The War Memorial lists a further 81 men who
came through the First World War and returned home.
A primary document used to establish the full
names of those commemorated was the Electoral Register for 1918 which greatly
extended the list of eligible voters, including women over 30 years old for the
first time. The Register includes
‘absent voters’. This includes Frederick
John Belsham, who lived in the village and Frank Johnson Knight, who lived at
Walnut Tree Cottages. These names are omitted
from the War memorial and it is surmised that these men did not want their
names included. Poignantly we found
Albert Edward Barker, The Bull, as an absent voter who had died a year earlier.
Samuel
John Brazier
AS: The Parish Register records the baptism of
Ronald Walter John, son of Samuel John and Ethel Florence Brazier on 23rd
June 1921. Samuel’s profession given was
‘Royal Navy’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].
His brother, Walter, also served in the Royal
Navy but was killed. He is commemorated
on the War Memorial as one of the fallen.
His sister, Florence married Ernest John Wager, who also served.
[Barbara Dawes, 3.11.18]
Alfred
Chumbley
Leonard
Chumbley
AS: They were half-brothers of Arthur John Nash
who died in the First World War and is commemorated on the War Memorial as one
of the fallen.
Alfred
Stokes Hart
AS: The Parish Register records the baptism of
Reginald Brian Stokes, son of Alfred Stokes and Adelaide Hart on 31st
March 1916. The family lived at ‘Nine
Ashes, High Ongar’. Alfred’s profession
given was ‘Insurance Agent’. [ERO D/P 266/1/11].
George
Hasler
AS: Identifying letters ‘C’ and ‘G’ on the faded
War Memorial were notoriously difficult.
BG: The 1911 Census record for Blackmore, Wyatts
Green, Doddinghurst, Brentwood” records:
Iedward W. Hasler. Head.
Married 15 years. [Age] 38. Horseman On Farm. [Born] Essex High Roding
Ellen Hasler.
Wife. Married. [Age] 40.
[Born] Herts Gt Hadham
George E. Hasler. Son. Single. [Age] 15.
Cow Man. [Born] Essex Gt Dunmow
John E Hasler. Son.
[Age] 9. School. [Born] Essex Doddinghurst
Frederick W Hasler. Son.
[Age] 7. School. [Born] Essex Doddinghurst
Eleanor M Hasler. Daughter.
[Age] 5. School. [Born] Essex Doddinghurst
Albert H Hasler. Son.
[Age] 2. Home. [Born] Essex Doddinghurst
AS: Ian Hook, the Keeper of the Essex Regiment
Museum suggested: “Hasler may be 33789 Pte GE Hasler of Kelvedon Hatch a
Prisoner of War taken while with the 9th Battalion Essex Regiment
and similarly invalided from the Army.”
Alfred
Leslie Jasper
Charles
Victor Jasper
AS: Alfred Leslie Jasper was fairly easily found
in the records but C.V or G.V. Jasper proved more difficult until the 1911
census was consulted. Here we learn that
Alfred Leslie and Charles Victor were brothers.
1911 Langenhoe.
Alfred Jasper. Head. Married. [Age] 48.
Farmer. [Born] Cornwall St Neots
Florence Helena Jasper. Wife. Married
19 years. [Age] 40. [Born] Cornwall St Neots
Charles Victor Jasper. Son. Single. [Age] 17.
Farmer's Son Works On Farm.
[Born] Essex Arkesden
Florence Harriet Jasper. Daughter.
Single. [Age] 16. School.
[Born] Essex Arkesden
Alfred Leslie Jasper. Son.
[Age] 14. School. [Born] Essex Arkesden
Irene Grace Jasper. Daughter.
[Age] 10. School. [Born] Essex Gt Waltham
Ellen Florence Taylor. Servant.
Single [Age] 17. Servant Domestic. [Born] Essex Layer Breton
Emily Taylor.
Servant. Single. [Age] 20.
Servant Domestic. [Born] Essex
Layer Breton
The Parish Register records the baptism of
Irene Grace, daughter of Alfred and Florence Helena Jasper on 1st
March 1923. The family lived at
‘Wenlocks, Blackmore’. Alfred’s
profession given was ‘Farmer’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].
Alfred
Jopson
AS: During the tracing of a survivor of the Great
War (Gr. A. Jobson R.G.A) the Blackmore War Memorial Research Group came across
two possible surnames for the same person: Jobson and Jopson. Which could it be?
BG: There is an Alfred JOPSON in the 1911
Blackmore census, age 23 born Writtle, who had been married to Kate Elizabeth
for two years. His is the only Jopson family in the Ongar RD, and there is no
Jobson.
Born ca. 1888, he lived at 11 Blackmore Green
NS, and was a gardener. He enlisted in the RGA 54 AA Coy on 6th June
1916, and was discharged sick on 20th June 1917. He married Kate
Elizabeth STONEHAM at Moulsham on 17th July 1909, and their children
George Alfred and Ellen May were both born in Blackmore.
AS: Both Jobson and Jopson appear in the Parish
records.
7th June 1905: Burial register
entry for Thomas Robert Jobson, aged 20 [Burial register in Church safe].
1914 Electoral Roll: Alfred Jobson living at
Rose Cottage [ERO C/E 1/2/26].
1922 Electoral Roll: Kate Elizabeth Jobson
living in Church Street [ERO C/E 2/1/5].
No records of Jopson in Electoral Registers.
7th July 1910. Baptism entry for
George Alfred, son of Alfred and Kate Elizabeth Jopson.
We were puzzled that these names appeared
interchangeable, but after careful examination decided that the commonly used
name was Jopson but the War Memorial commemorated him as Jobson.
Thomas
Livings
AS: Information from a descendant, Michael
Livings, enabled us to identify the name commemorated as a survivor.
Thomas Livings was the son of Passoover &
Rebecca Livings (nee Ovel). He was born
in High Ongar in c.1896. His parents
appear on the Blackmore Electoral Roll for 1918 [ERO C/E 2/1/1] and 1922 [ERO
C/E 2/1/5].
They had 4 children:
- Thomas Livings b 1896 High Ongar
- Nellie b 1898 High Ongar
- Mary Ann was baptised at High Ongar on 26th
March 1899 [ERO D/P 68/1/11].
- Joseph b 1900 High Ongar
Ian Hook from the Essex Regiment Museum
suggested that this could be “Livings may be 24485 Pte TK Livings who was invalided
from the Army.”
Alexander
McLaren
AS: The Parish Register records the baptism of
Ivy Alma Florence, daughter of Alexander and Eliza McLaren on 29th
September 1917. The family lived at High
Ongar. Frank’s profession given was
‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].
Charles
Miller
George
Miller
AS: They were the brothers of Herbert Miller, one
of the fallen.
Frank Monk: will be remembered in
another post
George
Cyril Newcombe
AS: The Parish Register records the baptisms of
Harold Arthur, son, and Phyliss Maud, daughter of George Cyril and Edith Newcombe
on 11th November 1917.
Harold’s profession given was ‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].
Albert
George Ovel
Ernest
James Ovel
Herbert
James Ovel
AS: Six generations of the Ovel family have lived
in Blackmore. James, born 1827 married
Rebecca Wheal of Blackmore, and raised a family, of whom the eldest son was
also James, born 1851. With his wife
Ruth (nee Pond) they had 12 children.
Albert, Ernest and Herbert were brothers. The family lived at Hyde Farm in 1881, The Poplars
just after the First World War and The Green (which could have been the same
property) in 1933.
Albert was the great grandfather of Donna
Ovel, representing the sixth generation who kindly lent the Research Group the
family tree and enabled the identification of the names of these
survivors. Albert was born in 1897, so
was only 21 when the War ended. He
married Ethel Mary Root in 1922 but lived at The Poplars, recorded on the
Electoral Roll in 1920, with his brother Herbert and parents James and
Ruth. Other sisters may have lived there
too who did not qualify for a vote.
Ernest and Herbert were Donna’s great great
uncles. Their medal cards identify these
men with the inscription on the War Memorial.
Major
Jubilee Pagram
BG: By chance, I found this man’s service record.
We have recorded him correctly as Cpl.
J. Pagram R.A.S.C. - Jubilee Major (aka
Major Jubilee) Pagram, but I found the following of interest.
He had already served 1 year in the 4th
Essex, before joining up in May 1915. On discharge in 1919 he was Cpl.
and motor driver in the RASC, service no. 101609. He married Lilian Maud
McLaren on 3rd June 1912, and they lived at Little Jessops.
Frank
Charles Penson
AS: The Parish Register records the baptisms of
Eva Frances, daughter of Frank Charles and Emily Louisa Penson on 15th
August 1915, and of Charles Frank, son on 9th September 1917. Frank’s profession in both cases was given as
‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/11].
Wellesley
George Pigott
BG: Lt. Col. Wellesley Pigott, was born Salisbury
[C1881, confirmed FreeBMD] in 1861. His
father, the Rev Wellesley Pole Piggott, was born in Ireland, matriculated at
Brasenose College Oxford in 1828 at the age of 15, and held the living of
Bemerton, by Salisbury.
In 1881 he was a boarder in Shepperton,
Mddx., and in 1891 he married Helen Louise Ind of Dublin [FreeBMD]. She was the daughter of Captain Thomas
Donaldson [De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour], and had married Frederick William Ind at
Kensington in 1883 [FreeBMD]. There is
no record of Frederick Ind’s death in the UK, so he probably died on service
abroad.
In 1894 Wellesley Pigott was adjutant in the
3rd volunteer battalion, Essex Regiment, and was living at
Fairfields, High Road, Woodford Wells. [Kelly’s Directory 1894]. In the 1914 Kelly’s Directory he was on the
list of magistrates for Essex, and gave his address as 123 Colebourne Court,
South Kensington. But he is also listed
as one of the major landowners in Blackmore, with manorial rights in Hook End,
and is chair of the Education Committee of Ongar Rural District Council.
AS: Major Wellesley Pigott commanded his
Battalion at the Battle of Loos, on 25th September 1915 [source.
Revd E H L Reeve ERO T/P 188/3].
Arthur
Cecil Pratt
AS: Ian Pratt a descendant contacted us through
the website.
“My wife is researching our family history
and has come across your webpages for Blackmore. I believe the C Pratt you are
looking for on the War Memorial is my great uncle, Cecil Pratt.
“Christened Arthur Cecil Pratt, but known as
Cecil, he was the son of Charles and Laura Pratt, one time residents of Hay
Green Farm, Blackmore. His grandparents were Charles and Charlotte Pratt, whose
son Rowland Richard Pratt, Cecil's uncle, is also mentioned on your pages.
“Cecil was born in 1885 and we know from the
1901 census that he was in Ipswich training to be an engineer. We also know he
was injured in the First World War and died in 1918 from injuries sustained
during that time, at the age of 33.”
Our evidence showed that there was a
succession of Pratt family members at Hay Green Farm. Firstly Charles (with Laura and a growing
family by 1881), then Sidney (1891 census) then Rowland (in 1911) but no family
members present on the 1914 Electoral Roll.
We could not find Arthur Cecil on my list of Blackmore baptisms but know
that Rowland was a churchwarden. We
could not find reference to the death of an C or C.A. Pratt on the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission website.
“Charles and Laura Pratt were Arthur Cecil's
parents and Sidney and Rowland were his uncles.
The family lived first at Hay Green Farm and then moved to Castle House
in Ongar. Arthur Cecil was born at Castle
House Farm.
“In 1891 he was just six years old and living
with his parents at Castle House Farm, although he did later study at The
Oakham School, Kingsley, Hants, as did most of his siblings. We know that he preferred to be called Cecil
rather than Arthur.
“As far as we know he served with the Royal
Flying Corps, not the RAF, which was formed later. We have not as yet had the time to be able to
verify this with actual documentation although we do have a photograph of him
in uniform.”
We found Charles Pratt recorded in the 1890
edition of Kelly’s Directory as a farmer at Castle Farm and Home Farm. Also, there is an entry for Charles Pratt on
the 1918 Electoral Roll for Chipping Ongar, residing at Castle Farm.
There were no Pratts, as far as we knew,
living in Blackmore in 1918 so linking Arthur Cecil Pratt to Blackmore seemed
difficult.
He is an unlikely name for commemoration as a
survivor, however, the strong connection which existed at the time between
Grace Pratt, who married Herbert Brown (see list of fallen) and then Stanley
Petrie, the son of the Vicar of Blackmore.
Our inclination is to record Arthur Cecil on our list but with a
question mark.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed in 1918
out of a merged Royal Flying Corps (RFC), founded 1912, and Royal Naval Air
Service (RNAS), founded 1914.
Arthur
Charles Roast
AS: He was the younger brother of James Roast,
one of the fallen, and worked for Revd. E H L Reeve at Stondon Rectory before
recruiting to the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, on 25th
March 1916, aged 16 years and 2 months.
Arthur Roast writes letters to Reeve, three
of which are preserved at the Essex Record Office. In a letter dated 13th May 1916,
Reeve comments “It is dated from Felixtowe where he is training. Looked upon at
home as ‘none too strong in the upper storey’ Roast has shown himself a true
Briton in adaptability to his new surroundings”. [ERO T/P 188/3]
Reeve writes on 1st August 1916:
“Arthur Roast, lately employed at the Rectory is now in France, and writes home
cheerful letters to his mother, as all men do, bidding her not to worry about
him. Roast was always a “good shot”, few birds escaping him even as a boy when
out with stones and catapult! The
neighbours believe that as a bomb thrower into the enemy’s trenches his fame will
be sure to establish himself”. [ERO T/P 188/3 f190]
He was at home on leave on 18th
November 1917.
Reeve notes again, on 8th June
1918, “Private Arthur Roast writes that he is well “though the noise has made
my nerves a bit shakey”! We trust that
many of our lads may be spared to return, and take part in the deferred Peace
Celebrations”. [ERO T/P 188/3 f331]
In the 1939 census we find Arthur Roast
living in the Ongar area employed as a kitchen gardener. He died in 1962.
William
Henry Sankey
AS: William Sankey was the brother in law of
Ernest Maynard who died in the First World War.
He married Gertrude Maynard at Blackmore in 1906. Their daughter, Violet
May, was baptised privately at Blackmore on 13th May 1906 but died
aged three weeks and was buried at Blackmore on 6th June. In the 1911 Census William Sankey, aged 28,
is a ‘Groom Domestic’ living at Ivy Cottage, Stondon Massey. His place of birth
is recorded as Bromley, Kent. His wife of four years, ‘Gerdlina’, age 26, was
born at Blackmore. Ernest Maynard, the
aforementioned, Gertrude’s brother was 21, a ‘gardener domestic’. By 1915 the family had moved to Blackmore. The
baptism of George Jellico Sankey, records William Henry Sankey as a Chauffeur.
His mother was Gertrude Frances Annie Sankey. The baptism took place at
Blackmore on 1st August 1915. [Sources: ERO D/P 266/1/12, ERO D/P 266/1/17,
Burial register in Church Safe].
Ernest
John Wager
AS: Ernest John Wager married Florence Brazier,
the sister of Walter, who died, and Samuel, who served. Both Brazier men are remembered on the War
Memorial.
“Ernest & Flo’s grave clearly seen
over by the little wooden stile. Samuel & Ethel also buried there. Ernest
was never that well after the war, think he was injured twice, he died
relatively young in 1938 when 48 when my Dad was 9.” [Barbara Dawes, 4.11.18]
The
Parish Register records the private baptism of Walter John, son of Ernest John
and Florence Ann Wager on 22nd September 1919. Ernest’s profession given was ‘Soldier’. [ERO
D/P 266/1/17].
Albert
Edward Wheal
Arthur
Charles Wheal
AS: Dave Wheal is a descendant
of the Wheal’s commemorated on the War Memorial. All three are named ‘A Wheal’: one fallen,
plus two survivors. He says that all
were the children of Charles & Sarah Ann Wheal (nee Little).
“Alfred John Wheal was born Sept 1885 Ongar
4a 281, and killed in action, Arras 1917.
He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
“Albert Edward Wheal was baptised on 10th
January 1887 at Blackmore. He served as
a Private in the Machine Gun Corps (35906).
He married Annie Theresa Knight around 1918ish and died on 5th
July 1971.”
Albert Edward Wheal married at Blackmore on 2nd
November 1918, describing his profession as a ‘soldier’.
“Arthur Charles Wheal was born on 10th
January 1881 at Doddinghurst. He served
in the Royal Navy (K37757) as a Stoker.
He married Annie Florence Ovel in 1920ish and died on 15th January
1944.”
Arthur Charles Wheal married, age 39, at
Blackmore on 17th April 1920.
In the 1891 census we found Charles Wheal is
head of household living at Doddinghurst Road. This is the last entry in the
list before the enumerator moves to Mountnessing Road. This pinpoints their
place of residence as Swallows Cross at what is now referred to as the junction
of Wyatts Green Lane with Mountnessing Road right on the edge of Blackmore
parish.
Two photographs (illustrated) came into my
possession a few years’ ago when someone was clearing their attic. One is inscribed on the back ‘Ted Wheal.
Uncle. Mrs Dorothy Nicholson served in 1st world war” and ‘Jack Wheal – same as
Ted’. Ted is wearing a military uniform whilst Jack looks to be wearing a naval
uniform.
BG: I found the service record for Albert Edward
Wheal, who was demobbed in 1919 as L/Cpl, MGC.
He gives his address as 10 Stondon Road
Blackmore – this is clearly a name that has changed, but could be Tipps Cross
Lane. His next of kin are father Charles, and wife Annie. He was mobilised in
1916 aged 28, and joined the 3rd Essex. Three months later he was transferred
into the MGC, where he was lucky to have survived. His service no. was 35906.”
AS: Throughout the project we have been in
correspondence with members of the Essex branch of the Western Front
Association so we took the opportunity to send them copies to see whether they
could be positively identified.
Karen Dennis wrote: “I'm pleased to be able
to write that I showed Ian Hook the photo of Ted Wheal and he confirmed that
the cap badge is definitely the Essex Cap Badge. He said that Ted was wearing
an "economy pattern service uniform" which was only used during the
Great War. This photo must have been taken following his enlistment and prior
to his transfer to the MGC so the date can be tied down quite tightly.”
To link these photographs to names of those
who served from Blackmore was particularly interesting and a pleasure to share
with a descendant. “Many thanks. It all helps to fill in gaps in the tree”,
Dave replied.
Frederick
Walter Wilson
Frederick Walter Wilson, bachelor, aged 20,
‘Soldier’, married Lily May Wardingham, a spinster, age 25, of St Augustine’s
South Croydon, at St Laurence Church Blackmore on 15th March
1917. Her father, William, was a
farmer. Frederick’s father, Walter
Frederick Wilson describes his profession as ‘Master Baker’. [ERO D/P 266/1/12]
Jacob
Wiltshire: will
be remembered in another post
George
Wray
AS: Identifying letters ‘C’ and ‘G’ on the faded
War Memorial were notoriously difficult.
BG: There are medal records for 3 George Wrays:
-
R.
Fus./Labour C no 59258
-
Lincs
R/Labour C no 30458
-
W
Riding/Labour C no 565895
The
1901 Census for Blackmore ‘Village’ records:
Charles
Wray. Head. Married.
[Age] 55. Stockman on farm. [Born] Blackmore
Eliza
Wray. Wife. Married.
[Age] 52. [Born] Willingale
William
Wray. Son. Single.
[Age] 28. Horseman-on-farm. [Born] Willingale Doe
Charles
Wray. Son. Single.
[Age] 21. Stockman on farm. [Born] High Ongar
Fred
Wray. Son. Single.
[Age] 18. Carrier. [Born] High Ongar
Joseph
Wray. Son. Single.
[Age] 10. [Born] High Ongar
George
Wray. Son. Single.
[Age] 6. [Born] Blackmore
1911
Census: Parish. Blackmore
Charles
Wray. Head. Married.
[Age] 30. Labourer - On
Farm. [Born] High Ongar Essex
Annie
Wray. Wife. Married 5 years. [Age] 25.
[Born] Brentwood Essex
Constance
Wray. Daughter. Married[!]
[Age] 4. [Born] Blackmore Essex
Cecil
Wray. Son. [Age] 3.
[Born] Blackmore Essex
Doris
Wray. Daughter. [Age] 1.
[Born] Blackmore Essex
James Robert Woollard: will be remembered in another post
Footnote
In addition to those recorded on the War
Memorial as having returned from war, there are a number of men entered in the
Parish Registers whose profession was described as ‘Soldier’ but are not
commemorated.
Arthur Burton and his wife, Rosetta, had four
children baptised on 29th August 1915: Elsie Miriam, Winifred,
Rosetta May and, Stanley Arthur Burton.
James Alexander Whittaker and his wife Mabel
had their son, James Alexander baptised on 20th August 1916.
Albert William Cooper, of High Ongar, had his
son Leonard Neville baptised on 21st January 1917.
Sidney William Wakeling, from Brentwood had
his daughter, Emily Lillian baptised on 12th May 1918.
Harry Newson, from Radley Green, Highwood,
had his daughter Winifred May, baptised on 4th May 1919.
Ernest Robert Wicks, of Swallows Cross,
Blackmore, has his son Ernest Laurence baptised on 17th August 1919.
George Albert Sankey, of Blackmore,
‘Soldier’, married Annie Neville on Christmas Day 1917. Their son John Lancaster Sankey was baptised
on 28th September 1921.
George was still a Soldier by profession.
Albert Hardy, from Blackmore married on 14th
August 1918.
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