Category Archives: Other Regiments

Joseph Henry Wells

Joseph Henry Wells
Private S/2374 Depot
7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Division 26 

 Wells J photo  CIMG2181

Joseph Wells was the  son of Charles and Jane Wells, of 36, The Mount, Reading.  It has not been possible to find background information.

Joseph Wells is buried in a registered war grave, number 16244, and commemorated on the kerbstones that surround it.  His name also appears on the special memorial in the War Plot because his grave had essentially been lost. It is hoped that the CWGC will be able to erect a headstone in the near furtue.

 Joseph Wells died of wounds on 21st August 1916  He was aged 17.  Newspaper reports stated that he had died in an English hospital and was brought to Reading for his funeral.  It is likely that he received his wounds during the Somme battle but further research is required to confirm this as fact.

L. V. Wellman M.M. & D.J. Wellman

L. V. Wellman M.M.
Corporal
155th Field Company
Royal Engineers.

 Division 35

d j wellman D J Wellman

Corporal L.V. Wellman, Vic,  is buried in grave number 13847 which is marked by a CWGC war pattern headstone.  He was one of three brothers to serve in the war.  His brother Jack,  was killed in action July 16th 1916. 

Lance Corporal D. J. Wellman
3614 ‘A’ Company
2nd/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment
He is buriedat Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue. Location II. C. 17.  He had only been at the front for two months and was in the signalling section  of the 2nd/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment.  He had worked at Huntley and Palmer’s until January 1916.   

Brother Tom served in India and they had a sister Dolly.

 The death of  Vic was particularly hard to bear as the short poem with the notification of death in the Standard 8th November 1919 indicates.  In loving memory of our dear and eldest son, L. V. Wellman, who passed away on October 31st, 1919, after suffering form gas poisoning. Although just recently discharged, has served 3yrs in France with RE; also won the MM.

The war was over, victory won,
How gladly we rejoiced
To think that our Vic, would soon be home,
Having his duty done.
But, alas, our joy was but in vain,
He only came home to leave us again;
Not to that battlefield where our Jack was slain,
But to Heaven where he will find rest without pain.

From his loving Mum and Dad.

The sorrow continued  although the Wellman’s were typical of their stoic generation.

Std. July 17th 1920 – In loving memory of Lance Corporal D. J. Wellman of 51 Weldale St. Reading – KiA July 16th 1916 – From mother and father, sister and brother.

Some may think that we forget him
When at times they see us smile;
But they little know the sorrow
Which that smile hides all the while.

 

When a brother is good and kind,
It’s then that you miss him most;
And although you are gone from us, dear Vic,
You’ll always be in our mind.
From his only sister Doll and brother Tom in India

William Edward Davis Wellbelove

William Edward Davis Wellbelove
Driver 616069
20th Bde.  Ammunition Column
1st/1st Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery

 Division 40

William Edward Davis Wellbelove, is commemorated on a family memorial.  Grave number 8790.  He was related to Joseph Davis AIF, who is commemorated on the same headstone.  The grave number is 8790.  The Berkshire Family History classification if 40C11.

William was the eldest son of William Edward and Dora Wellbelove, of 30, Crescent Road, Reading.   He was an old boy of the Reading Blue Coat School.

William died in Number 17 General Hospital Alexandria, after contracting malaria and developing pneumonia.  He died on the 29th October 1918, aged 23. He is buried in the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.  Location E.99. 

 Alexandria was a great Anglo-French base camp and hospital centre.  Casualties were brought to Alexandria from the islands and men came to the camps in Alexandria when on leave from campaigns in the desert.