Author name: Graham Adams

Royal Garrison Artillery George Rowland Bennett was born in Coleford in 1871, the son of George and Hannah Bennett. He was a blacksmith by trade. He attested as a Gunner 93192 in the Royal Artillery on 28 September 1892 and was discharged at the end of his period of service on 27 September 1904. He […]

Royal Navy – HMS Pembroke Christopher Edgar Biggs was born in the Parish of St Mary, Gloucester, on 27 July 1860. Prior to joining the Royal Navy (RN) he was a labourer. He entered RN service on 7 September 1876, when aged fifteen. His base was Chatham. He served on various ships in the Victorian

3rd South Midland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (TF) Harry Gilbert Bick was born at Sharpness in second quarter of 1887. He was the son of John and Fanny Maria Bick, who had ten children, all but one having survived up to the time of the 1911 Census. At the time of the 1891

1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment It is believed that William James Bendall was born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire in 1889, the son of William and Mary Bendall, his father’s occupation (according to the 1891 Census) being a dock labourer (no doubt at the neighbouring Sharpness Docks). It would appear that William followed on from his father as

94th Battalion, Training Reserve Jeffrey Beesley was born in Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire in 1898, the eldest son of Edwin Joseph and Sarah Beesley (née Stone), of 2 Redgrove Cottages, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham. His siblings were Janette (1897), Lilian (1900) and Leslie (1902-1953). Jeffrey enlisted in Cheltenham on 13 October 1916 when he was aged

9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps Joseph Scorfield Beatty was an Ulsterman, born in Armagh in 1873. He was the son of William and Catherine A Beatty. The CWGC ‘Debt of Honour’ Register gives an unusually large amount of information on Joseph. From this we know that he was a pre-war professional soldier who had

440th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps William Edmund Barnett was born in Staunton, Gloucestershire in 1884, son of Thomas Barnett (1852-1950), a gardener, and Clara (formerly Hussey) (1852-1945). William was also employed as a domestic gardener. In 1909 he married Mary Jane Cassidy (1882-1953). There were three children of the marriage, Edmund Thomas born in February

6th Battalion, Alexandra Princess of Wales’ Own ( Yorkshire Regiment) Lionel Barnett was born in Cheltenham in the second quarter of 1892. He was the third eldest son of Henry Frederick (a fishmonger) and Mrs Sarah Barnett, who lived at 8 Oriel Place, Cheltenham. Before the war he worked for Thomas Plant, Outfitters, 18 The

Royal Engineers (Inland Water Transport) (Abraham) Harold Barnard was born in Gloucester in early 1891. He was the son of Joseph William and Sarah Barnard, who by the time of the 1911 Census had had nine children, eight of who were surviving. The family lived at 9 Old Tram Road, Albion Street, Gloucester and J

3rd Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’) Regiment Reginald Frank Bailey was born in Gloucester in 1898. He was the son of Frank Bailey (a railway locomotive fireman) and his wife Elizabeth Annie Amelia (née Winstone). He was one of six children (all surviving at the time of the 1911 Census), his brothers being Harry

1/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Richard Ayres was born at Frampton Mansell, Gloucestershire in 1864. He was baptised on 11 September 1864. He was the son of William (an agricultural labourer) and Martha Ayres. They died in 1896 and 1903 respectively. At the time of the 1871 Census the couple had five children. In 1889 Richard