The Men of Datchworth who fell in the World Wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45

The war memorial at All Saints Church, Datchworth carries the names of those men who died in service of their country during the World Wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45. Details of their lives and circumstances of their deaths, where known, are commemorated here in order that ... We shall remember them.

(This information was researched and first compiled by Malcolm Tebbutt in 2014 and has since been updated.)

STANLEY WILLIAM ARNOLD

Born in 1899 a Datchworth boy, Stanley Arnold was the son of Thomas and Annie Arnold and lived at Bridge Foot in Brookbridge Lane with his two younger brothers, Arthur and Reginald and two younger sisters, Evelyn and Dorothy. He signed up with the Lincolnshire Regiment towards the end of the War along with John Bennett, went to France and was killed almost immediately “going over the top”. His death came tragically close to the end of the War on 5th September 1918 when he was only 19. His grave is in the Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery in France (only a few miles from the grave of his friend, John Bennett) and a rose was placed on it in May 2014. Stanley’s niece, Angela Hopkins still holds his personal effects as found on the body and returned to his family. He is also Stanley William Arnold's Gravestone remembered by his nephew, Stephen Arnold.

In Memory of

Private

S W Arnold

42804 , 7th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 05 September 1918 Age 19

Son of T. W. and Annie Arnold, of Bridge Foot, Datchworth, , Herts.

Remembered with Honour Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension

Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery

Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery

Stanley's Medal Record JOHN BENNETT The son of George and Florence Bennett of Burnham Green, John had two brothers and two sisters. He must have signed up with the Lincolnshire Regiment along with his schoolfriend, Stanley Arnold towards the end of the War. Their Regimental numbers are only 11 apart. John lasted even less time in the trenches than his friend, dying on 28th March 1918. His body now lies in the Hermies Hill British Cemetery, just a few miles away from Stanley’s grave in Lebucquiere. As well as the usual personal details, the gravestone also bears a special message from John’s family “Not lost but gone before”. A rose was placed on his grave in May 2014. John’s younger brother, Edward, always known as Ted, lived in Burnham Green for many years after the War.

Close up of John Bennett's Gravestone

John Bennett's Gravestone

Entrance to Hermies Hill British Cemetery In Memory of

Private

John Bennett

42815 , 7th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 10 March 1918 Age 19

Son of George and Florence Bennett, of Burnham Green, , Herts.

Remembered with Honour Hermies Hill British Cemetery

REGINALD ERNEST CAMPKIN Born on 21 February 1891, in Brixton, London, Reggie was a ten-year-old schoolboy living at Jersey Lodge in Bulls Mill on the River Beane between Waterford and Stapleford with his parents, Ronald and Minnie Campkin at the time of the 1901 census. His grandparents, Thomas and Emily Campkin (and Aunt Olive and Uncle Thomas) lived at the adjoining farm at Waterford Hall. At the time of the next census in April 1911, Reggie had started work in the theatre and was boarding with a family of theatre workers in Wimbledon, whilst his parents were living in Addison Road, Bedford Park. By 1912, at the age of 21, he had become a Theatrical Manager, probably at the New Wimbledon Theatre, which opened on 26 December 1910 and, in October of that year, Reggie married Hilda Hargreaves in All Souls Church, Marylebone. Reggie is recorded as living at his parents’ Bedford Park address

on his marriage record.

The couple went on to have two little girls, Joan and Hilda. Reggie fought with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers as a Second Lieutenant number 765220. In August 1914, the 4th Battalion was amongst the very first British forces to land in France after the declaration of war and they went on to take up position on the canal bank at Mons in Belgium. Reginald was killed in action on March 28th, 1918 at the age of 27. A family story says he was shot by a sharpshooter on the Vimy Ridge, which is just to the north of Arras and the site of several memorials, including the gigantic Canadian Memorial and one to the Newfoundland volunteers who Reggie, Hilda and their daughters, Joan and Hilda were nearly wiped out there.

As he has no known grave, he is remembered on the Arras Memorial in Northern France, and a rose was placed below his entry on the memorial in May 2014. His name is very high up, so the rose could not be placed alongside it.

A rose placed beneath it

Reggie's name high up on the Arras Memorial

Reggie’s Military Medal record (see below) is interesting. It seems to say that his Victory Arras Cemetery and Memorial Medal was found by the Police on 5th December 1922 in Hove, Sussex and returned to the authorities. Could that medal still be held for the next of kin? Reginald’s granddaughter, Sheila Stonehill, now lives in Surrey.

And finally, what is the Datchworth connection? According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Reggie’s parents, Ronald and Minnie were living at “The Limes” in Datchworth when Reggie was killed, so it is thought they would have asked for his name to be added.

Arras Memorial In Memory of

Second Lieutenant

Reginald Ernest Campkin

4 th Bn., London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) who died on 28 March 1918

Son of Ronald W. and Minnie A. Campkin, of The Limes, Datchworth, Herts.

Remembered with Honour Arras Memorial

WILLIAM ELLIS William Ellis was a 16 year old farm labourer living with his Auntie Mary and various cousins in Burnham Green at the time of the 1911 Census. One of the cousins was Joshua Threader, who lived in Bramfield Road, Datchworth for many years. They had all moved here as a family from Water End Farm, , where William was born. Like several local people, he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and died at the age of only 25 on 6 April 1918. His body lies in the Gommecourt British Cemetery No 2, in Hebuterne near Arras in Northern France and a rose was placed on the grave in May 2014.

Gommecourt British Cemetery

William Ellis' Gravestone

In Memory of

Private

W Ellis

15706 , 6th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 06 April 1918 Age 25

Remembered with Honour Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne

CHARLES WILLIAM FRANCIS Born in Bermondsey, the son of a brewers Drayman, he was known as William Francis to avoid confusion with his father, Charles. His mother, Elizabeth died when he was still quite young and his father is a widower by the time of the 1901 Census. The family moved from Bermondsey to Hooks Cross, where they ran the Three Horseshoes Pub before the War. Charles joined the Rifle Brigade well before the War on 28 January 1903 at the age of 18. His Service record shows he measured 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 8 stone at that time. He would have been one of the first to go to War as part of the Expeditionary Force and was the first death amongst all those remembered on the Datchworth War Memorial, having fallen at Ypres on 26 April 1915. He is remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres, no known grave being identified for him. A rose was placed alongside his name on the Menin Gate in May 2014.

Menin Gate, Ypres Charles’ name on the Menin Gate

In Memory of

Rifleman

Charles William Francis

9654 , 1st Bn., Rifle Brigade who died on 26 April 1915 Age 31

Son of Charles Francis, of Hook's Cross, Watton at Stone, , and the late Elizabeth Francis.

Remembered with Honour Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

THOMAS GEORGE GRIFFIN

Born the son of John and Emily Griffin in Watton at Stone in 1897, Thomas was living at the Wharfing Cottages in Stapleford (aged 4) at the time of the 1901 census with his parents, three older brothers and three older sisters. By the age of 14 in 1911, he was living with his sister, Edith and her husband, Fred in Essendon, where he worked as a farm labourer. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment with his older brother, Fred, whose service number was 12871, only 25 before Thomas. Whilst Fred survived the War to draw a pension, Thomas died aged 21 on 23 April 1917. His name is listed on the Arras Memorial in northern France, as well as on the Datchworth War Memorial and the Howardsgate War Memorial in . A rose was laid at the foot of the panel on which his name appeared (high up) on the Arras Memorial in May 2014.

In Memory of

Private

Thomas G. Griffin

12896 , 4th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 23 April 1917

Remembered with Honour Arras Memorial

WILLIAM HIPGRAVE

Born in Burnham Green in 1888, the son of cowman, Henry Hipgrave, William was a twelve-year-old schoolboy living in Burnham Green Lane with two younger brothers, Robert and Walter, two younger sisters, Mabel and Mary and an older sister, Emily at the time of the April 1901 Census. The following year, he had another brother, Herbert, who went on to live in White Horse Lane, Burnham Green later in life. William’s younger brother, Walter served in the Machine Gun Corps and was repatriated to to hospital on October 2, 1918 while William was still fighting. This must have been a shock to his large family. But worse was to come. William, who had joined the Norfolk Regiment, was killed tragically in the “final push” on 23rd October 1918, only two weeks before the end of the War. This news would have come just as the family were concerned about the fate of Walter, whose Service Record shows he died in hospital of Meningitis on 30th August 1919. Whilst Walter’s name does not appear on the War Memorial, nevertheless, he has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission gravestone in the west part of the Datchworth All Saints graveyard. Both William and Walter were awarded the Victory medal posthumously. William’s name appears on the Memorial at Vis en Artois in Northern France and a rose was

William Hipgrave's name on the Vis en Artois Memorial laid near his name in May 2014.

Vis en Artois War Memorial and Cemetery

Walter's Gravestone in Datchworth All Saints Churchyard In Memory of

Private

William Charles Hipgrave

39325 , 9th Bn., Norfolk Regiment who died on 23 October 1918

Remembered with Honour Vis-En-Artois Memorial

JOHN LISLES Jack Lisles, as he was known, was a farm labourer living with his widowed mother in Hollybush Cottages at the time of the 1911 census, only a few doors away from Bert Scales (another casualty of the War). He later moved to where he enlisted with the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He was near Cecil Tyler when Cecil was killed on 14th August 1916 as, according to Alan Tyler, he wrote a letter of sympathy to Cecil’s Mother. Tragically, Jack himself died only 6 weeks later on 28th September 1916. He must have returned home wounded, as he is one of only two First World War casualties listed on the Datchworth War Memorial, who are actually buried in the All Saints Churchyard. His grave is John Lisles Gravestone in Datchworth All Saints Churchyard. under a tree against the western boundary of the churchyard and bears a special message requested by his family: “NOTHING IN MY HANDS I BRING. SIMPLY TO THY CROSS I CLING.” He is also commemorated on the Hitchin War Memorial In Memory of

Private

J Lisles

16930 , 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 28 September 1916 Age 28

Son of Mrs. Lisles, of 9, Brampton Park Rd., Hitchin.

Remembered with Honour Datchworth (All Saints) Churchyard

ARTHUR MEDHURST Born in Islington in 1882, Arthur moved to Datchworth with his mother, Pamela and brother, Harry. In 1891, he was living in Govers Green with his mother, brother, stepfather, Henry Wray, step brothers Alfred and Frederick and stepsister Emily. By 1911, he had moved to New Southgate, aged 30 where he was working as a Greengrocer and living with his stepsister, Emily who is by now married to George Rowe. Arthur signed up with the 11th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. In 1917 they were in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood and the Cambrai Operations. Arthur died on 17th April 1917 aged 36, one of the older casualties. He was buried in the Etretat Churchyard Extension in Etretat near Le Havre, France. British No1 General Hospital was established in Etretat, so it is likely Arthur was wounded (or otherwise sick) before he died, as there was little or no fighting here. A Rose was placed on his grave in September 2014 by Beverely Tapper.

Arthur Medhurst’s Grave Etretat Cemetery Extension In Memory of

Private

A Medhurst

S/8089, 11th Bn., Rifle Brigade who died on 07 April 1917

Remembered with Honour Etretat Churchyard Extension

HERBERT SCALES Herbert (usually know as Bert) was born in Datchworth, the son of ploughman and general farm labourer, Richard Scales and his wife Ann. He had a younger brother, Fred an older sister Beatrice and older brothers, William, Richard and Alfred. The family lived at Hollybush Cottages in Datchworth, just round the corner from Sarah Scales, Bert’s Grandmother. Herbert had just left school when the Census was taken in April 1911. He joined the 21st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and died at the age of just 20 on 4th October 1917. He is one of the many for whom no grave exists, as the body was lost in battle. However his name is remembered both on the Datchworth War Memorial and on the Great Tyne Cot Memorial in Flanders.

In Memory of

Lance Corporal

Herbert Scales

51530 , 21st Bn., Manchester Regiment who died on 04 October 1917 Age 20

Son of Richard and Arm Scales, of Holly Bush Cottages, Datchworth, Stevenage, Herts.

Remembered with Honour Tyne Cot Memorial

WALTER SHADBOLT Christened in on 14 November 1886, Walter Shadbolt lived in Tewin with his parents, Arthur and Elizabeth and a large family of brothers and sisters. He had four older brothers, William, Ronald, Henry and Ernest, one older sister, Annie, two younger brothers, Joseph and Bertie and two younger sisters, Edith and Bessie. Quite a family! Before the War, he worked in the Watercress fields alongside the B1000 and in 1913, at the age of 24, he married Rosetta Willsher. From this rather idyllic sounding life, he joined the Northants Regiment (number 203126) and later moved to the Machine Gun Corps. He died on 31st July 1917 aged 30. His wife remarried after his death and lived at Bridgefoot Villa in Datchworth. But she saw to it that his name was listed on the Datchworth War Memorial. His name appears on a family gravestone in Tewin St Peters churchyard and he is also honoured on an elevated panel (56) of the Menin Gate at Ypres. A rose was placed at the foot of the panel in May 2014.

Walter's name on panel 56 of the Menin Gate Rose placed at the foot of the panel

Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres

1Shadbolt Family gravestone in Datchworth churchyard

In Memory of

Private

Walter Shadbolt

102351, 165 th Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) who died on 31 July 1917 Age 30

Son of Arthur and Elizabeth Shadbolt, of Fewin, Hertford; husband of Rosetta Croft (formerly Shadbolt), of Bridgefoot Villa, Datchworth, Stevenage, Herts.

Remembered with Honour Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

ALBERT TYLER The son of Charles Tyler, a Datchworth Railway plate layer, Albert had two older brothers, George and Edward. He was married in 1906 to Alice Mary Ewington of Burnham Green and they were living in Watton Lane, Datchworth at the time of the 1911 Census with their three children, Albert John aged 5, Ernest William aged 3 and Gladys Amy aged 1. Albert went off to War with the First Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment and died on 16 March 1917. He now lies buried in the Cambrin Military Cemetery in northern France. After his death, he was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and the 1915 Star (for service in France and Flanders).

In Memory of

Private

A Tyler

13633 , 1st Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 16 March 1917

Husband of Alice Mary Tyler, of Datchworth Green, Herts.

Remembered with Honour Cambrin Military Cemetery

TYLER CECIL The son of William and Dinah Tyler of Burnham Green, Cecil was still at school at the age of 13 and living in Burnham Green with his two sisters and five brothers when the 1911 Census was taken. He followed his brothers, Ted and Ernie (who joined the Leicestershire Regiment) and Lewis (who joined the Bedfordshires) and went off to War in the 7th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. Albert Tyler (also on the Memorial) was, in fact, not closely related to them. There is a story that Lewis met Ted and Ernie in the Trenches and the story made the British Newspapers, but the news story has not yet been found. Cecil’s parents were to receive the terrible news of his death at the age of only 19. John Lisles (also on the Datchworth Memorial) wrote to Cecil’s Mother when Cecil was killed. Cecil now lies in Northern France in the Ration Farm Military Cemetery at La Chapelle d’Armentieres. His brothers, Ted, Ernie and Lewis survived the War. Cecil’s grave is unusual in that it does not just record the usual bare details of name, rank, regiment number and date of death. His parents selected the following personal message, which is engraved at the foot of his stone: “Thy will be done. ‘Tis hard to say, when those you love are called away. Mother and Dad”

In Memory of

Private

C Tyler

22868 , 7th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 14 August 1916 Age 19

Son of William and Dinah Tyler, of Burnham Green, Welwyn, Herts.

Remembered with Honour Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-D'armentieres

ROBERT FRANCIS BROWNSELL

The son of Charles and Amy Brownsell of Burnham Green, Robert Brownsell was born in 1917 and grew up a keen footballer, playing for the renowned Burnham Green Football Club before the War. He is listed in the Football Club Minutes as playing in the 1937/38 season, when they played in the Hertford and District Junior League (1st Division), the Welwyn Garden City Hospital Cup, Nursing Cup and the Graphic Cup. It is not known for sure whether he was playing when the team won the Welwyn Garden City Hospital Cup for the first time in 1938

Soon after, he joined the First Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment as a Private. He was the only member of Burnham Green Football Club not to return from the War. He was killed in action in Germany tragically near to the end of the War on 1st March 1945, little knowing that VE Day was just two months away. Robert is now buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Nordrhein- Westfalen, Germany, just the German side of the Dutch border. As well as being remembered on the Datchworth War Memorial, his name is also engraved on a family gravestone in the Datchworth churchyard.

In Memory of

Private

Robert Francis Brownsell

5950906, 1 st Bn., East Lancashire Regiment who died on 01 March 1945 Age 27

Son of Charles and Amy Ethel Brownsell, of Burnham Green, .

Remembered with Honour Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

Leonard Cranwell

Born in Hertfordshire in 1922, Leonard Cranwell was only 16 when the Second World War started. However, he married his sweetheart, Lilian Ive in Islington early in 1944 before being posted, with the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, to the Middle East in 1945, when the 2nd Battalion, went to Palestine as Britain's Imperial Strategic Reserve.

Most people think the War ended in 1945, but the tension in the Middle East continued and, even after the VE Day and VJ Day festivities, when most other soldiers were getting back to normal life at home, Leonard, at the age of only 23, was shot by a sniper in Bethlehem Road, Jerusalem on 29th July 1946.

Leonard’s wife was never to see him again and he now lies buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery in Gaza, out of reach of all but the most determined relatives.

Without a copy of his Birth Certificate or Census records of the period, we do not yet know what the Datchworth connection was. However, it seems likely that his parents lived in or near Datchworth and are responsible for getting his name added to the Memorial.

Ramleh War Cemetery, Gaza In Memory of

Corporal

Leonard William Cranwell

5961179, 2 nd Bn., Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry who died on 29 July 1946 Age 23

Husband of Lilian Gladys Cranwell, of Islington, London.

Remembered with Honour Ramleh War Cemetery

Herbert Mark Miller

We have very little information regarding Herbert Mark Miller (whose full name appears on the War Memorial). The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who have very extensive and generally reliable records, report that a Herbert Miller was Corporal 5950434 in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and that he died on 2 January 1941. The Death Certificate issued by the Public Record Office shows that the person who died on 2 January 1941 was, in fact Herbert Cecil Miller, aged 21. Herbert Cecil Miller was born on 4th October 1919, son of Herbert Mark Miller, the Datchworth village Blacksmith and his wife, Alice Edith May Miller née Anderson who were living at 33 Council Cottages in 1939. Herbert Cecil Miller’s Death Certificate records that he was in the Home Guard (Home Forces) and actually died in Hertford County Hospital after an accidental collision between his bicycle and a private motor car. Unfortunately, Herbert Cecil’s father, Herbert Mark Miller died in 1954, so cannot be the person listed on the Memorial. So we are no nearer finding the Herbert Mark Miller who is listed on the Datchworth Memorial. This one is down to us. We promised to remember our war dead. So far, we have failed with Herbert Mark Miller. I have checked with George Miller of Bulls Green and he knows of no family connection. Can YOU help?????

In Memory of

Private

Herbert Miller

5950434, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment who died on 02 January 1941

Remembered with Honour Datchworth (All Saints) Churchyard

Roy Frederick Benson Temperley

Born in c1920, Roy lived in the Old Pound House in Hollybush Lane prior to the War with his parents, Frederick and Mary and joined the Volunteer Reserve of the RAF. He was assigned as a Pilot Officer to Bomber Command. According to the Bomber Command website, bombing raids were taking place by day at this time over Heligoland. Four Blenheim Bombers (out of six) failed to return on 26th August 1941 and daylight bombing of Germany was temporarily stopped.

Roy was probably on one of these planes.

The newspaper articles below bring to life the anxiety his parents, Frederick and Mary must have gone through as they learned first, that he was missing in action; then that he had been killed.

Roy’s body now lies in the Rheinberg War Cemetery about 85km north of Koln and a memorial has been placed in the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Memorial to RFB Temperley at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. In Memory of

Pilot Officer Pilot

Roy Frederick Benson Temperley

61986 , 50 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 25 August 1941 Age 20

Son of Frederick Henry and Mary Joyce Temperley, of Datchworth, Hertfordshire.

Remembered with Honour Rheinberg War Cemetery

First World War Medals

1914 Star

The 1914 Star was instituted in 1917 for service ashore in France and Flanders between 5 August and 22 November 1914. In 1919 a clasp bearing the above dates was authorised and given to personnel who had actually been under fire between the prescribed dates.

1914/15 Star

Authorised in 1918, the 1914/15 Star was awarded to personnel who saw service in France and Flanders from 23 November 1914 to 31 December 1915, and to personnel who saw service in any other operational theatre from 5 August 1914 to 31 December 1915.

British War Medal

The British War Medal 1914-1920, authorised in 1919, was awarded to eligible service personnel and civilians. Qualifications for the award varied slightly according to service. The basic requirement for army personnel and civilians was that they either entered a theatre of war, or rendered approved service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia in 1919 and 1920 also qualified for the award.

Victory Medal

The Victory Medal 1914-1919 was also authorised in 1919 and was awarded to all eligible personnel who served on the establishment of a unit in an operational theatre.