Commemorations of the Great War in Cheltenham Cemetery


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

 

 

Commemorations in Cheltenham Cemetery

 To Those of Cheltenham Who Died in the Great War

 

Location:   Bouncers Lane, Prestbury, Cheltenham

Grid Reference:   SO 973232

Commemorations in the Cemetery:   121

Commemorations in the Chapel:   1

Last Visited:   November 2017

Imperial War Museum War Memorial Refs:   In due course

The following pages list in alphabetical order those of the Cheltenham and local area, and others, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War and who are commemorated on family gravestones or burial plots within Cheltenham Cemetery:

 

A-C     D-F     G-J     K-N     P-R     S-U     V-Z

 

A full list of those commemorated can be viewed here.

Original Battlefield Grave Markers

 

 

Published in the “Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic” on Saturday 10th May 1924 is this photograph in an article entitled “Wooden Crosses From The Battlefields  –  A number of the original wooden crosses removed from the graves of Cheltonians on the battlefields of Europe, as their bodies were reinterred in the larger cemeteries, have been sent to England, and erected on oak rails in the plot in Cheltenham Cemetery near the entrance gates.   There are 90 at present, but many more are expected.”

There are 3 in Leckhampton (St Peter’s) Churchyard which can be viewed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Cheltenham Cemetery, located on the right of the second entrance gate, are 22 original battlefield crosses (and a Remembrance Cross to officers and soldiers of 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment killed in action on The Somme on 27th August 1916) housed in four small shelters.   These Grave Registration Unit crosses marked the original battlefield graves of the following:

(1) Lt Hubert William CORKE, 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on 19th April 1916 in the Hulloch area of France and is buried in the Maroc British Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Mark’s Church Roll of Honour, the Grammar School Roll of Honour, the Holy Apostles Church Roll of Honour and the Swindon Village War Memorial.   There is a commemorative plaque to Lt Corke in the St Lawrence’s Church Swindon Village.

(2) Private Arthur Thomas HIRON, 1/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, who died of wounds on 15th October 1918 in a hospital in the Le Treport area of France.   He is buried in the Mont Huon Cemetery, Le Treport.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Paul’s Church War Memorial and the Holy Apostles Church Roll of Honour.   Pte Hiron is also commemorated on the grave of his parents in Cheltenham Cemetery.

(3) Lt Reginald Anthony LYON, Army Cyclist Corps attached to 1/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), who was killed in action in the Nieuport area of Belgium on 13th August 1917 and is buried in the Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksijde (north of Ypres), Belgium.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and the Cheltenham Grammar School Roll of Honour.

(4) Major John Gwynne GRIFFITH, 32nd Lancers (Indian Army) serving as Brigade Major 9th Cavalry Brigade, who was killed in action on 24th May 1915 in the Ypres area of Belgium and buried in the Ypres Town Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the grave of his parents in Leckhampton (St Peter’s) Churchyard.

(5) Captain John Harold Ellerson RICKERBY MC, 2/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who was killed in action in the St Quinten area of France on 22nd March 1918 and is buried in the Savy British Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the Shurdington (St Paul’s Church) Roll of Honour and the Cheltenham College Roll of Honour.

(6) Pte Harold Edgar RALPH, Labour Corps, who was killed in action in the Amiens area of France on 15th April 1918 and is buried in the St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the Christ Church Roll of Honour.

(7) and (8)   No names on these crosses.

(9) Pte Sidney Leonard DEAN, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who was killed in action in the Albert area of France on 27th August 1918 and is buried in the Assevillers New British Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour.

(10) 2Lt Kenneth Gerrard GURNEY, 2/6th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who died of wounds on 17th December 1917 in the Selvigny area of France as a POW of the Germans.   He is buried in the Honnechy British Cemetery, Ligny, Belgium.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the St Paul’s Church War Memorial.

(11) 2Lt Charles Wallace BOYCE, 1/4th Gloucestershire Regiment attached to Machine Gun Corps, who was killed in action on 24th October 1918 during the Battle of the Selle.   He is buried in the Crucifix Cemetery, Vendegies-sur-Ecaillon.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Paul’s Church War Memorial and the St Philip’s Church War Memorial.

(12)   No name on this cross.

(13) Major Lionel GOODEVE, 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, who was killed in action in the Vermelles area of France on 23rd August 1915 and is buried in the Vermelles British Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the All Saints Church War Memorial and the Cheltenham College Roll of Honour.

(14) Private Arthur George MASLIN, 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Somme on 21st July 1916.   He is buried in Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-la-Boisselle.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and on the St Mark’s Methodist Church Roll of Honour.

(15) Private Charles William HARWOOD, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who was killed in action in the Ypres area of Belgium on 4th October 1917 and buried in the Hooge Crater Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and the St Stephen’s Church Roll of Honour.

(16) No name on cross.

(17) Lt Francis Charles Erlin CLARKE, Royal Flying Corps, who died of wounds on 11th October 1917 in the Arras area and is buried in the Duisans British Cemetery.   His connection with Cheltenham is not known and he is not commemorated on any memorial in the town or the surrounding area.

(18) No name on cross.

(19) Private William REGAN, 1/3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment, who died of wounds on 22nd May 1915 in Liege as a POW of the Germans.   He is buried in the Liege (Robermont) Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Paul’s Church War Memorial and the Cheltenham Parish Boys School Roll of Honour.

(20) Private Ernest SMITH, 2/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on 6th April 1917 in the Bihecourt (Somme) area of France and is buried in the Vadencourt British Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the Charlton Kings War Memorial and the Charlton Kings (St Mary’s Church) War Memorial.

(21) Private Henry Rudolph ARUNDELL, 1/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who died of wounds in a hospital in Le Havre on 15th April 1917 and is buried in the St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and the St Luke’s Church Roll of Honour.

(22) LCpl Leslie James SILVESTER, 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who died of wounds in a hospital at Bailleul, France, on 20th May 1915.   He is buried in the Bailleul Community Cemetery.   He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and the Christ Church Roll of Honour.

1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

Remembrance Cross – Action at Mouquet Farm on 27th August 1916

Near to the original battlefield crosses is located a memorial plaque to 9 officers and soldiers of 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment who were killed in action on 27th August 1916 near the Mouquet Farm area of The Somme.   The only Cheltonian on the front of the plaque is Lt C W WINTERBOTHAM.   

He has no known grave and is listed on the Thiepval Memorial To The Missing.   He is also commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Paul’s Church War Memorial, the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour, the Highbury Church Roll of Honour and the Cheltenham College Roll of Honour.   

He is also commemorated on the family plot in Cheltenham Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

Memorial to Gloucestershire Officers and Men.   Published in the “Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic” on Saturday 3rd August 1918.  

The article goes on to say, “This Memorial was erected by the 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment over a trench taken on August 27th, 1916, in the Somme Battle, to commemorate three officers and six men who fell in taking it from the Prussian Guard.   A water colour sketch was made of the spot recently and sent to Mrs Winterbotham, of Cranley Lodge, Cheltenham, who would be pleased to supply the next-of-kin of each man with a photograph of it on application to her.   The names on the cross are:   Lieut Cyril W Winterbotham (Cheltenham), Lieut L W Moore (Tewkesbury), Sec-Lieut A Apperly (Stroud), Ptes C H Bird, C Stephenson, L T Aylesbury, D Walters, G Haydon and S Smith.   The Germans are now in possession of the ground.

War Cross at Cheltenham Cemetery.  Published in the “Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic” on Saturday 10th October 1925 is this photo with the following article:   The above wooden cross has lately been received from Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France, and has been fixed on the rails in Cheltenham Cemetery with the other wooden crosses there.   It records the names of the killed and missing in a heroic raid in France by members of the 1/5th Gloucesters on August 27, 1916, when all the officers were killed or wounded, and only a quarter of the men returned from the attack.   Inset shows the reverse of the cross.   There are three Cheltonians on the reverse, all of whom were subsequently listed as killed in the attack:   2Lt Charles BRIEN, commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial and the Grammar School Roll of Honour, Pte Edward Lewis KEEN, commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St Paul’s Church War Memorial and the Salem Baptist Church Roll of Honour and Pte Ernest John KING, commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, the St James Church Roll of Honour and the St James’ School Roll of Honour.

All are buried in the Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval, France.   King and Keen lie next to each other in Plot IV, Row B.

 

 

Notes:

1.   War Graves of the Great War in Cheltenham Cemetery can be found here.

2.   Cheltenham War Memorial can be viewed here.

3.   A full list of those commemorated in Cheltenham Cemetery can be viewed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page last updated: 17th July 2018

 

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