Harpenden War Memorial 1914-18
A Tribute to the Men who died in the Great War
By Mary Skinner
Mary Skinner has revised and updated the work she published as a booklet in 1998. A downloadable pdf is attached at the end of this document for readers who wish to print out a copy. If further information is received, we propose to add it in italics to the appropriate entry.
See also photographs and a transcription of the memorial plaques.
Detail of the Celtic Cross, designed by Ernest Hasseldine, and dedicated in 1920
LHS archives
Quite rightly the Remembrance Service nowadays lays stress upon the efforts that must be made to prevent such slaughter happening again; the dead are commemorated in this context. The bereaved would surely support this view. As the names of the fallen are read out, some with first names, some with initials only, it does seem that the soldiers of the First World War are almost forgotten; it is to remedy this that this small work has been compiled.
THE MEMORIAL CROSS
The cross stands on Church Green in the centre of the village, it is made if granite and is in the form of a Celtic cross. The names of those who died in the First World War are inscribed on gunmetal tablets on either side of the pediment. Those who died in the Second World War are recorded on an additional tablet.
The memorial was unveiled in front of a large crowd on 9 October 1920 by Lieutenant General Earl Cavan, Commander in Chief at Aldershot.
The inscription on the front of the cross is:
TO THE
GLORIOUS MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF HARPENDEN
WHO FOUGHT AND DIED
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1918
The inscription on the back of the Cross is:
ERECTED
BY
THE PEOPLE
OF HARPENDEN
IN
GRATITUDE LOVE
AND PRIDE
The Memorial Fund was raised by local subscription, a high proportion of the people of Harpenden contributed. The Cross was the visible and enduring memorial; the funds also went to the purchase and equipping of the Nursing Centre at 40 Luton Road. The start of the National Health Service after the second war, and changes in medical practice caused many changes in the use of the building; it has now been demolished.
ALLEN Harry, Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery
He was born in Stratfield Saye, Wilts. He worked as a groom for Mr Joel of Childwickbury and lived in Lower Cravells Road Harpenden. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 31 July 1917 aged 33. He left a widow and a little child.
ALLEN Maurice Reginald, 2nd Lt. Notts. & Derby Regiment
He was born in 1893, the son of John Allen of Arden Grove. He was training as a Chartered Accountant. He enlisted in the Artists’ Rifles, and was commissioned in the Notts & Derby Regiment. He was killed in action in France on 13 September 1916 aged 23 years.
ANDREWS S. Private London Scottish Regiment
ARGENT William C.V. Private Kings Royal Rifle Corps
He was killed in action on 11 March 1915
ATKINSON Geoffrey J. Buddle, Lieutenant Royal Worcester Regiment
He was the elder son of Hugh Buddle Atkinson, barrister, who lived at Mount Lodge, Townsend Road, Harpenden. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 19 June 1915
BANDY Albert Edward, Lance Corporal 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the son of Albert Edward, a builder’s labourer, and Lizzie Maria Bandy. He was employed as an errand boy at a nursery. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 10 March 1915
BARNES Henry, Corporal 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Kinsbourne Green near Harpenden, the second son of Benjamin Barnes and Matilda. He worked for Steabbens , the butcher on Church Green. He enlisted in St Albans. He was killed in action in France on 3 July 1916, aged 24 years.
BARRETT Sidney, Corporal Royal Engineers
He was born in 1895 at Fiddlers Hill Cottages on Kinsbourne Green near Harpenden to Dan Barrett, a farm labourer and Matilda, a straw plaiter. He was drowned near Cambrai on 1 December 1918 while on active service.
BARTON Fred, Gunner Royal Horse Artillery
He was born in Harpenden and lived with his widowed mother in Cravells Road at the house of his grandmother. He was a bootmaker. He enlisted in July 1916. He was killed in action in France while fighting near Ypres on 26 September 1917, aged 25,
BELL S. Private Yorkshire Regiment
No Stanley or Sidney Bell can be found who has any connection with Harpenden. A Stanley Bell is recorded on Luton War memorial.
BELL William George, Private 8th Battalion Suffolk Regiment
He lived in Leyton Green, the son of a builders labourer. He enlisted in St Albans and was killed in action on the Western Front on 4 May 1917, aged 19 years.
BIGG Charles William, Private Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden in 1894, the eldest son of Mr Bigg of Batford Road, who worked for Vauxhall, Luton. Before enlisting in Hertford he worked in the Almagam Rubber Works on the Lower Luton Road. He was wounded in France when a bomb he was about to throw exploded in his hand. He was carried to the dressing station, where he died when a shell exploded nearby, on 14 July 1916. He was 24 years old.
BLAKE Christopher, Second Lieutenant 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born on 18 August 1892, the fourth son of William Henry Blake M.B., surgeon, and Alice his wife, of Bowers House, Harpenden. He went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge where he obtained a B.A. degree. He started work at St John’s College of Agriculture in Bedfordshire. He joined up in 1915. He died of wounds received on his first day in the trenches, 4 September 1916. He was 22 years old.
BOAKES G.A. Private Royal Army Service Corps, Motor Transport Division
This is probably John Boakes of the above unit who was born in Woolwich but resided in Harpenden. Confirmed, by his grandson John Foskett, that the memorial is incorrect - this should be John Boakes. He died in England 19 November 1915 while on active service. He is buried in Woolwich Cemetery, his grave being marked as a war grave.
BOLDINI A. Private Royal Berkshire Regiment
This could be William Boldini who was born in Hackney and enlisted in Plumstead; no connection with Harpenden can be found. He was the only man of that surname in the regiment. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 27 April 1918
BOWLING Edwyn Randolph, Second Lieutenant 9th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, he was attached to the 8th Battalion Queens Own West Kent Regiment.
He was born in Hove in 1893; he was a solicitor’s clerk working in London in 1911; possibly he was later with a solicitor in Harpenden. He was killed in Belgium on 4 June 1916
BOZIER George Cyril, Private 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born on 25 April 1894, the son of George Cyril Bozier, a horseman on a farm, and his wife Alice Bozier. They lived on Kinsbourne Green. He enlisted in Bedford. He was killed in action on 27 September 1918, aged 20 years
BRANDOM Charles Henry, Private Machine Gun Corps, formerly of the Bedfordshire. Regiment
He seems to have used the name Brandon in the army. He was born in Harpenden, the son of Henry Brandom, a night stoker at a nursery and Charlotte Elizabeth his wife. He enlisted in St Albans. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 8 September 1916, aged 19 years.
BROAD Dennis Gurney, Flight Sub Lieutenant & Assistant Paymaster Royal Naval Air Service. He served on HMS Killingholme. He was born in 1884 and lived at ‘Tregroves', Rothamsted Avenue, Harpenden. He was killed while flying over the North Sea on 27 April 1916. He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Naval Memorial at Chatham.
BURFOOT William Francis, Corporal 423 Company Royal Engineers
He was born in Slough, the elder son of Joseph Burfoot, a painter and decorator. He was married and lived at 3 Roundwood Lane, Harpenden; he worked as a bricklayer. He enlisted in London. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 20 September 1917, aged 30 years.
BURGESS Percy. Corporal 10th Battalion Hampshire Regiment, formerly of the Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden and lived in one of the cottages at the Batford end of Station Road. Before enlisting he worked in the laundry in Harpenden Rise, supporting his widowed mother and two young brothers. He was killed in action in the Balkans on 7 December 1915, thirteen days before his twentieth birthday.
CAIN Frederick, Gunner Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Harpenden. He was married with two young children and lived in the Lower Luton Road, Batford. He worked as a gardener at St George’s School. He volunteered in 1915. He died of wounds in Belgium on 3 October 1917, and was buried in Zyderschoote.
CAIN Thomas, Private Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment
He was born in 1888 (but recorded as aged 14 in 1911 census), one of the four sons of Arthur Cain of Newcombe Street (Park Hill), Harpenden old enough to serve in the war, two of whom survived the war. He worked as a bleacher at Boreham Wood. He volunteered in April 1915, only sixteen months after he married. He was a good shot and so was selected as a sniper. He was killed in action near Albert on 24 September 1916, aged 28 (aged 20 from census and newspaper report).
CHALKLEY William, Private Essex Regiment
He was born in 1898 in Harpenden and lived with his widowed grandmother and elder brother in Grove Road, Harpenden. He had worked as an errand boy for a school. He died on active service on 1 June 1918. He was buried in St Nicholas churchyard: his grave is marked as a war grave.
CHAPMAN Frederick Charles, Private 3rd Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, formerly in the Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born at Kingcroft Road, Harpenden on 5 April 1895, the son of Frederick John Chapman, a railway ganger, and Rose his wife. He was a plumber’s apprentice. He was killed in action on 16 September 1916, aged 21 years.
CHAPMAN Frederick George, Private 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
He was born in Gaddesdon Row, near Hemel Hempstead, the eldest son of Walter Chapman, a gardener, and Eliza Chapman. He also worked as a gardener. He lived at 4 Newcombe Street (Park Hill), Harpenden (with his parents-in-law Mr & Mrs Cain). He enlisted in April 1916. He was killed in action on 16 August 1916
CLARKE Albert John, Private 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Clifton, Warwickshire and lived at Kinsbourne Green, Harpenden. He worked at the Kennels of the Hertfordshire Hunt. He enlisted in St Albans. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 20 April 1916.
CLARKE Albert Edward, Lieutenant 2nd Battalion Yorks. & Lancs. Regiment
He was born in Winchester in 1892, the second son Arthur Decimus Clarke. Like his father and brother he was a bank clerk. They lived at “Moreton” Douglas Road, Harpenden. He was educated at Kings College, Rochester and St Albans Grammar School. He enlisted in August 1914 and fought in the ranks. In August 1915 he was commissioned. He died of wounds on 20 April 1916, aged 22 years.
CORNELL Arthur Ernest, Sergeant 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1893 in Bedford, the third son of William Cornell, a signalman on the Midland Railway. He lived in Myrtle Cottage, Cornwall Road, Harpenden. He was apprenticed to D.J.Jeffries, printer. He was a member of the choir of Harpenden Wesleyan Methodist Church where he is recorded on their Roll of Honour. He enlisted in St Albans. He was killed on the Western Front on 1 July 1916.
CROSS Ernest William, Private Machine Gun Corps. Previously of the Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Clerkenwell, London and enlisted in Louth, Lincolnshire. He died while on active service on the western Front on 6 September 1918
CRUMPLIN Charles Henry, Private 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Hartley Witney. He lived at Batford Mills. He enlisted in Bedford in July 1916, He was killed in action at Messines Ridge on 17 June 1917
CURTIS Frank William, Lieutenant 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, attached to the Shropshire Light Infantry
He was born in 1891, the eldest son of the late James Curtis of Columbo and Bedford, and of Mrs Curtis of Longcroft Avenue, Harpenden. He was commissioned into the regular army in January 1917 and was sent to Salonika where he contracted malaria and was sent back to England. On recovery he returned to France and was killed along with three others when a shell landed in their trench on the early morning of 4 November 1917. He was 26 years old.
DAY Frederick Willis, Private 3/6 Battalion Durham Light Infantry, formerly in the Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Kinsbourne Green, the son of George and Sophia Day. He enlisted in St Albans. He died on active service in Mesopotamia on 2 November 1917
DAY George, Corporal 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
He was born in Bedford, lived in Luton and enlisted in Darlington. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 16 September 1916, aged 25 years.
DAY Herbert Stanley, Lance Corporal 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden in 1897, the son of Charles Day, a coal porter, and Maria his wife. He was not brother to the other Days on the memorial. He lived in Cravells Road, and had been employed as a butcher’s boy. He enlisted in St Albans. He was killed in action in France on 7 November 1916, his first day in the trenches.
DAY William Thomas, Private 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, and was living there when he enlisted in Hemel Hempstead. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 14 October 1914.
DEAMER Percy, Private Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, son of William and Martha Deamer. He lived in Harpenden, and enlisted in St Albans. He was killed in action in France on 13 November 1916.
DINES Edmund Charles, Private Lancashire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 19 July 1899, the son of Albert Edward and Agnes Annie Dines, who lived in Luton Road. He had worked at Ayot Laundry and at a hat factory in Luton. He had been a chorister at St Nicholas Parish Church. On 1st October 1918, when he was out of the Front Line, he was told by his sergeant to take cover in a nearby pillbox, but he was shot dead (in fact killed by a shell) before he could get there. He was 19 years old.
DINES Francis William Cyril, Sergeant 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 7 October 1894, son of William and Ada Dines. He enlisted in Dovercourt. He lived in Burns Cottage, Cowper Road, Harpenden. He was reported missing on the Western Front, and was later reported to have been killed in action on 23 April 1917, aged 23 years
DODD Ernest John, Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery
He was born 1889, the only child of Mrs Dodd of East Common, Harpenden. He was a Chartered Surveyor on the staff of the Inland Revenue in St Albans. He was a great sportsman, playing football for the England Amateur Team in 1912 and 1913, and also playing cricket for Hertfordshire. He was killed in action in Belgium on 17 July 1917 when a bomb was thrown into his dugout. He was buried at Brandoer, aged 28 years.
DOWLING Robert, Private 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 9 August 1892, the son of John Dowling, grocer, of Leyton Green and his wife Sophia. They lived at Foxcroft, Cowper Road, Harpenden. He enlisted in Morley, Birmingham. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 30 July 1916, aged 24 years.
DRURY Ernest, Lance Corporal 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1893, the younger son of Robert Drury of Batford Road, Harpenden, a signalman on the Great Northern Railway. He worked for the Almagam Rubber Company in Lower Luton Road. He was wounded in France on 9 July 1916, and brought to hospital in Britain; his wounds healed but he died from tuberculosis in Ware Hospital on 13 May 1917. He was buried in St Nicholas churchyard, Harpenden, after a service in the Methodist Church, where he had been a member of the choir. He is commemorated on the memorial in Harpenden Methodist Church.
EAST Robert George, Corporal Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in Nottingham; he enlisted in Hertford. He lived in Harpenden. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 12 October 1918, aged 20 years.
EDWARDS Arthur, Lance Corporal 12th Battalion Suffolk Regiment.
He was the youngest son of Mr & Mrs Edwards of Grove Cottages, Rothamsted. He worked for Simons, the grocer, of Harpenden High Street. On returning from leave in 1917 he had some difficulty finding his unit. He was a very careful and trustworthy man, and had responsibility for the water supply to his company; it was while testing water that he was hit by a shell; he died the next day 22 November 1917.
EDWARDS Sydney, Private 10th Battalion Hampshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the next youngest brother of Arthur, recorded above. He enlisted in St Albans. He lived at Rothamsted. He was killed in action in the Balkans on 7 December 1915.
ELLIS Frederick, Private 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1885 in Bricket Wood. He lived in Harpenden and enlisted in St Albans. He was the stepson of Joseph Parcell, confectioner of Station Road, Harpenden. He was employed as a gardener by Mrs Mathey of Mackerye End. He was killed in action on 20 October 1917, aged 32 years.
ENGLISH Joseph, Private Royal Garrison Artillery
He was born in Harpenden on 13 December 1887, second son of Joseph and Margaret English of Hatching Green. He was a worker in the rubber works, probably the Almagam in Lower Luton Road. He died in England on 16 December 1916, and is buried in St Nicholas churchyard.
EVANS Douglas Osmond, Second Lieutenant Kings Own (Liverpool) Regiment
He was the son of Osmond Evans a tea buyer, and Clara, his wife of Beechcroft, Station Road, Harpenden. He was killed in action in France on 8 August 1916.
FIELD Frederick, Private 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden in 1877, the fourth son of Mr M. Field of Heath Road, Bowling Alley, Harpenden. He was packer of straw hats at Messrs. Smith & Hall, Luton. He enlisted in March 1916. He was a Sunday School teacher and lay preacher at the Methodist Church, where he is recorded on their Roll of Honour. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 15 September 1916. He was a single man, aged 37.
FINCH James John Arthur, Sergeant 39th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Potters Bar in 1887, the eldest son of Robert Finch, who later lived in Cowper Road, Harpenden. He joined the regular army in 1909. He was awarded the Military Medal at Nieuport for holding a position all day under fire when his Battery Sergeant Major was wounded. He was killed in action on 28 September 1917.
FIRBANK Edward Jabez, Private Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in Hendon and enlisted in Bedford. He lived in Harpenden. He died of wounds on 11 January 1919. He is commemorated on his mother’s grave in St Nicholas Churchyard.
FISHER J.H. Private Seaforth Highlanders Born Hobart, Australia about 1887, son of John and Adeline Fisher who returned to England and lived in Harpenden. He died 4th August 1915 and was finally buried in Peronne road Cemetery, Maricourt.
FITZJOHN Bernard Francis, Lance Corporal Hertfordshire Yeomanry, later in the Machine Gun Corps, Cavalry Division.
He was born in Harpenden in 1883, the younger son of Mr & Mrs Fitzjohn of the Institute, Wheathampstead Road. He lived in Harpenden and worked as a clerk in London. He enlisted on 30 October 1914. He died of wounds in Egypt on 14 November 1917.
FORTUNATI Thomas Victor, Lance Corporal 20th Signal Company Royal Engineers
He was born in Hemel Hempstead in 1896, the son of Corillo Thomas Fortunati, a commercial traveller in printing machinery, and his wife Rosa; they lived in Harpenden. He enlisted in London. He died on 16 July 1917 of wounds received on 3 February 1917.
FOSTER Albert Henry, Private 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
He was born in Esher in 1887, son of Henry and Alice Foster. He worked as a garden boy. He enlisted in Luton in 1916. He took part in the Somme Offensive. He was killed in action near Pozieres on 25 October 1916. His family lived at London Colney.
FOULDES Thomas John, Captain Royal Field Artillery
He was born in 1892, the son of John Fouldes, a diamond merchant, and his wife Mary Ann who lived in Douglas Road, Harpenden. He worked in his father’s business. He was Mentioned in Dispatches. He was killed in action in Greece on 25 June 1918. He is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in Harpenden Methodist Church.
FOWLER Nathaniel John, Sapper Royal Engineers
He was born in 1882 in Leicestershire, the second son of James Fowler, a shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth. He worked as a carpenter. He volunteered in August 1914, enlisting at Limbury. He lived in Leagrave. He was sent to the Western Front where he was first wounded, and later killed in action on 21 April 1915.
FOWLER W.F. Officers' Steward Royal Navy
FRANKLIN Wilfred Noel, Private 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers
He was born in Hitchin on 15 November 1886, the son of William Franklin, Architect & Surveyor, and Alice his wife of Holly Cottage, Willoughby Road, Harpenden. He enlisted in Luton. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 26 September 1914. He was the first Harpenden casualty.
FREEAR Eric Charles, Second Lieutenant 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was the son of the late H.C.Freear of Ampthill and Mrs Freear, who died just five weeks before her son was killed in action in France on 13 April 1917. Lieutenant Freear was the nephew of Mr A.E. Anscombe, the architect, with whom he lived. He had worked as an engineer at Vauxhall, Luton.
FREEMAN Frederick John, Second Lieutenant 4th Battalion attached to the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment
He was born on East Finchley in 1893, the elder son of Frederick William Freeman, an analytical pharmaceutical chemist. They lived in Arden Grove Harpenden. He was studying to be a Chartered Accountant. He died of wounds in France on 3 July 1916. He lived in the same small road as Maurice Allen, see above, who was the same age and also studying to be an accountant. Maurice was killed two months later.
GAME Frederick John, Private 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Weston, Hertfordshire, and enrolled at South Mimms. He lived in Harpenden. He was wounded two hours before the Armistice was signed, and died two days later on 13 November 1918.
GARDINER Frederick T. Captain Highland Light Infantry
He was killed in action on 31 July 1917, while attached to the 12th Battalion.
GENN J.E. Private Labour Corps, transferred to Essex Regiment
He was the husband of May Edith Genn of 35 Ball Street, Nottingham. He died on 29 January 1916, aged 38 years. He is buried in Luton cemetery. His grave is marked as a war grave, and his name is recorded on Luton War Memorial.
GIBBS Henry John, Private 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 30 September 1915.
GIMMINGHAM Charles Henry, Captain Hertfordshire Regiment attached to the Royal Flying Corps.
He was mentioned in Dispatches. He was killed in action in Greece on 9 November 1917.
GOODING Walter Joseph, Private Welsh Regiment
He was born in Greenwich and lived in Lambeth. He enlisted in Holborn. He was killed in action on 25 February 1917.
GOODWIN Lewis Thomas, Corporal 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in London and lived in Harpenden. He enlisted in Bedford. He was killed in action on 30 October 1917.
GRAVES Harry, Private 12th Battalion South Wales Borderers
He was born in Harpenden; his mother, Keziah, was a widow. He worked as a carman. He was a single man living with his mother and sister in Cravells Road, Harpenden. He died at home, that is not overseas, on 4 July 1916.
GRAY Harry, Private Royal Army service Corps, Motor Transport Division
He was born in Harpenden and enlisted in Bedford. He lived in Harpenden. He died on the Western Front on 7 January 1916.
GRAY Walter James, Private Royal Fusiliers
He was born on 14 October 1897, the son of Walter James & Kate Gray, who lived in Marquis Lane.
GUNNELL Edward, Lance Corporal Royal Army Service Corps, Motor Transport Division
He was born in Harpenden in 1882, the son of Horace Gunnell of Coldharbour Lane. He was employed as a chauffeur to Lady St Oswald at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire. He enlisted in Leeds in February 1915. He was killed at a railhead on the Western Front while loading ammunition on 10 July 1917. He left a young widow who lived in Stafford.
HAINES Ernest W. Corporal 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the youngest son of George Haines of Cravells Road. He enlisted in Bedford, and lived in Harpenden. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 25 August 1915; there were many Hertfordshire casualties on that day.
HALE A. Royal Marines Light Infantry
HARRIS Ernest Sylvester, Private 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born on 15 June 1892 in the parish of Hyde, the son of John & Annie Harris. He lived in Kinsbourne Green, and worked for Mr Catton of Roundwood Lane. He was killed in action by a shell on 1st August 1917.
HAWKES William Stanley, Private 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1892 in St Albans, the son of William J. Hawkes of Maple Cottages, Harpenden. He was employed by Mr J.B. Joel of Childwickbury. He enlisted in St Albans. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 12 April 1917.
HAWKINS Sidney, Private 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born on 28 February 1887, the son of Ashram & Lizzie Hawkins. He lived in Harpenden and enlisted in St Albans. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 17 September 1915, aged 28 years.
HAWKINS William, Private 6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
He was living in Harpenden when he enlisted in June 1915. He was sent to the Western Front in February 1917. He was severely gassed in action, and died of gas poisoning on 8 December 1917. His next of kin then lived at 57 Portland Street, St Albans.
HAYES Alfred Edward, Gunner Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Hackney and enlisted in London. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 14 October 1918.
HAYNES Ernest Gunner (Driver) Royal Field Artillery
He enlisted in Manchester. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 1 July 1916.
HILL Arthur James, Sergeant 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was the eldest son of the late George Hill & Mrs C. Hill of New Farm, near the Great Northern Railway Station, Harpenden. He lived in Harpenden and enlisted in St Albans in 1915. He was employed on the farm of Mr Dolphin Smith. He was killed in action in Palestine on 2 November 1915. Corporal Percy Burgess of the same unit, who was killed in action five weeks later, was a close friend of his. Arthur Hill’s name is recorded on the Roll of Honour in Harpenden Methodist Church.
HILL George William, Private Hampshire Regiment
He was the younger brother of Arthur. He lived in Harpenden and enlisted in Bedford in November 1914. He died of pneumonia while on active service in Salonika on 8 October 1918. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour in Harpenden Methodist Church.
HILL Leonard James Sergeant 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1890 near Wheathampstead. He lived in Harpenden, but was not a brother of Arthur and George Hill. His father, Mark Holland, was coachman to Mr Child of Bamville, East Common, Harpenden. He worked in the straw hat industry. He enlisted in St Albans. He was killed in action on 27 September 1916.
HODGE Frederick George, Private 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Own (West Riding) Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the son of Frederick Hodge, a bricklayer, and his wife Annie. He enlisted in St Albans and he died on active service on the Western Front on 23 November 1916.
HOLLAND Arthur, Private 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden in 1890, the son of Mrs Holland of Ivy Cottage, East Common. He was married and lived in North Mymms, where he worked as a general dealer. He enlisted in Colney Heath. He was a close friend of Corporal Fitzjohn, who died only a week before him. Arthur Holland was wounded three times before he was killed in action on 21 November 1917, aged 27 years.
HOLLAND Edward Herbert (Bertie), Private 1st Battalion King’s Own (Liverpool) Regiment, formerly of the Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was born in Harpenden, and was probably the fifth son of John Holland, a farm labourer who lived in Coleswood Road. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 4 September 1918
HOLLAND John, Private Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the third of the five sons of James Holland of Coleswood Road, Harpenden. He was educated at St Nicholas Church School; he worked for Watson, the bootmaker. He enlisted in Hertford. He was awarded the Military Medal. He was wounded in May 1918 and brought to hospital in Reading where he died on 1 June 1918, aged 23. He is buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, his grave is marked as a War Grave.
HOPWOOD Frederick Ernest, Lieutenant Royal Engineers
He was the son of Ernest James Hopwood of Courtfields, Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden. He died in France on 26 October 1918.
HOWARD Herbert A. Private 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Hinxworth in 1883, the eldest of four sons of Charley Howard a farm labourer; he worked as a cowman. He lived in Kinsbourne Green. He was killed in action on 28 June 1917.
HOWELL George, Gunner Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Harpenden in 1892. His father was a carter, living in Heath Road, Harpenden. He was employed as a hairdresser. Though he was resident in Harpenden he enlisted in Glasgow. He was a married man. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 7 October 1918.
HUCKLESBY Henry, Private West Riding Regiment
His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour in Harpenden Methodist Church. Possibly this could be Henry Hucklesby who was born in 1865 and lived in Pimlico on Harpenden Common.
HUCKLESBY Walter James, Private 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
He was born in Luton in 1880, the eldest son of Walter Hucklesby who lived in Station Road, Harpenden, near the Great Northern Railway Station. He was a bricklayer working at Vauxhall in Luton. He was a member of Batford Methodist Church. He enlisted in Luton. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 10 July 1917.
HUNT Charles, Private 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1891 in Harpenden, the son of Mrs Hunt of Thrales End where he lived. He was wounded at Thiepval in France in February 1916, and returned to England where he was in hospital in Sevenoaks. On recovery he returned to the Front where he was again wounded and died in the Casualty Clearing Station on 10 February 1917.
IRONS Andrew Thomas, Private Machine Gun Corps formerly of the London Regiment
He was born in 1879 in Harpenden. He worked as a postman, and lived in Park Lodge, Leyton Road, Harpenden. He was killed in action on the Western Front on13 April 1917. He left a wife and a daughter of eleven.
JEFFCOCK Robert Salisbury, 2nd Lieutenant 1/6 Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
He was born in 1876 in Wolverhampton where his late father was Prebendary. He was an artist specialising in miniatures; he lived in Rothamsted Avenue, and later in Station Road, Harpenden. He enlisted in the Artists Rifles in October 1914, and was commissioned in the West Kent Regiment. After a few months service in Egypt he was sent to France where he was killed in action on 1 July 1916. He left a wife and a ten year old daughter.
JENNINGS Frederick Lance Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment
He was born in Harpenden. This is probably the Frederick Jennings who was born in 1869 and was a railway signalman. He died of wounds on 7 December 1917 while serving with the British Expeditionary Force.
JENNINGS Walter Arthur, Corporal Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Harpenden. He died in Stamford Hospital on 1 December 1918.
KATON Archibald E. Private 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, formerly of East Surrey Regiment
He was born in Bristol and enlisted at Grays in Essex. His family lived at 4 Symington Street (Park Mount) Harpenden. He was reported missing after a battle in August 1917, and was afterwards presumed to have been killed at that time.
KINGHAM Ernest Frank Private 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the third son of Arthur Kingham of the Carpenters’ Arms in the Bowling Alley. He worked in Fields Hat Factory. He was a member of St John’s Church. He enlisted in St Albans. He was awarded the Military Medal. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 3 May 1917.
KNIGHT Ernest Private London Scottish Regiment
He was born in Winchester. He lived in Harpenden. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 29 August 1918.
KRAUSE Charles Ernest Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery
He was born in Islington and enlisted in Hendon. His home was Mill Hill. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 28 May 1918.
LEANING James, Private Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1897 in Grimsby and enlisted in St Albans. He was living in Breadcroft with his mother and two elder brothers (in the 1911 census - his mother predeceased him, dying in 1915). He worked as an errand boy. He was killed in action on 31 July 1917.
LEGGATT Eric Gerard, 2nd Lieutenant 4th Battalion, attached to the 10th Battalion Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders
He was born in 1889, the only son of Dr & Mrs Gerald Leggatt who lived in Vaughan Road. At the age of 23 he was the manager of a rubber estate in Malaya. In 1915 he returned to England to join the army. On 1 April 1916 he married Miss Martelli of London; four days later, on their honeymoon, he was called up. She never saw him again. He was killed in action at Longueville in France on 15 July 1917, aged 27 years.
LEWIN Archibald Private 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He volunteered in November 1914, enlisting in Bedford. He was a single man who lived with his unmarried sister Gertrude at The Haven, Station Road, Harpenden. He was a labourer working at Peters Green. He fought at Ypres and at Arras. He died on 2 April 1917 of wounds received at the second battle of the Somme.
LEWIN Arthur Private 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden and enlisted in Bedford. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 3 April 1918.
LEWIN Horace Corporal 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden; he was a brother of Archibald (see above); a third brother, Ralph, who lived in Luton, was also killed in the war, at Gallipoli. Horace enlisted in Luton. He was awarded the Military Medal. He lived in Watford. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 1 July 1917. His name is also recorded on Luton War Memorial.
LEWIN Kenneth Robert, Lieutenant 7th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
He was killed in action in Belgium on 9 March 1916. It is probable that he was not related to the other men, above mentioned, called Lewin.
LORD Charles Henry Major 10th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers
He was born in 1849. He lived in Moreton Avenue, Harpenden. He retired from the regular army in 1909. Though 65 years old, he succeeded in getting back into the service in 1914. He died of a heart attack after participating in training on Salisbury Plain on 30 December 1914.
LORD Eustace Charles Gabriel, 2nd Lieutenant Irish Guards
Son of the above. He was born in 1895. He was killed in action on 8 May 1918 aged 19 years.
LUXON Thomas Olney, Private Norfolk Regiment
He was born in 1894 in St Albans, the only child of Mrs Luxon who kept a little grocery shop on West Common, Harpenden. He was a bell-ringer in St Nicholas Parish Church. He was wounded in the abdomen on 28 April 1917, and died the next day, in France.
LYDEKKER Cyril Richard Lieutenant 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born at The Lodge, Harpenden, the younger son of Richard Lydekker, Esq. and Lucy his wife. He was educated at Haileybury College. He was killed in action at Sulva, Gallipoli, on 15 August 1915, and is commemorated at the AZMAK Cemetery at Sulva.
LYDEKKER Gerard Owen, Lieutenant & Quartermaster 1/5 Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born at The Lodge, Harpenden on 20 December 1887, the elder son of Richard and Lucy Lydekker. He died in Alexandria on 14 June 1917 of an illness contracted on active service.
MINALL George, Private 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment
He lived in Harpenden. He was the son of Harry Minall who worked for Mr J.B. Joel of Chidwickbury. He volunteered in 1914, enlisting in Hertford. He survived the first battle of Ypres, but was wounded on the Somme. When he recovered he rejoined his unit. He died on 20 March 1918 from wounds received at St Julien.
MOCKETT Lewis Charles, Gunner Tank Corps, formerly Royal Army Service Corps
He was born at Walmer in Kent in 1887, the son of C.M.Mockett who later lived in Luton Road, Harpenden. He was a draughtsman at the Ministry of Munitions. He enlisted in London. He died on 3 October 1918 in France of wounds caused by shrapnel.
MORGAN Percy, Lance Corporal 11th Battalion Kings Own Royal Rifle Corps
He was born in 1892 in Hinxworth, where he was a baker. His father, Jacob, having retired from bakery, worked as a gardener for the Lydekkers at Harpenden Lodge. He was a single man; he enlisted in Hitchin. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 30 November 1917.
MORLEY H. Private Royal Army Medical Corps
NEWTON Arthur, Major Royal Field Artillery
He was born in 1890, the elder son of Mr Arthur Newton of Windsor & Newton, suppliers of artists’ materials. He was in the Territorial Army at the outbreak of war, and was known as an outstanding horseman. He was killed in action at Beersheba in Egypt in 1917.
NEWTON Charles Ronald, 2nd Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery
He was born in 1894, the younger of the two sons of Arthur Newton (see above). He was killed in action in France on 20 September 1918.
OWEN Cyril Henry, Private 7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
He was born in Harpenden in 1899, the elder son of Thomas Henry Owen, a carter who lived on East Common, Harpenden. He enlisted in Hertford. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 27 August 1918.
PAWSON A. Private Kings Own Liverpool Regiment
The only Pawson in the Liverpool Regiment who is recorded as a casualty is Alfred Pawson who was born in Bolton and enlisted in Bootle and was killed in action on the Western Front on 6 October 1918.
PAYNE Albert William Private Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 1 February 1900, eldest of the seven sons of William Payne, a bricklayer; he also had five sisters. They lived in Station Road near the Great Northern Railway station. He had attended the Wesleyan Sunday School. He worked as a gardener for Mr Fouldes of Douglas Road, and later for the Almagam Rubber Company. On attaining military age in February 1918 he enlisted. While undergoing military training he contracted meningitis from which he died in hospital in Cambridge on 28 May 1918, aged 18 years. He was buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, his grave being marked as a war grave.
PEARCE Harold, Private 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the son of Joseph and Mary Anne Pearce, then living at Batford Mills. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 5 May 1915, aged 18 years.
PEARCE Harry (Henry), Private 10th Battalion Hampshire, formerly in the Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was born in 1895 in Harpenden, the eldest of four sons of Henry Pearce, a butcher, and his wife Elizabeth. He assisted his father in the butcher’s shop in Wheathampstead Road. He was killed in action in Salonika on 7 December 1915, having been reported missing.
PEARCE Reginald Frederick, Private 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 9 January 1894, the elder son of George Pearce, a groom, and Sarah his wife. They lived in Lincoln Cottage, Lower Cravells Road, Harpenden. He worked as a gardener. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 12 October 1916.
PEPPER Arthur Clive, Private 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, formerly of the Hertfordshire Regiment.
He lived in Harpenden. He was killed in action on 7 August 1917.
PERRY E.C. Private South Wales Borderers
PHILLIPS Sydney, Private 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
He was born in Hadleigh, Hertfordshire, in 1882, the eldest son of Benjamin Phillips, who had a nursery at Norrisbury, Westfield, Harpenden, and his wife, Ruth. He was a single man and worked as a florist. He was a member of the Congregational Church in Harpenden. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 23 May 1917.
PORTCH G.J.S. Rifleman 8th London Rifle Brigade
He was presumed dead on 21 May 1916.
RANDALL Alfred Henry, Sergeant 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
He was born in Hornsey in 1894 the son of Alfred and Amy Randall, and was the grandson of Mrs Childs of 9 Newcombe Street (Park Hill), Harpenden. He was employed by Carringtons, the jewellers, in Regent Street, London. He enlisted in London in September 1914. He was killed in action on 5 February 1917.
ROBERTS Harry, Private 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden in 1894, the eldest son of John Roberts, a butler, of Queens Road, Harpenden. He had worked as an auxiliary postman. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 22 May 1917.
ROBERTS L. Private Labour Corps
ROLPH Harold, Private 2/4 Battalion Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry
He lived with his widowed grandmother at Bowers Heath, Harpenden, and enlisted in Hertford. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 22 August 1917.
ROLT Herbert Robert, Private 2nd Battalion Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment
He was born in Harpenden in 1898, and was living there when he enlisted in Watford. He was wounded in Italy on 27 October 1918, and died of wounds on 10 February 1919.
DeROUGEMENT G.L.A. Corporal Royal Army Service Corps
ROWLEY Dalbaic Thomas Cotton, Captain 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
He died of wounds in France on 2 July 1916.
SAKER Claude Astley, Lance Corporal Canadians
SAUNDERS Horace Edward, Private 1st Garrison Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
He was born in 1897 near Luton, the elder son of Alfred Saunders, a horsekeeper. He lived in Sandridge. He enlisted in Luton. He died on active service in Egypt on 19 September 1918.
SAUNDERS Walter James, Rifleman 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade
He was born in 1900, the younger brother of Horace. He enlisted in Watford and lived in St Albans. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 27 April 1918.
SCOTT Valentine Edward, Gunner Royal Field Artillery
He was born in 1886. He enlisted in Harlesden, London. He was killed in action on 22 November 1916.
SEABROOK Arthur, Corporal 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 23 June 1896, the second son of Charles Seabrook, a bricklayer, and Clara, his wife of Cravells Road, Harpenden. He worked as a carpenter. He volunteered in September 1914. He fought at Ypres and Arras and was wounded at hill 60, and also at Givenchy. Rejoining his unit he was killed in action at St Quentin on 23 March 1918.
SEABROOK Alexander Lance Corporal Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Harpenden on 9 December 1896, the elder son of Alexander and Emily Seabrook who lived near the Great Northern Railway Station, and later in Cravells Road. He worked in a rubber factory. He was killed in action in the Balkans.
SEABROOK Sidney, Private Royal Marines Light Infantry
He was born in Harpenden, the younger son of Alexander and Emily Seabrook (see above).
SHAFFORD Maurice Phillip Private East Kent Regiment (the Buffs)
He was born in Botley, Hampshire, his home was nearby at Hedge End. He enlisted in Woolwich. He died of wounds on 28 March 1915.
SIBLEY Robert Dymond Gladmond, Major Royal Air Force
He was the third son of Charles Sibley of The Grove, Harpenden. On a reconnaissance flight he flew over enemy lines, with permission from his commanding officer, where he was shot down by enemy planes on 1 October 1918. He has no known grave; his name is recorded on the Wheathampstead War Memorial.
SIBLEY Sidney C. Private Gloucestershire Regiment
He was the youngest son of Charles Sibley of Wheathampstead Road. He was educated at the British School, Leyton Road, Harpenden. He was assistant to S.W.Skillman, tailor, of Station Road. He was married and lived in New Cottages, Station Road. He enlisted in May 1915 for canteen work, later being transferred to the regular army, serving in Italy. He was sent to France, where he was killed in action on 24 April 1918.
SIMONS John Henry Stuart, 2nd Lieutenant 3rd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, attached to the 1st Battalion
He was born near Markyate, the second son of Henry Edgar and Agnes Simons of Turners Hall. He was killed in action at Nieuport, Belgium on 10 July 1917, aged 21.
SMITH J. Private Royal Fusiliers
SNOXELL Arthur, Private 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
He was born in Harpenden, the son of Edward and Annie Snoxell. He enlisted in Hertford. He was killed in action on 22 June 1817 while serving with the British Expeditionary Force.
STEVENS Walter John, Private 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He lived in Harpenden. He was killed in action in Palestine on 20 July1917.
SYGROVE Willie, Sergeant 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1894 in Harpenden, the son of William and Sarah Sygrove who lived at Hatching Green on Harpenden Common. He worked as a fishmonger.
THOMAS Wilfred Patrick Otto, 2nd Lieutenant 9th Battalion Yorks & Lancs Regiment
He was born in 1897 in London, the eldest of three sons of Henry Otto Thomas, who was an advertising manager for a newspaper. They lived in Longcroft Road, Harpenden. He was killed in action on 1st July 1916.
THRALE Charles, Sapper 196 Field Company Royal Engineers
He was born in Wheathampstead, where he lived. He was the second of three sons of William, a painter, and Sophia his wife. He worked as a bricklayer. He enlisted in St Albans. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 26 May 1918.
THRALE Ralph Gunner Royal Field Artillery
He was born in Hertford. He lived with his wife, mother and baby daughter at 1 West View Cottages, Willoughby Road, Harpenden. He worked as a postman and as an attendant at Hill End Hospital. He was an old soldier who had served in India and was on the Reserve List and so was called up on the outbreak of war. He was engaged in heavy fighting in both France and Italy. He was killed in France by a bomb from an enemy aircraft on 10 February 1918, aged 39 years.
TURNER John Bernard, Private 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
He was born in Rickmansworth, the son of Felix Turner, School Attendance Officer, living at Wilton House, Cowper Road, Harpenden. He sang in the Catholic Church and had won a scholarship to Brompton Oratory. He worked as a clerk in the Railway Clearing Station in London. He tried to enlist in the Middlesex Regiment in August 1915, two weeks after his sixteenth birthday, but was discharged as under age. The same day he enlisted in Luton in the Royal Fusiliers. He was sent to France in August 1916. He had a spell back in England suffering from trench fever, but was returned to France as an Acting Lance Corporal. He was killed in action on 6 June 1918, aged 18.
WALTHEW John Syers, 2nd Lieutenant Pilot 4th Squadron, Royal Naval Division, Royal Flying Corps.
He was born in India, the elder son of Frederick Walthew. He was a bank clerk and lived with his mother in Arden Grove, Harpenden. He was killed on active service on 19 September 1917, aged 19. He has no known grave.
Ed information not quite correct - see comment from Sheila Halliwell below
WARWICK Bertie Seymour, Private 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Batford, where he lived. He was the second of the six sons of Frederick Warwick, a house painter. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 7 February 1918. * see Comment below.
WELLS C. Private Essex Regiment
WESTWOOD Guy, Lance Corporal 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
He was the younger son of Frederick Westwood, corn merchant of 3 Cravells Road. He married Edith Jennings six months before his death. He was a keen footballer. He was killed in action on 1 July 1916.
WHITMARSH William, Private Hertfordshire Regiment
He was born in 1893. He lived in Breadcroft *see Comment below, Harpenden, the son of Henry and Isabella Whitmarsh. He was a motor-tyre worker. He enlisted at Hertford. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 5 June 1916.
WHITTINGTON A. Private Royal Fusiliers
He died of wounds on 3 December 1917.
WITHERS Donald Courtland, Private 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade
He was born in Camberwell, and lived in Harpenden. He enlisted in Watford. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 23 August 1918.
WORRALL Henry T. Private 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
He was born in Whitechapel. He lived on the Lower Luton Road in Batford. He volunteered in September 1914, enlisting in St Albans. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 28 April 1918. His name is also on the War Memorial at Wheathampstead.
YOUNGER J. Gunner Royal Artillery
This is probably William James Younger, who was the elder son of James and Ellen Younger who lived in Breadcroft, Harpenden. He was discharged on 11 October 1917 due to sickness.
Sources
In the official records officers and other ranks are treated separately. Many records were destroyed by bombing during the Second World War.
Official Records - Officers
There is no official list of officers killed, but there is a list which was compiled by Cox & King, the bankers by whom all officers were paid. This only gives, for each officer, his rank, regiment, theatre of war in which he died, and place of burial or commemoration. Details of the service of an officer can be looked up individually in the Public Record Office; this is a complicated and time consuming process not suitable for researching twenty nine names.
Official Records - Other Ranks
My first resource for other ranks is ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’. This roll is compiled from “information furnished to Officers in Charge of Records through the Official Casualty List”. It gives the rank, full names (as given by the recruit), town of birth, place of enlistment, and town where resident at the time. Also the general area where the man died, and whether he was killed in action, died of wounds, died while on active service, or died at home. Gallantry awards are also noted. The men are listed in battalions but age is not given.
If the right regiment is shown on the War Memorial the entry will be found.
If the name of the man is unusual it may be found on the Campaign List, which records all those who fought, about two million. If the man of the right name is recorded as having been killed, this record will give the name of the right regiment, so one can go back to “Soldiers Died”. This source is not much help with J.Smith and several others. However sometimes against a name it is pencilled “discharged”, or “presumed dead”, sometimes even with a date. This leads to the next source.
Memorial Inscriptions
Some men who died in hospital in England were buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, at that time the only burial ground in Harpenden. Some have official war grave headstones, some do not. A few casualties were recorded later on their parents’ graves in Westfield Cemetery. These memorials add a few more details.
Census Returns
When I did my original research, the 1891 Census was the latest available and none were on line. I was able to obtain a little information from that. Now, however, much can be found of interest on the censuses of 1901 and 1911, all to be found on line. There are numerous websites which can be used nowadays (2014) such as Ancestry.com and Forces War Records. For individuals one could try the websites of the regiments. The Imperial War Museum has some sites which give names but hard to access.
The National Roll of the Great War
This rather pretentiously named work was actually a commercial venture, the publishers going out of business before it was completed. Fortunately our area, called ‘Luton’, and stretching from Bedford to Watford, was finished. Of all the sources I have consulted I find this the least reliable. Where it is possible to confirm an entry there is much interesting detail, but because no first names are given it can be misleading, especially where there are several members of one family, or possibly men of different families who share a surname.
The Herts Advertiser
This newspaper attempted to record all local casualties, and to write a paragraph on each. All the ‘human stories’ I include have come from this source. As the information was provided at the time the casualty list came, by those who knew the men, I consider this an accurate source.
Individuals - no information at all
I have failed with twelve. W.F. FOWLER was in the Royal Navy; without the name of his ship there is nowhere to search. A. HALE and S. SEABROOK were in the Royal Marines light Infantry; the records of the Marines at that time were divided between the different bases: Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth; there is no general index as there is for the army. Claude Astley Saker joined the Canadian forces which is again too vague a description to look for.
S. ANDREWS, J.H. FISHER, H. MORLEY, E.C. PERRY, L. ROBERTS, G.L.A. DeROUGEMENT, J. SMITH, C. WELLS and R.G. WILLIS are all men of whom I could find out nothing except that none of them was a casualty while serving in the regiment written after his name on the memorial. Many hours of searching have yielded nothing. Some of these are old Harpenden surnames.
The wrong regiment
S. BELL is down as being in the Yorkshire Regiment, which is very vague, so I believe that Stanley Bell of Luton in the Royal Army Service Corps must be the one we are remembering. W.C.V. ARGENT was in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, not in the Royal Irish Rifles. B.F. FITZJOHN was not in the Herts Yeomanry but in the Cavalry Division of the Machine Gun Corps at the time he died. L. GOODING was in the Welsh Regiment, not in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.
The wrong name
G.A. BOAKES on the memorial is probably JOHN BOAKES. Confirmed that it should be JOHN BOAKES by his grandson John Foskett.
C.H. BRANDOM is almost certainly Charles Henry BRANDON.
William BOLDINI is the only soldier of that surname in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.
No connection with Harpenden, Luton or St Albans
Some areas on the periphery of Harpenden, such as Hyde, Kinsbourne Green and Chidwickbury could have been officially in neighbouring towns; others are more puzzling. William BOLDINI, Ernest William CROSS, Walter James GOODING, Alfred Edward HAYES, Charles Ernest KRAUSE, Maurice SHAFFORD and Alfred PAWSON were all born elsewhere and were not living in Harpenden in 1911. Possibly they were working in Harpenden or were perhaps sons-in-law or grandsons of Harpenden people.
Were they brothers?
Harry and Maurice ALLEN were not brothers, neither were George and Stanley BELL. Frederick and Thomas CAIN were brothers. None of the four men named DAY appear to have been brothers, but it is probable that they were all members of the same extended Harpenden family. Frederick Charles and Frederick CHAPMAN were not brothers, neither were Albert John and Albert Edward CLARKE, nor were Edmund Charles and Francis William DINES. Arthur and Sydney EDWARDS were brothers and so possibly were Harry and Walter James GRAY. We have no information to suggest that the two men named FOWLER were brothers. Arthur and George HILL were brothers but Leonard was from a different family. The three men named HOLLAND were not brothers, but all born in Harpenden, so perhaps cousins. Henry and Walter HUCKLESBY were not brothers, probably neither were Frederick and Walter JENNINGS. Archibald and Horace LEWIN were brothers as was Ralph who lived in Luton and possibly Arthur also. Kenneth LEWIN was not related. Eustace LORD was the son of Charles Henry LORD. Cyril and Gerard LYDEKKER were brothers, as were Arthur and Charles NEWTON. None of the three men named PEARCE were brothers. Horace and Walter SAUNDERS were brothers. With no information about L.ROBERTS we cannot tell if he was a brother of Harry. John and Sidney SEABROOK were brothers but Arthur was not. Sidney SIBLEY was not a brother of Robert Dymond SIBLEY, nor were Charles and Robert THRALE brothers.
Mary Skinner October 2014