The following list shows the names commemorated on the War memorial in alphabetical order followed by information gained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and book of remembrance inside St Mary’s Church, as well as further information gained from my own follow up research. I have used the recorded family members according to the St Mary’s book of remembrance as well as consulting details held on the CWGC register. The CWGC details were recorded sometimes many years after the War had ended, families had moved & widows sometimes had remarried. This list records as close as possible the details of family members immediately after the Great War. I must firstly thank the Commonwealth War graves Commission (CWGC) for giving me permission to reproduce details held in their archives. These details I have used to confirm my finding elsewhere.

R.JEFFERIES



9846 Private HENRY REGINALD JEFFERIES.
1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Formerly employed by the GWR Company in Swindon as a labourer in the locomotive and carriage department.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 22 on the 24th October 1914.
Son of Albert Edward and Charlotte Jefferies of Clarden Lane.
Henry has no known grave. Remembered on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Panel 33/34.

Reginald like many from Purton worked for the Great Western Railway Company in Swindon where he was employed as a Labourer in the locomotive and carriage department. Reginald was the first Purton fatality of the Great War and indeed the only fatality from the village during 1914. Reginald disembarked in France on the 21st September 1914. The Swindon advertiser dated the 1st of December 1914 confirmed what was already “rumour” around the village, the pages of the newspaper were already filled with daring deeds of War, & lengthening casualty lists.

E.KIBBLEWHITE
7252 Serjeant ERNEST HERBERT KIBBLEWHITE.
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 27 on the 10th August 1915.
Son of the late Mr and Mrs W. Kibblewhite, of Station Rd, husband of Rachel Mary (nee Rees) 20 Bryn road Neath Glam. Ernest was born in Swindon.
Ernest has no known grave. Remembered on HELLES MEMORIAL, Panel 156 to 158.

C.LANDER (Spelt Landor in the book of Remembrance)
50523 Private CHARLES C LANDER.
1st/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment.
Killed in action aged 33 on the 18th May 1918.
Son of John and Mary Lander; husband of Susan Lander, of High St, a father of 5 children. Charles died in the City of London hospital.
Buried in SWINDON (RADNOR STREET) CEMETERY, Grave C. 3514.

F.C.LANE
18482 Private FREDERICK CHARLES LANE.
5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Farringdon. Missing in action aged 28 on the 5th April 1918.
Son of Frederick and Sarah of Bagbury Lane.
Buried in BOUZINCOURT RIDGE CEMETERY, ALBERT, Grave : II. J. 10.

J.LANE
203306 Private JOHN REGINALD LANE.
6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
(Formally 777 Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry).
Killed in action aged 23 on the 13th April 1918.
Son of Frederick and Sarah Lane, of Bagbury Farm, Purton. Brother of Frederick detailed above.
Buried in H.A.C. CEMETERY, ECOUST-ST. MEIN, Grave Ref: VIII. B. 6.
The Remembrance book states burial at Marquin Grove cemetery, Germany. Research uncovered details that he was moved from a cemetery that contained 211 German casualties and 8 Russians at Marquin grove, France.

The news of deaths and injuries during military service were delivered in telegrams to those at home. Families would dread the sight of the delivery boy at their door, for those with more than one son away on service there could be no greater fear than receiving more than one telegram. This however would have happened within the space of one week for Frederick and Sarah Lane, Frederick and John’s parents. John was killed 8 days after Frederick was initially reported missing; a further telegram would have followed to confirm Frederick’s death.

E.LEECH (Spelt Leach in the book of Remembrance & on CWGC headstone)
305115 Lance Corporal ALBERT LEACH.
15th Battalion, Tank Corps (Formerly 48657 Manchester Regiment).
Enlisted in Manchester. Killed in action aged 31 on the 11th August 1918.
Son of Thomas and Sarah Leach, of Purton, Swindon; husband of Mrs. R. Leach, of 14, Elmina Rd., Swindon.
Buried in ADELAIDE CEMETERY, VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, Grave Reference: II. L. 11.
The Remembrance book in St Mary’s Church states burial at White Chateau, Achy, France. White Chateau identified as being near the village of Cachy.

A.LEWIS



23613Private ALBERT JOB LEWIS.
2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Formerly employed by the GWR Company in Swindon as a packer in the engineering department.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 29 on the 21st March 1918.
Son of Francis and Caroline of High St
Albert has no known grave. Remembered on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Panel 64.

H.LEWIS
111609 Gunner HARRY LEWIS.
172nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Enlisted in Tamworth. Died of wounds received aged 20 on the 1st February 1917.
Son of Francis and Harriett Lewis, of Common Platt, Harry was born in Swindon.
Buried in HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Grave Ref: I. C. 20.

V.LOVELOCK
24210 Private VICTOR ROWLAND LOVELOCK.
2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 20 on the 8th May 1918.
Son of Mary Jane and the late George Lovelock of Pavenhill. Victor was born in Broad Hinton.
Victor has no known grave. Remembered on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, 119/120.