First World War.
15. Witham soldiers who died in WW1, in date order, together with information about the progress of the War.
Compiled by Janet Gyford, c.2005
For a list of other chapters about WW1, click here.
General information is mostly from the schoolnet web site and from http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday
Details are mostly from the War memorial and the web site of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
(Y) after names show people who almost certainly had their homes in Witham.
(P) shows people who perhaps had their names in Witham.
(N) shows people not living in Witham (but perhaps sons of Witham people etc.).
Black is Western front, blue at sea, brown Middle East, orange Italy, Greece and Turkey
Information about individuals is arranged like this:-
Date of death / Name / Rank / Honours / Regiment and unit / Age / Additional info. from CWGC et al / Grave ref CWGC / Cemetery CWGC / Cemetery loc CWGC
I have only put the strokes (/) in the entries for the first two soldiers, because of lack of time. I hope the other entries will make reasonable sense all the same. Note that two double dashes [– –] usually means that there is no information about the soldier’s age or relatives.
_____________________________
4 August 1914. GB & F declare War on Germany.
7 to 16 August 1914. First contingent of British Expeditionary Force lands in France.
21 August 1914. British move towards Mons; 23rd the battle of Mons begins.
24-26 August 1914. Retreat from Mons.
26 August 1914. Rearguard action at Battle of Le Cateau: British forced to retreat: Louvain destroyed by the Germans.
26 August 1914. Lieut Auriol Round injured at le Cateau.
05 September 1914 / Death of Auriol Francis Hay Round (Y) / Lieutenant / Essex Regiment, 2nd Bn. / 22 / Son of Francis R. Round, C.M.G., and F. Emily Round, of Avenue House, Witham / North boundary. / Witham (All Saints) Churchyard / United Kingdom, Essex
Essex County Chronicle 11 Sept says Auriol’s injury was on 26 Aug at Le Cateau. Says he was taken back to London Hospital, got tetanus, died 5th Sept. Long report of him and funeral. First Essex army officer to be killed in the War.
-10 September 1914. Marne
13-28 September, 1914. Aisne. Heavy fighting round Missy and Vailly.
14 September 1914 / Death of Richard Howard-Vyse, Chev. Legion d’Honneur Loyal N (Y) / Captain / Chev. Legion d’Honneur Loyal N / Lancashire Regiment, Adjt. 1st Bn. / 37 / Son of the late Lt. Gen. E. Howard-Vyse, of Witham, Essex. / — / La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
France, Seine-et-Marne
Aisne, bombardment of Reims Cathedral.
20 September 1914 Alexander Wighton Ingles (N) Major West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), 1st Bn. 45 Son of the Rev. Canon D. Ingles, of Witham, Essex; husband of Eugenie Ellen Ingles, of Heatherhurst, Camberley, Surrey. Served in the South African Campaign. La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France, Seine-et-Marne
[referred to in EWN and ECC 1 Oct 1915 when Canon Ingles retired. Said he had been surrounded, but not surrendered]
15 October-22 November 1914, Ypres (1st B), British Expeditionary Force ‘effectively destroyed as professional army’.
Pacific: Battle of Coronel: H.M.S.s “Monmouth” and “Good Hope” lost in fight with von Spee’s German squadron.
01 November 1914 Ernest George Glass (Y) Stoker 1st class Royal Navy, HMS Good Hope 32 Son of John and Alice Jane Glass, of 4, Scrivener Terrace, Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex. 4. Portsmouth Naval Memorial United Kingdom, Hampshire
1 Jan – 30 March 1915, Allied offensive in Artois and Champagne
01 January 1915 William Everitt (N) Private Scots Guards, 2nd Bn. 32 Husband of Annie L. M. Everitt, of 34, Gideon Rd., Lavender Hill, London. Panel 1, Ploegsteert Memorial Belgium, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut
Not on War memorial but buried in All Saints churchyard, Witham.
03 March 1915 Henry William Warr (N) Private Essex Regiment, 6th Bn. 48 Son of Charles Wesley Warr; husband of Elizabeth Warr, of 59, Park Rd., West Ham, London. Born at Stratford. North-west of church Witham (All Saints) United Kingdom, Essex
Early March 1915, Neuve Chapelle
17 April 1915 J O’Connell (N) Private Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 7th Bn. — — North-east corner, Witham (All Saints) churchyard United Kingdom, Essex. One of the soldiers billeted in Witham. [see newspaper] Not on War memorial.
22 April-May 25 1915. Ypres (2nd) Germans, poison gas
9 May 1915, Artois (2nd) began
13 May 1915. Beginning of Battle of Frezenberg. Battle of Frezenberg notorious for Essex men according to Ian Hook. ‘Famous charge’ by Essex Yeomanry.
Harry Mann of Witham wounded (according to later Essex Weekly News, 1 October 1915, when he was at home and had drawn pictures etc for an address to Canon Ingles, vicar, who was leaving).
8th – 13th May ‘Battle of Frezenberg Ridge During this phase of the battle of Ypres the Germans tried to smash through the front held by the 27th and 28th divisions by using their superiority in guns and ammunition. The front line trenches were obliterated, but despite this and the release of a further gas cloud on the 10th May they made little headway. By the end of the six day battle the Germans had advanced about a thousand yards’ (from http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~cjmorton/service/ww1/ypres/overview.htm)
March 1915 –January, 1916. Gallipoli
07 May 1915 James Everitt (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 1st Bn. 32 Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Everitt, of 67, Maldon Rd., Witham, Essex. Panel 144 to 150 or 229 to 233, Helles Memorial Turkey, unspecified
Gallipoli, two divisions effect surprise landing at Suvla Bay and attack
06 August 1915 F O Joslin (N) Private Essex Regiment, 1st Bn. 21 Son of Mrs. J. Everitt, of Rose Cottage, Great Baddow, Chelmsford. Of Boreham, Essex. Sp. Mem. C. 313, Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery Turkey, unspecified
06 August 1915 H T Payne (P) Second Lieut Essex Regiment, 3rd Bn. attd. 1st Bn. — — VII. D. 1, Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery Turkey, unspecified
25 September – 13 Oct 1915. Artois-Loos
04 October 1915 G C Dawson (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 11th Bn. 21 Son of Mrs. S. Dawson, of Church St., Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex. I. E. 12,. Chocques Military Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
Essex County Chronicle, 15 and 22 Oct 1915, just says ‘in action at the Dardanelles’. Memorial service etc. All his 4 brothers serving
09 October 1915 Hubert Noel Pelly [or Hubert Richard in ECC] (Y) Lieutenant Essex Regiment, 1st/7th Bn. 20 Son of Edmund Nevill Pelly and E. Mary Pelly, of Witham Lodge, Witham, Essex. IV. B. 2, 7th FIELD AMBULANCE CEMETERY Turkey, unspecified
18 October 1915 Edward Ernest Shelley (P) Private Essex Regiment, 9th Bn. — — Panel 85 to 87, Loos Memorial France, Pas de Calais
23 October 1915 Charles Leonard Sneezum (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 11th Bn. 22 Son of Arthur William and Alice Sneezum, of High St., Witham. North-West of Church, Witham (All Saints) Churchyard United Kingdom, Essex
Died in England from wounds received at Loos, and buried in Witham – see Essex County Chronicle and Essex Weekly News 5 Nov 1915, and photos M922-927
2 Feb 1916, British introduced conscription
Verdun (the French)
20 March 1916 Frank Edward Haygreen (Y) Driver Royal Engineers, 70th Field Coy. 25 Son of Emma Jane Haygreen, of 7, Trafalgar Square, Maldon Rd., Witham, Essex. IV. E. 49, Lillers Communal Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
18 May 1916 R C Brown (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 11th Bn. 37 Husband of Mrs. A. Brown, of Church St., Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex. I. M. 23. Wimereux Communal Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
18 May 1916 George William Sneezum (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 11th Bn. 24 Son of Arthur William and Alice Sneezum, of 151, High St., Witham, Essex. II. N. 21, Essex Farm Cemetery Belgium, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen. See Essex County Chronicle, 26 May 1916, shot by bullet, buried Essex Farm.
1 July to c. 18 November, 1916. Somme (1st day, 1 July, worst in history of army, 1/3 killed. Offensive starts north and south of Somme.
01 July 1916 Bert Allen (Y) Lance Corp Essex Regiment, 2nd Bn. 25 Son of Alfred and Agnes Allen, of 21, Mill Field Terrace, Witham, Essex. Pier and Face 10 D, Thiepval Memorial France,
Somme, British advance continued
15 July 1916 George William Fleming (Y) Private Suffolk Regiment, 4th Bn. 16 Son of Mr. A. and Mrs E. Fleming, of 19, Church St., Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex [probably Arthur and Ellen, from 1930 electoral register] XI. C. 10, Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz France, [checked age 16 with cwgc, they said yes]
Somme. British storm and capture German second line positions.
17 July 1916 Alfred Potter (Y) Private Royal Munster Fusiliers, 2nd Bn. 25 Son of Mrs. E. Potter, of 28, Maldon Rd., Witham, Essex. Pier and Face 16 C, Thiepval Memorial France.
13 August 1916 Clifford G. Shelley (P) Private Essex Regiment, 9th Bn. — — Pier and Face 10 D, Thiepval Memorial France
France, Somme, near Courcelette the British front advanced
16 September 1916 F S Newman (N) Private Royal Army Service Corps, 9th Field Amb. 22 Son of Frederick and Rose Newman, of Sandon, Essex. II. E. 50, La Neuville British Cemetery Corbie
Somme, British storm Stuff Redoubt and advance
27 September 1916 Albert Clarence Prentice (Y) Lance Corp Essex Regiment, 11th Bn. 22 Son of Mrs. Emma J. Prentice, of 33, Powers Hall End, Witham, Essex. Pier and Face 10 D, Thiepval Memorial France
Somme, Thiepval ridge (except part of Schwaben Redoubt) all occupied. Advance south of Eaucourt l’Abbaye.
30 September 1916 Walter Henry Howell (Y) Private London Regiment, 1st/9th Bn. (Rifleman, Queen Victoria’s Rifles) 20 Son of Charles William and Agnes Howell, of Witham, Essex. XI. D. 6, Etaples Military Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
06 October 1916 Edwin Graham-Brown (P)
[or just E G Brown] Private Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment, 11th Bn. — — Pier and Face 11 C, Thiepval Memorial France, Somme
Somme, front, north: … Germans regain ground.
06 November 1916 F T W Hammond (Y) Lance Corp Essex Regiment, 9th Bn. 21 Son of George and Elizabeth Hammond, of Bridge St., Witham, Essex. VIII. H. 6, Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension France, Pas de Calais
Somme, battle of the Ancre: British capture [several places] … and nearly 4,000 prisoners.
13 November 1916 James Murray Round, M.C. (Y) Captain MC Essex Regiment, 13th Bn. 22 Son of the late Francis R. Round, C.M.G., and of Frances Emily Round, of Avenue House, Witham, Essex. I. K. 37, Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 France, Somme
Probably something in newspapers about him
28 November 1916 A E Baker (P) Private Essex Regiment, 9th Bn. — —
II. B. 13, Wanquetin Communal Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
South of the Ancre British penetrate … into enemy positions … North of the Ancre British take hostile trenches
17 February 1917 A A Phillips (P) Private Northamptonshire Regiment, 6th Bn. — — IV. D. 8, Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt France, Somme
Germans begin to withdraw in front of Serre.
21 February 1917 Maurice J Bones (P) Private Essex Regiment, 13th Bn. — — Pier and Face 10 D, Thiepval Memorial France, Somme
March – April 1917, Gaza
Gaza, First Battle of Gaza. General Murray attacks; thick fog; Gaza surrounded, but not penetrated
26 March 1917 Alfred James Seaborn (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 5th Bn. 21 Son of Charles and Emily Seaborn, of Ardley’s Yard, High St., Witham, Essex. Panels 33 to 39, Jerusalem Memorial Israel, unspecified
26 March 1917 P F Adams (P) Private Essex Regiment, 1st/5th Bn. — — X. C. 7, Gaza War Cemetery Israel, unspecified
6 April 1917, US declares war on Germany
8 April – end May, 1917, Arras
British advance … Severe fighting …
07 April 1917 C. Driver (Y) Corporal M.M. Gloucestershire Regiment, 2nd/5th Bn. 30 Son of Mrs. A. Driver, of Mill Lane, Witham, Essex. [he was a singer, see Essex County Chronicle, 17 January 1917, when he was on sick leave] I. C. 42, Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy France, Aisne
07 April 1917 J C Bright (P) Lance Corp Suffolk Regiment, 11th Bn. — — I. K. 49, Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension France, Pas de Calais
Arras, British capture [several places] German attack on British … repulsed.
14 April 1917 William Ernest Duncombe (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 1st Bn. 20 Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Duncombe, of Water Works, Witham, Essex. Bay 7, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais
Gaza, Second Battle of Gaza. Heavy fighting and much ground gained, but, owing to severe losses, attack not pushed through.
19 April 1917 Frederick William Cornwell (Y) Private Hampshire Regiment, 1st/8th Bn. 27 Son of Sarah Cornwell, of 3, Scrivener Terrace, Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex, and the late Frederick Cornwell. Panels 28 and 29, Jerusalem Memorial Israel, unspecified
Arras, British gain ground east of Fampoux (east of Arras).
21 April 1917 Sidney Arthur Hutley (Y) Corporal Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent), Regiment, 6th Bn. 20 Son of Mrs. M. A. Hutley and the late James Hutley, of Hope Cottage, Mill Lane, Witham, Essex. 1, Hesdin Communal Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
Arras, South of Moronvilliers two heavy enemy counter-attacks fail.
01 May 1917 Robert Steele Stoneham (P) Lance Corp Essex Regiment, 2nd Bn. — — Bay 7, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais
Arras, Repulse of various German attacks on ground gained by Allies
11 May 1917 F Perry (P) Private Essex Regiment, 9th Bn. — — XXV. A. 9A, Etaples Military Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
Arras, British storm most of Bullecourt, and Roeux trenches. Enemy’s counter-attack fails.
12 May 1917 Frederick William Thorogood (N) Private Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment, 6th Bn. 27 Husband of Jane Elizabeth Thorogood, of 131, Arlington Rd., Camden Town, London. Bay 7, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais
21 May – 14 June, 1917. Messines
25 June 1917, US troops arrive in France
July – late Sept 1917, Passchendaele, including Ypres (3rd)
20 July 1917 Stephen Wilfred Tyrell (N) Private Middlesex Regiment, 23rd Bn. 32 Son of Clara Tyrell, of Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex, and the late Peter Tyrell; husband of Beatrice Emma Tyrell, of Brook Villa, White Notley, Witham, Essex. Sp. Mem. H. 1, Hedge Row Trench Cemetery Belgium, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Essex Weekly News 25 January 1918, page 6, re funeral of Stephen’s father Peter, says ‘Mr and Mrs Tyrell recently lost second son in France. The eldest is at present in Salonika’.
Gaza, successful British raid
22 July 1917 Herbert Hooten (P) Private Dorsetshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. 23 Son of Mrs. Lily Pettitt. Panel 22 and 63, Basra Memorial Iraq, unspecified
Passchendaele Intense artillery activity in Flanders.
22 July 1917 B Bickmore (Y) Corporal Royal Field Artillery, “C” Bty. 83rd Bde. 35 Husband of Sarah Ann Bickmore, of 51, Maldon Rd., Witham, Essex. I. L. 8, Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Belgium, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen,
Passchendaele, successful British raids [does it mean air ?]
28 July 1917 Frank James Goodey (N) Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery, 163rd Siege Bty. 36 Son of James and Mary Goodey, of Witham, Essex [James probably UDC water engineer]; husband of Louisa Goodey, of 9, Grosvenor Rd. East, St. Albans. III. A. 3, Mendinghem Military Cemetery Belgium, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres, 3rd battle of Ypres begins. British and French attack on 15-mile front in Flanders
31 July 1917 Charles Blade Wenden (Y) Second Lieut Royal Garrison Artillery, 104th Siege Bty. 28 Husband of Jessie M. Wenden, of Witham, Essex. I. I. 14, Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery Belgium, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres, Positions ….retaken by British. Germans attack … and carry some trenches.
02 August 1917 Henry Everitt (P) Corporal Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment, 6th Bn. — — Bay 7, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais
Ypres, Allies attack on nine-mile front … capturing all objectives … Germans press back British from ground won earlier in the day.
16 August 1917 Henry Charles Godfrey (Y) Private Essex Regiment, 1st Bn. 19 Son of Henry and Florence Godfrey, of 27, Bridge St., Witham, Essex. Panel 98 to 99, Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres, north of Ypres slight British advance.
20 August 1917 Cyril Chaplin (Y) Corporal East Surrey Regiment, 9th Bn. 24 Son of Henry James and Caroline Chaplin, of Bridge St., Witham. In North-West part, Witham (All Saints) churchyard United Kingdom, Essex
[died in England: see M photos:-]
Ypres … British line slightly advanced.
23 August 1917 G. Pavelin (P) Private Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 9th Bn. — — XVIII. B. 3A, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Belgium, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres, British advanced line forced back from positions gained on 22 August.
24 August 1917 Harold Cecil Round (Y) Captain D.S.O., M.C. Rifle Brigade, 6th Bn. attd. 9th Bn. 21 Son of Frances Emily Round, of Avenue House, Witham, Essex, and the late Francis Richard Round, C.M.G. Panel 145 to 147, Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
See Essex County Chronicle, 14 Sept 1917. There was a memorial service, jointly with Capt R L Hardy (for whom see below. This was the Rounds’ third son to be killed; a fourth, Pt A J M Round of the Canadian Forces, was at the memorial service]
24 August 1917 Richard Luard Hardy (N) Captain Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 8th Bn. 26 Son of the late Richard Gillies Hardy, C.S.I., and of Charlotte Amfie [sic] Hardy, of The Hurst, Church Crookham, Hants [Charlotte = 1st daughter of Admiral Luard] Sp. Mem. A. 3, Hooge Crater Cemetery Belgium, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Essex County Chronicle, 14 Sept 1917 reported a memorial service, jointly with Capt H Round (for whom see above)
Ypres, Enemy’s attacks on Tower Hamlets’ ridge (Ypres) repulsed.
21 September 1917 Harry W Collar (P) Private Durham Light Infantry, 20th Bn. 26 Son of the late William and Eliza Collar, of Gestingthorpe, Essex. Panel 128 to 131 and 162 and 162A, Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
19 October 1917 Ernest William Horsnell (P) Private Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Bn. — — Panel 19 to 23 and 162, Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres, Germans regain a little ground … German attack(s) … repulsed.
23 October 1917 G William Jopson (Y) Private Essex Regiment, “C” Coy. 10th Bn. 25 Son of David and Mary Jane Jopson, of 68, Church St., Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex. Panel 98 to 99, Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen
Ypres, German attack in Champagne repulsed.
28 October 1917 Louis Bradshaw (P) Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery, 171st Siege Bty. — — I. I. 39, Ypres Reservoir Cemetery Belgium, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Middle East, British capture positions north of Beersheba. On Tigris, British rout Turks near Dur, 85 miles above Baghdad.
02 November 1917 G W Webb (P) Private Essex Regiment, 1st/5th Bn. — — XXVI. F. 1, Gaza War Cemetery Israel, unspecified
20 November – 7 Dec 1917, Cambrai
Cambrai, Surprise British Advance Third Army … attacks on ten mile front … “Hindenburg Line” broken, numerous villages captured …
20 November 1917 Henry William Perry Porter (N) Lance Corp Royal Engineers, 1st Bn [newspaper says Northumberland Fusiliers] 32 Son of James and Oliva Porter, of High St., Witham, husband of Kathleen Matilda Porter, of Terling, Chelmsford [Riverhill Terling acc to newspaper]. Bay 2-3, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais. Mentioned in Essex Weekly News, 4 Jan 1918 p 5, and 11 Jan p 1, 25 Jan p 5 col 6 (‘Mrs Porter of Terling. Husband Lance Corporal Henry W P Porter in Northumberland Fusiliers, reported killed last year. Letter from officer. 32 years. Front for 11 months. Only son of Mr and Mrs J Porter of Witham. Assisted father in business of plumber and painter, and in Witham Fire Brigade’).
Cambrai [?],. fierce fighting … British gains …
24 November 1917 Herbert Sidney Valentine (P) Corporal Middlesex Regiment, 20th Bn — [see photo M1680 and Tribunal in Essex County Chronicle 24 Mch 1916] Addenda Panel, Cambrai Memorial, Louverval France, Nord
03 January 1918 William Charles Bones (Y) Signalman [Leading Signalman on CWGC] Royal Navy, H.M. S/M. “G8.” 22 Son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth Bones, of Temperance Hotel, [9 Albert Road] Witham, Essex. 27. Plymouth Naval Memorial United Kingdom, Devon
13 January 1918 A H Goody (P) Private Northamptonshire Regiment, 6th Bn. — — XV. D. 30, Cement House Cemetery Belgium, Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-V.
Essex Weekly News, 8 Feb, page 5, col 7 says he ‘died of pneumonia in the Holy Land’.
16 January 1918 Charles John Nelthorpe Aldham (N) Signaller London Regiment, 2nd/24th Bn. 31 Son of Alfred B. Aldham, of Witham, Essex [newspaper says of Parkside, Maldon Road]; husband of Emily Bertha Aldham, of 16, York St., Covent Garden, London. R. 10, Jerusalem War Cemetery Israel, unspecified
19 February 1918 Harry Chaplin (Y) Private London Regiment, 2nd/18th Bn. (London Irish Rifles) [at first was in RAMC] 22 Son of H. J. and Caroline Chaplin, of 38, Bridge St., Witham, Essex. T.97, Jerusalem War Cemetery Israel, unspecified
[died in England?].
15 March 1918 Albert Walter Randall (P) Sergeant M.S.M. Army Service Corps, M.T. Coy. 25 Son of Mary Ann Easter (formerly Randall), of 14, Uphavering Terrace, Abbs Cross Rd., Hornchurch, and the late Walter John Randall. Born at Witham. Near north boundary, Witham (All Saints) Churchyard United Kingdom, Essex. Essex Weekly News, 22 March 1918, p 6 col 6. Report of ‘Funeral of Staff sergeant Albert W Randall, MM, ASC (MT), All Saints church.’ Mourners: Mrs Easter, mother; Miss K Randall, sister …and Mr Easter. … Wreath included one from Witham Catechism. At close, Patrol Leader H Bickmore of the Witham scouts sounded the last post.
21 March 1918, Germany launches Spring push, eventually mounting five major offensives against Allied forces, starting with the Battle of Picardy
Germans take … [several places] and reach line of Somme.
23 March 1918 Harry Sewell (P) Private The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 11th Bn. — — Bay 2, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais
Germans held in desperate fighting … cross Somme between … take … [several places]
24 March 1918 Albert A Wright (P) Private Middlesex Regiment, 23rd Bn. — — Bay 7, Arras Memorial France, Pas de Calais
North of Somme … heavy German attacks break down.
South of Somme … Demuin lost and retaken by British.
30 March 1918 G H Turner (P) Corporal 12th Lancers. — — Panel 4, Pozieres Memorial France, Somme
30 March 1918 Harry William Mann (Y) Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery, 178th Bde. 34 Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. J. T. Mann, of Witham, Essex; husband of Elsie Muriel Bennett, (formerly Mann), of the Castle House, Ongar, Essex. A.R.I.B.A. Went to France in 1914 as Serjt. in Essex Yeomanry [also see 13 May 1915 above] I. O. 4, Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere France, Pas de Calais
9 April 1918, Germany launches second Spring offensive, the Battle of the Lys, in the British sector of Armentieres
Violent attacks on junction of British and French … south of Somme.
24 April 1918 William John Claydon (Y) Private Bedfordshire Regiment, 7th Bn. 18 Son of G. and Annie Claydon, of 14, Bridge St., Witham, Essex.
II. C. 11, Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux France, Somme
Minor infantry actions. Enemy guns active …
02 May 1918 Louis George Chaplin (Y) Private Cheshire Regiment, 11th Bn. — — V. A. 2, La Clytte Military Cemetery Belgium, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen. See M photos
27 May 1918, Third German Spring offensive
Third Battle of the Aisne, begins in French sector along Chemin des Dames. New German thrust for Paris. … Allies’ line pressed back …
27 May 1918 Edward Reed (Y) Sergeant Essex Regiment, 2nd Bn.(see addit. dets.) 32 Territorial Efficiency Medal. Son of the late William and Ella Mountain Reed, of High St., Witham, Essex. (Main Regt Northamptonshire Regt. Secondary Regt. Essex Regt, formerly “A” Coy. 8th (Cyclist) Bn. — Soissons Memorial France, Aisne
9 June 1918, Germans launch fourth Spring offensive. Battle of the Matz, in French sector between Noyan and Montdider
19 June 1918 John Shelley (Y) Private The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 6th Bn. 19 Son of John and Gertrude Shelley, of Witham, Essex. C. 4, Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension France, Somme
20 June 1918 H Hammond (Y) Private [Lance Corp in CWGC] Sussex Regiment, 2nd Bn. — — P. 12, Cambrin Military Cemetery France, Pas de Calais
09 July 1918 Alan Joseph Smith (Y) Second Lieut Royal Garrison Artillery, 49th Siege Bty. 19 Son of Joseph Ernest and Florence Mabel Smith, of Earlsmead, Witham, Essex. Plot 2. Row A. Grave 9, Le Grand Hasard Military Cemetery, Morbecque France, Nord
15 July 1918, Final phase of great German Spring push. Second Battle of Marne, begins
18 July 1918, Allies counterattack against German forces, seizing initiative
8 August 1918, start of successful Amiens offensive, forcing all German troops back to the Hindenburg Line; Ludendorff calls it a “black day” for German army
10 August 1918 F Dawson (P) Private 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars — — II. I. 4/6, Fouquescourt British Cemetery France, Somme
10 August 1918 F Britton (P) Corporal Essex Regiment, 9th Bn. 21 Son of George James and Matilda Alice Britton, of Hill Side View, Wickham Bishops, Witham, Essex. B. 14, Morlancourt British Cemetery No.2 France, Somme
British retake Merville (Lys front).
19 August 1918 Percy Herbert Babbs (Y) Private Norfolk Regiment, 12th Bn. 33 Husband of Edith Babbs, of Eagle Cottage, Witham, Essex. II. C. 64, Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul France, Nord
Battle on 23-mile front; Troops of First Army, supported by tanks, break through Drocourt-Queant “Switch” line, south of Scarpe, capture Cagnicourt and Villers, encircle and take Queant by nightfall; 10,000 prisoners. On Lys front British also gain ground, and north of Peronne, where Sailly-Sallisel and whole of St. Pierre-Vaast Wood re-taken.
02 September 1918 Arthur Ernest Norman [is E A on War Memorial] (N) Lance Corp [Private on cwgc] Essex Regiment, 2nd Bn. 29 Husband of E. S. Norman, of Bridge St., Writtle, Chelmsford. II. K. 25, Dury Crucifix Cemetery France, Pas de Calais.
Further info from Ian Hook: Originally C Company of the 1st/8th (Cyclist) Battalion
Born and lived Witham, enlisted at Maldon Entitled to the British War and Allied Victory Medals (N.Archive Medal Roll file WO329/1378 as Pte)
In Yugoslavia, Allies continue to advance on both sides of Vardar river.
24 September 1918 Charley [sic] Cole (Y) Driver Royal Field Artillery, “B” Bty. 102nd Bde. 27 Son of John and Martha Cole, of Witham, Essex. Plot 5. Row B. Grave 4, Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension Italy, unspecified
British take Cambrai. Advance continued. Since 21 August entire Hindenburg system broken through.
09 October 1918 Andrew Ager (P) Sergeant [MM in CWGC] Essex Regiment, 1st Bn. — — Panel 7, Vis-En-Artois Memorial France, Pas de Calais
07 November 1918 George Ager [Agar in CWGC] (P) Private The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 9th Bn. 27 Son of George and Alice Jennings, of Bridge St., Witham. [?died in England] In North-West part, Witham (All Saints) churchyard United Kingdom, Essex
07 November 1918 C Bones (P) Private Northamptonshire Regiment, 1st Garrison Bn. — — [flu epidemic in hospitals?] 411, Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery Greece, unspecified
Not on War Memorial, but buried All Saints
21 February 1919 Herbert Du Cane Luard (N) Commander Coastguard (Plymouth) 49 Son of Admiral Sir William Garnham Luard and Lady Luard, of The Lodge, Witham, Essex; husband of Bessie Luard, of Keith Cottage, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hants. East of church, Witham (All Saints) churchyard United Kingdom, Essex
SUMMARY
On War Memorial but details unknown
W E Butcher Private Royal Marine? HMS The Queen
A H Benson Sergeant Kings Royal Rifle Corps,
C H Everitt Private East Surrey Regiment
Numbers killed each year:
1914 4
1915 8 (plus 2 not on war memorial)
1916 14
1917 30
1918 23
(1919 1 not on war memorial)
On War memorial 79. Plus three unknown = 82.
Plus three not on war memorial but buried in All Saints = 85
On the War Memorial, 67, i.e. 79%, were killed from 1916 onwards, 53 (67%) from 1917 onwards.