Albert Sweetzer
Lance Corporal 24026
1^st Battalion Hampshire Regiment

 War Plot

Albert Sweetzer was the son of Albert and Alice Sweetzer of 5 Blake’s cottages Reading.   He died on 26^th October 1918 of phthisis (tuberculosis), aged 44 years. 

 The Reading Chronicle November 8^th  1918 made reference to the military funeral of Albert Sweetzer, as belonging to the  Hampshire Regiment  and late Royal Berkshire Regiment The funeral procession started from his home and was headed by bearers of the Depot Royal Berkshire Regiment and buglers.

 An account of the funeral published in the Reading Standard November 16th 1918 gave more details:

Military funeral.

 Last week the funeral of Corporal Bert Sweetzer, of, Reading, took place at the Reading Cemetery amidst every token of sympathy.  The deceased joined up early in the war quite voluntarily, and had seen much service in France and Flanders.  He had several very narrow escapes, and finally being wounded was sent to two English hospitals.  On resuming duty he was ordered to Dublin, being attached to the Garrison Battalion Worcester Regiment.  While there he soon had to go to hospital where he passed peacefully away.  Previous to enlisting he was a house decorator, and in his younger days was a familiar figure on the entertainment platform as a banjo and bone artist.

Albert Sweetzer’s graave is in the War plot but his family lie close by to his grave on the other side of the hedge in Division  71.

Ernest Edward Stubbington
Private 117830 19^th Company (Chester)
Royal Army Medical Corps.

 War Plot

Ernest Stubbington was the husband of Catherine H. Stubbington, of 58, Brickfield Road, Portswood, Southampton.

 Ernest Stubbington died on 12^th July 1917, aged 37. He took his own life and the Reading Standard published the following information.

 Standard July 14th 1917

“Earnest Stubbington R.A.M.C. stationed at Whalley, was on Thursday found dead on the line at Reading.  His head was shockingly injured.  An inquest will be held today (Saturday)”

 Standard July 21st 1917

Ernest Stubbington, aged 37 years, a Private in the R.A.M.C., had been married for 18 years and had 6  children.  He was “described by his widow and his military officer as being of jovial disposition, and getting on well with his work”.  “He committed suicide on the railway line last week”.  He was called up for military service on May 15th last, and was engaged in office work in Whalley.  Granted 4 days leave, and a pass from Saturday to Tuesday, he went home to Southampton.  He left there Monday morning in order to join his unit by Tuesday midnight.

 On Tuesday his wife received the following letter, bearing the post mark Paddington, 3.15:-

Dear Wife, – My heart fails me to return to prison life, as you are so rotten towards me, and I know that I shall only be a nuisance to you in a month or so, as I am telling you the truth-I am going blind in one eye-I am going to quit this earth tonight and I shall lay my head down to rest and peace.  That is what has been worrying me so, and end it I will tonight, so you will be free now, and I only hope the children will get cared for by someone better than me.  You can have your fling now….So farewell all, and the best of luck to you; you have never understood me so its best.  Good bye.!”

 The body was found on Thursday morning on the line from Reading to Paddington near Woodley Bridge.  The back part of the skull had been torn away.  In one of his pockets a piece of paper , bearing the pencilled words “Only a nuisance”.

 A verdict of premeditated suicide was returned.  The widow said her husband had been depressed for about 12 months, though for no particular reason.  He had complained of bad eyesight and also of his heart.  She couldn’t account for the tone of the letter, there was no reason to refer to her in that way.  She did not think he had friends in Reading or that he had been “carrying on” with other women.  The Quarter Master at Whalley spoke well of his military character.