Bertie Cyril Blackwell
Lance Corporal 742582
London Cyclist Battalion

 Division 44

Bertie Cyril Blackwell, was the son of the late Mr Robert and Mrs Emma Blackwell, of 81, York Road, Reading.  His is a registered war grave and has a CWGC war pattern headstone, number 2978.  Private Blackwell died on 4^th February 1919.  He was aged 24.     

The Standard 7^th Nov. 1914 – published a picture of a Lance Corporal Bert Blackwell, of 81 Edgehill Street.  At the time he was serving in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.  The report states that he lay for 3 hours in a ditch wounded. There are no other details of his service career.

 A report giving details of his death was published in the Reading Standard Feb. 15th 1919. at No.5 Southern General Hospital, Southsea, suddenly, of double pneumonia.  By this time he was a  Sergeant and attached to H.Q. A.C.C.

 “A noble son and loving brother”.

Robert Blackwell, Bertie’s father was already dead by the time of the 1911 census .  The second picture refers to a Private R. Blackwell,  who is pictured with a number of soldiers of different nations. This man appears to be living at the same address at Bertie Blackwell. He served in the Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport.  Bertie was one of seven children so it is possible that the man in the picture was an older brother. Most of the family worked in the printing industry although Bertie was an apprentice carpenter in 1911.

 * 20^th February 2000

William George Bennett
Private 56296
9^th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers

 Division 43

William George Bennett, was the son of George Bennett and lived with his sister at 70, Great Knollys Street, Reading. His death was reported in the Reading Standard 8^th September 1917, he was 32. 

“An imposing military funeral took place on Monday at Reading Cemetery, the first part of the service being held at St. Giles’.  The funeral, which was that of Private George William Bennett, Royal Welch Fusiliers, was conducted with full military honours, the Last Post being sounded over the graveside.  The deceased, was well-known in Reading as a dealer.  He joined up with the 5th Batt. Royal Berks. Regt. some 14 months ago, he was afterwards transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers.  He came home from France about a month ago suffering from shell-shock, and it was as a result that had died in the Royal Berkshire hospital last week at the age of 32.  The funeral service was of a simple character and contained no hymns, was conducted by the Rev. F.J.C. Gillmor.  The band of the Royal Berks. Regt. was in attendance, and a number of the Royal Berks. Regt. followed the cortege”.  A list of mourners followed and included his little son.

 William Bennett is buried in a registered war grave number 13255 and this is marked with a CWGC war pattern headstone.   

24^th October 1999