Stockwell War Memorial

Friends of Stockwell War Memorial & Gardens

Belgium

Herbert Alfred Blick

by

H. A. Blick
Service no. 295157
Private, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 2nd/4th Battalion; formerly 553758, 16th London Regiment
Killed in action on 21 September 1917, aged 37
CWGC: “Son of John and Jessie Blick, of 128 Grove Road, Balham, London; husband of Emily Elizabeth Blick, of 202 Clapham Road, Stockwell, London. Served with the City Imperial Volunteers in the South African Campaign.”
Remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium

Information from the 1911 census

Herbert Alfred Blick, 31, a ladies and gents tailor born in Stockwell, lived in 6 rooms at 202 Clapham Road, London SW9, with his wife, Emily Elizabeth Blick, also 31 and born in Clapham, and 8-month old son, John Herbert Blick, who was born in Clapham. Baby John Herbert died in April 1917.

Albert John Blackmore

by

A. J. Blackmore
Service no. 2966
Trooper, 1st Life Guards
Born in Wandsworth
Killed in action on 30 October 1914
Remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

This identification is somewhat tentative. This the only A. J. Blackmore in both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database and in the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919. There is an Albert Blackmore on the 1911 census, living at 1 Kielers Cottages, Clapham Road with his parents, Walter Blackmore and Fanny Blackmore, both 53, and from Devon (Puddington and Sandford). This Albert, aged 15, was a lift attendant in a mansion block. There is no evidence that this and the Blackmore in the military databases are the same person.

Percy T Bass

by

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.

George Cecil Barter

by

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.

William Charles Barnsley

by

W. C. Barnsley
Service no. 55016
Driver, Royal Field Artillery”B”, Bty. 103rd Bde.
Killed in action aged around 32 on 22 June 1917
Husband of Mrs. E. Barnsley, of 11 Mostyn Road, Brixton, London.
Remembered at Woods Cemetery, Belgium and on Stockwell War Memorial, London SW9
Brother of James Foster Barnsley

Information from the 1911 census

William Barnsley lived at 11 Glyn Street, Kennington (just by the Royal Vauxhall Tavern) in 1911. William, 26, was married to Emma Barnsley, 24. Their children were
Rose Barnsley, 5
William Barnsley, 2
Ada Barnsley, 4 months
All were born in Vauxhall.
William Charles Barnsley’s parents and siblings lived in 5 rooms at 10 Henry Street (no longer in existence), Vauxhall, London SW8. William Luke Barnsley, 49, was a cloth shrinker from Marylebone, London. Elizabeth Barnsley, 49, was born in Soho. The couple had had 13 children, 7 of whom survived.
Sarah E. Barnsley, 28, a perfumer, born in Holborn
Alice M. Barnsley, 24, a dressmaker, born in Holborn
James F. Barnsley, 21, a tailor’s packer, born in St Pancras (remembered on the war memorial)
Ada C. Barnsley, 20, a perfumer, born in St Pancras
Rose B. Barnsley, 15, a dressmaker, born in Lambeth
Ernest B. Barnsley, 10, born in Lambeth

Information from the 1901 census

In 1901 William Barnsley was a 16-year-old errand boy living at 6 Catherine Street, Vauxhall. His father, William L. Barnsley, 39, was a cloth worker born in Marylebone; his mother, Elizabeth M. Barnsley, 39, was born in Soho. The children on the census were
Sarah E. Barnsley, 19, perfumery stock keeper, born in Holborn
William C. Barnsley, 16, born in Holborn
Alice M. Barnsley, 14, an errand girl, born in Holborn
James F. Barnsley, 12, born in St Pancras
Ada B. Barnsley, 11, born in St Pancras
Rose B. Barnsley, 5, born in Lambeth
Ernest B. Barnsley, 1 month, born in Lambeth