Stockwell War Memorial

Friends of Stockwell War Memorial & Gardens

France

Charles Rhodes

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C. Rhodes
Private, Worcestershire Regiment, 14th Bn.
Service No. 26775
Died on 19 September 1918, aged about 28
Remembered at Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval, Pas de Calais, France

Chris Burge writes:

Charles Rhodes was born in 1890 and baptised as Charles Ernest at St Peter’s Church, Norbiton in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey on 29 October 1890, when his family was living in nearby Washington Road. The 1891 census shows Charles to be the second youngest of Henry and Rossetta’s seven children. Charles’s mother died in January 1894 at the age of 34 and he lost his older sister, also named Rossetta, who died in 1899 aged 16. Charles’s widowed father Henry and four of the children were still living at Washington Road at the time of the 1901 census: Kate Louisa, 20; Frederick, 15, a van boy; Charles, 13, an errand boy; and schoolboy Frank, 11. Kate had helped bring up her younger brothers and effectively became the head of the family when Charles’s father died in the middle of 1901, aged 43. 

By the time of the 1911 census, Kate was living in Battersea and working as a general domestic servant. Frank had found work as a groom in Patcham, near Brighton. Frederick and Charles were living in one room at 12 Kimpton Road, close to Camberwell Green in southeast London. The property housed six other people in five additional rooms. Charles, now aged 22, was working as a carman for a ‘Fruiterers & Greengrocers’. Frederick, aged 25, completed the census return, giving his own occupation as ‘soldier’ and describing himself as ‘boarder’ which was later changed to ‘head’ of household. 

Charles married Ellen Butler on 15 February 1914 at St Andrew’s, Stockwell Green, opposite Hammerton’s Stockwell Brewery. Ellen had grown up in Stockwell Green and had been working as a domestic servant before her marriage. Frederick was one of the witnesses at the wedding and the couple gave 9 Moat Place as their address. Their daughter Ellen Rose was born on the 23 June 1914 and baptised on 19 August 1914 at St Andrew’s, just two weeks after the outbreak of war when Charles and Ellen were living in Louth Road.

Charles Rhodes’ service number and war gratuity imply an enlistment around December 1915, under Lord Derby’s Group Scheme. He was probably called up some time between January and March 1916. He may not have been considered A1 fit and was either posted initially to the Worcestershire Regiment’s 1st (Reserve) Garrison Battalion or directly to the ‘Severn Valley Pioneers’, the 14th (Service) Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment. The battalion landed at Le Havre on the 21 June 1916. They were on the Somme between July and November 1916, at Arras in April 1917, again on the Somme March to August 1918, and near the Hindenburg Line between September and October 1918. The battalion often worked close to the front line and acted as infantry during the fighting when the 63rd Division were forced to retreat across the old desolate Somme battlefields in March 1918. 

Charles Rhodes’ death in September 1918 was not combat-related and he was buried at Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery at Bailleulval where a number of Casualty Clearing Stations were based. 

Charles’s Ellen and her daughter Ellen Rose were still living in Moat Place when Ellen Rose married William Crease in 1938. Three years later, Ellen married for a second time in 1941. She passed away in 1967, aged 72. Ellen Crease passed away in May 1971, aged 56.

Ernest Reynolds

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E. Reynolds
Service no. 143376
Sapper, Corps of Royal Engineers, 104th Field Coy.
Born in Lambeth; enlisted at Croydon; lived in Lambeth
Killed in action on 20 January 1918, aged about 20
Remembered at Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery, France

In 1911 Ernest Reynolds, 13, lived in three rooms at 20 Tradescant Road, South Lambeth. His father, George Reynolds, 49, was a joiner and carpenter originally from Lowestoft, Suffolk. His mother, Jeanie, 45, was from Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland. Ernest had three siblings, Ethel, 18, a mantle and coat maker, George, 16, a cinematographer, and Mabel, 11, at school. Ernest was born in Vauxhall. He enlisted at Croydon.

Henry Ray

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H. W. Ray
Service no. 42425
Private, Lancashire Fusiliers, 10th Battalion
Born in Lambeth; enlisted in Camberwell; lived in Lambeth
Died on 26 September 1917, aged 19
CWGC: “Son of Daniel David and Catherine Ray, of 9, St Andrews Place, Windmill Street, New Cut, Lambeth, London.”
Remembered at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France

This is a tentative identification. There was an H. Ray (Private, Middlesex Regiment) who was born in Battersea and died on 26 March 1918.

Information from the censuses

Henry Ray, 13, was at school in 1911. He lived with his family at 17 Mary’s Buildings, Tanswell Street, north Lambeth, where the family of nine had four rooms. Daniel D. Ray, Henry’s father, was 40 and worked as a costermonger. He was born in Southwark. Catherine Ray, 39, was from Ireland. The couple had eight surviving children (of nine), of whom seven were at home:
Daniel P. Ray, 17, a costermonger
George Ray, 15, a news boy (sold newspapers)
Henry Ray, 13
Mary Ann Ray, 11
Margaret Ray, 8
Catherine Ray, 6
William Ray, 3
All were born in Southwark.

Bernard Christopher Rance

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barneyrance2
Bernard Christopher Rance Photo © Clare Stone

B. C. Rance
Service no. L/11692
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, 27th Bde.
Died on 26 March 1917, aged about 22
Born in Lambeth; enlisted at Camberwell
Remembered at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France

Brother of Charles F. Rance

rance1 (1)

Information from the National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918

Four Rance brothers served in the Great War: Bernard, Charles, James and Richard. William Arthur Rance, whose connection to the Lambeth Rances is unclear, also served. Spring 1915 must have been a trying time for their parents, William and Sarah Rance, with two sons attesting in March, another in April and a fourth in May. Sadly, two years later, in March and June 1917, the youngest two, Bernard and Charles, had been killed.

RANCE, B.C., Gunner, R.F.A.
He volunteered in March 1915 and in the following December was drafted to the Western Front, where he did excellent work as a Gunner at Ypres, the Somme, the Ancre and Arras. He gave his life for the freedom of England in March 1917, and was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“A valiant soldier with undaunted heart he breasted Life’s last hill.”
155, Hartington Road, South Lambeth, S.W.8.

RANCE, C.F., Rifleman, 6th London Regiment (Rifles).
He volunteered in April 1915 and in the following September was drafted overseas. Whilst in France he fought in many engagements, including those on the Somme and at Arras. He gave his life for King and Country at Vimy Ridge on June 7th, 1917, and was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“He died the noblest death a man can die,
Fighting for God, and right, and liberty.”
155, Hartington Road, South Lambeth, S.W.8.

RANCE, J. W., Sergt., King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
He had previously served in the South African War and in May 1915 re-enlisted and was drafted to France in the following March. During his service on the Western Front he fought on the Somme and at Richebourg, Bapaume, Givenchy and in many other engagements until the cessation of hostilities. He was demobilised in March 1919, and holds the General Service and Victory Medals.
155, Hartington Road, South Lambeth, S.W.8.

James Rance joined the Army in 1900 and saw service in South Africa and India. In 1905 he was invalided back to England suffering from malaria and ague (rheumatism). He appeared on the 1911 census aged 33 and working as a barman in a hotel. At this time, he had been married to Elizabeth Rance for 5 years and they had one child: Edward James Rance, born about 1908 in Lambeth. The family lived at 40 Bolney Street, a few doors down from James’s parents and the other children at home. However, by 1915 he had moved to 11 Clyston Street, just off Wandsworth Road.

James’s second Army career, serving in the King’s Royal Rifles during World War One, must have been testing, as this army was largely volunteers and conscripts. When he joined up, in May 1915, he was already 36. He rose quickly to Lance Corporal, to Lance Serjeant, to Corporal, to Serjeant. However, on 13 March 1917 he was punished for “disobeying a lawful command given by his Superior Officer.” His sentence was to be reduced in rank to Corporal. In April he was transferred to the Middlesex Regiment, and then in June to the Labour Corps. His character was described on demobilisation as “very good”.

RANCE, R., Bombadier, R.F.A.
He volunteered in May 1915 and in the following December was sent to France. During his service overseas he was frequently in action, notably on the Somme, the Ancre, and at Ypres, Arras, Cambrai and Peronne. He was demobilised in March 1919, and holds the 1914-15 Star, and the General SErvice and Victory Medals.
3, Madrid Place, Dorset Road, South Lambeth, S.W.8.

RANCE, W. A., Private, 24th London Regiment (Queen’s) is also described in the National Roll – he has no connection with this Rance family.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 the family was still living at 16 Bolney Street. The household consisted of
William Rance, 53, a furniture porter, born in Westminster
Sarah Rance, 53, also born in Westminster
Their children:
Agnes Rance, 23. The census transcript gives her occupation as “Surrey bank iron”. It is unclear whether this is something to do with the Surrey Iron Railway, a narrow gauge railway which ran between Wandsworth and Croydon or whether she was an ironer.
Lizzie Rance, 20, a dress maker
Albert Rance, 18, van guard
Barnard Rance, 16, a van guard
Charlie Rance, 13
All the children were born in Lambeth – no birthplace is given for Charlie
In all, William and Sarah Rance had nine surviving children, of 18 born alive.

Information from the 1901 census
In 1901 Bernard Christopher Rance, then 6, lived with his family at 16 Bolney Street. His father, given as William H. Rance on this census, was then 43 and described as a furniture porter. Bernard was registered as “Barney”. The children were:
Richard Rance, 18, a furniture carman
Agnes Rance, 13
Elizabeth Rance, 10
Albert Rance, 8
Barney Rance, 6, remembered on Stockwell War Memorial
Charles Rance, 3, also remembered on Stockwell War Memorial

Information from the 1891 census
In 1891, the family was living at 12 Bolney Street. William is listed as a labourer, and their children were:
James Rance, 12
Richard Rance, 8
George Rance, 6
Emily Rance, 5
Agnes Rance, 3
Elizabeth Rance, 6 months

Information from the 1881 census
In 1881 William and Sarah Rance lived at 19 Green Street, Newington. William is listed as a bricklayer’s labourer and Sarah as a charwoman They had at that time two children:
James Rance, 2
Richard Rance, not yet 1
Richard Havannagh, a 24-year-old single bricklayer’s labourer from Peckham, boarded.

On 19 August 2009, Avril Heron, who is a great-niece of Bernard Christopher Rance and Charles F. Rance, contributed the following information:

“William and Sarah Rance also had a daughter called Emily. She shows on the 1891 census aged 5. She was my grandmother, my mother’s mother. On the 1901 census she is shown working as a domestic kitchenmaid for a 56-year-old widow lady, Sophia Gregory, at 23 Wilkinson Street, just around the corner from Bolney Street where the rest of the family were living.

“Emily was a feisty lady, very strong and independent. She married William Lowton (who lived with his family in Dorset Road) and they sailed to Canada where my mother was born in 1909. I have found the family on the passenger lists. William Lowton joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and I have his service record. The story in the family was that he died of the Spanish flu after the war,  and my grandmother, my mother and her two brothers came back on their own. I have looked in Canada and England for a death certificate for William Lowton but so far have not found one. Grandma never married again and I have always felt that there was a mystery here.

“I have recently contacted a lady whose grandfather was Albert Rance, older brother to Bernard and Charles, and have even got a photo of him. I am not sure about his service career.

“Agnes and Elizabeth were both quite poorly and my grandma told me ‘Poor Aunty Elizabeth used to sit on the stairs and cry bitterly.’ Just yesterday I discovered that Agnes lived until 1966 and was married to a Frederick Earl and seemed to live in 155 Hartington Road where her parents lived. Her husband’s father seems to have lived there also. Lots more to find out…

“Richard Havannagh, who was on the 1881 census as boarding with the family, must have been a very good friend of the family as he was a witness to William and Sarah’s wedding. I have tried to track him down the years but with no luck.”

On 27 August 2009, another Rance family member, Clare Stone, contributed this information:
“My grandfather, Albert Rance, served from 4 July 1914 to 3 July 1934 and was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery Corps for 8 years, and Army Reserve B & D for 11 years. However, my cousin recalls that Grandad spoke to him about being in the Military Police and I do have a postcard of theHMS Balmoral Castle with reference to this written on the back so it could be true – I would need to investigate.

albert rance

“Albert definitely served in India (he loved curry) and Jamaica but not sure at this point where else.  He was awarded the British Medal but it cannot be traced.  My cousin recalls a story that on his last visit to Grandad in hospital before he died, as he approached his bed he called out ‘Get down – the fuzzy wuzzies are coming!’. This was a reference to some event to do with the war, albeit not very politically correct for this day and age!

“When he left the Army he did very simple jobs such as porter and laundry man at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Surrey.  He married Rose Kallendar and had 6 children, 2 of which died as infants.  I am not sure when he moved from London but he lived in Hallsowen Road, Carshalton all of his married life.  He died a widower on 1 September 1968 age 75 following a stroke.

Albert is in the second row second from the right (with the monkey). Date unknown

All photos © Clare Stone

Frederick James Raishbrook

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F. J. Raishbrook
Service no. 955161
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, Z/29 Trench Mortar Bty.
Born in Clapham; enlisted in Brixton
Died of wounds on 2 December 1917, aged 20
CWGC: “Son of William Edward and Louisa Ann Raishbrook of London.”
Remembered at Tincourt New British Cemetery, France

In 1911 Frederick Raishbrook, aged 14 and working as a messenger boy in a newspaper office, lived at 46 Landor Road, Stockwell with his parents, siblings and two boarders. The household had five rooms. Frederick’s father, William Edward Raishbrook, 40, a coal porter, was from Clapham, as was his mother, Louisa Anne, 37. Frederick had three siblings and there were two boarders including Robert Schleicher, 24, an Austrian pastry cook. 

Raishbrook was born on 2 January 1897 and baptised at St Andrew’s, Landor Road, Stockwell Green on 21 February. His father described himself as a carman and the family lived at 25 Landor Road.

At the time he joined the 8th London Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery at Holland Road, Brixton, on 11 May 1914, three months before the outbreak of war, Frederick was living with his family at 46 Landor Road and working as a clerk at H.R. Baines & Co., of The Strand, London, the publisher of The Daily Graphic magazine. He was 17 and 10 months, and stood 5ft 8¾in, with a 32in chest. His physical development was described as ‘moderate’.  

On 18 November 1916 he was admitted to hospital with lacerations of five fingers of the left hand. Three weeks later, he fractured a finger. He convalesced at Boulogne. Raishbrook was wounded in the field on 2 December 1917. Two days later his family received a telegram: ‘[…] to inform you 955161 Gunner F. Raishbrook dangerously ill at 55 Casualty Clearance Station, France suffering from gunshot wounds multiple. Permission to visit cannot be granted.’

His effects, including disc, letters, photos, pipe, wallet, knife and mirror, were returned to his family. 

Ernest Albert Pyle

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E. A. Pyle
Service no. G/81351
Private, Royal Fusiliers, 23rd Battalion; formerly 5505, Middlesex Regiment
Killed in action on 19 March 1918, aged 31
Born in Tottenham; enlisted in Lambeth; lived in Brixton
CWGC: “Husband of Ellen Pyle, of 11a Morat Street, Stockwell, London.”
Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France and on the war shrine at St Michael’s Church, Stockwell Park Road, London SW9 0DA

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1918

PYLE, ERNEST ALBERT, Private, No 81351, (–) Battn. The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.), 3rd s. of Richard Pyle, of 1, Henry Road, South Tottenham, N., by his wife, Sarah Jane; and brother to Private H. G. Pyle (q.v.); b. Tottenham, N.; educ. Bramar Road there ; enlisted in 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action 19 March 1918.

Note: The De Ruvigny’s entry contains a number of inaccuracies. It refers to ‘… his wife Sarah Jane’. Sarah Jane Pyle was in fact his mother. He was educated at Bramar Road. This should be Braemar Road, Tottenham.

Further information

Ernest Albert Pyle was born in Henry Road, Tottenham on 21 January 1888. He married Ellen Edgar in Tottenham on 6 June 1908. He was killed at The Somme on 19/03/1918. One of his brothers Herbert George Pyle (aka Hubert) was also killed at The Somme a year earlier (08/03/1917) having emigrated to Australia in 1913 and joined the Australian Army in 1915.

Ernest had three sons: Ernest Richard Pyle (born 2 March 1909), Albert Edward Pyle (c1911 – c1986) and Arthur James Pyle (c1913 – c1916, aged 2 years 10 months.

Information from the censuses

In 1911 Ernest Albert Pyle, aged 23, was a house painter working on the Holland Estate. Like his wife, Ellen Pyle, 25, he was born in South Tottenham. They had a son, Ernest Richard Pyle, 2, born in Islington, north London. The family lived at 59a Morat Street. Ernest’s father Richard Pyle, 47 in 1901, was a painter, born in Islington; his mother Sarah Pyle, 48, was from Bristol. Ernest had at least four siblings.