Stockwell War Memorial

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Stockwell War Memorial

Arthur William Batho

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newspaper report on the bombardment of lowestoftA. W. Batho
Service no. L/6439
Officer’s Steward 3rd Class, Royal Navy, H.M.S. “Conquest”
Died age 19 on 25 April 1916
Son of Henry Thomas Batho, of 15 Priory Road, Wandsworth Road, London. Native of South Lambeth.
Remembered at Chatham Naval Memorial

Batho died during the bombardment of Lowestoft on 25 April 1916 by the German High Seas Fleet. There were 38 casualties (25 dead and 13 wounded) on the “Conquest”.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Arthur Batho, 15, was a messenger for the G.P.O. (General Post Office). He lived at 411 Wandsworth Road, SW8 with his widowed father, Thomas Batho (or Henry T. Batho, according to the 1901 census), a 50-year-old railway porter born in Suffolk (Otley on the 1901 census). Arthur’s siblings were
Elizabeth Batho, 26
Frederick Batho, 19, an engine cleaner
Harry Batho, 17, a van guard
John Batho, 12
All the children were born in South Lambeth.

Information from the 1901 census

In 1901 Arthur Batho was a 4-year-old living with his widowed father, grandmother, aunt and siblings at 65 Tradescant Road. Elizabeth Batho, 65, was from Farnham, Suffolk. Her son, Henry T. Batho (Thomas Batho according to the 1911 census), Arthur’s father, 42, was a widowed railway porter born at Otley, Suffolk. Henry’s single sister, Emily F. Batho, 34, was a dressmaker born at Friston, Suffolk. Arthur’s siblings were registered on the census as
Elizabeth Batho, 16, ironer
Thomas Batho, 13
Frederick Batho, 10
Harry Batho, 7
John Batho, 2

Percy T Bass

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P. T. Bass
(Percy T. Bass)
Service no. R/4191
Rifleman, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 10th Battalion
Killed in action around age 25 on 20 March 1916
Remembered at Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Brother of Frederick Charles Bass

British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920

Percy Thomas Bass, 22, stood only 5 feet 3 inches (152cm) when he signed up. Like many of his fellow soldiers, he was, by our standards, skinny. His chest was a mere 35.5 inches (91cm) and he weighed only 116 pounds (8 stone 4 or 52.5kg). He had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion; he had a small mole on his left shoulder.

In civilian life he was a waiter but he volunteered at Cockspur Street on 10 September 1914, early in the war, for the King’s Royal Rifles and became a rifleman in the 7th Battalion.

By 22 November 1915, his elder brother Frederick Charles Bass, 30, had died (his name is also on the memorial). Another brother, Ernest Edward Bass was fighting in France in the British Expeditionary Force.

The service record for Percy Bass in the National Archives shows that he was in England until 21 July 1915. He was docked two days’ pay for not turning up for reveille on 21 February 1915. He was hospitalised in France for a day (9-10 December 1915).

Percy died, killed in action, on 20 March 1916.

His commanding officer listed his effects, to be returned to his father, Mr W. T. Bass of 6 Nursery Road, Brixton:

1 packet of letters, postcards and photos
1 diary pouch
1 scissors
1 pipe and lighter
1 badge

Information from the 1911 census

Percy Thomas Bass, a waiter born in Lambeth (Stockwell, according to the 1901 census), lived with his extended family at 6 Nursery Road, Brixton. His brother, Herbert William Bass, 31, was a telegraphist born in Lambeth. Herbert’s wife, Alice Rose Bass, 27, was born in Ashford, Kent. Their children were
Claud Herbert Bass, 9, born in Ashford
Reginald George Bass, 7, born in Ashford
Ralph Percy Bass, 4, born in Lambeth
Percy’s brother and father lived with Herbert’s family: William Thomas Bass, born in Dover, widowed, 56, and working as a signalman; Ernest Edward Bass, 29, a porter born in Lambeth
Information from the 1901 census

In 1901 Percy Bass was 10 and living at 58 Willington Road, Stockwell, with his father, William T. Bass, a widower aged 45 from Dover, Kent. William worked as a railway signalman. Percy’s brother, Frederick C. Bass, 16, was a number taker, born in Clapham, and his sister Emily Bass, 14, was born in Clapham. Percy was born in Stockwell.

William Franklin Bartlett

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photo of william franklin bartlett
William Franklin Bartlett (by kind permission of Chris Barrett)

W. F. Bartlett
Service no. 5710
Regimental Serjeant Major, Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion
Killed in action on 25 September 1916, aged about 37
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
Born in Lambeth; lived in London; enlisted at Kennington
Photo: by kind permission of Chris Barrett

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 William Franklin (given as “Franklyn” on the census return) Bartlett was a Sergeant in the Bedfordshire Regiment at Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire. His birthplace is listed as Kennington. He was 32.

Information from the 1891 census

William F. Bartlett’s father, also called William was a wood carver from Cowley, Middlesex. In 1891, aged 45, he lived with his wife Elizabeth, 36 and born in Chelsea, London, four children (of whom William F. was one), and mother-in-law, 79-year-old Plymouth-born Elizabeth Upcott at 41 St Marys Square, Lambeth.

George Cecil Barter

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G. C. Barter
Service no. 130528
Bombardier, Royal Garrison Artillery, 359th Siege Bty.
Died on 3 April 1918
Husband of Mrs. M. A. E. Barter, of 4, Wyvil Road, South Lambeth Road, London.
Remembered at Voormezeele Enclosures No. 1 and No.2, Ypres, Belgium

Information from the 1911 census and London Marriages and Banns

In 1911, before their family was started, George Cecil Barter, 26, and Mary Ann Elizabeth Barter (nee Dade), 29, lived at 39 Coppermill Row in Walthamstow, east London. George was working as a hotel porter. He was born in Swindon, Wiltshire. Mary was  born in Lambeth. The census shows that her family were living at 4 Wyvil Road, which became her home after she was widowed. The couple were married at St Anne’s Church, South Lambeth Road on 11 December 1910.

British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920

When George Barter died at Ypres his widow Mary was left to care for five young children. It was too much. “You will notice that my son G. W. B. Barter is not at present living with me as his uncle has undertaken him for me,” she explained to the notoriously strict Pension Board in April 1918. Her hands were full, she said, coping on her own with four younger children from five to 10 months.  Soon afterwards she moved back to her parents’ home at 4 Wyvil Road, South Lambeth.

Sadly, her burden was reduced a few months later. Ernest, her youngest, died of convulsions and brochopneumonia. She carefully submitted his death certificate to the authorities.

In civilian life, Barter was a hotel porter. Before they started their family he and Mary lived at 39 Coppermill Row in Walthamstow, east London. Originally he was from Swindon, Wiltshire, while Mary was  born in Lambeth. They married at St Anne’s Church, South Lambeth Road (which Mary called “Old Lambeth Church” in her paperwork) on 4 December 1910.

Barter, 5 feet 8 inches, with a 39-inch chest (which he could expand by four inches), was 36 when he was conscripted on 19 November 1916. He was in England until June 1917, when he was sent to France (he was simultaneously promoted to Bombardier).  After death, he was awarded a Military Medal.

His effects included photos, pipe pocket, book, religious medallion, match box case, two cigarette cases, pocket knife, pouch, nine-carat gold ring, wristwatch and strap, photo case, disc, cards and a farthing.

Harvey Charles Bartel

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H. C. Bartel
Service no. 493554
Private, London Regiment, 1st/13th Kensington Battalion
Died age 32 on 23 October 1918
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Bartel, of 28 Rita Road, Vauxhall, London.
Remembered at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

Information from 1911 Census

In 1911 Harvey Charles Bartell (the spelling is double L in the census) was a 24-year-old clerk, born in Battersea and living with his family in 4 rooms at 28 Rita Road, SW8, with his mother Elizabeth Eleanor (50) and father Charles Joseph (57), a carman*, originally from Poplar, East London. Harvey was the eldest of three sons, the others being Arthur Henry, a gasfitter’s assistant, two years younger, and Sidney Ernest, aged 9 and still at school. Their cousin Edith Hart (22), a draper’s assistant, originally from Faversham, Kent (as was her aunt Elizabeth) lived with them. Three households occupied No 28, probably one family on each floor.

* Carmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels. Also sometimes someone who drove horse-drawn trams was called a carman.