PENZANCE BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE “LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT THAT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN” This biographical record follows on from the Roll of Honour which was presented to Penzance by the Town Council in August 2014 during the celebrations to mark the 400th year since the granting of the charter to the town and the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of The Great War. The Roll of Honour identified approximately 660 men and women who had lost their life from 1899 (Boer War) to the present day. It covered the area of Penzance Borough and the inclusion in 1934 of Gulval, Heamoor, Newlyn, Mousehole and Paul. The Roll of Honour can be seen outside Gallery 5 in Penlee Gallery and Museum but it just gives basic details such as Name, Rank, Unit/Ship etc. and Theatre of Operation. This biographical record gives much more detail but is still incomplete and we need the assistance of everyone to fill in the missing pieces and, of course, to correct any unintentional errors. This is why we have produced this book in draft and online so that when we go to print it will be as correct as possible and a fitting tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice. This book is very much a work in progress and we hope that we will, in the end, have a permanent record of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. At the moment we have 17 names that we are unable to identify. The information comes from many sources and we are pleased to acknowledge the contribution made by the following: Regimental Museum, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, Bodmin Cornishman Newspaper Bartlett Library, National Maritime Museum, Falmouth Morrab Library, Morrab Gardens, Penzance Public Library, St John’s Hall, Penzance Cornwall Record Office, Truro Cornwall Family History Society, Truro Cornish Studies Library, Redruth Commonwealth War Grave Commission Naval & Military Press Special thanks go to Major Bob Harrison (retired) who has worked tirelessly over many years to compile the information in this book. 1 We are also indebted to the personal accounts and comments from many of the relations and friends of those honoured. The online version of this draft book can be viewed on the Penzance Council website: www.penzance-tc.gov.uk. Anyone who can help by providing missing information or corrections to any errors is asked to contact Penzance Council using the contact details provided below: Penzance Council Penlee Centre, Penlee Park Penzance Cornwall TR 18 4HE Tel: 01736 363405 Email: [email protected] 2 BOROUGH OF PENZANCE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS BOER WAR 1899 - 1903 CHAMPION, William Lewis. Trooper. Kitchener’s Horse, Imperial Light Horse. Killed in action on 13th of December 1900 at Nooitgedacht, South Africa age 32. Son of John and Charlotte Champion of 29 Alverton Street, Penzance. Listed on parents’ headstone in Penzance Cemetery and on Truro School South African War Memorial. DUNN, Joseph Smith. Lieutenant. 2nd Regiment, Scottish Light Horse. Came to Penzance around 1879 with his parents and resided at Alma Terrace. Started work as a junior reporter with The Cornishman. Went to South Africa and was employed as a special correspondent for the Central News of London. Twice captured by the Boers but escaped. Served in Ladysmith during the siege. Accepted a commission in the Scottish Light Horse. Married with four children. Of a delicate disposition he died at Pretoria on 13th of January 1902 from an abscess of the liver brought on by exposure, hard work and fatigue. EDE, Walter. Trooper. 2nd Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts (Imperial Irregular Corps). Died of a heart disease at Johannesburg, South Africa on 10th of May 1902 age 50. Enlisted at Johannesburg on 8th May 1902 and died just two days later. Next of Kin given as his son – Walter Ede of Euston Square, London. EDWARDS, Joseph John (Jack). Trooper. 93rd Company (3rd Sharpshooters), 23rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died of enteric fever at Charlestown, Natal on 15th of June 1902 just short of his 21st birthday. Completed an apprenticeship as an outfitter with Messrs Simpson and Company, Penzance. Then moved to London where 18 months later he volunteered for active service being associated with a troop raised by the Earl of Dunraven. Son of George and Elizabeth Edwards of 26 Tolver Road, Penzance, Cornwall. Listed on a marble plaque in High Street Methodist Church, Penzance and on his parents’ headstone in Penzance Cemetery. MCDONALD, M. Corporal. 5041. G Company, 2nd Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action at the Battle of Colenso on 15th of December 1899 whilst gallantly advancing to the attack with his company. Son of Mr and Mrs James McDonald of Penzance. PAYNTER, George. Trooper. Imperial Yeomanry. No further information. ROGERS, Robert John. Private. 13736. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died of enteric fever at Pretoria on 14th of December 1900 age 23. Eldest son of Mr William L. Rogers, Trinity House Inspector, and Mrs Elizabeth Rogers of 2 St Anthonys Place and later of 39 Chapel Street, Penzance. Served a four year apprenticeship with Mr Bob Stakerley, Chemist of Penzance. Moved to London where he became compounder at the Army and Navy Stores. Joined the RAMC in February 1900 and signed for 12 months at the front. Was taken ill while on duty at 3 the Model School Hospital, Pretoria and died within a few days. Former member of St Mary’s Church Choir, Penzance. Also listed on the RAMC Memorial, Gun Hill, Aldershot. SIMONS, Cecil. Quartermaster Sergeant. 63rd Company (Wiltshire), 16th/1st Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Only son of John Simons, one time Harbour Master of Porthleven, and Mary Simons. Discharged and invalided home but returned to South Africa to resume his occupation as an engineer. Hospitalised again and took passage to England on the Tintagel Castle but died just before the ship reached Southampton on 10th November 1902. Cause of death not known but he had suffered from chronic dyspepsia. He was described as a spirited young fellow of 31 years of age. He left a wife and two children in South Wales. 4 WORLD WAR I 1914 – 1919 ACKFORD, Thomas. Private. 3233. 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 143rd Brigade, 48th Division. Killed in action on Friday 14th July 1916 age 21. Son of Thomas and Ellen Ackford of Charsley, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and now interred in Penzance Cemetery. Enlisted at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. Listed on St Mary’s Church War Memorial, Penzance War Memorial and in Penzance Book of Remembrance. Note: Spelt ACFORD on Penzance Battery Rock War Memorial. On 14th July the battalion attacked enemy trenches NE of La Boiselle, near Albert, France. They reached their objective but later that same day had to withdraw. Casualties were 150 of which 68 were killed mainly due to heavy shell and machinegun fire. ADLAM, James Francis. Steward. Mercantile Marine. SS Trewyn (St Ives). Lost at sea on or about the 30th March 1916 age 47. Son of Thomas and Mary Jane Adlam (née Andrew) of 8 South Place, Penzance, Cornwall. Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, on St Mary’s Church War Memorial, Penzance War Memorial, in Penzance Book of Remembrance and on family headstone in Penzance Cemetery. The SS Trewyn, a 3084 ton ship owned by the Hain Steamship Company of St Ives, was under charter to William Muller and Company for a voyage from Algiers, North Africa to Middlesbrough with a cargo of iron ore. She sailed from Algiers on 23rd March 1916 and was last sighted passing Gibraltar on 25th March. A lifebuoy and wreckage was found on 1st April 1916 but no survivors. On 30th March the German submarine U-28 torpedoed and sank an unknown cargo vessel, of similar size and description to the SS Trewyn, to the west of Ushant, France which might have been the Trewyn. AMOR, Leonard. Sergeant. 5483. Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry attached 2/8th Battalion (Territorial Force), Worcestershire Regiment, 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. Killed in action on Wednesday 23rd August 1916 age 27 by shell fire. Son of Arthur Jacob Amor and Elizabeth Sidney Amor of Polteggan, Penzance, Cornwall. Formerly employee (Cable Clerk) of Western Union Cable Company. Born and enlisted at Penzance but resident in Plymouth, Devon when he enlisted. He left Penzance at the outbreak of the war with the Territorials. A noted soccer player. Buried in St Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg- L’Avoue, Bethune, France (III.H.17). Listed on Madron War Memorial, in Penzance Book of Remembrance and on his parents’ headstone in Penzance Cemetery. The battalion was in the Neuve Chappel area and had relieved 2/7th Battalion , Worcestershire Regiment in the front line on 22nd August 1916. They were in turn relieved by 14th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment four days later and moved into billets at Riez Bailleul. During these quiet four days two soldiers were killed and two wounded. ANCELL, Frederick Gordon. Sergeant. 7500. 11th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division . Killed in action by a German sniper on Thursday 21st October 1915 age 23. Son of John James and Martha Ancell of 27 Alverne Buildings, Penzance, Cornwall. Enlisted at Lymington, Hampshire on 13th October 1914. Prior to joining he was in the Trinity Service and had worked on the Wolf Rock, Round Island and Hurst Castle lighthouses. Buried in Point 110 Old Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Albert, France (H14). Listed on St Mary’s Church War Memorial, Penzance Baptist Church War Memorial, Penzance War Memorial, in Penzance Book of Remembrance and on his family headstone in Penzance Cemetery.