Private Bloxham was the youngest son of George and Ann Bloxham. Prior to enlisting he was a farm labourer.
He enlisted on 19th June 1916 in the Royal West Kent Regiment, 10th Service Battalion. He was wounded on 7th June 1917 and re-joined the regiment on his recovery and became a stretcher bearer.
Private Bloxham was killed in action on 21st September 1917 at Tower Hamlets Ridge whilst assisting a comrade. He is buried at Railway Cutting Cemetery, Ypres.
He left a wife and two sons.
Private Golder was born in Avon Dassett. Before enlisting he was a groom/gardener. He was married to Ethel Amy and had two sons Godfrey and Alec.
He enlisted, aged 31 in 3rd Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 17th February 1917 and was with the British Expeditionary Force in France where he was then posted to 16th Battalion the Royal Warwickshire regiment. He received a gun shot would to his right thigh in September 1918. He served for three years and 73 days and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Gunner Checkley was born in Mollington. He was a groom before he enlisted.
He enlisted, aged 21, in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Field Artillery on 24th August 1914 at Rugby. He was transferred to ‘A’ Battery 49th Brigade on 9th January 1915.
He embarked at Marseille, Frances on 3rd November 1915 and disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt 11th November 1915. He embarked at Alexandria on 27th November 1915 and disembarked at Salonica on 10th December 1915 where he spent the duration of the war. He was struck off strength on 19th January 1919.
Captain Thomas Joseph Weld MC
CAPTAIN THOMAS JOSPEH WELD, MC. Was born in Avon Dassett . He was the older son of Wilfred and Jesse Weld of Orchard Lodge.
He was living in South Africa at the outbreak of war and returned home to take up a commission with in Lovat’s Scouts. He was seconded to the King’s African Rifles in July 1916.
He was awarded the Military Cross in in December 1917 and a bar in July 1918. He fought in the East Africa campaign until he was severely wounded. He died of pneumonia on November 18th 1918 aged 25.
Private Mullis was born in Avon Dassett in 1876. Before enlistment he was a farm labourer. His family consisted of Ruth his wife and four children.
He enlisted, aged 36, in the Royal Engineers at Coventry on 10th December 1916. He was classified A1 fitness. During his service he qualified as a stevedore.
He was posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force and transferred to the 25th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Private Mullins was demobilised on 8th March 1919. He received the British Medal and the Victory Medal.
The Men of Avon Dassett who served during 1914- 1918 War
When war broke out in August 1914 the British Army numbered approximately 730,000 men. By the end of the war in 1918 more than 7 million men and women had been in service.
Unfortunately more than half of their service records were destroyed by a German bombing raid on the War Office in London in 1940.
Of the 31 men of Avon Dassett who enlisted only 12 have surviving service papers. From these documents , some of which are very badly damaged and hard to read, the information following has been extracted, giving us a brief glimpse into their world in 1914-18.
The loound at the beginning of the new minute book for the Parish of Avon Dassett commencing 11 April 1916.
ROLL OF HONOUR
BURNHAM
BURNHAM
COOPER, ALBERT (Herbert) (killed)
COOPER, AUSTIN
COOPER, THOMAS Sergeant RMC
COOPER, ARTHUR M Medal
COOPER, WALTER
BLOXHAM, ALBERT
BLOXHAM,ERNEST (killed)
MASON, ALBERT
MASON. WATLER
GOLDER, CLARENCE
GOLDER, HARRY
GOLDER, SYDNEY ASC
CHECKLEY, BERNARD RFA
CHECKLEY, HARRY
MASON, JOSEPH LIEUT RGA
WRIGHT, JACK
WYTON, HARRY RVC
PIKE, RVC (Spike?)
SPIKE, PERCY
SPIKE, LEWIS
WELD, THOMAS JOSPEH MC& Bar Capt. Lovat Scouts/KAR
INGE, Revd NEVILLE
HERBERT, HUBERT RAC
SEALEY, HENRY AMC
WATERS, CHARLES wounded
STRANKS, G H RE
WATTS, WILLIAM W MM
WADLAND HENRY A Sergeant Warwickshire Yeomanry
MULLIS, ALBERT RE