Author name: Adrian Smith

2nd/ 5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment John Walters Hack was born in 1881 in Charlton Kings and later worked as a professional photographer in Cheltenham, living in Upper Norwood Street. When war broke out many of the town’s men rushed to join the ranks and it was to John Hack’s studio that many of them went […]

95th Field Company Royal Engineers Ellis Arthur Griffin was born in 1895 to James and Ellen Griffin of Woodbine Cottage, Greet, near Winchcombe. Ellis became a carpenter by trade. He attested on 28 April 1915 and was assigned to the Royal Engineers on 5 May in part due to his trade skills. He crossed to

1st Battalion Welsh Guards John Gregory was the son of Charles and Mary Ann Gregory of 2 Fairhaven Street, Cheltenham. According to the 1911 Census the couple had ten children, of whom nine were still living at that time. John was born in about 1891. He enlisted for service on 6 January 1915, stating his

12th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment Nelson Green (baptised John Nelson) was born on 24 January 1894 to William and Sarah Jane Green who lived on the Green, Sheepscombe. Nelson was in the building trade and was employed by Messrs Orchard and Peer at Woodchester Rectory. His father and brothers Percy, Frederick and Raymond, worked in the

8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Charles Raymond Green, known as Raymond, was born on 7 August 1896 in Sheepscombe. He had three brothers and a sister. His parents William and Sarah Jane lived on the Green in Sheepscombe. William was a stone mason and builder, and his four sons would later join him in the same

10th Battalion, Canadian Infantry Lionel Victor (Vic) Gray was born in 1894, the son of Mrs Alexandra Gray of 29 Lansdown, Stroud. He emigrated to Canada in 1912 and when the war was declared volunteered at once, arriving in England with the first contingent of Canadian troops. After training he and his unit went to

1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment Frederick Arthur Gordon was born in Croydon on 17 August 1894 but attended the British School in Wotton-under-Edge from September 1900 to June 1908. He enlisted at Wotton-under-Edge as a Special Reservist, joined the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and was sent to France on 19 September 1914. He was involved in

87th Battery Royal Field Artillery Charles Henry Goddard was born in 1894, the son of Charles and Clara Goddard of 44 Park Street, Gloucester. The exact circumstances of how Charles Goddard incurred his mortal wounds are unclear, but it is possible that they were sustained during actions that he took part in, as part of

2nd Battalion, King Edward’s Own Gurkha Rifles (Henry) Sullivan Becher was born in India on 9 April 1876, the only son of Lieutenant Colonel S E and Mrs C A Becher, of Kingswood House, Wotton-under-Edge. He was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in

1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment George Alfred Beard was the son of George and Elizabeth Beard of 9 Burton Street in Cheltenham. After his older brother Charles was killed at the battle for Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli in 1915, he duly enlisted in the army in Bristol, serving in the Dorsetshire Regiment. Aged just 20, Private

D Battery, 58 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery William George Bartlett was born in the Cotswold village of Winson, Gloucestershire in 1886, the eldest child of Frank and Mary Bartlett. In February 1913 he married Laura Lydia Oatley at Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire and emigrated to Australia soon after, having gained permission of the army authorities as