Category Archives: Battlefield Areas

Stanley Sharman

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Y.M.C.A., Ypres

Stanley Sharman
Private 283780
1st/4th London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)

 

Sharman SC photo Sharman SC grave

Stanley Sharman was the youngest son of Frederick and L. E. H. Sharman, of 68, Liverpool Road.  His father was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps., and his brother Lance-Corporal Sharman was about to receive a commission at the time of Stanley’s death. Prior to the war Stanley had been an apprentice at the Berkshire Printing Company.

 The details of the death of Stanley Sharman were published in the Chronicle of 31st August 1917.  Private Sharman had been a stretcher bearer and died of shell wounds received on August 16th whilst administering water to a wounded comrade.

 Stanley Sharman had seen 15 months active service and 10 months had been spent in France. His Captain, writing to his mother, said of him,

 “He was such a gallant fellow, always prepared to help his wounded comrades, regardless of the danger”.

 He died of wounds on 17th August 1917, aged 20 years.
 Stanley Sharman is buried at Mendingham Military Cemetery, Belgium.  Location III. F. 8.  

His name also appears on the Reading YMCA memorial.

Albert Edward Searing, Amos Thomas Searing & Samuel Searing

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

Division 56

CIMG2135

In 1911 Sarah Searing was living at 101 Watlington Street, Reading. She lived with her daughter, also called Sarah(31) and her three sons Albert (27), Amos(30) and Samuel(26).
All three were labourers, Albert worked as a bricklayer’s labourer, Amos worked at the tin factory and Samuel at the biscuit factory. In 1901 the family lived at 88 Watlington Street,The County Tap, and Sarah the mother is described as the innkeeper and her daughter as barmaid.

All three men are commemorated on their mothers grave but only their initials are given. It has taken some energy to establish thier identities.  Sister Sarah’s details are only given on the CWGC register for Albert and then no first name is supplied: Miss S. E. Searing, of 31, Cortis Avenue, Broadwater, Worthing.  Tragically all three brother have no known graves and there commemoration in the cemetery rendered them almost invisible.

Albert Edward Searing
Private 201975
1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Albert Searing  He died on 13th August 1917. The CWGC register states his age as 33. but it is believed, using census information, that he was 35.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Panel 45.  Strangely the war diary for the 1st/4th indicates that they were at Dambre camp and the battalion spent the day practicing for the forth coming attack which was due to begin on the 15 August. The record for the
13 August states two killed and seven wounded. There are no other details but the circumstances seem strange.

 Amos Thomas Searing
Private 33662
2nd  Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Amos Searing  died on 2nd April 1918. Born about 1881 he was thought to be  about 37 on his death.  He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing, Panel 56 & 57.

 Samuel Searing
Private202225
2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

Samuel Searing  He died on 22nd August 1917 it is thought that he was about  32.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Panel 105, 106 and 162.

 

Charles Victor Schofield

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Reading University College, Ypres

Charles Victor Schofield
Private 26744
3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

Schofield CV

Charles Victor Schofield was the son of Richard and Emma Schofiled. The 1901 census has the family living at 7, Donnington Road, Reading. The family then consisted of both parents and their four children. Richard 22 was an architects assistant, Elizabeth 19 a School Board teacher, Edgar 16 a shoe repairers assistant and Charles, the youngest, who was then 9 years old. In 1911 the family were living at 135, London Road and only Charles and Edgar were living at home. Charles was a gasfitter and his brother a photographic printer.  The photograph indicates a differect address for Charles by the time he enlisted –  69, Donnington Gardens.   By the time CWGC registers were compiled after the Armistice his father, Richard William Schofield, had moved to 359, Elgar Rd.

 No service record is available for Private Schofield.The CWGC register indicates that he died of wounds on 20th December 1917 and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, location P.V.D. 3B.  It is not known how or when he was injured however, the British advance on Cambrai had started on the 20th November 1917.  The Grenadier Guards had been involved in severe fighting during Third Ypres and their Division was involved in fighting at Bourlon Wood and the counter offensive at Cambrai. Rouenwas the home to severalmilitary hospitals and Privat Schofield would have experinced the full range o  Army Medical Corps. services from battle front to base hospital before he died.

It has taken much research to establish the full name of Private Schofield who for a long time was only known to me by his initials.