Author name: Adrian Smith

352nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery No evidence of Gunner Oakley’s Army service appears to have survived apart from a death notice in the Gloucester Journal of 3 November 1917, no mention of him in the local newspapers of the time. What is known is that Ernest Henry Oakley was born in 1876 at Normanton, Yorkshire […]

2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment Frederick Gilbert Oakes was born in Gloucester in 1897, the son of Thomas George Oakes who was a plasterer/labourer and his wife Clara Jane (née Lewis). He was one of nine children, of whom seven living at the time of the 1911 Census, Frederick being the second eldest living child and

2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment Arthur Henry Norcott was born at Stonehouse, on 1 May 1878. He was the son of Charles and Ellen (née Andrews), and one of three children — a brother, Charles Daniel was born in 1880 and a sister, Annie Louisa, in 1875. His early life appears to have been one of

Royal Horse Artillery Sidney Nicholls was a career soldier, recalled to the colours at the start of the Great War. He was born in the parish of St Mark’s, Gloucester in late 1885 or very early 1886 and was the son of Henry Nicholls (a general labourer) and his wife Louisa (née Lane). According to

1st Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry Researches reveal quite a lot of detailed information about Herbert Nicholls’ military career but general information regarding his life before military service is sparse. His Royal Marine record indicates Herbert Charles Nicholls was born on 10 March 1885 but it is not certain where. This may have

60 Squadron, Royal Air Force William Bernard Newth, born 7 September 1899, was the eldest of four children born to Walter Charles Henry Newth and his wife Sarah Jane and they lived at Hillcot, Queens Road, Stonehouse. At the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to 35 Malefant Street, Cardiff and Walter

Royal Air Force Arthur William Newport was born in Gloucester on 9 October 1901 ad was the son of Charles William and Florence Ellen Newport. His father was a pastry cook and his mother died in 1909 (age 36). They had two sons, Arthur the younger. The family lived at 65 Albany Street, Gloucester. After

10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Charles Richard Newman was born at Minchinhampton in the final quarter of 1895, the son of Richard and Eliza Frances Louisa (née Belt). In the 1911 Census the couple reported having had seven children, of whom only five were surviving. When Charles was baptised his father’s stated occupation was a baker

Gloucestershire Regiment Charles Joseph Newman was born in Badgeworth, Cheltenham in 1885, the son of Joseph and Hannah Maria Newman (née Hyett ) of Bentham, Gloucestershire. His siblings were Fanny (born 1879), and Robert (1880). He married Florence Emily Haines at Badgeworth in November 1908, and their children were Albert Joseph (born May 1909), Ida

Army Veterinary Corps There is some mystery surrounding the story of William Uriah Newcombe. Evidence suggests that he was discharged from the Army, as no longer fit for military service and thereafter he received a pension. He died on 26 October 1918, therefore before the Armistice and well before the 31 August 1921 deadline for

Royal Engineers Arthur Edward Newcombe was born at Charlton Kings, Cheltenham in the third quarter of 1889 and was the son of Edward and Mary Jane Newcombe of Pike House, Battledown, Greenway, Charlton Kings. According to the 1911 Census the couple had nine children, seven of which had survived. Prior to the war he had