Detailed information of the people whose names are on the Cirencester Memorials
Click here to see Introduction to this project for an explanation of why the names are or are not on each memorial. These pages outline what we know about the named people, in many cases, very little. If you find errors or have more information we would be pleased to know. Contact: WW1 @ cirenhistory.org.uk
The Names
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A chronological list of Cirencester deaths is available in Newsletter 61
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HEYWOOD, John Thomas
Memorial Parish Church JAC T. HEYWOOD.
Memorial Hospital HEYWOOD J.T.
2959 Private. John Thomas Heywood. 2 Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
Born [Skipton, Yorks.] [Date].
Enlisted Bury, Lancs.
Died 20 October 1916. Aged 20. Killed in Action. France
Memorial Pier & Face 3c & 3d. Thiepval Memorial
HIBBERT, Bertram
Memorial Parish Church BERTRAM HIBBERT
Memorial Hospital HIBBERT B5
14602 Private Bertram Hibbert. 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish), London Regiment.
Born 1898. Cirencester
Enlisted Woking.
Died 26 April 1918. Aged 19. Died of Wounds. France
Grave III.A.18. Aubigny Communal Cemetery Section.
Son of Thomas and Ellen Hibbert. In 1911 Census, age 12, at school, living at 21 Ashcroft Road. His father, Thomas, was Urban District Council Surveyor. Grammar School Memorial, Bingham Hall, Cirencester.
Wilts & Glos Standard 11 May 1918
CIRENCESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS’ DEATH
On Monday in last week Mr and Mrs Hibbert, of Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, received a telegram from the War office stating that their youngest son, Bertram, was dangerously wounded, and regretting that permission to visit him could not be granted. No further news of him was forthcoming until Friday, 3rd instant, when a letter from the sister-in-charge conveyed to his parents the sad news that he had passed away in a hospital in France on Friday 26th April.
Bertram Hibbert was born in June 1898. He entered the Cirencester Grammar School in May 1908, and left in July 1915. He was fine type of schoolboy and his work gave early promise of a brilliant future. He successfully passed the Cambridge University Preliminary, Junior and Senior Locals, and entered enthusiastically into all games and sports. His influence was of the quiet and sympathetic order which never fails to elevate although it often works unnoticed. He was extremely popular with everybody at the school and his loss will be severely felt by all who worked and played with him, but the memory of his cheery countenance, sunny disposition and transparent honesty of purpose will not be easily efface.
On leaving school he proceeded to Clark’s College, London, in order to study modern business methods and accountancy. While there he was made a prefect and further distinguished himself by winning in open competition two silver medals for commercial knowledge. He joined a battalion of the 1st London Scottish Regiment in February 1917, some weeks before he need, and had been in France since the beginning of this year.
Source: FB image 1918 Jan 5th to July 27th 1918 05 11 Ref 264, 267
HOPE, Thomas
Memorial Parish Church THOMAS HOPE
Memorial Hospital HOPE
T7191 Sergeant Thomas Hope. 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s, Wiltshire Regiment.
Born [c.1886. Berwick Bassett, Wilts.].
Enlisted Swindon, Wilts.
Died 19 October 1914. Aged 28. Killed in Action. France
Panel 33 and 34. Le Touret Memorial
Son of Mrs Rachel Hope, 1 Gloucester Villas, Gloucester Street. In 1901 Census living at 7 Church Street, aged 14, baker’s assistant. Head of house, Rachel Hope, laundress, aged 43; with children Henry A., 19, shoemaker’s assistant; William T., 16, blacksmith’s assistant; Thomas E., age 14, baker’s assistant; and Charles J., aged 7.
Wilts & Glos Standard 19 Dec 1914
Deaths. Killed in action, October. Sergeant T. Hope, 1st Wilts Regt., aged 28, third and dearly beloved son of Mrs Hope, Gloucester Villas, Gloucester Street
HOPKINS, Augustus
Memorial Parish Church AUGUSTUS HOPKINS
Memorial Hospital HOPKINS A
13521 Private Augustus Hopkins. 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
Born [c.1890. South Cerney].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 29 October 1914. [Aged]. Killed in Action. France
Panel 9 and 11. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
n 1901 Census living at 57 Watermoor Road, aged 11. Mother, Mary Jane Hopkins, 54, charwoman. Also in the house: sister Ellen, age 20; brother Charles E., aged 19, and sister Rhoda, aged 8. In 1911 Census, single, age 21 (c.1890, South Cerney), carter for corn dealer, living at 65 Watermoor Road.
See George H. Randell (brother in law of Augustus Hopkins).
Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic, 19 Jun 1915, photo.
“Pte. Augustus Hopkins, 1st Batt. Grenadier Guards, wounded and missing since Oct 29th in France. Son of Mrs C. Hopkins, 69 Watermoor Road and brother of Mrs R. Randell, 112 Cricklade Street, whose husband was killed on Oct 13th.”
Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic, 19 Feb 1916, photo.
“Pte. Augustus Hopkins, 1st Grenadier Guards, who was reported wounded and missing. His parents have now been officially notified that he was killed on Oct 29th 1914. He is a son of Mr & Mrs C. Hopkins, 69 Watermoor Road, Cirencester.”
Wilts & Glos Standard 12 February 1916
PRIVATE AUGUSTUS HOPKINS 1st Grenadier Guards, who has been missing since the first battle of Ypres, 29th October 1914, has now been given up as killed on or since that date. The sad news was conveyed to his mother, Mrs C. Hopkins, of 69 Watermoor Road, Cirencester, in a communication from the adjutant of the Grenadier Guards, which also expressed the sympathy of the Army Council. Mrs Hopkins also received the condolences of T.M. the King and Queen in a note from Lord Kitchener. Private Hopkins, who was 24 years of age, was called up from the Reserve on the outbreak of war, at which time he was in the employ of Messrs. Bowles and Son, coal merchants. His brother-in-law, Private Randall of Cricklade Street, was killed on the 13th of the same month.
Source: FB image 1916 02 12 Ref 241, with photo
HOPKINS, Tom
Memorial Parish Church TOM HOPKINS
Memorial Hospital HOPKINS T
89168 [DVR] Tom Hopkins. 3rd Bty. 47th Bde, Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Field Artillery.
Born c.1889. Cirencester
Enlisted [location].
Died 26 November 1917. [Aged]. Killed in Action. France Grave XX.E.8. Tyne Cot Cemetery
In 1901 Census, living at 7 Barton Lane, aged 12, with parents, Frederick and Martha Hopkins, and brother William (6), and sisters Laura (14) and Hilda (8).
In 1911 Census, Tom Hopkins (age 22, c.1889 Ciren), single, carter, living at 135 and 136 Gloucester Street.
Wilts & Glos Standard 22 January 1916
CIRENCESTER MAN WANTS A MELODEON
Gunner T. Hopkins, 89168, B Battery, 47th Brigade, 14th Division R.F.A., B.E.F., writes us as follows:
“I am writing these few lines to you to ask you a favour. Would you kindly insert in your weekly paper this note? Is there any kind friend who has a melodeon that they could spare a young man who belongs to Cirencester to cheer his comrades up when they are not doing any firing, as a bit of music cheers us up out here. I should feel greatly obliged to anyone who could send us one out. If you would be so good as to insert this in your paper which I get every week I should feel greatly obliged. – I remain, yours obediently, GUNNER T. HOPKINS.”
Source: FB image 1916 01 22 Ref 199
Wilts & Glos Standard 22 December 1917
Deaths. Killed in action, Nov. 26, Gunner Tom Hopkins, F.F.A., the dearly-beloved son of Mr & Mrs F. Hopkins of 169 Gloucester Street, and husband of the late Louisa Hopkins, of Hilcot End, Ampney, aged 28 years.
Source: FB image 1917 12 22 Ref 082 Source: FB image 1917 12 29 Ref 087-9, photo
Wilts & Glos Standard Dec 1917
ANOTHER CIRENCESTER SOLDIER KILLED
Our obituary column last week contained a notice of the death of Gunner Tom Hopkins, R.F.A., son of Mr and Mrs F. Hopkins of 169 Gloucester Street, who was killed in action on November 26th. ... Letter from Major R.W. Ling:
“Gunner Hopkins was acting as my servant whilst in action and has been with me close on three years out here. I cannot speak too highly of him in very way, and I feel his death as a personal loss. It is a consolation to know he was killed instantaneously by a shell and had no suffering. The same shell killed three of his comrades and wounded three others. His death occured about 10.30 on the 26th ult., and we buried him where he fell, and are erecting crosses to him and his comrades. He was lying down in a shelter at the time the shell hit him and I regret to say we were unable to find any of his belongings as they were destroyed with the other things in the dug-out.”
Gunner Hopkins, who was 28 years of age, was previous to enlisting in the employ of the Cotswold Mineral Water Company. He was of a genial disposition, and was a well-known figure at local festive gatherings, at which his vocal ability made him much in request. His wife predeceased him by sixteen months. Source: FB image DSCN 3374 with photo
HOWLEY, Charles W.
Memorial Parish Church CHARLES W. HOWLEY
Memorial Hospital HOWLEY C.W.
170779 Gunner Charles William Howley. [124SB Battalion], Royal Garrison Artillery.
Born [c.1898. Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 22 Oct 1918. Aged 20. Killed in Action. France
Grave I.A.9. St. Souplet British Cemetery
Son of Sarah and the late Wm. Howley, 46 Castle Street. In 1911 Census living at 44 Castle Street, aged 12, with widowed mother, Sarah, and 6 siblings.
Wilts & Glos Standard 16 November 1918
CICETER GUNNER KILLED IN ACTION
Gunner Charles Howley, R.G.A., killed. [poor quality][There is more text, but the copy could not be read]
Source: FB image 1918 1st June 1918 to Dec 1918 11 16 Ref 367
HUGHES, Lewis
Memorial Parish Church LEWIS HUGHES
Memorial Hospital HUGHES L.
808644 Private Lewis Hughes. 31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry.
Born [c.1885. Place].
Enlisted [location].
Died 6 November 1917. Aged 32. Killed in Action. France
Grave XIII.E.5. Passchendaele New British Cemetery
In 1911 Census, Lewis Hughes (age 24, c.1886, Camarthenshire), bank clerk, living at 18 Ashcroft Villas with widowed mother, Christina Letitia Hughes, and siblings.
Wilts & Glos Standard Dec 1 1917
PRIVATE LEWIS HUGHES KILLED IN ACTION.
The many friends of Private Lewis Hughes, Alberta Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force, will learn with heavy sincere and keenest regret that he fell in action in France on November 6th. The only son of Mrs Hughes, Enmore, Ashcroft, and of the late Dr. Lewis Hughes, Carmarthen, Private Hughes was educated at Christ’s College, Brecon, and was afterwards for eight years on the staff of the Capital and Counties Bank, Cirencester. In 1911 he went to Canada to take up land, but in February 1916 left his farm near Cochrane, Alberta, and joined up. He returned to the old country with his battalion in August 1916, reached France in January 1917, was wounded at Vimy Ridge, some time in hospital in France, and after seeing much fighting was killed as stated on November 6th. No particulars have however so far been received. Lewis Hughes was a good son, a fine straightforward, honourable, manly, steady young fellow, whose death at the early age of 32, is, as well as being a severe blow to his relatives and friends, a very great loss to the country of his adoption, where he was just beginning to make his mark. He was not only the right type for a colonist, but also just the type of man so badly needed in his native land.
Source: FB image 1917 12 01 Ref 026, with photo
Source: FB image 1917 12 01 Ref 028, photo
Source: FB image 1917 12 01 Ref 036
HUTCHINGS, A. George
Memorial Parish Church A. GEORGE HUTCHINGS
Memorial Hospital HUTCHINGS A.G.
31745 Sergeant Arthur George Hutchings. 10th Bde., Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery.
Born [c.1882. Cirencester.]
Enlisted Gosport, Hants.
Died [25 or 28] May 1916. Aged 33. Died. Turkey
Panel 3 and 60. Basra Memorial
Wife, Florence, 18 Gloucester Street.
In 1911 Census living at 4 Cyprus Terrace, Wonford, Heavitree, Exeter, Devon. Sergt. R.F. Artillery. Wife Ann Florence Hutchings, age 28, born Cirencester. Three children, all born in Wonford.
Wilts & Glos Standard 10 June 1916
CICETER MAN A PRISONER WITH GENERAL TOWNSHEND
. Mrs Hutchings, of 186 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, has just received news that her husband, Sergeant Cook Hutchings, 10th Brigade Staff, R.F.A., and youngest son of Mrs Hutchings, Cricklade Street, who has been serving with General Townshend’s Force at Kut-el-Amara, is a prisoner of war. Source: FB image 1916 06 10 Ref 162
JAMES, Albert
Memorial Parish Church ALBERT JAMES
Memorial Hospital JAMES A. 9261 L/Corporal Albert James. 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1892. Cirencester].
Enlisted Bristol.
Died 18 February 1915. Aged 23. Killed in Action. France
Panel 22 and 34. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Son of Francis William and Alice James of 181 Smerrill Cottages, Kemble. Brother of Frank and Walter James
JAMES, Frank
Memorial Parish Church FRANK JAMES
Memorial Hospital JAMES F.
13588 Private Frank James. 1st Home Service Battalion formerly (3251) Gloucestershire Regiment. Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Born [c.1883. Place].
Enlisted [location].
Died 5 November 1918. Aged 35.
Grave S.40. Cirencester Cemetery
Son of Francis William and Alice James of 181 Smerrill Cottages, Kemble. Brother of Albert and Walter James. Husband of Daisy/Emily James (nee Sollis) of 8 Gas Lane, Cirencester
JAMES, Walter
Memorial Parish Church WALTER JAMES
Memorial Hospital JAMES W.
29995 Private Walter James. 2/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1890. Cirencester].
Enlisted Bristol.
Died 18 April 1918. Aged 28. Killed in Action. France
Panel 60 to 64. Loos Memorial
Son of Francis William and Alice James of 181 Smerrill Cottages, Kemble. Brother of Albert and Frank James. Husband of Myra James, Bourne, Brimscomb
JAQUES, Wilfred
Memorial Parish Church WILFRED JAQUES
Memorial Hospital JAQUES W. 201718
Private Wilfred Jaques. 4th Battalion, Tank Corps.
Born [Date. Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 21 March 1918. [Aged]. Killed in Action. France
Panel 94. Pozieres Memorial.
Formerly 38021, Machine Gun Corps.
In 1911 Census, Wilfred Jaques, age 19, living at 55 Ashcroft Road. Single, assisting in business of father, John, dairyman.
Wilts & Glos Standard 4 May 1918
ANOTHER CIRENCESTER C.L.B. MAN KILLED IN ACTION
Mrs Wilfred Jaques, of Ashcroft, Cirencester, has received a letter from Corporal J.C. Tolson, now a patient at St. John’s Hospital, Cheltenham informing her of the death in action of her husband, Private Wilfred Jaques, of the Tanks Corps. Corporal Tolson says two men were killed and he himself wounded by the same shell at Hendcourt, on the morning of March 21st. It seems Private Jaques had been in hospital, and when he came out he rejoined his company, being again put in Corporal Tolson’s crew. Corporal Tolson says
“his never failing spirits made him very popular,” and that “he died as he would have desired most himself, gallantly facing the foe.”
Corporal Tolson feelingly expresses his sorrow and sympathy and says he has lost one of his best friends, with whom he had been serving since they went out to France together. Private Jaques is the second son of Mr W. Jaques, Cirencester Dairy, and he leaves a widow and one little daughter. He was 26 years of age, and was formerly a member of the Cirencester Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade.
Source: FB image 1918 Jan 5th to July 27th 1918 05 04 Ref 239, 243
JOHNSON, J.
Memorial Parish Church Not recorded.
Memorial Hospital JOHNSON, J.
232294 [Rank] Joseph Johnson. 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire.
Born [c.1886, Gaddesby, Leics.].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 25 July 1916. Aged 30. Died of Wounds. Mesopotamia
Grave/Memorial [Ref]. Cemetery/Memorial [Ref].
Notes: The 1911 Census records Joseph aged 25 (born Gaddesby, Leicestershire) living as a boarder at 7 Dollar Street, Cirencester, and employed as a gardener
JONES, Sidney
Memorial Parish Church SIDNEY JONES
Memorial Hospital JONES S.
11674 Arthur Sidney Jones. 8th Service Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1894. Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 3 July 1916. Aged 22. Killed in Action. France
Pier and Faces 5A and 5B. Thiepval Memorial
Son of Arthur and Fanny Jones, 5 South End Cottage, Siddington. In 1901 Census, living at 11 Stepstairs Lane, aged 7. Father Arthur A. Jones, age 38, builder’s labourer; mother, Fanny, age 32. Children: Arthur S., age 7; Percy F., age 6; and Reginald A., age 4. In 1911 Census, Arthur Sidney Jones, age 17, living at The Quarries, Siddington, carpenter/builder; with parents Arthur and Fanny.
Also commemorated on memorial in Siddington Church.
Wilts & Glos Standard 22 July 1916
YOUNG SIDDINGTON SOLDIER KILLED
Mr and Mrs Arthur Jones, of South End Cottage, Siddington, have been notified of the death in action of their eldest son, Private Arthur Sidney Jones, aged 22, being killed in action on July 3rd. Private Jones, who was a scholar at Holy Trinity day and Sunday schools when his parents resided at Watermoor, enlisted at the beginning of the war, and had been in France for a year without receiving leave, and his parents were now daily expecting him home. He belonged to a machine gun section of one of the Gloucester battalions. He had been a member of the Cirencester Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade. He was an apprentice to Messrs. G.F. and E. Newcombe, builders, of Cirencester. Second Lieutenant Edward B. Pope, the deceased’s officer, writing to Mr and Mrs Jones, says:
“Your son was killed in the attack on La Boiselle on Monday July 3rd. He was a keen and efficient Lewis gunner, always cheerful and very popular with his comrades, and he will be much missed in the section.”
Mr and Mrs Jones have two other sons on active service in France.
Source: FB image 1916 07 22 Ref 260 with photo; ref 088