T.R.BARTLETT
265848 Private THOMAS RICHARD BARTLETT.
11th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (Formally 4379 Wiltshire Regiment).
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 39 on the 15th August 1917.
Son of John and Phoebe Bartlett, of Pavenhill, Purton; husband of Mabel Bartlett, of Pavenhill.
Buried in STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE, Grave Ref: Div. 62. I. H. 1.

R.BEASSANT
102179 Gunner RICHARD BEASANT.
"C" Battery, 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action aged 21 on the 6th June 1918.
Son of Richard and Louisa of Lydiard.
Buried in MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY, Grave Reference: IV. F. 10.

A.BROWN M.C



Captain & ADJ ARTHUR ANTHONY BROWN.
271st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Died following a heart attack aged 31 on the 4th March 1918.
Son of John and Amelia Elizabeth Brown, of The Close.
Buried in RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY, PALESTINE, Grave Reference: K. 61.
The Remembrance book located in St Mary’s Church states burial at Sarona in Palestine.

Arthur was the son of John and Amelia Elizabeth Brown, of The Close Purton, born on April 30th 1886 in Chilhampton.

Prior to enlisting Arthur was working as a tea planter in Ceylon (Sri-lanka). He enlisted whilst in Ceylon into the Ceylon Mounted Rifles and in 1914 he was invalid back to England suffering from malaria. He recovered from this & by now the Great War was raging so he joined the 271st Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (RFA).

In February 1916 Arthur proceeded to Egypt and then onto Palestine. On the 4th June 1918 he died suddenly just north of Jerusalem from heart failure.

Arthur’s citation for the award of the Military Cross read as follows;

“For conspicuous devotion to duty throughout the operations before Gaza and subsequently during the advance culminating with the action securing the Jaffa-Jerusalem Line. This Officer as adjutant to a group of six batteries during the bombardment and attack on the Gaza defenses was tireless in the performance of his duties and his organization of ammunition supply, communication and returns, was beyond praise.”

J.R.BROWN
Lieutenant JOHN RANBY BROWN.
102nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment).
Formerly employed as a farmer in Canada.
Killed in action aged 38 on the 27th September 1918.
Son of Edward Cecil and Isabel Brown. Husband of Azeela E. Brown, of Rose Cottage.
Buried in BOURLON WOOD CEMETERY, Grave Reference: I. A. 17.

John attested in Canada on the 11th March 1916, giving his trade on enlistment as Farmer. He listed his Next of kin as Ezeela Ellen Brown (Wife). On enlistment he joined the 102nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry, John was killed in action aged 38 on the 27th September 1918. There are no recorded details as to his death.

V.OAKLEY-BROWN
Lieutenant VALENTINE OAKLEY-BROWN.
3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales' Own).
Killed in action during a cavalry charge aged 22 on the 9th October 1918.
Son of Arthur and Alice Oakley-Brown, of Norbury.
Buried in BUSIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Grave Reference: VI. D. 1.

Lt Valentine Wolfton Oakley-Brown was born on the 15th February 1896, the son of Mr AC Oakley Brown a Veterinary Surgeon and Alice Oakley Brown of Purton, Wiltshire.

Valentine was educated at Belmore House School and Cheltenham Grammar School between 1909 and 1913 after which he became an articled clerk at Earengay and Green, Solicitors, 10 Regent Street, London but also studied to become a Veterinary Surgeon. On the outbreak of the War he joined the public school battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and went to the Royal Military College Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the 3rd (POW) Dragoon Guards.

A.BUNCE



9942 Private ARTHUR ROBERT BUNCE.
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Formerly employed by the GWR Company in Swindon as a machinist in the locomotive and carriage department.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action aged 21 on the 10th August 1915.
Son of John Robert and Mary Ann Bunce, of Pavenhill,
Arthur has no known grave. Remembered on HELLES MEMORIAL Panel 156 to 158.

A.BUNCE
612080 ALBERT BUNCE.
Prisoner of war escort, Labour Corp.
(Formerly 35244 Royal Warwickshire Regiment)
Who died aged 20 on the 11th April 1919 back in civilian workplace in Swindon. He is not eligible for a CWGC headstone because of this
Son of William and Susannah, Odd time cottage, Pavenhill.
Buried in PURTON (ST MARY) CHURCHYARD.

F.BURGESS
22941 Private FRANCIS JOHN BURGESS.
1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Swindon. Died aged 25 on the 28th November 1916 in Bradford hospital of wounds received in France.
Son of John and Mary Burgess, of High St, Francis lived in Swindon.
Buried in PURTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD Marker 1. 24.

P.COOK (G Cook on CWGC Headstone, Elijah on SDGW & MIC)
43258 Private PERCY COOK.
2/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.(Formerly 58106 Wilts Yeomanry)
Enlisted in Trowbridge. Died in a train accident on the 26th November 1918.
Son of Thomas and Ellen of Pavenhill.
Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Grave Reference: VIII. A.A. 22.

G Cook on CWGC headstone, all other references to him have been confirmed as Elijah, both on his MIC & regimental research. I have contacted the CWGC about the different details held for him, I have yet to hear back from them on this matter. After the Armistice came into effect his regiment after spending time in Cambrai received orders for the Division to move right back for training, and rest. The 182nd Brigade entrained on November 24th and were carried back by way of Denain and Douai to Arms. The next day the train journey continued, through St. Pol and Frevent to Auxi-le-Chateau. Just outside the station occurred a disastrous accident. The railway engine left the line, coaches violently collided and one of them was crushed. Percy and 4 others were killed and six more were seriously injured. Along with his Battalion colleauges he was origionally buried in the Churchyard at Cramont where the Battalion was billeted, later they were moved to the large communal cemetary at Terlincthum overlooking the English channel.

E.CURTIS
22755 Private EDWARD FRANK CURTIS.
6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 21 on the 6th July 1916.
Son of Mr. James and Sophia of Station Rd.
Buried in HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE, Grave Reference: I. A. 26.