Helmdons war memorial v2a

| The Men Behind the Names
Contents
Preface
History of the War Memorial
Index of Service Records (WWI unless stated otherwise)
Edmund John Ayres
George Victor Creed
Charles Frederick Finch
Arthur Oliver Franklin
John Thomas Grant
Alfred Humphrey
Sidney Lines
William Merrison
William Harold Seckington
Charles Arthur John Southam
James Tugwood
Harry Turnham
William Edwin Turnham
Frederick John Watson
Frank Branson Watts
Francis John Winmill
Alfred George Humphrey (WWII)
The Helmdon Roll of Honour & other Helmdon connections
– William John Major
– Edward Stanley Strachan
Acknowledgements
Appendix
Memorial Dedication Service

Preface
Helmdon’s War Memorial – The Men Behind the Names
This year, 2014, the 100 th Anniversary of the start of the 1914 -1918 Great War, was the catalyst for a group of Helmdon residents to decide to research and publish personal details of those servicemen whose names appear on the Helmdon War Memorial. Such has been their enthusiasm that it has expanded into looking at other aspects, notably the Roll of
Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Who Served in the First World War.
The most relevant, up-to-date information available has been put together and can be printed off as a booklet. It is to be hoped that it will not only add to the history of Helmdon but that it will go some way to honour the great sacrifice made by those village servicemen.
The authors apologise that some entries do not contain as much detail as others; available records are not always fruitful.
We trust that you find the project interesting and thank all those relative and friends of the fallen and villagers who gave of their time to search their own archives for us.
If readers have further information please contact editor@helmdon.com or telephone
[phone number removed].

The History of the Helmdon War Memorial
Although not mentioning Helmdon specifically, articles in the Banbury Guardian show that communities were discussing the need for permanent war memorials in 1918, even before the hostilities had officially ceased.
What is known of the Helmdon memorial is that it was certainly there by July 1921 on the site of what was the Dame school which closed in 1853. However, no documentation has been found to disclose who instigated the Memorial or whether it was paid for by the Parish, the County or local subscription. Indeed, there has been nothing found in any sources to even indicate the year it was first dedicated.
This postcard picture shows the site between the removal of the Dame School and the erection of the War Memorial and was probably taken in the early 20th Century. At the time of this photo, the central area was used to crush stone for use in repairing the roads; this explains the barren patch in the middle of the grass.
The original Memorial was dedicated by the then Lord Bishop of Leicester; a copy of the original service sheet from this Dedication Service is included as an Appendix to this document.
What is known is that original Memorial was subsequently altered and probably not too long after the Dedication Service; stories suggest this was after the original fell down in strong winds.

The original Memorial had the names of the fallen engraved on the column.
Column details from the previous picture.

It is likely that it was altered when re-erected, so that the names previously engraved on the column of the memorial were now placed around the base.
An early photo of the Memorial showing the white picket fence; this was taken before the local roads were metalled.
This later photograph, probably taken soon after the end of World War 2, shows metalled roads surrounding the memorial and a telegraph pole erected on the far corner of the green.
Sadly, the Second World War saw a further Helmdon casualty and the name of Alfred
George Humphrey was added to the Memorial.

The 1939 – 1945 plaque lists a single Helmdon casualty.
In March 1946 the Parish Council agreed to maintain the memorial and at some stage after that the picket fence and hedge were removed.
At one time the British Legion had it in their care and entered into competitions, winning the cup for the Best Kept War Memorial from 1972 – 1974.
A further separate memorial Plaque was added to the Memorial site in 2009 to commemorate the ten man crew of the USAF B17 Bomber 42-30408, the ‘Sharon Belle’ that crashed with the loss of all lives near Astwell Park Farm on 30th November 1943. Further details of this incident can be found on www.helmdon.com.
This plaque commemorates the crew of the Sharon Belle and is sited next to the Helmdon
War memorial.
Today the Memorial green is an open space with a small post and chain fence surrounding the Memorials. The surrounding flower beds are currently maintained by members of
Helmdon Gardening Club

This photo shows the Memorial garden decorated for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee
The Memorials will always be held in high regard.

Index of
Service
Records

Edmund John Ayres c.1886 – 1917
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: AYRES Given name(s): Edmund John
Rank: Private Service No.: 31018
Date of death: 16/04/1917 Age: 31
Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire Regiment, 8th Bn.
Memorial: Ref: I.N.58
Additional information: Nationality: United Kingdom. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War
Dead. Son of Edward and Martha Ayres, of Helmdon, Brackley,
Northants, husband of Harriet Helen Ayres, of Greatworth,
Banbury
From Forces War Records
Family name: AYRES Given name(s): Edmund John
Date of birth: Circa 1886 Age: 31
Resided Town: Banbury, Northants Nationality: British
Date of death: 16/04/1917 Fate: Died of wounds
Rank: Private Service No.: 31018
Duty Location: France & Flanders

Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Edmund John
Ayres
Private 3rd Coy. 5th Bat.
Bedfords
Died of wounds April 15th
1917
Additional Military Information
During the Great War, The Bedfordshire Regiment was engaged on The Western Front,
Italy, Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine. The 8th Battalion was a ‘Service’ battalion raised in
October 1914 as a part of Lord Kitchener's K3 Army Group, specifically for the duration of the war. They served entirely on the Western Front between August 1915 and February
1918, at which time the battalion was disbanded.
Edmund Ayres is buried at the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe. Philosophe, started in August 1915, is in the Pas de Calais, France, lying between Bethune and Lens, and it was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. There are now 1,996 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.
Cap and death penny in the possession of his great niece, Lynda Fellowes

Death penny in the possession of his great niece, Doreen England
Edmund’s army record card

Philosophe British cemetery, where Edmund was buried.
Grave inscription for Edmund John Ayres

Edmund’s memorial card
1901 Census
Address
Church
Street,
Helmdon
Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age
Edmund J Ayres Head M M 40
Martha Ayres Wife M F 37
Edmund J Son S M 16
Gertrude A. Daughter S F 12
Northamptonshire,
Helmdon
Olive H Daughter S F 4
Northamptonshire,
Helmdon
Birth Year Occupation Birthplace
Platelayer
(Railway)
Northamptonshire,
Helmdon
Northamptonshire,
Helmdon
Platelayer
Northamptonshire,
Helmdon
Additional Family Information
According to the Electoral Roll of 1898 the family were living in Helmdon in a dwelling house in Chapel Road (now Wappenham Road). In the 1911 census Edmund’s father, also
Edmund John, previously a platelayer on the railway, was a waggoner on a farm.
Our soldier Edmund was almost certainly at Helmdon School but he was born before 1886
and presumed to have been in a previous school attendance register than the one existing in the Record office. In due course he married Harriet Helen Ayres (born 1891). Her parents were Andrew E. Ayres (an agricultural labourer) and Avis Ayres, who the time of her birth lived in Main Road, Whitfield.

In Memory of
Private
Edmund John Ayres
31018, 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 16 April 1917 Age 31
Son of Edward and Martha Ayres, of Helmdon, Brackley, Northants; husband of Harriett Helen Ayres, of
Greatworth, Banbury.
Remembered with Honour
Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe

Victor George Creed c.1881 – 1917
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: CREED Given name: Victor George
Date of birth: c. 1881 Date of death: 08 November 1917
Age at death: 25 Place of death:
Last known place of residence:
Last known occupation:
From Forces War Records
Number: 295215 Regiment: 12th (West Somerset
Yeomanry)
Rank: Private Battalion: Somerset Light Infantry
Theatre: Egypt Date Enlisted:
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds Place Enlisted:
Memorial: Beersheba War Cemetery
Additional Military Information
None found.
East Pennard, Somerset

1911 Census
Father’s name: George Henry CREED Mother’s name:
Occupation: Dairy Manager
Date of birth:
Elizabeth CREED
Occupation:
Date of birth:
Siblings: Alexander John
CREED
Date of birth: c. 1895
Siblings: Ernest Frederick
CREED
Date of birth: c. 1897
Siblings: Edward CREED Date of birth: c. 1899
Siblings: Arthur? CREED Date of birth: c. 1901
Siblings: Priscilla CREED Date of birth: c. 1902
Spouse: Date of birth:
Children: Date of birth:
Children: Date of birth:
Additional Family Information
Son of George and Elizabeth Creed, of Sulgrave, Banbury, Oxon.
Victor and his siblings were born in Queen Camel, Somerset
Living at Stuchbury, Banbury, Oxon. In 1911

In Memory of
Private
Victor George Creed
295215, 12th (West Somerset Yeomanry) Bn., Somerset Light Infantry who died on 08 November 1917 Age
25
Son of George and Elizabeth Creed, of Sulgrave, Banbury, Oxon.
Remembered with Honour
Beersheba War Cemetery

Charles Frederick Finch c.1880 – 1916
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: FINCH Given name: Charles Frederick
Date of birth: c. 1880 Date of death: 09 October 1916
Place of death: France & Flanders Age at death: c. 36
Last known place of residence:
Last known occupation: Carter, farm labourer
From Forces War Records
Number: 18313 Regiment: Northamptonshire Regiment
Rank: Private Battalion: 7th Battalion
Theatre: Western European
Theatre
Date Enlisted:
Type of Casualty: Killed in action Place Enlisted:
Memorial: Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois
Additional Military Information
None found.
Northampton

1911 Census
Father’s name: John FINCH Mother’s name:
Occupation: Carter Occupation:
Date of birth: Date of birth:
Siblings: Date of birth:
Anne
Spouse: Florence Mary
Elizabeth BROCK
Date of birth: c. 1880 (Steeple Aston)
Children: Frederick Arthur
FINCH
Date of birth: c. 1901 (Helmdon)
Children: Florence Lilian FINCH Date of birth: c. 1903
Children: Harold Leslie FINCH c. 1905 (d. 1968) Date of birth:
Additional Family Information
Husband of F. N. E. Finch, of Preston Capes, Byfield, Northants.
Born in Helmdon.
After the war, in 1921, Charles’s wife Florence went on to marry William E Burt who was listed on the 1911 census as a lodger living with Charles and Florence.

In Memory of
Private
C F Finch
18313, 7th Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 09 October 1916
Husband of F. N. E. Finch, of Preston Capes, Byfield, Northants.
Remembered with Honour
Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois

Arthur Oliver Franklin c.1881 – 1917
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: FRANKLIN Given name: Arthur Oliver
Date of birth: c. 1881 Date of death: 1 August 1917
Place of death: France & Flanders Age at death: c. 36
Last known place of residence: Northend, Warwickshire
Last known occupation: Cowman
From Forces War Records
Number: 10670 Regiment: Machine Gun Corps
Rank: Private Battalion: Infantry
Theatre: Western Europe Date Enlisted:
Type of Casualty: Killed in action Place Enlisted:
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Additional Military Information
Formerly 15456, R. Warwicks Regt.
Warwick

1911 Census
Father’s name: Mother’s name:
Occupation: Occupation:
Date of birth: Date of birth:
Siblings: Date of birth:
Spouse: Maud Franklin Date of birth: c. 1880
Children: Flossie Voilet [sic] Date of birth: c. 1903
Children: Freddie ? Vincent Date of birth: c. 1907
Additional Family Information
Arthur Oliver and his children were all born in Helmdon. Maud was born in Wolverton,
Bucks. In 1911 they were at Home Farm Cottages, Delapre.

In Memory of
Private
Arthur Oliver Franklin
10670, 164th Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) who died on 01 August 1917
Remembered with Honour
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

John Thomas GRANT
c.1891 – 1915
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: GRANT Given name(s): John Thomas
Rank: Guardsman Service No.: 19397
Date of death: 23/10/1915 Age: 24
Regiment/Service: 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards
Memorial: Vermelles British Cemetery
Additional information: Parents :William & Ellen GRANT of Helmdon
From Forces War Records
Family name: GRANT Given name(s):
Date of birth: c1891 Witney Oxon Age: 24
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 23/10/1915 Fate: Died of wounds
Rank: Private – Grenadier
Guards
Service No.: 19397
Duty Location: Flanders
John Thomas

Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
John Grant Private Grenadier Guards Died of wounds 25 October
1917 [sic]
Additional Military Information
None found
1911 Census
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age
Birth
Year
Occupation Birthplace
Helmdon,
Brackley
William Grant Head M M 55 1856
Ex Police Constable
Pensioner
Warmington,
Warwickshire
Ellen Grant Wife M F 56 1855
John Thomas Grant Son S M 20 1891
Gentlemen Servant
Domestic
Blackthorn,
Oxfordshire
Lilian Gwendoline
Walker
Boarder S F 19 1892
Elementary School
Teacher
Roade,
Northamptonshire
Additional Family Information
None found
Images & photographs
None found
Oxford, Oxfordshire

In Memory of
Guardsman
John Thomas Grant
19397, 2nd Bn., Grenadier Guards who died on 23 October 1915 Age 24
Son of William and Ellen Grant, of Helmdon, Brackley, Northants.
Remembered with Honour
Vermelles British Cemetery

Alfred Humphrey c.1893 – 1918
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: HUMPHREY Given name: Alfred
Rank: Private Service No.: 27420
Date of death: 22.03.1918 Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Northamptonshire
Regiment; 6th Bn
Memorial: The Pozieres Memorial
Additional information: Son of Benjamin &
Hannah Humphrey
From Forces War Records
Family name: HUMPHREY Given name(s): Alfred
Date of birth: c. 1893 Age: 25
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 22.03.1918 Fate: Killed in Action
Rank: Private Service No.: 27420
Duty Location: Somme

Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Alfred Humphrey Private 27420 G Company 3rd
Northants
Missing
Additional Military Information
None Found
1911 Census
Address Name
Relation to head of family
Sex Age Occupation Birthplace
Chapel Street
Helmdon
Benjamin Humphrey Head M 61 Butcher Helmdon
Hannah Humphrey Wife F 55
Annie Elizabeth
Humphrey
Daughter F 29 Worker Helmdon
Clara Humphrey Daughter F 24 Worker Helmdon
Martha Alice Humphrey Daughter F 18 Worker Helmdon
Alfred Humphrey Son F 16 Worker Helmdon
Beatrice Humphrey Daughter F 14 Worker Helmdon
Additional Family Information
Great Uncle of Douglas and Mervin Humphrey and Celia Terry and Julia Wilkins (nee Terry)
Images & photographs

In Memory of
Private
Alfred Humphrey
27420, 6th Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 22 March 1918 Age 25
Son of Benjamin and Halmah Humphrey, of Helmdon, Brackley, Northants.
Remembered with Honour
Pozieres Memorial

Sydney Ernest Lines c.1893 – 1918
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: LINES Given name(s): Sydney Ernest
Rank: Private Service No.: 153721
Date of death: 05 April 1918 Age:
Regiment/Service: Royal Horse Artillery, “U” Bty.
Memorial: Panel 7 to 10. Pozieres memorial
Additional information:
From Forces War Records
Family name: Lines
Date of birth:
Given name(s): Sydney Ernest
Age:
Resided Town: Helmdon, Northamton Nationality: British
Date of death: 05 April 1918 Fate: Killed in Action
Rank: Gunner Service No.: 153721
Duty Location: France and Flanders
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Not listed.

Additional Military Information
None found
1911 Census
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Birthplace
Helmdon,
Brackley
Mark Sydney Gulliver Head M M 37 1874 Baker Napton, Warwickshire
Margaret Helen Marie
Gulliver
Wife M F 35 1876 Grimsbury, Oxfordshire
Louisa Gulliver Daughter S M 13 1898 Helmdon, Northants
Beatrice Gulliver Daughter S M 10 1901 Helmdon, Northants
Gladys Gulliver Daughter S M 7 1904 Helmdon, Northants
Mary Gulliver Daughter S M 5 1906 Helmdon, Northants
Sydney Lines Nephew S M 18 1893
Additional Family Information
None found
Images & photographs
Panel on Pozieres Memorial
Baker Napton, Warwickshire

In Memory of
Gunner
Sydney Ernest Lines
153721, "U" Bty., Royal Horse Artillery who died on 05 April 1918
Remembered with Honour
Pozieres Memorial

William Merrison
1897 – 1916
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: Merrison Given name(s): William
Rank: Private Service No.: 15900
Date of death: 4/11/1916 Age: 19
Regiment/Service: 100 th Machine Gun Corp ,C Section,33 Division
Memorial: Buried Grove Town Cemetery ,Meaulte
From Forces War Records
Merrison Family name: Given name(s):
Date of birth:
William
Age:
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 04 November 1916 Fate: Died of wounds
Rank: Private Service No.: 15900
Duty Location: France and Flanders
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
William Merrison Pte 19035 Died of wounds 15.11.16 [sic]

Additional Military Information
Formerly 19035, Oxf. And Bucks L.I.
1901 Census
Address Name Status M,S or
W
Sex Age Occupation Born
44 Church Street Herbert W. Merrison Head M M 37 Foreman – Railway
Platelayer
Norfolk, West Dercham
Beatrice Merrison Ayres Wife M F 34 Norfolk, Wisbeck
Ruth E. Merrison Daughter S F 10 Norfolk, West Dercham
Lilly Merrison Daughter S F 9 Norfolk, West Dercham
William Merrison Son S M 4 Derby, Stoveley
Additional Family Information
Parents: Herbert W and Beatrice Merrison, both born in Norfolk.
William wrote a letter home dtd Sept 24 1916 (it is faded and worn) – a few extracts
“Dear Mother & Father, just a few lines to answer your letter… a letter from Lily and she told me she was… in a day or two.. . Dears you musnt say anything to… about Charlie… Sorry to hear the potatoes are bad give my land to Dad and tell him better luck next time… From your loving son Will – Shant (sic) be long before we are at home …”.
He finished the letter in the censor approved fashion: Pte W Merrison 15-9 – 00 mgc 100th
– C Section – 33 Division B E Force France.
Images & photographs
None found

In Memory of
Private
William Merrison
15900, 100th Coy., Machine Gun Corps who died on 04 November 1916 Age 19
Son of Herbert William and Beatrice Merrison, of Helmdon, Brackley, Northampton.
Remembered with Honour
Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte

William Harold Seckington
1883 – 1918
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: SECKINGTON Given name(s): William Harold
Rank: Private Service No.: G/7031
Date of death: 13/08/1918 Age:
Regiment/Service: The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 11 Bn.
Memorial: Esquelbecq Military War Cemetery
Additional information: Grave reference: 11.F.17
From Forces War Records
Family name: SECKINGTON
Date of birth:
Given name(s): William Harold
Age:
Resided Town: Southam,
Warwickshire
Nationality: British
Date of death: 13/08/1918 Fate: Died of wounds
Rank: Private Service No.: G/7031
Duty Location: France & Flanders

Additional Military Information
The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey ), the 2nd of Foot, was England’s oldest infantry
Regiment formed in 1661. It had 28 battalions and was awarded 74 Battle Honours and 4
Victoria Crosses, losing 8,000 men during the Great War conflict.
Among the battles fought by William Harold Seckington’s 11th battalion were The Advances in Flanders, The Battle of Ypres and The Battle of Ootegham. William died of wounds on the
13th August 1918; on 1st November 1918 the 11th battalion ended the war at west of
Nederbrakel, Belgium.
William was buried in the Esquelbecq military cemetery (grave reference: ll.F/17).
Esquelbecq is a village near the Belgian frontier, 24 kilometres north of Hazebrouck and the same distance south of Dunkirk. The Military Cemetery is about one kilometre west of the village. The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918.
William had the British War Medal 1914 – 18 (two sides shown)
and the Allied Victor Medal (two sides shown)
Both medals now in the possession of his grandson, Derek Pasquire.

William’s Death Penny, now in the possession of his grandson. Derek Pasquire.
Esquelbecq military cemetery, where William was buried.

1891 Census
Address
Helmdon
Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age
Birth
Year
Occupation Birthplace
Jesse Seckington Head M M 32 1859 Farm Labourer
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Elizabeth Seckington Wife M F 30 1861
Frederick Seckington Son S M 8 1883 Scholar
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Harold Seckington Son S M 7 1884 Scholar
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Rosetta Seckington Daughter S F 5 1886 Scholar
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Mabel Seckington Daughter S F 1 1890
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Additional Family Information
William Harold Seckington
William Harold Seckington’s grandfather was Eli Seckington (1827 – 1879), a Helmdon labourer, who was married to Ann Parish (1832 – 1903), described as a servant and later as lacemaker.
They had eleven children and their fourth child and first son was Jessie Arthur Seckington of
Helmdon (1858 -1936), farm labourer and “thrashing engine driver”. Jessie was married to
Elizabeth Holloway (1861 – 1923) and they were our William Harold Seckington’s parents. They

lived first in Church Street but by 1911 they were in Station Road.
William Harold (1883 – 1918), their second son, was born in Helmdon. Described variously as a farm worker, railway porter, grocer’s porter/carrier, and cement worker, he married Edna Merle
Pym from Southam, Warwickshire, in 1913, and here, in 1915, his only daughter, Mabel, was born. Southam is also the place where he was living when he joined up.
Both Jesse and Harry were recorded as being customers at the bakehouse (now The Old
Bakehouse) in Church Street, and as a little girl, Mabel (or Mabs as she was called) remembered visiting her granny and grandfather at a house somewhere opposite the Old School House, in
Station Road, and she recalled taking meat on a Sunday to the bakehouse, to be cooked in the bakehouse oven.
He was sometimes called Harold or Harry.
Born in 1883 he almost certainly went to Helmdon School and is therefore presumed to be in a previous register to the one in the Record Office which begins in 1894.
William Harold Seckington is on the Helmdon war memorial in that name, and also on the
Southam war memorial as of William Seckington.

In Memory of
Private
W H Seckington
G/7031, 11th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) who died on 13 August 1918
Remembered with Honour
Esquelbecq Military Cemetery

Charles Arthur John Southam c.1896 – 1916
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: SOUTHAM Given name(s): Charles Arthur John
Rank: Private Service No.: 20335
Date of death: 07 July 1916 Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Northamptonshire
Regiment 2nd Battalion
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial
From Forces War Records
Family name: SOUTHAM Given name(s): Charles Arthur John
Date of birth: 1896 Age: 20
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 7th July 1916 Fate: Wounded and Missing
Rank: Private Service No.: 20335
Duty Location: France

Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Charles Southam 3rd Btn
Northamptonshire
Regiment
Private Missing
Additional Military Information
Enlisted 9th August 1915
Awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Mons Star
Member of the Old Contemptibles
1911 Census
Address Name
Relation to head of family
Sex Age Occupation Birthplace
Church Rd,
Helmdon John Southam Head M 48 Railway platelayer Helmdon
Maria Southam Wife F 45
Alfred Southam Son M 19 Railway porter Helmdon
Lilian May Southam Daughter F 18 Worker Helmdon
Charles Arthur John
Southam
Son M 15 Agricultural labourer Helmdon
Additional Family Information
In 1916 his family were living in The Square, Helmdon
Images & photographs – Thiepval Memorial
Bloxham, Oxon

Newspaper articles etc
Banbury Guardian, August 17th 1916 – “The following men of the Northamptonshire Regiment have been wounded …..Private C.A.J.Southam (Helmdon)”

In Memory of
Private
Charles Arthur John Southam
20335, 2nd Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 07 July 1916
Remembered with Honour
Thiepval Memorial

James Tugwood
1899 – 1918
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: TUGWOOD Given name(s): James
Rank: Cadet Service No.: 181919
Date of death: 08 November 1918 Age: 18
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Memorial: Helmdon (St Mary Magdalene) Churchyard
Additional information: Son of Frederick and Mary Ann Tugwood.
From Forces War Records
Family name: TUGWOOD Given name(s): James
Date of birth: Circa 1900 Age: 18
Nationality: British Resided Town:
Date of death: 08 November 1918 Fate:
Rank: Cadet Service No.: 181919
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Not listed.

Additional Military Information
James was in the No. 2 School of Observers
1911 Census
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age
Birth
Year
Occupation Birthplace
Radstone,
Brackley
Frederick Tugwood Head M M 37 1864 Cowman on Farm Biddlesden, Bucks
Mary Ann Tugwood Wife M F 45 1856
Albert Tugwood Son S M 12 1899 School Whitfield, Northants
James Tugwood Son S M 11 1900 School Radstone, Northants
Ramsden, Oxfordshire
Additional Family Information
James’ date of birth is thought to be 15th December 1899, his mother’s maiden name was Mary
Ann Panting.
Images & photographs
None found

In Memory of
Cadet
James Tugwood
181919, No. 2 School of Observers, Royal Air Force who died on 08 November 1918 Age 18
Son of Frederick and Mary Ann Tugwood.
Remembered with Honour
Helmdon (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard

Harry Turnham c.1894 – 1918
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: TURNHAM Given name(s): Harry
Rank: Private Service No.: 203423
Date of death: 05.07.1918 Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Northamptonshire
Regiment 6Btn
Memorial: Pernois British
Cemetery
From Forces War Records
Family name: TURNHAM Given name(s): Harry
Date of birth: 03.08.1894 Age: 23
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 05 July 1918 Fate: Died of wounds
Rank: Private Service No.: 203423
Duty Location: France

Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Harry Turnham Private 6th Bt
Northamptonshire
Regiment
Died of wounds 5 July 1918
1901 Census
Address Name
Relation to head of family
Sex Age Occupation Birthplace
Falcutt Thomas Turnham Head M 39 Farmer Stone, Bucks
Sarah Turnham Wife F 44
Walter Turnham Son M Thornborough
Florence A Turnham Daughter F Thornborough
Harvy* Son M 6 Thornborough
William Edwin
Humphrey
Son M 11 mths Helmdon
Thornborough, Bucks
Additional Family Information
Brother of William Edwin Turnham, also on War Memorial, and who also died in 1918.
*Harry, shown as “Harvy” on 1901 census, does not appear on any of the local censuses for
1911.
Images & photographs

In Memory of
Private
Harry Turnham
203423, 6th Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 05 July 1918 Age 23
Son of Thomas and Sarah Turnham, of Falcutt, nr. Brackley, Northants.
Remembered with Honour
Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-Les-Pernois

William Edwin Turnham c.1900 – 1918
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: TURNHAM Given name(s): William Edwin
Rank: Private Service No.: 66657
Date of death: 05 November 1918 Age: 18
Regiment/Service: Suffolk Regiment
Memorial: Helmdon Churchyard
Additional information: Son of Thomas and
Sarah Turnham.
Husband of Ellen
Turnham
From Forces War Records
Family name: TURNHAM Given name(s): William Edwin
Date of birth: April 30th 1900 Age: 18
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 05 November 1918 Fate: Died of influenza at
Hastings VAD Hospital
Rank: Private Service No.: 66657
Duty Location:
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Not listed

Additional Military Information
None Found
1911 Census
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age
Falcutt Thomas Turnham Head M M 49
Sarah Turnham Wife M F 53
William George
Turnham
Son S M 14
William Edwin
Turnham
Son S M 10
Birth Year Occupation Birthplace
Farmer Stone, Bucks
Thornborough, Bucks
1900
Farm worker Thornborough, Bucks
School Falcutt, Northants
Additional Family Information
Brother of Harry Turnham who was killed on 5th July 1918. Married to Ellen Turnham (nee
Humphrey).
Images & photographs-Helmdon Churchyard Grave

In Memory of
Private
William Edwin Turnham
66657, 2nd Garrison Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died on 05 November 1918
Remembered with Honour
Helmdon (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard

Frederick John Watson
1884 – 1920
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: Watson Given name(s): Fredrick John
Rank: Private Service No.: 50316
Date of death: 19/01/1920 Age: 36
Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment
Memorial: Buried in Helmdon
Additional information: Son of George Watson; husband of Elizabeth Ann Watson, of
Helmdon. Born at Helmdon.
From Forces War Records
Family name: WATSON Given name(s):
Date of birth: b1884 baptised
3/8/1884
Age: 44
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 24/1/1920 Fate: Reason for death not known
Rank: Private – Army Service Service No.:
Corp.
Frederick John
S/4145114

Duty Location: Flanders
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Not listed
1911 Census
Not found
Additional Family Information
Parents :George Watson b1856 Helmdon d 4/5/1927
Eliza Turvey b1878 Helmdon d 1920 both buried in Helmdon
Old Boy of Helmdon School
Images & photographs

In Memory of
Private
Fredrick John Watson
50316, Essex Regiment who died on 19 January 1920 Age 36
Son of George Watson; husband of Elizabeth Ann Watson, of Helmdon. Born at Helmdon.
Remembered with Honour
Helmdon (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard

Frank Branson Watts
1891 – 1915
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: WATTS Given name(s): Frank Branson
Rank: Private Service No.: 2343
Date of death: 13/05/1915 Age:
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Yeomanry
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate Memorial)
Additional information: Resided Town: Brackley. Nationality: British. Fate: Killed in action
Duty Location: France and Flanders
From Forces War Records
Family name: WATTS
Date of birth:
Given name(s): Frank Branson
Age:
Resided Town: Brackley Nationality:
Date of death: 13 May 1915 Fate: Killed in action
Rank: Private Service No.: 2343
Duty Location: Western European Theatre, France & Flanders

Additional Military Information
Frank resided in the Brackley area, probably Helmdon, at the time of his enlistment, which was in Leicester.
Note: Frank was in the Leicestershire Yeomanry but he was also described as being in the
Household Cavalry and Cavalry (and Imperial Camel Corps)
The Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert's Own) was a yeomanry regiment of the
British Army which provided cavalry and mounted infantry in the First World War.
With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry regiment mobilised in the North Midland Mounted Brigade and moved to France in November joining the 3rd Cavalry Division. It saw service at the First Battle of Ypres in 1914 and the Second
Battle of Ypres in 1915. At Second Ypres, the regiment gained battle honours for the Battle of St Julien and – perhaps most notably – the Battle of Frezenberg, where a squadron of the regiment held the line for its entire brigade.
The Second Battle of Ypres (newspaper extract)
th The second Battle of Ypres was fought April 22nd – May 24 , 1915, practically over the same ground.
In this fight the Leicestershire Yeomanry again took part, suffered very severely and had to mourn the th loss of their gallant Colonel, on May 13 , besides many others officers and men killed and wounded.
th G Valentine Williams tells the story as follows: “At 4.30 on the morning of May 13 , the Germans opened the heaviest bombardment yet experience in the battle on the trenches occupied by two cavalry brigades on a line running from the Ypres-Roulers railway to the Bellewaarde Lake. The
Germans shelled mercilessly the whole triangle between the railway and the Lake, while Bellwaarde
Wood was enveloped in dense masses of smoke from the bursting shells. The cavalry trenches were rd simply obliterated. The 3 Dragoon Guards were buried and though the North Somerset Yeomanry held on with magnificent endurance, the line could not e held and here we fell back about 800 yards.
st The Royals (1 Dragoons) were rushed up to reinforce, and suffered heavily on the way. Presently news came back that on the right the Life Guards had been buried in their trenches, and had to fall nd back, but that the Leicestershire Yeomanry were holding out. The 2 Essex Regiment managed to fill one of the gaps by a fine charge, and held out until relieved by the cavalry supports.
“A counter attack was organised. It was preceded by a very heavy bombardment of the German positions with all available guns firing high explosive shells. Then – it was 3.20 p.m. the attack went th forward. It was led by the 10 Hussars, who went forward with such splendid dash that at the sight of them the gallant Leicestershire Yeomanry, reduced in numbers as they were, could not restrain themselves, but tumbled out of their trenches and the Blues (Royal Horse Guards), also took part in the attack. These magnificent men went forward under a very heavy fire of shrapnel and high explosive as steady as on parade. The Germans were routed out of the trenches they had won from us. The Germans fairly bolted, in some instances’ with the cavalry after them. For a little time it was as though we had returned to the war in the open. But the position we had won was untenable.
Directly our men had recovered in the trenches they were blown out again, and had to fall back.
th “May 13 may be reckoned the last day of the second Battle of Ypres. It was not a battle like the first battle of Ypres, when our men met the flower of the Prussian army face to face, and withstood a succession of onslaughts delivered with an incredible disregard of human life. The second Battle of
Ypres was a battle of machinery in which the German infantry skulked behind their gag-cylinders and machine guns and waited for their heavy guns to prepare for the victory at a cheap price”.
Sir John French, the Commander in Chief, said later in his report that for the first time in history British soldiers had been called upon to fight gas fumes. “This dastardly gas attack, for it could not be described in any other terms , came as a bolt from the blue to the troops in the Yprs region”.
Frank Branson Watts is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (plot: Panel 3).
Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders. It is situated at the eastern

side of the town on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). The Memorial now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. It was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, and unveiled by
Lord Plummer on 24 July 1927.
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, on which Frank Branson Watts is commemorated
Additional Family Information
1891 Census
Name Status
M,
S or
W
Sex Age
Birth
Year
Occupation Birthplace
Watts, Alfred J. Head M M 29 1862 Builder
Weston by Weedon,
Northamptonshire
Watts, Mary A.E. Wife M F 26 1865
Moreton Pinkney.
Northamptonshire
Frank B. Watts Son S M
0
(8m) 1891
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Wootten,
Florence H.
Servant S F 13 1878
Address
Church
Street,
Helmdon
General Servant
Helmdon,
Northamptonshire
Frank’s mother’s maiden name was Mary Ann Edith Branson.
He was a pupil at Helmdon School. His father was described as a builder in the 1891 census but by 1911 had a farm in Helmdon, on which Frank was working.
He probably went to Helmdon School but it is unclear why he is not in the 1894 Helmdon
School register.
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Frank Watts Private 2343 Leicestershire Yeomanry

In Memory of
Private
Frank Branson Watts
2343, Leicestershire Yeomanry who died on 13 May 1915
Remembered with Honour
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Francis John Winmill c.1890 – 1914
Both photos show John as Stoker 2nd Class. The first photo, taken when he was on HMS
Nelson, was probably around 1905 – 1910. HMS Nelson was a training ship for stokers, scrapped in 1910. The second photo was taken when he was on HMS Achilles; again he is
Stoker 2nd Class. He was on the Achilles at the time of the 1911 census by which time he had been promoted to Stoker first class.
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: WINMILL Given name(s): Francis John
Rank: Stoker 1st Class Service No.: K/4/702
Date of death: 01/11/14 Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
H.M.S “Good Hope”
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, panel ref: 5
Additional information: Son of Mr F.J. Winmill of Helmdon, Brackley, Northants.
From Forces War Records
Family name: WINMILL Given name(s): John
Date of birth: Circa 1890 Age: 24

Resided Town: Nationality: British
Date of death: 01/11/1914 Fate: Ship sunk whilst in
Action off Chilean
Coast
Rank: Stoker 1st Class Service No.: K/4702
Duty Location: Chilean Coast
Additional Military Information
1911 Census HMS Achilles Portsmouth
Name John Winmill
Age in 1911: 22
Estimated birth year: Abt 1889
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Helmdon, Brackley, Northamptonshire, England
Civil Parish: Portsmouth
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Occupation: Stoker 1st Class
Registration District: Portsmouth
Registration District No: 90
Sub-Registration District: Portsmouth and Mid-Southsea
ED, Institution or Vessel: 34

On the left the memorial at Portsmouth commemorating the sailors who died in the Great
War, and on the right a close-up of the entry for J Winmill.
HMS Nelson training ship of the Royal Navy on which Francis served as a stoker.
HMS Good Hope was one of four Drake-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy around 1900, and was the flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in 1908. Obsolescent and undergunned for a 14.100 ton displacement she was reduced to reserve in 1913, but was recommissioned in mid-1914.
When war was declared in August 1914, Good Hope was ordered to reinforce the 4th Cruis-
er Squadron and became the flagship of Rear Admiral Christopher Craddock. John Winmill was a stoker on board. Craddock moved the available ships of his squadron later that month to the coast of South America to search for German commerce raiders. He was then

ordered further south to the Strait of Magellan to block any attempt of the German East Asia
Squadron to penetrate into the South Atlantic. He sighted the German squadron, a more numerous, modern, faster and more heavily armed force, led by Admiral Graf von Spee, on
1 November, off the coast of Chile. The British force was outlined against the setting sun and presented good targets. After less than an hour’s battle, and sustaining three dozen hits, a terrific internal explosion ripped the Good Hope apart and she was no more. She sank after an hour and was lost with all hands. Further information can be found at http://www.coronel.org.uk/
Or http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/history-of-the-first-world-war-in-
100-moments/a-history-of-the-first-world-war-in-100-moments-a-forgotten-naval-victory-in-
which-even-nature-played-a-part-9265638.html
The Banbury Guardian, Thursday, 12 November 1914 (from a section devoted to news about the War)
November 6th – Admiralty issue report of an action in Pacific in which the Good Hope, Mon-
mouth, and Glasgow, engaged the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Leipzig and Dresden, in which the Good Hope caught fire and sank, and the Monmouth drew off severely damaged and was again attacked. No loss was reported in the German cruisers, which had heavier ar-
mament.
First the Battle of Coronel and then the
Battle of the Falkland Islands
Detailed diagram of the Battle of Coronel

HMS GOODHOPE, a 14,100 ton cruiser, built 21 Feb 1901, was sunk by the gunfire of
German Cruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, off Coronel, Chile, on 1 Nov 1914
Additional Family Information
1901 Census
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age
Birth
Year
Chapel
Road
Frederick J.
Winmill
Head M M 44
Ann Winmill Wife M F 47 Northamptonshire, Helmdon
Francis J. Winmill Son M M 11 Northamptonshire, Helmdon
Harold Winmill Son S M 9 Northamptonshire, Helmdon
Arthur Winmill Son S M 7 Northamptonshire, Helmdon
Sarah Winmill Sister S F 52
Occupation Birthplace
Navvy Northamptonshire, Helmdon
Charwoman Northamptonshire, Helmdon
John Winmill went to Helmdon School. He was also called Jack. It is unclear why he is not in the 1894 Helmdon School register .
Chapel Road, mentioned in the census information, is now called Wappenham Road.
John’s father Frederick John Winmill began work as a labourer but by 1911 was a navvy, almost certainly working on the nearby Great Central Railway. The three Winmill brothers,
Francis, Harold and Arthur, went to war, but Francis did not return.

Harold married Gertrude Amy Ayres (born 1889) 1919, and Arthur her sister Dorothy (born
1902) in 1924.
Francis, as a baby, with his father, Frederick John, a navvy (almost certainly on the nearby
Great Central Railway), about 1891
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
John Winmill Stoker “Good Hope” Lost in the “Good Hope” Nov
1st /14

In Memory of
Stoker 1st Class
John Winmill
K/4702, H.M.S. "Good Hope.", Royal Navy who died on 01 November 1914 Age 24
Son of Mr. F. J. Winmill, of Helmdon, Brackley, Northants.
Remembered with Honour
Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Alfred George Humphrey c.1911 – 1941
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: HUMPHREY Given name(s): Alfred George
Rank: Gunner Service No.: 1604983
Date of death: 01 January 1941 Age: 30
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 357
Battery, 114H.A.A.
Regt
Memorial: Helmdon Churchyard
Additional information: Son of Jonas & Lillie Humphrey of Helmdon
From Forces War Records
Family name: Humphrey Given name(s): Alfred George
Date of birth: C 1911 Age: 30
Resided Town: Helmdon Nationality: British
Date of death: 01 January 1941 Fate: Died at Edinburgh
Castle Military Hospital
Rank: Gunner Service No.: 1604983
Duty Location: United Kingdom

Additional Military Information
None
1911 Census
Address Name
Relation to head of family
Sex Age Occupation Birthplace
Helmdon Jonas Humphrey Head M 33 Platelayer on Railway Helmdon
Lillie Humphrey Wife F 40
Louisa F Humphrey daughter F 10
Kate E Humphrey daughter F 8 Helmdon
Albert E Humphrey Son M 6 Helmdon
Doris A Humphrey daughter F 3 Helmdon
Alfred G Humphrey Son M 10 mths Helmdon
Frederick Humphrey Widower M 81
Images & photographs
Chipping Norton, Oxon
School
Old Age Pensioner
Helmdon
Helmdon

Newspaper reports
Banbury Guardian – 16 January 1941
DEATH OF GUNNER ALFRED HUMPHREY
The death of Gunner Alfred Humphrey, at the age of 30, occurred at Edinburgh Castle Military
Hospital, following an operation on January 1st. He was brought home and buried at
Helmdon Parish Church on January 4th. The service was conducted by the Rev. R. B. Ball.
The organist was Miss Brown. The bearers were Messrs. H. Batchelor, J Dytem, L Watson and E Saunders (all bell ringers). The mourners were Mr. Jonas Humphrey (father), Miss R
Humphrey, Mr. and Mrs. J Holloway, Mr. and Mrs. A Humphrey, Mr. And Mrs. F. Thompson,
Mrs. May and Mr. M. Saunders, Mr. J and Mrs. H. Batchelor, Miss J Rose, and many other friends.
Floral tributes were sent by Dad; Kate, Jack and Louie; Albert and Elsie; Amy, Fred and children; aunts and uncles at Wappenham and Towcester; Mr. And Mrs. H Batchelor and family; Aunt Em, Harry and Minnie; Mrs Rose and Joyce; friends at the Bell Inn; the Rector,
Choir, Choral Society and Bellringers; N.C.C. workmates; Mont; Stan; Ted and Reg; all ranks of the 357th R.A.
Members of the Home Guard formed a Guard of Honour. Previous to enlistment the deceased had for many years been a member of the Bellringers’ Association and had been in the Church Choir and Choral Society.

In Memory of
Gunner
Alfred George Humphrey
1604983, 357 Bty., 114 H.A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery who died on 01 January 1941 Age 30
Son of Jonas and Tilly Humphrey, of Helmdon.
Remembered with Honour
Helmdon (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard

BOYS ON THE HELMDON SCHOOL “ROLL OF OLD BOYS”
And other Helmdon connections….
Old Boys of Helmdon School that served in The Great War
Some years ago, sorting through a box of old photos revealed a two page document entitled the ‘Helmdon Council School Roll of Old Boys’; the document is a list of ex pupils of the village school that served in any capacity during the Great War.
Who prepared this and when is a mystery, no other reference has been found that explains its origins.
However, including as it does, the service and / or regiments in which former pupils served and also, where known, their fate, it is a valuable historical archive.
Often, such documents raise more questions than they answer and the Roll of Old Boys is no exception. Who was Stanley Strachan (killed at Loos in 1915) and why is William Major
(killed on the Western Front on 9th May 1915) not on the Helmdon War Memorial?
The Roll of Old Boys appears to have been started by one person (the first 13 names appear in a distinctly different hand) and completed by another.
Two pages have an illuminated title with column titles written in a neat script; the name of the school appears to have been added to the Title by the by the first contributor suggesting that the two pages were issued to the school for their completion, but this is speculation.
The second sheet has names added on the reverse; this reverse side has no illuminated title nor column headings, maybe entries were added subsequently as more names and fates became known or maybe it might be simply that the School was only issued with two pages and there was insufficient room to list all serving men of the two front pages.
If anyone can help explain the origin of the document, the Local History Group would be pleased to hear from you.

Roll of Old Boys: .Sheet 1

Roll of Old Boys: .Sheet 2

Roll of Old Boys: .Sheet 2 reverse

The Roll of Old Boys is incomplete and may not be accurate; there is little supporting documentation from the time to cross reference the names. Additionally, given the propensity of village families to use the same names, it is difficult to determine which boys belonged to which families. Additionally, some boys are listed by the name commonly used at school; this may not be the name that appears in a census or other official record.
And certainly there is at least one omission. William Edwin Turnham appears in the School Register as Admission Number 911 but he is not listed on the Roll of Old Boys. This would appear to be a glaring oversight as William did not survive the war.
Conversely, Frank Branson Watts does appear on the Roll of Old Boys but there is no trace of him in the School Register. Given that Frank was born in 1891 and his siblings can be seen in the
Register, it would be expected that his name should appear.
It should be pointed out that the earliest surviving Register lists pupils from 14th August 1894
onward; the first listed is Lewis Ayres, Admission Number 641; Lewis later saw service in the Royal
Garrison Artillery. The earlier Register cannot be found and it is likely that several of the Helmdon fatalities would have been in the earlier Register.
The War Memorial lists sixteen names from the Great War with twelve being former pupils of the village school; these twelve are listed below. Where they appear in the School Register, their names are shown as written in the Register; where they don’t, the names are as shown on the War
Memorial. Where known, details of their association with the school is shown.
Edmund John Ayres born 1886 therefore presumed to be in a previous Register
Arthur Oliver Franklin born 1881 therefore presumed to be in a previous Register
Charles Frederick Finch born 1880 therefore presumed to be in a previous Register
John Grant Admission Number 891 from 25/4/1904 – 21/04/1905
Alfred Humphrey Admission Number 641 from ??/??/???? – 5/07/1907
William Merrison Admission Number 834 from 22/4/1901 – 29/7/1910
William Harold Seckington born 1883 therefore presumed to be in a previous Register
Charles Southam Admission Number 776 from 27/6/1905 – 5/06/1908
Harry Turnham Admission Number 807 from 16/10/1899 – 2/8/1907
Frederick John Watson born 1884 therefore presumed to be in a previous Register
Frank Branson Watts born 1891, unclear why he is not in the 1894 School Register
Francis John Winmill born 1890, unclear why he is not in the 1894 School Register
The Roll of Old Boys shows that Helmdon men enlisted in all three services. As would be expected from a largely rural and agricultural community, most men enlisted as Privates or equivalent rank but there were exceptions. Below are snippets about some of the names on the Roll of Old Boys.
Brothers Herbert Wood and Arthur Wood both joined as Privates, Herbert in the Middlesex
Regiment and Arthur in the Leicester Yeomanry but subsequently both received commissions in the field.
As expected, most Helmdon men served in “France and Flanders” but some saw service in other theatres. The first Helmdon casualty, John Francis Winmill was a stoker on HMS Good Hope. The
Good Hope was sunk with all hands lost on 8th November 1914 in the Pacific battle off Coronel,
Chile.

William Harold Seckington is thought to be the ‘Harold Seckington’ that appears in the Roll of Old
Boys. Generally known as Harold, he is listed as a Helmdon resident in the 1891 census so it can be assumed he would have attended the village school. When Harold married, he moved to
Southam and it was at Southam that he enlisted. Harold is buried in the Esquelbecq Military
Cemetery in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais district of France but unusually, is also commemorated on two
English village War Memorials. It is likely his parents had him added to the Helmdon Memorial, where he is listed as William Harold Seckington, and his widow on the Southam Memorial, where he is listed as William Seckington.
Clements Tom Gibbons (born in Greatworth on 23rd July 1898) attended Helmdon School between 13th December 1904 and 2nd August 1906; he was listed in the Register as a ‘Visitor’ and his ‘Reason for Leaving’ the school was ‘Gone Home’. Clements joined the Navy and was a signalboy on HMS Inflexible; this ship saw action in the South Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the
North Sea. It was also part of the fleet at the Battle of Falklands which avenged the earlier defeat at the Battle of Coronel.
Edwin George Neal (born in Sulgrave on 17th January 1890) attended Helmdon School between
18th October 1899 and 23rd December 1904; his Reason for Leaving was ’14 years old’. Edwin would have been 24 at the outbreak of war and if on HMS Weymouth for the duration, would have seen service in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. During his time on HMS Weymouth,
Edwin was a ‘Cooks Mate’.
Ralph Branson (born 15th September 1895) moved to Helmdon from Irthlingborough and attended the school from 30th January 1905 until 3rd October 1905 when he left the village but was readmitted to the school on 6th November 1905. Soon after, in 1906, Ralph emigrated to Saskatchewan
Canada aged 11. He enlisted in the Winnipeg Grenadiers in 1915 and served in France with the
Canadian Army. Ralph was wounded on 11th January 1917 but survived the war and returned to
Canada – the 1921 census shows Ralph with a wife and ten month old daughter.
Holland Humphrey, born in Helmdon in 1885, was another who left for Canada with his wife and two children in 1910 but who returned with Canadian Army. Holland survived and returned to
Canada after the War.
The 1911 census shows that William Major was a regular in the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire
Regiment. In 1891 William lived in Wappenham Road but at the time of his death, his family were living in Crowfield. This might explain why William is listed on the memorial plaque in Syresham
Church (as shown below) rather than (as might be expected) on the Helmdon War Memorial.

Edward Stanley Strachan must have attended Helmdon School at some stage but his connection with the village is uncertain; it is possible it was through his mother’s family, the Franklins. Stanley was a Lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action at Loos in October 1915.
There are many entries in the School Register that list the pupil as ‘Visitor’. The reasons for this are not given but it may be because of illness or death in their own family resulting in them moving to relatives for a period. Some entries in the Register show that a ‘Visitor’ may have only attended the
School for a few weeks at most, but this was sufficient for them to be listed as an Old Boy.
The date and place of William Major’s death indicates that he fell in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, which took place on the 9th and 10th May 1915. The battle was an unmitigated disaster for the British
Army, poorly conceived and poorly executed. The 2nd Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment suffered heavy losses ; 432 men were killed out of a battalion strength of 616.
News from the front travelled slowly. On August 17th 1916, the Banbury Guardian reported that
Private Charles Arthur John Southam of the Northamptonshire Regiment had been wounded; unfortunately Private Southam had been killed in action some weeks before, on the 7th July 1916.
His elder brother Arthur William Southam, who prior to the war had been a railway porter, was more fortunate; he survived the war, married and raised a family.
Sometimes news from the front was more welcoming. In 1915, the Banbury Guardian reported that
Eric Rose had been captured and was now a Prisoner of War and not killed in action as previously reported. Eric was born in Blisworth on 14th November 1898 and attended Helmdon School between 6th February 1909 and 7th October 1910; the reason given for his leaving was ‘Left the
Village’. Eric’s father George was a police officer and it is known he was living in Moreton Pinkney at the time of the 1911 census. George and his wife Eliza returned to Helmdon upon his retirement from the Police Force and for many years were the landlord and landlady of the The Bell.
Also reported in the Banbury Guardian on 9th December 1915 was the following “The sum of £15
has been obtained for sending Christmas presents to the troops that have gone from Helmdon.”
£15 may not sound much but the equivalent purchasing power today (2014) is around £1250.

Other Helmdon Connections
In addition to the names that appear either on the War Memorial or the Helmdon Roll of Old Boys, there are servicemen that have a connection with the village that appear on neither.
One example is Edwin Salisbury, buried in Helmdon Churchyard where his grave is marked with a
Commonwealth War Graves headstone. Private Edwin Salisbury was originally from London, the
1911 census shows him and his wife living in Clock Passage, Newington, but had married a
Helmdon girl, Mary Winifred Eva Branson in 1906. Edwin died in the Horton Hospital in 1917 and at that time, he and Mary were living in Sulgrave. It is uncertain why Edwin was buried in Helmdon rather than Sulgrave but it may be that Mary returned to live with her family in Helmdon after his death. Notwithstanding that, it is unclear why Edwin’s name is not recorded on any War Memorial either locally or in London.
Edwin Tompkins was born in Great Houghton and is commemorated in Dallington cemetery. He enlisted in the Australian forces and died on 16th August 1916 in France. As far as we know Edwin never visited Helmdon but his father, Henry James Tompkins, is shown as living in ‘Break House,
Helmdon’, at the time of Edwin’s death. ‘Break House’ is probably an error but there appears to have been a ‘Bleak House’ in either Cross Lane or Wappenham Road as recently as the 1950s.
Private G J Jennings was another in the Northamptonshire Regiment (2nd Battalion) but little more is known of him other than, at the time of his death, his parents “John and T Jennings” were living in
Helmdon. Private Jennings is buried in the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.
Private Bernard Humphrey (17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters) was born in Weston in 1896.
Private Humphrey died on the 15th September 1917 and is buried in Woods Cemetery, Zillebeke,
Belgium. At the time of his death, Bernard’s parents are recorded as “Joseph and Caroline
Humphrey of Bleak House, Wappenham Road, Helmdon, Northants”. Bernard’s name is included on the commemoration plaque in St Mary and St Peter, Lois Weedon as shown below.

Private E Abel (Machine Gun Corps) died on 27th October 1918, just two weeks before the end of the hostilities. Nothing more is known of ‘E’ other than he was the husband of “C Abel” of Helmdon.
There is an Enos Abel, died in 1903 aged 55 and buried in Helmdon churchyard, might this be “E’s”
father? Research thus far has not shed any further light on “E”. Private Abel is buried in Belgrade
Cemetery, Namur, Belgium and his headstone is shown below.

William John Major
1887 – 1915
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: Major Given name(s): William John
Rank: Private Service No.: 9091
Date of death: 09 May 1915 Age:
Regiment/Service: 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire regiment
Panel Reference 87 – 89
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial
Additional information:
From Forces War Records
Family name: MAJOR Given name(s):
Birth Town Elmdon Date of Birth
Resided Town: Northampton Nationality: British
Date of death: 09 May 1915 Fate: Killed in Action
Rank: Private Service No.: 9091
Duty Location: France and Flanders
William John
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
William Major Private D Coy 2nd Northants Missing May 9th 1915

Additional Military Information
William Major was a regular soldier. His battalion embarked to Malta in January 1911 (the census was taken in April 1911) and stayed there until the outbreak of war. His battalion returned in September/October 1914 to join 8th Division.
1911 Census –
Address Name in Full Rank
Age (last
Birthday)
Condition as to Marriage
Unit, or Arm of
Service
Floriana
Barracks,
Malta
William John
Major
Private 24 Single
2 Northamptonshire
Regt
Trade or
Occupation (if any)
Birthplace
Soldier Brackley, Northants nd
1911 Census (William John Major’s family in Crowfield)
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Birthplace
Crowfield,
Syresham
Timothy Major Head M M 54 1866 Farm Ag. Labourer Radstone
Lottie Daughter S F 24 1887 Helmdon
May Daughter S F 10 1901 Helmdon
Lily Daughter S M 8 1903 Helmdon
Jack Son S M 3 1908 Helmdon
1901 Census (William John Major’s family in Helmdon)
Address Name Status
M, S
or W
Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Birthplace
Ellis Row,
Helmdon
Timothy Major Head M M 45 1866 Farm Ag. Labourer Radstone
Lottie Daughter S F 24 1887 Helmdon
May Daughter S F 10 1901 Helmdon
Lily Daughter S M 8 1903 Helmdon
Jack Son S M 3 1908 Helmdon
Additional Family Information
According to the 1891 census, William was born in Falcutt. By 1911, William’s family were living in Crowfield which falls within Syresham parish; William is commemorated on the Roll of
Honour in St James the Great, Syresham.

Images & photographs
Panel 87 – 89 on the Ploegsteert Memorial
Panel 87 – 89 on the Ploegsteert Memorial
Memorial Plaque in St James The Great, Syresham

In Memory of
Private
William John Major
9091, 2nd Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 09 May 1915
Remembered with Honour
Ploegsteert Memorial

Edward Stanley Strachan
1879 – 1915
(Photograph courtesy of Professor Sir Hew Strachan, Stanley’s Great Nephew.)
From Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records
Family name: STRACHAN Given name(s):
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant Service No.:
Date of death: 14 October 1915 Age:
Regiment/Service: 2/8 Sherwood Foresters
Memorial: Loos Memorial (panel Reference 87 – 89)
Edward Stanley
36
Additional information:
From Forces War Records
Family name: STRACHAN Given name(s): Edward Stanley
Date of birth: Circa 1879 Age: 36
Nationality: British Resided Town:
Date of death: 14 October 1915 Fate:
Rank: Second Lieutenant Service No.:
Information: Son of James Edward and Elizabeth Strachan of "Kingswood", 14
Kings Avenue, Clapham Park, London
Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon School Serving in the Great War
Stanley Strachan 2nd Lieutenant 2/8 Sherwood Foresters Killed in Action Oct 14th 1915

Additional Military Information
“We were spared strenuous work as far as possible on the very hot days, but carried out much useful training of a general kind, and reorganised and refitted all the units in the
Battalion. Two new Officers, 2nd Lieuts. R. E. Hemingway, and E. S. Strachan joined us…”
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 – 1919, by W.C.C. Weetman
“The only thing to be done was to consolidate what we had, and try to extend our gains laterally by bombing along the West Face. Grenadiers and grenades (English and German)
were collected, parties were organised by Ashwell and Vann, and several more yards of trench were gained. Strachan leading one of these along the trench with utter fearlessness was never seen again, and was probably killed at once.”
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 – 1919, by W.C.C. Weetman
“We got across the open to attack a well-known spot (the Hozenhollern Redoubt) which you probably know of, although I think I shall leave it nameless…Of course they heard us coming and we soon knew it. Young Goze was the first down, a nasty one I’m afraid. Then Strachan disappeared along the trench and I fear was killed.”
Tommy, by Richard Holmes
“In memory of my grandfather, Captain F. W. Strachan, wounded, Givenchy, 14 January
1915; of his brother, Second-Lieutenant E. S. Strachan, missing presumed killed, Loos, 14
October 1915: and of Major R.B. Talbot Kelly, M. C. wounded, Ypres, 5 August 1917”
The First World War. Volume 1 – ‘To Arms’, by Hew Strachan, Oxford University Press
Additional Family Information
There is nothing in the Census information to suggest that either Edward Stanley Strachan or his immediate family ever lived in Helmdon. Indeed, all relevant Census data (i.e. 1881,
1891, 1901) indicates that they lived in the Clapham area when Edward was a boy; no reference to Edward could be found in the 1911 Census.
The fact that Stanley Strachan appears in the Helmdon School ‘Roll of Honour’ suggests there was a connection with Helmdon School, however brief. Unfortunately, the earliest
Helmdon School register dates from 1894, too late to have recorded Stanley’s attendance.
His mother’s maiden name was Franklin; she was born in Eydon in 1853, proving that there was a local connection. There was a Miss Mary Franklin teaching the infant class at
Helmdon in the early 1880s; it is possible she was a relation and Edward attended Helmdon school as an infant. It is known that he attended Merchant Taylors school in the City of
London when older.

Images & photographs

In Memory of
Second Lieutenant
Edward Stanley Strachan
8th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) who died on 14 October 1915 Age 36
Son of James Edward and Elizabeth Strachan, of "Kingswood", 14, Kings Avenue, Clapham Park, London.
Remembered with Honour
Loos Memorial

Acknowledgements
The Group who gathered the information were Judy Cairns, Audrey Forgham, Cec Harrold,
Danny Moody and Ross Vicars. Charles Binns retouched some of the old photographs and postcards and Danny Moody prepared the material for the website.
They wish to thank all those who helped with the project, particularly Mike Barnes, Charles
Binns, Doreen England, Lynda Fellowes, Derek Pasquire, Sir Hew Strachan and Celia
Terrey, who provided photographs, a cap badge, medals and death pennies.
They would love to hear from anyone who can throw more light on the histories of these
Helmdon servicemen. Please contact the website editor Audrey Forgham
(editor@helmdon.com) or Danny Moody (webmaster@helmdon.com).