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Shrivenham

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​FOR GOD FOR RIGHT
FOR LIBERTY
IN HONOUR OF THE
BRAVE AND IN MEMORY
OF SHRIVENHAM MEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1919
ALSO 1939 – 1945
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28​BERTIE WILLIAM BALLINGER
PRIVATE 9TH WORCESTER REGT
20 APRIL 1916 AGED 36 YEARS

THOMAS BALLINGER
PRIVATE 17TH MANCHESTER REGT
15 OCTOBER 1916 AGED 38 YEARS

JAMES EBBSWORTH
PRIVATE LABOUR BATTALION
1 JULY 1918 AGED 48 YEARS

HARRY GEALER
PRIVATE 1ST ROYAL BERKS REGT
3 MAY 1917 AGED 25 YEARS

WILLIAM WALTER HALL
PRIVATE 92ND CANADIAN HIGHLANDERS
22 SEPTEMBER 1916 AGED 36 YEARS

GEORGE WILLIAM HICKS
GUNNER RGA
28 APRIL 1918 AGER 23 YEARS

REGINALD CHARLES FROGLEY LAWRENCE
1ST CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES
14 NOVEMBER 1917 AGED 28 YEARS

GUSTAVIUS HENRY JAMES POUND
LANCE CORPORAL 1ST WILTS REGT
15 OCTOBER 1914 AGED 18 YEARS

JOSEPH WILLIAM PRINCE
PRIVATE 8TH ROYAL BERKS REGT
13 OCTOBER 1915 AGED 19 YEARS
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WW2

VICTOR HAROLD BENFIELD
FLIGHT SERGEANT RAF 19TH JUNE 1943

HUBERT VICTOR CLARIDGE
PRIVATE PIONEER CORPS 29 OCTR 1944

GEORGE FITZROY CORDY-SIMPSON
CAPTAIN 3RD CARABINIERS 18 APRIL 1945

ALBERT JAMES FORTY
PRIVATE OXON & BUCKS LI 14 SEPT 1944

STANLEY CYRIL JUDD
PRIVATE WILTS REGT 10 JULY 1944

ARTHUR LIONEL BOULTBEE RAVEN
PILOT OFFICER RAF 8TH JULY 1940
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The War Memorial in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church

The Fallen of WW1 who are on the memorial


Bertie William BALLINGER
Private, 9th (Service) Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, 39 Brigade, 13th Division. Army no 18554
He was killed in action on 20 April 1916 during the third attempt to relieve Kut. He was 36
He is remembered on panel 18 and 63 of the Basra Memorial
Additional Information
He was the son of Sarah Ann Ballinger of Shrivenham and the late Thomas Ballinger.

Thomas BALLINGER
Private, 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd City), The Manchester Regiment, 90 Brigade, 30th Division. Army no 43281. He was formerly Army no. 20978 with Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
He was killed in action on 15 October 1916 during the Battle of Transloy Ridges. He was 38
He is buried in grave VIII L 1 A I F Burial Ground, Flers
Additional Information
He was the son of Sarah Ann Ballinger of Shrivenham and the late Thomas Ballinger
Military records show this his name as Bellinger but it should be Ballinger so I have changed it in this record.

James EBBSWORTH
Pioneer, Royal Engineers Army no. 291483. He had been transferred to the Labour Corps. Army no 115511
He died, probably as a result of his war service, on 1 July 1918. He was 48
He is buried in the NE corner of the churchyard of St. Andrew’s Church, Shrivenham
Additional Information
He was the son of Daniel and Martha Ebbsworth of Idstone, Ashbury
Further information
He was discharged from the Army as he was considered no longer medically fit to serve as a Soldier and he was awarded The Silver War Badge on 11 July (after his death). This supports his burial in Shrivenham

Harry GEALER
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 99 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 15850
He was killed in action on 3 May 1917 at the third Battle of the Scarpe. He was 25
He is remembered on bay 7 of the Arras Memorial
Additional information
He was the son of Walter John and Fanny Gealer of Shrivenham.

William Walter HALL
Private, 42nd Battalion, Quebec Regiment, Canadian Infantry. Army no 193308
He died on 22 September 1916 from his wounds received in the Battle of the Somme. He was 36
He is buried in grave III D 27 Puchevillers British Cemetery
Additional information
He was the husband of Ellen Georgia Hall, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He was born in Shrivenham
Further information
He had served three years with the Wiltshire Regiment before he emigrated and eight years in the Canadian 57th Regiment
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George William HICKS
Gunner, 6 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Army no 38616
He died probably as a result of his war service on 26 April 1918. He was 23
He remembered on a special Memorial in the churchyard of St. Andrew’s Church, Shrivenham
Additional Information
He was the son of George and Fanny Hicks of Shrivenham
Recent research has shown that Gunner Hicks is buried here. The Commission is in the process of producing a special memorial headstone to commemorate him as it is not possible to mark his actual grave.
Further information
His discharge papers awarding him The Silver War Badge state that he enlisted on 4 June 1913 and was discharged because of his wounds on 1 December 1916. This is also stated on the Medal Index. He was aged 18 and 2 months on enlistment which confirms the 1913 date of enlistment. His death is recorded in the civil registration which confirms his civilian status at the time of his death

Reginald Charles Frogley LAWRENCE
Private, 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Army No 255814
He died on active service on 14 November 1917. He was 28
He is buried in grave Xiii F 13 Dozinghem Military Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of James and Martha Lawrence, The Laurels, Uffington. He was born in Shrivenham

Gustavious Henry James POUND
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), 7 Brigade, 3rd Division. Army no 9045
He died on 15 October 1914 from the wounds he received during the Battle of la Bassée. He was 18
He is remembered on panel 33 & 34 of Le Touret Memorial
Additional information
He was the son of Stephen and Caroline Pound who were living in Shrivenham in 1911

Joseph William PRINCE
Private, 8th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Army no 15586.
He was killed in action on 13 October 1915. He was 19
He is remembered on panel 93 to 95 of the Loos Memorial
Additional Information
He was the son of Joseph and Olive Prince, Park View, Shrivenham
His Medal Index card records that he arrived in France on 7 August 1915 which suggests that he had been posted to another battalion


Men of Shrivenham who Fell in WW1 but are not on the War Memorial

Sidney BROWN
Private, 12th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 17 Brigade, 24th Division. Army no 11919
He was killed in action on 8 January 1916. He was 18
He is remembered on panel 6 and 8 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
Additional Information
He was the son of William and Esther Brown, Cowlease Cottages, Shrivenham

Charles Haddon COZENS
Serjeant, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment) Army no 3/9223
He died from his wounds on 13 September 1916. He was 24
He is buried in the east part of the churchyard of St James Church, Bourton
Additional Information
He was the son of the late Edwin and Ellen Cozens of Bishopstone.

Ernest William EBBSWORTH
Private, 8th (Service) Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 1 Brigade, 1st Division. Army no 16155
He was killed in action on 25 September 1915 at the Battle of Loos. He was 20
He is remembered on panel 93 to 95 of the Loos Memorial
Additional Information
He was the son of John and Emily Ebbsworth of Idstone, Shrivenham

Harold Ernest HERRIN
Private, A Company, 11th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, 74 Brigade, 25th Division. Army no 33487. He was formerly Army no. 162453 with the Royal Field Artillery.
He was killed in action on 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. He was 19
He is remembered on panel 33 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
Additional Information
He was the son of William and Selina Ada Herrin, Newtown, Bishopstone.

John PALMER
Private, 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 86 Brigade, 12th Division. Army no 3492
He was killed in action on 18 October 1915 at the Quarries, Hullnuch. He was 30
He is remembered on panel 25 to 27 of the Loos Memorial
Additional Information
He was the son of John Palmer, Ashdown Park, Shrivenham

William John ROUSE
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment) 233 Brigade, 75th Division. Army no 19285
He was killed in action on 23 November 1917 at the Battle of Nabi Samwell. He was 23
He is buried in grave G 28 Jerusalem War Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of William and Annie Rouse, Ridgeway Cottages, Bishopstone, Shrivenham,

Thomas Clement SKURRAY
Serjeant, 6th (Service) Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 53 Division, 18th Division. Army no 10181
He was killed in action on 27 August 1915. He was 35
He is buried in grave II C 8 Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt
Additional Information
He was the son of John and Maria Skurray of Shrivenham and the husband of Mary Seward (formerly Skurray), 36 First Avenue, Garden City, Grimsby.

William James TEMPLE
Private, 4th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, 88 Brigade, 29th Division. Army no 57394
He was killed in action on 30 September 1918 in the final Battle of Ypres. He was 20
He is buried in grave XVI B 16 Hooge Crater Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of David and Mary Ann Temple, Hill Barn, Eastleach, Lechlade. He was born in Shrivenham

Arthur George TILLEY
Corporal, 4th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, 88 Brigade, 29th Division. Army no 31483
He was killed in action on 9 October 1917 in the Battle of Poelcappelle, Ypres. He was 20
He is remembered on panel 75 to 77 of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Additional Information
He was the son of William and Eliza Tilley

Henry Holdsworth WHITEAR
Acting Bombardier, 242nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Army no 111727
He was killed in action on 30 May 1917 near Ypres. He was 38
He is buried in grave I J 15 Dranoutre Military Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of Henry and Ellen Whitear of London and the husband of Jessie Georgina Whitear of Bishopstone, Shrivenham


The Fallen on the memorial from WW2

Victor Harold BENFIELD    MiD
Flight Sergeant, Royal Air Force Service No 550323
He was killed on active service on 19 June 1943. He was 24
He is buried in grave 5318 Selby Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of Thomas Alfred and Dorothy Sarah Benfield of Shrivenham
Further information
At 13.20 hours on 19 June 1943 the bomb load was being prepared for the night's planned operations to le Creusot when a serious explosion happened in RAF Snaith airfield's bomb dump.
A large bomb accidently detonated after it had been armed and the explosion caused the incendiary store nearby to catch fire.
A number of high explosive bombs that had already been fully fuzed for operational use were also caught in the initial blast, some exploded up to 12 hours after the initial explosion. Because the heat from the incendiary fire was intense and the fuzed bombs were fitted with delayed-action fuzes and other with dangerous anti-disturbance devices it was not safe to enter the area for fear of further explosions.
The main LNER railway line was closed and it was left until 09.00 hours the following day before the area was assessed from the air. Wing Commander John Rowlands MBE, a bomb disposal expert, had been at an airfield near Snaith when he saw the explosion. The following day he took up a Tiger Moth to inspect the bomb dump from the air and reported seeing a number of dead in the area but it was deemed that the area was still not safe to enter. It was not until 26 June 1943 that it was considered safe to venture into the bomb dump. 10 bodies were removed; 9 were identified but it was not possible to identify the tenth.
The bodies of a further eight were never found such was the devastation.
Wing Commander Rowlands and Squadron Leader Herbert Apted led the operation to make the area safe, their team then started to clear the area. A large number of bombs were made safe.
The funeral for the ten victims found was held in Selby Abbey on 30 June 1943. The nine killed, identified and with graves are buried in Selby Cemetery are:
Flight Sergeant Victor Harold Benfield MiD RAF no. 550323, age 24, Shrivenham
Aircraftman 2  Joseph Ridley Cousin RAFVR no. 1479455.
Sergeant Ernest David Francis RAF no. 511509, age 31, Rhydyclafdy, Caernarvonshire.
Aircraftman 2 Anthony C O'Donnell RAFVR no. 1600881, age 21, Brockenhurst, Hampshire.
Aircraftman 2 Joseph Edward Powell RAFVR no. 1419217, age 32, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury,
Leading Aircraftman Herbert Rudge RAFVR no. 1011171, age 23, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.
Leading Aircraftman Hugh Smith RAFVR no. 1374424.
Aircraftman 1 Sidney Miller Stubbs RAFVR no. 1312076, age 35, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Leading Aircraftman Robert Menzies Taylor RAFVR no. 1374432, age 35, Aberdeen.

Hubert Victor CLARIDGE
Private, 173 Company, Pioneer Corps, Army no 5392895
He died on active service on 29 October 1944. He was 21
He is buried in grave X 18 41 Brussels Town Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of Harold John and Ellen Louisa Claridge of Shrivenham

George Fitzroy CORDY-SIMPSON
Captain, 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps. Army no. 63553
He was killed in action on 18 April 1945. He was returning to his tank when he was hit by a sniper’s bullet. Just one shot, he was the only casualty. He was 31
He is buried in grave 1 D 1 Becklingen War Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of Captain R and Finorola Cordy-Simpson of Shorne, Kent and the husband of Patricia Cordy-Simpson

Albert James FORTY
Private, 7th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no 5386582
He was killed on active service on 14 September 1944. He was 29
He is buried in grave XVII L 12 Coriano Ridge War Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of Arthur and Elizabeth Forty of Shrivenham and the husband of Elizabeth Forty of Shrivenham.
Further information
Coriano Ridge was the last important ridge in the way of the Allied advance in the Adriatic sector in the autumn of 1944. Its capture was the key to Rimini and the River Po. German parachute and panzer troops, aided by bad weather, resisted all attacks on their positions between 4 and 12 September 1944.
On the night of 12 September the Eighth Army reopened its attack on the Ridge, with the 1st British and 5th Canadian Armoured Divisions.
This attack was successful in taking the Ridge, but marked the beginning of a week of the heaviest fighting experienced since Cassino in May, with daily losses for the Eighth Army of some 150 killed
Record of 7th Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Compiled by Steve Berridge www.lightbobs.com
At 1200 hours. B and D Companies, under command of Major Morgan, put in an attack against Chiesa Nuova and by 1300 hours were firmly established, but still could not clear the reverse slopes. C Company, now complete, was moved up behind A Company to give depth to the position. Throughout the day the whole area was heavily shelled and mortared. B and D Companies' area, in which snipers were a continual nuisance, was the most unpleasant. The operation had produced over 300 prisoners beside equipment, including one 75-mm. with truck and nine 81-cm. mortars. Under the fire of 700 guns the Coriano Ridge had at last been captured. The first phase of the army plan had gone well, but from now on the stubborn resistance of the enemy and the heavy shelling, assisted by the excellent observation
from the flanks, delayed operations. On 14 September, 46 Division advanced behind 56 Division and captured Monte Colombo. The enemy thinned out on Gemmano, which was captured by dawn on 15 September.


Stanley Cyril JUDD
Private, 5th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), 8 Corps. Army no 5577230
He was killed in action on 10 July 1944 in the fighting at Hill 112 which would lead to the liberation of Caen. He was 21
He is buried in grave X E 19 Banneville la Campagne War Cemetery
Additional Information
He was the son of William George and Edith Emily Judd of Shrivenham

Arthur Lionel Boultbee RAVEN
Pilot Officer, 610 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force) RAAF no 91089
He died on active service on 8 July 1940
He is remembered on panel 9 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional information
He appears on the Canadian Memorials but they do not give any personal information about him or his family. He does not appear in British birth registrations
Further information
On 8 July 1940, 32 and 610 Squadrons were assigned to maintain section strength convoy escorts. While attacking a formation of 9 Dormier 215s, some 10 miles off Dover, Pilot Officer Arthur L B Raven's Hurricane (R6806T) was hit and set on fire.
Arthur Raven managed to ditch his aircraft and was seen in the water. With no dinghy and wearing a sea-green mae west, it proved impossible to spot him again in the choppy waters of the Channel.
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