42 replies to this topic

[wulsten]

Ok with me, its an old post that may lead somewhere

[Andrew Hesketh]

Hopefully.

[Phil Wood]

An Ernest Appleford is commemorated on the war memorial in Winterbourne, Berks - along with his brother Alfred.  Woodspeen West is a couple of miles from Winterbourne.  The Applefords lived at Lower Farm, Winterbourne in 1901 and 1911.
http://westberkshire....php?link=WB061

[chrisharley9]

Name: APPLEFORD, ERNEST
Initials: E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Driver
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Age: 23
Date of Death: 17/02/1917
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: UNITED KINGDOM BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE


This is the chap

[Phil Wood]

Newbury Weekly News, 1 March 1917 p3

  Winterbourne.

  Pte Ernest Appleford. – The news of the death of Pte Ernest Appleford came as a particularly sad and pathetic circumstance to all the people living in this little village, he having joined the colours only five weeks ago, the last of that noble band who had gone out from here at the call of King and Country. He was in the Royal Field Artillery, and died in the Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, on February 17^th. The body was conveyed to Newbury by late train on Tuesday and brought over  to Winterbourne on Wednesday and laid to rest in the new ground at Winterbourne Churchyard. At the funeral, at which the Rev B H B Atlee, Vicar of Chieveley, officiated, nearly every household in the village were represented, together with Mr Alfred Baylis, his late employer. The hymn sung in the church was “O God our help in ages past,” and as the body was borne to the grave on the shoulders of eight comrades of the RFA, the “Dead March in Saul” was played. Floral tributes of affection placed on the coffin, were from Florrie, Laura, Frank, Edith, Lizzie and other members of the family and friends. The death of Ernest is further saddened by the thought that his brother Alfred, was killed in action only ten months ago, and both parents have died within three years. The remaining brother is now on active service somewhere in France.




Perhaps the CWGC would like another grave to look after ...

[chrisharley9]

Well done Phil

Would you be able to get a copy of the burial register please

Cheers

Chris

[Phil Wood]

chrisharley9, on 02 December 2011 - 08:59 AM, said:

Well done Phil

Would you be able to get a copy of the burial register please

Cheers

Chris

This is the entry from the Berkshire Burial Index (Berks FHS):

Name: APPLEFORD Ernest
Date: 20 Feb 1917
Age: 24
Address: Cosham, Alexandra Hospital & Winterbourne.
Occupation: Private R F A
Notes: military funeral

The original will have to wait until I am next in the Berkshire Record Office.

[chrisharley9]

cheers Phil

Would I be able to pick your brains about a couple of possibles in Berks who are listed on Brookwood 14-18 Memorial

Cheers

Chris

[Phil Wood]

chrisharley9, on 02 December 2011 - 12:28 PM, said:

Would I be able to pick your brains about a couple of possibles in Berks who are listed on Brookwood 14-18 Memoria

Feel free - not sure there is all that much to be 'picked'.

I went to Winterbourne today, and couldn't find a stone for Ernest Appleford, I suspect it would require a plot register and map to find the exact plot.

[chrisharley9]

Phil

normally quite unusual for there to be a plot map for a churchyard but if there is that would be great

Will get in touch in the next few days about my other Berks possibles

Chris

[Phil Wood]

I know of a few local churches that have some sort of map - so they can identify where vacant plots are etc - the only way to find out about Winterbourne is to ask.

[Phil Wood]

I have heard from the chapelwarden at WInterbourne - they have no idea where Ernest Appleford's grave might be.   It looks like the best we can hope for is a 'Buried elsewhere in this churchyard.' stone.

[chrisharley9]

Phil

in that case we will need the burial register page to get that done if you are able to do that

Chris

[Phil Wood]

I am finally getting around to the record office and will get a print of the burial register for Ernest and a few others today.

However, I have also asked the chapelwarden if the church would be happy for a stone to be erected - I don't see any reason why not, but thought it would be sensible to ask.  I await their response.

[Phil Wood]

Okay, I now have proof of the burial.

And have updated Ernest's story on my website - thanks to Wulsten (Geoff) for permission to use the picture of Ernest.

http://westberkshire...s/WBP01602S.php

Phil

[Phil Wood]

I have been informed that the Winterbourne PCC do not want a CWGC stone erected to mark Ernest's presence in their chapelyard. ...

[chrisharley9]

Oh dear; wonder what makes them want to do that

Still there is not much we can do to reverse that decison

Thanks for letting us know Phil

Chris

[wulsten]

Is there a reason why they do not want a CWGC marker, it seems a bit of a strange decision and a quite sad one to say the least, and i should imagine after all your hard work to gain his recognition you must be very disappointed, Geoff