Cheltonians Who Were Commemorated In Error

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

   Cheltonians Who Where Commemorated In Error

The war officially ended for the UK on 31st August 1921 but no sooner had the Armistice been signed on 11th August 1918 the town was making preparations to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who lost their lives as a result of the conflict.   Committees and organisations were formed to ensure that lost loved-ones were commemorated and remembered.

However, despite the very best efforts of these Committees and Organisations, it was often difficult to keep to keep track of the many men who were still missing presumed dead and prisoners of war, and families were keen to remember their loved-ones, so names were added to Memorials and Rolls of Honour but for some reason not removed when men were discovered to have survived the war.

The following men have been commemorated but did in fact survive the war.

Pte William John WIXEY

No. 2438S, 2nd Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry

Cheltenham Parish Church Boys School Roll of Honour

Born at Cheltenham in 1889.   At the 1911 Census he was residing with his parents (James and Alice) and siblings at 4, York Place, Swindon Road, Cheltenham.   His occupation was a hairdresser.   In late December 1916 he married Olive Elizabeth Holder and they resided at 6, Henrietta Street, Cheltenham.

He enlisted into the Army at Cheltenham on 3rd September 1917 but was transferred to the RMLI on 8th September 1915, receiving recruit training at Deal up to 27th October 1917.   He was posted to 1st (Reserve) Battalion RMLI in France on 26th October 1917 and to a fighting battalion, 2nd Bn RMLI (188th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, on 29th January 1918.

He was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Germans on 27th March 1918d during the Great German Offensive in March 1918.   Pte Wixey was released and repatriated on 2nd December 1918.

His name was published in the Gloucestershire Echo of 5th December 1918 as a returned POW and again on 28th December 1918, with a group photograph of returned POWs.

He was demobilised at Portsmouth on 4th February 1919 to 6, Henrietta Street, Cheltenham.

He died in Cheltenham on 2nd October 1947, aged 58, and is buried in Cheltenham Cemetery.   At the time of his death, he resided at 57 St Pauls Street, Cheltenham.

Pte John Edward Percival Stroud DRINKWATER

No. 241488, 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

Salem Baptist Church Roll of Honour

Born at Cheltenham in 1897.   In the 1911 Census, he was residing with his parents (William and Emma) and sister at 16, Baker Street, Cheltenham.   In February 1913 he commenced work for the Great Western Railway at Cheltenham. and returned to the railway on 25th March 1919 after demobilisation.

Officially listed as missing on 16th July 1916.   In the Gloucestershire Echo published on 26th August 1916 he was reported to have been taken a Prisoner of War and interned at Cassel.   Released by the Germans and returned to UK in December 1918.

Death registered at Bristol in Q2 – 1954, aged 57.

Pte Jesse Edmund CHAMBERLAIN

No. PLY/2397(S)

Cheltenham War Memorial

Born in Tirley, near Tewkesbury on 14th January 1891.   In the 1911 Census, he was residing with his parents (Edmund and Rosa) and siblings at Tirley Street, Tewkesbury.   His occupation was a farm labourer.

On 24th July 1915, he married Louisa May Veale at Cheltenham and then on 10th December 1915, at Cheltenham, enlisted into the Army under the Derby Group Scheme.   He was called up on 13th August 1917 for service in the Royal Marines and underwent recruit training at Deal before posting to 1st (Reserve) Battalion RMLI in France on 5th October 1917.   He was posted to 1st RMLI on 3rd May 1918 and served with this unit until taken as a Prisoner of War by the Germans on 29th September 1918.   Pte Chamberlain was released and repatriated on 21st November 1918.   He was demobilised on  3rd March 1919.

His death was registered at Gloucester in Q2 – 1971, aged 80.

Pte Harry Victor Cripps NUNNEY

No. 43528, Labour Corps.

Badgeworth (Holy Trinity Church) Roll of Honour

This commemoration on the Badgeworth (Holy Trinity Church) Roll of Honour refers to 43528, Pte, Harry Victor Cripps Nunney, Labour Corps.   Birth registered in Cheltenham in Q3-1895.   Parents, James and Sarah, resided at Hope Villa, Upper Hatherley, Cheltenham.   Brother of James Sydney Nunney, below.   Research has indicated that Harry Nunney died in Gloucester in Q1, 1971.

Pte Valentine Wilfred FRY

No. 56210, 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

Cheltenham War Memorial

Born at Cheltenham in 1896 (Valentine Wilfred Fry).   In the 1911 Census, he is residing with his parents (Frank and Mary) and siblings at Eton Cottage, Prestbury Road, Cheltenham.   His occupation was a porter.

He had enlisted into the 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment TF in 1914 and had been posted to France on 29th March 1915.   He had most probably been taken a prisoner of War by the Germans in July 1916, near Pozieres during the Battle of the Somme.   A report in “The Graphic” of 5th August 1916 states that he was “missing with no hope of being found alive”.

He was repatriated after the war and he died in Cheltenham on 16th June 1977, aged 81.