This research and story is thanks to Graham Adams from Woodlands Road, found in archived material. The MILLARD family of Mill Lane also lost two sons. The elder JOE, a 32-year-old gunner with heavy artillery got cramp when swimming in a river behind the lines on 26 May 1917 and drowned. A keen member of […]
178447 Leading Seaman Francis George NEAL Royal Navy – HMS Monmouth Drowned at sea in action on 1 November 1914, aged 37. One of all 738 sailors of the ships company died that day. Probably known in the family as George, Francis George Neal was born at Tortworth on 17 December 1877: his parents were […]
511144 or 1311144, Gunner Percy William George Colborn, 85th Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery Died as a Prisoner of War on the building of the Burma Railway, aged 24, 11th September 1942 Buried/Commemorated at Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand and commemorated on Charfield War memorial Percy’s father was a tile worker and he lived with his […]
17778 Private Albert Alexander HUGHES 17777 Private Harry HUGHES 2ndBattalion (A Company), Gloucestershire Regiment Aged 18 and 19. Killed in action on 9 May 1915 No known grave–commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing The stories of the Hughes brother are virtually inseparable. Albert Alexander, known as ‘Alex’, was the elder of the […]
741 Private William Henry COLBORN 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Died aged 26 as a prisoner of war 23 December 1914 No known grave – commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France William Colborn was born in Charfield in 1888, the eldest of nine children born to George and Hannah Colborn of Station View, Charfield. In the […]
Thornbury District RBL – Strengthening Support Across Our Community The Thornbury District Royal British Legion is one of the largest and most active branches in our area. If you’re already an RBL member, you’re welcome to join not only Charfield and Wotton branches but also Thornbury. This shared membership strengthens support for local veterans while […]
Volunteering with the Friends of St James and as the Charfield British Legion Standard Bearer, Jenny Naylor noticed that many veterans from the war were buried in the old churchyard. Interestingly, aside from one case, their military service wasn’t noted on their headstones. Through research, we identified thirteen men who served in WWI, are listed on the memorial, and are buried in […]
L/4975 Private (Trooper) Albert James Richards 9th (Queens Royal) Lancers Died of wounds, aged 21, on 3 November 1914, whilst a prisoner of war. Buried in Ixelles Cemetery, Brussels Albert James Richards was born in Charfield in 1893. He was the son of George and Deborah Richards, who by the time of the 1911 Census […]
Joan Bamford served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), proudly receiving her service badge — and wearing it with such pride. Her daughter shared: “My Mum, Joan Bamford, served in the ATS, she received her ATS service badge and was thrilled with it, she wore it with such pride. She met my Dad, Bill Carter, […]
“He was a charming and good-looking man who made everyone feel welcome.” Robert Paul Lester — known to most as Paul — was a beloved figure in Wotton-under-Edge and a true war hero. As a young man, he served in the Royal Engineers during World War II and was part of a daring glider mission […]