Two of the names on the memorial were initially untraceable on the CWGC website, frustratingly so for different reasons.
The name Benjamin Matthews had already been noted on East Garston’s active service list, published in October 1915 in the “Newbury Weekly News“. It was underlined, indicating that he had already died, and this was confirmed by the cryptic comment “died in hospital” in brackets after it. Also Benjamin’s full name was Benjamin Ashwin Conway Matthews which should have made for a certain match.

Frederick George Waldron's family had been a significant presence in the village from the late 1890's and through the first half of the 20th century. Moreover the housing development bearing the family's name is literally within spitting distance of  East Garston's War Memorial. After several unsuccessful attempts I found myself on the website of the Canadian Veterans’ Association which stated that Lieutenant Frederick George Waldron of Borden’s Battery in the Canadian Motorised Machine Gun Corps had been killed at Vimy in March 1918 and that he was the son of Mrs S Waldron of East Garston, Newbury, England. A “Eureka!” moment after which I retired elated.

In Memory of
Lieutenant FREDERICK GEORGE WALDRON

Borden's Bty., Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
who died aged 26 on 24th March 1918.

Son of Mrs. S.A.Waldron, of East Garston, Newbury, England, and the late Joseph Waldron.

Remembered with honour.

Several months later, whilst waiting in our church for the start of the Harvest Festival service, I noticed a Remembrance plaque on the wall which conveyed precisely the same information! The moral being that I should attend Church more often?
Nevertheless the initial sighting had made it possible to discover more about Frederick's life. He was born in Lambourn the son of Joseph, a family butcher, and Sarah and had moved, aged 9, to East Garston in the late 1890's, the family home being in Big St (now Front St.) He was a talented musician and sang in the choir of our local Church, later becoming it's choirmaster. He also played the organ in the church. It was in furtherance of his musical career that he emigrated to Canada but with the outbreak of war he enlisted as a private in the 60th Canadian Rifles rising through the ranks to become Lieutenant in the Motorised Machine Gun Corps.


In a bitterly fought holding action at Clery he and a fellow officer were killed by sniper fire and Borden's battery suffered 52 casualties out of its 56 members.Frederick had 5 sisters and 7 brothers, 6 of whom fought in WW1. One brother, Reginald,emigrated to Australia and fought with the Anzacs at Gallipoli. He was badly wounded losing a leg. Two other brothers, Frank and Harry, returned to East Garston and spent the rest of their lives here living at "Northview" and "Southview" respectively.

In Memory of
Private B.A.C MATTHEWS

5486, 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
who died on 25th December 1914

Remembered with honour.
Cambridge City Cemetery, England

Using the ”Waldron” technique the following day I found myself on another website, one nearer home and, perhaps aptly, that belonging to the East Ilsley Local History Society. It describes how Ben Matthews was born in East Ilsley to George and Sophia Matthews in 1881 and was raised in the family home in Cow Lane. Although the family business was carpentry Ben opted for a more adventurous life and enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Berks. His wish was soon granted for he found himself in South Africa fighting in the second Boer War which ended in 1902. His battalion moved to Egypt and then India where it remained until called back to the European theatre in 1914.

Before then Ben had completed his service and began his association with this area at a date yet to be discovered. His name does not appear in the 1911 census but he did re-enlist at Lambourn in 1914 after which he rejoined his former comrades stationed between Armentieres and Bethune.

The Winter of 1914 was dire, adversely affecting the troops of both sides but none more than those of the 2nd Battalion. Stationed in warm climates for many years they were not acclimatised to the conditions and suffered badly with trench foot, frostbite and respiratory ailments.

Ben was no exception and he was sufficiently ill to be transferred to Cambridge Military Hospital where, sadly, he died on Christmas Day. The initial report stated that he had died of wounds received in action but this was later amended to record that he had died of diphtheria. He was buried in the Cambridge City cemetery.

On the day Ben died his comrades in the 2nd Battalion, together with many British troops, fraternised with the enemy. On Christmas Eve German troops, in some cases in trenches only 40-50 yards away, shouted their intention to cease firing. The British followed suit and in what must have been an uncanny silence the Germans began to sing carols from their candle-lit trenches. The British replied in kind.

The following morning soldiers from both sides tentatively climbed over the parapets and advanced into No-Mans land. Soon the trickle became a flood as the opponents shook hands, compared family photographs and even exchanged presents. It might be wondered, given their situation, what they had to offer each other but, in addition to the likely presents from home, each British serviceman had received a “Princess Mary” box.

These were made of brass and bore the likeness of the Princess (daughter of George V and Queen Mary) on the lid and contained butterscotch, chocolates ,tobacco and matches together with a Christmas greetings card. The Germans received “Kaiserliche” boxes containing a meerschaum pipe and tobacco for the Other Ranks and cigars for the officers.

At several points along the sector football matches were played using makeshift footballs in the form of rolled up rags or even cardboard boxes. Only one result of these games was recorded, a 3-2 win for Germany (probably on a penalty shoot-out!). The British High Command on hearing of these events quickly issued an edict declaring that any fraternisation after 11 o’clock that morning would be regarded very seriously. Although overt fraternisation ceased ,the impromptu ceasefire remained intact until the evening of Boxing Day both sides taking advantage of the lull to locate and bury their dead.

One sergeant in the 2nd Battalion wrote to his mother in Knowle Hill describing the ceasefire as the best three days they had had in the war. One very satisfying aspect had been to learn that their enemies were just as cold, wet and miserable as they were.

The death of any of those named on the memorial was a tragedy. It might seem invidious therefore to dwell on some at a greater length than others but the circumstances surrounding them justify it. A case in point involves the first three names listed i.e. Arthur Bates, Charles Bates and Sidney Cullimore.

The Late Private CHARLES BATES

youngest son of the late Mr. George Bates, and of Mrs. Bates of East Garston.

Killed in action, July 19th. Aged 21.

Arthur and Charles were brothers, Arthur being the elder by 7 years. There were four other brothers, two of whom, Joseph and Thomas, had emigrated to Canada and New Zealand respectively. The other brothers, George and Jack, remained in the village after WW1. George worked at College farm and Jack became the village coal merchant. They lived in adjoining cottages on Front Street which George purchased from Sir Francis Burdett and which have since been knocked into one to become “Larkspur Cottage”. There were also two sisters, Edith and Annie.

Their mother, Clara was widowed when her husband, George, was involved in an accident at Pounds Farm. He was kicked by a horse, receiving injuries from which he died in 1901.

Arthur and Charles, like their father, worked on various farms in the district but volunteered at the outbreak of WW1 and joined 2/4 Battalion of the Royal Berkshires. 2/4 Battalion was one of the two territorial battalions in the regiment and was initially posted to the Essex marshes where, with other regiments, they guarded the East Coast against potential invasion. When the war in France escalated the battalion was transferred to Fromelles located south of the Belgian border and some 50 miles north of the Somme. They formed part of 184 Division together with other British regiments and a large contingent of Australians . 184 Division was under the overall command of General Sir Richard Haking, a proponent of the attrition theory of warfare and who was not renowned for regarding the welfare of his men. Perhaps not surprisingly Haking’s battle orders were very succinct “184 Division will maintain it’s lines at all costs”

A diversionary attack was planned in order to create the impression that a major offensive was to take place in the sector thereby tying down enemy reserve troops that otherwise might be switched to the defence of the Somme where the real thrust was taking place.

2/4 Battalion was relatively inexperienced battle - wise as were the Australians some of whom had arrived in France only days before. In contrast their opponents were well seasoned troops not least the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Battalion which included in its ranks one L/Cpl Adolf Hitler who had already won the first of his two Iron Crosses and who had volunteered to be Company runner, one of the most dangerous jobs with a high fatality rate.

The diversionary attack was launched on July 19th and was doomed to failure from the outset. The battle plans had been badly drawn up and badly communicated. The initial artillery bombardment was ineffective and left the German defences virtually intact especially the machine gun emplacements on either flank.

The Allied troops were required to advance, in daylight, over open ground the slight incline of which favoured the defenders. Few reached the German trenches and those that did were destined not to return. A survivor, W H (Jimmy) Downing ,later recalled that “The air was thick with bullets, swishing in a flat, criss-crossed lattice of death. Hundreds were mown down in the flicker of an eyelid, like great rows of teeth knocked from a comb”

The Australians fared particularly badly. In 24 hours they suffered 5,533 casualties either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The British totalled 1547. Not one inch of ground was taken.

The planning of the battle and it’s outcome caused a rift between the Australian and British commands which took many years to heal. Matters were not helped by Haking’s comment that while the battle had been lost “It will have done the soldiers good.” That “spin” and “spin doctors” are not just recent phenomena is illustrated by the communique issued to the Press by British GHQ:- “Yesterday evening, south of Armentieres, we carried out some important raids on a front of two miles in which Australian troops took part. About 140 German prisoners were captured.” After the battle Haking carried the nickname “Butcher” for the rest of his life.

2/4 Royal Berkshire Battalion lost 3 officers killed and 2 wounded, 22 other ranks killed, 123 wounded and 9 missing. Among those killed were Charles Bates and Bertie Rivers.

Bertie, whose father was a plate layer on the Lambourn Valley railway, was born in East Garston and lived, like Charles Bates, in Little Street They spent much of their lives together being good friends and schoolmates. They also died together, killed by the same shell.

Bertie	Rivers

Sidney Cullimore was born into a family which was relatively mobile by the standard of it's time. His father, Charles, a shepherd, was born at Peasemore. His mother, Caroline, hailed from Stanmore. The progress of the family through the district can be measured by the birthplaces of their children...... Peasmore (1), Ramsbury (1) ,Lambourn (3 including Sidney) and Wanborough (2) The family came to East Garston c 1900 and Charles and Caroline spent the rest of their lives here.

Caroline later became known as “Granny Cullimore” and must have been a person of great empathy. For anyone requiring assistance or advice, Granny Cullimore at "Pleasance Cottage" was the first port of call.It seems that every village in every age has its equivalent to “Granny Cullimore”. (Ours is Chris Tonge)

Although the parents settled in the village, some of their children, fired by the family wanderlust, left for pastures new. Ernest and two sisters emigrated to Canada before the start of WW1 although he returned to fight in France with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, later being gassed and wounded. 2 other brothers also fought in WW1 with the Coldstream Guards and Royal Berkshire Regiment respectively

Sidney had also moved away, for “The 1921 Compilation” records him as living in Aldworth where he also enlisted. Like the Bates brothers, Sidney worked on various farms in the district and, like them, was assigned to 2/4 Battalion, Royal Berkshires at the beginning of WW1.

He must have impressed his senior officers because it was as Sergeant Cullimore that he came home on a precious week’s leave to marry his fiancee in our local church. Tragically just over 2 weeks after his return to France

he died from wounds received in his unit’s final skirmish on October 26th. He died on 2 November 1918 just 9 days short of the Armistice. It was also that day that the battalion was stood down and returned to its barracks at the rear playing no further part in the war.

Sidney’s death was reported in the first edition of the “Newbury Weekly News” published after Armistice Day enabling the headline “East Garston man’s death….the last”. But although Sidney was the last East Garston man to be killed in action, the dubious distinction of being the Village’s last official casualty of WW1 belonged to Alfred Lewis of the Essex Regiment who survived the end of the war only to die of pneumonia in Hounslow Hospital in March 1919. He lies in the tranquillity of East Garston Churchyard.

In Memory of
Private ALFRED LEWIS

37564, Essex Regiment
transferred to (455717) Labour Corps
who died on 4th March 1919

Remembered with honour.
EAST GARSTON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

William Fisher was born in Collingbourne in Wiltshire and came to East Garston with his father, also William (a traction engine driver) and mother, Alice ,and two brothers. He enlisted in Newbury joining the 2nd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. He died on 21 November 1917 at the battle of Cambrai aged 19.

In Memory of
Private WILLIAM FISHER

41210, 2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
who died age 19 on 21st November 1917.

Son of William John and the late Alice Fisher
of East Garston, Lambourn Berkshire

Remembered with honour.
MARCOING BRITISH CEMETERY

George Penton was born in Wooton, Hampshire c 1892 and later lived in Pullborough, Sussex. His enlistment form indicates that he was a milker by occupation.

Subsequent information suggests that he was also a part-time chauffeur and groom. His link to East Garston was through Hannah Frankham whose family home was “Ivy Cottage”. Hannah’s brother, Bill Frankham jnr, a member of the Magic Circle, was a much loved and respected member of the community.

Hannah gave birth to George William in September 1916, the month following his father’s enlistment. It is not known whether father and son actually met but even if they did their relationship was poignantly brief for George snr, fighting with 1/8 Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was killed on 9 April 1917, the first day of the Battle of Arras.

In Memory of
Private GEORGE PENTON

241683, 1st/8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
who died on  9th April 1917.

Remembered with honour.
LONDON CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-VITASSE

Charles Abraham Shaw was born in Didcot but moved to this area with his father,also Charles, and mother, Sophia,first at East Shefford Farm and latterly at Warren Farm. Formerly a member of the Royal Berkshire Regiment he transferred to the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (10 Battalion). He was killed on 31 July 1918, aged 19.

In Memory of
Private CHARLES ABRAHAM SHAW

202405, "B" Coy. 10th Bn.Queen's Own.
(Royal West Kent Regiment)
who died aged 19 on 31st July 1918.

Son of Charles and Sophia J. Shaw
of East Shefford Farm nr. Newbury Berks.

Remembered with honour.
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY

Sydney Smith was born in East Garston and lived with his parents, two brothers and a sister in the row of cottages then known as Forbury End but now called Station Cottages. He was a baker by trade before enlisting in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He saw action at Loos and on the Somme. In December 1916 he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.

At the beginning of the war it was customary for most infantry regiments to have at least two machine gun crews but, as the war progressed, the strategic importance of the machine gun was realised and the Machine Gun Corps was formed. It was something of an elite unit to which entry was difficult. The fact that Sydney was accepted might indicate that he was a machine gunner with his battalion though the Royal Berks records made no distinction between machine gunners and the standard infantryman. At the very least he would have been a crack rifle shot to gain entry.

Sydney’s tenure with the Machine Gun Corps was brief for he was killed at Miramount on 18 February 1917 as the Germans were pushed back to the defensive Hindenburg line. The German retreat was orderly and hard fought. This was reflected in the high casualty rates,10 fellow machine gunners being killed on the same day as Sydney. As next of kin Sydney’s father completed Army Form W 5080, essentially a petition for the award of a memorial plaque which was accompanied by a memorial scroll and a letter from Buckingham Palace.

The form required the counter-signature of a person eminent in the district e.g. a J.P. In this case it was the Reverend John Lechmere Tudor who in 1904 had raised a petition to have the name “East Garston” revert to it’s earlier form, “Esgarston”.   Unfortunately for the reverend gentleman, a counter petition was raised with a significantly higher number of signatures and his proposal was rejected.

It was necessary for Reverend Tudor to enter the name of the village in two places on the form. On the first occasion he managed but only by running the two words  together to give “Eastgarston”. On the second occasion all subterfuge was
abandoned and he entered the name as “Esgarston”. This was in April 1919 so even after 15 years the Reverend had not given up hope!

The Plaque itself was cast in bronze and, although significantly larger than the penny piece in general circulation at the time, resembled the latter sufficiently to be referred to colloquially as “The dead man’s penny”.

Arthur Townsend was born in Hungerford and lived with his Mother, Grandmother, two uncles and a brother in Big Street (now Front Street). He joined the Army well before the outset of WW1, serving ,like Ben Matthews, in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Berks Regiment. He took part in the Delhi Durbar in 1911 for which he was awarded the silver Durbar medal. The ceremony was to honour King George V and Queen Mary who had been crowned Emperor and Empress of India, both of whom were present with representatives of the Raj and their Indian counterparts. 57,000 troops attended.

The Royal Berkshires played a significant role in the organisation of the ceremony. Consequently when a luxurious tent belonging to an Indian princess caught fire it was the 2nd Battalion who valiantly but unsuccessfully tried to put it out. They erected a replacement tent in record time. In 1914 the battalion transferred to France and Arthur was killed in the first phase of the Battle of  Loos on 25 September 1915.

Frederick Townsend was born in Great Shefford c 1893, one of 11 children 8 of whom were born in East Garston as were his father, Anthony, and mother Hestor (nee Hobbs) .Like his cousin, Arthur, Frederick lived in Big Street.

In Memory of
Private FREDERICK TOWNSEND

9268, 1st Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment
who died on 26th June 1916.

Remembered with honour.
ARRAS MEMORIAL

He fought with the 1st. Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment and died on 26 June 1916 when the hundred strong raiding party of which he was a member was repulsed by heavy machine gun and trench mortar fire at Carency. His father Anthony survived him until his death in 1946.

Wilfred Edward Wise was born in East Garston c 1895 and lived in Little Street. Wilfred was a regular member of the local Church choir until volunteering in 1914. Unlike most East Garston servicemen he did not fight on the Western Front but at Gallipoli with the 5th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment and the Anzacs.  The Anzac beach-head was narrow and within range of Turkish artillery emplacements on a ridge called Sari Bair. For the expedition to progress these emplacements had to be eliminated but the only means of access was via three steep gullies heavily strewn with thorn bushes and subject to Turkish sniper fire.

In Memory of
Private WILFRED EDWARD WISE

11583, 5th Bn., Wiltshire Regiment
who died aged 20 on 28th August 1915.

Remembered with honour.
EMBARKATION PIER CEMETERY

Although the Wiltshires reached the top of their gully the expected support did not arrive. Forced to bivouac on the hillside overnight the battalion was overwhelmed by a surprise attack at dawn. All but 2 platoons on the left flank and a few stragglers from the main battalion were wiped out. Wilfred died of his wounds on 28 August 1915 and, as there was no futher action after the defeat on the 10th , it must be assumed that he was one of the few survivors from the main battalion to make it back to the beach.

Charles Wooldridge was born in East Garston c.1888 and was listed in the 1901 census as a “farm boy”. His father Andrew earned a living as a woodman. The family lived in Little Street.

Charles enlisted with 2/4 Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and died on 18 August 1916 of wounds received in action at Fauquissart .

The name of Captain Sherard Cowper-Coles can be found on the British Legion's Roll of Honour for East Garston and on a Memorial tablet in the Church,but not on the Memorial itself. Unfortunately the minutes of the Parish Council, which was presumably responsible for recording the village's war dead on the Memorial, make no reference to a selection process.

It might be that Sherard's connection with the village was thought to be somewhat tenuous. We know that his uncle, Samuel Hood Cowper-Coles, was appointed recruiting officer for the village and lived at Parsonage Farm.Whether Sherard also resided at the farm or was merely an occasional visitor has yet to be proved. Nevertheless his service record merits description.

He served with 53 Squadron in the embryonic RAF. On 1 September 1918 his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Although wounded he managed to land his plane at Clairmarais South aerodrome. Promoted to the rank of Captain he joined 7 Squadron as acting Flight Commander.

On 14 October 1918 his RE8 was shot down in a dogfight with an enemy plane over Ledegham. Both he and his observer were killled.Aged 22 he was buried at Mendinghem in Belgium. His namesake and relative, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles was, until recently, UK Ambassador to Afghanistan.