George Thomas Dowding

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

George Thomas Dowding
Rifleman 370879
8th London Regiment – Post Office Rifles

Division 2

George Thomas Dowding was the husband of Elizabeth Nellie Dowding, of 54, Katesgrove Lane, Reading.  Elizabeth Dowding was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs John Brown.

 He died on 21st February 1919 and was aged 30.

 Dowding’s grave is marked with kerbstones.  The grave has been buried for some time and as a result of this the name of George Thomas Dowding is also inscribed on a special memorial in the War Plot.  The grave was discovered again during the course of this research.

alternative mem 2

Willy Dowler

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Willy Dowler
Gunner RMA/2559(S) H.Q. (Eastney Barracks)
Royal Marine Artillery

Division 33

CIMG2197

 

Willy Dowler was the husband of Elsie Dowler, of 112, Tanygroes Street, Port Talbot, Glamorganshire and the son of Mrs Dowler of 32, Sherman Road, Reading. His tragic and accidental death was reported in the Reading Standard 18th May 1918.

 “Death of Gunner Willy Dowler, son of Mrs Dowler of 32 Sherman Rd. at Royal Naval Hospital Haslar on May 9th.  He was residing with his wife at Southsea and admitted to hospital on May 7th with appendicitis.  The surgical operation was successful.  Complaining of pain he was given what was intended to be a sleeping draught, breathing became affected and eventually he died the following morning.

Cause of death was narcotic poisoning – an investigation revealed that he had been given nearly 1oz of opium which when mixed was to be taken in 25minim doses mixed with brandy!

The verdict was accidental death.  The coroner did not think any one was to blame criminally but an investigation into the carelessness to be left to the Inspector General. The deceased was 28 years old and buried with full military honours.  It is a pathetic coincidence that the deceased lost his  brother in law  in Salonika last May [1917], while his brother was killed in France in May this year [1918].”

 Willy Dowler is buried in a registered war grave number 12480 and this is marked with a CWGC war pattern headstone. 

Charles B Drew

Army, Canadian, Registered War Grave

Charles B. Drew
Lance Corporal 11471
4th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Central Ontario Regiment

 Division 38

CDrew photo CIMG2216

Charles Drew, was the son  of Thomas and Emily Drew, of 15, St. John’s Street, Reading. He died of wounds on November 9th 1918 aged 42. His is a registered war grave with a private headstone and kerbs, number 9901.  He shares his grave with his parents.  His name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot, his grave having for sometime been lost. 

alternative mem 2

A letter from Lance Corporal Charles Drew was published in a local paper July 17th 1915 after he had been wounded.

 “He has been serving since the out break of war and has been twice wounded, the second time on the 26th June, when his leg was smashed by a shell and had to be amputated.  Writing form Meath hospital, Dublin he  says –

“I have not got pluck enough to look at my stump when they are dressing it.  The whole shell must have hit me, and caught it in the back of my leg above the knee cap and smashed it and set fire to my trousers.

We were drawing rations at he time, and I was in charge of them.  We were taking cover in the darkness of some ruined houses about 200 yards from the communication trench.  As soon as we got into the open shrapnel came over our heads.  I was helping a fellow carry some biscuits and was ducking down when the shell caught me.  A couple of fellows got me behind a wall and took me to a dressing station, where my leg was straightened out.

“Then I had a painful ride in a horse ambulance over a road full of holes to another dressing station, where I was laid in a marquee for the rest of the night.  Afterwards I was taken to a hospital at Merville, and then to Rouen.  Here the leg was taken off and salt water was injected to enrich the blood.”

 Charles Drew was remembered by his parents and brothers and sisters,  Walter, Bessie, Ethel, Mary, Horos and Willie in the ‘In Memoriam’ of the Standard November 8th 1919.

During research it was discovered that Charles Drew’s name had been omitted from the Canadian Book of Remembrance. An appeal was made and his name was added, a permanent record of his war service.