War Memorial - WW1 (G to W)

 Service Number: 775872

Private in the Canadian Infantry - 38th Bn. Born in Derry Hill and Studley and moved to Canada when he was around 17/18 years old.

Frank was part of the action at Vimy Ridge - part of the Battle of Arras in northern France. The main combatants were the Canadians against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground, along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. 

This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German fire.

Frank died 10 April 1917 from wounds - aged 25 years old.

Frank is buried at the Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Gingell and husband of Mary Gingell. He had a 16 month old daughter.

Lord Charles was the younger son of Maud Evelyn Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne and  Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. He was married and had two children. Lord Charles was serving as a Major with The Royal Dragoons. 

On October 30th 1917, Lord Charles was positioned within the Chateau de Hollebeke repulsing German advances. It was during this action that he lost his life at the age of 40. Lord Charles is buried in Ypres. 

The inscription on his gravestone reads: NOT IN VAIN, NOT UNHONOURED, NOT FORGOTTEN, THEY GAVE UP THEIR LIVES. For his actions in Flanders, he was subsequently awarded the Legion of Honour (France)

 Guardsman Henry (Harry) Short, 21304 Grenadier Guards 3rd Battalion. He was born in Studley in 1894 and was the son of Henry and Isabella Short. He died on 30thJune 1916 aged 22 and is buried in the Ferme-Olivier Cemetery in Belgium.  

On the night 19th June 1916 the 3rd Battalion moved to the front-line. The front-line system seemed highly defensible, as it was cut to pieces by shell fire, and the ground pitted with shell holes. In addition, the Germans whilst in occupation of our British front line had put up a considerable quantity of wire. This combined with the natural obstacles of fallen trees, branches and debris made any approach on part of enemy very difficult. The old British front line was full of German dead, equipment, and ammunition. The principal work to be done was salvage, in occupying the trenches, establishing bombing posts stores and grenade stores, in burying the dead, and establishing communication. All trenches were strengthened. Stores were brought up. Over 350 rifles and huge quantities of equipment were collected. Communication was established between all companies.

On Friday 30th June a German shell was fired enfilade (fire that is directed along its longest axis) – the explosion killed 5 and wounded 3 men.

 Private. Service Number: 1000654, Canadian Infantry, 14th (Reserve) Bn., Died 26 June 1917 at the No.12 Canadian General Hospital, Bramshott, Hampshire. 

William was aged 25 years old. William is buried at Bramshott Churchyard, Hampshire. His headstone is inscribed "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". William was the son of David and Sarah Simpkins, of Chisledon, Swindon, Wiltshire. 

He was a native of Derry Hill.

A large hospital was opened at Bramshott in 1917, caring for those Canadian soldiers who were sick, succumbing to changes in climate and exposure to different viruses and bacteria. The war wounded also were brought here to be looked after.

 Private Frank Stapleford was killed on 15th June 1915 in the Givenchy Trenches, France. 

He was 26 and the youngest son of George and Elizabeth Stapleford of Studley. His body was not recovered. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.  

On 15th June 1915 the during the day the Givenchy trenches were shelled - but there were  few casualties. At 6pm a British attack commenced. On quitting their trenches, the leading companies of men were subjected to a heavy frontal and enfilade fire from the Germans (by machine gun fire from both flanks).

By 9pm the remaining British troops were occupying some of the old German trenches. Orders were received to attack the German line at 9.15pm – but the time was subsequently altered to 10pm. The German line in this area was formidable, with very deep trenches and dugouts that the weak British bombardment (not helped by poor observation through long grass and poor light) barely touched.

Even before the British artillery fire lifted, once the Germans saw the 2nd Wiltshires advancing they manned the parapets. Machine gun and rifle fire cut down most of the attacking troops. The 2nd Wiltshires did not get very far, only a few men getting even as far as 50 yards from the German line. 2nd Wiltshires: Killed; officers 4, men 72: Wounded; officers 5, men 128

Private James Henry Summers was born in 1895 in Bremhill. He was in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He died on-board HMS Bayano on 11th March 1915. James was 20 years old.

In the North Channel, HMS Bayano had reduced speed to avoid passing the net line in the dark en route to Liverpool for coaling. At 05:15 on 11 March 1915, the ship was attacked by the German submarine SM U-27 about 10 nmi (12 mi; 19 km) west of Corsewall Lighthouse, Corsewall Point, Galloway, Scotland. 

The auxiliary cruiser sank in five minutes. Most of the crew was asleep and only 26 men survived to be rescued by the British steamer Castlereagh. Bayano's Lieutenant Commander Guy described the commander on the bridge, standing without fear waving goodbye while shouting "Good luck to you boys" before the ship disappeared under the waves.

James was the son of Joseph John and Elizabeth Ann Summers, of Pond Cottages, Charlcutt, Calne. James’s body was not recovered and is commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

  Private George Weston 12408 7th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. George was born in 1879 in Chippenham. He was killed in action in Greece on 24th April 1917. George was the son of Abraham and Sarah Weston. He is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.

The 7th (Service) Battalion started 1917 as they left the year before, in the trenches remaining there until April. On the night of the 24th April they launched an attack at the Grand Couronne, coming up against devastating fire and un-breached wire. To maintain some surprise the British planned to attack after dusk – but it appears that Bulgarian intelligence had figured this out and they were well-prepared.  When the infantry (including the 7th) attacked at 9:45 PM, they were lit up by German searchlights, silhouetting them and making them easy targets for Bulgarian machine gunners.14 out of the 15 7th Battalion officers became casualties. The companies came under the command of Warrant Officers and Sergeants. Only in one sector, where the British had ample natural cover, did the British gain any ground.  The attack was called off in the morning, with the British having suffered over 3000 casualties, nearly four times as many as the Bulgarian and German defenders.

 Rifleman William Ebden Wilkinson was born in 1882 in Peterborough. Rifleman 34448 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps was killed on 7th June 1918 and is buried at the Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. 

 King’s Royal Rifles, was the second son of Mrs. Wilkinson, and the late Mr. W. Wilkinson, of Castor, was killed in action in France on June 7th. 

Writing to Mrs. Wilkinson, an officer and an N. C. O. both expressed sorrow and sympathy at the death of a good comrade and friend. He said that "Rifleman Wilkinson had been on active service in France nearly two years. About 12 months ago he was wounded at Ypres, and he went out again last December". 

He was the second forester to Lord Lansdowne at Bowood House, Wiltshire, from which place he joined the Army.