Category Archives: Somme

Albert Edward Elliott

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

Albert Edward Elliott
Private 16171
2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 

Elliott AE photo

Albert Edward Elliott is commemorated on a shield with the words ‘Albert Killed in France April 24th 1918’.  The CWGC gives the date of death as 27th April 1918; there are no family details recorded. A second shield gives the name of Nellie, died November 12th 1920.  Nellie was in fact his wife, her maiden name was Pickett.  The couple married in the second quarter of 1915. The Burial Register confirmed that her name was Elliott.   The Berkshire Family History Society classification is given as 29F33. The Reading Cemetery grave number is 16753. 

Albert Elliott has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, panel 56 & 57.

In the days leading up to his death there had been heavy fighting in the area of Albert.  This was because of the German Spring offensive and the push by them towards Amiens.

 An ‘In Memoriam’ published on 26th April 1919, gives an address of 44, Brunswick Street and the name of Harry and Penn his brother and sister.  The picture of Albert Elliott gives his home address as 8, Letcombe Street, Reading.  This was the address of his wife.  A poignant verse accompanies the ‘In Memoriam’.

Oh not lost, but gone before us
Let him never be forgot
Pointing up to that far Heaven
Where we hope to meet at last.


We know from the grave inscription that it was not long before Nellie herself died.
The 1911 census indicates that Albert Elliott was living with his sister Harriet and husband Charles and their young family at 103 Liverpool Road, Reading. Frederick, his 16 year old brother, was also living with the family. Albert was working as a labourer at Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Factory. The author believes that Albert Elliott was born about 1892 making him about 26 years at the time of his death.

Hubert Arthur Edwards

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Primitive Methodists' Memorial, Somme

Hubert Arthur Edwards
Private 26049
“A” Company 1st Batt. Royal Berkshire Regt.

 Division 7

Edwards HA photo

Reported missing and later reported killed in action 14th November 1916.  Age 38.  The Battle of Ancre: the fourth phase of the Battle of the Somme had begun the day before.  Action had taken place around St. Pierre Divion, Beaumont Hamel, Beaucourt and the Butte de Warlencourt on November 13-14.

 Hubert Edwards was married to Lily Eva Edwards and the family home was 96, London Street, Reading.  He was the son of E. and M.  Edwards 100, Spring Rd., Kempston, Bedford.

He is commemorated on family grave on a small stone shield.  The lead lettering has nearly all come away from the memorial.  Hubert has no known grave and his name can be found on the Thiepval memorial Pier and Face 11D

Joseph Davis

Australian, Commemorated name/s, Reading Blue Coat School, Somme

Joseph Davis
Private 3154
49th Battalion Australian Imperial Force

Division 40

CIMG2198

Joseph Davis, is commemorated on a family memorial.  Grave number 8790.  He was killed in action at Dernancourt, a small village SW of Albert, Somme, on 5th April 1918.  The village was captured by the Germans for a time during the spring offensive to be reclaimed later in the year by the allies.   

Joseph Davis has no known grave.  His name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.  This is the Australian National Monument erected to commemorate Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, to their dead, and especially those of the dead who have no known graves.  These soldiers fell in the battlefields of the Somme, Arras and the “Hundred Days”.  There are over 10,000 casualties commemorated on this memorial.