Author name: Adrian Smith

32nd Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force William Douglas Henderson, known better as Douglas, was born on 8 December 1893. He was the son of Alexander Henderson, a draper, and his wife Mary who between them had a total of no less than nine children. When Douglas was very young, the family lived at Clarence […]

1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (William) Rufus Kennard Heath (born in 1886) was one of Jive children born to William and Annie Heath of Kingswood House, near Wotton-under-Edge. His father was, for 16 years, the manager of the Co-operative Bank in Gloucester. Rufus was educated at Katherine Lady Berkeley’s Grammar School, Wotton-under-Edge and obtained a commission

6th Battalion (attached to 1st Battalion) Middlesex Regiment Lieutenant Douglas Woulfe Hay was born on 31 January 1897, the only son of Lieutenant Colonel H T Hay, late of Indian Army and 2nd/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and Margaret M Hay, of Stanley Lodge, Battledown, Cheltenham. Douglas attended Cheltenham College between 1911 and 1916 and thereafter

2/5 Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment Eric Howard Harvey was born at Murrellsend, Hartpury and baptised at the local church on 25 April 1890, the second of four sons of Howard and Tillie Harvey. His older brother Frederick William (Will) had been born there on 26 March 1888. The family moved in 1891 to Parlours Farm which

3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment Cyril Cazalet Harrison was born on 13 July 1891 in Colombo, Ceylon to Hilda Beaumont and Harry Cazalet Harrison. He was baptised at St Michael and All Angels, Colombo on 10 August. The couple had three other children – Maurice Cazalet, Alan George Cazalet and Lettice Cazalet. Cyril’s parents married at

183rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers Elim Harris was born in Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, in 1899, the son of Thomas and Sarah Harris of Church Road. After attending Double View Secondary School in the town he was employed as a collier at the local Lightmoor Colliery. When war broke out he was an

10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Richard Hubert Hanks was born at Painswick on 6 March 1890. Prior to enlistment he was a bricklayer with local builders Burdock & Sons and also a Hireman with the local brigade. He played cricket for Painswick and was a bell ringer and chorister at the parish church. He enlisted at

13th Battalion Devonshire Regiment (39547) & Labour Corps (144796) Mark William Hall was born in Cheltenham in 1898 to William and Celia Hall. At the outbreak of war he was living at the family home at 2 Stairfield Walk in Leckhampton with his parents and four younger siblings. He was employed as a pastry cook,

10th Battalion The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment Alfred Llewellyn Hale was the only son of Charles Alfred and Edith Sarah Hale of Lynwood, Belle Vue Road, Cinderford. He had a sister, Fanny Eileen. His family were prominent in the Cinderford business community, his father and grandfather being directors of local collieries. He was educated

1st/5th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry r Herbert Hale was the second son of Henry and Vera Maria Hale, of Rose Dale, Victoria Street, Cinderford. He was born in 1899 in Cinderford where he was educated at Double View Secondary School, and attended the local Baptist Church. He was killed in action, aged 18

1/24th Battalion The London Regiment Albert Henry Hale was born in 1875 near Ruardean in the Forest of Dean. He was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Hale. Isaac Hale was a stationary engine driver in one of the local collieries but was later landlord of the Malt Shovel Inn in the village for many