First World War Commonwealth War Grave - Driver William John Thomas Hall, Royal Engineers

"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".

William John Thomas Hall was born in 1873 in Kilburn, London, to William Thomas Hall, a fly proprietor, and his wife Ruth Shepard

A fly proprietor or flyman was a man who drove a one horse, light two wheeled carriage (a Fly).  Much like today's mini cabs.  Being a Fly Proprietor, William would have owned several Flys and employed people to drive them.

William first appears on the 1881 Census, aged 7, living with his parents and younger siblings at 28 Red Lion Yard, Watford, Hertfordshire, at that time his father's occupation is listed as a hatter.

By the 1891 Census, William snr has changed his occupations to fly proprietor and his son William has joined in the family business, which is now in Hastings, Sussex.

In 1896 William married Annie Elizabeth Saunders in Hastings Sussex. In 1897 they celebrated the birth of their first child, a daughter, Elise.  In 1900 twins Ivy and Dorothy were born.

In 1901 the young family can be found living at 134 London Road, Hastings, Sussex.  Living at 132 is William's parents and younger siblings and at 138 is William's brother Henry and his young family.  All are working the in the coaching industry.

In 1905 William and his wife Annie celebrated the birth of another daughter, Winifred.

By 1911 the family has moved to 31 Tower Road, St Leonards by the Sea, Hastings, Sussex

William served as a Driver for the Royal Engineers until his death on 11th November 1917, a year before the war was to end.



First World War Commonwealth War Grave - Sapper Charles Edward Cox, Royal Engineers - Maidenhead Station Ticket Collector

 

 

"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".

 

 



Charles Edward (known as Charlie to his family) Cox was born on 3rd October 1891 in Middleton, Ireland to Charles Edwards Cox Snr, a retired Army Lance Sergeant and postmaster, and his wife Elizabeth Stacey. 

Charles's little sister Ada Agnes was born on 24th December 1892 but sadly passed away on 10th June 1893 aged just five months. A little brother Thomas Henry was born in the spring of 1895 but sadly he too was to pass away, aged just 6 weeks old in the May of 1895. Charles Edward Snr and Elizabeth had no further children together.

In 1901 Charles Edward was residing at Oxford Wood Barracks with his mother and father.  On 14th July 1906 Charles entered the employ of the Great Western Railway, Swindon Division as a Shed Boy,  resigning the position on 1st March 1907

The 1911 Census finds Charles lodging at the house of Albert Rippington in Compton, Berkshire, where Charles is working as a railway porter for the Great Western Railway.

In 1915 in Maidenhead Berkshire Charles Edward Cox married Elsie Elizabeth May Groves, before moving into her family's home at 27 Grenfell Place Maidenhead. Later the couple moved to 29 Grenfell Place, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Charles served with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, a soldier who performs a variety of military engineering duties such as bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences and general construction.

27 Grenfell Place, Maidenhead,
Berkshire.

On 29th February 1920 Charles died of influenza, acute pneumonia, and heart failure at his home, 29 Grenfell Place, aged just 28 years old. Elsie was refused his war pension as the disease he died from was contracted after he was discharged from the Royal Engineers at the end of the war.

On 10th March 1920 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"Two Funerals for Railwaymen.

Two very impressive funerals took place last week, each being that of a member of the staff at Maidenhead G.W.R. Station.

The second funeral was that of Ticket-Collector Charles Edward Cox, of Grenfell-place, who passed away after only a few days' suffering from pneumonia, following influenza. He had been about 13 years in the company's service, and the last eight years were spent at Maidenhead. He had only been released from the Colours about three months, after having served some three years in the R.E.s' in France.  The funeral took place at All Saints' Church on Thursday, the Rev. J. F. S. Russell officiating. In this case also, about forty of the deceased's colleagues from Maidenhead and neighbouring stations attended to pay a last mark of respect. Four of his late comrades acted as bearers, namely, Ticket Collectors Cook and Hall, and Porter Ball, and Lampman Ramsey. Mr. Wills, the station master, was represented by Messrs. Fletcher, Calcott, and Jacques, of the office staff.

The mourners were, Mrs. C. E. Cox (widow), Mfr. and Mrs. Cox (father and mother), Mr. G. W. Groves (father-in-law). Mrs. Eason (aunt), Mr. and Mrs. G Groves, Mr. and Mrs. J Wheeler, Miss. D Groves, Mr. A Groves, Mr. T Wheeler, and Mr. F Groves, (brothers and sister-in-law), Mr. Bowyer (friend)." 

The now widowed Elsie can be found on the 1921 Census living with her father George Groves, and siblings Arthur Groves, and Daisy Groves, at 27 Grenfell Place. Elsie never remarried and passed away on 27 July 1973 at her home, 184 Cookham Road, Maidenhead.

Charles's father also re-enlisted to fight for his country in 1914 at the age of 49.  He was later discharged as not being fit for any military action due to rheumatism in his wrists, elbows, back and hips.

First World War Commonwealth War Grave - Sapper Joseph Henry Edwards, Royal Berkshire Regiment - Royal Engineers

War grave of Sapper Joseph H Edwards.
All Saint's Churchyard, Maidenhead, Berkshire

 

"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".

Joseph Henry Edwards was born in Cox Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire in 1889 to Thomas Edwards, a gardener, and Sarah Ann Hollins. 

Joseph first appears on the 1891 Census, aged just 2 years old, living with his family and older siblings at 3 Prospect Place in Maidenhead, Berkshire. By 1901 the family had moved to 2 Boyn Terrace, Maidenhead. However, he was soon to be in trouble with the law. On the 14th November 1901, aged just 12 years old Joseph and some other boys were charged with having stolen apples valued at 3d, from the orchard of Mr. David Wilton. It seems Mr. Wilton's orchard had an inescapable draw for Joseph, who was again charged with stealing from the orchard on 12th October 1901, this time 52 walnuts. During the trail Mr. Thomas Edwards was quoted as saying, "He had 9 children and this was the first time any of them had been brought to a police-court. His boy had been a very good boy up until now and had attended school regularly." Joseph's bad behaviour was to continue.


On Wednesday 6th July 1904 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported: 

"Wilful Damage. - Having been informed that Joseph Edwards on 3 Courthouse Lane, has committed damage to a tree In Boyn Hill Avenue by cutting his initials thereon, the committee have required his attendance before the Council for admonition."

In 1910 Joseph was charged and convicted of being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.  1911 he was again in the Magistrates Court, charged with drunk and disorderly and assaulting two police officer and one Geroge Rhodes of Cordwalles [sic] Street on New Year's Eve 1910. The Maidenhead Advertiser Reported on Wednesday 4th January 1911,

"A Scene on New Year's Eve

Police Officers Brutally Assaulted.

Assailants Sent to Gaol.

Joseph Henry Edwards of Courthouse Lane was charged with having been drunk and disorderly, and also with having assaulted Geo. Rhodes, of 1, Cordwalles-street on Dec 31. He pleaded guilty to the first offence but denied the second.

P. S. (Police Sergeant) Miles stated that at about 11.5 on the evening of Saturday, Dec 31, he was on duty at the junction of Marlow-road, King-street, and High-street, when he saw the prisoner, who was drunk, go up to Rhodes and hit him on the face, knocking him down. Witness went up to the prisoner and requested him to go home, but he refused to do so. Witness therefore too him into custody."

Unfortunately for P.S. Mills, Joseph was not about to go quietly.

"He was further charged with having assaulted P. S. Miles on the same evening while the sergeant was in the execution of his duty. He again pleaded "not guilty".

P.S. Miles said that he saw the prisoner on the night in question behaving in a disorderly manner and proceeded to take him into custody. When near the Rose Hotel, King-street he saw P.C. Tubb, whom he called upon for assistance. On the wat to the police station through Moffatt-street, prisoner's brother, a sailor, came rushing down the street and struck P.C, Tubb, In the scuffle which ensued, prisoner broke away from the witness, whom he struck twice in the chest."

Witnesses to the assault testified that after Joseph broke free from P.S. Miles, he then assisted his brother in attacking P.C. Tubb. One witness described Jospeh and his brother as, "kicking and hitting out in all directions." P.S. Miles commenting on the attack of P.C. Tubb described Joseph's actions as that of a madman.

The magistrates found the prisoner guilty of the assault on the police-sergeant, and a further charge was then preferred against him of having assaulted P.C. Tubb, at the same time and place, while he was in the execution of his duty. 

Thomas Edwards, brother of the prisoner and a sailor on the H.M.S Excellent, now appeared in the dock, and pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and having assaulted P.C. Tubb."

Thomas was sentenced to 21 days of hard labour for being drunk and disorderly, 1 month for the assault on P.C. Tubb, and 1 month for the assault on P.S. Miles, a total of 2 months and 21 days imprisonment. Joseph was sentenced to 21 days of hard labour for being drunk and disorderly, 2 months for the assault on George Rhoads, 1 month for the assault on P.C. Tubb, and 1 month for the assault on P.S. Miles, a total of four months and 21 days imprisonment.  Upon being taken from the court Joseph was heard to quip, "Can't you make it up to six months?"

Joseph can be found on the 1911 census serving his time in Reading Gaol.

Seems Joseph did not learn his lesson, in 1912 he was again charged with being drunk and disorderly.  The Chronicle reported,

"Too Many Drinks
At Maidenhead Police Court on Wednesday, before Mr. T G Wyatt and Mr. C A Vardy, a baker named Joseph Henry Edwards, of Courthouse Lane, [now Courthouse Road] was charged with being drunk in incapable in Boyne Hill Avenue, Maidenhead, in the early hours of that morning.  He was found by P.C. Gunter at 1.15 lying in the road, helplessly drunk.  The constable picked him up and brought him to the police station.

Prisoner told the Bench that he supposed he must have had one or two drinks too many.  There was a previous conviction against him in 1910 for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police.  A find of 2s 6d and costs or 7 days hard labour was imposed. Defendant said he had no money and was removed in custody."

On 31st August 1914 Joseph signed up to serve in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.  Unfortunately, Joseph's questionable behaviour continues throughout his service with the Royal Berks.  On 20th July 1915 Joseph was sentenced to, '14 days detainment for breaking out of the billet' (soldiers sleeping quarters).  Then on 15th November 1915 Joseph was found to be, 'Absent from the Corps Parade when proceeding to the trenches'.  Joseph was Court Martialed on 3rd December 1915 and given a 9 month suspended sentence, to be reviewed on 28th May 1916.

Joseph returned to active duty, however from the 25th August - 14th September 1916 he spent time at Bellahouston Military Hospital in Glasgow Scotland with Valvular Disease of the Heart.  Joseph was then discharged from the army as no longer being physically fit for service on 27th October 1916, he was awarded a pension of 10s.

It wasn't long before Joseph was serving his country again.  Three months after being discharged due to heart disease, Joseph re-enlisted on 3rd January 1917 with the Royal Engineers in Reading Berkshire.  Later that month on 16th Joseph married Lydia Kate Palmer.  Joseph's war service records indicate that on 27th August 1917 he was again sentenced to 56 days, which was later mitigated to 28 days, unfortunately the records are unclear as to why.  However, Joseph was again discharged due to no longer being physically fit for war service on 28th August 1918. He was awarded a pension of 11s for 13 weeks.

Joseph died on 10th February 1921, he left behind his widow Lydia and their three children, Kathleen Ellen, Frederick John, and Joan Cecily.  Joan was born after her father's death on 21st April 1921. The 1921 Census finds the widowed Lydia living with her two daughters Kathleen Ellen, and one month old Joan Cecily at Prospect Place, Maidenhead, Berkshire, where Lydia is running a general store. Frederick is living with his uncle Albert Harry Palmer in Swindon Wiltshire.