Worcestershire War Memorial Bike Rides - Day 2
3rd May 2018
Day 2 of the Worcestershire War Memorial Bike Rides sees David Waite take The Tommy Atkins Route, a ride of 78 miles on Thursday 3 May. Read about the casualties commemorated on the memorials on this route.
Honeybourne
Wickhamford
Broadway read more about one of the casualties commemorated on the memorial at Broadway who lost his life on 1 May 1917.
Thomas Daffurn was born in Broadway in 1888, the only son of Charles and Eliza Duffern. In 1901 aged 13, he resided with his parents at High Street, Broadway and was working as a post errand boy. By 1911 he had left home, was boarding at 4 Sheep Street, Bicester, Oxfordshire and was employed as a domestic groom.
Thomas enlisted as a driver in the Royal Field Artillery in London, service no 17522. He entered the theatre of war in France on 4th September 1915 and at some point he was posted to B Battery 98th Brigade (XVI Corps H.Q.). Thomas died in Malta on 1st May 1917, aged 29 and was buried in Addolorata Cemetery, Malta, Grave E. EA. A. 612. He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Sedgeberrow read more about a 23 year old man who also lost his life on 1 May 1918 and is remembered on the war memorial in Sedgeberrow.
William Albert J. Vale (appears on the memorial as A. Vale) was born at Ashton-Under-Hill, Gloucestershire in 1894, the second of three children and first-born son of William Albert and Susannah Vale. Named after his father, he was known to family and friends by his 2nd name, Albert. In 1911 the family resided at Kersoe, Pershore. William senior was employed as a labourer on a farm, daughter Mary Elizabeth aged 20 assisted her mother, William junior was employed as a plough boy on a farm and youngest son Charles was presumably still at school.
The date of William’s enlistment in the army is not known as his service records have not survived. He enlisted at Evesham and according to his medal index card, he first served as Private 38254 with the Worcestershire Regiment before being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, service no 139708. Although his date of enlistment is unknown, he did not serve overseas until sometime after 1st January 1916 as he was not awarded the 1914-15 Star medal, only the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
William was killed in action in France on 1st May 1918 aged 23. He is buried in St. Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery, Robecq, France, Grave III. A. 9. His death was announced along with three other casualties from the village in the Sedgeberrow Parish Magazine November 1918:
We greatly regret that we have to announce the deaths of four of our boys since the last notice namely, Albert Vale, Charles White, Frank Farley and Charles Jackson, of whom their parents and friends may well be proud. We deeply sympathise with these in the loss they have sustained. Our parish has now lost thirteen, who have all fallen in the service of their country. R.I.P.
Aston Under Hill
Overbury
Kemerton
Hampton
Evesham memorial includes Howard Kitteringham Price who lost his life on 1 May 1915.
Howard Kitteringham Price was born at Darlaston in 1892, the son of John Mosley and Martha Ann Price. In 1911 he was employed as a painting compositor and resided at 86 Kings Road, Bengeworth, Worcestershire. He enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment as Private 2961 at Wolverhampton and went to France on 5th March 1915, serving with the 1st/6th Battalion of the regiment. Howard was killed in action near Wulverghem, Belgium on 1st May 1915 and buried in St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Belgium, Grave I. F. 11. He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Offenham
Littleton
Harvington
Fladbury
Cropthorne
Wick
Pershore
Wyre Piddle
Throckmorton
Bishampton
Church Clench
Flyford Flavell
Inkberrow
Information researched and compiled by Remember the Fallen.