©The text and photographs appearing here are the property of the PHSG or their respective author / photographer / owner and must not be used without prior permission, however modern photographs and some others may be made available to relatives and other interested parties for non-commercial use.  Digital copies are likely to be free of charge, prints can be provided for a nominal fee to cover costs - contact Jonty Wild for further details.

Surnames:

These Men – The Survivors

In this chapter there are details for 194 Pirton men who served during the war.  Not all would have been resident in Pirton at the time, but all had a connection.  It is a large number, but even so it is probably incomplete. 

Many of the men volunteered, the rest were conscripted - increasingly the case as the war progressed.  Quite a few had previously emigrated to Canada, but still felt a strong sense of loyalty and returned to help their King and Country.  All did their duty and often their contribution was significant; three Military Medal winners are listed here and there are other stories of bravery, but how many more remain lost to us?

Reading through the men’s details, it is astonishing to realise how many were wounded, often several times.  The death toll of thirty men, as listed on our memorials, could so easily have been much higher.

Many of these men knew fear, exhaustion, comradeship, heartbreak and would have experienced terrible conditions in the trenches.  Many saw friends and comrades die.  As with men right across Great Britain and indeed the world, many of Pirton’s men were scarred by their experience and not all those scars were visible.

What stories they could have told of their experiences, but all too often little was said, even to family and friends.  British reserve?  Stiff upper lip?  Or perhaps just best forgotten? 

Research Notes by Jonty Wild

More complete details of the research for this book are given in the reference section and at www.pirton.org.uk.  For a more comprehensive understanding of the following pages and of potential errors, it would be wise to read those notes before continuing. 

Where available, the names and basic information of parents and siblings have been included.  They are intended to help ‘paint a picture’ of the man’s family life and to help people confirm relatives.  It is also hoped that this information will enable relatives and researchers of family histories to add information or perhaps correct errors.  It is quite possible that the list of siblings may not be complete as many children died young and, if children were born or baptised away from Pirton, or if they were not in their parents’ house at the time of a census, they may not appear in the records.

Last, it is perhaps wise to mention age.  Some men listed may appear to be too old to have served and, where it appears so it is probably the case, but not always.  During the early stages of the war, providing they had a reasonable level of fitness, men between nineteen and thirty-eight were accepted for service and this age was extended to forty-five if the volunteers had previously served.  Later in the war, after so many had died and when conscription had been brought in, the age for call up was eighteen to forty-one, then, by April 1918, it became eighteen to fifty-one, although very few of the older men were actually called up. 

Abbreviations Used in the Text

Abbiss, Frank

Frank was one of two men of that name who were born in Pirton and who fought in the war.  One died and is recorded on the Village War Memorial and one survived. 

This Frank was born on March 2^nd 1880 to George and Ellen (née Clark).  Baptism and census records list eight children: Ruth (bapt 1873), Frederick George (b 1875), Alice (bapt 1878), Frank (b 1880), Harry (b 1888), Margaret Lizzie (b 1892), Violet (b 1895) and Nellie Ivy (b 1899). 

By 1911, Frank’s father had died leaving his mother Ellen a widow, then fifty-six, living with her daughters, Violet and Nellie.  She was illiterate – the enumerator signed the census on her behalf and her opportunity to earn money limited.  Frank had left home, probably to earn a living and could have been helping his mother who was surviving on Parish relief.

It is not clear exactly when he enlisted.  Possibly in 1915, as the Parish Magazine of September 1915 records Frank Abbiss as enlisting during 1915, but before August, and serving in the 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment.  However, photographs seem to show that he served in the Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  He would have been thirty-four at the outbreak of war.

Thanks to Stanley Abbiss (his son, now deceased) and Gladys Tullett (née Abbiss, his granddaughter) it has been possible to add a lot more information for the Frank that survived.

In 1902, on March 31^st, when his profession was recorded as a labourer, aged twenty-two, he married Ruth Titmuss, aged twenty-eight in St. Mary’s Church.  They had four children, including George (Gladys’ father), Elsie, Eva and Stanley, and then six grandchildren.

Gladys remembers that Frank worked in the building trade and lived in Finsbury Park where he spent the rest of his life.  In 1929 they were living in Charteris Road before moving to Lorne Road.  He died on March 1^st 1951, aged seventy. 

Stanley remembered the following information.  Frank was born in Pirton around 1880 and his mother was Ellen.  She lived all her life in Cromwell Terrace and, in fact, died there.  Stanley remembers walking with his father at her funeral.  They followed the funeral bier, pictured in the Pirton book ‘A Foot on Three Daisies’ (page 105).  He confirmed the marriage to Ruth Titmuss, that by the time of the war they were living at 39 Charteris Road, Finsbury Park, London, and that he worked as a builder.  He was also able to add that he was involved in the construction of the old Arsenal football ground and later worked on the Golders Green Crematorium. 

Stanley was born just before the start of the war and kept the birthday cards sent by his father from the Front.  Copies can be seen in the Pirton ‘Archive*¹. 

Little is known about his war service; like a lot of the men, he didn't speak much about his experience.  However, Stanley remembers that, while he was waiting to join up for service in World War Two, his dad told him that he had been wounded in the arm and, during one of the retreats, “when he was carrying an anvil in a wheelbarrow, he couldn't keep up with the rest of his unit, so he tipped the lot into a ditch beside the road.”  “Perhaps an experience in the Great War was responsible for the fact that Frank would never go into the shelter during the Second World War?”

*¹ The Pirton Historic Photograph and Document Archive at www.pirton.org.uk. 

Abbiss, Harry

By 1918 he was Private 106070, 1^st Company, 1^st Battalion, Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiment.  Home was recorded as ‘near Burge End’, a name then given to a much larger area than the current road.  It was probably one of the cottages known as ‘Ten Steps’.  These were a row of four small cottages, built in the mid 18^th century and demolished in 1980 to make way for the new development near 13 Shillington Road.

Harry was born on April 17^th 1890 to George and Ann Abbiss.  The 1911 census records that they had seven children, but three had died and to us remain unnamed.  The surviving children were: Harry, two sisters, Elizabeth (b c1882) and Mary (known as Polly, b 1886) and an elder brother, Frank (b 1881), who sadly died in the war and appears on the War Memorial.  Harry appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  In the years before the war he worked on the local farms.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry.  He would have been twenty-five.

His grandson, Richard Abbiss, has helped provide some details of Harry’s life; he married Kate Ethel (possibly née Titmuss) and they had a son, Frank, probably named after Harry’s brother.  Kate died on August 12^th 1934, aged forty-one.  Four years later, on November 11^th 1938, Harry was killed in an accident on Henlow airfield.  He had been working in one of the buildings and was putting tools away with a workmate when a plane crashed into the building, killing him.  He was forty-eight.  The pilot survived and later visited Harry’s sister Polly to apologise. 

Interestingly, and only very recently, a letter has been discovered written by R W Ellis, First Lieutenant Adjutant, No 4 (T) Wing, RAF Henlow Camp, to Harry’s sister, Mrs Weeden.  In it he expresses his ‘deepest sympathy’ and offers the comfort that ‘we do know that his death was instantaneous, and that he suffered no pain.’

Abbiss, Thomas William

Richard Abbiss has helped provide details of Tom’s life.

Tom was born on November 10^th 1893 and was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Abbiss of Great Green, Pirton.  He had three older siblings: Annie (bapt 1884), Albert*¹ (b 1887), who was killed in the war and is listed on the Village War Memorial, an elder sister, Rose (b 1891) and a younger sister, Alice (b 1896).  He appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

By 1911, Tom, then seventeen, was working as a farm labourer.  Edna Lake from Canada, informs us that five Pirton men, including Tom, emigrated to Canada together in 1912.  The others were Albert William (Toby) Buckett, Edward Lake, Charlie Stapleton and one of the Walkers, possibly Arthur Robert Walker.  However, there is conflicting information for the emigration dates, including a North Herts Mail report, which suggests 1909 or 1910 for Toby.  Tom was following in his brothers’ footsteps, as Albert had gone to Canada some years before. 

He enlisted during June 1915, joining the 47^th Battalion, Canadian Regiment in New Westminster, British Columbia.  He was not married and would have been twenty-four.  Tom, Toby, Edward, and Arthur all joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, returning to Europe to fight; their allegiance to Great Britain was still very strong. 

Tom’s attestation papers give some details of his appearance; at 5’ 10” he was a tall man, had light brown hair and grey eyes.  He is also recorded as not having any previous military service, but perhaps confusingly, had been a member of the Canadian Militia.

The North Herts Mail of November 18^th 1915 reported that he had returned from Canada to fight and that he was home (in Pirton) from training camp.  In March 1916 his brother Albert was killed.  The October 12^th 1916 edition later recorded that he had been in France for about six weeks, had already been wounded, but not by the Germans: ‘We were in No Mans Land and a mate stuck me with a bayonet.’  The injury was to his right thigh.  He again returned to England and was in a VAD*² Hospital in Church Stretton, Shropshire.  He got some leave in November and managed to get back to Pirton.  This must have been a little comfort to his parents following the death of his brother. 

The North Herts Mail, December 14^th 1916 edition also recorded that after emigrating to Canada he worked for Philip Trussell, the son of the Pirton post office man who had also emigrated and was an engineer on a boat.  The same paper in a report on the Military Medal-winning Pirton man Arthur Robert Walker contained a part of a letter from him dated September 29^th, which mentioned Tom; ‘I heard about Tom Abbiss being wounded.  I saw him and was speaking to him the day before he went out on a raiding party (the same night that I was), and he was unfortunate enough to get wounded.’  So it was in September that Tom was wounded for the second time. 

*¹ A newspaper article refers to Alfred Abbiss, however this is believed to be a misprint.

*² Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADS) were formed in 1909 by the War Office.  Under this scheme, the British Red Cross Society was given the role of providing supplementary aid to the Territorial Forces Medical Service in the event of war.  By the summer of 1914 there were over 2,500 VADs in Britain.  Of the 74,000 VADs in 1914, two-thirds were women.

Ashton, Frank

Frank is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between March 2^nd and July 1916 and serving in the Army Veterinary Corps.  He also appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

Stan Ashton, Frank's son, confirms that Frank was the son of Arthur and Emma Ashton and that he had two siblings, one who died at a very young age and Harry.  The 1911 census records that he was born in Shillington around 1894, so he would have about twenty when war was declared.  Before the war he had worked in the family bakery business, which was in the Knoll at 1 Burge End, (now 17 Shillington Rd), but by 1911 was recorded as a farm labourer. 

His brother Harry also served and survived, as did their cousin Jack Ashton.  Frank joined up at the same time as John Kingsley (another survivor) and underwent training at Wardown Park in Luton.  By 1918 he was Lance Bombardier 196695, 1^st Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, with his home address as near Burge End, a name then given to a much larger area than the current road.  He returned to Pirton after the war and continued to work in the bakery, which he later took over from his father and ran until 1958 when he in turn retired.

He married Edith Bertha Kingsley and they had three sons, including Stan.  Both Frank and Edith are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Frank died in 1974 and Edith in 1984. 

Intriguingly, Stan is convinced that there was a photograph of his father, in uniform, in St. Mary’s Church.  It was in a frame, but behind a copy of some records relating to the bell ringing of quarter peals.  Unfortunately this has yet to be found, but hopefully it will be, in the future.

Ashton, Harry

Harry is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 4^th Hussars.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Frank Ashton for more family details.

Harry was one of the original ‘Old Contemptibles’, so called because the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was so small that Kaiser Wilhelm II called it ‘General French's contemptible little army’. 

In August 1914, the BEF was tiny in comparison to the German Army, just 70,000 men facing 160,000, but they fought incredibly bravely and with immense discipline.  They were continually forced back by what should have been overwhelming numbers, but fought so well that the Germans believed they were a larger force with substantial reserves.  Eventually, east of Ypres, they were able to dig in and hold the Germans, while the British, French and Belgians re-grouped, recruited and gathered strength.  By the end of November 1914, of the original BEF men, perhaps 120,000, casualties numbered around 90,000, and these were the most experienced soldiers in the British Army.

Harry is believed to have been in the army before the war, serving in Ireland and then, after the war, went on to serve in India.

Ashton, Jack

Stan Ashton, son of Frank Ashton, confirms that Jack was the cousin of brothers Frank and Harry Ashton and that, before and after the war, he lived in the Croft, Shillington Rd.  No birth or baptism records have been found for Jack, but his parents were Thomas and Phoebe Ashton (née Pearce).  Baptism records list four siblings, Alice (bapt 1863), George Thomas (bapt 1864), Lizzy (bapt 1866) and Hedley (bapt 1879).

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Training Reserve and then, in September 1918, notes that he had recently received a slight wound, so by then he must have been on active service.

Sometime after the war Jack took a smallholding near Baldock.

Baines, Bertram

Bertram appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school. 

Muriel Timbury, his niece, confirms that his parents were George and Emma Baines (née Cooper), who lived in one of Allen’s Cottages, the row of cottages opposite the pond, built by Sam Allen, but later, after being bought by Mr Palmer, known as Palmer’s Row.  He had a younger brother Leonard George (b 1908) and two sisters, Alice (b 1890) and Gladys Ethel (b c1903).  From this information records can be found that show that Bertram was born on October 28^th 1892. 

Before 1911 he worked as a farm labourer on the local farms, and is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting in 1916 after March 2^nd and serving in the Army Service Corps.  He would have been about twenty-three.  By 1918 he was recorded as Driver 196016, 38^th Divisional Artillery Column, with his home address as ‘near Burge End’, a name then given to a much larger area of Pirton rather than just the current road.

After the war he became a bus conductor and lived in London with his wife Dinah.  He died early in the nineteen sixties. 

Baines, Ernest Frank, (Ernie)

The photographs and much of the following information was provided by Roger Baines, Ernest’s son and Jean Keane (née Baines) his daughter. 

Ernest Frank Baines or ‘Ernie’ was a Pirton lad, born in Pirton on August 28^th 1895, the son of Frank and Pamela Baines (née Dawson), who lived in Ivy House, Crabtree Lane, opposite the entrance to St. Mary’s Church and now known as Ivy Cottage.  He appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Baptism and census records list five children: Arthur (b 1886), Edith Minnie (b 1888), Alice (b 1891), Ernest Frank (b 1895) and Gertrude Mary (b c1904). 

By 1911, Ernest, then aged fifteen, was already earning a living as a cart boy.  Four years later, the Parish Magazine of September 1915 records him as enlisting during 1915, before August and serving in the North Staffordshire Regiment.  His training was undertaken in St. Albans, which is where the photographs, appearing here, were taken.  At this time, he was in the 59^th Signals Company, “B” Detachment, Royal Engineers, and training on horseback.  The family believe that he was a despatch rider in France/Belgium and that he also served in Ireland at some point, possibly about the time of the Easter uprising in 1916.  Pamela died in February 1916 not long after Ernie joined up, when he would have been about nineteen years old. 

By 1918 he was recorded as Driver 492373 in the 59^th Division Signals Corps , Royal Engineers, with his home address as the cottage ‘near the Church’, now Ivy Cottage.

His service medals are held by his son, Roger, and are complete with box and the envelope in which they were sent.  The envelope is addressed to Ivy House, Pirton and the box inside has ‘B WAR and VICTORY’ stamped in red, the numbers 43608 and 492373 and DVR. E. BAINES R.E. typed in black.  Apparently Ernie was not impressed by what he and others went through and dismissed the medals as an insult.

After the war, during the nineteen twenties, he played for the Pirton football team ‘The Robins’.  It must have been a successful era for them, because Roger has several of his father’s silver medals dating from 1923-1925.  His wife was Lilian McNaughton Baines.

Sadly, Ernie was killed on December 11^th 1953, in an accident which happened while he was working for Wilmotts, building the telephone exchange in Hitchin.  He was fifty-eight.  Lilian died November 8^th 1982, aged eighty-six.  They are both buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.

Baines, Fred

One Frederick Baines died and is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  The School War Memorial records two more; Frederick and Frederick John Baines, so both attended the school and the memorial records that both survived the war. 

The Parish Magazine of September 1915 records one of them as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment, but which Fred this refers to is not known.

Frederick (not Frederick John) was the second son of Mr and Mrs A Baines - confirmed by parish records as Albert and Emma Elizabeth Baines (née Weeden) and he was born March 7^th 1890, so at the outbreak of war he was twenty-four years old.  Baptism and census records list ten children: Charlie (bapt 1885), Mary (b 1886), Ida (b 1888 and who died in infancy), Fred (b 1890), Sidney (b 1891), Rose (b 1895), Edward (b 1897), Lily (b 1900), Harry (b 1902) and Hilda (b 1906).  Sidney also served, but sadly died.  He is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  In 1911, Fred was recorded as a coach builder and wheelright.

The Hertfordshire Express of April 21^st, 1917 reports the wartime wedding on April 4^th, in St Nicholas Church, Stroud, between Fred and Miss Kathleen Chambers from Stroud (granddaughter of Pirton man Thomas Ashton).  The article records that one of their presents was from Private N Newberry, another Pirton survivor.  Fred must have had a fairly decent period of leave, because the article reports that he and his new bride left by car for a honeymoon in Southend.

Baines, Frederick John

One Frederick Baines died and is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  The School War Memorial records two more: Frederick and Frederick John Baines, so both attended the school and the memorial records that both survived the war. 

Frederick John Baines, was the son of Thomas and Mary Baines (née Hodson) married in Pirton, but they were living in Pegsdon when Frederick John was born on August 4^th 1893.  The census reveals that they had returned to Pirton by 1901 and lists no other siblings.  At the outbreak of war (his birthday) he was twenty-one years old.

Baines, James

James appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on June 1^st 1879, the son of Charles and Martha Elizabeth Baines (née Weeden).  He would have been thirty-five at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list eight children: Emma (bapt 1870), Thomas (bapt 1872), Elizabeth (bapt 1875), Ann (bapt 1877), James (b 1879), Peggy (b 1883), Frederick (b 1885, died aged two) and Mary (b 1889).

Baines, Sidney

One Sidney Baines is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  However, the Parish Magazine of July 1916 records two Sidney Baines, indicating that one survived.  The survivor is believed to have enlisted between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916 and served in the Bedfordshire Regiment.

The Sidney who died was the son of Albert and Emma Elizabeth, but sadly the parish and census records do not provide any information that could identify the Sidney who survived, so this could be an error in the Parish Magazine.

Baines, Walter James

Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on May 13^th, 1894 and was the son of Samuel and Louisa Mary Baines (née Weeden).  He would have been about twenty at the outbreak of war. 

Baptism and census records list eight children: William (b 1877), John (b c1879) Emma (b 1881), Eleanor Jane (Ellen? b 1883), Nelly (b c1884), Bertha (b 1886), Emily Ida (b 1888) and Walter James (bapt 1894).  It is possible that Walter’s brother was the William Baines who also served and survived.

The research of David Baines’ shows that Walter was a private in the Cheshire Regiment, having volunteered in June 1915, when he would have been twenty-one.  He was drafted to Egypt in 1915, served with General Allenby in Palestine and was involved in the Battle of Gaza and the capture of Jerusalem.  By the end of 1917 he had been sent to India and then to various garrison outposts.  He returned home and then in August 1918, he was discharged as medically unfit for further service.  Walter held the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals and his address at the end of the war was given as Lea Green, Kings Walden, Herts.

Baines, William

One William Baines is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  However, the Parish Magazine of October 1915 records another, who was serving in the Bedfordshire Regiment and ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Parish records reveal one possible man, the son of Samuel and Louisa Mary Baines (née Weeden), but if they were his parents then he is more likely to be recorded as having a direct connection to Pirton.  If he is our man, then he was baptised on May 20^th 1877, and so he would have been about thirty-seven at the outbreak of war.  In all it is possible that two brothers served and survived - refer to Walter James Baines for more family details.  However, as explained, the reference to an indirect connection leaves doubt as to whether the correct man has been identified.  Perhaps William was not this man, but part of an extended family living outside of Pirton.

Barker, George

George is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting in the 63^rd Rifles, Nova Scotia (Canadian Regiment) during 1915 and before August.  A newspaper article dated October 27^th 1917 reveals that he was the only son of Mrs Barker, who lived on Great Green, and that he had previously emigrated to Canada, sometime around 1902. 

Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on March 6^th 1878, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Barker (née Smith).  As George’s attestation papers give his next of kin as his mother, Elizabeth, he certainly appears to be the right man.  Baptism records list eight children: Joseph (bapt 1875), Elizabeth (bapt 1876), George (bapt 1878), Emma (b 1879), Clara (b 1883), Minnie (b 1888), Daisie (b 1893) and Alice (b 1896).  In 1911, his parents were living near the Blacksmiths Arms, which was in the High Street, opposite where the Blacksmith’s pond remains to this day.

His attestation papers provide other useful information; he was born July 7^th 1874 and he was not married.  The oath was taken on January 20^th 1916 and so he was forty-one (albeit that the form records forty years and seven months).  This age would normally have been too old to serve; however he was almost certainly accepted because of his previous service record, five years in the Royal Garrison Regiment and five years in the Bedfordshire Regiment.  He was a well built man, 5’ 9” tall with a chest just short of 40”, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.

By October 27^th 1917, having been in France for over twelve months, the Hertfordshire Express reported that he was in a London hospital suffering with ague (shell shock).

Bedale, John Leigh

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records John, who was serving as a Lieutenant on H.M.S. Bacchante and as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Michael Newbery suggests that John was related to the Rev. Frederick Bedale who was vicar of Pirton between 1896 and 1903.  The North Herts Mail of August 12^th 1915 states that the vicar’s brother had been shot through the thigh and was in hospital in Rouen.  It was his third wound, but that does not seem likely to be John.

H.M.S. Bacchante was an armoured cruiser captained by Eric Wheler.  In the early days of the war she was part of the 7^th Cruiser Squadron North Sea, Cruiser Force C and was involved in the Battle of Heligoland Bight on August 28^th 1914 and then, in October, was part of the escort for a convoy to Gibraltar.  From January to March 1915 she helped defend the Suez Canal and, from April 1915 to 1916, was in the Dardanelles as part of the Gallipoli campaign.  Most notably during this period, she was involved in the landing at Anzac Cove and, when the infantry came under fire from Turkish artillery at Gaba Tepe, she bravely approached close to the shore and fired directly on the gun emplacements, in an attempt to silence them, and in the process demolished the Turkish barracks.  In 1917 she became part of the 9^th Cruiser Squadron, West Africa.

The date that John joined the ship’s company is not known, but he presumably had been involved in some, if not all, of these actions.

Bell, William

William appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on January 31^st 1891 to Ellen Bell.  His father’s details are not provided.  However, records show that Ellen (née Males) married Philip Bell in 1877.  Philip’s occupation is recorded as a gentleman’s steward.  Perhaps this is a clue to his absence but, in any case he is not listed in subsequent census records.  Baptism records name them as parents to William’s elder brother, Charles (bapt 1878), and census records reveal another older brother Frederick (b c1876), who became the village blacksmith, and that they were the grandsons of Eliza Males.  The 1911 census still fails to record the father, but confirms that Ellen was still married and all three children are listed.  They are recorded as tenants of a property on Great Green.  Intriguingly, William’s occupation appears to have been listed as a solider (soldier?), but this has been crossed out.

William is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting in 1914 after July, and serving in the 75^th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, and so he would have been twenty-four years old. 

The North Herts Mail of February 15^th 1917 reported that he had been on leave from Salonika, but contradicts the earlier Parish Magazine by suggesting that he had been in the army for six years.

By 1918 he was recorded as Corporal 66474, 75^th Battery 263^rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery with his home address as ‘around Great Green’.

Bottoms, Sidney Alfred

Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on August 13^th 1899 to Arthur and Rose Bottoms.  He would have been about fourteen when war was declared; therefore, although not impossible, it is unlikely that he served until much later in the war.  Baptism and census records list five children.  However, the 1911 census gives the number as six, but one had died and remains unnamed at this time.  The surviving children were Gertrude (b 1881), Samuel (b c1884), Emma (b c1890), Elizabeth (bapt 1896) and Sidney Alfred (b 1899).

Brereton, Clement S

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Clement, who was serving as a Second Lieutenant in the Hawke Battalion, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Michael Newbery suggests that Clement was related to the Rev. Erskine William Langmore’s housekeeper, Miss Brereton.

Although the Hawke Battalion was part of a Royal Naval Division, at the start of the war there were too many naval reservists for the ships available, so they were formed into land fighting divisions.  It is likely that Clement fought in some of the battles on the Western Front.

Brooks, Frederick William

Frederick married Annie Priscilla Carter of Pirton on December 27^th 1915, the same day as Jack Lawrence (another soldier) married Violet Abbiss.  The North Herts Mail of January 6^th explained that Frederick was from Cole Green, Hertingfordbury.  His best man was his brother, William Brooks, who was already serving.  Annie’s brother, Walter Edward Carter, also served and survived and attended the wedding wearing his ‘hospital blue’ uniform, so he had already been wounded.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records Frederick as serving in the Buffs (Royal East Kent or Royal West Surrey Regiment).  In fact, he originally enlisted in the 3^rd Bedfords in Hitchin on February 26^th 1916.  His service record shows that he was thirty years old, working as a motor car builder and living in the Carter family home, Burge End House (now known as Burge End Farm House).  He was not mobilised until April 21^st 1917, by which time Annie was pregnant.  He went for training and on September 10^th 1917 his son, Charles Frederick William was born.  Charles was the name of Annie’s father; he had been the village policeman and then the school attendance officer.  He died in May 1914. 

At one point Frederick was Private G/22237, 3^rd Battalion, ‘The Buffs’ and then became Private M/324284, 1023^rd Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps , probably in a posting on November 14^th 1917.  He passed his Army driving test a month later and served ‘at home’ until January 6^th 1918, when he boarded a ship and headed to Mesopotamia, arriving on February 21^st.  He was there until April and then he moved on to India and served there until September 1919.  In June 1919, he caught Spanish Flu in the pandemic, which started in 1918, and was in the 34^th Gent Hospital in Deolali, between June 27^th and August 14^th 1919.  Even without knowing how close he came to action, he may well have been in his greatest danger during this period.  The 1918 flu pandemic spread right across the world; estimates of the number of deaths vary considerably, some as low as twenty to forty million and others between fifty and one hundred million - many more than were killed in the war.  After recovering, he headed home, arriving in England on September 27^th and was demobilised on November 16^th 1919. 

Buck, Arthur

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Arthur, who was serving in the 5^th East Surrey Regiment, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Unfortunately parish and census records provide no further information, however Patti Salter adds the following information:

Arthur’s probable connection to Pirton is the fact that his sister Mary from Weston, Herts married to Caleb Hanscombe of Pirton.  Arthur was born on December 17^th 1876 and was the son of George and Eliza Buck (née Lee).

Buckett, Albert William, (Toby)

The Hertfordshire Express of May 19^th 1917 reports that Albert was also known as ‘Toby’ and that he was with the Canadians.  He was the grandson of Mrs D Buckett (probably Dinah), who lived on Great Green.  No photograph has been found of Toby, but his attestation papers reveal that he was 5’ 7 3/4”, had brown eyes and dark brown hair.

Unfortunately there is the possibility of some confusion over Albert’s parents.  The 1891 census records indicate that he was the son of George and Dinah Buckett and that his siblings were Harry, Alice, Ellen and Frederick.  However, the 1901 census suggest that he was in fact their grandson.  The latter is confirmed by a newspaper cutting and other parish and census records, so it would indicate that Albert was the man baptised on August 4^th 1889 and the son of Mary, who was the daughter of George and Dinah Buckett.  The latter is also confirmed in the 1901 census, which records that he was living with Dinah and aged eleven.  He would have been about twenty-five at the outbreak of war. 

Edna Lake, from Canada, informs us that five Pirton men, including Toby, emigrated to Canada together in 1912.  The others were Tom Abbiss, Edward Lake, Charlie Stapleton and one of the Walkers, possibly Arthur Robert Walker.  However, there is conflicting information for the emigration dates, including from the North Herts Mail, which suggests 1909 or 1910 for Toby.  He then lived in New Westminster.  Toby, Tom, Edward, and Arthur all joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force returning to Europe to fight – their allegiance to Great Britain still being strong. 

In November 1916, he was given leave and returned to Pirton ‘His many friends found a hearty welcome for him and were pleased to see him looking so well.’  Then on May 19^th 1917, the Hertfordshire Express informs us that, before the war, Toby had worked for ‘Messers. Lucas, of the brewery, Hitchin’, confirms his emigration to Canada in about 1912, that he was married and that he had been wounded by a shell splinter to the face, and as result was back in England.  The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the 47^th Battery and wounded.

His attestation papers record him as born May 5^th 1889, a labourer and married.  He was in the 104^th Regiment of the Active Militia.  The oath was taken in New Westminster on February 28^th 1916, when he would have been twenty-six. 

Buckett, Arthur Frederick

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on November 10^th 1897 to Charles and Laura Emily Buckett of 109 Moray Road, Finsbury Park.  In the 1901 census, Arthur is listed in the household of his grandfather, William Titmuss.  So he was living there and attending Pirton School.  There was a similar arrangement recorded in the 1911 census, but he had now been joined by his brother Leonard Charles.  His mother Emily, more probably Laura Emily, was the daughter of William and was born in Pirton.  Their mother died on May 13^th 1910, when Arthur would have been just twelve years old. 

Arthur would have been seventeen at the outbreak of war, and it seems likely that his brother Leonard also served and survived the war. 

Buckett, Bertram

Bertram appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  The 1911 census adds some information: he was the grandson of Frederick and Eliza Buckett and he and two siblings Lizzie and George appear to be living with them.  All three were born in Finsbury Park, London, George (b c1894), Lizzie (b c1893) and Bertram (b c1900).  Bertram would have been about fourteen at the outbreak of war, so he is unlikely to have served until the very late stages.  It appears that his brother George also served and survived.

Buckett, ‘Dick’

The North Herts Mail of February 15^th 1917 reported that ‘Dick’ Buckett of Pirton was in France.  Parish and census records have so far failed to provide any further corroboration for this man, but he seems to have been a compassionate man.  He had found a photograph on the battle field and returned it to the man’s mother.  She wrote the following letter, which had been passed to the paper; 

‘52 Garmoyle Road
Sefton Park, Liverpool

‘Dear Private Buckett, I feel I would like to write a few lines to thank you for a photograph which was found on the battlefield by you on the 4^th July, and recognised as belonging to me.

It is a photograph of my dear son of the (Liverpool Scottish) who was killed in that terrible charge at Hooge, June 16, 1915, and was in the pocket of his friend J F Arrowsmith (Liverpool Pals) who was killed on the 1^st July.  The photo of the little girl, also found by you at the same time (which I have given into the hands of her parents), was his cousin.  I am very grateful to you, though it came as a great shock when the Sunday paper of the beginning of November was shown to me.

This is a very terrible war, and I am one who has known the greatest sorrow that anyone was ever called upon to bear, I have lost two dear sons, within three months of each other, two of the best on earth.  The eldest, twenty-three years of age, was in the City of London Yeomanry – killed at Gallipoli, on 23^rd Sept 1915.  The second whose photograph you found was twenty-one.  Both were clever men, with fine prospects and careers before them.  I have still another son (my only child left now) aged nineteen, who is exempt till January 31st and I am afraid he will have to go then.  It is too dreadful, and will not bear thinking of.  I intended writing you when I first received the photo, but have had such a breakdown in health through my awful sorrow and loss, that I have been unable to collect my thoughts.  If this letter reaches you kindly reply and send your full regimental address.  I would like to send you a parcel; also, I should like to know if you are a Liverpool man, or anything else about yourself you may care to tell me.  Again thanking you and wishing you a safe return home, I am yours faithfully, Mrs F Rimmer.’

A later report dated April 4^th 1917 shows him to also be a man of strong opinions and reports ‘Private Dick Buckett, Bedfords says that tribunals are too easy in letting off men, declaring that a bomb ought to drop on some of the tribunals to teach them the seriousness of war.’

Buckett, Frederick

Frederick appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on December 25^th 1884 and was the son of George and Dinah Buckett (née Mabbet).  He would have been thirty at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list eight children: Mary (bapt 1869), Henry (bapt 1872), Alice (bapt 1875), Anne (bapt 1877), Ellen (bapt 1878), Frederick (bapt 1884), Rose (b 1886) and Charles (b 1890).  Frederick would have been the uncle of Albert William Buckett, who also served and survived.

In 1911, Frederick was twenty-six and earning a living as a farm labourer, but still living with his mother near the Baptist Chapel on Great Green or Bury End.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving in a Mortar Battery.  It would have been late in 1914 as the Hertfordshire Express of October 17^th 1914 reports a Frederick Buckett as being involved in an ‘infamous fracas’ in Pirton on October 3^rd.  The paper headlines this event as ‘War Against Special Constables’ *¹.  Frederick was summoned for assaulting Bertram Walker (a special constable, who also served in the war), was found guilty and ordered to pay two pounds or go to prison for one month.  The case against him for using foul language during the same incident was dismissed.  Perhaps by joining up he avoided the prison sentence?

By 1918 he was recorded as Private 191555, 2^nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with his home address as ‘around Great Green’.

*¹ The full report is included in the reference section of this book.

Buckett, George

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  School records indicate that he was admitted in 1899 and that his father was Albert Buckett.  The 1911 census adds that he was the grandson of Frederick and Eliza Buckett, and that he and two siblings, Lizzie and Bertram, were to be living with them.  All three children: George (b c1894), Lizzie (b c1893) and Bertram (b c1900), were born in Finsbury Park, London.  It appears that his brother Bertram also served and survived.  Before the war George worked as a farm labourer. 

He married Eva Rose Bunyan on September 23^rd 1914 and they had a son, Francis George who was born in February 1915.  On June 7^th 1916, when George was twenty-two years old he went to Hitchin and enlisted in the Royal Engineers, Railway and Canal Troops.  His service record shows that he was living near The Fox and working as a platelayer for the GNR (Great Northern Railway) at the time.  He was mobilised in December 1916 and left for France as Sapper 218018, 119^th Rly. Co. (Railway Company), Royal Engineers on January 18^th 1917.  He would have been working to maintain the railway lines to keep the troops and supplies moving.  On March 25^th 1917 he was admitted to hospital, although the reason is unclear.  A copy of a death certificate held in George’s records confirms that his son died from a ‘convulsion’ on March 23^rd 1917, aged two - just two days before George was admitted to hospital.  One wonders if he had been told and whether this was connected in some way.  He rejoined his unit on April 1^st only to be admitted again on the 24^th for four days.  Later that year on October 2^nd he was back in hospital for the third time and remained in one hospital or another until November 28^th.  In 1918 between July 9^th and 17^th he was in hospital yet again.  All these dates are recorded in the ‘Date of Casualty’ column of his records, but it is not clear whether these admissions were through illness, injury or being wounded. 

He was awarded a good conduct badge in December 1918, dispatched to England late in October 1919 and was granted twenty-eight days furlough.  So he must have been demobilised after that date.

Buckett, Leonard Charles

Leonard appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born October 3^rd 1899 to Charles and Laura Emily Buckett, then of 57 Clinton Road, West Green, South Tottenham.  In the 1911 census, Leonard had joined his brother Arthur Frederick and was listed in the household of his grandfather, William Titmuss. So he was living there and attending Pirton School.  His mother Emily, more probably Laura Emily, was the daughter of William and was born in Pirton.  Their mother died on May 13^th 1910, when he would have been just nine years old. 

Leonard was very young at the start of the war, so it is likely that he only served in the later stages.  His brother Arthur also served and survived the war. 

Bunyan, Edward

Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school, but unfortunately parish and census records provide no further information, other than to confirm that the surname was present in Pirton at the time.

School entrants’ records show that a Teddy Bunyan, born in 1893 and the son of Susan Bunyan, was registered in 1893.  However other records would suggest that this would be Hedley Bunyan and, therefore, contradicts the name appearing on the School War Memorial.

Bunyan, George

The name of George Bunyan appears in the Hertfordshire Express of July 11^th 1914, which reports him as a member of the organising committee for the Pirton Transept Fête. 

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born August 12^th 1888 to Alfred and Ann Bunyan (née Pitts).  The number of children they had is confusing as the 1911 census records that there were seven, who all survived, but from various census records there appears to be eight, George and Albert (b 1888 - twins), Alice (b 1892), Eva Rose (b 1896), Clara (b 1898), Lilian (b 1900), Arthur Charles (b c1905) and Gladys Anne (b c1909).

Baptism records indicate another three, Gertrude Kate (b 1886), Rosetta Kate (b 1891, d 1891) and Frederick John (b 1894, d 1899), but Gertrude’s parents are recorded as Alfred and Amy, but as no corresponding records were found corroborating this, it was assumed that Amy should have read as Ann.  However, it is possible that there was another couple, Alfred and Amy, in Pirton at the same time and if so there is a possibility that some records have become confused.

School entrants’ records suggest that he was probably born in Palmer’s Row (the row of cottages opposite the pond, built by Sam Allen, but later, after being bought by Mr Palmer, known as Palmer’s Row).

The Parish Magazine of February 1917 records George as being ‘called up’ and in June 1917 as serving in the Royal Naval Air Service.  He would have been twenty-eight and was married.  He had married Alice Louisa Smith on November 14^th 1908 and they had at least one child, a fact revealed by their headstone in St. Mary’s churchyard, which records George as a father.  George and Alice are both buried in the churchyard, so it is likely that they lived in Pirton for the rest of their lives.  George died on April 6^th 1956, aged sixty-seven and Alice on July 4^th 1961, aged seventy-one.

Burton, Alfred Frank

Alfred appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1914 and serving in the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment. 

A search of the parish and census records is not conclusive; only one Alfred Frank Burton is found and he was born in 1900, which would appear to make him too young to have enlisted during 1914.  Although it was not unknown for boys of fourteen to enlist, it would be very unusual and illegal. 

Alfred married Emily and both are recorded in St. Mary’s Church Garden of Rest.  Arthur died in 1966 and Emily in 1985.

Burton, Bert

Bert is recorded in the Parish Magazine of November 1918 as serving in the US Army.  Parish and census records suggest three possible men:

The first, Herbert David was born on August 13^th 1881 to Goliath and Mary Ann Burton (née Halfpenny), and so he would have been thirty-two at the outbreak of war. 

Baptism records reveal nine children: Frederick (bapt 1864), Martha Elizabeth (bapt 1867), Joseph (bapt 1869), Rose (bapt 1872), Ellen (bapt 1874), John (bapt 1875), Charles (bapt 1879), Herbert David (b 1881) and Lilian Mary (bapt 1884).  Mary died in 1902 and subsequently Goliath married again, this time to a Charlotte Weeden. 

This Herbert married Isabella Jane Titmuss in 1907.  In 1911 he was twenty-nine, recorded as a farmer, his wife’s name confirmed as Jane and they now had two children: Jack (b c1908) and Frederick (b c1900). 

The second Herbert William was born on June 22^nd 1891 to William and Jane Burton (née Walker) and so he would have been twenty-three at the outbreak of war. 

Baptism and census records for this man also reveal nine children: Peggy (bapt 1878), John (b 1880), James (b 1883), Charles (b 1886), Anne (b 1888), Herbert William (b 1891), Nellie (b c1894), Albert Edward (b 1897) and Emily May (b 1900).  A John Burton also served, possibly this man’s brother.

The third possible man is Bertram Charles Burton, son of Alfred and Selina Burton and baptised in April 5^th 1885.  He died on January 5^th 1972, aged eighty-seven and was married to Mabel Burton who died on December 27^th 1966, aged eighty-seven.  If this is the same man, then perhaps he left America after the war and returned to settle in Pirton? 

Unfortunately, at this time, it is not known which, if any of these men, is the man that served.

Burton, Frank

The Parish Magazine of September 1918 records Frank as being ‘called to service’.  Parish and census records suggest the following possible men:

The first was baptised on March 2^nd 1873, and was the son of George and Emma Burton.  He would have been about forty at the outbreak of war.  This Frank married Esther Kate and they are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Frank died in 1950 aged seventy-seven and Esther in 1958 aged sixty-nine. 

The second was baptised May 16^th 1875 and was the son of Amos and Sarah Burton and so he would have been about thirty-eight at the outbreak of war.  By 1911, he had left his parents’ home and does not appear elsewhere in the Pirton census.  The census also confirms that Amos and Sarah had eleven children, of whom seven had died, so this Frank had three living siblings.

Unfortunately, at this time, it is not known which, if either, is the Frank Burton who served, but unless the older man had previous military experience and if the enlistment rules were applied, then it is only the younger man who could have served.

Burton, John

John appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records John as serving in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).  Parish and census records suggest the following possible men:

The first was baptised December 25^th 1875, and was the son of Goliath and Mary Ann Burton (née Halfpenny).  He would have been about thirty-eight at the outbreak of war, perhaps a little old to be in the RFC.  Baptism records reveal nine children: Frederick (bapt 1864), Martha Elizabeth (bapt 1867), Joseph (bapt 1869), Rose (bapt 1872), Ellen (bapt 1874), John (bapt 1875), Charles (bapt 1879), Herbert David (b 1881) and Lilian Mary (bapt 1884).  Mary died in 1902 and subsequently Goliath married again this time to Charlotte Weeden.  If this is the correct man then it is possible that his brother Herbert is the Bert Burton who served and also survived.

The second man was born on November 7^th 1880 to William and Jane Burton (née Walker), and so he would have been about thirty-three at the outbreak of war. 

Baptism and census records for this man also reveal nine children: Peggy (bapt 1878), John (b 1880), James (b 1883), Charles (b 1886), Anne (b 1888), Herbert William (b 1891), Ellen (called Nellie, b c1894), Albert Edward (b 1897) and Emily May (b 1900). 

The 1901 census records his occupation as an apprentice engineer, perhaps an occupation which would mean that he is the most likely of the two to have served in the RFC. 

By 1911, this man had married Clara Titmuss and they were living with her parents, Frank and Elizabeth, near, or possibly in, the Blacksmith’s Arms, which was in the High Street, opposite the Blacksmith’s pond.  John was recorded as a general engineer.

It is not certain which is the John Burton who served, but by 1918, he was recorded as A.M. (Air Mechanic) 53425, 1^st A.R.S. (Advanced Regulating Station), S.A.R.D. (Southern Aircraft Repair Depot), Royal Air Force and his home was in Little Green.  The latter man, with his engineering background, would seem most likely to be serving in the Royal Air Force.

Burton, Sidney Charles, (possibly Sidney James)

Parish and census records suggest that there were two Sidney Burtons; Sidney Charles (census records) and Sidney James (baptism records).  However, despite the difference in middle names, they are both recorded as the son of David and Rose Fanny Burton (née Walker)*¹ and the same age.  So they must be one and the same person.  The listings of Sidney Charles outnumber the listings of Sidney James (and Sydney), so the former is likely to be correct and is therefore used here.

Sidney appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school and was born on October 25^th 1883, so he would have been thirty at the outbreak of war.  When he was born, his parents were running The Red Lion PH in Crabtree Lane, near the entrance to the church.  Later the family moved to Great Green, where they had a smallholding.  The 1901 census records Sidney as seventeen and a stable helper groom, presumably on his father’s smallholding.  He had three siblings, Fred (b 1888), Thomas (b 1886) and Beatrice Ruth (b 1881).  By 1911, he had left the family home and does not appear in the Pirton census.

His father died on February 28^th 1916, aged fifty-eight, followed by his brother, Serjeant Fred Burton of the 2/4^th Royal Berkshire Regiment, who is recorded on the Village War Memorial, and was killed in France on December 2^nd 1917.  To complete a sad triple tragedy, their mother died on December 22^nd 1917.  This was only a few days after learning of her son Fred’s death.  She was only fifty-eight and perhaps she was another, indirect, victim of the war.

The Hertfordshire Express of December 22^nd 1917 reports Sidney as ‘in hospital in Bristol with a broken ankle sustained at the Front through falling down a disused trench.’  The Parish Magazine of November 1918 records Sidney as being a casualty, suffering from a ‘trench accident to the foot’.  The difference in dates suggests a second accident.

*¹ Recorded as Rose Mary on Sidney’s baptism record, but Rose Fanny in the 1901 census and on the family headstone in St. Mary’s churchyard.

Carter, Alfred

A search of the parish and census records does not identify any obvious men.  However, a report about William Edward Carter (another survivor) in the North Herts Mail reveals that Alfred was his brother, and also identifies another brother, Charles.  This enabled their parents to be identified as Charles and Eliza Carter.  Charles (senior) had been the village policeman and then the school attendance officer.  Baptism and census records confirm that they had thirteen children, but by 1911 three had died.  Baptism, school and census records only reveal eleven names, Elizabeth A (b c1871), Henry A (b c1872), George (b c1874), Alice E (b c1877, d 1897), Ellen L (b c1879), Ernest F (b c1880), Annie Priscilla (b c1883), Walter Edward (b c1885), Daisy (b c1886), Florence Rachel (b 1886) and Esther Kate (b 1888) and then Alfred and Charles (b c1869) were identified from the newspaper.  Alfred, Charles, Ernest and Walter all served and survived. 

The 1901 census shows that the family home was Burge End House, now known as Burge End Farmhouse.  Alfred’s father died on May 18^th 1914 and his sister, Florence Rachel, married William Thomas Hill on September 16^th 1914.  William was later killed in the war and appears on the Village War Memorial.  It is presumed that the family continued to live in the same house, as the Parish Magazine of January 1916 records that Frederick Brooks (another soldier) married Annie Priscilla Carter in 1915, and in 1918 his home address was given as Burge End House. 

The Hertfordshire Express of November 11^th 1914 lists Alfred as serving in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving in the Royal Marine Transport.  The North Herts Mail of November 19^th 1914 reported that he had been wounded on October 30^th.  That would have been twenty days after his brother Walter was wounded.

The North Herts Mail of February 4^th 1915 confirms his Regiment and that he had been in Antwerp when a small contingent of the British Army had supported the Belgian Army in the defence of that key city.  Antwerp fell, but Alfred had managed to get away with some of the Belgian Army.  He had been back to Pirton, probably recovering from his wound, but at the time of the report was back with his Company.

Carter, Charles William

Charles William Carter was a witness to the marriage of George Alfred Flack of Camberwell to Elizabeth Ann Carter of Pirton in 1895 and this could be the same man who served. 

The Charles Carter who served appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  A search of the parish and census records does not identify any obvious man.  However, a report about William Edward Carter (another survivor) in the North Herts Mail reveals that Walter Edward was his brother and also identifies another brother, Alfred.  This enabled their parents to be identified as Charles and Eliza Carter.  Charles (senior) had been the village policeman and then the school attendance officer.   In all it would appear that four brothers served and survived - refer to Alfred Carter for more family details.

By 1897 Charles had married Eliza Bailey - Eliza was also his mother’s name.

His father died on May 18^th 1914 and his sister, Florence Rachel, married William Thomas Hill on September 16^th 1914.  William was later killed in the war and appears on the Village War Memorial. 

The North Herts Mail of February 4^th 1915 confirmed that Charles (junior) had previously completed twenty-one years service in the 3^rd Dragoon Guards and had reached the rank of Serjeant Major, before retiring with a pension - this would have been before the war.  When war came, he and his wife were living in Kent at 11 Rock Road, Borough Green.  Charles was then forty-four and working as a farrier.  Like many ‘old soldiers’, he felt the urge to do his bit for King and Country, so on October 12^th 1914, then aged forty-five, he went to Maidstone and enlisted for home service. 

He was posted to Canterbury as a Private 11148 and then, presumably because of his previous service and rank, was promoted almost immediately to Staff Serjeant Farrier in the Corps of Dragoons, Special Reserve.  Quite how fit for service he was is unclear, because he was discharged from service on July 16^th 1915, less than a year later ‘His services no longer required’ and rather unkindly, especially for an old soldier, they add the note, ‘This NCO re-enlisted as a Staff Serjeant Farrier, and is quite incapable of carrying out the duties of his rank, and is useless in any other capacity.’

Carter, Ernest F

Ernest appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  He is recorded twice: in the Parish Magazine of September 1914 as being in the Army Reserve, and then in the Parish Magazine of 1915, as enlisting during September 1915 before August and serving in the 3^rd Grenadier Guards.

Parish and census records suggest two:

The first man was born on May 5^th 1900 to George and Kate Ethel Carter and so he would have been fourteen at the outbreak of war, and only fifteen at the date of enlistment.  He is therefore unlikely to be the right man.  Baptism records list two children: Ernest (b 1900) and Arthur George (b 1898).

The second was the son of Charles and Eliza Carter.  Charles had been the village policeman and then the School Attendance Officer.  Ernest was born circa 1880, and so he would have been about thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  He was born in Datchworth, Hertfordshire and census records show that he is the elder brother of a Walter Carter who also served and survived.  This is likely to be the correct man.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and survived - refer to Alfred Carter for more family details.

Carter, Walter Edward

Walter appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born circa 1885 to Charles and Eliza Carter.  Charles had been the village policeman and then the School Attendance Officer.  Walter was born in Datchworth, Hertfordshire and would have been about twenty-nine at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and survived - refer to Alfred Carter for more family details.

Walter was found in several reports; in the Parish Magazine of September 1914 and recorded as being in the Army Reserve; in the Hertfordshire Express of November 11^th 1914 and serving in the Royal Horse Guards (this entry also reports him as wounded on the October 30^th) and in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and in the North Herts Mail of February 4^th 1915.  The latter provides most of the following information.

He had been a policeman, but had been invalided out eleven years earlier - he would have only been about nineteen so perhaps the paper has confused this fact with Walter’s father who had been the village policeman.  When war broke out he was working as a clerk at Lacre in Letchworth and immediately volunteered for service, becoming Trooper W E Carter 1647, Royal Horse Guards.  The report suggests that he had served with them before.  The Regiment went to Belgium in September and the details were reported as ‘being among the last contingent that were able to land at Zeebrugge, which place was shortly afterwards knocked to pieces by the Germans, who overran that district.  Needless to say it was hot work, for they were in the thick of the artillery fire, the Guards covering the retreat of the Belgians from Antwerp.  After that the Guards went to Ypres district, and held the line for the British to advance again after the memorable retreat from Mons.  Thus, this crack regiment of the Household cavalry was among the units that helped to bring about the turning point of the battle, namely the advance from near Paris.  When his contingent of the Guards, the second to go out, arrived, the Uhlans were scattered all over the North of Belgium, and it was their job to chase them and lay them by the heels.  We know how gallantly the Guards did this.  Afterwards the Guards had to go in the trenches – probably the first time in history that English cavalry have had to do this.  It was a noble part they played, because at that time England was rather short of infantry at the Front. 

It continues and explains the wound he received on October 30^th 1914 ‘They had been relieved from the trenches that morning, and his squadron were with the first line of baggage columns behind the firing line.  The Germans were shelling the transport, and some men of the 11^th Hussars got knocked over.  He had gone to the assistance of a wounded Hussar when he was laid out by a portion of bursting shrapnel which went between the two bones of his right leg, near the shin.  So severe was the artillery fire that he had to lay nearly seven hours before the ambulance could attend to him.  The following morning the Germans began to shell the hospital at Ypres, and the whole of the patients had to be moved to a convent, including himself.  The day after he and other wounded left for Boulogne the railway line was being shelled by the Germans.  He was in hospital at Boulogne till November 9^th, when he was brought to England, having since been in hospital (Northern) at Leeds.’  By February 4^th he had been home from hospital recovering for two or three weeks.  He was making steady progress and hoped ‘to be quite fit and well enough to have another smack at the Germans.’

In December 1915 he was back in Pirton for his sister’s wedding on the 27^th, when Annie Priscilla Carter married Frederick William Brooks.  Frederick also served and survived.  Walter was wearing hospital blue so presumably he had been wounded again.

Walter Carter is mentioned in the Kelly trade directory of 1926 as a builder and carpenter, located in The Old Post Office, Little Green, so this seems to have been his work after the war.  

Castle, Arthur

Arthur was not born in Pirton, but married Annie French (Brenda Dawson's mother) in 1915.  It is thought that they lived in Pirton after marriage and before Arthur went to war.  Annie was the sister of Joseph French, who was killed in the war and is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  Arthur and Joseph joined up together.  Arthur served in the Hertfordshire Regiment and was gassed, but recovered enough to continue serving.  In 1919 he returned to Pirton and established himself as a ‘Pirtonian’.  In 1920, he started the Men's Social Club, acting as secretary until 1924, when he took over as the secretary of the Pirton Benefit Society, a post he held until 1943.  In the pre-National Health Service days members paid into these ‘Friendly’ societies and received financial help in times of need.  He was also involved in the Parish Council and Village Hall and, for his effort and personality, he was well thought of.  He died in 1943, aged fifty-five.  Perhaps the gassing during the war contributed to his early death.

Parish and census records provide no further information, but by 1918 he was recorded as Private 291080, 7^th Suffolkshire Regiment, British Expeditionary Force and his home was ‘around’ Little Green.

Chamberlain, Thomas

Thomas appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one possible man and in the 1891 census he is recorded as eleven and illegitimate.  The census also reveals that he was living near Little Green with Ann Chamberlain, his mother, and Arthur Titmuss whom she had married in 1879.  It also records three half-siblings, Lydia (b 1880), Charles (b 1883) and Albert Hezekiah (bapt 1885).  He would have been about thirty-four at the outbreak of war. 

Chamberlain, William

William appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  From the information supplied by Tracey Chamberlain, William must have been her Great-Grandfather.  If this is the case, William was born on December 21^st 1888 to Charles and Martha Chamberlain (née Martin), who lived in one of the Holwell Cottages (second from the village end).  These are the twelve terraced cottages in Holwell Road also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’.  He would have been twenty-five at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records reveal six children: Bertram Frank (b c1878), Jane (b 1880), Anne (b 1882), Emily (bapt 1885), William (b 1888) and Ellen Rebecca (b 1891).

By 1911, he was twenty-two, earning his living as a farm labourer and had been married for a year to Annie.  They had a son, Phillip Edwin (b 1910), and were living near the Blacksmith’s Arms, which was in the High Street opposite the Blacksmith’s pond.  They had two more sons, Alfred (b 1912) and Jack.  Alfred was the father of Frederick William Walter Chamberlain, Tracey's father, who was perhaps, at least in part, named after William. 

So, William was married and had children before he went to war.  His family believe that he served in the artillery and that he was gassed.  He died on October 8^th 1924, aged thirty-eight, and is buried in St. Mary's churchyard with Charles and Martha.  It is believed by the family that his early death was at least part due to the mustard gas poisoning he suffered during the war.

Cherry, Oscar Charles

Oscar appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school. 

Grace Tomlin (née Cherry) informs us that his parents were William Henry Cherry (sometimes recorded as Henry William Cherry) and Susannah (née Thrussell or possibly Trussell).  He was born August 17^th 1888, and so he would have been twenty-six at the outbreak of the war.  Baptism and census records and Grace’s family tree reveal eight children: Ann Maria (bapt 1873), Harry (bapt 1875), Ellen (bapt 1878), Gertrude (b 1879), Emily (b 1882), Agatha Grace (b 1883), Tobias (b 1885) and Oscar Charles (b 1888), but the 1911 census reveals that William and Susannah had a total of twelve children of whom five had died.  At that date, they were living at 10 Holwell Road.

Family records show that Oscar was confirmed in Pirton Church on March 20^th 1903 by the Bishop of Colchester, presumably along with many others.  His brother Tobias emigrated to Canada in April of that year and returned in December 1906.  The reason for his return is not known, but other records suggest he then went back to Canada in June of 1907.  He must have sent back good reports of life there because Oscar then followed.  He left Pirton on March 22^nd 1911, sailing on the S.S Corsican, and landed at St. John’s on April 3^rd.  From there, he travelled to Calcarry arriving on April 7^th.  Canada was a popular destination for the young men and women of Pirton that year, for family documents record that Oscar’s sister, Emily, also emigrated along with at least one other woman (Kate Trussell) and six other Pirton men.

Surprisingly, travelling to and from Canada seems not to be as uncommon as might be expected, for Oscar returned in 1913, landing on November 30^th - strange timing as his brother Tobias got married on November 22^nd.  Perhaps he was delayed at sea.  He may have returned for good as, on July 5^th 1915, in Holwell, he married a girl called Bertha Jane Cherry (Oscar and Bertha were 6^th cousins once removed), perhaps a marriage before going to war.  It is not clear where they lived, probably Holwell, but certainly by 1921 they were living in Holwell and had a son Kenneth Charles in December of that year.

Christmas, Walter Foster

David Doorne, who researches the Bedford Yeomanry, informed us that Walter served with them.  It was for a short period and he did not serve abroad, as he was discharged as medically unfit on November 2^nd 1914.

The Kelly Trade Directories list him in 1926, 1929, 1935 and 1937, initially as a builder and carpenter and then  adding portable building manufacturer before, in the last two entries, reverting to carpenter.  In all listings he was living in the Old Post Office, Little Green.

Walter married Helena Jane Trussell in Hitchin in 1919, a fact confirmed, along with the date of her death on May 5^th 1923, aged forty-one, by a monumental inscription in the churchyard.  The marriage was certainly after 1911, but probably before the war.

An interesting article on glove-making in Pirton, first produced in the Pirton Magazine in June 1996, which can be read on the village website (www.pirton.org.uk) adds some information.  Helena is believed to have been commonly known as Nellie, and seems to have started a glove-making business before the war.  The war meant that the demand for gloves accelerated, and the business moved to bigger premises in December 1915.  It is not clear whether it remained in her ownership, but she certainly remained in charge, and then later, when she died, Walter took over.

Cooper, Arthur

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school. 

Parish and census records suggest three possible men:

The first was baptised on April 13^th 1873 and was the son of James and Ann Cooper (née Shepherd).  He would have been about forty-one at the outbreak of war.  They had five children: Arthur (b 1873), John (bapt 1875), Harry (b c1878), Jane (b 1880) and Charles (b 1881). 

The second, Arthur William, was born on July 25^th 1881 to William and Mary Cooper (née Odell) and he would have been thirty-three at the outbreak of war.  They had nine children: Clara (b c1866), Emma (b c1870), Mary Ann (bapt 1872), Charles (bapt 1875), Martha (bapt 1878), Arthur William (b 1881), Harry (b 1884), Ethel (b 1886) and Alice (b c1888).  The North Herts Mail of November 19^th 1914 reported that a Charles Cooper, likely to be Arthur’s brother, had offered himself as a recruit, but at thirty-nine was just one year too old to be accepted as a volunteer. 

Arthur William Cooper married Rose Weeden of Pirton on October 5^th 1901.  By 1911, Arthur was a horse keeper on a local farm and they had two children: Violet May (b c1905) Hilda Rose (b c1906), but sadly two other children had died.

This Arthur died in 1967, aged eighty-six, and is buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.

The third man, Arthur Charles, was born on May 31^st 1898 to Charles and Ruth Cooper (née Baines), and so he would have been sixteen at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records, including 1911, identify eight children, one of whom had died.  It is not entirely clear if Frederick Baines, a son to Ruth before her marriage, is included in the count, but is seems probable.  The children who have been identified are Frederick (Baines, b c1895) and those born after their marriage, Arthur Charles (b 1898), Dorothy May (b 1900), Ernest (b c1903), George (b c1905), Annie (b c1906) and Frank (b 1910).  Frederick was killed in the war and appears on the village memorial.

The North Herts Mail of November 19^th 1914 reported that Charles Cooper, who would have been this man’s father, and the brother of Arthur William listed above, had offered himself as a recruit, but at thirty-nine was just one year too old to be accepted as a volunteer.  

Unfortunately, at this time, it is not known which is the Arthur Cooper who served.  The man who did serve is recorded twice, once in the Parish Magazine of September 1918 as being ‘called to service’, and then in the Parish Magazine of November 1918 as ‘enlisting recently’ and serving in the 4^th Norfolk Regiment.  As he was called up late in the war, it perhaps suggests he was the youngest of the three men, the third of those mentioned above, who would have then been twenty.

Cox, Sidney, (MM)

Sidney is recorded in two undated cuttings in the village scrapbook of the war.  Nothing in the cuttings actually records a connection with Pirton.  However, with the exception of some general newspaper cuttings about the local regiments, the scrapbook seems to only record information about Pirton-related men.  For this reason, and because this appears to be supported by the following baptism record, which does relate to Pirton, he is included. 

Baptism records show a Sidney William Cox, the son of William and Ruth Cox of Hitchin, was baptised in Pirton on May 13^th 1894.  So he would have been about twenty at the outbreak of war.  1901 census records for Hitchin show that he was actually born in Hitchin - he was probably baptised in Pirton because of his family’s association with the village.  The same census shows that his father, William, was also born in Hitchin, but that his mother, Ruth, was born in Pirton.  Pirton records show that William was also baptised in Pirton and his parents, Sidney’s grandparents, were William and Sarah Cox (née Males) both born in Pirton. 

William and Ruth Cox had four children: Sidney William (b c1894), Lilian (b c1896), Frederick (b c1898) and Arthur (b c1900).  It is almost certain that it is his brother, Frederick, who also served.  He was killed and is recorded on the Letchworth War Memorial.

The assumptions about Sidney are supported by other information; one of the cuttings from the village scrapbook reports that Sidney enlisted in August 1914, so he was one of the first to do so, and served in the Bedfordshire Regiment.  At the time of the report, he had been out at the Front for ‘one year and eight months’ and ‘is twenty-two years of age’.  This would seem to tie in with the baptism record above and so it is certainly possible that he is the right man and has a Pirton connection.  The cuttings also confirm him as a native of Hitchin (confirmed by the baptism records above) and that he had been living with his grandmother at 47 Green Lane, Letchworth. 

Sidney had been in the thick of the fighting and had been wounded.  As a result, he was hospitalized in Felixstowe.  He was a hero.  During the war both sides often attempted to tunnel under their enemies’ lines, packed the end with explosives and attempted to blow up the front line of the opposite side.  This was usually followed by soldiers rushing forward to take the position before the confusion had died down and reinforcements could be deployed.  Sidney and his comrades suffered such an attack, probably many of his comrades were killed and certainly many were buried alive.  Sidney was responsible for digging out, unaided, seventeen men, saving the lives of fourteen of them.  For this ‘conspicuous act of bravery and life-saving’ he was awarded the Military Medal.  The cutting records that ‘Letchworth is proud of this hero’ and so are we.

Note: Four men with a Pirton connection were to be awarded a medal.  Military Medals were awarded to Sidney Cox (baptised in Pirton), Lieutenant Arthur Robert Walker (born in Pirton, but who had been living in Canada before the war) and Charles Furr (born in Pirton) and a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Henry George Chamberlain (born in Pirton and who was killed in the war).

Coxall, Charles Frederick

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Charles, who was serving in the Royal Horse Artillery, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born February 5^th 1898, the son of Frederick William and Grace Coxall, and so he would have been sixteen at the outbreak of war.  If this is the right man then he had an elder sister Margery Jane (b 1893); however the reference of ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’ means that perhaps this is a false trail.

Crawley, Frank

Frank appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on September 5^th 1896 to Henry Charles (Charlie) and Minnie Crawley (née Cherry) of Middle Farm, Crabtree Lane (roughly where 16 Crabtree Lane is today).  The 1911 census confirms that they had ten children, one of whom had died.  The children were: Harry (b 1881 or 1882), Annie Jane (bapt 1885), Albert Vincent (b 1886), Florence Rose (b 1888), Alice (b 1891), Helen (possibly Ellen, b c1893), Milly (b 1892 or 1893), Katie (b 1895), Frank (b 1896) and Phillip (b 1902).  Which child died is not yet known.  The youngest, Phil, was baptised at St. Mary's in 1902.  Harry, Frank’s older brother, was killed in the war and is listed on the Village War Memorial. 

Before the war, he worked for Mr Franklin of Walnut Tree Farm.  Frank’s father died in 1915, aged fifty-six, just a few months before Frank joined up.  He joined the 10^th Bedfordshire Regiment on June 16^th 1916 and would have been nineteen.  Three months later he was drafted to France.  Sometime in 1917, probably September, he was wounded, gassed and returned to England.  Later, he was transferred to the South Staffordshire Regiment and was wounded again in late 1917, badly enough to be returned to a hospital in Rochdale.  However, by November 17^th he had recovered sufficiently to be able to return home on hospital leave. 

Davis, Harry

Harry Davis was born in Shillington and married Ellen Weeden from Pirton sometime around 1908.  In 1911, he was a butcher and they were living in Pirton and the newly weds, Will and Mary Weeden, were lodging with them.  By this time, Harry and Ellen had one child, Lily Margaretta (b 1909), although oddly she is not listed in the census.  Another child, Milner Lawrence, followed in 1912, so by the outbreak of war, Harry was married with at least two children.

The Hertfordshire Express of October 26^th 1918 reports Harry as serving as a private in the Sherwood Foresters and having been in France for about six months.  He had just suffered internal injuries which were sustained in action (on his birthday).  They were serious enough for him to be hospitalised in Huddersfield.  It also reports that, before the war, Harry was a grocer.  In fact, he had worked for Palmers, a butchery business in Shillington.  In the 1911 census, Harry is recorded as a butcher. 

After the war, he returned to Pirton and had another daughter, Vera Betty (b 1921).  Sometime in the early 1920s, Harry and Ellen bought Peartree Cottage from Jim Throssell.  This was situated to the right of the village pond, now 28 High Street.  It had been a general store in which Ellen had worked.  They worked hard and extended the business (and the property).  The left side served as the grocers and the right as the butchers.  This part of the business seems to have started in 1926 and was announced the Parish Magazine of 1927.  The butchery took place in a large outbuilding, some of which remains today and still has the grooves in the concrete floor to channel the blood away and into the village pond.  It appears that he and Ellen lived in Pirton for the rest of their lives; Harry died on February 28^th 1951, aged sixty-seven, and Ellen on March 19^th 1961, aged seventy-eight.  Both are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Their son, Milner, continued to run the business after Harry’s death until 1970.

Davis, Henry

The Hertfordshire Express of November 17^th 1917 reports Henry as joining up in the week before.  Prior to the war, Henry was a pork butcher and grocer.  No further corroboration of Henry has been found, and the mention of him being a pork butcher and grocer suggests that perhaps the paper had mistakenly recorded Harry Davis as Henry.  So it is likely that this is a false trail and that ‘Henry’ is, in fact, the Harry Davis above.

Dawson, Albert

Albert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on November 21^st 1887 to Samuel and Lavinia Dawson (née Pitts).  He would have been twenty-six at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list four children: Herbert Charles (b 1880), Emily (b 1881), George (b 1885) and Albert (b 1887), but the 1911 census records that they had six, of whom one had died.  At that time, Albert was still living with his parents near the Blacksmith’s Arms, which was in the High Street, opposite where the Blacksmith’s pond remains to this day.  He was twenty-three and like his father was working as an agricultural labourer on one of the local farms. 

Dawson, Bertie

Bertie appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  He was the son of Edgar and Elizabeth Jane Dawson (née Reynolds), and in 1901 they lived in Ann Reynold’s house (Elizabeth’s mother), which was 2 Holly Cottages, Little Green - now in Hambridge Way. 

Baptism and census records list seven children.  However, the 1911 census notes that they had eight, of whom two had died.  At this time only seven can be identified; they are Reginald (b 1889), Ethel Annie (b 1890), Emily Almond (b 1891), Charlie (b c1895), Bertie (b c1899), Kate (b 1901) and Harry (b c1905).  Sadly Emily only survived for six weeks, so she was one of the two who died.

In 1911, Bertie was eighteen and recorded as the third son of the family, an apprentice to John Cain coachbuilder of Hitchin, and was still living with his mother in 2 Holly Cottages.  His brother, Charlie, also served and survived.  His other brother, Reginald, did not serve for the reasons given below. 

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records that Bertie had been ‘called up’ to the Training Reserve since March 1916, but tragic family circumstances meant that he was not called to service immediately.  In fact, the family was hit by two tragedies and other unfortunate circumstances.  These are described below or under the section for Bertie’s uncle, Harry, and they must have affected the direct and extended Dawson family, including two serving soldiers - Bertie’s brother, Charlie, and their Uncle Harry.

On January 22^nd 1917, at the age of seventeen years and eleven months, Bertie went to Hitchin to enlist.  At that date, he was living with his parents and working as a motor body builder.  Tragically, within a few days (January 31^st), Bertie’s father Edgar, who was fifty-four, died in an accident.  He was leading a horse pulling a manure cart when the horse was startled.  It bolted and at least one wheel ran over Edgar, crushing his ribs terribly.  He must have died almost immediately. 

The request for compensation by Elizabeth was reported in the Hertfordshire Express of April 14^th 1917, which confirmed that they had six children, including one daughter working in the Pirton glove factory, another as a pupil teacher, a son in the army (Charles), and another as an apprentice coachbuilder (Bertie).  Compensation of £13 19s 2d and an allowance of 12 shillings a week was recommended.  It was because of Edgar’s sad death that Elizabeth sought a postponement of Bertie’s call up - ‘for a few weeks so that her son could get a garden and some land into cultivation’.  It was agreed that Bertie should not be called before May 1^st 1917. 

Later that year, and now a widow, Elizabeth received a second blow; Reginald, another son, died.  He did not serve in the forces, but worked in a TNT factory, which would have been a reserved occupation.  While working there, on November 9^th 1917, he died from illness, aged twenty-seven.  Many men and women who worked in the explosives factories became ill, and many died from over exposure to TNT.  Perhaps Reginald was one of them.  He is buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Her sons who served as soldiers survived the war, but perhaps Reginald should also be recognised as giving his life for the war effort.  This is the case in some other villages where such names appear on memorials.

Returning to Bertie, following his successful appeal, he was not called upon to commence his service until May 2^nd 1917, when he was mobilised as Private A/205302 2^nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifles Corps and, after training, went to France in the early part of 1918.  The Hertfordshire Express of April 13^th 1918 reported that he had been seriously wounded by a gun shot to the chest and returned to a hospital in Birmingham.  The date reported for the injury was March 21^st .  However, this seems to conflict with his service records, which give the date as April 3^rd.  He was given leave in May, presumably for further recuperation.  Having already suffered the double tragedies described above, his mother must have been constantly in fear of the worst.  Her concern was further justified when again, later in the year, after he had recuperated and returned to the Front, the Parish Magazine of November 1918 recorded him as then being wounded for a second time.  This time he was shot in the left shoulder.  Strangely, despite this being given as the reason for his discharge, he was not discharged until May 8^th 1919.  His mother had written from Thatched Cottage, Holwell, to query the dates that he was wounded for British Legion records, but by July 14^th 1919 they had moved back to Pirton.  Bertie was recorded as thirty percent disabled and awarded a pension with a further assessment after twelve months.  He married Evelyn Ada Baines of Holwell on October 1^st 1927.

Dawson, Charlie

Note: Read Bertie Dawson (Charlie’s brother) for more details of the family’s tragedies relating to their father and their brother Reginald.  Read Harry Dawson (1) (Charlie’s uncle) for other difficult family circumstances.

Charlie appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  He was the son of Edgar and Elizabeth Jane Dawson (née Reynolds) and, in 1901, they lived in Ann Reynolds’ house (Elizabeth’s mother), which was 2 Holly Cottages, Little Green - now in Hambridge Way.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Bertie Dawson for more family details.

Charlie enlisted in 1916 and the Hertfordshire Express of April 13^th 1918 reports him as convalescing in the Maples Hospital, Hitchin, having been wounded in the arms and leg during July 1917, while serving in the Royal Engineers in France. 

By 1918 he was recorded as Sapper 524546, 237^th Field Company, Royal Engineers with his home address as ‘around’ Little Lane.

Dawson, Harry (1)

Note: Read Bertie Dawson (Harry’s nephew) for details of the tragedies affecting the extended family of Harry.

The School War Memorial lists two Harry Dawsons who served and confirms that both attended the school and survived. 

This Harry Dawson was born on October 6^th 1879 to William and Emma Dawson, and so he would have been about thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list nine children: Edgar (bapt 1863), Christopher (bapt 1864), Pamela (bapt 1867), Ralph (bapt 1869), Arthur (bapt 1871), Percy (bapt 1872), Minnie (bapt 1874), Reginald (bapt 1876) and Harry (b 1879).  In the 1901 census, along with his brother Percy, he is listed as the farmer’s son; presumably both were working on their father’s farm.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him being ‘called up’ since March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.  This article also reports him as wounded.

More information for Harry was obtained from the family’s unfortunate situation, which was reported in the local newspaper.  Harry’s father, William, died on June 24^th 1912, leaving his wife, Emma (née Bottoms) as a widow.  The Hertfordshire Express of July 7^th and August 4^th 1917 provide further information; Percy and Harry, two of the brothers, were executors of William’s will.  The article mentions that Harry was serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Salonika, confirming that he is the right man.  The house was occupied by Harry's wife and five children and possibly his mother, but was mortgaged to Mr Franklin (Walnut Tree Farm). Apparently the interest had not been paid for thirty months and the property was falling into a state of poor repair.  It is not clear whether Harry was in attendance; after all, he was serving King and Country, but he had been wounded recently so it is possible that he was on leave.  Either way, it must have been a terrible worry for him knowing that his family was struggling financially.  Mr Franklin must have been sympathetic because he stated that ‘he did not wish to be hard on people and didn't want to action’, ‘but payments had not been paid and he had to protect his interest’.  Bertie Dawson (probably the brother, rather than the nephew who served) offered to pay the year’s interest and some of the arrears, and the outcome seems to have been reasonable with time being given to pay.

Dawson, Harry(2)

The School War Memorial lists two Harry Dawsons who served and confirms that both attended the school and survived. 

One is definitely identified as the son of William and Emma Dawson (see above).  Parish records suggest only one other man of this name who could have served, and he was born on June 20^th 1880.  His mother was Martha Dawson and he would have been thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  Martha was the daughter of Charles Dawson and married George Handscombe on August 12^th 1883, possibly his second wife.

Dear, Horace Percy, (Percy)

Little is known of Percy Dear; the source of the only information is an undated newspaper cutting from a village scrapbook.  His only connection to Pirton may be that he married one of Lewis and Mary Reynolds’ daughters.  If that is correct, it would mean that he was the brother-in-law of the six Reynolds brothers who served; George, George's twin Harry, Walter and Albert (sadly both died and are listed on the Village War Memorial), William and Jacob.  It is known that Percy was serving in the Hertfordshire Regiment.  He was wounded in the right wrist on July 31^st 1917, and was recorded following his injury as ‘at Crowborough’ - probably the military hospital at Crowborough Camp, Sussex.

Parish and census records provide no further information, but by 1918 he was recorded as Private 269386, 5^th Reserve Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, but attached to the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment.  His home address was near Cromwell Terrace - the terraced houses where the village store is today.

Devereaux, Charles James

Charles James Devereaux appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served.  They identify a Charles Joseph Devereux (note the different spelling of Devereux and the different middle name).  However, there are errors on the School War Memorial, so it is possible that this is another and that they are the same man.  If so, then he was born June 27^th 1900 and the son of Joseph, a grocer and cowman born in Shefford, and Jane Devereaux (née Chamberlain) born in Pirton, but lately of 91 Dunham Rd, Finsbury Park (in 1900).  Charles would have only been fourteen at the outbreak of war, so if he is the right man, he is unlikely to have served until late in the war.  Baptism and census records list five children: Charles James (b 1900), Annie (b c1903), Maisie (b c1907) and Constance (b c 1909) and Constance Mildred (b 1908).  It is believed that another daughter, Cosa Megan was born on October after the 1911 census.

Franklin, Laurence Thomas

Laurence was the son of Thomas and Annie Catherine, born in Whitwell and Shenley respectively.  Thomas moved to Pirton, taking on Walnut Tree Farm before the war and later Highdown farm.

The 1911 census lists two children: Laurence Thomas (b c 1894) and Kathleen Mary (b c 1898), both born in Whitwell.  The census lists three others at the address, Thomas Hearle, a boarder, and Gladys Bales and Alice Barker, both servants.

Laurence is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting since March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Army Veterinary Corps.  The North Herts Mail of May 11^th 1916 reported that he was stationed in Luton at that date.  He was born in 1883 or 1884 and was Dick Franklin's father.  Dick died in 2008, but he confirmed that Laurence was called up in 1916, and that he only served for a short time because, as Laurence’s father was ill, he had to return to run Walnut Tree Farm. 

He was married to Clara Cassandra Franklin and they had two children: Dick and Joy (the benefactor of Pirton JoyCare).  Laurence and Clara are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Laurence died on April 26^th 1975, aged eighty-one and Clara on June 26^th 1980, aged ninety-one.

French, George

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  A search of the parish and census records suggests four possible men:

The first was born on September 24^th 1882 to Eliza (Elizabeth) Sarah French.  So if this is the right man he would have been thirty-one at the outbreak of war.  Two years later, on May 24^th 1884, Eliza married Charles Furr and it would seem that she was then commonly known as Sarah.  A family tree provided by Bob Lawrence lists nine children: George (French, b 1882) and then his siblings or half-siblings named Furr; Charles (b 1884), Ethel (b 1886), Ellen Louisa (b 1888), Winifred (b 1898), Albert (b 1895), Frederick (b 1900), Zillah (b 1903) and Harry (b 1906).

If this is the George who served, then he and his brothers or half-brothers, Charles, Albert and Fred all served and, remarkably, all survived the war.  Charles was awarded the Military Medal.  This George married Cordelia and they are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  George died in 1953, aged seventy and Cordelia in 1968, aged eighty-three.

The second possibility is the George French, born on February 3^rd 1897 to Thomas and Alice French.  This George would have been seventeen at the outbreak of war. 

A third possibility was born circa 1883.  The 1901 census records Emma Fanny French (daughter) and George (grandson) living with Frances French.  It was originally assumed that George was Emma’s son, and another possibility, however Patti Salter revealed that was actually the son of Emma’s sister  and is therefore listed above. 

There seemed to be a forth possibility; he was born around 1895 and was the son of William and Mary Ann Maria French (née Reynolds).  So he would have been about nineteen at the outbreak of war, but it is likely that this George died in 1901, at the age of six.

Unfortunately, at this time, it is not known which of the first three is the man who served.

Furr, Albert

Albert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 15^th 1895 to Charles and Eliza Sarah Furr (née French), who seems to have been commonly known as Sarah. 

A family tree, provided by Bob Lawrence, lists nine children: George (with the surname French, b 1882) and then his siblings or half-siblings named Furr; Charles (b 1884), Ethel (b 1886), Ellen Louisa (b 1888), Albert (b 1895), Winifred (b 1898), Frederick (b 1900), Zillah (b 1903) and Harry (b 1906), but by 1911 one had died.  George and his brothers or half-brothers, Charles, Albert and Fred, all served and, remarkably, all survived the war.  Charles was awarded the Military Medal.

The Parish Magazine of September 1915 records him as enlisting during 1915, but before August.  Albert would have been nineteen.  It also records that he was serving in the Royal Navy on H.M.S.  Lark – a fact repeated in the Parish Magazine of June 1917.  H.M.S. Lark was a modern destroyer launched in 1913.  She served with the 3^rd Destroyer Flotilla upon completion and then transferred to escort duties after 1917.  However, this may be an error, or he may have changed ships, because in 1916 the North Herts Mail of June 15^th reported that, as an Able Seaman, he was serving on the H.M.S Balmoral (it is possible that this should read H.M.S Balmoral Castle or H.M. Paddle Minesweeper ‘Balmoral Castle’) and that he had taken part in a naval battle (possibly the Battle of Jutland).  He ‘took part in the recent naval battle in the North Sea and fortunately escaped injury.  His boat was in the midst of the fighting, and he had the pleasure of seeing several shells from their guns hit the enemy vessels.  His boat sustained some damage, but the men behaved splendidly, and were in their element when the danger was the greatest.  He has been about four years in the Navy and this is not the first time he has been under fire.  On previous occasions he has been wounded lightly twice.  He agrees with the others that the Germans sustained heavy losses in the recent battle.  He saw an enemy boat of the Kaiser class sink, and others were also in a sad plight towards the end of the action.  He is a keen sailor and formerly was in the merchant service.’

By 1918, he was recorded as S.D. (possibly Special Duties) 1118 Deck Hand, Royal Naval Reserve on H.M.S. Balmoral, with his home address as Dead Horse Lane (now Royal Oak Lane).

Furr, Charles, (MM)

Charles appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on September 7^th 1884, the son of Charles and Eliza Sarah Furr (née French), who seems to have commonly been known as Sarah.  In all it would appear that four brothers or half-brothers served and survived - refer to George French and Albert Furr for more family details.

It seems that George and his brothers (or half-brothers), Charles, Albert and Fred, all served and, remarkably, all survived the war. 

Charles is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 2^nd Bedfordshire Regiment.  He would have been about thirty.  He lived with his wife, Clara (née Males), and the three children they had before the war, in one of the Holwell Cottages, - they are the twelve terraced cottages in Holwell Road also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’.  His wife’s brother, Harry Males, also served and survived.

He had been a navvy, working in Letchworth, but, prior to enlisting, he was employed in the building of a new house in Hitchin for a Mr Lance Wright.  He is first recorded in the Hertfordshire Express of January 8^th 1917, when he wrote a sad letter, conveying news of the death of Charles Burton to his wife.  Charles was also known as Edward Charles and is listed on the Village War Memorial.  The letter was written after December 21^st 1916, and the article reports Charles as being a stretcher-bearer.  He was wounded several times, possibly while performing this work.  He certainly went on to be decorated for doing it. 

It is complicated to piece together the chronological order of events and the number of times he was wounded but, from a mixture of Parish Magazine and newspaper reports, the following is believed to be correct:

Charles went to France in June 1915 and was recorded as being in hospital in September 1915.  He managed to get home on leave around November 16^th 1916.  On May 12^th 1917, the Regiment’s War Diary records a Brigade ceremonial parade in Buire-au-Bois, during which Charles, and others were awarded their medal ribbons by G.O.C. (General Officer Commanding) XIX Corps, Lt. General H.E.Watts, C.B., C.M.G.  The London Gazette confirmed this on June 18^th 1917: ‘His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to 19157 Private Charles Furr of the Bedfordshire Regiment.’  The newspapers were more specific ‘courageous stretcher-bearing under shell fire’ - it was common for stretcher bearers to go into no man’s land, unarmed to recover the wounded.  He must have been a very brave man.  By April 1918, he had been wounded for the second time (Parish Magazine report), this time in the hand which resulted in him being hospitalized to Stoke-on-Trent.  The Hertfordshire Express confirmed this as occurring about March 20^th.  The Hertfordshire Express of September 28^th 1918 reports Charles as being wounded again, for the third time.  This time it was a severe bullet wound to the left shoulder and he went to Trouville Hospital in France. 

By 1918, he was recorded as Private 19157 (the war diary transcription suggests 19167, but is probably an error) 2^nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment and his home address confirmed as 5 Holwell Road.

After the war, Charles and Clara went on to have another seven children, bringing the total to ten: Frederick C Males (b 1910), Clarence, Betty, Dan, Molly, Charlotte, Lilian, John, Sheila and Laura.  Charles died on April 19^th 1952, aged sixty-seven and Clara died on January 5^th 1980, aged ninety. 

Note: Four men with a Pirton connection were awarded a medal.  Military Medals were awarded to Charles Furr (born in Pirton), Sidney Cox (baptised in Pirton) and Lieutenant Arthur Robert Walker (born in Pirton, but who had been living in Canada before the war) and a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Henry George Chamberlain (born in Pirton and who was killed in the war).

Furr, Frederick

Fred appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 20^th 1900 to Charles and Eliza Sarah Furr (née French) who seems to have commonly been known as Sarah.  In all it would appear that four brothers or half-brothers served and survived - refer to George French and Albert Furr for more family details.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of November 1918 as ‘enlisting recently’ and serving in the Queen’s, so Frederick would have been eighteen years old when he enlisted. 

Furr, Harold

The Parish Magazine of September 1918 records Harold as being ‘called to service’.  A family tree, provided by Bob Lawrence, shows that Harold was born in 1887 to Frederick and Emma Furr and that they had seven children: Amelia G (b 1883), George (b 1886), Harold (b 1887), Miriam (b 1890), William (b 1892), Augustus (b 1893) and Victor (b 1898).  He does not appear to have been living in Pirton at the time of the 1901 or 1911 census.  He would have been about twenty when he was called up.

Gilbert, H. James

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records James as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.

A search of the parish and census records does not identify any possible men.  However, marriage records do show that members of the Gilbert family were in Pirton in 1908, i.e. William Henry Gilbert of Maidstone married Kate French of Pirton.  William’s father is recorded as Henry John Gilbert.  Perhaps William settled in Pirton and James was related to him.  However, this theory seems to be unlikely to be correct as William Gilbert was Brenda Dawson’s uncle. Brenda (now deceased) had a detailed knowledge of her family history and she was unaware of James.

Goldsmith, Arthur

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on December 11^th 1880 to Henry and Ann Goldsmith (née Baynes or perhaps Baines).  He would have been thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list fourteen children: Elizabeth (bapt 1864), Frederick (bapt 1865), Abigail (bapt 1867), Martha (bapt 1868), Alice (bapt 1870), Peggy (bapt 1871), Albert (bapt 1873), James (bapt 1874), Frank (bapt 1875), Charles (bapt 1876), John (bapt 1878), Arthur (b 1880), Peter William (b 1882) and Rosetta (bapt 1891).  The 1911 census records them living at 11 Cromwell Terrace - the terraced row, which now contains the village stores – and adds Gwendolin Clara (b c1909).  Peter died, aged sixteen months, so Arthur was the youngest member of the family who could have served.  A John Goldsmith also served and survived, but it is unclear whether it was Arthur’s brother or the brother of Edward Goldsmith.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the 3^rd Essex Regiment, but the 1918 Absent Voters’ List records him as Private 38281, 1^st Company, 4^th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, with his home address given as 11 Cromwell Terrace.

Goldsmith, Edward, (Ted)

Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on September 28^th, 1896 to William and Emma Goldsmith (née Walker).  Baptism and census records list twelve children, but by 1911 two had died.  At this time, only ten can be identified with certainty; they are Frederick Goldsmith Walker (b July 1879 – William and Emma married in October 1879), George (b 1881, d 1883 aged two), Mary Jane (b 1883, Jane Mary in the 1901 census), William Charles (b 1885, d 1912), John (b 1887), Bertie (b 1890), Susan (b 1892), Sidney (b 1894), Edward (b 1896), Alice Mabel (b 1898) and Emily Elizabeth (b 1901).  One of the unknown children could be Harry (b1904, died at two months), which would leave one unnamed.  Sidney, Ted’s brother, served and survived and it is also possible that the John Goldsmith who also served and survived was Sidney’s brother, but there appear to be two possibilities, with Ted’s brother being one.

In the 1911 census, Edward, although only fourteen, was listed as a surgeon’s assistant.  However, the assistant was subsequently crossed out and the correction is unclear.

Ted is recorded in the Parish Magazine of October 1914 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment.  He would have been about eighteen years old. 

The Hertfordshire Express of April 13^th 1914 reports his parents as living around Little Green - in fact they had done so since at least 1901.  It also confirms that he also had an older brother serving (believed to be Sidney).  Both his brother and Ted had been wounded, Ted in the leg.

A letter from Norman Newbery, dated December 1914, thanks Mr Franklin for the gift of jerseys for him, W Reynolds (could be Walter or William) and Edward Goldsmith.  It also confirms that all three were in “G” Company and at Thurston in Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmunds. 

He went to France in January 1915 and in May 1915 he was reported as killed.  His family must have been distraught, but the North Herts Mail of May 20^th 1915 confirms, from information provided by a cousin Private Vine from Henlow, that the earlier report was a mistake.

A local paper from 1916 reported that on September 11^th, at the request of Corporal Harry Smith, Ted performed the sad duty of writing to inform the mother of John Parsell that he had died the day before.  All three were Pirton men.  It seems likely that Edward was also injured in this explosion as the North Herts Mail reports, shortly afterwards, that one of the Goldmiths had been slightly wounded (for the second time), near his ear by a bit of shell.  In the letter, she is told that, just before his death, John (Parsell) of the Hertfords had been ‘very cheerful having seen Fred Baines and Arthur Odell of the Royal Sussex and George Thompson of the ASC’ - again all Pirton men.  Sadly the same shell resulted in the injury of George Roberts and the death of Arthur.

Patti Salter, whose family tree includes many Pirton people, believes that it is possible that Ted was John’s cousin. Corporal Harry Smith, who died later in the war, was his fourth cousin and Arthur Walker was Ted’s second cousin.  Perhaps this sad incident amply demonstrates the interrelationship of the families of Pirton and the widespread impact a death could have.

The North Herts Mail of November 9^th 1916 adds to the information: the family lived in Franklin’s Lane, (now Walnut Tree Road), and Ted had been employed in Dr Grellett’s surgery in Hitchin - Dr Grellett was a popular doctor in Pirton.  By that date, he also held the rank of Lance Corporal.  He had been wounded again (third time), but was ‘making good progress’ in Boulogne Hospital, where he had been admitted on October 15^th.  His injury, if taken at face value, seems relatively minor - ‘A piece of barbed wire being in his foot’, but perhaps it had been lodged there by explosion because he was moved from Boulogne Hospital to the G N Hospital in Leeds and then The Red Cross Hospital at Malton, Yorkshire, where he was operated on.  At the time that he was wounded, the 1^st Hertfordshire Battalion was fighting on the Somme, in a battle for the Schwaben Redoubt*¹, which was finally taken on October 14^th.  The North Herts Mail of April 11^th 1918 confirms that he had healed and he certainly carried on fighting because he was wounded again, for the fourth time, during the massive German offensive during the spring of that year – the Germans were desperate to break the Allies before the Americans could join them in full force.

*¹ A redoubt is a fortified stronghold.

Goldsmith, George

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on September 1^st 1895, the son of Frederick and Prudence Elizabeth Goldsmith (née Titmuss).  Baptism and census records list eight children: Grace (b 1888 or 1889), Frank (bapt 1891), Elsie (b 1893), George (b 1895), Lilian Ruth (b 1898), Effie (b 1900), Lennard (sic) (b c1905) and Charly (sic) (b c1908).  In 1911, George was working as a general labourer.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Royal Field Artillery, so he would have been twenty years old when he enlisted.  The 1918 Absent Voters’ List records him as Private 110823, confirming that he was with the Royal Field Artillery, and his home address as Little Green.

Evidenced by the birth date, George seems to have married Maud Isabella (surname unknown) and both are recorded in St. Mary’s Church’s Garden of Rest, Maud died in 1967, aged seventy and George in 1973, aged seventy-eight.

Goldsmith, Jack

Jack appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records provide no further information, other than to confirm that the surname was present in Pirton at the time.

Goldsmith, John

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records John Goldsmith (Senior) as enlisting after August 1915 and before March 2^nd 1916, serving in the 3^rd London Royal Fusiliers.

Parish and census records suggest two possible men:

The first was baptised on October 6^th 1878, the son of Henry and Ann Goldsmith (née Baynes or perhaps Baines), so he would have been about thirty-seven at the time of his enlistment.  Baptism records list fourteen children: Elizabeth (bapt 1864), Frederick (bapt 1865), Abigail (bapt 1867), Martha (bapt 1868), Alice Elizabeth (bapt 1870), Peggy (bapt 1871), Albert (bapt 1973), James (bapt 1874), Frank (bapt 1875), Charles (bapt 1876), John (bapt 1878), Arthur (b 1880), Peter William (b 1882) and Rosetta Mary (bapt 1891). 

If this is the John who served then he was married and a father when he went to war.  His brother Arthur also served and survived the war.

The second was born on December 20^th 1887 to William and Emma Goldsmith (née Walker), so he would have been about twenty-eight at the time of his enlistment.  Baptism and census records list twelve children, but by 1911 two had died.  At this time, only ten can be identified with certainty; they are Frederick Goldsmith Walker (b July 1879 – William and Emma married in October 1879), George (b 1881, d 1883 aged two), Mary Jane (b 1883, Jane Mary in the 1901 census), William Charles (b 1885, d 1912), John (b 1887), Bertie (b 1890), Susan (b 1892), Sidney (b 1894), Edward (b 1896), Alice Mabel (b 1898) and Emily Elizabeth (b 1901).  One of the unknown children could be Harry (b1904, died at two months), which would leave one unnamed.  If this John is our man then his brothers, Sidney and Edward, both served and survived. 

By 1911, John had been married to Mary for a year.  Her maiden name may have been Baines, as the census records Rose and Lily Baines as relatives and being in the house.  However, another possibility, perhaps more likely, is that they were cousins, as John’s mother’s maiden name was Baines.  They had a daughter, Doris Mary (b c1900), and were living near Little Green.  In 1911 John was working as a railway labourer.

Ordinarily, it would seem more likely that the latter would be the man who served.  However, because the Parish Magazine refers to John Goldsmith ‘senior’, perhaps the former is more likely.  Unfortunately, at this time, it is not known which, if either, is the relevant John Goldsmith.  

Goldsmith, Sidney

Sidney appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on July 23^rd 1894 to William and Emma Goldsmith (née Walker).  Baptism and census records list twelve children, but by 1911 two had died.  At this time, only ten can be identified with certainty.  They are Frederick Goldsmith Walker (b July 1879 – William and Emma married in October 1879), George (b 1881, d 1883 aged two), Mary Jane (b 1883, Jane Mary in the 1901 census), William Charles (b 1885, d 1912), John (b 1887), Bertie (b 1890), Susan (b 1892), Sidney (b 1894), Edward (b 1896), Alice Mabel (b 1898) and Emily Elizabeth (b 1901).  One of the unknown children could be Harry (b1904, died at two months), which would leave one unnamed.  Edward, Ted’s brother, served and survived.  It is also possible that the John Goldsmith, who also served and survived, was Sidney’s brother, but there appear to be two possibilities with Ted’s brother being one.

By 1911, Sidney was sixteen and working as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.  The Parish Magazine of September 1915 records him as enlisting during 1915, but before August, and serving in the Royal Engineers.  He would have been about twenty years old.

The Hertfordshire Express of April 13^th 1914 reports Sidney’s parents as living around Little Green - in fact they had done so since at least 1901.  It also confirms the fact that his younger brother, Ted, was also serving and that both men had been wounded.

Handscombe or Hanscombe?

There is potential for confusion arising from the different spelling of this name and which spelling applies to the following men.  Different families, probably connected, use different spellings and parish and census records also vary, so which spelling should be used is unclear.  As the Commonwealth War Grave Commission has used Handscombe for the two men who died, this spelling is used for all.  We apologise if this is incorrect.

Handscombe, Charles

Parish and census records suggest two possible men; however the Hertfordshire Express of May 19^th 1917 reports Charles as being the brother of Frank and Joseph.  From this information, it is clear that Charles was the son of George and Martha Handscombe (née Dawson) and baptised on August 3^rd 1884.  He would have been twenty at the outbreak of war.

Charles lived with his parents and siblings in a thatched cottage set back from Shillington Road, which was near to the present number fifteen.  Baptism and census records list ten children including Bertie (b c1879), Frisby (b c1881), Charles (bapt 1884), Jane (b 1885), Frederick (b 1888), Emma (b 1890), Sidney (b 1891), Frank (b 1893), Joseph (b 1896) and Hedley (b 1900).  At least four sons served; Charles, Hedley and Frank and Joseph.  Both Frank and Joseph were killed.

The Hertfordshire Express of May 19th, 1917 reports Charles as being discharged from training due to illness.

Handscombe, George

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on June 3^rd 1880 to John and Caroline (née Burton).  He would have been thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list five children: George (b 1880), Ruth (b 1882), Fred (b c1885), Harry (b 1886) and Mary Rose (b 1898).  Although of an age to have served, it is unlikely that Harry followed his brother into the army as the Hertfordshire Express dated April 28^th 1917 reports that he had applied to the Hertfordshire Appeal Tribunal for exemption, presumably because of his work as a farmer and this was conditionally granted.

George married Alice Arnold in 1906, with his sister Ruth, and brother Harry, as witnesses.  By 1911, he was thirty and had been married to Alice for five years and was a carpenter by trade.  They were living in Woodbine cottage (still in the High Street by The Fox) and they had two children of their own: Dorothy Ruth (b c1908) and Edward George (b 1910).  So, when George went to war, he was married and a father.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records George as serving in the Royal Naval Air Service.  As a carpenter, he would probably have been involved in the maintaining and repairing of those fragile aircraft of the time.  The 1918 Absent Voters’ List clarifies this further, recording him as 212616 1^st A.M. (Air Mechanic) Air Service Construction Corps, and confirms his home address as Woodbine Cottage in the High Street.

George and Alice are both recorded in the St. Mary’s Church’s cemetery records; George died in 1951, aged seventy, and Alice in 1968, aged eighty-six.  The headstone also records Leslie William Handscombe, who was presumably another son.

Handscombe, Hedley

Hedley appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on January 19^th 1900 to George and Martha Handscombe (née Dawson).   In all it would appear that four brothers served. Charles and Hedley survived, Frank and Joseph were killed - refer to Charles Handscombe for more family details.

Hedley lived with his parents and siblings in a thatched cottage set back from Shillington Road, which was near to the present number fifteen.  Baptism and census records list ten children, including Bertie (b c1879), Frisby (b c1881), Charles (bapt 1884), Jane (b 1885), Frederick (b 1888), Emma (b 1890), Sidney (b 1891), Frank (b 1893), Joseph (b 1896) and Hedley (b 1900).  At least four sons served; Hedley, Charles, Frank and Joseph.  Both Frank and Joseph were killed.

Hedley is recorded in the Parish Magazine of November 1918 as recently enlisting; he would have been about eighteen. 

It appears that, after the war, he married and his wife was called Zilah.  Together they had at least one child, Frances Rose, who was born April 23^rd 1925.  A photograph taken during the Second World War shows Hedley serving in the Pirton and Holwell Homeguard.

Handscombe, Horace William

Margaret Handscombe identified Horace.  Although it is not known if he was living in Pirton at the time of the war, there are definitely some strong Pirton connections.

Horace was Margaret’s grandfather and she believes that his father, William, was born in Pirton circa 1863 and that his son Horace was born in Luton on November 7^th 1886.  In the 1901 census he is recorded as living in Emma Handscombe’s house (his aunt) with his cousins Clara and Alice Maud.  She knows that he spoke a little of the war to her father and certainly told him about the horrendous punishments meted out to soldiers, such as being tied to a wheel.*¹ 

*¹  This particular punishment was known as ‘Field Punishment No.1’ and consisted of the man being tied or shackled to a gun wheel or similar for up to two hours in twenty-four, but apparently not for more than three days in four or more than twenty-one days in his sentence.

Hare, Frank

Frank appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born in 1888 or 1889 to William and Jane Hare (née Hall).  So he would have been about twenty-five at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list ten children: Anne (bapt 1879), Arthur (b c1881), Fred (b 1883), Henry (bapt 1884), Nellie (b 1887), Aleaner (perhaps Eleanor? b c1887), Frank (b 1889), Edith (b 1892), Bessie (b c1895) and Ruth (b c1899).

Head, Albert Harold

Albert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served and they show that Albert was born on September 15^th 1891 to David and Elizabeth Head.  Baptism and census records list eleven children, but by 1911 four had died.  At this time, only nine can be identified with certainty, and they are William (b 1878, possibly died 1910), Frederick (b 1881), Fanny (b 1884), Alfred (b 1887), Arthur (b 1889, d 1889, aged three months), Albert Harold (b 1891), Charles (b 1893), Alice Kate (b 1896) and Arthur Sidney (b 1897).  It is possible that another of the children who died was Frank (b c1882, d 1893, aged eleven).  At least two brothers, Alfred and Charles, also served and survived.

His service records list him as Harold Albert, a reversal of his Christian names.  He married Emily Baines on October 29^th 1910 and, by the time war came, they had two children: Kathleen Emily (b 1911) and Rhoda Lilian (b 1913).  They lived in Rose Cottage, Pirton and Albert was employed as a roadman.  He enlisted, or more likely was called up, and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment on October 14^th 1916, aged twenty-six.  He remained on home service until June 5^th 1917, when his Battalion left for France.  He transferred to the Labour Corps on May 7^th 1917 and was allocated to the 1^st Battalion, Labour Corps on May 12^th.  This usually indicates that the man was no longer considered fit for front line duty, usually through illness, injury or as the result of wounds received, but does not mean that he was out of danger, as the Labour Corps often worked in locations exposed to shelling and snipers.  Indeed his records show that he was severely wounded on September 21^st 1917.  He remained in France until December 29^th 1917, when he returned to England.  This was possibly due to further illness or injury.  Whatever the reason, following treatment in a London Hospital, as Private 201412, 1^st Labour Corps, he was discharged as no longer fit for war service due to bronchitis, on June 19^th 1918. 

Records show that, when awarded his war service medals, he and his family were still living in Rose Cottage.

Head, Alfred

Alfred appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on November 17^th 1887, the son of David and Elizabeth Head.  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived - refer to Albert Head for more family details.

Alfred married Lydia Titmuss on February 11^th 1911 and, by the time he enlisted, they had three children: William George (b 1911), Frederick Arthur (b 1913) and Leonard David (b 1915).  On December 12^th 1915, at the age of twenty-eight years and eleven months, he went to Hitchin and enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment.  At the time, he was working as a labourer and his home address was Holwell Road - probably one of the terraced cottages also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’.

On August 1^st 1916, Alfred was ‘Called to Colours’ and was first posted to the Bedfords, then, in November, to the Machine Gun Corps, 5^th Battalion and to the 220^th Company on December 16^th 1916.  They went to France on March 17^th 1917 and then Italy on November 19^th 1917.  He was given UK leave and left his Regiment on August 22^nd 1918, rejoining them in Italy on September 18^th.  The remainder of the war was spent there and he finally left for the UK in March 1919 with the Cadre*¹ of the Battalion.  He was not demobilised straight away, but was stationed at Dreghorn Camp, Edinburgh, until finally demobilised on September 9^th 1919.

Alfred and his wife Lydia seem to have spent the rest of their lives in Pirton as they are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Lydia died in 1969 and Alfred in 1976.

*¹  A small military unit capable of expanding.

Head, Charles

Charles appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 8^th 1893 to David and Elizabeth Head.  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived - refer to Albert Head for more family details.

He is recorded twice in the Parish Magazine: in October 1914 as being in the 1^st Hertfordshire Territorials, and in September 1915 as enlisting in 1914 after July, and serving in the 9^th Middlesex Regiment.  He would have been about twenty-one when he joined up.  The Hertfordshire Express of November 11^th 1914 also suggests that he was serving in the Middlesex Territorials, so his exact regiment may be uncertain.  However, by 1918, he was Private 94395, 222^nd Company of the Machine Gun Corps, with his home address as 3 Andrew’s Cottages (the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street).  His father, David, died in 1915, while he was serving.

Hill, William Albert

William is recorded in the Parish Magazine of February 1917 as enlisting and serving in the 5^th Suffolk Regiment, while the Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the 8^th Lancashire Fusiliers.  Unfortunately, parish and census records provide no further information.

Hodson, Harry (possibly Hodgson)

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Harry, who was serving in the Royal Engineers, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.

Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on October 29^th 1879 to William and Asenath Hodson (née Crouch and possibly Aisena or Asinath), so would have been thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list five children: Charles (bapt 1863), Emma (bapt 1871), Lois (bapt 1875), Joseph (bapt 1876) and Harry (b 1879).  It seems likely that this is the correct man.  However, the above information would normally be sufficient to confirm this man’s Pirton connection, so the reference of ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’ means that perhaps this is a false trail.

Hoye, Albert

Albert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on February 14^th 1877 to Elijah and Eliza Taylor Hoye (née Holes).  He would have been thirty-nine when he enlisted.  Baptism and census records list twelve children, but by 1911 one had died: Emma (bapt 1866), James (bapt 1867), Ann (bapt 1869), Harry (bapt 1871), Charles (bapt 1875), Albert (b 1877), Arthur (b 1873, d 1881, aged eight), Ellen (b 1880), William (b c1883), Lois (b 1884), Arthur (b 1888) and Elizabeth (b 1891).  The Hertfordshire Express of May 19^th 1917 reports that three brothers with the surname Hoye were serving; Albert and Arthur were two of them, but the third is uncertain.  James at forty-seven would have been too old, but it could have been Harry at forty-three, Charles at thirty-nine or William thirty-one; the latter obviously is the most likely.

In 1911, Elijah and Emily were retired and living, with their son William and grandson Peter Sexton in Workhouse Yard (somewhere near the junction of the High Street and Walnut Tree Road). 

Albert had married Emily Dawson in 1899 and, in 1911 they were living near his parents, also in Workhouse Yard.  They had five children: Annie (b c1900), James (b c1902), Ethel (b c1905), Grace (b c1907) and Cyril (b c1910).  Albert earned his living as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.

When he went to war he was married and a family man.  The Parish Magazine of July 1916 records him as having enlisted since March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the 10^th Suffolks.  By 1918, he is recorded as Private 5075, 6^th Battalion, Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment, with his home address as around Little Green.

Hoye, Arthur

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on April 5^th 1888 to Elijah and Eliza Taylor Hoye (née Holes).  He would have been twenty-six when he enlisted.  In all it would appear that three brothers served - refer to Albert Hoye for more family details.

In 1911, Elijah and Emily were retired and living with their son, William and grandson Peter Sexton in Workhouse Yard (somewhere near the junction of the High Street and Walnut Tree Road), and his brother Albert lived close by.  Arthur is missing from the census, so presumably living or working away from Pirton.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of October 1914 as enlisting and serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps – which may be an error as the Parish Magazine of September 1915 lists the 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment and in the June 1917 Magazine the 7^th Bedfordshire Regiment.  The latter two both record wounds.  The North Herts Mail of July 15^th 1915 explains the wounds, reporting that he had been home from Nottingham Hospital, where he had been recovering from bullet wound to his jaw and that, just a month earlier, he had been wounded in the groin.  Intriguingly in the North Herts Mail of July 13^th 1916, it is reported that he was in St Albans and stole a bicycle from outside the Queen’s Hotel.  He had entered, had a drink, left hurriedly and stolen a bicycle belonging to Joseph Hawes.  He was caught and agreed to go to the police station, but then darted down Victoria Street.  He was caught again, but again escaped by running down St Peter’s Street.  He was caught yet again, and this time arrested.  Two weeks later he had been charged and was in court.  He said ‘I admit I stole the bicycle and I am very sorry.  I did it because I did not want to go back to France.  I am a deserter and have been wounded twice.’  That carried no weight and he was committed for trial.

Given that he had already been wounded twice, his fear of going back was very understandable.  Although committed for trial, he appears, perhaps after some sort of punishment, to have been allowed to return to service.  If he had deserted in France, he may well have been shot.  His fears were not unfounded, and were perhaps a premonition, as the North Herts Mail of May 17^th 1917 reported that he had been wounded again, the third time, but on this occasion just a slight wound in the arm.

The Hertfordshire Express of May 19^th 1917 reports that three brothers with the surname Hoye were serving; Albert and Arthur were two of them, but the third is uncertain.  James at forty-seven would have been too old, but it could have been Harry at forty-three, Charles at thirty-nine or William thirty-one; the latter is obviously the most likely. 

By 1918, Arthur is recorded as Private 8550, 2^nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, with his home address as Little Green.

Hoye - either James, Harry, Charles or William

The Hertfordshire Express of May 19^th 1917 reveals that three sons of Elijah and Eliza Taylor Hoye (née Holes) served.  Baptism and census records list twelve children, but by 1911, one had died; Emma (bapt 1866), James (bapt 1867), Ann (bapt 1869), Harry (bapt 1871), Charles (bapt 1875), Albert (b 1877), Arthur (b 1873, d 1881, aged eight), Ellen (b 1880), William (b c1883), Lois (b 1884), Arthur (b 1888) and Elizabeth (b 1891).  Albert and Arthur were two who served, but the third is uncertain.  James at forty-seven would almost certainly have been too old, but depending on the date of enlistment it could have been Harry at forty-three, Charles at thirty-nine or William thirty-one.  The latter, as the youngest man, is the most likely to have served.

Hubbard, Eldred Richard, (Richard)

The 1911 census reveals the Hubbard family as husband and wife, Eldred and Eleanor, who had been married for fourteen years, and their children: Richard (b c1897), Eleanor (b c1898) and John (b c1907).  Only the latter two were born in Pirton, so the family must have moved to Pirton around 1906/07.  Richard was born in Hertford.  In 1911, at fourteen, he was working as a gardener’s boy, probably with his father who was a domestic gardener.

E. Richard is recorded in the Hertfordshire Express November 20^th 1914 as serving on the ship the Gloucester Castle (Transport).  From the age of his father - thirty-eight in 1911, it is much more likely to be his son Richard who served.

The Gloucester Castle was commissioned in September 1914 and served as a hospital ship with 410 beds.  By April 1915 she was taking part in the Dardanelles campaign, carrying Royal Marines and in 1917, although clearly identified as a hospital ship, was torpedoed by the German submarine UB-32 but did not sink.  It is not clear whether Richard was on board this ship at this time, because the Parish Magazines of June and September 1915 records Eldred Rich as enlisting during 1915, before August and serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ‘Reliance’.  H.M.S. Reliance spent a large part of her war service at Mudros (Gallipoli) and in the Mediterranean, but by January 1916 had been transferred to the Royal Field Artillery as a store support ship.

Obviously the information from the Parish Magazines is contradictory in respect of when he enlisted and his service history.  Another possibility is that they could perhaps refer to two different men or perhaps his father did serve, although that seems unlikely.  A Richard Edward Hubbard appears on the School War Memorial.  It is possible that they are the same man, or perhaps two men with similar names.  Unfortunately parish and census records do not clarify this situation.

Hubbard, Richard Edward

Richard Edward Hubbard appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  However, it could be that this is a mistake and perhaps this is the Eldred Richard Hubbard listed above.  If not, then perhaps some of the details for these two men have become confused. - see Eldred Richard Hubbard for possible information.  Unfortunately, parish and census records do not clarify this situation.

Jackson, Arthur Charles

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on April 29^th 1892 to Nathan and Ellen Jackson (née Odell).  He would have been twenty-two at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list two children: Arthur (b 1892) and George William Jackson (b 1898).  His younger brother George also served and survived.

Jackson, George William

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on May 16^th 1898 to Nathan and Ellen (née Odell).  He would have been sixteen at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list two children: Arthur Charles (b 1892) and George (b 1898).  His elder brother Arthur also served and survived.

Jarvis, Frederick, (Fred)

Frederick appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  He was working for Frank Burton before the war and lived in Andrew’s Cottages (the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street).  Parish and census records listed three Frederick Jarvis’, although cross-referencing these with burial records originally suggested only one entry that could be correct.  However, the release of the 1911 census revealed another possibility.

The first man was born on April 3^rd 1886 to Edith Jarvis and his father is not named.  He appears to have a brother or half-brother, Sidney John (b 1892), who died aged twenty months.  Edith later married Herbert Butterfield, in 1898.  Then in the 1901 census, Fred is recorded as living with his widowed grandfather William and working as a ploughboy and then in 1911, as still living with his grandfather and a farm labourer.  Edith Butterfield is not recorded so had possibly moved away with her husband.  

The second man identified was Fred Jarvis from Croydon, Surrey, fifteen in 1911.  He was working as a farm labourer and boarding with Joseph Waldock in West Mill Cottage. 

In the 1911 census, both men are recorded as Fred, so there is no clue from his name usage.  It is therefore not possible to say with certainty which man served.  The Fred that did is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1915 and serving in the 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment (number 20165).  The men identified above would have been twenty-nine and nineteen respectively, so it could be either.  A newspaper cutting from July 1916 confirms his enlistment date as April 1915 and that he went to the Front in October.  It also reports that Fred had recently been severely wounded in the head.  The North Herts Mail of August 31^st 1916 recorded that he was home on leave after convalescing in Hospital.  He must have recovered reasonably well from that wound, since by 1918 he was recorded as Lance Corporal 135120, “W” Company, Army Service Corps (ASC).  This may however indicate that he was no longer considered fit for the front line.  His home address was given as 4 Andrew’s Cottages, the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street.

Jenkins, Arthur Geoffrey, (Geoffrey)

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school, however little more can be confirmed.  Initial investigation only reveals an Arthur Alfred Jenkins born on May 26^th 1893 to Alfred and Elvina Elizabeth Jenkins (née Carter and sometimes recorded as ‘Edwina Elizabeth’, ‘Albina Elizabeth’ and ‘Elvira Elizabeth’, but believed to be the same person).  However, this Arthur Jenkins died aged ten months and was buried in 1894, so he could not be our man.  The 1911 census reveals a Geoffrey Jenkins (b c1899), so the only evidence points to him being our man.  Analysis of all the baptism and census records identifies eleven children, but by 1911 two had died.  The children were; Ethel (b c1886), Alice Elma (b 1887, d 1890, aged two years and three months), Montague Harold (b 1889), Arthur Alfred (b 1893, d 1894), Alfred Raymond (b 1895), Edward Victor (b 1897), Leonard Cyril (b 1899), Geoffrey (b c1900), John (b c1902), Norman (b c1905) and Emma (b c1909).  Four other brothers - Montague, Edward, Leonard and Arthur (Geoffrey) - are believed to have served and survived.  Alfred Raymond (known as Raymond) sadly died in the war and he is listed on the Village War Memorial.

Jenkins, Edward

Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Baptism and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served.  Edward Victor Jenkins was born on May 10^th 1897 to Alfred and Elvina Elizabeth Jenkins (née Carter and sometimes recorded as ‘Edwina Elizabeth’, ‘Albina Elizabeth’ and ‘Elvira Elizabeth’, but believed to be the same person).  He would have only been sixteen at the outbreak of war.   In all it would appear that five brothers served and four survived – refer to Arthur Jenkins for more family details.

Jenkins, Leonard Charles

Leonard Charles appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one man who could be correct, but baptism records show him as Leonard Cyril Jenkins.  However, there are errors on the School War Memorial so, in the absence of any other information, it is assumed that he is the correct man.  He was born on March 6^th 1899 to Alfred and Elvina Elizabeth Jenkins (née Carter and sometimes recorded as ‘Edwina Elizabeth’, ‘Albina Elizabeth’ and ‘Elvira Elizabeth’, but believed to be the same person).  He would have only been fifteen at the outbreak of war, so it is likely that he served in the latter stages.  In all it would appear that five brothers served and four survived – refer to Arthur Jenkins for more family details.

Jenkins, Montague Harold

Montague appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Baptism and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on August 20^th 1889 to Alfred and Elvina Elizabeth Jenkins (née Carter and sometimes recorded as ‘Edwina Elizabeth’, ‘Albina Elizabeth’ and ‘Elvira Elizabeth’, but believed to be the same person).  He would have only been sixteen at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that five brothers served and four survived – refer to Arthur Jenkins for more family details.

Jenkins, Raymond

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Raymond as serving in the Grenadier Guards and as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  An Alfred Raymond Jenkins from Pirton served, died and is recorded on the Village War Memorial.  He also served in the Grenadier Guards, but he has strong connections with Pirton, so the reference to an indirect connection would not seem to apply to this man.  No other information has been found to substantiate the existence of a second man with a similar name, but if he existed and was only ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’, then this would not be entirely unexpected.  So, at this time, it is not known if two men with similar names existed or whether they are one and the same man.

Kingsley, Oliver John Newton, (John)

John appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served.  He was born late 1895 or early 1896, the son of George and Sarah Ann Kingsley.  Census records list four children but by 1911 one had died.  At this time only three can be identified with certainty and they are James Griffin (b c1889), Edward George (b c1891) and Oliver John Newton. 

In 1911, the family was living in Rose Cottage, possibly in Royal Oak Lane, formerly Dead Horse Lane.  This must have been a divided property, as three other people lived there in what appear to be separated dwellings.  He was still living there in March 1^st 1916 when, aged twenty, he went to Hitchin to enlist.  On January 15^th 1917, he was posted to the 8^th Reserve Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery and then to the Army Veterinary Corps, 126^th Brigade on May 23^rd 1917.  He went to France on June 21^st and was very fortunate to receive two weeks home leave on July 12^th 1918.

Stan Ashton, Frank Ashton's son, believes that John joined up at the same time as Frank – who also survived, and that, after the war, John worked at Elm Tree Farm for Alan Walker.  A monument inscription in St. Mary’s churchyard, which also records his parents as George and Sarah, records that John died October 4^th 1963, aged sixty-eight. 

Lake, Albert George (George)

Albert George Lake appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on February 21^st 1898 to Charles James (James) and Susan Lake (née Catterill).  Baptism records list six children: twins - Edward and Ernest (b 1886), Ethel Emma (b 1888), Gertrude Jane (bapt 1891), Thomas (b 1895) and Albert George (b 1898).  However, a family tree held by Norah Lake adds Harry to the list but fails to include the two daughters.  The 1911 census records that they had nine children, of whom four had died, so there are two siblings who remain unnamed at this time.

The Hertfordshire Express of August 10^th 1918 reports Albert George’s brother Tom as the third son and confirms that one of his brothers was H. Lake (Harry).  So it is clear that Edward, Thomas and Albert George all served and survived. 

The Parish Magazine of September 1918 records George Lake as ‘called to service’.  The parish, census and school entrance records do not reveal any obvious candidate and therefore it is likely that Albert George and George were the same man.  He would have been twenty when called up.

Lake, Charles

Charles appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on May 17^th 1882 to George and Emma Lake (née Parkins).  He would have been thirty-two at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list nine children but by 1911 one had died.  The children were; Herbert Lindsay (b 1880), Charles (b 1882), Alice Emma (b 1883), Leonard (b 1885), Anne Elizabeth (b 1888), Ralph Joseph (b 1889), Frank (b 1893), Reginald (1895) and Philip (b c1904).  His brothers Herbert, Joseph (Ralph) and Reginald also served and survived.

Lake, Edward

Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on July 24^th 1886 (although his Canadian attestation papers record 1887) to Charles James (James) and Susan Lake (née Catterill).  He would have been about eighteen at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived – refer to Albert Lake for more family details.

Edward is absent from the 1911 Pirton census, so presumably he had already gone to Canada by this date.  It is recorded that, before his emigration, he worked for Mr Davis which would have been at Rectory Farm.

Edna Lake, from Victoria Canada, is Edward’s daughter and she adds to our information.  She confirms that Edward and Ernest were twins and that Edward emigrated to Canada in 1912 or thereabouts leaving his twin, Ernest, behind.  Ernest had married Ellen Rose Titmuss in 1909 and he seemingly spent the rest of his life in Pirton.  It is believed that Edward emigrated with four other Pirton men, Toby (Albert William) Buckett, Tom Abbiss, Charlie Stapleton and one of the Walkers, possibly Arthur Robert Walker.  However, there is conflicting information for the emigration dates, including a North Herts Mail report which suggests 1909 or 1910 for Toby.

He arrived in New Westminster, British Columbia with his friends and, very shortly afterwards, started work as a labourer in the construction of the new main road, Columbia Street.  He met Ethel Birch (b 1891 in London), who had also emigrated there.  They were married on April 28^th 1915.

The Parish Magazine of August 1916 records Edward as serving in the 131^st Overseas Regiment.  The North Herts Mail of November 30^th 1916 tells us that he had been home to Pirton on leave before rejoining his Regiment.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records his Regiment as the Canadian Forester's Corps - Edna confirms this to be the case, and his attestation papers confirm that he enlisted on February 28^th 1916.  He served in France and was demobilised on April 5^th 1919.  Edward, Toby, Tom and Arthur all joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force returning to Europe to fight – their allegiance to Great Britain still being strong.

After the war he returned to New Westminster and then, a few years later, moved to Victoria, where he worked on the roads for the Municipality of Saanich.  He lived there for the rest of his life.  ‘Dad kept in touch with the Pirton boys and I remember them in my younger days.’ - Edna Lake (b 1923).

Lake, Herbert

Herbert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on April 8^th 1880 to George and Emma Lake (née Parkins).  He would have been thirty-four at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and survived – refer to Charles Lake for more family details.

Lake, Ralph Joseph, (Joseph)

Joseph appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on November 17^th 1889 to George and Emma Lake (née Parkins).  He would have been twenty-three at the outbreak of war.  Ralph is recorded as Joseph in the 1891 and 1901 census and then as Ralph Joseph in 1911, so he is the right man.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and survived – refer to Charles Lake for more family details.

In 1911 he was still living in the family home near Burge End and working as a carpenter.  By 1918 he was recorded as 85419 A.M. (Aircraft Mechanic), Royal Air Force with his home address the same as his brother Reginald’s, West View, which is believed to be 15 Shillington Road.  As a carpenter, he would probably have been involved in the maintaining and repairing of those fragile aircraft of the time. 

He died on November 25^th 1962, aged seventy-three, and his ashes are interred in St. Mary's Church’s Garden of Rest.

Lake, Reginald

Reginald appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on June 22^nd 1895 to George and Emma Lake (née Parkins).  He would have been nineteen at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and survived – refer to Charles Lake for more family details.

In 1911, Reginald was still living in the family home near Burge End and working as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.  The Hertfordshire Express of October 17th, 1914 reports him as being present, on October 3^rd, when the ‘infamous fracas’ took place in Pirton, which led to the headline ‘War Against Special Constables.’ *¹ 

He enlisted in Hitchin on December 19^th 1915, aged twenty.  At that time he was working as a blacksmith’s stoker and unmarried.  He was not mobilised until almost a year later, December 2^nd 1916 and, during March 1917, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) as Private 88190.

Reginald had leave, probably embarkation leave, in August 1917; he was a day late returning and lost a day’s pay as punishment.  He left Southampton for Salonika on September 13^th 1917, arriving on October 11^th and then joined the 78^th MGC.  He remained in Salonika for the rest of the war, transferring to the 77^th MGC just before leaving for home on April 21st 1919, and was demobilised in December 1919.  His address, when discharged, was given as West View, Pirton, which is believed to now be 15 Shillington Road.  The Absent Voters’ List of 1918 confirms this to be the same home address as his brother Joseph.

He married and his wife’s name was Lilian Grace.  They are both buried in the churchyard, so it is likely that they lived in Pirton for the rest of their lives.  Reginald died on November 28^th 1960, aged sixty-five and his wife Lilian died on February 3^rd 1961, aged sixty-one.

*¹  The full report is included in the reference section of this book.

Lake, Tom

The name Tom Lake appears in the Hertfordshire Express of July 11^th 1914, which reports him as a member of the organising committee for the Pirton Transept Fête. 

He appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served and he was born on March 10^th 1895 to Charles James (James) and Susan Lake (née Catterill), so he would have been sixteen at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived – refer to Albert George Lake for more family details.

In 1911, he was still living in the family home near Burge End (a name then given to a much larger area than the current road) and was an apprentice coach and motor body builder.

By October 1918, he was serving as a driver in the Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps.  The Hertfordshire Express of October 10^th 1918 reports him as being on leave from France for his wedding to Miss Alice Miriam Weeden, with his brother Harry acting as best man.  Alice’s only brother Leonard Stanley Weeden was also serving at the Front.  After the war, Tom went on to be the Pirton dairyman.

The 1918 Absent Voters’ List confirms the above information and clarifies his address as one of Handscombe’s Cottages (the terraced row now at the beginning of Shillington Road).

Tom and his wife are buried the St. Mary’s churchyard.  Tom died in 1943, aged forty-eight and Alice in 1965 aged sixty-eight.  The monument inscription also names Bernard Wilfred Lake, died 1993, aged seventy.  Bernard was their son (b 1923).

Langmore, Leslie Gaspard

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Leslie, who was serving as a Captain in the 11th King's Liverpool Regiment, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Michael Newbery believes that Leslie was probably related to the Rev Erskine William Langmore, who was vicar of Pirton between 1903 and 1922.

Parish and census records provide no further information.  However, one possible clue comes from the Parish Magazine of August 1915, which records that the Vicar’s brother had been shot through the thigh, having already been wounded twice before, and was in a hospital in Rouen, France.  Perhaps Leslie was Rev Langmore’s brother.

Lawrence, Jack, (John)

Jack’s great niece, Rose Agnew, provided much of the following information and confirmed that Jack Lawrence was sometimes known as John.

Jack was born in Hitchin and baptised at St. Mary's Church (Hitchin) on August 10^th 1893.  He was the second of eight children born to George and Kate Lawrence (née Hill), four of whom were Lucy (b c1892), Jack (b c1894), George (b c1897) and William (b c1900).  He grew up at 9 Russell Slip in Hitchin.  His sister (Lucy?) died at about eleven years old, having contracted lockjaw (tetanus) while picking blackberries.

Jack married Violet Abbiss, a Pirton girl, on December 27^th 1915, the same day as Frederick William Brooks (another Pirton Soldier) married Annie Priscilla Carter.  Violet was a younger sister of the Frank Abbiss who died in the war, and who is listed on the Village War Memorial.  Jack’s brothers George and William also fought.  George, the grandfather of Rose, lost a lung after being gassed with mustard-gas in the trenches at Ypres, and she remembers the hacking cough it left him with for the rest of his life.  William died just two weeks before the Armistice, in what must have been one of the last battles of the war, during the taking of Heestert in Belgium.  Neither man had a direct connection to Pirton. 

Jack was wounded in the leg during the war, which resulted in its amputation.  Following the war, as with so many injured men, he was given training as a cobbler.  He trained at the Bedfordshire Disability Centre, and then repaired boots and shoes from his tin shed on Village Green, also known as Chipping Green and situated near to Great Green.  His skills not only earned a living, but when Rose’s father was born with rickets, which could well have crippled him for life, Uncle Jack fashioned the leg irons that enabled him to walk.  He went on to work as a postman for many years.

Jack and Violet had two sons Brian and Geoff.

Jack also features in Joy Franklin’s book – Memories of Old Joys.  Joy wrote; ‘Jack Lawrence, the local shoe mender, lost a leg in the First World War and rode a bicycle with one fixed pedal which intrigued me very much, but he sometimes walked to his little tin shop situated on the village green.  People used to congregate in this little shop for a chat and the children were just as welcome as were their elders, providing they behaved themselves.  He would hammer nails into heels and soles with a mouthful of nails for supply.  I always hoped he would not swallow any of them and I never heard that he did.  He used the expression 'Oh! Lor’.’ a lot and because of that some of us used to refer to him as ‘Oh! Lor’.’

Parish and census records provide no further information, except that he and his wife’s ashes are interred in the Garden of Rest of St. Mary's Church.

Lawrence, John

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records John as being a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, joining up sometime after August 1915 and before March 2^nd 1916.

Parish and census records provide no further information and, given that Jack Lawrence (above) was sometimes known as John, it would seem quite likely that they are one and the same man.

Males, Harry

Harry appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one man of this name who could have served and he was born on June 13^th 1892 to Ernest Ephraim and Mary Males (née Males (sic) - marriage records).  Baptism and census records list nine children: Emma (b 1873), William (b c1876), Rhoda (bapt 1879), James (b 1881), Jane (b 1883), Anne (b 1886), Clara (bapt 1889), Harry (b 1892) and Mary (bapt 1895).

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of November 1918 as enlisting ‘recently’ and serving in the West Yorkshire Regiment.  He would have been twenty-six years old. 

He married a girl called Mary from Leeds and later they lived in Letchworth.  They had two boys: Harold and Eric.

Males, John

John appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served and he was born on February 11^th 1895 to Charles and Sarah Ann Males (née Chamberlain).  He would have been nineteen at the outbreak of war.  The 1901 census records him as the nephew of Lucy Durham.  Baptism and census records list eleven children, but by 1911 four had died.  At this time, only ten can be identified with certainty; Rachel (b 1879), Clara Amelia (b 1882, d 1884, aged two years and eight months), Isabella Rose (b 1884), Ellen Elizabeth (b 1885), Alice (b 1887), Sarah (b 1888), Florence (b 1890, d 1891, aged twenty-one months), Michael George (b 1892), Arthur (b 1893) and John (b 1895).  His older brother, Michael, also served and survived.

In 1911, his parents were living with two of their children, Michael and Arthur, in 3 Holwell Road, and another, John, was a few doors away at number seven - the house of his brother in law John Baines and his sister Alice (now Baines).  John’s profession was given only as an iron foundry moulder, probably in Hitchin. 

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records John as serving in the Royal Engineers and in 1918 he was recorded as Sapper 193539, 96^th Field Company, Royal Engineers, with his home address the same as his brother Michael’s, 3 Holwell Road.  A photograph taken during the Second World War shows a John Males as serving in Pirton and Holwell Homeguard, possibly the same man.

Males, Michael George

Michael appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served and he was born on June 23^rd 1892 to Charles and Sarah Ann Males (née Chamberlain).  So he would have been nineteen at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived – refer to John Males for more family details.

In 1911, Michael was eighteen, still living in the family home at number 3 Holwell Road and earning a living as a boot repairer.

He is recorded in the September Parish Magazine of 1915 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 11^th Middlesex Regiment.  However, the Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the East Surrey Regiment.  In fact, both are true and this is confirmed by his certificate of discharge, which was provided by his grandson Alan Males.  This also confirms that he enlisted on August 15^th 1914 and that he served overseas, although confusingly gives a different date of birth (1894).  At some point, he was transferred to the 386 HS (Home Service) Labour Corps and then, as Private 626743, he was discharged on March 28^th 1919 as medical category B II.  This medical category might have been the reason for his transfer and means that he was not deemed suitable for combatant service - probably due to a war injury or sickness.

In a letter home in December 1914, he confirmed his Regiment as the 11^th Middlesex and lets his family know ‘I am getting on all right and hope to be at the Front soon with the boys.’

By 1918, he was recorded as Private 203318, 12^th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, with his home address the same as his brother John’s, 3 Holwell Road.

Alan also provides other information.  Within three months of his discharge, Michael married Elizabeth Maud Bethell at Marylebone Registry Office.  Interestingly, Maud’s brother Thomas married Michael’s sister Sarah.  After their marriage, Michael and Maud lived in Henlow, where he set up a business as a boot and shoe maker/repairer.  Sadly, Michael died in 1926 and is buried in Henlow churchyard.  Maud continued to live in Henlow until her death in 1964, aged seventy-three.

Miles, Elystan

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Captain Elystan as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Unfortunately, parish and census records provide no further information.

Morrison, Riddle

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Captain Riddle as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.

Parish and census records provide no further information for this man.  The only reference found is to a Robert James Alexander Morrison of Richmond, who married Gertrude Pollard of Highdown in 1900.  Perhaps he was a relative of James.

Mossman, William

William was only revealed during a search for soldiers’ service records.  His shows that, when he enlisted, he was living in Pirton. 

He was born in Pirton on August 31^st 1882 and married Jennie Ada Ashpool in Luton on March 29^th 1904.  William’s mother was Miriam Mossman and by then his father had died and William’s family was living in his mother’s house in Luton.  All three were connected with the straw hat trade and perhaps that is how William met his wife.  Miriam and Jennie were listed as straw hat finishers, and William as a straw hat stiffener.  At that date William and Jennie had two children, Miriam Leah (b 1904) and George Charles (b 1908), both born in Luton.  He enlisted there on September 5^th 1914, aged thirty-two, just a month after the war began.  He became Private 16436, “D” company, 7^th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.  His home address is now given more fully as 196 Wellington Street, Luton.  His service did not last long, as on January 25^th 1915, having not left the country, he was discharged as medically unfit due to deficient teeth and gastric pain.

Murray, John H.

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records John, who was serving in the Canadian Field Artillery, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Unfortunately parish and census records provide no further information, and there is insufficient information to locate him in the Canadian database and to find his attestation papers.

Newbery, John Norman, (Norman)

There appear to be several spellings of the surname, i.e. Newbery, Newberry and Newbury, but Newbery is believed to be the correct spelling for John Norman.

In a number of newspaper reports it seems that John was commonly known as Norman, and the name Norman Newbery appears in the Hertfordshire Express of July 11^th 1914, which reports the Pirton Transept Fête.  He was listed as a judge or official for the sports and as a member of the organising committee.

Norman appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school, although he appears as Norman John.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served and he was born on September 22^nd 1892 to William and Ellen Newbery.  William, his father, was the village blacksmith operating from Great Green and a church warden for twenty-six years.  Norman would have been twenty-one at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list three children, but by 1911 one had died; Ellen (bapt 1891, d 1891, aged two months), John Norman (b 1892) and William Alexander (b 1889).  William also served and survived.

Norman is recorded twice in the Parish Magazine; in September 1914 as being in the Territorials and in September 1915 as enlisting in 1914 after July, and serving in the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment.  The Hertfordshire Express of November 11^th 1914 reports that he was serving in the Middlesex Territorials, so his exact Regiment is uncertain and it could be that all the reports may be correct. 

A letter from Norman, dated December 1914, thanks Mr Franklin for the gift of jerseys for him, W Reynolds (could be Walter or William) and Edward Goldsmith.  It also confirms that all three were in “G” Company and in Thurston in Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmunds. 

He was a good friend of Fred Baines, who also served, and provided a gift of a case of carvers at Fred’s wedding to Kathleen Chambers in April 1917.

By 1918 he was recorded as Private 2367, 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment, with his home address as Great Green.

Newbery, William Alexander

There appear to be several spellings of the surname, i.e. Newbery, Newberry and Newbury, but Newbery is believed to be the correct spelling for William.

William appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on October 15^th 1889 to William and Ellen Newbery.  William his father was the village blacksmith operating from Great Green and had been a church warden for twenty-six years.  William would have been twenty-four at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list three children: Ellen (bapt 1891), William Alexander (b 1889) and John Norman (b 1892).  William’s younger brother, John (Norman), also served and survived.

The Hertfordshire Express of October 27^th 1917 reports that before the war William held ‘an important position as teacher, in the Licensed Vituallers School, London.’  He must have already enlisted by this date as it adds that he had ‘come home preparatory to joining the Forces’.  The Hertfordshire Express of November 17^th 1917, just three issues later, reports him ‘has(sic) Dover Castle’ (presumably stationed at Dover Castle) – this could be the H.M.H.S (Hospital Ship) Dover Castle. 

By 1918, he was recorded as Private 178526, Royal Garrison Artillery, with his home address as Great Green.

Nightingale, Alfred

All that is known of Alfred comes from the 1918 Absent Voters’ List.  He was Private 202815 in the York and Lancaster Regiment and his home address was given as The White Horse Inn, which was where The Motte and Bailey now stands on Great Green.  This is the same address as given for Percival Harry Wright and James William Wright, both of whom also served and survived.  Unfortunately, parish and census records currently provide no further information.

Odell, James

James appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on September 18^th 1883 to John and Mary Odell (née Dawson).  He would have been thirty at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list eleven children: Jane (bapt 1881), James (b 1883), Martha (bapt 1885), Robert (b 1886), Nellie (b 1888), Frank (b 1890), William (1894), Arthur (b 1896), John (b 1898, died at seventeen days), Frederick (b 1899) and Marjorie (b 1902).  His brothers Arthur and Frederick served and died in the war and are listed on the Village War Memorial. 

For most of John and Mary’s married life, the family lived at number 2 Silver Street, which was part of what is now number 10 or 12 Royal Oak Lane.

The family is shown in the various censuses of 1891, 1901 and 1911 as living near Little Lane, or in Dead Horse Lane - later renamed as Royal Oak Lane.  In fact, these could have all been the same house.  His brother’s official war records give the address as number two.

The Parish Magazine of September 1915 records that James enlisted in the Royal Navy during 1914 and served on the H.M.S. Galatea, but in fact he had joined the Royal Navy much earlier.  The Register of Seamen's Services for James shows that he joined for twelve years on September 18^th 1901 at eighteen and that he had been an electrician’s labourer.   He had dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a dark but fresh complexion, he was only 5’ 2” but grew to 5’ 4 ¾”.  His records show that he ‘Passed  educationally for Petty Officer’ on March 2^nd 1909.

The list of the ships he served on before the war is not always easy to read, but seems to include the H.M.S.s: Northampton, Cleopatra, Victory, D(?) of Welent, Hood,  Forequeen, Brilliant, Vernon, Barfleur, Duncan, Fisgard, Hecla, Imperieuse, Weymouth and ending in the Royal Fleet Reserve September 19^th 1913. 

Whether due to the anticipation of war or for other reasons James rejoined H.M.S. Veron on August 2^nd 1914, moving to H.M.S Galatea on November 14^th.  This ship was a light cruiser and, at the time, brand new, having been completed in December 1914.  In January 1915, the Parish Magazine records that Miss Helen Davis from Hitchin arranged for the Pirton men who were serving to receive a booklet called ‘The Happy Warrior’, which contained bible thoughts for each day of 1915 and some of the last words of Lord Roberts as the preface.  James had written saying, ‘I am very glad that they all think of us at sea.’ 

The North Herts Mail of June 15^th 1916 reported that ‘Able Seaman J Odell of H.M.S. Galatea sent a wire home saying he went through the recent battle in the North Sea The news is very comforting to his relatives and we trust that should there be another scrap he will pull through alright without any injury.‘

His ship is recorded as firing the first salvoes at the Battle of Jutland on May 31^st 1916, when she attacked the German light cruiser Elbing.

He stayed with the Galetea until June 1919 and  moved on to Victory and then Thunderer until 1921.

Olney, James

James appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Unfortunately, parish and census records provide no further information other than to confirm that the surname was present in Pirton at the time.

Olney, Joseph Frank, (Frank)

Joseph appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born in Highgate, Middlesex in about 1890.  He was the son of Sarah Olney and he appears as Frank in the 1911 census.  This information was derived from census records before 1911.  Other records show that Sarah was married to Thomas Olney, who was a railway labourer; as such he would have worked away from Pirton and this could explain his absence from some census records.  More recently Ian Saggers, Frank’s grandson, was able to add more information.  Frank was indeed the son of Tom and Sarah (née Jarvis) and born on August 24^th 1889.  Tom was born and raised in Ickleford and indeed as a railway worker he moved around with his family, but eventually settled in Pirton and Tom was subsequently described as an agricultural labourer.

Baptism and census records list eleven children, but, by 1911, one had died.  At this time, only ten can be identified with certainty: they are Alice (b 1896), Annie Eliza (b c1886), Rose (b 1889), Joseph Frank (b 1890), Sidney (b c1894), Lily (b 1896) and Frederick Charles (b 1900), Charles (b c1901), Leonard (b c1905) and Reginald (b 1910).  His brother Sidney also served and survived.

In 1911, Frank was living in the family home and working as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.  Like some of his brothers he was known by a nickname, ‘Nack’; Charles was ‘Dasher’, Len ‘Odod’ and Reg ‘Weary’.

The Parish Magazine of February 1917 records Frank as being ‘called up’ and serving in the Royal Field Artillery.  A newspaper article, believed to be from spring 1918, confirms that he was the brother of Sidney and the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Olney of Andrew’s Cottages (the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street).  It also informs us that Joseph or Frank was serving in India.  The family believe that he was a driver of a 13 pounder field gun and its attendant limber and although he was reluctant they think that he spent the whole of his army career in India and was part of the Governor General/Viceroy honour guard. As such they spent approximately six months of the year in Delhi with the remainder in the so called summer capital, Shimla.

In 1917 he wrote a postcard to his sister Alice (then Alice Hopkins) to whom he was very close.  The postcard is postmarked ‘Durban, 8th May 1917’ and is thought to be of the transit camp in Durban where the R.H.A. stayed during their voyage to India.  The text is headed ‘On active service’ and reads:

Dear sister Alice.  Just a few lines to let you know that I am getting on all right and I hope you are the same.  Tell Mrs Welch that I could not get her one of them because they had not got any more.  Think this all from your loving brother Frank, or good bye till we meet again. Frank’

By 1918, he was recorded as Driver 182823, 79^th Battery Royal Field Artillery, with his home address the same as his brother Sidney’s, 2 Andrew’s Cottages.

Frank married Alice Kate Head (a sibling of Albert Harold Head who served and survived) in the Pirton Wesleyan Chapel on July 31^st 1920.  They had two daughters, Ruth (b 1921, Ian Sagger’s mother) and Joyce (b 1935).  Following his discharge Frank returned to agricultural labouring and worked for many years for the Weeden family at Rectory Farm until retiring aged 70.  He remained active until dying suddenly just after Christmas 1971.

Olney, Sidney

Sidney appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born in Finsbury Park in about 1894, and was the son of Sarah Olney.  This information was derived from census records before 1911.  He would have been about twenty at the outbreak of war.  Other records show that Sarah was married to Thomas Olney, who was a railway labourer; as such he would have worked away from Pirton and this could explain his absence from some census records.  More recently Ian Saggers, Sidney’s great nephew, was able to confirm that Sidney was indeed the son of Tom and Sarah (née Jarvis).

In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived – refer to Joseph Frank Olney for more family details.

Before the war, Sidney used to work for Thomas Franklin as a ploughman.  He enlisted in November 1914 and served as Private 19156 in the “A” Section of the 2^nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.  He went to France in June 1915 and, within a month had been wounded in the right arm and was in hospital.  His parents received the news by letter on July 12^th.  Following hospital treatment, recovery and leave, he went to Salonika.

The North Herts Mail of October 12^th 1916 reported that he had transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers and had written to his mother saying that they ‘wish to be remembered to all’.  He had written from St Paul's Hospital in Malta, where he was recovering from enteric fever; a tropical infection, enteric fevers include typhoid and paratyphoid fevers and gastroenteritis.  It is not surprising that he became ill as, in the Salonika campaign, for every casualty of battle three died of malaria, influenza or other diseases.  He must have then gone to Egypt, as newspaper reports in April 1918 mention another wound, received there on March 10^th.  One of those reports confirms that Sidney was the younger brother of Joseph Frank and the second son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Olney of Andrew’s Cottages (the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street). 

By 1918, he was recorded as Private 22449, 5^th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, with his home address the same as his brother Joseph Frank’s, 2 Andrew’s Cottages.

Sidney returned from the war to marry and settle in Ickleford where he raised a family, and is survived by two grandchildren.

Pearce, Arthur

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on January 1^st 1896, the son of Charles and Naomi Pearce (née Hare).  Baptism and census records list six children but, by 1911, two had died and so had their mother Naomi (d 1906).  The children were; Jane (b 1888), John (b 1890), Albert (b 1892), Arthur (b 1896), Alfred (b 1898, d 1899, aged one year) and Frederick Charles (b c1904).  Arthur’s elder brother John also served and survived.

In 1911, Arthur was fifteen, still living in the family home, which was one of the Handscombe Cottages, Burge End - the row of terraced cottages in Shillington Road - and was earning a living as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.

Arthur is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1915, but before August, and serving in the 2^nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 20819.  He would have been nineteen years old.  The North Herts Mail confirms that, before the war, he worked for Thomas Franklin and that he went to the Front in February 1916.  He was reported missing on April 19^th, but subsequently on May 9^th, to his family’s great relief, he was confirmed as a prisoner of war and in Germany.  What a worrying five weeks that must have been for those that knew him.  In August he was in Gresham Camp and had written that he is all right, and sends no complaint and that he receives parcels from home and the Regiment.

The North Herts Mail of October 20^th 1917 reports that ‘Lance Corporal Arthur Pearce had sent home to Mrs Joan Burton of Burge End a photograph of the memorial to the Irish who died at Limbury.’  This must have been while he was a prisoner of war.  One theory, which might explain the photograph, is that as there was a prison camp at Limburg an der Lahn, which sometimes appears as Limbury an der Lahn, he may have spent time in that camp - although it seems that it predominantly held Irish prisoners of war.  Perhaps the prisoners themselves erected some sort of memorial to men who died, either in the camp or in the battles in which they were captured.  If this is correct, then his time there may have overlapped with Charles Titmuss, who also appears to have spent time there.

The Hertfordshire Express of December 1^st 1917 confirms that he was still a prisoner of war, but now in Giesson, presumably having been transferred there from Limbury.

Pirton resident Ron Burton recalled being told that at one time ‘the POWs were so hungry that they ate grass’; he also confirmed that Arthur was the brother of John Pearce who also served and survived. 

By 1918, he was recorded as 20819 (should be Lance Corporal), 8^th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with his home address as Handscombe's Cottages, Burge End.

Pearce, John (1)*¹

A John Pearce appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that, as a boy, the man who served he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest two entries that could be the man that served.  However, the information provided by Ron Burton confirms that one man who served was Arthur Pearce’s brother served and therefore this John was who was born on June 9^th 1890 and who was the son of Charles and Naomi Pearce (née Hare) definitely served.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived – refer to Arthur Pearce for more family details.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Training Reserve Battalion.

The identity of John is confirmed by the 1918 Absent Voters’ List, which identifies this John Pearce as Private 59779, 100^th Labour Corps and gives his address as the same as his brother Arthur’s, Handscombe's Cottages, Burge End, (the row of terraced cottages now at the start of Shillington Road).  Ron died in 2009, but always kept the shell fuse, which was brought back as a souvenir of the war by John, in a prominent position. 

*¹  This is a different person to Francis John Pearce (known as Jack) as he is recorded separately on the School War Memorial.

Pearce, John (2)*¹

Although Parish and census records suggest two men called John Pearce could have served, evidence to support the fact that both did came to light after the first edition of the book was published and thanks to the efforts of John T Smith.  As detailed above one of the men appears on the School War Memorial so certainly one of the Johns attended the school and in fact school entrants records suggest both did. 

This man was the born in Pirton on May 26^th 1885 and the son of the John and Jane Odell (née Jarvis).  Once identified census records reveal other children: Lucy (b c1870), George (bapt 1873), Arthur William (bapt-1875), Emma (bapt 1878), Elizabeth (b 1881), John (b 1885), Annie (b 1888) and Alice (b 1889).

Before the war he worked as a lathe hand.  He was quite tall at 5’ 11” with dark brown hair and blue eyes.  He joined the Royal Navy on January 17^th 1916 signing for the duration of the war.  He served on the H.M.S Pembroke 1 (possibly a training vessel) and H.M.S. Lancaster.  The latter was a Monmouth class, armoured cruiser, built in 1902.  She started the war as part of the 4^th Cruiser Squadron in the West Indies, later serving with the Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow and later still, as better ships were introduced, she was transferred to less dangerous areas such as the Pacific where she saw out the war.  John was demobilised in March 1919.

*¹  This is a different person to Francis John Pearce (known as Jack) as he is recorded separately on the School War Memorial.

Pitts, James

James appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

Adrian Pitts, who is researching the Pitt family, thinks that James may be the son born in 1883 to George and Ann Pitts.  This could indeed be correct, but parish and census records also suggest another possibility. 

Adrian’s suggestion is also supported by parish records, which record a James born on January 16^th 1883 to George and Ann Pitts (née Hare).  He would have been thirty-one at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list six children: Elizabeth (bapt 1877), Emma (bapt 1879), William (b 1881), James (b 1883), Ruth (b 1886) and Ellen (b 1889).

The other possibility was baptised in 1875, the son of Elizabeth Pitts.  Baptism records identify two children: James (bapt 1875) and Alice (b 1880), but no father is named.  The 1881 census confirms these children and lists another sister, Ann (b c1872).  James would have been about thirty-six at the outbreak of war. 

Elizabeth’s surname changed when she married George Trussell in 1885.  They had three children together; Ellen (bapt 1885), Emily (b 1886) and George Thomas (b 1888).  Sadly, they only had three years of marriage as George died in 1888.

In summary, it seems this James had two siblings and three possible half-siblings and, if this is the correct James, then it was his half-brother George who served and was killed, and he is recorded on the Village War Memorial.

Unfortunately, it is not certain which is the correct man.  However, he is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1915, but before August, and serving in the Royal Engineers.

Pitts, Walter James

Walter appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 13^th 1899 to William Josiah and Abigail Pitts (née Goldsmith).  He would only have been fifteen at the outbreak of war and so it is likely that he served in the latter stages of the war.  Census records confirm Walter James (b 1899) and Martha (b 1901) as children and Adrian Pitts, who is researching the Pitts family, was able to add Ethel Annie (b 1904) and Zilla Rose (b 1905).

Walter married Elizabeth Florence Tansley, the daughter of Alfred Sharp and Florence Emily Tansley, on September 15^th 1923 in St. Johns Church, Hitchin.  Elizabeth was born in 1901 in Pirton and they had two children: Raymond Wally and Derrick William Pitts.  Walter and Elizabeth are both buried in Holwell, Walter passed away on July 20^th 1974.

Adrian consulted his father about Walter, and he produced Walter's war medals inscribed on the edge with ‘46160 Pte W J Pitts Rif Brig’, confirming that he served in the Rifle Brigade.  He also confirmed that Walter had been wounded, receiving a shrapnel wound to the nose.  It is thought that this required a plate to be inserted.

Pocock, Edwin

All that is known of Edwin comes from the 1918 Absent Voters’ List.  He was Private 48097 in “B” Company, 1^st Battalion, H.C.B. and his home address given as Holly Cottage, Hambridge Way.  C.B. indicates Cyclist Battalion.  Research shows that a number of men serving in the Hertfordshire Regiment transferred to the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion.  Perhaps this is the battalion in which Edwin served.  Unfortunately, parish and census records currently provide no further information.

Pollard, Hugh B. C.

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Lieutenant Hugh as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Michael Newbery informs us that Hugh’s connection to Pirton was that he was the grandson of Joseph Pollard of Highdown, and this is confirmed by census records.  These also record him as being born in Marylebone, London, and aged two in the 1891 census.  This means that he would have been about twenty-five at the outbreak of war.

Poulter, F.

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Mr Poulter, who was serving in the 18^th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Unfortunately, parish and census records provide no further information.

Reynolds, Arthur (1)

The name Arthur Reynolds appears twice in the Parish Magazine, once in February 1917, recording one Arthur Reynolds as being ‘called up’ since the last list, and then in November 1918, recording another Arthur Reynolds as ‘joined up lately’ and serving in the Army Service Corps (ASC).  This suggests that there were two men with the same name and it is possible to identify two possible men from baptism records.  One Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that at least one of the men attended the school.

As there is a considerable difference in age between the two men, it was originally assumed that the early entry would refer to the older man and vice versa.  However, the discovery of the official service record for one of the men contradicts this and raises questions as to whether there were in fact two men.  This is because the latter Parish Magazine entry refers to the ASC, but the service record confirms that the younger man was in the ASC and that he was called to service in October 1916.  This would seem to reflect the earlier Parish Magazine report.  This could simply mean that the later Parish Magazine is wrong, but as it is still possible that both men served and both served in the ASC, they are included here.

This Arthur was born on April 5^th 1897 to Frank and Elizabeth Reynolds.  Baptism and census records list six children, but by 1911 two had died.  At this time only five can be identified with certainty; they are Lillian (b 1881), Annie (bapt 1885), Charles (b 1887), Frederick (b 1894) and Arthur (b 1897).  Frederick also served and survived.

Arthur was working as a coach builder when he enlisted and, at nineteen, was called to service on October 11^th 1916, becoming Private 231762 in the Army Service Corps (ASC).  He was given the opportunity to learn to drive and passed his test on January 21^st 1917, becoming a lorry driver in the Motor Transport Corps (MTC) of the ASC.  It appears that he served entirely on home service. 

Between January and March 1917 he drove lorries in the 12^th Company, then to August 1918 was listed as an MTC driver in the 804 MTC ASC Darlington. 

The Hertfordshire Express of April 13^th 1918 reports that Arthur was serving in the ‘Transports’ in Wiltshire.  The report confirms his parents as Mr and Mrs Frank Reynolds, who lived in Handscombe Cottages, Burge End - the row of terraced cottages in Shillington Road and that his elder brother, Frederick, was also serving.  In the Absent Voters’ List of 1918 his home address was confirmed as the same as his brother Frederick’s, 1 Handscombe's Cottages, Burge End.

He spent a brief period to the middle of September 1918 with the 7^th Company, before moving to the 728^th MTC, which conveniently for Arthur operated out of Hitchin until April 1919.  After a short gap, presumably leave, he moved to the 373^rd MTC and remained with them until he was demobilised on December 25^th 1919 as Private 231762, 373^rd Motor Transport Company, RASC (Royal Army Service Corps).  At that time he was recorded as having a thirty percent disablement, due to DAH (Disordered Action of the Heart), and received a provisional award of 12s 0d per week.

Reynolds, Arthur (2)

The information given above explains the possibility that two Arthur Reynolds served.  The first is identified above.  If a second man served, then the only other possibility identified is an older man, who was baptised on April 1^st 1877 and was the son of Oswald and Emily Reynolds (née Larman) (m-1874).  He would have been about thirty-seven at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list four children: Clara (bapt 1874), Arthur (bapt 1877), Alice (bapt 1879) and Nellie (bapt 1884).

Reynolds, Frederick (1)

The name Frederick or Fred Reynolds appears twice in the Parish Magazine, once as Fred in September 1915 as enlisting during 1915 and before August, and serving in the Westminster Dragoons.  Then in the November 1918 Parish Magazine, a Frederick Reynolds is recorded as ‘joined up lately’ and serving in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Regiment (should be York and Lancaster).  This suggests that there were two men with the same name and it is possible to identify two possible men from baptism records.  One Frederick appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that at least one of the men attended the school.

The discovery of the service record for one of the men provides information which questions whether there were actually two men of this name who served.  The man appearing here definitely served and, because of his enlistment date, he would be the former mentioned above but he did not serve in the Westminster Dragoons as reported.  He served in the York and Lancs Regiment, which the Parish Magazine attributes to the latter man.  Other possible men have been identified from official records.  So it is still possible that two men of the same name did serve, but that the Parish Magazine confused their information.

The Hertfordshire Express of April 13^th 1918 provides information on the Frederick Reynolds, who served in the York and Lancs Regiment.  The newspaper reports that, before the war, this Frederick was a footman in private service in Scotland.  His parents were Mr and Mrs Frank Reynolds, who lived in Handscombe Cottages, Burge End - the row of terraced cottages in Shillington Road, and that his younger brother Arthur was also serving.  It also reports that Private Frederick had written from the General Hospital in Etaples, France, to say he had been wounded on the 21^st (March?).  The official report said ‘gun-shot, shoulder and knee, severe.’ 

This confirms that he is the man for whom a service record exists and that he was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Reynolds, baptised on May 13^th 1894.   In all it would appear that two brothers may have served and survived – refer to Arthur Reynolds(1) for more family details.

Frederick was a postman when he signed his attestation papers on August 23^rd 1915.  He joined the Territorial Force, 2^nd Battalion, County of London Regiment, at the age of twenty-one and became Private 2749.  His service records show that he remained on home service until April 25^th 1916, and then he left for France.  He remained there until August 19^th 1917 when he returned to the UK, transferring to the Tank Corps the next day, probably as Private 300765.  He then joined the York and Lancaster Regiment on August 28^th, as Private 205415 and then, presumably, had a period of training.  He returned to France on November 29^th 1917 and joined the 12^th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, in the field on December 8^th. 

The Absent Voters’ List of 1918 recorded him as Private 205415, York and Lancaster Regiment with his home address the same as his brother Arthur’s, 1 Handscombe’s Cottages, Burge End - one of the row of terraced cottages in Shillington Road.

In March 1918, he was in the area of Bayeaux, when the Germans launched their massive Spring Offensive, and he received a gun shot wound to the shoulder on the 22^nd.  As a result, he was moved back to a hospital in the area of Etaples.  Following his recovery, he was transferred to the 31^st Prisoner of War Company, Labour Corps as Private 564436.  Perhaps he was unhappy about this because, on June 6^th, before joining them, he broke out of camp after roll call and was caught returning to camp at 6am the next day.  He forfeited a day’s pay and was deprived of a further seven days’ pay.  He joined his new Regiment as Private 564436 on June 19^th 1918.  Later that year, in December, he was give UK leave, but was again a day late returning and received more punishment, this time being confined to barracks for seven days.

Frederick remained in France until May 5^th 1919 and was demobilised on June 3^rd 1919.

Reynolds, Frederick (2)

As explained above, the information available suggests that there were two Fred or Frederick Reynolds who served.  Much of the information is confirmed as being for the Frederick listed above, so it is more difficult to identify the Frederick who may have served with the Westminster Dragoons.  Discounting the above Frederick Reynolds then, the parish and census records suggest two possible men.

The first was five in the 1891 census, so he was born in about 1886 or 1887.  He was the grandson of Ann Reynolds, and would have been about twenty-three at the outbreak of war.  The records are confusing, but Edgar Dawson married Elizabeth Jane Reynolds*¹ in 1888 and the 1891 census records list them as living in the house belonging to Elizabeth’s mother, Ann.  There are five grand children listed, including two Joseph Reynolds.  They are Joseph Reynolds (b c1878), Joseph Reynolds (b c1881), Frederick Reynolds (b c1886), Reginald Dawson (b 1889) and Ethel Annie Dawson (b 1890).  Frederick was actually the son of Ann’s son, also named Frederick and Lavinia Reynolds (née Pitts) and born in Rotherhythe.   

Reginald and Ethel are confirmed as Edgar and Elizabeth’s children and then baptism and the 1911 census confirm their other children as Emily Almond (b 1891, d aged six weeks), Charles (b c1896), Bertie (b c1898), Kate (b c1900) and Harry (b c1905).  The census also confirmed eight children, two of whom had died.

There are no children listed as Elizabeth’s in 1881, before she was married, but it is possible that Joseph Reynolds (the youngest) and Frederick Reynolds were also her children.  However, this has not been proved and therefore it is not clear whether any of the children named are Frederick’s siblings or half siblings, nor who his parents were.

The second possible man was baptised on August 3^rd 1873, the son of William and Sarah Reynolds.  Baptism and census records identify eight children: Elizabeth (bapt 1862), Amos (bapt 1864), Fanny (b c1866), Mary Ann (b c1868), Alice (b 1870), Frederick (bapt 1873), Ruth (bapt 1876) and Charles (b c1885).  Frederick would have been forty-one at the outbreak of war, which is only just young enough to have served.  In 1898, he was listed as from Shilley Green, (near Hitchin, not far from Rush Green) when he married Ellen Catterill from Pirton.

Unfortunately it is not certain which, if either, of the above is the second Frederick Reynolds who served, if indeed one did, but the former is certainly the most likely.

*¹  This was her maiden name.  She is not the Elizabeth Reynolds identified as the mother of the first Frederick Reynolds as she and her husband are still listed in the 1911 census; therefore there are two Elizabeth Reynolds.

Reynolds, George Thomas

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 21^st 1890 to Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds (née Catterell).  He would have been twenty-four at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list fifteen children, but by 1911, five had died: James (bapt 1870, d 1871, aged seven months), Clara (bapt 1872, d 1874, aged two years), Maria (bapt 1874), Jacob (bapt 1876), Peggy (bapt 1877), Daisy Emma (b 1879, possibly d 1900, aged twenty), Mary (b 1881), William (b 1883), Albert (bapt 1884), Abigail (b 1886), Sarah (b 1888), George Thomas (b 1890), Harry (b 1890 and George’s twin), Emily Agnes (b 1893) and Walter (b 1894). 

By 1911, all but Walter appear to have left the family home, which was 3 Wesley Cottages - the group of cottages behind the terrace which now contains the village shop.  George does not appear in the Pirton census, so must have been working or living away from Pirton at the time.

A newspaper cutting from very late 1917, or perhaps early 1918, provides confirmation that George's parents were Mr and Mrs Lewis Reynolds of 3 Wesley Cottages.  His father had a small-holding and his mother had been an invalid for several years.  George was one of six brothers serving; the others were Walter and Albert, who both died and are listed on the Village War Memorial, and Jacob, William and Harry who survived.  It is also recorded that they had at least one sister, whose husband was also serving.  At the time of the report, George was serving as a private in the Suffolk Regiment, but had not yet gone to war, as he was helping his father.

A monument inscription in St. Mary’s churchyard records that George died on June 10^th 1946, aged fifty-six.  It also lists Mabel Florence Cook died April 27^th 1988, aged ninety.

Reynolds, Harry

Harry appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 21^st 1890 to Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds (née Catterell).  So he would have been twenty-four at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that six brothers served, four survived - refer to George Thomas Reynolds for more family details.

By 1911, all but Walter appear to have left the family home, which was 3 Wesley Cottages - the group of cottages behind the terrace which now contains the village shop.  Harry does not appear in the Pirton census, so must have been working or living away from Pirton at the time.

A newspaper cutting from very late 1917 or perhaps early 1918 provides confirmation that Harry’s parents were Mr and Mrs Lewis Reynolds of 3 Wesley Cottages.  His father had a small-holding and his mother had been an invalid for several years.  Harry was one of six brothers serving; the others were Walter and Albert, who both died and are listed on the Village War Memorial, and Jacob, William and George who survived.  It is also recorded that they had at least one sister, whose husband was also serving. 

Harry was a driver in the Royal Horse Artillery in France, but prior to December 1917 had been badly gassed.  He must have recuperated because the newspaper reports him as returning to his Regiment in Yorkshire.  It also reports that he was married.

A monument inscription in St. Mary’s churchyard records that Harry died on June 10^th 1955, aged sixty-five.  It also lists Elizabeth as his wife.  She died November 26^th 1959, aged seventy-four, and Francis William Reynolds, presumably their son, died in 1944 aged twenty-one.

Note: The 1911 census indicates that there is another man of this name, the son of John and Ann Reynolds; however because of the evidence from the newspaper reports he is not the Harry that served

Reynolds, Jacob

Jacob appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on June 4^th 1876 to Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds (née Catterell).  So he would have been thirty-eight at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that six brothers served and four survived - refer to George Thomas Reynolds for more family details.

By 1911, all but Walter appear to have left the family home, which was 3 Wesley Cottages - the group of cottages behind the terrace which now contains the village shop.  Jacob does not appear in the Pirton census, so must have been working or living away from Pirton at the time.

Two newspaper cuttings, one from very late 1917, or perhaps early 1918, and the other from around August 1918 provide the following information.  Before the war Jacob had been an ostler (stableman) at the Sun Hotel in Hitchin and was also a driver for Hitchin Fire Brigade.  He had a wife and six children.  The earlier article confirms Jacob's parents were Mr and Mrs Lewis Reynolds of 3 Wesley Cottages.  His father had a small-holding and his mother had been an invalid for several years.  Jacob was one of six brothers serving; the others were Walter and Albert, who both died and are listed on the Village War Memorial, and William and Harry and George who survived.  It is also recorded that they had at least one sister, whose husband was also serving.  At the time of the report Jacob was on home service.

Reynolds, Philip

Philip appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records initially suggest only one possible man of this name who could have served, and he was Philip Kenneth Reynolds, born on December 8^th 1899 to Fanny Reynolds.  The release of the 1911 census seems to reveal another possibility, Philip (b c1900) the son of John and Ann.  However, this is probably a mistake as the earlier1901 census records him as their grandson and so Fanny, his mother, was John and Ann’s daughter.  Fanny was unmarried.

The Parish Magazine of September 1918 records Philip as ‘called to service’.  He would have been eighteen when called up.  Parish and census records provide no further information other than to record a Philip Reynolds, who died on March 20^th 1974, aged seventy-four and is buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.

Reynolds, William

William appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on January 24^th 1883 to Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds (née Catterell).  He would have been twenty-four at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that six brothers served and four survived - refer to George Thomas Reynolds for more family details.

In 1904, on March 12^th, William married Margaret Barnes.  His sister Abigail and brother Albert were witnesses.  At that time William was a gamekeeper,

By 1911, all but Walter appear to have left the family home, which was 3 Wesley Cottages - the group of cottages behind the terrace which now contains the village shop.  William does not appear in the Pirton census, so must have been working or living away from Pirton at the time.

A newspaper cutting from very late 1917 or perhaps early 1918 provides confirmation that William's parents were Mr and Mrs Lewis Reynolds of 3 Wesley Cottages.  His father had a small-holding and his mother had been an invalid for several years.  Harry was one of six brothers serving; the others were Walter and Albert, who both died and are listed on the Village War Memorial, and Jacob, Harry and George who survived.  It is also recorded that they had at least one sister, whose husband was also serving.  At the time of the report, William was a private in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry serving as an officer's servant in France.  He had a wife and five children living in Edenbridge, Kent.

A letter from Norman Newbery, dated December 1914, thanks Mr Franklin for the gift of jerseys for him, W Reynolds (could be Walter or William) and Edward Goldsmith.  It also confirms that all three were in “G” Company and at Thurston in Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmunds. 

Grace Tullett (née Abbiss), William’s Granddaughter, provided the photograph and confirms that he was born in 1883 and died in 1968.

Roberts, George

There were two George Roberts, both listed in the Parish Magazine of September 1915.  The first George Roberts enlisted during 1914, but after July, and was serving in the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment.  The report also recorded that he was wounded.  The second man was recorded as George Roberts (senior), who enlisted during August 1915 and served in the Army Service Corps.  Len Blackburn, Sidney George’s son-in-law, confirms that he was commonly known as George.

Careful analysis of the several newspaper cuttings that refer to George Roberts reveals that they all seem to relate to Sidney George (next entry), and very little information was available for George until his service record was found.  They revealed that he was born in 1871.  In 1915, he was working as carpenter, with his address being in Great Green.  He had married Georgina Stanbridge on October 31^st 1898 and they had two children: Lewis (b 1902) and Harold Joseph (b 1912).  He signed his attestation papers in London on July 3^rd 1915, aged forty-four, and became Private 13610 in the Army Service Corps (ASC).  Labour was desperately needed in France to free up first line troops to fight, so he went to France very quickly, embarking on July 18^th on the S.S. Lydid and then, within a month, had transferred to the 16^th Labour Company.  In November 1916 he was treated in hospital for multiple abrasions, which happened while he was loading hay on to trucks at the base supply depot.  He suffered another injury and was again treated in hospital in December, this time a contusion (bruising) at the upper end of his tibia; however, this injury was not while on duty.  In February 1917 the Labour Corps was formed and, in August, he was transferred to it.

By the end of the war, he was recorded as Private 305443, 126^th Labour Corps, and was demobilised on March 22^nd 1919, by which time his home address was 7 Dunstable Street, Ampthill.

Roberts, Sidney George, (George)

As explained above, there were two George Roberts, both listed in the Parish Magazine of September 1915.  The man recorded as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and who was serving in the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment is this man.  The Parish Magazine also recorded that he had been wounded.  Len Blackburn, Sidney George’s son-in-law, confirmed that Sidney George was commonly known as George.

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records confirm that he was baptised Sidney George and was born on November 21^st 1893 to Charles and Isabel Reynolds (née Lake).  He would have been twenty at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list three children: Alice Mary (b 1891), Sidney George (b 1893) and Rose (b 1896).

In 1911, George was seventeen and working as a farm labourer on one of the local farms, but when war came he was working as an undergroom in Wellbury for a Mrs Gosling.

Letters home from the Front reveal much about his experience; they describe the twenty-mile walk of the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment to get to the trenches, with the ‘First night billeted in a town, then slept in a barn’.  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent digging trenches.  By Boxing Day, they were occupying them and only about 200 yards from the Germans.  ‘We are all tired and want to sleep.  What with the rattle of the big guns and having to keep awake it soon begins to play on us.’  ‘It seems as if everyone must get hit, with the shells bursting over our heads the whole time.’  ‘We have seen some sights since we have been out here, what with towns and villages that have been destroyed and people being turned out of their houses.  We shall all be glad when it is over.’  And in another letter ‘On New Year’s Eve we could hear the Germans singing, as we were only about 200 yards from their trenches.  Thank God we got through it once again.  You will be pleased to know that all the Pirton chaps are quite well, and we still have some lead left for the Germans!’  On this occasion, they remained in the trenches until January 20^th.

He was wounded sometime in May 1915 and sent a field card home to his parents, telling them that he had been wounded in the head and legs and was in the base hospital in France – the British Army did not issue helmets until late 1915.  Initially, it was thought to be not too serious, but by the 27^th his parents had received a letter to say that it was more serious than had first been thought, and that he had been returned to England and was now in Walsworth Hospital in London.  The North Herts Mail was reporting and ended with its good wishes ‘We hope the brave young soldier will soon get convalescent.’  A later report revealed that he had been with Arthur Walker and Sidney Smith also of the same Regiment.  Sidney was also wounded.  Arthur escaped uninjured, but was killed in a similar incident in September 1916 along with John Parsell.  By cruel coincidence, George was present at both and wounded in both.  In the second incident he was returned to King George’s Hospital in Stanford Street London.  One wonders how many other unreported near misses they had experienced.

Other newspaper cuttings from the village scrapbook provide more information.  They confirm George was the son of Mr and Mrs Charles Roberts, who lived near Little Green.  Cross-referencing this information with other articles recording the death of John Parsell suggest that the article is dated sometime around September 1916.  This confirms that, in the second incident George was slightly wounded in the ear by a fragment of a shell and was later transferred to King George’s Hospital in London.  This was almost certainly the same shell that killed John Parsell and Arthur Walker. 

Perhaps because of his injuries he may have transferred regiments and duties, since, in the 1918 Absent Voters’ List he was recorded as Private 254547, Agricultural Corps, Labour Corps, with his home address given as Little Green.

Len Blackburn kindly provided the following information: “George was my father in law, he had married Annie Emily Carter in the late 1920s and lived in 24 Royal Oak Lane.  He was a carpenter by trade, working for a film-maker in Welwyn Garden City and then for British Rail.  He was also the Chairman of the Pirton branch of the British Legion and went to the annual Remembrance Service at the Royal Albert Hall up until about 1971.”  George and his wife's ashes are interred in the Garden of Rest of St. Mary's Church.  George died in 1980 and Emily in 1983.

The North Herts Mail of December 17^th 1914 gives information for a Private T G Roberts (note T G not S G) serving in “G” Company of the Hertfordshire Territorials.  A search of the parish and census records does not reveal any T or a T G Roberts, so it is probable that the T G is a misprint of the S G Roberts.  This is supported by the fact that the content of the letter seems to fit with letters quoted above, and that T G and S G Roberts are both listed as in “G“ Company, 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment. 

In a letter to Mr Franklin, he wrote ‘We are not up in the firing line just now, but have been there.  We can hear the guns where we are and want to get up there.  The French relieved us (the) first time we went in the trenches.  All the Pirton lads in 1^st Herts. are quite well and happy.’ 

Reynolds, T. G.

See Roberts, Sidney George.

Scott, James

The man’s name was found in the 1918 Absent Voters’ List.  He was Private 47500, Royal Army Medical Corps and his home address was given as Great Green.

Parish and census records suggest only one possible man, a James Scott who was the father of William Foster Scott from Brompton Sw (possibly Brompton on Swale) who married Kate Weston of Pirton on December 31^st 1900.  Perhaps he moved with his son to live in Pirton, but surely, as the father of William, he would have been too old to have served?

Sexton, Peter

Peter appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Unfortunately, the parish and census records available provide no further information.

Sharpe, Albert James

Albert was only revealed during the search service records for Pirton soldiers.  He lived in one of the Wellbury Cottages on the Hexton Road which were in the Parish of Pirton. 

He was born in West Hill, Wandsworth and had married Pirton born Louisa Weston on April 13^th 1903 in Pirton.  They had obviously lived in various parts of the country as their first born child Harold Albert was born in Southfields, and the next two, Dorothy Mary (b 1907) and John Edward (b 1909), were born in Tisbury, Dorset (now Wiltshire).

By 1915, he was working as a chauffeur and living in one of the Wellbury Cottages.  He signed his attestation papers on April 24^th 1915, aged thirty-nine.  His previous work made him suitable for the Motor Transport Corps (MTC) section of the Army Service Corps (ASC) and he joined the 234^th Company, MTC as Private 113396.  He is listed as on home service until December 19^th 1915, when he joined the 338^th Company, and then served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Salonika until March 11^th 1919.  He arrived back in England on the 29^th but was not demobilised until April 24^th.

Shepherd, Sheppard or Shepperd?

There is potential for confusion arising from the different spellings of this name and which applies to the following men.  Different families, perhaps connected, used a different spelling and parish and census records also vary, so usage is unclear.  The spelling that appears to be most common in the 1911 census has been used, even if the parent’s surnames appear differently in earlier records.  We apologise if this is incorrect.

Sheppard, Harry

Harry appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one possible man of this name who could have served, and he was born on June 12^th 1889 to Alfred Thomas and Elizabeth Shepherd (née Walker).  He would have been twenty-five at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list eleven children, but by 1911 one had died.  The children were; Rosetta (bapt 1877), Clarence Frederick (bapt 1878), Hedley Albert (b 1880), Mabel Lizzie (b 1882), Cordelia Jane (bapt 1884), Bertie John (b 1887, d 1894, aged seven), Harry (b 1889), Alice Elizabeth (bapt 1891), Sidney William (b 1893), Violet Maud (b 1896) and Lilian Grace (b 1899).  Harry’s brothers Hedley and Sidney also served and survived.

In 1911, the family home was around Little Green.  Harry, then twenty-one, was living with his parents and working as a machinist in a joinery works. 

He is recorded in the September Parish Magazine of 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1915, but before August, and serving in the Royal Naval Flying Corps (this must be Royal Naval Air Services or Royal Flying Corps).  The skills learned in his work would have been essential to keep these fragile machines repaired and in the air.

Sheppard, Hedley Albert (Eddy)

Hedley Sheppard appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one possible man of this name who could have served, and he was born on October 22^nd 1880 to Alfred Thomas and Elizabeth Shepherd (née Walker).  He would have been thirty-three at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list eleven children, but by 1911 one had died.  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived - refer to Harry Sheppard for more family details.

In 1911, the family home was around Little Green, but Hedley is absent and not listed in the Pirton census, so was presumably working or living away from Pirton.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1915, but before August, and serving in the King’s Royal Rifle. 

The North Herts Mail of December 14^th 1916 reports that Sapper ‘Eddy’ Sheppard was married, lived around Great Green and had been in France for fifteen months.  It also adds that he was currently on leave in Pirton.  Although listed as Eddy, he is believed to be Hedley as no alternative man has been found in parish or census records and Clare Baines, who has a tremendous amount of knowledge about Pirton history and its inhabitants, believes Eddy and Hedley to be the same man.

By 1918, he was recorded as Private 90552, Royal Engineers, with his home address as ‘near’ Great Green.

Sheppard, Sidney William

Sidney Sheppard appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one possible man of this name who could have served, and he was born on October 13^th 1893 to Alfred Thomas and Elizabeth Shepherd (née Walker).  If this is the right man, then he would have been twenty at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list eleven children, but by 1911 one had died.  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived - refer to Harry Sheppard for more family details.

In 1911 the family home was around Little Green.  Sidney, then seventeen, was living with his parents and working as an undertaker’s apprentice. 

Smith, Arthur Frederick

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on July 21^st 1899 to Frederick and Lizzie Smith (née Arnold).  He would have been fifteen at the outbreak of war, and so it is likely that he served in the latter stages.  Baptism and census records list three children: Arthur Frederick (b 1899), Eleanor Mary (b c1902) and Alice (b 1910). 

The North Herts Mail of November 19^th 1914 reports that a Fred Smith, almost certainly Arthur’s father, had offered himself as a recruit, but at fifty-one, was considered too old to serve.

Smith, Charles (possibly Bertram Charles)

Charles appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest two possibilities for the man that served:

The first was born on November 16th 1881 to Edwin and Emma Louise Smith (née Furr) and so he would have been thirty-two at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list eight children: Martha (bapt 1870), Frank (b 1871), Clara (bapt 1874), George John (bapt 1876), Lydia (b 1879), Charles (b 1881), Grace (bapt 1884) and Alice Louisa (b 1888). 

By 1911 Charles was twenty-nine and working as a general labourer.

There is a second possibility, Bertram Charles born on March 25^th 1894 to Clara Smith, and this man would have been twenty at the outbreak of war.  Clara was the daughter of Edwin and Emma Louise Smith (née Furr) and she married William James Dawson in 1895.  The 1901 census confirms that when they married Clara already had two children: Sidney Smith and Bertram Charles Smith.  Subsequently all other children have Dawson as their surname.  William is absent from the 1911 census, as he had died in 1909, but in 1901, when he was known as James, he was working as a navvy ground worker.  The census confirms that there were six children and that Bertram Charles Smith was then known as Charles Smith.

Linda Smith, who is the daughter-in-law of the Sidney Smith who served, was able to confirm that Charles was also known as Chubb.  However the family has so far not been able to confirm whether or not he was the Charles who served.

Baptism and census records list the children as Sidney (Smith, b c1892), Charles (Smith, b 1894), Lily (b c1896), Emma (b c1899) and Bertram (b c1901) and Leonard (b c1903).  His brother, Sidney Smith, was another man who served and survived.

In 1911, the family is known to be living near The Fox Inn, with Charles (Smith), Bertram and Leonard (Dawson) all present.

Charles is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Bedfords.  By 1918, the man who served was recorded as Private Charles Smith, 30930, “A” Squadron, 1^st Troop, 8^th Hussars, with his home address as ‘near’ The Fox Inn.  After the war he married Florence Bunker.

Smith, Sidney

Sidney appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records revealed several possible men who could be the man who served.  However Linda Smith, who is the daughter-in-law of the man who served, was able to confirm that he was the son of Clara Smith, the grandson of Edwin and Emma Louise Smith (née Furr) and that he was born on January 20^th 1892.  His father is unknown.  Clara had been working at Knebworth Lodge Farm, Knebworth, and the family believes that the father may have been the master of the house.  She was certainly absent from the Pirton 1891 census, when she would have been about seventeen.

Clara married William James Dawson in 1895 (James in later census).  The 1901 census confirms that when they married, Clara already had two children: Sidney Smith and Bertram Charles Smith.  Subsequently all their other children have Dawson as their surname.  William is absent from the 1911 census, as he had died in 1909, but in 1901, when he was known as James, he was working as a navvy ground worker.  Sidney’s brother, Bertram, later recorded as Charles, may also have served and survived - refer to Charles Smith for more family details.

Sidney is not present in the 1911 Pirton census, so was presumably working or living away from the village.  He joined the Hertfordshire Territorials on February 10^th 1914.  Later the Parish Magazine of September 1915 confirms his enlistment in the 1^st Hertfordshires, during 1914 and that he had volunteered for overseas service.  His army medal roll index card gives that date as November 6^th.  Initially he was Private 2367 and then later Private 265409, probably when the Hertfordshires and Bedfords merged.

An undated newspaper cutting reports that Sidney was in “G” Company of the 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment.  The same report reveals glimpses of his life in the trenches, by quoting from a letter he wrote on the January 14^th, (must be 1915 or later).  He had to stand for twelve hours at a time in muddy conditions, but he makes light of that, describing how they have good fires afterwards to dry their clothing.  It also records that ‘When we were in the trenches we started singing, and the Germans (only 200 yards away) heard us, they had the cheek to get on the top of their trenches and waved their hats to us, but we soon made them get lower by putting a few bullets into them.’  He expected to go back to the trenches soon, and adds that ‘The Herts. have been lucky up to the present, and hope to be lucky enough to get home safe.  We are still merry, and we all keep in good heart.’ 

In a separate, and also undated newspaper cutting, he optimistically, writes ‘We live in hopes of being home in England soon after Christmas, as we all think that the war will be over very soon.’  He adds ‘But there is one thing I should like, and that is just one shot at the Kaiser.’ 

He wrote to his mother on May 21^st 1915 that he had a wound to the top of his head caused by shrapnel – the British Army did not issue helmets until late 1915.  At least for Sidney it was not too serious, but he was admitted to hospital in France.  A later report revealed that he had been with Arthur Walker and Sidney George Roberts, also of Pirton and the same Regiment.  Sidney Roberts was also wounded Arthur escaped uninjured but was killed in a similar incident in 1916.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records Sidney as wounded again, this time in the leg.  The injury was serious enough for him to be discharged on July 27^th 1917.  The family story is that, upon his return to Pirton, the Lord of the Manor paid for an operation that enabled him to walk again, albeit with a stick.  

After the war Sidney left Pirton and went to live in north London.  He worked as a customs officer for Gilbeys and married twice, first to Elizabeth Barber, who died, and then to Winifred Waters.  He died in November 1956.

Stapleton, George Henry

George appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records provide only limited information.  The 1901 census lists Ruby, aged eight, and a George Henry, aged three, as the children of Annie Elizabeth Stapleton (with George born in Finsbury Park and Annie and Ruby in Ipswich).  No marriage record was found, but school admissions record Ruby’s father as William, so it is likely that George’s father was William Stapleton.  If he is the right man, then George was born in 1897 or 1898.

The 1911 census records Annie as living around Little Green, being married for fifteen years and having had five children, of whom two had died.  Another son was born later.  It has only been possible to name four of these children at this time: Ruby (b c1893), George Henry (b c1898), Cecil John (b c1902) and Alfred Edward (b 1917).

George is recorded in the Parish Magazine of February 1917 as enlisting and serving in the Transports, and the Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Connaught Rangers.  He would have been about nineteen years old.

Stapleton, Hubert John

There are a number of possibilities for this man, as there are several Herbert Johns and Hubert Johns appearing in the records.  It is obvious that Herbert/Hubert could easily be transcription or spelling errors.  Separating the men’s information was difficult, but hopefully the following records are correct:

The three possibilities are Herbert John, son of John and Ann, baptised in 1891, Hubert John born in 1890 to Herbert Charles (recorded as Charles in some census records) and Ellen (née Parkins) – this man is recorded as John in the 1911 census and then Herbert John, son of Charles and Mary born May 13^th 1880.  However, the latter man appears as Hubert in the 1881 census and Hubert John in the 1911 census.  For this reason it is believed that the baptism record is incorrectly transcribed as Herbert.

The weight of evidence is that it is one of the Hubert Johns who served.  One was born in 1880 and the other in 1890, so both could have served.  Evidence from various sources helps identify which is the right man.  The Hertfordshire Express of March 23^rd 1918 reports that H J Stapleton was on leave from the Naval Air Service and that he played the ‘Dead March’ at the memorial service for those Pirton soldiers who had already given their lives.  A monumental inscription inside St. Mary’s Church informs us that from 1902 to 1910 Hubert was the organist at St. Mary’s Church and took a leading part in the construction of this transept, which was completed and opened in 1913.  In fact more recently the Registers of Seamen's Services provided a record which confirms that the man that served was born May 13^th 1880, so definitely confirming that its was the older man who served.

The Hubert who served appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  His parents were Charles and Mary Stapleton (née Hodson).  The children of the family were Hubert John (b 1880), and Charles (bapt 1883).

Hubert Stapleton married Emma Stapleton (sic) on November 28^th 1903, by which time his father had died.  Her father is recorded as William Stapleton.  In 1911, he was thirty and had been married to Emma for seven years but they had no children.  Hubert was a carpenter and joiner in the building trade and so he was married when he went to war.

The Parish Magazine of February 1917 records him as serving in the Royal Naval Air Service and that is confirmed in the Hertfordshire Express of March 23^rd 1918.  The skills learned in his work would have been essential to keep these fragile machines repaired and in the air.  In fact he joined the Royal Navy in August 1916 signing for the duration of the war.  He was 5’ 9” tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

He first went to H.M.S. President which was a training ship or establishment before going to Crystal Palace and then to Killingholme, Lincolnshire in 1917.  There was aerodrome in Killingholme which was opened in July 1914 and a WW1 seaplane base at NAS Killingholme; they were about a mile apart.  Whichever Hubert went it must have been then that he transferred to the Royal Naval Airs Service Reserve.

Stapleton, Jesse

Jesse appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on August 6^th 1892 to Herbert Charles (recorded as Charles in some census records) and Ellen Stapleton (née Parkins).  He would have been twenty-one at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list seven children: Frank (Stapleton - born 1988, before their marriage), Hubert John (possibly Herbert and later listed as John, b 1890), Jesse (b 1892) and Ethel Lizzie (b 1897), Richard (b c1902), Edward (b c1909) and Kathleen (b 1910). 

In 1911, Jesse was eighteen, still living in the family home and earning a living as a domestic groom.

Jesse is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry.  The Hertfordshire Express of November 20^th 1914 reports him as serving as an officer’s servant.  Then an undated cutting from the village scrapbook, which must have been before September 1916, reports a J Stapleton writing from Oakley Park, Eye, Suffolk, headquarters, D Squadron (probably Hertfordshire Regiment).  He says that his Regiment is going abroad any time now to join the Leicestershire Regiment, who are in action now, and ‘our men are filling in the gaps.’ 

Tarrier, Archibald

The North Herts Mail of June 7^th 1917, which mainly relates to Francis Ralph Tarrier, reports that he had three brothers in the army, two in France and one in Blackpool.  The School War Memorial reveals that one was Walter William.  Parish and census records (including the Hitchin census) identify four sons, and from the records available it seems that all four served.

Archibald was born in1892 and was the son of William Edward and Emma Tarrier (née Jarvis) and so would have been about twenty-two at the outbreak of war.  Parish and baptism records list five children: Ida (b c1877), Frederick Edward (bapt 1885), Francis Ralph (b c1888), Walter William (b c1889) and Archibald (b 1892).  All the children were born in Pirton, except Ida and Walter, who were born in Ickleford.  All his brothers served.  Frederick and Walter survived the war and Francis was killed, but he does not appear on the Village War Memorial.

Tarrier, Frederick Edward

Frederick was baptised on July 5^th 1885, the son of William Edward and Emma (née Jarvis, born Pirton), and so would have been about nineteen at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and three survived - refer to Archibald Tarrier for more family details.

Tarrier, Walter William

Walter appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school. 

Walter was born in 1889 and was the son of William Edward and Emma (née Jarvis, born Pirton).  He would have been twenty-five at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that four brothers served and three survived - refer to Archibald Tarrier for more family details.

Les Blackburn kindly provides the following information; Len's wife's grandmother was Emily Carter (née Baines), and her sister was Walter's wife.  They were both Pirton girls.  After they were married Walter and Emily lived in Westmill, Hitchin.

Thompson, George

A newspaper cutting from late 1916 (September or later) reports information written in a letter by Private Edward Goldsmith, which informed Mrs Parsell of the death of her son, John Frederick Parsell (also from Pirton).  He was killed in a shell burst, which also injured two other Pirton men, Arthur Walker and George Roberts.  Arthur later died.  George Thompson is referred to along with Fred Baines and Arthur Odell, all named as Pirton men whom John had met before he died. 

Parish and census records provide no further information, other than to confirm that the surname was present in Pirton at the time.

Thompson, Hubert Charles

There was originally some confusion as to whether Hubert served, but the discovery of his brother Frederick’s service records confirmed that he did.  On August 10^th 1919 his sister signed the form requesting information on Frederick’s relatives; Hubert is listed as eighteen and serving on the H.M.S. Indomitable.

The parish records show that Hubert was the son of Elijah and Polly (Mary Ann) Thompson (née Stapleton), both of whom were born in Holwell.  In 1901, they were living in Holwell Road with their five children: Elizabeth (b c1887), Eveline (b c1890), Ida Mary (b c1893), Frederick John (b 1896) and Hubert Charles born on December 13^th 1900.  The family had moved between Holwell, Shillington and Pirton, presumably following the farm work that employed Elijah.  Later, Elijah and Polly had another daughter, Constance May (b c1909).  Both Fred and Hubert were born in Pirton and both served in the war; Fred was killed but is not listed on the Village War Memorial.

Allan Grant confirmed that Hubert was his wife’s father and that, at some point, the family lived in the row of twelve terraced cottages at the Holwell end of the road.  These cottages were also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’ and, more informally, as ‘Merry Arse Row’ – apparently due to the amount of children with no nappies! 

Before the war Hubert worked as a general labourer. 

Hubert served on H.M.S. Indomitable, which was a very new ship having been ‘laid down’ in 1906 and completed in March 1909.  She was an Invincible class battlecruiser.  From early August 1914 she served in the 2^nd Battlecruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean and then, from November 3^rd, supported the Gallipoli campaign and the bombardment of Dardanelles forts.  In December 1914 she joined 1^st  Battlecruiser Squadron with the Grand Fleet, was refitted in January 1915 and then rejoined 2^nd Battlecruiser Squadron Grand Fleet, taking part in the Battle of Dogger Bank and, in 1916, the Battle of Jutland.  She was undamaged in the latter and is recorded as firing 175 12-inch shells.  She had another refit in August 1916, which is probably when she had facilities for fighter aircraft added.  However, Hubert was very young and would have only been involved in the later stage of her war service.

Throssell, Thrussell or Trussell?

It should be remembered that there are several similar spellings of this surname, e.g. Throssell, Thrussell and Trussell and it is quite possible for these to be confused. 

Throssell, Philip John

Phillip Throssell is identified on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest the following possible men:

The first was baptised as Philip John Trussell and born on March 21^st 1889 to John and Ellen Trussell, and so he would have been twenty-two at the outbreak of war. 

The second possibility is revealed by a monument inscription in the St. Mary’s Church, Garden of Rest.  It records a Philip Throssell as born 1898 and died in 1977, his wife being Bertha who died in 1988.  He would have been sixteen at the outbreak of war but no further information has been found. 

Geoffrey Colin Budd (Colin) from Port Clinton, Ohio, USA kindly provided further information.  He believes that Phillip Throssell may be the son of James Throssell (b 1867) and Clara Trussell (b 1865) and this is confirmed by other sources.  He is therefore a third possibility.  If so, he had a brother, Edward and two sisters, May and Hilda.  By 1951 he was living at Ramridge Farm, Kimpton, near Welwyn, with his son James Throssell.

Parish and census records confirm the marriage of James and Clara Throssell (née Trussell) and Hilda (bapt 1896), with May Elizabeth (b 1891) and Edward (b 1888) as their children.  It does not reveal a Philip, but it is still quite possible that Philip was their son as Colin Budd believes.

Unfortunately it is still not certain which is the Philip Throssell who served.

Thrussell (Possibly Throssell), John Edward

John appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish and census records suggest only one possible man of this name who could have served and, in fact, it is the 1891 census records which reveal a John Thrussell, aged five, as the son of William and Sarah Thrussell.  He would have been about twenty-eight at the outbreak of war.  Before the war he was recorded as a boot and shoemaker. 

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Royal Engineers.  After the war he must have returned to his original trade, as the 1926 Trade Directory records him as working as a boot maker from the Post Office, Little Green.  He presumably married, as his headstone in St. Mary’s churchyard reads John Edward Thrussell 1885-1966 and Ethel Alice Thrussell 1888-1966.

The Titmuss, Charles That Served

There is a question mark over the number of men called Charles Titmuss who served.  There are two Charles Titmuss' listed on the School War Memorial, confirming that two men definitely served and both went to the school.  Various Parish Magazines refer to one who served in the Royal Field Artillery (RFA), and the late Edna Titmuss recalled that one joined up in 1915 and served in the Transport Corps.  She also thought that, at some time, he suffered from Malaria and that in 1918 he went to Ireland.  So, some of this information is contradictory and appears to be transposed between the two men identified here, and some cannot definitely be attributed to either of the men.  It is possible that there could be a third Charles Titmuss who served.  However, the only other potential Charles Titmuss identified so far was the son of Matthew and Eliza (née Weeden).  This would mean that he would have been about forty-two at the outbreak of war, and probably too old to have served unless he had previous military service.  At present, the information available is not considered strong enough evidence to confirm a third man and so, at this time, the reference to the RFA is considered to be spurious.

Titmuss, Charles (1)

One of the newspaper articles and the 1918 Absent Voters’ List confirm that one Charles lived in Holwell Road.  The 1901 census records that Arthur and Ann Titmuss (née Chamberlain) had a son, Charles, and were living in Holwell Cottages, which are the terraced cottages in Holwell Road, also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’.  For this reason, it is almost certain that it is their son Charles who served, and he was born on January 7^th 1883.  Baptism and census records support this, including the 1911 census which lists Charles and his wife (although now living in Walkers Cottages).  The only doubt is that his age on his enlistment papers does not tie in with this information.  However, as his wife and children are confirmed, it must be concluded that his age on the service records is wrong.

Baptism records list three children for Arthur and Ann: Lydia (b 1880), Charles (b 1883) and Albert Hezekiah (bapt 1885) and the 1901 census records Edward as another son, born in 1884 or 1885.  Edward also served in the war. 

Charles married Jane Odell in Islington on June 23^rd 1907, and they had two children: Hilda (b 1907) and Kathleen Annie (b 1909).  In 1911 Charles was twenty-eight and the family was living in one of Walker’s Cottages.  Charles was working and earning a living as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.  Sometime later he moved back to Holwell Road and had become a bricklayers' labourer for Mr Souster, a builder from Letchworth.  

He enlisted in Bedford on December 11^th 1915, joining the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 31482.  The papers show his age as one month short of thirty-four, but that should read one month short of thirty-two.

He was mobilised on September 1^st 1916, and was then posted to the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) in November as Private 67956.  He joined the 2^nd Battalion, MGC on January 26^th 1917, went to France on the 29^th 1917 and transferred to the 97^th Company on February 22^nd 1917.

The Hertfordshire Express of April 28^th 1917 reports that he had recently written to his wife, living in Holwell Road, to tell her he had been injured, ‘We were asleep in the dug-out, so the shell came as a surprise.  I happened to be the unlucky one to get hurt.’  This was on April 13^th 1917.  Soon afterwards he was home on hospital leave and spent the period between May 5^th and August 26^th 1917 in England recovering.  At least seven days in June were spent in Pirton.  Charles obviously recovered as he returned to France on August 27^th.  On March 24^th 1918, soon after the start of the major German spring offensive, he was reported as missing.  That information had reached Pirton by April 5^th, and Jane had a very worrying twelve weeks of not knowing what had happened to him.  To what must have been her great relief, Charles managed to get a postcard to her in July telling her that he was a prisoner of war in Limburg.  This is possibly the prison camp at Limburg an der Lahn, which sometimes appears as Limbury an der Lahn.  If so, his time there may have overlapped with Arthur Pearce, who also appears to have been imprisoned in that camp. 

He was released at the end of the war and reached England in December 1918, transferring to the 59^th Company, MGC before finally being demobilised from the 11^th Reserve Battalion, MGC on October 15^th 1919.  His records show that he was considered to have suffered a disability of forty percent due to the affects of contusion and crushing.

He died January 28^th 1954, aged seventy, and is buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  The headstone also records his wife Jane who died April 24^th 1966 aged eighty-four.

Titmuss, Charles (2)

The text to the Charles Titmuss above identifies one man who served, but as there are two Charles Titmuss' listed on the School War Memorial, two men served and both went to the school.  The 1918 Absent Voters’ List helped identify the second.  This confirms that this Charles lived in the Blacksmith’s Arms (opposite the Blacksmiths Pond in the High Street).  The 1901 census records that Frank and Elizabeth Titmuss (probably Emily Elizabeth, née Chamberlain) had a son, Charles, and were living near the Blacksmith’s Arms.  For this reason it is fairly conclusive that their son is the second Charles Titmuss who served.  He was born on May 2^nd 1885 to Frank and Emily Elizabeth, and so he would have been nineteen at the outbreak of war.  In trying to name their children, there may be some confusion as some have their parents named as Frank and Emily and others as Frank and Elizabeth.  However, it is believed that they are the same couple and, if so, the baptism records list seven children: Ellen (b 1882), Charles (b 1885), Frank (b 1887), Kate Ethel (b 1893), Clara (b 1883), Frederick (b 1889) and Emily (b 1891).  His brother Frederick also served and survived. 

By 1918, he was recorded as acting Lance Corporal 349668, 711^th A.E.C. (Army Education Corps), Labour Corps, with his home address the same as his brother Frederick’s, the Blacksmith’s Arms (opposite the Blacksmiths Pond).

He died May 19^th 1944, aged fifty-nine, and is buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  His monument records him as a husband and father, his wife being Jane Titmuss who died July 18^th 1980 aged eighty-seven. 

Titmuss, Edward

Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  The 1901 census records Edward as the son of Arthur Titmuss and aged sixteen, so he is likely to have been born in 1884 or 1885.  His parents were Arthur and Ann Titmuss (née Chamberlain), and he would have been about twenty-nine at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Charles Titmuss (1) for more family details.

By 1911 Edward had been married to Jane for a year.  They were living at 13 Cromwell Terrace - the terrace of houses containing the current village stores, and he was earning a living as a farm labourer on one of the local farms.  So, when he went to war he was a married man.

This information concurs with a memorial inscription in St. Mary’s churchyard, which confirms that he married Jane and that they had at least one child, Margaret Ruby.  Jane died on May 27^th 1951 and Edward on January 6^th 1954, aged sixty-eight.

Titmuss, Frederick (Ted)

There are two Frederick Titmuss' listed on the School War Memorial, which confirms that two went to the school, but evidence seems to suggest that three Frederick Titmusses served. 

It is believed that this Frederick, or Ted as he was known, was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Frank Titmuss, who ran the Blacksmith’s Arms in the High Street.  The parish and census records confirm his birth date as May 18^th 1889, and his parents as Frank and Elizabeth Titmuss (probably Emily Elizabeth, née Chamberlain).  He would have been twenty-five at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Charles Titmuss (2) for more family details.

By 1911 Frederick was twenty-one, living with his parents in or near the Blacksmith’s Arms - opposite the Blacksmith’s Pond.  Frederick was earning a living as a domestic gardener.  His sister Clara was also living in the family home but was married to John Burton.  John also served and survived. 

The North Herts Mail of April 19^th 1917 confirms some of the above, and adds that he had been in France since July 1916 but was in Birkenhead Hospital with slight wound to his left arm.  He was then reported in the Hertfordshire Express of April 21^st 1917, and that report confirms his rank, injury and where he was serving, but states his Regiment as the Sherwood Foresters.

By 1918 he was recorded as Lance Corporal 202187, A.C. Co. (possibly Army Cyclist Corps), 1^st Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (also known as the Sherwood Foresters), with his home address the same as his brother Charles at the Blacksmith’s Arms.

A memorial inscription in St. Mary’s churchyard confirms that he married Ruth and that he was a father.  Frederick died on October 14^th 1956, aged seventy, and Ruth on August 23^rd 1988 aged ninety-nine.

Titmuss, Frederick (Dabber)

As mentioned above, there is evidence to suggest that three Frederick Titmusses served. 

This Frederick Titmuss was also known as Fred, Freddie and Dabber.  He was born on February 15^th 1895 to George and Emma Juliana Titmuss (née Cherry), and so he would have been nineteen at the outbreak of war.  Baptism and census records list seven children: Mary (bapt 1876), Elizabeth (bapt 1878), Peggy (b 1879, d 1915), Ellen Rose (b 1882), Albert John (b 1884), Sidney (b 1888) and Frederick (b 1895), but it is possible that there was another daughter, Lily (poss-b1893).  His brother Albert was killed in the war and is remembered on the Village War Memorial. 

The Pirton Football Club photograph, reproduced here, resides in the Sports and Social Club and records that Fred lived at 25 Shillington Road and worked at Walnut Tree Farm.  He was a keen and skilled footballer and before the war played for Pirton United (Luton Alliance League) and Hitchin Town.  During the war he served with the Lancashire Fusiliers and played football for the army.

By 1911 his mother had died.  Fred was still living in the family home on the Church Baulk, with his father, his sister, Lilian and two of his brothers, Sidney and Albert John – who was killed in the war.  Fred was sixteen and earning a living as a general labourer.

Following the war, he went on to have a distinguished football career; he joined Southampton in 1918, playing inside left and left-back, debuting in 1919.  Southampton won the Third Division (South) Championship in 1922, and he won two caps for England, one in 1922 and the other in 1923, both times playing against Wales in the Home Championship (one won and one drawn).  The Southampton FC website describes him as a ‘remarkable player’.

In 1926 he transferred to Plymouth Argyle, playing in the Third Division (South) Championship, making 166 league and seven FA Cup appearances.  His playing career ended in 1932 but he later assisted St Austell FC (Cornwall).

After his playing days ended, he ran a newsagents with his wife and then a pub, both in Plymouth.  He died in 1966 aged about seventy-one.  His sister Rose married Ernie Lake and their grandsons (Fred’s great nephews) Mick and Peter played for Pirton FC.  Peter still lives in Pirton.

Titmuss, Frederick John

As mentioned above, there is evidence to suggest that three Frederick Titmusses served. 

Frederick John was born on August 31^st 1883 to William and Hannah Titmuss (née Stapleton) and so would have been thirty at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list ten children: Arthur Charles (bapt 1859), Joseph (bapt 1862), Alice Eliza (bapt 1865), Norman George (bapt 1867), Leonard Joseph (bapt 1869), Henry David (sometimes David Henry - bapt 1871), Laura Emily (bapt 1874), Isabella Jane (bapt 1877), Walter William (b 1879) and Frederick John (b 1883).

In 1911, Frederick is absent from his parents’ home near Great Green and from the Pirton census, so was living or working away from Pirton.  His nephews, Arthur Frederick and Leonard Charles Buckett, who were living in his parents’ home, both went on to serve and survive.

The Parish Magazine of February 1917 records Frederick as ‘having been called up since our last list was published’ and serving with the Army Service Corps.  The later issue of June 1917 records him as serving in the Labour Battalion.

By 1918 he was recorded as Private 49024, 82^nd Labour Corps, with his home address as in Church Walk - this is the path from Crabtree Lane to the Church.

Titmuss, Jesse

Jesse appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on July 9^th 1892 to Charles and Eliza Mary Titmuss (née Weeden).  He would have been twenty-two at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list eleven children: Emma (bapt 1872), Anne Maria (bapt 1874), Ellen (bapt 1876), Alice (b 1879), Lizzie (b 1882), Minnie (b c1883), Frederick (b 1886), Jesse (b 1892), Bertram (b 1889), Ethel and Mary (twins? bapt 1895).

By the 1911 census all the children had left their parents home, given as near the Baptist Chapel.  Jesse is missing, so he was either living or working away from Pirton.

Jesse is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in “D” Company, 2^nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. 

Two newspaper cuttings, unfortunately undated, provide further information on Jesse.  The first reports a letter written by Jesse on December 22^nd (another newspaper report suggests that this must be 1914).  In it he says he is getting on well and hopes all the Pirton boys at the Front are likewise; he adds ‘I have not seen any of them since I have been out here.  I have been in the trenches many times.’  He describes the rough weather, the mud and the slush in the trenches, but adds ‘But we keep sailing on.  As we marched from the trenches the other day we could see the houses that had been blown to pieces by shell fire.  Never seen such sights in my life.  The big guns rattle out like thunder.  I don't think it will last much longer.  We are about 300 yards from the German trenches.  We get plenty of food out here.’ and concludes with ‘a happy new year to all at Pirton.’

The second cutting confirms that he had been wounded, shot in the face, which fractured his jaw and as a result he had returned to England, landing in Southampton, and he had then gone to the Clearing Station at Eastleigh, Hants.  A newspaper report confirms that this injury had been received on October 1^st, and that must have been in 1915. 

The North Herts Mail of April 6^th 1916 reports that he had written, saying that he had to again see a doctor, was back in hospital and that there was a probability of his getting his discharge.  That seemed likely, given the content of the rest of the report.  He arrived home on or about the third week of March, but he must still have been suffering; ‘He was shot through the jaw at Loos, the bullet going in at one side and coming out at the other.  His jaw bone was splintered and he had undergone an operation for the removal of the bones.  He was returning on Monday, three weeks ago, when he fainted in the train, and was taken very bad.  Dr Charles, of Hitchin, was in the same train, and he examined him on arrival at King’s Cross.  The police brought a hand-stretcher and the soldier was removed.  This gallant solder has seen a lot of fighting.  He went out with the earlier contingents, coming from South Africa in August 1914 with his Regiment.  After twenty-four hours leave they went off to France.  He went through several big battles before Loos.  He finishes his time with the Army next October.

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 confirmed that he was discharged from the army as a result of his wounds. 

At some point he married and his wife’s name was Rose.  A memorial in St. Mary’s churchyard records that Jesse died in 1954, when he would have been about sixty-two, and that Rose died in 1972.

Trussell, Throssell or Thrussell?

It should be remembered that there are several similar spellings of this surname, e.g. Throssell, Thrussell and Trussell and it is quite possible for these to be confused. 

Trussell, Albert Edward

Geoffrey Colin Budd (Colin) from Port Clinton, Ohio, USA believes that Albert and Charles Trussell were brothers, born respectively on July 2^nd 1882 and December 13^th 1885 to Thomas and Mary Trussell (née Goldsmith).  Parish records confirm Albert’s date of birth and his parents, but no Charles born on the date Colin suggests has been found.  However a brother, William Charles, was born on January 14^th 1886.

Baptism records list five children: Lizzie (b 1879), Albert Edward (b 1882), William Charles (b 1886), Susan (b 1890) and John (b 1892).  It would also seem that William Charles also served and survived - see William Charles Trussell for clarification.

Before the war Albert married Elizabeth Baines in 1905 in Islington and they had a child Richard George (b 1907) and then another, William (b 1915), born during the war but before Arthur was called up.  The Parish Magazine of February 1917 records this Arthur as ‘having been called up since our last list was published’.  He would have been thirty-four.

A memorial in St. Mary’s Church’s Garden of Rest records that Albert died in 1967, when he would have been about eighty-five.  Elizabeth also died that year, aged about eighty-seven.

Trussell, Arthur

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on January 10^th 1884 to George and Elizabeth Trussell (née Roberts)*¹.  Baptism records list twelve children: Elizabeth (b c1864), Clara (bapt 1865), Emma Louisa (bapt 1866), Edward John (bapt 1869), David (bapt 1871), Charles (bapt 1873, believed died, aged fourteen days), Frederick (bapt 1874), Herbert George (bapt 1877), Albert (bapt 1878, believed died, aged five months), Thomas Charles (b 1880), Arthur (b 1884) and Ellen (bapt 1885).  Arthur’s brother Thomas Charles also served and survived.

Arthur married Ida Walker in 1907.  His father died in 1909 so Arthur became the bread winner.  By 1911 Arthur and Ida had one child, Nancy Eva (b c1910), and they were living at Hill Farm (now 25 Priors Hill).  His trade was now given as pig dealer and he was supporting his own family and his mother.  By 1912 he was listed as a Farmer and still living at Hill Farm.  When he went to serve he was married and a father.

The Parish Magazine of July 1916 records him as enlisting between March 2^nd and July 1916, when he would have been thirty-two years old.  The later magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the 3^rd Army Purchasing Board.

By 1918 he was recorded as Private 74771, Central Purchase Board, with his home address as Hill Farm.

*¹  In the 1880s there were two sets of George and Elizabeth Trussells recorded in the village.  One couple were Arthur’s parents, the other were the parents of George Thomas Trussell who died in the war and is listed on the Village War Memorial.

Trussell, Thomas Charles, (Charles)

Charles appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  When trying to identify the correct man there initially appeared to be two possibilities, both from the same family.  However, it seems that the older son died at a very young age. The subsequent discovery of a service record confirmed the man who served to be Thomas Charles, the son of George and Elizabeth Trussell (née Roberts)*¹.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Arthur Trussell for more family details.

Thomas Charles may well have been known as Charles, as it was not uncommon to be known by a middle name, particularly it seems when an older sibling of the same name had died.  Census records provide evidence that this was the case here, as in later censuses Thomas is listed as Charles.

Charles married Beatrice Ruth Burton in 1907 and in 1911 was living with his wife in his parents-in-law’s home and working as a postman.  By the time war came in 1914 Beatrice was pregnant and in 1915 their daughter Phyllis Rose was born. 

The Parish Magazine of February 1917 records Charles Trussell as ‘having been called up since our last list was published’, and the Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Post Office Rifles.  In fact, he was ‘deemed to have enlisted’ on June 24^th 1916, but was not called to service until January 17^th 1917.  He damaged his ankle the day before, but an X-Ray confirmed that it was not broken.  He was, however, unable to march for some time.  Initially he was Private 374741 in the 8^th London Regiment, who were also known as the Post Office Rifles – obviously because of his job this may have been his preference, but he was transferred to the Royal Engineers (RE) on April 27^th 1917 and embarked for France on June 1^st 1917.  By the end of March 1918, he had been appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal in the 331^st Company, RE in the Department of Roads.  The Absent Voters’ List of 1918 recorded him as Lance Corporal 24158 (should be 21155?) Royal Engineers, with his home address as ‘near Great Green’.

He was given UK leave in August 1918, then returned to France where he remained until March 1919.  He was demobilised in April from the 331^st RC(?) Company, RE and, under the document headed ‘Trade and Special Qualifications’, was recorded as ‘Proficient road foreman’.

It seems that he continued to live in Pirton after the war, as he is buried in St. Mary’s Church yard.  He died January 21^st 1950, aged sixty-nine.

^*1 In the 1880's there were two sets of George and Elizabeth Trussells recorded in the village.  One couple were Charles’ parents, the other were the parents of George Thomas Trussell, who died in the war and is listed on the Village War Memorial.

Trussell, William Charles, (Charles)

Charles William appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  However, Charles William is more likely to be William Charles.  Baptism records list William Charles, born on January 14^th 1886, as the son of Thomas and Mary Trussell (née Goldsmith).  The suggestion that the names may have been reversed is substantiated by the school admission records, which record the admission of a Charles, born in the same year, and naming his father as Thomas.  For this reason it is believed that William Charles is the man appearing on the School War Memorial.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Albert Trussell for more family details.

Walker, Albert

The detail provided by David Walker for Albert John Walker, who is detailed below, is comprehensive.  For this reason, and because it conflicts with the information appearing here, it suggests that another Albert Walker served.

This Albert Walker, who served and survived, appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on June 18^th 1882 to Stephen and Emma Walker (née Weeden) and the school records confirm this man as the person who attended.  Baptism records list five children: Charles (b 1880), Albert (b 1882), Frederick (bapt 1884), Ellen (b 1887) and Joseph (b 1890).

Sometime after 1901, but before the war, at least some of the family including both parents and Joseph, moved to Offley and lived in one of the Claypit Cottages.  Albert, Fred and Joseph all served.  Albert and Fred survived, but Joseph suffered a terrible death and appears in the chapter ‘Should These Names Be On Our War Memorial?’

The Parish Magazine of September 1915 records Albert as enlisting during 1915, but before August and serving in the King's Bays.  He would have been about thirty-three when he enlisted. 

Walker, Albert John

David Walker, the grandson of Albert informs us that Albert John Walker was born on July 18^th 1882 in Pirton and was the son of John Walker (also Albert John).

Parish and census records confirm the birth date and that Albert was born to John and Lucy Walker (née Presland).  He would have been thirty-two at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list six children: Florence Ann (b 1879), Albert John (b 1882), James (bapt 1885), Eleanor Rose (b 1888, sometimes recorded as Helena), Daisy (b 1893) and Nellie (b 1897).

David also added that Albert married Florence in 1907 and by 1908 they were living in Conford.  Albert was working as a baker and they had a son, Albert Edward.

His research also provided the following information: Albert appears to have joined the 1^st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and according to the Imperial War Museum his regimental number was 8000.  However, that would suggest that he was in the army in 1904, which does not appear to be correct.  The Bedfordshire Regiment went overseas on August 15^th 1914 and fought in the first battle of Mons.  At some point he was captured by the Germans and became a prisoner of war, possibly the Albert Walker shown in records as arriving in the POW camp at Schiesspl on March 4^th 1915.  Albert received the 1914 Mons Star, confirming that he fought in France or Belgium between the outbreak of war in August 1914 and midnight on November 22^nd 1914.  By the time he was issued with his Victory and war service medals he was an acting Corporal. 

After the war, he became a railway policeman and in 1926 he and Florence had another child, Olive (b 1926).  Albert died in May 8^th 1950, aged sixty-seven and Florence died in 1948.

Walker, Arthur

There were three Arthur Walkers who served; one died and is listed on the Village War Memorial, a second, Arthur Robert, served with the Canadians and is detailed below and the third is the man detailed here.

This Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

A newspaper cutting, mostly relating to Hubert Walker, reveals that their parents were James and Ann Walker of Little Green Farm, (now demolished, but was to the rear of Elm Tree Farm and the new development off Hambridge Way).  It also confirms his elder brother as Hubert James and that another brother, who must have been either Harry or Jesse, was at home working on the farm as their father was an invalid.  Arthur was born on October 2^nd 1892 and would have been twenty-one at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list seven children: Abram Frank (bapt 1877), Harry (b 1879), Daisy Helen (b 1881), Hubert James (b 1883), Ida (b 1885), Jesse (b 1889) and Arthur (b 1892).  His brother, Hubert James, also served and survived. 

The 1911 census confirms that Arthur, like his brothers Hubert and Jesse, was living and working on his father’s farm, Little Green Farm.  ‘A Farmer’s son working on farm’.

Another newspaper cutting, which is undated, reports that Arthur first served in the Bedfordshire Yeomanry but was transferred to the Liverpool Regiment.  He had been in France for eight months when, on March 22^nd 1918, he was shot in the leg and thigh.  He was sent to the 4^th General Hospital, but sadly, as a result of the wounds, his leg was amputated.

In the 1918 Absent Voters’ List he was recorded as Private 85912, 13^th Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment, with his home address the same as his brother Hubert’s, Little Green Farm.

A memorial in St. Mary’s churchyard records that Arthur was married to Gladys Jessie.  They had their first daughter, Elsie, sometime around 1918 and a second daughter on July 22^nd 1923, but Gladys died in child-birth at just thirty, so his daughter was christened Gladys Jessie.  Arthur died in 1983, when he would have been about ninety.

Walker, Arthur Robert, (MM)

There were three Arthur Walkers; one died and is listed on the Village War Memorial; another served with the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, and then with the Liverpool Regiment (as detailed above) and the Arthur Robert Walker who is detailed here. 

This Arthur Robert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

Art Walker is Arthur Robert's son and lives in Canada,.  He provided much of the following information: 

Arthur Robert Walker was a ‘Pirton Lad’ born on March 4^th 1887 the sixth of eight children born to James and Martha Walker (née Titmuss – the family think Titmys).  They lived in one of the Wellbury Cottages, Hexton Road in the Parish of Pirton.  His siblings were Maud (bapt 1875), Thomas (bapt 1877), Mary (b 1879, d 1882, aged two years ten months), Harry (b 1881), Bertram (b 1884), Katherine Mary (b 1895) and Edgar Sidney (b 1890).  The census confirms that by 1911 Mary had died.

Arthur emigrated to Canada, aged twenty, leaving Liverpool on January 16^th 1907 on the S.S. Lake Erie.  For the first few years he worked as a farmhand east of Regina Saskatchewan, eventually becoming a shipping clerk for the Massey Harris Company in Regina.  By 1911 all the other children except Katherine had left the family home.  

The Parish Magazine of September 1915 records Arthur enlisting during 1915, but before August, and serving in the 3^rd Canadian Infantry, returning to fight and help ‘His King and Country to defend the right’.  His attestation papers confirm his date of birth, record him as a clerk and confirm that he was not married.  The oath was taken in Regina Saskatchewan on January 23^rd 1915, and he became Private 426433 in the 46^th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, South Saskatchewan Regiment.  He was twenty-seven. 

He sailed for England on the S.S. Lapland, arriving at Devonport on October 30^th 1915.  He was promoted to Corporal the next day and to Serjeant on July 1^st 1916, when he was serving as a bombing instructor at Bramshott Camp, which was on Bramshott Chase, just south of Hindhead.

He went to France with his Battalion and the 15^th Reserve Battalion on August 10^th 1916, disembarking at Le Havre.  One week later they were in the front line.  He distinguished himself in battle, leading a night attack behind enemy lines.  The Hertfordshire Express of October 14^th 1916 expands on the event, using a letter he wrote to his parents on September 24^th, ‘I have had the pleasure of a trip across to the German trenches, a party of us pulling off a raid one night¸ the bombing officer and myself being in charge; everything went off O.K., and the raid was quite a success.  We got all kinds of praise for our work.  It was quite an experience, and now it is over I am glad I had it¸ although at the time it was a bit hard on the nerves, for we had to go in under cover of a bombardment by our artillery and shells were falling all round us, but things worked very smoothly and we came through fine, bringing a prisoner back with us.  I was recommended for my part in it, but I don’t expect to get anything out of it.’ 

Five days later, he wrote again ‘I heard about Tom Abbiss (another Pirton man) being wounded.  I saw him and was speaking to him the day before he went out on a raiding party (the same night that I was), and he was unfortunate enough to get wounded.  I think I told you that I had been recommended for my part in the raid, and I was much surprised yesterday to learn that I have been awarded the Military Medal.  I have received all kinds of congratulations, from the General down.’  He had been awarded the Military Medal for ‘the gallant part he played in a bombing raid on the Somme.’ 

On April 9^th 1917, for his actions on the battlefield, he was appointed to the Commission Rank of Lieutenant and, at around the same time, he was fighting at Vimy Ridge in France - one of 30,000 Canadians who had arrived on the April 8^th.  In a letter to his parents dated April 15^th 1917, he wrote ‘I don't suppose the censor will object to me mentioning where we are now, for it was in all the papers that Vimy Ridge was captured by the Canadians, and I can tell you that it was a great satisfaction for us to get 'him' off and look down the other side, for we had to take to take a lot of dirt from the Hun up there and we had a lot to pay back.’  He went on to write, ‘We licked some of the best troops that the Germans have, and, naturally, we are proud of our success.  I don't think that I will be saying too much when I say that the whole Empire will be proud of the Canadian troops.’ 

In August 1917, he had been home on leave to Pirton but, by the 17^th, was back in France and by the 19^th he was back in the line and occupying the German trenches near Lens.  It was there, two days later, in the battle for Vimy Ridge, that he was wounded in his right hand.  He was hospitalized in Camiers, France, then moved to Western General Hospital in Fazakerley, Liverpool, ‘Here I am quite safe in Blighty and doing fine.  You have no cause to worry.  I have my right hand rather badly smashed up, the index finger having to be left in France.’  When discharged from hospital, he went back to Bramshott as a bombing instructor. 

On December 2^nd 1918 he was ordered to London for embarkation orders and, on the 5^th, sailed for Canada on the S.S. Minnedosa, where he was discharged from the army on January 6^th 1919. 

After the war he returned to farming for a year and then, on February 1^st 1920, joined the Manitoba Provincial Police.  He served with them until they amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on April 1^st 1932 and he continued to serve until retiring on May 31^st 1945, when he moved to British Columbia. 

At some point, soon after the war, he married Belle (Isabelle) MacLennan and they had one child, Robert Barryford (Barry), before Belle sadly died from tuberculosis.  Arthur remarried in 1933 to Gladys Lucille Workman and they had three children: Patricia Carine, James Arthur (Art) and Elizabeth Margaret Rose (Margaret).  He died in Victoria B.C. on October 8^th 1969. 

Note: Four men with a Pirton connection were to be awarded a medal.  Military Medals were awarded to Lieutenant Arthur Robert Walker, born in Pirton but who had been living in Canada, Sidney Cox, baptised in Pirton, and Charles Furr, born in Pirton, and a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Henry George Chamberlain, born in Pirton and who was killed in the war.

Walker, Bertram J.

Bertram appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

Parish and census records suggest two possible men:

The first was born on January 30^th 1884 to James and Martha Walker, but it was thought that he was unlikely to have served because he was in Canada.  No attestation papers have been found and the family in Canada is not aware that he went to war (although information recently came to light which suggested he may be the man who served).  The North Herts Mail dated March 15^th 1917 suggests that the sons of Mr and Mrs James Walker - Edward, Charles and Bert - were all serving, but the paper also records ‘A Wilshere’ as a brother.  The first names do not all seem to be relevant to one family, Walker or Wilshere.  Therefore, this information should be treated with great caution, as it may be wrongly attributed.

It would appear from a memorial in St. Mary’s churchyard that Bertram had a wife named Grace.  He died on April 12^th 1946, aged sixty-two and Grace on December 8^th 1954 aged seventy-nine.

The second possibility is Bertram John and, with the confirmation of the middle name and the fact that school records also confirm that this man attended, he is almost certainly the correct man.  He was born on March 9^th 1891 to Thomas and Clara (née Lawman), and so he would have been twenty-three at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list two children: Bertram John (b 1891) and Beatrice May (b 1893).

Bertram is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1917 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment.  It would have been late in 1914, as the Hertfordshire Express of October 17^th 1914 records him as being involved in an ‘infamous fracas’ in Pirton on October 3^rd.  The paper headlines this event as ‘War Against Special Constables’ *¹.  Bertram was one of the special constables assaulted. 

The North Herts Mail of February 3^rd 1916 reported that he had written that ‘as he was leaving the trenches he had met several Pirton boys as they were going in to the trenches.  They were cheery and fit as usual.  He also met Sgt Major Arthur Langford ‘who wished to be remembered to Mr Franklin and other Pirton friends.’’

*¹  The full report is included in the reference section of this book.

Walker, Charles

There were several families named Walker in Pirton at the time of the Great War, and some names are common across these families making identification difficult.  However, an undated newspaper cutting in the village scrapbook names Corporal Charles Walker and reports that he had two brothers, William and George, who were also serving.  Assuming this information is correct, by cross-referencing this with parish records only one possible family is identified.  However, for the reason explained below, caution is necessary in case the parish records are incomplete. 

From the information available, Charles would seem to be the son of James and Selina (née Goldsmith), and he was baptised on August 5^th 1866.  This would mean that he would have been about forty-eight at the outbreak of war.  This is rather old to have enlisted; the upper age was normally thirty-eight, but could be forty-five if the man had previous army service.  For this reason he may not be the man who served and survived.  However, it is possible that he lied about his age – unusual, but not unheard of, so his details are provided here.

Baptism and census records list nine children but, by 1911, two had died.  They are Ellen (b 1859) who was born before James and Selina’s marriage, she has the Goldsmith surname but james is named as her father on her marriage certificate, Emma (bapt 1862), John (bapt 1864), Charles (b 1866), Anise (bapt 1868), Martha (bapt 1876), William (b 1878), John (b 1880) and George (b 1882).  It is believed that both William and George also served and both survived.

The North Herts Mail dated March 15^th 1917 suggests that the sons of Mr and Mrs James Walker, Edward, Charles and Bert, were all serving, but the paper also records ‘A Wilshere’ as a brother.  The first names do not all seem to be relevant to one family, Walker or Wilshere.  Therefore, this information should be treated with caution, as it may be wrongly attributed.

By 1911, the only child still living in the family home was William.  Charles is not listed in the Pirton census, so he must have been living or working away.

The cutting mentioned above reports that Charles was acting Serjeant in the Royal Engineers and ‘got his discharge from the Army owing to rheumatic fever.’  He had been in France for six months. 

Walker, Edward

Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served; he was baptised on May 24^th 1885 and was the son of Albert and Mary Ann Walker.  He would have been about nineteen at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list nine children: William (bapt 1876), Lily (bapt 1878), Robert (b 1880), Harry (b 1882), Edward (bapt 1885), Joseph (b 1887), Philip (b 1889), Marguerit (b 1893) and Leonard Charles (b 1896).  His brother Philip also served and survived.

The North Herts Mail dated March 15^th 1917 suggests that Edward was in the ‘South African campaign’, had to have his leg amputated and was therefore in hospital.  However, this information must be treated with caution as the paper confusingly mentions the surname as Wilshere and Walker and lists Mr and Mrs James as his parents and ‘A Wilshere’, Edward, Charles and Bert (Walkers) all as brothers.  Therefore, this information should be treated with caution, as it may be wrongly attributed.

Walker, Frederick

There were two Frederick Walkers who served.  Two undated newspaper cuttings from the village scrapbook record this Frederick as one of four brothers serving.  Parish and census records confirm they were the sons of George and Sarah Walker (née Odell), who both died before the war.  The family lived in Bury End, near Great Green and baptism records list eight children: Charles (bapt 1864), John (bapt 1868), Alice (bapt 1871), Frederick (bapt 1882), Gertrude (bapt 1885), Sidney (b 1888), Herbert (b 1890) and Arthur (b 1892).  Frederick was baptised on March 5^th 1882.  His brothers, Sidney, Herbert and Arthur all served.  Arthur, the youngest, was killed and is recorded on the Village War Memorial. 

In 1911, his brothers Herbert, Sidney and Arthur and his sister Gertrude were all still living in the village but Frederick was absent, working or living away.

The Hertfordshire Express dated December 4^th 1915 confirmed that he was at the Front and had previously been wounded from a ‘serious accident with his horse’.

He is recorded in the September Parish Magazine of 1917 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving as a Serjeant in the 11^th Hussars.  He would have been about thirty-two years old when he enlisted.

Walker, Frederick, (Fred)

There were two Frederick Walkers who served; one is positively identified above.  The Parish Magazine of September 1914 records this Fred as one of the men ‘Belonging to the King's Forces to defend the honour of their country’.  This is confirmed by the Hertfordshire Express of November 20^th 1914, which records him as serving in the 12^th Reserve Regiment.

Parish and census records suggest the following possible men:

The first was baptised on March 19^th 1877 and was the son of William and Ann (née Titmuss).  However, it would appear that he died aged five months.

The second, Frederick Goldsmith Walker was born to Emma on July 1^st 1879.  He would have been thirty-five at the outbreak of war.  By 1911, he had been married to Mary Ann G Walker for nine years.  They had three children, but one had died; the two surviving were Jessica Mabelle Mary G (b c1907) and Frederick Benjamin G (b c1908).  Fred (senior) was a farm labourer on one of the local farms, and they were living around Little Green.  A headstone in St. Mary’s churchyard records that he died on October 31^st 1966 aged eighty-seven.

The third was baptised on September 7^th 1884 and was the son of Stephen and Emma Walker (née Weeden).  He would have been twenty-nine at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list five children: Charles (b 1880), Albert (b 1882), Frederick (bapt 1884), Ellen (b 1887) and Joseph (b 1890).

Unfortunately it is not absolutely certain which man is referred to since, although the latter did serve and was born in Pirton, he was probably living in Offley when the war began.  However, as his brother Albert also seems to be listed, it seems almost certain that it is the latter if the two who served. 

Sometime after 1901, but before the war, at least some of the family including both parents and Joseph moved to Offley and lived in one of the Claypit Cottages.  Albert, Fred and Joseph all served.  Albert and Fred survived but Joseph suffered a terrible death and appears in the chapter ‘Should These Names Be On Our War Memorial?’

In December 1915 this man was stationed at Dovercourt in Essex

Walker, George

By cross-referencing the undated newspaper cuttings in the village scrapbook with parish and census records, only one possible candidate has been identified.  He was born on June 23^rd 1882 to James and Selina Walker (née Goldsmith).  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived - refer to Charles Walker for more family details.

The 1911 census reveals that he was living around Great Green and had been married to Ellen for four years.  Four children had been born, but two had died.  At this time only two can be identified with certainty; they are Alice (b c1908) and Bernard (b 1910).  So, by the time he went to war he was married and a father.

George is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1914, but after July, and serving as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA).  Two undated newspaper cuttings confirm this, and so he would have been thirty-three when he enlisted.  The discovery of his service record reveals his military background but little about his war service.

In fact he had served with the RGA before the war, enlisting at eighteen and signing his attestation papers on March 14^th 1900 when he joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 3398.  He married Ellen Buckett on November 24^th 1906 and she accompanied him on at least some of his service.  George served in South Africa, both in the 1899 campaign and in the Transvaal in 1901.  He also got postings to Bermuda and Halifax.  He completed his twelve years service and left the army on March 13^th 1912, but when war came duty called and he re-enlisted as Gunner 2158 on September 7^th 1914.

He was stationed on an island off the coast of Ireland guarding a harbour mouth.  One letter home, written in December 1914, names this as Bantry Bay, West Ireland.  He wrote that he was grateful for the gift of a jersey and added that ‘It’s rained and rained and land’s like a pond.  I’m position finder for the guns’.  In another letter to the vicar of Pirton, he wrote ‘a soldier must do his duty and do it well.’  On a short visit home his friends described him as looking well and fit.  The North Herts Mail reported that he was home between January and February 1915, presumably the same leave, and adds that ‘he is sight ranging on coastal defences.  Looked well.  His section had come out A1 on firing contest with regulars.’ 

Another, the undated newspaper cutting, recorded that he had rejoined his Regiment after being in hospital for a leg wound – this would have been in 1917 unless he was wounded twice.

The North Herts Mail of April 12^th 1917 reports that ‘home’ was opposite the post office, and that his parent lived in Pollards Cottages.  He had been in France since August 1915, but he had also been to South Africa with his Regiment and had been promoted from Corporal to Serjeant.  A later edition, dated June 7^th 1917, reports that Serjeant George Walker had been shot below the knee.

The 1918 Absent Voters’ List records him as Private (contradicting the North Herts Mail) 2158 Royal Garrison Artillery, with his home address as Great Green.

Walker, Herbert

Herbert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  An undated newspaper cutting from the village scrapbook reports him as one of four brothers serving, whose parents had died.

Parish and census records confirm that they were the sons of George and Sarah Walker (née Odell) who both died before the war.  The family lived in Bury End, near Great Green.  In all it would appear that four brothers served, of whom three survived - refer to Frederick Walker for more family details.

In 1911 he was sharing a house around Great Green with his brother Arthur and sister Gertrude; all were single.  Herbert worked as a road-man for Hertfordshire County Council.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in the transport section. 

The North Herts Mail of May 27^th 1915 reported that he had written to his sister at ‘Big Green’ Pirton, ‘a shell burst near the transport and killed all the horses in that section (five, we believe), and six of his chums were also killed.’  It also describes that, sometime before this incident, he had been injured by shell and had spent eight weeks suffering from blood poisoning.

His Company, Battalion and Regiment are confirmed as the 1^st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, “G” Company by the North Herts Mail of March 2^nd 1916.  The cutting reports that he had returned to Pirton, having completed his service of twelve-and-a-half years; he had served with the Militia before the war.

Although in the transport section, he was known to have spent a considerable time at the Front and had been shelled ‘on more than one occasion has been in supreme danger though bursting shells’.  He had often been very lucky, escaping serious injury, ‘horses he has had charge of have been killed.’  On another occasion, ‘he fell into a hidden ditch, with the horses on top of him, but again escaped injury.’  However, he was not completely unscathed; he did suffer ‘bad feet’ - probably trench foot, which was so bad that he was hospitalised in France for several months.  The North Herts Mail of March 2^nd 1916 reported that, by that date, he had been in hospital for a month.

By 1918, he was recorded as Private 109, Labour Company (probably Corps), with his home address as in Bury Lane.

Some time after the war Herbert married his brother Arthur’s widow Rose (née Males) and continued to live in Pirton with Arthur and Rose’s son (his nephew Stanley) and their own two sons.  Stanley lived in Pirton until the last few years of his life.

Walker, Hubert James

The name H J Walker appears in the Hertfordshire Express of July 11^th 1914, which reports him as being a steward at the Pirton Transept Fête.

Given the middle name, the parish and census records suggest only one possible candidate. They confirm that Hubert was born on August 1^st 1883 to James and Ann Walker (née Kingsley), and so he would have been thirty-three at the outbreak of war.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Arthur Walker for more family details.

In 1911 he was living and working on his father’s farm, Little Green Farm.  Like his brothers Jesse and Arthur, ‘A Farmer’s son working on farm’.

An undated newspaper cutting from the village scrapbook incorrectly refers to Herbert James Walker, but confirms his parents as Mr and Mrs James Walker.  It goes on to add that he was serving in the Beds Yeomanry in Egypt.  Another brother, who must have been either Harry or Jesse, was at home working on the farm as their father was an invalid. 

By 1918, he was recorded as acting Corporal 11092, County of London Yeomanry, with his home address the same as his brother Arthur’s, Little Green Farm.

He married Ellen and they probably continued living in Pirton for the rest of their lives as they are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Hubert died on June 19^th 1974 aged ninety and Ellen on December 29^th 1977 aged eighty-eight.

Walker, James

James appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.

Parish and census records suggest the following possible men:

The first was baptised on April 2^nd 1873 and was the son of George and Mary Ann Walker (née Taylor).  He would have been about forty-one at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list nine children: James (bapt 1873), Joseph (bapt 1875), George Edward (bapt 1875), Florence (bapt 1878), Emma (b 1880), Isabella (bapt 1883), Kate (bapt 1885), Rose (b 1886) and John (b 1889).

The second was baptised on March 28^th 1875 and was the son of William and Ann Walker (née Titmuss).  He would have been about thirty-nine at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list nine children: William (bapt 1867), John (b 1868), Samuel (bapt 1870), Joseph (bapt 1871), Alice (bapt 1873), James (bapt 1875), Frederick (bapt 1877, died, aged five months), Charles (bapt 1878) and Anise Emma (b 1880).

The third was baptised on April 5^th 1885 and was the son of John and Lucy Walker (née Presland).  He would have been about twenty-nine at the outbreak of war.  Baptism records list six children: Florence Ann (b 1879), Albert John (b 1882), James (bapt 1885), Eleanor Rose (b 1888, 1901 census records Helena), Daisy (b 1893) and Nellie (b 1897).

The fourth was born on October 20^th 1886 to Emily Walker, and so he would have been about twenty-eight at the outbreak of war. 

Unfortunately it is not certain which of these men served.

Walker, Leonard James

Leonard appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Given the middle name, the parish and census records suggest only one possible candidate.  He was born on April 8^th 1900 and was the son of James and Alice Walker (née Titmuss).  The 1911 census identifies five children: Annie Ethel Titmuss (b 1898, before the marriage), Leonard James (b 1900), Frederick Charles Walker (b c1903), Doris Eleanor (b c1906) and Mildred Emily (b c1908).

Leonard would have only been fourteen at the outbreak of war so, if he is the right man, he is unlikely to have served until late in the war.  This is confirmed in the Parish Magazine of September 1918, which records Leonard as being ‘called to service’ and by then he would have been eighteen.  The later Parish Magazine of November 1918 recorded him as serving in the 51^st Queen's. 

Walker, Philip,

Philip appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school, but he must have emigrated at some point as he served with the Canadians.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on November 16^th 1889 (although his attestation papers record 1890) to Albert and Mary Ann Walker.  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Edward Walker for more family details. 

The North Herts Mail of December 14^th 1916 reports that Philip had worked as a cleaner at the Hitchin Great Northern Station.  After emigrating to Canada in 1909 or 1910, he initially worked on a boat on which Philip Trussell, the son of the well known Pirton post office man, who had also emigrated, was the engineer.  Like a number of other Pirton men, he had settled in New Westminster.

An undated newspaper cutting confirms him as the son of Mr A Walker.  The oath was taken in Vancouver on March 15^th 1916 and so he was twenty-five when he enlisted.  His attestation papers record him as living in New Westminster, a fireman and not married. 

The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Duke of Connaught's Own and wounded.  The Parish Magazine of October 1918 records him as a casualty, after being gassed, and the North Herts Mail of September 5^th 1918 confirms that he was ‘Badly gassed and was now in Napsbury Hospital, St. Albans.’ Apparently, the gassing took place several months before, but ‘he pluckily made light of it.  A nurse saw it as serious and he was sent to England.’  He first went to France around Christmas 1916 and was wounded at Vimy Ridge - the battle commonly recognised as giving the Canadians their distinct national identity.

A headstone in St. Mary’s churchyard lists a Philip Walker of the right birth date, so it is possible that Philip returned from Canada, married and remained in Pirton.  If so, then he had a wife named Florence and died on January 5^th 1946 aged fifty-six.

Walker, Sidney

Sidney appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  An undated newspaper cutting from the village scrapbook reports him as one of four brothers serving, whose parents had died.

Parish and census records confirm that they were the sons of George and Sarah Walker (née Odell), who both died before the war.  The family lived in Bury End, near Great Green.  In all it would appear that four brothers served, of whom three survived - refer to Frederick Walker for more family details.

By 1911 he had a wife, Susan.  They had been married for three years and had two children: Edith Sarah (b c1909) and Ivy May (b 1910).  They were living around Great Green and he was a cowman on a local farm.  By the time he went to war he was married and a father.

An undated but war time newspaper cutting confirms a third child.  It also reports that before the war they had moved to Knebworth, with Sidney working as a cowman on Lord Lytton’s Estate.  However the family, with Sidney away at war, moved back to Pirton. 

Sidney is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916, and serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery.  He would have been about twenty-seven years old. 

Walker, William

Note: See Charles Walker for notes on the identity of this branch of the Walker family.

Cross-referencing an undated newspaper cutting in the village scrapbook with parish and census records, suggests only one possible man of this name who could have served, and he was baptised on March 10^th 1878, the son of James and Selina (née Goldsmith).  In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived - refer to Charles Walker for more family details.

By 1911 William was thirty-three, still living in the family home in Holwell Road and earning a living as a labourer.

He married before the war and the Parish Magazine of October 1915 congratulates William for enlisting with the comment ‘To the list of names published in the last Magazine is now added that of another married man, William Walker.  Why don't more unmarried men come forward?’  He would have been about thirty-seven when he enlisted.  The Parish Magazine of July 1916 records him as serving in the 9^th Labour Battalion of the Royal Engineers. 

Weeden, Albert, (Bert)

Albert appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on June 16^th 1889 (18^th on Church headstone) to William and Hannah Weeden (née Walker).  Baptism and census records list ten children but by 1911 two had died.  The children were Mary Ann (bapt 1870, d 1870 aged fourteen days), George (bapt 1872), John (bapt 1874, d 1895), Alice (bapt 1878), Mary (b 1880), Ellen (b 1882), William (bapt 1885), Fred (b 1887), Albert (b 1889) and Lily Jane (b 1893).  His brother Fred may also have served and his nephew, Leonard, served and survived.

In 1911 Albert was twenty-one, still living in the family home and earning a living as a horseman on a local farm.  In 1915 he was recorded as a farmer, but having heard the call to arms aged twenty-five he signed his attestation papers on January 5^th 1915, joining the Royal Horse Artillery as Driver 77744 and being sent for training at Woolwich.  In early May 1915 he was posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and joined the 29^th Division.  As part of “P” Battery, they embarked on the S.S. Orsova from Devonport on May 10^th, arriving in the Dardanelles later that month.  He had a fearsome welcome, arriving during shelling by the Turks.  A report in the North Herts Mail of July 15^th 1915 records a letter that he managed to write home shortly afterwards.  It provided news and some reassurance for his parents; ‘Just a line to let you know that I am still in the ‘pink’.  We landed here Wednesday night receiving a hearty welcome from the Terrible Turks, who were showing us A1, all the lot of them falling in the water.  We had a fine journey, travelling second class.  We called at Alexandria and stayed there two days but would not let us get off, and the niggers*¹ would not let us do any fatigues. I am writing this with the shells pinging over me about every five minutes so you can guess I am not far from the firing-line.  We have plenty to eat and drink, and me and my pal have a nice little house which we dug ourselves, about six feet in the ground, so we lay and count stars at night.  We lost scarcely any men, only a few horses have dropped since I have been here so I don’t think we shall be here long.  The Old Turk will never stand the pepper he is getting.  We are getting served out with tobacco tomorrow so will you send some packets of fag papers?  It is no use thinking of buying anything here as there are no houses, much less any shops, and writing paper is hard to get.  We have no time for writing, what with digging holes for horses and gun-pits.  We have just had an argument about when was Whit-Sunday.  Some say it was last Sunday.  If so this is Friday.

On the 26^th, he was posted ‘in the field’ to “Y” Battery.  He did not have a good time and on June 30^th was admitted to Hospital with Enteric Fever, a tropical infection.  Enteric fevers include typhoid and paratyphoid fevers and gastroenteritis.  A week later the hospital in Mudros recorded him as ‘Dangerously ill’ and wired the news.  The above newspaper report mentions that he was in hospital through illness and reported that his parents had been ‘wired’ from the Royal Dock Yard Woolwich, informing them that their son Driver Albert Weeden, “Y” Battery Royal Horse Artillery, had become dangerously ill on July 8^th but gave no further particulars.  Obviously, his parents would have been dreadfully worried, but his health improved and, on the 21^st, the hospital wired to say that he had been removed from the danger list.  He was invalided from Mudros to England and was admitted to the Military Hospital in Lewisham on September 15^th 1915.

Albert’s service record is faded and therefore parts are hard to read but, after recuperation, he certainly remained on home service, stationed at Woolwich, joining “G“ Battery until June 29^th 1916 when he embarked for France and, a short time later, joined the 19^th Anti Aircraft Battery (AAB).  While he remained in France, on October 12^th 1916 Albert’s mother died.  In December his AAB was reorganised and became “T” Battery AAB.  On January 5^th 1917 he was granted class II proficiency and was also awarded a Good Conduct Badge.  Albert continued his service with a posting to “R” Battery AAB and then, on January 4^th 1918, to “U” Battery AAB.  He became ill again and on April 20^th 1918 was admitted to hospital with mild ‘Inf Accessory Sinuses’.  It was presumably not that mild, as he was not discharged until May 4^th and then, not back to service, but to the St. Martin Rest Camp.  He returned to active service on the 18^th and posted to “G” AA B on June 22^nd. 

The Hertfordshire Express of October 26^th 1918 confirmed some of the detail above and added that Albert had been a smallholder in Pirton, that he had been in the army for three years, was serving in France and that, on October 5^th, he was wounded.  His service records are badly faded at the entry for this date, but they confirm that he was wounded in action, on or just before this date, and that he was admitted to hospital.  He was then discharged on the 8^th or possibly the 9^th.

Rodney Marshall, Albert’s grandson, confirms that Gunner Albert 77744 was in the artillery and was at Gallipoli and also in France.  Like most of the men who served, Albert rarely spoke about it.  The only things that Rodney remembers him saying were, in reference to Gallipoli, that he was staggered by the ‘sheer number of bodies of men and horses he saw floating in the sea,’ and that when he was billeted in France, ‘the serjeant used to come round early every morning and yell ‘gas’, at which everyone would jump out of bed and don their masks, there was never any gas.’  ‘So one morning my Grandfather and his mate decided to stay in bed;’ ‘that’s how I lost all my teeth’.  Rodney adds, “Whether this is true or not who can tell, but he never had any teeth that I remember.”

The 1918 Absent Voters’ List confirms Albert as Gunner 77744, 221^st AA (Anti Aircraft) Section, Royal Artillery, with his home address as Dead Horse Lane (now Royal Oak Lane).

In 1921 he married Ruby Goodwin Gaff, who came from Ipswich, in St. Marylebone, London.  They had three children Denise (b 1921, Rodney’s mother), who married John Marshall, Ronald (b 1924), who married Patricia Wooley (buried Pirton churchyard) and Ruby (b 1927), who married Rex Allingham from Barton.  Both Ron and Ruby, together with their families, emigrated to Australia in the early 1960s.

After the war, in various censuses, he is recorded as a farmer at Hammonds Farm (Burge End Lane).  He was also Vice-President of the Pirton branch of the British Legion.  Albert and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Pirton and are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Albert died in 1958 aged sixty-eight and Ruby in 1971 aged seventy-eight.

^*1 We have no wish to offend, this is a direct quote.  Remember acceptable word usage was different 95 years ago.

Weeden, Albert Walter

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Albert, who was serving in the Coldstream Guards, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’, although for the reasons given below he has a direct connection to Pirton.

This man is a curiosity; the 1918 Absent Voters’ List records him as Lance Corporal RTS/5567 Machine Gun Corps (Guards), with his home address given as Dead Horse Lane (now Royal Oak Lane).  This suggests that Albert Walter was living at the same address or at least reasonably close to the other Albert Weeden, who also survived, perhaps a cousin or other relation. 

It was not until the release of the 1911 census, and the discovery of his service record, that more information could be established.  This in turn led to further details being provided.  Albert Walker was the son of Elizabeth Weeden, and born out of wedlock.  She later married her 3^rd Cousin Frederick Percival Weeden in Islington in 1897.  Both were from Pirton, and by 1911 they had been married for fourteen years and were living at 20 Moreland Street, Finsbury Park.  The census lists two children: Albert (b 1892) and Alice (b c1906).  Albert was born in Pirton and Alice in Finsbury Park.  Albert was single and working as a dairy clerk.

He enlisted on July 29^th 1915 in London, aged twenty-six.  His father’s address was still Moreland Street.  Albert was recorded as a clerk (elsewhere as dairyman) for H J(NB: this is hard to read from the records) Pring, 216 High Road, Leyton.  He joined the Coldstream Guards as Private 16559.  After training and home service he embarked for France on August 29^th 1916 and the 4^th Battalion.  After a month at the Base depot he joined his Battalion in the field.  On October 21^st he transferred to the 2^nd Guards Brigade, Machine Gun Corps (MGC), as Private 736, and qualified as a machine gunner.

Albert became sick in early May 1917 and rejoined his Company on the 18^th but, within four days, was sick again and was admitted to hospital in Gailly on the 23^rd, where he was treated for an ‘Abs L buttock’ (presumably - abscess left buttock), but was discharged on the same day, rejoining his Company on June 26^th.  On October 12^th he was shot in the thigh, admitted to the 47^th General Hospital and by the 29^th was well enough to be discharged to the base depot. 

Between March 13^th and 27^th 1918 he was given well earned UK leave and did not return to action with his Battalion until April 21^st.  In June he was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.  Then, on September 9^th 1918, he was mildly gassed and was again admitted to hospital.  He was discharged on the 12^th but, a month later, on October 11^th was gassed again, with phosgene gas.  This time it was more serious and on the 20^th he was invalided to England and admitted to Military Hospital, Sycamore Road, Nottingham, where he spent the remainder of the war.  It was not until December 4^th 1918 that he was well enough to be discharged.

In his final medical, although he complained of chest pains, he received no disability award and was demobilised on February 11^th 1919, having served for three years and 198 days, of which two years and two months were in France. 

Perhaps his parents had moved back to Pirton by then but, in any case, his home address was given as Royal Oak Lane, Pirton. 

Weeden, Frederick, (Fred)

It is not certain that Fred served, as the North Herts Mail of October 26^th 1916 reports that Frederick Weeden, aged twenty-seven, a Pirton small holder, was given three months exemption from service.  This would have been following his appeal against being called up, which would have been heard by the Hertfordshire Appeal Tribunal.  The report also mentions that his brother (Albert Weeden) was serving.  It is possible that the exemption could have been extended.  However, as it was for such a short period it is assumed that it is likely that he would have gone on to serve. 

Parish and baptism records reveal only one possible man who could be correct, although he would have been twenty-nine not twenty-seven at the time of the report.  With everything else fitting this is assumed to be an error in the report, in which case he was born on April 9^th 1887 to William and Hannah Weeden (née Walker).  In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Albert (Bert) Weeden for more family details.

By 1911 Fred was twenty-three, still living in the family home and earning a living as a domestic gardener.

Weeden, Leonard Stanley, (Len)

Leonard appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on March 29^th 1899 to George and Ellen Weeden (née Handscombe).  He would have been fifteen at the outbreak of war and therefore he is very unlikely to have served until the latter stages.  Baptism and census record three children but, by 1911, one had died.  At this time only two can be identified with certainty; they are Alice Miriam (b 1896) and Leonard Stanley (b 1899).  Norah Lake kindly adds that Leonard (Len) was Albert Weeden’s nephew.  Albert also served in the war and survived.  Len's sister Alice married Thomas Lake, also listed as a survivor of the war. 

The Parish Magazine of October 1918 records Leonard as serving in transport and having been wounded.  The Parish Magazine of November 1918 confirms that this was with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Len died on November 26^th 1967 aged sixty-seven and his ashes are interred in the St. Mary's Church, Garden of Rest.

Wells, Arthur

The Parish Magazine of October 1915 records Arthur, who was serving in the Royal Engineers, as ‘indirectly connected to Pirton’.  Parish and census records currently provide no further information.

Weston, Fred

Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on April 10^th 1883 to Charles and Jane Weston, who lived in one of the Wellbury Cottages on Hexton Road.  Baptism and census records list seven children: Walter (b c1868), George (b c1871), Mary (b c1875), Kate (bapt 1876), Louisa (bapt 1878), John (b 1881) and Fred (b 1883).

The 1911 census shows that he was living next door to his parents in Wellbury Cottages.  His father was recorded as a retired gamekeeper and Fred as gamekeeper.  A later newspaper cutting confirms that he had followed his father into the job of gamekeeper for Highdown.  Fred had been married to Rose Jane for two years and they had two young children: Hilda Mary (b c1909) and Lucy (b 1910).  He was married and a father when he went to war.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting during 1915 and serving in the 2^nd Bedfordshire Regiment, so he would have been about thirty-two years old when he enlisted.  The North Herts Mail of July 1^st 1915 reported that he was about to go to the Front and then later, the Hertfordshire Express of May 5^th 1917 reports him as wounded, but he was ‘lucky’ as ‘a piece of shell entering at his chest emerged from his back without breaking a bone or doing any vital injury.’

Wilshere or Wilsher?

It is difficult to be sure which is the spelling to use, as usage, even between parents and children, seems to change.  There are also a number of contradictory spellings of this surname, e.g. Charles Wilshere is listed on the Village War Memorial, but the same man appears as Charles Wilsher on the Arras Memorial, which records his death as a missing soldier.  The spelling of Bert is confirmed as Wilsher by a family member, by his signature on his attestation papers and on his monumental inscription in St. Mary’s Garden of Rest, but his parents are recorded as Wilshere and signed with that spelling in the 1911 census.  Wilshere has therefore been used for all the men except Bert.

Wilshere, Arthur

Arthur appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  The Hertfordshire Express of April 28^th 1917 reports him as one of four brothers serving whose parents were Mr and Mrs J Wilshere of Andrew’s Cottages - the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street.

Parish and census records confirm they were James Wilshere and Sarah (née Larman).  Baptism records list seven children but by 1911 one had died.  They are Martha (b c1876), Charles (bapt 1878), Frederick (b 1882), Kate (b 1884), Robert (bapt 1885), Arthur (b 1887) and Bertram (b 1890).  Arthur was born on April 29^th 1887.  His brothers, Charles, Frederick and Bertram all served.  Frederick was wounded and sadly lost a leg.  Charles was killed and is recorded on the Village War Memorial. 

Arthur was married before the war, in 1909, to Lily Jarvis, they had four children, but only three can be named at this time:  were Irene Bertha (b 1910), Bert (b 1912) and Harold (b 1914).  In 1911 he was living with his wife and child in their own home.  A later report records that, like his brother Bert, he was earning a living as a cowman on one of the local farms.

He is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Bedfordshire Regiment.  He would have been twenty-eight years old.  The Hertfordshire Express of March 10^th 1917 reports him as being wounded.  This is confirmed in the North Herts Mail dated March 15^th 1917*¹, with the date of his injury given as February 26^th.  He was taken to Rouen Hospital with gunshot wounds to the head.  It noted that he was married with four young children, and that, before joining up (a year ago), was a stockman for Mr Perkins of Little Offley.  He was thirty and had been in France for eight months.

It is likely that Arthur and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Pirton, as they are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard.  Arthur died in 1942 aged fifty-five and Lily in 1961 aged seventy.

*¹ Unfortunately it is possible that this information has been confused with one of the A Walkers who served, as the paper mentions both surnames; the information from this paper should be treated with great caution.

Wilsher, Bertram, (Bert)

The name Bertram Wilsher appears in the Hertfordshire Express of July 11^th 1914, which reports him as a member of the organising committee for the Pirton Transept Fête. 

Bertram appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  The Hertfordshire Express of April 28^th 1917 reports him as one of four brothers serving, whose parents were Mr and Mrs J Wilshere of Andrew’s Cottages - the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street. 

Parish and census records confirm they were James Wilshere and Sarah (née Larman).   In all it would appear that four brothers served, of whom three survived - refer to Arthur Wilshere for more family details.

By 1911 Bert was the only one of the children recorded as living in the family home.  He was twenty-one and, like his brother Arthur, was earning a living as a cowman on one of the local farms.

Bert is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting between October 21^st 1915 and March 2^nd 1916 and serving in the Bedfordshire Regiment.  In fact, he signed his attestation papers on November 12^th 1915 in Hitchin, aged twenty-five.  Previously a labourer, he became Private 23186, Bedfordshire Regiment, joining his Regiment on the 17^th at the Ampthill Depot for training.  He was unmarried and his next of kin given as his mother, Sarah.  Later, after he married on February 19^th 1916, this was changed to his wife Mary (née Males) of Holwell Road Cottages, also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’.

Bert transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) as Private 31538 on April 12^th 1916 and embarked for France on June 18^th and, after a period in the Base Depot, was posted to the 107^th Company on July 4^th. 

The Hertfordshire Express of April 28^th 1917 reported Bert as serving in France and the North Herts Mail, dated two days earlier, states that Bert had been wounded.  This may be an error, perhaps confusion with one of his brothers, because this wound does not appear in his service record.  However, he was wounded on August 10^th 1917.  It is not clear if he returned to France, but he was posted three more times in 1918 and was demobilised on March 3^rd 1919.

Maureen Worsley (née Wilsher) adds ‘My paternal Grandfather, Bertram served in World War One as a private in the army.  Whenever anyone asked, ‘What did you do in the war?’ he would say ‘You don't want to know about such things as that’ and then shut up like a clam and refuse to say anything further!’

After the war he worked on the railway, living with Mary in Pudding Bag Alley*¹ and then later, in 1925*², moving to 11 Davis Crescent with their children: Alan, Dulcie and Patty.  Four more children were then added to the family: Bessie, Jeffrey, Max and Terry.  Bert continued working for the railway until he retired in 1955.*² 

Another grandchild, Martin Wilsher  added ‘I know my Grandfather, Bertram Wilsher, was a participant in the Great War, and I have a memory of him playing tunes on the harmonica he had given to me for my seventh birthday that he had learnt while he was in the trenches.’

His Pirton monumental inscription reads “Bertram Wilsher born 1890 died 1976”.  Also “Mary Wilsher born 1895 died 1980”.

 *¹ Pudding Bag Alley was the name given to the alley way running behind the row of terraced cottages in West Lane at the junction with the High Street.

*2 Previously the information was incorrect and listed Bert as moving to 11 Davis Crescent upon his retirement in 1925 this was a result of carelessness by the writer, Jonty Wild apologises for the error.

Wilshere, Frederick

Frederick appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school.  The Hertfordshire Express of April 28^th 1917 reports him as one of four brothers serving whose parents were Mr and Mrs J Wilshere of Andrew’s Cottages (the three cottages at the bottom of the High Street).  In all it would appear that four brothers served, of whom three survived - refer to Arthur Wilshere for more family details.

By 1911 only Bertram was living with his parents; all the others were making their own way in the world.  Frederick is not recorded in the Pirton census, so he was working or living away from the village.

Frederick is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving as a Corporal in the 13^th Royal Fusiliers.  The Hertfordshire Express of April 28^th 1917 informs readers that Frederick had a leg amputated and was home on leave waiting for his discharge.

Wright, James William

All that is known of this man comes from the 1918 Absent Voters’ List.  He was Lance Corporal RTS/5567 XI Squad No. 1 Base, Remount Depot, British Expeditionary Force, with his home address as The White Horse Inn, which was where The Motte and Bailey now stands on Great Green.  This is the same address as given for Percival Harry Wright, who also served and survived - perhaps his brother, and for Alfred Nightingale, another soldier who served and survived.

Wright, Percival Harry

Most of what is known of Percival comes from the 1918 Absent Voters’ List.  He was Private 126341 Royal Horse Artillery, with his home address given as The White Horse Inn, which was where The Motte and Bailey now stands on Great Green.  This is the same address as given for James William Wright, who also served and survived - perhaps his brother, and for Alfred Nightingale, another soldier who served and survived.  The Kelly’s Trade Directories provide further information.  It appears that after the war he had several occupations, as the various directories of 1929, 1935 and 1937 list him as motor engineer, motor coach proprietor and taverner, all located at The White Horse PH.  He ran the ‘Pirton Belle’, a bus service that ran from Pirton to Hitchin, Pirton to Luton and Pirton to Letchworth.  That business was sold to Birch Brothers, together with the routes, in January 1938. 

His headstone in St. Mary’s churchyard records that he died on January 31^st 1949 aged fifty-nine, so he would have been born around 1890 and would therefore have been about twenty-four at the outbreak of war.

Tom (surname unknown)

An undated newspaper article provided by Jim and Mary Moffatt of Pirton Grange gives us a tantalising fragment of information about an unknown Pirton man, Tom:

The article, which reports the post war visit of King George V to Pirton, ends with ‘Suffice to wind up with a story of a grandson of a Pirton man also named Tom, who sums up the bizarre but yeomen traits of the character of Pirton.  This grandson was presented to King George V for bravery and skill as a bomb aimer in the First World War.  ‘I suppose,’ said the King ‘that you would find it an easy matter to drop a bomb in an egg cup?’  ‘No, your majesty,’ came the reply, ‘on an eggcup’.’

Further positive identification of this man has not proved possible.  His information does not fit with any of the ‘Toms’ which are already listed, i.e. Tom Lake or Thomas Abbiss.  All Toms and Thomas’ of an appropriate age who are listed in the parish and census records were investigated and then traced back to find those with a grandfather of the same name.  The only likely man appears to be Thomas Charles Trussell, who is listed above as Charles Trussell (baptised as Thomas Charles).  George’s parents were Thomas and Esther Trussell.  Perhaps this man is the right Tom, but as he was a soldier not an airman, he seems unlikely to be the right man.

To find out more or to buy the book visit  

We would like to ask for your help, if you have any information, photographs or artefacts for any of the Pirton related men that served or any information on potential new names, please get in touch jontywild@pirton.org.uk

Also if anyone would like copy of any Pirton WW1 war grave or memorial photographs please contact jontywild@pirton.org.uk.  provided there are no copyright issues, digital copies for personal use will be provided free of charge to relatives, printed photographs can be provided for a small charge.

Thanks to the late Lynda Smith www.roll-of-honour.com.

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