The Men Who Fell in WW1

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Sapper 62257 Albert Robert WILLIAMS - Army Signal Company, Royal Engineers

Died on Friday 3rd September 1920 aged 33

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Home	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Stratford on Avon Cemetery

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
8 Jul 1915 in France	~	Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial

Action, Battle or Other Reason Died	Date and Place Enlisted
Died of Cardiac Failure	20 Jan 1915 in Chatham

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units	Other War Memorials
Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Holymoor

Circumstances of Death

Albert survived the war but died on 19 September 1920 from a Psoas Abscess and Cardiac Failure at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Holymoor, Northfield, Worcs.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
7 May 1887 in Oxford	26 May 1887 in Oxford

Parents Names	Abode
John and Ella Williams	Stourbridge

Wife and Marriage Details	Marriage Details
Lucy Zilpah Williams	13 Jun 1910 in Preston Bagot

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1887 - 5 Bridge Street, Oxford	1901 - Telegraph Messenger
1891 - 5 Bridge Street, Oxford	1910 - Signal lineman for Great Western Railway
1901 - 41 Brook Street, Stourbridge	1911 - Under Lineman for GWR
1910 - Preston on Stour	1915 - Railway Signal Fitter for GWR
1911 - 5 Mulberry Street, Stratford on Avon
1915 - 9 Henley Street, Stratford on Avon
1920 - 8 Park Road, Stratford on Avon

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 9887 Bertie Thomas ASTELL - 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in action on Sunday 25th April 1915 aged 36

Military History


Theatre of War	Campaign Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Other Campaign Medals	SWFHS Area Memorials
24 Mar 1915 in France	King's South Africa Medal	Leamington Spa War Memorial
		Leamington All Saints Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died	Date and Place Enlisted	Leamington Spa Oddfellows Memorial
Battle of Julien (2nd Battle of Ypres)	10 Mar 1900 in Coventry

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units	Other War Memorials
Vielje	~	~

Military Service History

10 Mar 1900 - Enlisted in Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Depot Bn)
06 Feb 1901 - Transferred to 2nd Battalion
16 Mar 1901 - Posted to South Africa
28 May 1902 - Discharged from Army

Circumstances of Death

Bertie is listed as being killed in action on 25 Apr 1915 during the British attack on Vielje. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 24th to 26th April 1915 are transcribed below.

24th April 1915 - Locre: Left Locre at 7am & marched to Oudgrdon? and went into billets in huts about 12 noon. Brigade came up & orders were received to advance at 4pm via Vlamertinghe & halted outside Ypres from 8pm to 12mn. Started to rain. Ypres was heavily shelling and on fire.

25th April 1915 - Vielje: Left Ypres at 12mn for Vielje where orders were received for the attack. The Brigade attacked at 4.30am. We attacked the wood on the left of the line with 7th A&S Highlanders in support. The Seaforth Highlanders, R Irish Fus and R Dublin Fus attacked on our right on St. Julien. Owing to the German Trenches being insufficiently shelled and supports unable to come up the line retired at about 7am to trenches near the farm and consolidated our position. Our casualties were very heavy 17 officers and 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.

26th April 1915 - Vielje: Heavy gunfire all day. About 2.30pm the Northumberland Division attacked St. Julien without success. We opened supporting fire from our trenches. The Lahore Division attacked on our left but gained very little ground being stopped by gas.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1880 in Leamington Spa

Parents Names	Abode
William and Mary Ann Astell	7 Portland Row, Leamington Spa

Wife and Marriage Details	Children
Edith Mary Astell nee Gallagher	May; William; Beatrice; Percy & Albert
Jan Qtr 1905 in Leamington Spa

Schools	Colleges
Portland Street, Wesleyan School	~

Address History	Employment History
1881 - 7 Portland Row, Leamington Spa	1891 - Scholar
1891 -7 Portland Row, Leamington Spa	1900 - Labourer
1901 - South Africa with Royal Warwicks	1901 - Soldier in Royal Warwickshire Regt
1911 - 4 St Lukes Cottages, Leamington	1911 - Slaters labourer
1915 - 6 Augusta Place, Leamington Spa

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 9693 Robert CHAPMAN - 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards

Died of wounds on 30th September 1915 aged 22

Military History


Theatre of War in Which Died	Campaign Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders	1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery

First Arrived in Theatre	Bravery & Conduct Medals	SWFHS Area Memorials
12 Aug 1914 in Le Havre, France	~	Leamington Spa War Memorial
		Leamington St. John's Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died	Date and Place Enlisted
Battle of Loos	22 July 1912 in Coventry
		Other War Memorials
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units	~
6th London Field Ambulance	~

Circumstances of Death

Robert is listed as having died of wounds on the 30th September 1915. Coldstream Guards medical records state the he died at the 6th London Field Ambulance and De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour states that he was originally wounded on 27th September. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for the 27th is transcribed below.

Le Rutoire Farm – 27 Sep 1915: The Battalion marched off to occupy the 1^st & 2^nd line of German trenches opposite Lone Tree at 3am. Dug ourselves in there.

Attack the Wood & Chalk Pit in support of the 2^nd Irish Guards at 4pm. The Irish Guards attained objectives but retired. No 1 Coy & No 2 Coy attacked and captured Wood and Chalk Pit & dug themselves in on the far side. This position was made good & consolidated.

Many wounded men who had been out since 25^th brought in. Wood & Chalk Pit made a very prominent salient which rendered it a difficult position to hold.

Casualties: Capt Darrel & 2/Lt Heathcote wounded. 27 Other Ranks.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
11 Jun 1893 in Leamington Spa	11 Jun 1893 at Leamington Spa, All Saints

Parents Names	Abode
William and Mary Chapman	19 Charles Street, Leamington Spa

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1893 - Portland Street, Leamington Spa	1901 - Scholar
1901 - 11 Charles Street, Leamington Spa	1911 - General Labourer
1904 - 11 Charles Street, Leamington Spa	1912 - Soldier in Coldstream Guards
1911 - 15 Swan Street, Coventry
1915 - 19 Charles Street, Leamington Spa

Brother of Edward Chapman who also fell
In 1904 Robert was arrested for scrumping at Claremont House and later let off by a Magistrate but required to pay costs of 4s 6d.

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 7974 William Thomas HEDGE - 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment

Killed in Action on Sunday May 9th, 1915 aged 27

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals	Ploegsteert Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
13 Aug 1914	~	Shuckburgh

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted Date	Other War Memorials
Battle of Aubers (Second Battle of Artois)	21 Apr 1906 in Northampton	Hellidon Church Window

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
near Fromelles	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Battle of Aubers -

During the night of 8th May the men of both battalions (1st and 2nd) had moved-up to their front-line positions near Neuve Chapelle and Fromelles. The hazy dawn promised a sunny spring day, as the Northamptons peered over the flat, marshy terrain to the enemy trenches some 350m away. Rum rations had been issued, morale was high and all ranks were eager for the coming battle.

Precisely on zero-hour, 5.00am, the British artillery unleashed a fierce bombardment onto the German front lines. The shelling seemed so ferocious that little resistance was expected- but resistance there was, and it came as a terrible surprise to the attackers.

The Northamptons and other regiments waited with fixed bayonets but things had already started to go wrong. Some units were hit by their own artillery shells that were falling short. Fifty minutes later the guns fell silent and whistles signalled the infantry attack. As the Northamptons climbed their ladders to charge over No Man’s Land they were hit by hurricanes of machine-gun, rifle and artillery fire. Within a short time both battalions suffered immense casualties and very few men reached the enemy positions. Those who did, unable to advance or retire, came under constant attack by the German defenders. Finally, after some fourteen hours and under cover of darkness, remnants of these isolated groups managed to regain their lines, crawling through heaps of dead comrades.

In total the Northamptons suffered 984 casualties, or nearly 60% of the soldiers who had seen the dawn. Apart from the wounded and the dead who could be named, many hundreds disappeared in No Man’s Land, never to be identified. The 2nd Battalion suffered casualties of 12 Officers and 414 soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

Excerpt above courtesy of Northampton Museums - Click here

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Bapitsm Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1887 at Hellidon

Parents Names	Parents Abode
Gallio Thomas and Annie Hedge	Lower Shuckburgh

Wife & Marriage Date/Place	Marriage Place and Date
Eva Hedge nee Payne	Jan Qtr 1914 in Daventry District

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1891 - Berry Lane, Hellidon	1901 - School age
1901 - Berry Lane, Hellidon	1911 - Regular Soldier
1911 - Military Barracks, Malta

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private PO/2503 Edward Poole BURDEN - 1st Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry

Died on Sunday 24th November 1918 aged 33

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Etaples Military Cemetery

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
2 Apr 1918	~	Stockton

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Re-Enlisted	Other Military History
Died of Broncho-Pneumonia	12 Oct 1917 at Rugby	8 Sep 1914 enlisted in King's Royal Rifle Corps
		29 Sep 1914 - discharged as unfit for service
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
16th General Hospital, Etaples	Pte 3209 King's Royal Rifle Corps

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Edward died of Died of Broncho-Pneumonia at the 16th General Hospital at Etaples

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Bapitsm Date/Place
25 Dec 1884 at Priors Hardwick	25 May 1885 at Priors Hardwick

Parents Names	Parents Abode
Josiah Frederick and Lucy Burden	both deceased

Schools	Colleges
Stockton Council School	~

Address History	Employment History
1891 - 9 Church Lane, Stockton	1891 - Scholar
1901 - Post Office Lane, Stockton	1901 - Labourer at Stone Pits
1911 - Victoria Terrace, Stockton	1911 - Fitters Labourer
	1914 - Engine Driver

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances of Death

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Military Service History

Circumstances of Death

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances of Death

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Subcategories

Battalions, Brigades & Other Units