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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 26274 Horace Edgar HAWKINS - C Coy, 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment


Died of Wounds Thursday 21st September 1916 aged 22

Grave for HE Hawkins

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Heilly Station Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916 ~ Welford on Avon
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedOther War Memorials
Battle of Flers–Courcelette (Somme)  After 22 Sep 1915 Stratford on Avon ~
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
near Martinpuich ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Horace is listed as dying of his wounds on 21 Sep 1916. We cannot be certain when he was wounded but most likely he was wounded and died on 21 Sep 1916. The Battalion War Diary for the 18th to 25th September 1916 is transcribed below:
 
18th Sept 1916 - Becourt Wood:- Move up from Lavieville to Becourt Wood where a halt was made for one night.
 
19th Sept 1916 - High Wood:- Relieved the 47th Division and come into Brigade support to the 1st Camerons in High Wood area. Very quit period and time occupied in clearing trenches in consequence of the bad weather. On 21/9/1916 2/Lt C.G. Stevens was sent down suffering from shell shock
 
21st to 25th Sept 1916 - High Wood:- Took over front line from 1st Camerons and discovered that the German line opposite had been evacuted. Consquently we took possession of it and dug an advance front line about 100 yards in front of it. During this period our casualties amounted to about 50 other ranks.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBapitsm Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1893 at Welford on Avon 12 Aug 1893 at Welford on Avon
   
Parents NamesAbode
Herbert and Rosetta Hawkins Manor House, Welford on Avon
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1893 - Welford on Avon  1911 - Gardener
1901 - Tavern Street, Welford on Avon   
1911 - Avon Cottage, Welford on Avon   
1916 - Avon Cottage, Welford on Avon   

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 25049 Frank Merriman - 1st/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Tuesday 14th August 1917 aged 28

grave for f merriman

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals New Irish Farm Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After March 1916 ~ Rowington
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedOther War Memorials
Battle of Langemarck (Passchendaele)  February 1916  ~
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
west of St. Julien ~  
     

Original Burial

CWGC records show that Frank remains were found buried at map reference S28.C.17.b.0.9 which is very close to where the battalion was camped, as described in the war diary. His body was then interred at New Irish Farm on 28 Oct 1919.

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Frank is listed as being killed in action on 14 Aug 1917. The war diary for the period 12th to 15th August is transcribed below:

St. Julien Sector

Aug 12: The 5th R War relieved the battalion in the front line during the night of 13/14th during the course of which the enemy put down two gas shell bombardments.

Aug 13: The whole tour in the line was very trying owing to the bad state of the ground. The heavy artillery and constant rain making any movement extremely difficult. After relief the Battalion were in reserve in shelters on the East Bank of the Yser Canal.

Aug 14: Spent in Canalbank. Warning was issued to be ready to move on 15th to Dambre Camp

Aug 15: Battalion moved into Dambre Camp. END

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1889 at Rowington 5 May 1899 at Rowington
   
Parents NamesAbode
Thomas and Martha Merriman Rowington
   
WifeMarriage Date/Place
Annie Merriman nee Prince Apr Qtr 1917 at Cannock
   
SchoolsColleges
Rowington Council School ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1889 to 1914 - Rowington 1911 - Gardener
1916 - 8 Raunsley Road, Hednesford  

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Empire Force Nurse Muriel Mary GRAHAM - Warwick v44, Voluntary Aid Detachment

1s
Died on Saturday December 7th 1918 aged 23

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Home Royal Red Cross, Class 2 St. Mary's Church, East Haddon (on 11 Dec 1918)
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
Did not serve abroad See below Barford
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enrolled in V.A.DOther War Memorials
Died of Influenza, Meningitis and Pneumonia February 1913 at Warwick  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
106 Park Street, Mayfair, London ~  
     

The Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class

Muriel was awared the The Royal Red Cross by Gazette dated 23 Oct 1917 for her work as an Empire Force Nurse for the Warwick v44 Voluntry Aid Detachment at The Warren Auxiliary Hospital, Leamington Spa, click here for the Gazette.

Muriel was Decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace on 19/12/1917.

Royal_Red_Cross_Medal.jpeg

The Royal Red Cross (Second Class) ARRC is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing. This included those fully trained nurses or assistant nurses, probationer’s, or V.A.D’s. nursing members, who, belonging to one of the officially recognised nursing services, has shown special devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties, over a continuous and long period, or who has performed some very exceptional act of bravery and devotion at her [their] post of duty.

Circumstances of Death

Muriel died on 7 Dec 1918 of Died of Influenza, Meningitis and Pneumonia at 106 Park Street, Mayfair, London. Click to enlarge

Muriel Graham death cert
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1895 at Bucknell, Oxfordshire 25 Jul 1895 at Bucknell
   
Parents NamesAbode
Hugh and Jessie Graham Barford House, Barford
   
SchoolsColleges
Home schooled by a Governess ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1895 - Bucknell Manor, Bicester 1913 - Voluntry Aid Detachment
1901 - Bucknell Manor, Bicester  
1911 - The Bury, Offchurch  
1916 - Barford House, Barford  

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 30729 George Amos SPEARS - 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment

1s
Killed in Action on Friday April 12th 1918 aged 19

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Philosophe British Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
March 1918 in France ~ Henley-in-Arden  |  Henley-in-Arden Baptist Church
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedOther War Memorials
German Spring Offensive After 13 Apr 1917 at Birmingham  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
Trenches near Vermelles ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

George is listed as being killed in action on 12 April 1918. The Stratford Herald reported that he was killed by a shell and that he had only been in France for three weeks. The 5th Battalion war diary entry for the day is transcribed, in full, below.

In the Field [near Vermelles] 12th April 1918: We had 5 casualties today during the afternoon, most of them caused by way bombs. No 30729 Pte Sprears killed; Ptes 19434 Larch, 14870 Poplett, 31097 Mannill, 20321 Griffiths and Sergt Birch wounded. END

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
15 Oct 1898 in Birmingham 6 Nov 1898 at Duddeston, St. Matthew                      
   
Parents NamesAbode
George and Florrie Spears 148 High Street, Henley in Arden 
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1898 - 36, Lingard Street, Eden Place, Aston, Birmingham 1911 - Scholar
1901 - 36, Lingard Street, Eden Place, Aston, Birmingham  
1911 - 10 Asquith Road, Ward End, Birmingham  
1915 - 220 Warwick Rd., Henley-in-Arden  
1917 - 148 High Street, Henley in Arden  

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Sergeant 950 Ernest William BENCH - 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Saturday 25th September 1915 aged 26

ernest bench

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
6 Oct 1914 at Zeebrugge, Belgium ~ Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted 
Battle of Loos 1907 at Warwick  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or UnitsOther War Memorials
St. Elie     
     

Original Enlistment

From his service number, 950 we can say that Ernest enlisted at some stage between 2 Mar 1906 when # 779 was issued and 13 Nov 1907 when # 968 was issued

Circumstances of Death

Ernest is listed as being killed in action on 25 Sep 1915 (first day of the Battle of the Loos). The battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below:
 
5.50am Saturday 25th September 1915 - In the trenches
Our bombardment ceased. Our advance commenced at 6.30am. Took German front line trench then [their] support trench then on to the Quarries as far as St. Elie. Captured about 60 prisoners and arrived at this position [not stated] at 9.30am. Kept it till after dark when we had to retire owing to the 9th Division on our left retiring. Occupied Quarries until midnight when we took up a position in support trench 400 yards west of Quarries. The battalion suffered casualties of 72 killed 177 wounded and 273 missing leaving the battalion with just 140 men.

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
5 Jan 1889 at Warwick 6 Feb 1898 at Warwick, St. Paul
   
Parents NamesAbode
Joseph (deceased) and Eliza Bench 93 Broad Street, Coventry 
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1889 - 5 Theatre Street, Warwick 1901 - Scholar
1891 - 5 Northrock, Saltisford, Warwick 1907 - Soldier in Royal Warwickshire Regt
1901 - 5 Northrock, Saltisford, Warwick 1911 - Soldier in Royal Warwickshire Regt 
1911 - Whittington Barracks, Lichfield  1914 - Soldier in Royal Warwickshire Regt 
   

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  1. Private 10090 Harold James RADFORD
  2. Lance Corporal 25823 Joseph AUSTIN
  3. Private 5687 Harry STANLEY
  4. Private 26306 Thomas William KITCHEN

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Battalions, Brigades & Other Units