http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/513664/WALTHEW,%20ERNEST%20JOHN

Ernest’s name is on the Memorial.

Ernest John Walthew: 46th Divisional Signals Company, The Royal Engineers provided communications for 46th (North Midland) Division. The North Midland Division was a formation of the Territorial Force and was mobilised for war service on the 5th of August 1914. The Division concentrated in the Luton area by mid August. They proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne in late February being first complete Territorial Division to arrive in a theatre of war when they joined the BEF in the Ypres salient. On the 12th of May the Division was retitled 46th (North Midland) Division. They were in action during The German liquid fire attack at Hooge and The attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt in October. On the 23rd of December the were ordered to proceed to Egypt via Marseilles leaving the DAC, Divisional Train and the Mobile Veterinary Section behind. All units had arrived by the 13th of January 1916 but they spent just a few days in Egypt, being ordered to return to France where the units left behind rejoined. On the 1st of July 1916 they took part in The diversionary attack at Gommecourt. In 1917 they were in action during the Operations on the Ancre, Occupation of the Gommecourt defences, The attack on Rettemoy Graben, The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The attack on Lievin and The Battle of Hill 70. In 1918 they saw action in The Battle of the St Quentin canal, including the passage of the canal at Bellenglise, The Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, The Battle of Cambrai, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of Sambre. – See more at: http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/royalengineers46divsigcoy-gw.php#sthash.QJ8xkRIT.dpuf

Born: 1876 Heaton Norris Stockport. Vol 8a Page 32 A/M/J Qtr.
1881 Census: Living at Didsbury Road, Heaton Norris aged 5yrs.
1901 married Maud Clegg daughter of Sir William Clegg
1901 Census: Living at Heath House, Stockport Road, Cheadle with wife & 2 Servants aged 25yrs.
Occupation: Cotton Spinner & Doubler employer of people.
1911 Census: Living at Green Moor, Fairfield aged 35yrs now retired.
1914: Volunteered for the Royal Engineers Territorial Forces.
1918: Died whilst making a reconnaissance.
1919: Probate left £  27.486.5s.9d to widow Maud.

 Report of death in Buxton Advertiser.

It is with deep regret we announce the sad news that Lieut-Colonel E J Walthew, Royal Engineers, who was attached to the Sherwood Foresters, has fallen at the front. It was in May 1915, that Lieutenant Walthew who it will be remembered married Miss Maud Clegg, daughter of Sir William Clegg, of Sheffield, left that city with the local engineers. In the succeeding month  he was preferred to the rank of temporary Captain, and in 1917 was raised to the rank of Major. Then in January of this year (1918) he, for bravery on the battlefield, was awarded the Military Cross  and later promoted to a lieutenant Colonel. It is only lately that Colonel Walthew received an appointment to Divisional Headquarters and it was while discharging his duties there that he met with an instantaneous death. With his widow and two daughters great sympathy is expressed in the very sad bereavement they have been called upon to bear. The deceased officer was well known in Buxton, where he resided for some years, and made lots of friends. He was a man of most affable disposition, cheery and optimistic, and took a great interest in local affairs. In April 1910, he was elected a member of the then Buxton Urban District Council, and continued in that capacity until 1914. Colonel Walthew was then member for east ward. Deceased performed most useful work on the Finance, gas and Water, Sanitary (of which he was chairman in 1912-13).  Baths and Pump Room, Advertising and Free Library Committee. He likewise held high office in the Buxton Lodge of Freemasons (1688), a prominent member of the Conservative party, he was a real worker in the cause. It can with safety be said that his untiring efforts were due much of the extensive progress made in this division. Amongst the numerous other public offices so ably filled by the late Colonel was that of the membership of the committee of management of the Devonshire Hospital, and he was also connected with the Union Club. A sportstman Colonel Walthew held an enviable reputation. he was a keen follower of the High Peak Hunt, and also discharged the duties of secretary to the Hunt Steeplechases, his horse ‘Wiseman’ will be remembered by sportstmen as the winner of the Point-to-point Steeplechase in 1912 and in 1913 the success was reported.  The owner of the winner of this event held the Hunt Challenge Cup for one year succeeding each success. He also presented the Walthew Sheild for competition between the Buxton and Fairfield Constitutional Clubs. Afterwards the deceased left Buxton and went to reside at Churchdale Hall, Ashford. Mrs Walthew became the first commandant of the Bakewell Red Cross Hospital and envinced the greatest interest in the good work. This she continued until removal to Devonshire where she and her daughters now reside. To say that Colonel Walthew will be greatly missed is to largely understate the facts, he leaves a vacant place in our social life which with only the greatest difficulty will be filled.   

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/774983/WOOD,%20PERCY

Royal Army Medical Corps regimental Badge

Arras Memorial 2014 (Bay 10).

War Memorial at Burbage, Buxton.

Percy is remembered on the Burbage, St Peters and The ‘Slopes’ Memorials.

 Born: 1893 Riddings registered Belper Derbyshire Vol 7b Page 621 O/N/D. to parents Joseph & Esther Wood.
1901 Census: Living @ South Street Riddings aged 7yrs with younger sister Ethel.
1911 Census: Living @ 28 Wirksmoor Road, New Mills Derbyshire Aged 17yrs. Lodger. (1911 Parents living at Fox’s Yard Fairfield).
Percy’s occupation is as an Assistant Porter for the Midlands Railway.

1917: Marriage to Ellen (Nellie) Brindley from Burbage.

Obituary from The Buxton Advertiser 13th April 1918. (researched 2014)

Private Percy Wood
The deepest regret was felt last week-end over a wide neighbourhood when it became known that Pte. Percy Wood had been killed in action. He was the only son of Mr & Mrs Wood, Old Hall Cottage, Fairfield, and in October last married Nellie, the eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs James Brindley, Lime Terrace, Burbage. Our fallen friend joined up soon after the outbreak and had 3 ½ years in France with the Field Ambulance. The following extracts from letters support the testimony received from many quarters paying tribute to the high character of the deceased. Lieut. R A Preston writes: “Dear Mrs Wood, – I am sorry to tell you that your husband, Pte Percy Wood. R.A.M.C., was killed in action on March 24th. I take it you have already heard officially from the War Office, but I wished to express to you my deepest sympathy and all that of his comrades in the Ambulance. He was killed instantaneously by a shell whilst carrying wounded through a heavy barrage. You will, at least have the satisfaction of knowing that he died as a brave man should.” A friend of the fallen soldier, Pte Jumelville, in the course of a letter of sympathy to Mrs Wood say’s:- Percy and I were the greatest of friends until the hour of his death. He was greatly liked by all in the Ambulance, and his death is a big blow to all of us, as he was ever ready to render his services to help his fellow comrades. Please accept the sympathy of all of the 58th Field Ambulance and convey the same to his sorrowing parents. Percy died a hero’s death, taking his part for the course of his country, for the triumph of right over might. Deceased was formerly employed on the railway. We beg to tender the young widow and parents, on behalf of a large number of friends and acquaintances, heartfelt sympathy in their great loss.

Percy is also remembered on the RAMC in The Great War website.

http://www.ramc-ww1.com/profile.php?cPath=274_443_48&profile_id=9866&osCsid=29

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/38486/WILLIAMS,%20O

Owen Williams: Battalion Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), Sherwood The 12th was raised at Derby on the 1st of October 1914 as part of Kitchener’s Third New Army and joined 24th Division as army troops. They trained at Shoreham though the division suffered from a lack of equipment and a lack of trained officers and NCOs to command the volunteers. In April 1915 the 12th Sherwoods converted to be a Pioneer Battalion for same Division. In late June 1915 they moved to Aldershot for final training and they proceeded to France on the 29th of August. The Division concentrated in the area between Etaples and St Pol on the 4th September and a few days later marched across France into the reserve for the British assault at Loos, going into action on the 26th of September and suffering heavy losses. In 1916 they suffered in the German gas attack at Wulverghem and then moved to The Somme seeing action in The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Guillemont. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Vimy Ridge in the Spring, The Battle of Messines in June and Third Battle of Ypres in October before moving south where they were in action during The Cambrai Operations when the Germans counter attacked. In 1918 they were in action on the Somme and The Battle of Cambrai and the Final Advance in Picardy. – See more at: http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/sherwoodforesters12.php#sthash.xpqViG01.dpuf

Born: Owen was born at Glynucha, Langelynin, Caernarvonshire, Wales in the J/A/S 1885 Vol 11b Page 513. He was the son of William and Grace Elizabeth Williams.

1891 Census: Owen had an older brother, William John, a younger brother Robert Llewylyn and a younger sister Anne Mary.
1908:  Owen married Lois Norton at St James, Buxton on Christmas Eve. In 1909 the couple had a little girl Edith.
1911Census: Living Mainfields Bakewell aged 26yrs working as a Gardener by now they had another daughter Grace born in February.

1913: The couple were now living in Buxton at 3 West View, Queens Road and now had a son Owen Jnr.
Memorial: 1. A. 27

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/507266/WINSTANLEY,%20WILLIAM

William Winstanley had enlisted into the 90th Field Company, Royal Engineers, the 90th  joined 9th (Scottish) Division in January 1915 at Bordon. They proceeded to France between the 9th and 12th of May 1915 and went into action in the The Battle of Loos. – See more at: http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/royalengineers90fldcoy-gw.php#sthash.pRVW6kix.dpuf

William was born in 1880 at Birkdale, Southport, Lancashire the son of James & Elizabeth Winstanley (James his father is incorrectly named as Joseph on the CWWG Certificate). The family were living at 65 Chester Road, Preston.
1891 Census: Living @ 33 Dover Lane, Preston Aged 13yrs working as an Office Boy . William moved to Buxton at the end of the 1890’s
1900 saw Williams marriage to Annie Palfryman on the 16th May 1900 @ Buxton. Annie was a native of Biggin.
1901 Census: Living @ 33 New High Street, Fairfield. The couple had now had their first child William Turner Winstanley.
1911 Census: Living @ 33 New High Street. Fairfield. James & Annie now have 2 daughters Margaret (1903) & Isobel (1908). Williams occupation is as an Electric Wireman. William had been employed by W R Sanders & Company.

1915: William enlisted on the 6th January, in Buxton, following his enlistment wife Annie and the children moved to 72 Cliff Road, Fairfield. Williams records show he was 36yrs 6mths old on enlistment, he was a Proficient Electrician. He was quickly transferred to Chatham and following training embarked for France on 12th May 1915 arriving the following day, 13th May 1915 in under 2 months William had died on the 5th July 1915 after contracting Typhoid. In total William had served 181 days.

His wife Annie had taken work at Fleetwood Cafe in Spring Gardens & using their headed note paper she wrote a dignified letter requesting her late husbands medals.

Etaples Memorial Grave: 11. A. 14

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/774236/WILKINSON,%20CHARLES%20LESLIE

Born: 22nd June 1897 the son of Charles Edward & Minnie Alice Wilkinson, Charles was baptised 19th July at St Peters Fairfield.
1901 Census: Aged 3yrs living at Underwood Manchester Road Buxton.
1911 Census: Aged 13yrs Student away at Haileybury College Hertfordshire.

Parents living at Ardean, Marlborough Rd Buxton.
1918 Probate: France Charles left £312 17s 7d to his Father Charles Edward Wilkinson.

Arras Memorial 2014 (Bay 7).