Author name: Adrian Smith

12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment George Blanch was born on 10 November 1880 at Scowles, near Coleford in the Forest of Dean. He was the son of Jeremiah and Harriet (née Perkins) Blanch, who at the time of the 1901 Census had seven children. In 1911 George was lodging with the Carter family at Sparrow Hill, […]

2/4th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment William Thomas Blackwell was born in Cheltenham in the second quarter of 1888, the son of Arthur Ernest and Sarah Anne Blackwell. Arthur was a general labourer. In 1913 he married Tydvil Madeline Owens and the couple had a daughter, Irene Grace, born in October. He enlisted at Cheltenham in December

6th Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Sidney Bishop was born in Cheltenham in second quarter of 1885, one of the twin sons of William and Emily Bishop of 14 Victoria Street, St Paul’s, Cheltenham. His father was a bricklayer and (at the time of 1901 Census) was one of six children. He enlisted in the

Royal Air Force Albert Victor Birt was born in Painswick in 1877, the son of William and Matilda Birt. They had nine children, with only four showing as having survived by the time of the 1911 Census. Sadly Matilda Birt died in 1910. Prior to military service, Albert had lived with his father and sister

11th (Reserve) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Richard (Dick) Bick was born at Rodborough, in the second quarter of 1876. Curiously, although he is shown in the CWGC Register as ‘Richard’ in the BMD Register he is shown as being called ‘Dick’ (for birth and death) and his baptismal record also shows the name Dick. His father

Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division Clifford Bennell was born at Berkeley on 24 September 1886, the son of Phillip Bennett (an engine driver) and Ann Bennett. According to the 1911 Census he was living at Lynch Road, Oakhanger, Berkeley and his occupation was given as ‘dock worker’, most likely at the nearby Sharpness Docks. He

4th Siege company, Royal Engineers (Royal Monmouthshire) Harry Benfield was born in Coleford in 1892, son of George Benfield (1859-1930), a stone mason, and Catherine Benfield (formerly Price) (1861-1922). The family lived in Victoria Road, Coleford. Harry Benfield attested for the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers on 4 January 1915 at Monmouth and given the service

6th Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Frederick Lionel Beacham was born in the fourth quarter of 1887 in Cheltenham. He was the second child and eldest son of Charles and Isabella Beacham. His father was a huntsman with the Cotswold Hounds and they lived at Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham. Lionel enlisted on 4 November 1915 for

1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Arthur Stanley Bayton, known as Stanley was born in Coleford in 1892 and was the son of James Bayton (1856-1904), a quarryman, and Elizabeth May Bayton (formerly Nelmes) (1848-1926). The family lived at 8 Newland Street, Coleford. In the 1911 Census Stanley Bayton’s occupation was given as mason. Stanley Bayton’s service

Devonshire Regiment George Baynham was born in 1890 and was the son of William Baynham (1857-1922) and Isabella (née Smith) (1858-1930). The family lived at Mile End, near Coleford, Gloucestershire and George, his father and three brothers were all coal miners. The 1911 Census shows that George’s occupation was as a ‘colliery horse keeper below

30th (Railway) Labour Battalion, Royal Engineers Thomas Baughn probably responded to a 1916 newspaper advertisement seeking specialist workers above the normal age for enlistment, to join the Royal Engineers but served only fifteen months, before being discharged on fitness grounds. He was born in 1870 in South Cerney, one of six children born to John