GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Harry Lowton

Let me introduce you to Harry James Lowton, my second cousin twice removed, who was born in Southwark in 1899, the only son and second of four children of Thomas & Eliza (nee Hinson).  His father died the next year and Harry, together with his mother and siblings, ended up in the St Olave union workhouse when his mother became destitute in 1908.

Discharged after a month, the family returned to live in Magdalen Street in Bermondsey, moving by the time of the 1911 census to Lancaster Street, Southwark.  The next sighting of Harry is in the  Church of England Confirmation Records which show the family back in Magdalen Street again,. Harry was confirmed on 11 March 1915, at the age of 15, at St John's Church, Larcon Street.  Poignantly, there is a Cross drawn by his name with the words "Killed in Action" in the next column.

Harry enlisted in Rotherhithe, presumably when he reached the age of 18 in 1917, in the Rifle Brigade, 2/10th London Regiment, and was killed on 31 July 1918.  He is buried in Dernacourt Communal Cemetery Extension.

We will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Richard Culpin

Richard Henry (Harry) Culpin was the oldest son, and second of nine children, of Arthur Culpin & Frances (nee Heighton) and was born in Leicester in 1899.  He was not related to me but is one of my "collected" Culpins.  In 1901 the family was living in Wigston Magna, in Leicestershire, and moved to Kegworth, Derbyshire, by 1911.

He enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment in the name of his brother Reginald, curiously, and was transferred at some point to the Durham Light Infantry.  He was killed on 15 July 1918 and has no known grave.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Cemetery Memorial.

We will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Samuel Free

Samuel John Free was born in 1893 in Corack, Victoria, Australia, the second child, and older son,of Samuel &, Fanny, nee Shepherd.  My fourth cousin twice removed, he was the older brother of Albert Free who died on 12 October 1917.

Samuel was a farmer in Lalbert, Victoria, who enlisted on 24 July 1916 in the Australian Machine Gun Corps, and was wounded in action taken to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station, he died of his wounds on 26 May 1918.

We will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Harry Marshall

Harry Marshall, my third cousin once removed, was born in Huntingdon in 1887, second of the ten children of George & Mary Ann (nee Young).  He grew up in Huntingdon and married Elizabeth Warner in 1908 in the town.  In the 1911 census Harry is living with Elizabeth in Royal Oak Passage and he is shown as a brewer's labourer.

Harry enlisted, in Huntingdon, in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed in action today in 1918.  He is buried in Kemmel cemetery in France.

We will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Clarence Culpin

Clarence Howard Culpin, my second cousin three times removed, was born in 1879 in Stoke Newington, fourth of the six children of Millice & Hannah (nee Munsey).  In 1881 the family lived in Church Street, Stoke Newington, and they emigrated to Australia in early 1891, settling in Queensland.

Clarence went to the Central State School in Brisbane and then the Gatton Agricultural College before settling as a farmer, showing up the electoral roll in Eumundi in 1903.

He enlisted in the Australian Infantry on 1st May 1916, at the age of 36, and embarked with the 26th Infantry Brigade on 21 October that year.  He died one hundred years ago today and is buried in Dernacourt Cemetery on the Somme.

The Brisbane Courier describes the honours paid to Clarence and other Eumundi soldiers who fell.

"APPRECIATION OF SOLDIERS.  EUMUNDI, October 8 (1918).
A memorial tree planting ceremony under the auspices of the Eumundi Women's Patriotic Committee was carried out last Saturday, when 12 trees where planted by the nearest relatives of 12 Eumundi heroes who have recently fallen at the Front.  A procession of Boy Scouts, State school pupils, and a batch of returned soldiers marched from the State school to the School  of Arts, where a large crowd had assembled.  The Nambour Town Band was in attendance.  Before the tree planting commenced patriotic speeches were delivered by Messrs R Warren, Jill, Sharry and Chapman (chairmen of the Marrochy and Noosa Shire Councils respectively), Rev. Jas. Moorehouse, Mr W Brookes (Maroochy Shire clerk), and Sergeant Russell.  The Brisbane visitors included Dr Culpin, who planted a tree in memory of his deceased son Clarence.  In the evening a sacred concert was held in the School of Arts, and was well attended.  Eighteen trees in all have now been planted."

We will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Richard Stocks

Richard Joseph Stocks was a distant relative on my "Culpin-side" and was born in Peterborough, then in Northamptonshire, in 1886, the second child and only son of Joseph and Betsy (nee Culpin).  Joseph was a solicitor's clerk in the town and Richard himself was working as a clerk on the railway by the 1911 census.

He enlisted in the 1st/5th Border regiment and, during his service, was awarded the Military Medal.  He died of wounds on 30 March1918, most likely at the 41st, 50th or 55th Casualty Clearing Stations and is buried in the Namps-au-Val cemetery.

We will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Bertram Dimock

Bertram Dimock was born in Stretham in 1890 and christened on 28 May in the village church of St James the same year.  Youngest of the four children of Joseph & Rebecca (nee Sennitt), he grew up in the village and in the 1911 census he was listed as a grocer's assistant.

By 1917 Bertram was living in Dalston, possibly tempted to the great metropolis by his brother Herbert who married in West Ham in 1907.  He married Elizabeth Sexton on 14 April that year, at St Philip, Dalston.

Bertram enlisted in the City of London Fusiliers in December 1917, signing up in Stratford, and was sent to France on 29 December that year.  He died on 28 March 1918 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

We will remember them.