Sergeant 231005, 50th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment). Died 18th August 1918 in France & Flanders. Age 32. Born 17th April 1886 in London. Chaffeur by trade. Part of Canadian Militia when he enlisted 10th February 1916 at Edmonton, age 30 years, passed as fit on 12th February 1916. Height 5 feet 9½ inches, girth 36 inches, complexion clear, eyes brown, hair dark, religion Church of England. Husband of Annie Barrett, of "Hyde Wood," Rochford, Essex (her address is given as 10733, 79th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on his enlistment papers). Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Grave 11. D. 4. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 462 - 58

Southend Standard, obituary, 20/9/1918

BARRETT, Edwin Henry - Sergeant, No 234665, 50th Battalion, Canadian Contingent.

Sergeant Barrett originally lived at Hyde Wood, Canewdon, working for four years as Masters Clerk and Storekeeper at Rochford Workhouse. He emigrated to Canada where he enlisted in early 1915. He had already been wounded once in France, and upon recovery returned to the front, dying in No. 83 General Hospital, Boulogne, on 18th August 1918, after he had sustained enemy shrapnel wounds to the chest while on duty with his Company near Fouquescourt on the Amiens front. He was 32 years old.

Acting Corporal 7799, 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died 3rd October 1916 in Mesopotamia. Born Southend, enlisted Warley, Essex. Commemorated in NORTHGATE WAR CEMETERY, BAGHDAD, Iraq. Angora Memorial 36.

Southend Standard, obituary, 21/6/1917

BUXTON, Johnathan - A/Cpl, No 7799, 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

Acting Corporal Buxton was the youngest son of Mr.J.Buxton, formerly of The Anchor Inn, Canewdon, and brother of Mrs.Potter of The Woodsman, Thundersley. He had spent nine years in the Norfolk Regiment, and was serving in India at the outbreak. He was sent to Mesopotamia, and was with General Townsend during the defence of Kut. On the surrender of Kut on 24th April 1916 he was taken into captivity, and died of Tuberculous Entiritis on the 3rd October 1917 aged 25. He was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Angora.

[Listed as Charles KILWORTH on SDGW & Charles Victor KILWORTH on CWGC] Private 12181, 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action 3rd July 1916 in France & Flanders. Age 20. Born and resident Canewdon, enlisted Southend-on-Sea. Son of Mr. H. Kilworth, of Canewdon, Rochford, Essex. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 10 D.

Southend Standard, obituary, 19/7/1917

KILLWORTH, Victor Charles - Private, No 12181, 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment

Private Killworth lived at Canewdon and enlisted in Southend in August 1914. He was killed in action near La Boiselle on 3rd July 1916, aged 19.

[Listed as Henry LAZELL on CWGC and SDGW] Rifleman R/20374, 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action 17th February 1917 in France & Flanders. Born Canewdon, enlistd Southend, resident Rochford, Essex. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 13 A and 13 B.

Southend Standard,obituary, 5/4/1917

LAYZELL, Harry - Rifleman, No R/20347, 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Born at Canewdon, Rifleman Layzell lived at Flemings Farm, Eastwood, and enlisted in Southend in April 1916. He was killed in action in France on 17th February 1917, aged 20.

Private 40851, 37th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Killed in action 28th July 1916 in France & Flanders. Age 37. Enlisted Southend, resident Canewdon. Son of Edward and Eliza Riley, of Canewdon, Essex; husband of Elizabeth Mary Riley, of Burley Villa, Lansdowne Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Buried in DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT, Somme, France. Grave I. F. 61.

Southend Standard, obituary, 31/8/1916

RILEY, Frederick Alfred - Private, No 40851, 37th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Private Riley lived at 4 West Cottages, Canewdon with his wife and six children. He enlisted in the Labour Battalion of the Royal Fusiliersat Southend three months before his death, and had been in the line for six weeks when he was killed in action on 28th July, aged 37. He was buried in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel, east of Albert. His officer wrote that he was "A splendid worker. He would have received promotion at the first opportunity."

Private 9897, 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Reiment. Killed in action 12th March 1915 in France & Flanders. Age 27. Born and resident Lockford, Essex, enlisted London. Son of Elizabeth Smoothey and the late William R. Smoothey, of Canewdon, Rockford, Essex; husband of Fredricka Anna E. Smoothey, of Heatherlea Estate, Claremont, South Africa. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 18.

Southend Standard, obituary, 1/4/1915

SMOOTHEY, William Alfred - Private, No 9897, 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment.

Born at Rochford,Private Smoothey lived at Canewdon, and was a regular who had served in India and South Africa. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 11th(12th) March 1915 aged 28. His officer wrote that "He died while bravely performing his duty, repulsing a counter attack of the Germans. He was a good soldier much liked by his comrades".

Private 1st Class, 48th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 10th May 1918. Age 19. Son of Mrs. Hannah Taylor, of Firtree Dairy, East St., Rochford, Essex. Buried in HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES, Somme, France. Grave VI. F. 10.

Southend Standard, 25/7/1918.

TAYLOR, Charles Vickers - Royal Air Force

Charles Taylor lived at 2, Oak Villas, Stambridge Road, Rochford, and was killed in action in France on the 11th May 1918 aged 20. A letter from Major Park, R.A.F. told how Taylor was flying with a pilot who was seen to go down slowly out of control while in combat with several German scouts.The Germans subsequently dropped a message into our lines reporting his death.

Private 41009, 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Killed in action 18th August 1917 in France & Flanders. Born Canewdon, enlisted Southend-on-Sea. Formerly 281769, Royal Army Service Corps. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 144 to 145.

Southend Standard, obituary, 20/9/1917.

WOOLF, Ernest Albert - Private, No 41009, 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Private Woolf lived at 18, Tudor Road, Prittlewell. He was born and educated at Canewdon where his parents still lived, and had lived in Southend for about ten years, employed by Mr. Frank Course, butcher of North Road. He enlisted in the Army Service Corps (No 281769) at Southend in January 1917, and was killed in action in France on the 18th August 1917 aged 36. His officer wrote that he was "Always willing to do more of his share of work". One brother, Pearl Woolf was a stoker on H.M.S.Conquest, and another brother was engaged in munition work.

No on memorials but resident of Canewdon

WHITWELL

Agnes

Nee Morley. She was born in, and came from, Canewdon but she was killed by an incendiary bomb which landed on the house when dropped from a Zeppelin while visiting her daughter in North Avenue, Southend, in 1915. She was the first woman to be killed in mainland Britain and received a "heroine's" funeral. The event was widely reported in the papers of the time.

Extract from Belfast News-Letter - Wednesday 12 May 1915, page 10:

THE ZEPPELIN RAID.
Inquest on the Southend Victim.
A SON’S BAD STORY.

The inquest on Mrs. Agnes Frances Whitwell, aged 60, the victim of the Zeppelin raid at Southend, when 100 bombs wore dropped on the town, was held yesterday morning. Mrs. Whitwell was in bed with her husband, a carpenter, employed by the Southend Corporation, when an incendiary bomb crashed through the roof of thelr house in North Road, Prittlewell, and fell on the bed. The woman was burned to death, and her husband was seriously injured about the head. He lies in hospital, and was reported yesterdayto be improving.

Amy Whitwell identified deceased as her mother, and Crispin Whitwell, a son, gave evidence that his father and mother retired about 10-30 Sunday night. At 2-45 a.m. witness, who slept at the back of the house, heard rattling of slates. “I opened the door,” continued, “but all I could see was smoke. My father was on the landing, and called out ' Oh, mother!' My mother did not answer.”

William Dolphin, a special constable, spoke to going to deceased’s house. After taking out the furniture he got into the front bedroom. The body of Mrs. Whitwell was lying in a corner the room about four feet from the bed, covered with debris.

The Coroner—Was it known anyone was in the house —We were given to understand no one was in the house.

George Cassett, another special constable and member of the jury, said the remains of an incendiary bomb were handed to him by a man who picked up at the side of the bed.

The remains of the bomb, which were produced in court, consisted of a twisted metal tube with wire attachment. It was stated to have pierced the ceiling directly over the bed.

The Coroner remarked that there was only one thing the jury could do in the circumstances, and that was return verdict that the woman died from burns as the result of an incendiary bomb dropped from hostile air-craft.

The Foreman—Cannot we return a verdict of murder?

The Coroner—l don’t think it would do any good.

The jury returned a verdict as the coroner had suggested, and added an expression of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Extract from Pall Mall Gazette - Monday 10 May 1915, page 1:

The Killed and Injured

Mrs. Whitwell, the woman killed, was a member of the Salvation Army, and sixty-two years of age. Corporal Hanney, of the Border Regiment, was in bed with his wife and child at 198, York-road, Southend. A bomb set fire to the house, and he was burned on the face and arm.

There is an uncorroborated that two lives were lost. It is stated that a Zeppelin passed over Tilbury before Southend was raided.

A report from Romford says an airship flew over there at half-past three, coming from the direction of Southend and Purfleet. The airship seemed to be in difficulties.