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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Butler to Cole…..
BUTLER, John F.P. V.C., D.S.O.
Memorial Parish Church JOHN F.P. BUTLER. V.C. D.S.O. Memorial Hospital Not recorded.
Captain John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler. King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
Born 20 Dec 1888, Berkeley, Glos.
Enlisted [location].
Died 5 September 1916. Aged 27.
Died of Wounds. Matomba, Tanzania.
Grave III.C.3. Morogoro Cemetery (German East Africa/Tanzania).
Notes: Son of Lt Col J.F.P. Butler & Hon. Elspeth Fitzhardinge Gifford. Wife = Alice, of Apsley House, Portfield, Chichester.
In 1891 Census living in Berkeley, his mother is recorded as Elizabeth, born in Cirencester.
1914 17 Nov, age 25: Samaga River, Cameroon. Awarded V.C.
1914-16, age 26: German West Africa & East Africa. Gold Coast Regiment seconded from 60th KRRC.
1915, age 27: Buca, Cameroon. Awarded D.S.O.
1916 4 Sep, age 27: death, Matomba, Tanzania.
1916 4 Sep: burial Morogoro, Tanzania.
Wilts & Glos Standard 28 August 1915
V.C. FOR CAPTAIN J.F.P. BUTLER HEROISM IN THE CAMEROONS
It is officially announced that his Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officer, among others, in recognition of his most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in the field : Captain John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, attached Pioneer Company, Gold Coast Regiment, West African Frontier Force, for most conspicuous bravery in the Cameroons, West Africa. On 17th November 1914, with a party of 13 men, he went into the thick bush and at once attacked the enemy, in strength about 100, including several Europeans, defeated them, and captured their machine gun and many loads of ammunition. On 27th December 1914, when on patrol duty, with a few men, he swam the Ekam River, which was held by the enemy, alone and in the face of a brisk fire, completed his reconnaissance on the further bank, and returned to safety. Two of his men were wounded while he was actually in the water.
Captain Butler is the only son of Lieut.-Colonel Francis John Paul Butler, formerly 18th Hussars, his mother being the Hon. Elspeth Fitzhardinge, sister of Lord Gifford, and of the Hon. Mrs Kingscote, of Watermoor House, Cirencester. Captain Butler was born in 1888, and was educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. The gallant officer’s family, as our readers are of course aware, formerly resided in Cirencester and Colonel Butler sat on the local Bench of Magistrates. It will be remembered that the mother and grandmother of Captain Butler, V.C., died within three days of each other and were buried at Wyck Rissington in December 1913.
Captain Butler had the honour of being received by his Majesty at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, when the King decorated him with the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery in the Cameroons, West Africa. Source: FB image 1915 08 28 Ref. 317 with photograph.
Wilts & Glos Standard 16 September 1916
DEATH FROM WOUNDS OF CAPTAIN BUTLER, V.C., D.S.O.
We deeply regret to state that news was received on Wednesday of the death from wounds sustained in action of Captain John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler, V.C., D.S.O., only son of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis John Paul Butler, formerly of the 18th Hussars, and now commanding a Remount Depot, and of the late Hon. Mrs Butler, of Wyck Hill, near Stow-on-the-Wold. His father, Colonel Butlery, who fro many years resided in Cirencester, is the elder son of the late Mr Paul Butler, of Down Amney House … [to be continued]
Source: FB image 1916 09 16 Ref 201 [Item 3]
Wilts & Glos Standard 11 November 1916
CAPTAIN J.F.P. BUTLER, V.C., D.S.O.
The following is an extract from a special issue of the Gold Coast Government Gazette, September 9th:
“His Excellency the Governor announced with profound regret that a telegram has been received from Lieut.-Colonel Rose, officer commanding the Gold Coast Regiment, dated at Bea, E. Africa, on September 5th, reporting that Captain Butler, V.C., D.S.O., died on the night of September 5th from wounds received in action that evening.”
From Colonel Stuart Wortly, C.O., of the 60th in India:
“There never was a boy more beloved by his comrades, nor one who did his duty better under all circumstances; always cheery and full of go, he was the beau ideal of a Rifleman … He was indeed a son to be proud of, and we in the Regiment share your pride and look back on him as one who has done the Regiment great honour and was indeed sans peur et sans reproche.”
Source: FB image 1916 11 11 Ref 309 [Item 3
CALLOW, William J.
Memorial Parish Church WILLIAM J. CALLOW.
Memorial Hospital CALLOW W.J.
34276 Private William James Callow. 9th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1890, Cirencester].
Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 14 September 1918. Aged 28. Killed in Action. Mesopotamia
Memorial Baku Memorial.
Notes: Son of Clara Annie Callow of 47 Dollar Street and the late James Henry Callow. In 1911 Census William J. Callow (age 20, c.1891, Cirencester) living at 47 Dollar Street, occupation boot maker; with father and mother. Parents married 22 years, 5 children
CHAMBERLAIN, A. John
Memorial Parish Church A. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN
Memorial Hospital CHAMBERLAIN, A.J.
39626 Private Arthur John Chamberlain. 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment).
Born [c.1900, Cirencester]. Enlisted Cirencester.
Died 27 May 1918. Aged 18. Killed in Action. France .
Soissons Memorial.
Notes: Son of Richard & Phyllis Chamberlain of 69 Dyer Street. In 1911 Census Arthur J. Chamberlain (age 11, c.1900, Cirencester), scholar, living at 10 Lewis Lane with father, mother and sister. Parents Richard and Phyllis had been married 17 years (4 children)
CHERRY, Sidney
Memorial Parish Church SIDNEY H. CHERRY.
Memorial Hospital CHERRY S.H.
1720 Trooper Sidney Henry Cherry. 1st Australian Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps (Australian).
Born [c.1888/Place]. Enlisted [location].
Died 19 April 1917. Aged 29.
Panel 59. Jerusalem Memorial.
Notes: Son of Henry Burton and Sarah Cherry, of Langford, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Emigrated to Victoria British Columbia, and then alone to Australia, working as a farmer. Embarked 17 March 1915, Pte. 1720 3rd Infantry Bttn. [Gallipoli reinforcement]; transferred to 1 [Australian] Battn. Imperial Camel Corps. Killed in Action, 19 April 1917, Palestine, age 29
CHESTER-MASTER, Richard C.
Memorial Parish Church RICHARD C. CHESTER-MASTER. D.S.0.
Memorial Hospital CHESTER-MASTER R.C.
Lt. Colonel Richard Chester Chester-Master D.S.O. 13th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
Born 29 Aug 1870, Stratton.
Enlisted [location].
Died 30 August 1917. Aged 47. Killed in Action. Belgium
Grave II.C.8. Locre Hospice Cemetery.
Notes: Son of Col. T.W. and G.E. Chester-Master. Husband of Geraldine Chester-Master, Querns Lane House, Cirencester. Chief Constable of Gloucestershire. Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic, 22 Sep 1917, photo.
CHRISTIE, W. Charles
Memorial Parish Church W. CHARLES CHRISTIE.
Memorial Hospital CHRISTIE W.C.
Major William Charles Christie. “D” Coy. 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Born Dec 1872. Cardiff.
Enlisted [location].
Died 13 October 1914. Aged 41. Killed in Action. France
Grave I.N.332. Meteren Military Cemetery
Notes: In 1911 Census at Brocklehurst, Hants, visiting father-in-law (head). Elder son of the late J.R. Christie and Mrs M. Christie of Baynton House, Llandaff. Husband of Florence Violet Christie (nee Biden), Somerset Lodge, Knowles Hill, Newton Abbot. Twice Mentioned in Despatches: SA 1899-1902, Medjidie #4.
Few experienced soldiers were available to train volunteers in the early months of the war. Many ‘teach yourself’ books were published, including Tactical Talks, written by Major Christie and published by Baily & Woods, Market Place, Cirencester, with at least 7 editions. Cheltenham & Glos’ Graphic, 24 Oct 1914, Roll of Honour, with photo. Resided at Chesterton, Cirencester. 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. “… a very promising and valuable officer”. Photo by W. Dennis Moss. Wills & Administrations. Probate date 4 Jan 1915. Death 13 Oct 1914. William Charles Christie of Southleigh, Cirencester died 13 Oct 1914 at Meteren in France on active service. Probate London 4 Jan 1915 to William Vernon Biden, director of a limited company and Stanley Percy Christie steam trawler owner. Effects £1182 6s 3d.
Wilts & Glos Standard 24 October 1914
MAJOR CHRISTIE KILLED IN ACTION
We regret to record that Major William Charles Christie, of the 2nd Battalion Warwickshire Regiment, of Southleigh, Chesterton, Cirencester, is reported killed in action, and the sincerest sympathy will be felt with Mrs Christie, her infant son, her father, Mr V. Biden, and the family in their bereavement. By Major Christie’s death the British army has lost one of its most promising and efficient officers. We hope to publish a full biographical notice in our next issue, and therefore now give only a few leading details of his distinguished career.
Major Christie was the eldest son of the late Mr John Christie, shipowner, of Baynton House, Llandaff. He was a fine athlete. Obtaining his commission in 1893 he was gazetted lieutenant in 1898, captain in 1900, and received a brevet-majority in 1902 , when he was the youngest major in the Army. He fought in Egypt and South Africa, being mentioned in dispatches on both occasions. After a period of regimental duty, Major Christie was attached two years ago to the General Staff as military instructor of officers’ training corps, and in pursuance of this work became adjutant to the contingents of the Universities of Birmingham and Bristol and of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. His name appears in Sir John French’s latest dispatches among the officers specially mentioned.
“A Brother Officer” sends the following tribute to The Times:
“He was a most gallant officer, a man who absolutely had no sense of fear. Under fire he was exactly the same as he was in the ordinary routine of regimental life. There are, of course, many such: but somehow he stood out in his brave way as a model to officers and men serving with him. This I well know, as I was with him on August 23- 26. For some time before the war he was an instructor for the O.T.C., and wrote a little book which was much use, I believe, in preparing for their examinations. Only on Sunday, little knowing I should see his death in Monday’s paper, I was talking with the master of a public school who knew him and who spoke of his keenness and ability. He was the keenest of sportsmen, and some readers of The Times may remember him as a soldier rider under National Hunt Rules in the later nineties. He was also a splendid long-distance runner, and, I believe, held the record for the Crick at Rugby. Two years or so ago he ran a long-distance race with the men and officers of his company, finishing as easy first in spite of his 40 years. He could never have done anything small or petty, and in his regiment everyone loved him, and his influence was felt in all ranks.”
Source: FB image 1914 10 24 Ref 129, with photograph.
Source: FB image 1914 10 31 Ref 141, with photograph
COLE, Clifford S.
Memorial Parish Church CLIFFORD S. COLE
Memorial Hospital COLE C.S.
Lieutenant Clifford Spearing Cole. 5th (Territorial) Battalion,
Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1896. Cirencester].
Enlisted [location].
Died 19 June 1916. Aged 20. Killed in Action.
Grave II.J.5. Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie
Notes: Son of W.H. and C.M. Christie, Bourne House, Brimscombe. Brother of Cyril L. Cole and Maxwell G. Cole. In 1911 Census, pupil at The College, Marlborough, Wilts. (age 15, c.1896, Ciren). Photograph: Capt. C.S. Cole and Lt. C. Cole, officers of 2/5 Glosters on Salisbury Plain before embarkation for France (25 May 1916). See A. Boden: F.W. Harvey, Soldier, Poet, p.113. Cheltenham Chronicle & Glos’ Graphic, 15 Jul 1916, with photo. Capt. Clifford Cole, Glos Reg. (Territorials), killed in action in France in June. Son of Mr & Mrs W.H. Cole of Bourne House, Brimscombe. He was a most popular and efficient officer, and had just been promoted before his death.
Wilts & Glos Standard 24 June 1916
CAPTAIN CLIFFORD COLE KILLED IN ACTION
Our readers will learn with great regret of the death in action, which occurred on Monday night last, of Captain Clifford S. Cole, 2/5th Gloucester Regiment, third son of Mr W.H. Cole, J.P., and Mrs Cole, of Bourne House, Brimscombe, and Cirencester. Captain Clifford Cole, who was only recently promoted, was 20 years of age and has two brothers also holding commissions in the Gloucesters. The greatest sympathy will be extended to Mr and Mrs Cole and family in their bereavement. Source: FB image 1916 06 24 Ref 192
Wilts & Glos Standard 1 July 1916
THE LATE CAPTAIN CLIFFORD S. COLE
Captain Clifford Spearing Cole, of the Gloucester Regiment, third son of Mr and Mrs W.H. Cole, of Bourne House, Brimscombe, and formerly of Cirencester, whose death from wounds caused by an aerial torpedo we last week announced with sincere regret, was only 20 years of age, and his promotion to the rank of captain took place but a few days before his death and has not yet been gazetted. He was educated first at Morton Hall Preparatory School, Worcestershire, and afterwards at the Cirencester Grammar School before proceeding to Marlborough. On leaving school he entered Singers’ Motor Cycle Works, Coventry, and when the war broke out applied for a commission, being gazetted to the Gloucesters in September 1914, and promoted temporary lieutenant in April 1915. He went with his battalion to France not much more than a month or five weeks ago. Soon after reaching the war zone he was selected for a course of instruction in trench mortars, and about the middle of June he was promoted temporary captain, being given the command of the two batteries of his battalion and appointed Brigade Light Trench Mortar Officers, with three officers and 35 men under him. He took the keenest interest in his new duties and looked forward to them with zest. He was of a particularly bright and attractive disposition, and one of the most popular officers in the battalion. On several occasions he took duty with the transport section for his brother, Lieutenant C.L. Cole, who received the following letter a few days ago:-
June 20th 1916 To Lieutenant C.L. Cole.
Sir, – It is the wish of the N.C.O.s and men of – Gloucesters Transport Section that I should write to you expressing their deep sympathy and regret upon hearing of the death in action of your brother, the late Captain C.S. Cole. He was not associated with us for any long period, but during the time we have been acquainted with him he was much admired and respected by all. Again expressing our deepest sympathy, I remain, on behalf of the Transport Section, Yours obediently, W.J. Clark, Transport Sergeant.
Captain Clifford Cole was buried on the 20th with two other Gloucestershire men, the guns firing over the funeral party the whole time. Mr and Mrs W.H. Cole’s two other sons in the Gloucesters are Captain F.W. Cole and Lieutenant C. Lawson Cole. Mr and Mrs Cole have received very many expressions of sympathy in their bereavement. Source: FB image 1916 07 01 Ref 205, 206 with photo; Ref 066 [item 3]
COLE, C.L. (Cyril L)
Memorial Parish Church Not recorded. [Died after memorial made]
Memorial Hospital COLE C.L.
Captain Cyril Lawson Cole. 5th (Territorials) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Born [c.1893. Place].
Enlisted [location].
Died 14 March 1919. Aged 26.
Grave XLV.C.14. Etaples Military Cemetery.
Notes: Son of W.H. and C.M. Cole, Bourne House, Brimscombe. Transport Officer 184 Bgde. Brother of Clifford S. Cole and Maxwell G. Cole. In 1911 Census, listed at Querns Lane House, university student, aged 18
COLE, Maxwell G.
Memorial Parish Church MAXWELL G. COLE.
Memorial Hospital COLE M.G. 2/Lieutenant (T) Maxwell Gerard Cole. 1st Sqdn. and General List, Royal Flying Corps.
Born [c.1899. Cirencester].
Enlisted [location].
Died 18 May 1917. Aged 18. Killed in Action.
Grave I.H. 19. Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery.
Notes: Son of W.H. and C.M. Cole, Bourne House, Brimscombe. Brother of Cyril L. Cole and Clifford S. Cole. In 1911 Census, listed at Querns Lane House, scholar, aged 12.
Grammar School Memorial, Bingham Hall, Cirencester.
Wilts & Glos Standard 26 May 1917
SECOND-LIEUTENANT MAX. COLE MISSING
We regret to learn that Mr and Mrs W.H. Cole, of Bourne House, Brimscombe, and formerly of Cirencester, have received the following letter, dated May 19th, from the Major Commanding No. Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, attached to the British Expeditionary Force in France:
I deeply regret to have to inform you that your son has been reported missing. He was engaged in a balloon attack and failed to return. Second-Lieutenant Cole was a very gallant officer and popular with his brother officers, who deeply deplore his loss, and beg you to accept their deep sympathy.
Second-Lieutenant Maxwell Gerard Cole, who was between 18 and 19 years of age, was Mr and Mrs Cole’s youngest son. He received his commission last August while he was at Marlborough College, and joined the Royal Flying Corps, after a fortnight’s holiday. After going through his period of training at various stations he went to France the first week in February, and has been on active service ever since. He recently came home for 10 days’ leave, afterwards extended to 15 days, and only returned to France a fortnight ago. The sincerest sympathy will be felt with Mr and Mrs Cole and family in what it is feared is their second bereavement during the war, an elder son, Lieutenant Clifford Cole, Gloucester Regiment, having been killed in action rather less than a year ago, viz., on the 19th June 1916.
Source: FB image 1917 05 26 Ref 283