Longfleet

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Burials at Longfleet St Mary's Churchyard
Research by Richard Smith into the lives and deaths of the CWGC War Casualties buried in Longfleet.

CWGC Burials at Poole (Longfleet) St Mary's Churchyard

AULT Henry Francis Wellesley Chief Engine Room Artificer No. 117143 HMS White Oak Royal Navy

Born in Bedminster, Somerset on 2nd May 1860 son of William John Cardigan Ault, an engine fitter and turner who died in 1900, and his wife Mary Ann Beasley who died in 1909. Henry enlisted in the Royal Navy on 18th August 1881 and served for twenty years moving to the Reserves on 4th September 1901. He had married Elizabeth Burby at Bristol on 28th September 1899. In 1911 he was working as an engine fitter for the ferry service living at 29 Morris Park Terrace, St. Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon. He died at home at Poole on 3rd April 1918 from pneumonia and cerebral embolism, and was buried on the 6th in grave No. D. 9. 18. His probate to his widow Elizabeth on 8th May 1918 for £488 8s. 6d gave his address as "Oakfield" Wimborne Road, Poole, but Naval records had her address as 4 Beaconsfield Road, St. George, Bristol.

BENNETT Reginald Percy Rifleman No. 3711 3rd/8th Battalion London (Post Office Rifles) Regiment

Born in Chippenham, Wiltshire in October 1892, son of Thomas Bennett, a plate layer with the Great Western Railway, and his wife Ellen Amor. In 1911 he was working as a labourer at a milk factory living with his parents at Lowden Hill, Chippenham. Later he was working as a postman when he married Bessie Selina Chaffey at Poole on 21st April 1915. He died at the Cornelia Military Hospital, Poole on 29th January 1916. He had been taken ill with meningitis whilst home on leave. He was buried on 2nd February in South. 2 grave. In 1921 his widow Bessie was living at 12 Hill Street, Poole.

BLAKE William Edward Rifleman No. 570979 17th Battalion London Regiment - later Labour Corps No. 433492

Born in Hackney Wick, London on 24th March 1883 son of William Edward Blake, a dock warehouse keeper, and his wife Emily (nee Morris). William Snr. died in 1889 and Emily moved to Tilbury, Essex with her large young family where she remarried in 1891 to George Simons. Emily is believed to have died in 1924. William Jnr married Emily Louisa Small at Longfleet, Poole on 27th May 1917. The marriage record said his father was Superintendent of London Docks and deceased. Army records show that William Jnr. died at the Military Hospital, Ripon, Yorkshire on 8th February 1919, but cause of death not found - was it Spanish Flu ? He was buried on the 15th in grave No. A. 3. 31. His widow Emily was living at "Beechboyd" 5 Marnhull Road, Poole.

BRIDLE Ernest Charles Private No. 18903 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment

Born at Poole in March 1893 son of Ernest John Bridle, a cabinet maker who died in 1904, and his wife Ada Louisa Macey. In 1911 was living with his widowed mother at 22 Albert Villas. Green Road, Poole. Was working as a butcher's assistant when he enlisted on 14th July 1916 and later served in France and Belgium although did suffer from bronchitis. He was discharged from the Army on 14th January 1919 as "No longer fit for Military Service", and died from Pulmonary Tuberculosis on 11th March 1919. He was buried in grave no. A. 4. 14 on the 17th. His address was 35 Tatnam Road, Poole.

BURBRIDGE (CWGC has Burbidge) Fred Paul Private No 44010 3rd Dorsetshire Regiment

Born at Poole in July 1900 son of Joseph Burbridge, a labourer and horse feeder, and his wife Sarah Ann Paul, who in 1911 were living at "Welcome" Seldown Lane, Poole. Fred enlisted on 29th July 1918 and was then serving in Londonderry, Ireland with 1st Dorsets when admitted to Cork Military Hospital. He was discharged from the Army on 22nd August 1919 with "delusional insanity" and admitted on the 23rd to Dorset Mental Hospital, Charminster (later Herrison Hospital). He died there on 26th February 1920 but cause of death not found, and was buried in grave No. D. 10. 25C on March 3rd. .

BURROWS Harry Private No. 22616 Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry

Born at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire in July 1893, son of George Burrows, a farm labourer, and his wife Julia Ginger. In 1911 they were living at Flowers Bottom, Princes Risborough where Harry was working as a chair turner. I do not know if he served abroad, but his burial record says that he died at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Parkstone on 16th March 1916, and was buried on the 18th in grave No. A. 12. 30C.

CAVE Reginald George (or George Reginald) Private No. 37786 3rd Battalion Somerset(Prince Albert's Own) Light Infantry

Born at Poole in September 1892 son of George Henry Cave, a bricklayer's labourer, and his wife Ellen Barnes. In 1911 they were living at 7 Chapel Lane, High Street, Poole, where Reginald was working as a chemist's porter. He enlisted on 11th December 1915, but was discharged on 12th November 1917 as no longer physically fit for further War service. He married Bertha Daisy Musgrave (or Kingslake) in October 1918 but died shortly after at Poole on 30th October 1918 - cause of death not found. He was buried on November 4th in grave No. D. 8. 10C. His widow Bertha was also living at 7 Chapel Lane, Poole.

COOPER John MacDonald Sub Lieutenant HMS Viknor Royal Naval Reserve

Born at Helmsley, Yorkshire on 15th November 1891 son of William Cooper, a blacksmith who died in 1913, and his wife Elizabeth Lamb who died in 1927. Early in 1911 he was a patient in a hospital at Scalby, Yorkshire (reason not known, occupation shoeing smith) but later decided to join Mercantile Marine as on 20th November 1911 he was awarded his 2nd Mate's ticket at Weymouth for overseas ships. Then also at Weymouth on 8th November 1913 he was awarded his First Mate's ticket. He then joined the R.N.R. but died serving aboard HMS Viknor. Previously the Blue Star Liner Viking, she was commandeered by the Navy as an Armed Merchant Cruiser for W W One, but sank after hitting a German mine off the coast of Ireland on 13th January 1915. No distress call was heard, and all 295 officers and men aboard died. His body must have been washed ashore much later as he was buried in grave No. 8. 14 C on September 15th 1915. His first probate was issued for £207.11s 2d to Mary Elizabeth wife of Samuel Penny Snook on 6th October 1915. A 2nd probate was issued to Kenneth Langton MacDonald Cooper, Lt. in H.M. Royal Marines, stepson of Samuel and Mary, on 30th August 1929 for the sum of £12,577 2s 3d maybe after the death of his mother ?

CRABB Alfred Leslie Private No. 18250 "A" Company 7th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment

Born at Crewkerne, Somerset late in 1889 son of Thomas Crabb, a commercial traveller in rope and twine, and his wife Ada Udall Bartlett, who in 1911 were living at 66 West Street, Poole where Alfred was working in a rope factory. I did not find when he enlisted, but he died at the Military Hospital at Bovingdon Camp, Wool, Dorset on 29th July 1916 and was then buried in grave No. A. 10. 16. on May 2nd. His cause of his death not found.

FROUD John Chubb Private No. TR8/ 21713 53rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment

Born in 1900 at Poole, son of Edwin Froud, a clerk for a forage merchant, and his wife Ellen Chubb, who in 1911 were living at "Chantry" St Margaret's Road, Longfleet. John died at Fargo Military Hospital, Durrington, Salisbury, Wiltshire on 24th November 1918 aged 18 (Was it pneumonia?) and was buried on the 30th in grave No. A. 8. 15. Sadly his older brother Gunner Alfred Charles Froud born 1897 No. 163886 Royal Garrison Artillery had been died from war wounds serving in France on 14th, just 10 days earlier.

GALLOP Harry John Sapper No. 45730 80th Field Company Royal Engineers

Born in January 1891 at Poole, son of Richard Candy Gallop, a blacksmith, and his wife Emma Emberley. Harry trained as a blacksmith like his father and between November 1911 and January 1914 sailed to and from Canada several times from Bristol to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He enlisted in the Army on 1st September 1914 at Poole, before marrying Florence Elizabeth Harwood at Longfleet on 16th November 1914. Army records show he later was suffering from loss of weight and general weakness and was moved to 1st Western General Hospital, Liverpool where Trench Fever was diagnosed. He was discharged from the Army on 9th June 1917 as "No longer physically fit for further War Service". He died at home in Poole on 28th January 1919, cause of death not found, and was buried in grave No. A. 13. 1 on the 4th February. His widow Florence was living at 35 St Margaret's Road. Poole.

GIBBS George Private No. 27654 9th Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry - later Labour Corps No. 139580

Born at Poole about November 1887 son of Joseph Walter Gibbs, a plasterer, and his wife Annie Hutchings who in 1911 were living at 24 Hill Street, Poole where George was working as a builder's labourer. I do not know when he enlisted, but he died at the Worgret Camp Military Hospital, Arne, Dorset on 2nd November 1918 and was buried in grave No. B. 7. 5. on the 8th. His cause of death not found.

GILLETT Walter John Private No. 9709 Dorsetshire Regiment

Born at Poole in November 1894 son of Arthur Charles Gillett, a brewery labourer, and his wife Mary Gillett. He enlisted in the Army on 10th November 1913 when working as a butcher and later posted to France where he was injured by a shell fragment whilst on sentry duty on 16th May 1916. It caused paralysis of his spine and legs and injuries to his bladder and rectum. He was returned to UK and admitted to the Cornelia Military Hospital, Poole on 20th July 1916, but died there after a stay of 553 days on 24th January 1918. He was aged 23 and buried in grave No. D. 4. 9C. on the 30th. His parents were living at 35 Towngate Street, Poole.

HAMMOND William Harold Driver No. 239666 353rd Battery 36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Born at Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey on 10th October 1878 son of Charles Hammond, a brewery manager, and his wife Elizabeth Ann Girling. William was also working as a brewery manager when on 21st October 1911 at Hampstead, London he married Lillie Naomi Ince. He enlisted at Hilsea on 3rd June 1917 and was posted to India, but was wounded there and in hospital on 23rd November 1917. He was invalided back to UK on 25th August 1918, and discharged from the Army on 24th October 1918. He was admitted to the Dorset County Asylum at Charminster (later Herrison Hospital) on the 11th March 1919, but died shortly after on 14th March 1919 - cause of his death not found. He was buried in grave No. 4. 11 on the 20th. His probate to his widow Lillie on 18th March 1920 for £270 gave their address as The Creek, Poole.

JAMES Howard Edwin Harry Private No. D/ 3224 Royal Dragoons

Born at Warminster, Wiltshire on 27th August 1889 son of Harry James, a labourer, and his wife Annie Turner. He enlisted in April 1909 and was serving in India in 1911. Posted to France on 8th October 1914, he married Emily Cornelia Storey at Hunslet, Yorkshire on 17th November 1915. He was discharged from the Army in May 1919, but died at the Cornelia Military Hospital, Poole of acute pancreatitis on 20th January 1920. He was buried on the 22nd in grave No. A. 14. 2. His widow Emily was living at Shamrock Bungalow, Lake Road, Hamworthy.

JOHNSTON Francis Noel Fl. Lieutenant D.F.C., No. 75709 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Born in Egypt where his father Rt. Rev'd Francis Featherstonhaugh Johnston was Bishop of Egypt, and his wife Gladys Katie Head. Commissioned in RAFVR as a Pilot Officer on 9th March 1939, and appointed Flying Officer on 9th October 1940 he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross serving with 204 Squadron Coastal Command on anti submarine patrols gazetted in April 1944. He married Monica Mary Allner on 20th April 1944 at Poole, but was killed on 3rd January 1945. He was the pilot instructor of a Sunderland on a training sortie which stalled shortly after take off in very bad weather from RAF Alness, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland and crashed into the sea. Two of the crew did survive. His probate granted to his widow Monica on 5th June 1945 for £431. 7s.2d gave their address as Hilton Cottage, Alness.

LACEY Alfred John Onslow (or Hounslow) Private No. 8778 Royal Defence Corps previously 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment No. 20079.

He was born in Poole on 7th October 1868. There was no father listed on his marriage certificate and I suspect his mother Mary Lacey was unmarried. On 21st October 1895 he married Florence Rogers at Longfleet when working as a bricklayer, as he was also in 1901 and 1911. Is missing from the 1891 census - had he joined the Army as a boy soldier? He was discharged from the Royal Defence Corps on 2nd November 1918, and died at home in Poole on 29th January 1920 aged 50, but cause of death not found. He was buried on February 2nd in grave No. A. 10. 21. His widow Florence was living at 86 Garland Road, Heckforth Park, Longfleet.

LACY Frederick (Fred) George Private No. 26153 "C" Company 1st / 4th Battalion Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry previously No. 29489 Worcestershire Regiment.

Born at Poole about June 1890 son of George Frederick Lacy, a labourer on Poole Quay, and his wife Elizabeth Ann Harris who married in Poole in February 1890. In 1911 they were living at 7 Huntleys Cottages, Frickers Alley, Poole where Fred was working at a tile factory aged 20. He died at King George Military Hospital, Lambeth, London on 21st October 1917 but I did not find if it was war wounds or disease. He was buried on 27th in grave No. D. 2. 2.

NOTE - there is another Frederick George Lacy born to Eliza Ann Lacy, (single mother born about 1869), at Poole in about November 1888. He married Maud Miles at Poole on 17th December 1910 working as a coal porter, but I think he died serving in Flanders on 27th September 1918 with Coldstream guards No. 20182. CWGC has Lacey.

LEGG Victor George Lewis Private No. 17116 3rd Special Reserve Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment

Born at Corfe Mullen, Dorset about June 1895 son of John James Legg, a farm labourer, and his wife Bessie Ethel Kent. In 1911 the family were living at Mill Street, Corfe Mullen, where aged 15 Victor was working as a farm labourer like his father. On 14th June 1916 Victor married Lily May Miller at Longfleet, but his burial record says that he died at the Military Hospital, Derry, Ireland on 2nd April 1919 from bronchitis and influenza. He was buried on April 7th in grave No. A. 8. 16. His widow Lily was living at 2 Canford Road, Heckford Park, Longfleet.

LIMBRICK Joseph Isaac Trimmer No. 4670 TS HMS Dreel Castle Royal Naval Reserve

Born at Alveston, Gloucestershire in March 1893 son of William Limbrick, a labourer, and his wife Lillie Caple. In 1911 the family were living at Castle Street, Newport Monmouthshire where Joseph was a general labourer. He was serving on HMS Dreel Castle, a coastal patrol vessel based at Falmouth, Cornwall when he died at sea from Pleurisy on 10th March 1916. His death was registered at Falmouth, and he was buried on the 16th in grave No. D. 10. 15. His parents were then living at 19 The Bean Acre, Shirehampton, Bristol.

MERRIFIELD Wilfred Herbert Private No. 5728512 Corps of Military Police

Born at Poole on 28th April 1917 son of Henry John Merrifield, a domestic gardener, and his wife Ada May Coward who in 1921 were living at Aston Grays Cottage, Western Road, Branksome Park, Dorset. In 1939 Wilfred was working as a market gardener in Poole, but Army records show that he died as a result of an unspecified "Accident" on 1st February 1943 aged 26. His death was registered at Exeter, Devon.

RIDEOUT Oliver Arthur Henry Captain No. 168639 Royal Engineers

Born at Poole about May 1904 son of Arthur Rideout, a bricklayer who died in 1936, and his wife Rosa J. Newton. In 1921 the family were living at 14 Victoria Road Poole, where Oliver aged nearly 17 was a carpenter's apprentice. In October 1928 he married Violet Vivian Hooper in Dorchester, and in September 1939 she was living at 81 Hemmings Park Road, Poole. On 10th April 1941 Oliver was a Staff Sergeant R.E. and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. He died at Poole on 12th July 1947, aged 43, cause of death not found.

SAUNDERS Albert Edward Petty Officer 1st Class No. 118116 P.O. HMS White Oak Royal Navy.

His Naval records say he was born 11th May 1866 but I suspect that he was born about June 1864 from census and birth records, son of John Saunders, a carter and labourer who died in 1893, and his wife Mary Chaffey who died in 1877. He joined the Royal Navy on 11th January 1882 and served until discharged at the end of his service on 7th September 1900. He had married Kate Gooby at Kinson on 13th September 1890 when a seaman, but Kate died in July 1901. Albert then married Fanny Carter at Poole on 13th May 1903, listed as a naval pensioner. In 1911 he was caretaker of the Municipal Offices in Poole, before on 2nd August 1914 he rejoined the Royal Navy. Naval records confirm that he died at home on 13th November 1915 from Heart Disease, and was then buried in grave No. A. 3. 38 on the 17th. His probate to his widow Fanny on 10th January 1916 for £105 gave their address as 167 High Street, Poole and described Albert as Keeper of the Magazine at Poole Naval Base.

SPENCER Joseph Fireman S.S. Serrana Mercantile Marine

Born in Barbados, West Indies about 1876 son of Thornhill and Lavinia Spencer. He was a fireman on the cargo vessel S.S. Serrana which sank in the Channel on 22nd January 1918. There is debate where she was sunk by a torpedo from German submarine UB-35, or did she hit a mine? 44 crew were saved and taken to Poole, including Joseph who was taken to the Cornelia Military Hospital. His burial record confirms that he died there on the 24th January 1918 from burns from the explosion which sank his ship. He was buried on the 30th in grave No. 2. 4. CWGC says that his widow Lilian Matilda Archer, who I assume he had married in the West Indies, was living at Culloden Road, Bridgetown, Barbados.

WATSON William Staff Sergeant No. 92175 Royal Tank Corps and 2nd Canadian Tank Corps.

Born in 1882, he was an American serving with Canadian forces, but I failed to find anything about his family. His Army Effects page says there was a widow Mrs. E V Watson and a daughter Genevieve, suggesting they lived in New York, USA. He was travelling from camp at Wool to a repatriation centre at Winchester, but was taken off the train a Poole as he was so ill, thought to be pneumonia. He died on 14th June 1919 at the Cornelia Military Hospital, Poole and was buried on 17th in grave No. B. 6. 7C.

WILLIS William Deck Hand H M Yacht Iolaire Mercantile Marine

Born at Southampton, Hampshire in about July 1885 son of William James Willis a labourer, and his wife Eleanor Lavery. In 1911 he was lodging in Poole working at a tile factory. His burial record says that he died on 5th November 1918 at West Highland Cottage Hospital at Oban, Argyll, Scotland - Iolaire was based at Stornoway in the Hebrides. He was buried in grave No. A. 1. 16 - I did not find a cause of death. His Naval death record says his mother's address was 6 Stanley Road, Poole. In fact that was the home of his sister Edith Ellen Willis who had married Thomas James Wills, a fisherman, and they were living there in 1911 and 1921.

YOUNG Frederick George Private No. 11442 7th Battalion York and Lancashire Regiment

Born at Fishergate, Doncaster, Yorkshire about 1893, I think his parents were Frederick Young, a brass founder on his son's marriage certificate, and his wife Ellen. He enlisted on 27th August 1914 and on 10th April 1915 in Poole he married Nellie Mabel Budden. Serving in France on 11th March 1916 he received gun shot wounds to the head and body. On 9th April 1916 he was moved to the UK to the Red Cross Military Hospital at Eastbourne, Sussex but died there on 21st April 1916 from his wounds, a fractured skull and cerebral hernia. He was buried on the 26th in grave No. D. 2. 3C. His widow Nellie was living at 53 St Margaret's Road, Longfleet, Poole.

27 Names listed 8 May 2025

Richard Smith

orchidgrower@btinternet.com

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