GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FRIENDS.

Private 78, 13th Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps. Died of woundsat Poziers 9th August 1916 in France & Flanders. Aged 28. Born Wolverton, enlisted September 1914 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Educated at Wolverton County School, also studied at Science and Art Institute, Wolverton. Emigrated to Australia aged 22. Served in the 1st Battalion, Buckinghamshire Territorials for 3 years. Carpenter and Joiner by trade. Son of George Adams, 30, Windsor Street, Wolverton, Buckinghamshire. He took part in the Gallipoli Landing as a stretcher bearer with C Section, 3rd Australian Field Ambulance. One of his comrades was Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick, Australia's most famous war hero ("The Man With the Donkey"). Buried in WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot III. Row D. Grave 2. See also Australian Archives Roll of Honour

Staff Sergeant (Armourer) 26162, 14th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force. Died 19th November 1918. Aged 29. Born 29th December 1888 in Wolverton. Son of Louisa Maria and the late Sydney John Arnold of Old Wolverton. By trade a pattern maker. Previously in the 3rd Battalion, Victoria Rifles for 4 years. Enlisted 21st September 1914 in Valcartier, Canada, aged 25 years 8 months. Height 5ft 6½ins, girth 35½ins. Complexion fair, eyes grey, hair fair. Religion Church of England. Buried in south-west part of HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD, WOLVERTON, Buckinghamshire. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 242 - 14

Sapper 705, 1st (East Anglian) Field Company, Royal Engineers. Died of wounds 20 February 1915. Aged 25. Born and enlisted Bedford. Son of Herbert George Barcock, of 1 The Grove, Bedford and the late Emma Ellen Barcock. Last Known address in 1911 Sharnbrook, Beds. Worked as a housepainter in Bedford before moving to lodgings in Cambridge Street, Wolverton, to work as a painter in the Carriage Works. Glazier in the Carriage Department, Wolverton, for London & North Western Railway. Buried in BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 25.

The Wolverton Express of 12 March 1915 printed the letter of condolence from Sgt L Course to Herbert's landlady Mrs Carter:

"I regret to have to write to you in this way, but it has fallen to my duty as Sergeant of the Section to let you know of the death of Sapper Barcock. His was a noble death, while carrying out his duty. It so happened that he was one of six men picked from my section for special duty last Saturday, for a charge. I am sorry to say he was wounded soon after he left our trenches, by a bullet hitting him in the back. He passed away on Sunday at 2a.m., and was bright until the last. I must mention that he was one of my best men, and was very well liked among the section. The last thing he said to his best friend, Sapper White, ????, was that if a parcel came for him he could have it. This is because we cannot send parcels on to the hospital so the recipient wishes me to thank you for the parcel, which arrived here to-day. Again I wish to express my sympathy and that of the section, among the members of which his absence is very greatly felt.”

Maurice was born on 24th December 1894 in Bradwell, one of seven children born to William Beckwith, a coach painter, and his wife Mary (nee Ball).

Some time after the 1911 census Maurice travelled to Canada where he was a sheet metal worker in Vancouver, British Columbia. He joined the Canadian Army on 1st January 1916 and his service record shows that he was posted to England in April 1916, then to France in August 1916. Maurice was promoted to Corporal in January 1917 and to Sergeant in May 1917. On 15 August 1917 Maurice was awarded the Military Medal (his record does not include the citation).

Sergeant 464687 Maurice Frederick Beckwith MM, 47th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, was missing in action around 21st to 25th August 1917 when his battalion were engaged in the battle of Hill 70. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais.

National Archives Of Canada Accession Reference: Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 578 - 56

Walter Brawn of 7 Jersey Road Wolverton. Born about 1897 in Northampton, baptised 22 February 1897 in Northampton. Before World War 1 Bodymaker. Enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regiment on 18 October 1884, serving in the Straits Settlements, China and South Africa during the Boer War. He married Eden Josephine and had three children, living in Northampton before moving to Wolverto to work as a clerk in the railway company. On 19 September 1914 Walter rejoined the Army and served in the 302nd Reserve Company in the Labour Corps. 214782 Acting Company Sergeant Major Walter Brawn was discharged as unfit for further service on 23 August 1917 due to ill health (emphysema and enlarged heart) aggravated by war service. He died in late 1919, aged 54.

Note: Died World War 2. 3rd Engineer, MV Pelayo (Liverpool), Merchant Navy. Died in the sinking of the MV Pelayo on 15th June 1942 by German U boat U552. Aged 24. Son of Robert James and Edith Elizabeth Castle of 32 Radcliffe Street. Married on 7 December 1941 to Rose Elizabeth Henson of Stony Stratford - no surviving children. Had a twin sister, Evelyn, and a younger sister, Muriel, my mother. Both still living. He had lived at 32 Radcliffe Street, less than 100 yards from where the memorial stands in Wolverton Square. He was qualified as an Engineer, and worked at Allen's of Bedford before joining the Merchant Navy as a 3rd Engineer. He served on the Malta runs and had survived two sinkings by torpedo (once on the Pizarro, 31/1/1941, the other not known. No known grave. No known grave. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 80.

Sergeant 9536, 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment was killed in action on 16 November 1917 age 23. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium.

Arthur Forrester was one of nine children born to Arthur Forrester and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Whitehall). The couple had married in Northamptonshire but moved to Stantonbury where Arthur senior was an iron moulder in the local railway works. Arthur worked as a laster in the shoe industry before joining the Army. By 1917 he had risen to the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in April 1917; the citation reads: "9536 Sjt A Forrester North'n R. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid on the enemy's trenches. Although wounded he steadied his men and led them forward to their objective. He set a splendid example of courage and determination. Before WW1 Laster in Shoe Trade. (Poss Brother of John Ernest Forrester -see below)

Charles Harris was born in 1896 in Newport Pagnell, one of eleven children born to Charles James Harris, a blacksmith's striker, and his wife Mary Ann (nee Martin). He was a Labourer in the Carriage Department, Wolverton, for London & North Western Railway. He volunteered for service, joined the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and was posted on active service on 1 March 1915 on the Western Front. In 1916 Charles joined the newly-formed Machine Gun Corps and continued to serve in France. Born about 1896 Newport Pagnell. Before WW1 Billiard maker, Hotel

On 14 April 1916 Private 22920 HARRIS Charles James, 145 Coy Machine Gun Corps was killed in action age 20. He is buried in the Serre Road cemetery (the Somme) grave VI.H.17 with the inscription "He giveth his beloved sleep".

Lieutenant, 6th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died of wounds 16th January 1917. Aged 24. Son of the Rev. Joseph Kewley and Mrs. Elizabeth Abigail Kewley, off 22, Stafford Road, Warrington. Buried in AMARA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Grave XXIII. M. 17.

[Spelt Sidnewy on CWGC and SDGW] Lance Corporal 19313, 95th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 1st October 1917 in France & Flanders. Aged 23. Born Stantonbury, enlisted Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Son of Mrs. E. King, of 75, Green Lane, Wolverton, Bucks. Finisher in the Carriage Department, Wolverton, for London & North Western Railway. Buried in HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave IV. G. 5.

Thomas was born in 1892 in Cranfield Bedfordshire the youngest of twelve children born to Edward Lovesey, a farm labourer, and his wife Alice (nee Odell). He volunteered to join the Army and served with the 3rd Battalion the Grenadier Guards on the Western Front.

On 8 October 1915 Pte 21341 Thomas Mathew Odell Lovesey, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards was killed in action. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais.

The regimental diary for the day gives an account of events: "In the afternoon we were heavily attacked all along the line. The enemy bombers rushed our left flank and came bombing down the line. They surprised and surrounded our own bombers killing most of them including Anson. A machine gun commanded by Lt R. Williams from 2nd Battalion was also killed and 3 successive machine gun sergeants. The two companies who occupied the finger nos 2 and 3 were ordered to retire down the communication trench and make way for bombs and bombers who were rushed up the support companies. The bombers of the 3rd Bn: Coldstream Guards who were on our right in the advanced line managed to stop the rush and our bombers coming back by various communication Trenches assisted in clearing the enemy out and the Trench was re-occupied.

Second Lieutenant, 70th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Killed whilst flying at Doullens 16th April 1918. Aged 19. Buried at GEZAINCOURT, France.

Company Sergeant Major 212, "C" Company, 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Died of wounds 24 August 1916. Aged 48. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.) for gallantry. Born Watford, Hertfordshire, enlisted Wolverton, Buckinghamshire. Son of William Smith and Anne (nee Summerfield); husband of Mary Elizabeth Smith (nee Hodges), of 35, Oxford St., Wolverton, Bucks, married 1896; they had 5 childrern. Cleaner in the Carriage Department, Wolverton, for London & North Western Railway. He had been in the offices of the Wolverton Carriage works for 23 years. He had served many years in the Wolverton Company of the old Volunteer Force, and acted as an instructor during the Boar War. He continued to serve in the Territorial Force, awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal, and at the moment war broke out in 1914 the battalion was already mobilized and went on active service at once. He had therefore been on military service from the opening of the war, up to the 24th August when he died of his wounds in France. He had been home from the front several times, and might have taken his discharge as a 'time expired' man, experiencing twelve hard months at the front. However, having a high sense of patriotic duty and great courage, he decided to ''go back and see it through''. Buried in PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot III. Row E. Grave 15.

The Military Cross citation appeared in the London Gazette on 26 September 1916 after his death and read: "For conspicuous gallantry during operations. During a successful bombing attack on the enemy's trench he showed great determination, and subsequently, when the captured trench was heavily bombarded, he was largely instrumental in maintaining the position. He has done other fine work and has always shown great coolness under fire. He has been seriously wounded."

Lance Corporal 9748, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Died in Ireland Tuesday 27th October 1914. Aged 20. Born and resident Wolverton, enlisted London. Son of Francis and Fanny Fauset Webber, of 43, Windsor St., Wolverton, Bucks. Before WW1 Engineers Fitters Apprentice - LNWR. (Brother of Francis Willaim Webber - See Below) Formerly 4584, Rifle Brigade. Buried in Cork Military Cemetery, commemorated on Special memorial in GRANGEGORMAN MEMORIAL HEADSTONES, CORK, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

The Grangegorman (Cork) Memorial Headstones commemorate the graves of 83 war dead who are buried in Cork Military Cemetery, but whose graves could not be maintained there. The headstones of the 83 War Dead are arranged before the Grangegorman Memorial, which is located Grangegorman Military Cemetery on Blackhorse Avenue outside the North-East boundary of Phoenix Park.

Francis William Webber was born on 12 December 1889 in Wolverton, one of six children born to Francis Webber, a railway clerk, and his wife Fanny Faucett (nee Cuming) Francis was working as a patternmaker in Wolverton in 1911 but at some time before the end of 1914 he had travelled to Canada. On 8 December 1914 in Toronto Cecil joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He served on the Western Front and attained the rank of Sergeant. His battalion distinguished themselves at the Somme, Arras, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele among other battles. On 10 January 1918 Sergeant 109667 Francis William Webber, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, died aged 28. He is buried in Hamburg cemetery Plot VI. Row C. Grave 15.

Francis' younger brother Bryant Richard Webber, served in the 2nd Battalion the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry and died in Ireland on 27 October 1914 aged 20.

Ordinary Seaman P/JX 247329, H.M.S. Havock, Royal Navy. Died at sea 22 March 1942. Aged 30. Born 26 August 1911 in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Son of Harry Emanuel and Elizabeth Crane; husband of Lilian Violet (nee Moore) Crane, of Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, married July-September Quaretr 1937 in North Buckinghmahsire Registration District, Buckinghamshire. In the 1939 Register he was a Printers Estimating Clerk, married to Lilian V Crane, resident 86 Anson Road, Milton Keynes, Wolverton U.D., Buckinghamshire. Buried in MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY, Malta. Protestant Section (Men's). Plot F. Collective grave 93.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1942:

Flight Sereant 1390983, 415 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Bomber Command. Missing in action presumed dead while flying out of Bircham Newton, Norfolk, in a Vickers Wellington XIII, serial number MF494, when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter into the North Sea 18 miles north of Ameland during an anti-shipping sortie 13 July 1944. Aged 32. Born 21 November 1911. Son of Uriah and Lavinia Hands; husband of Marjorie M. E. Hands, of Hythe, Kent. In the 1939 Register he was a Police Constable, married to Marjorie M. E. Hands, resident 13 Farmcombe Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Royal Tunbridge Wells M.B., Kent. No known grave. No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 218.

Master, S.S. N.C. MONBERG, Merchant Navy. Died on Sunday 15th December 1940. Aged 35. Son of Harry Louis and Frances Elizabeth Hazell, of Wolverton; husband of Charlotte Hazell. Buried in HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD, WOLVERTON, Buckinghamshire.