Ministry of Defence
Lest We Forget
The Royal British Legion
| Ministry of Defence |
Lest We Forget |
The Royal British Legion |
 |
Photograph
Copyright © Barry Burnham 2012 |
 |
St.
Aldates Church taken from St. Aldates Street, circa 1906 |
The tablet lists in strict alphabetical order, the names of the fallen in two columns of nineteen.
An Oak Reredos inside the church also formed part of the St. Aldates Great War Memorial. The Oak Reredos was 3 foot 11 inches tall by 10 feet wide with a depth of 6 inches (Approx. 305x119x15cms) and consisted of a moulded and ornamented frame, with carved cresting above, enclosing a series of niches and panels. The niches contained carved figures of the patron Saints of the United Kingdom - St. George, St. Andrew, St. David and St. Patrick, with St. Frideswide and St. Aldate at either end. The Panels had carved foliage and shields bearing emblems of the Sacred Passion treated heraldically. The whole was decorated in colour.
Regrettably, the Oak Reredos was removed from the church sometime during the last decade of the twentieth century, and was subsequently sold, reportedly due to lack of space following renovations at the church. The current whereabouts of the Reredos is unknown.
There is no memorial for the Second World War within the church.
| ALLSWORTH | Robert |
Private
30230, 13th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, attached 165th
Company, Labourer Corps. Born in the Oxon village of Curbridge in
1878, Robert Allsworth was the third and youngest son of Alfred
Allsworth, an A.G labourer, and his wife Mary (nee Cox). Himself
employed as a farm labourer, Robert Allsworth married Louisa Fitchett
at St. Aldates on 6 June 1900. Along with the birth of ten children,
and a move around various Oxon villages, Robert Allsworth finally
arrived in Oxford by the time of his enlistment in October 1915.
Formerly serving with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry, and later the Royal Berkshire Regiment, Robert Allsworth
was attached to the Labour Corps when he was killed in action, possibly
at Passchendaele on 18 October 1917, aged 39. Robert Allsworth was
buried at the Artillery Wood Cemetery, (Grave Ref VII.E.1) Belgium.
|
| BRICKNELL | Harold | Private
10425, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. The youngest of seven
children born to John and Annie Bricknell, Harold was born in Oxford,
at 4 Thames Street, St. Aldates on 9 June 1895. Formerly employed
as a Post Office messenger boy, Harold enlisted shortly before the
outbreak of war, arriving in France in December 1914. Recorded as
killed in action at Festubert (France) on 17 May 1915, Harold Bricknell
was initially recorded as missing, yet he supposedly died of wounds,
with his body lost on the battlefield. Harold Bricknell was later
honoured on the Le Touret Memorial, (Panels 10/11) France. |
| BULL | Charles |
Private
8369, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Born in Oxford at Towels Buildings, Dale Street, St. Ebbes on 12
January 1883, Charles Bull was the third of eight sons born to Sarah
and Harry Bull, a plasterer by trade. A former Holy Trinity Schoolboy,
and milkman, Charles joined the local Militia in 1900, and joined
the regular army the following year. Later employed as a ‘cork scalder’
at Halls Brewery, Charles was recalled to the colours at the outbreak
of war, and arrived in France in September 1914. Killed in action
at the battle of Loos on 25 September 1915 aged 32, Charles Bull
was buried at the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, (Grave Ref II.B.7)
France. |
| BULL | Sidney Frank | Private
8404, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. The eleventh of twelve
children born to Harry Bull, a plasterer, and his wife Sarah (nee
Aldridge), Sidney Frank Bull was born at Towles Row, Dale Street,
St. Ebbes on 3 September 1890. Like his brother, a former Holy Trinity
Schoolboy, Sidney originally gained employment at Turner Bros (Athletic
outfitters) in Turl Street before his enlistment to the local Militia
in October 1906. Joining the regular army of the Royal Berkshire
Regiment the following year, Sidney remained in the army until the
outbreak of war. After previously seeing service in India, Sidney
Bull first arrived in France in November 1914, and was killed in
action on the opening day of the Somme offensive (1 July 1916) aged
25. After the war, the name of Sidney Bull was later honoured on
the Thiepval Memorial, (Pier 11.D) France. |
| BUTLER | Fred |
Lance
Corporal 10457, 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry. Born into one of the poorest areas of Oxford, Fred Butler
was born at Shepperd’s Row, St. Aldates on 26 August 1891; one of
nine children born to Henry and Sarah Ann Butler. Employed as a
‘carter’ before the war, Fred Butler enlisted during the autumn
of 1914, and first arrived on French soil in May 1915.Just four
months later, Fred Butler was killed in action at the battle of
Loos on 25 September 1915, and with his remains lost on the battlefield,
(Sidney was initially recorded as missing) Sidney’s name was later
honoured on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. |
| BROGDEN | Percival Edward Arthur | Private
43689, 2/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. The eldest of six
children, ‘Percy’ Brogden was born at Summerfield Road, New Hinksey
(Oxford) on 9 June 1889 to Joseph Brogden a Police Constable with
the City of Oxford Police, and his wife Charlotte Hamilton. Employed
by A.R Mowbray in St. Aldates, Percival Brogden joined the Army
in 1917, and was wounded in action on 27/28 May 1918. He later died
in hospital in Calais (16 June) and was buried at the Les Baraques
Military Cemetery, (Grave Ref IV A.3) Sangatte, France. |
| CROSS | William Charles |
First
Class Stoker SS/104223, HMS Good Hope, Royal Navy. Born in Summertown,
North Oxford on 11 December 1888, the third son of William (a labourer)
and Ann Cross. Employed as a butcher’s assistant in his youth, William
Cross joined the Royal Navy in December 1906, and became a window
cleaner on his return to Oxford in 1912. Following his marriage
to Frances Broad in August 1914, and the birth of his son the following
month, William Cross was recalled to the Navy as a result of the
outbreak of war, and assigned to HMS Good Hope. Serving in the South
Atlantic, HMS Good Hope took part in the battle of Coronel off the
Chilean Coast on 1 November 1914, and was sunk with the loss of
all hands. Aged 27 at the time of his death, the name of William
Cross was later commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. |
| DIPPLE | John Thomas | Private
9033, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry,~(Depot) formerly
2nd and 5th Battalion. The eldest of twelve children born to John
and Caroline Dipple, John Thomas Dipple was born in the Oxford parish
of St. Thomas in 1876. Employed as a house painter in his late teens,
John Dipple joined the Oxfordshire Light Infantry in 1896, and mostly
served in India until his discharge early in November 1908. Later
employed as a college porter, John Dipple married Lillian Maud Griffin
in April 1912. Recalled to the colours on the outbreak of war in
August 1914, John Dipple was posted to France in May 1915, and wounded
a few months later. After returning to France, John Dipple was home
on leave when he was taken seriously ill, and died of Cardiac Disease
at the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford on 12 November 1917,
aged 41. Following his death, John Dipple was buried at Botley Cemetery
(Grave Ref II.97) Oxford. (GWGC Cemetery) |
| EDNEY | William |
Formerly
5455 10th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps, and Oxfordshire
National Reserve. Born at 21 English Row, St. Aldates (Oxford) on
20 November 1860, William Edney was one of at least ten children
born to Robert and Hannah Edney. After spending time at the Cowley
Industrial School, William Edney held various occupations, including
shop porter, brick-layers labourer, and faggot maker. A long-time
member of the local Militia, William originally enlisted in 1879
and remained with the Oxfordshire Light Infantry Militia until March
1907. Following his marriage to Julia Parsons in July 1883, William
Edney saw the birth of at least one child, with the possibility
of a second child dying in infancy. Joining the Territorial Army
in November 1914, William Edney saw service until November 1916,
but was discharged as a result of contracting a Carcinoma of the
neck in December 1916. After returning home to Oxford, William Edney
died six months later on 27 June 1917 aged 56. Following his death,
William was interred at Osney Cemetery, Oxford, and forgotten by
the Army until December 2010, when his name was belatedly added
to the CWGC Roll of Honour. |
| FINCH | Thomas | Private
285060, 1/1st Bucks Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry. Born at 18 Thames Street, St. Aldates, Thomas Finch was
born on 7 May 1883, one of twelve children born to William Finch,
a bricklayer, and his wife Charlotte. A former St. Aldates Schoolboy,
Thomas trained as a bricklayer in his youth, yet was recorded as
a mason around the time of his marriage to Emily Hine in November
1907. Following the birth of four children (two of which died in
infancy) Thomas Finch joined the army, possibly in 1915. Wounded
in March 1917, Thomas was recorded as missing at 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele)
on 8 August 1917, and later recorded as having been killed on that
date, aged 37. Due to the loss of his remains, Thomas Finch was
later commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, (Panels 96-98) Belgium.
|
| FINCH | Albert John |
Stoker
1st Class SS/115390, HMS Eden, Royal Navy. The younger brother of
Thomas Finch, Albert John Finch was born at 18 Thames Street, St.
Ebbes on 13 August 1892, the tenth of twelve children born to William
and Charlotte Finch. Employed as a porter in 1911, Albert was employed
by the London and North Western Railway as a goods porter prior
to his enlistment in January 1914. Joining the Royal Navy as a Stoker
II, Albert was eventually attached to HMS Eden which sank in the
English Channel following a collision with SS France on 17 June
1916. Officially recorded as lost at sea aged 24, Albert Finch was
later commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. (Ref 17) |
| GRAIN | Alfred John | Private
628090, 47th Battalion, (Western Ontario Regiment) Canadian Infantry.
Born on 1 January 1891, Alfred John Grain was born at 38 St. Aldates
Street, Oxford, the second eldest son of Robert Grain and his wife
Mary (nee Madden). Employed as a painter and labourer in 1911, Albert
Grain moved to Canada in November 1911, and was employed as a waiter
at the time of his enlistment in July 1915. Returning to the UK
in November 1915 Alfred Grain arrived in France in August 1916,
and was killed in action near to Vimy between 5-7 May 1917 aged
26. As his body was lost on the battlefields of France, Alfred Grain
was later commemorated on the impressive Vimy Memorial, France.
|
| GRAHAM | Walter |
Driver
76607, 42nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. The son of a bricklayer’s
labourer, Walter Graham was born in Oxford at 4 Burrows Yard, St.
Aldates on 19 March 1895, the youngest of three sons born to Edwin
and Hannah Graham. A St. Aldates Schoolboy and member of the Church
lads Brigade, Walter was employed as a photographer’s assistant
aged 16, but was later employed by Morrells Brewery prior to his
enlistment shortly before the outbreak of war. Killed by shellfire
whilst taking ammunition to the forward lines, Walter Graham was
killed in action on 13 May 1917 aged 22, with his body laid to rest
at the Tilloy British Cemetery, (Grave Ref I.B.2) France. |
| GRACE | Harry | Private
9333, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Born in or near to the market
town of Bicester in 1889, Harry Grace was the youngest son of Susan
and George Grace, a bricklayer for Bicester. After the death of
his father in 1897, the Grace family moved to Oxford, with Harry
educated at St. Aldates School. Employed as a chimney sweep, George
joined the local Militia in 1906, joining the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire
Light Infantry. Again employed as a chimney sweep, Harry Grace joined
the Coldstream Guards in November 1911. Deployed to France in August
1914, Harry must have seen action from the opening encounters of
the Great War, and was wounded in action east of Ypres in November
1914. Taken to the 3rd British Red Cross Hospital at Abbeville,
Harry Grace died of his wounds on 14 November. His body was later
interred at the nearby Abbeville Communal Cemetery, (Grave Ref I)
France. |
| HEARNE | Harry Basil |
Private
9779, 2/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. The son of a ‘master’
billiard marker, Harry Basil Hearne was born in Oxford at 19 Green
Street, Cowley, on 13 June 1898, the eldest of three sons born to
Rose and Harry Hearne. Possibly still only 16 years of age when
he enlisted, Harry Hearne was wounded during the summer of 1917,
and later posted as missing in action during the opening encounter
of the German spring offensive on 21 March 1918. Later confirmed
as killed in action on that date, the name of Harry Hearne was eventually
honoured on the Pozieres Memorial, (Panels 56/57) France. |
| HILL | George Thomas Ballington | Private
2334, 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
The eldest son of Salvation Army Preacher Thomas Hill, and his wife
Jane, George Thomas Ballington Hill was born in the Norfolk market
town of North Walsham on 17 February 1890. One of six children,
George Hill arrived in Oxford with his family during the early years
of the twentieth century, and by 1911, he was employed as a house
porter. Like his parents, George became involved in the Salvation
Army, who after his death held a memorial service in his honour.
Following his enlistment in September 1914, George Hill was sent
to France in March 1915, but was killed by a snipers bullet just
a month later on 30 April. George Hill was buried at the Rifle House
Cemetery, (Grave Ref III.E.2) Belgium. |
| HOLDEN | Thomas Bradley |
Private
13674, 10th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Born in the
cotton town of Burnley in Lancashire on 6 February 1892, Thomas
Bradley Holden was the only son and second of three children born
to Martha and Joseph Holden. Following the break-up of his parent’s
marriage, Thomas appears to have lived with his father in Oxford,
but returned north where he gained employment at Vickers, the world
famous naval shipyards, and Butterworth and Dickinson’s, a textile
machinery manufacturer. Enlisting on 3 September 1914, Thomas Holden
was posted to a Scottish Battalion, and wounded in the battle of
Loos. After seeing heavy fighting on 1 August 1917, Thomas Holden
was killed in action as a result of concussion caused by an enemy
shell burst at Passchendaele, on 23 August 1917 aged 25. The body
of Thomas Holden was lost on the battlefields of Flanders, and his
name was later immortalised on the impressive Tyne Cot Memorial,
(Panels 68-70, 162-162a) Belgium. |
| HOUNSLOW | Frank | Lance
Sergeant 201735, 3/4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
The seventh son and tenth of twelve children born to William and
Harriett Hounslow, Frank was born in Oxford at 13 Friars Wharf on
23 September 1889. The son of a gas-fitter, Frank Hounslow began
his working life as a ‘cook’ in one of the numerous Oxford Colleges,
and held this occupation at the time of his marriage to Ethel Skidmore
in June 1908, which later produced two sons. Possibly enlisting
early in 1916, (he may also have been conscripted), Frank was probably
posted to France in May 1917 and was just five months later killed
in action at Passchendaele on 10 November 1917, aged 28. Following
his death, Frank Hounslow was later laid to rest at the Cement House
Cemetery, (Grave Ref I.L.3) Belgium.~ |
| HOUNSLOW | Nelson |
Private
3655, 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
The youngest of twelve children born to gas fitter William Hounslow
and his wife Harriett Bourton, Nelson was born at 13 Friars Wharf,
St. Ebbes during the summer of 1893. A former St. Aldates Schoolboy,
by 1911 Nelson had secured himself employment as a tailor’s assistant.
Following his enlistment in November 1914, Nelson Hounslow joined
the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, but was not
posted to France until 1916 at the earliest. Wounded in action,
Nelson died of his wounds at Le-Sars in France on 11 December 1916
aged 23. Following his tragic death, the body of Nelson Hounslow
was buried at the Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery, (Grave Ref I.E.14)
France. |
| JONES | Thomas George | Private
16698, 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Born in the village of Wendlebury,
North Oxon, during the summer of 1897, the eighth of nine children,
Thomas George Jones was the second youngest son of Jane Jones, (nee
Merry) and her second husband John Cornelius Jones. Later living
in Bicester, Thomas Jones was first found employment as a draper’s
errand boy aged 13, and possibly joined the army just three years
later. Certainly in uniform by the summer of 1915, Thomas Jones
was initially posted to Salonika before being moved to France in
July 1918. Killed in action at Les-Etoquies, Thomas Jones was possibly
killed on 4 November 1918 (SDGW) although the CWGC has a date of
7 November, aged 21. After his death, Thomas Jones was buried at
Crossroads Cemetery, (Grave Ref I.B.30) France.~ |
| KERRY | Frederick John |
Rifleman
485112, 12th Battalion, London Regiment (Rangers) attached to the
Kings Royal Rifle Corps, formerly Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry. One of two brothers killed during the war, Frederick
John Kerry was born in Oxford at 4 Shepperd’s Row St. Aldates on
26 June 1882, the eldest of two sons born to John and Elizabeth
Kerry. A former St. Aldates Schoolboy, Frederick later gained employment
at the Clarendon Press as a bookbinder. Following his marriage to
Margaret Porch in Somerset in August 1911, Frederick Kerry returned
to Oxford where he enlisted in May 1915. Initially joining the Oxford
and bucks, Frederick was posted to France in July 1916, but returned
home to England in November 1917. Returning to France with the London
Regiment in September 1918, Frederick Kerry was killed in action
just 10 days later on 18 September 1918 aged 36. Following his death,
the remains of Frederick Kerry was buried at the Bellicourt British
Cemetery, (Grave Ref I.J.14) France. |
| KERRY | William | Private
201349, 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
The youngest of four children and the younger brother of Frederick
Kerry, William was born in Shepperd’s Row, St. Aldates on 26 February
1892, to Elizabeth and John Kerry. Like his brother, William was
educated at St. Aldates School, followed by employment at A.R Mowbray
& Co, a well-known firm of religious printers and publishers in
St. Aldates. Joining the Territorial Army early in 1915, William
was probably first sent to France in May 1916. Caught in the German
Spring offensive of March 1918, William Kerry was held as a prisoner
of war in Germany, where he later died of Tuberculosis due to starvation
on 28 July 1918, aged 26. William Kerry was later buried at the
Niederzwehren Cemetery, (Grave Ref II.G.5) Germany. |
| LILLEY | Horace Christopher |
Private
L11384, 1st Battalion, the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment,
formerly 240820 Army Service Corps. The third of ten children born
to labourer & painter William Lilley, and his wife Elizabeth (nee
Bull), Horace Christopher Lilley was born in Oxford at 22 English
Row, St. Aldates on 31 January 1889. A former St. Aldates Schoolboy,
Horace was recorded as a manual labourer after completing his education,
and joined the Militia of the Royal Berkshire Regiment in December
1905. Following his marriage to Emma Speakes in August 1906, Horace
saw the birth of six children (one of which died in infancy) and
gained employment with the drainage depot of the local water-works.
Enlisting at the outbreak of war, Horace Lilley initially served
with the Army Service Corps, and was attached to the horse transport
section. Later moved to the Queen’s Regiment, Horace Lilley was
killed in action at Passchendaele on 25 September 1917, and as his
body was never recovered from the battlefields of Flanders, his
name was later commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, (Panels 14-17,
or 162-162a) Belgium. |
| MAWER | John Edwin | Private
9755, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
A Londoner by birth, John Edwin Mawer was born at 50 Swinton Street,
St Pancras, on Monday 16 June 1884; the eldest of four sons’ born
to bookbinder, Edwin and Florence Mawer. Raised in the St. Clements
area of Oxford, John Mawer began his working life as an ‘organ builder’,
and he still had this occupation at the time of his marriage to
Elizabeth Field at St. Aldates Church in February 1908 which produced
three children. After possibly having seen previous military service,
John Mawer was soon serving with the army following the outbreak
of war, and arrived in France in September 1914. Despite having
been recorded as wounded and missing, John Mawer was later recorded
as killed in action at Festubert on 16 May 1915, aged 30. Following
his death, the name of John Mawer was later commemorated on the
Le-Touret Memorial, (Panel 56) France. |
| MILES | Albert James |
Lance
Corporal 40720, 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, formerly
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Born in Oxford at
22 Great Clarendon Street, Jericho on 1 July 1897; Albert James
Miles was the third son of Frederick Miles, a railway porter, and
his wife Elizabeth (nee Hall). A member of the locally famous Balliol
Boys Club, and a former St. Aldates Schoolboy, Albert Miles was
employed at Morrell’s Brewery before his enlistment in August 1914,
aged 17. Deployed to France in May 1915, he was wounded in June,
and supposedly deployed to Mesopotamia the same month. It’s unlikely
he ever served in Mesopotamia, and it seems he spent his entire
time on the Western Front. Posted to the Worcester Regiment during
the autumn of 1916, Albert Miles was killed in action at Messines
on 17 June 1917 aged 19. As his remains were lost on the battlefields
of Flanders, Albert Miles was later honoured on the Ypres (Menin
Gate) Memorial, (Panel 34) Belgium. |
| PRICE | Richard William | Private
L/6712, 1st Battalion, East Kent Regiment (The Buffs). Born as Richard
William Mosto (the son of Alice Mosto) on 13 July 1884, Richard
was born at Charles Street in Cowley, but was raised in the parish
of St. Aldates. Raised with the surname of Price, (his mother’s
married name), Richard initially worked as a labourer and joined
the local Militia in 1901.Later joining the Buffs under his original
surname of Mosto; Richard married Martha Harvey with the same surname
in December 1910. Now employed as a local village postman, Richard
Mosto was living at Bletchingdon (North Oxon) when his two children
were born. Recalled to the Buffs on the outbreak of war, Richard
Mosto was killed in action on the Somme on 15 September 1916, aged
32, and later commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face
5D) France, as R.W. Mosto. Richard was also remembered on the St.
Aldates Memorial as Richard Price. |
| PARROTT | Aubrey |
Flight
Sergeant, Royal Air Force, formerly Royal Flying Corps. Originally
missing from the GWGC Roll of Honour, Aubrey Parrott died of Influenza
at the 1st Eastern Military Hospital in Cambridge on 22 March 1919.
The third of four sons’ born to Alfred and Alice Parrott, Aubrey
Parrott was born in Oxford at 58 Abbey Road, Osney on 26 March 1896.
Formerly a St. Peter-le-Bailey and St. Frideswide Schoolboy, Aubrey
was employed as a telegraph messenger boy in his youth, but was
training to be an electrician when he enlisted in October 1914.
Serving with the 15th Squadron, Aubrey was posted to France in December
1915 where he served as a mechanic (wire rigger). Returning to Oxford,
Aubrey married Beatrice Marsh in March 1918, and was transferred
into the newly formed RAF in April 1918. After his death, Aubrey
Parrott was buried at Osney Cemetery, Oxford, with his name belatedly
added to the CWGC Roll of honour in July 2011. |
| RAWLINGS | William | Private
9081, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Possibly born in
Oxford as Francis Rawlings on 14 March 1890, at the time of his
death, William Rawlings was the son of Mrs Ann Rawlings of English
Row, St. Aldates, Oxford. A pre-war regular who enlisted in January
1909, William had served in India prior to the outbreak of war,
but returned to England where he was posted to France in November
1914. Killed during the battle of Loos, William Rawlings was killed
in action at Bois Grenier on 25 September 1915, aged 25. With his
remains lost on the battlefield, the name of William Rawlings was
eventually honoured on the Ploegsteert Memorial, (Panels 7 & 8)
Belgium. |
| SMITH | William Isaac |
Corporal
L/17484, 2/2nd Battalion, London Regiment, (Royal Fusiliers) formerly
2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. A career soldier, William enlisted
in 1908. One of thirteen children, William Isaac Smith was born
in Oxford at 36 Jericho Street on 16 January 1888, the second son
of Henry and Ellen Smith. Raised in the parish of St. Barnabas,
William joined the army at the age of 20, and may have served in
India prior to the outbreak of war. Arriving in France in November
1914, William Smith suffered from trench foot 14 months later, and
was wounded in July 1916 on the Somme. Following his injury, William
married Mary Lydia Whittaker in September 1916, Returning to France,
William was forced to return to England for an operation on his
previous leg wounds, but returned to France for a fifth and final
time in September 1918, when he was attached to the London Regiment.
Gassed in November 1918, (Mustard Gas) William was moved to the
39th Stationary Hospital, where he died on 19 November 1918, aged
30. Following his death, William Smith was buried at the Lille Southern
Cemetery, (Grave Ref I.B.18) France. |
| TAYLOR | Francis Steed | Rifleman
S/12915, 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. The second youngest son of
Charles and Mary Ann Taylor, Francis Steed Taylor was born in Oxford
at Isis Street, St. Aldates, on 6 July 1887, one of ten children,
four of which sadly died in infancy. Educated in St. Aldates, Francis
gained employment as a porter at the prestigious Randolph Hotel
in Oxford, where he met his future wife. Following his marriage
to Eva Townley in Oxford on 31 May 1915, Francis Taylor joined the
army a week later. Posted to Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, Francis
died just six months later in a military hospital in Sheerness of
Pneumonia on 3 December 1915, aged 29. Following his death, the
body of Francis Taylor was returned to Oxford, and buried at the
nearby Osney Cemetery. ~ |
| THOMAS | John Frederick |
Private
285949, A Squadron, Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars, formerly Oxfordshire
and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Born in Oxford at 57 Blackfriars
Road, John Frederick Thomas was born on 14 February 1895, the eldest
of two sons born to Sophia and James Thomas, a local shoeman. Educated
in St. Ebbes and for a time at the Cowley Industrial School, John
Thomas gained an apprenticeship as a plumber and fitter with Mr
Astell in 1911, and was half way through his apprenticeship when
he enlisted in September 1914. Joining the Oxford and Bucks Light
Infantry, John Thomas was discharged just five weeks later as unfit
for service. Joining the Q.O.O.H in December 1915, John Thomas was
wounded in action on 23 March 1918, and later died at the Wharncliffe
War Hospital, Sheffield on 21 May 1918, aged 23. Following his death,
John Frederick Thomas was buried at the Wadsley Churchyard, (Grave
Ref 14) Sheffield. |
| TIPPING | Frederick George | Private
45729, 8th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, formerly
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and 7th Battalion
Wiltshire Regiment. Born in the small Oxon village of Holton in
the summer of 1896, Frederick George Tipping was the youngest of
ten children born to John and Louisa Tipping. Educated in Holton,
Frederick began his working life as a farm labourer, and this was
still his occupation when he married Elizabeth Loder in November
1914; a marriage which later produced one child. Frederick Tipping
may have enlisted as early as September 1914 joining the Oxford
and Bucks Light Infantry; however, he was transferred to the Wiltshire
Regiment before sailing to France in September 1915. Posted to Salonika
in November 1915, almost three years later, Frederick Tipping was
transferred to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and was posted
as missing in action on 18 September 1918, aged 23. Later confirmed
as having died that day, the name of Frederick Tipping was later
commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece. |
| WEBB | Harry James |
Lance
Corporal 21524, 11th Battalion, Durham Light infantry, formerly
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light infantry. Baptised on Christmas
Day 1890, Harry James Webb was born at St. Barnabas Street, Oxford,
on 14 November 1890, the fifth of six sons born to George and Alice
Webb. One of ten children, Harry Webb was a keen sportsman in his
youth, and gained employment at the Thames Conservancy as a blacksmith.
A member of the St. Aldates Bell ringing team, Harry Webb also taught
as a Sunday School teacher at the South Oxford Schools in Thames
Street. After enlisting in December 1914, Harry joined the ranks
of the OBLI, and just two months later was transferred to the Durham
Light Infantry. Arriving in France in July 1915, Harry Webb was
wounded by an enemy shell on 3 November 1915, and died at the 26th
Field Ambulance the next day. After his death, Harry was buried
at the Sailly Sur-la-Lys Canadian Cemetery, (Grave Ref II.B.44)
France. |
| WHITING | William | Although
the name of William Whiting appears on the St. Aldates Memorial,
there is no record of a man of that name who died in the Great War
having lived in the St. Aldates area around this time. |
| WHEELER | Frederick John |
Private
201112, 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
The eldest of four children, Frederick John Wheeler was born in
the small hamlet of Sutton Wick (near to Abingdon, and formerly
in Berkshire) on 27 April 1890, the son of Gertrude and John Wheeler,
a railway carman. Attending St. Frideswide School in Oxford, Frederick
Wheeler later gained himself employment as a labourer for the Oxford
Corporation, and this was still his occupation when he enlisted
in September 1914. Arriving in France in May 1916, Frederick Wheeler
saw action in Belgium at Passchendaele in 1917 and the German Spring
offensive of March 1918. Killed in action on 24 March 1918 aged
27, the body of Frederick Wheeler was not recovered from the battlefields
of France, and his name was later honoured on the Pozieres Memorial,
France. |
| WILLIAMS | Frank Ernest | Sergeant
R/13008, 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Born as Ernest
Frank Williams, Frank was born at 1 Kings Row, St. Aldates on 25
March 1894, the second of two sons born to Anna and Edward Williams,
a college servant. With siblings from his mother’s previous marriages,
Frank was raised in St. Aldates, and on completion of his education,
gained employment as a grocer’s errand boy. Later living with his
married sister and her family at Thames Street, and employed in
the shop of the Danish Dairy Company, Frank joined the Kings Royal
Rifle Corps in May 1915, and was wounded a few months later. Arriving
in France in September 1915, Frank suffered numerous health problems,
but returned to the front in May 1918. Killed in action near Berthaucourt
on 18 September 1918, Frank Williams aged 24, was buried at the
Berthaucourt Communal Cemetery, (Grave Ref B 18) France.~ |
| WRIGHT | Ernest John |
Private
M2/131588, III Corps, HQMT Coy Army Service Corps. The eldest of
two brothers killed during the Great War, Ernest John Wright was
born on 21 February 1887, the eldest of eight children born to John
and Mary Wright. Educated in St. Aldates, Ernest was employed as
a porter in a bookshop at the age of 14, and later employed by a
Mr Sweatman in New Inn Hall Street as printer/compositor. Married
to Ethel May Silvester in December 1910, the marriage produced a
son named Reginald in 1915. Employed as a motor driver for the St
John’s Ambulance shortly before the war, Ernest joined the Mechanised
Transport section of the Army Service Corps in October 1915, and
was posted to Egypt in November 1915. Serving exclusively in Mesopotamia,
Ernest Wright contracted Smallpox in November 1918, and was hospitalised
at the 22nd Combined Field Ambulance at Shabana Barracks near Baghdad,
where he died in 22 November 1918, aged 32. Following his death,
Ernest Wright was later buried at the Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery,
(Grave Ref IV.F.3) Iraq. |
| WRIGHT | Arthur | Third
Class Steward L/6016, HMS Natal, Royal Navy. The younger brother
of Ernest Wright, Arthur Wright was born at 13 Isis Street, St.
Aldates on 10 March 1896, one of eight children and the youngest
of three sons born to John and Mary Wright. Later employed by a
Mr Sweatman of New Inn Hall Street, as a compositor, Arthur Wright
joined the Royal Navy in November 1914, and was later attached to
HMS Natal. With the Natal moored in the Cromarty Firth, Captain
Black was holding an officers party on 30 December 1915, when a
number of violent explosions tore throughout the ship (possibly
caused by a fire and faulty cordite) which sank within five minutes.
The body of Arthur Wright was never recovered from the freezing
waters of the Cromarty Firth, and he was later recorded as lost
at sea on 30 December 1915 with his name commemorated on the Chatham
Naval Memorial. He was nineteen years of age. |
1939-1945
ST. ALDATES CHURCH HAS NO SECOND WORLD WAR MEMORIAL
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