Category Archives: Royal Berkshire Regiment

Charles Edward William Proctor and brothers – Proctor

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Charles Edward William Proctor
Private 10260 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 76
Extension

Proctor CEW and bros photo
Proctor CEW Rcem com

 

Charles Edward William Proctor was the eldest son of Mr William Davis Proctor and Mrs Minnie Proctor, of 17, Tudor Road, Reading.  He is remembered on the family grave number 16452.  Berkshire Family History Society classification 76B5. 

The headstone refers to Charles being ‘Killed in Action in France’, but gives only the years of his life, 1882 -1918.  The author has located two sets of photographs relating to the family so it is known that he was one of five brothers who served during the war.  It is unclear from the captions which brother is which.  Ancestry UK indicates that the family tree for this family has been researched and that all the other brothers survived the war.

PROCTOR BROS CEM

The Reading Standard September 22nd 1917 reported that two of the Proctor brothers had been wounded.  Later it was revealed by the same shell.  Corporal F (possibly Frederick) Proctor was evacuated to Eastbourne.  He had served three years in France and had also been awarded the Military Medal.  His brother Sapper W (possibly Walter) Proctor suffered shrapnel in the hand and was in convalescent camp in France.

 A search of the CWGC website has not revealed any information to further establish the service details, time or place of death of Charles E.W. Proctor during 1918.  However, photograph captions refer to both Royal Berkshire Regiments and Royal Engineers.  A CWGC search revealed that a C.E.W. Proctor of the 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment was killed on the 24th June 1916.  No family details are given.  However, a report in the local paper stated that Charles Edward William Proctor was killed on June 25th 1916, by a shell whilst on sentry duty.  They are believed to be one and the same person. 

 Charles Proctor was buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais.  Location I.A.21.  It was from this cemetery, on 25th May 2000, that the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier were exhumed, to be placed in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the foot of the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

Reginald William Poole

Army, Commemorated name/s, Loos, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Reginald William Poole
Lance Corporal 14353
8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment.

 Division 26
Left side of drive

Poole RW photo

Reginald William Poole was the  son of William and Anna Poole, of “Tetbury”, 95, Church Road, Tilehurst, Reading.  The 1911 census indicates that William Poole was a Carpenter and Joiner. Reginald was a gardener / nursery man, his sisters worked in the tailoring / dressmaking trades. Anna Poole had given birth to eight children five of whom survived.

Reginaldwas first reported missing and then killed in action on the 25th September 1915.  This was the first day of the battle of Loos.  Reginald Poole has no known grave and is commemorated along with 20,000 others who have no known grave on the Loos Memorial.   The 8th Royal Berkshires are named on panels 93 to 95.

In the Reading Cemetery Reginald is remembered on his parent’s grave on a small stone vase. He was 22 when he died. 

Ernest John Pocock MM

Army, Graves, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Ernest John Pocock
Private 132144 (200893) 8th Battalion
Royal Berkshire Regiment

Division 2
Left side of drive

EJPocock photo EJPocock book grey

Ernest John Pocock died of 11th January 1975 aged 75 years.  He is commemorated on the same grave as William Morris Sawyer and is included in this document by virtue of his war service.

The 1911 census indicates that he was the son of Arthur and Ellen Pocock and had nine siblings.

Ernest Pocock lived at 55, Sherman Place, Reading.  He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery and devotion to duty whilst serving as a stretcher bearer.  The announcement was made on 20th October 1919.