St John’s War Memorial Details

Names on the St John’s War Memorial

Further details are in the summary table linked here with the same numbering of individuals in both documents

(Please let us have additional information or tell us about errors)

 

Column One of the Memorial

  1. Edward Watkin Colver: Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, Service number not known.  Killed in action in the Dardenelles, 28/06/1915.  Previously employed by W. T. Beesley and Company, part of Jonas, Colver and Company.  Also memorialised in St John’s Church (stained glass window) and Christ Church, Fulwood (family monumental inscription).  Letters relating to E. W. Colver and H. Colver at this time are at www.statslab.cam.ac.uk/~pat/fromTed.pdf.  See also his brother – #8, below.
  1. Leslie Faber Hobson: Second Lieutenant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number not known. Also in Upper Chapel Roll of Honour, Norfolk Street. A photograph and medals are displayed in the first-floor corridor of Firth Court of the University of Sheffield.  An entry occurs in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1924.  Served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from May 1915, and was killed at Ypres in July 1916.  See also his brother – #22, below.
  1. Basil Perrin Hicks: Lieutenant, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Service number not known.  Volunteered to the London Inns of Court Officer Training Corps.  Memorial window in St Peter’s Church, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire.  Father William Mitchinson Hicks FRS the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Sheffield in 1905, also being Professor of Physics between 1883 and 1917.  (Mother Ellen (née Perrin) appears without her husband in the 1901 census as a (“married”) Boarding-House Keeper in Scarborough.)  Served with the Expeditionary Force from August 1915.  An entry occurs in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1924, including a soldier’s comment:  “He was a game one.  He fell right on the German parapet, his last words being ‘Good lads, come on straight ahead!’”
  1. Kenneth Leonard Cole: Lieutenant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 845. One of the first volunteers to the Sheffield Pals Battalion;  killed leading a charge at Loos on the Western Front.  (His body was never recovered.)  Also included in Cole Brothers Roll of Honour and on the Leys School War Memorial, Cambridge.  An entry occurs in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1924.
  1. Franklin Holland: Lance Corporal, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) Service number 10530.  Husband of Edith E. Holland.  Previously (1911) a house painter.
  1. Albert Edward Gautier: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 18672.  Previously a confectioner, and volunteered aged 17 (i.e., under-age).  Absent from roll-call on 06.06.1915;  given “3 days F.P. [field punishment] No. 2”.  His father Francis Herbert Gautier was also killed in action;  see #13 below.
  1. Fred Dawson: Lance Corporal, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 17510.  Died of dysentery in the Lesbos region of Greece.
  1. Henry (Harry) Colver: Captain, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number not known.  Also memorialised in St John’s Church (stained glass window) and Christ Church, Fulwood (family monumental inscription).  His photographs of trench life and activities are included in Flanders 1915 by Jon Cooksey (Barnsley:  Pen & Sword Books, 2005).  Letters relating to E. W. Colver and H. Colver at this time are at www.statslab.cam.ac.uk/~pat/fromTed.pdf.  See also his brother – #1 above.
  1. Lachlan Allan Morrison: Second Lieutenant, South Lancashire Regiment, Service number not known, died of wounds in Flanders.  Previously a student at Sheffield University.  Also in the University of Sheffield Roll of Honour.
  1. Harry Walker: Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, Service number 32891.
  1. Arnold Etchells: Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, Service number 1429.  Recommended for a commission 02.1916 by J. Eaton Feasey (Headmaster of Ranmoor Council School) and others.  Father Herbert worked as a silver engraver, and his wife operated a tea garden and grocer’s shop at 231 Oakbrook Road (now Oakbrook Delicatessen) (e.g., 1911 census).  He remained there as a grocer until c1930.
  1. Frank William Scott: PROBABLY the man who enlisted in Edmonton on 6 January 1915 for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, identified as a divorced engineer.  Born in Sale, Cheshire, on 4 January 1880, then his family and father (a steel manufacturer) moved to Stretford (1891) and Sheffield (1901).  At some point before 1901 (i.e., in his teens) Frank emigrated to Canada, working as a farmer, but at the time of the 1901 census he was visiting his family in 21 Moor Oaks Road.  No details of his military service have been located, and his connexion to Ranmoor seems limited.
  1. Francis Herbert Gautier: Sergeant, Cheshire Regiment, Service number 10885, previously a police constable (1901, 1911).  After illness was transferred from France to the Sheffield Royal Infirmary.  He died of stomach cancer on 11 June 1916, and was buried in Sheffield General Cemetery.  His son Albert Edward Gautier was killed in action in August 1915;  see #6 above.  (Another soldier son, Wilfred, was accidentally killed in 1921;  buried in Sheffield General Cemetery, after a period in York Military Hospital.)

[Numbers 14 to 20 below were among the local people killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.]

  1. Herbert Graham Barber: Captain, Military Cross, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number not known.  (A Quaker family;  father Herbert was a director of Daniel Doncaster’s – also a Quaker.)  (Some Quakers were conscientious objectors.)  See #45 (his brother), below.
  1. Albert Lovell: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service Number 12/1207.  Enlisted on 19 December 1914.  Previously a clerk with W. K. and C. Peace, Eagle Works.  Father was Landlord of the  Plough Inn on Sandygate Road.

Column Two of the Memorial

  1. Arnold James Beal: Second Lieutenant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 12/41.  Previously a student at King Edwards School and Sheffield University.  Also in the University of Sheffield Roll of Honour.  His grandfather Joseph (and other ancestors) had operated the Ranmoor Cutlery Works (previously near the top of Water/Storth Lane) until it was demolished in the 1860s.
  1. Harry Neill: Sergeant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 12/193. Previously worked as a tailor, probably with his father (also a tailor).  In 1911, both are in Grindleford, but previously 21 Whitworth Road.
  1. Joseph Plant: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 12/1225.  Previously a slater’s labourer.  (See #47??)
  1. Ernest Ronald Shuttleworth: Initially in Royal Navy, then Second Lieutenant, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Service number LZ/987.  Educated in Jersey, and then articled to a chartered accountant.  Also in the University of Sheffield Roll of Honour and in Tapton Hall (Freemasons) Roll of Honour.
  1. Nelson Waterfall: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 12/1484.  Previously a clerk.  Awarded “five days EP No. 2 for misconduct” 18.02.1916.
  1. Sam Scott: Private, King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Industry), Service number 27250.
  1. Alan Faber Hobson: Major, Distinguished Service Order, Royal Engineers, Service number not known.  Twice mentioned in dispatches.  Also in Upper Chapel Roll of Honour, Norfolk Street.  A photograph and medals are displayed in the second floor corridor of Firth Court of the University of Sheffield.  Graduated from Cambridge University (in Mechanical Engineering) in 1914, and volunteered very soon afterwards.  Twice mentioned in Despatches and awarded the DSO, he served as Acting Commanding Officer before being killed at Thièpval.  He was described by a fellow officer as “one of the best and truest type of Englishmen, always happy, even-tempered and just”.  An entry occurs in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1924.  See also #2, above.
  1. Robert Chadwick Bowling: Private, Northumberland Fusiliers, Service number 28086 (in KOYLI), then 38756.
  1. Christopher Dobree Benson: Private, Royal Fusiliers, Service number PS/82.
  1. John Lomas: Private, East Yorkshire Regiment, Service number 22072 then 31407.
  1. Frank William Dust: Major, Military Cross, Royal Field Artillery, Service number not known.  Also in the University of Sheffield Roll of Honour.
  1. George Ernest Barnes: Private, Honourable Artillery Company, Service number 7280.  Educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield.  Previously articled to a chartered accountant.  Killed in action during an advance at the Battle of Arras.  An entry occurs in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1924.
  1. William Bower: Sergeant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 201435.  Described in the 1911 census as an “engineer in  a steel works”.
  1. Reginald Carlisle: Captain, East Yorkshire Regiment, Service number not known.  Previously a student at Sheffield University.  Also in the University of Sheffield Roll of Honour.
  1. Beal, Harvey: Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Service number A/542, previously a labourer/bricklayer.  Signed on at Winchester after a previous period of service.  Guilty of drunkenness June 1916.  Father Fred(e)rick signs (1918) only with a cross.

Column Three of the Memorial

  1. Joseph Etchells: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 5188 or 202598.  Guilty of “breaking out of hospital while under treatment” in Cambridge, 26.09.1916.  Previously a tinsmith/silversmith.
  1. William Pike Taylor: Second Lieutenant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number not known.  A public family tree (H. Greenly) on www.ancestry.co.uk contains photographs.
  1. Norman Sales: Lieutenant, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, then Air Force, Service number not known.  Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates section on www.ancestry.co.uk contains a photograph.  Died from wounds received in aerial action.  An entry occurs in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1924.
  1. Reginald Douglas Berry: Lieutenant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number not known.
  1. John Leadbeater: Private, 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, Service number 23621.  Previously a quarryman.  Married to Florence Mary Grayson(?) (1911), with daughter Beatrice Jessie (1911);  those two subsequently moved to Nethergate, Stannington.  (See also #58, below?)
  1. Wilfred John Smith: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 12/1296.  Previously a clerk.  Convicted (1915) of being “late on parade” and “improperly dressed on parade” (2 days CB), and of “overstaying his leave” by 14 days (3 days CB and forfeit of 2 days’ pay).  Also (1916) absent for 11 days (8 days CB).  [See also 1911 Census Index Schedule 235.]
  1. Frank Johnson: Corporal, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 24496.  Previously a pawnbroker’s assistant (to his father?).
  1. Arthur Ward: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 28197.  Previously a spoon and fork buffer.  Deducted 10 days pay for “overstaying his leave” by 4 days nine hours 19/10/1916.  Father Henry’s address “not known” in December 1915, and father died sometime before 07/1919.  Mother (Theresa) in Rodney House, Eyam (04/1918), West House, Water Lane, Eyam (1919), and c/o Grouse Inn, Stoney Middleton (11/1919).  Mother received his possessions 17/08/1917:  “Two discs, letter, photos, pocket book, religious book, metal mirror, comb”.  A plaque erected by other bell-ringers 27/09/1919 inside the tower of St John’s Church reads:  “To the Glory of God and in Affectionate Memory of Arthur Ward”.  (He started bell-ringing at St John’s in April 1909.  Several other members of his family were also bell-ringers in the church.)
  1. Hubert Edge Beckett: Second Lieutenant, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 7420.  Previously an auctioneer.
  1. Charles William Groves: Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, Service Number 77445.  Previously a sick attendant (or a domestic gardener?).
  1. George Gosney: Private, Yorkshire Regiment, Service number 174456, then 41752.  See also #44, below.
  1. Albert Kenneth Wilson: Private, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), Service number 7188 then 205650.  Also listed in Men of Cornish Place who Served (James Dixon and Sons, silversmiths) and on the company’s WW1 memorial board.
  1. Sidney Wild: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 235061 then 32310.  Previously an apprentice cabinet case maker.  See #53, below.
  1. Ernest Gosney: Private, Army Service Corps, then Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Service number T4/061510 then R/38128.  Husband of Margaret Ann Gosney.  See #41, above.

Column Four of the Memorial

  1. Maurice Barber: Captain, mentioned in despatches, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number not known.  (A Quaker family;  father Herbert was a director of Daniel Doncaster’s – also a Quaker.)  (Some Quakers were conscientious objectors.)  See #14, above.
  1. Thomas Arnold Skinner: Second Lieutenant, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Service number not known. Previously a solicitor in Sheffield.  Also in the University of Sheffield Roll of Honour.  Father, J. C. Skinner, was one of the two election agents (a Liberal) who co-ordinated the volunteer clerks assisting with recruitment forms on initial establishment (September 1914) of the Sheffield Pals Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
  1. Arthur Ernest Biddulph Plant: Sergeant, Military Medal, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), Service number 3320 then 371217.  Also in Post Office Workers Roll of honour, Co-operative Castle House (previously in Fitzalan Square).  (See #18, above?)
  1. Maurice Anderson MacFarren: Possibly 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Irish Rifles, Military Cross.  Service number not known.  Not found in census registers.
  1. Victor Wilfred Marks: Corporal, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, Service number 76463.  Died of wounds, Italy, 02 April 1918.  1911 census: Assistant to steel roller.
  1. Harry Ellis: Possibly born 1894, domestic gardener in 1911.  Father Charles Henry Ellis (stone-waller in Whiteley Wood 1901).  If so, either 27400 Yorkshire Regiment or 13988 Yorkshire Light Infantry, but there are other possibilities.
  1. John William Goulder: Corporal, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 16906, previously a butcher.  “Accidentally drowned 01.05.1918”, possibly in Sunderland (text unclear).  Married to Mary Ann Willis, 1910.  Buried in Tinsley Park Cemetery.
  1. Joseph Ernest Gill: Rifleman, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), Service number 55094.
  1. John Henry Wild: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 5085 then 202511.  1911 census:  a greengrocer’s assistant.  See #43, above.
  1. Audsley Ralph Carter: Major, Royal Garrison Artillery attached to Royal Air Force, Service number not known.
  1. (Richard) Frank Cramp (known as Guss): Sergeant, the London Regiment of the Post Office Rifles, Service number 371207.  Born in Woolwich, Kent, and moved to Sheffield before 1910.  Worked locally as a postman.  Also listed in Sheffield’s Post Office Workers Roll of Honour, and in Sheffield Council Official Roll of Honour.

56,  Joseph Goodison:  Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Service number TynesideZ/13203.  Died of disease.  Buried in Stannington (Underbank) Unitarian Cemetery.

  1. Algernon Sydney Smith: Second Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, Service number not known.  Also listed in Endcliffe Park Congregational Church Roll of Honour. Previously worked for William Jessop, steelmaker.  On 20 March 1919, delivering mail in northern Europe he flew into a snowstorm and stalled.  Buried in the hospital cemetery at Houyet in Belgium.
  1. William Leadbeater: (No information found.)  Possibly William Fisher Leadbeater at 4 Stephen Hill in 1901 (age 7), with mother Jemima Leadbeater (charwoman).  She is described as “single”, but her mother is Ruth Atkin, widow.  (See also #35, above?)