Category Archives: Timeline

Reverend Neville Inge

Reverend Hugh Francis Neville Inge was born in Athelington, Suffolk in 1872. Reverend Inge came to Avon Dassett in the summer of 1917 following the death of Reverend Vaughan W Phillpot. He had previously lived in Leamington.

Reverend Inge enlisted on 18th April 1916 and served with the British Red Cross Society, Order of St John of Jerusalem.

He received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Sergeant Henry Herbert Wadland

Sergeant Wadland was born in Devon. He was the oldest son of George and Alice Wadland, farmers in Avon Dassett.

Private Wadland enlisted in the Warwickshire Yeomanry in 1908 having previously served in the Imperial Warwickshire Yeomanry since 1903. He took part in local training sessions between 1905 and 1914 at Warwick Park and Salisbury Plain. He was promoted to Corporal on 14th May 1901, Lance-Sergeant on 28th May 1911 and Sergeant on 20th February 1912. He was embodied on 5th August 1914 and was with the expeditionary forces in Egypt. He was discharged 30th October 1915 having been found medically unfit for further service. His condition was attributed to his military service.

Private Lewis William Spike

Private Spike was born in Avon Dassett. He was the second son of Henry and Jane Spike. He was a labourer and living in Coventry before enlisting.

Private Spike enlisted in the 5th Battalion the Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Coventry on 11th December 1915.

Private Spike was discharged category E (unfit and unlikely to become fit within 6 months) on 9th June 1916 “ being found medically unfit for military service”. His military character was good.

Private Henry Sealey

Private Sealey married Mildred Mary Fisher at St Joseph’s Church, Avon Dassett on 8th May 1915. Before enlisting he was a chauffeur. The family moved to Kildare where their first son Charles was born on 4th February 1916.

Private Sealey enlisted, aged 23, in the field from the British Red Cross Society to the Army Service Corps and was posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force as an ambulance driver.

Private Ernest Edward Bloxham

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 Clarence Golder

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 Thomas Bernhard Checkley

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.