The Men Who Fell in WW1

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Sergeant 14101 George William DAVIES D.C.M - 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment

Killed in Action Sunday March 12th, 1916 aged 35

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	Distinguished Conduct Medal
	Queens South Medal & 3 Clasps
	1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
6 Nov 1914	Not found	Ratley & Upton

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted Date	Other War Memorials
First Battle of Kut	Career soldier - already serving

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Kut Al Amara	Pvt 47101 Devonshire Regiment

Award of Disguin Conduct Medal

George won his DCM during the Boer War at Elandslaagte during the defence of Ladysmith.

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

The 2nd Battalion were part of 6th (Poona) Division which had been defeated and retreated to Kut where they became part of the garrison under General Townsend which was then beseiged by the Turks. The siege lasted 149 days until General Townsend surrendered on April 29th 1916. For more about the siege please click here.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Bapitsm Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1880 at Tysoe	26 Dec 1880 at Ratley

Parents Names	Parents Abode
John and Eliza Davies	Tea Gardens, Edgehill, Ratley

Wife & Marriage Date/Place	Children & Year of Birth
~	~

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1881 - Ratley Grange	1891 - Scholar
1891 - Ratley	Career Soldier
1916 - Tea Gardens, Edgehill, Ratley

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 23089 Donald Alfred COGGINS - 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Killed in Action Friday, August 6th, 1915 aged 24

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave of Memorial
Gallipoli	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Helles Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
4 Jul 1915	~	Warmington

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted Date	Other War Memorials
Landing at Suvla Bay	After 7th August 1914 at Oxford	~

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Suvla Bay	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Donald took part in the Landing at Suvla Bay at Gallipoli on 6 Aug 1915, he was reported as missing presumed dead and his body was never recovered for burial. The following is taken from a letter from Maj C.H. Seton commander of the 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

"The Gallant 4th Worcesters, how they suffered at Gallipoli: “I shall be obliged if you would kindly insert in your paper the attached return, which shows the exact strength of the 4th Battalion on its leaving England, and the actual strength of all ranks of those who are at present serving with the Battalion, and who were with it when it left England. I feel quite sure that this will be an interesting piece of information in order to show what the Battalion has been through, and how it has suffered since its arrival on the Gallipoli Peninsular.”

“After nearly 3 months of hard fighting, the Battalion was sent to Lemnos for a rest, I have made a very careful check. The numbers of men that are left who have been with the Battalion the whole time follow, the original strength of the Battalion in brackets: Officers 2 (27); warrant officers (1st class), 1 (1); warrant officers (2nd class), 2 (5); sergeants, 17 (47); corporals, 7 (33); lance-corporals, 28 (120); drs and privates,152 (768) ; total officers etc 209 (1,001).;

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Bapitsm Date/Place
7 Oct 1891 at Warmington	30 Mar 1892 at Warmington

Parents Names	Abode
Emma Coggins (father not listed on baptism) later Bloxham	Stubb Crouch, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1891 - Connecting Road, Warmington (grandparents)	1911 - Not known
1901 - Baker Street, Warmington (grandparents)
1911 - Sidcup
1917 - Stubb Crouch, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent

Brother of Charles Edward Coggins who also fell

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 371 Alfred Edward SMITH - 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action on Wednesday 9th May 1917 aged

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Arras Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916	~	Princethorpe: Cemetery \| Water Pump
		Stretton on Dunsmore \| Marton
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Mobilised
Battle of Arras	August 1914 at Coventry

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
near Oppy	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 9 May 1917 during the Battle of Arras. The war diary entry for the day is transcribed below and tells us that Alfred was one of two men killed by shell fire.

Front Lines - Oppy 9-5-17: Battalion us relieved by 1/R West Kent, who take over the whole 13th Bde sector, and move back into 1st Reserve in trenches in front of Railway embankment from B.15.a.80.25 to B.15.d.4.4. The 2nd KOSB falling back to Support Trenches at about B.13.d. All ranks thoroughly glad to get out of the front line after 5 very trying and anxious days during which the Battn had lost five of its best officers and many fine NCO's & men.

A draft of 8 other ranks report for duty, of whom 7 are old Bttn men. 1 other rank killed (Alfred), 1 other rank died of wounds & 2 other ranks wounded - all shell fire. The weather is bright, warm & conditions dry. Battn strength 31 Officers 755 other ranks.

At 2am this morning the 95th Bde & 13th Bde counter attacked Fresnoy Wood and Village. 15/R War and 2/KOSB's carried out the attack for 13 Bde. The attack failed and the British Line remains unaltered. END

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
2 Nov 1883 at Princethorpe	6 Jan 1884 at Stretton on Dunsmore
	4 Jun 1887 at Wappenbury, St. Anne's RC

Parents Names	Abode
Charles and Phoebe Smith	St Benedicts Terrace, Princethorpe

Wife	Marriage Date/Place
Ellen Smith nee Bosworth	Jan Qtr 1914 in Rugby District

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1884 - Princethorpe	1891 - Scholar
1891 - Cottage, Princethorpe	1901 - Coal Carter
1901 - 37 Franchise Street, Handsworth (Boarder)	1911 - Soldier
1911 - British Army Barracks, Bombay, India
1917 - St Benedicts Terrace, Princethorpe

Alfred's Register of Effects records a widow Ellen as his next of kin and BMD finds a marriage between Alfred Smith and Ellen Bosworth in Jan Qtr 1914 at Rugby. However his Pension cards, admittedly joint cards with brother John, show his mother Phoebe as next of kin.
Brother of John Smith MM who also fell

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 42502 Reginald BLAMIRE - 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Died on Saturday November 9th 1918 aged 20

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Preseau Communal Cemetery Ext

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Dec 1917	~	Hampton-in-Arden \| Berkswell

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Died of Influenza (Spanish Flu)	After 10 Nov 1917 at Coventry	Bradnock's Marsh

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Preseau	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Reginald died of influenza (Spanish Flu), most likely at a Casualty Clearing Station or Field Hospital near Preseau. The Battalion had arrived at Preseau on 6 Nov 1918 and were still there on 10 Nov 1918. We have not been able to establish where Reginald was when he died.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1898 at Hampton in Arden

Parents Names	Abode
John and Emily Blamire	Windmill Farm, Hampton in Arden

Schools	Colleges
Hampton School	~

Address History	Employment History
1898 - Hampton in Arden	1911 - School
1901 - Birmingham Road, Hampton in Arden
1911 - Windmill Farm, Hampton in Arden
1918 - Windmill Farm, Hampton in Arden

In July 1910 Reginald won the 100 yards Race in an interschool meet at Berkswell.

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 880839 William Herbert Harrison HOBDAY - 34th Battalion, London Regiment

1s
Died on Friday April 18th 1919 aged 22

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Home	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Greenwich Cemetery

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
6 Aug 1915 in France	~	Ryton on Dunsmore

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Attested	Mobilised from Reserve
Died of Wounds	August 1914 at Coventry	19 Jul 1918 at Romford

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Royal Herbert War Hospital in Woolwich	Pvt 12306 Oxford & Bucks L I
	Pte 486121 Labour Corps

Circumstances of Death

William, who was known as Bert, died at the Royal Herbert War Hospital in Woolwich on 18 Apr 1919 from wounds incurred in action. We have not yet ascertained where and when Bert was wounded.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Qtr 1893 at Ryton on Dunsmore	01 Oct 1893 at Ryton St. Leonard

Parents Names	Abode
Alfred (stepfather) and Fanny [Frances] Clarke nee Hobday	Ryton on Dunsmore

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1896 - Ryton on Dunsmore	1901 - Scholar
1901 - Village, Ryton on Dunsmore	1911 - Pit Man - Colliery Labourer
1911 - Village, Ryton on Dunsmore
1917 - Ryton on Dunsmore

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Award of Disguin Conduct Medal

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances of Death

Subcategories

Battalions, Brigades & Other Units