Remembrances

Least We Forget
1914-1918 and 1939-1945

Photographs by Anne Williams

To the memory of those who gave their lives : 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.
Photographs by Ian Huckin

He was my husbands great grandfather and was in the merchant marine before and during WW1. His ship was the SS Bandon and the ship was torpedoed off the south coast of Ireland, 13 Apr 1917. Twenty-eight members of the crew lost their lives, of whom 19 left widows with 49 children.

Those who lost their lives were the following: -

Edward Ferne, chief officer
M. J. O'Brien, second officer
R. Mercer, first engineer
M. Dowling, second engineer
Charles Bird, A.B.
Patrick O'Keeffe, Fireman
Richard O'Keeffe, Fireman
Bartholmew Collins, Fireman
Jeremiah Long, Fireman
Charles E. Martin, Fireman
John Courtenay, Quarter master (his body was picked up warm by another M.L. Artificial respiration was tried, but it proved useless, as he was quite dead. His body was landed in Dungarvan and brought to Cork with the survivors on the next day)

Remembered by Mo Scanlan

Caleb Crone, cook
John O'Callaghan, Fireman
John Wafer, A.B.
Simon Louro, Quartermaster
Jeremiah Leahy, Greaser
George O'Mahony, Greaser
Joseph Geo. Thompson, A.B.
Jeremiah McCarthy, A.B.
John O'Sullivan, A.B.
Charles McCashin, Steward
Wrixan and Sullivan, cattlemen
two gunners
Walsh, Fireman
and the donkeyman.

Anthony Joseph FENNEMORE born 1885 Leckhampstead Bucks.
Private 15666, 10th Battalion Gloucester Regiment.
Died Saturday 25th September 1915 during the battle of Loos.

No known grave but is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Youngest son of William and Margaret Fennemore of Leckhampstead Bucks.
Grandson of William and Mary Pargeter of Cropredy.
Brother of Eunice ALLEN of Grafton Regis, my grandmother.

Remembered by Anthea Greenaway, great niece

Cpl Hubert H Flowers 1914 -1919
Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars

Remembered by Hubert Flowers

I have been thinking today of my Uncle Jack (my Dad's brother) who died in the first world war.

John (Jack) William Gibbs was baptised at Broughton on 7 Jun 1891. He was a shepherd when he joined up with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. The war must have been particularly gruesome for one with such a gentle job.

He died of dysentery on 20 Jun 1916 on board ship and was buried at sea. I believe he was being shipped home at the time and the story goes that his ship passed that of the one my father was on as he went to India.

He is remembered on the War memorial at Tadmarton and on the Commonwealth graves memorial at Basra.

The news must have reached my Father, Frank Gibbs (also in the Oxon and Bucks) some time later and the following is a poem that he wrote about his brother.

Please remember that this is written by a chap who left school at thirteen and who was only 17 when he wrote it.

"In Ever Loving Memory of my Dear Brother Jack"

Remembered by Dorothy Gibbs

Private James Joseph HALWARD
766591, 123rd Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regt.)
Who died of wounds Aged 35 yrs
On Sunday 28 May 1916

Son of Joseph and late Arabella HALWARD, Cannington, Ontario.
Born Cannington , Ontario , March 19 1881
Interred - Cannington (All Saints) Anglican Cemetery.

James' Parents, were both born in Birmingham, WAR, but Joseph Halward was raised in Griffin's Brook, Selly Oak. They married there in 1873, prior to emigrating to Cannington, Ontario.

Remembered by Helen Verrall

Able Seaman Leslie Victor HARRIS (C/JX 186836), aged 23, lost at sea 15th February 1941, in the North Atlantic, he has no grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. In 1940 Leslie survived the beaches at Dunkirk when he was one of the naval personnel assigned as crew aboard one of the "little" ships.

He and Stanley Roy HARRIS were the sons of William Henry and Minnie HARRIS of Southall, Middlesex and were two of my father's elder brothers.

William, whilst not born there, grew up in Hook Norton from the age of 2, this being the village where his father Henry HARRIS was born.

Remembered by Colin Harris

Segeant Stanley Roy HARRIS (1256507), aged 30, 12 Sqdn. RAFVR, navigator on Lancaster shot down on the night of 3rd/4th February 1945 whilst on a raid to bomb a benzol plant at Bottrop. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

He and Leslie Victor HARRIS were the sons of William Henry and Minnie HARRIS of Southall, Middlesex and were two of my father's elder brothers.

William, whilst not born there, grew up in Hook Norton from the age of 2, this being the village where his father Henry HARRIS was born.

For the sake of completeness the full crew of Stanley's Lancaster were:

For the Fallen
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

Remembered by Colin Harris

47072, 1st Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Who died age 19 between 14 October 1918 and 15 October 1918
Son of Mr. G. W. and Mrs. Clara Hartwell, of 10, New Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire

Harry and Ralph are brothers of Albert Edward HARTWELL my husband's grandfather

Remembered by Christine and Stephen Hartwell of Oregon USA

7072, 1st Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Who died age 19 between 14 October 1918 and 15 October 1918
Son of Mr. G. W. and Mrs. Clara Hartwell, of 10, New Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire

Harry and Ralph are brothers of Albert Edward HARTWELL my husband's grandfather

Remembered by Christine and Stephen Hartwell of Oregon USA

George Orton HATTEN,(754382), Private, 58th Battalion (Central Ontario) Infantry, 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division.

Son of William Hatten & Louisa Ferguson of Desbarats, Ontario.

Died: August 28, 1918 Age: 24(?)
Buried: Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, Pas-de-Calais, France

Remembered by Margaret Nickle

Percy HATTEN, (754383), Sapper, 124th Battalion, Canadian Pioneers.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. John Thomas Hatten of Desbarats, Ontario.
Died: April 10, 1918. Age: 22
Buried: Aubigny Communql Cemetary Extension, Aubigny-en-Artois, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Canada lost aboout 60,000 men in WW1, a great loss for a country of around 8 million people.. Most who joined up were the sons or grandsons of UK immigrants.

Percy & Orton were grandsons of Thomas Hatten (1820-1910), son of John Hatten & Ann Merry, who was christened at St. Mary Magdalen, Duns Tew & emigrated to Canada West in about 1850. Four of John Hatten's sons came to North America, which perhaps explains why I have been unable to find any of that name in Oxfordshire today.

Remembered by Margaret Nickle

HILL Q.M Sgt. Thomas

Born 1813. Died of cholera March 17 1855, following action at the battles of Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman & Sebastopol in the Crimea, while serving with the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

Decorated posthumously for Gallant Conduct.

He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Guards's Roll of Honour.

My husband's 3 x gt grandfather, he left a widow and three children.

Remembered by Janet, Rog & Barb Stacey

My uncle John Edward Marriott was born in 1899 in the Nichol district of East London. He joined the 1st Battalion The Middlesex Regiment during World War 1 and served in Northern France, where on 14 July 1918 the 1st Middlesex and 2nd Durham Light Infantry headed the action to retake the GHQI Line which included the village of ELZENWALLE. The attack was a complete success with 41 German prisoners and four machine guns being taken. John Edward Marriott won his Military Medal in this action.

He died on 23 October 1918 at Le Cateau Nord, France

Remembered by Barry Marriott

These airmen were lost 3 November 1943 during night operations against Dusseldorf, Germany. Their Halifax bomber was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Helvoirt (Noord Brabant), 14 km NE of Tilburg, Holland.

The crew were:

They flew from the Elvington airfield, five miles south-east of the centre of York (77 Squadron RAF).

Warrant Officer Class I Air Gunner Gerald Frederick McKinnon (Royal Canadian Air Force) was born and raised in Truro, Nova Scotia. He is buried in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery near Nijmegen, Holland. There is a memorial stone near his parents' resting place in the Robie Street Cemetery (Catholic) in Truro.

His seven fellow crew members are buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery.

Remembered by Frances Bishop

Killed on 29 October 1917 and commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial
Frederick Sidney THORNTON's first cousin

Remembered by Barbara Adair

Clement Walter NASH born Selly Oak, WOR, 10th June 1907
Son of Lottie and Walter Nash, of Lower Hutt, NZ (previously of Selly Oak)
Died Woodbourne Air Base, Blenheim, N Z, September 1943 ,of Meningitis, while in training with RNZRAF- had enlisted to defend the land of his birth!!
Left a wife and 3 young sons.

Remembered by Helen Verrall

John Henry OWEN 1898 - 1918

Served World War 1, 2nd/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Died Friday 22nd March, 1918
He has no known grave.
Remembered with Honour
Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.

Son of John Henry & Adelaide Owen
33, Stamford Road, Kettering, Northants

This was my uncle, his father was born in Neithrop, Banbury.

Remembered by Heather Hudson

Born 1893, the first child and only son of Charles and Ellen ROGERS (née WYETH).
Killed Thursday 12th October 1916, at the Somme, France serving with the Seaforth Highlanders.

He has no known grave but his name is remembered on the Memorial at Thiepval near Albert, France.
My grandmother's only brother: he died when she was 10 years old.

Remembered by Rosemary Probert

My grandfather, Walter Tansley was born 18th February 1884, in Coventry, the eldest son of Walter & Alice (née Robinson)
He died at the battle of Loos on 25th September 1915.
He left a widow with four children, aged eight, six, four and two.

He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the LOOS Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

He is remembered by two of his daughters, now aged ninety four and ninety two, and the granddaughters that he never knew
Christine Hill

Lest we forget

My great-uncle Denis Taylor a Lance Corporal 4th Battalion Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry who died of wounds on 20th July 1916 aged 19.

He was one of seven brothers from the same Banbury family who all served in the Great War. My grand-father Frederick Taylor was the eldest.

Remembered by Vic Taylor

My Uncle Frederick Sidney Thornton killed on 12 April 1917 and commemorated at Warlincourt Halte cemetery, Saulty. Charles MILLIS first cousin.

Remembered by Barbara Adair

Born 17 Apr 1881, Tanjore, Madras, India
On 25th July 1895 age 14 yrs 3 mths, Herbert joined the R.A.Madras Command.

Herbert was invalided to India from Alexandria, Egypt on 21st April 1916, and from there moved to England on HMS "Hertfordshire", on 16th September 1916.
Herbert died on 9th August 1917 at the 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England, from Malaria & heart failure.

Remembered by Heather Hudson

I would like to remember Hugh Stanley WILSON who was the son of the Rev. Canon James M. WILSON, D.D., (Vice-Dean of Worcester) and Georgina Mary WILSON, of 14, College, Worcester. He was a Cambridge graduate and Assistant Master at Rugby. He was a second lieutenant in the Worcestershire regiment and was killed aged 30 on 14th September 1915 and is at rest in Hebuterne Military Cemetery.

My grandmother was the housekeeper to Canon and Mrs WILSON and when my father was born in 1916 he was named Hugh after Hugh Stanley WILSON.

Remembered by Mo Scanlan

Arthur Sidney WISE, Lance Corporal in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Died 21st March 1918

Remembered by Anne Williams

Francis Harry Varney Wise was born in Bloxham in 1895
Harry was a young officer in the Flying Corps, and had been award the Mons Star. He was killed whilst on take off from Hendon, 13th January 1918.
He was buried with full military honours

Remembered by Anne Williams

Private Clement WRIGHTON
- born 1894 died 19 August 1916
Son of Frederick WRIGHTON (born 1845) and Mary Ann Peckover WRIGHTON (d 1917)
Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
He was in the Northamptonshire Regiment 7th Battalion

His number was 15241
Age 22 years old

Remembered by Dawn Griffis

Private Alfred WRIGHTON
- born 1881 died 17 August 1916
Son of Frederick WRIGHTON (born 1845) and Mary Ann Peckover WRIGHTON (d 1917)
Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
He was in the Northamptonshire Regiment 7th Battalion
His number was 17146
He was 37 years old
His wife was Minnie from Fringford now Aynho

Remembered by Dawn Griffis

Private Albert Phillip WRIGHTON
- born 1878 - died 9 April 1917
Son of George WRIGHTON (1838-1909) and Hannah Tuckey WRIGHTON (died 1926)
Remembered on the Arras Memorial.
He was in the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) 6th Battalion
His number was G/14575
He was 38 years old

Remembered by Dawn Griffis

Private Reginald Victor WRIGHTON
- born 1888 - died 9 October 1917
Son of George WRIGHTON (1838-1909) and Hannah Tuckey WRIGHTON (died 1926)
Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial
He was in Coldstream Guards 2nd Battalion
He was 29 years old

Remembered by Dawn Griffis

Remembrance Day in New Zealand

Friends

Yesterday (its Friday 12th here now) New Zealand honoured the fallen of all Wars, in a very special way.

At last after 90 years (negotiations have been in place since 1921) "a unknown soldier", has been returned to New Zealand. His identity "Known only to God" A very moving Ceremony involved nearly the whole of 11th and much of the previous week. The French honoured him on his departure last Monday and the people of Auckland on Wednesday morning. The coffin lay in State in Parliament Buildings from 2.00pm Wednesday to 10.30am Thursday. The queue to honour the soldier frequently wound out through the buildings to the grounds. At 10.30 he was carried by 6 Senior Officers from all Branches of the Forces to Wellington Cathedral, (about 300 yards) where a Service began at 1100hrs (11th day 11th month) with 2minutes silence. The service honoured all those who had fallen in defence of Freedom, in particular all those young men for whom there is no known grave, from the Boer War to Vietnam (some would like the Maori Wars included) concluding with the committal of the "Unknown Soldier" to the land of his birth.

The Parade brought the City to a halt, but from the Cathedral to National War Memorial, (nearly one side of the City to the other) where he was interred with full Military Honours.

"May he Rest in peace, and families draw comfort from the thought that this young man, may be the son, brother uncle etc of a forbear, who was 'lost in action' and for whom there is no known grave"

Remembered by Helen Verrall and other New Zealanders