While researching my own family home in Bath, I came across a newspaper clipping about a young soldier from the house opposite. What began as curiosity became a much deeper investigation into the Moore family, who lived at 29 Tennyson Road for sixty-five years.
At the centre of that story is Willie Moore — athlete, tank officer, oil engineer and twice a soldier — wounded at Loos and Cambrai, awarded the Military Cross and later working the oilfields of Venezuela and Iraq. But the family around him proved equally worth knowing. This is their story.
In the early 2000s, a British War Medal appeared for sale online, long separated from the man who had earned it by the passage of time. It is engraved 59226 SJT . W. NEWTON . MANCH . R .—a name, a number, a regiment. Walter Newton was born in Oldham in 1890, enlisted in 1915, and served on the Western Front through some of the most dangerous months of the war. He came home, worked in the cotton mills, and ran a post office with his wife Ethel. He died in 1973, aged 83. This is his story.
Charles William John LINCE was born 1887 in Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex. He enlisted c.1916 in the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), and became missing in action and presumed dead on 22 Sep 1917 age 30.
Alfred GINN was born Jan 1872 in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire. He enlisted on 5th Sep 1889 into the 3rd Hussars and fought in the Boer War with the 6th and 2nd Dragoons. He was discharged after 21 years service in 1910 and re-enlisted 25th May 1915 as a 2nd Warrant Officer for the Military Mounted Police Corps. Alfred was killed in action just under 4 months later on 1st Oct 1915 age 43, leaving a wife and three young children.
Alfred GILBERT was born 9th Apr 1879 in Barningham, Suffolk. He enlisted 2nd Dec 1914 as a Private in the Essex Regiment (1st Battalion), and became MIA then confirmed killed on 6th Aug 1915 aged 36. He left behind a wife and four children.
Robert James FEAKINS was born 1897 in Hadleigh, Essex. He enlisted underage into the 2/6th Essex Regiment in Nov 1914, later transferred to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (7th Battalion). He was killed in action on 7th Oct 1916 age 19.
Thomas Henry FARLEY was born 1897 in Southend-On-Sea, Essex. He was fostered into the BARNES family in 1902, and lived in Hadleigh, Essex until 1914 when he was send to Canada. He enlisted in the 1st Canadian Labour Corps on 20th Apr 1916 and died from wounds on 19th Aug 1917 age 19.
Charles EADE was born 5th May 1895 at Weeley Heath, Essex. He enlisted into the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment on 24th Aug 1914 and died of wounds on 16th Jun 1915 (only eight days after arriving in France). He was 20 years old.
Richard COWELL was born in 1893 at Little Barford, Essex and died from Pneumonia whilst serving in the Labour Corps on 9th Nov 1918 age 25. His younger brother William was born in 1897 at Hadleigh, Essex and died 17th Dec 1915 whilst serving in the 9th Essex Regiment aged 18.
John Henry COOLLEDGE was born on 25th Jul 1884 at Purleigh, Essex. He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Stoker in 1902 and was serving aboard HMS Cressy when war broke out. On 22nd Sep 1914 John’s ship was was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9 whilst in the North Sea near Holland with the loss of 560 of her crew, including John. He was aged 30.
John Hugh COMPTON (aka Jack) was born 1st Aug 1897 at Walthamstow, Essex. He enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment during Sep 1914 aged 17 and was sent to France on 24th Mar 1915. Jack was killed in action just one month later on 25th April.
Reginald COLLINS was born 12th Sep 1897 in St George Hanover Square Pimlico, London. He enlisted on 26th Jun 1916 into the 24th London Regiment, Queen’s Battalion and died in action in Greece on 7th May 1917 aged 19 with the rank of sergeant.
Charles Claude COLLINS was born on 10th June 1880 at Ipswich, Suffolk. He enlisted into the 3rd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) volunteer unit on 2nd Jun 1915 but was swiftly discharged as unfit. He died 5th Dec 1916 of Tuberculosis age 36.
Harold CLIFFORD was born in 1883 at Battersea, Surrey. He enlisted into the 11th Royal Sussex Regiment in Jun 1916 and was killed in action on 18th Sep 1917 age 34/35.
Stephen CHOPPEN was born in 1895 at Hadleigh, Essex. He enlisted into the 9th Essex Regiment in 1915 and was killed accidentally on 25th May 1916 age 21.
Fred CHOPPEN was born in 1889 in Thundersley, Essex. He enlisted into the 7th King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 22nd Feb 1915 and was killed in action 15th Sep 1916 age 27.
Frederick CARTER was born Mar 1900 in Southchurch, Essex. He enlisted underage at 14 (almost 15) into the 10th Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) in Mar 1915 and was killed in action on 3rd Sep 1916 age 16.
Harold Henry CALVERLEY was born in 1896 in Hadleigh, Essex. Shortly after war broke out, he enlisted as a Private into the Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment) 12th Battalion. He disembarked for France on 1st Sep 1915 and just 28 days later, on 28th Sep 1915, he was listed as missing in action. He was later presumed to have been killed on this date during the Battle of Loos. Harold was 19 years old.
Herbert John BUSH was born in 1885 at Rawreth, Essex. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment 2nd Battalion in Mar 1916 and was killed in action on 15 Oct 1916.
John Albert ARNOLD (also known as John Albert CLARKE), born in Islington, London, in 1899, enlisted twice while underage before joining the London Regiment for a third time. He died of wounds received during the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux on 25th April 1918.
