West Berkshire War Memorials

[Phil Wood]

Hello all,

I have put together a website covering the war memorials of the local authority area of West Berkshire - www.westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk - the site is free to use and has no advertisements (though I will be adding a link to the poppy appeal). I welcome comments that would help me improve the site.

I still have a number to photograph and add, but most of the memorials I know of are there now. I have included CWGC graves in local cemeteries and any other graves and tablets which I have found that commemorate a family member buried elsewhere.

Each memorial is listed with a photograph and a transcript of the inscription(s). You can also search them by the surname of the deceased.

I am slowly adding more information - most names are linked to their CWGC entry, many have grave photos (currently limited to French and Belgian burials - I haven't made it further afield yet).

I have added a few stories of the deceased - but very few in comparison to the numbers on the site and most of those that I have added are links to the work of two local village history groups. I would love to add more stories, but I only have limited time available to do the research - which is where members of this forum could help, If you have researched a serviceman or woman who is commemorated on a memorial in West Berkshire (any war) and would be prepared to provide a story for my site then please get in touch. All such stories will be fully credited to the author.

[bts1970]

Phil

Excellent site, just been thumbing through & couldn`t find one of the lads i have researched with a connection to my research (Purton), can you confirm that he isn`t listed anywhere on the memorials?

LITTEN, Frederick Henry.

Enlisted: 11/05/1915, Devizes (3rd Battalion).

Age given: Born Purton.

Address / Next Of Kin, family details: Husband of A E Litten, (Married 1913) Hungerford. Resident of 4, Council Houses, Inkpen Common, Berkshire.

MIC details / Medal entitlement.

20723 5th (Service) Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.

British War Medal, Victory Medal, 15 Star.

Extracts from: 5th Battalion War Diary.

17/11/1915 Arrived (2B) Balkans (Gallipoli) (Detail from MIC).

18/12/1915 Suvla bay is evacuated, the Battalion sails for Lemnos.

30/12/1915 The 5th Battalion returns to Gallipoli landing at V beach, Cape Helles.

09/01/1916 Battalion leaves Gallipoli as part of the final evacuation of troops from the penninsula, destination Lemnos. At Lemnos the Battalion receives a draft of Officers and NCO`s, many are from the 1st and 2nd Battalions in France. The replacements number nearly 800 men.

25/01/1916 Port Said, Egypt.

29/02/1916 5th Battalion arrives in Basra, Mesopotamia (Iraq).

25/01/1917 Trenches, Mesopotamia.

25/01/1917 Battalion war Diary entry; At 9.42a.m under cover of intense bombardment we attacked the Turkish first line in four waves on a front of about 800 yards for the Brigade. We assaulted with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on our right each taking 400 yards front. Our objective was to capture the Turkish first line and consolidate it and to take the strong point P10 N if possible. The enemy trench was strongly held but assisted by our artillery and all ranks working with great energy and determination, we successfully dislodged the enemy and firmly established ourselves under considerable enemy shellfire. Our bombing parties worked along their communication trench to P10 N driving the Turkish Bombers before them. Later our bombers withdrew a short distance for the Artillery to bombard P10 N after which they rushed in and captured it working along trench P10 N, P15 C to the West, and P10 N, P10 Q to the North and consolidating. Our captures included nearly 100 prisoners, 1 Austrian Machine Gun, practically new, two Trench Mortars 1Minenwerfer less breach block, many rifles, much S.A.A and stores. Consolidation continued throughout day. This work being greatly assisted by Sappers from the 88th Field Coy, Royal Engineers. During the night of 25/26th the Turks counter attacked but were easily repulsed with loss. Messages of congratulation received from Army Corps Divisional and Brigade Commanders. 234 Turkish dead were counted in the section of the Trench assaulted and captured by the Regiment. The Regiment during the assault displayed great dash and conducted itself in a most gallant manner. This was the more praiseworthy in view of the fact that only eleven officers of the Battalion were allowed to go into action the remainder being held in reserve. It is hoped that the Minenwerfer captured will eventually be sent to the Regimental Depot. Total Casualties 25th /26th January. Officers 2 killed and 4 wounded. O.R's 33 killed and 110 wounded. (Reproduced with permission from The Wardrobe).

Death / Burial / Memorial details.

Killed in action aged 25 on the 25th January 1917 in Mesopotamia. Frederick has no known grave, remembered on AMARA WAR CEMETERY, XVII. A. 11. (Mesopotamia, Iraq).

Evidence for inclusion on the Purton Parish list: SDGW listing.

[David_Underdown]

You may find some of your men were bellringers, and are listed on the Central Council for Church Bellringers' roll of honour, most likely as members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild http://www.cccbr.org.uk/rolls/societies/details.php?id=26&name=Oxford%20Diocesan%20Guild&warID=1. If Sonning falls under you remit, I've a few more details on the ringers from there

[Bob Chandler]

Hello Phil,

Well done on putting the site together. I can see that you've already credited me as having produced a record of commemoration for the men of Welford parish (many thanks) but please let me know if there's anything further I can contribute to the site regarding them.

Maybe you've already seen my 'book' in Newbury library?

Best wishes

Bob Chandler

[Phil Wood]

Excellent site, just been thumbing through & couldn`t find one of the lads i have researched with a connection to my research (Purton), can you confirm that he isn`t listed anywhere on the memorials?

Thanks.

Frederick Litten is commemorated on two memorials in Kintbury, the parish to the north of Inkpen, I suspect that part of Inkpen Common is in Kintbury parish (must check).

http://westberkshire....php?link=WB179

http://westberkshire....php?link=WB243 (sorry about the photo, I was a bit rushed - I need to get back to Kintbury for another try, and for a couple I couldn't take because the chapel they are in was in use).

You can seach 'By name' and find him - click on the memorial number (eg WB179) to pull up the memorial page.

Frederick is one of the many that I have not yet found on the CWGC - so thank you for the information.

[Phil Wood]

You may find some of your men were bellringers, and are listed on the Central Council for Church Bellringers' roll of honour, most likely as members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild http://www.cccbr.org...0Guild&warID=1. If Sonning falls under you remit, I've a few more details on the ringers from there

There is certainly a memorial to two bell ringers from Newbury, commemorated on a tablet in the ringing chamber (though I haven't got up there to take a photo yet). However, Sonning is outside my area - the wrong side of Reading. I will check the bellringers roll of honour - it will be a nice addition to a chap's story if he was a campanologist. Thanks for the pointer.

[Phil Wood]

Hello Phil,

Well done on putting the site together. I can see that you've already credited me as having produced a record of commemoration for the men of Welford parish (many thanks) but please let me know if there's anything further I can contribute to the site regarding them.

Maybe you've already seen my 'book' in Newbury library?

Best wishes

Bob Chandler

Hello Bob,

I was looking at your book earlier today - I haven't managed to lay my hands on a copy for myself.

If you would like to see your research online I would be very happy to put it on my site (credited to you) - or to link to it if you already have it elsewhere.

I have put up a few stories of the fallen - for instance at http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/texts/stories/WBP00880S.php and http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/texts/stories/WBP01162S.php

The dream is to have this for everyone I can identify - though I realise it is a dream unless others do a lot of the work (there is simply too much to do).

While I was in the library today I also looked for the Chieveley book for you - but couldn't find it (either put back in the wrong place or it's walked) - sorry. I do have a roll of honour for Chieveley - dated Dec 1915, no Butlers at that stage ...

All the best

Phil

[bts1970]

Phil

Bit lazy on my part mate, i just looked under Inkpen & Hungerford! thanks again for the site, took some work (Having produced a site in the past just for one memorial i know) i bet, excellent.

Bob

[Bob Chandler]

Hello Bob,

I was looking at your book earlier today - I haven't managed to lay my hands on a copy for myself.

If you would like to see your research online I would be very happy to put it on my site (credited to you) - or to link to it if you already have it elsewhere.

I have put up a few stories of the fallen - for instance at http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/texts/stories/WBP00880S.php and http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/texts/stories/WBP01162S.php

The dream is to have this for everyone I can identify - though I realise it is a dream unless others do a lot of the work (there is simply too much to do).

While I was in the library today I also looked for the Chieveley book for you - but couldn't find it (either put back in the wrong place or it's walked) - sorry. I do have a roll of honour for Chieveley - dated Dec 1915, no Butlers at that stage ...

All the best

Phil

Hello Phil,

Many thanks for trying to locate the Chieveley book for me. As I’m sure you’ll appreciate, it’s very frustrating for me to know I have relatives who served in the Great War but not to be able to find out anything about what they did. It doesn’t look as though their service records have survived. I think next time I’m in Newbury library I’ll have to trawl through the Newbury Weekly News again and check whether there are any references to the Butlers there.

I’ve decided that once Christmas and New Year are out of the way, I’m going to set up a website for my Welford war memorial research. We can then link this in to the West Berkshire War Memorials site. This would also enable me to update my research, as I’ve been able to positively identify one further man since the 1911 census came out, and I’ve found out further bits and pieces about several of the others.

I’ll be in touch in due course and in the meantime, best of luck with your plans for the site.

Bob

p.s. you weren’t touring the battlefields in August by any chance, were you? We went to Arras for my birthday and 2 or 3 of the cemeteries we went to (e.g. Ovillers) had had the visitors’ book signed something like, ‘researching the men of West Berkshire’.

[Phil Wood]

Hello Phil,

Many thanks for trying to locate the Chieveley book for me. As I'm sure you'll appreciate, it's very frustrating for me to know I have relatives who served in the Great War but not to be able to find out anything about what they did. It doesn't look as though their service records have survived. I think next time I'm in Newbury library I'll have to trawl through the Newbury Weekly News again and check whether there are any references to the Butlers there.

I've decided that once Christmas and New Year are out of the way, I'm going to set up a website for my Welford war memorial research. We can then link this in to the West Berkshire War Memorials site. This would also enable me to update my research, as I've been able to positively identify one further man since the 1911 census came out, and I've found out further bits and pieces about several of the others.

I'll be in touch in due course and in the meantime, best of luck with your plans for the site.

Bob

p.s. you weren't touring the battlefields in August by any chance, were you? We went to Arras for my birthday and 2 or 3 of the cemeteries we went to (e.g. Ovillers) had had the visitors' book signed something like, 'researching the men of West Berkshire'.

Hello Bob,

I look forward to your website - please let me know when it is up and running.

I have found someone who has a copy of the Chieveley book - who apparently knows you - I will PM details.

And yes, we were on the Somme this summer, my wife is far better than me at filling in the visitors books - so it will have been her entry you saw. There are a good number of grave photographs from the area on the website. We will be in Ieper for a few days next month, so more grave photos will appear after that (though I don't expect they will be as bright and sunny).

Phil

[David_Underdown]

There is certainly a memorial to two bell ringers from Newbury, commemorated on a tablet in the ringing chamber (though I haven't got up there to take a photo yet). However, Sonning is outside my area - the wrong side of Reading. I will check the bellringers roll of honour - it will be a nice addition to a chap's story if he was a campanologist. Thanks for the pointer.

Alan Regin, who's responsible for the ringers' memorial site may well already have a photo of the Newbury memorial (or if he hasn't, would be interested to receive one), his contact details are on the website

[Phil Wood]

Alan Regin, who's responsible for the ringers' memorial site may well already have a photo of the Newbury memorial (or if he hasn't, would be interested to receive one), his contact details are on the website

Alan did indeed have a photograph - which is now on my site - thanks for the steer in his direction.

[jon_armstrong]

Do any of you good Berkshire people know which areas the local papers covered in the Great War period.

I will be in Winnersh with work next week, and if I can I wan't to try to use the opportunity to try to get some information about one of the men on the Styal memorial I'm researching whose family home was in that area.

He was from Bradfield and his wife from Yattendon - he is commemorated on both memorials. Do you know which paper would have covered those places at that time, and where the archives for those papers would be located now?

Thanks in advance.

[Phil Wood]

Do any of you good Berkshire people know which areas the local papers covered in the Great War period.

I will be in Winnersh with work next week, and if I can I wan't to try to use the opportunity to try to get some information about one of the men on the Styal memorial I'm researching whose family home was in that area.

He was from Bradfield and his wife from Yattendon - he is commemorated on both memorials. Do you know which paper would have covered those places at that time, and where the archives for those papers would be located now?

Thanks in advance.

Bradfield and Yattendon are covered by the Newbury Weekly News (available on film in Newbury Library). They (particularly Bradfield) are also close to Reading, so the Reading Mercury, Reading Observer, Reading Standard and Berkshire Chronicle would probably cover them (all on film in Reading Library). Reading Library is much more convenient it you are in Winnersh, but Newbury's not far.

If you are looking for pictures the Reading Standard published loads (8,000 or so) gathered together into 'Berkshire and the War' - which is available on 5 CDs. But, assuming you are researching Wm Herbert Watney, you are out of luck there as he isn't shown.

The NWN mentions him in late 1915, early 1916 when they were printing lists of those serving - they still have him listed as missing, 7 months after he died.

Hope this helps

[jon_armstrong]

Thank you for the information -I'll try to get the Newbury or Reading if I get the chance.

Yes it is William Watney. After he was listed as missing there followed four years of correspondence between the War Office and his wife where they tried repeatedly to convince her the evidence showed he was dead. She didn't accept this until 1919, and his death wasn't listed in The Times until that summer.

[purley]

Jon

Best bet is Reading Central Library although around Sept/Oct 1915 most of the reports were of the Berks Yeomanry at Gallipoli or Royal Berks at Loos - few mentions of anyone from other regiments unless they were an officer Generally I find the Berkshire Chronicle best as it is easier to read and usually both they and the Reading Mercury field exactly the same stories. However the Mercury seem to be better at covering outlying villages. I would not waste my time with the Newbury weekly News as it was often difficult to know there was a war on when you read it.

John

[jon_armstrong]

Thanks John.

Unfortunately the work trip has been cancelled, so I will have to file this for any future chance I have in the area.

[bts1970]

Phil

here is the detail i have for another lad you have highlighted on another thread of mine

POUND, Private James.

Pre WW1 Militia Enlistment: 16/07/1906, 03/09/1906, B Coy (Mounted Infantry). Devizes.

Age given: 17 years 11months, born Purton.

Occupation: Agricultural labourer.

Address / Next Of Kin, family details: Newbury. Son of Charles and Christina Janet Pound, of Hill Green, Peasemore, Newbury.

MIC details / Medal entitlement.

7586 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment

British War Medal, Victory Medal, 14 Star (Clasp).

Extracts from: Wilshire Regiment records.

14/08/1914 Arrived at Rouen, France (Detail from MIC) on either SS South Western or the SS Princess Ena with the first Battalion arrivals in France.

31/10/1914 Wounded in action. The Battalion diary records no casualties for this date, the last casualties being

reported on the 29th October at Richebourg, France when 2 men, 2 horses were killed and 4 men

wounded.

09/11/1914 Transferred to the UK with a gunshot wound to the right groin and left finger.

10/02/1915 Rejoined the 1st Battalion at Locre, Belgium, part of a replacement draft of 34 men.

12/03/1915 The Battalion is at Kemmel, Belgium.

12/03/1915 Battalion War Diary entry; In trenches. Left billets at LOCRE 2.45a.m and marched via KEMMEL to the section of the trenches known as "F" in front of SPANBROEK MOLEN. The Battalion arrived in position at dawn about 5.30a.m. and occupied four lines of trenches on the reverse side of the hill, the Worcestershire Regt being in similar trenches on our right. The BHQ were in the trench known as F2 about 50 yards in front of the front trench in which the Battalion was situated: these trenches were about 25yds apart. The morning was dull and very misty, so that the Artillery bombardment which was to precede the assault on SPANBROEK MOLEN had to be delayed. The whole morning remained misty and except for a certain amount of sniping and desultory gun fire was quiet. At 1p.m. the mist began to clear and by 2.30p.m. it was clear and the Artillery bombardment began and continued with a slight pause till 4.10p.m. It consisted of field guns firing shrapnel to cut the hostile wire, and large quantities of heavy HE to beat down the German parapets and blow in his trenches, in this it appeared to be fairly successful, but, it was afterwards observed that the enemy's front line trenches were almost intact. At 4.10 the Infantry assault was launched by 2 Coys of the Worcestershire Regt accompanied by a party of RE. The remaining 2 Coys being detailed as working parties. The front Coy (A Coy) rushed forward crossing the trench known as F2, by means of flying bridges, which had been placed in position early in the morning, and, passing through our barbed wire by means of gaps which had been made opposite the bridges: as soon as A Coy had got across the bridges the enemy opened a very heavy fire (rifle and machine gun) on them, and only a few small isolated parties succeeded in getting up to the enemy's wire, a distance of about 200 yds. B Coy also came under a very heavy fire and were unable with the remainder of A Coy to get more than 50 yds from F2. At the same time most of the Worcestershire Regt on our right appeared to be also unable to get on. B Coy endeavored to crawl forward, but, were unable to get very far, and gradually, starting about 5p.m. began to fall back into F2 suffering considerably in doing so. Most of the survivors of A Coy who were in advance of B Coy got back under cover of darkness. At about 7p.m., the Battalion withdrew. It was observed that the enemy was holding this position very strongly and did not seem unduly shaken by our Artillery fire. The 2nd S Lancs Regt was in support and the Royal Irish Rifles in reserve at KEMMEL but neither took an active part in the action. A Coy was commanded by Capt P J V Viner Johnson and B Coy by Capt R H Broome. Throughout the day the trench known as F2 was held by the E Surrey Regt. The Battalion returned to billets at LOCRE. Casualties Killed Capt Viner Johnson, Lieut O J Calley, 2nd Lieut S F Hooper and 2nd Lieut D G H Northcote (The Buffs) Wounded Lieut C C Morse, 2nd Lieut A H Hales 2nd Lieut S M Theyre Other ranks 29 killed, 45 wounded and 12 missing. (Reproduced with permission from The Wardrobe).

Death / Burial / Memorial details.

Killed in action aged 26 on the 12th March 1915. James has no known grave. Remembered on YPRES (MENIN GATE), Panel 53. (Flanders, Belgium).

Wiltshire Regiment records in Salisbury list a grave for James “SPANBROEK MOLEN. 2500 yards E of LINDENHOEK near KEMMEL. Not marked” reported 29/05/1915 OIC 1 Wilts Regt. A number of men who died on this date and recorded as buried at the same location can be found in the CWGC cemetery at La Laiterie. This cemetery was used at the end of the War to concentrate many burials from around the Kemmel area. There are 180 burial plots that are not identified; simply a Soldier of the Great War, James could possibly lie under one of these stones.

[Phil Wood]

Phil

here is the detail i have for another lad you have highlighted on another thread of mine

POUND, Private James.

....

Thanks Seasider - there's a lot to work on there.

[Phil Wood]

At TNA today - collected a lot of service records, RFC/RAF, RMLI, RN (excl officers) - so there should be some more stories arriving soon.

I also have a few ideas for changes to the site - I would welcome anyone else's thoughts.

[Phil Wood]

An update on progress:

The local paper published an article on the website, which has resulted in several very useful contacts - through which I have been able to link several names to their CWGC commemorations and have found two more memorials (one in a fire station and one in private hands).

A couple who have researched over 100 names on a the Thatcham war memorial have given me the results of their labours - so a public thank you to Carol & Valerie Pike.

A lot of grave photographs have been added - both from Flanders and from a Newbury cemetery. Various errors have been corrected so links that may have not worked in the past should be working now.

Additions mean there are now over 5,500 names from memorials and gravestones around West Berkshire recorded on the site.

[Phil Wood]

An interesting find the other day by two members of the Friends of Newtown Cemetery in Newbury. They were engaged in recording inscriptions on some graves and decided to look on the back of a loose slate tablet. They found part of a commerative plaque marking the donation of a Gernam howitzer to the village of Thatcham in memory of Alexander Bulller Turner, VC (see http://westberkshire....php?link=WB035). The howitzer is long gone.