Category Archives: Somme

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.

 

Stanley Durman

Abbey Baptist Church, Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Somme

Stanley Durman
Private L/10750 The 7th Battalion
Queens (Royal West Surrey) Battalion.

 Division 71 Extension

Durman S photo Durman D grave

Stanley Durman died on 1st July 1916.  He was the son of Alfred and Maria Durman, of 58, Francis Street, Reading.  He is commemorated on the family grave. Number 17859.   Berkshire Family History Society classification 71G10.

The 1911 census indicates that he was a cutter-up in the sugar wafer department of  Huntley and Palmers. However, his name was not recorded on the depatment’s memorial. His father worked as a porter for a timber merchant and his older brother as a house painter.

 Stanley Durman’s older brother  Alfred  Stephen Durman, also served in the war.  He was a stretcher-bearer of the Royal Berkshire Regiment who was wounded, date not known, and as a result had his left leg amputated.  

Pictures of Private Durman killed 1st July 1916 bear different captions. One stated that his Regiment was the 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment the other simply Royal Berkshire Regiment.  The addresses on the pictures are identical.  It was not uncommon to transfer men between battalions to make up for losses.  The 7th Queens and 6th Royal Berkshire were in the same Division – the 18th (Eastern) Division. 

An interesting incident illustrates the closeness of the units.  Both units were attacking towards the village of Montauban on the first day of the Somme battles.   When Breslau Trench was captured a wounded German machine gunner was caught, he was found chained to his gun by his ankle.  The initial capture was attributed to the 6th Royal Berks., but was finally confirmed as a capture by the 7th Queens.  (Public Records Office CAB/189).  On 1st July, the 7th Queens attacked at 7.30a.m.  The first advance was held up by heavy fire in front of Breslau support trench, possibly by the same machine gunner.  Later the 7th Queens fought on through Back Trench and Train Ally to Montauban Ally.  The War Diary records that after 12 hours fighting the final objective was reached and consolidated on a front of 200 yards.