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WINDLESHAM
WAR MEMORIALS
World
War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled & Copyright © Jim & Marianne Robbens 2005
To the memory of Marianne Robbens who sadly passed away 2021
Windlesham
gives its name to the Parish of Windlesham, Surrey that consists of
the three villages of Windlesham, Lightwater and Bagshot. The following
transcripts and additional information is intended to show those servicemen
who died in various conflicts and whose names are recorded in the Parish
Church of St John the Baptist, Windlesham, on the war memorial close
by or by burial in the adjoining cemetery. For a variety of reasons
men of other villages in the area are recorded at the church and may
well be remembered on other memorials located in their home villages.
Some of the fallen appear to have no links to the area at all and their
reason for inclusion remains a mystery. For more about Windlesham see
the Windlesham
Society website and the Windlesham
Life "Lest We Forget" page.
|
Photographs
Copyright © Jim Robbens 2005 |
“To
the Memory of the Men of this Parish Who Gave Their Lives for
Their King and Country in The Great War 1914-1919”
1914-1918
The
text in italics for WWI has been transcribed from a copy of a Roll of
Honour in Book Form (compiled by the then Rector of Windlesham Rev.
A. J. Hutton, M.A) containing the particulars and war records of some
of the 48 men whose names are on the memorial in the open cemetery grounds
adjacent to St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham, Surrey. The memorial
is maintained by Windlesham Parish Council.
| BAIGENT |
Ernest
Alfred |
Private
7949, 1st Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died 4/10/1914 (WGC shows
death date as 15/09/1914) aged 30. “Ernest Baigent had
served for seven years in the regulars and had returned from India
in 1914. He was on the Reserve List when war was declared. He
rejoined his Regiment, 1st Battalion of the Royal Berkshire
Regiment and went to the front in September. He was in the Retreat
from Mons and fell in action aged 35 years on 4th October
1914”. Son of the late Joseph Baigent and Jane Baigent
(1891 Census). Buried at Cemetery: La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial,
Seine-et-Marne, France. |
| BOWYER |
Samuel |
Bowyer,
Samuel Corporal 1101. Samuel Bowyer was working at Fromow Nurseries
and lodging in Windlesham when War broke out. He joined up on 5th
August 1914 and went into training at Sandgate & Hythe, and
then at Aldershot going to France with the 6th Battalion
of the Queen’s Royal West Surreys in February or March 1915.
He was fighting in the trenches at Plug Street and later was in
the Battles of Loos and the Somme. He was promoted to Lance Corporal
and later Corporal and was killed on 5th April 1918.
He is buried at Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
|
| CALKIN |
Brian
Penry Bernard |
 Lieutenant
Brian Calkin was in his 21st year when he joined up.
His parents then had a small country house at Windlesham. Brian
Calkin had had five years of his earliest education at St. Paul’s
Cathedral Choir School and had taken part in King George’
s & Queen Mary’s Coronation Service in Westminster Abbey,
passing on to Repton. His public school days were cut short by
the war and he entered his father’s office at 16 years of
age and insisted then on doing Special Constable’s work.
In the Spring of the following year, and six months under military
age, he joined the Inns of Court OTC and obtained a Commission in
August in the 3rd Queen’s Royal West Surreys.
At Sittingbourne, being very keen on physical development, he specialised
in and became master of physical training and bayonet fighting to
his battalion. His love of music and his interest in his men was
such that he gave all his spare time to giving concerts for them.
His Orders first took him to France in August 1916, where with the
exception of trench fever, all went well with him till the following
July 1917 when he was gassed. Having recovered from this, he had
only rejoined his Regiment a few weeks when he was badly gassed
again and invalided to Hospital at Brighton, where he remained some
months unfit for service abroad. At Sittingbourne after leaving
hospital, he took up his old work of physical training until on
20th April 1918 he left for France for the last time.
He was attached to the 8th Queen’s and was second
in Command of his Company. He was, in fact, temporarily commanding
it when on the morning of 10th July 1918 he was struck
down and killed by a trench mortar bomb. Later his body was recovered
and laid to rest in the military cemetery outside Bethune. His
Colonel writes of him “He was more than usually competent
for his years, and was completely confident that things would run
all right when he was in charge”. The Sittingbourne Gazette
writing of him after his death says: “He was of a bright,
cheery nature, a splendid type of young manhood, and the news of
his death has cast quite a gloom over the battalion, for he was
a favourite with Officers and men alike.” He was aged
20 when he was killed. He
was the son of Harry Bernard & Margaret Agnes Calkin of Hampstead
(1901 Census). He is buried at Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery,
British Extension, Pas-de-Calais, France. |
| CANNON |
Charles
Edwin |
 Private
T/1927. Charles Cannon of the 5th Battalion of the
Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment joined the Colours on 4th
August 1914. He was drafted overseas for active service to the
Dardanelles in May 1915, where he was wounded and placed on H.M.S.
Asturias Hospital Ship bound for England. He died on 23rd
September 1915 and was buried at sea aged 30 years. He is
commemorated at the Helles Memorial in Turkey. He was the son of
the late Charles William Cannon and Sarah Jane Cannon of St. John’s
Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey (1901 Census). |
| CANNON |
George
Arthur |
 Lance
Corporal – P/11638. George Cannon was in the Military
Mounted Police. He joined the Colours in August 1914. He was drafted
overseas for active service in India November 1914. From India he
was drafted to Mesopotamia. He was thrown from his horse and accidentally
killed on 1st February 1919. He was buried near Baghdad aged 32
years. He was the second son of the late Charles William Cannon
and Sarah Jane Cannon of St. John’s Cottage, Updown Hill,
Windlesham, Surrey (1901 census). He is buried at Baghdad (Northgate)
War Cemetery, Iraq. |
| CANNON |
Thomas
Thurmer |
 Private
– 43947. Thomas Cannon of 10th Battalion of the Essex
Regiment joined the Colours in the April of 1917. He was drafted
overseas for active service in March 1918. He was reported missing
on 8th August 1918 aged 19 years. He was the third son of the
late Charles William Cannon and Sarah Jane Cannon of St. John’s
Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey (1901 Census). He is commemorated
at Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France. |
| CLERK |
Ronald
Malcolm |
 Captain
Ronald Clerk was at Malvern College as a boy and went from there
to Merton College Oxford, where he took his BA in 1908. After leaving
Oxford he was Assistant Master as The School, Windlesham until the
war broke out in 1914. The following extract is from “The
Times”. “In
August 1914 he obtained a Commission in the Royal West Surrey Regiment
and went with his battalion to the front in June 1915. Promoted
to Captain in July 1915 he was invalided home after an operation
for appendicitis” and was obliged to remain home until June
when he rejoined his Regiment. In July he was slightly wounded
and in December he was recommended for and obtained a Commission
(Regulars) in the Kings Royal Lancaster Regiment as Captain but
remained with his old battalion with the Queen’s. His Commanding
Officer writes ‘Your son was killed on the morning of 9th
April to the lasting sorrow of his many friends here. His death
was almost instantaneous… His loss will be felt by us all…
He played the game until the last dying at the head of his company.”
‘The Times.’
Major
Rolls, his Commanding Officer added “For myself I can
only say I never forget your son, who was a great friend of my own
and no words of mine can be sufficient to convey the sympathy I
feel for you and yours in the great loss you have sustained.”
Second Lieutenant Harry Watts wrote: “The sad news of
Ronald’s death in action has just reached me. As I am Bayonet
Fighting Officer, the authorities refused me permission to go into
action so I was not with him at the time. I understand however,
that he died as he would have wished, leading D Company into action.
No only was my Captain, he was my friend and his loss leaves a gap
that will be hard indeed to fill. In action I knew him as a soldier
without fear in the ordinary round of everyday tasks. I knew him
as an untiring worker and a constant helper whose one thought day
and night was the comfort of his company. All we remain can do
is to strive to live up to the high ideal he has set us and see
that the battalion and company that he loved so well goes forward
to further victories. His memory will ever be our inspiration.
An Appreciation from the Windlesham Magazine: “I feel
I cannot restrain from writing this appreciation of one who endeared
himself to so many boys whose manhood has been anticipated by the
war. My friendship dates from his last term at Merton since when
I have been in closest touch with him. Full of enthusiasm with
high ideals and innate sense of justice he made an ideal colleague
and won the affection and esteem of all who were privileged to work
with him… The following is a letter written on the day
of the notice of his death and appearing in “The Times”
and bears eloquent testimony to his work as a schoolmaster: “It
is no good my trying to express my sorrow as that would be impossible.
Captain Clerk was, and will be, one of my ideals and I would willingly
I think have laid down my life for him. What he did for me in every
way it is beyond me to say; he always seemed to me to be the ideal
Englishman. For those of us just going out it is good to know that
if we are killed it is in good company.”
Buried
Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France.
He was aged 31 years when he died. He was the son of J. Somervail
Clerk & Dora Somervail Clerk (nee Carew) of Foresters, Windlesham,
Surrey |
| CRANE |
Thomas
John |
Private
9505. Thomas Crane was born 26th May 1890 in Windlesham.
He enlisted at Guildford on 27th January 1909 at the
age of 18 years & 7 months in the 2nd Battalion of
the Queen’s West Surrey Regiment. He was in South Africa
when the war broke out from there he was sent to France and was
fighting at Ypres when he was killed. He was killed in action on
6th November 1914. He is buried at Railway Chateau
Cemetery, Ieper, West-Valaanderen, Belgium. |
| CURTIS |
Eric
Calvin |
Second
Lieutenant Eric Curtis was born in Dorset 1893 and was 21 years
of age in August 1914. He was then a clerk in the G.W.R. Company.
In September 1914 he enlisted in the 5th Seaforth Highlanders
and went into training at Bedford. He was sent with a draft to
France early in May 1915. The 5th Seaforth’s formed
part of the famous 51st Division. He had his first leave
in April 1916 when he married. Returning to France he was wounded
in 1916 and was sent to hospital at Devonport. On recovery he rejoined
his Depot at Ripon and remained there as Instructor in Musketry
until the autumn of 1917. He then applied for a commission and
was sent to Pirbright to 19th Officers Cadet Battalion.
He got his Commission of 5th January 1918 and returned
to Ripon until March when he was sent to France and attached to
the 8th Seaforths, which formed part of the 15th
Division. In July 1918 this Division was sent to the neighbourhood
of Soissons to help the French in their offensive against the Germans
on the Marne. There he was killed on 28th July at Buzancy.
A monument was erected by the 17th Division of the French
Army in commemoration of the bravery of the 15th Division
(Scottish) that fought by their side in General Gasssoins’
counter attack in the battle between the Aisne and the Marne. This
obelisk stands at the highest point of the plateau where the foremost
Scottish soldier fell 28t July 1918 and bears this inscription –
“Here
the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish for ever among the
roses of France 17th French Division to 15th
Scottish Division.”
The
Major General wrote to his mother: Dear Mrs Curtis –
I need hardly tell you how very sorry we all were at the loss of
your very gallant son…. I don’t suppose there was been
any finer work done than the capture of Buzancy village and Chateau
by the 8th Seaforth Highlanders assisted by the 5th
Gordon’s and 4/5 Black Watch. May I offer you my most sincere
sympathy on your loss – yours sincerely H.L.Reed (Major General)”.
His Captain also wrote to his wife: “I should like to
say how sorry I am to lose your husband and to offer you my deep
sympathy in your loss. Your husband was in my Company and we were
together a good deal. He was cheery and kept us all in good spirits.
He was fine to work with, and he was very well liked by his men.
I shall miss him greatly” The Chaplain wrote: “I
am very sorry to send you the sad news of the death of your husband.
He was killed in action while leading his men in a most successful
attack…. One of his brother officers is writing to you. The
Colonel would have written, but he was killed also. Your husband
was always bright and cheery. I saw him in the trenches two days
before he fell and he was bright as usual… He was always keen
to have a pleasant chat with me as I am the Padre of the Regiment…
Please accept the sympathy of the padre who was pleased to know
your husband and to admire him for his fine spirit. It is a comfort
for you to know that he died a noble death in a righteous cause.
It is the greatest comfort for you to fee that our Christian Faith
points to a reunion in God’s good time. In a letter
from Corporal Thomson who saw him fall he says “In the
morning of the 28th July we were due to attack a strong
point in conjunction with a French Platoon. We duly went over advancing
for the first 100 yards cross open country, then through a small
copse, arriving on the other side of the copse, we were met by a
very heavy machine gun fire, rifle fire and especially on the right
i.e. immediately in front of the French. Meanwhile Lieutenant Curtis
and I worked our way over to the French taking up our position behind
a little mound more or less for cover, the machine gun and other
fire being so heavy, and also that we might the better see the surroundings.
We were lying on our backs: when Lieutenant Curtis rose for a second
and was slipping over me, we were intending to get back to the Platoon;
he was shot through the head above the right eye and dropped down
dead on top of me. His death was instantaneous: It was a machine
bullet, which killed him. Being in the throes of battle, his body
had to be left where he fell; later he was buried by the French
and a monument erected over him. That his death was a great blow
to us I need hardly say; never was an Officer more popular, more
highly esteemed, more honoured by any set of men. His happy go
lucky way, his cheery smile, his utter disregard for his own personal
safety and comfort was always uppermost and went a long way towards
making him so popular. He was heroic beyond words and knew no fear.”
Eric
Curtis is buried at Buzancy Military Cemetery, Aisne, France. He
was the son of Calvin and Beatrice Edith Curtis and husband of Annie
Curtis of Tenbury Wells. |
| DENNIS |
Percy
George |
Corporal
3934. Percy Dennis was born on 14th November 1898
and joined up in August 1915 in the 1st Battalion of
the Northumberland Fusiliers. He joined the Regular Army intending
to serve seven years and five in the Reserve. The Regiment is known
as the Old and Bold and the Fighting Fifth. He was trained at the
Depot at Newcastle on Tyne. In June 1916 he went across to France
to join his Battalion. In February 1916 he had been promoted to
Lance Corporal and in January 1917 he was promoted Corporal. He
was sent home with frozen feet in December 1916 and rejoined his
Battalion again in April 1917. He was badly wounded at Ypres in
both arms and chest in May 1917 when he was sent to England. When
he rejoined he was sent to the 1st/7th Battalion
of the Northumberland Fusiliers, who were then in the fighting line
of the Ypres Salient , this was in December 1917. He was killed
on 31st December 1917 by a shell as they were leaving
the trenches; nine men were killed including an Officer, a Sergeant
and Percy Dennis. He was buried in South Passchendael, North
East Ypres, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Grave No. XVIII.H.10. |
| DRAPER |
Charles |
Private
37688. Charles Draper, aged 23, was married in Canada. He
joined up at Ascot in the autumn of 1916 in the 3rd Battalion
of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He crossed over to France at the
end of 1916. He died of pneumonia at Rouen on the 23rd
February 1917. He is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension,
Rouen, France. Charles was probably the son of Alfred and Sarah
Draper who lived in Windlesham in 1901. |
| ELLIS |
William |
Private,
6th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 19 April
1918. “Was working in Windlesham and living in lodgings
when war broke out. He joined up in the 6th Battalion of the Queens
Royal West Surrey’s on 5th August 1914. He was in training
in camp at Sandgate and Hythe and later at Aldershot with his Battalion,
which crossed to France in February or March 1915. He came over
wounded once and was in hospital in Gloucester. He came across on
leave once or twice. He was in the trenches in Plug Street and took
part in the battles of Loos and The Somme. He was killed on 19th
April 1918”. |
| FEAR |
Eric
G |
Bombardier
505, Royal Horse Artillery. Eric Fear joined the Berkshire
Royal Horse Artillery in September 1914 and went into Camp outside
Reading. The Doctors would not pass him for foreign service when
his 1st Battalion was sent to the Persian Gulf and he
returned to Reading to recruit for a second Battalion. When this
was completed he was sent to Wokingham for training, but here he
contracted a bad cold, from which he never recovered. He was discharged
from the Army in April 1915 and died at home in Windlesham.
Eric was the son of George and Alice Fear of Philcroft, Updown Hill,
Windlesham. His grave is in the Windlesham Cemetery adjoining the
Parish Church. |
| FENDALL |
Charles
Magrath |
 Lieutenant,
Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 14 December 1915. Aged
23. Grandson of Charles Bathhurst Fendall, schoolmaster and clerk
in holy orders living in Hatton Hill, Windlesham in 1901; his grandfather
taught at Woodcote House School and received his early education
at the school because his parents were in India where his father
served in the British Army. He emigrated to Canada in 1911 with
his uncle, Arthur James Fendall, but returned to England rejoin
his regiment shortly after war was declared. No known grave. Commemorated
on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel
5 and 9. Also commemorated on Okotoks Centaph, Alberta, Canada. |
| FLITTON
|
Arthur |
Private
G/2076. Arthur Flitton was born at Gaddesden Row, Hemel Hempstead,
Hertfordshire in 1884. He was in work in Windlesham and living
in lodgings when war broke out. He joined the Queen’s Royal
West Surrey Regiment on 24th August 1914. He was for
eleven months in training in England, crossing over to France on
15th July 1915. He never came home on leave. He fell
in action on 1st July 1916. His brother writes: “His
mate saw him about half an hour before he was killed. He was then
32 years of age”. He is buried in Dantzig Alley, British
Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France. |
| HAMMOND |
Arthur
James |
Rifleman
– 5031. Arthur Hammond was born on 14th November
1892. He was baptized by The Rev. J. Freshfield at Windlesham Parish
Church 1st January 1893. Arthur joined up in the second
week in August 1914 in the 17th Lancers. He was in training
at Woolwich and the Curragh in Ireland. He came home at Christmas
1914 on leave and returning to the Curragh he transferred from the
17th Lancers to the Royal Irish Regiment in order to
get across sooner as he thought. He crossed to France on 15th
June and was sent to the Loos Sector. The Battle of Loos was then
pending and came on towards the end of September, after which he
was reported missing. Son of James Reuben and Sophia Hammond
of Church Road, Windlesham and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin
Gate) Memorial. |
| HARDING |
Jesse
George |
Private
10751, 2nd Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 10
January 1915. Son of Jesse & Henrietta Harding (nee Gaines),
Warren Cottage, Thorndown Lane, Windlesham (1901 Census). Buried
Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-d'Armentieres, Nord,
France. |
| HERRING |
William
Charles |
 Trooper
2668. William Herring enlisted at the age of 17 years and 6
months in C. Squadron of the 2nd Battalion of the Life
Guards in January 1908 at Windsor. At the beginning of the war
in August 1914 he was drafted to Salisbury Plain and crossed over
to Zeebrugge on 14th September 1914. He was a 1st
Class Regimental Scout and met with many adventures whilst carrying
out his duties. In a letter home he spoke of one of these in which
he had ridden close to a party of Uhlans and escaped safely. On
30th October 1914 he with 50 others under the command
of Captain Vendeleur were sent to hold a place near Zanvorde at
all costs; a message was sent to them to retreat, but was probable
never received. Nothing more was heard of them and hence t was
concluded that they were all killed. They were posted as missing
on 31st October. All attempts – and many were
made – to find out what had really happened to them, have
failed and nothing has ever been heard of any of them. William
Herring is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He
was the son of William and Emma A. Herring of Windlesham; William
senior was a Dairyman (1901 Census). |
| HOLMES |
Francis |
Private
– TF/4621. Francis Holmes, a married man with two children
was living in Thorndown Lane, Windlesham and working at Frowmow’s
Nursery when WWI broke out. He joined the 1st/5th
Royal West Kent Regiment on 14th June 1916. He was only
three weeks in training at Crowborough when his battalion and Regiment
were sent to India aboard Troopships. They landed at Bombay on 25th
August 1916 and spent some 7 months upon Murray Hills. Holmes never
saw active service, dying aged 37 of dysentery in the Rawalpindi
Hospital on 10 August 1917 (WGC show 10/11/1916 as the date of death).
He is buried at the Rawalpindi War Cemetery. Son of James and Caroline
Holmes, of West End, Chobham, Woking; husband of Alice Holmes, of
Gracious Pond, Chobham, Woking, Surrey. |
| HOLMES |
Herbert |
Gunner,
Royal Field Artillery. Died 4 October 1917. “Born 14th
June 1890. During the earlier months of the war Herbert Holmes
was working for Tarrants Hut Building at first in England and for
18 months in Boulogne. He enlisted 13th February 1917
and trained at Luton, leaving for France 25th June 1917.
He was killed in action 4th October 1917.
His
commanding officer wrote to his widow after his death “your
husband joined the 92 Battery RFA whilst I was away and I greatly
regret to have to tell you that he was killed before I came back.
He was killed in the advance north of Ypres on 4th October.
It may be some consolation to you to know that he was killed instantaneously
by a shell. He was a fine soldier and died for his country doing
his duty. Believe me you have the deepest sympathy of myself and
the Battery”. |
| HOTHER |
William
Thomas Henry |
Private
– G/2190. William Hother joined the 7th Battalion
of the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment on 2nd September
1914. He went to France with the 7th Battalion in July
1915. He was wounded on the Somme and brought home in September
1916. He went back to France on 1st February 1917 and
joined the 1st Battalion of the Queens RWS. He was wounded
and missing on 23rd April 1917 and he died aged 25 a
Prisoner of War on 1st May 1917 in St. Clothilde Hospital,
Donia. He was buried in the communal cemetery of Donia, France.
He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, British War Medal, and Victory
Medal. Son of William John and Emily J. S. Hother, of Neville
Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey. |
| LEY |
Ernest
George |
Company
Quartermaster Sergeant – 8017 Quartermaster
Sergeant Ley, DCM, of the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire
Regiment was on leave in Windlesham where his parents lived when
war was declared. He received a telegram calling him back to Colchester,
which place he left the next day to put up his Regiment’s
colours at Winchester, and bring back reserves mobilised for war
from Harrow. Sergeant Ley took part in the retreat from Mons an
fought in both battles in Ypres gaining the Distinguished Conduct
Medal. He was fatally wounded at the first battle of the Somme
1st July 1916 before Beaumont Hamel. He had seen eight
years continuous service prior to the war. Lt. Col. Garcia commanding
his Regiment wrote after his death: “He was my platoon sergeant
in the winter of 1914/15 and I soon learned to appreciate his extraordinary
worth. My attention was first drawn to him when a reconnaissance
had to be carried out and the scouts selected for the job felt nervous
about going and both asked for Sergeant Ley to be allowed to go
with them. I then discovered that the men had a child-like confidence
in him and trusted him and would do anything for him. I became
very attached to him and felt his death very much. I shall always
treasure his memory as a very brave soldier and loyal non-commissioned
officer who never thought of himself. He was one of the most gallant
NCOs the 1st Battalion ever had….. there was nothing
he could not do with his men. The Regiment lost a splendid soldier
when he fell in the battle of the Somme on the 1st July
1916”. Ernest Ley was born in Longworth, Berkshire in
1886 and was the son of Samuel and Emma Ley of Windlesham (1901
census). He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. |
| MARSTON |
Jack |
Private
53368. Jack Marston was born on 12th July 1895.
He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a private on 15th
January 1915. He had his training in Belfast from 17th
January 1915 until June 1916 when he returned to Aldershot for one
week before crossing to Etaples in France. He was wounded in the
great push in March 1918. He died on 29th April 1918
from pneumonia and he was buried at Etaples. He came home once
on leave from France for ten days at Christmas 1917. Son of
John and Elizabeth Marston, of The Lodge, Windlesham Court, Windlesham,
Surrey. Buried at Cemetery: Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais,
France. |
| MASON |
James |
Private
SE/15966. James Mason was married and living in Windlesham
engaged in dairy farming when war was declared in August 1914.
He joined the Army Veterinary Corps Remounts in April 1916 and went
to Bulfield Camp on Salisbury Plain to work with horses and mules.
He had some leave in 1916 on account of pleurisy and in January
1917 he came home on sick leave and was moved from his home to the
Connaught Hospital where he remained until about 2nd
March 1917 when he was moved home in an ambulance. He died aged
46 on 16th March 1917. Son of Richard and Mary
Francis Mason, of Windlesham; husband of Annie Mason, of Beech Cottages,
Updown Hill, Windlesham. He is buried at Windlesham Additional
Burial Ground. |
| McGILDOWNY |
William |
Major,
124th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery. Died aged 47 on 26
May 1917. Son of John McGildowny, J.P., of Clare Park, Ballycastle,
Co. Antrim; husband of Honora McGildowny. Buried Mindel Trench
British Cemetery, St. Laurent-Blangy, Pas de Calais, France. Awarded
the DSO. |
| McMULLAN |
James |
Lance
Corporal G/22495, 1st Bn, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
Died 23 April 1916. Remembered at the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais,
France. |
| MEARS |
Thomas |
Lance
Corporal T/2198. Thomas Mears had previously been a soldier
for eight years and four years on the Reserve. He was at the time
of the outbreak of war living with his parents in their home in
Windlesham. He joined up again at the beginning of September in
the Territorial Army at first and went to Chatham and then to Canterbury.
On the 29th October he left for India with the 5th
Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He died of heart failure
on the Hospital Ship Tallada, en route for Bombay from Mesopotamia,
on Sunday 16th April 1916. He was buried at sea the
same day, about 50 miles off Bombay. He was 36 years of age. His
Captain wrote to his mother “Long ere this arrives you will
have heard of your son’s death when being invalided back to
India. It came as a great shock to the Company and personally.
I had no idea he was dangerously ill. I have been his Company commander
since the middle of January and during that time I learnt to rely
upon him as a NCO to do anything well that was asked of him. He
was a splendid soldier and his loss will be great to his Regiment.
I sincerely sympathise with you.” Son of Samuel and
Frances Mears, of Roundwood, Windlesham, Surrey. Remembered on
the Basra Memorial, Iraq. |
| PERROTT |
Arthur
Hennis |
 Lieutenant,
1st Bn, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died 10/09/1914. Buried Oulchy-le-Chateau
Churchyard Extension, Aisne, France |
| PLATT |
John
Rookhurst |
 Lieutenant
Platt, Royal Field Artillery, 3rd (Northumbrian) Bde
was aged 25 when he was killed on 27 March 1916. Son of Samuel
Radcliffe Platt and Helen M. Platt, of New Place, Sunningdale,
Berks. Native of Oldham. Buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground,
Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Photograph
Courtesy of William Bridge 2019
|
| PLATT |
Maurice
Cedric |
 Sub-Lieutenant
K8 41, Hawke Battalion, Royal Navy Division, RNVR. His Battalion
took part in the siege of Antwerp but when the city was overrun
by the Germans he was involved in a retreat into The Netherlands
where he and other troops were interned on 14 October 1914. During
the remainder of the war he was allowed two periods of leave to
return home to England on parole. He died on 26 November 1918; the
cause given was heart failure following pneumonia. Son of Samuel
Radcliffe Platt and Helen M. Platt, of New Place, Sunningdale, Berks.
Native of Oldham. Initially buried in Holland but later exhumed
and re-interred in Oldham (Chadderton) Cemetery, Lancashire, United
Kingdom.
Research
by Moira Nairn for Surrey Heritage's Surrey in the Great War:
A County Remembers project
- Photograph
Courtesy of William Bridge 2019
|
| REYNOLDS |
Albert |
Gunner
90497. Albert Reynolds was born at Pirton in Hertfordshire
in 1883 son of Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds. He was married to
Caroline Reynolds of Laurel Cottage, Windlesham Surrey with whom
he was living and his son when he joined up on 1st June
1916. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery 139th Heavy
Battery at the age of 33. During the rest of 1916 he was training
at Dover. On 18th January 1917 he left Aldershot for
France landing at Le Havre on 19th January and reaching
Albert on 21st January. He kept a diary from which we
know that in 1917 he was moving about Moulin, Hardincourt, Dunkirk,
St. Omer, Rouen, and Cryde. In July, whilst grass cutting, they
were shelled out of Hardincourt. On 19th July he met
with an accident whilst fetching forage, which necessitated his
going into hospital at St. Omer. After undergoing X-rays at Rouen,
he was sent to Southampton by the Hospital Ship, St. George, and
from there to Leeds and Killingbeck Hospitals where he was until
November when he came home on leave. On 5th January
he left home again for Bullivant. On 13th April 1918
he left Winchester for France again. On 25th April he
was in action and one gun was knocked out. Judging from his diary
he was in action for most of June and July and on 8th
August he was hit and died the following day. He was very fond
of natural history and bird life as the following extract of his
diary shows: “1918. On 23rd March fine morning
with heavy dew, the birds singing in the trees and the rooks building
their nests. The sun was shining very hot towards the middle of
the day; a butterfly was flying around and bumble bees were whirling
past; thus ended a perfect day”. Another entry in the midst
of others “in action” comes “May 1st
I heard the nightingale”. His wife received a very touching
and sympathetic letter from one of his comrades on behalf of himself
and all his mates in Sub-Section E as soon as the news of her husband’s
death had reached them at their battery on 9th August
1918. Son of Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds; husband of Caroline
Reynolds, of Laurel Cottage, Windlesham, Surrey. Born at Pirton,
Herts. Buried at Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-les-Pernois,
Somme, France. |
| SMITH |
Harry
Ernest |
Private
G/21024. Harry Smith enlisted in the 17th Battalion
of the Middlesex Regiment in October 1915. He was in Camp at Shoreham
from October 1915 to May 1916 when he went to Aldershot for three
weeks. Whilst in Camp at Shoreham he had leave to come home for
eight days. He went across to France in June 1916; and probably
fell in the Battle of the Somme on 17th September 1916
as after that night he was “missing”. Many others after
that night who were fighting with him were not seen again. The
Quarter Master Sergeant writing to his parents said: “The
night your boy was missing was a terrible one. The Germans poured
a terrific hail of trench mortars on our lines and dozens of our
lads were buried.” A Private of the same Battalion, William
Osborne, spoke of Harry Smith having been very popular in the Regiment.
Harry was 20 years old and was the son of William & Harriet
Rose Smith of Coralee Cottage, Chertsey Road, Windlesham. He is
commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. |
| SMITH |
Percy |
Gunner
98015, "B" Bty. 48th Bde. Royal Field Artillery. Died
aged 24 on 30 July 1915. “Was sent to Woolwich in the
first instance. From there he was sent to Deepcut, North Camp,
Compton and Aldershot. He left for France on 15th May
1915. He was killed at the battle of Hooge by a shell which burst
in the dugout on 30th July 1915”. Son of Isaac
Smith, of Chestnut Cottage, King's Lane, Windlesham, Surrey. Commemorated
at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. |
| STENSON |
Charles
Edward |
Private
– G/23927. Charles Stenson was born on 23rd
May 1898 and enlisted at the end of 1915 before he was 18 years
of age. He was claimed back on account of his age. He enlisted
for a second on 1st February 1917 and went into training
at Southend and from there to Dover. He came home for four days
before leaving for France. He joined up in the 8th Battalion
of the East Kent’s and went to France on 20th June
1917. He was transferred to the 7th Battalion at the
beginning of 1918 and was killed aged 20 on the 17th
June 1918 after being in France for about 12 months. He was
buried at Contay, Somme, France. He was the son of Amy Alice and
the late James Stenson of Upper Hale near Farnham, Surrey. |
| STOCKLEY |
Charles
William (William C) |
Private
L/11217. Charles Stockley, before the war, was working under
his brother James A Stockley (q.v.) in a butcher’s shop in
Bagshot. Charles was 18 when he joined up in February 1916 in the
Queen’s Royal West Surreys. He went to France some time in
April 1916 and was killed 3rd July 1916. He is
commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was the
son of James and Charlotte Stockley, who are resident in The Square
Bagshot in the Parish of Windlesham in the 1901 Census. William
C Stockley was born about 1897 in Poole, Dorset. |
| STOCKLEY |
James
A |
Private
34145. James Stockley was a married man living in Windlesham
and manager of a butcher’s shop in Bagshot when war broke
out. He joined up on November 1916 in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry. He went to France in February 1917. He returned
to England in February 1918 on account of his wife’s illness
and subsequent death. He returned to France in early March 1918
and was killed on 8th August 1918. He was in a cycle
corps during his training in England and after going to France was
a dispatch rider and a company runner when a shell killed him.
He was the son of James and Charlotte Stockley, who are resident
in The Square Bagshot in the Parish of Windlesham in the 1901 Census.
He is buried at Cemetery: Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin,
Nord, France. |
| TEDDER |
Stephen |
 |
| The
Tedder family c.1916 with
Stephen Sr., his wife Queenie,
son Stephen H.E. and
Stephen Sr.’s mother Ann Tedder. |
|
Private
229295. Stephen Tedder was in the Territorial Army when war
broke out and was in camp at the time with the 1st/5th
Queen’s Royal West Surreys. He was a bandsman in the Regiment.
He volunteered for foreign service in 1915 and was transferred to
the 2nd/5th Queen’s Royal West Surreys.
He went to France on 3rd August 1917 and was transferred
to the 1st London Royal Fusiliers Regiment. He was wounded
on 1st January 1918 and died aged 31 on 8th
January. He is buried at Mont Huon, Seine-Maritime France.
He left a widow, (Q.H. Tedder of 98 Ashmore Road, Paddington) and
one son (Stephen Henry Edmund Tedder, 1916-2005). Stephen was the
son of Ann and the late James Tedder of Windlesham. |
| TICKNER |
Arthur |
Private
8163. Arthur Tickner was born in Lightwater 7th
August 1897 and was living with his parents in Windlesham when war
was declared in 1914. He joined up on 12th May 1916
in the 9th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West
Surreys from which Regiment he was transferred to the 1st
East Surreys. He went to France in August or September 1916 and
was badly wounded on 7th May 1917, dying on 8th
May. He had been latterly attached to the 95th French
Mortar Battery. He was the son of Arthur and Rose Tickner
of School Lane, Chertsey Road, Windlesham. He was buried at Aubigny
Cemetery Extension and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Arthur Tickner was born about 1898 in Windlesham, Surrey. |
| TICKNER |
George
Thomas |
Private
82200. George Tickner was born on 15th July 1899
in Windlesham. He joined up on 13th August 1917 in the
2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was trained
in camps in Scotland and Ipswich. He went to France on 2nd
April 1918. He did not answer to the roll call on 2nd
October and was found dead on the field on 5th October.
He is buried at Dadizeele, New British Cemetery, Belgium. George
was the second son of Arthur and Rose Tickner to have died in the
war. George Tickner was born about 1900 in Windlesham, Surrey. |
| TICKNER |
Thomas |
Private
S/547. Thomas Tickner was 39 years old and was working in Windlesham
when war broke out. He joined up in the last week of 1914. He
was in training in Purfleet in Essex. He crossed to France at the
end of July 1915. He was expected to come home on leave shortly
when he fell in action in the battle of the Somme on 1st
July 1916. He is buried at the Dantzig Alley Cemetery, Mametz,
Somme, France. He was attached to the 7th Battalion
of the Queen’s Royal West Surreys. He was the son of Julia
Tickner & the late Henry J. Tickner of Kimbolton Cottages, Windlesham,
Surrey, and probably a cousin of the two Tickners’ listed
above. |
| TIDBURY |
Walter
James |
 Bombardier.
Walter Tidbury was born in 1879 in Bagshot and was the son of
Walter and Frances Tidbury of Updown Hill, Windlesham (1891 Census).
He was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery for some eight
years in India and was on the Reserve List when War was declared
in August 1914. He reported on 5th August at Woolwich, from where
he was transferred to Portsmouth to train young recruits for the
front. Here he held the rank of Lance Corporal or Bombardier.
After about six months of this work, he was invalided home suffering
from pleurisy, which was followed by pneumonia. He was sent to
hospital at Aldershot from where he was found to be suffering
from consumption. He was pensioned off in 1915 dying on January
17th 1916 at his home in Windlesham. He left a widow, Julia
Caroline Goddard nee Hickford, a son Walter aged 8 and a stepdaughter
Maggie (sic) aged 14 (1911 Census).
Moira
Nairn, a local history researcher discovered in 2018 that Walter
Tidbury was interred in an unmarked grave in Windlesham Cemetery
and made a request with supporting evidence to the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission for an official headstone to be erected.
This
was finally agreed and a new headstone was put in place in April
2022.
Photograph
© copyright 2022, and information on the grave research courtesy
of, Moira Nairn
More at: Walter
James Tidbury – ill-health death of army reservist | Surrey
in the Great War:
|
| TODMAN |
Walter |
Private
8859. Walter Todman was born 1st November 1890.
He was nearly 24 when war was declared. For six or seven years
before the war he had been a private in the 1st Royal
Scots and had been quartered at Allahahad in India. At the beginning
of the war his Regiment was sent to France where they landed about
the end of November. He fought in the first battle of Ypres. He
was killed by a bullet (aged 27) whilst burying some men from another
Regiment on 17th February 1915. His parents received
a letter from him written only the day before he fell in which he
asked for their prayers. He had kept a diary from time to time
and all his letters and postcards home show that he was a lad who
cared much for the higher and spiritual things of life. Some of
his friends in their letters spoke very highly of his character
and how they missed him after his death. One of them wrote, “during
the past years I have come to know him well and have found him to
be a great help to me.” He is remembered on the Ypres
(Menin Gate) Memorial and is the son of Walter and Elizabeth A.
Todman (1901 Census). |
| TRAILL |
Kenneth
Robert |
 Lieutenant,
6th Bn, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died 01/07/1916. “Kenneth
Trail was born on 9th January 1893. He was educated
at Sunningdale School (Smith & Crabtree), Bradfield College
and Guys Hospital London. He was a medical student at Guys Hospital
when war broke out. He joined the Inns of Court Officers Training
Corps in August 1914 and received his commission in the 6th
Royal Berkshire Regiment in September 1914. The Regiment did most
of its training at Colchester and on Salisbury Plain. They were
sent to France in July 1915. He was slightly wounded in the arm
in February 1916 and returned to his Regiment in March of that year.
From July 1915 to July 1916 the 6th Royal Berkshire were
engaged in trench warfare in Albert but did not take part in any
big engagement until the first battle of the Somme on 1st
July 1916. Lt. Trail was killed on the morning of the 1st
July 1916 whilst taking a German trench. The battalion went over
the top 900 strong that morning and there were only 120 left in
the evening”. Kenneth Traill was the son of Cecil G.
(a Surgeon) and Mary M. Trail of Windlesham (1901 Census). He is
buried at Carnoy Military Cemetery, Somme, France”. |
| WHITE |
Arthur
William |
Lance
Corporal 36956, Ist Bn Gloucestershire Regiment. Died aged 30
29 September 1918. Awarded Military Medal. Son of Arthur and Emily
White, of Holly Cottage, School Rd., Windlesham, Surrey. Buried
at Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy Aisne, France. |
| WILKES |
Henry
Charles |
Private
18586. Henry Wilkes was born in 1898. He joined the 1st
Battalion C Company of the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 14th
June 1915. He was killed aged 18 in action on 27th July
1916 whilst attacking Delville Wood. An extract from the Parish
Magazine “We are very sorry to have to add Harry Wilkes’
name to those who have died on the battle field for their King and
Country. He was only 18 and had only been in France a very short
time. His mother has received a very kind letter from the clergyman
who prepared him for Confirmation and who gave him his last Communion
before leaving England. He speaks very highly indeed of Harry’s
character.” Son of Joseph and Florence Wilkes of Hall
Cottages, Spratton, Northamptonshire. He is buried at London Cemetery
and Extension, Longueval, Somme, France. |
| WILLIS |
Frank |
Private
G/5965, 2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died
aged 31, 2nd July 1916. Son of H. and Anna Willis,
of King's Hill Cottage, Golf Links, Sunningdale, Berks. Buried
Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'abbe Somme, France. |
| WISE |
Frank
Vincent |
Signalman
London Z/2954. Frank Wise was Assistant Master at Windlesham
Council School when war broke out. In August 1915 he joined the
Royal Naval Defence and went into training at Crystal Palace where
he specialised in signalling. On finishing his training he was
posted to H.M.S. Lion but was shortly afterwards transferred to
H.M.S. Invincible where he combined the duties of Signaller with
those of Teacher. He succeeded so well as Teacher that he was to
have been appointed to a Nautical School at Plymouth in July 1916.
However, on 31st May 1916 he went down with his ship
the Invincible at the Battle of Jutland. He was 24 years of
age when he died. Son of Katherine Wise of Birkrigg, Chesterfield
Road, Ashford, Middlesex (1901 Census). He is commemorated on the
Chatham Naval Memorial. |
| WRIGHT |
Charles
James Stewart |
 Captain
Wright was born 4th September 1891. He enlisted in the
Inns of Court Volunteers 3rd August 1914. He was gazetted
Second Lieutenant of 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment
on 28th September 1914. He trained at The Temple London,
Aldershot, Andover, and Perham Down. He went to France on 31st
July 1915. He was gazetted Captain on 16th August 1915.
He fell at dawn on 14th July 1916 with practically all
the Officers and men of his Company in the Battle of the Somme,
Bazentin-le-Petit. Their bodies were never found. He is commemorated
at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, Somme, France. He was the son of
the late Charles Francis and Bertha Burnet Wright; he was aged 25
when he was killed. |
“Their
Name Liveth for Evermore” |
|
|
“Also
The Second World War 1939-1945” |
1939-1945 |
| BAIGENT |
Peter
Henry |
Sergeant (Air Gnr.) 1852464, 61 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve. Died aged 19 on 8th July 1944. 61 Sqdn were
part of 5 Bomber Group flying Avro Lancasters'. On the date of
P Baigents death the squadron was attacking V1 rocket storage
facilities west of Chantilly, France. Son of Anthony Warton Baigent
and Lucy Edith Baigent. Buried at Moliens Communal Cemetery,
Oise, France.
Below
- Peter Baigent and the crew of Stirling
(Peter Baigent is third from the right)
Courtesy Jan Bastow
|
| CLAPTON |
Thomas
Lionel Ashburner |
Major
50972, 8th Bn, Durham Light Infantry. Died aged 32 on 12 June 1944.
Son of Lieut.-Comdr. Thomas Clapton, R.N., and Mildred Ashburner
Clapton; husband of Rosemary Clapton, of Bradpole, Bridport, Dorsetshire.
Buried at Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France. |
| CLARK |
Charles
Frederick |
Lieutenant
H.M.S. Giang Bee, Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died 13
February 1942. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. |
| EASTAUGH |
John
Herbert |
Corporal
902940, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died aged 26 on 25 March
1943. Son of John and Florence Ellen Eastaugh, of Windlesham, Surrey.
Buried at Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan. Also remembered on a stone
inside the church of St John the Baptist as one of three choristers
who died in the war. |
| EYLES |
Peter
Raoul |
Sergeant
560889, 92 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. Died aged 24 on 20 March 1940.
Son of Ralph Sidney and Grace Elizabeth Eyles, of Hook, Basingstoke,
Hampshire. Peter Eyles was a pre-war airman. On the day of his
death his Spitfire N3248 was shot down by Major Werner Molders of
JG 51. Eyles crashed into the English Channel off Dungeness. Pilot
Officer H P Hill in another Spitfire was lost in the same engagement.
Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
| GANNON |
Jack |
 |
Photo:
Albert Haseldine, Jack Gannon & Ernie Tait. |
Driver T/40027, 218 Gen. Transport Coy., Royal Army Service Corps.
Died aged 23 on 12 August 1942. Son of Annie M. Gannon, and stepson
of Harry Holmes, of Windlesham, Surrey. Buried El Alamein War Cemetery,
Egypt. Also remembered on a stone inside the church of St John
the Baptist as one of three choristers who died in the war and on
the communion rail of the Lady Chapel. |
| GILLIAT |
John |
Major 63033, 6th Bn, Irish Guards. On Sunday 18 June 1944 during
morning service a V1 flying bomb struck the Guards Chapel at Wellington
Barracks, London and in the ensuing explosion the roof of the chapel
collapsed on the congregation killing 121 civilians and military
personnel. A further 141 people were injured. Major John Gilliat
was among the dead. He was aged 30, the son of John Francis Grey
Gilliat and Lilian Florence Maud Gilliat, of Sunningdale, Berkshire.
Buried Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey. |
| HASELDINE |
Albert
Victor |
 |
Photo:
Albert and Frederick Haseldine |
Driver T/10672381, Royal Army Service Corps. Died aged 25 on 22
November 1942. Son of Albert Victor and Florence Amelia Haseldine,
of Windsor, Berkshire. Buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma,
Libya. Also remembered on a stone inside the church of St John
the Baptist as one of three choristers who died in the Great War. |
| HAYES |
George
James |
Lance
Corporal 14263668, 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps.
Died aged 22 on 7 June 1944. Son of James and Ethel Hayes; husband
of May Rebecca Elizabeth Hayes, of Windlesham, Surrey, England.
Buried at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados,
France. |
| KNOWLES |
Howard
Otis |
 Flight
Lieutenant (Pilot) 63449, 117 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died aged 22 on 5 February 1943. Son of St. John Knowles and Arta
Otis Knowles, of South Ascot, Berkshire. Buried and/or commemorated
at Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya. |
| MANSEL |
Mervyn
Lascelles |
 Major
74595, 1st Bn, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Died aged
26 on 13 May 1944. Son of Algernon Lascelles Mansel and Isita Mansel,
of Windlesham, Surrey. He is remembered on the grave of his parents
in the open cemetery adjoining St John the Baptist Church and is
said to have died of his wounds on 12 May 1944. Buried at Imphal
War Cemetery, Burma. |
| NEWMAN |
Alfred
Edgar |
Lance
Sergeant 7016617, 56th Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C. Died
aged 28 on 20 March 1945. Son of Henry and Grace Newman; husband
of Ruth Yvonne Newman, of Whyteleafe, Surrey. Buried at Forli War
Cemetery, Italy. |
| REDMAN |
Frank
Hayes |
Private
1st Surrey Bn., Home Guard. Died aged 56 on 7 September 1940.
Son of Frank and Katherine Hayes Redman; husband of Olive Elenda
Redman, of Windlesham. Buried at Windlesham Additional Burial Ground. |
| ROLLO
|
Norman
Chetwynd |
Major
71972, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Died aged 26 on 15 September
1944. Son of Maj. John Eric Henry Rollo and Helen Maud Rollo, of
Windlesham, Surrey. Buried at Geel War Cemetery, Geel, Antwerpen,
Belgium. Awarded the Military Cross. |
| RUBY |
Cyril
Albert |
Private
14679439, 4th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry. Died aged 18 on 25
August 1944. Son of George William and Alice Elizabeth Ruby, of
Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire. Buried at Vernon Communal Cemetery,
Eure, France. |
| SPENCER |
John
Ogilvie |
Major
106772, Welsh Guards. Died 9 September 1944. Buried Leopoldsburg
War Cemetery, Leopoldsburg, Limburg, Belgium. There is a second
burial in the same name in this cemetery:Spencer,
John Ogilvie Fusilier 4200158 16/11/1944 28 Royal Welch Fusiliers
United Kingdom III. D. 15. It is not clear from the records whether
there is a memorial inscription and a burial, which would account
for the duplication but this would not explain the differing death
dates. |
| STEVENS |
Sidney
Edmund |
Cook
MMF/107/138856, S.S. Everleigh (Atlantic Shipping & Trading
Co Ltd, (W J Tatem Ltd, Managers) 1938, London), Merchant Navy.
Died aged 37 on 6 February 1945. The Everleigh was lost to U Boat
U1017 on 6 February 1945 off the Dorset Coast. Commemorated on
the Tower Hill Memorial, London. |
| THOMPSON |
John
Rawson aka Tommy |
 Pilot
Officer (Pilot) 78 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died
aged 21 on 5th March 1943. Son of Horace and Edna Annie
Thompson, of Shipley, Yorkshire. Buried at Staphorst (Rouveen)
New General Cemetery, Overijssel, Netherlands. |
| WILSON |
Guy
Gervers Holmes |
 Lt
Col 69381, Royal Artillery. Died aged 38 on 29 April 1943. Son
of Brigadier General Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson, G.C.MG., K.C.B.,
K.B.E., and Lady Wilson (nee Gervers); husband of Elaine Wilson,
of Chelsea, London.
Photograph
and text below courtesy: The Warden and Scholars of Winchester
College
He
was the only son of Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson
GCMG, KCB, KBE and Lady Wilson (daughter of F T Gevers). He came
to Mr Bather’s House at Winchester College from St David’
Reigate in May 1918. He left from Sixth Book (Sc) as prefect to
go into the steel business after a spell in France and Trinidad
where his father was then Governor. In 1924 he joined the Stock
Exchange with Lemon Bros.
In
1936 he re-joined the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) being
rapidly promoted after the outbreak of war. He commanded 51 HAA
Battery. He went to The Staff College and was appointed as GSO3
and GSO2 in the War Office. In 1941 he was perhaps the only Territorial
Officer to that date who had become an instructor at the Senior
Staff College. In 1942 he returned to the War Office as GSO1.
He died on active service in an air accident near Barnstable in
April 1943 when GSO1 of 3rd Division.
He
left a widow Elaine Margaret Wilson (nee Pilling) whom he had
married on 6 April 1929 and two step-daughters. He and his wife
lived at Roundwood, Windlesham, Surrey. Interred at Windlesham
Additional Burial Ground
|
World
War I War Grave Internments in the Open Cemetery Adjoining St John
the Baptist Church, Windlesham and not Recorded on the War Memorial. |
| BIGNELL |
T |
Private
SE/781, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Died aged 41 on 6th January
1918. |
| COCHRANE |
Basil
Robert |
Born 16 February 1898 in Dublin Ireland, eldest son of Charles Fitzgerald
Thomas Cochrane and Maud Mary Rose. Basil was from a long line of
Cochrane’s to have given military service to the country.
He was a naval cadet aged 13 in the 1911 Census. In the Great War
he served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy notably at the Falklands,
the Dardanelles and Jutland. He died on 14 February 1919 in 1st
Eastern Hospital Cambridge of cerebral-spinal meningitis. He was
buried in Windlesham Additional Burial Ground on 18 March 1919.
It is not thought that Basil lived in the village although his cousin,
Rear Admiral Archibald Cochrane lived in Windlesham House, Kennel
Lane (Destroyed by fire) which is opposite Admirals Field, now the
Field of Remembrance. |
| DELAVOYE |
Francis
Bethune |
Captain,
Army Service Corps. Retired on half pay in October 1915, died 11
August 1916 aged 43. Son of Colonel Alexander Marin Delavoye and
husband of Isabel Ursula Piggott and children Francis and Ursula
Information courtesy Moira Nairn.
|
| FOLLEY |
T |
Private
46940, Royal Fusiliers from 1894 to 1916 (22 years) and 9th Bn,
Northamptonshire Regt. (1917 to 1918). Died aged 43 on 8th
September 1919. Husband of M. Folley, of 26, Great Queen St., Kingsway,
London. |
| KNIGHT |
Thomas
Napoleon |
Sapper
WR/22989, 315th Road Construction Coy., Royal Engineers. Died aged
30, 10th February 1919. Husband of Lily Knight, of Nursery
Cottage, Guildford Rd., Lightwater, Bagshot. Lily Knight died 28
April 1971 aged 85 and is buried with her husband. |
World
War II War Grave Internments in the Open Cemetery Adjoining St John
the Baptist Church, Windlesham and not Recorded on the War Memorial. |
|
CABLE |
Harry
George Joshua |
Lance
Corporal, 159 Provost Coy, Corps of Military Police, died aged 37,
30 June 1942 on war service. Son of Charles and Emma Cable and husband
of Edith May Woodrow and children Francis Harry and Barbara. |
Dead
of World War I Commemorated on the memorial Board in the South Porch
of St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham but not on the War Memorial. |
| FRANKLIN |
Cyril
George |
Rifleman
305826, 5th Bn, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). Died aged
18 on 21 August 1918. Son of Wm. Thos. and Lucy Hannah Franklin,
of Chobham, Surrey. Buried Cemetery: Ligny-St. Flochel British
Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Calais, France. |
|
SNOWDEN |
C
(possibly Chaplin) |
2nd
Lieutenant, 3rd/5th Bn, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died 19 November
1931. This name appears on the St Albans Board. No further details. |
| MILLS |
Joseph |
Royal
Inniskilin Fusiliers. Died 4th April 1931. No further
details. |
Parish
of Windlesham World War I Dead Commemorated in
The South Porch of St John the Baptist Church (Lightwater Board). |
|
BRANDON |
George |
[Listed
as John Brandon on CWGC] Lance Corporal 15036, 2nd Bn., Grenadier
Guards. Born Watford, enlisted London. killed in action 15 September
1916. Commemorated on Thiepval memorial, Somme, France. |
| BURROWS |
(Alfred)
Charles (William) |
Private 53504, "A" Coy., 2/7th Bn., Manchester Regiment.
Killed in action 21st March 1918. Aged 20. Born Windlesham, enlisted
Camberley, resident Lightwater. Son of Alfred and Betsy Burrows,
of 4, Charters Cottage, Sunningdale, Berks. [WGC states he was born
at Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey.] Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery
Extension, Somme, France. In the 1901 Census Alfred CW Burrows is
a visitor aged 2 years in the home of Charles and Caroline Woodcock
at 2 Gas Lane, St Giles, Reading, Berkshire. His parents, Alfred
and Betsy were living at the Blacksmiths Shop, Updown Hill, Windlesham
with their other son Ernest aged 10 months. |
|
BUNCE |
George |
Private
9303, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died 27 January 1915.
Brother of M. E. E. Bunce, of 3, Macdonald Rd., Lightwater, Surrey.
Buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. |
| CHILDS |
Charles
Henry |
Sergeant
7873, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died aged 29 2 December
1917. Son of Charles and Elizabeth Childs, of Ling Cottage, Lightwater,
Bagshot, Surrey, husband of Maud E. Childs, of 14, Brooklyn Terrace,
North Holmwood, Dorking. Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. |
|
CHILDS |
Thomas
James |
Sergeant
69867, 13th Bty. 5th Bde., Royal Field Artillery. Died aged 27
on 8th August 1918. Son of Elizabeth Childs, of Ling
Cottage, Lightwater, Bagshot, Camberley, and the late Charles J.
Childs. Buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas
de Calais, France. |
| COX |
Henry
John |
Private
PO/18307, Royal Marine Light Infantry, H.M.S. "Invincible".
Died aged 21 on 31st May 1916. Son of William Cox, of
3, Rose Cottages, Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey. Commemorated on
the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. |
|
ELSON |
Charles |
Sergeant
S/721, 7th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died
1 July 1916. Buried at Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz,
Somme, France. |
| ELSON |
George
Edward |
Stoker
1st Class SS/104229, (RFR/PO/B/4845). H.M.S. "Good Hope",
Royal Navy. Died aged 26 on 1st November 1914. Son
of Mrs. S. Elizabeth Elson, of Rose Cottage, Lightwater Rd., Bagshot,
Surrey. Commemorated at Portsmouth Navy Memorial. |
|
FARTHING |
Leonard |
Captain,
2nd Bn, East Lancashire Regiment. Died aged 28 on 16 November 1916.
Son of Mrs. Alice Farthing, of "Nuthurst", Grassmere Rd.,
Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey, and the late George Farthing. Born
at Overton, Ludlow. Served 13 years with 1st (Royal) Dragoons.
Buried at A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers, Somme, France. Awarded
the Military Cross. |
| GARDNER |
Daniel |
Private
249818, 3rd Bn., Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Died 24th
September 1918. Buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas
de Calais, France. |
|
GARDNER |
Fred |
Private
703167, 23rd Bn., London Regiment. Died aged 25 on 6th
April 1918. Son of David and Isabella Gardner, of "Penryn,"
Ambleside Rd., Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey. Born at Douglas, Isle
of Man. Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. |
| KNIGHT |
James |
Private
G/37220, 11th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died
aged 20 on 23 March 1918. Son of Edward and Edith S. Knight, of
Rose Cottages, Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey. Buried at Cemetery:
Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. |
|
KNIGHT |
William
Harry |
Private
6380, 6th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died aged
20 on 23 February 1916. Son of Edward and Edith Knight, of 1, Rose
Cottages, Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey. Buried Vermelles British
Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. |
| LEESON |
Sidney
James |
Lance
Corporal 10012, 2nd Bn, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).
Died aged 26 on 4 February 1915. Youngest son of the late William
Leeson (Bandmaster 1st Bn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt.), and
Emily Sarah Leeson. One of five brothers, all of whom served. Remembered
at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. |
|
MACHIN |
Albert |
[Spelt
MACHEN on WGC and SDGW] Private 9290, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment.
Killed in action on 9 May 1915. Aged 25. Born Farnborough, Hampshire,
enlisted Reading, resident Bagshot. Son of Fred and Mary Machen,
of Thrift Cottage, Lightwater. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial,
Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. |
| MARSH |
Ernest
W |
Private
M2/097590, M.T., Army Service Corps. Died 11 November 1917. Buried
at Deepcut Military Cemetery, Surrey. No further details. |
|
PERRY |
Moreton
Joseph |
Gunner
37136, "B" Bty. 183rd Bde., Royal Field Artillery. Died
aged 26 on 21 May 1916. Son of Charles William and Mary Ellen Perry,
of McDonald Lodge, Lightwater, Camberley. Native of Bagshot. Buried
at Cemetery: Rifle House Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.
|
| POOLE |
Thomas
George |
Lance
Corporal 2379, 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars. Died 28 October 1918.
Commemorated at the Basra Memorial, Iraq. |
|
PRATT |
Charles
Henry |
Private
1443, 8th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Died aged
28 on 25 April 1915. Son of George L. and Mary A. Pratt, of Laburnum
Cottages, Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey, England. Commemorated
at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. |
| RANCE |
Oliver |
Private
T/243593, 1st/5th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
Died aged 19 on 19 May 1917. Son of Robert and Sophia Rance, of
"The Folly," Lightwater, Bagshot, Camberley, Surrey.
Commemorated at the Basra War Cemetery, Iraq. |
|
RANCE |
Thomas
David |
Private
G/62785, 7th Bn., Royal Fusiliers. Died aged 27 on 22 February
1917. Son of Robert and Sophia Rance, of The Folly, Lightwater,
Bagshot, Surrey. Buried at Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel,
Somme, France. |
| RANCE |
William |
Private
15746, 7th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died
aged 35 on 18 November 1916. Son of Robert and Sophia Rance, of
Lightwater; husband of Martha Rance, of Jessamine Cottage, Ambleside
Rd., Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey. Buried at Stump Road Cemetery,
Grandcourt, Somme, France. |
|
RAPLEY |
William |
Private
1085, 6th Bn, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 18
September 1915. Buried Tancrez Farm Cemetery, Comines-Warneton,
Hainaut, Belgium. |
| SEARLE |
George |
Private
8117, 1st Bn, East Surrey Regiment. Died aged 30 on 13 May 1915.
Husband of Harriett Searle, of 3, Primrose Cottages, Guildford Rd.,
Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey. Buried at Niederzwehren Cemetery,
Kassel, Hessen, Germany. |
|
STREET |
Arthur |
Lance
Corporal G/651, 11th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
Died aged 19 on 26 September 1917. Son of James Street, of "Ridge
View," West End, Woking, Surrey. Commemorated at Tyne Cot
Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. |
| WILLIAMS |
Percy |
Gunner
68915, "D" Bty. 189th Bde., Royal Field Artillery. Died
aged 32 on 28 October 1916. Son of Joe and Ellen Williams, of Eastwell,
Kent; husband of Mabel Williams, of Challock Leese, Ashford, Kent.
Buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. |
|
The
Open Cemetery adjoining the Church of St John the Baptist, Windlesham;
“The Stirling Memorial” |
|
BUNKER |
Richard
Henry |
 |
Photo:
Bunker in cockpit of Lancaster |
 |
Wing Commander (Pilot) 40668, 190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force (RAFO).
Died aged 25 on 20th April 1945. Son of Frederick and
Harriet Bunker; husband of Stella Bunker, of Redcar, Yorkshire.
Buried at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey. Awarded DSO, DFC and Bar.
Richard Bunker was the pilot of a Short Stirling Mk IV bomber that
crashed at Windlesham on 20 April 1945 killing all on board. His
crew are as follows: |
| ALDRED |
Jeffrey |
Sergeant
(Air Bomber) 3010575, 190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died on 20th April 1945. Son of Herbert and Florence
Mary Aldred, of Ilkeston. Buried at Kirk Hallam, Derbyshire (All
Saints) Churchyard. |
|
BAGLEY |
Ronald
Lewis |
 |
Photo:
Bagley standing right. |
Flight
Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) 1812807, 190 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve. Died aged 25 on 20th April 1945. Son of Lewis
and Eva Bagley, of St. Albans; husband of Nora C. J. Bagley, of
St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Buried at St. Albans Cemetery, Hertfordshire. |
| GARDINER |
Kenneth
Gerald |
Sergeant
(W.Op./Air Gnr.) 1587766, 190 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died aged 22 on 20th April 1945. Son of Frank and Daisy
Gladys Gardiner, of Chalford Vale. Buried at Chalford (Christ Church)
Churchyard, Gloucestershire. |
|
KING |
Frederick
Charles |
Sergeant
(Nav.) 1587589, 190 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died
aged 21 on 20th April 1945. Son of Frederick William
King, and of Ann Sarah King, of Clevedon. Buried at Clevedon (St.
Andrew) Churchyard, Somerset. |
| SULSH |
Samuel
Alfred |
Pilot
Officer (Flt Engr.) 56536, 180 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve. Died aged 39 on 20th April 1945. Husband
of Aileen Norah Sulsh, of Hillsborough. Buried at the Eglantine
Church of Ireland Cemetery, Northern Ireland. |
|
TAYLOR |
George
Robert Thompson |
Flying
Officer (Air Bomber) 55614, 190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. Died aged
28 on 20th April 1945. Son of William and Margaret Ross
Thompson Taylor, of Ashfield. Buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Scotland. |
St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham
and not Recorded on the War Memorial |
| COCHRANE |
Basil
Alexander Dundonald |
Flying
Officer, killed in action aged 22 on 2nd May 1952.
Commemorated on a small brass plaque in the Lady Chapel.
The
following extract from a crash investigation web site appears
to provide evidence of Cochrane’s fate: -
Malaya
Historical Group (MHG)
“Additional
research and investigations carried out by MHG and one of Museum
Officers En Rizal, who together with his team visited the crashed
site and were able to locate various pieces of wreckage that still
had their original identification markings stenciled on, positively
identifying The "Brigand" as being "RH 755"
which when lost was being flown by Flying Officer Basil Cochrane
together with his Navigator, Sgt. James Blacklock Armstrong and
a Squadron Ground Crew J Techn, Cyril John Alexander Cox who went
on the flight for the experience of taking part on an "air
strike". Positive proof of RH755 identification.
On
3rd May 1952, Bristol Brigand RH 755 together with other Brigands
of 84 Squadron was carrying out attacks on a "Communist Insurgents"
location near to Chenderoh Lake in Perak. After releasing a salvo
of rockets on its target, crewmembers in other aircraft on target
saw a flash under the starboard wing and all of the outer section
of that wing fell away. The aircraft, RH 755 rolled over, crashed
into the jungle and immediately burst into flames.
A
crashed investigation team, together with an escort of Gurkhas was
sent to the crashed site to ascertain the cause of the crashed but
it was not possible to retrieve the one wing and the team took 5
days to get to the crash and recover the human remains. A burial
service being conducted near to the wreckage. All three airmen had
died carrying out their duty and Group Captain Ron Wittam, who was
a member of 84 Squadron and with the team that day in May 1952,
could think of no more suitable epitaph than "There is a corner
of a foreign land that is forever England". Oxygen tanks littered
the wreck site.
The
starboard wing together with the second engine and undercarriage
has still not been located. The photograph of two "bombs"
found in the wreck area were in fact "rocket heads" that
must have been beneath the wing of the Brigand when it crashed and
over the years the rocket propellant tubes would have rotted away
leaving the warheads.
The
Bristol Brigand was the last of the RAF's piston engine aircraft
and were superceded by the Canberra jet powered aircraft.
45
Squadron converted to "Hornet" aircraft and 84 Squadron
retained its Brigands’ until January 1953 when it left Malaya.
So
after 48 years, the wreckage of one Bristol Brigand together with
the remains of its crew lie in Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve, a sad
reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of Flying. Officer Basil
Cochrane, Sgt. Navigator J.B. Armstrong and J Techn, C. Cox who
died carrying out their duty on that fateful day so long ago.
Updates
on Dec 2000: - In 1958, the remains of the Brigand RH755 crews have
been recovered and have been buried in Cheras Road Civil Cemetery,
Kuala Lumpur”.
A
book titled "Last Take Off" compiled and edited by Colin
Cummings lists RAF aircraft losses 1950-53 and page 243 has a similar
text to the above and refers to "RH755 Brigand B1, 84 Squadron
RAF Butterworth”.
From
Burkes Peerage 1953:
“Basil
Alexander, F/O., RAF., b 12 Aug. 1929; missing and believed k through
a premature explosion of ammunition while leading an anti-bandit
strike in Malaya, 3 May 1952.”
Son
of Cmdr (RN Ret) Alexander Francis Cochrane and Osma Heather Cochrane.
The
reason for Basil Cochrane’s memorial plaque in the church
is likely to be his links to the Cochrane family of Windlesham but
there is no evidence to suggest he was ever resident in the village.
Past members of the Cochrane family have seen long and distinguished
military service to their country. |
Operations
in Afghanistan |
| SANDERSON |
John
Charles |
 Lieutenant
John Charles Sanderson, 30056327, 1 Mercian Regiment, was wounded
in an explosion whilst on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of
Helmand province on 13 July 2010. He was treated at the scene before
being flown to the UK for further treatment. On Wednesday 11 August
2010, surrounded by his family, he finally succumbed to his injuries.
Lt Sanderson leaves behind his mother, father and sister, all of
who live in Windelsham, Surrey. Buried in Windlesham Cemetery, Church
Road, Windlesham, Surrey. Grave LC4.Lt Sanderson was born in Oklahoma
USA on 23 April 1981. He was educated at Bradfield College and Exeter
University where he read history and was a member of the University
Officer Training Corps.
Extract from The Mirror,
14 Aug 2010, Updated 27 Jan 2012:
An
officer who left a city career to join the Army has died a month
after being injured in an explosion in Afghanistan.
Lt
John Charles Sanderson, 29, of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment,
was on patrol in Nahr-e-Saraj, Helmand province, on July 13 when
he was caught in the blast.
Lt
Sanderson, from Windlesham, Surrey, was on his first tour after
quitting his finance job and graduating from Sandhurst Military
Academy. He died this week at the Birmingham military hospital
where he was being treated.
The
US-born soldier's mother, father and sister said in a statement:
"John was enthusiastically committed to his men and their
role in Afghanistan. He believed he was contributing to a better
life for the Afghans.
"We
will miss him tremendously and never forget him and what he gave
to us."
His
Commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Hadfield, added: "He
was big hearted, strong and imaginative and quickly caught my
eye as one to watch for the future."
|
| 
|
FIELD
OF REMEMBRANCE, WINDLESHAM.
This small
memorial is located at the corner of the playing fields in the centre
of Windlesham Village. The land of the playing fields was once owned
by the Cochrane family and a part called Admiral’s Field is named
for one of the family members. There are no names on this memorial and
the inscription reads “Windlesham Field of Remembrance. This Field
was Purchased and Maintained by the People of Windlesham as a Memorial
to Those Who Gave Their Lives in the Two World Wars. April 1950”.
The memorial
on The Field of Remembrance as of November 2019 has been relocated some
100 yards to the site of the new pavilion. (See below)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Commonwealth
War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com
Bill
Lindsay, Royal British Legion
Tim
Price, Clerk to Windlesham Parish Council
Dennis
Seccombe, Archivist, St John the Baptist Church
Monica (Moll) Worcester (nee Cochrane)
Derek Jarrett (Information on Albert Reynolds)
Last updated
6 December, 2022
|
