Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget
British Legion
The Royal British Legion

WINDLESHAM WAR MEMORIALS

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled & Copyright © Jim & Marianne Robbens 2005
To the memory of Marianne Robbens who sadly passed away 2021

Windlesham gives its name to the Parish of Windlesham, Surrey that consists of the three villages of Windlesham, Lightwater and Bagshot. The memorial was dedicated by the Rt Rev John Hugh Granville Randolph, DD, Bishop Suffragon of Guildford on 25 April 1920. It was unveiled by Hermione, Lady Ellenborough of Windlesham Court. The stonemasons were W Wheeler Ltd., West London. The two stone flower vases were put in place in 1937 (as with many other memorials throughout the country) to commemorate the coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The following transcripts and additional information is intended to show those servicemen who died in various conflicts and whose names are recorded in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Windlesham, on the war memorial close by or by burial in the adjoining cemetery.   For a variety of reasons men of other villages in the area are recorded at the church and may well be remembered on other memorials located in their home villages.   Some of the fallen appear to have no links to the area at all and their reason for inclusion remains a mystery. For more about Windlesham see the Windlesham Society website and the Windlesham Life "Lest We Forget" page.

Photographs Copyright © Jim Robbens 2005

“To the Memory of the Men of this Parish Who Gave Their Lives for
Their King and Country in The Great War 1914-1919”

1914-1918

The text in italics for WWI has been transcribed from a copy of a Roll of Honour in Book Form (compiled by the then Rector of Windlesham Rev. A. J. Hutton, M.A) containing the particulars and war records of some of the 48 men whose names are on the memorial in the open cemetery grounds adjacent to St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham, Surrey.  The memorial is maintained by Windlesham Parish Council.

BAIGENT

Ernest Alfred
Private 7949, 1st Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died 4/10/1914 (WGC shows death date as 15/09/1914) aged 30. “Ernest Baigent had served for seven years in the regulars and had returned from India in 1914.  He was on the Reserve List when war was declared.  He rejoined his Regiment, 1st Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and went to the front in September.  He was in the Retreat from Mons and fell in action aged 35 years on 4th October 1914”.   Son of the late Joseph Baigent and Jane Baigent (1891 Census).  Buried at Cemetery: La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France.

BOWYER

Samuel
Bowyer, Samuel Corporal 1101. Samuel Bowyer was working at Fromow Nurseries and lodging in Windlesham when War broke out.  He joined up on 5th August 1914 and went into training at Sandgate & Hythe, and then at Aldershot going to France with the 6th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surreys in February or March 1915.  He was fighting in the trenches at Plug Street and later was in the Battles of Loos and the Somme.  He was promoted to Lance Corporal and later Corporal and was killed on 5th April 1918.  He is buried at Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. 

CALKIN

Brian Penry Bernard
Lieutenant Brian Calkin was in his 21st year when he joined up.  His parents then had a small country house at Windlesham.  Brian Calkin had had five years of his earliest education at St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School and had taken part in King George’ s & Queen Mary’s Coronation Service in Westminster Abbey, passing on to Repton.  His public school days were cut short by the war and he entered his father’s office at 16 years of age and insisted then on doing Special Constable’s work.  In the Spring of the following year, and six months under military age, he joined the Inns of Court OTC and obtained a Commission in August in the 3rd Queen’s Royal West Surreys.  At Sittingbourne, being very keen on physical development, he specialised in and became master of physical training and bayonet fighting to his battalion.  His love of music and his interest in his men was such that he gave all his spare time to giving concerts for them.  His Orders first took him to France in August 1916, where with the exception of trench fever, all went well with him till the following July 1917 when he was gassed.  Having recovered from this, he had only rejoined his Regiment a few weeks when he was badly gassed again and invalided to Hospital at Brighton, where he remained some months unfit for service abroad.  At Sittingbourne after leaving hospital, he took up his old work of physical training until on 20th April 1918 he left for France for the last time.  He was attached to the 8th Queen’s and was second in Command of his Company.  He was, in fact, temporarily commanding it when on the morning of 10th July 1918 he was struck down and killed by a trench mortar bomb.  Later his body was recovered and laid to rest in the military cemetery outside Bethune.  His Colonel writes of him “He was more than usually competent for his years, and was completely confident that things would run all right when he was in charge”.  The Sittingbourne Gazette writing of him after his death says: “He was of a bright, cheery nature, a splendid type of young manhood, and the news of his death has cast quite a gloom over the battalion, for he was a favourite with Officers and men alike.”  He was aged 20 when he was killed.

He was the son of Harry Bernard & Margaret Agnes Calkin of Hampstead (1901 Census).  He is buried at Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, Pas-de-Calais, France. 

CANNON

Charles Edwin
Private T/1927.  Charles Cannon of the 5th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment joined the Colours on 4th August 1914.  He was drafted overseas for active service to the Dardanelles in May 1915, where he was wounded and placed on H.M.S. Asturias Hospital Ship bound for England.  He died on 23rd September 1915 and was buried at sea aged 30 years.  He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial in Turkey.  He was the son of the late Charles William Cannon and Sarah Jane Cannon of St. John’s Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey (1901 Census).
CANNON George Arthur
Lance Corporal – P/11638. George Cannon was in the Military Mounted Police. He joined the Colours in August 1914. He was drafted overseas for active service in India November 1914. From India he was drafted to Mesopotamia. He was thrown from his horse and accidentally killed on 1st February 1919. He was buried near Baghdad aged 32 years. He was the second son of the late Charles William Cannon and Sarah Jane Cannon of St. John’s Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey (1901 census). He is buried at Baghdad (Northgate) War Cemetery, Iraq.
CANNON Thomas Thurmer
Private – 43947. Thomas Cannon of 10th Battalion of the Essex Regiment joined the Colours in the April of 1917. He was drafted overseas for active service in March 1918. He was reported missing on 8th August 1918 aged 19 years. He was the third son of the late Charles William Cannon and Sarah Jane Cannon of St. John’s Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey (1901 Census). He is commemorated at Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

CLERK

Ronald Malcolm
Captain Ronald Clerk was at Malvern College as a boy and went from there to Merton College Oxford, where he took his BA in 1908.  After leaving Oxford he was Assistant Master as The School, Windlesham until the war broke out in 1914.  The following extract is from “The Times”.

“In August 1914 he obtained a Commission in the Royal West Surrey Regiment and went with his battalion to the front in June 1915.  Promoted to Captain in July 1915 he was invalided home after an operation for appendicitis” and was obliged to remain home until June when he rejoined his Regiment.  In July he was slightly wounded and in December he was recommended for and obtained a Commission (Regulars) in the Kings Royal Lancaster Regiment as Captain but remained with his old battalion with the Queen’s.  His Commanding Officer writes ‘Your son was killed on the morning of 9th April to the lasting sorrow of his many friends here.  His death was almost instantaneous…  His loss will be felt by us all…  He played the game until the last dying at the head of his company.” ‘The Times.’

Major Rolls, his Commanding Officer added “For myself I can only say I never forget your son, who was a great friend of my own and no words of mine can be sufficient to convey the sympathy I feel for you and yours in the great loss you have sustained.”  Second Lieutenant Harry Watts wrote:  “The sad news of Ronald’s death in action has just reached me.  As I am Bayonet Fighting Officer, the authorities refused me permission to go into action so I was not with him at the time.  I understand however, that he died as he would have wished, leading D Company into action.  No only was my Captain, he was my friend and his loss leaves a gap that will be hard indeed to fill.  In action I knew him as a soldier without fear in the ordinary round of everyday tasks.  I knew him as an untiring worker and a constant helper whose one thought day and night was the comfort of his company.  All we remain can do is to strive to live up to the high ideal he has set us and see that the battalion and company that he loved so well goes forward to further victories.  His memory will ever be our inspiration. An Appreciation from the Windlesham Magazine:  “I feel I cannot restrain from writing this appreciation of one who endeared himself to so many boys whose manhood has been anticipated by the war.  My friendship dates from his last term at Merton since when I have been in closest touch with him.  Full of enthusiasm with high ideals and innate sense of justice he made an ideal colleague and won the affection and esteem of all who were privileged to work with him… The following is a letter written on the day of the notice of his death and appearing in “The Times” and bears eloquent testimony to his work as a schoolmaster:  “It is no good my trying to express my sorrow as that would be impossible.  Captain Clerk was, and will be, one of my ideals and I would willingly I think have laid down my life for him.  What he did for me in every way it is beyond me to say; he always seemed to me to be the ideal Englishman.  For those of us just going out it is good to know that if we are killed it is in good company.”

Buried Faubourg-d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France.  He was aged 31 years when he died.  He was the son of J. Somervail Clerk & Dora Somervail Clerk (nee Carew) of Foresters, Windlesham, Surrey

CRANE

Thomas John
Private 9505.  Thomas Crane was born 26th May 1890 in Windlesham.  He enlisted at Guildford on 27th January 1909 at the age of 18 years & 7 months in the 2nd Battalion of the Queen’s West Surrey Regiment.  He was in South Africa when the war broke out from there he was sent to France and was fighting at Ypres when he was killed. He was killed in action on 6th November 1914.  He is buried at Railway Chateau Cemetery, Ieper, West-Valaanderen, Belgium.

CURTIS

Eric Calvin
Second Lieutenant Eric Curtis was born in Dorset 1893 and was 21 years of age in August 1914.  He was then a clerk in the G.W.R. Company. In September 1914 he enlisted in the 5th Seaforth Highlanders and went into training at Bedford.  He was sent with a draft to France early in May 1915.  The 5th Seaforth’s formed part of the famous 51st Division.  He had his first leave in April 1916 when he married.  Returning to France he was wounded in 1916 and was sent to hospital at Devonport.  On recovery he rejoined his Depot at Ripon and remained there as Instructor in Musketry until the autumn of 1917.  He then applied for a commission and was sent to Pirbright to 19th Officers Cadet Battalion.  He got his Commission of 5th January 1918 and returned to Ripon until March when he was sent to France and attached to the 8th Seaforths, which formed part of the 15th Division.  In July 1918 this Division was sent to the neighbourhood of Soissons to help the French in their offensive against the Germans on the Marne.  There he was killed on 28th July at Buzancy.  A monument was erected by the 17th Division of the French Army in commemoration of the bravery of the 15th Division (Scottish) that fought by their side in General Gasssoins’ counter attack in the battle between the Aisne and the Marne.  This obelisk stands at the highest point of the plateau where the foremost Scottish soldier fell 28t July 1918 and bears this inscription –

“Here the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish for ever among the roses of France 17th French Division to 15th Scottish Division.”

The Major General wrote to his mother:  Dear Mrs Curtis – I need hardly tell you how very sorry we all were at the loss of your very gallant son….  I don’t suppose there was been any finer work done than the capture of Buzancy village and Chateau by the 8th Seaforth Highlanders assisted by the 5th Gordon’s and 4/5 Black Watch.  May I offer you my most sincere sympathy on your loss – yours sincerely H.L.Reed (Major General)”.   His Captain also wrote to his wife:  “I should like to say how sorry I am to lose your husband and to offer you my deep sympathy in your loss.  Your husband was in my Company and we were together a good deal.  He was cheery and kept us all in good spirits.  He was fine to work with, and he was very well liked by his men.  I shall miss him greatly” The Chaplain wrote:  “I am very sorry to send you the sad news of the death of your husband.  He was killed in action while leading his men in a most successful attack…. One of his brother officers is writing to you.  The Colonel would have written, but he was killed also.  Your husband was always bright and cheery.  I saw him in the trenches two days before he fell and he was bright as usual… He was always keen to have a pleasant chat with me as I am the Padre of the Regiment… Please accept the sympathy of the padre who was pleased to know your husband and to admire him for his fine spirit.  It is a comfort for you to know that he died a noble death in a righteous cause.  It is the greatest comfort for you to fee that our Christian Faith points to a reunion in God’s good time.  In a letter from Corporal Thomson who saw him fall he says “In the morning of the 28th July we were due to attack a strong point in conjunction with a French Platoon.  We duly went over advancing for the first 100 yards cross open country, then through a small copse, arriving on the other side of the copse, we were met by a very heavy machine gun fire, rifle fire and especially on the right i.e. immediately in front of the French.  Meanwhile Lieutenant Curtis and I worked our way over to the French taking up our position behind a little mound more or less for cover, the machine gun and other fire being so heavy, and also that we might the better see the surroundings.  We were lying on our backs:  when Lieutenant Curtis rose for a second and was slipping over me, we were intending to get back to the Platoon; he was shot through the head above the right eye and dropped down dead on top of me.  His death was instantaneous:  It was a machine bullet, which killed him.  Being in the throes of battle, his body had to be left where he fell; later he was buried by the French and a monument erected over him.  That his death was a great blow to us I need hardly say; never was an Officer more popular, more highly esteemed, more honoured by any set of men.  His happy go lucky way, his cheery smile, his utter disregard for his own personal safety and comfort was always uppermost and went a long way towards making him so popular.  He was heroic beyond words and knew no fear.”

Eric Curtis is buried at Buzancy Military Cemetery, Aisne, France.  He was the son of Calvin and Beatrice Edith Curtis and husband of Annie Curtis of Tenbury Wells.

DENNIS

Percy George
Corporal 3934.  Percy Dennis was born on 14th November 1898 and joined up in August 1915 in the 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers.  He joined the Regular Army intending to serve seven years and five in the Reserve.  The Regiment is known as the Old and Bold and the Fighting Fifth.  He was trained at the Depot at Newcastle on Tyne.  In June 1916 he went across to France to join his Battalion.  In February 1916 he had been promoted to Lance Corporal and in January 1917 he was promoted Corporal.  He was sent home with frozen feet in December 1916 and rejoined his Battalion again in April 1917.  He was badly wounded at Ypres in both arms and chest in May 1917 when he was sent to England.  When he rejoined he was sent to the 1st/7th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, who were then in the fighting line of the Ypres Salient , this was in December 1917.  He was killed on 31st December 1917 by a shell as they were leaving the trenches; nine men were killed including an Officer, a Sergeant and Percy Dennis.  He was buried in South Passchendael, North East Ypres, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Grave No. XVIII.H.10.

DRAPER

Charles
Private 37688.  Charles Draper, aged 23, was married in Canada.  He joined up at Ascot in the autumn of 1916 in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment.  He crossed over to France at the end of 1916.  He died of pneumonia at Rouen on the 23rd February 1917.  He is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.  Charles was probably the son of Alfred and Sarah Draper who lived in Windlesham in 1901.
ELLIS William
Private, 6th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 19 April 1918. “Was working in Windlesham and living in lodgings when war broke out. He joined up in the 6th Battalion of the Queens Royal West Surrey’s on 5th August 1914. He was in training in camp at Sandgate and Hythe and later at Aldershot with his Battalion, which crossed to France in February or March 1915. He came over wounded once and was in hospital in Gloucester. He came across on leave once or twice. He was in the trenches in Plug Street and took part in the battles of Loos and The Somme. He was killed on 19th April 1918”.

FEAR

Eric G
Bombardier 505, Royal Horse Artillery.  Eric Fear joined the Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery in September 1914 and went into Camp outside Reading.  The Doctors would not pass him for foreign service when his 1st Battalion was sent to the Persian Gulf and he returned to Reading to recruit for a second Battalion.  When this was completed he was sent to Wokingham for training, but here he contracted a bad cold, from which he never recovered.  He was discharged from the Army in April 1915 and died at home in Windlesham.  Eric was the son of George and Alice Fear of Philcroft, Updown Hill, Windlesham.  His grave is in the Windlesham Cemetery adjoining the Parish Church.

FENDALL

Charles Magrath
Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 14 December 1915.  Aged 23. Grandson of Charles Bathhurst Fendall, schoolmaster and clerk in holy orders living in Hatton Hill, Windlesham in 1901; his grandfather taught at Woodcote House School and received his early education at the school because his parents were in India where his father served in the British Army. He emigrated to Canada in 1911 with his uncle, Arthur James Fendall, but returned to England rejoin his regiment shortly after war was declared. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 5 and 9. Also commemorated on Okotoks Centaph, Alberta, Canada.

FLITTON

 Arthur
Private G/2076. Arthur Flitton was born at Gaddesden Row, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire in 1884.  He was in work in Windlesham and living in lodgings when war broke out.  He joined the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on 24th August 1914.  He was for eleven months in training in England, crossing over to France on 15th July 1915.  He never came home on leave.  He fell in action on 1st July 1916.  His brother writes:  “His mate saw him about half an hour before he was killed.  He was then 32 years of age”.  He is buried in Dantzig Alley, British Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France.

HAMMOND

Arthur James
Rifleman – 5031.  Arthur Hammond was born on 14th November 1892.  He was baptized by The Rev. J. Freshfield at Windlesham Parish Church 1st January 1893.  Arthur joined up in the second week in August 1914 in the 17th Lancers.  He was in training at Woolwich and the Curragh in Ireland.  He came home at Christmas 1914 on leave and returning to the Curragh he transferred from the 17th Lancers to the Royal Irish Regiment in order to get across sooner as he thought.  He crossed to France on 15th June and was sent to the Loos Sector.  The Battle of Loos was then pending and came on towards the end of September, after which he was reported missing.  Son of James Reuben and Sophia Hammond of Church Road, Windlesham and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

HARDING

Jesse George
Private 10751, 2nd Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died 10 January 1915.  Son of Jesse & Henrietta Harding (nee Gaines), Warren Cottage, Thorndown Lane, Windlesham (1901 Census).  Buried Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-d'Armentieres, Nord, France.

HERRING

William Charles
Trooper 2668.  William Herring enlisted at the age of 17 years and 6 months in C. Squadron of the 2nd Battalion of the Life Guards in January 1908 at Windsor.  At the beginning of the war in August 1914 he was drafted to Salisbury Plain and crossed over to Zeebrugge on 14th September 1914.  He was a 1st Class Regimental Scout and met with many adventures whilst carrying out his duties.  In a letter home he spoke of one of these in which he had ridden close to a party of Uhlans and escaped safely.  On 30th October 1914 he with 50 others under the command of Captain Vendeleur were sent to hold a place near Zanvorde at all costs; a message was sent to them to retreat, but was probable never received.  Nothing more was heard of them and hence t was concluded that they were all killed.  They were posted as missing on 31st October.  All attempts – and many were made – to find out what had really happened to them, have failed and nothing has ever been heard of any of them.  William Herring is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.  He was the son of William and Emma A. Herring of Windlesham; William senior was a Dairyman (1901 Census).

HOLMES

Francis
Private – TF/4621. Francis Holmes, a married man with two children was living in Thorndown Lane, Windlesham and working at Frowmow’s Nursery when WWI broke out.  He joined the 1st/5th Royal West Kent Regiment on 14th June 1916.  He was only three weeks in training at Crowborough when his battalion and Regiment were sent to India aboard Troopships. They landed at Bombay on 25th August 1916 and spent some 7 months upon Murray Hills.  Holmes never saw active service, dying aged 37 of dysentery in the Rawalpindi Hospital on 10 August 1917 (WGC show 10/11/1916 as the date of death).  He is buried at the Rawalpindi War Cemetery.  Son of James and Caroline Holmes, of West End, Chobham, Woking; husband of Alice Holmes, of Gracious Pond, Chobham, Woking, Surrey.

HOLMES

Herbert
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery.  Died 4 October 1917.  “Born 14th June 1890.  During the earlier months of the war Herbert Holmes was working for Tarrants Hut Building at first in England and for 18 months in Boulogne. He enlisted 13th February 1917 and trained at Luton, leaving for France 25th June 1917.  He was killed in action 4th October 1917.

His commanding officer wrote to his widow after his death “your husband joined the 92 Battery RFA whilst I was away and I greatly regret to have to tell you that he was killed before I came back.  He was killed in the advance north of Ypres on 4th October.  It may be some consolation to you to know that he was killed instantaneously by a shell.  He was a fine soldier and died for his country doing his duty.  Believe me you have the deepest sympathy of myself and the Battery”.  

HOTHER

William Thomas Henry
Private – G/2190.  William Hother joined the 7th Battalion of the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment on 2nd September 1914.  He went to France with the 7th Battalion in July 1915.  He was wounded on the Somme and brought home in September 1916.  He went back to France on 1st February 1917 and joined the 1st Battalion of the Queens RWS.  He was wounded and missing on 23rd April 1917 and he died aged 25 a Prisoner of War on 1st May 1917 in St. Clothilde Hospital, Donia.  He was buried in the communal cemetery of Donia, France. He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.  Son of William John and Emily J. S. Hother, of Neville Cottage, Updown Hill, Windlesham, Surrey.

LEY

Ernest George
Company Quartermaster Sergeant – 8017 Quartermaster Sergeant Ley, DCM, of the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment was on leave in Windlesham where his parents lived when war was declared.  He received a telegram calling him back to Colchester, which place he left the next day to put up his Regiment’s colours at Winchester, and bring back reserves mobilised for war from Harrow.  Sergeant Ley took part in the retreat from Mons an fought in both battles in Ypres gaining the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  He was fatally wounded at the first battle of the Somme 1st July 1916 before Beaumont Hamel.  He had seen eight years continuous service prior to the war.  Lt. Col. Garcia commanding his Regiment wrote after his death:  “He was my platoon sergeant in the winter of 1914/15 and I soon learned to appreciate his extraordinary worth.  My attention was first drawn to him when a reconnaissance had to be carried out and the scouts selected for the job felt nervous about going and both asked for Sergeant Ley to be allowed to go with them.  I then discovered that the men had a child-like confidence in him and trusted him and would do anything for him.  I became very attached to him and felt his death very much.  I shall always treasure his memory as a very brave soldier and loyal non-commissioned officer who never thought of himself.  He was one of the most gallant NCOs the 1st Battalion ever had….. there was nothing he could not do with his men.  The Regiment lost a splendid soldier when he fell in the battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916”.  Ernest Ley was born in Longworth, Berkshire in 1886 and was the son of Samuel and Emma Ley of Windlesham (1901 census).  He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

MARSTON

Jack
Private 53368.  Jack Marston was born on 12th July 1895.  He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a private on 15th January 1915.  He had his training in Belfast from 17th January 1915 until June 1916 when he returned to Aldershot for one week before crossing to Etaples in France.  He was wounded in the great push in March 1918.  He died on 29th April 1918 from pneumonia and he was buried at Etaples.  He came home once on leave from France for ten days at Christmas 1917.  Son of John and Elizabeth Marston, of The Lodge, Windlesham Court, Windlesham, Surrey.  Buried at Cemetery: Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. 

MASON

James
Private SE/15966.  James Mason was married and living in Windlesham engaged in dairy farming when war was declared in August 1914.  He joined the Army Veterinary Corps Remounts in April 1916 and went to Bulfield Camp on Salisbury Plain to work with horses and mules.  He had some leave in 1916 on account of pleurisy and in January 1917 he came home on sick leave and was moved from his home to the Connaught Hospital where he remained until about 2nd March 1917 when he was moved home in an ambulance.  He died aged 46 on 16th March 1917.  Son of Richard and Mary Francis Mason, of Windlesham; husband of Annie Mason, of Beech Cottages, Updown Hill, Windlesham.  He is buried at Windlesham Additional Burial Ground. 

McGILDOWNY

William
Major, 124th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery.  Died aged 47 on  26 May 1917.  Son of John McGildowny, J.P., of Clare Park, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim; husband of Honora McGildowny.  Buried Mindel Trench British Cemetery, St. Laurent-Blangy, Pas de Calais, France.  Awarded the DSO.

McMULLAN

James
Lance Corporal G/22495, 1st Bn, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died 23 April 1916.  Remembered at the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

MEARS

Thomas
Lance Corporal T/2198.  Thomas Mears had previously been a soldier for eight years and four years on the Reserve.  He was at the time of the outbreak of war living with his parents in their home in Windlesham. He joined up again at the beginning of September in the Territorial Army at first and went to Chatham and then to Canterbury.  On the 29th October he left for India with the 5th Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.  He died of heart failure on the Hospital Ship Tallada, en route for Bombay from Mesopotamia, on Sunday 16th April 1916.  He was buried at sea the same day, about 50 miles off Bombay.  He was 36 years of age.  His Captain wrote to his mother “Long ere this arrives you will have heard of your son’s death when being invalided back to India.  It came as a great shock to the Company and personally.  I had no idea he was dangerously ill.  I have been his Company commander since the middle of January and during that time I learnt to rely upon him as a NCO to do anything well that was asked of him.  He was a splendid soldier and his loss will be great to his Regiment.  I sincerely sympathise with you.”  Son of Samuel and Frances Mears, of Roundwood, Windlesham, Surrey.  Remembered on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

PERROTT

Arthur Hennis
Lieutenant, 1st Bn, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died 10/09/1914. Buried Oulchy-le-Chateau Churchyard Extension, Aisne, France 

PLATT

John Rookhurst

Lieutenant Platt, Royal Field Artillery, 3rd (Northumbrian) Bde was aged 25 when he was killed on 27 March 1916.  Son of Samuel Radcliffe Platt and Helen M. Platt, of New Place, Sunningdale, Berks. Native of Oldham.  Buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Photograph Courtesy of William Bridge 2019

PLATT

Maurice Cedric
Sub-Lieutenant K8 41, Hawke Battalion, Royal Navy Division, RNVR. His Battalion took part in the siege of Antwerp but when the city was overrun by the Germans he was involved in a retreat into The Netherlands where he and other troops were interned on 14 October 1914. During the remainder of the war he was allowed two periods of leave to return home to England on parole. He died on 26 November 1918; the cause given was heart failure following pneumonia. Son of Samuel Radcliffe Platt and Helen M. Platt, of New Place, Sunningdale, Berks. Native of Oldham. Initially buried in Holland but later exhumed and re-interred in Oldham (Chadderton) Cemetery, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

Research by Moira Nairn for Surrey Heritage's Surrey in the Great War: A County Remembers project - Photograph Courtesy of William Bridge 2019

REYNOLDS

Albert
Gunner 90497.  Albert Reynolds was born at Pirton in Hertfordshire in 1883 son of Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds.   He was married to Caroline Reynolds of Laurel Cottage, Windlesham Surrey with whom he was living and his son when he joined up on 1st June 1916.  He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery 139th Heavy Battery at the age of 33.  During the rest of 1916 he was training at Dover. On 18th January 1917 he left Aldershot for France landing at Le Havre on 19th January and reaching Albert on 21st January.  He kept a diary from which we know that in 1917 he was moving about Moulin, Hardincourt, Dunkirk, St. Omer, Rouen, and Cryde.  In July, whilst grass cutting, they were shelled out of Hardincourt.  On 19th July he met with an accident whilst fetching forage, which necessitated his going into hospital at St. Omer.  After undergoing X-rays at Rouen, he was sent to Southampton by the Hospital Ship, St. George, and from there to Leeds and Killingbeck Hospitals where he was until November when he came home on leave.  On 5th January he left home again for Bullivant.  On 13th April 1918 he left Winchester for France again.  On 25th April he was in action and one gun was knocked out.  Judging from his diary he was in action for most of June and July and on 8th August he was hit and died the following day.  He was very fond of natural history and bird life as the following extract of his diary shows:  “1918.  On 23rd March fine morning with heavy dew, the birds singing in the trees and the rooks building their nests.  The sun was shining very hot towards the middle of the day; a butterfly was flying around and bumble bees were whirling past; thus ended a perfect day”.  Another entry in the midst of others “in action” comes “May 1st I heard the nightingale”.  His wife received a very touching and sympathetic letter from one of his comrades on behalf of himself and all his mates in Sub-Section E as soon as the news of her husband’s death had reached them at their battery on 9th August 1918.  Son of Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds; husband of Caroline Reynolds, of Laurel Cottage, Windlesham, Surrey. Born at Pirton, Herts.  Buried at Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-les-Pernois, Somme, France.

SMITH

Harry Ernest
Private G/21024.  Harry Smith enlisted in the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in October 1915.  He was in Camp at Shoreham from October 1915 to May 1916 when he went to Aldershot for three weeks.  Whilst in Camp at Shoreham he had leave to come home for eight days.  He went across to France in June 1916; and probably fell in the Battle of the Somme on 17th September 1916 as after that night he was “missing”.  Many others after that night who were fighting with him were not seen again.  The Quarter Master Sergeant writing to his parents said:  “The night your boy was missing was a terrible one.  The Germans poured a terrific hail of trench mortars on our lines and dozens of our lads were buried.”  A Private of the same Battalion, William Osborne, spoke of Harry Smith having been very popular in the Regiment.  Harry was 20 years old and was the son of William & Harriet Rose Smith of Coralee Cottage, Chertsey Road, Windlesham.  He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

SMITH

Percy
Gunner 98015, "B" Bty. 48th Bde. Royal Field Artillery.  Died aged 24 on 30 July 1915. “Was sent to Woolwich in the first instance.  From there he was sent to Deepcut, North Camp, Compton and Aldershot.  He left for France on 15th May 1915.  He was killed at the battle of Hooge by a shell which burst in the dugout on 30th July 1915”. Son of Isaac Smith, of Chestnut Cottage, King's Lane, Windlesham, Surrey.  Commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

STENSON

Charles Edward
Private – G/23927.  Charles Stenson was born on 23rd May 1898 and enlisted at the end of 1915 before he was 18 years of age.  He was claimed back on account of his age.  He enlisted for a second on 1st February 1917 and went into training at Southend and from there to Dover.  He came home for four days before leaving for France.  He joined up in the 8th Battalion of the East Kent’s and went to France on 20th June 1917.  He was transferred to the 7th Battalion at the beginning of 1918 and was killed aged 20 on the 17th June 1918 after being in France for about 12 months.  He was buried at Contay, Somme, France.  He was the son of Amy Alice and the late James Stenson of Upper Hale near Farnham, Surrey.

STOCKLEY

Charles William (William C)
Private L/11217.  Charles Stockley, before the war, was working under his brother James A Stockley (q.v.) in a butcher’s shop in Bagshot.  Charles was 18 when he joined up in February 1916 in the Queen’s Royal West Surreys.  He went to France some time in April 1916 and was killed 3rd July 1916.  He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.  He was the son of James and Charlotte Stockley, who are resident in The Square Bagshot in the Parish of Windlesham in the 1901 Census.  William C Stockley was born about 1897 in Poole, Dorset.

STOCKLEY

James A
Private 34145.  James Stockley was a married man living in Windlesham and manager of a butcher’s shop in Bagshot when war broke out.  He joined up on November 1916 in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.  He went to France in February 1917.  He returned to England in February 1918 on account of his wife’s illness and subsequent death.  He returned to France in early March 1918 and was killed on 8th August 1918.  He was in a cycle corps during his training in England and after going to France was a dispatch rider and a company runner when a shell killed him.  He was the son of James and Charlotte Stockley, who are resident in The Square Bagshot in the Parish of Windlesham in the 1901 Census.  He is buried at Cemetery: Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, Nord, France.

TEDDER

Stephen

The Tedder family c.1916 with
Stephen Sr., his wife Queenie,
son Stephen H.E. and
Stephen Sr.’s mother Ann Tedder.

Private 229295.  Stephen Tedder was in the Territorial Army when war broke out and was in camp at the time with the 1st/5th Queen’s Royal West Surreys.  He was a bandsman in the Regiment.  He volunteered for foreign service in 1915 and was transferred to the 2nd/5th Queen’s Royal West Surreys.  He went to France on 3rd August 1917 and was transferred to the 1st London Royal Fusiliers Regiment.  He was wounded on 1st January 1918 and died aged 31 on 8th January.  He is buried at Mont Huon, Seine-Maritime France.  He left a widow, (Q.H. Tedder of 98 Ashmore Road, Paddington) and one son (Stephen Henry Edmund Tedder, 1916-2005).  Stephen was the son of Ann and the late James Tedder of Windlesham.

TICKNER

Arthur
Private 8163.  Arthur Tickner was born in Lightwater 7th August 1897 and was living with his parents in Windlesham when war was declared in 1914.  He joined up on 12th May 1916 in the 9th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surreys from which Regiment he was transferred to the 1st East Surreys.  He went to France in August or September 1916 and was badly wounded on 7th May 1917, dying on 8th May.  He had been latterly attached to the 95th French Mortar Battery.  He was the son of Arthur and Rose Tickner of School Lane, Chertsey Road, Windlesham.   He was buried at Aubigny Cemetery Extension and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Arthur Tickner was born about 1898 in Windlesham, Surrey.

TICKNER

George Thomas
Private 82200.  George Tickner was born on 15th July 1899 in Windlesham.  He joined up on 13th August 1917 in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.  He was trained in camps in Scotland and Ipswich.  He went to France on 2nd April 1918.  He did not answer to the roll call on 2nd October and was found dead on the field on 5th October. He is buried at Dadizeele, New British Cemetery, Belgium.  George was the second son of Arthur and Rose Tickner to have died in the war.  George Tickner was born about 1900 in Windlesham, Surrey.

TICKNER

Thomas
Private S/547. Thomas Tickner was 39 years old and was working in Windlesham when war broke out.  He joined up in the last week of 1914.  He was in training in Purfleet in Essex.  He crossed to France at the end of July 1915.  He was expected to come home on leave shortly when he fell in action in the battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.  He is buried at the Dantzig Alley Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France.  He was attached to the 7th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surreys.  He was the son of Julia Tickner & the late Henry J. Tickner of Kimbolton Cottages, Windlesham, Surrey, and probably a cousin of the two Tickners’ listed above.

TIDBURY

Walter James

Bombardier. Walter Tidbury was born in 1879 in Bagshot and was the son of Walter and Frances Tidbury of Updown Hill, Windlesham (1891 Census). He was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery for some eight years in India and was on the Reserve List when War was declared in August 1914. He reported on 5th August at Woolwich, from where he was transferred to Portsmouth to train young recruits for the front. Here he held the rank of Lance Corporal or Bombardier. After about six months of this work, he was invalided home suffering from pleurisy, which was followed by pneumonia. He was sent to hospital at Aldershot from where he was found to be suffering from consumption. He was pensioned off in 1915 dying on January 17th 1916 at his home in Windlesham. He left a widow, Julia Caroline Goddard nee Hickford, a son Walter aged 8 and a stepdaughter Maggie (sic) aged 14 (1911 Census).

Moira Nairn, a local history researcher discovered in 2018 that Walter Tidbury was interred in an unmarked grave in Windlesham Cemetery and made a request with supporting evidence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for an official headstone to be erected.

This was finally agreed and a new headstone was put in place in April 2022.

Photograph © copyright 2022, and information on the grave research courtesy of, Moira Nairn
More at: Walter James Tidbury – ill-health death of army reservist | Surrey in the Great War:

TODMAN

Walter
Private 8859.  Walter Todman was born 1st November 1890.  He was nearly 24 when war was declared.  For six or seven years before the war he had been a private in the 1st Royal Scots and had been quartered at Allahahad in India.  At the beginning of the war his Regiment was sent to France where they landed about the end of November.  He fought in the first battle of Ypres.  He was killed by a bullet (aged 27) whilst burying some men from another Regiment on 17th February 1915.  His parents received a letter from him written only the day before he fell in which he asked for their prayers.  He had kept a diary from time to time and all his letters and postcards home show that he was a lad who cared much for the higher and spiritual things of life.  Some of his friends in their letters spoke very highly of his character and how they missed him after his death.  One of them wrote, “during the past years I have come to know him well and have found him to be a great help to me.”   He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and is the son of Walter and Elizabeth A. Todman (1901 Census).

TRAILL

Kenneth Robert
Lieutenant, 6th Bn, Royal Berkshire Regiment.  Died 01/07/1916. “Kenneth Trail was born on 9th January 1893.  He was educated at Sunningdale School (Smith & Crabtree), Bradfield College and Guys Hospital London.  He was a medical student at Guys Hospital when war broke out.  He joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps in August 1914 and received his commission in the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment in September 1914.  The Regiment did most of its training at Colchester and on Salisbury Plain.  They were sent to France in July 1915.  He was slightly wounded in the arm in February 1916 and returned to his Regiment in March of that year.  From July 1915 to July 1916 the 6th Royal Berkshire were engaged in trench warfare in Albert but did not take part in any big engagement until the first battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.  Lt. Trail was killed on the morning of the 1st July 1916 whilst taking a German trench.  The battalion went over the top 900 strong that morning and there were only 120 left in the evening”.   Kenneth Traill was the son of Cecil G. (a Surgeon) and Mary M. Trail of Windlesham (1901 Census).  He is buried at Carnoy Military Cemetery, Somme, France”.

WHITE

Arthur William
Lance Corporal 36956, Ist Bn Gloucestershire Regiment.   Died aged 30 29 September 1918.  Awarded Military Medal.  Son of Arthur and Emily White, of Holly Cottage, School Rd., Windlesham, Surrey.  Buried at Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy Aisne, France. 

WILKES

Henry Charles
Private 18586.  Henry Wilkes was born in 1898.  He joined the 1st Battalion C Company of the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 14th June 1915.  He was killed aged 18 in action on 27th July 1916 whilst attacking Delville Wood.  An extract from the Parish Magazine “We are very sorry to have to add Harry Wilkes’ name to those who have died on the battle field for their King and Country.  He was only 18 and had only been in France a very short time.  His mother has received a very kind letter from the clergyman who prepared him for Confirmation and who gave him his last Communion before leaving England.  He speaks very highly indeed of Harry’s character.”  Son of Joseph and Florence Wilkes of Hall Cottages, Spratton, Northamptonshire.  He is buried at London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, Somme, France.

WILLIS

Frank
Private G/5965, 2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died aged 31,  2nd July 1916.  Son of H. and Anna Willis, of King's Hill Cottage, Golf Links, Sunningdale, Berks.  Buried Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'abbe Somme, France.

WISE

Frank Vincent
Signalman London Z/2954.  Frank Wise was Assistant Master at Windlesham Council School when war broke out.  In August 1915 he joined the Royal Naval Defence and went into training at Crystal Palace where he specialised in signalling.  On finishing his training he was posted to H.M.S. Lion but was shortly afterwards transferred to H.M.S. Invincible where he combined the duties of Signaller with those of Teacher.  He succeeded so well as Teacher that he was to have been appointed to a Nautical School at Plymouth in July 1916.  However, on 31st May 1916 he went down with his ship the Invincible at the Battle of Jutland. He was 24 years of age when he died.  Son of Katherine Wise of Birkrigg, Chesterfield Road, Ashford, Middlesex (1901 Census).  He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

WRIGHT

Charles James Stewart
Captain Wright was born 4th September 1891.  He enlisted in the Inns of Court Volunteers 3rd August 1914.  He was gazetted Second Lieutenant of 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment on 28th September 1914.  He trained at The Temple London, Aldershot, Andover, and Perham Down.  He went to France on 31st July 1915.  He was gazetted Captain on 16th August 1915.  He fell at dawn on 14th July 1916 with practically all the Officers and men of his Company in the Battle of the Somme, Bazentin-le-Petit.  Their bodies were never found.  He is commemorated at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, Somme, France.  He was the son of the late Charles Francis and Bertha Burnet Wright; he was aged 25 when he was killed.

“Their Name Liveth for Evermore”

 

“Also The Second World War 1939-1945”

1939-1945

BAIGENT

Peter Henry

Sergeant (Air Gnr.) 1852464, 61 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died aged 19 on 8th July 1944.  61 Sqdn were part of 5 Bomber Group flying Avro Lancasters'.  On the date of P Baigents death the squadron was attacking V1 rocket storage facilities west of Chantilly, France.  Son of Anthony Warton Baigent and Lucy Edith Baigent.  Buried at Moliens Communal Cemetery, Oise, France. 

Below - Peter Baigent and the crew of Stirling
(Peter Baigent is third from the right)
Courtesy Jan Bastow


CLAPTON

Thomas Lionel Ashburner
Major 50972, 8th Bn, Durham Light Infantry.  Died aged 32 on 12 June 1944.  Son of Lieut.-Comdr. Thomas Clapton, R.N., and Mildred Ashburner Clapton; husband of Rosemary Clapton, of Bradpole, Bridport, Dorsetshire.  Buried at Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

CLARK

Charles Frederick
Lieutenant H.M.S. Giang Bee, Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.  Died 13 February 1942.  Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

EASTAUGH

John Herbert
Corporal 902940, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died aged 26 on 25 March 1943.  Son of John and Florence Ellen Eastaugh, of Windlesham, Surrey.  Buried at Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan.  Also remembered on a stone inside the church of St John the Baptist as one of three choristers who died in the war.

EYLES

Peter Raoul
Sergeant 560889, 92 Sqdn., Royal Air Force.  Died aged 24 on 20 March 1940.  Son of Ralph Sidney and Grace Elizabeth Eyles, of Hook, Basingstoke, Hampshire.  Peter Eyles was a pre-war airman.  On the day of his death his Spitfire N3248 was shot down by Major Werner Molders of JG 51.  Eyles crashed into the English Channel off Dungeness.  Pilot Officer H P Hill in another Spitfire was lost in the same engagement.  Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

GANNON

Jack
Photo: Albert Haseldine, Jack Gannon & Ernie Tait.
Driver T/40027, 218 Gen. Transport Coy., Royal Army Service Corps.  Died aged 23 on 12 August 1942.  Son of Annie M. Gannon, and stepson of Harry Holmes, of Windlesham, Surrey.  Buried El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.  Also remembered on a stone inside the church of St John the Baptist as one of three choristers who died in the war and on the communion rail of the Lady Chapel.

GILLIAT

John
Major 63033, 6th Bn, Irish Guards. On Sunday 18 June 1944 during morning service a V1 flying bomb struck the Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks, London and in the ensuing explosion the roof of the chapel collapsed on the congregation killing 121 civilians and military personnel. A further 141 people were injured. Major John Gilliat was among the dead. He was aged 30, the son of John Francis Grey Gilliat and Lilian Florence Maud Gilliat, of Sunningdale, Berkshire. Buried Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.

HASELDINE

Albert Victor
Photo: Albert and Frederick Haseldine
Driver T/10672381, Royal Army Service Corps.  Died aged 25 on 22 November 1942.  Son of Albert Victor and Florence Amelia Haseldine, of Windsor, Berkshire. Buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.  Also remembered on a stone inside the church of St John the Baptist as one of three choristers who died in the Great War.

HAYES

George James
Lance Corporal 14263668, 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps.  Died aged 22 on 7 June 1944.   Son of James and Ethel Hayes; husband of May Rebecca Elizabeth Hayes, of Windlesham, Surrey, England.  Buried at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

KNOWLES

Howard Otis
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) 63449, 117 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died aged 22 on 5 February 1943.  Son of St. John Knowles and Arta Otis Knowles, of South Ascot, Berkshire.  Buried and/or commemorated at   Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya.

MANSEL

Mervyn Lascelles
Major 74595, 1st Bn, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).  Died aged 26 on 13 May 1944.  Son of Algernon Lascelles Mansel and Isita Mansel, of Windlesham, Surrey.  He is remembered on the grave of his parents in the open cemetery adjoining St John the Baptist Church and is said to have died of his wounds on 12 May 1944.  Buried at Imphal War Cemetery, Burma.

NEWMAN

Alfred Edgar
Lance Sergeant 7016617, 56th Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.  Died aged 28 on 20 March 1945.  Son of Henry and Grace Newman; husband of Ruth Yvonne Newman, of Whyteleafe, Surrey.  Buried at Forli War Cemetery, Italy.

REDMAN

Frank Hayes
Private 1st Surrey Bn., Home Guard.  Died aged 56 on 7 September 1940.  Son of Frank and Katherine Hayes Redman; husband of Olive Elenda Redman, of Windlesham.  Buried at Windlesham Additional Burial Ground.

ROLLO

Norman Chetwynd
Major 71972, King's Own Scottish Borderers.  Died aged 26 on 15 September 1944.  Son of Maj. John Eric Henry Rollo and Helen Maud Rollo, of Windlesham, Surrey.  Buried at Geel War Cemetery, Geel, Antwerpen, Belgium.  Awarded the Military Cross.

RUBY

Cyril Albert
Private 14679439, 4th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry.  Died aged 18 on 25 August 1944.  Son of George William and Alice Elizabeth Ruby, of Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire.  Buried at Vernon Communal Cemetery, Eure, France.

SPENCER

John Ogilvie
Major 106772, Welsh Guards.  Died 9 September 1944.  Buried Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Leopoldsburg, Limburg, Belgium.  There is a second burial in the same name in this cemetery:Spencer, John Ogilvie Fusilier 4200158 16/11/1944 28 Royal Welch Fusiliers United Kingdom III. D. 15.   It is not clear from the records whether there is a memorial inscription and a burial, which would account for the duplication but this would not explain the differing death dates.

STEVENS

Sidney Edmund
Cook MMF/107/138856, S.S. Everleigh (Atlantic Shipping & Trading Co Ltd, (W J Tatem Ltd, Managers) 1938, London), Merchant Navy.  Died aged 37 on 6 February 1945.  The Everleigh was lost to U Boat U1017 on 6 February 1945 off the Dorset Coast.  Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

THOMPSON

John Rawson aka Tommy
Pilot Officer (Pilot) 78 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died aged 21 on 5th March 1943.  Son of Horace and Edna Annie Thompson, of Shipley, Yorkshire.  Buried at Staphorst (Rouveen) New General Cemetery, Overijssel, Netherlands.

WILSON

Guy Gervers Holmes

Lt Col 69381, Royal Artillery.  Died aged 38 on 29 April 1943.  Son of Brigadier General Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson, G.C.MG., K.C.B., K.B.E., and Lady Wilson (nee Gervers); husband of Elaine Wilson, of Chelsea, London.

Photograph and text below courtesy: The Warden and Scholars of Winchester College 

He was the only son of Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson GCMG, KCB, KBE and Lady Wilson (daughter of F T Gevers). He came to Mr Bather’s House at Winchester College from St David’ Reigate in May 1918. He left from Sixth Book (Sc) as prefect to go into the steel business after a spell in France and Trinidad where his father was then Governor. In 1924 he joined the Stock Exchange with Lemon Bros.

In 1936 he re-joined the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) being rapidly promoted after the outbreak of war. He commanded 51 HAA Battery. He went to The Staff College and was appointed as GSO3 and GSO2 in the War Office. In 1941 he was perhaps the only Territorial Officer to that date who had become an instructor at the Senior Staff College. In 1942 he returned to the War Office as GSO1. He died on active service in an air accident near Barnstable in April 1943 when GSO1 of 3rd Division.

He left a widow Elaine Margaret Wilson (nee Pilling) whom he had married on 6 April 1929 and two step-daughters. He and his wife lived at Roundwood, Windlesham, Surrey. Interred at Windlesham Additional Burial Ground

 

World War I War Grave Internments in the Open Cemetery Adjoining St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham and not Recorded on the War Memorial.

BIGNELL

T
Private SE/781, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Died aged 41 on 6th January 1918.

COCHRANE

Basil Robert
Born 16 February 1898 in Dublin Ireland, eldest son of Charles Fitzgerald Thomas Cochrane and Maud Mary Rose. Basil was from a long line of Cochrane’s to have given military service to the country. He was a naval cadet aged 13 in the 1911 Census. In the Great War he served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy notably at the Falklands, the Dardanelles and Jutland. He died on 14 February 1919 in 1st Eastern Hospital Cambridge of cerebral-spinal meningitis. He was buried in Windlesham Additional Burial Ground on 18 March 1919. It is not thought that Basil lived in the village although his cousin, Rear Admiral Archibald Cochrane lived in Windlesham House, Kennel Lane (Destroyed by fire) which is opposite Admirals Field, now the Field of Remembrance.
DELAVOYE Francis Bethune
Captain, Army Service Corps. Retired on half pay in October 1915, died 11 August 1916 aged 43. Son of Colonel Alexander Marin Delavoye and husband of Isabel Ursula Piggott and children Francis and Ursula

Information courtesy Moira Nairn.

FOLLEY

T
Private 46940, Royal Fusiliers from 1894 to 1916 (22 years) and 9th Bn, Northamptonshire Regt. (1917 to 1918).  Died aged 43 on 8th September 1919.  Husband of M. Folley, of 26, Great Queen St., Kingsway, London.

KNIGHT

Thomas Napoleon
Sapper WR/22989, 315th Road Construction Coy., Royal Engineers.  Died aged 30, 10th February 1919.  Husband of Lily Knight, of Nursery Cottage, Guildford Rd., Lightwater, Bagshot.  Lily Knight died 28 April 1971 aged 85 and is buried with her husband.

World War II War Grave Internments in the Open Cemetery Adjoining St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham and not Recorded on the War Memorial.

CABLE

Harry George Joshua
Lance Corporal, 159 Provost Coy, Corps of Military Police, died aged 37, 30 June 1942 on war service. Son of Charles and Emma Cable and husband of Edith May Woodrow and children Francis Harry and Barbara.

Dead of World War I Commemorated on the memorial Board in the South Porch of St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham but not on the War Memorial.

FRANKLIN

Cyril George
Rifleman 305826, 5th Bn, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade).  Died aged 18 on 21 August 1918.  Son of Wm. Thos. and Lucy Hannah Franklin, of Chobham, Surrey.  Buried Cemetery: Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Calais, France.

SNOWDEN

C (possibly Chaplin)
2nd Lieutenant, 3rd/5th Bn, Bedfordshire Regiment.  Died 19 November 1931.  This name appears on the St Albans Board.  No further details.

MILLS

Joseph
Royal Inniskilin Fusiliers.  Died 4th April 1931.  No further details.

Parish of Windlesham World War I Dead Commemorated in
The South Porch of St John the Baptist Church (Lightwater Board).

BRANDON

George
[Listed as John Brandon on CWGC] Lance Corporal 15036, 2nd Bn., Grenadier Guards. Born Watford, enlisted London. killed in action 15 September 1916.  Commemorated on Thiepval memorial, Somme, France.

BURROWS

(Alfred) Charles (William)
Private 53504, "A" Coy., 2/7th Bn., Manchester Regiment. Killed in action 21st March 1918. Aged 20. Born Windlesham, enlisted Camberley, resident Lightwater. Son of Alfred and Betsy Burrows, of 4, Charters Cottage, Sunningdale, Berks. [WGC states he was born at Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey.] Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. In the 1901 Census Alfred CW Burrows is a visitor aged 2 years in the home of Charles and Caroline Woodcock at 2 Gas Lane, St Giles, Reading, Berkshire. His parents, Alfred and Betsy were living at the Blacksmiths Shop, Updown Hill, Windlesham with their other son Ernest aged 10 months.

BUNCE

George
Private 9303, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment.  Died 27 January 1915.  Brother of M. E. E. Bunce, of 3, Macdonald Rd., Lightwater, Surrey.  Buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

CHILDS

Charles Henry
Sergeant 7873, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment.  Died aged 29 2 December 1917.  Son of Charles and Elizabeth Childs, of Ling Cottage, Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey, husband of Maud E. Childs, of 14, Brooklyn Terrace, North Holmwood, Dorking.  Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

CHILDS

Thomas James
Sergeant 69867, 13th Bty. 5th Bde., Royal Field Artillery.  Died aged 27 on 8th August 1918.  Son of Elizabeth Childs, of Ling Cottage, Lightwater, Bagshot, Camberley, and the late Charles J. Childs.  Buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

COX

Henry John
Private PO/18307, Royal Marine Light Infantry, H.M.S. "Invincible".  Died aged 21 on 31st May 1916.  Son of William Cox, of 3, Rose Cottages, Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey.  Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

ELSON

Charles
Sergeant S/721, 7th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died 1 July 1916.  Buried at Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France.

ELSON

George Edward
Stoker 1st Class SS/104229, (RFR/PO/B/4845). H.M.S. "Good Hope", Royal Navy.  Died aged 26 on 1st November 1914.  Son of Mrs. S. Elizabeth Elson, of Rose Cottage, Lightwater Rd., Bagshot, Surrey.  Commemorated at Portsmouth Navy Memorial.

FARTHING

Leonard
Captain, 2nd Bn, East Lancashire Regiment.  Died aged 28 on 16 November 1916.  Son of Mrs. Alice Farthing, of "Nuthurst", Grassmere Rd., Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey, and the late George Farthing. Born at Overton, Ludlow. Served 13 years with 1st (Royal) Dragoons.  Buried at A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers, Somme, France.   Awarded the Military Cross.

GARDNER

Daniel
Private 249818, 3rd Bn., Canadian Machine Gun Corps.  Died 24th September 1918.  Buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais, France.

GARDNER

Fred
Private 703167, 23rd Bn., London Regiment.  Died aged 25 on 6th April 1918.  Son of David and Isabella Gardner, of "Penryn," Ambleside Rd., Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey. Born at Douglas, Isle of Man.  Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension,  Somme, France.

KNIGHT

James
Private G/37220, 11th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died aged 20 on 23 March 1918.  Son of Edward and Edith S. Knight, of Rose Cottages, Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey.  Buried at Cemetery: Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

KNIGHT

William Harry
Private 6380, 6th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died aged 20 on 23 February 1916.  Son of Edward and Edith Knight, of 1, Rose Cottages, Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey.  Buried Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

LEESON

Sidney James
Lance Corporal 10012, 2nd Bn, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).  Died aged 26 on 4 February 1915.  Youngest son of the late William Leeson (Bandmaster 1st Bn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt.), and Emily Sarah Leeson. One of five brothers, all of whom served.  Remembered at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

MACHIN

Albert
[Spelt MACHEN on WGC and SDGW] Private 9290, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment.  Killed in action on 9 May 1915.  Aged 25. Born Farnborough, Hampshire, enlisted Reading, resident Bagshot. Son of Fred and Mary Machen, of Thrift Cottage, Lightwater. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

MARSH

Ernest W
Private M2/097590, M.T., Army Service Corps. Died 11 November 1917.  Buried at Deepcut Military Cemetery, Surrey. No further details.

PERRY

Moreton Joseph
Gunner 37136, "B" Bty. 183rd Bde.,  Royal Field Artillery.  Died aged 26 on 21 May 1916.  Son of Charles William and Mary Ellen Perry, of McDonald Lodge, Lightwater, Camberley. Native of Bagshot.  Buried at Cemetery: Rifle House Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

POOLE

Thomas George
Lance Corporal 2379, 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars.  Died 28 October 1918.  Commemorated at the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

PRATT

Charles Henry
Private 1443, 8th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment).  Died aged 28 on 25 April 1915.  Son of George L. and Mary A. Pratt, of Laburnum Cottages, Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey, England.  Commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

RANCE

Oliver
Private T/243593, 1st/5th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died aged 19 on 19 May 1917.  Son of Robert and Sophia Rance, of "The Folly," Lightwater, Bagshot, Camberley, Surrey.  Commemorated at the Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.

RANCE

Thomas David
Private G/62785, 7th Bn., Royal Fusiliers.  Died aged 27 on 22 February 1917.  Son of Robert and Sophia Rance, of The Folly, Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey.  Buried at Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France.

RANCE

William
Private 15746, 7th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died aged 35 on 18 November 1916.  Son of Robert and Sophia Rance, of Lightwater; husband of Martha Rance, of Jessamine Cottage, Ambleside Rd., Lightwater, Camberley, Surrey.  Buried at Stump Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France.

RAPLEY

William
Private 1085, 6th Bn, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died 18 September 1915.  Buried Tancrez Farm Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

SEARLE

George
Private 8117, 1st Bn, East Surrey Regiment.  Died aged 30 on 13 May 1915.  Husband of Harriett Searle, of 3, Primrose Cottages, Guildford Rd., Lightwater, Bagshot, Surrey.  Buried at Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen, Germany.

STREET

Arthur
Lance Corporal G/651, 11th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).  Died aged 19 on 26 September 1917.  Son of James Street, of "Ridge View," West End, Woking, Surrey.  Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

WILLIAMS

Percy
Gunner 68915, "D" Bty. 189th Bde., Royal Field Artillery.  Died aged 32 on 28 October 1916.  Son of Joe and Ellen Williams, of Eastwell, Kent; husband of Mabel Williams, of Challock Leese, Ashford, Kent.  Buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France.

The Open Cemetery adjoining the Church of St John the Baptist, Windlesham;
“The Stirling Memorial”

BUNKER

Richard Henry
Photo: Bunker in cockpit of Lancaster
Wing Commander (Pilot) 40668, 190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force (RAFO).  Died aged 25 on 20th April 1945.  Son of Frederick and Harriet Bunker; husband of Stella Bunker, of Redcar, Yorkshire.  Buried at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.  Awarded DSO, DFC and Bar.  Richard Bunker was the pilot of a Short Stirling Mk IV bomber that crashed at Windlesham on 20 April 1945 killing all on board.  His crew are as follows:

ALDRED

Jeffrey
Sergeant (Air Bomber) 3010575, 190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died on 20th April 1945.  Son of Herbert and Florence Mary Aldred, of Ilkeston.  Buried at Kirk Hallam, Derbyshire (All Saints) Churchyard.

BAGLEY

Ronald Lewis
Photo: Bagley standing right.
Flight Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) 1812807, 190 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died aged 25 on 20th April 1945. Son of Lewis and Eva Bagley, of St. Albans; husband of Nora C. J. Bagley, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire.  Buried at St. Albans Cemetery, Hertfordshire.

GARDINER

Kenneth Gerald
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) 1587766, 190 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.   Died aged 22 on 20th April 1945.  Son of Frank and Daisy Gladys Gardiner, of Chalford Vale.  Buried at Chalford (Christ Church) Churchyard, Gloucestershire.

KING

Frederick Charles
Sergeant (Nav.) 1587589, 190 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.   Died aged 21 on 20th April 1945.  Son of Frederick William King, and of Ann Sarah King, of Clevedon.  Buried at Clevedon (St. Andrew) Churchyard, Somerset.

SULSH

Samuel Alfred
Pilot Officer (Flt Engr.) 56536, 180 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.   Died aged 39 on 20th April 1945.  Husband of Aileen Norah Sulsh, of Hillsborough.  Buried at the Eglantine Church of Ireland Cemetery, Northern Ireland. 

TAYLOR

George Robert Thompson
Flying Officer (Air Bomber) 55614, 190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force.  Died aged 28 on 20th April 1945.  Son of William and Margaret Ross Thompson Taylor, of Ashfield.  Buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Scotland. 

St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham
and not Recorded on the War Memorial

COCHRANE

Basil Alexander Dundonald

Flying Officer 607110, 84 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Killed in action during anti-bandit strike, flying Bristol Brigand RH755, 84 Squadron, near Chenderoh Lake, Perak, after releasing salvo of rockets an explosion under the starboard wing caused the plane to roll over and crash in the jungle on 2nd May 1952. Aged 22. Born 12 August 1929. Son of Cmdr (RN Ret) Alexander Francis Cochrane and Osma Heather Cochrane. Buried in Cheras Road Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Row 33. Grave 1255. Commemorated on a small brass plaque in the Lady Chapel at Windlesham. 

The following extract from a crash investigation web site appears to provide evidence of Cochrane’s fate: -

Malaya Historical Group (MHG)

“Additional research and investigations carried out by MHG and one of Museum Officers En Rizal, who together with his team visited the crashed site and were able to locate various pieces of wreckage that still had their original identification markings stenciled on, positively identifying The "Brigand" as being "RH 755" which when lost was being flown by Flying Officer Basil Cochrane together with his Navigator, Sgt. James Blacklock Armstrong and a Squadron Ground Crew J Techn, Cyril John Alexander Cox who went on the flight for the experience of taking part on an "air strike".  Positive proof of RH755 identification.

On 3rd May 1952, Bristol Brigand RH 755 together with other Brigands of 84 Squadron was carrying out attacks on a "Communist Insurgents" location near to Chenderoh Lake in Perak. After releasing a salvo of rockets on its target, crewmembers in other aircraft on target saw a flash under the starboard wing and all of the outer section of that wing fell away. The aircraft, RH 755 rolled over, crashed into the jungle and immediately burst into flames.

A crashed investigation team, together with an escort of Gurkhas was sent to the crashed site to ascertain the cause of the crashed but it was not possible to retrieve the one wing and the team took 5 days to get to the crash and recover the human remains. A burial service being conducted near to the wreckage. All three airmen had died carrying out their duty and Group Captain Ron Wittam, who was a member of 84 Squadron and with the team that day in May 1952, could think of no more suitable epitaph than "There is a corner of a foreign land that is forever England".  Oxygen tanks littered the wreck site.

The starboard wing together with the second engine and undercarriage has still not been located. The photograph of two "bombs" found in the wreck area were in fact "rocket heads" that must have been beneath the wing of the Brigand when it crashed and over the years the rocket propellant tubes would have rotted away leaving the warheads.

The Bristol Brigand was the last of the RAF's piston engine aircraft and were superceded by the Canberra jet powered aircraft.

45 Squadron converted to "Hornet" aircraft and 84 Squadron retained its Brigands’ until January 1953 when it left Malaya.

So after 48 years, the wreckage of one Bristol Brigand together with the remains of its crew lie in Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve, a sad reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of Flying. Officer Basil Cochrane, Sgt. Navigator J.B. Armstrong and J Techn, C. Cox who died carrying out their duty on that fateful day so long ago.

Updates on Dec 2000: - In 1958, the remains of the Brigand RH755 crews have been recovered and have been buried in Cheras Road Civil Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur”.

A book titled "Last Take Off" compiled and edited by Colin Cummings lists RAF aircraft losses 1950-53 and page 243 has a similar text to the above and refers to "RH755 Brigand B1, 84 Squadron RAF Butterworth”.

From Burkes Peerage 1953:

“Basil Alexander, F/O., RAF., b 12 Aug. 1929; missing and believed k through a premature explosion of ammunition while leading an anti-bandit strike in Malaya, 3 May 1952.”

Son of Cmdr (RN Ret) Alexander Francis Cochrane and Osma Heather Cochrane. 

The reason for Basil Cochrane’s memorial plaque in the church is likely to be his links to the Cochrane family of Windlesham but there is no evidence to suggest he was ever resident in the village.  Past members of the Cochrane family have seen long and distinguished military service to their country.

Operations in Afghanistan
SANDERSON John Charles
Lieutenant John Charles Sanderson, 30056327, 1 Mercian Regiment, was wounded in an explosion whilst on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on 13 July 2010. He was treated at the scene before being flown to the UK for further treatment. On Wednesday 11 August 2010, surrounded by his family, he finally succumbed to his injuries. Lt Sanderson leaves behind his mother, father and sister, all of who live in Windelsham, Surrey. Buried in Windlesham Cemetery, Church Road, Windlesham, Surrey. Grave LC4.

Lt Sanderson was born in Oklahoma USA on 23 April 1981. He was educated at Bradfield College and Exeter University where he read history and was a member of the University Officer Training Corps.

Extract from The Mirror, 14 Aug 2010, Updated 27 Jan 2012:

An officer who left a city career to join the Army has died a month after being injured in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Lt John Charles Sanderson, 29, of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was on patrol in Nahr-e-Saraj, Helmand province, on July 13 when he was caught in the blast.

Lt Sanderson, from Windlesham, Surrey, was on his first tour after quitting his finance job and graduating from Sandhurst Military Academy. He died this week at the Birmingham military hospital where he was being treated.

The US-born soldier's mother, father and sister said in a statement: "John was enthusiastically committed to his men and their role in Afghanistan. He believed he was contributing to a better life for the Afghans.

"We will miss him tremendously and never forget him and what he gave to us."

His Commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Hadfield, added: "He was big hearted, strong and imaginative and quickly caught my eye as one to watch for the future."

 

FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE, WINDLESHAM.

This small memorial is located at the corner of the playing fields in the centre of Windlesham Village.  The land of the playing fields was once owned by the Cochrane family and a part called Admiral’s Field is named for one of the family members.  There are no names on this memorial and the inscription reads “Windlesham Field of Remembrance.  This Field was Purchased and Maintained by the People of Windlesham as a Memorial to Those Who Gave Their Lives in the Two World Wars. April 1950”.

The memorial on The Field of Remembrance as of November 2019 has been relocated some 100 yards to the site of the new pavilion. (See below)

 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com
Bill Lindsay, Royal British Legion
Tim Price, Clerk to Windlesham Parish Council
Dennis Seccombe, Archivist, St John the Baptist Church
Monica (Moll) Worcester (nee Cochrane)
Derek Jarrett (Information on Albert Reynolds)

Last updated 8 April, 2024

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