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. 

William Thomas Herbert

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

William Thomas Herbert
Private 22047
2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 7

Herbert WTphoto

William Thomas Herbert is remembered on the family grave. The Berkshire Family History Society classification number is 7110.  He was the son of William and Jane Maria Herbert.  The 1911 census indicates that he was a labourer in the brewery. His mother had been a widow for more than ten years, her occupation is given as charwoman at the brewery. At the time the family comprised William’s older sister and two cousins. The family lived at 8 Orchard Street.

William Thomas Herbert is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave location IV.B.14. He died on the 4th August 1917 and was aged 30.  The 3rd Battle of Ypres began on the 31st July 1917, William Herbert was  wounded during that battle.  Brandhoek was comparatively safe from shell fire during the war.  Field ambulances were posted there and during 3rd Ypres it was the site of various Clearing Stations.  The New Military Cemetery was opened to cope with the large number of casualties from that battle.  Also buried in the cemetery is Captain Noel Chavasse, VC and Bar, MC, one of only three men who won the Victoria Cross twice.

James William Hewitt

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Passchendaele

Private 31858 “A” Company
6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

Hewett JW photo

James Hewett (known as Jim) was aged 19 years when he died of wounds on 18th November 1917.   His unit , part of the 19th Division, had fought from early June in the Battle of Messines until 10 November 1917 during the Second Battle of Passchendael. At that point the 19th Division was withdrawn and not involved in any furthr fighting until the following spring.  It is not know when James Hewitt received his injuries or their extent. He died in Abbeville where there were three hospitals and he is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, location III.E.7.  The Extension was started during July 1916. Abbeville was for most of the war the headquarters of the British Lines of Communication.

 His parents Mr and Mrs J. Hewett lived at 65 Grange Avenue.  An In Memoriam November 15th 1919 refers to mother, father, brothers and sisters.