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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 1884 William Charles BURNELL - 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Sunday May 16th 1915 aged 37

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
11 Nov 1914 ~ Southam Congregational Church 
    Stockton Roll of Honour 
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted 
Battle of Festubert 21 Jan 1895 at Warwick  
     
Place of DeathDate Mobilised from Reserve Previous Regiments or Units 
Festubert 5 Aug 1914 in Warwick Pvt 3519 - 13th Hussars 
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

On the day William is listed as being killed in action, 16th May 1915, an assault on the enemy lines was launched. The Battalion commenced to file into the front trenches of the British line north of Rue de Cailloux. The enemy by this time had opened up a heavy bombardment. The barricade on the Rue de Cailloux was demolished and an opening made in the parapet. From 4.30 am the A, B, C and D Companies of the Battalion reinforced other units in the front line trenches, where it was possible, as enfilade fire made the occupation of some trenches untenable. At dusk the Battalion was ordered to hold the first German trench.

On the map this is the brown line from the Rue des Cailloux to La Quinque Rue. The war diary states that "All companies attacked ‘with great dash and quickness’ and the complex action took place from 2.00am until 8 pm when, after 18 hours of fighting, the survivors left the field to proceed to new billets. Casualties of officers and men were 26 killed, 160 wounded and 21 missing"

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBapitsm Date/Place
27 Aug 1877 at Southam 28 Apr 1878 at Southam
   
Parents NamesParents Abode
James and Maria Burnell Southam
   
Wife & Marriage Date/PlaceChildren & Year of Birth
Elizabeth Louisa Jane Burnell nee Pardington Violet Lily b 1899 | Agnes b 1903 | Herbert Vincent b 1904
10 Oct 1898 at Southam Maria b 1906 | Amos b 1909 | Eugenia b 1911 | Victor b 1913
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History                       
1881 - Leamington Road, Southam 1891 - Assitant to Baker
1891 - Leamington Road, Southam   1895 - Baker
1898 - Southam 1898 - Labourer
1901 - Greaves Works, Stockton 1901 - Cement Burner
1911 - Glebe Farm, Stockton 1911 - Greaser at cement works  

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Sergeant 242474 Arthur SIMKINS - 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Died on Friday 19th July 1918 aged 25

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Home British War & Victory Medals Cherington (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916 ~ Cherington & Stourton
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedOther War Memorials
Died of Wounds September 1914 at Warwick  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
Casualty Clearing Hospital, Kendal    
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Arthur died of wounds at the Kendal Casualty Clearing Hospital in Cumbria. We have not been able to find out when and where he was wounded except to say that he served in France.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1892 at Cherington 11 Dec 1892 at Cherington
   
Parents NamesAbode
Richard and Harriet Cherington
   
Wife & Marriage Date/PlaceChildren & Year of Birth
   
   
SchoolsColleges
   
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1892 - Cherington 1901 - Scholar
1901 - Cherington 1911 - Gardener
1911 - Cherington  
   

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


2nd Lieutenant Eric Arthur WALKER - 6th Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry


Killed in Action Wednesday 29th December 1915 aged 20

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
16 Oct 1915 in France ~ Lapworth War Memorial Lapworth St. Mary
    Lapworth St. Mary 
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted Hockley Heath War Memorial
Local actions east of Laventie 28 Feb 1913 at Warwick Dorridge War Memorial
  Commissioned 25 Feb 1915 to 2nd Lt  Knowle Cricket Club
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or UnitsOther War Memorials
Rue Quesney  Pte 1963 in B Sqdn, Warwickshire Yeomanry Bishop Vessey School
  9th Bn Shropshire Light Infantry   Denstone College

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Eric was killed by a bullet wound to the head while in front lines trenches near Rue Quesne. The war diary for the two day period 28th to 29th December 1915 is transcribed below along with an article from the Stratford on Avon Herald:

6th Battalion War Diary

Rue Quesne - 28/12/15 - 4.30pm: Relieved 6th Oxford & Bucks L I in trenches and Posts as follows:
A&B Companies in the firing line. C&D Companies in Reserve.
Ref Map Sheet 36 (Left of line held) N.10.b.8.10 - (Right of line held) N.10.c.0.6
Regiment on Left of N.10.b.8.10 - 7th Bn Somerset L I (59th Brigade)
Regiment on the Right of N.10.c.0.6 - 12th Bn Rifle Brigade (60th Brigade)

Trenches - 29/12/15 - 11am: 2nd Lieut E A Walker killed in action (bullet wound in head). END

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
24 Apr 1895 at Dorridge  20 Jul 1895 at Knowle
   
Parents NamesAbode
Thomas and Theresa Walker 12 Church Road, Edgbaston
   
SchoolsColleges
Bishop Vesey School, Sutton Coldfield  Denstone College - 1908 to 1911 (Member of OTC)
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1895 - Knowle 1911 - Manufacturer's Assistant 
1901 - Temple Road, Dorrige 1913 - Warwickshire Yeomanry
1911 - Ardenock, Luttrell Road, Four Oaks  
1913 - The Elms, Lapworth  
   
  • There is a stained glass window to his memory at Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield, where he had been a chorister.
     

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 267526 John SHIRLEY - 7th Reserve Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Battalion

1s
Died on 21st December 1917 aged 18

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Home Did not serve aboard Private Grave at Berkswell Churchyard
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
Did not serve aboard  ~ Berkswell
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedArmy Discharge Date
Died of Rheumatic Fever & Peridcarditis 5 Nov 1916 at Coventry 9 Sep 1917 discharged due to ill health
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
Hob Lane, Berkswell ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

John was admitted to Catterick Military Hospital on 23 Jul 1917 with Rheumatic Fever and discharged from the hospital 9 Sep 1917. He also was discharged from the Army on 9 Sep 1917 due to his poor health.

In 1911 John had suffered Scarlet Fever which developed into Rheumatic Fever which caused other medical complications. Following five separate bouts of Rheumatic Fever John died on 21 Dec 1917 and was buried in Berkswell on 26 Dec 1917. Click Death Cerificate below

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1899 11 Jun 1899 at Berkswell
   
Parents NamesAbode
John and Flora Shirley Berkswell
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1899 - Berkswell 1916 - Gardener                                             
1901 - Hob Lane, Berkswell  
1911 - The Lodge Isolation Hospital, Catherine de Barnes                                                                       
1916 - Hob Lane, Berkswell  

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

WW1_Logo.jpeg

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 7300 Leonard George GARDNER - 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

1s
Killed in Action on Monday February 28th 1916 aged 22

Private George Gardner

Military History
   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Rue-du-Bacquerot No 1 Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
18 Jul 1915 in Boulogne, France ~ Shipston on Stour War Memorial
    Shipston Council School
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted 
Actions of the Bluff September 1914 at Birmingham Other War Memorials 
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
Chapigny  ~ NB: Some military records found in the name Gardiner
     

Circumstances of Death

George is listed as being killed in action on 28 Feb 1916. The battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below and is self explanatory.

Chapigny (Trenches) – 28.2.16 Monday: Left Brigade, Left Battalion

The G.O.C. 19th Division and G.O.C. 57th Brigade visited trenches.

Yesterday’s combined operation of artillery and trench mortars was renewed, fire being opened at 2.0pm. The operation appeared to be successful. The enemy parapet and wire were demolished at about M.30.a.9.5. The trench mortars landed their bombs well in the enemy trenches.

The retaliation of the enemy was fairly heavy. Grant’s Post and Winchester St received the bulk of it, while a few shells fell near Winchester Post and Battalion Hd. Qrs. One shell in Grants Post caused us four casualties, apart from this no damage was done.

The battalion were relieved by the 10th Worcesters, relief being completed about 9.30pm, and returned to former billets at Pont Duhem.

Weather fine till the evening when there were some heavy showers. X Coy of Durham Light Infantry joined us on our arrival in Billets to be attach for instruction.

Casualties (All D Company)

No 3647 Pte Davies, F J
No 8044 Pte Moore, H
No 5726 Pte Evans, G
No 7300 Pte Gardner G

Captain J.H.B Owen sent on leave to England

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
21 May 1891 at Shipston on Stour 22 Mar 1900 at Shipston on Stour
   
Parents NamesAbode
William and Hannah Gardner Station Road, Shipston on Stour
   
SchoolsColleges
Shipston Council School 1894 to 1904 ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1891 - Shipston on Stour 1894 - Scholar
1901 - Station Road, Shipston on Stour 1901 - Scholar
1911 - Husbandmans End, Shipston on Stour 1911 - Wood Sawyer  
1916 - Station Road, Shipston on Stour  
   

Shipston on Stour Street Signs

Gardner Court is so named in honour of George

Gardner Court

Click to enlarge

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  1. Private 17578 Ernest George YEOMANS
  2. L/Corporal 1288 William Henry ADAMS
  3. Lance Corporal 19145 Edwin John ADAMS
  4. Private 17500 Harry [Henry] CORNWALL

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Battalions, Brigades & Other Units