At the bottom of my street is a War Memorial such as you find in most towns and villages throughout the country. I’ve walked past the memorial many, many times and while I’ve often thought of those who died in both World Wars, I’d never before read its list of people. Therefore, this week I did just that and have spent time researching where they died and where they’re now buried.
A couple of details at once stood out : A G Akers, the first on the list, lived in my road and died of wounds on the last day of the war; 11th November 1918. Arthur Gerald Harley was killed in action, aged 21 on 1st July 1916 – the infamous first day of the Battle of the Somme.
I will endeavour to find out as much as I can about some of those who are commemorated on this memorial, in the meantime the following list is what I’ve so far discovered:
A G Akers
Private 10524
11/11/1918 Died
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
S. II. GG. 20.ST. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
Lived in New Marston
Harold John Akers
Lance Corporal G/6709
11/11/1915 Killed in action
Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Panel 45 and 47.Ypres (Menin Gate)
Lived in Folkestone
Hubert Allum
Lance Corporal 202107
10/09/1917 Killed in action
Age 25
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Panel 96 to 98.Tyne Cot Memorial
Lived in New Marston
H Baker
Lance Serjeant 9341
02/08/1916 Died
Age 22
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
XXI. A. 19. Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery
Lived in Holton
Frederick Charles Burborough
Lance Corporal 17854
25/09/1915 Killed in action
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Panel 37 and 39. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Lived in Tilehurst
Joseph Bailey Cross
Private 285440
05/11/1918 Killed in action
Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars
In South corner. Obies Communal Cemetery
Lived in Oxford
George Herbert Cummings
Private 4706
14/08/1916 Killed in action
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Pier and Face 10 A and 10 D. Thiepval Memorial
Lived in New Marston
Thomas Charles Dearlove
Private 18259
25/09/1915 Killed in action
Age 27
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Panel 37 and 39. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Percival James Evans
Private 27723
18/11/1916 Killed in action
Age 24
Gloucestershire Regiment
Pier and Face 5 A and 5 B. Thiepval Memorial
R Faulkner
Private 22865
04/10/1917 Died of wounds
Age 19
King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
P. III. K. 2A.ST. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
Edward Gough
Private 446123
29/03/1919
Age 44
Royal Army Medical Corps
C. 213. Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery
Frederick Gray
Lance Corporal 10523
20/09/1917 Killed in action
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Panel 96 to 98. Tyne Cot Memorial
Lived in New Marston
Frank Green
Private 5838
07/07/1916 Killed in action
Age 32
Royal Fusiliers
Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A. Thiepval Memorial
Lived in Oxford
Arthur Gerald Harley
Lance Corporal 10379
01/07/1916 Killed in action
Age 21
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Pier and Face 11 D. Thiepval Memorial
Lived in Oxford
Charles Thomas Hartwell
Stoker 2919T
01/11/1914
Royal Naval Reserve
5. Plymouth Naval Memorial
Lewis Heath
Private 201358
22/08/1917 Killed in action
Age 22
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Panel 96 to 98. Tyne Cot Memorial
Lived in New Marston
Thomas Walter Madden
Private 201697
16/06/1918 Died of wounds
Age 20
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Plot 2. Row D. Grave 3. Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension
Lived in New Marston
Richard David Matthews
Private 31925
31/05/1919
Age 39
King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
P. 29. Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
Frederick Newport
Corporal 83648
03/09/1916 Killed in action
Royal Field Artillery
Pier and Face 1 A and 8 A. Thiepval Memorial
Charles Percy Phipps
Lieutenant
19/07/1916
Age 20
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Panel 83 to 85. Loos Memorial
William John Plumridge
Bombardier 24311
31/12/1915 Died
Age 26
Royal Field Artillery
Plot I. Row C. Grave 12. Corbie Communal Cemetery
Richard Tirrell Shrimpton
Squadron Serjeant Major 285021
09/08/1918 Killed in action
Age 27
Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars
I. AA. 1. Caix British Cemetery
Lived in Oxford
EW Shrimpton
Percy James Smith
Private 8068
01/11/1914 Killed in action
Age 26
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Panel 45. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Lived in New Marston
Charles Tolley
Private 5927
26/08/1916 Died of wounds
Age 32
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
I. A. 30. Varennes Military Cemetery
John Walton
Private 2239
09/04/1916 Died of wounds
Age 21
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
D. 31. Beauval Communal Cemetery