Stockwell War Memorial

Friends of Stockwell War Memorial & Gardens

KIA

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.

William Charles Barnsley

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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

James Foster Barnsley

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J. F. Barnsley
Service no. 34448
Private, Essex Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Killed in action age 27 on 1 May 1917
Husband of Susannah Maria Barnsley, of 74 Meadow Road, Clapham, London.
Remembered at Feuchy British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France and at Stockwell War Memorial, London SW9
Brother of William Charles Barnsley

Information from the 1911 census

James Foster Barnsley lived with his parents and siblings in 5 rooms at 10 Henry Street (no longer existing), 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
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

London Marriages and Banns

Susannah Maria Hurst married James Foster Barnsley at St Mark’s Church, Kennington on 3 October 1915. James gave his address as 47 Meadow Road. He was 26, Susanna 28.

John Barber

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J. Barber
Service no 551983
Driver, Royal Engineers, 47th Signal Coy.
Killed in action on 24 March 1918, age 24
Son of John and Lydia Barber, of Stockwell, London.
Remembered at Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy, France, and at Stockwell War Memorial, London SW9

Information from the 1911 census

The Barber family lived at 92 Landor Road, SW9. John Barber (senior), 52, was born in Brighton and worked as a butcher. Lydia Barber, 46, was born in Dymchurch, Kent. Six of their 10 children survived, including John, who is on the census as Jack:
Lydia Barber, 21, an artist working in dressmaking
Jessie Barber, 20, “at home in business” – no further details
Ethel Barber, 19, “at home in business”
Jack Barber, 17, “at home in business”
Hilda Barber, 12
Earnest Barber, 10