Category Archives: Graves

Ronald Charles Hirst Gazzana

Army, Canadian, Registered War Grave, Ypres

Ronald Charles Hirst Gazzana
Private 1124 “C” Company
8th Battalion Canadian infantry. (Manitoba Regiment)

 Division 35

 Gazzana grave Gazzana tree

Ronald Charles Hirst Gazzana has a  CWGC war pattern headstone upon which is carved the emblem of Canada the maple leaf.  Behind the headstone is a graceful Maple tree, a simple but fitting memorial probably planted shortly after his funeral.  The grave number is 16111. His parents names are carved into the stone, he was the son of Charles Joseph and Ada Briffet Gazzana.  Their home was “Ronaldhirst  Farm”. Fairford, Manitoba.

 Private Gazzana died as a result of gas poisoning received on 24th April 1915.  This was during the week that the Germans first used poisoned gas.  The Canadians were at a place called St. Julien in Belgium.

 A report of his military funeral was published in the Reading Standard, 29th May 1915.

Gazzana funeral

“A military funeral is always impressive, but that at St. Giles Church, Reading on Wednesday afternoon particularly so.  Pte. Gazzana, aged 20 of the Canadian Contingent, had come to the aid of the motherland in the time of her stress and trial and had died a hero’s death fighting for the cause of freedom. 

“He was a victim of the foul weapon of gas, with which he was struck down near Ypres at the end of April.  He was conveyed to Reading War Hospital and thence to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.  At first he appeared to be making rapid strides towards recovery, but he had a relapse and on Monday passed to his rest.

 Sixteen wounded Canadians from the Reading War Hospital, and all were sufficiently well to attend,  were present to pay their last tribute of  respect to Pte. Gazzana.  Two of them were in his contingent.  They were conveyed to the Church in Red Cross cars.  Men of the 35th Division Signal Company, Royal Engineers, from Wantage Hall, under Lieut. E. Churchill, provided the escort, bearers and a firing party, and the drum and fife band of the “King Alfred” Training Brigade played the Royal Salute on entering the cemetery gates.

The service was conducted by the vicar, the Rev. F.J.C. Gillmor, and the Rev. H.A. Smith-Masters, and as the coffin, enveloped in a Union Jack and covered with beautiful flowers, was borne away on a cable carriage large crowds gathered in the streets and showed signs of sympathy.  After three volleys had been fired at the graveside, the “Last Post” was sounded and Pte. Gazzana was “left alone in his glory”.

 Among those present were the Mayor Mr Leonard Sutton, Major (Dr) G. Stewart Abram, Sir Percy Sanderson, KCMG (President of Caversham and Reading Veterans Association Mr Cyril Tubbs (transport officer), Mr. J.R. Cook, Lieut. Beaumont etc.

 Pte. Gazzana’s home was at Great Missenden, Bucks, his father holds a commission in the Royal Engineers.”  

Walter Charles Freeman

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Walter Charles Freeman
Private 7405
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment

 Division 14

Freeman WC photo CIMG2157

Walter Charles Freeman was the eldest son of Walter and Ann Freeman of 1, The Mount Caversham. His father was a local tailor who ran his business from 105, Oxford Road. His death was extensively reported in the Chronicle April 9th 1915.  

He died at hospital in Whitechapel from wound received on the 16th February 1915 .   He was 30 years old.  

Walter had served nearly 12 years in the army before emigrating to Vancouver where he had his own business.  He was in the Army Reserve when the war broke out and was immediately called up he went to the front in September 1914.  Walter had fought in several engagements and had a number of narrow escapes before being wounded.

 He was injured at night by a bullet which passed through his neck and jaw breaking his teeth and coming out just below his eye bone.  After being I hospital in France for a couple of weeks he was transferred to London.  Everything possible was done for him but from the first his injuries were of such a serious nature and he eventually died of septic poisoning. 

Walter had been educated at the British School, Southampton Street. He was well liked and very popular with his comrades in the Regiment.  In the trenches he was described as jovial and brave.   

He was buried with full military honours.  One hundred soldiers of the 8th Berkshire Regiment were in attendance and they provided a firing party that followed the cortege in procession.  Three volleys were sounded over the grave and the “Last Post” was played. 

 The brother of Walter Freeman,  H.G. Freeman of the King’s Liverpool Regt. was notified as wounded, no other information has been obtained.

Freeman HG photo

Agnes Mary Fransham

Registered War Grave, RFC / RAF

Agnes Mary Fransham
Worker 15323
Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
Attended School of Military Aeronautics

 War Plot
Division 71 and 72

FranshamA photo screen wall

Anges Mary Fransham was the daughter  of Daniel Fransham, of 46, Newcombe Road., Polygon, Southampton. 

 She attended the school of Military Aeronautics which was based in Reading.  Agnes died on 16th March 1918 aged 37.  The circumstances of her death are not know.  It is possible that she was a victim of the influenza epidemic which took so many lives in 1918.  She is the only woman to be buried in the War Plot. Her name is commemorated on the screen wall.

 A picture of Agnes Fansham was published in the Reading Standard on the 6th April and from the caption it is known that she was given an “imposing military funeral”.  However, her name was incorrectly recorded as Frencham.