War Graves of The Great War in Cheltenham Cemetery (Surnames A – B)

   LEAVING CHELTENHAM …………..and all that was dear

   War Graves of the Great War In Cheltenham Cemetery

Surnames A and B

Location:   Bouncers Lane, Cheltenham

Grid Reference:   SO 968231

Alphabetical list of the 20 official and civilian war graves (Surnames A – B) (with grave reference) in Cheltenham Cemetery

ANDREWS William George (CWGC)  (A1/1511)

ARKELL Oliver (CWGC)  (L/2251)

ARKELL Philip  (Civilian)  (L/2251)

BAKER John Berry  (CWGC)   (K/850)

BALDWIN Frederick John  (CWGC)   (X/12091)

BARBER George Henry  (Civilian) (H/8214)

BARNETT Edward William  (Civilian)   (A1/960)

BARNETT Lionel  (CWGC)  (G/7837)

BEACHAM Frederick Lionel  (CWGC)   (A1/1564)

BEATTY Joseph Scorfield  (CWGC)   (A1/2078)

BISHOP Sidney  (CWGC)  (B1/759)

BLACKWELL William  (CWGC)  (A1/968)

BOOTH George Albert  (CWGC)  (N/9414)

BOURNE Robert Stanley  (CWGC)  (A1/1505)

BOWSTEAD Frank Harry  (CWGC)  (O/2283)

BOWSTEAD James Ernest  (CWGC)  (D/768)

BRADLEY James  (CWGC)  (A1/846)

BREWIS Henry Wycliffe  (CWGC)  (B1/1213)

BROOKES Charles Ernest James   (Civ)   (L/16527)

BROTHERS William Ernest  (CWGC)  (A1/801)

Pte William George ANDREWS, 202032, 1/4th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot A1/1511.

He died of TB on 25th October 1919, aged 32, and his death was registered in Gloucester.

His connection with Cheltenham is unknown, although there is a communication from a Mrs F M Patience of 4 Cleeve View Terrace, Whaddon Lane with the CWGC.   

He is not commemorated on any memorial in the Cheltenham or local area.

His parents, George and Mary Andrews, resided in East Harnham, Salisbury, Wilts.

Pte Oliver ARKELL, 1106, 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, is buried in Plot L/2251.  

It was until recently unmarked and was only recognised by the CWGC as an official war grave in August 2010.   His brother Philip is also buried in this plot.  Philip served in the Great War but survived, dying of illness on 9th January 1920, aged 23 (see below).

Oliver Arkell died of TB in Cheltenham on 23rd March 1918, aged 25.   He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery on 27th March 1918.

He is commemorated on the St Paul’s Church War Memorial.

He enlisted into the 5th Battalion Gloucestershire  Regiment (TF) on 26th August 1909 and was discharged, due to illness, on 7th January 1915.  

At the time of his death, he was residing at 3 Brunswick Place, St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham.

See Latest News for more details regarding his acceptance as an official war casualty.

The date of death inscribed on his headstone is 20th March 1918 and the CWGC were requested on 12th September 2017 to amend this date to read 23rd March 1918.

Pte Philip ARKELL, Ox and Bucks Light Infantry, is buried in Plot L/2251.   His brother Oliver is also buried in this plot and his grave is recognised by the CWGC.

Philip Arkell enlisted into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 17th July 1914 and was posted to France on 24th March 1915.   He was wounded in action on 17th May 1915 and evacuated to the UK.   He was transferred to the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry and was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion on 18th March 1916 prior to his discharge, as being no longer physically fit for war service, on 18th April 1916.   He was awarded Silver War Badge, serial 16847.

His address at discharge was recorded as 3 Brunswick Place, St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham.   In the 1901 Census, he is recorded as residing at 3 Marlborough Place, St Peter’s, Cheltenham.   He died of illness at Cheltenham on 9th January 1920, aged 23.   He is commemorated on the St Peter’s Church War Memorial.

Pte John Berry BAKER, 20038, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot K/850.

He was accidentally drowned on 27th June 1915, aged 17, whilst serving with his unit in the Gravesend area.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the All Saints Church War Memorial and the Holy Apostles Church Roll of Honour.

His parents, John and Emily Baker, resided at “Elmwood”, Haywards Road, Cheltenham.

Pte Frederick John BALDWIN, 12995, 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, is buried in a War Grave in Plot X/12091.

He died of illness on 3rd April 1915, aged 41, whilst serving with his unit in London.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial.

He left a widow, Mrs Sarah Mathilda Baldwin, who resided at Kimberley House, Bath Road, Cheltenham.

The inscription at the foot of the headstone reads “Until We Meet”.

LCpl George Henry BARBER, 11th Hussars, is buried in Plot H/8214 which is a civilian grave and not recognised by the CWGC.

He saw active service in France between 16th August 1914 and 2nd March 1915 when he was wounded in the right leg and evacuated to a military  hospital in Norwich.  

He was subsequently discharged from the Army on 21st September 1915 and died in an road accident on Leckhampton Hill, near Cheltenham on 25th November 1916.   He was 23 years of age.

LCpl Barber is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial.

His parents, John and Lizzie Barber resided at the Coach and Horses Inn, Portland Terrace, Cheltenham and also the Cleveland Inn, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham.

Pte Edward William BARNETT, 7th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment and 315 Company Labour Corps is buried in Plot A1/960.

This plot is unmarked and not recognised by the CWGC.

He was discharged from the Army in 1917 as being unfit for further service and awarded the Silver War Badge, serial 309583.

He died of illness on 22nd October 1918, aged 23.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial.

His parents, William and Edith Barnett, resided at Bedford Cottage, Prestbury Road, Cheltenham.

Lieutenant Lionel BARNETT, 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot G/7837.

He was killed in a training accident at Prees Heath Camp, near Whitchurch, Shropshire, on 6th February 1917.   He was 24 years of age.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Luke’s Church Roll of Honour, the Bishops Cleeve War Memorial, the Southam War Memorial on the Cleeve Hill (St Peter’s Church) Roll of Honour.

His father Henry Barnett, resided at 8 Oriel Place, Cheltenham and he left a widow, Mrs Mabel, who resided at Mill House, Lower Alstone, Cheltenham.

Sgt Frederick Lionel BEACHAM, 656055, 6th (Reserve) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, is buried in a War Grave in Plot A1/1564.

He was gassed during the Battle of Passchendaele in late 1917 and was evacuated to the UK.  

He died at home, 25 Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham from the effects of the gassing, on 1st May 1919.   He was 31 years old and was buried in the cemetery on 5th May 1919.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial.

He left a widow, Mrs Alice Eleanor Beacham, who later resided at 26 Tunnard Street, Boston, Lincs.

Company Sergeant Major (CSM) Joseph Scorfield BEATTY, 49241, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, and CSM, Royal Defence Corps, is buried in a War Grave in Plot A1/2078.

He died of illness at Cheltenham on 11th March 1919, aged 45.

CSM Beatty was born at Armagh, Ireland, in 1874.  He was discharged from the Army on 4th April 1918 due to sickness after 25 years service and moved with his wife to Cheltenham.

CSM Beatty is not commemorated in Cheltenham or the local area.

His widow, Mrs Jane Hannah Beatty, resided at “Ennersdale”, Naunton Lane, Cheltenham.

Driver Sidney Ernest BISHOP, 19884, 6th (Reserve) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, is buried in Plot B1/759.

He died of illness on 10th November 1917 at The Bute Hospital, Luton, whilst serving with his unit in that area.   He was 23 years of age. 

He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery on 16th November 1917.

Dvr Bishop is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the St Paul’s Church War Memorial.

His parents, William and Emily Bishop, resided at 14 Victoria Street, St Pauls, Cheltenham.

Private William Thomas BLACKWELL, 17258, formerly of 2/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot A1/968.

He died whilst a patient at The Priory VAD Hospital, Cheltenham, on 30th September 1918, aged 30 and was buried on 3rd October 1918.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the St Peter’s Church War Memorial.

The 1901 Census records his address at 20 Malvern Street, St Peters, Cheltenham and he was residing at 5 Newbury Cottages, Queen St, Cheltenham at the time of his death. 

Staff Sergeant Robert Stanley BOURNE, WR/251147, 296th Railway Company, Royal Engineers, is buried in a War Grave in Plot A1/1505.

He died of illness in a hospital in Stoke on Trent on 28th September 1918, aged 36 and was buried in the cemetery on 2nd October 1918.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial.

At the time of his death, he was residing at 256 High Street, Cheltenham, and he left a widow, Mrs Emily Bourne, residing at 3, Jersey Road, Cheltenham, and later at 51 St Paul’s Street North, Cheltenham.

Able Seaman Frank Harry Bowstead, J/917, Royal Navy, HMS Powerful, is buried in a War Grave in Plot O/2283.

He died of illness whilst a patient at the RN Hospital Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, on 6th October 1918, aged 18, and was buried on 12th October 1918.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the St Peter’s Church War Memorial.

His parents, Charles and Sabina Bowstead, resided at Arle Cottage, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham.

The inscription at the foot of the headstone reads “In Loving Memory”.

Private James Ernest BOWSTEAD, 572, 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot D/768.

He died of illness in the VAD Hospital Suffolk Hall, Cheltenham on 3rd February 1919, aged 28, and was buried in the cemetery on 6th February 1919.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Peter’s Church War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity School Roll of Honour.

His parents, Edward Charles Bowstead and Sarah Jane Elizabeth Bowstead, resided at 22 Bloomsbury Street, Cheltenham.

Private George A BOOTH, 32096, 5th Battalion Border Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot N/9414.

He died in Cheltenham General Hospital on 14th September 1918, aged 37, and was buried in the cemetery on 17th September 1918.

Pte Booth is not commemorated on any memorial in Cheltenham or the local area.

He had previously served with the Rifle Brigade and the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment prior to his service with the Border Regiment.

He left a widow, Mrs Elizabeth Emily Booth, residing at 33 Dyer’s Hill Road, Leytonstone, London.

Private James BRADLEY, 9th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, is buried in a War Grave in Plot A1/846.

He died on 20th February 1915, aged 28, whilst a patient at the Suffolk Hall VAD Hospital, Cheltenham, whilst the battalion was stationed in the town for training.   He was buried on 24th February 1915.

Pte Bradley was born and enlisted in Birmingham and is not commemorated on any memorial in Cheltenham or locally.

Captain Henry Wycliffe BREWIS, MC, 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, attached to 2nd/1st Yorkshire Dragoons Yeomanry (Queen’s Own) is buried in a War Grave in Plot B1/1213.

He died after a motor cycle accident in Ireland on 4th June 1918 and was buried in the cemetery on 8th June 1918.  

He is not commemorated on any memorial in the Cheltenham area.

His parents, Samuel and Emma Brewis, resided at “Mount Waltham”, Netherhall Gardens, London and at Tiger Hall, Church Stretton, Salop.

His sisters, Eleanor and Robina, are buried in the same plot.

Pte Charles Ernest James BROOKES, 23282, 11th (Reserve) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, is buried in an unmarked grave in Plot L/16527.   The photo shows the approximate area of his grave.

He was discharged from the Army due to illness on 9th September 1915 and died on 17th October 1915, aged 30.  

He was buried in the cemetery on 21st October 1915.

He is commemorated on the Holy Trinity Church War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity School War Memorial.

He left a widow, Mrs B Brookes, and three children who resided at 3 Ambrose Place, Ambrose Street, Cheltenham

Pte William Ernest BROTHERS, G/343, 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, is buried in Plot A1/801.

He died on 29th July 1915, aged 36, probably from wounds received during action in the Bellewaarde area of Belgium, and was a patient of the St John’s VAD Hospital, Gloucester Road, Cheltenham.

He was born in London in 1878 and has no family connection with Cheltenham.

He is not commemorated on any memorial in the Cheltenham area.

Notes:

1.   ANDREWS, BOOTH, BRADLEY and BROTHERS appear to have no connection with Cheltenham.

2.   ARKELL P, BARBER and BARNETT E died after discharge from the Army and are buried in civilian graves, which are not recognised by the CWGC.   Barnett E is buried in an unmarked grave and the photo shows the approximate area of the plot.

3.   BARNETT L is buried in a civilian grave which is recognised by the CWGC.

4.   BEATTY, who is not a native Cheltonian died on 11th March 1919 and is not commemorated on any memorial in the town.

5.   BREWIS, who is not a native Cheltonian, once resided in the town but is not commemorated locally on any memorial.