GRATELEY
WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and copyright © Stephen Pope 2006
The
names of those villagers from Grateley, in the Great War and the Second
World War, are listed on the northern wall of the nave of the Parish
Church of St Leonard’s, and in the Village Hall which was also
erected in their memory.
THE
GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918
ALEXANDER
|
W
E |
The
memorial states that William (as he is known to the village) served
with the Royal Marine Artillery but no other information is known |
DANGERFIELD |
George |
George
was born at Corhampton, in East Hampshire, in 1881; the fourth son
of Thomas and Ann Dangerfield. He must have settled in the Grateley
area before the war as he enlisted in Andover. He served with 2/4th
(Territorial Force) Bn of The Hampshire Regt. He later served with
14th Bn, which mainly fought in France. He was married to Rose and
they lived at the Railway Cottage in Amport. George died of wounds
shortly after the war ended aged 37 on 15th December 1918. His body
is buried in St Leonard’s Churchyard at Grateley |
GODDARD
|
William |
William
was born in Tidworth; his parents being George and Mary Ann Goddard.
He enlisted at Winchester) and served as a private soldier (number
10469) with 2nd Bn the Hampshire Regt. Aged 25 years, he drowned
when the troop transport "Royal Edward" was torpedoed by a
German submarine in the Aegean Sea, on 13th August 1915, whilst
the Bn was on its way to attack Turkey. William is commemorated
on the Helles memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The memorial
shows his initial as D and he is known to villagers as David. |
HOARE
|
Archie |
Archie
was born in Quarley, the nearest village to Grateley, in 1 April
1878. He was one of four sons born to George and Agnes Hoare who
later became the grocers and bakers in Grateley. He was small but
physically robust (5 ft 4 in with a broken nose and scar on his
upper lip). He initially worked as an agricultural labourer and
served with 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment.
At
the age of 18½ years, he joined the regular army, enlisting
in London on 3 October 1895. Initially allocated to the Highland
Light Infantry, he immediately transferred to the Kings Royal Rifle
Corps (KRRC). He served in the Boer War and was known to have been
besieged at Ladysmith, where his brother was part of the relieving
party. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 29 April 1902 and re-enlisted.
He was an first class instructor and an excellent shot; he rapidly
made his way though the ranks, being promoted Colour Sergeant (the
most senior other ranks appointment in a company) in Jun 1907 whilst
the 2nd Battalion was at Jubbalapore in India. He returned to England
in September 1907 when married he Mary Lydia Hillier, at Christchurch
Hampshire and then continued to serve with 2nd Battalion KRRC in
India, before returning with the Battalion to Shorncliffe on 1 February
1910.
He probably participated in the Coronation of King George V in Jun
1911 and was the best shot in D Company in 1912. On 10 January 1913
he moved with the Battalion to Blackdown Barracks, near Camberley,
and was appointed C Company Serjeant Major on 1 October, when the
battalion reorganised from 8 to 4 companies. He was appointed RSM
on 6th August 1914, just before the Battalion deployed to France
on 13th August 1914. One of his brothers, Samuel? who was the Band
Sergeant of the Battalion, deployed at the same time.
Archie took part in the retreat from Mons and the battle of the
Marne. He was commissioned, in the field, on 1 October 1914, whilst
the battalion was out of the line near the River Aisne, and was
later shot in the foot during the first battle of Ypres. He was
evacuated back to the UK and sent to convalesce at the newly opened
hospital at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. His wounds however
did not prevent him returning to Grateley for Christmas 1914 where
he gave the vote of thanks at a Christmas concert specially arranged
by the village children to maintain morale amongst the families.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in Oct 1916. He was appointed temporary
Captain on 2 June 1916 and served as a company commander, and sometime
battalion second in command, in 12th Battalion KRRC, which had formed
at Winchester in September 1914. He fought at the battle of the
Somme, the advance to the Hindenburg Line in Spring 1917 and at
the battle of Passchendaele in July and August 1917.
During the Battle of Cambrai, Archie commanded B Company during
the opening attack on 20th November 1917. The leading companies
of 12th KRRC broke through into the first and support trenches of
the Main Hindenburg Line, to the northeast of Villers Plouich, and
the CO (Lt Col Geoffrey Moore DSO) then directed Archie to take
the final element of the battalion’s objective. The two men
discussed the task and a Stokes mortar was allocated to Archie’s
company for fire support. Archie deployed two platoons to take the
first element of the position; this was achieved with heavy casualties.
As he led his remaining platoon forward to take the last element,
they came under heavy fire, near the “Mound”, from a
machine gun post to their front. Archie received a severe head wound
and most of his men were injured. Rifleman Albert Shepherd, who
was Archie’s orderly, got the remaining troops in cover, moved
70 metres to the rear, under heavy fire, and bought forward a tank
which destroyed the enemy machine guns. Shepherd then led the few
remaining troops forward to take the final position. For this gallant
act, Albert Shepherd was awarded the Victoria Cross.
When the objective was finally taken, only 34 men survived unhurt
of 3 officers and 96 men of B Company. Although Archie’s injuries
were severe; it was hoped he would survive and he was evacuated
to the rear. However he died of his wounds, aged 39, on 27 November
1917 and his body is now buried at Tincourt New British Cemetery
Lt Col Moore wrote to Archie’s wife, Lydia, describing the
events that lead to his death and then added a personal tribute.
"He was an ornament to the Regiment, to which he had given
so many years untiring and wholehearted service, and for which he
was now given his life. He was the colour serjeant of my company
at Blackdown and I had the greatest respect for him as had all who
knew him." Archie service was also described in the 12th
KRRC Chronicles: "Among the losses by the Battalion on
November 20th the name of Capt A Hoare will always be remembered
by those who knew him. His whole life had been devoted to the Regiment
to which he had given 22 years of spotless service, and in which
he had risen from private rifleman to Captain. The example of coolness,
courage and skill he displayed in leading his Company was such as
might have been expected from veteran of the old army. The devotion
he inspired in his men was great. Himself conscientious, almost
to a fault, in the exact performance of the smallest duty, he maintained
amongst them a rigid disciple. But no man who did his best ever
wanted help or encouragement from his captain and they all bitterly
regretted his death."
Archie is not only commemorated within Grateley Church on the brass
wall plates but also on his parent’s gravestone, which is
near the North wall of the church yard
|
HORNE |
Charles
E |
Charles
Horne was born in Grateley in 1892, his parents were Mr and Mrs.
Fred Horne of the Railway Cottages; Fred being a railway signalman.
He was a Regular soldier who served with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt.
He deployed to France at the outbreak of the war, arriving in Le
Havre on 23 Aug 1914 and then fought during the initial German attacks
in Belgium. He was killed in action, aged 22 years old, on 18 November
1914 to the south of Ypres. There must have been something special
about Charles’ death because he is buried in Ploegsteert Churchyard
amongst the Officers of the Battalion; the other ranks being buried
in the Lancashire Farm Military Cemetery close by. |
PICKERING |
Leonard |
Leonard
was born in 1891 and was the son of Leonard and Ann Pickering, whose
family had owned Manor Farm at Grateley. A Lieutenant in the Royal
Engineers, at the time of his death, on 9 April 1918, he was serving
with 79th Field Company. He is buried in Gentelles Communal Cemetery,
a small village on the Somme, to the east of Amiens. His grave was destroyed
by artillery fire, during the subsequent battles, so the exact burial
site is no longer known but a special memorial commemorates him
at the cemetery. |
THE
SECOND WORLD WAR
1939 TO 1945
|
AYRES |
Wilfred
John |
John
Ayres was the one of twins born to Edgar and Agnes Ayres of Grateley;
the Ayres (or Ayers) being established in the village for many generations.
He was born in 1924 and served with 1st Bn The Hampshire Regt as
a private soldier. He died on D Day, during the Battalion’s assault
on the Normandy coast, and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery |
AYRES |
Percival
James |
Twin
brother of John Ayres, James served as a private soldier with 7th
Bn Hampshire Regt. He died, at the age of 21, on 28 March 1945 and
is buried in Mook War Cemetary, in the Netherlands. |
FUTCHER |
Eric |
Eric
was born in 1919; he was the son of Mary Kate Futcher who later
married William Armstead, of Grateley, Hampshire. He served as a
private soldier (5727829) in 5th Bn The Dorsetshire Regiment. He
died (aged 25) on 10 Jul 1944, during the fighting for Caen. He
is buried at Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery in Normandy. |
GRANT |
Roy |
Roy
was born in 1911; the son of Alexander and Laura Grant. He was married
to Florrie Grant, of Sheldon in Birmingham. He was a Regular soldier
(S/52977) in the RASC. At the time of his death (aged 29) he was
serving, as WO II (Staff Quartermaster Sergeant) with 1 Base Supply
Depot. The date of his death is recorded as 17 June 1940; after
the evacuation from Dunkirk. His name is listed on the Dunkirk Memorial,
which commemorates more than 4,500 casualties of the British Expeditionary
Force, who have no known grave. |
MANSELL |
Reginald
Baynes |
Born
in 1897, the son of Alfred Ernest and Laura Evelyn Mansell of Bristol.
He served with the Gloucestershire Regt, during the First World
War, prior to joining the RFC. He transferred to the RAF and later
served as Director of Technical Services in Washington, USA, from
1943-45. He was a Companion of the Bath. Husband of Mabel Lucie
Mansell, of Compton Martin, Somerset, he died (aged 48) on 22 January
1945. His name is also listed on the Ottawa Memorial, which commemorates
800 men and women of the Commonwealth Air Forces who lost their
lives while serving in units from bases in Canada, the British West
Indies and the USA, and who have no known graves. |
SHEARES |
Arthur
Douglas |
Arthur
served as a Leading Aircraftsman in the RAF Volunteer Reserve. He
died on 2 December 1943 and is buried on Ambon Island, which lies
close to the south west coast of Ceram in the Molucca Group of islands.
The War Cemetery was constructed on the site of a former camp for
Australian, British and Dutch Prisoner of War, some of whom had
been transferred from Java in 1943, and many of those buried in
it died in Japanese captivity. |
SHIPSEY |
Frederick
George Gordon |
Gordon
Shipsey was born in 1917, the son of Frederick and Bessie Shipsey
of Grateley. He served as a Gunner in 9 Coast Regiment RA; this
Regiment was based at Singapore and it seems likely that he was
made a Prisoner of War when the British Forces surrendered in 1941.
He died (aged 28) on 08 June 1945 in Thailand and is buried at Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery. This cemetery has many graves of those POWs who died
constructing of the notorious Burma-Siam railway. |
SIMPSON |
Terence
D |
Terry
Simpson was born in 1925; the son of Dennis and Nellie Simpson,
of Sudbury, Middlesex. He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve and served
as Sergeant Radio Operator. At the time of his death, aged 19 years,
on 27 January 1944, he was serving with 101 Squadron RAF. He is
buried in a collective grave, with 10 others, in the Hanover War
Cemetery in West Germany, this seems to show that he was shot down
whilst taking part in a bombing mission over Germany |
Last
updated
21 May, 2007
|