winder in the hosiery industry.
In World War 1 he was a Private in the Notts. and Derby Regiment – the Sherwood Foresters – No:
202042 – and was awarded the British and Victory medals.
In 1918 he married Elsie Belton in Leicester and they had four children. Elsie died in 1967 and Alfred
in 1977 aged 84.
They are both buried in St Cuthbert’s Churchyard in Great Glen.
The monument in the churchyard reads:
DEREK WATKINS died 19th September 1999 aged 68 years
ELSIE WATKINS died Jan 20th 1967 aged 71 years
ALFRED E WATKINS died Jan 4th 1977 aged 84 years
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WATKINS, Charles Henry
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Charles Henry Watkins was born in March 1891 in Kettleburgh, Suffolk. He was the eldest child of
John and Rebecca Watkins. John, his father worked as a groom.
The family moved to Great Glen between 1893 and 1896 and by 1911 his parents had been married for
22 years and had two boys, Charles and Alfred, and two girls - Amy and Florence, both daughters
were born in Great Glen.
Charles and his brother both worked in the hosiery business, Charles as a top framer and Alfred as a
winder.
In World War 1 Charles was a Private in the 18th Battalion, Essex Regiment – No. 57974 and was in
the Labour Corps – No. 652396.
He was awarded the Victory and British medals.
In 1920 he married Gabrielle O.J.G. Lambert in the Great Glen area.
Gabrielle died in 1977 in Wolverhampton. Death not found for Charles Henry.
WHITTLE, Arthur
Absent Voter
Major, Wilts Regt
Arthur was the son of Arthur and Elizabeth Ann(Smith)
Whittle of Alston, Lancashire. Arthur's grandparents were
George and Elizabeth Whittle and they were cotton
manufacturers employing 600 hands, and also a farmer
employing 12 men. Arthur was born in Draughton,
Northants during the Dec qr 1886, and was christened in
Longridge, Northamptonshire on 26 December 1886.
Arthur's father took an apprenticeship at a cotton weaving
shed in Longridge, Lancashire where he lived with his
widowed mother and 6 siblings.
By 1881 Arthur's father was unmarried living with his
mother, a widow, and siblings in Alston Lodge, Alston and
working as a cotton manufacturer. He seemingly had taken
over his father's cotton manufacturing business. In June of
that year he married Elizabeth Ann (Arthur's mother) in
Lancashire and by 1891 were living in Farm House,
Draughton, Northamptonshire where they had 2 children,
Arthur and Stanley.
1901 Arthur was still living with his parents in Draughton, Northants.
By 1911 Arthur's parents were living with their 22 year old son, Stanley at The Woodlands in Great
Glen. However Arthur, aged 23 years, had fled the nest and was a Commissioned Lieutenant stationed
in St Aubyn, Devonport, serving in the Leinster (Leicester?) Regt.
In 1911 he married Beatrice French in Devonport.
On 29 July 1911 the couple arrived on the 'Megantic' in Quebec, Canada, listed as a retired army
officer.
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He served as Captain 7 Wilts Regt then Major, 7th and 1st Wilts Regt. during the 1914-18 war. His
theatre of war was France and Salonica.
Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 star and British War Medal, and Victory medal. His address was
stated to be c/o May A Whittle with change of address -The Woodlands, Great Glen, Leicester.
Further application re medals was made
18.11.20.
On demobilisation he gave his address as 23
Bernard Street, Russell Sq., London and c/o Cox
& Co 16 Charing Cross, S.W.
On 5 January 1922 Arthur boarded the
'Demosthenes' in Plymouth, bound for Australia,
recorded as aged 35, a farmer of Great Glen. He
had with him his wife, Beatrice. They declared
that they intended to make their home in Australia.
HMS Demosthenes
Arthur Whittle (senior) of The Woodlands, Great Glen, died 18 Dec 1935 aged 82 years.. Probate to
William Leslie Little, Cotton Manufacturers, and Charles Alick Plant.
They are both buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard, the grave reads:
In loving memory ELIZABETH ANN WHITTLE born March 19th 1857 at rest April 29th 1917, also of
ARTHUR WHITTLE of Woodlands Gt Glenn beloved husband of the above who died December 18th
1835 aged 82 years
“Thy will be done”
No death for Arthur or Beatrice was found so presume they stayed in Australia and probably died
there.
WILLIAMSON, Gordon Victor
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Gordon Victor Williamson was born in 1899 in Great Glen
In 1891, Gordon's father was living in Fleckney with his wife Eliza Hannah. Joseph was a framework
knitter. They had a son Ralph M born in Fleckney.
Joseph William Williamson and Eliza Hannah
Garner were married in 1887 in the district of
Market Harborough, probably Fleckney. Sadly
Eliza Hannah died in Fleckney in 1895 aged 30
years.
Joseph married for the second time in Great Glen
in1897 to Bertha Jane Jayes and by 1899, when
Gordon was born, had settled in Great Glen.
In 1901 Gordon was 2 years old and living in Great
Glen with his father Joseph his mother Bertha, his step brother Ralph , his brother Horace Claude and
his grandmother Rebecca. They lived on Main Road in the third property from The Greyhound Inn.
By 1911, aged 12, a scholar. His father was working as a hosiery hand at a woollen hosiery
manufacturers. He had one full brother a year older than himself, Horace Claude who was also in the
war and researched elsewhere. Also living with his parents was a son, Ralph Maurice aged 22 working
as an engine driver in the timber trade. He was half brother to Gordon from his father's previous
105
marriage. There was also a boarder called William George Hubbard who was aged 30 and a carter.
This boarder was in the war and researched elsewhere.
Gordon Victor Williamson joined the 1/5th Kings Own Light Infantry. Gordon V Williamson Reg No:
99399 also served in the Liverpool Regt. He was part of the British Expeditionary Force.
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
After the war, in 1924, he married Jessie G M Clarke in Buckinghamshire.
Gordon Victor Williamson died in Watford in March 1980 aged 81 years.
WILLIAMSON, Horace Claude
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
Horace Claude Williamson was born in 1898 in Great Glen a year after his father Joseph William
married his second wife Bertha Jane.
By 1911, aged 13, he had joined his father working as a hosiery hand at a woollen hosiery
manufacturers. He had one full brother a year younger than himself, Gordon Victor who was also in
the war and researched elsewhere. Also living with his parents was a son, Ralph Maurice aged 22
working as an engine driver in the timber trade.
He was half brother to Horace from the previous marriage. There was also a boarder called William
George Hubbard who was aged 30 and a carter. This boarder was in the war and researched elsewhere.
Horace's medal card tells us that he joined the Leicestershire Regt., No: 23511 and served with the
British Expeditionary Force. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals
After the war, in 1923, he married Harriet Ann Parker in Leicester.
It seems they went on to have three children. Twin girls called Betty and Jean in 1929 and a son David
J in 1934.
Horace Claude Williamson died at 51 Regent Street, Oadby on 15 November 1965. Administration to
Harriet Ann Williamson, widow. Harriet died in 1966 in Leicester.
WILLIAMSON, John Sisman
Absent Voter
Roll of Honour
John Sisman Williamson was born in Stamford in 1879.The middle name Sisman was the maiden
name of his mother Mary Alice Sisman who married Thomas Williamson in 1876 in Thrapston.
By 1891 the Williamson family were living on Knighton Church Road Leicester. John had one older
brother Thomas Limbert and three younger brothers Samuel, Percy and Bertie. Their mother Mary
Alice died in 1892.
John’s father Thomas Williamson married a second time to Charlotte Annie in 1900. Charlotte Annie
brought with her 4 children from her first marriage, one from her second marriage and went on to have
another daughter in 1903.
In 1901 there were 2 adults and 9 children living on Lord Byron Street Knighton. John was 21 years
old and working as a groom. Thomas, his father, was a farm foreman and Charlotte was a shopkeeper.
John married Sarah Ann Stickland in 1902 in Leicester.
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In 1911 John,31, was a greengrocer in Great Glen and Sarah was helping in the family business. They
lived in High Street.
He would have been 35 years old at the start of the war. He was called up and served in the Royal
Army Medical Corps as Private, 95168, 2nd advance depot. He served as part of the British
Expeditionary Force.
John was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John's death is recorded in the Stamford district in 28 August 1942, when he was from Pode Hole,
Spalding, Lincs, and he left effects to Percy James Williamson, Cycle Agent.
Sarah Ann Williamson born 1874 and died in Spalding 1935 aged 61 years.
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