Category Archives: Reading University College

Edward Gooch

Army, Berkshire Yeomanry, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading Blue Coat School, Reading University College, Somme

Edward Gooch
Private 40171
3rd  Battalion Worcestershire Regiment  formerly a
Sergeant in the Berkshire Yeomanry

 Division 27

Gooch E photo

 

Edward Gooch was the son of Arthur and Miriam Gooch, of 12, Stanley Grove, Reading. He was killed in action on 9th October 1916, aged 28.  He is commemorated upon the kerb stones of his parents grave in Reading Cemetery.  The grave number is 12671.  The Berkshire Family History Society classification is 27E31.

In the 1911 census his occupation is given as a Clerk at the Gas Works; he is living at home with his parents and two brothers. Miram Gooch had borne seven children.

The 3rd Worscesters were part of the 25th Division and in September 1916 moved to a position south of the River Ancre in the Somme battlefield.  After many small scale raids and operations, a major attack was made by the Division on 9 October. The condiditons on the ground were poor and although there was success in beating off German counter attacks before capturing their objectives it was in this action that Edward Gooch lost his life.

The CWGC site tells us that Edward Gooch was buried in Poiziers British Cemetery, Ovillers. grave identification Plot IV, Row T, 24.

Harold Haynes Fenner and Percy Geddes Fenner

Army, Commemorated name/s, Navy, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Reading University College

Division 67
Extension

Harold Haynes Fenner
K/3236 Stoker 1st Class HM S/M Royal Navy

350px-HMS_E20[1]

Harold Haynes Fenner, was the husband of Alice Fenner of 21, Donnington Gardens.  He is commemorated on the Reading University College memorial. According to the 1911 census Harold Haynes Fenner was a member of the Royal Navy prior to the war. He died on 5th November 1915   Harold was aboard the submarine E20 and lost his life as a direct result of enemy action when the submarine was torpedoed by the German UB-14. *  Harold was one of 21 who lost their lives. the UB-14 saved nine men including the captain of the vessel. Because Harolds body was not recovered he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 8. Harold and Alice had one child according to the 1911 census.

*An account of the action is posted on Wikipedia

Percy Geddes Fenner
Private 74233
1st/28th London Regiment Artists Rifles

Fenner PG name

 Percy Geddes Fenner, was the brother of Harold Fenner and son of Mr Thomas Crombie Fenner and Mrs Fanny Fenner of 11, Liverpool Road, Reading.    After a period of home service he was posted to France in February 1917.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 153.  Percy was initially reported missing and then killed in action on the 30th October 1917.  The second Battle of Passchendaele had begun on the 26th October 1917.  On the 30th October the British attacked, in bad weather, on a front from Poelcapelle to Passchendaele; they managed to enter Passchendaele but were later driven out.  During these battles it could take up to six men to carry a one wounded soldier on a stretcher.  The German counter attacks and bombardments had churned the land into waist deep mud.  Many of the wounded were never found having drowned in the mud.  The Canadians eventually captured Passchendaele on the 6th November and thus ended the Third Battle of Ypres.

 Percy Fenner had been in the army ten months.  Before the war her was employed at Messer’s Petty and Sons, printers.  He had worked there for fifteen years having started as a boy in the office and rising to chief estimating clerk.  In the Standard of March 9th 1918, Mr Petty writes, ‘he was a most respected employee and in him we have lost a most valued and trustworthy servant’.  He was educated at St. Stephen’s School.  Mr Hopcraft the Headmaster wrote,’ He was one of the most steadfast and dearest friends’.  Percy had been a member of the St. Stephen’s church choir for many years.  According to the paper Mr and Mrs Fenner had now lost their third son to the war.  Their surviving son Edgar was serving in France. The 1911 census indicated that Edgar was a Clerk Seedsman. Edgar survived the war, he died in 1973 aged 83.

 The Fenner Brothers are commemorated on their parent’s grave.  Berkshire Family History Society classification 67C7

Evan Lloyd Davies

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Reading University College, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme

Evan Lloyd Davies MM
Corporal 200422 
1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 32  Grave number 8995

 EL Davies oval2 ELDavies plaque

Evan Lloyd Davies was the son of William and Rhoda Davies and husband of Grace Ethel Davies.  He died on the 5th November 1918 of wounds received on 27th August 1916 as the 48th Division tried to take the Thiepval ridge.   During the battle he received the head wound which ended his war and ultimately his life.  Evan Lloyd Davies had acquitted himself well during the battle and was commended for the Military Medal for ‘distinguished bravery in the field’. He was buried in Reading Cemetery on the morning of the Armistice,  11th November 1918 aged 35.  He left his wife and two children.

Evan Lloyd Davies was a teacher at the Wokingham Road Senior School, now Alfred Sutton Primary School. The plaque above commemorates his name and is in the junior hall of the school.

 He had served overseas with his Territorial unit from the beginning of the war.  His full story is told in  ‘The School, the Master, the Boys and the V.C.’ which is the story behind  the Alfred Sutton School Memorial.

Children Remember ELDavies
In 1998 children from the school laid a poppy wreath on the grave of Evan Lloyd Davies in remembrance of his service to the school and his role in the Great War.

Evan Lloyd Davies was one of six Reading teachers to lose their lives in the war.