Author name: Graham Adams

Royal Garrison Artillery William Hale (he may also have had a middle name of George) was born in the fourth quarter of 1896 at Cinderford, the son of George and Elizabeth (née Barrett) Hale, of Causeway, Cinderford. George Hale was a colliery blacksmith. William attended Double View Secondary School in the town and after leaving […]

13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Wilfred Hale was the fourth of six children born to Joseph and Caroline Hale of Chalford. Both were born in nearby Bisley, marrying in 1881. Wilfred was born in the last quarter of 1892 and baptised Wilfred George at St John the Baptist, France Lynch on 19 February 1893. Joseph’s

92nd Squadron, Royal Air Force Clifford Hackman was born on 24 September 1897 at Winchcombe, the son of Edwin and Mary (née Greening, known as Polly). Prior to joining the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Hackman had been employed in the Great Western Railway (GWR) Stores Department at Swindon, from 15 October 1913 to 26 June

94th Training Battalion (16th Gloucestershire Regiment) Albert George Gulwell was one of nine children born to William and Mary Gulwell of Kingscote. Two children had died by the time of the 1911 Census. Both parents were born locally. Albert was born on 20 October 1898 and was baptised at St John the Baptist Church, Kingscote

3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment John Guest was born in 1873, one of a number of children born to Joseph and Ellen Guest. His mother appears to have died sometime between 1881 and 1891. He was born at Christelton, near Chester. John appears to have undertaken a number of manual jobs, such as coal mining

Royal Navy – HM Yacht Sapphire II William John Grogan was born at Steyning, Sussex on 3 October 1858. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in July 1871 and was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in October 1877, Lieutenant in June 1882, Commander in January 1895 and Captain in December 1900. He served on the

145th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Thomas John Grinnell was born in St Paul’s, Cheltenham in the third quarter of 1891, one of five children born to Frederick and Frances Emily Grinnell. At the time of the 1911 Census the family lived at 55 Brunswick Street, St Paul’s, Cheltenham but may have subsequently moved to

12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Arthur Leonard Griffin was born at Gloucester in 1880, the son of James (a publican) and Harriet Griffin. On 4 August 1902 he married Annie Webber (born 17 September 1881) at St. Nicholas Church, Gloucester and at the time of the 1911 Census the couple were living at Pineapple Inn, Westgate

1st Battalion, Welsh Guards John Gregory was the son of Charles and Mary Ann Gregory, who lived at 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,

4th Regiment, South African Infantry As is so often the case with soldiers who used an alias during their army service, there is a lot of mystery surrounding Private John Gregory. It would appear that he was born in Cheltenham in the third quarter of 1866, the son of John Gregory (a builder’s labourer) and

Royal Navy – HMS Bellona Frederick Caleb Gregory was born on 15 January 1888 at Tewkesbury, the son of Benjamin Thomas Gregory and Ann (née Bassett). On 15 October 1906 Frederick enlisted in the Royal Navy, as Stoker, on terms of a five year engagement plus seven in the Reserve. He left the Navy in