U.K. soldiers, sailors and airmen who died in Buxton (Not Local):
Eight of the burials in Buxton Cemetery are men from other parts of the U.K. who died in the town, of wounds or illness, but were not returned to their home for burial.
CLICK on their names below to read more about their lives and military careers:
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- Spr. 107946, Edward DICKINS, 283rd Army Troops Coy, Royal Engineers.
- Spr. 92866 George JENNINGS, 213th Army Troops Coy, Royal Engineers.
- Cpl. 260377 Francis LOCKARD, 323rd Quarrying Coy, Royal Engineers.
- Pte. 51796 William KNOTT, Royal Defence Corps, Fly: Pte. 4285, Cheshire Regt
- Pte. 16778 Joe PEARSON, 1st Battn, East Yorkshire Regt.
- Pte. G/784 Arthur SKAM, East Surrey Regt.
- Spr. 740 Benjamin SMITH, 2nd/1st North Midland Field Coy, Royal Engineers.
- Pte. 26894 Hugh THOMAS, 13th Battn, Lancashire Fusiliers
In addition:
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- Capt. Geoffrey Yates HEALD , 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (Memorial Cross) and
- Lieut. Ernest Gilbert BULLARD , Indian Army Postal Service.
Sapper 107946, Edward DICKINS, 283rd Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers, died of Influenza, 7th April 1916, aged 35, in Buxton Cottage Hospital and was interred in Buxton Cemetery on the 10th April 1916 in Grave 1986.
Edward (Dickens) was born in the December quarter 1876, the son of John and Hannah Dickens. In 1911 (Census RG 14/8521) he was sharing a house at Court 5, 2 House Jacksons Lane, Wellingborough with Florence Bessie Bidgood, who he married on the 30th January 1916 at Wellingborough.
When he enlisted in 1915 Edward was living at 38 Grove Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, employed as a ‘Bricklayer‘. After his death his wife received a pension of 10/- [50p] per week and later she remarried Walter Pook in the June quarter 1923, she gave the CWGC an address at 27 Chapel Street, Tiverton, Devon.
Edward enlisted at Chatham, Kent, on the 3rd December 1915, aged 37 yrs. 1 mth. The absence of a Medal Index Card suggests he did not active Service abroad with his Company, although another member of the 283rd Company, who enlisted around the same time as Edward, was posted to France on the 8th May 1916. By this time, however, Edward had become ill and died in Hospital in Buxton.
The Buxton Advertiser’ (15th April 1916) reported that Edward had been buried “with full military honours” on Monday, 10th April 1916, with the Rev. J. Coulthurst officiating. A firing party of 12 men from the Royal Engineers fired three volleys over his coffin, which was draped in the Union Jack. Edward’s widow, mother and sister were in attendance.
Sapper 92866 George JENNINGS, 213th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers. He is recorded in the SDGW database as dying at ‘Home‘ on the 2nd March 1916. Aged 39.
George was born in the June quarter 1877, the son of John and Ann (née Lynch) Jennings. In 1901 (Census RG 13/2931) he was living with his widowed mother, elder brother, William, and younger sister, Rose, at 22 Chesham Court, John Street, Leamington, employed as a ‘Plumber‘. (George has not been found on the 1911 Census)
George enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Leamington, Warwickshire.
A comparison of Service Numbers would suggest that George enlisted around the middle of 1915. The absence of a Medal Index Card suggests he did not do active Service abroad with his 213th Company. [Army Troop Companies was a term given to any unit (which could be infantry, engineers, artillery etc) that was under the direct command of an Army HQ, as opposed to the command of one of its subsidiary levels such as a Corps.]
‘The Buxton Advertiser’ reported George’s death in its 4th March 1916 edition. At the time he was billetted in The Grosvenor Private Hotel, Broad Walk, Buxton, and was found dead, in the bathroom at 8.20 on the evening of Thursday, 2nd March 1916. “He had been out working with his Company the same day. … It is thought that death was probably due to heart seizure“. It also stated that George’s brother, William, was in the same Company. The following week George was buried in Buxton Cemetery, Grave 1987. (Brother William served as Spr. 204264, Royal Engineers.)
Corporal 260377 Francis LOCKARD, 323rd Quarrying Company, Royal Engineers, died on the 14th April 1917, aged 42. He was the son of Mrs Annie Lockard, of 8 Laburnum St., Connswater, Belfast.
Francis enlisted at Paisley, Renfrewshire, and at that time was living in Wallace Tree Terrace, Elderslie, Renfrewshire. His son, Pt. 3932 Thomas Lockard served throughout the War in France with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Francis has no Medal Index Card, indicating he did not serve overseas, and probably died of illness whilst training with his Company in Buxton’s quarries.
N.B. The above three men were all enlisted in the Royal Engineers – see also Spr Benjamin Smith, below. There is much evidence that the R.E. used the area around the town for training and they were billeted in private houses in Buxton. The 327th Quarrying Company were based there until being sent abroad in June 1917, as was the Officer Commanding, Royal Engineers (Roads)
A series of postcards were produced in Buxton during World War One. They show soldiers from the Royal Engineers practising building bridges and pontoons across the lake at the Pavilion Gardens. The soldiers based there used them to write home. It is not surprising that men of these Companies were taken ill and died whilst stationed in the area.
Private 51796 William KNOTT, Royal Defence Corps, Formerly: Private 4285, Cheshire Regiment, who died on the 24th July 1918.
William was born in Stockport, Cheshire, in 1897, the son of Arthur and Lizzie Knott. He had two older and two younger siblings, and in 1911 (Census RG 14/24388) was employed as a ‘Hatter‘.
George was married to Harriett Hannah (née Thorley) and had one daughter, Lilian, born in 1915.
At the time of his enlistment William was living at Hillgate, Stockport. His Service Number with The Cheshire Regiment suggest that he had enlisted about the middle of 1893 (4 years before he was born!). Another Cheshire Regiment man who served in the Boer War had the same number, so William must have been re-issued the number on his entry into Great War. He has no Medal Index Card indicating that William did not serve abroad.
The Royal Defence Corps was a corps of the British Army formed in August 1917. It was initially formed by converting the (Home Service) Garrison battalions of line infantry regiments. Garrison battalions were composed of soldiers either too old or medically unfit for active front-line service.
The role of the regiment was to provide troops for security and guard duties inside the United Kingdom; guarding important locations such as ports or bridges. It also provided independent companies for guarding prisoner-of-war camps. The regiment was never intended to be employed on overseas service.
Private 16778 Joe PEARSON, 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. [Formerly: Pt. 34425 York and Lancs Regiment.]
Joe was born in the March quarter 1877 at Woodhouse, Sheffield. He was the son of Thomas and Sarah Anne Pearson later of Alfreton, Derbyshire. On 20th August 1900 he married Harriett Horner at St John the Evangelist Church, Ridgeway, Derbyshire.
When his brother Pt. 4841 Charles Pearson, 4th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, enlisted in August 1914, Joe was already a Serving Soldier, and his Medal Index Card shows that he was posted to France on the 23rd June 1915.
When Joe died he was a ‘Class Z’ Reservist. When the Armistice was signed there were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and so soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve “for the duration“, were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon.
The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920. As he died after this date, Joe might have moved to Buxton to live after demobilisation. When reporting Joseph’s death in its edition of 5th June 1920, ‘The Buxton Advertiser’ gave his address as West Street, Buxton, and that he had served for 4½ years in the Army, 3½ of which were in France, and he had been wounded twice.
Joe died on 4th June 1920. He had been removed to the Elms Infirmary, Chapel-en-le-Frith: “… just over a week ago suffering from pleurisy and pneumonia. …. Mr. Pearson was very seriously ill on his admission …. Death supervening in spite of the best attention.“
Private G/784 Arthur SKAM, East Surrey Regiment, who had transferred to Pt. 322568 Labour Corps, and died on the 21st March 1920.
Arthur Skam, was born in Hackney, Middlesex, in the September quarter 1860, the son of William and Sarah Grace (née Mason) Skam. The 1891 (Census RG 12/1347) shows him living at 71 Layspring Road, Leyton, Essex, with wife Mary Catherine (née Cashen), son, Arthur E., and daughter, Maud C. (Arthur an Mary on 2nd December 1883 and St Stephen’s Church, Tredegar Road, Tower Hamlets, London.)
The 1901 Census (RG 13/938) shows his status and occupation as ‘Boarder‘ and ‘Traveller‘ and resident at 82 Goldstone Villas, Hove, Sussex, with 16 year old son, also Arthur.
Probate Records show that Arthur left £100 to his wife, Emily. [There is no record of Arthur’s wife Mary’s death, nor a re-marriage to ‘Emily‘. Indeed one records shows that “Mary C. Skam” died in London, aged 74, in the June quarter 1934.] His Pension Records refer to “Mrs A Skam“, an “Unmarried Wife“, living at 56 Clifton Park Avenue, Merton, London. At the time of his death Arthur was living at 1 Bridge Street, Buxton, but when he arrived in the town, with whom and where he worked has not been ascertained.
Arthur enlisted in the 3rd or 4th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, both in Kingston-upon-Thames, and both depot/training units. When men joined the newly formed service battalions for wartime service only had their numbers prefixed by G/ (for General Service). At some stage Arthur transferred to be Pt. 322568 Labour Corps. How he ended up in Buxton is not clear, but probably moved after the War and died of a War related cause.
There is no Medal Index Card nor SDGW reference for Arthur, indicating he did not serve overseas, but bearing in mind his age – 53 in 1914, this is perhaps not surprising. Whilst his Service Papers have not survived. those of five others with similar service numbers (781 – 789) indicate that they all enlisted in September 1914, often on an Army Reserve (Special Reservists) Attestation, after being long-term serving soldiers, but no longer on the General Reserve, hence their ages.
Sapper 740 Benjamin SMITH, 2nd/1st North Midland Field Company, Royal Engineers. Died 16th August 1915.
Benjamin was the son of Benjamin and Sarah Ann Smith of Walsall Road, Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, and later of Queen Street, Cheslyn Hay. His father, who predeceased him in 1900, was an “Iron Worker“.
In 1911 Benjamin was living at 82 New Street, Bridgetown, Staffordshire, and was a single man who had a daughter, Florence Ann Smith, born on Sunday 26th November 1911, who lived with his brother, Charles Smith, at 9 Walsall Road, Churchbridge, Cannock.
A general labourer in an iron works, Benjamin enlisted in the Army at the Drill Hall, Norton on Sunday 6th December 1914 and was drafted to France on Monday, 1st March 1915, confirmed by his Medal Index Card, which coincides with the entry into the War of the 46th (North Midland) Division, to which his Company was attached. The North Midland Division was a formation of the Territorial Force and as such was the first T.F. Division to arrive complete in a theatre of war.
Benjamin was admitted to hospital with suspected bronchitis on Sunday, 9th May 1915 and was transferred to the 13th Stationary Hospital on Tuesday, the 18th May 1915. He remained in hospital until removed to England on Saturday, the 22nd May 1915.
Benjamin is next recorded as being admitted to the Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, on Friday, 16th July 1915. He remained in hospital until he succumbed on Monday, 16th August 1915 suffering from ascending myelitis, an infection or inflammation of the white or grey matter of the spinal cord, which is a part of central nervous system that acts as a bridge between a brain and the rest of a body.
Benjamin was buried in Buxton Cemetery in Grave 2143 during Friday, 20th August 1915. He was 32 years of age.
Private 26894 Hugh THOMAS, 13th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, transferred to Pt. 219208, 360th Reserve Employment Company, Labour Corps.
Hugh was the son of John and Catherine A. (née Robinson) Thomas, later of 54 Humphrey Street, Orrell, Bootle, Lancashire. Hugh was, however, born at Amlwch, Anglesey, Wales, in 1891.
The 1901 Census (RG 13/3524) shows Hugh living at 26 Fir Street, St Helen’s, Lancashire, with his parents, older brother, Robert, and younger siblings, John and Elizabeth. By 1911 (Census RG 14/22794) the family had moved to 152 Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath, St Helens, Lancashire, where Hugh was employed as a “Coal Miner Colliery Haulier“.
Although his Service papers are not available, from his Service Number it would appear that Hugh enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers in October 1915. The fact that he has a Medal Index Card indicates he served abroad, although the did not enter France with the 13th Battalion, which spent the War in England.
At some time he was transferred to the Labour Corps and assigned to the 360th Reserve Employment Company at Strensall in Yorkshire. The Labour Corps was made up of men who were not considered fit enough to serve in the front line as infantry. By comparing Service Numbers, this transfer took place around the time of his death.
Hugh died on 30th June 1917, aged 26. ‘The Register of Soldiers’ Effects‘ records that he “Accidentally fell out of a window“. His effects were returned to his father, John, suggesting Hugh was not married. He now lies in Grave 1925 in Buxton Cemetery.
In addition:
Capt. Geoffrey Yates HEALD, 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action 1st July 1916, has no real link to the town but his commemorative cross is leaning against his family grave in Buxton Cemetery.
He was recalled in September 1914 and on the 3rd November appointed to the Postal Service. He died on the 1st August 1915 and is buried in Grave V.A.25, Merville Communal Cemetery.
He was born on 30th September 1893, the youngest son of Archibald and Ellen Charlotte (née Whisler) Bullard, later of Albermarle Club, 37, Dover St., London, W.1. Ernest had an older brother, Cecil George, who died, aged 11, in 1890, and an older sister, Dora Winifred.
In 1911 (Census RG 14/11519) ‘Chemist and Druggist‘ Archie Bullard, aged 32, and his wife, Maud (née Rivett), 25, were living at 81 Commercial Road, East Dareham, Norfolk.
It could be that the family subsequently moved to Buxton to practice. Archie died in The Cottage Hospital, Buxton, on 1st August 1914, Probate Records gave the home address as 47 Chepstow Place, Bayswater, Middlesex. The family have a very ornate family grave – as shown above right, on which Ernest is commemorated.
Ernest (the Officer standing in picture right) was killed by shell-fire at Merville, France, on 1st August 1915. Lt.-Col. J.W.B. Merewether and the Rt. Hon. Sir F. E. Smith (Lord Birkenhead) mentioned Lt. Bullard in their book ” The Indian Corps in France ” as follows:
” Lieutenant E. G. Bullard, of the Indian Postal Service, was proceeding on duty in a car near Croix Barbee. when a German shell exploded practically in the motor, killing him and the chauffeur instantaneous”
This young officer had, by his kindly disposition and zeal in the performance of his important duties, endeared himself to his comrades in the Corps, and his loss was keenly felt. The occurrence was particularly unfortunate, as he was to have proceeded on leave the next day, while the chauffeur was only taking the duty of another man.” [His grave in Merville Cemetery is shown on the right]
Probate Records show that Ernest left his estate, valued at £8763 (equivalent to about £700,000 today – 2020) to his sister, Dora Winifred Pullar, wife of Horace Alfred Pullar.
