Category Archives: Countries

Charles B Drew

Army, Canadian, Registered War Grave

Charles B. Drew
Lance Corporal 11471
4th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Central Ontario Regiment

 Division 38

CDrew photo CIMG2216

Charles Drew, was the son  of Thomas and Emily Drew, of 15, St. John’s Street, Reading. He died of wounds on November 9th 1918 aged 42. His is a registered war grave with a private headstone and kerbs, number 9901.  He shares his grave with his parents.  His name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot, his grave having for sometime been lost. 

alternative mem 2

A letter from Lance Corporal Charles Drew was published in a local paper July 17th 1915 after he had been wounded.

 “He has been serving since the out break of war and has been twice wounded, the second time on the 26th June, when his leg was smashed by a shell and had to be amputated.  Writing form Meath hospital, Dublin he  says –

“I have not got pluck enough to look at my stump when they are dressing it.  The whole shell must have hit me, and caught it in the back of my leg above the knee cap and smashed it and set fire to my trousers.

We were drawing rations at he time, and I was in charge of them.  We were taking cover in the darkness of some ruined houses about 200 yards from the communication trench.  As soon as we got into the open shrapnel came over our heads.  I was helping a fellow carry some biscuits and was ducking down when the shell caught me.  A couple of fellows got me behind a wall and took me to a dressing station, where my leg was straightened out.

“Then I had a painful ride in a horse ambulance over a road full of holes to another dressing station, where I was laid in a marquee for the rest of the night.  Afterwards I was taken to a hospital at Merville, and then to Rouen.  Here the leg was taken off and salt water was injected to enrich the blood.”

 Charles Drew was remembered by his parents and brothers and sisters,  Walter, Bessie, Ethel, Mary, Horos and Willie in the ‘In Memoriam’ of the Standard November 8th 1919.

During research it was discovered that Charles Drew’s name had been omitted from the Canadian Book of Remembrance. An appeal was made and his name was added, a permanent record of his war service.

Joseph Davis

Australian, Commemorated name/s, Reading Blue Coat School, Somme

Joseph Davis
Private 3154
49th Battalion Australian Imperial Force

Division 40

CIMG2198

Joseph Davis, is commemorated on a family memorial.  Grave number 8790.  He was killed in action at Dernancourt, a small village SW of Albert, Somme, on 5th April 1918.  The village was captured by the Germans for a time during the spring offensive to be reclaimed later in the year by the allies.   

Joseph Davis has no known grave.  His name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.  This is the Australian National Monument erected to commemorate Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, to their dead, and especially those of the dead who have no known graves.  These soldiers fell in the battlefields of the Somme, Arras and the “Hundred Days”.  There are over 10,000 casualties commemorated on this memorial. 

Charles Frederick Denman Cook

Army, New Zealand, Registered War Grave

Charles Frederick Denman Cook D.S.O.
Lieutenant Colonel 1st Battalion Wellington Regiment.
New Zealand Expeditionary Force

 Division 67
Extension

CFD Cook DSO CFDCook grave

Charles Frederick Denman Cook was the son of  Professor C.H.H. Cook MA of Christchurch New Zealand (one time Fellow of St. Johns College Cambridge) and nephew of T.J. Peacock, “Calderwood”, Caversham.  Born in 1883, Charles  was an Master of Art with First Class in Classics with Honours, and LL.B.   His mother was Mrs E.D. Cook of Marton, Marton was Charles last address. 

Initially a member of the New Zealand Territorial force he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in August 1914 with the rank of Captain. As part of the ‘Main Body’, that is the first contingent of men who were to serve with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, he reached Egypt on 3rd December 1914.   He saw active service in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. 

 Whilst still a Major, Charles Cook  was mentioned in dispatches in February 1916 (research from Phil Lascelles states London Gazette 28th January page1207) the citation states ‘in connection with operations described in General L. Hamiltion’s despatch dated 11th December 1915’; and again in March 1917 London Gazette 1st June 1917 p5429, Record 683 ‘For continuous devotion to duty and gallantry in the Field.  He has been on active service since the outbreak of war, filling many positions of importance including temporary Command of a Battalion,  he has constantly discharged his duties in a most conscientious and efficient manner.  He has taken part in practically all the operations in which the Division has been engaged, in Gallipoli and in France, and in action has always displayed keen judgement and the utmost coolness and bravery, especially during the period 21st September  1916 to 26th February 1917.’   Subsequently he was invested by the King with the DSO – Distinguished Service Order.  The citation was for ‘distinguished service in the field’. London Gazette 4th June 1917.  Cook became a Lieutenant Colonel  on 15th March 1915

 On 21st November 1917 Charles F. D. Cook married Miss Agneta Mary Haynes of 11. Victoria Square, Reading.  

CFDCook marriage

Miss Haynes had been on the staff of St. Luke’s V.A.D. hospital for some time, and “ the liveliest interest was aroused in the wedding by the staff and patients, the latter forming a guard of honour at the church, whilst members of staff were presented at the ceremony.  Wounded Soldiers formed an arch of crutches at a wedding.  There was a very large number of the general public, and the approaches to the church were thronged…….The patients at St Luke’s Hospital presented Miss Haynes with a New Zealand badge made into a sofa cushion cover, and the staff’s gift consisted of silver tea knives.  In the evening the patients had a whist drive with refreshments and wedding cake in honour of the event”. (Reading Standard 24th November 1917)

CFDCook funeral

 Lieut.-Col C.F.D. Cook died on May 2nd 1918 of cerebro-spinal meningitis, contracted on active service, at Neatley Hospital, Portsmouth.  He was buried on May 4th and was given  an impressive military  funeral.  His is a registered war grave, number16436.  The Memorial was erected by men of his unit.  His wife Agneta is buried with him as is his brother whom Agneta later married.

 

The grave also states “ IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR BROTHER LIEUTENANT IN THE 8TH BATTALION ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT”. This refers to the brother of Agneta, WILLIAM GRAY HAYNES who died on Saturday, 25th September 1915. Age 24.  He is buried at
BOIS-CARRE MILITARY CEMETERY, HAISNES, Pas de Calais, France.  Location A. 19.