tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9538964118291717272024-02-07T18:45:50.765-08:0089 WW1 HeroesNewquay War Memorial lists 89 men from the town who died in WW1. Here are their stories - Lest We ForgetAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-81836235205589986042018-07-30T03:21:00.000-07:002018-07-30T03:25:37.960-07:00C Bullock<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Christopher Bullock</b></div>
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<b>Born 18 November 1888 St Enoder, Cornwall Killed in Action 4 October 1917 </b></div>
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<b>Private 32375 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment</b></div>
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<b>Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1V6Ggqm8hTdCC0FSqDCL3hV1JOR3VoLU1mwUWZ54_uRQjlXTQ15vEFY3gs07XbmRzl5wrnIggpGDPDBFtLVHR6jJiNpjc-qcVpq7qDETxupAkfH-BeFUWNMaeJ4LfWwIw4zD2KJs-R_6/s1600/Christopher+Bullock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1V6Ggqm8hTdCC0FSqDCL3hV1JOR3VoLU1mwUWZ54_uRQjlXTQ15vEFY3gs07XbmRzl5wrnIggpGDPDBFtLVHR6jJiNpjc-qcVpq7qDETxupAkfH-BeFUWNMaeJ4LfWwIw4zD2KJs-R_6/s320/Christopher+Bullock.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Christopher "Kit" Bullock - photograph courtesy of a family member</span></div>
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Christopher (known as Kit to his family) was the son of William Jeffrey Bullock and Mary Jane Blake. William, the son of a miner, was a labourer in the china clay industry. Christopher would follow him into this line of work. </div>
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Mary Jane and William married in 1871. They had the following children:</div>
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Edward John b. 1872 d. 1874</div>
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Mabel b. 1876 d.1965</div>
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Elizabeth Alberta b. 1878 d. 1895</div>
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Alfred b. 1885 d. 1956 (USA)</div>
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Arthur b. 1886 d. 1970 (USA)</div>
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John b. 1887 d. 1956<br />
<b>Christopher b. 1888 d. 1917</b></div>
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Evelina b. 1892 d. 1991</div>
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Evelina and Mabel are listed at the same address in Newquay on the 1939 Register. Evelina had married, but Mabel remained a spinster. Two brothers, Alfred and Arthur, emigrated to the USA prior to World War 1.<br />
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I can't find when Christopher joined the army. His medal card shows that he was posted with the Middlesex Regiment, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Somerset Light Infantry and the East Lancashire Regiment. The 2 Battalion Middlesex Regiment and 1 Battalion DCLI were both part of 14th Brigade 5th Division, so Christopher may well have been reassigned. He was then transferred to 11th Brigade 4th Division, with 1 Battalion SLI and 1 Battalion East Lancashire Regiment.<br />
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Christopher would have spent all his active service around Ypres and the Somme. It is likely that he lost his life during the Battles of Ypres (3rd Ypres or Passchendaele) at the Battle of Broodseinde.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/By%20The%20original%20uploader%20was%20MWadwell%20at%20English%20Wikipedia.%20-%20This%20tag%20does%20not%20indicate%20the%20copyright%20status%20of%20the%20attached%20work.%20A%20normal%20copyright%20tag%20is%20still%20required.%20See%20Commons:Licensing%20for%20more%20information.,%20Public%20Domain,%20https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6581617">No Man's Land, 5 October 1917 Broodseinde Ridge</a></span></div>
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4th Division were with General Gough's Fifth Army. The plan was to take Broodseinde Ridge and, at a great cost, this was achieved. Heavy rain hampered the operation, turning the ground into a quagmire.<br />
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Christopher's body was not recovered for burial, but his sacrifice is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-27871172852574849662015-04-26T06:34:00.001-07:002015-04-26T13:25:11.171-07:00H C Rickard<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbKg8UcCATpNiNA7tCe2i8WpT3bGr8HivdsTxs_zE9iqE2wpXJjZmU1vkifaXOmL-mHcZunHq7c3bOZ1S6pyAonTtjLgY3C4hguMOsQu6zC56nsI_1L5ddSiEp7HDXdOxNuHIOS5Y2xsb/s1600/Cecil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbKg8UcCATpNiNA7tCe2i8WpT3bGr8HivdsTxs_zE9iqE2wpXJjZmU1vkifaXOmL-mHcZunHq7c3bOZ1S6pyAonTtjLgY3C4hguMOsQu6zC56nsI_1L5ddSiEp7HDXdOxNuHIOS5Y2xsb/s1600/Cecil.jpg" height="320" width="108" /></a><b>Henry Cecil Rickard</b></div>
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<b>Born 9 June 1897 Brioude, France Died of the Effects of Gas 26 August 1918</b></div>
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<b>Corporal S/14862 1/5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders </b></div>
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<b>Buried at Ligny St Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt</b></div>
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Henry Cecil Rickard, known as Cecil, was the youngest child of John Henry Rickard and Mary Annie Mitchell. The couple had married in 1886 at the Wesleyan Chapel at Bolingey. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZPFOLVzbLHLu4TnmRIuMhBUyI_5nRw-NgYp2kDE5rFSiYCnLoGHFlG1Q0_7lPePIdb-crCYrVBSUK6rzuaJNvTk_c7D4ocnhisRknGkW5LjpevLVLpEoURk1sklw6KKXatKtgRWGUfau/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZPFOLVzbLHLu4TnmRIuMhBUyI_5nRw-NgYp2kDE5rFSiYCnLoGHFlG1Q0_7lPePIdb-crCYrVBSUK6rzuaJNvTk_c7D4ocnhisRknGkW5LjpevLVLpEoURk1sklw6KKXatKtgRWGUfau/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a>John Rickard's job as a mining engineer took him to France, where all of the couple's six children were born. Sadly, two of the children died in infancy. Cecil, along with his brothers, was sent back to Cornwall to be educated. He attended Truro School and later obtained a first class certificate at the School of Metalliferous Mining in Camborne. His brothers, Thomas and Rene, also took up careers in mining. </div>
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Cecil enlisted on 5 July 1916. With his mining background, he might have been expected to become a sapper; instead, he became a gas instructor with the Seaforth Highlanders at the Cromarty Naval Base. In April 1918 Cecil was transferred to the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and was sent to the Western Front. Despite his training, he was gassed on 27 May 1918 and spent some time recovering at Le Treport Hospital. He wasn't alone; the Battalion diary records that 52 men were wounded or gassed around this time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRIQZ21m-j2SxSqEowJZEf1rCaDf01ZMxXDwljBZ_FjPNUMzf1tV3XUPXF2xhFa_0GfxXgKDyNQtdnU2aHpmzdhXvvVTggseCTT9mIZYuiRX5b4avOSChJ4klaN0GypJD1LKGeSv8sXCq/s1600/Scroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRIQZ21m-j2SxSqEowJZEf1rCaDf01ZMxXDwljBZ_FjPNUMzf1tV3XUPXF2xhFa_0GfxXgKDyNQtdnU2aHpmzdhXvvVTggseCTT9mIZYuiRX5b4avOSChJ4klaN0GypJD1LKGeSv8sXCq/s1600/Scroll.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a> By 8 August he was well enough to rejoin his regiment, but his time back in the trenches was short. Once again, he was gassed, this time whilst holding the line at Arras. The War Diary for the 5th Seaforth Highlanders records for August 1918:</div>
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"On the 2Ist, the battalion again advanced and<br />
captured another system of trenches. During this<br />
period, our lines were heavily bombarded, principally<br />
with gas shells, and gas casualties were severe, but<br />
the advance continued steadily, and in six days'<br />
fighting the Chemical Works, Roeux, Plouvain, and<br />
Greenland Hill, a slightly rising piece of ground north-<br />
east of the Chemical Works, were once again in British<br />
hands. "</blockquote>
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Cecil died at the 7th Casualty Clearing Station on 26 August 1918. Around 117 other men were gassed during this period. </div>
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Cecil's Commanding Officer wrote to Cecil's parents:</div>
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"I can't express my sorrow at the death of your son, one of the best NCOs of my company".</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7kNGQLH4YWVhycan0Bmysn3qjZEonzw_sVgB90s2besGww217W8FBBrKejVq9PR4KKeIcvXDoNWttlo1Nt6VrPhs069Kd3ETuvOfX8MuVeAKXVDuN-c3H-rNXYPuYG8rGwdjVS8IUxbc/s1600/Rene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7kNGQLH4YWVhycan0Bmysn3qjZEonzw_sVgB90s2besGww217W8FBBrKejVq9PR4KKeIcvXDoNWttlo1Nt6VrPhs069Kd3ETuvOfX8MuVeAKXVDuN-c3H-rNXYPuYG8rGwdjVS8IUxbc/s1600/Rene.jpg" height="320" width="142" /></a></div>
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Cecil's brother Rene, shown right, also served in the army, happily returning from the war. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTrTBecgGANXiF8KyffolAziXz4b6TIRvTQyFVyHenEO9cA_Fnqa-8Ci4VePqOJDmsnZPyJkDlm-cafu-606bn_f8JeOFd8Cyk7q_b24LFF1K94PgcBHLT-_gcIhA1MgZGSCTWDuNySU4/s1600/Newquay_WarMemorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTrTBecgGANXiF8KyffolAziXz4b6TIRvTQyFVyHenEO9cA_Fnqa-8Ci4VePqOJDmsnZPyJkDlm-cafu-606bn_f8JeOFd8Cyk7q_b24LFF1K94PgcBHLT-_gcIhA1MgZGSCTWDuNySU4/s1600/Newquay_WarMemorial.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a>Mr and Mrs Rickard had bought a home in Newquay before the war - Mrs Rickard and her daughter Florence were recorded in Colchester Villas, Edgcumbe Avenue, on the 1911 Census - and continued to live there after the war. Hopefully, they took some consolation in seeing Cecil's name on the new war memorial - the family have kindly shared these photographs of the ceremony dedicating the war memorial in 1921. </div>
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As well as being remembered on the town's war memorial, Cecil's name is included on the Truro School memorial. I've noticed that he is not mentioned by the Camborne School of Mines, so I shall get in touch with them. The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser carried a story on 19 Feburary 1920 about a service at the town's Wesleyan Church. The "impressive" service was occasioned by the unveiling of a brass plaque paid for by Mr and Mrs Rickard in memory of Cecil. In addition to Cecil's name, H A Bray, R H Clemo, C A Colmer, J H Ennor, C R Ennor, F Jewell, E Julian, T Luke, R Rawle, R Rowlatt, R and A Trebilcock were included on the plaque. A collection of £7 was collected, which was donated to the Cottage Hospital fund. </div>
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Mr Rickard died in 1941 and Mrs Rickard died 10 years later. Their address at the time of their deaths was 5 Edgcumbe Avenue, Newquay. </div>
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All the photographs in this blog have been kindly shared by Cecil's family and are used with their permission. I am very grateful to them for their assistance and kindness. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-85477710192037721122015-02-22T05:40:00.001-08:002015-04-26T13:43:57.075-07:00J L Rogers<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>John Lewis Rogers</b><br />
<b>Born 1890 Truro Died 15 November 1918 Cairo</b><br />
<b>Captain 1/4 Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry</b><br />
<b>Buried Cairo War Cemetery</b><br />
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John was the son of china clay merchant Joseph Rogers and his wife Elizabeth Webber Salmon. Joseph was born in Ireland, though he had moved to Cornwall at an early age. The couple lived in Kenwyn, Truro. </div>
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The couple had five children, of whom four survived:<br />
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Ruby Lillian (did not marry) (born 16 October 1883 - 1981)</div>
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Hazel Salmon (married George Darel Senhouse Le Messurier) (born c 1885 - 1947)</div>
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Olive Mary (born c 1887)</div>
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<b>John </b>(born 1890 - 1918)</div>
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On the 1911 census, John is listed as a shipping clerk, boarding at a house in Blackheath. His parents had by this time moved to Newquay, living at Bolowthas with two of their daughters and a couple of domestic servants. </div>
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I can't find the date on which John joined up, but I have found a report in the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser from 18 July 1912 in which he is mentioned. The annual training of the Cornwall Territorials took place in Newquay and J L Rogers is listed among the Lieutenants of the 5th DCLI. <br />
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After war was declared, John's battalion was stationed during the war. The 1/4 left Truro in 1914 and sailed for India on 9 October 1914, arriving at Bombay on 10 November. They remained in India for over a year, leaving early in 1916 and landing at Aden on 28 January. After a year with the Aden Brigade, they travelled to Egypt, arriving on 13 February 1917. John is mentioned in the DCLI History on 9 April 1918. He was taking part in an action against the Turks in Palestine, near Ballut Village, commanding A Company. Along with another company, his men were occupying a ridge and came under heavy fire with the result of 17 men losing their lives and 46 being wounded. </div>
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The 1/4 DCLI were last in action on 31 October 1918. Sadly, having safely come through several battles, John lost his life due to pneumonia on 15 November 1918. </div>
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John's parents erected a memorial to him at St Columb Minor Church, which also lists the other men who fell during the Great War. </div>
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During his war service John kept a personal war diary, which is kept at the Imperial War Museum. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-45741108884762651092015-02-20T09:42:00.000-08:002015-02-20T09:42:05.095-08:001000 Speak for Compassion: Compassion in the Trenches<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Was the War a Compassion-Free Zone?</b></div>
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I’m taking part in a global initiative called 1,000 Voices
for Compassion. Today, bloggers all over
the world are writing posts about compassion.
I was slightly at a loss when my good friend Yvonne mentioned her idea –
wonderful though it is, it doesn’t seem to fit comfortably with military
history. I thought I might have to give
it a miss, until I read the Pope’s Lenten message. There, he referred to the <i>globalisation of indifference</i>, a state in which we are often so
caught up in our internal world that compassion gets left behind. It led me to wonder what happens to compassion when we are
caught up in the horrors of our external world; when there’s a war, for instance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Compassion: It's Not Just for Christmas</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Artist's Impression of the Christmas Truce 1914</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Wikimedia, Public Domain</span></div>
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Amid all the carnage of the Great War, it’s tempting to
think that compassion was blown away, shattered like the tree stumps on the
Western Front. The narrative that we
have received supports this idea. War
poets like Wilfred Owen recounted their experiences in words dripping with pain
and bitterness; films dwell on the drama and gore. But in those four years did stiff upper lips
replace kind hearts; did cynicism overtake kindness; was compassion overtaken
by duty? <o:p></o:p></div>
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My feeling is no, compassion did not wither away. It was alive and well, although it was
sometimes forgotten in the everyday routine of life, just as it so often is
today. I’ve not undertaken any great
research on this, it’s just my opinion, based on snippets of information I’ve
read over the years. Some of it’s in the
public domain, some of it is amongst my family’s papers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the most iconic moments of the war was rooted in
compassion: the Christmas Truce and
football match of 1914. The men on the
ground left their trenches and met in no man’s land to fraternise, celebrating
peace and exchanging small tokens. No
hate, no rancour, just care and empathy for their fellow men. Over all too soon, but a glimmer of
compassion in the midst of the mud.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Greater Love Hath No Man</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-d2lXUdCdg83DFDgoUGHj61FIsN-2-fvZwuneF9R0lX4rFVid015yM44us_8ICOCAAnGN-gQeM3pTNEgrP6dET3kIhPP_-46vzvWsB3ZgNY3L7f0BqzIXa7D6bYTjKJKmAEyhqC1PQPG/s1600/Noel+Chavasse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-d2lXUdCdg83DFDgoUGHj61FIsN-2-fvZwuneF9R0lX4rFVid015yM44us_8ICOCAAnGN-gQeM3pTNEgrP6dET3kIhPP_-46vzvWsB3ZgNY3L7f0BqzIXa7D6bYTjKJKmAEyhqC1PQPG/s1600/Noel+Chavasse.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Noel Chavasse Memorial</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Gaius Cornelius (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons</span></div>
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In the panic and chaos of the trenches, compassion could go
unnoticed, but occasionally it was seen and rewarded. The Victoria Cross is awarded to military
personnel who display bravery, valour or self-sacrifice in the face of the
enemy. Often, the men who received the
award during World War 1, did so because they were attempting to rescue wounded
comrades. 628 VCs were awarded during
the war to 627 men. Captain Noel
Chavasse VC received the award twice.
Captain Chavasse, a doctor with the RAMC was first awarded a VC for his
action in recovering and treating the wounded whilst under heavy fire at
Guillemont on 9 August 1916. He received
his bar (second award) for refusing to leave his post for two days, despite
being wounded, and assisted in not only treating men, but carrying them to safety
whilst again under heavy fire. He was to
die of his own wounds shortly thereafter.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can think of no greater compassion than to ignore the risk
to one’s own life in pursuit of the safety of another’s. Men awarded VCs, like Captain Chavasse, are
not the only ones to have risked themselves.
Many unarmed stretcher bearers laboured in the mire of no man’s land to
recover their comrades and bring them to safety.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Uncommon Kindness for the Common Man</b></div>
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Combat on the front line produced its heroes, but away from
the action there were everyday deeds of kindness too. My great-uncle Sidney was wounded early in
1917. Somehow, someone got word to one
of his brothers. Edwin was stationed, I
believe, at a hospital far away from Sidney, where he worked with St John
Ambulance. There must have been thousands
of men wounded at that time, but rather than treating this family crisis as a
commonplace occurrence that must be endured, Edwin’s superior officers
organised a train ticket and gave him leave to visit his brother. Despite a frantic dash across France, he
arrived “too late to see the last of Dear Sidney”, assuring his parents in his letter home that the
hospital staff were kind and sent condolences.
Edwin stayed overnight with an NCO who gladly offered to share his quarters. The next day, Edwin bought flowers for the
funeral and again was treated kindly by the military and hospital staff. Back at his own hospital, he was met with
condolences and recognition of the pain of his loss from comrades and superiors
alike. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It seems to me that there was plenty of compassion in the war, and not just the great acts of bravery and heroism, but small, simple gestures that made life slightly more bearable in a time that could have become all too unbearable. Today, as the Pope said, we are in danger of becoming indifferent to our neighbours and losing our compassion for our fellow beings. Yet, if these soldiers, medics and nurses could show compassion in the midst of all the suffering around them, never losing sight of their humanity, we can too. More good reason to say:</div>
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<b>Lest we Forget</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-79491039739213247172015-02-19T09:35:00.000-08:002015-02-19T09:35:03.794-08:00S Brown<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Samuel Brown</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Born circa 1878 in Perranzabuloe Killed in Action 15 July 1916</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buried at Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sapper 98226 155th Field Company, Royal Engineers</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Enlisted Newquay 9 May 1915</b><br />
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Samuel was the son of a copper miner, Samuel, and his wife Elizabeth Pascoe. The couple had another son, William, who was born two years before Samuel. Samuel was baptized on 28 November 1878. His parents are listed as residents of Bolingey. <br />
<br />
Elizabeth was the daughter of surgeon Richard Pascoe, himself the son of a surgeon. By the 1870s the Pascoes were living in Perranzabuloe, where presumably Elizabeth met Samuel Brown Snr. The couple were married on 4 July 1876, the 22 year old groom stating that his occupation, like that of his father William's, was a miner. 21 year old Elizabeth gave her father's occupation as "Gentleman". Her sister Emmeline was a witness.<br />
<br />
Elizabeth and Samuel do not appear to have enjoyed a long married life. Elizabeth is shown as widowed on the 1891 census. She went on to marry Samuel Kitto, a miner, and she and her two sons were living with him in Newquay by 1901. Elizabeth's sister, Emmeline, married Samuel Kitto's son, Jonathan. <br />
<br />
Samuel Brown is listed as a joiner on the 1901 census. He married on 5 October 1908, to 21 year old Maud Elizabeth Carter, whose father James was a Newquay fisherman. The couple were living in Commercial Square by 1911, where Samuel had his own business as a tobacconist. Their son, William Kenneth, had been born on 9 November 1909.<br />
<br />
Part of Samuel's service record exists and shows that he joined up on 9 May 1915. He stated that his occupation was a carpenter and joiner. His number of dependents had increased, a second son, Cyril Owen having been born in November 1913. Samuel left for France on 18 December 1915. The entry on his record detailing his death is indistinct. <br />
<br />
After he enlisted Samuel went to the Royal Engineers and became a sapper, the RE's equivalent of a private. 155th Field Company were part of the 16th (Irish) Division and arrived in France in December 1915. Samuel was killed before their first major battle, at Guillemont, a phase of the Battles of the Somme. The 16th (Irish) Division were concentrated around the Bethune area until they moved up to the front in September 1916. Samuel is buried in the cemetery extension that the Division opened in April 1916 for their war dead.<br />
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Both of Samuel's sons appear to have passed away in the early 1980s. Maud does not seem to have remarried and lived until the mid 1960s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuKn9lYhSqeKTBdgZY-eUJ4bsf9m37Ptmpc_WUNhLYva9XE0fOfsxRL6FjTObEwdBVbBMBZHmVM4EOlh8_FPU_FEkjNUXkh1Hic0J7SZxXqPvaNVVibRkZ1z-prtzAfz_br2VNO3L2b0X/s1600/Mazingarbe_Communal_Cemetery_Extension_-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuKn9lYhSqeKTBdgZY-eUJ4bsf9m37Ptmpc_WUNhLYva9XE0fOfsxRL6FjTObEwdBVbBMBZHmVM4EOlh8_FPU_FEkjNUXkh1Hic0J7SZxXqPvaNVVibRkZ1z-prtzAfz_br2VNO3L2b0X/s1600/Mazingarbe_Communal_Cemetery_Extension_-3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mazingarbe Cemetery Extension</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Wernervc (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-30859825416728609532015-02-18T06:21:00.002-08:002015-02-18T06:21:58.751-08:00K C Campbell<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kenneth Gordon Campbell</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>12 February 1895, Cambridge Killed in Action 25 September 1915</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buried at Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lieutenant 12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z5vuWEFyp1aXXEHoW_crQaNo7se4szTHBy5rBpFO-3ducE9evN6DkPqNfA2jU-2MQn294dqKLJpASltV94gyyll_A7mzo8lKeJ_2yqPHwfNZVJ0-j8QNx9lhmzG43Lp5gMRABlnH5TGd/s1600/Kenneth+Godon+Campbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z5vuWEFyp1aXXEHoW_crQaNo7se4szTHBy5rBpFO-3ducE9evN6DkPqNfA2jU-2MQn294dqKLJpASltV94gyyll_A7mzo8lKeJ_2yqPHwfNZVJ0-j8QNx9lhmzG43Lp5gMRABlnH5TGd/s1600/Kenneth+Godon+Campbell.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Kenneth died at the age of 20</span></div>
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The inscription on the war memorial is incorrect; the initial "C" should be a "G". </div>
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Kenneth Campbell is connected to Newquay as he and his parents - Frederick Gordon (a barrister) and Blanche Campbell - came to the town for holidays. Eventually his parents bought a house here, overlooking the golf course and Kenneth became quite proficient at the game. They appear to have moved away shortly after the war.</div>
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I'm not going to write any more about Kenneth, since I've found two excellent articles already written about him and they cover all the bases, so I shall link to them. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/archive/kenneth-gordon-campbell/">Winchester College article</a> about their former student.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
A very comprehensive article about Kenneth and his family on the <a href="http://www.millroadcemetery.org.uk/MillRoadCemetery/Page.aspx?p=29&ix=3220&pid=3224&prcid=4&ppid=3224">Mill Road Cemetery </a>website.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-26593575845983889162014-08-08T05:13:00.000-07:002014-08-08T05:16:31.620-07:00B A Pollard<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bertram Alfred Pollard</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Born circa 1874, in London? Killed in Action 13 October 1915 </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buried at Spoilbank Cemetery, Nr Ypres</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Company Sergeant Major 3/6084 6th Btn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The earliest census return for Bertie is 1881. Aged 6, he is living in Penzance with 64 year old Elizabeth Wallis, a retired general servant. She is the head of the household, his relationship to her is "boarder. His birthplace is stated as Banbury, Oxfordshire. Ten years later, he is still a boarder with Ms Wallis, though he is now said to have been born in London. On his army records he said he had been born in Penzance and at one time he lists an "E Wallis" in Penzance as his next of kin, stating that she is his aunt. There is a Bertram Alfred Pollard recorded as born in Kensington, London in the last quarter of 1874, so perhaps this is Bertie.</div>
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His parents are conspicuous by their absence. On his CWGC records it states that his parents are Mr and Mrs Alfred Pollard of Penzance, though I've not found any other record of them.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bertie, a harness maker, enlisted with the regular army on 5 June 1893, having already joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry militia . On 2 June 1873 he had been examined at Bodmin. He was 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall, weighed 116 pounds and had a chest measurement of 32 inches - 34 1/2 inches when expanded. His complexion was sallow, his hair dark brown and his eyes blue. The examining doctor was unimpressed and considered him unfit due to his chest measurement. Three days later, a captain declared him fit and Bertie embarked on a long career with the Army with the 2nd Battlion DCLI. His records show his service at home and abroad as follows:</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
5 June 1893 - 9 Dec 1894 UK</div>
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10 Dec 1894 - 20 Feb 1900 India</div>
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21 Feb 1900 - 17 Aug 1901 Ceylon</div>
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18 Aug 1901 - 7 June 1905 Home</div>
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8 June 1905 - 2 Sept 1907 Gibraltar</div>
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3 Sept 1907 - 19 Jan 1910 Bermuda</div>
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20 Jan 1910 - 10 Mar 1913 South Africa</div>
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11 Mar 1913 - 4 June 1914 Home</div>
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On 28 April 1905, Bertie married Alice Ann Jones in Penzance. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
His discharge came on 4 June 1914, just two months before the outbreak of the Great War. He and Alice must have found a home in Newquay, as the town is given as his place of residence on the casualty records. He re-enlisted at Bodmin and was posted not to his previous Battalion, but to the 6th Battalion.</div>
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Bertie's medal card shows that he was in France by 21 May 1915. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The history of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry gives no details of the incident in which Bertie was killed; in fact, it simply states that for the final three months of 1915 in Ypres, nothing of great note happened to the 6th DCLI. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaLFjjicZFbqVR4PyXYg2vdN4xAjMOk0vSGxffNpztfgiWpWRxU9No12V31lFzzbdGYLOFHqsvO-lt1PTFtv5a4omVDVCTYnmdPbro2dEMbcJ7AtyFM_7ivtFmcXvtmWYP9gl2Asp6AMc/s1600/yrpes+wounded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaLFjjicZFbqVR4PyXYg2vdN4xAjMOk0vSGxffNpztfgiWpWRxU9No12V31lFzzbdGYLOFHqsvO-lt1PTFtv5a4omVDVCTYnmdPbro2dEMbcJ7AtyFM_7ivtFmcXvtmWYP9gl2Asp6AMc/s1600/yrpes+wounded.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">British wounded being evacuated from Ypres</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Rogers, Gilbert (MBE) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons</span></div>
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Bertie is buried with three other men of his battalion who fell on 8, 9 and 11 October.</div>
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Alice had his gravestone inscribed with the words "In fondest remembrance RIP". She appears to have moved back to her native Wales, dying in Cardiff in 1949. She and Bertie do not appear to have had any children.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-9362286393656185152014-08-06T09:04:00.000-07:002014-08-06T09:04:46.113-07:00F H Passmore<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Frederick Herbert Passmore</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Born 1888 in Plaistow, London Killed in Action 1 May 1918</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Buried Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lance Corporal 80803 Royal Army Medical Corps Enlisted Newquay 30 October 1915</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
Frederick was the son of Frederick Thomas Passmore and Florence Louisa Parr. The couple married in 1882 in Bristol. Frederick Snr was a pastor, working as a city missionary in London during his son's childhood. <br />
<br />
The couple had four children, one of whom died in infancy. The three surviving children were:<br /><br />
Edith Miriam b. 1884<br />
<b>Frederick Herbert</b><br />
Dorothy Winifred b. 1900<br />
<br />
By 1911, Mrs Passmore and Dorothy were living in Golf Terrace, Newquay. Frederick Senior was visiting in Devon at the time of the census. Frederick Herbert had found work in Bristol as an assistant chemist. He must have moved back to Newquay by 1915 since that was the year he made two important decisions and both record him as living in Newquay. <br />
<br />
Frederick had met Helena Maud Irons, a young woman born, like him, in 1888. Helena was the daughter of George and Eliza Irons, her father making his living as a master mariner. Helena worked as a shop assistant and lived with her parents at Alma Place. On 30 October 1915 Frederick and Helena married in the town and, on the same day, Frederick enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps.<br />
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Very little of Frederick's service records survive. They do tell us that he was a small man, just 5 feet 3 1/2 inches tall, with a 33 1/2 inch chest. The RAMC was probably delighted to have him; he was a registered dispenser and his records show that he passed his first aid course earning him an increment on the pay scale. He was posted abroad on 31 July 1916. No doubt he was needed, that being the first day of the Battle of the Somme.<br />
<br />
Frederick's record shows that he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 27 December 1917. This is confirmed by the Commonwealth Graves Commission Registration Reports, but he is shown as a Private on both the Roll of Honour and his gravestone.<br />
<br />
The CWGC Registration Report shows that four other men of the 75th Field Ambulance died alongside Frederick on 1st May 1918.<br />
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<br /></div>
His widow asked that his gravestone be inscribed with the words "The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us of all sin". <br />
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Helena appears not to have remarried and lived until 1968.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-4803714782706507272014-08-05T04:01:00.001-07:002014-08-05T04:01:37.749-07:00The Lamps Went Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiOGyzJ_DYyJI-VydSuqvE8oLLcH7yMIDAtpn5VgAeInTVkVxNhLGANKlr7saHjyvzgJwVp2cnopDyUW5dxgB9jvMVTKgZ50mk1u94_JQFOP9zATxsj8VuQt5PT6_E5qB8wy_30DcdVMV/s1600/DSCN0991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiOGyzJ_DYyJI-VydSuqvE8oLLcH7yMIDAtpn5VgAeInTVkVxNhLGANKlr7saHjyvzgJwVp2cnopDyUW5dxgB9jvMVTKgZ50mk1u94_JQFOP9zATxsj8VuQt5PT6_E5qB8wy_30DcdVMV/s1600/DSCN0991.JPG" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yesterday marked the centenary of Britain's entry into the Great War. Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, famously remarked on the eve of war that "The lamps are going out all over Europe and we shall not see them lit again in our life-time". The British Legion adopted the quote to inspire their Lights Out campaign which called on the British public to turn off their lights, bar one, between 10 and 11 pm to remember the outbreak of war.<br />
<br />
I decided that there was only one place for me during Lights Out: the war memorial. I set off with a candle, a makeshift lantern and a lighter and was at the war memorial just before 10 pm. My first problem was the wind. My plan was to set a candle above the plaque, making it visible from town. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing too hard to allow the candle to stay alight, so I had to move it around to the other side of the memorial, facing out to sea. Hopefully, some fishermen spotted it<br />
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For the first half-hour or so, I was on my own. Then I heard the crunching of gravel and two other women arrived. They set up candles too and we stood and swapped stories. A rain shower passed over, but we kept vigil. Just before 11 pm we were joined by a gentleman who had been watching the centenary events on television and had felt moved to get in his car and drive up to the war memorial. <br />
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At just about 11 pm it started to pour with rain, which seemed appropriate. We stayed for a few minutes more and then packed up our candles and left. 89 men of Newquay, and family members, remembered on the centenary and always.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-48960185363811115412014-07-19T10:34:00.004-07:002014-07-19T10:37:47.398-07:00W A Coom<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>William Alfred Coom</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Baptised 29 January 1888, St Austell Died of Wounds 21 April 1917</b></div>
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<b>Private 1170 17 Battalion D Company Australian Imperial Force</b></div>
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<b>Enlisted 2 February 1915 at Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia</b></div>
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<b>Buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, France</b></div>
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William was the son of Alfred Coom, a gardener, and his wife Emily Luke. Emily was the daughter of William Luke, a tinker from Dulverton in Somerset, who had settled in the West Hill area of St Austell. The couple married in St Austell on 30 October 1885 and lived in St Austell, Roche and, by 1911, were living at Windsor Cottages off Berry Road in Newquay. </div>
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In the 1911 Census return Mrs Coom states that she had 10 children, 5 of whom were still living. I've not found all of their names, but as best I can tell, here are 7 of them:</div>
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Lillian Maud born 1886</div>
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<b>William Alfred </b></div>
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Edith Gladys born 1889</div>
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Maud Mary born 1891</div>
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Thomas Henry 1892 - 1972</div>
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Gladys Mary born 1893</div>
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Reginald born 1894 (died as an infant)</div>
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Reginald born 1898 </div>
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I can't find an emigration date for William, but he evidently left for Australia and found work as a station hand. He enlisted in early 1915 and was soon aboard SS Themistocles bound for Gallipoli. He soon ran foul of the army; he was caught sleeping at his post on 12 September and sentenced to Field Punishment No. 2. for a period of 28 days. Before the 28 days were up, he was in hospital suffering the effects of dysentery. A bout of enteric fever (typhoid) followed and William was sent to Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester by the end of the October. He was back at a base in London for a couple of months, where he was docked pay for a deficiency of kit. In August 1916 he was in France.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">17th Battalion waiting for troop trains in Italy 1915</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">By photographer not identified [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons</span></div>
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William had several more hospital visits, for scabies, trench foot and boils. His final visit came after he was wounded in action on 19 April 1917. He had gunshot wounds in his foot and abdomen. He died on 21 April 1917. William was killed during the Battle of Arras, which lasted from 9 April to 16 May 1917. The Unit's War Diary does not make any mention of casualties on 19 April, though there are many reported a few days earlier on 15 April. What is certain, is that the Australians were heavily outnumbered but managed to inflict more casualties than they sustained.</div>
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Back in England, Alfred never knew his son's fate; he died a month before war was declared. Emily seems to have lived through another war, dying in 1947. William's brother Thomas found a job with the Post Office and worked in Newquay. </div>
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On a personal note, one of my great-uncles, Ernest, was also with the 17th Battlion (A company) and travelled out to Gallipoli on the same troop ship as William. Ernest and one of his brothers, Reginald, had moved to Australia to live with my great-grandmother's brother, who was the foreman of the goods yard at Sydney Railway Station. So, William may possibly have bumped into my great-uncle on board the ship, or my great-great uncle through his work as a station hand. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-2997750404366426072014-07-13T09:12:00.001-07:002014-07-13T09:12:22.598-07:00Louisa TearleToday's post is a little different, in that the subject is not listed on the Newquay War Memorial. You can, however, find her war grave in the town's cemetery on Crantock Street.<br />
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<b>Louisa Tearle (Nee Lees)</b></div>
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<b>Born 1878 Lambeth, London Killed by Enemy Action 28 March 1915 Bristol Channel</b></div>
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<b>Stewardess/Purser SS Falaba</b></div>
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Louisa was the daughter of Arthur and Emma Lees (nee Farnham). She had a brother, George Farnham Lees, who may have emigrated to Canada sometime after 1911. <br />
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In 1902 Louisa married Henry James Tearle, who worked for the Elder shipping line. The couple had five or possibly six children:</div>
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Arthur James 1902 - 1979</div>
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Ernest Henry b 1905</div>
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Gertrude Louisa 1906 - 1987</div>
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Frank George b 1909</div>
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Donald Stanley 1910 - 1984</div>
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There is also reference on some sites to a brother named Ivor who died at the age of 16, although I have not been able to find any records for him.</div>
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Henry Tearle was killed in Lagos, Nigeria in 1914, in unknown circumstances. Louisa, who may already have worked for the Elder Line, went to sea as a purser according to some accounts, although she is listed as a stewardess. </div>
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The <i>SS Falaba</i> set off from Liverpool for Sierra Leone with 95 crew and 147 passengers. After leaving Merseyside on Saturday, 27 March, she met U-28, captained by Baron Siegfried Von Forstner in the Bristol Channel. The U boat gave the <i>Falaba </i>10 minutes to dismantle her wireless equipment and abandon ship. According to the Germans, the crew of the <i>Falaba </i>used this time to try to contact the Royal Navy with the position of the U boat. They then allowed a further 10 minutes for the lifeboats to be launched before firing. The British claimed that they were given only 10 minutes and were then fired upon, the Germans laughing at survivors as they struggled to get aboard lifeboats. The Germans refuted this, claiming that they were in fact moved to tears to see lifeboats being overturned in the rough sea. <br />
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The ship went down rapidly and although the lifeboats were launched, 104 people perished (57 passengers and 47 crew). One of those who lost his life was an American, Leon Chester Thrasher. His death almost sparked the entry of the US into the war, but assurances that the captain of the <i>Falaba</i> had been given adequate time to launch the lifeboats and a suggestion that she carried contraband explosives allowed the US to back off from war - until the sinking of the <i>Lusitania</i>. <br />
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Louisa's body must have been recovered by a Newquay boat, although I've not found when she was brought ashore. Her children were now orphans. Gertrude, who was partially sighted, became a successful teacher working in both the UK and Australia. Her youngest brother Donald was adopted by an aunt who emigrated to Australia in 1925. He became a miner and enlisted with the Australian Army in 1939. He was taken as a Prisoner of War in 1941 and interned until the end of the war. He was later granted the Military Medal for bravery. <br />
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On Donald's records he listed his next of kin as his brother, A J Tearle, HMS Rosemary, Portsmouth. I can find no other information on Louisa's other children, particularly "Ivor" who is mentioned as being an inspiration to Gertrude and who was apparently, like her, partially sighted.<br />
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There is a copy of the British inquiry into the sinking of the SS Falaba <a href="https://archive.org/details/shippingcasualti00grea">here</a>. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-42496825137168247412014-07-12T09:14:00.000-07:002014-07-12T09:15:11.947-07:00C E Ditton<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Charles Edward Ditton</b></div>
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<b>Born in March 1888, Truro, Cornwall Killed in Action 16 October 1918 near Heule, Belgium</b></div>
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<b>Lance Corporal 43387 Royal Irish Fusiliers 9th (North Irish Horse) Battaliohn</b></div>
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<b>Formerly with 1/9 London Regiment</b></div>
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<b>Buried in <a href="http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/16201/DADIZEELE%20NEW%20BRITISH%20CEMETERY">Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium</a></b></div>
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Charles was born in Truro in March 1888. He was baptised at St Paul's, Truro, on 24 April 1888. He was the second son of Frederick Ditton and Edith Jewell. The couple had 14 children in all:</div>
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Ethel 1884 - 1915?</div>
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Lillian 1885 - 1952</div>
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Frederick James 1887</div>
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<b>Charles Edward</b></div>
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Sidney Jewell 1889 - 1959</div>
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Clara Gwendoline 1891 - 1990</div>
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Edith Mary 1893 - 1977</div>
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Florence Gertrude Helena 1895 - 1984</div>
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Harry Jewell 1897 - 1984</div>
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Dorothy May 1898 - 1984</div>
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Frances Anna 1900 - 1960</div>
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Marion Grace 1902 - 1998</div>
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Kathleen Marjorie 1905- 1954</div>
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Phyllis Monica 1908 - 2005</div>
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(Approximate dates)</div>
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Frederick, a native of Brixton, London, was a grocer, as was his Cornish mother, Eliza Lukes. Edith was the daughter of farmer James Jewell and his wife Ann. She was born at St Erme. The couple married on 27 May 1883 at St Paul's, Truro. </div>
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Curiously, Frederick's widowed mother, Eliza Lukes Ditton, married Frederick's widowed future father-in-law, James Jewell, in 1881. Even more curiously, James had been married to Anna Lukes, Eliza's sister. She was therefore Edith's aunt by blood and became her step-mother, as well as her mother-in-law!</div>
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Frederick died in 1909, leaving Edith to bring up the younger children on her own. </div>
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By 1911, Charles and his brother Frederick had moved to London to work for Cook, Son & Co., at that time the country's largest wholesale clothing company. Both men were living at the company's hostel for their commercial travellers. They would have travelled the country by rail with samples of their employer's merchandise. </div>
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Charles joined the London Regiment as a rifleman in 1915. In November 1916 he was discharged so that he could join the Royal Irish Fusiliers. This was also the year in which he married Nora Lucinda Pemberton Stevens, a school teacher from Penzance. The couple had no children.</div>
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In May 1917, Charles fell "dangerously ill" - a telegram to this effect was sent to his wife, and a further letter advised her that permission to visit her husband (suffering lumbar pneumonia) at the hospital in Boulognecould not be granted. The Lance Corporal rallied and was well enough to have a furlough from 29 August to 7 September 1917 which he spent with his wife at "Delafosse", Tower Road, Newquay.</div>
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According to the unit's war diary, The Royal Irish Fusiliers were at Dadizeele at the beginning of October 1918. On 4 October they relieved the 9th Royal Inniskilling Rifles at Hill 41. They had 13 officers and 390 other ranks. By the 7 October, it was noted that the enemy were cutting wire at night in preparation for an attack. A raid was carried out by the Royal Irish on 11 October and 14 prisoners were captured and 10 enemy soldiers killed, losing 6 men themselves when the enemy counter-attacked. They then went into reserve. Back in the line by 14 October, the 9 Battalion joined the Battle of Courtrai. </div>
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The Battalion's principle objective was to attack, capture and hold the crossing over the River Lys. The advance started at 5.35am. The Royal Engineers knocked out the bridges and by 6pm the last of the Battalion withdrew. One man of the Battalion was killed that day: Charles Ditton.</div>
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Nora stayed in Newquay after the war, along with her mother Lucy and two of her sisters. Her War Widow Pension was sent at first to 50 Tower Road; she was awarded 13 shillings 9d a week. Later she lived at Arlington House on Berry Road. Nora did not remarry and died on 9 May 1945, leaving her sisters £4,170 in her will.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-82295787289484980132014-06-15T09:20:00.000-07:002014-06-15T09:20:37.415-07:00C A Colmer<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Arthur Cecil Colmer</b></div>
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<b>Born in 1893 in London. Killed in Action 1 July 1916 in France</b></div>
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<b>2nd Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery "A" Battery, 96th Brigade</b></div>
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<b>Buried at Dartmoor Cemetery Becordel-Becourt</b></div>
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Arthur was the son of Arthur May Colmer and Anna Letitia Pateson. Arthur and Anna married on 9 January 1892 in Great Queen Street Chapel. Arthur's father was recorded as Oliver Colmer, a draper, whilst Anna's father, Reuben, was a toy importer. The bridegroom, a native of Liskeard, listed his profession as "warehouseman", though he would go on to be a draper like his father.</div>
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The Colmers moved back to Liskeard sometime around 1895 and Arthur Snr set up shop as a tailor and outfitter on Pike Street. By 1911, at the age of 43, Arthur had retired and was living in Looe. 18 year old Cecil (it's possible that the family called him Cecil rather than Arthur, so that's how I'm referring to him here) had followed his father into the drapery trade and was a tailor cutter working on his own account. The family was completed by 16 year old Dorothy and Anna's sister Elizabeth who, like their father, was a toy importer.</div>
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Between 1911 and 1914 Cecil moved to Newquay and lived at "Hannafore" on Headland Road.</div>
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Cecil joined up fairly quickly on the outbreak of war. He was posted to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and his medal card notes that he entered the theatre of war on 14 November 1914 (thus earning him a 1914 Star). From the Cornwalls he moved to the Royal Engineers as a corporal, then went to the Royal Horse Artillery & Field Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 10 September 1915.<br />
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Cecil was killed on the first day of the Battle of Albert, which formed part of the Battle of the Somme. His battery would have been part of the bombardment of enemy lines on the days leading up to 1 July, the hope being that the shelling would leave the way clear for the infantry to advance unchallenged. In the event this didn't happen. The Germans were in their bunkers and emerged with their machine guns to pick off the British as they advanced. More than 57,000 men fell, either wounded or killed, on that first day, 23 year old Cecil among them.<br />
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Cecil's sister, Dorothy, was the executrix of his will, in which he left £258 9s 3d. Arthur and Anna retired to Bournemouth. Dorothy married, had four children and passed away just short of her 100th birthday in 1993.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-79714091645875239482013-07-26T06:25:00.000-07:002014-03-08T05:45:29.059-08:00Joseph James Sweet<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Joseph James Sweet</b></div>
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<b>Born 1894 in St Columb, Cornwall. Died 29 October 1918 51st Stationery Hospital, Italy</b></div>
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<b>Buried in <a href="http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=2107991">Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa</a></b></div>
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<b>Driver T/3/028659 Army Service Corps, No. 2 Aux. Pack Train</b></div>
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Joseph was born towards the end of 1894. His parents were Samuel Sweet and Mary Grace Morris. The couple had married in 1891. Samuel was the son of St Allen Parish Clerk, Henry Sweet. </div>
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Samuel and Mary had three children:<br />
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William Henry (1892 - 1961?)</div>
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<b>Joseph James</b> (1894 - 1918)</div>
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Dorothy (1899 - ? )</div>
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Mary Sweet died in 1900, aged about 28. Samuel had help in bringing up his children from his sisters Bessie and Clara.</div>
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In 1904 Samuel married Mary Annie Williams. The couple had a daughter, Hilda Esther, around 1905.<br />
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Samuel died on 13 April 1907 leaving his widow with £190 17s 6d. After their father's death, William and Dorothy seem to have moved to live with their aunt Bessie at Carn Brea. William worked with her husband in the tin mines. Joseph stayed with his step-mother and step-sister on the farm; his uncle William Sweet was also living there. Like his father, Joseph became a horse trainer.</div>
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On 26 October 1914, 20 year old Joseph (who may well have been known as James) married 18 year old Millicent Benson Trethewey from Fern Pit, East Pentire in Newquay. The couple set up in lodgings with a Mrs Leary on St John's Road in Newquay. They didn't have long to enjoy married life; Joseph joined up on 13 November 1914. The couple had apparently been courting for a while; their daughter Dorothy was born on 23 March 1915.</div>
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Joseph was sent to the Army Service Corps, not surprisingly as a driver. His skill as a horse trainer would have been invaluable in driving a team of horses. Joseph's medical records show that he was a small man, just short of 5'6", weighing 126 lbs. His health was described as good.</div>
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On 3 August 1915 Joseph left Southampton, arriving at Le Havre the following day. He was appointed an acting Lance Corporal on 3 October 1915. He had a week's leave in March 1916 and received a Good Conduct badge later in the same year. In July 1917 Joseph received some cuts to his arms and face whilst attending to his horses which his commanding officer recorded was not Joseph's fault. </div>
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Joseph was taken to the 39 Casualty Clearing Station on 19 October 1918 complaining of a headache and pain. It was noted that he his tongue looked "dirty". He was transferred to the 51st Stationery Hospital on 21 October. He had chest pain, a cough and looked debilitated. The doctor noted that he was "very ill". On 24 October he had a temperature of over 100, which dropped back slightly the next day. However, it remained high for several days, his pulse becoming rapid and feeble. He was given four hourly doses of brandy and also oxygen. It was in vain; Joseph died at 5.30am on 29 October 1918, a victim of influenza.</div>
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Millicent seems to have married again a year after Joseph's death, and again in 1946 after her second husband's death in 1944. Her second marriage produced three sons. She died in 1985. Her daughter with Joseph, Dorothy, doesn't seem to have married and died in the same year as her mother.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-58230098116085277322013-07-26T03:45:00.000-07:002014-03-08T05:38:57.928-08:00R G Rawle<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Reginald Garland Rawle</b></div>
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<b>Born 1896 in Newquay, Cornwall, Killed in Action 23 November 1917 at Cambrai</b></div>
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<b>Lance Corporal 202010 7th Battalion DCLI</b></div>
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<b>Commemorated at Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France</b></div>
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Reginald was the eldest son of Lewis Garland Rawle and Mary Brenton Trembath. The couple had married on 23 December 1893. Lewis was a carpenter living in Newquay, Mary was a spinster living at Shop. Both were 23 years old. </div>
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By 1901 the Rawles were living at 8 Belmont Place. A few doors away lived John Jacka, another carpenter, whose son <a href="http://89ww1heroes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/s-jacka-australian-cornishman-on-anzac.html">Sydney </a>was the same age as Reginald. Both boys would lose their lives during the Great War.</div>
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The couple had seven children:</div>
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Florence Mabel (17 Jan 1897 - 1979)</div>
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Gwendoline Violet (1899 - 1935)</div>
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Robert Garland (1901 - 1953)</div>
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Lewis Edgar (7 Feb1902 - 1971)</div>
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Edna Mary (15 Sept 1907 - 1972)</div>
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Dorothy May (5 Dec 1908 - 1985)</div>
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In 1911, the Census recorded that Reginald was working as a Golf Caddy. His sister Florence was a shop girl.</div>
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I can't find when Reginald joined the Cornwalls. However, by 1917 he was with them in the front line at Cambrai. The Battle of Cambrai was a British offensive, designed to surprise the enemy. The 7th Cornwalls relieved the 13th Green Howards in the front line trenches on 4 October 1917. They were relieved on 16 October and then moved back to Bray a week or so later, possibly for training with the tanks which were to be used in the upcoming offensive. On 18 November, the Battalion was again in the front line and endured a few days of heavy rain awaiting the onset of the Battle of Cambrai.<br />
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The Battle of Cambrai was a British offensive, which began at dawn on 20 November. The Cornwalls would have left the trenches behind the wire-cutting tanks and alongside the fighting tanks. A and B companies were successful in capturing their objectives, but C and D companies were hindered by problems with the tanks. Despite this, the Cornwalls managed to capture around 150 Germans and kill another 50. Their own losses were 61 wounded, 10 killed and 8 missing. Following the first day of battle, the Cornwalls were dispersed in support.<br />
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By the 23 November, the weather was fine. There was shell-fire from the Germans, but apparently no one was hit. However, a barn in which some of the men were occupying was hit by three shells causing an evacuation. There is no mention of anyone being killed, but perhaps this was where Reginald died.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-75273099424826389202013-01-06T04:50:00.000-08:002013-01-06T04:54:04.577-08:00R C Rowett<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Richard Cardell Rowett</b><br />
<b>Born 1900 in Portugal Killed in Action 23 August 1918</b><br />
<b>Pte 85297 1/4 Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Previous DCLI)</b><br />
<b>Buried Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux</b><br />
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Richard was the son of Charles Rowett and Florence Annie Pengilly. Charles and Florence married at Redruth in 1893. Charles was a mine engineer whose work took him abroad to Portugal and South America. Several of the couple's children, including Richard, were born in Portugal. Florence must have made friends in Portugal as she continued to travel back to the country after her husband's death. The Rowetts had seven children, five of whom survived infancy:</div>
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Florence Kathleen (1895 - 1964) Florence was left in Cornwall with her maternal grandparents in 1901 while the rest of the family were in Portugal. Her grandfather Charles Pengilly was an arsenic manufacturer and preacher. </div>
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Charles Edward (1899 - ?)</div>
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<b>Richard Cardell</b></div>
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John Ernest (1901- 1972)</div>
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James Stanley (1903 - ?)</div>
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The three youngest boys were all born in Portugal. In 1911 Florence and the five children were living in Scorrier. Charles shows up on immigration records as arriving back in the UK from South America in late 1914. He died soon after, aged 44, on 1 March 1915 . His probate records give his address as 1, Colchester Villas, Newquay and his occupation as mine engineer. Florence was left £200. She later moved to 43 St John's Road.</div>
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Richard joined the DCLI at Truro. He was posted to the 1/4th (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers). The 1/4th were part of 56th (London) Division and Richard would have joined them at the Third Battle of Albert between 21 and 23 August 1918 (a phase of the Second Battles of the Somme). The 1st DCLI were also at the Battle and the Regiment history notes that Friday, 23 August was an exceedingly hot day. It was also exactly four years since the British first met the Germans at the Battle of Mons. </div>
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The British offensives in the summer of 1918 marked the beginning of the end for the Germans. Sadly, there were still many casualties, including Richard, in the final months of the war. Richard is buried at the Bucquoy Road Cemetery.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Monument to the Royal Fusiliers in WW1 at Holborn in London</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-33744291605439312182013-01-05T13:16:00.000-08:002013-01-05T13:16:09.737-08:00W J Oxman<div style="text-align: center;">
William James Oxman</div>
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Born c 1891 in Newquay Died of Wounds 16 October 1917</div>
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Pte 14185 5th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment (Previously Devonshire Regiment)</div>
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Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium</div>
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William James, who was sometimes known as James, was the son of William and Lavinia Glanville. The elder William was a coachman, then became a fish hawker, whilst Lavinia was a charwoman. Lavinia (or Levinia) was the illegitimate daughter of Jane Glanville, a field labourer and washerwoman, who had a great number of children born out of wedlock. Jane and several of her children spent some time in the workhouse at St Columb Major. </div>
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William and Lavinia were married in 1875 and had the following children:</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Thomas Henry (1878 - 1880)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Thomas Henry (1880 - 1959)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Lavinia "Janie" (1882 - ?)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Clarice Adelaide (1884 - ?) Worked cleaning train carriages during the war</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">(Agnes) Maud (1887 - 1960)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>William James</b> </li>
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In 1911, young William had a job as a grocery storeman. He was living at home with his parents, which was at 1 Norman Court. The family had a lodger; Frederick Wills, a carriage cleaner with the GWR. Perhaps Clarice Oxman got his job when he went away to war (Frederick married in 1913, went to war with the the Royal Engineers Railway Operating Division and died in 1955. Clarice's employment as a carriage cleaner shows up in the GWR records).</div>
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William joined up in Launceston and was assigned to the Devonshire Regiment, although I don't know which Battalion. At some point he was posted to the 5th Dorsets. In October 1917 the Dorsets, with 11th Division, were involved in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, or Passchendaele. It seems likely that it was during one of the battles, perhaps at Poelcapelle, that William was fatally wounded. </div>
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There was a Casualty Clearing Station at Proven and the Mendinghem Military Cemetery is now on the site. William is buried in the cemetery along with 2441 other soldiers, 51 of whom are German.</div>
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Back in Newquay, William's mother died in late 1918; his father disappears from the records.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-29877458851769906982012-12-31T03:44:00.000-08:002012-12-31T03:44:08.970-08:00W M Spiller<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Walter Matthews Spiller</b></div>
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<b>Born 1897 at Upottery, Devon Killed in Action 28 March 1918 in Syria</b></div>
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<b>Lance Corporal 23rd (County of London) Battalion (Formerly RAMC)</b></div>
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Walter was the son of Walter Spiller, a blacksmith, and his wife Agnes Cecil ("Cecie") Matthews. Agnes was from Newquay, where her father earned his living as a sailor. Walter and Cecie's marriage was registered in Taunton in 1889. The couple had several children, born in Devon and Somerset:<br />
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<li> Parry (c. 1890 - 1983 - served with West Somerset Yeomanry)</li>
<li>Oswald (c. 1891 - ?)</li>
<li>Guilo Anita (c. 1893 - 20 August 1911)</li>
<li>Walter Matthews (c. 1897)</li>
<li>Edgar (1899 - 1988 - served with Somerset Light Infantry, then Bedfordshire Regiment)</li>
<li>Ruby?</li>
</ul>
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By 1911 the couple were living in Trevena Terrace, Newquay. Sadly, their daughter Guilo (or Guila) died in that year. Walter is described as a "worker" on the census of 1911, but no occupation is listed.<br />
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Walter's medal card shows that he joined the RAMC and was then transferred to the London Regiment. I believe that he was part of the Egyption Expeditionary Force and lost his life at the First Attack of Amman. The EEF had to march to Jordan from Jerusalem and had considerable difficulty in bridging the River Jordan. Australian, New Zealand and British swimmers made several attempts to take lines across the river so that pontoon bridges could be built. They did this under heavy fire from the Ottoman troops on the opposite bank. <br />
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Major General Shea, commander of the 60th (London) Division, to which Walter was attached, was ordered to attack Amman with the object of destroying a viaduct and tunnel, thereby disrupting an important Ottoman railway link. Amman was the headquarters for the Fourth, Seventh and Eighth Ottoman armies; a number of German troops were also stationed there. Shea was to attack with his Division plus the Anzac Mounted Division, the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, 10th Heavy Battery RGA, a light armoured car brigade, Desert Mounted Corps Bridging Train and pontoon building units. <br />
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Shea's force was successful in crossing the Jordan and taking the town of Es Salt but then faced a trek across treacherous terrain in abysmal weather (sleet and heavy rain) to Amman. The time that it took to make the march gave the enemy plenty of time to prepare their defences and they were ready for Shea when he launched his attack on 27 March 1918. The battle continued until 30 March when a retreat was ordered.<br />
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The London Division suffered 476 casualties, including Walter. He is buried in the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">60th Division marching from Jerusalem to Jordan March 1918</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-89546465033824817612012-07-01T05:36:00.000-07:002012-07-01T05:36:41.676-07:00J W B Russell<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>John William Binfield Russell</b></div>
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<b>Born 1896 in Bridport, Dorset. Killed in Action 7 July 1916</b></div>
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<b>Second Lieutenant 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment</b></div>
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John Russell was the eldest son of William Russell and Lucy Binfield Newman. William, the son of a manufacturer, was a London-born school master, whilst Lucy was a dentist's daughter from Liverpool. The couple married in London on 25 April 1895. William must have secured a position in Dorset, because that is where John was born the following year and where the family were living in 1901. John's brother, Frederick Stratten Russell was born in 1897. A sister, Mary Veronica, was born in 1899 but died the following year.</div>
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William Russell set up a school in Newquay sometime between 1901 and 1911 in a house called St Andrew's on Pentire Avenue. In the 1911 Census he has several boys listed at the school, including <a href="http://89ww1heroes.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Teague">John Vivian Godden Teague</a> who is also listed on the Newquay war memorial. John Russell was not educated by his father. In 1911 he and Frederick are listed on the Census at Oundle School in Northamptonshire. John was clearly an intelligent young man; he gained a Senior Open Classical Scholarship to Oxford in 1914. </div>
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I can't find John's date of enlistment, but he was made a temporary Second Lieutenant on 5 January 1915, as listed in the London Gazette. His regiment went to France later that year, landing in Boulogne on 15 July 1915. The regiment were under the command of 52nd Brigade in 17th (Northern) Division. John would have been deployed to the southern part of the Ypres salient, where the 17th Division held the front lines. Later, they would take part in the Battle of the Somme.</div>
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The 12th Manchesters were with 9th Duke of Wellingtons and their war diary for the period leading up to 7 July 1916 sheds some light on John's last movements. The Brigade marched to Morlancourt on 2 July, leaving the following day to relieve 21st Division north of Fricourt. The Manchesters (and presumably the Duke of Wellingtons) were in Lozenge Wood for a few days until 3.30am on 6 July when they received orders to relieve the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers in Quadrangle Trench. The diary entry for 7 July says that 9th West Ridings/Duke of Wellingtons had already tried and failed to gain the objective. It is possible that John was lost in this failed attack. The diary entry goes on to mention the failure of the Manchesters, under barrage and enfilade machine gun fire, to gain the objective. They list the lost of many of their own officers. </div>
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John's body was not recovered and his name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial. His CWGC listing is <a href="http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/810660/RUSSELL,%20JOHN%20WILLIAM%20BINFIELD">here</a>. His probate record shows that he left £163 to his father. </div>
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William and Lucy Russell remained in Newquay. William died in 1946 and Lucy lived until 1957 (she was 90 when she died.) </div>
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Frederick Stratten Russell went on to have a highly distinguished career. He served in both World War 1 and World War 2. In WW1 he took aerial photographs and was decorated for his bravery. He joined RAF Intelligence in WW2. In civilian life, Russell was a marine biologist and it was he who pioneered the measurement of fish stocks. He was knighted in 1965. </div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-80976804209877349622012-02-13T01:34:00.000-08:002012-02-13T01:34:28.388-08:00Archive May Help Identify WW1 Soldiers in Unmarked GravesI am not sure if the authorities will have the time or the money to follow this up, but it would be fabulous if someone could. We have two members of our family who fell at Pozieres and who don't have graves, which means that we don't have a focus for our remembrance, other than their names on a monument. I am sure that other families would like to be able to lay flowers on a grave.<br />
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Read about historian Peter Barton's <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4985619/WWI-soldiers-buried-in-unmarked-graves-could-be-identified-says-historian.html">discovery in the Red Cross Archive</a> in Geneva. He feels that it may hold the key to identifying the bodies of fallen soldiers. The archive contains detailed records of burial plots compiled at the time of burial. I hope that this new information will be acted upon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-90938788451819528812011-10-09T11:13:00.000-07:002011-10-09T11:13:32.246-07:00Sentimental Sunday: Gig RacingA great many things have changed in Newquay, as elsewhere, in the years since the Great War. One thing that would be familiar to our 89 Heroes are the local gigs in the bay. Gigs are rowing boats that were originally used to ferry pilots out to ships. Rival crews would compete to be the first to reach a ship. Nowadays gig racing is sport, carried out almost exclusively within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Newquay has its own very successful rowing club.<br />
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Today as the dog and I made our weekly trip up to the War Memorial I realised that the harbour was thronged with people and remembered that today was the annual gig racing championship. Several of the men I have researched were seafarers and I bet they would have appreciated today's action. <br />
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I snapped a few photos - here they are:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-33352197165667329642011-09-24T02:39:00.000-07:002014-07-20T03:52:00.166-07:00T Penhorwood<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thomas Penhorwood</b></div>
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<b>Born 1888 at Egloskerry Killed in Action 10 May 1915 at Aubers Ridge</b></div>
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<b>Pte 1970 25th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps</b><br />
<b>Enlisted at Newquay</b></div>
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Thomas Penhorwood was the eldest son of Lewis Penhorwood and Marthwas a Lundrey/Laundry. He was born in 1888 at Reddown, Egloskerry which is near Launceston. The Penhorwoods had two more sons; James Henry born in 1892 and Samuel born around 1902. </div>
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Lewis Penhorwood was born on 22 May 1858 near Saltash, the son of Lewis and Jane Penhorwood. Lewis Junior moved to the Launceston area around 1880, working as an indoor servant on a farm at Egloskerry. For a number of years he was an agricultural labourer, both before and after his marriage to Martha. By 1911 Lewis had moved up in the world and was farming on his own account.</div>
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Martha was from North Hill near Redruth. Her father Thomas was a gamekeeper. By the 1880s Martha was working as a servant for a draper in Launceston and marrying Lewis on 7 April 1887. Martha died in October 1907, Lewis remarrying three years later.<br />
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Thomas must have moved to the Newquay area sometime before 1911, (only the youngest son, Samuel, was living at home with Lewis and stepmother Jane and James was an apprentice carpenter in Broadwoodwidger). Thomas by this time was a police constable, living at the County Police Station in Newquay. . He joined up fairly swiftly; his medal index card showkng that he arrived in France on 5 November 1914. <br />
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Thomas joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was posted to the 25th Field Ambulance, designated 2nd Wessex and attached to 8th Division. In May 1915 8th Division were part of the Battle of Aubers Ridge and it would appear that this is where Thomas met his death. I can't better this summary of the Battle by J Rickard, so here is it:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The battle of Aubers Ridge was a British contribution to the Allied spring offensive of 1915. It was fought over the same ground as the <b><a href="http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_neuve_chapelle.html">battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10-13 March 1915</a>,</b> but failed to achieve even the temporary successes of that battle.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The British attack was to be launched by General Sir Douglas Haig’s First Army. It was intended to send in two attacks, to the north and south of Neuve Chapelle, with the hope that the two attacking forces could meet up behind the German front lines. Haig had requested extra artillery to increase the strength of the 40 minute bombardment planned for the morning of 9 May, but all available artillery reserves had been sucked into the fighting at the second battle of Ypres, still raging just to the north.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The British attack on 9 May was a total failure. The Germans had greatly strengthened their lines around Neuve Chapelle after they had been overrun during Neuve Chapelle, and the British artillery bombardment was simply not heavy enough to destroy the new German lines. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The battle of Aubers Ridge fits the popular image of a <a href="http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_wwI.html">First World War</a> battle better than most. The British troops went over the top early on the morning of 9 May and were cut down by German machine gun fire. The survivors were pinned down in no mans land. No significant progress was made, and early on 10 May Haig ended the offensive. The British suffered 11,000 casualties in one day of fighting on a narrow front.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rickard, J (26 August 2007), <em>Battle of Aubers Ridge, 9-10 May 1915 </em>, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_aubers_ridge.html</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have also read elsewhere that casualties were moving through the field ambulances up the chain of evacuation for three days. Perhaps we can speculate that Thomas was killed whilst trying to help comrades stuck out in no man's land and fell under the machine gun fire himself. His medal index card shows that he was awarded a clasp to one of his medals.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thomas is buried in the Canadian Cemetery at Sailly-Sur-La-Lys.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Both Thomas' brothers survived the war and married. James (known as Henry) died in 1967 whilst Samuel died in 1955.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-48046372941314284562011-08-23T08:37:00.000-07:002011-08-23T08:37:49.107-07:00Updated Post - T T RoddaI was extremely pleased last week to be contacted by the grandson of Thomas Tregilgus Rodda. I had been rather frustrated by my post about Thomas; the question of his death was not satisfactorily answered. His grandson has cleared the mystery up and it's quite remarkable. Click on the link to find the updated <a href="http://89ww1heroes.blogspot.com/2011/07/t-t-rodda.html">T T Rodda</a> post.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-14962700377057476372011-08-19T14:16:00.000-07:002011-08-19T14:16:37.419-07:00War Memorial ArticleYes, I have been bad. I haven't done nearly enough work on the Newquay War Memorial names as I should have - I had fondly imagined that I would get tonnes more work done in the holidays, in fact the reverse is true. However, I did write a quick article about War Memorials and the Commonwealth Graves Commission. It is on HubPages - click on this link <a href="http://judibee.hubpages.com/hub/_jb89ww1/The-Noble-Art-of-Remembrance">Remembering the Fallen</a>. <br />
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Let me know what you think!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953896411829171727.post-66493095616694072062011-08-03T03:12:00.000-07:002011-08-03T03:12:44.399-07:00C Bullock<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Christopher Bullock</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Born 1888 Nr Fraddon, Cornwall kia 4 October 1917 Nr Ypres</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Private 32375 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (formerly Middlesex Regiment, DCLI and Somerset LI)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christopher was the fourth son of William Jeffery and Mary Jane Blake. William worked as a tin miner and china clay worker. His father had been a tin mine agent. The family lived in a cottage near Blue Anchor at Fraddon. Christopher had three older brothers, Arthur, Alfred and John and three sisters, Mabel, Alberta and Evelina. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christopher's records do not indicate when or where he enlisted or when he first went to France. His medal index card does show that he was in several regiments. His move from the Somersets to the East Lancashire Regiment is not too surprising; the 1st Somersets and 1st East Lancs were both part of 11th Brigade, 4th Division. In addition, the Middlesex Regiment's 3/10th Battalion was in 10th Brigade, 4th Division. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">During 1917 4th Division were involved at the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres. It seems likely that Christopher fell during the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of Third Ypres. General Haig intended that this action should capture the Gheluvelt Plateau, a natural barrier, in enemy hands, along the south eastern edge of the Ypres Salient which was thwarting his plans to break out of the Salient. Haig had wrongly deduced that German morale was collapsing and planned to take advantage. The attack was also rushed; it was originally planned for 6 October, but brought forward to 4 October. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The attack was led by the I and II Anzac Corps and XVIII Corps. 4th Division (part of XIV Corps) were part of the supporting attack on the flank and were held up by a bog during their advance. Heavy machine gun fire from the cover of Houlthulst Forest resulted in 1,700 casualties for XIV Corps, of which it seems likely that Christopher was one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christopher has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11474399956507647950noreply@blogger.com0