Category Archives: St. Laurence’s Church

William Spencer Smallwood

Commemorated name/s, RFC / RAF, St. Laurence's Church, Y.M.C.A.

William Spencer Smallwood
2nd Lieutenant
22nd Squadron Royal Flying Corps and General List.

 Division 79 Extension

Smallwood WS photo Smallwood WS grave

William Smallwood died on 25th January 1918, aged 19.  He was the son of William and Ellen Rebecca Smallwood, of  Knaresborough Lodge, Alexandra Road, Reading.  He is commemorated on the family grave. Number 16384.   The inscription states that he was killed in action and interred at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.  The grave location is VIII. A. 13.

 The site of Lapugnoy Military Cemetery was chosen in 1915 in preparation for the British offensive which took place in September around Loos.  Further burials,  in great number, took place in 1917 during the Battles of Arras.  The dead were brought mainly from casualty clearing stations but in May and August 1918, fighting units used the cemetery.

 The author does not known exactly what action William Smallwood was participating in when he was killed but in the days before his death and on the day he died there was a great deal of aircraft activity and bombing action in the Flanders and Northern France.

 The 1911 census indicates that the family consisted of two sons and a daughter. It is believed that William’s brother lived into his eighties and may have spent some time in Canada or the USA.

Ernest Herbert Relf

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave, St. Laurence's Church

Ernest Herbert Relf
Gunner 125760
337th Siege Battery
Royal Garrison Artillery

 Division 33

CIMG2195 alternative mem 2

Ernest Herbert Relf  was the son of John and Ellen Sophie Relf. The 1911 census indicates that his parents and sister Rose ran an Athletics Outfitters. His occupation is given as Professional Cricketer.

Research revealed that Ernest was one of three Relf brothers who played for Sussex prior to the war. His brother  Albert played over 500 times for Sussex and 13 tests for England, he was acknowledged as an accomplished all rounder. Brother Robert plyed for the county and scored three double centuries. The Sussex Cricket Club is erecting a plaque to the fallen of the Great War. (The Argus November 2013)

Ernest was the husband of May Relf, of 3, King’s Road, Reading. He died of illness contracted whilst on active service on 27th July 1918, aged 29.  He was at  5 Northern General Hospital, Leicestershire at the time of his death. He left his wife, May Clarence Relf £148 4s 9d in his will. Ernest Herbert Relf is buried in a registered war grave number 5752 and this is marked with a private headstone.

Ernest Relf shares his grave with his mother and brother.  The commemoration inscription is very close to the ground and difficult to see under normal circumstances.  Ernest Relf’s name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot.

Francis Alfred Mills

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment, St. Laurence's Church

Francis Alfred Mills
Corporal 43319
3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment, formerly 9th Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 46

Mills F photo  CIMG2203

Francis Alfred Mills, was the son of Mrs Lucy Mills, of 26, Derby Street, Reading. The 1911 census indicates that he worked as a stage carpenter. At the time he was living with his widowed mother who was a nurse, his sister and two nephews. He married Katie Lovell on 19 June 1916 and they had a daughter Gladys Blanche Olive in November 1916. Originally assigned to the Royal Berkshire Regiment he was transferred to the Manchesters in September 1916. He was promoted twice during his service. His war records are quite extensive and indicate that due to his transfer to another unit his where abouts were not traceable for some time. Records also indicate that he died from a malignant tumour although this was not reported in the newspapers of the time.

His is a registered war grave and has a CWGC war pattern headstone, number 11429.

Corporal Mills died on 8th April 1918, he was aged 38.   He was buried with full military honours

Corporal F. A. Mills had been in the army for two years.  Eighteen months of service were spent in France. Papers reported that he had been wounded and that he was sent home with trench fever to which he succumbed in a hospital in Wales.  He leaves a mother and widow and child of 16 months.  Before joining up he was employed at the County Theatre where he was better known as Tom Viscent.