Category Archives: Other Regiments

John Bryan Bishop

Abbey Baptist Church, Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Arras, Other Regiments

John Bryan Bishop
Lance Corporal 4653
1st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company

 Bishop JB photo

John Bishop was the son of Mr. Thomas Bryan Bishop and Mrs. Louisa Bishop, Calne House, 31. College Road.  In the family he was referred to as Jack. He was described as a young man of fine character and a good soldier who was well liked by all.   He was associated to both the King’s Road Baptist Church and also the Baptist Church  in Kingston-upon-Thames where he worked. He was killed in action at Gavrelle on 24th May 1917, aged 23 years and is buried at Mindel Trench British Cemetery, St. Laurent – Blangly on the outskirts of Arras. The grave location is C. 18. 

 The Chronicle of June 22nd 1917 outlined the circumstances of his death when it published a letter sent to Rev. R. Gordon Fairbairn of the King’s Road Baptist Church, by a mutual friend.  Jack “was killed the last time he was up in the trenches.  I made enquires and found he never suffered at all, and that although he lived for a few minutes he was unconscious all the while.  He was in charge of a party which went to draw rations.  They were just taking them from the wagon when a shell burst in the village, and Jack had a bad wound in his leg, and before the doctor arrived he was dead.  They did, of course, everything that was possible, but an artery was broken.”

 Gavrelle was part of the Vimy battle field and a German front line position in April 1917.  It was during the early actions described by Rose Coombs in “Before Endeavours Fade” that  John Bishop lost his life.  “Here was the scene of the attack by the 63rd Royal Naval Division* on April 23rd 1917 and their magnificent defence for many days thereafter through innumerable counter-attacks.  It was held until the 56th London Division, which stubbornly defended it in March 1918, were overwhelmed on the 28th.  The 51st Highland Division recaptured it on August 27th and it was occupied by the 8th Division”.   

(*The 1st HAC battalion was attached to the 63rd Royal Naval Division at the time of John Bishop death.)

A  further reminder of the struggle which took place on the battle fields around Arras is also located in St. Laurent- Blangly, here lies the large German cemetery where over 31,000 men are commemorated, many in a mass grave.

William George Bennett

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

William George Bennett
Private 56296
9th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers

 Division 43

CIMG2222

 

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 8th 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.   

24th October 1999