Category Archives: Army

Ernest James Titcomb

Army, Commemorated name/s, Somme

Ernest James Titcomb
Rifleman 7868
1st/12th Battalion London Regiment (The Rangers)

 Division 7

Titcomb Ernest J photo

Ernest James Titcombe is remembered on the grave of his parents Charles and Letty Titcombe of 38, Newport Road, Reading.  The commemoration states that Ernest was killed in action (France).  The Berkshire Family History Society grave classification number is 7G6. 

The 1901 census indicates that the family were living at 34, Newport Road and Letty was a widow and head of the family. She supported herself by taking in washing. Ernest was then an errand boy, older brothers Harry and John respectively were joiner and cabinet maker and hairdressers assisstant. Younger brother and sister Arthur and Ethel were of an ageto be still at school. Living next door at 36, Newport Road was oldest son Albert Titcomb, a print compositor, and his wife Rosa.  In 1911, Ernest was bording and working in Guildford as a print machine minder, he was then aged 24.

 Family details from the CWGC states that he was married to Susan Ellen Titcom, of 8, Beck Road, Mare Street, Hackney, London.    They had married on the 21 November 1915 at St.Jude’s, Bethnal Green.

Ernest Titcomb has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 9 C.

At the time of his death on 7th October 1916 the Somme Battle was coming towards its end.  Ernest Titcomb was aged 29.

 

George E. Thatcher

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

George E. Thatcher
Private 18098
1st Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 40

Thatcher GE photo  CIMG2200

George Edward Thatcher, known to his friends and family as Jack,  was the husband of
Mrs Sarah Thatcher (nee Clarke), of 6, River Road, Reading.  He is commemorated on a small scroll stone, on the grave of one of his children, number 10263.  Only the initials G.E.T. and Jack are written on the headstone but a CWGC search revealed his full name and details.  The 1911 census indicates that he was a tin solderer at the tin works and he had three children – Lily, Cyril and Evelyn. Sharing their five room family home were his sister in law and three brothers in law.

 George enlisted on 25 March 1915, serving first in the 3rd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment before moving to the 1st Battalion. He arrived in France in December 1915.  He was killed in action on the 14 November 1916, when the battalion were involved in the later stages of the Somme battle.  He was killed taking a trench.  Jack Thatcher is buried in Munich Trench British Cemetery, Beaumon Hamel, location C 31.  The cemetery contains many men who were killed in the same action and Jack lies near Fred Gray who is also commemorated in the Reading Cemetery and who died on the same day.

 George Thatcher was 37 when he was killed. The Chronicle of 8th December 1916 records that Jack was “killed instantly”, that he worked at Huntley, Bourne and Stevens before the war.  He left a wife and five children. The author has visited Munich Trench Cemetery which is rather out of the way on Redan Ridge and the visitors book which at the time went back to 1975  revealed that family members visited the grave in1992 and 1997.

 

Arthur Tegg

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Arthur Tegg
Sapper 137947
237th Field Coy., Royal Engineers

 Division 58

Tegg A photo

Arthur Tegg is commemorated on CWGC war pattern  headstone and his is a registered war grave.  Grave number 11118.

 Arthur Tegg died on the 30 September 1916 aged 37.  He was the husband of Annie Carter (formerly Tegg) of 248 Basingstoke Road, Reading.  At the time of his death his address was given as 1. Rinefield Terrace, Reading. The 1911 census indicates that he was a bricklayer and he had two children Alexander 6 and Ruby 4 years.

 A report in the Reading Standard 12 August  1916  gave notice of the wounding of Arthur Tegg.  The Chronicle 13 October  stated that he was wounded on 27July 1916 whilst trying to help a wounded man, his hip being fractured. He was sent from France to the Kitchener Hospital, Brighton, where he had his leg amputated but he died from complications. (Remember there were no antibiotics to fight infections in those days.)

His body was brought home to Rinefield Terrace and the funeral took place with full Military Honours on 5 October  1916.  His chum Sapper Clarke, came 270 miles to attend the funeral.  The Rev. J.F. Warren and the chaplain from Kitchener’s Hospital officiated.

 Arthur Tegg had been in the army three months.   He was one of three brothers serving in the army and a report of  27  May 1916 noted the serious wounding of a Private W. Tegg.