| Matlock & Matlock Bath : The War Memorials |
| Commemorating Matlock's and Matlock Bath's War Casualties |
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| Names on Matlock's War Memorial : WW1, Surnames A - J |
Background information about those who died is provided.
There are photos of war graves at Arras, Etaples, Thiepval, Wimille and Wimereux elsewhere
on this site
Search by name (below) *New Navigation* | Also see Abbreviations used
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 Abbreviations |
DoW - Died of Wounds
KiA - Killed in Action
MM - Military Medal
ToW - Theatre of War
F & F - France and Flanders |
M Bank - Matlock Bank
M Bath - Matlock Bath
M Cliff - Matlock Cliff
M Dale - Matlock Dale
M Green - Matlock Green
M Moor - Matlock Moor |
Mar - Married
MAVL - Matlock Absent Voter's List (1918)
NoK - Next of Kin
s/o - son of
Unm - Unmarried
WO - War Office |
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| More about those named
on the Memorial |
ALLEN, Edwin
(an older brother of Walter below)
Born Tansley 1892 and baptised 10 Apr 1892 (Matlock Circuit)
KiA 25 Nov 1916
Private 7th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 17701
ToW: F & F
Third s/o William George and Agnes Allen of Holt Lane and one
of 8 children. The 1901 census records the family at Chapel
House, Tansley, with his father employed as a drayman and cabinet
maker. Edwin worked as a Cow Man on the Tansley farm of Thomas
Neville (1911 census) and played football for Tansley
for a time. Enlisted
Buxton 1915, when his residence was given as Matlock. His younger
brother Walter was killed 5 months later.
Cemetery: Serre Road Cemetery No.1, Pas de Calais - 11 km.
north of Albert.
Grave Reference: II. A. 17. |
ALLEN, John Thomas (Jack)[1]
Born Beech Cottage, Hackney Lane, Darley Dale on 21 Oct 1878
Died 4 Oct 1916, aged 39
Private 2nd/4th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
Service No: 5486
s/o Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Allen, of Dimple Farm, Matlock* (his
parents were Joseph and his first wife Mary Ann nee Spencer,
known as Polly); husband of Louisa Alice Allen, of Yew Cottage,
Dimple Rd., Matlock. Worked for his father in the family business
as a carter, learning how to handle horses as a teenager. He
was living on the Dimple in the
1901 census but moved to Dimple Road following his marriage
to Louisa Alice Smith later in 1901. 1 son.
Enlisted Derby Aug 1916, after conscription was extended to
married men on 25th May 1916. He was sent to Widford Camp,
near Chelmsford. Training included digging trenches, attacking
a dummy stuffed with straw with a bayonet, and going on 10
to 20 mile marches though the countryside. His first real experience
of warfare came less than 2 weeks before he died. A Zeppelin
was shot down by a Royal Flying Corps aircraft about 6 miles
from Widford camp. It would be seen by all in the camp - it
was said that when L32 was burning a newspaper could be read
from the glow within a distance of twenty miles and the sky
was lit up for sixty miles. Jack may well have been among the
troops sent from the camp to guard the scene. He was taken
ill at the camp and died from heart failure; his death certificate
gave his occupation as "carter and horseman" (this
from his g nephew, David Midgley). His cousin, Sidney A. Smith also
died in WW1 (see his info on
the next page).
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave/Memorial Reference: Spec. Memorial. He is commemorated
by the top gate at St. Giles' church. There is also a
photograph of the headstone itself.
Also commemorated St. Giles (Louise Alice is also named
on the headstone)
More MI Info |
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*The Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Allen named by the CWC refers
to Joseph and his second wife Sarah, who brought Jack up. Jack's
mother died only three weeks after he was born.
There is more about the Allen family:
Matlock: The Allen Family of Dimple Farm
Matlock: Joseph Allen and Sons Garage, Crown Square
Please note that there is only one J. T. Allen commemorated on
the memorial and is thought that it is probably not this casualty
as he has his own CWGC headstone in the churchyard. |
ALLEN, John Thomas (Thomas*)[1]
Born Ilkley, YKS 1887
Private (Trooper) 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales' Own)
Service No: 2126
KiA 17 Nov 1914
s/o James Allen and Annie (nee Knowles) Allen (she d. 1917).
His family were living in Matlock Town in the
1901 census, though by 1911 were living on Cavendish Street/Road.
Presumably this entry in the
1901 census was Thomas.
Enlisted Derby 9 June 1908, giving his occupation as a farm
labourer and saying his NoK were his father, mother and brother
Frank. He also said he had seven brothers. and is address at
the time was Wildgoose Cottages, Matlock Moor. His employment
sheet described him as "A hard working willing man. Honest,
sober and reliable".
On joining the army he went first to Curragh Camp in Ireland
on 12/13 June and then to Cairo, Egypt where the Battalion
still as in August 1914. They were recalled, arriving at Liverpool
on 18 Oct 1914. On 31 Oct 1914 they landed in France and on
4 Nov were under command of 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry
Division (see The
Dragoon Guards in 1914-1918 - The Long, Long Trail).The
Allens also lived at 3 Chesterfield Road, Beech Cottage Sycamore
Road and by 1919 the family address was 4 Greenhill Terrace
(this from Burnt Documents, WO 363). In a letter sent by the
commanding officer, it said he was killed by a sniper whilst
taking a message. He was a good sportsman and an excellent
footballer.
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, one of four Memorials
to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known
as the Ypres Salient
Memorial Reference: Panel 3
*He is Thomas on All Saints' memorial. His army records
show him as John T or John Thomas, although he signed some documents
as T or Thomas and was known to his family as Thomas.
Please note that there is only one J. T. Allen commemorated on
the memorial and is thought that it is probably this casualty. |
ALLEN, Thomas
Born Clay Cross 1867
KiA 1 Jul 1916
Private 1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 201101
ToW: F & F
He was living with his wife Agnes in Matlock in the
1891 census | in Scarthin in the
1901 census. The family later moved back to Matlock to
live at Bailey Mill Yard the Cliff; he worked for Baileys as
a Stationary Engineman. 2 daurs. Enlisted Derby. Resided Matlock.
He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and
was one of eight men with connections to Matlock who were killed
that day.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on
this site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A. |
ALLEN, Walter
(a younger brother of Edwin above)
Born Tansley (Matlock) 1896 and baptised 10 Dec 1896 (Matlock
Circuit)
Private 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
KiA 28 Apr 1917
Service No: 29347
ToW: F & F
Living Tansley 1901
s/o William George and Agnes Allen of Holt Lane - the 1911
census records the family at 1 Chaplain Terrace. Enlisted Chesterfield.
He had worked for Messrs. Orme and Co. before enlisting, although
in 1911 he was an errand boy in a furniture shop (possibly
the same store that employed his father as a van man).
He went to France in July 1916, aged 20, but was wounded almost
immediately, was sent home but recovered quickly and returned
to France. The Second Lieutenant who wrote to his parents after
his death expressed his deepest sympathy, telling them that
he was the best lad in the platoon. "His
loss is deeply felt by the company, for he was never downhearted,
and always willing to obey an order". He was killed
instantly whilst holding the most important bit of the line.
He was laid to rest in a quiet little cemetery well behind
the lines. The press report that covered his death said that
another brother, Arthur, was in France and their brother Bert,
R.F.A, was about to leave for France.
Cemetery: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium (2km SW of Ieper)
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. B. 25.
There was also a commemorative stone at the Imperial Road Church,
but since it closed this is now in the Trinity Methodist United
Reformed on Bank Road. See the
MI there (scroll down). |
ALLEN, William (Albert William)
Born Snitterton, Matlock 1896 (Soldiers Died and 1901 census say born there)
DoW 30 Nov 1914, aged 18
2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
Service No: 16332
ToW: F & F
s/o James and Sarah Allen of Snitterton, Matlock (youngest
child). Brother of
Mrs. W. H. Furniss. Living Snitterton in 1911 and working
as an errand boy for a news vendor but later worked for Mr.
Phillips, the Crown Square hairdresser. Enlisted Nottingham
in 1913 although he was under age.
"Sheffield Daily Telegraph", 10 November 1914:
"Private W. Allen, son of Mr. J. Allen, of Snitterton, informed his
parents yesterday that he has been seriously wounded. He is in the 2nd Grenadier
Guards, and had been at the front thirteen weeks."
The following was placed in the Derbyshire Times in 1917:
"ALLEN. - In loving memory of Albert William Allen, the 2nd
Grenadier Guards, who died of wounds at Boulogne, November
30th 1914, late of Snitterton, Matlock.
[Verse]
- From his loving mother and Father, Sisters and Brothers".
"Derbyshire Times", 29 November 1919. For Their Country:
"ALLEN.-In loving memory of Pte. Albert William Allen, of the 2nd Grenadier
Guards, who died of wounds at Boulogne, November 30th, 1914, late of Snitterton, Matlock.
He left his home in perfect health,
He looked so young and brave;
We little thought how soon he'd be
Laid in a soldier's grave.
Far away from all who loved him,
They laid him down to rest
In a far-off grave he is sleeping,
One of God's bravest and best.
-From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers".
Grave Reference: III. B. 51.
Cemetery: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery |
ANDREWS, George
Edward (Edward)
(Brother of Harry below)
Born Matlock 1895 and christened at St. Giles' 18 Aug 1895
Died 3 Oct 1918, aged 23.
Private 1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 241577
One of the eleven children of George Joseph and Annie Maria
(nee Housley) Andrews, of 3, Buxton Terrace, Matlock Bank,
Matlock. The couple married at St. Giles' on 24 Nov 1886 and
George J became a Coal Carter. The family were living on Matlock
Cliff
in the 1901 census. By 1911, by which time the Andrews'
family had moved to Buxton Terrace, George Edward and his slightly
older brother Walter were involved with golf; Edward was employed
as a golf caddy whereas Walter was a golf pro. His home address
was given as Buxton Terrace in the MAVL (1918).
Cemetery: Bellicourt British Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. L. 7.
The day after Edward's death, Brig. General John Harrington issued
the following statement:
"I wish to express my unbounded admiration
for the magnificent fighting qualities shown ... during the recent
operations. They have had two operations, both of them difficult
and one at short notice. In each case the Battalions [5th, 6th
and 8th] have reached all their objectives and made almost record
capture of prisoners - Machine guns and guns. In the second operation
the fighting was very severe and a difficult situation was overcome
by the very fine leadership of the Regimental Officers and the
splendid spirit of the men". (Regimental War Diary, TNA:
WO 95/2694/1). Whilst he did not mention the casualties, it helps
us to understand what soldiers like Edward were dealing with.
He is not related to the web mistress. |
ANDREWS, Harry [1]
(Brother of George Edward above)
Born Matlock 1891, christened at St. Giles' 29 Mar 1891
DoW 18 Jan 1917, aged 25
Rifleman 10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
Service No: 43032
Formerly 43407, Sherwood Foresters. Enlisted Derby.
ToW: F & F
A native of Matlock, he was the fourth of the eleven children
of George Joseph and Anna Maria Andrews. His parents had married
at St. Giles' on 24 Nov 1886 and George J became a Coal Carter.
Harry was just a month old in the
1891 census and the growing family were still living M Cliff in
the 1901 census. By 1911 the Andrews family were at Buxton
Terrace and Harry was employed as a baker. He worked, not long afterwards,
with his soon to be brother in law in their bakery at Winster
East Bank. He married Lilian Alice Cooper at All Saints' in
1913. By the time of his death the couple had 3 young children.
He voluntarily joined the Colours.
It had been reported two weeks before he died that he was
seriously wounded, but he died following an operation. It was
the third time he had been wounded, but less seriously on the
two previous occasions. Four of his brothers were also serving
when he died.
Buried: Wimereux Communal Cemetery
Grave Reference: II. C. 7A.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 3 November 1916.
Listed as wounded.
Harry had sent a cheery postcard home to his little boy just a month beforehand.
His name appears on the memorial as H. H. Andrews. However, his family agree that he only
ever had the name Harry, so the second initial is an error.
Harry's wife is buried
in the churchyard at St. Giles'.
He is not related to the web mistress. |
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A photograph now owned by his great grandson
Detail of gravestone |
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ARKWRIGHT, Frederic George Alleyne[2] [3]
Born 23 Oct 1885
Died 14 Oct 1915, aged 29
Captain Royal Flying Corps
Secondary Regiment: formerly 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
and was an officer (lieutenant) before the War.
s/o Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Charles Arkwright of Willersley,
Matlock. Educated Eton and Sandhurst. Killed in a flying
accident close to Glamis Castle. The Times (15 Oct 1915) reported
that Captain Arkwright, together with Lieutenant Hardy, were
attached to the Montrose Air Base. They had flown out from
there but had to land near Glamis when the plane developed
a fault. The following day a new propeller was fitted and the
plane took off, but soon got into difficulties, circled and
then crashed. For fuller account, read Charles Beresford's
book about Matlock Bath's memorial[7].
His funeral was impressive (Derby Daily Telegraph, 19
October 1915). His coffin was first in St. Mark's Church and
then in Cromford Parish church, where it was guarded by members
of the Cromford detachment of the Derbyshire Regiment of Home
Guards. The service was conducted by the Bishop of Southwell,
assisted by other clergymen including Canon Kewley (Matlock)
and Rev. Hazlehurst (Cromford). As well as family members,
the mourners included the Duchess of Devonshire and J. B. Marsden
Smedley. The firing party consisted of men from the Coldstream
Guards.
Cemetery: Cromford (St. Mary) Churchyard
A wreath in his memory was sent to the memorial's unveiling service:
"In proud and loving memory of our beloved son",
Frederick and Rebecca Arkwright ("Derbyshire
Courier", 13 August 1921). |
ASHTON, George William[1]
Born Matlock 1886 and baptised 9 May 1886 (Matlock Circuit)
Private 15th Bn. Welsh Regiment
Died 28 Jul 1917
Service No: 47659
ToW: F & F
s/o Joseph and Martha Ashton (his mother had died and
been buried at St. Giles' on 8 Nov 1907, aged 46). The family
were bakers on Smedley Street, but George became a joiner,
employed by Mr George Ballington. See him and his family in
the 1891
census entry | 1901
census entry. He married Effie Florence Rand at All Saints'
in 1912, but the couple had no children. His wife had been
staying in Matlock until shortly before his death, but returned
to London.
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, one of four Memorials
to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known
as the Ypres Salient
Memorial Reference: Panel 37. |
BAGSHAW, Frank[5]
(Cousin of Harry and Jack, and nephew of Walter, all below)
Born Matlock 10 Aug 1894
DoW 13 Apr 1918 ("Soldiers Died" has 1918)
Rifleman 16th Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
Service No: R/873
ToW: F & F
s/o Thomas H and Mary A (nee
Briddon) Bagshaw (husband buried St. Giles' 14 Dec 1900, wife
buried 1 Feb 1905). Frank was living
on Chesterfield Rd in 1901 with his mother and siblings
and was registered at All Saints'
School by his mother on 8
Nov 1904. The family were then of Upper Hackney. By 1911 he
was with his uncle Joseph King Bagshaw and employed as a Nurseryman.
Enlisted Birmingham, where he had been working as a Labourer,
on 1 Sep 1914, aged 20. He went to France on 15 July 1915.
Only a few days before he died, on 6th April, he was admonished
and fined 1/- [one shilling] for losing a pair of braces by
neglect. His records show that he was first posted as missing
and then accepted as dead on 13 April 1918. His NoK in the
U.K. was his sister May Elizabeth of Smedley Cottages, Dimple,
Matlock and later of 3 Bailey Cottages, Tansley Road, Matlock
(this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364). May later emigrated
to Canada. Two of Frank's brothers, Thomas Harold (Tom) and
Fredrick Henry (Fred), had been sent to Portland, Ontario as
children in 1902, embarking at Liverpool. His third brother,
John Percival (Percy), is known to have gone to Canada. All
three brothers served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force
in WW1 and all survived.
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium
Memorial Reference: Panel 8. |
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There is no photograph of Frank.
Family members in the U.K.
would be very grateful to anyone who could help them in their
quest
for a picture.
Please email the web
mistress if you can help
(email contact link in footer). |
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BAGSHAW Harry (Samuel
Henry Wakefield)[1] [5]
(brother of Jack below and cousin of Frank above)
Born Matlock 12 Jul 1891
KiA 1 Jul 1916, aged 24
ToW: F & F
Lance Corporal 1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 1804
Third s/o Samuel and Ellen Bagshaw, of Kelvin Side,
Dimple, Matlock. Family living on Bank Road in
the 1901 census but later moved to the Dimple.
When he was registered as a pupil on 8 Apr 1895 at
All Saints' the family were of "The Dimple".
Harry worked as a stonemason for J. W. Wildgoose (builder
and contractor) before the War. He had played for Matlock
Town F. C. as full back in the matches of the Matlock and
District League; his father Sam had also played football.
He enlisted at Matlock on 5 Mar 1913 on
the same day as Charles Bunting. He went to France
on 2 Feb 1915. Curiously, on one document his service was
calculated from 5 Mar 1915 whereas another clearly shows
that his total engagement in the Territorial Force
was for 3 years and 119 days (WO 363 - First World War
Service Records 'Burnt Documents').
In May 1915 he wrote a rather telling account of Army
life to George Buckley, who worked for Phillips, the
Crown Square hairdresser:
"Just a line to let you know I am in the pink,
hoping you are the same. I am writing this in a dug-out
in the trenches, and shells are bursting about 100
yards off, but we get quite used to it. I have had
a football from the secretary of the Matlock Club (Mr.
Wrigley), and we have had some fine sport with it.
I have also seen T. Gregory and he looks fine. I think
this part of the Globe suits me, only it is so hot.
We are in the trenches four miles from ___, where we
go to rest for four days. They call it rest, but we
have to go to the trenches on fatigue three nights
out of four. It is a small village, but in a lovely
part of the country ruined by shells. You cannot go
200 yards in Belgium but what you see places ruined
by shell fire. It is awful to see people tramping from
Ypres, old men and women that can hardly walk, carrying
what few belongings they can get away. The people in
England cannot realise what it is like out here. ...
At the time of writing Jack Vallance has got his coat
off and is making a dug-out, and he wishes to be remembered
to you and Mr. Phillips. We are quite happy and get
plenty of good food. I think you had better come out,
as we have to cut one another's hair and get it cropped
with shears. Hoping you and all old friends are in
the best of health" (High Peak News,
22 May 1915, kindly sent by R Bagshaw from the
family archive).
He was gassed and then caught pneumonia a short time
afterwards, writing home from his London hospital bed
to his fiancée Miss E A Towndrow (see the
1901 census)
of Bakewell Road:
"You will see from the address
that I have landed in England. I am in hospital with
pneumonia, and was brought out of the trenches and put
in a barn until night time, and then they took me to
Boulogne. I don't know how long I shall be here, but
I think about three weeks from now. I don't know how
I got it without it was through getting gassed slightly
and then catching cold after it. But poor me, I have
to be fed on brandy and milk, and it is worse than awful
to lie on my back all day. ..." (High Peak
News, 19 June 1915, also from R Bagshaw).
He subsequently wrote to his mother that "although
he was slightly gassed he had gone to skin and bone".
The newspaper report (undated) commented that "those
who know what a fine physique Lance-Corpl. Bagshaw had
will be able to realise from this the effect that the
Germans' diabolical methods even when they fall short
of what they are intended to accomplish". He was
part of the Expeditionary Force to France in November 1915
and rejoined his unit in December (WO
363).
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 14 July 1916:
"Official news has been received of the death at
the front of Corporal Harry Bagshaw, son Mr. S. Bagshaw,
of Matlock, who was killed in action on the Ist. He was
a well-known footballer, and member of a family which
has in all 40 soldiers in the field".
He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme
and was one of eight men with connections to Matlock who
were killed that day. He was part what was a largely unsuccessful
attack to contain enemy forces in the
area that was made by the 46th (North Midland) Division,
which included support by the 1st/6th.
"... owing to the very muddy state of our trenches
...all attempts to advance ... were met by heavy artillery
and machine gun Barrage. The attack ... therefore failed
with heavy losses to assaulting Battns, but the main object
was achieved of containing enemy forces". (from
the regiment's war diary TNA: WO 95/2694/1).
Cemetery: Foncquevillers Military Cemetery (18km south-west
of Arras)
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. L. 23.
Amongst his possessions after his death were letters, photos,
cards and a hymn book (WO 363).
His grave is in the same row as that of Dick
Hardstaff of Matlock Bath. Both casualties were buried
with others. |
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BAGSHAW, Jack (John Leslie)[1]
(brother of Harry and cousin of Frank, both above)
Born Matlock 28 Dec 1894
KiA 5 Sep1915
Private 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers. Formerly 18377
Notts & Derbys Regt.
Service No: 24078
ToW: Balkan (Gallipoli)
The second s/o Samuel and Ellen Bagshaw, of Kelvin Side,
Dimple, Matlock. Family living on Bank Road in
the 1901 census but later moved to the Dimple. They
were shown there when Jack began attending All Saints'
School on 1 Apr 1901. Jack's first job was with White's
of Chesterfield. He then became a Page at Rockside Hydro
(1911 census) and ended up as a lift attendant at the
hydro. He enlisted at Chesterfield in August 1914, aged
20, and was drafted to the Dardanelles.
The High Peak News of 15 Sep 1915 reported his death
and included his last letter home, partly extracted below:
"... I am in the pink and hope
all at home are the same. The Battalion are out of the
trenches for a rest. I don't know when we shall go in.
We had a good reception the first day. We started to
dig holes in the ground to sleep in and the shells started
flying around. ... I am also getting plenty of Bully
beef and biscuits, and we have had one slice of bread
so far for the two days ..." (also sent by R
Bagshaw).
Cemetery: Azmak Cemetery, Suvla, Turkey
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. A. 2. |
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BAGSHAW, Walter
(uncle of Frank, son of his brother Thomas Henry, and Harry
and Jack, sons of his brother Samuel - all named above)
Born M Bank 1881
KiA 19 Dec 1914, aged 33
Service No: 6444
Lance Corporal 2nd Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
ToW: F & F
s/o the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bagshaw; husband of Mary
Dagmar Bagshaw, of 109, Solihull Rd., Sparkhill, Birmingham.
Living Jackson Road in
the 1891 census. His parents were living
on Industrial Road in 1901. Mar Mary Dagmar Crossland
of Starkholmes at St Giles in 1910 and was living at Austin
Street, Aston in 1911 and worked for Dunlop Tyre Co as
a Rubber Moulder. Enlisted Derby, residence Birmingham.
At the time of his death five of his nephews were serving
in the Army.
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium
Memorial Reference: Panel 2 and 3.
Also commemorated on son John Edward's headstone at St.
Giles (Dagmar also named). John Edward died in 1918, aged
5. More
Info
Obituary, High Peak News, not dated (Former Matlock Tram
Conductor Killed).
"The war has brought sorrow to another Matlock family several
members of which are preparing for active service. Last
weekend news was received that Lance-Corpl. Water Bagshaw,
of the Royal Warwicks, had been killed in action of the
18th or the 19th of December.
When the war broke out, Lance-Corpl. Bagshaw was a Reservist
and employed at the Dunlop Rubber Works, Birmingham. He
had served for twelve years in the regular Army and his
term on the Reserve was to have been completed on the 6th
December. He was, of course, called up, and after being
stationed in the Isle of Wight, proceeded to the Front
on the 1st November, just previously to which he had been
promoted from private to Lance-Corpl. The deceased was
always keen on Army life, and succeeded in enlisting when
only 16 years of age. Before joining the Army he had been
a conductor on the Matlock Trams. Upon leaving the Colours,
Lance Corpl. Bagshaw married Miss Crossland, of Starkholmes.
She survived him, with two children. Deceased was 33 years
of age. ..."
There seems to have been some initial confusion about his
death. His widow had written to the War Office and the
Captain of the Warwickshire Regiment. Whilst the former
could not help, the latter wrote "I
beg to inform you that Lance Corporal Walter Bagshaw has
been missing since 18th December 1914 and may be a prisoner
of war in Germany" (Derbyshire Times, 30 Jan 1915).
Shortly before his death he'd written to his Matlock relatives
to say "I am quite well, only
it is rather cold with frost and snow. We are lucky to
get a wash and have a shave once a week whilst we are in
the firing line and trenches and it will be quite a treat
to et undressed again, as I have not been undressed properly
since I came up in August, so you can tell how I feel. ..."
His brother John Bagshaw also placed an announcement of
his death in the Manchester Evening Chronicle on 18th Jan
1915.
(All newspaper reports kindly sent by R Bagshaw). |
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BALLINGTON, George
Born Riber, Matlock 1883
DoW 3 Oct 1918
Private 8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 241555
s/o George and Sarah E. Ballington of Riber and living Riber
in the 1891 census | the
1901 census. Mar
Mary Wilson at St. Giles in 1907 and in 1911 they were living
at Wards End and George was a Limestone Quarryman, although
he also seems to have helped his father with the nursery work.
He and his brother both enlisted at Matlock in Oct 1914, but
by then George lived in New Street, Bakewell. He was wounded
in Nov 1917, a few weeks after his brother G. E. Ballington
was severely gassed. He was taken to hospital in Manchester
("Derbyshire Times", 22 December 1917).
When he was wounded in again in 1918 he was hit in the hip
but the gunshot had also penetrated his abdomen. He had seen
4 years' service and had been seriously wounded before but
it is not clear whether the 1917 hospitalisation was the only
time he had been wounded before. He left a widow and six young
children.
Buried: Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, Aisne
Grave Reference: III. C. 7. |
BARNES, Cirtees[1]
Born 1882 Belper and baptised there 1 Nov 1882
Died at 14th C.C.S. Lindi on 26 Apr 1918, aged 35
Private M.T. Army Service Corps
Service No: M/318833
s/o Henry and Sarah Barnes; husband of Sarah Ellen Barnes,
of 3, Cawdor Terrace, Bakewell Rd., Matlock. He was living
at 116 Walbrook Road Derby with his widowed mother and four
siblings in 1911, so did not arrive in Matlock until after
then. He mar Sarah E Muir at St Giles in 1912 and was a Grocery
Manager. The couple had 2 children. His brother in law, John
Jonas Bown Muir, was also a casualty of the war.
His home address was given as 3 Caudor [sic] Terrace, Bakewell
Road in the MAVL (1918).
He was initially in the Army Reserve but was posted in 1917 and passed his "Learner's" Test at Isleworth
in August of that year.
He went to East Africa in Oct 1917, disembarking at Dar Es Salaam on 19 Nov 1917.
Cause of death: cerebral malaria, having suffered from two previous bouts of malaria.
Medals: British War Medal And Victory Medal
Cemetery: Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania
Grave/Memorial Reference: 7. A. 8.
His name was included on a bronze memorial plaque unveiled by Lord Hartington in Matlock
Conservative Club in honour of their members and stewards ("Derbyshire Courier", 5 June 1920). |
BARNES, Henry[1] [5]
Born M Moor 1899 and christened at Tansley 29 Oct 1900
Firstly Private Leicestershire Regiment
Service No: 30163
Then Private 2nd Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
DoW 02 Jul 1918
Service No: 44581
ToW: F & F
s/o James and Sarah (nee Wagstaffe) Barnes. His parents were
staying on Matlock Moor with Sarah's widowed mother in the
1901 census but it unclear where Henry was. Perhaps the
Enumerator forgot to include him! Henry, his parents and four
younger siblings were all living on Matlock Moor in 1911, and
Henry was still at school.
Enlisted Matlock.
He was captured by the Germans (Prisoners of the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross, writtten
in German) and seems to have died in captivity.
Medals: British War Medal And Victory Medal
Cemetery: Sissonne British Cemetery, Aisne
Grave/Memorial Reference: P. 5. |
BATES, William[1] /
FLINT, George William Peach
Whilst William is listed on the memorial with the surname Bates,
records show him as both Bates and Flint
Born Ashbourne 1882 and christened there 26 Nov 1882 (as Flint)
DoW 25 August 1918
Private 1st Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 204185
ToW: F & F
s/o Lucy Bates (nee Flint) and step son of Charles Bates. Living on Mill
Road, Cromford in the 1891 Census and on the Dimple in
the 1901 census. In 1911 he was living (as Flint) at Underwood
Terrace in Darley and working as a farm labourer. He was married
by then, with three children and three more were to follow. He
had married (as Flint) Mary Ann Holmes of Smedley Street at Bakewell
Register Office in 1910. Enlisted Matlock.
His Army medical records show that he had been admitted to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station and died the same day
(WO: First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen).
When the news of his death reached Mrs. Flint she was living
on Rockside Steps with their children. He had "been
employed by Mr. J. W. Wildgoose as a coal carter, and had several
periods of exemption by the local Tribunal".
Cemetery: Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, Somme.
Grave Reference: VI. C. 25.
Medals: British War Medal And Victory Medal
Lucy Flint and Charles Bates mar at Wirksworth in 1887. In 1881
Lucy Flint was working at the Cock Inn, Clifton And Compton in
Ashbourne for George Peach and his son George. Lucy Bates died
in 1910 and William's stepfather moved to Mansfield to live with
a son from his first marriage. William's sister Winifred worked
at the Swan Hotel, Church Street, Mansfield.
|
BEARD, William Edward[1]
Born Buxton 16 Sep 1894. Living Ecclesall Bierlow, YKS
in 1901
Died 27 Mar 1919 at his home in Matlock, aged 24
Private Depot Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 13281
s/o Robert Henry and Elizabeth Beard (nee Lewis) but NoK
given as Mrs. Elizabeth Beard, of Greensville, Dundas,
Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Beard was born Matlock and the family
later lived both on Smedley Street and at Surbiton Terrace,
Cavendish Road. The Admissions Register for All Saints'
shows that he moved from Sheffield, initially living on
The Dimple, and began at the school on 19 Jan 1903 but
also records that he was delicate.
William
was badly injured in the Dardanelles campaign on 21 Aug
1915 when he suffered a compound fracture of the right
thigh and right hand. He lost both an arm and a leg, and
was discharged from the Army; his brother Robert had been
on the battlefield with him. In late 1918 he mar Mary Trickett
in Sheffield where he was employed but died not long afterwards.
His funeral at St. Giles was a large military one, attended
by 200 soldiers and sailors who were on leave, had been
discharged or had been demobilised.
High Peak News, no date, but 1915 (Tragedy
of the War. Private W. E. Beard)
"Private William Edward Beard, who is now invalided home
from the Army, lost a leg and an arm in the Dardanelles
campaign. His brother, Private R. H. Beard, fought by his
side, and he tended his wounded brother - a unique incident
in the great war. The brothers Beard were painters. Their
mother, Mrs. Beard, resides in Smedley Street West.
Our brave soldier wrote home the sad news in the cheeriest
of terms. In fact, on the ship he came back to England
by he was known as the pluckiest invalid on board. He will
be given a splendid welcome home".
(Newspaper report kindly sent by R Bagshaw) |
|
 |
Obituary, Derbyshire Courier, 5 April 1919 (Military
Funeral. Matlock Man who was wounded at the Dardanelles.)
"Close on 200 soldiers and sailors on leave,
discharged soldiers and demobilised men attended the
funeral at Matlock Church on Monday of ex-Private William
Edward Beard, of the 9th Sherwood Foresters, who died
at his home at Matlock from the result of wounds contracted
in the Dardanelles campaign. Deceased, who was only 24,
and was the son of Mrs. Beard of Cavendish-road, Matlock,
was so badly injured in an attack on a Turkish position
as to necessitate the amputation of an arm and a leg.
He was the first Matlock man to be discharged from the
army through wounds received in the war, and he was a
well-known figure about the place. ... The cortege
was headed by the Matlock Prize Band, which was specially
augmented for the occasion, and the body was borne by
a party of soldiers from Normanton Barracks, Derby, the
coffin being draped with the Union Jack.
..."
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard (just initials
on headstone) More MI Info
 Also see Matlock & Matlock
Bath Newspaper Cuttings, Jul 1914 - Nov 1918 (1917) |
BODEN, George William[4]
Born M Bank 1883
DoW 13 May 1917, aged 33
Private 8th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 30622
ToW: F & F
s/o of William and Ann Boden, of the Gate Hotel, Matlock Bank;
husband of Clara (née Chadwick) Boden, of Spring Cottage,
North Parade, M Bath.
He and his family were shown at the Gate Inn in
the 1891 census. His father died in 1896 (bu 4 Mar at St.
Giles') but his mother became the Innkeeper and in the
1901 census George William shown as the Barman at
The Gate. In 1908 Ann Boden transferred the licence of the
Gate to her son in law Frederick George Bannister, a former
valuer.
George William's mother and sister then moved to Eden Hurst
on Rutland St.
He and Clara were married at Matlock Bath Independent Chapel
(Glenorchy) in 1902. The family first lived in Portland Cottage
on Clifton Road and George became an omnibus driver, working
for William Furniss. They were still there in 1911, with the
four eldest children. It is worth mentioning that the census
shows she had already had an additional two babies, but these
had passed away before the census. They moved to the very small
Primrose Cottage up the Ginger Steps (beside Rose Cottage on
North Parade)[6] when
he changed employer.
The Matlock Tribunal which decided on applications for exemption
from recruitment, held its longest sitting in May 1916. There
were over 60 cases to be heard (C. Beresford has 30[7]).
It involved the married men, of which G. W. Boden was one. "A
Matlock motor garage proprietor asked for six months for one
of his drivers, and he was given four months (final) ("Belper
News", 19 May 1916). George William was by this time
working for Hands[7].
Enlisted Matlock in 1916. George and Clara had 6 children
by this time, although they had also lost three.
Buried: Etaples Military Cemetery, exactly a month after the
web mistress's grandfather John Clay has been interred there.
Grave Reference: XXV. B. 15
See War Graves photos (Etaples) elsewhere
on this site
Also commemorated St. Giles (with parents) More
MI Info
Obituary. Derbyshire Times, 19 May 1917 (Matlock Bath soldier
dies from wounds).
"News has just been received in Matlock Bath that Pte.
G. William Boden, Lincolnshire Regiment, a well-known local
resident, has died this week in a hospital as a result of wounds
received in action. Deceased, who was 33 years of age, leaves
a widow and six little children. He had been at the Front about
six months. At one time he drove the 'bus for the Royal Hotel,
and later filled a similar post at Mr. Furniss's livery stables".
Trade Directory entries showing the family at the Gate Inn:
Kelly's 1891 Directory (William
Boden) | Kelly's
1895 Directory (William Boden)
| Kelly's
1899 Directory (Ann Boden) | Kelly's
1908 Directory (Ann Boden) |
Kelly's 1912 Directory (Bannister)
| Kelly's 1916 Directory (Bannister)
|
BODEN, Samuel
(Sam)[1] [5]
Born Matlock 1895
KiA 9 Feb 1917, aged 21
Service No:70604
ToW: F & F
Private 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
s/o Samuel and Hannah Boden, of 1, Cavendish Rd., Matlock Bank.
Living No1 Oddfellows Terrace Cavendish St in
the 1901 census. His father, who was a stone mason, died
in 1903. In 1911 Sam was a coal merchant's errand boy.
He was rejected on two or three occasions
before he entered the Army under the Derby Scheme. He was one
of the Sherwood Foresters who was sent to Ireland in the Rebellion
after a short period at Watford, and eventually went to France.
On 14 Feb 1917 the War Office informed Mrs. Boden that Samuel
had been killed in action. ("Derbyshire Courier",
17 February 1917).
It had fallen to the lot of his younger brother, Private Oliver
Boden, to be the first to tell their mother of Samuel's fate
on 9 Feb. "My
dear brother passed away this morning". He wrote again two
days later. "My brother was buried
in a lovely cemetery just behind the lines today, and I was present
at his funeral. He is buried along with nine others, but has
a separate grave. His death was instantaneous - he had a smile
on his face. It is a great blow to us all" (Derbyshire Courier, 27 February
1917)
Cemetery: Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais (10 km north-west
of Lens)
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 33. |
BOOTH, John
William
[CWG has William]
Born Matlock 1894 (christened, as John Willie, at St. Giles'
20 Dec 1894,
mother's name only given)
KiA 8 May 1915
Private 1st Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
Service No: 18685
s/o George and Emily Booth, who were
living at Stoney Way with two children in the
1891 census. As George Booth was buried at St. Giles' on
18 Aug 1892 and John William was not born until a couple of
years later, he cannot have been the boy's father although
his name appears as such in some records. In 1901 Emily,
now Emily Smith, was living at Top Mill Tansley with 4 children,
including William. See Strays,
Surnames B
She later moved to Starkholmes. John William
was adopted at the age of seven by his aunt Matilda, wife of
John Brookes of Rockley Lodge, Worsborough Bridge, near Barnsley.
He worked with his uncle as an assistant gamekeeper on the
Stainsborough Estate. He enlisted, as William Booth, at Pontefract
on 2 Feb 1915.
He was posted to France on 1 May 1915, reported as wounded
and then missing on the 8th and was regarded as having died
in the Field after only 118 days in the Army and just 8 days
in France. The vicar of Barnsley had to write to the War Office
for clarification on his relatives' behalf as the only information
they had for quite some time was that he was missing (this
from Burnt Documents, WO 363).
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, one of four Memorials
to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known
as the Ypres Salient.
Memorial Reference: Panel 36 and 55.
|
BOWER, George Fenwick
Born Ashover 1897 and christened there 6 Oct 1897
Died 13 Oct 1916, aged 19
Private "D" Coy. 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 70653
s/o Joseph and Amy Bower, of Whitbank, Alton, Tupton, Chesterfield. The family lived for some years in Ashover before
moving to Matlock Green. In 1911 George was employed as a Draper's
Errand Boy but was later employed by Messrs. W. H. Moore and Sons,
confectioners, Matlock. Joined colours in August 1914. He was in England for
12 months before joining the 2nd Sherwood Foresters in France.
Some months later he was given leave as he contracted trench
fever, but returned to France with another Battalion of the
SFs.
His adopted brother was to die just over a fortnight after
he did. See Albert Holmes Bower below.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on
this site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A. |
BRADWELL, John Wilfred
Born Matlock 1897
DoW 3 Dec 1917, aged 20
Private 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Service No: 18908
ToW: F & F
A native of Matlock and s/o John Edward and Annie Verena (nee
Oliver) Bradwell, of 10, Forster Rd., Heeley, Sheffield. The
couple has married at St. Giles' on 27 December 1891 and John
was a greengrocer's assistant.
The family were living
Matlock Town 1901, though had moved to Matlock Green by
1911. John Wilfred was then still at school.
He died at the Casualty Clearing Station on 3 Dec from wounds
received in action. A notice was put in the Sheffield paper
from "His sorrowing father, mother, sisters and brother
(in France)". ("Sheffield Independent",
21 December 1917).
Cemetery: Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt
(13 km north of Peronne and 12 km south-east of Bapaume)
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. B. 4. |
BRIDDON, William
James[10]
Born 1877 Matlock
Died 7 Dec 1917
Driver 178th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
Service No: 42516
s/o William and Hannah Briddon. William Briddon senior was
a tape weaver. The family were living at M Cliff in
the 1881 census, but in 1891 William James was at Carlow,
Fairfield and
employed as a farm servant by Jonathan Taylor. He had returned
home by the time of the
1901 census, when he was working as a Gritstone Quarryer.
Later described as a Mason's Labourer.
Enlisted at Nottingham in 1915, giving his address as Carr
Lane, Tansley. At the end of that year was absent without leave
for a period of 15 days. He had returned to France about six
weeks before his death, after spending a period leave at home.
Buried: Hermies Hill British Cemetery
Gravel Reference: IV. C. 7. |
BROCKLEHURST, James Edgar
Born Darley Dale 1880 and christened at St. Helen's 27 Aug
1880.
KiA 24 Nov 1915
Private 1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 3105
s/o Thomas Howard and Caroline M E (known as Edith) Brocklehurst.
His father, who pre-deceased him, was a Surgeon who moved to
Bredbury, Stockport and then Dorset. James was living with
the Jenkins' in Matlock Town in
the 1901 census and was still with them in 1911. He had
also lived at Wheatsheaf Farm for a time, although this may
have been the Jenkins' home. He has served in the Volunteers
for two years and worked as a miller for the Bailey's before
the war. He had been a well known local footballer and cricketer.
Enlisted Matlock soon after the outbreak of war although Soldiers
Died record him as living at Lytchett Minster, Poole,
DOR which was his mother's home. From other records this seems
to have been an error. He was transferred to the 1/6th on 26
Jun 1915 when he was at Luton. The Captain who signed that reference
was F.
D. Stones. The regiment embarked for
France on 28 June 1915 where they disembarked the following day.
Cemetery: St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. E. 6.
The Vernon Lamb Collection has a number of photographs of him:
|
BUNTING, Charles (Charley)
Born Matlock 1896
DoW "received in action, at the No. 7 Casualty Clearing
Station, France" on 3 Jul 1917.
Private 1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
although his early service (before March 1916) had been with
the 3/6th (from British Army Service Records
1914-1920, WO 363 - First World War Service Records 'Burnt
Documents').
Service Nos: 1803, then 240273. Both these numbers appear on
his medals card, although CWGC just provides the second number.
He was one of the 13 children of Walter and Emma Bunting who
lived in Church Street and the family were in
Matlock Town in 1901.
Charles was a quarryman (1911 census) and his father a
limestone worker. By the time Charley enlisted in 1913 he had
changed jobs and had become a machine attendant for F. H. Drabble & Son
of Matlock. His residence was given as Jackson Road.
He enlisted, for four years, at the Drill Hall at Matlock on
26th February 1913 on the same day as Harry Bagshaw.
His age was recorded as 17yrs and 3 months and he was 5' 4" in
height.
His Army record show that his "embodied service" began
on 4 Aug 1914. He received gunshot wounds to the face in 1915
and returned to the U.K. but returned to France in March the
following year. On 14 Nov 1916 he was awarded the G. C. [Good
Conduct] Badge.
Both Matlock and Litton Mill were given as his abode in an
announcement of his death ("Derbyshire
Courier", 14 July 1917).
By 1919 almost all his family were living at Litton Mill apart
from his brother Arthur, who was in Tansley, and his sister
Amy [Statham] who lived on Church Street.
NoK was his father, Mr. Walter Bunting, of 8, Curzon Terrace,
Litton Mill, near Buxton.
Buried: Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery.
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 22.
He is also commemorated on brass
plaque within timber frame inside St. John the Baptist's Church,
Tideswell. The names are in random order. |
BUNTING, Owen
Born Matlock Green 1892. Christened at St. Giles' 13 Nov 1892
DoW 11 Aug 1915 at Gallipoli, aged 22
Private 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 13275
s/o James and Henrietta Bunting, of 3, Malthouse Terrace, Matlock
Green. Living M Green 1901.
Owen had been employed as a grocer's warehouseman. He also
played football for Matlock Thursday before the War ("Belper
News", 22 October 1915. Letter from Driver J Gregory).
Enlisted
Derby.
The 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters was formed at Derby 24 Aug
1914, moving first to Grantham and then, in April 1915, to
Frensham area. In July 1915 the regiment embarked at Liverpool
for Mudros and 20 - 31 July they were at Helles. On 7 Aug
1915 landed at Suvla Bay.
Cemetery: Lancashire Landing Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 26.
"Belper News", 10 September 1915:
Private Arthur Allen of Holt Lane wrote home to say that Owen
Bunting had been wounded in the chest. "He got separated
from me so I have not seen him. Two better pals than he and I
never were ... I
don't think it is serious".
Isaac Holmes also mentioned Owen in a letter: "I am sorry to say
that Owen got badly wounded while we were in action".
In his last letter home Owen described the conditions he and
his friends were facing: "There
is nothing to grumble about in the trenches, only the stink.
It is almost as safe as sitting at home. It is a lot safer in
the firing line than in the rest camp, because they keep throwing
shells all over the place". |
BUXTON, F.
Despite many searches, nobody of this name can be found who
is an obvious candidate for inclusion on the memorial. His
name does not appear on a list published in 1919 (see below),
although that of F. Buckley is on that list; this man was
Frank Buckley who had been born and brought up in Matlock
Dale. Is it possible that by 1921, when the memorial was
unveiled, the surnames of Buckley and Buxton had become confused?
See Names Not on Matlock's Memorial
"Belper News", 5 September 1919 - The Khaki
Boys. Welcomed Home at Matlock Green.
A 12 foot high cross was erected near the Horse Shoe Hotel,
above which a Union Jack was flown. A large evergreen wreath
was attached to it, with a typewritten list of the Matlock
men who had made the supreme sacrifice. The names included
F. Buckley, but no F. Buxton was listed.
"Derbyshire Courier", 6 September 1919 -
A Matlock Cenotaph. Discharged Soldiers Salute Dead Comrades.
Ex-Service men of the Matlock and Matlock Town Districts
were warmly welcomed by their fellow-townsfolk. A temporary
cenotaph was erected, with the names of all of the men who
had died were written on a Roll of honour attached to a cross.
Again, the names of those who had died included F. Buckley
but no F. Buxton was listed.
_____________________
Although there is no evidence to say so (2020), and it seems
very unlikely, the only war casualty in Derbyshire with the
surname Buxton who may be a possibility candidate for the
name on Matlock's memorial is:
BUXTON, Frank
b. 8 Nov 1898
St. John's, Derbyshire
Died 25 Oct 1918 in hospital at Charleroi, aged 19
Private 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment
Service No: 39829
Enlisted Derby
ToW: F & F
s/o George and Sarah Buxton, of 61, Colville St., Derby. His
father received a letter from a Belgian lady, stating that
his son had died whilst a prisoner of war and prisoner of war
records verify this. Before joining up in March 1917, he was
employed in the grocery department of the Derby Co-operative
Society.
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIX. B. 3.
Cemetery: Harlebeke New British Cemetery
Harlebeke New British Cemetery is located 32 kilometres east
of Ieper town centre. |
BUXTON, Thomas
Born Ashover 1891 and christened 29 Nov 1891.
Died 18 Nov 1918, India, aged 27
Private 2nd Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 34554
s/o Thomas and Elizabeth Buxton. Thomas was a gritstone quarryman,
some years older than his wife, and in 1901 they and their
five children were living at Grouse Cottage in Ashover. Mrs.
Buxton was widowed by 1911, when she, Thomas and his two younger
sisters were living at 1 Castle View, Matlock Moor and Thomas
was employed as a Horseman on Farm.
He
had married Mary Ellen Rouse at All Saints on 3 Oct 1914 and
their son, Herbert Thomas, was born on 3 Oct 1915.
He enlisted on 28 Jul 1915 at Matlock, giving his address as
Sycamore Road and his occupation as Labourer. He initially
joined the Sherwood Foresters on 30 Jul 1915 as No.28411, transferring
to the 1st Garrison Lincolnshire Regiment on 6 Oct the same
year as No.1946[?]B (or 3, difficult to read). A pencilled
note in his service record reads "Tropics, 26 Nov/1915".
He arrived in Calcutta on 25 Dec 1915, leaving the city on
the day he joined the North Staffs. - the 28 Oct 1916. The
2nd Bn. North Staffs were in India throughout the war.
He
was to die of influenza and pneumonia at the Nowshera Station
Hospital, where he had worked as an orderly, nursing the patients
and had suffered from the effects of the heat. A few other
ailments, such as the tropical illnesses malaria and typhoid
as well as two bouts of enteric fever (in Rawalpindi and Nainital),
were given in his medical records before he contracted the
flu and pneumonia (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
NoK given as both Mrs. Elizabeth Buxton, of Quarry Lane, Matlock
Moor and his wife Mary Ellen Buxton, of Sycamore Rd., Smedley
St. West, Matlock Bank.
Buried: Nowshera Mil. Cem. L. 34.
Memorial: Delhi Memorial (India Gate)
Memorial Reference: Face 23. |
CAMPBELL, Alexander Bruce
Born Birkenhead 1887
KiA 19 Sep 1918, aged 31
Private 52nd Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Service No: 84053
ToW: F & F
s/o Alexander William and Elizabeth Campbell, of Kendal,
Westmorland. Worked as a Grocer's Assistant at Burgons in
Crown Square pre-war* and lived at Brookside Matlock, lodging
with Mary Ann Tomlinson. He enlisted at Manchester on 21
Feb 1916. His address on enlistment was 88 Shrewsbury Street,
Old Trafford where he was by then employed by Burgons as
a Grocer's Manager.
NoK William Chisholm Campbell (elder brother) of 407 Atlantic
Avenue, Winnepeg, CAN as both his parents had died (this from
Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
His name was included on a
bronze memorial plaque unveiled by Lord Hartington in Matlock
Conservative Club in honour of their members and stewards ("Derbyshire
Courier", 5 June 1920).
Buried: Queant Communal Cemetery British Extension, Pas de
Calais
Grave Reference: B. 1.
*See 1912-14
photo of Burgon's staff. |
CHECKLEY, Herbert
Samuel[1]
Born Matlock 1897. Christened at St. Giles' 15 Sep 1897
KiA 9 Aug 1915, aged 18
Private 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 13276
ToW: Gallipoli
Only s/o William and Pattie Checkley though CWGC records his
widowed mother under NoK as
Mrs. J. Checkley, of Lime Grove Avenue, Matlock. Living Matlock
Town in 1901; in 1911 he was employed as a Coal Merchant's
Clerk.
Before joining up he worked at Smedley's Hydro.
Enlisted Derby on 25 Aug 1914, giving his occupation as an
Attendant. Several others from Matlock were wounded when he
was killed. (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364)
The 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters was formed at Derby 24 Aug
1914, moving first to Grantham and then, in April 1915, to
Frensham area. In July 1915 the regiment embarked at Liverpool
for Mudros and 20 - 31 July they were at Helles. On 7 Aug
1915 landed at Suvla Bay.
Mrs. Checkley did not hear about the fate of her son Bertie,
as he was called, until Sept 1915.
"Letters from the Dardanelles report
Private Herbert Checkley, of Matlock, as having been killed and
several others wounded, from Matlock. Official news has reached
his widowed mother confirming the news. Deceased was an only
son, and has been buried in the Gallipoli Peninsular. He was
18 years of age, and with the 9th Sherwoods" ("Derby
Daily Telegraph", 8 September 1915. Matlock Widow's
Only Son.).
He was said to be popular wherever he went, and held in equal
esteem by officers and men. He was appointed as a servant to
Captain Randall when undergoing his training. "The two
fell at about the same time, and were buried together in the
same grave. In writing home to his mother, Sergt. James Margerrison
enclosed a letter of condolence to Mrs. Checkley. It was taken
to her by Percy Margerrison, Sergt. Margerrison's brother, at
noon the same day the official notification of the young soldier's
death was received" ("Belper News",
17 September 1915).
The annual shareholders' meeting for Smedley's Hydro was held
on 16th Sept. The chairman referred to the number of their staff
who had joined the Army and singled out Bertie Checkley as recently
killed in action. "The total number of members of the
staff who were serving either in the Army or munitions shops
was 30" ("Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal",
25 September 1915). See: Smedley's Hydro during the First World War
Memorial: Helles Memorial, Turkey.
Memorial Reference: Panel 150 to 152.
Also commemorated St. Giles (others also on headstone) More
Info
|
CLARKE, Cecil[1]
Born New Tupton 1892
KiA 18 Nov 1916, in France, aged 25
Nationality: Canadian
Sergeant 46th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)
Service No: 427609
Second of four sons of John and Kate Clarke. John Clarke was
Matlock's Superintendent of Police. The family had lived at
the Police Station on Bank Road but when Cecil died his father's
address was given as "Caergwrle," Darley
Dale, Matlock. Cecil had worked for Midland Drapery in Derby
as a drapery salesman before going to Canada. He lived there
for three years before enlisting. Husband of Kate Elvin Clarke,
of Paradise Cottage, Haddenham, Ely, CAM. They had married
in the Hartley Witney District in late 1915. His father received "official
intimation" of his death in mid December 1916.
Memorial: Vimy Memorial. |
CLAY, Harry
Born Pear Tree Road, Derby 1 Feb 1898
DoW 30 Jul 1918, aged 20, in Rouen, France - General Hospital
Private 1st/5th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders - 1/5th (The Sutherland and Caithness)
Battalion
Service No: 266690
ToW: F & F
Eldest s/o Henry and Elizabeth Clay, of "Hall Dale," Snitterton
Rd. Matlock. The family were living at 26 Pear Tree Road
Derby in 1901, where Harry's father ran a cabinet making
and upholstery business. They had moved to Kilrea, Hurds
Hollow by 1904 and Harry attended All Saints' School from
3 Apr 1905 until 24 May 1912. He later worked for Burgons
in Crown Square*. Enlisted Ripon, where his photograph
(right) was taken by J. H. Bagley of North Street. His
home address was given as Hall Dale in the MAVL (1918).
Cemetery: St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
Grave/Memorial Reference: Q. IV. E. 9.
 All Saints' Schoolboys, 1904
 The Staff of Burgon's, Crown Square, 1912-14
With thanks to Harry's niece, Judith, for the photograph
of Harry.
Rouen. St. Severs Cemetery.
Albert Frederick Wall Holmes and Sydney
Lill are also buried here.
*See 1912-14
photo of Burgon's staff. |
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CLAY, John[4]
Born 1889 M Bank.
DoW Friday, 13th April 1917, aged 27 in Etaples Military Hospital.
Trooper (Private CWGC) 10th (Prince of Wales's Own Royal) Hussars.
Disembarked in France for the first time on 8 Nov 1914 (WO 329/2396).
Service No: 25376
ToW: F & F
s/o William and Jane Clay. Living
M Bank in 1901. Husband of Ethel Lily Clay, of 1, Masson
Rd., M Bath. 2 sons, 1 daughter. Enlisted Derby. Educated
first at All Saints' and then at the Cavendish School,
Matlock. Had been apprenticed to Hodgkinsons as a surveyor,
specializing in land values for farmers, but went to work
for the father of his childhood friend, Bill Furniss (no
relation). He intended to open a garage with William Henry
(Bill junior), but this obviously did not happen. Bill
junior was with him when he was mortally wounded by an
exploding shell at Monchy-le-Preux in the early morning
of 11th April. The telegram was delivered by Police Inspector
John Clarke, who had lost a son himself only a few months
before (see Matlock Casualties).
Inspector Clarke added his own personal condolences to
the bottom of the telegram, which he hand delivered to
John's widow. She was at her parents' home in Masson Terrace
and her children were all dressed in their best, either
for Sunday School or a treat. Inspector Clarke then returned
to Matlock to inform John's parents.
John had previously been admitted to hospital in 1915; he was sent to No. 12 General Hospital, Rouen,
with a back wounds and returned home for a short time (WO 363 Burnt Documents).
John Clay is grandfather of the web mistress.
Obituary, Derbyshire Courier, 21 April 1917 (Matlock Trooper killed)
"Trooper Jack Clay of the Hussars, son of Mr. William
Clay, licensee of the Old English Hotel, has been killed
in action. Trooper Clay and Trooper William Furness, another
local soldier, were riding together, when a shrapnel burst
near[by], killing both horses. One of the deceased's legs
was blown away, and a piece of missile entered his head,
with fatal effects. Trooper Furness was wounded. It is
a curious fact that on a previous occasion these comrades
were both wounded at the same time, the deceased being
sent to England. Trooper Clay enlisted in the early days
of the war and proving an excellent horseman he was transferred
to the Hussars. He was 27 years old and leaves a widow
and three children. When he left school he went to work
for Messrs Hodgkinson, auctioneers, but later successfully
took up motor engineering. At one time he drove the 'bus
for Mr. Wm. Furniss between Matlock and Cromford".
Medals: 1914 Star (WO 329/2396), British War Medal And Victory Medal (WO 329/9).
Buried: Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Died in the Military Hospital there.
Grave Reference: Plot XXII Row G Grave 12.
See War Graves photos (Etaples)
elsewhere on this site.
Also commemorated St. Giles (with mother) Read
MI transcript
 John
with Bill Furniss junior in a motor charabanc before the
war
 Matlock's
National Reservists & the Call-up Card
There are similar photos of the National Reservists in
the Vernon Lamb Archive:
|
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John Clay's hat badge which was sliced in two when he was mortally wounded.
The missing elements are
ICH DIEN and 10TH ROYAL HUSSARS |
|
 |
Official photograph, taken Easter 1928 |
 Letter
of condolence to wife from his friend, who was with him
when he was wounded (extract).
Official
telegram announcing his death
'War
Horse' at Monchy-le-Preux - 11 April 1917 discusses
the involvement of the 10th Hussars in this battle. |
CLAY, Lindsey (George Lindsey)[5] [8]
Born Middleton 14 Jul 1892 (1901 census and other records
say Matlock)
Died 29 Jan 1917 - Killed in an explosion which occurred
at the Second Army Workshops, an armament works.
Private 1/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment).
He was Acting Lance Corporal at time of death.
Service No: 240129
ToW: F & F
Third s/o Joseph Francis and Mary Jane Clay. He attended
All Saints' School from 1 Apr 1897 when the family
were living on Wellington Street. The family were living
on Matlock Green in
the 1901 census. He had been employed
as a Gas Fitter for Matlock District Gas Co., Smedley
St. West. Husband of Margaret Ann Eliza (née Knowles).
Mar Darley St. Helen's 1914. 1 daughter.
The Attestation papers of Lindsey's records in the
Burnt Documents (WO 363 C1083) says he first joined
the army aged 18 y 11 m. At a medical examination by
Dr. Edward Crarer of Matlock on 20 June 1911, Lindsey
was described as 5' 4" in height, of good physical
development and with normal vision. Pre war he attended
training sessions on 5 July 1911, 30 Jul 1911 and 13
Aug 1911 as well as the Bermaider Camps (4 Aug 1912-18
Aug 1912 and 27 July 13-10 Aug 1913). He enlisted at
Matlock and would have been amongst the first to leave
the town as his records show his WW1 service began
on 5 Aug 1914.
In early January 1917 the 6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters
were in the Soastre Sector, some 20 miles to the north
of Albert, but Lindsey had been seconded to the 2nd
Army Workshops on 10 Aug 1915 and had not rejoined
the regiment.
Conditions were extremely difficult in Northern France
at the time Lindsey died. J. C. Dunn recorded that
from 24th January "during the
next four weeks the gunners were reporting temperatures
of 15 degrees of frost, and the ground became ice-bound
to a depth of 16 in" (Dunn,
J. C. (1938) "The War the Infantry Knew 1914-1919").
Such icy conditions would have caused the oxyacetylene
cylinders to explode and the rod sorting shop and oxyacetylene
room where Lindsey was working were badly damaged/wrecked.
He was one of three to die and several others were injured.
Obituary: Derbyshire Times, 10 February 1917 (Killed
in munition explosion; Matlock soldier's tragic death)
"The tragic death of a Matlock
soldier as the result of an explosion in a French munition
works in which he was employed has caused a painful
sensation in the neighbourhood. The victim was Lance-Corporal
George Lindsey Clay, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Clay, of
Farley Hill, Matlock. The deceased soldier went to
France with the Sherwoods many months ago, and for
some time was in the trenches. Subsequently, however,
he was selected to enter a workshop in which both English
and French were employed. It is understood that there
was a serious explosion on the premises, and Corpl.
Clay was one of the seven who lost their lives. He
was 25 years of age, and his wife and one child reside
at Derby. Prior to joining up he was employed by the
Matlock Gas Works, and he was known to many householders
in the neighbourhood, whom he often visited to collect
money from the meters. Mr. and Mrs. Clay have two other
sons serving with the Colours in France, one of whom
was formerly employed on the staff of the Derbyshire
Times at Belper".
Then followed letters from the sister in charge
at the hospital, Capt. Newton and Major-General F.
M. Gibbs. |
|
 |
Buried: Hazebrouk Communal Cemetery.
Grave Reference: I. C. 17.
His widow, Margaret, remarried in 1920. She was to have three further children.
Tragically for the family, both her sons were to die on the same day in WW2 -
see Edward and Joseph Wood. |
COOK, Harold
Joseph[1]
Born Matlock 11 Aug 1899
KiA 29 May 1918, aged 18
Private 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Service No: 81244
ToW: F & F
s/o Joseph and Alice Cook, of 1, Gladstone Terrace, Jackson
Rd., Matlock. Enlisted Matlock. He had been employed
as a lift attendant at Smedley's.
On his death certificate it states that his date of death
was 27/29 May 1918 and cause was "regarded dead".
Buried: Hermonville Military Cemetery
Memorial Reference: II. E. 8.
A wreath in his memory was sent to the memorial's unveiling
service: "Private Harold J. Cook, from Maggie" ("Derbyshire
Courier", 13 August 1921). |
|
There is a larger picture
and more information
elsewhere on this site |
|
COOPER, Elijah
Born Hanley, STS 1889
Died 2 Nov 1914, aged 24
Private Grenadier Guards
Service No: 13571
s/o Police Serjt. John Cooper; husband of Ella Cooper, of 3,
Pleasant View, Starkholmes, Matlock. Elijah was a policeman
in Matlock, boarding at the Wheatsheaf in Matlock Town. He
married Ella Bradbury at St. Giles' in 1911. Two daughters,
the elder of whom died as an infant. The couple moved to Long
Eaton where their younger daughter was born. Enlisted Hanley.
Ella (as Ellie) was shown living at Wards End with the Wooding's
in the
1891 census and (as Ella) in
the 1901 census. Ella
remarried.
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, one of four Memorials
to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known
as the Ypres Salient.
Memorial Reference: Panel 9 and 11. |
COWLISHAW, Henry (Henry Wilmot)
Born Woolley (Brackenfield) 1896
Died 4 Oct 1917, aged 22
Private 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 23384
s/o Henry and
Hannah Elizabeth Cowlishaw. Henry Cowlishaw senior had been
married before but he was a widower in 1891, with two children
at home. On 10 Jul 1899 he married Hannah Elizabeth Willmot
(from Matlock) at Brackenfield Holy Trinity and went on to
have five sons: Henry Wilmot, Fred Wilmot, Ronald, Reginald,
Percy and Sidney before 1911. The two elder boys were born
before the marriage.
Henry was living with his family at Wolley, Brackenfield, aged
5, in 1901. Henry senior was a farm labourer and by 1911 Henry
junior and Fred were working for their father as farm servants.
Henry senior passed away in 1919 at the age of 80.
The family were residing Matlock when Henry junior enlisted
at Chesterfield.
The 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters was formed at Derby 24 Aug 1914,
were in action at Gallipoli before moving to Egypt. He went
to France in Jul 1916. In mid October 1917 Mrs. Cowlishaw,
then of Lime Tree Road, received news that her son had been
killed in action. According to a letter from his officer, he
was "gallantly
attempting to carry rations to his comrades when he was instantaneously
hit by a shell". He was single.
Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial, is NE of Ieper and one of four
Memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders
Memorial Reference: Panel 99 to 102 and 162 to 162A. |
CROFT, Frederick[1]
Born Matlock 1897
Died 3 Sep 1916
Private 17th Bn. Regiment/Service: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 29346
ToW: F & F
Eldest s/o Wilfred and Emily Croft. Living Matlock
in the 1901 census and
in 1911 the family were living at 2 Richmond Terrace; Frederick
was still at school then. Had been employed by Messrs. Wrigley
and Son, confectioners, of Matlock.
He enlisted at Chesterfield and had been in the Army for over
12 months when he was killed, with over six months of that
time in active service. Wilfred
Croft, a jeweller by trade, received official notification
of his son's death on Sunday 24 September ("Derbyshire
Courier", 30 September 1916).
Cemetery: Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart
Grave/Memorial Reference: F. 15.
There was also a commemorative stone at the Imperial Road Church,
but since it closed this is now in the Trinity Methodist United
Reformed on Bank Road. See the
MI there (scroll down). |
CROWDER, George Wisher[1]
Born Matlock 1895
KiA 1 Jul 1916, aged 21
Private 2nd Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 10390
ToW: F & F
He is recorded as George Wisher Crowder in GRO birth indexes
(1895), in CWGC records and also in "Soldiers
Died". It is somewhat confusing as in
1893 there was a birth for a George William Crowder and a christening
for him at St. Giles' the same year, but that G. W. Crowder
was not a war casualty as he is shown as living in Matlock
in the 1939 Register.
-[It is worth noting that George William Crowder was the s/o
George and Sarah Crowder and was living
in Matlock Town in 1901. The family later lived
at 5 Limetree Road. GWC was a plasterer].-
George Wisher Crowder was one of the nine children of John
and Ellen (nee Rains) Crowder who married at Winster on 11
Apr 1887 and a grandson of James and Ann (nee Wisher) Crowder.
John earned his living as a gardener and in 1891 he and Ellen
were living with three young children at Pidcocks Row, Upper
Hackney - next door to John's brother Harry. Something seems
to have gone wrong for the Crowders as by 1901 Ellen and several
of their children, including John William and James, were in
the Workhouse and Infirmary at Bakewell (see
Strays, Surnames C). George
and his sister Margaret were with their uncle and aunt, William
and Caroline (nee Crowder) Brailsford, at Rycroft in Two Dales.
By 1911 Ellen and two of the children were in Winster, James
and John William were working at Smedley's as Kitchen porters
and Margaret and George were in London. Their father was a
patient in Mickleover and unfortunately classed as insane.
George's abode in 1911 was 119 Copenhagen St, Islington which
was an Industrial Home for Boys run by the Waifs and Strays
Society and later renamed it the Islington Technical Home.
It is quite possible that he went there because of Matlock's
link to the Waifs and Strays Society and St. Andrew's Home
in Cliffe House (see the Vernon
Lamb Archive - VLA5230). With two older brothers already
at Smedleys it is possible that he joined the staff when he
left school although there is no evidence for that at present.
NoK was recorded as Mrs. Crowder, of 2, Prospect Terrace, Cavendish
Rd., Matlock so his mother had moved to Matlock at some stage.
He enlisted Derby.
He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, although was initially listed as
Missing ("Derbyshire Courier", 22 August
1916 and other newspapers). He had previously served in Gallipoli,
alongside Albert Gregory (see below)
and Herbert Holmes (also below) and all three
were at Sulva Bay. George was invalidated home from the Dardanelles
with frost-bitten feet and wrote "a
graphic description of the fighting on the peninsular"
that was published in the "Belper News", (this
is from the same paper but of 20 April 1917, when his brother
James was wounded - see fuller report on Newspaper
Cuttings, Jul 1914 - Nov 1918, dated 10 August 1917). James
survived the war.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme and was one of eight men with connections
to Matlock who were killed that day..
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 C.
Also commemorated St. Giles (Ellen / Harry / Jack also on headstone)
More Info
VLA5025, Rycroft, Two Dales where George was living in 1901
If you are related to this casualty and know more about the
family please get in touch. |
CROWTHER, George Evans
Born Matlock 1886
Died 8 Dec 1918, aged 31
Private 5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 49750
Secondary Regiment: Labour Corps
Secondary Unit: transf. to (239484) 411th Agricultural Coy.
s/o Joseph Ludlam Crowther, a yeast dealer, his wife Ann.
The family were living 7 Buxton Terrace, Chesterfield
Road in both the 1891 census and the
1901 census.
By 1911 George worked for the Urban District Council and the
family were at 3 Lime Tree Road. His father died in 1911 and
Mrs. Ann Crowther moved to 2, Cobden Terrace, Matlock.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard More MI Info |
DAKIN, Frederick William
(Fred)[1]
Born Matlock 1896 and christened at St. Giles' 7 Jul 1896
KiA 5 Oct 1918, aged 22
Private "A" Coy. 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts
and Derby Regiment). HIs regimental no. when in the 2/6th
was 3115.
Service No: 240908
ToW: F & F
s/o Walter Frederick (an accountant) and Clara Eliza Dakin,
of "Clovelly,"
Lime Grove Avenue, Matlock. Living
Oak Road in 1901 but the family later moved to Lime Grove
Avenue. He was a Mechanic's Apprentice in 1911. Enlisted Matlock
in Oct 1914, when he was an 18 year old engineer. He qualified
as a Lewis Gunner (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
His home address was given as Lime Grove Avenue in the MAVL
(1918).
Cemetery: Prospect Hill Cemetery, GOUY
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 5.
Also commemorated St. Giles (parents also on headstone) More
Info
"Derbyshire Courier", 12 April 1919
News was received from the British Red Cross about Fred, who
was reported wounded and missing on 5 Oct 1918, confirming he
had been killed in action on that date. He had joined the 2/6th
Sherwoods in 1914 and had served both in Ireland and France. "He
was invalidated from France and on recovery was transferred to
the 11th Sherwoods, with which battalion he served in Italy.
He was recommended for the Military Medal, but did not receive
it. Returning to France, Pte. Dakin was killed in action as stated".
Also commemorated locally:
"Derbyshire Courier", 3 April 1920. Soldiers - Liberals.
A brass plaque mounted on an oak support was unveiled in the billiard room of the National Liberal Club. The names of twelve men were engraved, including that of Fred.
It was unveiled by C. F. White, who said "those men died that we might live in safety". |
DERBYSHIRE, Lubin
John[1]
[J on CWGC site]
Born Matlock 1891
KiA 3 Sep 1916
Private 17th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 41278
ToW: F & F
s/o George and Sarah (nee Slater) Derbyshire who were married
at All Saints' in 1890. Lubin was the eldest of their 8 children,
They were living in Jackson St in 1891
census |
1901 census. By 1911
Lubin was working as a slater with his father and uncle Lubin.
Enlisted Matlock.
Cemetery: Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 22.
Also commemorated St. Giles (with parents) More
MI Info |
DICKINSON, Lewis
George (Lew)[1] [4]
Born Sheffield 1878
KiA at Ypres (mine) 30 Sep 1915, aged 36
Second Lieutenant "C" Coy. 6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters
(Notts and Derby Regiment)
ToW: F & F
Only s/o Frederick George and Ann Jemima Dickinson of The Dimple
(Beechwood). His father had been a Matlock Councillor.
Lew was unmarried, but his fiancée was Miss Bate who
had taught at All Saints'; the second reading of the banns
for his marriage had just taken place when he was killed.
He was employed as a railway clerk before the War, in the
mineral department of the Midland Railway at Derby. He had
a good tenor voice and had been a member of Holy Trinity Church
Choir - see MI
in that church - and was a prominent member of Matlock
Operatic Society. He was well known in local musical and Masonic
circles. Had been a member of the Matlock Territorials before
the War and at its outbreak was a colour sergeant. He was a member of Matlock Rifle Club before the War. He
was a crack shot and had a fine record at Bisley.
He received what was described as "an exceptionally
well-merited commission in his regiment", then serving
in France, in 1915 ("Derbyshire Courier",
20 March 1915).
He was killed when a German mine exploded under the trench
garrisoned by their platoon. In a letter dated 2 Oct to his
parents and fiancée Lieut-Col. G. D. Goodman wrote "It
occurred just before he would have been relieved, as we were
leaving the trenches that evening. By his death I lose an officer
who has always done his duty fearlessly and well. By his simple,
manly, character, he has endeared himself to all" ("Belper
News", 15 October 1915).
A Memorial service was held on Friday 8th Oct at Holy Trinity
with the Home Guard, the Boys Scouts, representatives of the
local lodge of Freemasons and of the various clubs he had belonged
to. The shopkeepers closed their premises at 7.15 that evening
("Derbyshire Courier", 12 October 1915).
His name was included on a
bronze memorial plaque unveiled by Lord Hartington in Matlock
Conservative Club in honour of their members and stewards ("Derbyshire
Courier", 5 June 1920).
Buried: Spoilbank Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Grave Reference: I. G. 18.
T S Bridge tried to visit his grave during the war. See: Matlock:
Thomas Stephen Bridge & his Family, 19th & 20th Century.
In the Vernon Lamb Archive
|
DUMAS, Charles Derrick[1]
Born 1896 Duffield and christened there 30 Nov 1896.
Died 6 Aug 1916, aged 19
Private 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 31246
s/o Edouard Derrick Dumas and Adeline Heath Dumas, of "Westholme,"
Farley Hill, Hackney, Matlock. Eduard was an architect. Living
Duffield 1901. Family on Imperial Road in 1908 (Kelly's
Dir), later moving to Woodside, Cavendish Road (1911 census
and Kelly's
1916 Dir). Charles was still at school in 1911.
Cemetery: Albert Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. M. 28. |
EAKIN, Wilfred John Chambers[1]
Born Matlock 26 Oct 1895
Enlisted 19 June 1915 at Matlock. Then of Jackson Road.
DoW 13 Nov 1916, aged 21
Private 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 27479
ToW: F & F
s/o Mrs. Shipsides, of Matlock. Living Matlock 1901. Attended All Saints' Infants School from
7 Apr 1902. Formerly a waiter at Smedley's Hydro.
He had been wounded in the back and leg on 14 Oct 1916; he rejoined the Bn on 6 Nov and died of wounds "in the field".
Awards: MM. Announced in London Gazette 16 Feb 1917 - supplement
to, with WO announcement pub 19 Feb 1917
Buried: Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave Reference: VIII. C. 33.
Derbyshire Times, 19 May 1917 (Posthumous Honour for Matlock soldier).
"News of a posthumous honour to a Matlock soldier has reached
the town this week. Mrs Shipsides, of Jackson Road, Matlock,
has received a letter from a highly placed officer at Derby which
says:-
"The General Officer-in-Chief of the Northern Command, York,
has notified that he will be at Derby on the 18th inst. to present
War and other medals. Amongst others is your name as the recipient
of the Military Medal awarded to your son, Private W. Eakin,
Notts, and Derby Regiment". The letter goes on to make arrangements
for Mrs. Shipsides to go to Derby to receive the medal. No details
are given as to the deed by which Private Eakin won the honour.
Pte. Eakin, who was 21 years of age in October last year, was
killed in action on the 13th of the following month, after being
in the Army two years, and at the Front seven months". |
ELSE, George[1]
Born Matlock 1887 and baptised 28 Apr 1887 (Matlock Circuit)
KiA 28 Aug 1918, aged 31, at Oppy, France
Private 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), Service No 20522. Transferred on 21 Mar 1916 (this from his medal card and medical records)
Then Service No: 269737, 7 Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment).
Enlisted Matlock.
Only s/o George Nuttall and Fanny Else of Smithy Lane (1891
census) and Wellfield House (1901
census and 1911 census). Worked as a Clerk / Assistant Overseer. His
home address was given as Wellfield House in the MAVL (1918).
"Derbyshire Times", 30 March 1918.
"News has reached Mr. G. N. Else, rate collector for Matlock, to the effect that his son, Private George Else,
Robin Hood Rifles, has been wounded in the head by shrapnel during the great battle. Owing to the fact that Pte. Else
has communicated the news of his injury himself, it is hoped that his injuries are not serious".
He was admitted to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 21 Mar 1918 (WO: First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen).
Also commemorated at St. Giles (father, stepmother, sister also on headstone) Read his MI.
His name was included on a bronze memorial plaque unveiled by Lord Hartington in Matlock Conservative
Club in honour of their members and stewards ("Derbyshire Courier", 5 June 1920).
Memorial: Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
Memorial Reference: Panel 7.
Medals: British War Medal And Victory Medal
Also see Matlock & Matlock Bath Newspaper Cuttings, Jul 1914 - Nov 1918 (October 1917) |
|
Courtesy of Nikki Hunt.
|
|
ELSE, John[1]
Born Matlock 3 May 1891 and christened at St. Giles' 31 May 1891
KiA 09 Jun 1916, aged 25
Lance Corporal 128th Field Coy. Royal Engineers
Service No: 65755
ToW: F & F
s/o William and Ellen Else; husband of Alice Annie Else, of
"The Knoll," Tansley, Matlock. Living
with his parents in New Street 1901 and still there in
1911 when he was employed as a Joiner's Apprentice Builder & Contractor. He
started school at All Saints' on 4 Apr 1898, having transferred
from Matlock Town Infants.
He was employed by Mr. J. W. Wildgoose, builder and contractor,
of Matlock. Enlisted Buxton on 1 Feb 1915, giving his address
as New Street and was then sent to Chatham on 11 Feb 1915.
He embarked for France on 27 Aug 1915, landing there the following
day. His war records state that he was 5' 10" in height.
John was appointed Lance Corp. on 25 Jan 1916 (this from Burnt
Documents, WO 363 and 364). Mar Alice Annie Marsh at Matlock
Bath Independent Chapel on 4 Aug 1915. See: Matlock
Bath: Else & Marsh Wedding, Glenorchy Chapel, 1915.
The family received a letter from a Sergeant in same company
who said that John was killed instantly by a bursting shell
and was buried the next day in a soldiers' cemetery on the
edge of a wood, with as many soldiers attending who could be
spared.
Cemetery: Bois-de-Noulette British Cemetery, Aix-Noulette,
Pas de Calais - at first called Bois-de-Noulette New Cemetery
to distinguish it from French cemeteries in or near the wood.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 2. Left Will |
FARNSWORTH, A.
[There is almost no information about
this casualty]
The Derby Daily Telegraph of 26 May 1916 reported: "WOUNDED.
Sherwood Foresters. Farnsworth, 16358 Sergt A. (Matlock)".
The Derbyshire Courier of 13 May 1916 records a Sergt.
A. B. Farnsworth of Bonsall, with the same photo, although
there is no number given. The injured man was Arthur Bertram
Farnsworth, who survived the war and became a headmaster
in Wirksworth. He was not the Matlock man commemorated on the memorial.
A. Farnsworth's name was included in a list of Matlock's war
dead published in two newspaper articles in 1919.
Whilst it is currently unknown who this casualty was, he is also
listed on the stone tablets inside St. Giles' church. |
FARNSWORTH, Philip John Saxton[1]
Born Matlock 1888
KiA 8 Oct 1916, aged 26
Nationality: United Kingdom
Serjeant 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 15747
ToW: F & F
s/o Arthur Farnsworth and Sarah Farnsworth, of Washington Terrace,
The Moor, Matlock. Worked as a Nurseryman at his father's
nurseries at Cuckoostone on Matlock Moor. Enlisted Derby.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on
this site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.
"Derbyshire Courier", 28 November 1916. Matlock Sergeant Missing.
"News has reached Arthur Farnsworth,
nursery proprietor, of Matlock Moor, that his son, Sergt. Philip
John Farnsworth, Sherwood Foresters, has been officially posted
as missing. Sergt. Farnsworth is 29 year of age and unmarried.
He was employed at his father's nurseries before enlisting. He
has lived in Matlock all his life and is well-known".
"Belper News", 17 August 1917.
"Mr Arthur Farnsworth, of Cuckoostone
Nurseries, Matlock Moor, has been informed by the Army Council
that his son. Sergt. P. Farnsworth, of the Sherwoods (Chatsworth
Rifles), missing since October 8th, 1916, is officially presumed
to be dead".
Whilst they were waiting for news of Philip the family were
dealt another blow. Cuckoostone Farm,
owned by Matlock UDC, was the family home until
April 1917 when fire broke out there. Although Matlock Fire Brigade
arrived quickly, they had to pump water half a mile
uphill to the isolated house. The building was completely
gutted and most
of the contents destroyed. The family were re-housed at Washington
Terrace.
 Buxton,
the Empire Hotel. He is mentioned as an early recruit. |
FEARN, T.
Known to be the same person as named
on the Starkholmes Memorial as
Thomas Fern.
FERN, Thomas
Born Slaley, Bonsall 1896 (Thomas George) and christened at
Bonsall St. James' on 29 Nov 1896.
DoW 10 Aug 1915 - in the Dardanelles (Soldiers Died says At
Sea), aged 18. He had received a bullet wound to the chest
and was transferred to the trawler for the hospital ship -
149th Field Ambulance the day before he died (TNA - MH 106/210).
Private 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 13251
s/o Charles Edward and Emma Fern. The family were in Bonsall
in 1901 but later moved to Riber. Enlisted Derby at the beginning
of the war.
Private Arthur Allen of Holt Lane mentioned the death of "a
youth named Tom Fern, who used to go with Mr. T. Bower's cart" in
a letter home ("Belper News", 10 September 1915).
The Derbyshire Courier of 7 September 1915 reported
his death:
"ONLY EIGHTEEN.
Matlock Lad Killed in the Dardanelles.
Mr. C. Fearn, of Wood Ends [sic], Starkholmes, has received
word that his son, Pte. Tom Fearn, of the 9th Sherwood Foresters,
has died of wounds received on 10 August during the severe
fighting in the Dardanelles. Private Fearn, who was only 18,
enlisted at the beginning of the war".
The 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters was formed at Derby 24 Aug 1914,
moving first to Grantham and then, in April 1915, to Frensham
area. In July 1915 the regiment embarked at Liverpool for Mudros
and 20 - 31 July they were at Helles. On 7 Aug 1915 landed
at Suvla Bay.
Memorial: Helles Memorial (Turkey)
Memorial Reference: Panel 150 to 152 (buried at sea)
 Also
commemorated at St. Giles (sister Dorothy also on headstone). |
FLETCHER, Josiah or Jesse[2]
Named Josiah at birth, later Jesse on Soldiers Died and
Medals Cards at TNA
Born Ashover 1892 (Holloway on Soldiers Died and in Burnt Documents)
DoW 5 Sep 1916, aged 24
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rifleman 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 26958
ToW: F & F
s/o Joseph and Selina Fletcher, of Matlock. Living Holloway
in 1901. As Jesse later worked as Corn Miller and Farm Labourer
at Whatstandwell. Had joined the army on 25th Aug 1914 as 13254
9th Battn the Sherwood Foresters, enlisting at Derby, giving
his occupation as a wash house hand and address as Riber, Matlock.
Discharged at Grantham on 8 Oct 1914 because it was considered
that varicose veins made it difficult to march. Re-enlisted
at Matlock in June 1915, stating that he was a Mill Hand and
resided at Draycott, and embarked for France at Southampton
6 Mar 1916. His mother Selina, his NoK, was living at Draycott
in 1916 (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
Cemetery: Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1
Grave Reference: III. E. 12. |
FLINT, Francis John
Born Wensley 1880 (1881 census says he was born at Stanton,
1901 census records birthplace as Stanton Lees)
Died 27 Aug 1918, aged 38
Private 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 23050
s/o George and Elizabeth Flint, who lived at Cross Green, Wensley
(South Darley) in 1881 with George working as a railway labourer.
In 1891 the expanding family were living with George Flint
senior, Francis's grandfather, who was a besom maker. By 1901
Francis had begun working as a Gritstone Hewer and later a
stone cutter in a Gritstone Quarry (Stancliffe). Mar Mary Goodall
at Matlock Bath Independent Chapel in 1903. 4 children. His
NoK was his widow Mary Flint, of 3, Moor Cottages, Matlock.
His home address was shown as 3, Moor Cottages in the MAVL
(1918).
"Derbyshire Times", 14 September 1918.
"Official information has been received by Mrs. Flint, New Street, Matlock, that her husband, Private Frank Flint, Sherwood
Foresters, has been killed in action. Private Flint, who was over 40 years of age, enlisted in the early years of the war and saw
service in Gallipoli, eventually being transferred to France. Pte. Phillips, of Wensley, a comrade of the deceased, has written to
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Flint of Cross Green, stating that Pte. Flint was shot through the head. He leaves a widow and three children."
Memorial: Vis-en-Artois Memorial
Memorial Reference: Panel 7.
Medals: British War Medal And Victory Medal. |
| FLINT, George William P - See
BATES, George |
FLINT, Oswald
Born Holloway 1884
Died 17 Oct 1918, aged 34
Air Mechanic 1st Class, 1st Aeroplane Supply Depot, Royal Air
Force
Service No: 114380
s/o Samuel and Emma Flint, of Matlock; living with his parents
on Chesterfield Road in both the
1891 census and the
1901 census. Mar Annie May Milner 1910. Living Richard
Burch Street, Bury in 1911 and working from home as a Tailor
(Maker). 2 children. NoK Annie May Flint, of 134, Rochdale
Rd., Bury, Lancs.
Cemetery: Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. F. 30. |
FOX, Charles[2]
Born 1889 Starkholmes, Matlock and christened at St. Giles' 10 Feb 1889
KiA 24 April 1917
Private 5th Bn. Border Regiment
Service No: 242112
ToW: F & F
s/o James A and Emily J Fox. Living Starkholmes
Road in 1891 | Ward's
End in 1901 and later Riber. Worked as a farm labourer
for James Fritchley on Lindway Lane, Wessington. His brother,
George James, who visited him there in 1911, survived the war.
Enlisted Derby Residence Matlock. It was not until mid June
1917 that he was posted as missing.
Memorial: Arras Memorial (see See War
Graves photos (Arras) elsewhere on this site)
Memorial Reference: Bay 6.
[There is a 1918 Will for Charles Fox, Private 243379 Lancashire
Fusiliers made 11 Oct 1916 naming sister Annie Atkins (she
mar Wilfred A 1911) but the details do not match Charles Fox
of Starkholmes and this soldier not found on CWGC web site] |
FOX, Frederick William (Fred)[2]
Born Matlock (Starkholmes) 1888
KiA: 5 Aug 1916, aged 28
Corporal 5th Bn. Dorsetshire Regiment
Service No: 14017 Formerly 20518, Hussars
ToW: F & F
s/o Mary Jane Fox, of Derwent House, Knowlestone Place, Matlock, and the late
Frederick Fox (a baker of oatcakes). Living Wards
End in 1891 | Starkholmes in 1901.
Worked as a Labourer.
One of his sisters, Ella, went on to found the Matlock Mercury. Two of their cousins, Charles Fox and Samuel Fox, were also casualties.
Buried: Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Pas de Calais (6 km S of Arras)
Grave Reference: I. F. 5. |
FOX, G[eorge?]
This casualty is unknown. It was initially thought that he could be:
George Fox Died 20 Jul 1918;
Private 5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry;
Service No: 62525; Cemetery: Jonchery-Sur-Vesle British Cemetery;
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 5. but he was born at Arnold
and enlisted at Hucknall.
His name was included in a list of Matlock's war dead published in 1919.
Please email if you can help identify him. |
FOX, Isaac Sowter [of Matlock Cliff] [10]
Born Ashover 1889
Died 10 Apr 1918, aged 28
Nationality: United Kingdom
Lance Corporal 4th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 39330
Awards: MM. Announced in London Gazette 25 Jun 1918 - supplement
to, with WO announcement pub 27 Jun 1918, when given as of
Alfreton.
s/o Sowter and Annie Fox, of Redhill Farm, Tansley, Matlock;
husband of Annie Fox, Cross Farm, Higham, Alfreton.
Cemetery: La Brique Military Cemetery No.2
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. R. 8. |
FOX, John Sebert
Born Ambergate 1885
Private 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards. Enlisted 24 Nov 1915 at Matlock.
KiA 28 Mar 1918, aged 32.
Service No: 29561.
ToW: F & F..
s/o Henry
and Hannah Fox (nee Jones, later Radford) of Brook
Side, Matlock Green who had married at Duffield on 11 Jun 1883;
both had been married before.
The family were living in Whittington, on Holland Road, in
1891 and Henry was working as a blacksmith. They had moved
to Matlock Green by the
1901 census and J S Fox was employed as bleacher of tape.
John, or Sebert, as he seem to have been called, later became
a Limestone Quarryman - this from the 1911 census when he was
living with his mother and young brother (presumably adopted).
His father had died in 1906, aged 59, and was buried at St. Giles' on 4 April. JS Fox married Ethel Wright at St. Giles'
in 1913 and their daughter Cora May Fox was born in 1914, though she died after a long illness in 1932. Ethel was living
at 2 Brookside Terrace when he was killed; she went on to marry John Hole. His mother died in 1925.
The regiment's Casualty Form - Active Service shows that he
embarked at Southampton on 30 Dec 1917, arriving at Honfleur
the following day. He was then posted to the 2nd Bn. and was
in the Field from 8 Jan 1918 until his death (this from family
members).
A brass memorial plaque or Death Penny is still owned by his
widow's family.
His death was recorded in a Roll of Honour in the "Derbyshire
Courier", 13 April 1918.
A wreath in his memory was sent to the memorial's unveiling service:
"John Sebert Fox from Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Parr's Bank" ("Derbyshire
Courier", 13 August 1921).
This entry has been corrected (April 2017) as have his records
on the CWGC site (April 2018) which showed him as John Gilbert
Fox. However, on "Soldiers
Died" he is still shown as John Silbert Fox.
Memorial: Arras Memorial, Bay 1 (see See War
Graves photos (Arras) elsewhere on this site) |
FOX, Samuel[2]
Born Matlock 1878
KiA 27 May 1918
Private 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 43099 Formerly 3583, Notts & Derbys Regt
ToW: F & F
s/o Luke and Mary Fox, who both died before him. Living Wards
End in the 1881
census | the
1891 census | the
1901 census.
Worked as a Mason's / Builder's Labourer. Enlisted Matlock. His
home address was given as Wards End in the MAVL (1918).
Memorial: Soissons Memorial, Aisne. The Soissons Memorial commemorates
almost 4,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom forces who
died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and
who have no known grave. |
GIBB, Eric[1]
Born 1889 Brooklands, CHS
KiA 1 Jul 1916, age 27
Private, "B" Coy. 15th Bn. Royal Scots
Service No: 17382
ToW: F & F
s/o Walter and Sarah Anne Gibb, of The Imperial Hotel, Barnstaple,
DEV. Enlisted Manchester, LAN. Lived Bude, Cornwall. His uncle
was Charles Gibb, a cabinet maker who lived on Smedley Street
(see
Kelly's Dir, 1908)
and Eric was living with him in 1911 and working as a Clerk
and Traveller.
He enlisted 24 Sep 1914, giving his occupation as Commercial
Traveller, and was posted as missing on 1 Jul 1916. Eric's
parents were given variously as at Ashbourne Hall, Derbys and
later of Smedley Street though in 1917 as of the Grenville
Hotel, Bude, Cornwall (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and
364). He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme
and was one of eight men with connections to Matlock who were
killed that day.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to the
Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on this
site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 D and 7 D. |
GOODWIN, Godfrey John Whitehouse[1]
Born 1 Aug 1898 Birmingham
Killed in France 12 Mar 1918 (whilst flying), aged 19.
Flight Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service.
Eldest s/o John Godfrey Goodwin and Mary Aston Goodwin, of "The Cottage," Wellington St., Matlock. The obituary notice
in "The Times" on 8 Apr 1918 gave his address as Rockside. Educated at King Edward VI School, Ackford, Retford
and Strutts at Belper. He had entered the navy immediately after his 18th birthday, trained for signalling, was then transferred to a base and
served for 10 months on a torpedo control boat. He saw action with U-boats several times. He was promoted to the R.N.A.S.
in Sep 1917 and Gazetted at Flight Sub-lieut., R.N. ("Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal", 16 March 1918). His father
received a telegram from the Admiralty.
Cemetery: Dunkirk Town Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 9.
Also commemorated (with his mother) on a memorial plaque the cover of the ancient font in St. Giles' Church. |
GREGORY, Albert
Born Matlock 1886 and christened at St. Giles' 12 Sep 1886
KiA 7 Aug 1915, aged 29
Private 6th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 10433
ToW: Gallipoli
s/o Robert and Emily Cicely Gregory, of Church St.,
Matlock. Family living at Church Street in
the 1891 census | Wards End in
the 1901 census. Enlisted Derby. George Crowder (see
above) and Herbert Holmes (also below) joined the
same regiment and all three were at Sulva Bay.
Memorial: Helles Memorial, Turkey
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 44 to 46.
In mid-Sept 1915 the War Office contacted his parents to say
that he had been missing since 9th Aug. He had written to them
on August Bank Holiday (then at the beginning of the month) and
said "I have just come out of the trenches,
after being in twelve days and nights. We have had a rough time.
We have not lost many men of our regiment. I think there will
be a big battle in a day or two, and then it will soon be over.
I should like to be at home to have a nice hot dinner. ("Belper
News" 17 September 1915).
"It will be remembered that Pte. Albert Gregory of Matlock Town fought bravely at Gallipoli, and was reported missing.
Official details have just arrived stating that he was killed in action. The deceased soldier was extremely popular in Matlock,
and employed as a shunter on the Midland Railway" ("High Peak News" 29 April 1917).
See Matlock Station Staff, 1911 - 1966, A - J) |
GREGORY, Ezra
Born Matlock (Darley) 1886 and christened at St. Helen's 7 Mar 1886
KiA 28 May 1917, aged 31
Private 1st/6th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 242509
ToW: F & F
s/o Ezra and Charlotte Agnes Gregory. NoK given as Mr. Ezra
Gregory, of Church St., Matlock Town. Living Matlock Bank in the
1901 census, having moved from Upper Hackney. The family
later moved to Lime Tree Road. Ezra worked as a General Labourer
before the war. Enlisted 19th Jul 1915 at Matlock, with his
abode given as Matlock Green and occupation as Draysman. He
was then R/4/126316 Army Service Corps but discharged 23 Jul
1915 as not likely to become an efficient soldier, although
his documents show this was not finally approved. His mother
at that time was still living at No. 1 Lime Tree Road (this
from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364). Ezra was recalled (or
re-enlisted) in 1916. Shortly after his death his parents
received a letter from the Rev. J. Wilson, Army chaplain in
France. The letter read:-
... " I buried him in a single grave in a large British cemetery here. " ... His parents
had no further information at that time about how he had met his death.
Ezra's brother, Ernest, was also a casualty although he is not commemorated at Pic Tor see Matlock's
WW1 Casualties Not Listed on the Pic Tor Memorial.
Cemetery: Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 12.
Also see Matlock & Matlock
Bath Newspaper Cuttings, Jul 1914 - Nov 1918 (1917) |
GREGORY, Fred
Born Starkholmes 1892
Died 24 Dec 1918 of influenza
Private 18th Bn. Welsh Regiment
Service No: 68962
Son of Joseph and Sarah Jane Gregory (nee Smith), living
Wards End in the
1901 census. Sarah Jane was Joseph's second wife and John
Joseph Gregory, below, was his half-brother. Worked as a printer
and was employed by Lea Mills. Because he survived the War
itself, his details are not listed in "Soldiers Died".
Cemetery: Lille Southern Cemetery, Nord, France
Memorial Reference:
I. D. 18.
Also commemorated St. Giles (parents and half-brother - below
- also on headstone) More MI Info
Tribute to both Pte John Joseph Gregory and Pte Fred Gregory
at unveiling of Memorial from cousin Violet.
His uncle was Isaac Smith |
GREGORY, John Joseph
Born Matlock (Starkholmes) 10 Sep 1881
Died 25 Apr 1918
Rifleman 1st/5th Bn Lancashire Regiment
Service No: 203724
ToW: F & F
Residence Matlock, son of Joseph and Mary Ellen Gregory (nee
Farnsworth); Mary Ellen died shortly after his birth in 1881. Fred
Gregory, above, was his half brother. Living Wards End
in the 1891 census but living
M Bath in the 1901 census,
later moving to Levenshulme Manchester where he lived with
the family of his uncle, Wilfred Farnsworth. Employed as a
Hotel Clerk. Enlisted Manchester.
He was captured by the Germans on 30 Nov 1917 and listed as
a wounded Prisoner of War (Prisoners of the First World War,
the International Committee of the Red Cross). He had been
captured at Villers Guzlain. On 4 Feb 1918 he was held at
1/5 Room 5 Munster I/W and had been added to a bread and tobacco
list for receiving parcels. A record stamped on 24 Apr 1918
shows his father as living on Church Street.
Cemetery: Conde-sur-l'Escaut Communal Cemetery, Nord (contains
the graves of 90 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World
War, all of whom died in German hands between June 1917 and
October 1918.)
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 26.
Also commemorated St. Giles (parents and half-brother - above
- also on headstone) More MI Info
Tribute to both Pte John Joseph Gregory and Pte Fred Gregory
at unveiling of Memorial from cousin Violet.
His step-uncle was Isaac Smith |
GREY, Harold Leslie (Harry)[8] *New*
[only recently accepted - 2015 - by CWGC]
Born 24 May 1982, West Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia
KiA 21 Mar 1918, aged 25
Private 7th Bn. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment
Service No: 27032
ToW: F & F
Although H. L. Grey is commemorated on both the Pic Tor Memorial
and at Darley Dale, until very recently there was no information
about him on either the CWGC site or on Soldiers
Died. There was
a
tribute on a wreath at the Pic Tor memorial unveiling to Pte
Harry Lakin [sic] Grey, but this seems to have been
all that was known for many years. Nevertheless, a Private
Harry L. Grey is on TNA Medal Roll as Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
Regiment, No. 27032. The first piece of direct war
evidence linking Private Grey to Matlock was the discovery
of a report [found July 2014] in the Derby
Daily Telegraph of 13 Sept
1917 that listed as wounded ... "27032 H. L. Grey
Matlock". H. L. Grey's story has gradually been pieced
together by the persistence of the web mistress, with encouragement
from the Regimental Archivist. I was advised that without a
death certificate it was unlikely anything much could be done
so I searched for and found the reference for his death and
bought a copy of his death certificate, which gave the cause
of death as "assumed
to have died". Having finally found the official paperwork
confirming his death I was able to piece together
the pre-war evidence I had collected and link it to what I
had subsequently discovered about this casualty.
Harry Leslie Grey was born West Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia
in 1892 but later lived England with his mother Hannah Elizabeth
Grey (nee Smith). In 1901 Harry, his mother and brother, Frank
Gordon Gray (b.24 Nov 1899), were living in Upper Hackney at
Spring Garden Cottage, where his grandmother ran a grocery
business. Both brothers attended All Saints' School from 3
Oct 1899 and the school records show his father's name as Charles
Grey. In 1911 Hannah
Elizabeth and Harry were both living on Smedley Street and
working at Smedley's. It is not known when he enlisted but
he was one of 8 Matlock men to die or be killed on 21st Mar
1918, the first day of the German 1918 Spring Offensive or
Kaiserschlacht - their big push.
The Archivist of the Sherwood Foresters provided further
background information:
- Harry L Grey was reported as missing in the Red Cross enquiry
list of 21st March 1918. As a death certificate was issued, it
indicates that his Regiment believed he had died on that date.
- Although he is shown on his death certificate as being in
the 2/7th Sherwood Foresters, this had been incorporated into
the 1/7th on 6 February 1918 because of a shortage of manpower,
so all the men who were alive were moved into the one unit.
The Sherwood Foresters information shows him as being in the
D Company, No.16 platoon (Robin Hoods).
- The war diary of the 1/7th shows they were in Noreuil sector,
right divisional sector, map ref. C.11.c.65.98 on 21 March
1918. Bombardment (gas) began at 4.56 a.m., changing to shelling
and high explosives and only 14 men escaped unwounded. The
members of the battalion were either killed or wounded, with
some taken as PoWs. The 1/7th was overrun on this date and
Harry L Grey was never heard of again.
After some initial correspondence with the CWGC I sent them
all the evidence I had collected in early November 2014 and
I was told he was accepted by the Commission a couple
of months later. His name has only recently [November
2015] been added to the CWGC site.
The home address of Harry and his brother Frank Gordon (who
survived the war) was given as Albert Terrace in the MAVL (1918).
Memorial: Arras Memorial
Panel Reference: Addenda Panel [This casualty has recently been
accepted for commemoration by the Commission, following an application
from the web mistress. However, it will not be possible to add
his name to this Memorial immediately. Please contact the Commission
before planning a visit, for more information.]
Note: There are several H. Greys who died in WW1 including,
confusingly, an Australian called Horace Leslie Grey, but
no links have been found with that casualty to Matlock. |
GROCOTT [GROWCOTT], Samuel[2]
Born Brackenfield 1891 [Soldiers Died has born Matlock]
DoW 9 Oct 1918, aged 27
Private 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 14898
ToW: F & F
s/o Catherine Growcott, of Starkholmes, Matlock, and the late
James Growcott. Living Starkholmes in the
1901 census. Worked as a Cotton Doubler.
Enlisted Derby.
His home address was given as Starkholmes in the MAVL (1918).
Buried: Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave Reference: I. A. 18. |
HALL, Gilbert Sudbury[1]
Born Matlock 1891 and christened at St. Giles' 3 Apr 1891
Died as a PoW 30 Nov 1916, aged 25
Nationality: United Kingdom
Second Lieutenant (Pilot) 18th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps
s/o Robert Arnold and Elizabeth Hall, living Knowlston
Place in the 1891 census and
boarding at the Grammar School House, Wirksworth in
1901 (see Strays).
After serving his apprenticeship with a mechanical
engineer he became a motor engineer and had won many
speed and hill climbing contests for motor cycles.
Charles Beresford said Gilbert Sudbury Hall was the
10th victim of the Red Baron. He apparently survived
the crash and a message was dropped across the line
by the Germans that he was in hospital. He was given
a full military funeral by the Germans.
Buried: Porte-de-Paris Cemetery, Cambrai, Nord (about
32 km S-E of Arras). A great part of the cemetery was
used by the enemy for the burial of German and Allied
dead during the War.
Grave Reference: II. A. 1.
Derbyshire Times, 27 January 1917 (Matlock Flying
Officer died of wounds).
"Great consternation was
caused in Matlock on Thursday when news of an official
character reached the town showing that Flight-Lieut.
Gilbert Hall, only son of Mr. Robt. Hall of "Greenaleigh",
Matlock, had died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war
in Germany. ... A communication received from the War
Office on Thursday morning states:- "The Military
Secretary presents his compliments to Mr. R. Hall,
and deeply regrets to inform him that information has
been received from an unofficial source that Second-Lieut.
G. S. Hall, Royal Flying Corps, died in Lazarette.
____ on November 30th, 1916, in consequence of a fracture
to the skull and was buried in the Cemetery Notre Dame
at ____".
Flight-Lieut. Hall was only 21 [sic] years of age,
was a well known motor cyclist, and had won numerous
trophies in open competition".
His name was included on a
bronze memorial plaque unveiled by Lord Hartington
in Matlock Conservative Club in honour of their members
and stewards ("Derbyshire Courier", 5 June 1920). |
|
Also commemorated at St. Giles (parents
and brother also on headstone)
Read MI transcript |
|
HALLAM, Wilfred
Born Matlock 1897 and baptised 27 Oct 1897 (Matlock Circuit)
KiA 26 Sep 1917, aged 20
Private (Drummer) 2nd/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and
Derby Regiment)
Service No: 241086
ToW: F & F
s/o Laban and Ann Elizabeth Hallam, of Church St., Matlock.
Living New Street in the
1901 census and on Lime Tree Road in 1911, when Wilfred
was still at school. He later worked as a Grocer at Burgons
in Crown Square*. Originally given the service no. 3450, Wilfred
enlisted at Matlock on 4 Nov 1914 and took part in the Irish
Rebellion but was sent to France on 26 Feb 1917. He had been
appointed as a drummer in the 2/6th Sherwood Foresters on
14 Aug 1915, though reverted to Private on 31 Aug 1917. His
records show that he was admitted to a field hospital suffering
from shell shock in 1917 but rejoined his regiment. When he
was reported missing on 26 Sep 1917 his company sergeant major
wrote to his parents: "...
we have hardly any trace of him at all.
Some of the lads think he was wounded ; others fear the worst
; but it really arrives at nothing definite. He was one of
our company runners, and his special employment made it necessary
for him to run over the battlefield alone, and that is how
he became missing. He went as a guide, and we have not seen
him since"..
On 27 Jul 1918 he was regarded as having died on or since that
date (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial, is NE of Ieper and one of four
Memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders
Memorial Reference: Panel 99 to 102 and 162 to 162A.
Wilfred was the cousin of Steve Hetherington's
grandmother; the family were told of his death in France - he
was killed by an explosion on or about hill 60.
Also commemorated St. Giles More
Info - One of those who lost their lives at Passchendale.
*See 1912-14
photo of Burgon's staff. |
HANDLEY, John William (Jack)[1] [5]
Born 24 Mar 1896 Darley
KiA 9 Jul 1917, aged 21
Lance Corporal 10th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby
Regiment)
Service No: 27029
ToW: F & F
s/o Mr. John Thomas and Mrs. Mary Jane Handley, of The Dimple,
Matlock. In 1901 the census the family were living at Needham
Terrace, Farley Hillside. He was a pupil at All Saints' Infants
from 7 Apr 1902 when his family were living on Smedley Street.
Their address was Hackney Lane in 1911 and John William has
become a Domestic Servant (General Help) at a hydro. Enlisted
Matlock, giving his address as Dimple Farm, Matlock and trade
as Tinsman, on 7 June 1915. Went with an Expeditionary Force
to France on 6 Mar 1916, embarking at Southampton, though sustained
a gunshot wound to his left leg in the June. He was wounded
again, this time in the left hand, during Oct the same year
(this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
Cemetery: Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Pas de Calais (approx
8 km east of Arras).
Grave Reference: V. A. 4.
Also see Matlock & Matlock
Bath Newspaper Cuttings, Jul 1914 - Nov 1918 (1917) |
HAWLEY, Frederick
George (Fred)[1]
Born 1882 Matlock
Died 12 Jun 1917
Private 1st Bn. Prince of Wales North Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 8086 Formerly 50906 R.F.C.
ToW: F & F
s/o George and Selina Hawley. Living Matlock Bank, Gladstone
Terrace in the 1891 census and
his family were still
there in 1901.
Fred worked as a Groom and by 1901 was living at the Normanhurst
Stables on Hackney Lane, where he'd become head groom by 1911.
The stables were owned by A. S. Marsden-Smedley. He married
Edith Bentley Davenport at Dethick in 1914. 1 Daughter.
He enlisted
at Matlock. His mother, by then the widow of Sergeant-Major
Hawley who had been a Derbyshire Yeoman for 15 years, received
official notification of his death. He had been the chauffeur
to Mr. Marsden Smedley of Lea Hurst before he joined the Forces
twelve months before his death. His wife and daughter were
in Manchester when he died, but their home was in Lea. Two
other brothers were serving in the Army in 1907 ("Derbyshire
Courier",
10 July 1917).
Cemetery: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium (2km SW of Ieper)
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. Q. 3. |
HAYES, Joseph
Henry (Henry/Harry)[9]
Born Ashover 1894 and christened 8 Jul 1894
Died 6 Jul 1916, aged 22
Private 1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 4534
s/o Frederick and Eliza Hayes, of Lime Tree Road, Matlock.
Given as H Hayes on wreath at memorial unveiling. Family living
Bentley Bridge in the
1901 census. By 1911 he had become a butcher and errand
boy.
Enlisted Matlock 2 Sep 1915, giving his occupation as Millhand.
Sustained Gun Shot Wounds in both legs on 5 Jul 1916, and died
the following day in the Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport
(this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364).
Cemetery: Le Treport Military Cemetery, Seine-Maritime. During
the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre.
Grave Reference: Plot 2. Row O. Grave 2B.
Also commemorated St. Giles (Ager / Eliza / Frederick also on
headstone) More Info |
HAYNES, E.
most probably HAYNES, Edward
although his link to Matlock has not been found.
Born 1893 Beeley, DBY
KiA 12 Oct 1917, aged 24
Private 10th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 14487
The sixth s/o William A. and Rebecca Haynes, of Beeley, Rowsley. His
father was employed by the Midland Railway at Rowsley.
Before the war he had lived at Edensor and employed as a cowman
by J. P. Cockerell.
He enlisted at Derby on Sep 1914. The announcement of his death
stated that he had been through several stiff engagements in
France, and had been invalidated home the previous Christmas
following a shrapnel wound. Two older brothers were serving -
one in France and the other in Salonica - whilst his younger
brother was training in England.
Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial, is NE of Ieper and one of four Memorials
to the missing in Belgian Flanders.
Memorial Reference: Panel 99 to 102 and 162 to 162A. |
HENSTOCK, Edmund[1]
(brother of Samuel below)
Born 1879 Holloway
Died 26 Apr 1917, aged 38
Lance Corporal 2nd/5th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 28512
s/o Samuel John and Selina Henstock and living M Bank in the
1881 census. By the 1891 census they'd
moved to No. 3 King's Row, Smedley Street. Also see the
1901 census entry.
Husband of Kate Henstock, of 4, Lime Tree Rd., The Green,
Matlock whom he married about 1907-8. Two children.
He worked as a Bath Attendant at Smedley's Hydro for 16 years
and in 1911 was living on Smedley Street West. Enlisted
Bakewell. At the time of his decease no letters had been received
from him for some weeks and parcels were returned. Eventually
his wife was informed of his death but his mother was seriously
ill and unable to be told.
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 12.
Cemetery: Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension. Jeancourt
is a small village situated approximately halfway between
Peronne and St Quentin.
His name was included on a
bronze memorial plaque unveiled by Lord Hartington in Matlock
Conservative Club in honour of their members and stewards ("Derbyshire
Courier", 5 June 1920). |
HENSTOCK, Samuel[1] [5]
(brother of Edmund above)
Born Matlock 1889
DoW 3 Jun 1915, aged 26
Corporal 1/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
ToW: F & F
Service No: 351
s/o Selina Henstock, of Matlock, Derbyshire, and the late Samuel
John Henstock, who had been on the staff at Smedley's. Living
M Bank in the 1891 census | the
1901 census. Samuel had been a ringer at St. Giles' and
had worked as a Cotton Dyer. Enlisted
Matlock.
Buried: Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 82.
Derbyshire Courier, 5 June 1915
"News has been received that Corporal
S. Henstock, of the 6th Sherwood Foresters, has been severely
wounded in the head. He is the son of Mr S. J. Henstock, of Smedley
Street, Matlock".
Obituary, Derbyshire Courier, 19 June 1915
"News has been received at Matlock, of the death from
wounds of Corpl. Henstock who died in France on 3 June, having
been wounded in the head some weeks ago. Henstock was a resident
of Matlock and was employed at Mr. Farnsworth's bleach-works.
... The following letter, dated 8 June, has been received by
his mother, Mrs. Henstock, from Colonel Goodman, the officer
commanding the 6th Sherwood Foresters : "I write to express
the sympathy of the battalion with you in the loss of your son,
Corpl. S. Henstock, who has died of wounds received in action.
It will be of some comfort to you to realise that he has given
his life for his country. You will in due time be informed of
the place of his burial"." |
|
 |
Obituary, High Peak News, 1915
(N.C.O. dies of wounds. Corpl. Henstock of Matlock)
A few weeks ago we announced that Corpl. Samuel Henstock (Matlock)
of the 6th Batt. of the Sherwood Foresters, had been seriously
wounded in the head. On Friday his parents, who reside at Smedley
Street West, Matlock, received notification that he died on 3rd
June of wounds received in action.
... His service in the Territorials and Volunteers extended
over eleven years. He was a member of the Church of England and
a ringer at the Matlock Parish Church.
A memorial was held at the Parish Church on Sunday, at which
a discourse was delivered by the Rector, Canon J. W. Kewley.
This service was held on Sunday
20th June 1915.
[It should be noted that Canon Kewley was the driving force behind
ensuring the names of those killed were recorded.] |
HETHERINGTON, F. A. [sic]
Now known to be
HETHERINGTON, Thomas Alexander
Born Chevington, NBL 1891
KiA 1 Nov 1918, aged 27
Second Lieutenant 8th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
s/o Thomas and Sarah Hetherington, of Widdrington, Morpeth,
Northumberland; husband of Maggie Hetherington, of 11, Richmond
Terrace, Matlock, Derbyshire. Had worked as the confidential
clerk of Mr. F. C. Lymn, the Matlock solicitor before enlisting.
He had risen to the rank of sergeant in the Sherwood Foresters
before gaining his commission. Mar Maggie Partridge 1916 at
Bakewell Register Office. 1 daughter. Maggie's two brothers
are also commemorated on the War Memorial.
Cemetery Preseau Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 13.
With thanks to Keith Taylor for correcting the initials, and
helping to confirm Thomas' identity. |
HOLLAND - William[1] *New*
The Derbyshire Courier of 28 September 1918 announced
that Lance-Corpl. W. Holland, Matlock, had died of gas poisoning [found
Oct 2015]. This was the first clue to the identity of the
W. Holland whose name is on the memorial.
Born 19 Aug 1886 Tansley and christened there 23 Oct 1886.
Died 16 Aug 1918 [Soldiers Died records that he DoW]
Sapper Royal Engineers 80th Field Coy.
Service No: 486863
ToW: Western European Theatre
s/o William & Charlotte Holland. Enlisted at Matlock and
then living at Darley Dale (from Soldiers
Died). In 1891 the Holland family were living on Thatchers
Lane, Tansley, and his parents were still there in 1911. William
was living with John Dalziel and his wife in Dethick, Lea and
Holloway in 1901 and working as a Farm Labourer. By 1911 he
had moved to West Didsbury, Manchester and was employed as
a Railway Porter.
Cemetery: Crouy British Cemetery, Crout-Sur-Somme
Grave Reference: IV. E. 17. |
HOLMES, Albert (HOLMES-BOWER)
Born Beeley 1895. No father's name was provided at his birth registration.
Listed as both Bower (Alias) and Holmes on CWGC site.
Died 31 Oct 1916, aged 21
Lance Corporal 10th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment).
Service No: 13815
ToW: F & F
(Also known as BOWER). Adopted s/o Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Amy
Bower, of Whitbank, Alton, Tupton, Chesterfield. Holmes was
his birth name and he was adopted shortly after birth.
Bower was the name of his adoptive family and they lived
for some years in Ashover before moving to Matlock
Green. Albert was working at the Bump Mill as a machine Tenter
in 1911 but later employed as a labourer at Chatsworth Hydro.
Enlisted Chesterfield 25 Aug 1914. He was in France in 1915
and his records show he embarked for France once more on 25
Feb 1916. Although it has been said that he had been through
the Irish Rebellion there is no documentary evidence to support this.
On 14 Mar 1916 he was admitted with "Talifes Vulgas" [Talipes
Valgus?] of his left foot to 51st Field Ambulance and transferred
the following day; his religion was then given as Wesleyan
(MH 106/75 - War Office: First World War Representative Medical
Records of Servicemen).
Appointed unpaid L/Cpl 12 Mar 1916; appointed paid L/Cpl 20
Aug 1916 (this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364. Service
No on Burnt Documents is 4/3815).
His NoK was Mrs Amy Bower of 9 Malthouse Terrace,
Matlock Green and she declared she was his Foster Mother (Army
Form W. 5080) in 1919. He had a sister, Florence Holmes, who was 19 and "of the full
blood" in 1919 when Mrs. Bower signed her declaration;
Florence was then living at Beeley (also from Burnt Documents).
She later married Charles Ollivant.
His adopted brother had been killed just over a fortnight earlier.
See George Bower above.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on
this site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A. |
HOLMES, Albert Frederick Wall
Born Matlock 11 June 1884
DoW 27 Oct 1917 at the First Australian General Hospital, Rouen.
Private 88135 16th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby
Regt.).
Service No: 88135
ToW: F & F
s/o John Frederick Wall (Fred) and Sarah Elizabeth (Dora)
Holmes. JFW Holmes has married Sarah Frisby at St. Giles in
1882 and the family were living Hurst Cottages in the
1891 census. He, along with two of his brothers, started
at All Saints' School on 27 Nov 1897, having transferred from
Church Town. The family were then living in Upper Hackney.
By the 1901 census they had moved to Matlock Bank. Albert was
a Page Boy then, working in a hydro, but by 1911 he had become a General Labourer. He was still living with his parents at
No.8 Cavendish Road.
Enlisted Matlock 16 Nov 1915, giving his occupation as Nurseryman
(he had worked for Messrs. Smith of Darley Dale for many years)
and abode as Temple Cottage, Bank Road. NoK Nora Cathleen Wall
Holmes (sister) who lived at the same address on Bank Road,
although his father dealt with his affairs after his death.
His parents were still on Cavendish Road when he died. He did
not embark for France until 12 Oct 1917, posted first to the
1st Bn. and then on the 19th to the 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters.
He was wounded in the field on 24th Oct and died 3 days later
(this from Burnt Documents, WO 363 and 364), having only been
in France for a fortnight.
Buried: St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime,
France
Memorial Reference: P. III. Q. 6B.
St. Severs Cemetery, Rouen.
Harry Clay and Sydney Lill are also buried here. |
HOLMES, Herbert[1]
Born Matlock 14 Nov 1894
KiA 9 Aug 1915, Gallipoli
Private - 6th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 10431
ToW: Balkan
The parentage of Herbert Holmes is unknown but he was listed
in the 1901 census as
Woodhouse, boarding with John Woodhouse and his wife Edith
(nee Cantello) who brought him up. He became a pupil at All
Saints' on 1 Apr 1901. He perhaps was not a good attender as
the school log of 20 Dec 1901 states that "Examined
Class I. H. Holmes is irregular and will work with Class II
after the holidays".
By 1911 he was working as a shop boy.
He and his sister Edith were still living with John and Edith
Woodhouse at Gas House Cottages on Bakewell Road, this time
as their nephew and niece. On this occasion they were recorded
with the Holmes surname. No satisfactory birth reference has
been found, nor have marriages linking the Holmes surname with
either Woodhouse or Cantello.
Enlisted Derby. Residence Morecambe. George Crowder (see
above) and Albert Gregory (also above)
joined the same regiment and all three were at Sulva Bay.
Helles Memorial, Turkey
Memorial Reference: Panel 44 to 46.
|
HOLMES, John[1] (John Anthony Buckley)
(Brother of William below)
Born Matlock 1891
KiA 3 Jul 1916, aged 25
Private 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards
Service No: 22375
ToW: F & F
s/o John and Ruth Holmes, of 1, Oak Rd., Matlock. Living on
Richmond Terrace in the
1901 census and the family were still there in 1911, at
No.12 when John worked as a General Labourer for an Ironmonger.
Enlisted Manchester as some three years before he joined up he had been
a member of the Manchester police.
Cemetery: La Brique Military Cemetery No.2, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen.
La Brique is a small hamlet named from an old brick works that
used to stand nearby before to the First World War.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. X. 19.
A letter from Rev. A Llewellwyn Jones, chaplain to the regiment,
and dated 5 July was received by his father:
"I am sorry to have to write such bad news to you of
your son ... but hope that a letter of personal sympathy will
not be amiss. Just two days ago, while in the trenches, your
son was struck down by shell fire and he died immediately. At
any rate he was spared pain. You will, I know, be glad to hear
that all honour was paid to him which was possible. We were able
to have a reverent and undisturbed funeral at a military cemetery
a short way behind the lines. The Commanding Officer and Adjutant
were both present, as well as a few N.C.O.'s and men, thus showing
the high regard in which he was held. At our service we had a
special prayer for you and yours. We out here recognise the very
heavy burden which is placed on those at home, and we honour
and admire the courage of those parents at home who bear their
sorrow so bravely" ("Belper
News", 21 July 1916). |
HOLMES, Reginald[1]
Born Matlock 19 Feb 1891
KiA 16 Sep 1916, aged 25
Private 17th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 35041
ToW: F & F
s/o Joseph and Evaline Holmes, of "Gillfield", Bakewell Rd., Matlock.
Living M Bank in the
1901 census. He had attended Matlock Town School but moved
to All Saints' on 12 Jan 1903. Worked in the bakery at Smedleys,
where he was living at the time of the 1911 census. Enlisted Bakewell
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on
this site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A. |
HOLMES, William (William Buckley)
(Brother of John above)
Born Matlock 1898
Died 21 Mar 1918, aged 19
Lance Corporal 2nd/7th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby
Regiment)
Service No: 61043
ToW: F & F
s/o John and Ruth Holmes, of 1, Oak Rd., Matlock. Living on
Richmond Terrace in the
1901 census and the family were still there in 1911, at
No.12. Worked for a confectioner. Enlisted Matlock. He was
one of 8 Matlock men to die or be killed on 21st Mar 1918,
the first day of the German 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht
- their big push.
Memorial: Arras Memorial (see See War
Graves photos (Arras) elsewhere on this site)
Memorial Reference: Bay 7. |
HOPKINSON, John
Born Matlock (Ashover) 1887
Died 17 May 1918, Germany, aged 32
Private 16th Bn. Royal Scots
Service No: 270084. Formerly 38838, Lincs Regt.
s/o George and Hannah Hopkinson.
Living Chesterfield Rd in the
1901 census. He was later employed as a Builder's Labourer.
Enlisted Derby. Resided Matlock. His home address was given as Chesterfield
Road in the MAVL (1918).
Buried: Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, Pas de Calais
Grave Reference: IX. D. 14. |
HOUSLEY, Edwin Leonard
Born Matlock 1886
Nationality: Australian - had emigrated with his parents to
Western Australia
Died 11 Mar 1917, aged 30
Private 28th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Service No: 5713A
s/o Herbert and Blanche Housley, of 178, Eight Avenue, Maylands,
Western Australia. Living Bank Road in the
1891 census and the
1901 census when he was working as Assistant at Grocers
Stores selling Port Wine. He had received a medal in May 1895
whist attending All Saints' School for perfect attendance
during the previous year, one of only eight pupils to do so
(this from the school's log). He later worked as a Blacksmith
in one of the quarries. He and his brother Herbert, who was
discharged from the Australian Army, emigrated to Australia,
and their mother followed them out there.
Memorial: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is
a village 16 kilometres east of Amiens on the straight main
road to St Quentin. is the Australian national memorial erected
to commemorate all Australian soldiers who fought in France
and Belgium during the First World War, to their dead, and especially
to those of the dead whose graves are not known. |
HYDE, James Charles[1]
Born 30 Apr 1895 at Finsbury Park, London
KiA 1 Jul 1916, aged 21.
Enlisted 9 Mar 1915.
ToW: F & F
Second Lieutenant 1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and
Derby Regiment).
The CWGC records that he was the eldest s/o Anne Hyde, of 36,
Kidbrook Park Rd., Blackheath, London, and the late Rev. James
Bartlett Hyde*.
The Hyde children were not with their parents in Sutton in
Ashfield in 1901, nor with the in Kirk Ireton in 1911. James
attended St. Edward's School, Oxford and the Selwyn College,
Cambridge.
He first joined the London Scottish, he served in the Expeditionary
Force and fought at Loos, where he was wounded in the trenches.
Having secured his commission in September the previous year, he
had been back on active service for only a short time before
he was killed as
he did not return to France until 16th June.
A notice of his death was published on 13 Jul 1916 (the same
day as that of RJR
Leacroft) in The Times and his parent's address
given as All Saint Vicarage.
He had died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, having
first been reported as missing,
and was one of eight men with connections
to Matlock who were killed that day. It took some time to confirm
his death rather than him being assumed dead.
Capt. John Kerr, his commanding officer, wrote that he "had
only joined four days, and in that short time had endeared
himself to officers and men, and died most gallantly at the
head of his platoon within a few yards of the enemy parapet"
(De Ruvigny''s Roll of Honour 1914-1918).
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme (see See War
Graves photos (Thiepval British Memorial) elsewhere on
this site).
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.
*Not sure when CWGC information drawn up as Rev Hyde did not
die until 1926! |
|
Notes and references:
[1] One of the casualties commemorated
at All Saints' Church.
[2] Also commemorated on the Starkholmes War Memorial.
[3] Also commemorated on the Cromford War Memorial.
[4] Also commemorated on the Matlock
Bath War Memorial. John Clay, for example, lived in Matlock Bath
but was born and brought up in Matlock. N.B. John Clay was the writer's
grandfather and George Lindsey Clay and Harry Clay were relatives.
[5] Also commemorated at Farley Hill Congregational Church.
[6] Recollections of the late Frank Clay.
[7] Beresford, Charles (2007 "The Bath at War, A Derbyshire Community and the Great War"
[8] Also commemorated on Darley
Dale War Memorial.
[9] Christian names from Stephen
Kimberley, who owns a funeral card for his ancestor's brother.
[10] Christian names of men who are also commemorated
at Tansley from Denys Gaskell. There is a brief account of each
casualty on his page about the Tansley
Village First World War Memorial (now on Tansley Church's site.
Some of the names above are also commemorated on other memorials. I should be pleased to include the Christian names of anyone in the
above text whose Christian name(s) only appears as initials. Please email and write Matlock War Memorial
in the subject line. Thank you.
There is a full report of the unveiling of Matlock War Memorial in: High Peak News 13 August 1921.
This can be read at County Hall Local Studies Library, now part
of the Derbyshire Record Office, or at Colindale (this depository
is being relocated at present).
How to contact County Hall Local Studies Library
Matlock St Giles - MIs in the church
where there is a Book of Memory to the men who died in WW2
|
With very grateful thanks to the late Mr. Charles Beresford for initial
help and additional material.
Background research from "The High Peak News" and
other local newspapers, GRO BMD indexes and FreeBMD, from returns
for the 1891 census, the
1901 census, the 1911 census, parish registers and family members.
Names also compared with information provided on "Soldiers
Died in the Great War" CD and other Army records. Some records
found in "The London Gazette" and "The Times".
I also researched "The Burnt Documents" (WO 363) at Kew
for Clay relatives when they were first published 9i.e. before they
were on-line), though the only person whose documents survived was
George Lindsey Clay.
If you know any more about the above men, we would very much like
to hear from you. Please email and in
the subject line write Matlock War Memorial. Thank you.
|
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Official
telegram announcing his death
