CHADLINGTON IN WORLD WAR 1

THE FALLEN OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR

GUNNER CHARLES GEORGE BATTS

He was born in January 1888, the son of George and Ellen Batts, of Chadlington. In 1908 he was working as a porter for the Great Western Railway at Maesteg in Wales, moving on to work in the coal mines. He was called up for service and joined the 4th Siege Battery, The Royal Garrison Artillery in France, equipped with 6 inch Howitzers. Siege Batteries were deployed behind the front line, tasked with destroying enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores, firing large shells in a high trajectory.

On 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. they had realised that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and material resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had the temporary advantage in numbers afforded by nearly 50 divisions freed by the Russian surrender. The offensive was preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment of British defences and artillery and Gunner George Batts was killed in action on the 21st April 1918. He was aged 30 and is buried in Forquieres Churchyard Extension in the Pas de Calais.

PRIVATE FREDERICK JOHN BATTS

He was born in January 1892, the son of George and Ellen Batts of Chadlington, and the brother of Charles, above. He worked as a carter also becoming a Private tn the 4th(Territorial) Battalion, the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1908 as a part-time soldier. As 2/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry they were sent to France in May 1916.  On 19th July 1916 they were involved in the Battle of Fromelles, as part of the 61st Division. This action was an attempt to divert German troops away from the much larger battle taking place further south on the Somme. The Division suffered very heavy casualties for no significant gain and no enemy reserves were diverted from the Somme. Such was the damage to the Division and its reputation that it was not used again other than for holding trench lines until 1917. The Battalion was employed in the cautious pursuit of the enemy, when the Germans carried out a deep withdrawal from the area of the Somme to formidable pre-prepared positions that the British called the Hindenburg Line, in March 1917. They then fought in The Battle of Langemarck between 1th and 18th August 1917 and were in volved in battling against the German counter attacks at Cambrai in November that year. On 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. they had realised that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and material resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had the temporary advantage in numbers afforded by nearly 50 divisions freed by the Russian surrender. The Battalion fought a fighting retreat back to the outskirts of Amiens an important rail head and access to the Channel Ports., where the German advance was halted.

Private Frederick Batts was killed in action fighting at Hangard Wood on 1st April 1918. He was aged 26 and is buried in the Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension in the Somme. 

PRIVATE JAMES COOPER

was serving as a Private in the 9th Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers when he was killed in action at the Battle of Messines, on the 7th June 1917. He was aged 40 and is buried in Croonaert Chapel Cemetery in Belgium.  

He was borm in June 1877, the son of James and Elizabeth Cooper, of Chadlington. He married Mary Dore in Northleigh in 1910, they were living in Stonesfield where he worked as a house carpenter. Later they where living in Church Walk, Wolvercote, and had two children together. 

He enlisted into the 4th Battalion,The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, a Territorial unit, on 11th November 1916. He was posted to France on 26th April 1917 embarking at Southampton and arriving at Rouen the following day. After further training at base camp he was transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers, joining them in the field on the 22nd May 1915. He was reported missing on the first day of The Battle of Messines, an attempt to deprive the German 4th Army of the high ground south of Ypres on the 7th June 1917. He was later reported as  being killed and buried on the field. After his death his widow was awarded 22s/6d pension.

PRIVATE ERNEST HUBERT HAVELL

He was born un January 1899, the son of Thomas and Susannah Havell and had been born in Chadlington but at the time of his death his parents were living in Erdington, Birmingham. He had previously served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry before transferring to in the 2nd Battalion, The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment.  Private Ernest Havell was killed in action on the 6th October 1918 during the Final Advance into Artois. He was aged 18 and is buried in Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux in the Pas de Calais. 

RIFLEMAN RALPH JOHN HOARE

He was born in 1896. the son of Agnes Ann Hoare and stepson of Henry Busson, He had moved to Bledington, where he worked as a grocer's assistant. He joined the Rifles in Oxford in April 1915, and  joined "B" Company of the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade in France on 27th December 1915. He was in action in the Battle of Albert on 1st July 1916, the first phase of the Somme Offensive. After this they were engaged in trench holding duties until the 10th October when they went into action at the Battle of Transloy Ridges, the last offensive on the Somme in 1916. On 18th October, 11th Infantry Brigade, 1st Rifle Brigade and 1st East Lancashire Regiment prepared to advance from flooded trenches. Again initial success towards Rainy Trench and Dewdrop Trench was countered by strong resistance and counter-attacks which inflicted heavy casualties. Rifleman Ralph Hoare was wounded in action on that day with gun shot wounds to the shoulders and arms. He was put on the No 4 Ambulance train for hospital in Etapes but died from wounds on the 31st October 1916. He was aged 20 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.     

He is also remembered on the Bledington War Memorial.

GUARDSMAN ABNER PERCIVAL KITCHING

He was the son of Abner Kitching of Crouch Farm in Highworth, having been born in Chadlington. He was working as an agricultural labourer when he enlisted into the 1st Battalion,  The Coldstream Guards on 28th February 1910 in Swindon. He had married Elizabeth Maud Collins in Highworth in April 1914 and on 14th August 1914 that year left with his Battalion to join the British Expedition Force in France. He was wounded in action during The Battle of Mons on the 23rd August during the Battle of Mons and was being repatriated to England aboard the Hospital Ship Asturias, below, when he died of wounds  on 24th September 1914. He was aged 25  and is buried in Netley Cemetery, in Southampton. 

His widow gave birth to a daughter in March 1915. He is also remembered on the Highworth war memorial.

PRIVATE WILLIAM GEORGE LANE

He was born July 1896,  in Chadlington to parents Edwin and Bessie Lane, later living in Fulwell where he worked as an under cowman and then in Bidford-on-Avon. He enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment 1915 and joined the 1st Battalion in France on the 2nd September 1915. He was wounded in action during the Battle of Albert, the opening action of the Somme Offensive from 1st July 1916. Private William Lane ied of wounds on the 7th July 1916. He was aged 20 and is buried in Mericourt-l'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension in the Somme region. 

ERNEST PRATT was serving as a Lance-Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, The Princess Charlotte of Wales, Royal Berkshire Regiment when he died of his wounds on the 30th September 1915. He was aged 22 and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.  

He was the son of John and Ann Pratt of Chadlington and had joined the Royal Berkshires, along with his older brother William, in April 1911 aged 18. At the outbreak of war he was with his Battalion in India, they returned home on the 22nd October 1914 arrived in France on the 6th November 1914. In 1915 he was in action during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 10th March 1915 and the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9th May 1915.

On 25th September the Battalion were invoved in a diversionary attack for the Battle of Loos, on German positions at Bois Grenier. A four day artillery bombardment preceded the attack, as did the blowing of two mines although they were too deep and did little damage. The attack began at 6.00am with 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment attacking through the centre, 2nd Rifle Brigade on the right, 2nd Lincolnshire Regiment on the left and 1st Royal Irish Rifles in support. 1st London Regimentand 8th Middlesex Regiment were in reserve. Both flanking groups made good ground and captured both the front line and support trenches. However 2nd Royal Berkshire in the centre found a stronger defence and were not able to capture all the trenches allocated to them, leaving a sector in German hands.This allowed the Germans to bring up reinforcements to counter-attack and, running out of bombs, the positions were abandoned by mid-afternoon. L/Cpl was wounded in the attack and was taken to no 8 casualty clearing station where he died. 

ROLAND SOUCH was serving as a Pioneer in the 5th Special Battalion, The Royal Engineers when he was killed in action, during the Battle of The Somme, on the 14th July 1916. He was aged 29 and is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

He was the son of William and Mary Souch, of Brook End, Chadlington. He had worked as a farm labourer before the war. 

He had previously served with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, before joining the RE. The Fifth Battalion consisted of four companies. They were equipped with the 4" Stokes mortar which fired phosgene, smoke, Thermite and tear gas filled ammunition. During the early part of the Somme battle, they were employed firing smoke rounds, but from September were issued with tear gas ammunition. 

CLAUDE VINCENT GEORGE TRINDER was serving as Private in 8th Battalion, The Princess Charlotte of Wales, Royal Berkshire Regiment when he was killed in action, during the second Battle of the Somme on the 27th August 1918. He was aged 19 and is buried in Longueval Road Cemetery on the Somme.

He was the son of John and Mary Trinder of Chadlington, the family later moving to Stanton Harcourt.  

FREDERICK DAVID VINER was serving as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry when he was killed in action on 13th November 1916 during the Battle of the Ancre. He was aged 30 and is buried in Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel in the Somme area. 

Born in Barnard Gate near Eynsham, he was living in Chadlington when he enlisted into the 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1904, seeing service in India. He transferred to the 2nd Battalion and arrived in France on the 14th August 1914. They were one of the first Battalions to arrive in France and took part in the Battle of Mons, First Battles of Ypres and the Marne and the Battles of Festubert and Loos. Frederick Viner was killed in the Battle of the Ancre, the last action of the Battle of the Somme, whilst acting as a stretcher bearer. He is remembered on the roll of honour in Bledington Church.