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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ROSE, Frank
Memorial Parish Church FRANK ROSE
Memorial Hospital ROSE F.
21274 Private Francis Thomas Rose. 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Born [c.1882. Cirencester].
Enlisted Devizes.
Died 30 October 1917. Aged 35. Killed in Action. France
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A. Tyne Cot Memorial
Formerly 94555, R.H. & R.F.A.
Son of Isaac & Emma Rose, 53 Castle Street. Brother of Fred Rose, q.v. Husband of Florence Rose, Chippenham.
In 1901 Census the Rose family was living at 27 Castle Street. Head of house, Isaac Rose (age 44, groom, born Fairford); wife, Emma, 45, born Aldsworth. Children: Dorothy, 18, domestic servant; Frank, 16, gardener; Frederick, 13, errand boy post; and Margaret, 1. All children born in Cirencester.
Correspondence with Michael Rose, January 2013 (second cousin of Frank Rose). Memorial also in church grounds at Sutton Benger
ROSE, Fred
Memorial Parish Church FRED ROSE
Memorial Hospital ROSE Fd.
[Number] [Rank].
Born [c. 1885, Cirencester].
[Enlisted].
Died [Date]. [Aged].
Grave/Memorial ?? Brother of Frank Rose, q.v.
In 1901 Census the Rose family were living at 27 Castle Street. Head of house, Isaac Rose (age 44, groom, born Fairford); wife, Emma, 45, born Aldsworth. Children: Dorothy, 18, domestic servant; Frank, 16, gardener; Frederick, 13, errand boy post; and Margaret, 1. All children born in Cirencester. Correspondence with Michael Rose, January 2013. Served with Scots Guards (shown in uniform on postcard dated September 1914). No further information.
SELMAN, W.G.H.
Memorial Parish Church Not recorded.
Memorial Hospital SELMAN W.G.H.
26159 private William George Hormer Selman. 8th Service Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c1895. Minchinhampton].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 28 March 1918. [Aged]. Died. France
Bay 6. Arras Memorial
In 1901 Census William G.H. Selman, age 6, living at West End, Minchinhampton, with parents and sister. Father George Selman, a butcher, born in Cricklade. In 1911 Census, William aged 16, butcher, living with widowed father at 31 Thomas Street, Cirencester.
Personal Column in Wilts & Glos Standard: July 12 1919.
“Mr G. Selman 26 Thomas Street Cirencester would be glad to receive news of Priv. W.G.H. Selman, D.Co. 16th Platoon 8th Gloucesters, missing since March 1918. Last seen Peronne.”
SHILL, Howard P.
Memorial Parish Church HOWARD P. SHILL
Memorial Hospital SHILL H.P.
26960 Private Howard Preston Shill. 13th “C” Coy. (Service) (Forest of Dean Pioneers), Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1897. Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 26 August 1916. Aged 19. Killed in Action. France
Pier and Face 5A and 5B. Thiepval Memorial
In 1911 Census Howard, age 14 (c.1897 Cirencester) living at Ewen Field, Kemble. No occupation stated. Father Richard, shepherd, age 43; mother Louisa. In 1901 Census Howard Preston Shill, aged 4 (c.1897 born Cirencester) living at Park Corner Farm, Duntisbourne Rouse with father Richard and Louisa, and brother William, age 8 (c.1893 Daglingworth) and sister Blanche, age 5 (born Cirencester).
SHILL, William
Memorial Parish Church WILLIAM SHILL
Memorial Hospital SHILL W.
25517 Private William Shill. “C” Coy. 11th Battalion, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry.
Born [c.1892. Daglingworth].
Enlisted [location].
Died 22 November 1918. Aged 26. France
Grave C.4. Tourcoing (Pont-Neuville) Communal Cemetery
In 1901 Census Howard Preston Shill, aged 4 (c.1897 born Ciren) living at Park Corner Farm, Duntisbourne Rouse with father Richard and mother Louisa, and brother William, age 8 (c.1893 Daglingworth) and sister Blanche, age 5 (born Ciren). In 1911 Census William Shill, age 18 (c.1893 Daglingworth) servant at Royal Agricultural College, working as a pantry boy.
Information from Wendy Hill.
SIMPSON, Frank
Memorial Parish Church FRANK SIMPSON
Memorial Hospital SIMPSON, F.
260113 Private Frank Simpson. 8th Battalion, Border Regiment.
Born [c.1888. Stratton].
Enlisted Chester.
Died 3 August 1917. Aged 29. Killed in Action. France & Flanders
Panel 35. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Formerly 50919, R.W.Fns. Son of Henry Rudolph and Lucy Simpson, 9 Dollar Street. Husband of Annie Simpson, The Willows Cottages, Great Mollington, Chester.
In 1901 Census, Frank Simpson (age 12, c.1889, Stratton) at 171 Gloucester Street with parents and siblings.
In 1911 Census, age 22 working as groom at Cowley Stables, Cheltenham.
Wilts & Glos Standard 25 August 1917
FORMER CICETER MAN KILLED IN ACTION
Private Frank Simpson, Border Regiment, formerly of the Manchesters, has been killed in action. His home was at 19 Princess Street, Stone Bridge, Saltney, and before enlisting on June 19 1916, he was employed by Messrs. Bruce, Ward and Col., Dee Oil Works, Saltney. He was 29 years of age. He had been in France only eight weeks, and it was while taking his first turn in the trenches that he was killed. The deceased’s company commander, writing to Mrs Simpson, wife of the fallen soldier, says:
“It is with regret and pain that I write to inform you of the death of your husband, 260113 Private Frank Simpson. He was killed in action by a shell on the 3rd August. I am asked by all officers, n.c.o.’s and men of the Company to convey to you their deepest sympathy. We have only had your husband with us a short time, but in this period we have learned how great your loss must be. We found him always cheerful, whatever the conditions and an excellent soldier at all times. Your husband suffered no pain. He was laid to rest by his chums. I trust this knowledge will be a comfort to you in this your great trouble. Yours sincerely, C. King, Capt.”
Private Frank Simpson was a son of Mrs Simpson, of 9 Dollar Street, Cirencester, and was for some time before leaving Cirencester in the employ of Lieutenant Maurice J. Kingscote of Watermoor House, previously to which he was in the employ of the late Dr E.C. Cripps at Thomas Street House, Cirencester
SMITH George W.
Memorial Parish Church GEORGE W. SMITH
Memorial Hospital SMITH G.W.
1566 Sapper George William Smith. 491st Field Coy., Royal Engineers.
Born [c.1891. Cirencester].
Enlisted [location].
Died 1 July 1916. Aged 25 France
Grave I.C.9. Wailly Orchard CemeterySon of George & Emily Smith, 11 Gladstone Cottages, Church Street, Cirencester
In 1901 Census age 10, living at 30 Victoria Road with parents and siblings.
In 1911 Census, age 20 (c.1891 Ciren), single, boarder at 36 Foord Road, Folkestone, Kent, watch and clock maker.
Grammar School Memorial, Bingham Hall, Cirencester.
Wilts & Glos Standard 15 July 1916
CIRENCESTER MAN KILLED IN ACTION
Mr and Mrs G.W. Smith, of 11 Church Street, Cirencester, have received intimation of the death in action in France of their elder son, Sapper George W. Smith, aged 25, of the Royal Engineers. Sapper Smith, who was employed as a jeweller’s assistant to Mr J. Watson, of Hastings, when he was declared enlisted in the Royal Engineers, and at the time of his death he was engaged in the duty of carrying despatches between the firing line and headquarters. He was killed instantaneously by the explosion of a shell. As a lad he was a member of the Holy Trinity Church choir, Watermoor. His younger brother, Sapper Wilfred Smith, formerly employed in the printing offices of the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, also joined the same Company of the royal Engineers, and the two have been comrades throughout. Mr & Mrs Smith’s friends and neighbours sincerely sympathise with them in their sad loss.
Source: FB image 1916 07 15 Ref 233-5 with photo
Source: FB image 1916 07 15 Ref 078-80 [Item 3] with photo
SMITH, Leslie
Memorial Parish Church LESLIE SMITH
Memorial Hospital SMITH L.
240100 Private Leslie Charles Smith. 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1895. Cirencester].
Enlisted Stroud.
Died 14 April 1918. Aged 23. Died of Wounds. France
Grave III.A.16. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles
In 1901 Census age 6 (c.1895 Ciren) living at 59 Chester Street with parents and siblings.
By 1911 Leslie Charles Smith, age 16, was living as a boarder in Church Street, Stroud, working as upholsterer and French polisher. Photograph of C Company, 1/5th Gloucesters taken on 23 October 1916 of the N.C.O.’s and men still serving with the company who embarked with the battalion on 29 March 1915. Includes L.C. Smith (S). Published in Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic, 2 December 1916.
With special thanks to Stan Cox for sharing photographs of Private Leslie Smith
SPARKS, F.J.
Memorial Parish Church F. JAMES SPARKS
Memorial Hospital SPARKS F.J.
202790 Private Frederick William James Sparkes. 2 Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment.
Born [Date. Place].
Enlisted [location].
Died 1 August 1917. [Aged].
Died of Wounds.Grave/Memorial [Ref]. Lussenthoek Military Cemetery. Notes:
Check: possible identity – Temporary Lieutenant, James Frederick Sparks, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.), 8th Bttn. 2326. Killed in Action, 9 April 1917. ?? Cirencester connection. Can you corroborate either possible identity or offer another?
STEVENS, John
Memorial Parish Church JOHN STEVENS
Memorial Hospital STEVENS J.
205731 Private John Stevens. 4th Res. Bttn. T. Devonshire Regiment.
Born [Date. Place].
Enlisted [location].
Died 17 June 1917. Aged 35. [Type of Casualty]. Homeland.
In 1891 Census living at 142 Cricklade Street.
Wilts & Glos Standard 23 June 1917
CICETER SOLDIER KILLED BY LIGHTNING
On Monday morning Mrs Stevens, 28 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, was informed by telegram of the death of her husband, Private John Stevens, killed by lightning on Sunday. He belonged to the Gloucesters, and had been working on a farm at Ryton, near Coventry. Deceased was a native of Winson, near Bibury. The widow is left with four children, one only a few days old.
Source: FB image 1917 06 23 Ref 324 Source: FB image 1917 06 23 Ref 325