Category Archives: Army

Arthur George Head

Army, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Arthur George Head
Private 30163
15th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

Division 33

CIMG2194

Arthur George Head, was the son of Alfred and Hannah Head, of 12 Derby Street, Reading. His death was reported in the Reading Standard 24th June 1916, he was 37.  

“After having joined the Colours a couple of days, Arthur Head of 12 Derby Street,  Reading, was found dead with his throat cut, in the scullery of his home on Saturday evening.  The deceased, employed by Huntley, Borne and Stevens, joined up under the Derby Scheme, he  was in Group 15, and was single.  He obtained exemption on an appeal made by his employers.  He had been fitted for his uniform on the Friday.  At the inquest two reasons were put forward for him taking his life.  One was the death of his brother in law to whom he was attached, and the other was the fact of his having to join up.

His parents found him lying on the scullery floor on their return from shopping, with his face covered in blood.  A neighbour and the doctor were sent for.  He had a big gash in his throat and a razor was by his side.  A note on the table said “I am sorry, but my head has played me up so.  I am not a coward”.  The verdict was suicide during temporary insanity”. 

Arthur Head is buried in a registered war grave number 10996 and this is marked with a CWGC war pattern headstone. 

Oliver Luther Hawkins

Abbey Baptist Church, Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading School War Memorial, Ypres

Oliver Luther Hawkins
Second Lieutenant
3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.

 Division 29

Hawkins OL photo  CIMG2096

Oliver Luther Hawkins was the son of William Slade Hawkins and is commemorated on the family grave on the corner of the division next to the boundary wall.  He died of wounds during April 1915.  The date of death on the cemetery headstone is 23rd April 1915, that of the CWGC register 26th April 1915.  He was aged 22.

Oliver Hawkins is buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, North France. Location II.E.28.   Hazebrouck, is a town about 56 kilometres from Calais and is easily reached.  From October 1914 to September 1917 Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Hazebrouck.   Although, from September 1917 to September 1918, enemy shelling rendered the town unsafe for hospitals.

It is likely that Oliver Hawkins had gone through the initial parts of the usual evacuation process of the wounded but succumbed to his injuries before reaching a base hospital.  The Second Battle of Ypres was taking place at the time of his death. 

The 1901 census indicates that the family lived at 97 London Road, his father was a private secretary. He had one sister and three brothers. The 1911 census indiates that he was a border in School House, Reading School.  At Reading School Oliver was a popular sportsman and gifted student.  He won the Lord Roberts prize and distinctions in cricket and football.  Oliver studied for a time at Marburg University, Germany and in 1913 went to Jesus College, Cambridge.   Whilst at Cambridge he joined the OTC and obtained a commission. The headstone of the family grave bears sad testimony to the early deaths of several family members.  His father died in November 1915. 

Francis John Harper

Army, Berkshire Yeomanry, Registered War Grave

Francis John Harper
Private 2351
1st/1st Berkshire Yeomanry

Division 24

CIMG2179

Francis J. Harper was aged 32 when he died.   He had been a member of the Berkshire Yeomanry for 12 years, resigning some years before the war at the rank of sergeant.  When war broke out he re-enlisted as a trooper (the equivalent of Private)  and  would have been entitled to be promoted because of previous experience.   He contracted a severe chill at Bear Wood whilst training and was brought to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where he died on the 6th January 1915  from double pneumonia.

The military funeral was attended by 140 officers and men of the Yeomanry, employees of Mr J. White, Castle St., staff from Whitley Special School, his brother Mr W. Harper of 102 Radstock Rd. himself an old Bucks. Yeoman,  his sister and widowed father.  A detachment of  men from Bear Wood followed his flag draped coffin to the grave, over which the customary three volleys were fired.

There was a wreath from the children of Whitley Special School, whom he used to drive to and from school.  The Standard reported that the  children had the kindest regard for Mr Harper, who when he enlisted received a letter from the physically defective pupils saying –  

Dear Mr. Harper,

We are all very glad to hear you are going to the front, but we are very sorry to have to say good-by to you.  We hope you will someday return safely, and come back to drive our carriage once more.  We have collected just a little money and we hope you will buy something you like with it.  The socks are knitted by the girls.  Thanking you for all your kindness to us. 

Yours sincerely the Children of P.D.SIDE 

P.S.  Will you please let  us know where you are stationed  so that we may write to you sometimes.

Francis John Harper is interred in a Registered War Grave with a war pattern headstone.