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.

M.E.MARTIN
HERBERT ERNEST MARTIN STO 1 C/K 10876 RN
MH Submarine K4.
Died in an accident at sea aged 24 on the 31st January 1918.
Son of George and Bessie Martin, of The Square,
Commemorated at CHATHAM MEMORIAL, CHATHAM 5 – 470.

Herbert Joined the Royal Navy on the 21st March 1911, achieving the rank Senior in rating on the 25th January 1912 aged 24. Herbert moved to the Royal Naval submarines on the 26th May 1915. His service is recorded after this date to have been on or attached to;

D6 MAIDSTONE (Depot ship)
SC MAIDSTONE
J3 160419 MAIDSTONE
J3 160801 TITANIA ( Depot ship)
SC 161013 TITANIA
K4 161111 DOLPHIN (Depot ship)
K4 170206 FEARLESS
DD K4 310118

Submarines were attached to Depot ships which acted as floating moorings and re-supply ships. On 31st January 1918 HMS K4 left harbour bound for a North Sea exercise. In what became known as the Battle of May Island a number of submarines were lost. Several collisions occurred, including submarine K6 colliding with submarine K4. So great was the collision that K4 was cut almost in two and sank immediately The K -class submarines were steam-powered and were designed to operate with the Grand Fleet, being conceived as "submersible destroyers". The incidents of "the Battle of May Island" showed that operating with the fleet was an unsound idea, and the idea of steam power for a submarine (albeit oil-fired not coal) made the design one of the worst warship designs ever. A total of 55 men in total were lost in the K4 submarine.

Herbert and all the other members of the K4 crew are commemorated on a memorial in St Margert Pattens Church, Eastcheap, London. This memorial was erected by Mrs De Beauvoir Stocks, wife of Commander David De Beauvoir Stocks DSO: the Commanding Officer of K4. It is made from timbers from the old HMS Britannia.


H.MARTIN
54684 Private HERBERT MARTIN.
13th Battalion, Welsh Regiment
(Formally 31989 Worcester Regiment, MIC records show 7826 Herts Regt).
Enlisted in Faringdon. Died aged 23 on the 8th October 1918.
Son of Edward and Annie of Windham Cottage, Purton.
Buried in PROSPECT HILL CEMETERY, GOUY, Grave Reference: IV. C. 16.
The Remembrance book states burial at Villers Cotterets, Cambrai.

H.MATTHEWS (Spelt Mathews in the book of Remembrance)
9943 Private HARRY THOMAS ROBERT MATTHEWS.
6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Enlisted in Devizes. Killed in action on the 2nd July 1916.
Grandmother Sarah of Upper Square.
Harry has no known grave. Remembered THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Face13 A.

P.C.MATTHEWS (Spelt Mathews in the book of Remembrance)
13774 Private PERCY CHARLES MATTHEWS.
2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.
Formerly employed by the GWR Company as an apprentice boilermaker in V shop of the locomotive and carriage department.
Enlisted in Swindon. Missing in action aged 17 on the 15th June 1915.
Son of John and Agnes of Linden Villa
Percy has no known grave. Remembered on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, 33/34.

F.MERCHANT
62523 Private FRANK GEORGE MERCHANT.
1st/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
Enlisted in Trowbridge. Killed in action aged 18 on the 24th June 1918.
Son of Albert and Isabella Merchant, of Pavenhill,
Buried in GEZAINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Grave Ref: II. M. 17.

L.G.MILLS
87972 Serjeant EDWARD GEORGE MILLS.
"K" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Formerly 5th Bde ammunition column
Enlisted in Swindon. Killed in action aged 25 on the 10th October 1918.
Son of George and Mary of lower Pavenhill. Edward was born in Swindon.
Buried in HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU, Grave Reference: XII. C. 2.

F.J.MILLS
1326 Private (Bugler) FREDERICK JOHN MILLS.
18th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Formerly a builder by trade having immigrated to Australia aged 17.
Enlisted in Liverpool New South Wales, Australia. Missing in action aged 20 on the 22nd August 1915 Gallipoli.
Son of Samuel and Ann, Wootton Basset road.
Frederick has no known grave. Remembered on LONE PINE MEMORIAL: 62.

Frederick enlisted and Attested on the 12 May 1915 Liverpool, New south Wales, Australia. He gave his trade on enlistment as a Bricklayer. He had immigrated to Australia aged 17, described as being a good athlete and all round sportsmen, good at football, boxing and swimming. He listed his Next of Kin as Annie Alice Mills(Mother), Sunnybank Cottage, Purton, England

On the 4th July 1915 he was Awarded 24 Hrs field punishment no 2. To be carried out inside guardroom. His crime was insolence and not obeying an order.

Records show recording of him being killed between 21st – 25th August 1915, Formal date of death given as 22nd August 1915, Turkey. Serving with the 18th Battalion AIF, D company.

Frederick’s effects were returned to his Next Of Kin Mrs. Annie Mills, Sunnybank cottage, Purton, England including his trumpeter’s badge.
In just over 3 months Frederick had rallied to the call to arms, been awarded military field punishment, sailed to war and died on one of the most notorious fields of conflict that the Great War was played out on.