Private 11115 – Leicester Regiment (6th Battalion)

This months focus is on James Poyser who died 99 years ago this year.

James Poyser was born on 19th August 1892 the son of Isaac and Sarah Ann Poyser, the second of their eight children.  The family lived at 27 Hazles Cross Road, Kingsley, later living at Kingsley Cross, Kingsley, (possibly a different address).  As a teenager James was employed as an Ironstone Labourer. (1911 Census).  Prior to enlistment he was employed by Podmore’s at Consall Forge working lime and coming home with the well known ‘red eye’. After that he was employed by Hartley’s Minerals in Kingsley as a Carter.  (Army Records and family history).

James Poyser joined the British Army on 27th August 1914, aged 22 years, as part of ‘Kitchener’s First New Army’.  Service No. 11115.  His medical records on enlistment describe him as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 10 stone 2 pounds.  He was ‘Fit for service’ and was posted to the Leicester Regiment, 6th Battalion.  He underwent initial army training was at Aldershot Barracks. (Army Records).  

On 29th July 1915 James was posted to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, forming part of the 110th Brigade, 37th Division, (Army Records).  The Division were deployed in the Nord Pas De Calais Region in Northern France, the scene of heavy trench warfare on the Western Front, (Wikipedia).

In December 1915 James Poyser had chilblains. (Army Medical Records).

James Poyser was killed on 18th March 1916, records indicate he ‘Died from wounds received in action’.  (Army Medical Records).

Leicester Regiment War Diary for this period has been acquired but unfortunately does not shed any light on James Poysers death. The fact that he died as the result of wounds received suggests that he was wounded initially. This is confirmed by his record which states his death was reported by the 48th Field Ambulance who were attached to the Leicestershire Regiment.

During the period leading up to his death the battalion was in the front lines and then spending time recuperating in the reserve area. There appears to have been little offensive actions with both sides resorting to shelling of each other with both small and large caliber shells as well as grenades which gives an indication of how close the two sides were. Several injuries and deaths were occasioned by rifle and sniper fire.

Unusually the diary records the name, rank and numbers of ordinary soldiers wounded or killed, something that rarely happened. However the monthly tally seems not to match up to what was recorded in the diary in terms of names. It is likely that James Poyser was wounded in the trenches either by rifle fire or from shrapnel or similar from an exploding shell.

News  of his death was reported by both his commanding officer 2nd Lieutenant G M Gillett who commented on the fact that James Poyser had been with him since the commencement of the war and was a trusted soldier. A letter was also received from the Army Chaplain who had conducted his funeral service.

This was all reported in the Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel dated 22nd April 1916 when details of a memorial service held at St Werburgh’s were reported. That same report stated that James Poyser was the first man from the village to enlist in August 1914 and had worked for Hartley’s Minerals before the war. (Left)

James Poyser is commemorated at the Humbercamps Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, Northern France. (CWG Records).

A surviving relative of James Poyser is Margaret Harvey who lives at The Cottage on Hazles Cross Road. She is the daughter of James’ younger brother John William Poyser. The home she lives in is the home that James lived in prior to joining up. As well as a picture  of James she has his ‘Death Penny’ and scroll which are below.

Footnote 1: Sadly 2nd Lieutenant George Maurice Gerald Gillett who rose to the rank of Captain was also not to see out the war. He was killed by a shell on 26th September 1916 during the battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Footnote 2: Pictured below is a photograph of a Hartley’s Minerals delivery wagon and horses. The man sitting on the wagon is Mr Hartley and the man holding the horse is in fact a brother of James Poyser Frederick. (Family)

Lieutenant. 16th (The Queens) Lancers.

Rowland Auriol James Beech was born on 22nd August 1888 in Chelsea, London, the third child of Rowland John Beech and Adelaide Frederica Beech (nee Cure), his siblings being Christabel (Kitty), Irene and younger brother Douglas.  The family had a country home at Brandon Hall, Nr Coventry, Warwickshire, where they were living in 1891, with four other relatives and 16 members of the household staff.  (1891 census).

Rowland Auriol James Beech was popularly known as ‘Jim’ by his close friends and family.  Jim Beech was educated at Eton where he was awarded several annual book prizes between 1899 – 1906, (aged 11 – 18 years).  He was an accomplished rower winning various medals in the sport.  In 1906 (aged 18 yrs) he was the cox in a trails eight rowing crew at which time he weighed 8 stone 8 pounds.   Jim was also a fine horseman who enjoyed participating in the local Atherstone Hunt, show jumping and competing in local horse races.

In 1907 (aged 19 years) Jim went to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst to undergo Army Officer training.

By 1911 Jim (then aged 23 yrs) had joined the 16th (The Queens) Lancers, and was stationed at the Cavalry Barracks, Barracks Street, Norwich, at which stage there were 11 Commissioned Officers, (including Lt Jim Beech), and 285 other ranks at the barracks.  (1911 Census).

The following is an extract from ‘At The Going Down of the Sun – 365 Soldiers From the Great War’:  “Rowland Auriol James Beech was a typical cavalry officer of the Regular Army.  As well as a London House at No. 5 Eaton Square, Belgravia, the family owned two country estates, Shawe Hall, Kingsley, Staffordshire, which comprised several thousand acres and tenanted farms, and Brandon Hall, Nr Coventry, Warwickshire.  Rowland, known to his family and friends as ‘Jim’ much preferred Brandon, for it was situated in excellent hunting country and he and his brother hunted with the Atherstone Hounds.  Jim was a handsome, athletic, intelligent boy, who carried off many prizes at Eton and was the “apple of his parent’s eye.”  “As an officer of the 16th Lancers he went to war with the Cavalry Division in August 1914.  They fought at Mons, were rear guard to the infantry on the long retreat to the Marne and back to Flanders and the Salient.  When the stalemate set in after the first battle of Ypres, the cavalrymen dismounted and were sent into the trenches.  The 16th Lancers were holding trenches just north of Klien Zillebeke on the edge of a wood they called Shrewsbury Forest, only a matter of 10 metres from the enemy lines.”  (At The Going Down of the Sun – 365 Soldiers From the Great War).

The picture below was taken in 1914 and shows from the left Jim’s brother in law who lost his life in October 1914, their General who was killed in 1917 and  of course James Beech himself.

The following is an extract from the War Diary of the 16th Lancers, (believed to have been written by the Regimental Adjutant), “It had been suspected for some days that the enemy was running a sap (a tunnel) at the bottom of the ditch and a close observation had been kept on it, but no sign of anything of the sort had been discovered.  It turned out afterwards that the enemy had really dug a sap half way down it, but had turned off at a sharp angle and continued the sap underground until it ran under the centre of the trench of D Squadron, and that three mines had been placed at the end of it.  It was afterwards ascertained from prisoners that the mines had been laid some days before the 16th had taken over the trenches, but that the explosion had been delayed with the intention of catching the relief when they were taking over on the 18th, but the opportunity had been missed.

At 6.00am on the 21st one mine was fired, followed immediately afterwards by the other two, with the result that the trench was completely destroyed.  The enemy followed this up with a strong attack on the trenches on each side of that held by D Squadron.  There was of course much confusion and a hand to hand combat, in which the enemy was finally driven back by A Squadron and the reserve troop of D with a machine gun.  A counter attack was made by the three reserve troops.  They were unable to regain the lost trench, and a request was sent to two companies of the French Infantry which were in support of the left section of the trench, but these refused to move without orders from their own commanding officer, and when he came up he was unfortunately killed while giving the order to advance.

No further attack was made until 9.00am when the line was reinforced by a Squadron of the 20th Hussars and another company of French Infantry from the supporting line.  The French were stopped at once by the heavy fire they were met with, all their officers and half their men being shot down in a few minutes.  The 20th got a little further when they were bought up by enfilade fire and the attack was broken off.  No further attempt was made to regain the lost trench, but a new one was dug in rear of it.  This was the worst day which the 16th had during the whole war.  When the roll was called it was found that Major Neave, Capt Nash, Lt’s Beech, King and Cross and seven men were killed and Lt Patrick and 29 men wounded.  In addition Lt Ryan and 11 men were missing.  In all seven officers and 47 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing.”   (16TH Lancers, War Diary).

The following is an account given by a Private in the Troop commanded by Lt Jim Beech, “I cannot tell you where the engagement took place, we have been in the vicinity before, and to get to it, the troops are subject to three fires from front, from left and right flanks, so curiously does the firing line bend in this district. Before actually arriving at the above place we were held in reserve.  After this we proceed to the trenches, and nothing very exciting happened until Monday morning.  I should tell you that some of the trenches were as near as 12 to 15 yards from the Germans.

“I was just finishing my three hours sentry looking over the top of the trench.  I suppose the time must have been about six in the morning, for it was almost dark when the explosion took place.  My chum and I and of course with the other chaps in reserve immediately manned our loop holes, and, I think, were mostly under the impression that we were being shelled.  But we were soon to know.  They had mined the trenches of D Squadron and were making an attack, fellows were dropping everywhere and being dark it was damned hard to sift things out until our officers saw what was required”

“Lt Beech, of A Squadron, claimed all the men near him and he himself gave a push up out of the knee deep mud and we scrambled out into another trench, closer up to where the Germans were pouring through.  Here we let them have it, and incidentally, covered the fire of our maxim gun behind us, which played the devil with the square heads.  Mr Beech did not get into the trench with us, but crouched behind observing fire, etc, and I happened to turn around and saw him drop onto his face.”  (Unnamed Private – 16th Lancers).

The following is an extract from a letter written by a General Officer to Jim Beech’s parents, “You know Jim was hit rushing forward gallantly at the head of his troop and that his action together with three other officers saved the situation and prevented the Germans gaining anything of consequence.” (Unnamed General Officer – British Roll of Honour).

“It seems impossible to believe that he, the brightest and most cheerful of all, has gone.  He died splendidly, helping to save what looked like a very critical situation for some minutes.”  (Unnamed Regimental Captain – British Roll of Honour).

Rowland Auriol Beech died on 21st February 1915.  In 1914 he was ‘Mentioned in dispatches’ for his bravery in the face of the enemy.  Rowland Beech is commemorated in Ypres Town Cemetery, Northern France. (CWGC website).

Shawe Hall the former Beech family home long since demolished.

Footnote 1.  Jim Beech appears to have been the quintessential English gentleman of the Edwardian era with a great love of horses. Whilst in the army he took part in equestrian events of all sorts including appearing at the Olympia Horse show in 1913. Indeed whilst in France it seems he had a pack of hounds for hunting (there is a picture of him with the pack in the early days of the war) although it seems opportunities were rare. Given that he was a cavalry officer and had a love of horses it is even sadder that his death occurred whilst fighting in the trenches as infantry which whilst it was how the cavalry in the British Army were trained was sad never the less . This transformation happened to many mounted units as the war quickly made mounted soldiery obsolete. After his death he was described by a Senior Officer as the best horseman in the British or any army.

Footnote 2:  Jim Beech kept a daily diary that records his thoughts and the units activities from the outbreak of war until the end of November 1914. Sadly his diary after this date and photos he had taken during the period are lost. His diary to the end of November has been presented to the Regimental Museum as a piece of history that records those early days of the war.

Fotenote 3: The war was a particular tragedy for the Beech family.  Following Jim’s death his father re-enlisted and went to France. He saw out the war but died as a result of his active service in 1919.  Jim’s sister ‘Kitty’ married Arthur William Macarthur-Onslow who was a Captain in Jim’s Regiment. He  died in November 1914.

Footnote 4  With regard to the book referred to in the above – ‘At The Going Down of the Sun – 365 Soldiers From the Great War’. Jim Beech was one of 365 soldiers who died in the war picked to be in this book. Each night when the last post was played at the Menin Gate in Ypres during 2002 a soldier was remembered. On 21st February 2002, 87 years to the day since he was killed Jim was remembered. Present were members of the Beech family and the regiment he served in.

Footnote 5:  The following is a comment from the Beech Family Archives, “The Shawe (or Shawe Park as it was also called) was the original Beech family home – Kingsley in Staffordshire.  When I first saw it in the mid 1950’s it looked remarkably as above (pictured), though it was unoccupied. Sadly, eventually it became much neglected and later totally ruined and has since been pulled down.  The only thing to remain is the sundial.  Douglas (Beech) sold The Shawe and all the tenanted farms soon after he inherited it, preferring Brandon, where hunting with the Atherstone Hounds was more fun.”  (Mrs Geraldine Dalrymple-Hamilton (formerly Beech), Beech Family Records).

Footnote 6:  We are extremely grateful to members of the Beech family who kindly gave us access to family records / archives which have been most helpful in compiling our account of the life of Rowland Auriol James (Jim) Beech.

Footnote 7: Part  of the 16th Lancers story from the war was published in the Britaion at War Magazine in the autumn of 2014 and was written  by Mark Crame. We are grateful to Mark for a large archive of photos and history of the lancers which we are currently sifting through.

Oct 2015 – Jim was featured on the Solihull Life website as can be seen HERE

Lieutenant. East Kent Regiment. (The Buffs) – Updated 8th February 2016

Robert Myles Heywood was born on 1st  February 1884 in Manchester  the only child of Robert and Annabel Crook Heywood, latterly of Hales Hall, Cheadle, Staffordshire.

In 1891 the family were living in Rushulme, Lancashire. Robert senior is described as a Cotton Bleacher / Dyer and already the family are doing well as they have three servants.

In 1901 at the census Robert Myles Heywood is shown as a boarder at an address in Frodsham Lordship Cheshire. His father is shown as residing at The Cottage Entwhistle, Lancashire. They had a husband and wife as general servants.

Annie Heywood as she is recorded throughout the census returns is shown as a visitor at Moor Court in Oakamoor the then home of Alfred Bolton JP for Staffordshire. She is one of two visitors the other being an electrical engineer. Francis Bolton son of Alfred is recorded as being a copper smelter,  this being  Bolton’s of Froghall family who built the now listed building in 1861. There are six servants in the household.

In 1911 the census shows the family at Hales Hall in Cheadle. Robert senior is described as ‘own means’ suggesting wealth and they have 5 servants. There is no reference on the return for Robert Myles Heywood. However there is a Myles Heywood shown as resident at The Links Hotel near Cromer in Norfolk. His place of birth is given as Manchester and his age given as 27 years. His occupation is given as none.

According to his service record held at the National Archives on 8th August 1914 he applied to join the The Buffs. His attestation paper gives his education as being at Charter House and Christ Church College Oxford. He again has no occupation and gives his address as Hales Hall Cheadle but also gives a correspondence address as 13 Mill Field in Folkstone. He seems to have few qualifications but does say he can ride. He signs his name as R Myles Heywood.

As the clip says the source was The Sphere a contemporary magazine and its publication date was 30th January 1915. Robert Heywood is third from the left of the second row from the back.

In September 1914 Robert Heywood was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was initially posted to the 3rd (Reserve Battalion) which was a training unit supplying troops to the 1st and 2nd Battalions in France. The 2nd Battalion had at the outbreak of war been in India and they travelled back to Britain. They arrived in France in January 1915 and it is assumed that Robert Myles Heywood travelled with them or joined shortly after. His medal card does not date his entry into France but states 1.15 which is assumed to be January 1915. He was promoted to full lieutenant in the days before his death.

On 8th December 1914 Robert Heywood married Barbara De Hoghton (daughter of Sir James Hoghton and his wife Aimee Jean Grove), of Hoghton Tower, Preston, Lancashire. Barbara’s brother Vere was killed in France in October 1915 whilst serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment.

By February 1915 the unit was in Ypres area and involved in daily fighting and suffering casualties. On 14th February 1915 the unit were in and around the Chateau Rosendal south of Ypres near St Eloi and in action from  the early afternoon when with the East Surrey Regiment an attempt was to be made to retake a trench lost the day before.

The East Surrey’s suffered early losses and the Buff’s moved up under cover  of artillery fire to provide cover. By 5pm it was growing dark and the Buffs came across an East Surrey officer whose platoon had been ‘wiped out’. Acting as their guide they moved towards the German trench but were soon struggling against barbed wire and in the darkness it looked like they might miss their objective and rush head on into the main German defences.

A decision was made to retire to the canal line and then to the Chateau Rosendal itself with an attack planned for the following day.

Newspaper Report held by the Imperial War Museum

During the attack the Buff’s suffered 1 officer killed, 2 officers wounded with 6 other ranks killed and 23 wounded.

The  officer killed was Lt Robert Myles Heywood who at that stage had been at the front for no more than a month. From other records we believe that Robert Myles Heywood was wounded in this action and died the following day albeit the war diary entry records the death on 14th February it is highly likely the entry was written the day after the action and after his death. This is confirmed by his service record which gives the cause of his death as a gun shot wound to the head. His place of death is recorded as Number 3 Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinghe on the 15th February 1915. Records held by them show he was admitted on the day he died but alongside his name is written ‘death’. The station was around 20 miles from the front.

A newspaper report at the time states that he was leading the attack after the two senior  officers had been wounded.

He is buried at Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery. Tragically Robert’s death occurred just over two months after his marriage. His death was notified in a telegram sent to his wife a copy of which remains on his file.

Most of his service record has been weeded to leave matters appertaining to his death and the execution of his soldiers will. It seems in his will he wrote of matters regarding the military position surrounding him at that time. This caused some issue and it was agreed it would not be published other than the relevant sections. What he had written can only be speculated up on.

Carbon copy of actual telegram send to Robert Heywood’s wife

Robert Heywood is commemorated at the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Charlton, Dover, Kent, on the Kingsley, Staffordshire, civic war memorial, on the tablets in St Werburgh’s Church Kingsley , and in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

He left an estate valued at £1444 15s which equates to around £145,000 today.

During the war both of his parents remained active in public life, Annie Heywood was involved in various fundraising events at Hales Hall including those for the Red Cross. Robert meanwhile was in 1917 elected as a local Magistrate. (Cheadle Herald)

On 22nd April 1917 a war shrine the gift of Mrs R Heywood was dedicated in the porch at St Werburgh’s by the Reverend Mayne. The shrine was quite substantial being made of Oak with a crucifix underneath. There was space at the bottom for two vases into which the names, dates and places of the parish’s war dead could be placed written on slips of paper. The report of the event stressed that it was not just a shrine to Robert Myles Heywood but to all of Kingsley’s fallen. The report then listed those who had died from the village up until that point the last one being Thomas Clowes the previous year. (Cheadle Herald).  

Ernest Upton had lost his life on 9th April 1917 and George Fallows on 19th April 1917  but it would appear that the news had not yet reached home.

The location of the war shrine is unknown at this time.

Whilst conjecture to some degree this report shows that the Heywood family even before the war’s end had an affinity with the village of Kingsley. The Reverend Mayne was very active in various committees (including the Reading Room in the village – the present day Village Hall) and one was the War Tribunals in Cheadle where men could defer war service through appeal. He may well have come into contact with the Heywood family through his work.

Unveiling of Wayside Cross February 1921

After the war Sunday 20th February 1921 months before Robert Heywood senior died a ‘wayside cross’ memorial was paid for by the Heywood family in honour of their son and erected on Dovedale Road as it is now in Kingsley. Both Robert Heywood Snr and his wife Annie Heywood are buried at the south end of the church yard overlooking the memorial to their son.

Why Kingsley was chosen as the site is at this time unknown. A contemporary report was filed in the a local newspaper and a transcription has been obtained although the actual entry in the paper has yet to be found.

James Meakin was born in the period October – December 1895, (UK Birth Index).  His mother was Annie Meakin described as being Single and employed as a Charwoman.  His father is unknown. In 1901 James and his mother were living with his Grandmother Emma Meakin at Red ……… (illegible), Kingsley Moor. (1901 Census).  James had no brothers or sisters, he never married and had no children.

In 1911 James (then aged 16yrs) was living at Booths Farm, Kingsley, where he was employed by the Farmer, John Fallows, as a ‘Farm Servant’. (1911 Census).  Later records described his pre-service employment as a ‘Cowman’.  (Army Records).

In 1915 records indicate that his next of kin were his Uncle, James Thompson, and Aunt, May Thompson, of Laburnum House, Kingsley, Staffs, later living at 12 Church Street, Kingsley.   (Army Records).  It is not known what happened to James’ mother Annie Meakin.

James Meakin joined the Army on 10th December 1915 on a ‘Short Term’ enlistment.  At this stage he gave his age as 20 years 3 months, during his initial medical he was described 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a 39 inch chest measurement.  James was ‘Fit for general service’ and was posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 89347. (Army Records).

On 20th May 1916 James had a further Medical Examination, at which stage he weighed 10 stone.  Following basic training he joined the 193rd Siege Battery and was mobilised / posted on 30th May 1916 travelling from Folkestone to Boulogne, prior to deployment in Northern France on the Western Front.  (Army Records).

On 4th May 1917 James Meakin was wounded, (in unknown circumstances).  He was returned from the front to a hospital near Boulogne where he is described as having a ‘severe chest wound’.  Some days later he was considered fit and on 25th May 1917 he was reallocated to the 154th Siege Battery.

In October 1917 James had a one week break in a rest camp and was allowed home leave over Christmas 1917, returning to his unit on 5th January 1918.  On 19th January James was taken to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station.  At 10.50am on 20th January 1918 James died of Septicemia – Sickness’.  (Army Records).

On 8th February 1918 the Cheadle and Tean Time reported that he was very ill, perhaps an indication how at times the news could be delayed.

Regimental War Diary, Royal Garrison Artillery, (154th Siege Battery), required.

James Meakin is buried at the Military Cemetery ot Outersteene, Near Baillieu, Northern France.  (Army records and CWWG site entry)

There is a web site dedicated to the 154 Siege Battery which can be found HERE

It has been confirmed that James Meakin more than likely served at a location known as Manor Farm. He may well have been unwell but its likely he was there and the website link above is a very interesting source of information.The Manor Farm site is some 25 kilometres from the location of the casualty clearing station where Jame’s died.

Here is an extract from their officer on the day they took up their positions.

154 Siege Battery, 11^th of January 1918 (Captain M.C. Walker): By 12 hours we had taken over our new battery  position at Zillebeke, from 117 Siege Battery. There were 3 guns in action here. All guns, B.C. post, telephone exchange, dugouts etc., were immediately manned by us. Our exact location was at a point known as Manor Halt, where the Ypres-Comines railway crossed the road. A deep mined dugout under the road with two entrances formed accomodation for all the gunners. The remains of Manor Farm, strenghtened with concrete and iron, served as a B.C. post and officers’ quarters combined. This building was rather unique as it contained no less than nine dugouts, all of with were connected up with each other. The dugout we used as an officers’ mess was only nine feet long by twelve feet broad and it was quite impossible to stand up right in it. A moat in which all the rubbish of the locality was thrown, encircled the farm. This lent a mediaeval air to the fortress.

We are keen to hear from anyone who is related to James Meakin.

Footnote 1.  Siege Batteries Royal Garrison Artillery were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire.The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strong points, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines.

George Harris Smith was born on 23rd August 1890 in Ipstones, Staffs, the son of Hugh (a Copperworks Labourer) and Anne Smith, the third of their seven children.  (1901 Census).  Later the family moved to 7 The Green, Kingsley. (CWGC Records).  As a young teenager George was employed locally as a Collier working for his uncle William Smith.  (Navy Records).

On 16th October 1908, aged 18 yrs, George joined the Royal Navy, Service No:  SS/107831, for a period of 5 + 7 years.  He completing basic training as a Seaman / Stoker at Chatham, Kent, at which that stage he was described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a 36 inch chest and brown hair.  Over the following years he served on several Royal Navy ships.  (Navy Records).

Why a young man from landlocked Kingsley would join the navy is unclear. His family tell the story of an argument with fellow workers as he was getting paid the same rate by his uncle as the older men. To settle the argument he joined up alongside another local Kingsley man whose name was thought to be Bert.

He saw service on several ships including the Formidable between April 1909 and April 1911. It was during this posting that he had a portrait picture taken whilst on leave. It is believe it was taken by Lowndes’ in Cheadle High Street.  At the same time he had a picture taken with his sister Mary and a naval friend Fred Cope from Cheadle who was to serve on all the same ships as George prior to the war.

The service record of Frederick Cope shows that like George he was a collier and came from Cheadle. They joined the navy within a week of week of each other. Whether this man is the one referred to as ‘Bert’ by mistake is unclear. During WW1 Fred Cope saw service on several ships the main one was HMS Sapphire which served in home waters, the Mediterranean and the gulf. He is referred to in one of the Weekly Sentinel articles as being a friend of Arthur Carr another soldier serving from Kingsley. He was demobbed in 1919. (It is hoped to have a photo of the two shortly)

The last time his family saw him was at around the time of the outbreak of war when he left home in the Green and was seeing walking towards Kingsley Moor.

On 2nd August 1914 George Harris Smith was transferred to HMS Hogue, a 12,000 ton armoured cruiser with a crew of 680.  In the early stages of World War 1 HMS Hogue, together HMS Aboukir and HMS Cressey, formed part the 7th Cruiser Squadron deployed in the southern North Sea to protect the British merchant fleet carrying supplies to Expeditionary Force troops in northern Europe.

At 07.00hrs on Tuesday 22nd September 1914 HMS Hogue was deployed to assist the crew of HMS Aboukir which had been struck by a torpedo from a German U Boat and was sinking.  During the rescue HMS Hogue was struck by two torpedoes from the same U Boat and sank within 15 minutes with the loss of the majority of its crew, (including George Harris Smith). HMS Cressey was hit a short time later and also sank.  A total of 1459 crew were lost from all three cruisers causing a public outcry and loss of confidence in the ability of the Royal Navy to protect the merchant fleet.

Although a stoker in the navy at the time of his death according to contemporary press reports he was in charge of the ships magazine.

The Service Record of George Harris Smith is concluded, “Drowned in the North Sea when HMS Hogue was sunk by a German Submarine.”  He and other crew members are commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Chatham, Kent.

One of his brothers John William Smith served with the North Staffordshire Regiment.

A grave stone was erected by the family in St Werbrugh’s Church yard near to the stile adjacent to Church Stile Farm – however for reasons unknown it was removed or fell down and is no longer to be seen.

Estelle Cope and her brother George Smith are niece and nephew to George Harris Smith. They reside in the Cheadle area.

They both tell how George’s mother had a collage of George’s pictures and medals over the mantelpiece of her home.

 George Smith was born on 22nd September and named in remembrance of the uncle he never knew.

 The family have supplied three photos including two of George. One shows him amongst a group of sailors (on the right second row with a clay pipe) The ship name on his cap band and the life preserver has the letters TCHEN – this would appear to be HMS Itchen a River Class destroyer launched in 1903 and sunk on 6th July 1917. This ship does not appear on George’s service record but clearly he was on board at some point.

HMS Hogue: