Upton-By-Chester War Memorial First World War the Unveiling - 13Th February 1921 the Inscriptions the Front
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Upton-by-Chester War Memorial First World War The unveiling - 13th February 1921 The Inscriptions The front: The Great War 1914 -1919 In honoured memory of the men connected with Upton and District who sacrificed their lives in the service of their King and Country This cross is erected by their relatives and friends ‘Their memory hallowed in the land they loved’ The back: The site of this memorial was given by Sir Philip B. Grey Egerton Bt in Memory of his sons Lt. Philip de Malpas Wayne Egerton, 19th Royal Hussars and 2nd Lt. Rowland le Belward Egerton RWF who fell in the War North Face Capt. Helenus M. Robertson R.W.F. Capt. Francis F. Hodgson 84th Punjabis Capt. Roland O. Logan Oxf and Bucks L.I. Lt. Archibald Buck L’pool Sco. Sergt. Charles W Harding Lanc. Fus. Cpl. Thomas Knowles M.M. Lanc. R Cpl. Donald Cowie M.M. L’pool Sco. Pte. Arthur Morris Hamps. R. Gr. John Cash R.G.A. Gr. Charles Coppack Tank Corps Pte. James Cecil Williams Rif. Brig. Pte. Wm. Hancocks King’s L’pool R. South Face Lt. Col .E. Townshend Logan D.S.O. Ches. R. Capt. T. Laurence Frost Ches. R. Lt. Geo. R. Simpson Ches. R. Lt. Lewis Reginald Hughes Staffs. R. Serg’t. Ernest Ley Hamps. R. Cpl. Philip J. Evans M.M. G.C. Pte. James Anderton Ches. R. Pte. Harry Lloyd Ches. R. Pte. John Williamson Ches. R. Pte. Wm. Joseph Hughes Ches. R. Pte. George Crosby Loyal N. Lancs. R. Trooper John Sturman Ches. Yeo. Cpl. James Alexander Benson R.G.A. Taking each man in turn … James Anderton Private, Cheshire Regiment • Born in Hoole Village in 1883 • Lived at – Guilden Sutton Lane in 1901 – Rigby’s Cottage, Flag Lane in 1911 – Upton Heyes, Flag Lane at time of death • Worked as a garden labourer • Killed in action 10th August 1917 • Commemorated at Menin Gate, Ypres • Effects worth £175 left to widow, Jane James (Alexander) Benson Corporal, Royal Garrison Artillery • Born in Saughall in 1887 • In 1911 a live-in Asylum Attendant with Cheshire County Council • Died in Flanders 6th November 1918 • Military memorial stone at Saughall Methodist Chapel • War Memorial Committee minutes advise that the name of Alec Benson – recently notified – was to be added if there was room for it. Note how it is squeezed in at the bottom and out of sequence, which is otherwise by rank. • The name is also added at the bottom of the memorial in the Parish Church (in a significantly bolder font than the rest!) Archibald (Charles Watson) Buck 2nd Lieutenant, Liverpool Scottish Regiment • Born in Pimlico in 1871 • Educated in the Scottish Borders • Lived at – Formby in 1910 – Upton Park in 1911 and at the time of his death • Worked in Liverpool as a clerk for The Bank of England • Signed up as an inaugural member of the Upton and District Unit of the Cheshire Volunteer Regiment when it was formed on 29th April 1915 (minuted in the book that also contains the War Memorial Committee minutes) • Killed in action on 9th August 1916 • Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial • Effects worth £322 left to widow, Gertrude John (Henry) Cash Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery • Born in Great Sutton in 1885 • Lived at – The Damage in 1911 – 1 Heath Cottages in 1915 • Married Elizabeth Martin in Wrexham in 1906 • Worked as a bricklayer • Killed in action 16th May 1917 • Body exhumed and reburied at Douchy Les Ayette British Cemetary near Arras • Curiously there was a John Alex Cash (no obvious relation) living on Long Lane who also served in the war (John) Charles Coppack Gunner, Tank Corps • Born in Upton in 1898 • Lived at – Swindley’s Row in 1901 – Upton Heath in 1911 • Had 4 brothers and 1 sister • Father a lunatic asylum attendant and member of War Memorial Committee • Killed in action on the Somme 25th August 1918 • Commemorated at Achiet le Grand Communal Cemetary • Mentioned on gravestone of parents at Holy Ascension Churchyard Donald Cowie Lance Corporal, Liverpool Scottish Regiment • Born in 1897 • Lived at – Newton Nurseries in 1901 (father a nurserymen’s manager) – Upton Park in 1911 • Had 11 siblings, 3 of whom had died by 1911 • Died of wounds on 1st December 1916 • Commemorated at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetary • Mentioned on gravestone of parents and sister at Holy Ascension Churchyard George (William Louis) Crosby Private, Loyal North Lancs Regiment • Born in 1891 or 1892 • Lived at Grafton Villa, Upton Park at time of death • Medal records state killed in action on 14th July 1918 yet probate records show place of death as Longsight, Manchester. Effects worth £19 18s, left to father, John Crosby, retired police officer. • Commemorated at Poelcapelle British Cemetary • The name appears out of sequence and to the bottom of the memorial in the Parish Church, immediately above Alec Benson, suggesting it too was a late addition • This was the only name that could not be traced in Commonwealth war graves commission records Philip de Malpas Wayne Egerton Captain, 19th (Queen Alexandra’s Own) Royal Hussars • Born in 1895 in London • Twin son of Philip B Grey Egerton, last Lord of the Manor • Lived at – Oulton Park in 1901 – Wellington College, Berks in 1911 • Went to Sandhurst • Killed in action 8th October 1918 • Acting captain at time of death • Commemorated at Busigny Communal Cemetary and in stained glass window at St Peter’s Church, Little Budworth Rowland le Belward Egerton 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers • Born in 1895 in London • Twin son of Philip B Grey Egerton, last Lord of the Manor • Lived at – Oulton Park in 1901 – Eton College in 1911 • Went Sandhurst • Promoted to Captain during course of war • Killed in action at Zonnerbeke on 30th October 1914 during what would have been the 1st Battle of Ypres • Mother made strenuous efforts to trace him when advised missing • He had a notable adversary in the german ranks that day • Commemorated at Ploegsteert and in stained glass window at St Peter’s Church, Little Budworth Philip (John) Evans MM Captain, Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Branch) • Born in 1896 • Lived at – Schoolhouse, Upton in 1901 (father schoolmaster) – Westminster at time of death • Died 4th July 1917 • Commemorated at Gwalia Cemetary • Effects worth £86 left to widow, Annie Elizabeth (Thomas) Laurence Frost Captain, Cheshire Regiment • Born in 1889 • Lived at Upton Lawn • Career soldier, commissioned in 1911 • Son of John Meadows Frost, Lord Mayor of Chester 1913 – 1919 and descendent of original Miller of Dee • Shot by sniper in front line trench 28th March 1915 in run up to 2nd Battle of Ypres • Commemorated at Bedford House Cemetary, Belgium • Effects worth £14,245 left to John Meadows Frost jnr (brother), Major in Cheshire Brigade of Royal Field Artillery Territorial Forces Laurence Frost William Hancocks Private, King’s Liverpool Regiment • Born in 1892 in Whitchurch • Lived at – Toxteth Park in 1901 and 1911 (different addresses) • Father a coachman/ groom (1901) and chauffeur living apart from family (wife and 8 children) at Banastre Cottage, Mollington (1911), home of the Humberston family • Worked as a butcher’s shop assistant • Died 13th January 1919 • Commemorated at St Sever Cemetary Extension, Rouen • Parents (and brother ‘Ted’) are buried together in Holy Ascension Churchyard, mother dying in 1939 and father in 1959 • War Memorial Committee Minutes for meeting on 7th November 1919 contain a scribbled note that reads ‘Hancocks son added’. • Interestingly, he isn’t on the memorial in the Parish Church and so is overlooked at every Remembrance Day service! Charles (William) Harding Sergeant, Lancashire Fusiliers • Born in 1891 • Lived at – Cartref, Dale Cottage (with several other families) in 1901 and 1911 – Aigburth, Liverpool during War according to Army Records • Eldest of 4 brothers • Worked as a gardener • Father a bootmaker • Enlisted for service in Bury • Killed in action in Flanders 28th August 1918 Francis (Faith) Hodgson Captain, 84th Punjabis • Born in 1880 • Lived at – Penge in 1891 – Rawal Pindi, India in 1915 • Career soldier in Indian Army but attached to Cheshire Regiment for a year • Married a descendent of Elizabeth Fry and daughter of Registrar of Madras • Entered European War with Indian Expeditionary Force on 1st November 1914 • Own daughter born 15th March 1915 • Died of wounds received at Festubert 16th May 1915, during the final forays of the 2nd Battle of Ypres • Connection with Upton not established beyond Cheshire Regiment attachment Francis (Faith) Hodgson Lewis Reginald Hughes Lieutenant, North Staffs Regiment • Born in 1883 in Whitchurch • Died 19th May 1915 • Commemorated at Bethune Town Cemetary • Connection with Upton not established William Joseph Hughes Private, Cheshire Regiment • Date of birth not found • In 1911 there is a William Hughes, a 27 year old farmer’s son, living at Heath Farm, Backford • Believed to have been killed in action on 22nd April 1916 and to be commemorated at Poziers Memorial • There was a William Henry Hughes living in Newton/ Upton in 1901 at the age of 8 and later killed in action 21 st March 1918. He started out in the Cheshire Regiment but was with Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment at the time of his death. He is not recorded on the War Memorial. Thomas Knowles MM Corporal, Lancashire Regiment • Born in 1867 • Lived at – Upton (address given as ‘The Village’ in 1891 and 1901) • Profession unknown, merely recorded as ‘farmer’s son’ in 1891. Father was a farmer with 160 acres. • Killed in action 3rd May 1918 • Commemorated in Nine Elms British Cemetary • ‘MM’ is in a bold font on memorial in Parish Church suggesting this was added at same time as Alec Benson’s name Ernest George Ley Sergeant, Hampshire Regiment • Born in 1885 • Lived at – Longworth, Berkshire in 1891 – Windlesham, Surrey in 1901 – Army Barracks, Farnham, Surrey in 1911 • Nursery worker in 1901 and soldier (lance corporal) in 1911 • Killed in action 1st July 1917 • Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial • Both parents born in Devon but father served in coastguard from 1871 to 1890 and was a shipyard worker in Liverpool in 1891.