The Mikado - Beechlands, June 1917

"Entertainments" of one sort or another seem to have been common currency for VAD hospitals during the First World War, both as a means of raising morale, and of raising money.  The photograph above, undated, appears in Nurse Oliver's album and is one of those photographs that I have looked at and pondered on hundreds of times.  I now know though, that it dates to June 1917, thanks to this article in the Sussex Agricultural Express on the 22nd June.

Clerk Dorothy Austen Holcroft, Sussex 54 VAD

Dorothy Austen Holcroft was born in Morpeth, Northumberland in about 1888. By the time the 1901 census was taken, however, she was living in Sussex with her parents and two sisters. Dorothy's father, Thomas Austen Holcroft, was a Canadian-born Chuch of England clergyman serving the parish of Bolney in Sussex and living at Bolney vicarage. The family also had four servants as can be seen from the 1901 census return:

Ten years later, the 1911 census return shows the family still residing at Bolney Vicarage:

I knew nothing of Dorothy's service during the First World War until I was contacted in 2020 by a researcher who wrote:

"I am currently researching the female members of the code-breaking organisation formed in the Admiralty during WW1: otherwise known as Room 40 OB or sometimes ID25. At the end of 1919, the remnants of this organisation amalgamated with their counterparts in the War Office to form the Government Code and Cypher School, which has become synonymous with Bletchley Park. Notes made by W F Clarke about colleagues in Room 40 mention a Miss Dorothy A Holcroft from Lewes. Several staff members have also entered their names and addresses in a directory maintained by Clarke, and Dorothy’s handwriting is very similar indeed to the signature in Nurse Oliver’s book, so I’m satisfied we are talking about the same person.

"According to Room 40’s records in The National Archives, Dorothy joined on 1^st Jan 1918. That year she worked in the Naval Mission in Rome before returning to the Admiralty in Oct. This is almost certainly a reference to Room 40’s ‘branch office’ in Rome which employed a number of female clerks. W F Clarke also noted that Dorothy was a graduate, but, as yet, I haven’t established where she studied. Similarly, I don’t know how she came to be recruited into Room 40 or when she left, although there is no indication that she ever joined GC&CS." 

In 1923 Dorothy set sail for India aboard the P&O ship Dongola. Her port of disembarkation was Bombay and she was headed for India to engage in missionary work. It is not clear how long she remained there or where exactly she worked but as I have not found her on the 1939 Register, she may still have been in India at this point in time. Her English address on the passenger list in BT 27 is given as 5 The Avenue, Lewes. Also recorded with her on this page were a Captain Alex Mackay of St Anne's, Lewes and Mrs Anna Sibyl of Sussex. Captain Mackay's name and details are scored through on this return.

Dorothy Holcroft never married and died in Lewes in 1970.

Probationer Rose Agnes Hancock, Sussex 54 VAD

Rose Agnes Hancock was born in Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire in about 1866. She appears on the 1911 census as a 45-year-old parlour maid working for the Green family at the Red House, Chailey. She had been in service since at least 1881, had worked as a parlourmaid form at at least 1891 and, by the time she joined Sussex 54 VAD, had served the Green family for over 14 years. According to her British Red Cross Society card, above, she served with Sussex 54 VAD from the 14th October 1915 and worked a total of 1429 hours. Her employer's daughter, Helen Marian Green, also joined Sussex 54 VAD on the same day.

Quartermaster Helen Marian Green, Sussex 54 VAD

Helen Marian Green was born on the 28th August 1877 in Sarrat, Hertfordshire.  She appears on the 1881 census as a three year old living at Great Sarratt Hall, Hertfordshire with her family.  The head of the family was William Green, a 28 year old Australian landowner (born in Melbourne) who is noted on the census as  a farmer of about 300 acres and employing eight men and two boys.  His 27 year old wife Marian had been born in Rickmansworth and they had three children: Helen, Lilian Green (aged one, born in Rickmansworth) and Bernard Bachan Green (aged ten months, born in Rickmansworth on the 12th May 1880).  

Two more brothers, Edward Wilson Green (born 19th September 1881), and Roger Day Green (born 26th May 1884) would swell the family further and in due course Bernard Green and Edward Green would fight for their King and Country during the First World War.

During the war years, the family lived at The Red House, Chailey and on October 7th 1915, Helen's sister Lilian married Dr William Stewart Orton of Sussex 54 VAD.

Helen's index card held by the British Red Cross archive (above) notes that she served as Quartermaster from October 1915 until December 1918, working a total of 7140 hours. 

She appears on the 1939 Register still living at The Red House, Chailey with her widowed mother and, remarkably, her three bachelor brothers.

Alice Pointing, cook, Sussex 54 VAD

Alice Pointing was the sister of Frank Pointing, George Pointing, James Pointing and William Pointing.  She married Ernest Stevens who also appears on this Chailey roll-call.

I know very little about Alice other than that she served, at some point anyway, as a cook with Sussex 54 VAD. She was born in about 1891 and her mother was also Alice Pointing although I believe it was the daughter (pictured above with Ernest Stevens) who was the cook, rather than the mother.

The photograph above must date to after Alice and Ernest's marriage in 1915.

Probationer Kathleen Etheldred Pownall, Sussex 54 VAD

Kathleen Etheldred Pownall was born on the 15th January 1889, her birth registered at Kensington district, London, in the first quarter of that year.  She appears on the 1891 census living at 5 Stafford Terrace, Kensington with her family.  The household comprised: Henry Harrison Pownall (head, aged 37, working as a barrister), his wife Blanche Pownall and their two children: Kathleen E (aged two) and John C G Pownall (aged under one month).

Kathleen appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as 12 year old Cathleen [sic] Pownall living at Ades, Cinder Hill, Chailey. 

On the 1911 census 22-year-old Kathleen is recorded as a visitor at the home of Frances Mary Pownall (aged 56) at 44 Montague Road, Richmond Hill, Surrey. I'm guessing that Frances was either a sister of her father or perhaps a sister-in-law; it should be easy enough to verify. Both women are recorded as having "private means".

I am unsure when Kathleen's connection with Sussex 54 VAD began but she had certainly served with the British Red Cross Society since 1911. She is undoubtedly the same "K E Pownall" whose signature appears in Edith Oliver's album on the page dedicated to Sussex 54 VAD in 1913.  British Red Cross Society files note that she subsequently served with Hampshire 46 VAD and worked in Adhurst St Mary Hospital.

Kathleen Pownall died in 1978 at the age of 89. Two of her three brothers: Lionel Henry Yorke Pownall and John Cecil Glossop Pownall would also serve their King and Country during the First World War.

Assistant Quartermaster A Gander, Sussex 54 VAD

I know next to nothing about this lady.  She appears in the photo above, seated third from left.  Her (heavily over-written) signature appears in Nurse Oliver's album on the page devoted to Sussex 54 VAD.  

An undated and so far unattributable newspaper report, probably from 1914, also refers to her as assistant quartermaster. She also appears, third from left in the main photo on the Sussex 54 VAD Personnel page which is taken from one of Frances Blencowe's albums. 

Finally, she appears again in Nurse Oliver's album (above), staring at a pile of wood.  The photo was probably taken at a Field Day in 1913 or 1914.  "A Gander perplexed" is the caption that Edith Oliver had written to accompany the photo. Nothing else is currently known about this woman.

Probationer Emily Bryant, Sussex 54 VAD

In common with too many of her colleagues in Sussex 54 VAD, I know little about Mrs Emily Bryant.  In 1913 she noted in Nurse Oliver's book, on a page dedicated to the Detachment, "E Bryant" and in a 1914 newspaper report on an "Interesting Chailey Display" she is referred to simply as "Nurse Bryant".

 

I think she is almost certainly the same Mrs Emily Bryant who, on the 1901 census, was recorded living alone at Cottage number three, Coppards Bridge, Chailey.  She is noted as a 34 year old widow working as a monthly nurse.  Her place of birth is given as Barcombe.

 

I believe Emily's maiden name was Spring and that she married John Bryant in late 1888 or early 1889.  Their marriage was recorded at Lewes in the March quarter of that year.  John Bryant died in 1893.  Born in 1848 he was 45 years old when he died, leaving Emily, at 27, a widow.

 

Nothing further is currently known of Emily Bryant.

Probationer Marina Edith Bourne Grounds, Sussex 54 VAD

Marina Grounds was born at Brighton in 1874, her birth recorded at Brighton in the June quarter of that year.  Her name is recorded in volume 2b, page 243 as Marina Edith B Grounds. 

She was the daughter of David and Mary Eleanor Grounds (nee Brandreth) whose marriage was registered at Wandsworth, Surrey in the December quarter of 1872.  In 1881, the census records the family living at 83 Ditchling Rise, Preston, Brighton.  Her mother and father are noted as having been born in Standish, Lancashire and Wigan, Lancashire respectively.  Her older brother David was born in Clapham while Marina and her brother George were born in Brighton.  A domestic servant, Hannah Johnson, is also recorded living at the address.

The 1891 census records Marina living at the same Preston address.  The household comprised David Grounds (head, married, aged 40, working as a clerk in a School Board office), his wife Mary Eleanor Grounds (aged 49) and their four children: David Reginald Brandreth Grounds (aged 17 and working as a fitter’s apprentice at the railway works), Marina Edith Bourne Grounds (a 16 year old scholar), George Thomas Bourne Grounds (a fourteen year old scholar) and Unis Rita [sic] Bourne Grounds (an eight year old scholar).

The writing on the 1891 census is not easy to interpret and the spelling of some of the name seems, at best, approximate.  David Reginald (who probably went by the name of Reginald rather than David) definitely has his mother’s maiden name as his third name.  His siblings however, have “Bourne” as their third name.

To confuse matters further, the 1901 census gives different spellings again.  The family is still living at 83 Ditchling Rise but initials replace the middle names. Marina is recorded as, what looks like, Marion and Unis is recorded simply as “Bownce”.  The head of the household is still recorded as a “Clerk in School Board” and Reginald (recorded as David R B Grounds) is noted as a “Mechanical Engineer Fitter”.

It seems likely that the Grounds family moved north towards Chailey at some point after the 1901 census was taken.  George Grounds is included in Reverend Jellicoe’s roll call of Chailey connected men who served their King and Country while Marina and Unis Grounds played an active role as nurses with Sussex 54 VAD.  They are both noted in a June 1914 newspaper article (source unknown) which reported on Chailey’s showing at the Stanmer Park Field Day at Falmer, Sussex and they also appear in photos taken of the Chailey detachment at the time.

In March 1916 their mother died and the four Grounds children as well as their father, are noted as chief mourners at her internment, in an article published in the East Sussex News on 24th March 1916.

Marina and her sister appear to have been enthusiastic Red Cross Society members.  In December 1919, a Miss Grounds is noted in the Parish Magazine as one of a committee of ten individuals who formed the Chailey Nursing Society; the aim at that juncture being to take control of local nursing arrangements and the appointment of a Parish Nurse.

From conversation with Chailey residents it seems that in an age when to refer to people by their first names was simply not done, Miss Marina Grounds was known as “Miss Grounds the elder”.

Probationer Unis Reta Bourne Grounds, Sussex 54 VAD

According to the 1891 census, Unis Grounds was born in Brighton.  Her birth though was recorded at Steyning, Sussex in the July quarter of 1882.  Her name is recorded in volume 2b, page 314 as Unis Reta B Grounds. 

She was the daughter of David and Mary Eleanor Grounds (nee Brandreth) whose marriage was registered at Wandsworth, Surrey in the December quarter of 1872. 

The 1891 census records Unis living with her family at 83 Ditchling Rise, Preston, Brighton.  The household comprised David Grounds (head, married, aged 40, working as a clerk in a School Board office), his wife Mary Eleanor Grounds (aged 49) and their four children: David Reginald Brandreth Grounds (aged 17 and working as a fitter’s apprentice at the railway works), Marina Edith Bourne Grounds (a 16 year old scholar), George Thomas Bourne Grounds (a fourteen year old scholar) and Unis Rita [sic] Boune Grounds (an eight year old scholar).

The writing on the 1891 census is not easy to interpret and the spelling of some of the name seems, at best, approximate.  David Reginald (who probably went by the name of Reginald rather than David) definitely has his mother’s maiden name as his third name.  His siblings however, have “Bourne” as their third name.

To confuse matters further, the 1901 census gives different spellings again.  The family is still living at 83 Ditchling Rise but initials replace the middle names. Marina is recorded as, what looks like, Marion and Unis is recorded simply as “Bownce”.  The head of the household is still recorded as a “Clerk in School Board” and Reginald (recorded as David R B Grounds) is noted as a “Mechanical Engineer Fitter”.

It seems likely that the Grounds family moved north towards Chailey at some point after the 1901 census was taken.  George Grounds is included in Reverend Jellicoe’s roll call of Chailey connected men who served their King and Country while Marina and Unis Grounds played an active role as nurses with Sussex 54 VAD.  They are both noted in a June 1914 newspaper article (source unknown) which reported on Chailey’s showing at the Stanmer Park Field Day at Falmer, Sussex and they also appear in photos taken of the Chailey detachment at the time.

In March 1916 their mother died and the four Grounds children as well as their father, are noted as chief mourners at her internment, in an article published in the East Sussex News on 24th March 1916.

Unis and her sister appear to have been enthusiastic Red Cross Society members.  In December 1919, a Miss Grounds is noted in the Parish Magazine as one of a committee of ten individuals who formed the Chailey Nursing Society; the aim at that juncture being to take control of local nursing arrangements and the appointment of a Parish Nurse.

Probationer Jessie Mary Fenn, Sussex 54 VAD

Jessie Mary Fenn (pictured above left with her older sister, Kathleen) was born at Dover, Kent in 1886, her birth registered in the district in the December quarter of that year.  She appears on the 1891 living at 86 Maison View Road, Dover with her well-to-do family.  The household comprised, Edwin Fenn (head, married, aged 53, a Colchester born physician and surgeon), his wife Mary (aged 39, born in Stratford St Mary, Suffolk) and five children: Grace Fenn (aged 19, born in Fletching, Sussex), Kathleen Fenn (aged 15), William Fenn (aged 14), Leonard Fenn (aged 11) and Jessie (aged four).  The youngest four children had all been born in Dover.  Also at the house were a 19 year old Swedish boarder (Adele Damfelt), a cook and a housemaid.   I have been unable to locate her older brother, Edwin Anthony Fenn (born about 1870) on the 1891 census but another brother, Ernest J Fenn (born around 1868), was working in London.

Mary was Edwin Fenn’s second wife, his first wife Alice having died in 1881 at the age of 42.  My research suggests that he married Mary Ann Oliver in North London in 1884, their marriage registered at Edmonton in the September quarter of that year.  Jessie was therefore a half sister to the other Fenn children.   

According to the 1901 census, at some stage the family had moved to Ardleigh near Harwich in Essex.  Edwin Fenn, now aged 63, is recorded as a retired physician and surgeon.  With him in the house are his three daughters: Grace, Kathleen and Jessie.  Kathleen is recorded by her first name, Alice.  Although Edwin’s status is recorded as “married” rather than “widower”, Mary Fenn does not appear on this census return. Ernest, William and Leonard had all moved away from home.  Edwin had died in Dover in 1895 at the age of 25.    

I am unsure when Jessie and Kathleen joined Sussex 54 VAD.  There was already a distant connection to Chailey Parish through their brother Ernest who had been born at Fletching and it could be that when their father died in 1911, the sisters moved away from Essex.  As a physician and surgeon I have wondered whether they picked up any of his skills but there is no mention of any trade or occupation against any of the girls’ names on the 1901 census and their father was presumably sufficiently well-off, even in retirement, to look after them.   

Jessie was still living at home with her parents when the 1911 census was taken. Edwin is recorded as a 73-year-old retired doctor of medicine.  

The two Fenn sisters are mentioned in the East Sussex News dated 9th February 1917.  Reporting on a pantomime staged at Beechland House, the unnamed journalist notes that “Misses J and K Fenn” took on the roles of fairies.   Nothing else is known about these two ladies.  Their brother Ernest attested for service with the army in January 1916 and is mentioned in Chailey’s parish magazine but he does not appear to have been called up.

Probationer Alice Kathleen Fenn, Sussex 54 VAD

Alice Kathleen Fenn (pictured above right with her younger sister Jessie), was born at Dover, Kent in 1876, her birth registered in the district in the March quarter of that year.  She appears on the 1881 census living with her family at 4, Camden Crescent, Dover.  The household comprised Edwin Fenn (head, married, aged 42, a Colchester born General Medical Practitioner), his wife Alice Anne (or Annie) Fenn (aged 42, born in Ardleigh, Essex) and five children: Ernest J Fenn (aged 13), Edwin Anthony Fenn (aged 11), Kathleen (recorded as Alice K Fenn, aged four),  William C Fenn (aged four) and Leonard H Fenn (aged one).  The two older boys had been born in Fletching (as had a sixth child, Grace Fenn, born about 1870); the other children had all been born in Dover. Lending a hand at the house were 18 year old Alice Watson, a general servant and 14 year old Ellen McPay, a nursemaid.   

By the time the 1891 census was taken the children’s mother had died, their father had re-married and the family had moved to 86 Maison View Road, Dover.  There was also a new half-sister for the Fenn children.    Alice had died in 1881 at the age of 42, her death recorded in the December quarter of that year.  Edwin had then re-married.  My research suggests that he married Mary Ann Oliver in North London in 1884, their marriage registered at Edmonton in the September quarter of that year.   The 1891 census notes Edwin as a physician and surgeon.  His wife Mary is recorded as 39 years old and born in Stratford St Mary, Suffolk.  Children noted are: Grace (aged 19), Kathleen (aged 15), William (aged 14), Leonard (aged 11) and the new arrival, Jessie Mary Fenn (aged four, born in Dover).  Also at the house were a 19 year old Swedish boarder (Adele Damfelt), a cook and a housemaid.  I have been unable to find Edwin but Ernest was working in London.   

Ten years later, according to the 1901 census, the family had moved to Ardleigh near Harwich in Essex.  Edwin Fenn, now aged 63, is recorded as a retired physician and surgeon.  With him in the house are his three daughters: Grace, Kathleen and Jessie.  Kathleen is recorded by her first name, Alice.  Although Edwin’s status is recorded as “married” rather than “widower”, Mary Fenn does not appear on this census return.  Ernest, William and Leonard had all moved away from home.  Edwin had died in Dover in 1895 at the age of 25.    

I am unsure when Kathleen and her younger half sister Jessie joined Sussex 54 VAD.  There was already a distant connection to Chailey Parish through their brother Ernest who had been born at Fletching and it could be that when their father died in 1911, the sisters moved away from Essex.  As a physician and surgeon I have wondered whether they picked up any of his skills but there is no mention of any trade or occupation against any of the girls’ names on the 1901 census and their father was presumably sufficiently well-off, even in retirement, to look after them.  

Kathleen appears on the 1911 census as a 35-year-old single matron working at Dulwich College.   

The two Fenn sisters are mentioned in the East Sussex News dated 9th February 1917.  Reporting on a pantomime staged at Beechland House, the unnamed journalist notes that “Misses J and K Fenn” took on the roles of fairies.   Nothing else is known about these two ladies.  Their brother Ernest attested for service with the army in January 1916 but does not appear to have been called up.

Probationer Annie Bertha Hoidge, Sussex 54 VAD

Annie Bertha Hoidge was born in Twyford, Hampshire in September 1882. She was the daughter of William Pearn Hoidge (1842-1885) and Elizabeth Pearn Crosley (1843-1886), and the youngest of six siblings: Emma (1868-1948),  William Crosley (1872-1947), Elizabeth Loveday (1876-1945), Alice Mary (1877-1966) and John Henry (1879-1945).  In 1901, the six siblings posed together for a photo at Alice's wedding. Annie is believed to be the woman, far right.

Annie is also believed to be the VAD probationer who also appears in the Sussex 54 VAD group photo (middle row) standing directly in front of Edith Oliver with her hand raised.

Annie's card from the British Red Cross Archives' file notes that she was engaged as a VAD between the 14th October 1914 and November 1916, and again between the 1st February 1917 and 31st August 1918. She was thus a long-serving member of Sussex 54 VAD and worked at both Hickwells and Beechlands. Her personnel card records her address as Sennocke, Newick; a house that had been owned by her late uncle, William Crosley. He had died in 1912 but it is not known when Annie moved to Newick - or indeed how she was employed. She was certainly mentioned in a report on Sussex 54 VAD which later found its way into Edith Oliver's autograph album.  The date of the report is unknown. 

INTERESTING CHAILEY DISPLAY

One of the strongest detachments of the Red Cross Society in Sussex is that of Chailey, the success of which is in a large measure attributable to the influence and energy displayed by the Commandant, Miss Cotesworth and the Quartermaster, Mrs J Blencowe.  Evidence of the good work of the Detachment was forthcoming at the annual War Office inspection, conducted in the newly erected Parish Room, Chailey, by Major Rattray, Brighton, yesterday afternoon.  Three Detachments - Lewes, Southwick and Chailey - compete for the distinction of representing the Lewes Division for the Duchess of Norfolk’s Cup, for which the whole of the Sussex Detachments are eligible, and yesterday’s interesting proceedings will decide whether divisional honours will fall to the Chailey Detachment.  The Parish Room was converted into quite a delightful little hospital.  It was all very realistic make-believe, but the work of the staff was, of course, undertaken as if the unreality were altogether absent.  The main building was divided into two wards for the treatment of surgical and medical cases, various supposed fractures, bullet wounds &c., being treated in the former, and diseases, such as rheumatic fever and pneumonia, in the latter.  In addition to this, an isolation hospital (in which a supposed cholera patient was under treatment), operating theatre, milk room, kitchen, camp fires, constructed with earth work, grease refuse pot &c., the principal idea of improvisation underlying the whole of the scheme.  The Quartermaster’s store was an ingeniously arranged hut adjoining the hospital, and no detail was overlooked in carrying out the idea of representation.  The members of the staff on parade were: Dr Orton (Medical Officer), Miss Cotesworth (Commandant), Mrs J Blencowe (Quartermaster). Miss Gander (Assistant Quartermaster), Sister Osmund (Lady Superintendent), Miss Holcroft (Clerk), Nurses Oliver, West, Pownall, Blencowe, M Blencowe, Sandford, Smith, Hancock, Greer, Grounds, U. Grounds, Smythe, Wilson, Gaston, Hoidge, and Rootes, and Cooks Curtis, Best, Bryant and Pointing.  Miss Campion, the Hon Secretary of the Sussex Division, was also present, and when the room was thrown open to the public later in the day, quite a number availed themselves of the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the useful work of the Detachment.

Sussex 54 VAD was also present at the Red Cross Field Day at Stanmer Park, Falmer in 1913 and I believe that the nurse who is 6th from the right is Annie Hoidge.

Nothing, apart from the scant information contained on her BRCS card, is known of Annie's service as a VAD during the First World War. What is known, however, is that she committed suicide at Sennocke in early 1921. The record office in Brighton has the coroner’s report which records death by strangulation (certified by the same Dr W S Orton with whom she had worked during the war years), the coroner ruling “Suicide during temporary insanity while suffering from neurasthenia, the result of overwork whilst serving upon the Army & Navy Canteen board”. 

The press cutting above was also in the same file. The coroner’s notes on Dr Orton’s testimony have a comment that the neurasthenia was brought on by her VAD experiences in Feb 1917, but there are no further details.

My sincere thanks to Annie Hoidge's great nephew, John Burd, for contacting me and providing me with the information that I have reproduced here.

7480 Private Reginald Pimble, 1st Gloucestershire Regt

Reginald Pimble was a convalescent patient at Hickwells after being wounded at The First Battle of Ypres in November 1914.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

A trouble’s a ton

A trouble’s an ounce

A trouble is what you make it

It isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts

But just - how did you take it

7480 Pte R Pimble

1st Batt Gloucestershire Regt

Stopped two bullets at Ypres Nov 7th 1914

He shares this page with Private W Brown of the 1/9th Middlesex Regiment, Private 41441 Thomas George Clarke of the Norfolk Regiment and 3655 Private Martin Donnelly of the 1st East Surrey Regiment.

Reginald was born in Ross Workhouse, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire on 22nd May 1888.  He was the son of Ann Pymble (born c1862) and is probably the same three year old Reginald Pimble who appears on the 1891 census as a three year old “nurse child” living at 42 Suffolk Street, Gloucester.  The household in 1901 comprised George Phelps (head, married, aged 35, a grocer), his wife Isabella (aged 31), Albert Rea (brother-in-law, single, aged 25, working as a dock labourer), Sarah Rea (mother-in-law, married, aged 58), Reginald, and Mary Roach (visitor, single, aged 20).  Reginald’s place of birth is recorded as “not known”.

I have been unable to locate him on the 1901 census but his entry on the silver war badge roll at The National Archives in London states that he enlisted in the army on 12th March 1904.  He would have been two months short of his sixteenth birthday at the time and would have enlisted for boys’ service.  His reckonable service would have counted from his eighteenth birthday – 22nd May 1906.

On 19th April 1909 he married Florence Helen Limbrick in Gloucester and their first child, also named Reginald Pimble, followed later that year. A daughter, Ivy Annie Pimble, was born in Gloucester in August 1910, and by the time the 1911 Census was taken Reginald and Florence and their two infant children were living at Latterage, Iron Acton, Gloucestershire. Reginald is recorded on the census return as a twenty-three year-old general labourer working for the county council. In September 1913 a second son, George Henry Pimble, was born.

By the time war was declared on Germany in August 1914, Reginald was on the army reserve and was recalled to the colours on 5th August.  He arrived in France in late August 1914 and served with the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment until wounded at Ypres on 7th November.  The following information regarding the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment in its early days on The Western Front, is adapted from Part 6 of my Chailey narrative, The Hospital Way:

Although Reg Pimble arrived in France on the 27th of August, only two weeks after the battalion had disembarked at Havre, it had been an eventful fortnight.  Arriving at Haulchin, some ten kilometres south east of Mons on the 23rd, the 1st Gloucesters had Stood-To all day on the northern edges of the village only to receive orders at 7am the following morning to retire.  They had then commenced the 200 mile march to the Marne and it was at Rozoy, on 5th September that Pimble, amongst a draft of 100 men, joined his footsore colleagues.  This was the first reinforcement that the battalion had received since leaving England and with it came an inadequate supply of shirts, socks and boots which was nevertheless gratefully received by a number of the men, the condition of whose boots had reduced them to marching in bare feet.

Now though, they were in Flanders, rushed up to prevent the Kaiser’s armies from breaking through at Ypres.  On the 23rd October they’d successfully repelled determined German attacks north of Langemarck and re-claimed trenches recently taken by the enemy.  Terrible casualties had been inflicted on the advancing Germans, but the 1st Division, to which the 1st Gloucesters belonged, had also suffered heavily.  By the time it was relieved on the morning of the 25th, the Division had suffered fourteen hundred casualties over the previous few days’ fighting.

Four days’ later, they were back in the thick of it, thrown into the Battle of Gheluvelt and suffering further casualties.  Even when they had withdrawn to Inverness Copse on the 1st of November the men from the Cotswolds had been shelled mercilessly and suffered a further seventy five casualties during the relief.  The battalion was now reduced to just 240 other ranks and they badly needed a rest.

Reg Pimble in fancy dress, seated second from left

The next few days however, were hardly what they had in mind.  On November 2nd there were further casualties: three officers and fifty eight other ranks; some of these caused by ‘friendly fire’ from the British artillery which was unaware, during the ebb and flow of battle that the ground they were shelling was back in Allied hands.  On the 3rd November, 200 reinforcements arrived.  “These numbers,” recorded the author of the 1st Gloucesters’ battalion diary later, “were particularly welcome after the previous week’s casualties and greatly helped to put fresh life into the Regiment.”  On 5th November however, having been rushed back into the line and ordered to hold it for twenty four hours at all costs, the battalion had suffered a further forty one casualties from artillery fire which completely destroyed many of the trenches and buried a number of the men.

The 6th was spent re-organising the battalion, a task completed only just in time for there was a fresh emergency south at Zillebeke.  The Germans had pushed back the French troops holding that part of the line and were threatening to break through.  Leaving at four in the afternoon, the Gloucesters had arrived at their new positions north of the village of Zwartelen in darkness and amid much confusion.  The frontage the battalion occupied was lengthy, too large really for an already depleted battalion which nevertheless did its best by dividing the line up roughly into sectors and posting batches of men to them.  What few officers remained were distributed amongst the scattered outposts as effectively as their limited numbers allowed.

“7th November,” says The Official History, “was misty and marked the definite commencement of winter weather: mud henceforth seriously interfered with operations and cold at night made sleeping in the open difficult, if not impossible.”  Certainly, there had been little sleep for Reg Pimble and his pals on the eastern edges of Zwartelen and in the woods further to the north.  Now as the morning advanced, the order to assist the neighbouring 22nd Brigade in a counter attack on the left had been cancelled because it was just too foggy to see where they were firing.  The 22nd Brigade however, had pushed ahead and secured its objectives, reporting back that the trenches opposite the Gloucesters were empty.   Orders were issued for an immediate advance and for the enemy trenches to be seized; the rest of the 3rd Brigade would provide support.

The battalion pushed forward in two lines but no sooner had they emerged from Zwartelen than they were met with intense rifle and machine gun fire from German troops still holding on to some of the houses in the village.  “The whole advance,” continues the battalion diarist, “had been far too hurried and no definite orders had ever been given.  Officers and men were much too exhausted to do more than clear a few of the houses.  Most of the men had to lie down in the open all day and only a few could get back to the trenches they had dug the night before.”  At roll call that night, only three officers and 213 men answered their names.  Private 7480 Pimble, R was not one of them; shot twice, he’d received his Blighty wound and would not return to Flanders.

Although he does not state as much in Nurse Oliver's album, Reg Pimble’s wounds were severe, as reported in the Gloucester Journal of 28th November 1914.

He was discharged from the army on 7th July 1915 as no longer physically fit for war service and in due course he would receive his silver war badge (number 98887) and later his 1914 Star and British War and Victory Medals. A number of photographs of him appear in Edith Oliver's album and Frances Blencowe's album, including the one of him playing billiards (below) at Hickwells in early 1915.

Three more children were born to Reginald and Florence Pimble: Bertha Pimble in March 1916, Kathleen I Pimble in September 1918 and Violet Christine Pimble in June 1922.  At one time the family lived at 6 St Paul's Street, Gloucester and in civilian life Reginald was associated with Iron Acton and was a Gloucestershire County Council Workman.

L/6273 Private Frederick John Harding, 4th Middx

L/6273 Private Frederick John Harding was probably a patient at Hickwells and may have transferred to Beechland House in June 1916. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

L/6273 Private F Harding 4th Batt Middlesex Regiment

Wounded at Freicourt [sic] on 15 April 1916

God made little Bees and little Bees made Honey
The Patients do the work and the Sisters get the money.

According to his attestation paper, Frederick Harding was born in 1882 at Hayes, Middlesex although his Conduct Sheet lists his place of birth as Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.

He enlisted with the Middlesex Regiment on 20th November 1900 at Hounslow, giving his religion as Church of England, his trade as park keeper and gardener and his age as twenty years. Again though, his attestation paper gives his trade as labourer and his age as 18 years and one month. He was five feet, seven inches tall, had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

On 23rd November 1900 he was posted to the 3rd Middlesex Regiment but a little over a year later, was in trouble, forfeiting three days’ pay after absenting himself from the Military Tattoo at Woolwich in December 1901. That Boxing Day he was confined to barracks for ten days for not complying with an order but he had broken out of barracks on New Years’ Eve and remained at liberty until the 7th January when he was again apprehended, confined to barracks for seven days and deprived of eight days’ pay.


From March to September 1902 he was stationed on the island of St Helena where he had again been in trouble for not complying with an order, insolence to an officer and absenting himself from another Tattoo.

A three month spell in South Africa followed, followed in turn by a posting to India in December 1902. Despite a further transgression – insolence to Sergeant Greenaway – in January 1903, Harding appears to have liked life in the British Army and in June 1904 he extended his service to complete eight years with the colours. He was granted second class service pay at four shillings which was extended the following March to 1st class service pay at six shillings. In March 1905 he was granted his first Good Conduct Badge but eighteen months later he was in trouble again. In October 1906 at Mandalay, he was charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and violence to his superior officer. His penalty was 56 days’ imprisonment and the loss of his badge (which however, was restored in December 1907). On 6th November 1908, after nearly six years in India, Frederick Harding returned to England and 15 days later was transferred to the Army Reserve.

In April 1911 Harding married Emma Orange at Dalston in London and the couple moved to nearby Tottenham. The following February a son, Henry William, was born. Still on the Army Reserve, but now nearing the end of his term, Harding re-engaged as a Section D Reservist and a day after war was declared he was mobilised at Mill Hill, a few miles away from his home in North London.

Initially posted to the 6th (Reserve) Battalion of the Middlesex on 11th August, he was transferred to the 4th Battalion on 7th October and two days later was in France.

On 10th March 1915 he was appointed lance-corporal (unpaid) and on 23rd June 1915 this was amended to lance-corporal (paid). On 27th September 1915 he was appointed acting corporal but less than a month later he had reverted to lance corporal and posted to the Middlesex Depot in England. He remained in England between 23rd October 1915 and 15th January 1916. On the 16th January he was again posted to the 4th Middlesex, re-joining the battalion in France.

On 31st March 1916, whilst in France, and now an acting corporal again with B Company, Harding fell out of the line of march without permission, neglected his duty whilst in charge of a fatigue party and absented himself without permission. He was charged with these offences the following day and deprived of his acting rank. On the 2nd April, he was absent from his billet from 8:30pm until 6am on the 3rd April for which he was deprived seven days’ pay.

On 15th April 1916 he sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg and was returned to England.


The War Diary of the 4th Middlesex (WO 95/2155), records the events at the time Harding was wounded in April 1916.

14th April 1916
TRENCHES NEAR MEAULT & FRICOURT
“Battalion relieved the 9th KOYLI in the trenches. This new sector of the line is a marked contrast to the Trenches which the battalion have been used to. The country is hilly and the ground chalky, and therefore though harder to dig than Flanders mud. The revetting of trenches and the enormous quantity of sandbags which had to be utilised for that purpose and conspicuous by their absence. The nature of the soil however lends itself to mining enterprises which fact is duly realised by both sides… The relief was complete by 6pm… Our artillery reply very quickly at all times and respond on principle to any annoyance from the enemy… In our sector [of] the line, the TAMBOUR, Rifle Grenades are the chief arrivals and cause of 80% of our casualties. Our casualties were 1 killed and 4 wounded the first night owing to this weapon.”

15th April 1916
“During morning rain fell. The enemy were again busy with Rifle Grenades and Trench Mortars. We replied vigorously both by artillery and grenades. Sniping is very scarce here but our snipers are active and claim 1 hit. Our casualties during day were 1 killed 1 wounded.”

Frederick recovered sufficiently to be posted back to his regiment and, after further minor misdemeanours (including absenting himself from yet another tattoo in December 1917), he was discharged from the army on 18th January 1918 as no longer physically fit for war service. He had completed 17 years and 60 days in the British Army.

Inage, courtesy National Army Museuam.

12517 Cpl Frederick John Denton MM, 9th Essex Regiment

12517 Corporal Frederick John Denton (pictured, above in October 1916) was a patient at Beechland House from October 1916 until August 1917. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

Think kindly of those, that thought so kindly of us in our hour of need.

Wounded at Ovillers La Boiselle in the big Push on the 3rd of July 1916.

12517 Cpl. F.J. Denton
9th Battalion Essex Regt.

Better known as the Hungry Ninth.

1 Somerset Rd Linford
Nr Stanford-Le-Hope. Essex.

Mentioned in Dispatches Sept 1915. Mentioned again June 1916. Awarded the Military Medal
Sept 15th 1916 & presented with the Military Medal by Major General Sir G Kitson KCVO CB CMG on the 25th of November 1916 at the Newick VAD hospital.

There is some confusion about Frederick Denton’s true date of birth. His attestation papers give 20th January 1894 while his daughter gives the same month and day but 1896 as the year. He was probably born on 20th January 1895. The civil registration index of England and Wales 1837-1983 notes that his birth was recorded in the March quarter of 1895 at Orsett, Essex and the 1901 census also notes him as a six year old.

When the census was taken he was living with his family at 17 and 18 Dock Dwellings, Chadwell St Mary, Tilbury. The household comprised: Henry William Denton (head, married, aged 37, a police constable), his wife Amy Louisa E Denton (aged 36) and seven children: Florence Amelia Denton (aged 11), Edward George Denton (aged ten), Henry Arthur Denton (aged eight), Frederick (aged six), Victor Harold Denton (aged three), Walter Cecil Denton (aged two) and Alfred Milner Denton (aged ten months). The children’s father had been born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent; their mother in Islington, London. Florence’s place of birth is noted as Custom House, London but all the other children have “Tilbury” noted against their names.

Alfred Denton died in infancy in 1902 aged two years but three more children were also born after the 1901 census was taken: Amy Winifred Denton in 1901, Margaret Elsie Denton in 1903 (died 1904 aged one year) and Francis William Denton in 1906.

According to his nephew, Frederick’s father, Henry William Denton was born in 1864 and, prior to joining the police force, was an RSM with the Grenadier Guards. He had married Amy Louisa at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in 1886. The civil registration index for England and Wales notes her maiden name as Danton.

The Denton children attended East Tilbury village school and when war was declared all of the brothers (except Francis who was still a schoolboy) volunteered to fight for their King and Country. Florence was married by this stage and running her own household but her younger sister Amy worked as a nurse during the latter stages of the war.

Frederick attested with the Essex Regiment at Grays on 1st September 1914. His age is noted as 20 years and 192 days (although he was probably a year younger than this), his height as five feet, seven inches and his weight as 149 pounds. He had blue eyes and a fair complexion. He gave his occupation as sailmaker for the Orient Steam Navigation Company at Tilbury Docks and his home address as 21 Lower Crescent, Linford, near Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex. He was given the service number 12517.

On the 16th September he was posted to B Company of the 9th Essex Regiment and remained with this battalion in England until 29th May 1915. Posted with him was his seventeen year old brother Victor who had joined up the same day as Frederick and been given a service number just 11 digits apart – 12506. In civilian life he was apprenticed as a painter at the Orient Steam Navigation Company dockyard.

On 11th April that year, no doubt aware that he was going to be posted overseas shortly, Frederick married his sweetheart, Maud Annie Silver at the Parish Church in Mucking, Essex.

He was appointed lance-corporal (unpaid) on 17th May 1915 and less than a fortnight later was in France. He would spend the next thirteen and a half months overseas and during that time would be Mentioned in Despatches twice (in September 1915 and June 1916) and awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in October 1915. In April 1916 he was appointed corporal.

Frederick was wounded at Ovillers La Boiselle on 3rd July 1916 during the opening stages of the Battle of The Somme. The following account is adapted from part 14 of The Hospital Way:

The 9th Essex formed part of the 35th Brigade, 12th Division, its objective the capture of Ovillers. The Division would attack on a two brigade front with the 35th Brigade on the right and the 37th on the left. The 9th Essex would be in support of the attacking battalions of the 5th Royal Berkshire and 7th Suffolk Regiments and all men would take up positions by the 2nd July in readiness for an attack the following day.

At around 3:00 am on Monday July 3rd, the attacking troops of the 12th Division left their trenches and moved under cover of artillery fire to assembly trenches dug in no man’s land. Fifteen minutes later, the barrage ceased and the men rushed the German trenches under cover of a smoke screen to their left. At first, all went well. The 5th Royal Berkshires suffered few casualties whilst crossing and used the cover of a sunken road to lead them straight into Ovillers. The German wire had been virtually obliterated by artillery fire and the men passed with relative ease through the first and second lines until they reached the ruins of houses on the Western edge of Ovillers. Here though, they were engaged in heavy bombing attacks and due to a lack of further supplies of bombs, the leading companies suffered heavy casualties. The 7th Suffolk Regiment’s advance followed a similar pattern. They too passed through the German first line, encountered strong opposition in the second line but pushed forward to the third. This position was strongly held and made even more uncomfortable for the attacking troops by German fire coming in from the left flank.

Fred and Victor Denton and their comrades in the 9th Essex fared even worse. “The march of the Battalion,” wrote one of its soldiers later, “… will forever be remembered by those engaged. Innumerable gun flashes lit the darkness of the night; they seemed endless and as one approached the line, the noise was deafening. After what appeared to be endless marching we reached the trenches in front of Ovillers. They were of hard chalk and with the bad weather not at all easy to negotiate without trench boards. In moving to positions for attack the congestion in the trenches was awful and mortally wounded men could not be moved.” To make matters worse, the German defenders, by now fully awake and repelling the attacking battalions in front of them, were sweeping no man’s land with machine gun fire. Here, states the Divisional History, “considerable casualties were sustained, and the waves of the attack becoming a series of small parties not strong enough to give any material assistance to the forward formations, the 35th Brigade attack broke down and the remnants of the battalions were driven out of the German lines.” C Company, supported by a platoon from B Company managed to reach La Boiselle and capture 200 Germans but it was an isolated success on a morning of strong initial advances, punished by vigorous counter attacks and German machine guns brought up from deep dug-outs which had been unaffected by the intense one hour bombardment which preceded the assault.

By nine o’clock, the Division was reporting that the attack had failed. A combination of flanking machine gun fire, lack of cohesion by troops advancing in the dark and the pock-marked terrain, made impassable in places due to the recent heavy rains, had put paid to the Division’s efforts.

The 6th Royal West Kent Regiment, lost 19 officers and 375 other ranks out of an attacking force of 617. Other battalions suffered similarly. The casualties for the 12th Division’s two attacking brigades amounted to 97 officers and 2277 other ranks and Victor and Fred Denton were numbered amongst them. At around 4am, the 9th Essex attack had come to a standstill and the survivors withdrew to the front line to be relieved by the 7th Norfolks. In little under one hour the battalion had suffered 12 officer and 386 other rank casualties. Corporal Fred Denton had survived the bombardment on the way to the trenches but had taken a bullet in his left forearm which would finish his service as an infantryman. Of Victor however there was no sign and no news and he was posted as missing. Much later, Fred would learn that his brother’s body had been found and laid to rest in France by an old school friend from East Tilbury. Frederick’s nephew records the school friend’s name as “Gorbrer Salmon” and this may be Alfred Salmon (born 1897 in Tilbury). The grave though, would never be found and in time Victor’s name would be added to the memorial to the missing at Thiepval.

Frederick Denton arrived back in England on 8th July and was sent to Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol where he remained until 18th September. He was then posted to the 3rd Essex before being transferred down to the Eastern Command Depot at Shoreham on Sea where he underwent special arm and leg drill. He remained there until 17th October when he was again transferred, this time to The 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton and from there, to Beechland House at Newick.

The presentation of Denton’s Military Medal in November was obviously quite an occasion, not just for the patients at Beechlands but also for the local community as a whole. It was something that the newspapers of the time covered in considerable detail. The Sussex Daily News carried a report on 27th November and this was followed up by two reports published by The Sussex Express and The East Sussex News:

The Sussex Express
December 1st 1916 - Newick
MILITARY MEDAL PRESENTED - At an entertainment given on Saturday evening at the Red Cross Convalescent Home, Beechlands, Corporal F I [sic] Denton of the Essex Regiment was presented with the Military Medal for gallant conduct at the Hohenzollern Redoubt last year. The sergeant of the bombing team was wounded and Denton took charge… Three hearty cheers were given for the recipient, who in a few words of acknowledgement, said the other men present had all done as well as he had, for they had all been out and all had done their bit, (Applause). Subsequently Major-General Kitson said that he had lately been in France (not on active service) and he could tell them from what he saw there was no difference between the old Army and the new. They were all one Army and they were all alike doing their duty. Captain Colesworth [sic] attended the presentation. A very enjoyable entertainment was provided by friends from Brighton, assisted by some of the patients at Beechlands. Corporal Denton, who was accompanied by his wife and child, who are staying in Newick, received many congratulations from those present. He joined the Essex Regiment on 1st September 1914, previous to which he worked as a sailmaker at Tilbury. He went to France in May 1915, gained his distinction in the following Autumn, and in July 1916, was wounded in the left forearm.

East Sussex News
Friday December 1st 1916
NEWICK – PRESENTATION OF MILITARY MEDAL
… the service for which Corporal Denton was given his award had to do with some bombing work last year when his battalion was in an attack against the Hohenzollern Redoubt and subsequently it appears that a sergeant of his platoon was wounded, when he promptly took his place in organizing the bombing teams, carried out their general instructions and he was commended by his officer for his work, in which he ably carried out the duties of a senior NCO. He afterwards received an official card with the following recognition: “Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you have distinguished yourself by conduct in the field. I have read their report with much pleasure and have brought it to the notice of the higher authority (signed) S M Scott, Major-General, Commanding 12th Division.”

Frederick remained at Beechlands until 7th August 1917 when he was posted back to the 3rd Essex Regiment. Recovered, but not sufficiently so to warrant further service with an infantry battalion, he was transferred to The Army Service Corps and ended the war as a corporal with C Company of the 1st Heavy Repair Shop. He was given a new number: M/323366.

On 28th April 1919 he was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve on de-mobilisation. He was awarded a small army pension which recognised his degree of disability as just ten per cent with the likelihood of it being only temporary.

After the war Frederick worked as a training lieutenant aboard the Exmouth training ship at Grays on the River Thames and moved with it to Shotley, Suffolk, when hostilities again broke out in 1939. He died at Chadwell St Mary in 1974 at the age of eighty.

As mentioned previously, all of his brothers also served their King and Country during the First World War. Edward served with the Mercantile Marine. Arthur was a sergeant in the East Surrey Regiment and like Frederick, was also awarded the Military Medal. Walter served with the Norfolk Regiment and was severely wounded at Cambrai in 1917, receiving a full army pension for life. Prior to this he was at sea and was torpedoed aboard the SS Minnewaska off Crete.

Private Davey

Very little is known about this man.

Private Davey did not leave an entry in Nurse Oliver’s album but he was a patient at Beechland House, Newick in June 1917. He is recorded simply as “Pte Davey”, one of the Beechland House stoolball team, in a report in The East Sussex News on 29th June 1917:

INTERESTING STOOLBALL MATCH
The contestants were Major Grantham’s team of officers of The Royal Flying Corps from Brook House (Chailey) Convalescent Hospital and Miss Cotesworth’s team of NCOs and men from Beechlands (Newick) Convalescent Hospital, and the former gained an easy victory by 50 runs.

Five days earlier, The Sussex Express had also reported on the match, noting that it was played at:

“… at Balneath Manor, the residence of Major W W Grantham, between officers of the Royal Flying Corps from Brook House, the new convalescent Hospital, and a team from Beechlands Convalescent Hospital. Those from Brook House were easy winners. Needless to say, Mrs Grantham entertained the company present to tea.”

Nothing further is currently known of this man.

16621 Private James Cowley, 1st Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regt)

16621 Private James Cowley of the 1st King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment was a patient at Beechland House after being wounded on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album (which has been over-written in black ink at a later date) reads:

Pte J. Cowley 16621.
1st Kings Own Royal Lancs

Wounded on the 1st July 1916
Between Serre and Beau-mont-Hamel [sic]

With My Best Respects &
Good Wishes To The Hospital
Staff at Newick for Their
Kind Attention And Services
Rendered During My Brief Stay

James Cowley arrived in France on 29th July 1915 as part of a draft of reinforcements and was posted to the regular 1st Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment. He was one of the 34,156 other ranks wounded on July 1st 1916.

On that day his division, the 4th, had pushed forward north of Beaumont Hamel, taking the German held Munich Trench and pushing on to Pendant Copse beyond it. Lying in support of the 6th and 8th Battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the 1st Kings had left their trenches at 8:45am and succeeded in reinforcing the furthest troops only to assailed by machine gun fire and bombing counter attacks launched from a German strongpoint at Serre. By 11 am they had been forced back. Twenty fours later they would abandon their position altogether.

After recuperating at Beechlands, James Cowley subsequently joined the Royal Air Force (number 145302) and finally, the Labour Corps (279301). His 1914/15 Star medal roll entry, dated at Blandford on 7th October 1920 gives his RAF number whereas his British War and Victory Medal roll entry gives the Labour Corps number.