Bridport

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Burials at Bridport Cemetery
Research by Richard Smith into the lives and deaths of the CWGC War Casualties buried in Bridport.

Burials at Bridport Cemetery

ALLSOP Leslie Private No. 4042571 King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

I think his parents were George Allsop, a cabinet maker who died at Birmingham in 1943, and his wife Gertrude Clark, who had married at Kings
Norton, Worcestershire in October 1912. I think Leslie was born in 1923 (CWGC says aged 19 when he died), but his death is a mystery. He was not
with his parents in the pre-War 1939 census. Army records say he died between 3rd October and 13th November 1942, without giving an explanation,
and I can trace no death registration at that time. He was buried in Row 22 grave No. 8. His parents were living at Acocks Green, Birmingham.

BEER Henry (Harry) Saddler Sergeant No. 2007 "B" Battalion 3rd Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery.

Born at Bridport about June 1874, son of Henry Beer, a saddler who died in 1900, and his wife Sarah Ann Hill who died in 1912. On 26th December 1901
he married Alice Maud Mary Abbott whilst working as a saddler like his father. His death on 5th September 1916 was registered at Bridport (at home
?) but cause not found, and he was buried in grave No. M. 99. His probate to his widow Alice on 4th January 1917 was for £444. 4s. 7d and gave their
address as 40 South Street, Bridport.

CARRINGTON Robert William Gunner No. 1695465 448 Battery, 66 Searchlight Regiment attached to 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.

Born in Romford, Essex on 3rd May 1906, son of Robert Carrington, a railway inspector, and his wife Louisa Hegerty. Robert died on 7th May 1944, aged
38, registered at Bridport, and the Army records say he died as a result of an accident, but I could find no details. He was buried in Row 20 grave No.
10. Probate to his father on 11th October 1940 for £840. 18s. 5d, gave his address as 41 Mildmay Street, Romford.

CHALLIS John William Gunner No. 849602 Royal Artillery - also 7 Commando.

Born at Bridport in June 1920, the son of John George Challis, a net worker, and his wife Hannah Hill. In 1939 the family lived at 151 South
Street, Bridport. John died aged 21 registered at Maidstone, Kent on 12th June 1941 in what Army records list as an Accident, but I found no details.
He was buried in Row 22 grave No. 9.

CHALLIS Joseph Harry Sergeant No. 1301385 Pioneer Corps

He was born at Crayford, Kent on 24th July 1898, son of John George Challis, a leather worker who died in 1932, and his wife Marianne Griffin
who died in1920. Joseph married Alice Mary Guppy at Bridport in July 1940 but died there on 18th May 1943, cause of death not found. He was buried in
Row 10. grave No. 10. His brother William Moss Challis born 1892 had died serving with the Somerset Light Infantry in France on 6th August 1915.

CLAPP Henry Private No. 22406 Devonshire Regiment, also No. 60097 Labour Corps.

Born at Bridport in October 1880, son of John Clapp, a tanner in net factory, and his wife Mary Freeman, who lived at 216 North Allington,
Bridport. John had previously served with the 45th Regiment of Foot No. 1620. In 1911 Henry was working as a boot and shoe repairer, before
enlisting on 11th December 1915. He suffered severe gas shell wounds serving in France on 12th May 1918, was repatriated and died on the 26th
May, before being buried in grave No. Gen. R. 33.

COLES Peter Wallace Lieutenant No. 194887 5th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment.

Born at Farnham, Surrey on 30th March 1914, son of Tom Wallace Coles who had died before 1921, and his wife Helen Joan Gould. Peter married Gladys
Joan Hine at Beaminster, Dorset on 11th December 1938 and in 1939 was a restaurateur at 18 Monmouth Road, Paddington, London. His death on 28th
July 1942 aged 28 was registered at Dover, Kent, and listed in Army records as an Accident, but no details found. He was buried in Row 17. grave No. 9.

COOPER Frederick Edmund Lieutenant 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers - previously a Private No. 6151 London Regiment.

Born at Allington, Dorset in September 1884 son of Frederick Cooper, an architect, and his wife Emma Dyke who died in April 1902. He was
commissioned on 19th December 1916, but died of war wounds at the Officer's Hospital, Highgate, London on 18th December 1918 and buried in grave No.
Gen. D. 93. His probate issued to his father on 19th June 1919 was for £422. 12s 1d.

CRAIG George Sergeant No. 6010375 8th Battalion Essex Regiment.

Born in Belfast, Ireland in 1893 son of John Craig, a plumber who died in 1936, and his wife Dorothea Walker who died in 1921. They had married in
Belfast in March 1885. In 1911 George was living with his parents aged 18, a tinsmith, in Antrim, Ireland. Army records say he died on 8th August
1941 as a result of an unspecified accident, the death being registered at Bridport. He was buried in Row 18 grave No. 9.

GILL Douglas Harold Corporal No. 522646 Royal Air Force.

Born at Bridport in January 1916, the son of Harold John Gill, a chauffeur, and his wife Elsie Annie Worsdell, and in 1921 they were living at 1 Burton
Road Bridport. CWGC say he died on 14th September 1939. A Newspaper Index Card says Douglas died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge on that date,
followed by an inquest, but gives no cause of death. He was buried in Row H. grave No. 59.

HECKS Frederick George Loosemoor Private No. 5735571 Dorsetshire Regiment.

Born at Netherbury, Dorset on 16th September 1908, the son of John Hembrow Hecks and his wife Martha Lydia Loosemoor who owned and ran the Star Hotel,
West Street, Bridport. In 1939 he was working as a butcher's slaughter man living with his parents, but Army casualty records suggest that he died at
Hong Kong on 2nd August 1942. His death was then registered at Bridport before he was buried in grave 17. 8.

LOVELESS Sidney Albert Sergeant No. 860500 (also 73722 and 11989) Royal Field Artillery.

Born at Bridport about September 1891, the son of John Loveless a labourer, and his wife Martha Marina Taylor who lived at 37 North Allington,
Bridport. Sidney died at Bridport on 28th August 1920 aged just 29, but cause of death not found. He was buried in grave No. 5. 21.

MOREY Ernest Samuel Private No. 51823 13th Battalion Somerset (Prince Albert's Own) Light Infantry.

Born at Bridport about January 1874, son of William Fookes Morey, an auctioneer who died in March 1904, and his wife Elizabeth Clist who died in
November 1891. Ernest married Harriet Gelling at St. Luke's church, Bedminster Bristol on 22nd August 1897 and in 1911 was a butcher living at
35 High Street, Shepton Mallett, Somerset. He died on 27th October 1918 at Norwich, Norfolk War Memorial Hospital said to be from a cerebral
hemorrhage. He was buried in grave No. B."C". 84.

MOREY William Hugh Patrick Leading Aircraftman No. 247689 Royal Air Force Fighter Command RAF Warmwell, Dorset

Born at Bridport on 17th March 1900, son of William Charles Morey, an auctioneer who died in 1934, and his wife Rosa Augusta Hecks who died in
1944. It seems William first signed aged 18 to join the Royal Navy on 24th January 1918, service No. F 47689, then switched to the RAF on 17th March
1918. In July 1930 William married Ethel May Hallett at Weymouth. When he died on 1st April 1941 he was serving at RAF Warmwell, a very active
fighter station subject to regular German bombing raids - I suspect he was killed in one of those. His death was thus registered at Dorchester, and he
was buried in grave No. 21. 9. His probate to his widow Ethel on 5th June 1941 was £671. 2s. giving his address as 54 South Street, Bridport. His
Uncle Ernest Samuel Morey (above) also died during the earlier Great War.

RUSSELL Thomas James Private No. 6020320 8th Battalion Essex Regiment

Born at Rochford, Essex on 17th March 1913 son of William, a soldier in R.G.A. in 1911 who died in March 1939, and his wife Emma Fox who died in
1929. Thomas married Dorothy Lilian Bond at Rochford in March 1938, and in 1939 they were living at 13 Salisbury Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex - he
was a painter and decorator. His death on 6th December 1940 was registered at Bridport, but I found nothing about the circumstances. He was buried in
Row 19 grave No. 6.

SARGENT James Petty Officer Stoker No. 304553 HMS Paragon Royal Navy

Born at Preston, Dorset on 24th April 1884 son of Amos Sargent, a Thatcher and Naval Pensioner who died in 1900, and his wife Caroline Galpin. James
enlisted in the Royal Navy on 20th July 1903 and had a long career. He married Kathleen Georgina Allman at Bridport in January 1908. On the night
of 17/18th March 1917 he was serving on Acasta class destroyer HMS Paragon in the Dover Straits with other ships when she was attacked and sunk by two
torpedoes from German torpedo boat SMS S.49, with the loss of 85 lives. James was buried in grave No. Gen. X. 30. Kathleen's address was 9 Magellan Lane,
West Allington, Dorset.

SMITH Albert Edward Chief Petty Officer No. 170673 HMS Pembroke Royal Navy.

Born at Bridport on 18th October 1877, son of Thomas Smith, a labourer and his wife Mary. He married Sarah Rosina Bishop at Marshwood, Dorset on 17th
July 1913, but had a long career in the Royal Navy before then, having enlisted as a Boy Sailor on 12th December 1892. In 1911 he was away
serving in the China and East Indies station. His death on 15th April 1917 aged 38 was registered in Bridport, cause not found, and I suspect he died
at home as his 3-year-old daughter Gwendoline died in that same quarter.

He was buried in grave No. CD. 41. His widow Sarah was a midwife and in November 1919 was based at The Surgery, Broadwinsor, Beaminster.

SPILLER Albert David Private No. 5732096 50th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment.

Born at Bridport on 19th February 1912, son of Frederick Charles Spiller, a fishing line maker in 1911, later a labourer, and his wife Harriet Eustace
Barrett. He married Florence May Peach at Weymouth in July 1931, and in 1939 was living at 5 Longs Court, Bridport, working in the net industry.
Army records say he died on 11th July 1940 as a result of an accident in Weymouth but no details found and was buried in grave No. K.10.

STAPLES Thomas William Clifford Leading Aircraftman No. 615851 Royal Air Force Fighter Command.

Born at Bridport in January 1919, the son of Tom Staples, a butcher's manager, and his wife Olive May Balson. His death is registered in
Oxfordshire on 18th May 1940 but I found nothing about the circumstances. He was buried in grave B. 19. His probate to his father on 10th August
1940 said he died on war service, and was for £337 and gave his address as 19 West Street, Bridport.

STONE William Henry Petty Officer 1st Class No. 148368/PO HMS Excellent (Gunnery School at Whale Island, Portsmouth), Royal Navy. Previously
Royal Fleet Reserve No. PO.A.4011.

Born at Leigh, Dorset on 15th January 1874 son of William Henry Stone, a fireman at an Iron Foundry, and his wife Susan Ann Dunford. He married
Matilda Farr at Bridport in October 1895, but died of unspecified disease at Portsmouth on 9th January 1917 and was buried in grave No. Gen. YZ. 74.
Matilda's address was Sparacre, 6 Bedford Place, Barrack Street, Bridport.

TEMPLE Arthur Waldie Major Royal Field Artillery (Recruiting Officer)

Born at Axminster, Devon in July 1863 son of John Temple who was Curate at Wambrook, Dorset in 1870s and 80s, but died in 1893, and his wife Elvira
Mary Bond who died in 1885. Arthur married Rosa Fruing Stephens in 1892 and worked as a Solicitor - in 1911 they were living at 53 Warburton House,
East Street, Bridport. I could not find definite details of earlier Army service. He died at Bridport on 25th May 1918, cause not found, and was
buried in grave No. M. 89. His probate to Rosa and others on 14th February 1919 was for £7,512. 3s 8d.

TREVETT Albert Private No. 12426 7th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment.

Born about May 1866 in Bridport, son of William Trevett, a shoemaker who died in 1904, and his wife Alice Cheney who died in 1890. In 1887 he
enlisted in the 2nd Dorsetshire Regiment and served in South Africa in 2nd Boer War 1899-1902. On 3rd September 1902 he married Jane Ann Orchard
Panchen at Bridport, listed as a publican, but by 1911 he was a fishing net braider living with his family at 24 St. Michaels Lane, Bridport. He
enlisted again on 14th November 1914 serving first at Wyke Regis Camp, then Bovingdon Camp. Army records show he committed suicide by cutting his
throat on 5th June 1916 aged 48 during a period of temporary insanity. He was buried in grave No. 4. 12.

WADHAM Alfred Brooks Private No. 953 8th Battalion Australian Expeditionary Force. Previously 3 years in Somerset (Prince Albert's Own)
Light Infantry.

Born at Bridport on 13th December 1884, son of Joseph Brooks Wadham, an iron foundry worker. On 22nd April 1911 at Bridport, he married Frances
Ellen Harvey when he was working as a gas fitter at Bridport Gas Works, and I think in October 1911 they sailed to Mildura, Victoria Australia, but
sadly Frances died there in 1912. Alfred enlisted in Australian Infantry on 27th August 1914 and was posted on 19th October 1914. By 17th October 1915
he had been diagnosed with dysentery and jaundice in India and was shipped to UK via Gibraltar, ending at Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol, from where
he was discharged to camp in Weymouth on 7th December 1915. His father died at Bridport on 16th December 1915, and his mother Mary at Wood Green London
in January 1916. On 23rd January 1916 he was catching an evening train from Weymouth to London for his mother Mary's funeral. Shortly after the train
had left Wool station a carriage door opened and Alfred fell out and was killed. The result of the subsequent Coroner's inquest "Accidental Death",
and Alfred was buried in grave No. Gen. W. 97 - he was aged 32.

WITHERS Alfred Joseph Private Mo. 6026566 9th Battalion Essex Regiment.

Born at Marylebone, London about March 1913. His baptism suggests his mother Elsie Withers was young and single. No father is noted. I did not
find when he enlisted but Army records show he was Accidentally Killed on 1st January 1941 and his death registered at Bridport but gave no further
detail. He was buried in grave Row 20 grave 9.

24 Names Listed

February 2025

Richard Smith

orchidgrower@btinternet.com

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