Roll of Honour - Berkshire

The Royal British Legion

Private 17892, 1st Battalion, Princess Charlotte Of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Killed in action 25 November 1915. Aged 28. Born and resident Upton (sic), Berkshire, enlisted Reading. Son of Harry and Annie Appleton, of Ufton Green, Reading. In the 1901 census he was aged 13, a Cowman on Farm, born Ufton, Berkshire, resident with his parents, Harry and Annie, in Ufton, Ufton Nervet, Bradfield, Berkshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 23, an Assistant Labourer, born Ufton, Berkshire, resident with his parents, Harry and Annie, in Ufton Green, Upton Nevret, Berkshire. Buried in CAMBRIN CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section D. Grave 49.

[Listed as CLARK on CWGC] Private 25514, 8th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Died 24 March 1918. Aged 22. Born Woodley, Berks, enlisted Reading. Son of Ernest D. and Mary H. Clark, of The Brewery Cottage, Bottom Lane, Sulhamstead, nr. Reading, Berks. Buried in ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XXXI. Row H. Grave 32A.

London Rifle Brigade

Royal Field Artillery

Second Lieutenant 2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment-Awarded the Military Medal. Died of wounds 2nd November 1918, aged 26. Son of Mr and Mrs W J Love of Fir View Upton, Reading. Buried Awoingt British Cemetery grave III.A.26.

[Listed on memorial as TAYLER] Sergeant 8996 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment-Wounded and then died of wounds at home on the 2nd August 1916 aged 25. Of Rose Cottage, Ufton. Son of Mrs M Taylor of Church Lane, Ufton, Reading. Buried Ufton Nervet St Peter Churchyard.

[Listed on memorial as TAYLER] Private 30058 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment-Killed in action on the 29th April 1917 aged 28. Son of Matilda Taylor of Poplar Hill Sulhampstead, Reading and the late James Taylor. Born Aldermaston, enlisted Ufton -Remembered on the Arras Memorial bay 7.

2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment diary entry for the 29th April 1917: Front Line E of Bailleul. 4 am. Battn - less D Company - with troops on either flank attacked and captured the OPPY LINE. The troops on our right failed to get in and the right flank was consequently exposed. At about 5 am the enemy commenced to bomb the right flank and fighting continued until about 10 am, when owing to lack of bombs and SAA we were forced to give way, and withdrew to the "jumping off" trench via SUNKEN ROAD. C Coy on the left withdrew northwards along the OPPY LINE and placed themselves under the orders of the 17th RF, establishing a block at about B.12.d.14 taking with them 3 captured machine guns. The enemy shelled our front line heavily throughout the remainder of the day and there was a great deal of MG and rifle fire. Patrols were sent out at dusk and found the OPPY LINE still held by the enemy.

11 pm. The Battn was relieved by the 13/E YORKS and returned to the trenches E of ROCLINCOURT through a barrage of gas shells without sustaining any casualties. About 70 prisoners and 3 Machine guns were captured by the Battn during the day and severe casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

Casualties. 1 Officer Killed, 2 Officers Missing, 4 Officers Wounded. Other ranks. Killed 15. Wounded 89. Missing 47. Total 151 casualties out of the 250 who actually attacked.

[Listed on memorial as TAYLER] Lance Corporal 16026 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment killed in action on the first day of the battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916. Born Beedon, enlisted Theale. Of Rose Cottage, Ufton -Buried Ovilllers Military Cemetery grave VII.Q.5.

2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment diary entry for the 1st July 1916: Attack on OVILLERS. The Battalion took up its assembly position in accordance with Brigade Operation Order No. 100. Our own wire was not sufficiently cut and parties were immediately sent out by Companies to clear it. At 6.25am the intensive bombardment began as scheduled. At about 7.15am the enemy opened rifle and machine gun fire on our line; this fire was probably drawn by the 2nd DEVON REGT, which at about this time attempted to line up in front of their parapet. At 7.20am Companies began filing down trenches and getting ready for the assault.

At 7.30am the three assaulting Companies advanced to attack the GERMAN line. They were met by intense rifle and machine gun fire, which prevented any of the waves reaching the enemy lines. A little group on the left of the Battalion succeeded in getting in, but were eventually bombed out.

At about 7.45am the COMMANDING OFFICER and SECOND IN COMMAND were wounded in the sap on the left of our front, the COMMDG OFFICER handed over Command of the Battalion to a 2nd LIEUT by this time the parapet was swept by rifle and machine gun fire which prevented any exit from our trenches. The enemy replied to our intensive bombardment by barraging the front line from about 6.35am onwards. No message was received from other Battalions in immediate vicinity.

At about 11am the order came from Bde Headquarters to "stand by" and await further orders.

About 200 men of the Battalion were collected on the right of the front line and in the assembly trenches off ULVERSTON Street. At about 12.30pm news was received that the Brigade would be relieved. At about 3pm Major Hon R. BRAND, 2nd Rifle Brigade arranged to take over all the front line and with the sanction of the Brigade the Battalion was withdrawn to RIBBLE STREET.

On relief by the 37th INFANTRY BDE, the Battalion marched back to bivouac in LONG VALLEY. TWO LEWIS GUNS were damaged; Steel Helmets proved invaluable and in numberless cases saved men’s lives.

The following casualties occurred: 2 Officers KILLED, 1 Officer DIED OF WOUNDS, 2 Officers WOUNDED and 9 Officers MISSING. OTHER RANKS 33 KILLED, 3 DIED of WOUNDS, 260 WOUNDED and 118 MISSING.

Lieutenant 245289, 53rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps. Died 14 August 1944. Aged 27. Son of Thomas Barlow Wood and Margaret Isabel Wood, of Ufton Nervet, Berkshire. B.A. (Cantab.). Buried in BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Plot VIII. Row C. Grave 3.

UFTON NERVET WAR MEMORIAL