Category Archives: Registered War Grave

Charles Thomas Twitchen

237th Field Company, Army, Registered War Grave

Charles Thomas Twitchen
Sergeant 137931 237th Field Coy.,
Royal Engineers

Division 59

 

Space for picture of headstone

Charles Thomas Twitchen grave is marked by a CWGC war pattern headstone.  The Standard  November 1st 1919 carried the report of his death at the Royal Berks. Hospital of lobar pneumonia and bronchitis. He was the dearly loved husband of Mary Twitchen, of 151, Belmont Rd, also late of the Working Men’s Club Pangbourne, aged 41 years.  The 1911 census indicated that he was serving as the steward of the club.

 An account appears in the Standard November 1st 1919 of Reading’s Own entertained in the Town Hall – a picture of 32nd and 35th Divisional Signal Company’s and 237th Field Co. raised wholly and trained in Reading.  At the event the death of  Sergeant Twitchen was remarked upon. 

“A very sad incident occurred, only two days before the dinner, to one who was looking forward to be present, namely, Sergeant Twitchen, of the 237th Field Co.  He was wounded and gassed at the front, but recovered and was demobilised a week or two ago.  When he was discharged he went straight to his work and refused to put in an application for a disability pension, as he said he was quite fit for a good day’s work still, though his wife, knowing his weak condition, urged him to do so.  He suddenly caught a cold, however, and owing to his debilitated state he developed pneumonia, and getting rapidly worse, died on the evening of October 22nd.  It is particularly unfortunate that he was not examined for disability when leaving the army, as his wife is now ineligible for any pension or gratuity. 

 If there are any of his old friends who would like to contribute to a fund for his wife, any sums will be gratefully received by Sergeant L.V. Earthy, 80 London St. or Mr Leonard Sutton, Market Place, Reading and handed to the widow as a token of sympathy from his late comrades, which would be very much appreciated and a great help.”

Hermon Tostevin & Fred Tostevin

Army, Navy, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Hermon Tostevin
Sergeant 7856 Depot,
Royal Berkshire Regiment

 War Plot Division 71 & 72

Tostevin H photo Tostevin F says S photo

Hermon Tostevin was the son of Annie and Charles Henry Tostevin, of 21 Elm Park Road, Reading.  He died on November 16th 1917 aged  32.  His name is recorded on the screen wall in the War Plot. The cause of death is not known nor full details of his military career. In 1901 Herman, then 16,  was an inmate at Kenniston Reform School, Thorndon, Suffolk. Ten years later, in 1911, he was serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment in India. His occupation is given as soldier and clerk.

 Fred Tostevin was the brother of Hermon. Fred served with the Devon Regiment. He was reported missing and later drowned on the HMS Arcadian on 15th April 1917, he was aged 24.  His name can be found on the Mikra Memorial  in Greece.

Fred Tostevin had work for Huntley Bourne and Stevens for ten years before the war.  The 1911 census indicates that an older brother Henry also worked at the tin factory and younger sister Winnifred worked at the Huntley and Palmer’s biscuit factory. (The caption refers to “S” Tostevin)

 In Memoriam in the Standard November 16th 1918 stated:

Loving sons, brothers kind,
Beautiful memories left behind.

In 1919:

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

From their loving Mother, brothers and sisters.