War Grave Wednesday - C. E. Cox

 

 

"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 Cox was born in 1892 in Ireland to Charles Edwards Cox a retried Army Lance Sergeant and postmaster and his wife Elizabeth Stacey.

In 1901 Charles Edward is residing at Oxford Wood Barracks with his mother and father.  However I have been unable to trace him on the 1911 Census.

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.

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 defenses and general construction.

On 29th February 1920 Charles died of pneumonia at his home, aged just 28 years old.

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

War Grave Wednesday - R. V. Smith

 

 

"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".

 

 

Ronald Victor Smith was born in Maidenhead Berkshire in 1893 to Issac Smith, a builder's foreman and Louisa Morgan.

In 1901 the eight year old Ronald is living at 60 All Saint's Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire with his parents and his older sisters Elsie May and Blanche Maude.

Sadly in 1907 Ronald's father Isaac passed away.

 

In 1911, aged 18,  Ronald is living with his aunt and uncle, George Henry and Amelia Knott, along with his brother Sydney Herbert Smith at 31 Bristow Road, Hounslow, Middlesex.  At that time Ronald's occupation was listed as an electrician.

 

Sometime after 1911, Ronald enlisted with the Royal Air Force and was stationed at 5th Aeroplane Repair Depot in Henlow. Sadly he was to die either from injuries or illness on 28th November 1918, seventeen days after the end of World War One, aged just 25.





War Grave Wednesday - J. H. Edwards

 

"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".

Researching the life of J.H Edwards was certainly difficult and frustrating.  At first all I had to go on was a surname, some initials and a date of death.  But I managed to find the man behind those sketchy details.

Joseph Henry Edwards was born in Cox Green, Maidenhead Berkshire in 1889 to Thomas Edwards, gardener, and Sarah Ann Hollins.  In the early 1900s Joseph became a baker, however he was soon to be in trouble with the law.  In 1910 Joseph was charged and convicted of being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.  He was sentenced to serve a short term at Reading Prison, where he can be found on the 1911 census.  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 Martialled 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.


Joseph certainly was a character who seemed to have lead a rather eventful life.  I have really enjoyed my glance into his life.

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.

 

 

 



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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