Petty Officer (Stoker) 285777 – HMS Lookout

George William Hood was born on 9th February 1878 in Kingsley, the son of William (a Coal Miner) and Mary Ann Hood, the 4th of their seven children.  In 1891, George then aged 13 yrs, remained living with his family in Kingsley and was employed locally as a Labourer.  (1891 Census).  Later George was employed locally as a Coal Miner.  (Royal Navy Records).

George William Hood joined the Royal Navy on 13th August 1897, (aged 19 yrs), for an initial period of 12 years, Service No:  285777,  at which stage he was 5 feet 5½ inches tall.  (Royal Navy Records).

In 1901 (aged 23 yrs) George Hood was based at HMS Pembroke, a shore based Royal Naval Barracks, at Chatham, Kent.  During the Boer War (1899 – 1902) he served on HMS Monarch.  In 1909, after 12 years service, he re-enlisted.  During his naval service George Hood served on a number of Royal Navy warships.  (Royal Navy Records).

During WW1 George Hood served on several ships including HMS Lookout. He was most notably involved in action at Zeebrugge and Ostend.  At one stage his ship was torpedoed and he spent 12 hours in the water before being rescued. He suffered greatly from the effects of being gassed. (Press Report). He received a Mention in Dispatches in 1918.

Research indicates that his Mention in Dispatches was announced in the London Gazette on 17th September 1918 for services in ‘Monitors and Destroyers of the Dover Patrol’ between 1st January 1918 and 30th June 1918. Research is ongoing to ascertain his actions that led to the award. To view the entry click here – MID G W HOOD

According to his record he served on HMS Lookout after the issue of his MID. It would appear he served on HMS Erebus from 1916 until July 1918. This ship was in action outside Ostend and Zeebrugge which are referred to in the press report of his death.

This ship was subject to a attack by a German remote controlled boat that was filled with explosives and literally driven at the ship. The attack occurred on 28th October 1917 and there was damage to the ship with two killed and 15 wounded. This may well be the incident that is referred to in the press report. (www.naval-history.net) In 1918 during the period of his time on the ship it was used in the blockade of Zebrugge.

HMS Erebus saw service in World War 2 and even assisted in the Normandy landings. (Royal Navy records and Wikipedia)

In 1919 George William Hood left the Royal Navy after 22 years service having attained the rank of Petty Officer (Stoker).  His Service Record indicates his discharge was due to a ‘War wound’.  (Royal Navy Records).

George William Hood died on 21st June 1921, aged 43yrs, almost 3 years after the war had ended.  A press report on his funeral comments, “Crowds of sympathising onlookers lined the way to his place of interment in Kingsley Churchyard.”  His grave is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a ‘War grave’.  (CWGC website).

HMS Lookout – 1914                                            

Press Report of G W Hood’s Funeral  

George Hood’s grave in Kingsley church yard

Footnote 1.  Joan Barrow is a descendant relative of George William Hood.  He was her great uncle.

Corporal 14806 – North Staffordshire Regiment (9th Battalion)

Colin Capewell was born on 6th September 1888 the son of Colin (Snr) and Emma Capewell of Tollgate Cottage, Blakeley Lane, Stoke on Trent, (near East View).  Colin (Jnr) was the seventh of their 10 children.  (1891 and 1901 Census).

In 1911 Colin, then aged 22 yrs, was living at the Royal Oak, Dilhorne, where he was employed by the Licensee as a Servant / Farm Worker.  His parents and younger siblings remained living at the family home in Blakeley Lane.  (1911 Census).  Prior to enlisting Colin was employed as a Collier at Foxfield Colliery Dilhorne.  (Army Records).

Colin Capewell joined the Army on 7th September 1914 within weeks of the outbreak of the war.  At the time of enlisting he was aged 26 years and one day, 5 feet 3¾ inches tall, weighing 9 st 11 lbs.  Service No. 14806.  Colin was posted to the North Staffordshire Regiment, 9th (Pioneers) Battalion.  After initial training and several UK based postings, on 28th July 1915 he was posted to France as part of the ‘British Expeditionary Force’.  (Army Records).

Private Colin Capewell was trained as a Lewis Machine Gunner. He remained on active service in Northern France from 1915 until 1918 during which time he twice returned home on leave.  On 14th October 1917 he was temporarily promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) which was confirmed three months later.  (Army Records).  At a later stage Colin Capewell was promoted to the rank of Corporal.  (Times and Echo – Press Article).

The North Staffordshire Regiment, 9th Battalion, were involved in action and numerous battles on the Western Front in Northern France during WW1.  In May 1918 the regiment formed part of the allied defences attempting to repel the German Spring Offensive.

On the evening of 11th May 1918 elements of the regiment including Colin Capewell began work. As a Pioneer Battalion the 9th were involved in construction work. At this time they were in the Fonquevillers area north east of Amiens. They were more than likely repairing roads that had been damaged in shelling the previous day. The war diary reports that the Germans started to shell the area at around 5pm and this continued up until midnight. The entry records that for some time they were unaware that some  of the shells were gas shells. It adds that over 2000 gas shells were fired in the five hours of shelling and that great difficulty was experienced in wearing the box respirator which was the main protection from the effects of gas.   (An example of the respirator is pictured)

The diary makes no mention of any casualties but according to Colin’s service record it states on the 12th May he suffered the effects of gas inhalation. The entry for the 12th states merely ‘work as usual’ so the assumption is that he was injured on the 11th into the 12th. Whether he was taken to hospital straight away is unclear, his service record entry is dated 18th May and states he had suffered a gas shell injury on 12th May. The diary records that for the month of May 1918 the battalion suffered 61 killed – of these 59 were due to the effects of gas in addition 131 were injured as the result of gas attacks. The total killed and wounded in the month were 211 men which given that the battalions strength during the month was around 800 means that 1 man in four was killed or injured.

He was taken to the No. 9 General Hospital, forming part of GHQ (3rd Echelon), in the area of Rouen.  On 26th May 1918 Colin Capewell (then aged 30 yrs) died from Pneumonia brought on by the effects of poisonous gas.  (Army Records).  Following his death a special memorial service took place at Kingsley Moor Mission Church which was well attended.  (Times and Echo – Press Article).

He is commemorated in the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Northern France.  (CWGC Records).  Colin Capewell was posthumously awarded the British War and Victory Medals which were signed for by his mother, Emma Capewell.  (Army Records).

Colin had two younger brothers Frederick Capewell (Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry) and Ernest Capewell (North Staffs Regiment) who both saw active service during the WW1.  At the time of Colin’s memorial service Frederick was a prisoner of war and Ernest was in hospital in Blackburn being treated for wounds received during the war. (Times and Echo – Press Article).

Frederick Capwell is pictured standing in the centre of the picture above on the left and Ernest is picture in the photo bove on the right.

Footnote 1:   The North Staffordshire Regiment, 9th (Pioneers) Battalion were formed in September 1914 at Lichfield as part of Kitchenor’s Third New Army.  Following initial training in the UK, in July 1915 the Regiment were deployed to the Western Front in North Western France.  The Regiment were involved in a number of battles including Ancre, Scarpe, Arleux, Pilkem Ridge, Menin Road Ridge, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcapelle, Passchendaele, Ancre, Albert, Havrincourt, Canal du Nord, Cambrai, Selle, and Sambre.  At the armistice they were located south of Le Quesnoy, Northern France.  (Forces War Records).

Footnote 2:   Rouen Military Hospitals.  During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A Base Supply Depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.  Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920. (CWGC website).

Footnote 3.  Peter Capewell, the son of Ernest and nephew of Colin Capewell,  lives in Gorsty Hill, Tean.  Peter Capewell was instrumental in the St Johns Church (Kingsley Moor) Plaque being refurbished and re-sited in St Werburghs Church, Kingsley. Yvonne Eady is the granddaughter of Frederick Capewell. She lives in Northampton and came to our notice when she visited the war memorial to remember Colin Capewell. Both Peter and Yvonne have provided a wealth of information on Ernest and Frederick which will form the basis of a separate article in the next few weeks.

Private – 41001 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Edward Bradshaw was born on 24th February 1891 the son of Richard and Hannah Bradshaw. The family at that time comprised of 3 daughters and 4 sons with Edward the youngest being at the time of the census a month old. Richard Bradshaw’s occupation was given as a Butcher.

By the 1901 census the family had moved to Church Farm, Kingsley, where Richard ran his own business. Hannah Bradshaw had died in the spring of 1894 and Richard had married Elizabeth Beresford Fletcher (Hannah’s sister) in spring of the following year.

In 1911 the census shows them as living at Haste Hill Cottage, Edward was now working as a grocers assistant with the entry suggesting that was part of the butchers trade his father was still carrying on.

He joined up in the spring of 1916 initially enlisting with the North Staffordshire Regiment but after training he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Camoronians (Scottish Rifles) via the 2/6th Scottish Rifles. This transfer took place some time after 9th December 1916. Letters in possession of his family assist in this respect with one dated 1st May 1917 confirmed he was by then with the Cameroonians although it had taken place some time before this as indicated by an article in the Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel.

In the month prior to his death, April 1917, he was involved in an act of bravery where he helped to save the life of an officer. This was recorded in the Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel on 16th June 1917 when his memorial service was reported upon.

It seems that an officer, one Lieutenant Sloan had received wounds to both legs, Edward dressed the wounds and stemmed the bleeding for the whole day whilst under fire. Once darkness fell he carried the officer back to his own lines. The report states that the Lieutenant died of his wounds later that month having been evacuated to London.

On 20th May 1917 the battalion and Edward were in the Sensee Valley to the east of Arras when they moved up to attack the Hindeberg Line once more. The attack appears not to have gone smoothly as was often the case but they succeeded in getting to their objective and took 50 prisoners. It seems their location was less than clear as they could not be found to resupply.

Throughout the following day, 21st May 1917 the company remained dug in some 50 yards in front of the enemy trenches. Whilst the day was described as ‘fairly quiet’ they were subject to persistent sniping and machine gun fire. At 2330 hrs that day they withdrew in accordance to their orders.

As a result of the action of the previous two days the battalion’s casualties were recorded as two officers killed, two wounded with 14 other ranks killed and 100 wounded with 16 missing.

Edward Edwards Bradshaw is recorded as having being killed on 21st May 1917 as the result of gunshot wounds to his back. The precise nature of his death is not known.

His body is buried in the Bucquoy Road Cemetery at Ficheux to the south of Arras.

Footnote 1. The war diary for the Camoronian’s records that on 14th April 1917 the Battalion had moved up from Henin in France to the Hindenburg Line where they were to attack the German trenches. Four companies were involved in the attack which was held up by enemy barricades in their path and then they were subject to machine gun fire. Ground gained was around 100 – 150 yards. Casualties recorded were 2 officers killed and three wounded. One was Lieutenant Sloan and against his name is recorded (died of wounds) which appears to have been written at a different point. There are no reports of casualties to other ranks.  (Henin is situated north east of the town of Arras.)

Footnote 2. Lieutenant Wilfred Scott Sloan died on 28th April 1917 in France.  He is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery. There is no record of any bravery award being made to Edward but it  often required evidence from an officer plus the support of officer’s up the chain of command.

Footnote 3. Three relatives  of Edward Edwards Bradshaw have been located.

Janet Walton of Kingsley Holt and Jane Child’s from the Potteries. Janet who’s husband Phillip has compiled an extensive family history with emphasis on Edward. Edward was Janet’s great uncle.

Edward was Jane’s great uncle and her grandmother was Edwards sister.

Margaret Heywood nee Bradshaw is related to Edward via her great grandfather who was Edward Bradshaw’s father’s brother.

Private 305952 – Royal Tank Corps (6th Battalion)

James Henry Wildgoose was born on 26th July 1887 at Matlock, Derbyshire, the oldest child of Francis Henry Wildgoose and his wife Jemima. (Christening Records).  In 1891 the family were living at 18 Chesterfield Road, Matlock, at which stage there was a younger sister Bertha.  The family name has been trascribed as Wildgoore on this  occasion.(1891 Census). 

In 1901 the family are living in Industrial Road, Matlock.  At this stage James Henry was aged 13 years, Bertha was aged 11 years, having younger siblings Eva (8yrs), Francis (5 yrs), Charles (3yrs) and Harriot (1yr).  James was recorded as John K Wildgoose on this return. (1901 Census).

By 1911 James Henry Wildgoose, then aged 23 yrs, had married. He and his new wife Annie Wildgoose (nee Cooke), aged 25yrs, were living at 6 Hopewell Terrace, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire.  At this stage he was employed as a Plumber the same trade as his father.  (1911 Census).

Between 1911 and 1915 James and Annie had three sons, John (b 1911), Harry (b 1914) and Ronald (b 1915), all of which were born in the Bakewell area. A Ronald Wildgoose born 1915 was recorded to have died aged less than 1 year in Bakewell that same year.

At some stage between 1915 – 1917 James Wildgoose and his family came to live in Kingsley, (for reasons which at this stage remain unknown).  It is believed the family may have lived at Hall Croft, Hazels Cross Road, Kingsley. (Christine Heath). In March 1917 a Whist Drive was held at the Kingsley Reading Rooms in aid of the ‘Kingsley Soldiers and Sailors Comfort Fund’.  A Mr J Wildgoose acted as the MC for the whist drive, which was well attended and raised £5 for the fund.  As described in a subsequent press report.  (Cheadle Herald March 1917 Opposite).

James Henry Wildgoose joined the Army in circumstances as yet to be established.  Available records indicate he was formerly in the Royal Engineers, Service No. 285590.  At a later stage he transferred to the Royal Tank Corps, Service No. 305952, 6th Battalion.  It is also recorded that he was in the Machine Gun Corps a forerunner of the Tank Corps. (Medal / Ancestry Records).

War Diary – Royal Tank Corps, 6th Battalion required.

James Henry Wildgoose died on 8th or 9th May 1918 in Flanders, northern France, (there is slightly conflicting evidence as to the date of death).  Records indicate he was ‘Killed in action’.  James Wildgoose is commemorated at the St Amand British Cemetery, Nord Pas De Calais, Northern France.  (CWGC Records).

Following the war Annie Wildgoose remarried Harry Brown in the late summer of 1924 in Bakewell.

James Henry Wildgoose is commemorated on the Matlock Cenotaph alongside his brother Charles who died of wounds on 18th March 1918. Both are also recorded on their parent’s headstone in Matlock Cemetery.

Efforts have been to trace more of James Wildgoose’s life and residence in Kingsley. Clearly his stay was short but he made an impact for people to recollect the family. His children were born in Bakewell so the supposition is that between 1915 and 1918 he moved to the village. Quite what he was doing in the village is unknown but as a plumber he may have moved to the area to work or being employed at Froghall.

His war record does not survive and attempts are being made to locate his battalion war diary. There was no election in 1916 but there was one in 1918 and the relevant voters register has been researched. It shows that registered at Hall Croft for that register was Edward and Priscilla Carr. In the 1911 census it was a family called Beardmore. The assumption being that on being called up Mrs Wildgoose and the two boys left the village. Certainly John born in 1911 was or school age in 1917 so his attendance would be recorded at St Werburgh’s School. Efforts are being made to locate the attendance register for that period.

The search for the family of Wildgoose has even reached the pages of the Matlock Mercury who featured the story earlier this year. We heard from a distant relative but unfortunate they had no information to assist us. Both of James’ sons died in 1977 and 1985 respectively. However efforts continue and we will update the site as and when we have more news.

Private 40347.  South Staffordshire Regiment.  (2nd Battalion)

Richard Fallows (subjects father) was born at Above Park Farm, Dilhorne (Kingsley Moor) and lived there until his marriage in the early 1890s. By 1891 his own father had died and he was the oldest male running the farm. (1871, 1881 & 1891 Census).

 George Fallows (the subject) was the son of Richard and Annie Fallows born in the period April – June 1896, the fifth of their six children, at which stage the family were living in the Cheadle District, (Birth Register), possibly at Above Park Farm.  By 1901 the family were living at The Lodge Farm, Basford, Nr Cheddleton, at which stage the children were Richard (Jnr, 12yrs), Emmie (9 yrs), Olive (9 yrs), Lizzie (8 yrs), and George (4 yrs).  (1901 Census).

In 1911 Richard and Annie were still living at Lodge Park Farm, Basford, only their youngest child Arthur (aged 6 yrs) remained living at home.  The subject George Fallows (14 yrs) is not mentioned, his whereabouts at that stage are unknown.  (1911 Census).

On a date as yet to be established George Fallows joined the army.  He became Private No. 40347 and was posted to the South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.  (Ancestry Military Records).

Full Army record required, (not located at this stage)

The 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment were formed in August 1914 at Aldershot. The regiment became Part of 6th Brigade, 2nd Division and landed at Le Havre 13 August 1914.  The regiment subsequently saw active service on the Western Front.  (Wikipedia)

The War Diary of 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment contains details of a major offensive on 17th February against nearby enemy trenches in the area of Pys, Picardy, Northern France.  The Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Bates gives a detailed and graphic account of the weight of enemy fire directed against his men and of the heavy losses sustained.  Major General (2nd Division Commander) later comments in response, “I have read your accounts of the attack made by the 2nd South Staffords on 17th February and I attribute the failure of the attack entirely to the fact that a deserter had given the enemy several hours warning of our intended attack, thus enabling him to bring heavy artillery barrages on the troops  assembled in the open and to increase the garrison of desire and support trenches and to have machine guns trained to meet the attack zero”.  –  “I very much regret the heavy loses the 2nd South Staffords incurred and I know if it had not been for the warning the enemy obtained we should have captured the objective with comparative ease”.

It would appear that in February 1917 George Fallows was captured by the enemy and that he died in April some two months later.  (Cheadle Herald and IRC).  The circumstances of his capture and subsequent death are unknown however research conducted via the International Red Cross has unearthed his POW records which confirm that he was captured on 17th February 1917.

Below are the actual IRC records.

Available information indicates that George Fallows died on 19th April 1917 in Northern France.  (St Werburgh’s Plaque).   He is commemorated at the Cambrai East Military Cemetery, (South East of Arras), Northern France.  (CWGC Records). He died according to the Red Cross records in a POW camp at Cambrai. The cause of his death is unknown. The record indicates his family were informed in August of that year and this is referred to in the press report.

The following is an extract from the Cheadle Herald Friday 26th September 1917, “A service in memory of the late Private George Fallows of Above Park was held at St John the Baptist Church, Kingsley Moor, on Sunday last.  A large congregation being present to pay a last tribute of respect to a fallen hero”.  –  “The Preacher referred to the deceased soldier being taken prisoner in February (1917) and his supposed death in April, though his parents received no definite news until a month ago (August). Sympathetic reference was also made to the sad occurrence of his mothers death a week after the news arrived.”  (Cheadle Herald).

We have as yet not traced any family of George Fallows and would love to hear from anyone with news of his descendants or any information relative to him.

 Private 12267.  North Staffordshire Regiment (9th Battalion)

Ernest (also spelt in some records as Earnest) Upton was born in the period January – March 1888 (Birth Index) in Greendale, near Oakamoor, Staffordshire, the son of Thomas (a Wire Drawer) and Mary Upton, being the fourth of their six children.  In 1891 when Ernest was aged 3 yrs the family remained living in Greendale, near Oakamoor.  (1891 Census).

In 1901 the family were living in Battlesteads, Alton, by which time Earnest had a younger brother and sister.  (1901 Census).  In 1911 the family were living at 75 Queen Street, Cheadle.  Earnest, then aged 23yrs, was not indicated as being in employment.  (1911 Census). 

Ernest Upton enlisted in the Army on a date as yet unknown.  He was posted to the North Staffordshire Regiment, 9th Battalion, Service No. 12297.  (Ancestory Records).  He was posted to France on 28th July 1915.  (Army Medal Card). 

The North Staffordshire Regiment were designated a Pioneer Battalion involved in repairs and light engineering repair work.  Following their deployment to France they saw action in a number of campaigns.  On 9th April 1917 the Battalion was involved in engineering support work near to Arras in northern France when they came under enemy artillery fire. During this shelling two men from the unit were killed.  (War Diary).

Earnest Upton was ‘Killed in action’ on 9th April 1917 and it is likely that he was one of these two men mentioned above.  (Medal Card / Ministry of Defence records and Commonwealth War Graves Commission).

To date we have not traced any descendants of Earnest Upton but would very much like to hear from any one related to him or with more information than we have so far.

Footnote 1.  We have been unable to locate the Army Records of Earnest Upton.  His records may have been destroyed in German bombing in 1940 during WW2  when the War Ministry was hit and many thousands of military records were destroyed in the ensuing fire.

Footnote 2.  The 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment was raised at Lichfield on the 20th September 1914 as part of as part of Kitchener’s Third New Army and joined 22nd Division as army troops. They trained on the South Downs, spending the winter in billets in Hastings from December. On 20th April 1915 they became a Pioneer Battalion and transferred to the newly forming 37th Division, at Cholderton on Salisbury Plain. They proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre on 29th July 1915.

 Footnote 3.  The Battle of Arras (also known as the Second Battle of Arras) was a British offensive from 9 April to 16 May 1917.  British, Canadian, South African, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the Western Front. There were major gains on the first day, followed by stalemate. The battle cost nearly 160,000 British casualties and about 125,000 German casualties. (Wikipedia).  Arras is south west of Lille in Northern France.

 Footnote 4.  The following is an extract from the War Diary of the 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment:

Place: Warlus Arras.     Date:  Monday 9th  April 1917.    Zero Day. Zero hour 5:30 A.M.

Battalion left Warlus for Arras at 5:15 A.M.  Saw and heard Bombardment of Zero hour from high road.  Passed through Dainville and had long halt at Faubourg D’amiens.  Hot meal was served at this point.  Very heavy rain fell.  Battalion, less part of HQ, moved forward through Arras at 10:30 for Iceland Trench.  Part of HQ under 2nd. Lieut. Coleman returned to Transport Lines at Dainville.  Battalion reached Iceland Trench at about 12:30pm.  Lt. Nash went forward with a party to reconnoitre work on Cambrai Road.  Reported at 2:00pm much to be done.  Battalion, less 2 platoons in Co. (employed laying water mains), started work on road at 3:45 assisting and then relieving 20 RRRC filling in trenches or Tank Trap and other holes and clearing debris.  Work was carried on until midnight 9th /10th and then Battalion returned to Manchester and London Caves.  Battalion HQ remaining in Iceland Trench.  Battalion was relieved at work by 179 Co. Royal Engineers. & New Zealand Engineers.  Point reached when relieved was Estaminet Corner Tilloy.  Enemy shelled the roads while work was proceeding.  Two men were killed and seven wounded.  2nd. Lt. Coleman was wounded on CambraiI Road near Station while moving up with Transport from Dainville to field above Blangy between two roads leading to that village, guide having led Transport across Railway by mistake.  Snow fell at night.