305770 Corporal FREDERICK THOMAS BAILEY (Born Purton).
10th Battalion, Tank Corps

(Formerly 520010 Royal engineers).
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 30 on the 25th August 1918.
Son of Mrs. A. Bailey, of Brinkworth; husband of Violet Mabel Bailey, of 47, Cambria Place, Swindon.
Frederick was formerly employed by the GWR Company as a clerk in the locomotive department.
Buried GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY, XII. A. 29.

29193 Private JOHN BERTIE BLACKFORD (Born Purton).
8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 41 on the 28th July 1917.Son of the late Joseph and Roshanna Blackford, of 41, Rolleston St., Swindon; husband of Sarah Annie Blackford, of 140, Beatrice St., Swindon, Wilts.
John has no known grave. Remembered on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Panel 22 and 34.

13637 WILLIAM BOOKER.
10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Enlisted in Neath. Killed in action aged 23, on the 25th of September 1915.
Son of Thomas and Eliza Booker, of Braydon, Purton.
William has no known grave. Remembered on the LOOS MEMORIAL panel 60 – 64

7525 Lance Corporal DANIEL GEORGE BULL (Born Preston, Wilts)
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
Enlisted in Swindon. Died age 27 on the 31st August 1916.
Son of Thomas and Fanny Bull; husband of Eleanor (nee Lovelock), of Upper Square, Purton. Daniel lived in Swindon.
Buried in BASRA WAR CEMETERY V. E. 11

12334 Private GEORGE EDWARD BUTCHER
(Born Burton-on-Trent, resident of Swindon)
2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Formerly employed by the GWR Company in Swindon as a moulder in
U shop (Foundry), in the locomotive and carriage department.
Enlisted in Swindon. Died age 28 on the 26th April 1918.
Son of Mrs. Sarah Butcher, of Battlewell, Purton. George lived in Swindon.
George has no known grave. Remembered on TYNE COT MEMORIAL Panel 119 to 120.

10123 Private NELSON CALDWELL (Born Purton, resident of Marlborough).
"A" Coy. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Marlborough. Died of wounds received aged 21, 20th May 1915.
Son of John and Mary Caldwell, of The Turnpike, Rockley Rd., Marlborough.
Buried ELZENWALLE BRASSERIE CEMETERY, I. D. 2.

20888 Private PERCY EDWARD DASH (Born Purton, resident of Swindon).
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action aged 18 on the 9th April 1916.
Son of Francis James and Ellen Dash, of 36, Clifton St., Swindon.
AMARA WAR CEMETERY, XVI. L. 1.

19171 Lance Corporal WILLIAM JOHN EDMONDS
1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 23, 12th April 1918.
Son of Alfred and Alice Edmonds, of Lydiard Green, Purton.
William has no known grave, Remembered on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL Panel 8.

22153, Corporal OLIVER JAMES EVELEIGH.
2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
Died aged 28 on the 2nd of April 1918. CWGC official listings record he was the Son of Thomas Eveleigh, of 5, Whiteman St., Gorse Hill, Swindon; husband of Rose Eveleigh, of 111, Garden Cottages, Maidenhead, Berks.
Oliver is the brother of William Eveleigh recorded who is recoded on the Purton memorial and like his brother has no known grave, but is remembered with honour on the POZIERES MEMORIAL panel 56 and 57

10619 Private CHARLES REGINALD EDMONDS
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
Died age 22 on the 25th May 1920
Son of Alfred and Alice Edmonds, of Lydiard Green, Purton. Brother of William Edmonds detailed above.
Buried in LYDIARD MILLICENT CHURCH CEMETERY grave G. 29.

129118 Gunner ESAW HAWCUTT
Clearing Office, Royal Garrison Artillery, formerly 186th Siege Battery.

Formerly employed by the GWR Company at Purton train station.
Died aged 27 on the 4th February 1919.
Son of Mrs. Mary Ann Hawcutt, of Bruern, Kingham, Oxford.
Buried in MILTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD (SS. SIMON AND JUDE) CHURCHYARD, his brother was killed in action 26th August 1917.

20672 L/Cpl ALBERT EDWARD HAYWARD
(Born Purton, resident of Cricklade).
2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action on the 9th April 1917.
Albert has no known grave, remembered on the ARRAS MEMORIAL, Bay 7

966436 Driver GEORGE HICKS (Resident Purton).
303rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action on the 7th November 1917.
George has no known grave, remembered on JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, Panel 7.

CH/1929 (S) Private WALTER HUNT
2nd Royal Marine Battalion. Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine
Light Infantry.

Formerly employed by the GWR Company as a porter at Purton Station.
Killed in action on the 27th March 1918.
Walter has no known grave, remembered on the ARRAS MEMORIAL bay 1.

Walter worked for the Great Western railway company and was employed at Purton Train station as a porter in the highways department. He served with the Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) a branch of the Royal Naval Division (RND).
The RND was a unique formation in The Great War, raised to serve as Infantrymen fighting alongside their Army comrades.
Walter enlisted aged 19 on the 5th December 1916. On completion of training he joined the 11th entrenching Battalion on the 26th March 1917. On the 2nd May he transferred to the 2nd Battalion RMLI , and after being wounded on the 17th July 1917 with a gunshot wound to the face was invalided back to the UK on the 20th July.

Walter returned to the 2nd Battalion RMLI at Reifersberg camp on the 2nd December 1917. Walters’s official date of death is listed as the 27th March 1918; the Battalion was engaged in action around Aveloy Wood. Walter has no known grave but is remembered on the Arras memorial.

39015 Private REGINALD ARTHUR JONES
(Born Braydon, resident Shipton-on Stour)
39015, 2nd Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
(Formerly 159766, Army Service Corps).
Enlisted at Park Royal, Middlesex. Died at sea aged 29 on the 3rd
August 1918.
Son of John and Annie Jones, of Keeper's Lodge, Hodson, Swindon; husband of Beatrice Annie Jones, of 4, New Rd., Chisledon, Swindon, Wilts.
Lost at sea Reginald is remembered with honour on the HOLLYBROOK MEMORIAL, SOUTHAMPTON.

Reginald was injured during service and evacuated back to England on the morning of the 3rd August 1918. He was on board HMT Warilda a converted steamship that was being used as a hospital ship having previously operated as a troopship.

The Warlida had sailed from Le-Havre in France bound for Southampton when despite being clearly identified as a hospital ship, at 1:30 AM she was torpedoed by a German U-boat the UC-49. HMT Warlida sank within 2 hours, of the 471 sick and injured persons on board 115 were killed.

The HMT Warlida lies on the channel seabed as a War Grave. Reginald is remembered with honour on the HOLLYBROOK MEMORIAL, Southampton.

PO/2214/S Private WILLIAM JORDAN (Resident Purton)
1st Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry
Killed in action 1st January 1918
Husband to Elizabeth, 9 Clarence Cottages, The Square, Purton.
Buried in METZ-EN-COUTURE communal cemetery, British extension, II F 2

6481Private CHARLES JAMES KIBBLEWHITE (Born Purton December 1884)
1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment.

Formally a labourer in A shop at GWR works Swindon.
Enlisted in Swindon, arrived France 14th August 1914,Killed in action aged 29 on 24th August 1914.
Son of William and Thirza Kibblewhite, of 61, Beatrice St., Gorse Hill, Swindon; husband of Mrs. E. Kibblewhite, of Eastrop Hill, Highworth, Wilts.
Remembered with honour LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL

20723 Private FREDERICK HENRY LITTEN
(Born Purton, resident of Marlborough).
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action aged 25 on the 25th January 1917.
Husband of A. E.Litten, of 4, Council Houses, Inkpen Common, Berks.
Frederick has no known grave, remembered on AMARA WAR CEMETERY, XVII. A. 11.

L/1582 Lance Serjeant TOM MARTIN (Born Purton, resident of Swindon).
21st (Empress of India's) Lancers.
Enlisted in Canterbury, Tom was stationed in Cairo at the outbreak of War, and later moved to the frontier station at Risalpur.
Died of sunstroke 30th July 1915.
Buried in Nowshera Military Cemetery. N.15.
Remembered on DELHI MEMORIAL (INDIA GATE)

1079 Private ALFRED MATTHEWS (Born Purton).
2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment (Formally 13467 Wiltshire Regiment)
Enlisted in Swindon. Died of wounds received aged 22 on 21st October 1918.
Son of Mr. A. W. and Mrs. E. J. Matthews, of Marston Meysey, Cricklade, Wilts.
Buried in DADIZEELE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY I B 29

7586 Private JAMES POUND (Born Purton, resident of Newbury).
1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action aged 26 on the 12th March 1915.
Son of Charles and Christina Janet Pound, of Hill Green, Peasemore, Newbury.
James has no known grave. Remembered on YPRES (MENIN GATE), Panel 53

CPO GEOFFREY CHARLTON PAINE RUMMING (Born Purton 1888)
CGM, Mentioned In Dispatches, Medaille Militaire.
F/813, H.M.S. "President II.", Royal Naval Air Service.
Died of wounds received at Gallipoli aged 29 on the 4th November 1917.
Son of William and Mary Nellie Rumming, of "Capenor," Portishead, Bristol.
Received wounds to the cranium while attacking Turkish trenches in an armoured car on Gallipoli 4th June 1915.
Buried in CALNE (CURZON STREET) CEMETERY, Grave reference A3.

Geoffrey was born in Purton and was to die 2 years after the Gallipoli venture, his wounds he received during the ill fated campaign a factor in his later death. Geoffrey was a highly decorated man, receiving the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and Medaille Militaire; he was also Mentioned In Despatches. Geoffrey enlisted on 27th October 1914 as an Air Mechanic 1st class initially as an engineer; He gave his trade on enlistment as a Miller. At a later date he was transferred to armoured cars when he would have been promoted to Petty Officer Mechanic. He was with No 3 Armoured Car Squadron at the Gallipoli landings. There he was onboard the SS River Clyde which made the famous landing on V beach. The landing did not go as planned and there were many wounded soldiers in the water requiring assistance. Petty Officer (PO) Peering seeing this called for help and was assisted by numerous 13 platoon, D Company, Anson battalion members as well as CPO Rumming. They joined Sub Lt Arthur Tisdall in carrying out numerous journeys to rescue soldiers in the water & stranded on rocks. Rumming later recalled;

“There were four men in the boat, the late Sub Lt Tisdall, a black bearded PO, a seaman & myself. We got 3 wounded in the boat on the first trip & 4 in the second trip. Beyond getting a few bullet holes in the boat above the waterline, the first trip was quite successful. On the second trip Sub Lt Tisdall & myself clambered over a spit of rock to get to the men lying higher up. We got shot at, lay down for a time. As we were lifting the last wounded man into the boat I got hit again in the back. We had taken the boat a little further ashore, and when we went to push of again found her grounded. When we did eventually succeed in getting off Lt Tisdall & myself were unable to climb into the boat & so we hung onto the side as the other 2 men keeping as low as possible rowed back to the River Clyde”

On this trip back Tisdall and another man were wounded. The small party had tried for over an hour to recover as many servicemen as possible from under the Turkish machine guns. One of the witnesses to this action was Lt Cmdr Wedgwood, Rummings CO and was a close friend of a certain Winston Churchill, recommending CPO Rumming and another CPO (Russell) for the Victoria Cross. This was not awarded but they were awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal instead. Sub Lt Tisdall was to be awarded the VC, he was later killed in action on the 6th May.

Later on in the Gallipoli campaign on the 4th of June 1915 during the attack on Krithia Geoffrey was wounded in the cranium, admitted to base hospital and later invalided home. He was subsequently discharged from the navy. On His recovery he was accepted as a cadet for commission in the Machine Gun Corps, but was discharged from training on medical grounds. He died on the 4th December 1917.

His Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) was gazetted on the 16th August 1915 and was mentioned in despatches on the 6th August 1915. The CGM at that time was only available to members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Only 108 such medals were awarded during the entire First World War as compared with a total of 633 VCs awarded in the same period, which was available to all servicemen. The CGM was one of the few medals which carried with it an annual annuity. Geoffrey is buried in Curzen Street cemetery, Calne, Wiltshire.

26939 Private WILLIAM JAMES SAINSBURY (Resident Purton).
15th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 34 on the 14th April 1918.
Son of William and Asenath Sainsbury, of 12, Victory Row,
Wootton Bassett, Wilts.
Buried in MORBECQUE BRITISH CEMETERY, Plot I. Row D. Grave 7.

71257 Private CHARLES HENRY SKUSE
(Born Purton 1879, resident of Birmingham).
10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nott’s and Derby Regiment).
Enlisted in Nottingham. Killed in action on the 20th October 1918.
Buried in NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, C. 10

47216 Private HERBERT SHOPLAND
(Born Purton, 1876)
28th General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Enlisted in Yarmouth. Died on the 18th June 1916.
Buried in SALONIKA (LEMBET ROAD) MILITARY CEMETERY, 163.