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Wootton in the Church and churchyard of St Mary the Virgin

Picture
The seven wooden Grave markers in alpha order are:

235049 L/CPL G CLIFFORD OX & BUCKS 20-12 -17
1592 PTE T FIELD 1-4TH OXFORD & BUCKS L I 22 7 16
IN MEMORY OF 2ND LT J D MARRIOTT THE CAMERONIANS
KILLED IN ACTION 26 9 1917
CAPTAIN A W N PONSONBY 2ND OXFORD AND BUCKS LIGHT INFY 8TH SEPTEMBER 1915
2/LIEUT S J STEVENS 5 OX & BUCKS 10-4-17
211120 GNR H VARNEY D/ 64TH BDE HB R F A 18 SEPT 1917
9945 PTE A WASHBROOK 5TH BN OX & BUCKS L I 24 8 16
RIP In Memory of MAJOR J F WILKINSON MC
54 BATTERY RFA Killed in Action 30 10 18

The marble wall plaque is inscribed

NONE UNTIMELY DIE WHO DIE FOR ENGLAND
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND
IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF 
WOOTTON WHO DIED FOR
THEIR COUNTRY IN THE 
GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919
AND FOR
THOSE  WHO DIED IN THE 
WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945
Picture
In the left panel

Oxfordshire Yeomanry
CPL JOHN CLIFFORD
PTE REGINALD BUGGINS
Oxford & Bucks Light Infy
CAPT ERNEST DASHWOOD
CAPT ASHLEY PONSONBY
2ND LIEUT JAMES STEVENS
COY SGT MAJ JESSE GUBBINS
SERGT GEORGE MORRIS
PTE HENRY BOWLER
“ JAMES BROOKS
“ TOM DAY
“ THOMAS FIELD
“ HERBERT HOARE
“ WALTER SHAYLER
“ LEWIS STROUD
“ ALBERT WASHBROOK
“ JAMES VARNEY 
Canadian Mounted Rifles
PTE VICTOR BARNES
Picture
In the right panel
Royal Marine Arty
PTE WILFRID DAWSON
Herts Yeomanry
PTE WILLIAM BARNARD
Royal Field Arty
BTY SGT MAJ EDWARD JOINES
GUNR HARRY VARNEY
Royal Warwickshire Regt
PTE WILLIAM DRINWATER
PTE WILLIAM MOSS
Lancashire Fusiliers
PTE WILLIAM TOOLEY
The Cameronians
2ND LIEUT. JOHN MARRIOT
West Riding Regiment
PTE ROBERT HARRIS
Middlesex Regt
PTE ROBERT HEDGES
London Scottish
PTE GEORGE TIDMARSH
Picture
Left and Bottom panel for WW2
Royal Navy
L/SEA FRANK MILLS
O/SEAEDWARD HENRY MOSS
Royal Air Force
SGT J DOUGLAS NEVITT
Picture
Right and Bottom panel for WW2
Royal Artillery
CAPT J REGINALD JONES
GR FRANK WILLIAM BRAIN
Coldstream Guards
LT JOHN ASLEY PONSONBY
Picture
A marble plaque
TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF
JOHN GEORGE CLIFFORD
OF HORDLEY
WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION
AT PASCHENDAELE 20TH DEC
1917 AGED 20 & WAS BURIED 
IN THE NORTHERN CEMETERY
AT YPRES
HE JOINED THE QOOH IN
1915 AND WAS TRANSFERRED
TO THE 5TH BATTN OXFORD 
AND BUCKS LI IN 1917
Picture
​A stained Glass Window inscribed
In proud memory
Ashley William Neville Ponsonby
Capt 52nd Light Infantry who gave
His life for his country at Givenchy
In France 8th Sept 1915
Picture
Picture
A carved plaque
All that he had 
he gave
REMEMBER
JOHN DOUGLAS MARRIOTT
2ND LIEUT CAMERONIANS
WHO AFTER A HAPPY BOYHOOD
SPENT AT WOOTTON FELL
IN BATTLE NEAR YPRES
26 SEPT 1917 AGED 19
Picture
Bronze plaque inscribed
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ERNEST GEORGE DASHWOOD
OF LUDWELL FARM IN THIS PARISH,
CAPTAIN 4TH BN OXON AND BUCKS L I
KILLED IN ACTION MAY 12TH 1915
AND BURIED IN PLOEGSTEERT WOOD
FLANDERS – AGED 35 YEARS
Picture
​A wooden plaque
IN THANKFULNESS TO GOD FOR A MOST PRECIOUS
GIFT AND IN MEMORY OF A DEAR SON
JAMES FISCHER WILKINSON MC
MAJOR 54TH BATTERY ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY HE FOUGHT IN FRANCE FOR FOUR YEARS WITH THE FIRST DIVISION IN THE GREAT WAR AND WAS KILLED IN BATTLE AT CATILLON 29 OCTR 1918    AGED 23
WE FALL TO RISE ARE BAFFLED TO FIGHT BETTER
SLEEP TO WAKE
Picture
In the Churchyard there is a stone cross WITH A SUN DIAL inscribed
PRO
PATRIA 
1914-1919
AS THE SUNNY HOURS DIRECT
OUR THOUGHTS ABOVE SO
THE LIVES OF VALIANT MEN
LEAD US TO HIM WHO IS
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Picture
Picture
The Fallen from WW1

William John BARNARD
Private, Herts Yeomanry.  Army no. 2413 
He died on active service at sea on 8 July 1916. He was 19
He was the son of William and Edith Barnard
He is remembered on panel 3 of the Basra Memorial 
Additional Information
I cannot find a reference to explain why he is on the Basra Memorial and yet died at sea. The Basra Memorial was until 1997 situated in a Dockyard
Birth place: East Hagbourne, Berkshire
Residence: Woodstock
Enlistment Location: Hertford

Frederick Victor BARNES
Private, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regiment) Battalion.  Army no. 443885 
He died on 4 June 1916. He was 24. 
He was the son of William and Emma C Barnes of Glympton 
He is buried in grave V E 1 Étaples Military Cemetery 
Additional Information
Étaples was a major hospital centre therefore it is probable that he died from his wounds.
His Canadian Attestation papers record that he was an orchardist.

Henry BOWLER 
On the Memorial it is clear that he was a Private in The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
There is no military record of his death but there is a civil record stating that Henry Bowler, age 43 died in the quarter ending 30 June 1919 and the death was registered in the Woodstock Registration District
His Medal Card shows that he served in:
The Suffolk Regiment Army no. 4802    
The Gloucestershire Regiment, Army no. 241515
And The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 238089
He was discharged because of his wounds and awarded the Silver War Badge. This was awarded on 13 July 1919 after his death. 

James BROOKS
Private, 4th Reserve Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 202017
He died on 17 June 1918. He was 39
He was the son of Thomas and Emily Brooks of Wootton.
He is buried in the Churchyard of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wootton 
Additional Information
Birth Place: Wootton 
Enlistment Location: Oxford
Residence: Wootton 

Reginald BUGGINS 
Private, Oxfordshire Yeomanry (Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars) Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line.  Army no. 285783
He died of his wounds on 2 November 1917. He was 22
He was the son of Frederick and Annie Buggins, Ivy House, Wootton 
He is buried in grave P III S 2B St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen 
Additional Information 
Birth Place: Wootton
Residence: Wootton

John George CLIFFORD
Lance Corporal, 5th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.  Army no. 235049. He was formerly with the Oxfordshire Yeomanry (Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars). Army no. 2786.  
He died on 20 December 1917 of the wounds he received at Passchendaele. He was 20     
He was the son of Arthur John and Elizabeth A O Clifford, Manor Farm, Wootton and previously of Hordley, Woodstock.
He is buried in grave IV B 11 Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 
Additional Information 
A plaque in the Church records that he was buried in the northern cemetery at Ypres

Ernest George DASHWOOD
Captain, 1st/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 145 Brigade, 48th (South Midlands) Division
He was killed in action on 12 May 1915 shortly after the regiment had arrived in Belgium. He was 35.
Five sons of Sir George J E Dashwood, 6th Bart. and Lady Mary M Dashwood served in WW1. Three were killed Ernest, Lionel and Wilfred. Robert and Henry survived.
He is buried in grave III F 2 Cemetery, Rifle House Cemetery, near Ploegsteert, Belgium
Additional information
His address for Probate was Ludwell Farm, Woodstock which is repeated in the plaque in Wootton Church. The plaque also records that he was buried in Ploegsteert Wood. His name also appears on the Kirtlington Memorial

Wilfrid G DAWSON 
Private, Royal Marine Artillery HQ (Eastney).  RM no. RMA/2137(S) 
He died on 5 December 1916. He was 19 
He was the son of Herbert and Jane Elizabeth Dawson of Wootton.
He is buried in the Churchyard of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wootton 

Tom DAY 
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 145 Brigade, 48th Division. Army no. 200639
He was killed in action on 15 June 1918 in the Battle of Asiago when the Austrians attacked the British, French and Italian line. He was 25
He was the son of John and Susannah Day of Wootton
He is buried in plot 2 row B grave 14, Boscon British Cemetery, near Asiago, Italy
Additional Information
Residence: Wootton
Enlistment Location: Oxford

Willie DRINKWATER
Private, 14th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 13 Brigade, 5th Division. Army no 1468 
He was killed in action on 23 July 1916 in the attacks on High Wood in the Battle of the Somme. He was 28 
He was the son of Harry and Hannah Drinkwater, Castle Hill, Wootton
He is buried in grave IX K 32 Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval 
Additional Information
Born: Wootton
Enlisted: Birmingham
Residence: Cape Hill, Birmingham
On the Bletchington memorial it says he was in the Worcestershire Regiment
The Wootton memorial says The Warwickshire Regiment 

Thomas Alfred John FIELD
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 145 Brigade, 48th Division. Army no. 1592 
He died from his wounds on 22 July 1916 received during the Battle of the Somme. He was 21 
He was the son of Fredrick and Sarah Field of Wootton 
He is buried in grave I F 46 Puchevillers British Cemetery 
Additional Information
Born: Banbury
Enlisted: Woodstock

Jesse GUBBINS         MM
Company Quartermaster Sergeant, D Company, 7th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 78 Brigade, 26th Division. Army no. 9699 
He died on 29 October 1918. He was 40 
He was the son of Henry and Harriett Gubbins of Wootton and the husband of Edith Gubbins, 26 Pembroke Street, Swindon 
He is buried in grave 701 Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece

Robert William HARRIS
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 12 Brigade, 4th Division. Army no. 26037
He was killed in action on 10 October 1917 in the fighting around Ypres. He was 22
He was the son of William James and Alice Mary Harris, 1 Somerset Villas, New Marston, Oxford.
He is remembered on panel 82 to 85 and 162A of the Tyne Cot Memorial 
Additional Information 
Birth Place: Wootton
Residence: Woodstock
Enlistment Location: London

Robert Alfred HEDGES
Private, 23rd Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), 123 Brigade, 41st Division. Army no. F/2392
He was killed in action on 15 September 1916 in the Battle of Flers Courcelette. He was 35
He was the son of Emily and the late James Hedges
He is remembered on pier and face 12D and 13B of the Thiepval Memorial 
Additional Information 
Birth Place: Tackley
Residence: Woodstock
Enlistment Location: Aldershot

Herbert HOARE
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 14th Division. Army no. 20981
He was killed in action on 28 April 1917. He was 30
He was the son of the Sarah and the late James Hoare 
He is remembered on bay 6 and 7 of the Arras Memorial 
Additional Information 
Birth Place: Wootton
Residence: Wootton  
Enlistment Location: Oxford

Edward George JOINES
Sergeant, B Battery, 84th Army Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Division. Army no. 12614
He was killed in action on 17 August 1917 near Arras. He was 34
He was the son of the late Mr and Mrs Charles Joines, 67 Rock Hill, Chipping Norton and the husband of Laura Mabel Joines, 5 Church Lane, Bicester,
He is buried in grave I B 39 Bleuet Farm Cemetery
Additional Information
Birth Place: Chipping Norton 
Enlistment Location: London

John Douglas MARRIOTT 
Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 19 Brigade, 33rd Division.
He was killed in action on 26 September 1917 at the Battle of Polygon Wood near Ypres. He was 19.
He was the son of the Rev. Frank Ransome Marriott, Rector of Wootton and his wife Maud Georgina Marriott
He is buried in grave IX A 7 Hooge Crater Cemetery

George Henry Hedges MORRIS
Sergeant, 6th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 60 Brigade, 20th Division. Army no. 13844
He was killed in action on 3 September 1916 at the Battle of Guillemont, Somme. He was 21.
He was the son of Elizabeth J Oliver formerly Morris of Wootton
He is buried in grave VI B 6 Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont
Additional Information
Birth Place: Wootton  
Residence: Wootton
Enlistment Location: Oxford

William MOSS 
Private, 2nd/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 182 Brigade, 61st Division.  Army no.  28874
He was killed in action on 31 March 1918 on the Somme. He was 34
He was the son of Philip and Harriet Moss of Wootton
He is remembered on panel 18 and 19 of the Pozières Memorial
Additional Information 
Enlistment Location: Woodstock 

Ashley William Neville PONSONBY 
Captain, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division
He was killed in action at Givenchy on 8 September 1915. He was 34
He was the son of the Hon. Edwin Charles William and the late Emily Dora Ponsonby, Woodleys, Woodstock.
He is buried in grave II D 1 Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy

Walter SHAYLER 
Private, 6th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 60 Brigade, 20th Division. Army no. 13516
He was killed in action on 3 September 1916 in the fighting at Delville Wood. He was 21
He was the son of Henry and Jane Shayler, Union Square, Wootton
He is remembered on pier and face 10A and 10D of the Thiepval Memorial
Additional Information 
Born: Wootton
Residence: Wootton
Enlistment Location: Oxford

James STEVENS 
Second Lieutenant, 5th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 42 Brigade, 14th Division.
He was killed in action on 9 April 1917 during the Battle of the Scarpe. He was 26.
He was the son of Henry Thomas and Emma Stevens of Wootton.
He is buried in grave III F 5 Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines

Lewis STROUD 
Private, 6th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 60 Brigade, 20th Division.  Army no. 20979
He was killed in action at the Battle of Delville Wood on 3 September 1916. He was 29
He was the son of Henry and Harriot Stroud and the husband of Kate Winifred Stroud, Castle Road, Wootton
He is remembered on pier and face 10A and 10D of the Thiepval Memorial
Additional Information
Birth Place: Wootton
Residence: Wootton
Enlistment Location: Oxford

George TIDMARSH 
Private, 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish) London Regiment. Army no. 6294
He was killed in action near Arras on 23 October 1916. He was 29
He was the son of Charles and Eliza Tidmarsh of Wootton
He is buried in grave III J 11 Maroeuil British Cemetery
Additional Information
Residence: Woodstock
Enlistment Location: London

William Henry TOOLEY
Private, 3rd/5th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, 197 Brigade, 66th Division. Army no. 39102 
He was killed in action on 17 November 1917. He was 34 
He was the husband of Rose Ellen Tooley of Enstone,
He is buried in grave V C 7 Oxford Road Cemetery in Belgium
Additional Information
Birth Place: Wootton 
Enlistment Location: Newbury

Harry Coleman VARNEY
Gunner, D Battery, 64th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. Army no. 211120
He was killed in action on 18 September 1917. He was 30
He was the son of Arthur and Mary Ann Varney of Wootton and the husband of Edith Varney
He is buried in grave IX G 28 Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery
Additional Information
Residence: Woodstock 
Enlistment Location: Woodstock

James Lawrence VARNEY 
Private, 5th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 42 Brigade, 14th Division.  Army no. 22135
He was killed in action on 30 July 1916. He was 20.
He was the son of Arthur and Mary Ann Varney of Wootton.
He is buried in grave XXV C 3 Serre Road Cemetery no. 2
Additional Information
Birth Place: Wooton
Residence: Wootton
Location: Woodstock

Albert WASHBROOK 
Private, 5th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 42 Brigade, 14th Division.  Army no. 9945
He was killed in action at the Battle of Delville Wood on 24 August 1916. He was 22.
He was the son of William and Alice Washbrook, Castle Road, Wootton
He is buried in grave III G 7 Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval
Additional Information
Birth Place: Wootton
Residence: Hatfield
Enlistment Location: Oxford

In the Church there is a wooden plaque and a grave marker for:

James Fischer WILKINSON  MC
Major, 54 Battery, 39th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
He died from his wounds on 29 October 1918. He was 23
He was the son of Alfred Maximilian Wilkinson and Ione Mary Wilkinson of Wittersham, Kent.
He is buried in grave A 40 Communal Cemetery Extension La Vallée Mulatre
Additional Information
This is unusual in several ways
He does not appear on the memorial but the plaque is very personal referring to " a most precious gift and in memory of a dear son" and the presence of the grave marker also implies a strong family connection with the Church. The presence of the plaque and the grave marker can only have been provided by his parents. 
What we know is that his Father was born in Honk Kong and his Mother in India. Father was a teacher in Eastbourne in 1911 and their son was born there 16 years earlier. Father died in 1948 in Devon leaving a significant sum of money. His wife had died 6 years earlier
What we do know about James Wilkinson is that he was educated at Sandroyd School, Cobham, Harrow, (he was a boarder there in the 1911 Census) and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
He was posted to France from 31 10 1914
His address for Probate was Top Hill Cottage, Wittersham, Kent.
My best guess is that Alfred and Ione moved to Wootton and he was a School Master in the area
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