Son of William & Sarah Larner, 3 Chesterton Lane. In 1911 Census Wilfred, age 15, living at 3 Chesterton Lane with parents and brother; working as carpet warehouse apprentice. 

Died at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme near village of Maricourt when a shell burst in the dug-out where he was sheltering. 

Peter Grace, text submitted to Wilts & Glos Standard, 18.4.2000. Wilfred Larner present in August 1914 at camp held in Cirencester Park; Cirencester Voluntary Aid (Men’s) Detachment of British Red Cross Society. [Extract from diary in Wilts & Glos Standard: date 18 Jul 1916] 

Wilts & Glos Standard October 17 1914 

CICETER MAN WITH THE R.A.M.C. 

Private Wilfred Larner, of the 27th Field Ambulance, in camp near Farnham, Surrey (formerly in the employ of Messrs. Fredk. Boulton and Sons, Limited), who volunteered from the Red Cross Camp in Earl Bathurst’s Park, for the R.A.M.C., has written to his parents, Mr and Mrs W. Larner, of 3 Chesterton-lane, Cirencester, as follows: 

“We are better off now we have shaken down to this camp. Of course it takes time to get everything settled, but we are O.K. now. We had two pair of pants, a woollen jacket, a hair brush and comb and boot brush and extra towel to-day. The others, or most of them, have boots. They are getting a special pair for me, so I shall be all right. They take more care of our boots being comfortable than anything else. I was vaccinated yesterday, but have not found anything of it. I am pleased to say I am in the best of health and spirits. Am enjoying this life now we are used to it. The time does slip by. Fancy, I shall soon be starting my 19th year. I shall soon be an old man. There are 11 of us from Cirencester in our tent, one Scot, and a fellow from Portsmouth. They want me to be bugler. I don’t know whether to be or not. The King and Princess were here the other day. Lord Kitchener and Colonel Seely were with him. You would laugh to see me darning my socks last night. I am hot stuff on the job, also at washing clothes. I am quite a handy man. We have to be here. We have some grand bacon for breakfast, boiled, of course. We are warm enough nights. We have two blankets each, and my overcoat keeps me warm. We sleep close together, and are warm as toast.” 

Wilts & Glos Standard July 29 1916 

PRIVATE WILFRED LARNER KILLED 

Private Wilfred Sidney Larner, R.A.M.C., son of Mr and Mrs William Larner, Chesterton, Cirencester, was killed in France on July 18th aged 20 years. The deceased had enlisted at the British Red Cross Camp in Earl Bathurst’s park in August 1914. 

The following letter gives particulars of Private Larrner’s death and conveys the sympathy of his comrades to the bereaved parents:- B.E.F., 19/7/16. 

Dear Mrs Larner, – I am writing to you to break the sad news of Wilf’s death. He was killed on the 18th inst., by a shell which burst in a dugout where he was at the time, killing him and several others instantly. Please accept the sympathy of myself and the other Ciceter lads of this ambulance. We have been with him since we all enlisted together at the British Red Cross Camp in the Park in August, 1914. We shall all miss him very much indeed, as he was of such a bright, cheerful disposition and always ready to do anything that was required of him. I have made a note of the place where he is buried, but cannot for military reasons, let you have it just at present. All the other Ciceter lads are well, including myself, with the exception of Fred. Bartlett, of Bibury, who was wounded at the same time. I cannot inform his parents as I have not been able to obtain their address. If there is anything further that I can do for you, please let me know, and I shall be only too willing to do anything that is in my power to do. Again expressing the deepest sympathy of myself and comrades, I remain, Yours very sincerely, ARTHUR LANE, Sergeant, R.A.M.C., 37038 27th Field Ambulance (Late of Messrs. Parry & Son.) 

For Sergeant J.H. Shayler, Privates C. Goodworth, F. Mills, E.W. Hunt, A.F. Holloman, R.R. Smith (Bibury), G. Fabray, and H.R. Clarke. 

Mr F. Brocklehurst, commanding officer of the Cirencester Company of the the Boys’ Brigade, writes: 

“Wilfred Larner was an ex-member of the 1st Cirencester Company of the Boys’ Brigade, having joined in November 1908. He was given a stripe in 1910, became a successful bugler, and in 1912 was appointed to the highest non-commissioned rank, viz., Staff-Sergeant. In May 1913, Larner was the leading bugler in a company of seven who attended the Boys’ Brigade Demonstration at the Royal Albert Hall, London, as Orderly Buglers. Five of these voluntarily joined the Army soon after the outbreak of war. This makes the fifth old member of the 1st Cirencesters to lose his life in the present war. He also gave the Last Post at the Memorial Service for the late King Edward at the Congregational Church. – F. BROCKLEHURST.” 

Many letters of sympathy have been received by Mr and Mrs Larner, including those from Mr Fredk. Boulton and Mr Sydney Boulton, of the firm where he was employed (Messrs. Fredk. Boulton and Sons), and for which they tender their best thanks. 

Source: WGS 1916 07 29 Larner 

Source: FB image 1916 07 29 Ref 291-3, with photo Source: FB image 1916 07 29 Ref 103 

Wilts & Glos Standard 21 October 1916 

DEAD CIRENCESTER SOLDIER’S DIARY 

Interesting and Pathetic Record Private Wilfred Sidney Larner, R.A.M.C., son of Mr and Mrs William Larner, Chesterton, Cirencester, was killed in France on July 18th, aged 20 years. The deceased had enlisted at the British Red Cross Camp in Earl Bathurst’s park in August 1914. We are now able to give our readers the young soldier’s diary from May 30th up to two days before his death, which was caused by a shell which burst in a dug-out. The entries in the diary are typical of the spirit which animates our incomparable Army – unreservedly frank and splendidly cheerful under all circumstances 

      May 30, 1916. – We leave Bailleul for Douleau, a journey of 12 miles. Douleau is a small village. We stay here for five days. I start cooking. Everything very quiet. 

      June 5. – We leave Douleau for Morbiegue (?), a distance of 13 miles. We stay the night in bivouacs, and on the 6th we move to La Blesse, a journey of 14 miles. Wyatt and I walk to a village four miles away to buy cigs. When we reached the village the K.O.S.B. had cleared all cigs up. 

      Wednesday, 6th. – We rest at La Blesse. I am on guard at night. In the morning we discover a farm- house where we bought coffee and brandy. At three o’clock we leave for Nouville, a journey of 12 miles. A small village, with two estaminets. Here we could buy spirits. Divisional manoeuvres were carried out on the 7th and 8ths. 

      On the 9th, Friday, I was in trouble with the Colonel for cards. On Saturday we celebrated S— birthday not wisely but too well. On Sunday I have a bad head. Everything quiet. I find more trouble at night for pinching the farmer’s wood. 

      Whit-Monday, 12th June. – We leave for Marthes, a journey of 10 miles. We stop the night and start at six Thursday morning for Rancourt, a journey of 70 miles. I enjoyed the journey, but was disappointed to find Rancourt such a small place – one estaminet, only one girl, and she was boss-eyed. We have no rations, so we look round for grub at a farm. While waiting for eggs to be cooked we amuse ourselves with a hay cutter. I broke it, then the boss-eyed girl used bad language about it. 

          Wednesday. – We cannot get news of the Ambulance or get any rations. At mid-day we find we are in the wrong place. We are the wrong side of Amiens, so Thursday morning we start for Corbie, a journey of 22 miles. We pass through Amiens, a very big town, and at 12 o’clock we reach Corbie. Here we find the Ambulance and have a meal. Corbie is a big town, with a cinema. On Saturday we are moved into a brewery for our billets. I was a T.T. all the time. Sunday was a flag day. The girls of Corbie were very busy around us. 

       Monday, 19th. – We leave Corbie for Celestin Wood, where there is a detachment of bearers. Here we see the preparations for the big drive. 

      Tuesday. – I go to Bray. Here are no civilians, therefore no beer, girls, etc. Not much grub but plenty of shells. Wednesday, 20th [sic] – I go to Bringfry [Bronfay] Farm dressing station. We take officers to look around the trenches. On Thursday we leave to meet officers at four o’clock at the farm. Owing to tyre trouble we didn’t arrive till 5.30. The officers had walked back by that time. More trouble! 

Friday. – At 11 p.m. we start for Trigger Valley after a great sing-song with the 27th Brigade. Bombardment very heavy. The 7th Division started the charge on the 1st July, 4 a.m. I saw the French artillery shell the German lines. 1,200 prisoners were brought down. Sunday. – The British take Mametz and ….. The 27th Brigade are in reserve. 

      Monday, 3rd. – 11 R.S., 12 R.S., and K.O.S.B. take Bornagay [Bernafay] Wood. Very heavy shelling on both sides. We make a dressing station in the second German line. In the German first line dead lie in heaps. We work all day and night.        Tuesday. – We have three hours off. In the afternoon the Ambulance has two casualties, one killed, one wounded, in Bornagay [Bernafay] Wood. The 27th Brigade lose heavily. German artillery very active. We have one wounded and four men suffer from shell shock through being buried. I get six hours’ sleep. Wednesday. – I get a parcel from R. At nine o’clock I am sent with seven others to the 12th R.S. for duty at Bornagay [Bernafay] Wood. A German dressing-station is found 60 feet under the ground. Continued shelling. The 15th Division join up on our left. We learn that the 12th R.S. have captured 12 guns. 

      Thursday evening. – I am in the fire trench dressing the wounded as they fall. For four hours after we carry wounded to the dressing station. In the evening we were under very heavy shell fire for four hours. We have two wounded. Friday. – I pick up a wounded officer and take him to La Nouvelle. On our return journey we are had for exceeding the speed limit. So we bought a jar of beer to console us. Saturday was very quiet. We had a very heavy thunderstorm at night. We have a broken spring. We return to Corbie – the brewery. Monday. – The bombardment started. Tuesday. – The bombardment continues heavily. 

      Wednesday, 20th. – I am attached to Bearers’ section and am sent to Grove Town Camp, where the rest of the Bearers are. Thursday. – The bombardment is a little quieter. We are waiting news of the charge. Friday. – I get relieved from the 12th R.S. We were jolly thankful. Saturday. – Morning quiet. At 5 a.m. the dressing station was shelled very heavily. Two of our men wounded. We have plenty of work again. At 8 p.m. the 27th Brigade is relieved. 200 prisoners come down. We march to West Peronne dressing station. That closes the hottest week I have had in my life. 

       Sunday, 9th. – We are able to get a decent wash and change. While bathing we were shelled badly. We were shelled all night. Monday. – We are forced to dig ourselves in as the place is d—– hot. We have another man wounded. At 9 a.m. six of us Bearers were sent to Maricourt dressing station to assist 2 and 2A, as they had a rush. We had a good rum issue. 

       Wednesday, 12th. – Return from Maricourt, one killed, one wounded, 7 a.m. We are shelled continually. My number was almost up, as a high explosive burst alongside my dugout. Another has just this minute dropped covering me with dirt. Thursday, 13th. – Shelling still continues, one wounded. We have more digging to do as our cook-house was knocked in. Very hard work. I confess my thoughts were at Ciren. to-day. At 6.30 attached to the 12th R.S.; 8.30 start for trenches; reach and stay in No-man’s Land at 11.30. The moon very bright. A shell kills twelve R.S. Friday, three o’clock. – Charge started. We have heaps of wounded. I got a hit in the leg from shrapnel. Hundreds of Germans captured. They have to carry wounded. At 12 o’clock we sat down for a sleep. They shell us very heavily. We get busy again. We have one officer, three men wounded. 

      Saturday, 15th. – We go to L—— for dead officers. Very hot time, so very glad to get nice letter from R., especially with story. Sunday, 16. – We take a dressing station in L—–. Very heavy shelling and rain. The 12th R.S. get an easier position. We return to valley for night. 

      Monday, 17. –