Features - the Paddle School Roll of Honour.
A study of the Roll of Honour, by Sandra Shaw
The Paddle School Roll of Honour records the names of the men of Eaglesfield, Blindbothel and Mosser parishes who served in the First World War, both those who lost their lives, and those who returned. Sandra Shaw has written two articles for the Journal. The stories of those who lost their lives can be read in Journal 57. A further contribution by Walter Head can be found in Journal 58. A short article on those who returned can be found in Journal 59. This article is repeated here, below the image of the Roll of Honour, together with more detail that Sandra has found about each of those who returned. The whole series of documents can be downloaded as a pdf here.
Paddle School's Roll of Honour revisited - the 36 who returned.
First, to recap, I wrote an article for issue No. 57 of the Journal in which I described the memorial tablet displayed at Paddle School and listed the eight men who gave their lives in the Great War and the 36 who served and returned. I went on to give such details as I had been able to discover about the eight, and indicated that the 36 would form the basis of a future article. Issue No. 58 included further and corrected information about two of the eight which had eluded me. I am grateful to Walter Head and his sources for that information. I can confirm with pleasure that the revised information about William Routledge is correct, as I was contacted by a distant cousin of his who had found my original article on the Society website. He added just a little more. The embarkation detail that Walter Head had found in 1913, was in fact a return by William Routledge to Australia after a visit home; his original emigration having been in 1901. He was to pay a final visit to the UK in 1917 before his untimely death in 1918.
I turn now to the 36 who fought and returned. They are listed in my initial article and I have scoured the sources to which I have access. Although it might have been a great step forward in 1921 to include those of ‘ordinary’ ranks in public memorials, and to include more than surnames, the addition of initial letters has not proved sufficient for me to identify with confidence all the men listed. I intend to include here the full name and brief information in those cases where I am reasonably confident that I have information from different sources that relate to the same man. Further details are included on the website as a pdf at … If anyone reading this or the pdf is able to supply additional or corrected information, I would be very grateful to receive it, so the memorial can come to reflect more accurately the service given by these men.
The 36 are George Clague of Eaglesfield, born c1879 at Mosser who served with the Royal Engineers in Russia; J Clague; William Clague born c1894 who served in the Border Regiment, was wounded in the Dardanelles and awarded the Military Cross; John Clark born c1888 at Branthwaite; R Corlett; J Davidson; George Dockeray born c1896 at Brigham who served with the Royal Horse and Field Artillery in France, Salonika, Egypt and Palestine and was demobilised to Eaglesfield; Harold Ferguson born c1897 and living at Eaglesfield in 1911; I Glasson; J Glasson; Hans Hamilton born c1896 at Eaglesfield; J D Hamilton; Benjamin Harrison of Birk Bank, Whinfell born c1898 who served with the Border Regiment; Joseph Harrison possibly serving with the Canadians [as did Henry Bell Moffat and Frederick William Storr.]; JM Harrison who possibly served with the Border Regiment and was a POW, T Harrison possibly wounded while serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers [as did Edward Mossop and William Huddart]; Watson Harrison of Birk Bank, Whinfell, born c1900; Harold Huddart of Eaglesfield born c1891; William Huddart of Eaglesfield, born c1894 who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers [as did Edward Mossop and T Harrison], the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and the East Lancashire Regiment and was wounded in France; E H Jackson; Albert Kitchen born c1902 who served with the Royal Navy; C Mossop; F Mossop; N Mossop; [possible brothers of Edward Mossop who was killed.] Eric Park of Eaglesfield, born c1900; Thomas Park of Underwood, Mosser, born c1898; Henry Satterthwaite of Eaglesfield, born c1889; George Scott of Brandlingill born c1871 who served with the Border Regiment, having previously seen action in South Africa with the 9th Lancers as a younger man; Herbert W Sewell of Brandlingill, born c1873 who served as a captain with the Border Regiment and was later commissioned to serve with the Royal Scots in France; William Woodville Robinson Sewell brother of the previous man, also of Brandlingill, born c1868 who served as a clerk with the Hampshire Regiment and then the Bedfordshire Regiment, including time in Bombay; Henry Storey of Smithy Green, Mosser, born c1893 who served with the Border Regiment and was wounded in action in France, who was reported Absent Without Leave but found to have been admitted to hospital in Carlisle, who survived the war, to die of T B of the spine in 1923; W Tyson; Joseph Walker born c1884 at Greysouthen, who served with the Border Regiment, who was captured while on active service in France and detained as a POW before release and repatriation; Henry Waugh of Eaglesfield, born c1894; Fletcher White of Eaglesfield, born c1894, who served with the Border Regiment and was gassed while serving with the British Expeditionary Force. He was treated and discharged to continue to serve, but later hospitalised with rheumatism and heart problems and invalided out in March 1916; Frederick Wilson of Eaglesfield born c1896 who served with the Royal Sussex Regiment.
It is difficult to draw conclusions from such incomplete data. One thing that does stand out though is the very varied service careers that these men experienced; serving with a range of regiments, in different theatres of war, experiencing gassing, wounding, capture and for these at least, eventual return. They experienced very different war experiences.
Paddle School Roll of Honour: the 36 who returned - additional information.
This research follows up the article on Paddle School’s Roll of Honour contained in Journal No.57. The 36 men of Eaglesfield, Blindbothel and Mosser Parish (referred to later as EBM parish) who served and returned are shown on the memorial tablet, but not quite in alphabetical order. They are relisted here in alphabetical order: G Clague, J Clague, W Clague, J Clark, R Corlett, J Davidson, G Dockeray, H Ferguson, J Glasson, I Glasson, H Hamilton, J D Hamilton, B Harrison, J Harrison, J M Harrison, T Harrison, W Harrison, H Huddart, W Huddart, E H Jackson, A Kitchen, C Mossop, F Mossop, N Mossop, E Park, T Park, H W Sewell, WWR Sewell, H Satterthwaite, G Scott, H Storey, W Tyson, J Walker, H Waugh, F White, F Wilson.
As can be seen, the names shown have only initials and surnames. Many of the records available on line similarly just have initials and in most cases, it has not been possible to match them with any confidence. I include here all that I have been able to glean, however tenuous.
G Clague – Censuses show George Clague, living at Great Broughton in 1911 but born at Mosser. In 1901 George and his father Joseph are both at Prospect House, Eaglesfield, both are watch makers and both state that they were born at Eaglesfield, George in 1879.
Military records show that one George Clague was medically examined at Carlisle and joined the Royal Engineers at the Wireless Training Centre at Worcester on 31 January 1917. He was given the number 221639 and the rank of Sapper. He was aged 37 years 9 months [ie born c 1879] and measured 5’4”, was resident at Old Vicarage, Great Broughton, but born at Eaglesfield, a motor cycle agent. He was married to Mary Lucy Clague nee Wilson at Cockermouth Congregational Church on 17 September 1913, but they had no children. He was assessed as being a skilled fitter, later deployed to Murmansk and Achangel, both in Russia during 1918 and promoted in the field to the rank of 2nd Corporal. He was evacuated to England in July 1919 and discharged. He is included on the roll for the British war medal and victory medal.
J Clague - the only J Clague found in the 1911 and 1901 censuses, is Joseph, father of the man above. He was born at Eaglesfield, but in 1848, so probably too old to have fought. Military records produce too many results, with no links to Cumberland.
W Clague – The 1911 census shows William Edmond Jones Clague with his mother and stepfather Jane and Richard Crayston Lister living at 10 Skinner St, Cockermouth. William was born in 1894 at Workington but his mother and younger half-sister were born at Eaglesfield. In 1901 they were living at the Black Cock, Eaglesfield.
W or William Clague appears in several local newspaper indexes, just once with an Eaglesfield connection. He served with the 1st Border Regiment and is first mentioned in the Whitehaven News of 6 May 1915, when promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, supernumerary to establishment. Both the Whitehaven (13 May and 8th July) and Cumberland News (8th May) carried reports of his wounding in the fighting in the Dardanelles. The WN of 20 May reported that he was in hospital in Cairo. In those 3 reports, he had the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. The WN reported his promotion to Lieutenant on 12 August 1915 and his further promotion on a temporary basis to Captain on 18 November 1915. Later, with the rank of Lieutenant (temporary Captain) he was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service in the field (bravery at Dardanelles) as reported in the CN on 5th February and the Whitehaven News on 10th and 17th February 1916. His reduction to half pay on account of ill health contracted on active service was reported twice in the WN; on 29 November 1917 and again on 8 August 1918. That second report added that he had since retired on retirement pay.
Military records show that he was awarded the British war and victory medals and the 1914-1915 Star.
J Clark – Censuses show John Clark in 1911 living at Bramley, Loweswater. He was a single man, a farm servant born in 1888 at Branthwaite. Earlier censuses show that he was the son of John and Isabella Clark and had been brought up at Branthwaite Hall.
It has not been possible to find military records which match this man.
R Corlett – There was a Robert Corlett living at Loweswater in 1911, but at 62 (born c 1849) he would have been too old to have fought. In 1901 there was a different Robert Corlett born in 1887 living in St Helens Street, Cockermouth. His mother had been born at Greysouthen, but there appear to be no links to the EBM parish. It was not been possible to establish connections to any military records.
J Davidson – The 1911 census shows Joseph Davidson who had been born in 1888 at Wythop, living at Ullock Farm, Keswick, where he was a servant. It has not been possible to link him to any military records.
G Dockeray - there is only one in the military records, a George Dockeray who gave his address as Edderside, Maryport when he joined up. He was almost 21 when he first appears on 29 February 1916. He gave his occupation as horseman and ploughman and said his next of kin was his mother Charlotte Moore resident at Edinburgh. He was 5’4¾” and gave his birthplace as Brigham. He enlisted in the Royal Horse and Field Artillery with the number 159443 and saw service in France, Salonika, Egypt and Palestine. On demobilisation from the 2nd Reserve Battery, with the rank of driver, he gave his address as Craggs Farm or Craggs Field Farm, Eaglesfield. At that point he named George and Elizabeth Dockeray as his next of kin. [These turned out to be his grandparents.] His name, rank and number are confirmed in the campaign medal and silver war badge index.
George Dockeray appears in the 1901 census living with his grandparents George and Elizabeth at Church Street, Brigham. He was aged 5. He was still there in 1911 and his father seems likely to be the George Dockeray living at Greysouthen, who was born at Eaglesfield. See also H Hamilton below.
H Ferguson – Harold Ferguson appears in the 1911 census living at Eaglesfield with his parents Henry and Hannah. He was born c 1897 at Aspatria. His father was a farmer and he was working on the farm. It has not been possible to match him to any military records.
I Glasson – There is no match in censuses for Cumberland. One Isaac Glasson, Acting Corporal 39733 in the Durham Light Infantry is included in the campaign medal and silver war badge index cards.
J Glasson – There is no match in Cumberland in censuses. He is possibly the man reported in the Whitehaven News who served with the Border Regiment and whose promotion was reported. He was raised from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant initially on a temporary basis as reported on 4th May 1916. This was later confirmed as reported on 29th November 1917. He received the British war and victory Medals.
H Hamilton – probably Hans Hamilton, brother of the James and Douglas mentioned below, born 1896 at Eaglesfield, living at Eaglesfield. In fact he was listed twice in the 1911 census, once at home with his parents Hans and Grace and 3 other children (although that had been crossed through) and again as a servant at another property in Eaglesfield, the home of James Dockery a farmer. Neither property is named, although the family was at 4 Main St, Eaglesfield in 1901. It is tempting to think there might be a connection between Hans Hamilton, James Dockery and George Dockery listed above, but this has not proved possible to make. Despite the name being unusual, it appears numerous times in military records, including a man of that name who died in the war. It has not proved possible to identify the correct man.
J D Hamilton – There are no census results in Cumberland with the two initials JD. There are two possible results for J – John born 1891 at Eaglesfield who was living and working as a farm servant at Brandling Gill in 1911, for the family of Christopherson. The other was James born 1898 at Eaglesfield with brothers Hans and Douglas mentioned above. No definite matches have been made in military records.
B Harrison –Benjamin Harrison appears in the 1911 census living at Birk Bank. Although in Whinfell parish, it is very close to the borders of EBM. He was born at Birk Bank in 1898, a fourth brother to Thomas, Joseph and Watson Harrison. There are 61 Benjamin Harrisons in the war medals list, but one was in the 7th Border regiment, Private 50755 and was awarded the British war and victory medals.
J Harrison – There are several possible candidates. The Cumberland News of 28 April 1817 reported on a Joseph Harrison of Southward Cottage [Pardshaw]; a Sergeant serving with the Canadians who had been slightly wounded. The same paper reported on 12 September 1918 on a Joseph H Harrison now of Wigton, a Sergeant with the Canadians, who had been wounded and was in hospital in Cambridge. He is probably the Jos Harrison listed among the passengers travelling to Quebec, Canada, a labourer aged 21 (born 1892) who departed Liverpool on 30 August 1913.
The 1911 censuses shows two men called Joseph Harrison. One was living and working as a servant at Moorland Close, EBM parish. He was born at Cockermouth in 1894. The other is a brother of Benjamin mentioned above, born 1896 and living at Birk Bank in 1911.
J M Harrison – possibly the man mentioned in the Whitehaven News for 26th December 1918 transcribed and indexed as I M Harrison, a Private in the 8th Border Regiment (141623), with a Pardshaw Hall address, who was reported having been returned to England after being a POW. Census searches just produce the same results as for J Harrison above. Despite having the regiment and service number it has not been possible to produce military records.
T Harrison – possibly the T Harrison of Cockermouth, reported wounded in the Cumberland News of 10 May 1917. He was a Private with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. However there is also a Thomas Harrison, a Private with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from Wigan who died of wounds in 1918.
Censuses show two local options. There is a family at Eaglesfield in the 1911 census, with Thomas Harrison born 1867 at Cockermouth as the head and son Tom born 1905 also at Cockermouth. Or there is the Thomas born 1894, brother of Joseph and Watson Harrison mentioned above, at Birk Bank. It has not been possible to identify any military records.
W Harrison – Probably Watson Harrison who was at Birk Bank, in the parish of Whinfell in 1911. He was born in 1900 at Birk Bank, the son of William and Mary and brother of Benjamin, Thomas and Joseph. No definitive matches have been made in military records.
H Huddart - Possibly Harold Huddart, who cannot be found in 1911 but was resident at Eaglesfield in 1901. He was born in 1891 at Cockermouth, son of Joseph and Elizabeth who had moved to Eaglesfield soon after Harold’s birth. He is therefore a brother of William shown next. Despite having found a name, it has not been possible to find anything in military records
W Huddart – W Huddart cannot be found in 1911 but the 1901 census shows one William Huddart living at 3 Chapel Hill, Eaglesfield aged 6 [born 1894], with his parents Joseph and Elizabeth and 5 siblings including Harold shown above. He was born at Eaglesfield.
He is possibly the man reported in the Whitehaven News of 22 July 1915 who was serving as a Private with the 2nd Border Regiment (4823) who had been wounded while serving as part of the expeditionary force. This was also reported in the Cumberland News on 30 January 1915, 20 February 1915 and 24 July 1915. The service number is confirmed in one of these reports and another adds that he was wounded in France.
Military records include one William Parker Huddart who attested at Cockermouth on 11 December 1915, a married man aged 21 years and 8 months (born 1894), with a wife Lillian and a son William born 19 May 1915. His address was Dalton Grove, Eaglesfield, he had been born at Mosser and he was a carter at a lime works. He was not mobilised until 1 June 1916 when he was assigned to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers no 8452. He was posted to France on 17 July 1917, wounded on 9 April 1918 and returned home on 20 April 1918. He was admitted to hospital on 21 April 1918 with a shrapnel wound to the left thigh (marked ‘slight’). He was discharged on 13 June 1918. He began his service as a Private, was promoted to Lance corporal on 21 February 1917, reduced back to Private on 6 June, promoted to Lance Corporal again on 16 October and then to Corporal on 5 November the same year. He was awarded the British war and victory medals. When admitted to hospital he was a Corporal with the 5th Loyal North Lancashire (LNL) Regiment (number 290794). When he was issued his identity certificate, he was a Sergeant 290794, though this was crossed through and 54440 inserted, with the 11th Battalion East Lancashire (EL) Regiment. His travel pass, issued on 1 June 1916 gives his height as just short of 5’10”. He transferred from the LNL 290794 to EL 54440 on 28 July 1919. Another document says he joined the EL on enlistment and was transferred to the 5th Reserve Battalion of the LNL Regiment 8452 (no date). He was demobilised on 12 November 1919 to High Seaton where wife had moved. He acknowledged receipt of medals with wound stripe on 12 April 1922. His medical history sheet records that he had an upper denture, flat feet and mole below left breast.
His marriage to Lilian Boundy is found in Q4 of 1914 at Cockermouth.
E H Jackson – There are no definite matches. Possibly the man reported in the Whitehaven News who was serving with the 5th Border Regiment, whose promotion to 2nd Lieutenant was reported on 1st July 1915 and from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant was reported on 6th December 1917. Possibly the Edward Jackson, cowman born 1892 at Bassenthwaite who was resident at Wythop Hall in 1911. Military records include one Edward H Jackson who was a Private 28854 in the Border Regiment and was awarded the British war and victory medals.
A Kitchen – Possibly Albert Kitchen who in 1911 was a boarder at Eaglesfield, living with retired farmer Robert Crosby and his wife Isabella. He was still attending school and had been born at Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1901. Military records show one Albert Kitchen born on 1 January 1901 at Sheffield served as a seaman (stoker) in the British Royal Navy.
C Mossop –possibly Clement Mossop, brother of Edward who featured in my earlier article. He was with his family at Green Trees, Blindbothel in 1901, born at the same place in 1895. By 1911, aged 16, he was living apart from them at Rowrah working as a farm labourer. It has not proved possible to make a definitive match to any military records.
F Mossop –The closest link to the EBM parish is one Frederick born in 1877 at Greysouthen, in 1911 a coal hewer in Hensingham. He was a married man, wife Sarah J with 6 children. The only Frederick Mossop in the Campaign Medals Index and Silver War Barge Cards was a driver with the Royal Field Artillery Corps.
N Mossop –probably Nelson Mossop another brother of Edward who featured in the earlier article. He was a scholar, still living at home with his family at Low Hall, Blindbothel in 1911, born in 1898. There is no match in military records.
E Park – possibly the man reported in the Whitehaven News of 27 June 1918, serving as a Private with the Shropshires, whose address is given as Cockermouth, who was mentioned as having been wounded. The 1911 census shows one Eric Park living at Eaglesfield, the third child of Joseph and Elizabeth who were publicans at the Black Cock. He was born in 1900 at Workington. It has not been possible to make any matches in military records.
T Park – possibly Thomas Park who was living with his family at Underwood, Mosser in the 1911 census. He was born at Bowness in 1898, a scholar and his father was a farmer. It has not been possible to identify him in military records.
H Satterthwaite – identified as Henry Satterthwaite aged 22 (born 1889), living and working on his father’s farm at Eaglesfield in 1911. He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth, with a younger brother and sister. They occupied a 10 room house, which is not named. In 1901, the property was identified as 11 Main Street, Eaglesfield. The name is found in the index to Army Medal index cards as Private 38136 with the Gloucestershire Regiment and private 154334 of the Machine Gun Corps. However there is another Henry Satterthwaite born in 1888 in Coventry who was living in that city with his family in the 1911 census so it is not certain which man this refers to. Despite having a more unusual name and soldier numbers it has not proved possible to uncover more military information.
The death index shows that one Henry Satterthwaite who was born on 8 May 1888 died at Cockermouth in Q3 1971. That being so, he should be included in the register taken at the outbreak of World War II, known as the 1939 register. However the only man of that name is at Coventry and was born on 28 May 1888.
G Scott – possibly the Cockermouth man reported in the Whitehaven News of 23 May 1918, who was serving as a Private with the Border Regiment and had been wounded in action. This was also reported in the Cumberland News 2 days later. Undoubtedly the George Scott found in the 1911 census at The Lodge, Brandlingill working as a chauffeur (probably to the Sewells who feature below). He was born in 1871 at Brampton. There are some discrepancies, but also some similarities with a man of the same name, almost same year of birth, who originally joined the 9th Lancers as an 18 year-old and served 2 tours of duty in South Africa before being discharged on 10 July 1902 and receiving a pension for just over 12 years’ service. He then re-enlisted in the 4th Battalion Border Regiment on 27 October 1914 and was ‘disembodied’ at Chelsea on 17 February 1919. The military records contain no indication of overseas service or medals. George Scott received a Chelsea pension until 30 June 1948. The only discrepancy related to place of birth. On enlistment in 1890 this was transcribed as Broughton, but in the 1911 census, is clearly Brampton. There is a next-of-kin sheet showing parents John and Margaret and sisters Jane and Margaret at Castlecarrock near Carlisle.
The 1901 census confirms these are one and the same. George Scott was then resident at 28 Lindisfarne St, Carlisle. He was born 1871 at Brampton, brother-in-law, occupation ‘reservist soldier 9th Lancers’. In the same household is mother-in-law Margaret Scott widowed, 72 and the wife of the head is Jane Bowes also born in Brampton. A re-examination of the attestation papers could well be read as Brampton.
H W Sewell – Identified as Herbert W Sewell, probably a younger brother of the man named below. It has not proved possible to find H W Sewell in the 1911 census but Herbert W Sewell appears in the 1901 census, a solicitor boarding at Carlisle, born at Brigham in 1873. In the same census-year the Sewell family was at Brandlingill, Blindbothel. It comprised Frederick R Sewell, Colonel JP and DL [possibly Deputy Lieutenant] for Cumberland, his wife Jane, their daughter Edith W, Jane’s mother Sarah Ostle and 3 live-in servants. Tracking the family back shows that they were living at Brandlingill since at least 1871. In the Cumberland Post Office Directory for 1873, Brandlingill was listed among the ‘principal seats’ of Cumberland. In 1891 William H R Sewell was there; a law student, son of Frederick and Jane Sewell, born in 1869 at Brandlingill. The only time the two brothers appear in the same census is in 1881 when they were both boarding scholars at an un-named establishment at Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate. There were 37 boarders, of which Herbert was the youngest at 8, ranging in age up to 17. It is not now possible to identify the school, but there were 2 located there in the late 19th century; Ashville College run by the Methodist church and Pannal Ash College.
This is possibly the man mentioned in the Whitehaven News of 22 October 1914 who was a Captain with the 3rd Border Regiment and had just been commissioned to the Royal Scots and deployed to France to join his new regiment. This was to be short lived as the same paper of 19 November 1914 reported that he had been invalided home from the front. Later, in the Whitehaven News of 2 November 1916, it was reported that he was to be graded for pay purposes as a Staff Captain while commanding his company.
There are numerous Herbert Sewells whose names appear in the Army medal cards index, but it is not possible to identify the correct one.
W W R Sewell – Identified in the 1911 census as William Woodville Robinson Sewell, a farmer at Brandlingill, in EBM parish. He was born in 1868 at Brigham. He was living with his widowed mother Jane who was living on her own means, his unmarried sister Elizabeth Woodville Sewell aged 37 and 4 female live-in servants, a cook, parlourmaid, kitchen maid and general servant. The property was described as comprising 22 rooms. He was baptised at Mosser on 20 April 1869.
William W R Sewell appears in the Army medal cards index as Private 3479 of the Hampshire Regiment and Private 206460 of the Bedfordshire Regiment. It is possible to trace his career to some extent, but the records are indistinct and damaged in places. He attested at Southampton in November 1915, signing on for 4 years and giving a Southampton address. He stated that he had been a reservist with Cumberland RV [reserve volunteers?] since 1889 and West Cumberland Yeomanry since 1903. He served as a clerk; initially with the Hampshire Regiment, later transferring to the Bedfordshire Regiment. His service career included time in Bombay. He was disembodied on 20 January 1920 and 3 different addresses are mentioned in connection with his discharge, one at Carlisle, one in Kensington and he asked his pension to be paid in Jersey, saying he would be there for some months. He was 52 on discharge and his fitness was judged B3. Brother of the H W Sewell shown above. A very cursory look on-line indicated that the Ostle grandparents of these two brothers had been Quakers, buried at Pardshaw burial ground, whereas their father Frederick Robinson Sewall had been an Army Captain and a freemason, remembered on the mason’s memorial at Cockermouth cemetery. I feel that Brandlingill and its occupants would repay further research.
H Storey – Henry A Storey was found in the 1901 census living at Smithy Green, Mosser [between Aikbank and Wood Farm] with his family including parents Robert and Frances. He was born in 1893 at Whinfell, son of Robert Storey who was a grocer. Henry Storey couldn’t be found in 1911 but the remains of his family were at The Wood [now Wood Farm] Cockermouth [actually Blindbothel], a 5 roomed property where Robert Storey was still a grocer. His birth was registered as Henry Allason Storey in Q3 1892 at Cockermouth.
There are extensive military records available on-line; in excess of 60 images that seem to be in random order. Some parts are very faint, some handwriting difficult to read and some forms incompletely filled in. It has been difficult to piece the story together. Henry Storey attested on 10 December 1915 at Egremont, aged 23, giving his address as Calder Hall, occupation as farm horseman and his next of kin as his father Robert Storey of The Wood. He did not begin his service until 19 January 1917 when he was assigned to the 4th Battalion Border Regiment as private 202871, although another form in his record indicated that he was ‘home’ 19 January 1917 to 4 July 1917. On 2 July he was assigned to the 6th Battalion and a different form in his record indicated that he was with the British Expeditionary Force from 5 July 1917 to 21 August 1918 during which time he was wounded in the right hand on 23 August 1817. On 18 September 1918 he was reported as a deserter or absent without leave from 6 September that year and a complete description was issued to the police – he was 5’8” of medium build, fresh complexion, auburn hair, blue eyes, freckled with a front tooth missing from the top row. His home address was still The Wood, Mosser, Nr Cockermouth. He had gone absent while on short leave from France. Police inquiries show that he had reported to Fusehill military hospital, Carlisle on 6 September and been transferred to Eden Bridge hospital Carlisle on 13 September. He was diagnosed with severe myalgia [muscle pain] and prescribed treatment for 1 month after which he was likely to be fit for further service. He appears to have been declared fit on 4 October and was discharged 5 days later, fit for employment and was described then as being of the 1st Battalion Border Regiment. He was assigned to ‘Agric Co’ [agricultural company?]. On 29 January 1919 he was ‘returned from farm work’ and assigned to B Company 3rd Battalion Border Regiment. On 3 March 1919 he was demobilised. The following day a certificate of identity for ‘soldiers not remaining under the colour’ was issued, granting 28 days furlough from that date. His health was classed as A1. He was awarded the British war and victory medals and signed a pro-forma postcard on 20 April 1922 to confirm that he had received them. A form regarding soldiers’ effects gives his date of death as 25 February 1923 at ‘M of P Hosp’. The place appears to be Gretna, although it is hard to read. The words ‘TB spine aggra’ have been added. By now his next of kin is his married sister FM Darby still of The Wood, Mosser. It has not proved possible to find confirmation of that death. He would have been only 30 years old.
W Tyson – there are 2 possible candidates in the 1911 census; both aged 9 years old, so born in 1902. William E Tyson was at High Mosser, born at Langdale, son of Daniel and Jane and Wilson Tyson was at Southwaite Green, born at Threlkeld, son of William and Sarah Annie. No definite match can be made with either in the military records.
J Walker – Initially identified as likely to be the Cockermouth man reported in the Cumberland News of 14 December 1918. He was private 241578 with the Border Regiment and was being repatriated. This regimental number revealed that he was Joseph Walker and had been awarded the British war and victory medals, but initially nothing further could be found. He was found in 1911 working as a horseman at Croft House, Buttermere; born 1884 at Greysouthen and in 1901 he was with his family Harrison and Elizabeth with 5 children. Harrison was a milk seller. Elizabeth was born at Blindbothel, the 3 eldest children at Loweswater and the younger two at Bolton, Wigton.
Later more detailed military records were found, though some are damaged and hard to read and some dates contradictory. Joseph Walker attested on 24 February 1916 giving as his next of kin his father Harrison Walker of Goat, Cockermouth. He then had his medical at Carlisle on 7 April 1916 when he was posted. He gave his age as only a month short of 33 years and birthplace as Embleton. He was a cowman, 5’5” tall and weighed 119lb. He was ‘home’ until 7 December 1916 when he was sent the following day to serve as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was admitted to hospital on 27 July 1917, but it is not clear where this was. He was noted ‘missing in the field’ on 21 March 1918 and there is a very incomplete notice of his capture on that day, but it is impossible to read the place either of his capture or internment. [One document appears to give the year as 1917] He was repatriated on 10 December 1918 [one document states arrived at Dover 2 December 1918] as a returning POW. He was transferred to his prior company, Border Regiment 9 [month is illegible] 1919. [This was probably March, as there appears to be a further attestation on 13 March 1919.] He was posted again on 2 May 1919 and demobilised on 27 September 1919 and discharged the following day, giving his home address as The Goat, Cockermouth.
H Waugh – The Whitehaven News of 15th July 1915 reported that Henry Waugh of Bank Farm, Eaglesfield [see also Frederick Wilson below] had enlisted with the Royal Sussex Regiment which was reported to have been recruiting in the area the previous week. He was shown in 1911 as living on his mother’s farm at Eaglesfield; born in 1894 at Torpenhow. No further address is given, but the property had 7 rooms. Despite the press information, nothing can be discovered about his military service.
F White – The Whitehaven News of 10th June and 1st July 1915 reported one F White private 1422 with the 5th Battalion, Border Regiment who had been gassed during fighting in France as part of the Expeditionary Force, between the 23 – 26 May (the majority on 24th). There was no clear identification of anyone with this name living in the area in 1911. However in 1901 there was a Fletcher White living with his family at 7 Main Street, Eaglesfield, born 1894 at Eaglesfield, son of George and Margaret. This man matched with the press information and with that it was possible to find that he had been awarded the British war and victory medals and the 1914 star with a qualifying date of 26 October 1914. He had been born on 28 October 1893 and baptised at Mosser 2 days later, son of George and Margaret White.
Fletcher White’s military pension records are available on-line and show that he joined the Territorial Force in Cockermouth on 4 April 1912 at the age of 18. He gave his birthplace as Mosser, but was by then working as a collier at Flimby Colliery, living at Low House, Brigham. He was 5’6¾” with a chest measurement of 35½”. Next of Kin was his father George White of Brigham. Fletcher White was appointed to the 5th Border Regiment on 26 August 1914. His pensionable service was calculated from 4 April 1912 with annual training at Skipton from 25 July 1912 to 11 August 1912 and at Barrow from 27 July 1913 to 10 August 1913. He began his war service on 5 August 1914 and embarked at Southampton on 25 October 1914 and disembarked at Harvre the following day and was on campaign in France to 30 November 1915. He was gassed and admitted to field hospital on 24 May 1915 and discharged on 2 June to rejoin his battalion on 13 May. [These dates are contradictory] He was further admitted to casualty clearing station on 20 November 1915. The initials DAH appear which are understood to stand for disordered action of the heart. He was treated in a field hospital and evacuated by ambulance train and the hospital ship Brighton, returning to England on 1 December 1915. He attended a medical board on 28 February 1916 and was found medically unfit through rheumatism which originated in September 1915 in France. ‘When he walks he suffers from dysf…(?) and pain in chest – first sound of heart muffled, face cyanosed. Was hospitalised in France for 3 weeks in September with rheumatic fever. Due to active service – waterlogged trenches at Hooge. Permanent – prevents ¼ permanently’. Hooge was at the eastern end of the Ypres Salient and saw almost continuous fighting from 1914 to 1917. Even during quiet periods, the average casualty rate among British and Commonwealth forces was 300 per day. Fletcher White’s evacuation was towards the end of the First Battle of Ypres. He was discharged from the army on 17 March 1916, having accrued ‘embodied’ service as a Private from 5 August 1914 to the date of his discharge. He was just 22 when he was discharged to Fox Terrace, Eaglesfield [written Inglesfield] and his character was described as v. good. His service was calculated as 3 years 349 days. He was discharged ‘in consequence of being no longer physically fit for war service, although fit for employment in civil life’. He appears to have undergone further medical assessments during which the degree of his disability was progressively reduced until on 26 September 1917 it was assessed as 15% temporary. He was awarded 8/3 from 4 April 1917 to 17 October 1917 when he was granted a gratuity of £22.
F Wilson – The Whitehaven News of 15th July 1915 also reported that Frederick Wilson of School House, Eaglesfield had enlisted with the Royal Sussex Regiment which was reported to have been recruiting in the area the previous week. [See also Henry Waugh above] In the 1911 census, Frederick Wilson was with his parents William and Annie, living at Eaglesfield where his father William Wilson was a schoolmaster. Frederick at 15 (born 1896 at Eaglesfield) was still a student. This was a smaller property, having just 5 rooms. He was born on 26 February 1896 and baptised at Mosser on 19 April. No military records can be identified for this man.
If anyone reading this can confirm or clarify any of the identifications made here, or add anything to any of the accounts of these men, please let me know.
Sandra Shaw
sandra.m.shaw@btopenworld.com
