William Frederick Fouracre Venner

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

William Frederick Fouracre Venner
2nd Lieutenant
13th Battalion Hampshire Regiment attached to the  Royal Engineers.

Division 35

Venner WFF photo  CIMG2106

 

William died of Malaria fever in Mikesse, Dar-es-Salaam, German East Africa on December 5th 1916.  He was 23 years.   He was the only son of late Councillor W.J.D.Venner and grandson of Mrs. M. Venner of “Axbridge”, 76, London Rd. Reading.  His father who had been a prominent business man in Reading died in February 1916.   William is commemorated on a  family grave in the cemetery. Grave number 12576

In the Chronicle 15th December 1916, he is described as “a gallant officer…most promising and had he been spared would undoubtedly have done extremely well in life.  Educated at Lord Weymouth’s Grammar school, Warminster…..entered the firm of Messers. M. Venner & Sons of Southampton Street….he joined the first company of Royal Engineers (in 1915) which was formed at Wantage Hall, by the Deputy Mayor Mr Leonard Goodhart Sutton.  He quickly obtained his commission and was appointed to the Hants. Regiment but subsequently rejoined the Royal Engineers and was given a position of officer commanding the 49th Motor Air Line Section.”

 “Whilst at school he was head of the School Rifle Corps, and took a great interest in St. Giles’ Football club which he helped to found.” He was mourned by his Uncle Mr. R. Venner and other family members, a cousin was in the 32nd Company Royal Engineers also formed by the Deputy Mayor.

Ernest David Filewood

Commemorated name/s, Western Front

Ernest David Filewood
Sapper 167527
81st Field Company  Royal Engineers

Division 2

Filewood ED group

Known to me only by his initials E.D.F. for many years it has been possible to discover not only rank and regiment from the CWGC website but also details of his service history from Ancestry UK including his full name.  His initials appear on a small flower holder in the Reading Cemetery and there is an inscription stating that E.D.F died a prisoner of war.  The Berkshire Family History Society classification is 2E3.

CIMG2144

In July 2016 this web site was contacted by Sapper Filewood’s great great nephew, Dean Fostekew,  who has been able to supply further information. Sapper Filewood is standing in the back row of the photograph, second on the right and hat-less.  Ernest David was the youngest of five children of David and Henrietta (nee Rose) Filewood. His siblings were Eliza, Phoebe, Fred and George. Phoebe was Dean’s great grandmother.

Sapper E.D. Filewood died on the 23rd October 1918.  Aged 30 years.  He is buried in the Tournai Communal Cemetery Extension, Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium. The grave location is II.J.33.  The area of Tournai was in German hands for most of the war years 23 August 1914 until 8 November 1918 and is a concentration cemetery for small numbers of burials made in the surrounding area as well as a later casualty clearing station and hospital. There are many prisoner of war graves including a large contingent of Russian graves.

 By trade E.D.F. was a monumental mason.   He attested in December 1915 and was posted to the Royal Engineers in May 1916. E.D.F. was posted missing on 10 April 1918 but sent a post card home on 20 April 1918 indicating that he was a prisoner of war. His war record indicates that his death was due to cardiac weakness during his capture. 

E.D.F. was married to L. V. (Lizzie Violet nee Saunders) on 18 January 1913 and they lived at 44, Edgehill Street, Reading.  He left a daughter called Phyllis born on 23 June 1915. His wife remarried becoming Lizzie Violet Elphee and it is that name which appears on the CWGC register.

 

 

Harold Haynes Fenner and Percy Geddes Fenner

Army, Commemorated name/s, Navy, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Reading University College

Division 67
Extension

Harold Haynes Fenner
K/3236 Stoker 1st Class HM S/M Royal Navy

350px-HMS_E20[1]

Harold Haynes Fenner, was the husband of Alice Fenner of 21, Donnington Gardens.  He is commemorated on the Reading University College memorial. According to the 1911 census Harold Haynes Fenner was a member of the Royal Navy prior to the war. He died on 5th November 1915   Harold was aboard the submarine E20 and lost his life as a direct result of enemy action when the submarine was torpedoed by the German UB-14. *  Harold was one of 21 who lost their lives. the UB-14 saved nine men including the captain of the vessel. Because Harolds body was not recovered he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 8. Harold and Alice had one child according to the 1911 census.

*An account of the action is posted on Wikipedia

Percy Geddes Fenner
Private 74233
1st/28th London Regiment Artists Rifles

Fenner PG name

 Percy Geddes Fenner, was the brother of Harold Fenner and son of Mr Thomas Crombie Fenner and Mrs Fanny Fenner of 11, Liverpool Road, Reading.    After a period of home service he was posted to France in February 1917.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 153.  Percy was initially reported missing and then killed in action on the 30th October 1917.  The second Battle of Passchendaele had begun on the 26th October 1917.  On the 30th October the British attacked, in bad weather, on a front from Poelcapelle to Passchendaele; they managed to enter Passchendaele but were later driven out.  During these battles it could take up to six men to carry a one wounded soldier on a stretcher.  The German counter attacks and bombardments had churned the land into waist deep mud.  Many of the wounded were never found having drowned in the mud.  The Canadians eventually captured Passchendaele on the 6th November and thus ended the Third Battle of Ypres.

 Percy Fenner had been in the army ten months.  Before the war her was employed at Messer’s Petty and Sons, printers.  He had worked there for fifteen years having started as a boy in the office and rising to chief estimating clerk.  In the Standard of March 9th 1918, Mr Petty writes, ‘he was a most respected employee and in him we have lost a most valued and trustworthy servant’.  He was educated at St. Stephen’s School.  Mr Hopcraft the Headmaster wrote,’ He was one of the most steadfast and dearest friends’.  Percy had been a member of the St. Stephen’s church choir for many years.  According to the paper Mr and Mrs Fenner had now lost their third son to the war.  Their surviving son Edgar was serving in France. The 1911 census indicated that Edgar was a Clerk Seedsman. Edgar survived the war, he died in 1973 aged 83.

 The Fenner Brothers are commemorated on their parent’s grave.  Berkshire Family History Society classification 67C7