Category Archives: Graves

Cedric Charles Okey Taylor

Army, Arras, Commemorated name/s, Marlborough House School, Other Regiments, Reading School War Memorial

Lieutenant C.C. Okey Taylor
3rd Battalion East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) & Trench Motar Battery

Division 48

OKEY TAYLOR CC  CIMG2137CIMG2138

Cedric Charles Okey Taylor  was the grandson of a local Reading dignitary. His death is reported in The Chronicle of 15th December 1916.

“Attached to the Trench Motor Battery Z/14, 14th Division, BEF, France, fell in action on Sunday, December 3rd 1916.  He was not quite 22 years of age and the only son of Mrs. Taylor, of 31, Weltje Road, Ravenscroft Park, London, and the late Charles Warmsley Taylor, of Reading.”

His Captain communicated the news to his mother.

“He was at a gun position with his men when the dug-out was blown in.   His death must have been instantaneous, and two of his men were killed with him.  We have recovered his body, and he will be buried tomorrow, and as many of his brother officers that are available will attend.  I need hardly say how deeply sorry all his friends are, and to me it I is a personal loss, since he has been associated with me  longer than any other officer, and we have been together since he joined the Expeditionary Force.  One cannot speak too highly of his ability, his devotion to duty, and the keen interest he took in all his men and their welfare.  It is a sad loss which we all feel, and offer you our deepest sympathy.”

He is commemorated upon the grave of his grandfather in the Reading Cemetery and is buried in the Faubourg D’Amien Cemetery, Arras. Location I. J.58.

Upon his death he left his estate to his married sister Olive Margaret Okey Allner.

Ernest Frederick Nott

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Ernest Frederick Nott
Private 29031
Border Regiment attached to Machine Gun Corps.

Division 9

Ernest Frederick Knott is commemorated on the grave of his family number 9931.  He died on the 31st March 1918 aged 24. He was the son of John and Sarah Nott. The 1911 census gives the address as 127/9 Southampton Street, we are told that his father was a coal merchant. Living at home his brothers were Horace aged 10  was still at school and Walter aged 25 who was a general labourer. Ernest, then aged 16 is recorded as a club assistant.

The 1901 census records the name of third brother, Harry James Knott. He attested in Burton on Trent for service with the 6th Battalion North Staffs Territorial Force on 8 September 1914,  he gave his occupation as ironmongers assistant and his age as 23 years. His next of kin was given as Mrs Nott of 129 Southampton Street. He served 70 days until the 17 November 1914 when he was discharged. His war records do not give the reason.

Ernest Frederick Nott is buried at Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere, location I. O.9.

An ‘In Memoriam’ of March 29th 1919 gives a little information about his family.  We know that he was married, and in addition to his parents he had brothers.    His sister Annie was living in Winnipeg, Canada. The verse was from his sister:

He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,
He kissed their drooping leaves,
It was for the Lord of Paradise
He bound them in his sheaves.
And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The flowers she most did love;
She knew she would find them all again-
In the fields of light above.

Annie Neishe & Alfred William Neishe

Army, Commemorated name/s, Nurse, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Annie Neishe
V.A.D. Nurse

Division 80
Extension

CIMG2148

 

Annie Neishe  was the daughter of William and Jane Neishe, of “Elem”, Pilford Heath, Wimbourne, Dorset. The 1911 census indicates that Annie, then 24, was  domestic nurse. Her father was a gardener and her brother, then 17, was working in the gardens. The home address is given as The Gardens, Iwerne Minster, Blandford. In 1901 William Neishe was recorded as the Head Gardener at Caldy Manor in Cheshire. The family had moved around the country. The second daughter Minnie is recorded in the 1901 census. A further child had died. Upon Jane’s death in 1932 Minnie was the sole beneficary of her estate.

Annie’s is a registered war grave with a private memorial.  She is buried with her mother.  The headstone bears a commemoration to her brother and father.  Grave number 16489.

Annie died on 18th October 1918, aged 32.  The circumstances of her death are unknown.  There was a serious influenza epidemic at the time.  VAD nurses also worked very hard and for long hours, in a compromised state of health they  frequently  succumbed to illness.

 

Alfred William Neishe
Private 9764
5th Wiltshire Regiment

 Alfred William Neishe was the son of William and Jane Neishe and the brother of Annie.  He is commemorated on the headstone of Annie and her mothers grave.  He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 10th August 1915.  There had been very vicious fighting since the allied landing on 6th August, in conditions of intense heat.  On the 10 August a Turkish counter attack on Chunuk Bair almost succeeded. Alfred Neish may well have been involved in these actions. The 5th Wiltshires incured heavy losses on 10 August. Alfred has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the Missing, Panel 156-158. Reading.