Cemeteries and graveyards, full of love, betrayal, tragic deaths, murder, and suicide. What will you find?

Sunday 30 September 2012

Cemetery Sunday - Cliveden War Cemetery


 
 
Cliveden War Cemetery was built in the grounds of Cliveden House in Taplow Berkshire and contains 40 World War I burials and 2 World War II burials.  The burials are predominately Canadian.

At the out break of World war I, Waldorf Astor, the owner of Cliveden at that time, offered the use of some of the grounds to the Canadian Red Cross for the building of the HRH Duchess of Connaught Hospital.







Waldorf Astor gave up the use of his Italian Sunken Garden to be used as a burial ground for the men who were treated at the hospital, but did not survive their injuries.  The Bucks Herald reported on 12th April 1919-

"Sir Robert Borden, Canada's Premier, came down to Cliveden, near Taplow to perform the ceremony of unveiling a Canadian Red Cross memorial.  It is a female feature representative of Life, and bears an inscription beginning with the words, 'The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God.'  In the Italian Garden in Cliveden is the cemetery in which are interred the bodies of the heroes of the war who died in the Canadian Hospital adjoining.  In four years no less that 24,000 patients passed through this hospital, provided by Major and Mrs. Astor in their beautiful grounds close to the Thames, one of the most charming spots in the most lovely reach of that river."

At the end of the hostilities the HRH Duchess of Connaught Hospital was dismantled.








At the outbreak of World War II the Astors again offered the use of the land for the rent of one shilling a year to the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital was built.  After the war the hospital was donated to the UK to use as a general hospital and research centre.  Sadly in 1985 the hospital closed and remained empty and derelict until 2006 when the buildings were demolished to make way for a housing estate.  A large part of Maidenhead and Taplow's history was lost.

This post is dedicated to those brave men and women who gave their lives so that we could live ours.


 
 
 
 
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Friday 28 September 2012

Peter George Stanhope Payne




Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Peter George Stanhope Payne and Maud Payne, All Saints Churchyard, Bisham Berkshire.


"Peter George Stanhope Payne 28th May 1928.  Maud Payne 2nd July 1937."
 Peter George Stanhope Payne was born in Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire in 1862 to Sir Salusbury Gillies Payne, Justice of the Peace for Bedfordshire and Catherine Ann Chadwick.

In 1881 Peter is listed on the census as an Undergraduate of Oxford University, before going on to become a barrister.

In 1892 Peter married Maud Banbury, daughter of Frederick Banbury and Cecilla Laura Cox.  Maud was born in London in 1868.

Edited:  Peter and Maud had two children, Marjory Enid and Lionel Guy Stanhope.  It seems that Lionel had a very interesting military career and was awarded the military cross.

"Citation for the award of the Military Cross

Capt. Lionel Guy Stanhope Payne, Suff. R. and R.F.C.

For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. On four occasions he bombed important enemy railway stations, obtaining direct hits on each occasion. He also carried out a long distance raid on an enemy .aerodrome, which he bombed from 1,100 feet, making the return journey at a height of 800 with, his machine damaged. He has taken part in .many night bombing raids, always at a low altitude, and has set a fine example of determination to all ranks of his squadron."


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Wednesday 26 September 2012

War Grave Wednesday - R. J. Pope


 
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
 At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them".
 
 
 
Reginald John Pope was born in 1901 in Whymondham Norfolk to Elias Pope and Sarah Betts, Crockery Hawkers.  Reginald's family were Gypsies, travelling folk who sell their wares up and down the country.  On the 1911 Census the family are shown living in 'A gypsy caravan at Blackamore Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire', with their eight children, many of whom, including Reginald were attending a local school. 
 
Reginald served in the 4th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment and may have fought in the Battle of Megidoo,  sadly he died in Maidenhead on 19th October 1918.  The fact that Reginald has a Commonwealth War Grave suggests that he died as a result of injury or illness sustained during his war service.  Unfortunately I have been unable to track down any of Reginald's war service records, which is not surprising as many WWI records were destroyed or damaged by fire during the Blitz.
 
 
 


Tuesday 25 September 2012

Rupert Ernest Neve - Killed in an aeroplane accident



Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Rupert Enrest Neve, Peggy Neve, Marjory Edith Neve and Anthony Holloway, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saints Avenue, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"In humble submission to the will of God and in happy memory of Rupert Ernest Neve R.F.C killed in an aeroplane accident jan 26th 1918 aged 24 years - For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord, whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  Rom 14. 8
Also Peggy, daughter of H. H & B Neve died Feb 21st 1915, aged 27 hours.
And Marjory Edith Neve, died July 29th  1947 aged 56 years.
Also Anthony Holloway died March 29th 1948 aged 2 days."



Rupert Ernest Neve and his twin brother Arthur Osmond Neve were born on 15th September 1893 in Maidenhead Berkshire to Alfred Hovenden Neve, a draper and clothier operating from 57-61 High Street Maidenhead, and Emma Hankin Skillman.  Rupert attended Desborough School for Boys in Maidenhead, the school has a private memorial to him in their building.





In 1911 Rupert was boarding at 121 Castle Hill, Reading with the Venn family.  His occupation is listed as an ironmongers apprentice.  On 23rd April 1913 Rupert was involved in a motorcycle accident, the Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer on 26th April 1913 reported;

"A motorcycle and van collide-
About 8:30 Wednesday evening, a horse and van, driven by George Haines, of 17, Grenville [sic] Place, Maidenhead, was proceeding to London, when a motorcycle, ridden by Mr. Rupert Ernest Neve, of High Street, Maidenhead, who was going in the same direction, collided with the rear of the van.  Neve sustained a cut lip and was attended by Dr. Sadler, of Slough.  Mr. William Egleton, of Bray Mills, near Maidenhead, was riding on the carrier of the cycle and received a bruised head and cut fingers."

Rupert was one of the first groups of young men to volunteer at the outbreak of World War I.  He first enlisted on 15th September 1914 in the Public Schools Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers and was then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th King's Shropshire Light Infantry but shortly transferred to the R.F.C (Royal Flying Corps).  Ruperst twin brother served as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps.  Rupert passed is flying certificate on a Maurice Farman Biplane on 6th July 1916.  During an aerial fight over France sometime in March 1917, Rupert was severely injured but was able to bring his plane back behind British lines. 

Rupert had only just been reported fit to for active service when on 26th January 1918, his Sopwith Camel B.5235 biplane collapsed midair over Croyden, Surrey due to excessive vibration.


Sopwith Camel B.5235

Peggy Neve was born on 20th February 1915 to Harold Hovenden Neve, Rupert's elder brother and Beatrice Rolfe.  Sadly she was to pass away on 21st February 1915 just 27 hours after her birth.

Marjory E Neve

Marjory Edith Neve, known as Madge, Rupert's elder sister, was born on 29th May 1891 in Maidenhead Berkshire.  She lived and worked at her father's drapery store at 57-61 High Street Maidenhead.  She never married and died aged 56 on 29th July 1947

Neve Bros


Unfortunately There is very little I can find out about Anthony Holloway, other than his mother's maiden name was Neve.  I am unable to locate a marriage between a Neve and Holloway that fits.  There is one, but it took place in 1973, 25 years after Anthony's death.


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Sunday 23 September 2012

Cemetery Sunday - Gardens Of Rest

 
 
Braywick Cemetery in Berkshire opened in the July of 1953 and was set out as a lawn cemetery with specific sections for different religions; Church of England, Non Conformist, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and a section for the burial of babies and children.
 
The Gardens of Rest are for the interment of cremated remains. 
 
Cremation has been around for centuries, but fell out of favour in Great Britain when Christianity came to its shores.  However interest in cremation was reawakened in Victorian Britain when it became apparent that local cemeteries and churchyards were running out of space.  Cremation finally became legal in Great Britain in 1882.  On the 26th March 1885 he first 'legal' cremation took place, that of Mrs Jeannette Caroline Pickersgill at Woking Crematorium, Surrey England. 

The Hampshire Advertiser reported on Sunday 28th March 1885-
 
"Cremation In Surrey.
 
On Thursday morning the crematory erected at St. John's, Woking, Surrey, was made use of for the first time, the body reduced to ashes being that of Mrs, Pickersgill of Clarence-gate, London.  It had previously been subjected to an autopsy. The deceased was well know in literary and scientific circles, and expressly stipulated in her will that her body should be cremated.  With a view to this she had previously become a subscriber to the Cremation Society of England.  The cremation, which lasted one hour, is said to have been eminently successful from every point of view." 
 
Two further cremations took place that year.  Those of Mr Charles W. Carpenter in October and Mrs Grattan in December.  Ten cremations followed in 1886.  Today cremation is a popular alternative to full burial and there are many crematoriums around the country.

 
 
 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Friday 21 September 2012

Donovan Foster Smart - 'Shorty'




Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Donovan Foster Smart 'Shorty' and Mary Ann Foster, All Saints Chutchyard, Bisham, Berkshire.

"Donovan Foster Smart 'Shorty' December 1 1934 Aged 28 years
Mary Ann Foster September 11 1936 Aged 81 years."



Donovan Foster Smart was born in Chingford, Essex in 1906, eldest child of Harry Casimir Smart, an Austrailian working in the Publicity Branch of the Austrailian Government Office in the UK, and Daisy Hope Foster.

Living with the Smart family in 1911 was Daisy's mother Mary Ann Foster and sister Grace Foster.

Mary Ann Foster was born Mary Ann Scudamore in Bishopsgate, Middlesex 1856 to Robert Scudamore, a Lithographic Printer and his wife Elizabeth.  On 21st November 1880 Mary Ann married Henry William Foster in Hackney, London.  Along with Henry's five children from his previous marriage, Helen, Symons, Mary Ann, Ethel, Gertrude and Harold, Henry and Mary Ann had three children of their own, Sidney Kirkman, Daisy Hope and Grace.

Sadly Mary Ann was widowed in 1898 after 18 years of marriged when Henry passed away.

One question that keeps popping up, why was Donovan known as Shorty and why was his nickname placed on his grave stone?



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Tuesday 18 September 2012

Colonel David Sherlock - His Lovely Life Ended



Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Colonel David John Christopher Eustace Sherlock, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire.


"In devoted memory of Colonel David J. C. E. Sherlock D.S.O (distingished service order) Royal Artillery the beloved husband of Constance Nash Sherlock   Born June 6th 1879  His lovely life ended February 18th 1938  Constance Nash Sherlock 1900 - 1959."




David John Christopher Eustace Sherlock was born 6th June 1879 in Dublin Ireland to David Joseph Sherlock and Mary Zeena Elizabeth Murphy.  In 1900 David joined the army, serving in the Great War, first with the Royal Horse Artillery and then later with the Royal Field Artillery.  In 1930 David married Constance Nash.

The Catholic Herald printed a small notice of death for David on 28th February 1938 -

"Gallant service during the European War, in which campaign he was wounded and was six times mentioned in despatches. brought high honour, both from Britain and from France, to Colonel David John Christopher Eustace Sherlock, who died on the 18th inst. at his home at Burnham, Buckinghamshire. The Royal Honours List awarded him the D.S.O., while France made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and gave him also the Croix de Guerre.
Colonel Sherlock was in his fifty-ninth year. The son of Mr. David Sherlock, D.L., of Tullamore, he was educated first of all in Ireland, at Clongowes Wood College, and afterwards at Beaumont. He joined the Army in 1900. In the Great War he served with the R.H.A. and the R.F.A. He retired about eight years ago."

Sadly for such a well decorated man I can find very little information on his life or that of his wife Constance.


Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt
Where Right and Glory Lead



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Sunday 16 September 2012

Cemetery Sunday - Vault





This beautiful ornately carved vault in St James the Less churchyard, Stubbings, Burchetts Green, Berkshire bears no inscription or indication, save the carved coast of arms, as to who may be buried here.

They must have been someone of some importance to have such an elaborate resting place.



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Friday 14 September 2012

Edith Marion Rosse - Murder?




Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Memorial to Edith Marion Rosse (Milady), All Saints Church, Bisham, Berkshire.


"In love ever remember Edith Marion Rosse [Milday] who peacefully fell asleep in London on the 14th day of Septmeber 1932"


Unfortunately I cannot find out much about Edith's early life, but the end of her life is embroiled in mystery. 

In 1932 Edith was living with a fellow stage actor Arthur Maundy Gregory.  Arthur was experiencing financial difficulties. He was under pressure to repay to the executors of Sir George Watson £30,000 advanced for a barony he never received.  At the time Edith had £18,000 in her bank account.  She refused Arthur's requests for a loan, saying that the money was for her old age.

On 14th September 1932, Edith slipped into a coma and died and left all her money to Arthur, in a will scrawled on the back of a menu card from the Carlton Hotel. Arthur supervised her burial, specifying a riverside plot in the churchyard at Bisham. He ordered the coffin lid to be left unsealed and the grave to be dug unusually shallow, only 18 inches from the surface.

Edith's niece, who expected to inherit from her aunt's will made a complain and the police exhumed Edith's body on 28th April 1933.  The coffin was found to be waterlogged.   Bernard Spilsbury, a forensic scientist used by the police, was in little doubt that the burial arrangements Arthur had made were intentional since, "the effect of water on decaying remains would make it impossible to detect the presence of certain poisons."

Arthur was arrested in Germany, but never tried for the suspected murder of Edith.  Arthur died in a German Camp in on 28th September 1941.


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Tuesday 11 September 2012

Tuesday September 11th 2001

Source: REUTERS / Justin Lane
 
 
They left that morning, never to return.
 
 
 


May Peabody Osborne - Dig the grave and let me lie



Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Memorial to May Peabody Osborne, All Saints Church, Bisham, Berkshire.


"In Memory of May Peabody Osborne beloved wife of Charles Glidden Osborne.  April 14th 1936.
Under the wide and starry sky, dig the grave and let me lie, glad did I live and gladly die.  And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me, here he lies where he longed to be.  Home is the sailor from sea and the hunter home from the hill."





May Peabody Osborne was born May Henderson Peabody on 28th April 1891 at Evanston, Cook County, Illinois, USA to Francis Stuyvesant Peabody and May Henderson.   May first married Addison H Stillwell on 2nd January 1914 at St James Episcopal Church, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA.  They were to divorce 1922.

On 1st September 1923 May married her second husband Charles Glidden Osborne and sailed with him and her children from her first marriage,  May Henderson Stillwell, Elizabeth Allison Stillwell and Frances Peabody Stillwell, on the Leviathan to England in the October of 1923.  In 1928 May and Charles had their only child together, Mahmea Enid Lolita Osborne.

May Peabody Obsborne died on 14th April 1936 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire aged just 44 years old.

It was the verse on May's gravestone that caught my eye first.  The line, 'under the wide and starry sky, dig the grave and let me lie', struck a cord with me.

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Sunday 9 September 2012

Cemetery Sunday - Bosley, Father and Daughter

John Bosley

Jane Bosley

In loving memory of John Bosley who died January 11th 1865 aged 77 years. -  My Redeemer Liveth.

Sacred to the memory of Jane eldest daughter of John and Eliza Bosley who departed this life February 7th 1854 aged 22 years.

Buried side by side in St James the Less churchyard in Stubbings, Burchetts Green, Berkshire.

John Bosley was a master bricklayer employing 6 men.  He was married to Eliza Stroud and their eldest daughter Jane was born in 1833.



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