Herbert Harold Falkus
Service Number 28372, a Sergeant in the 7th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment – later transferred to the Border Regiment. The son of Thomas and Elizabeth Falkus, he was born in Wimbledon in 1889 and lived at 33, Norman Road, South Wimbledon. He joined the army in Kingston and died at Flanders of wounds 25th May 1917 aged 28. By the time of his death he was married to Elvina to whom his effects of £28 3s 8d were sent. He is interred in Grave – XXV. D. 6A. ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY.
William Ernest Finch
Service Number L/10798, a Lance Sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He was born in Wimbledon in 1896 the son of Jonadab – a -House Painter – and Ada Susannah Finch of 46, Leyton Road, South Wimbledon. He was one of seven children and a Bill Distributor by trade. He joined the army in Kingston. On 1st July 1916 the British Army launched a massive offensive along a section of the front line running north of the River Somme. On 14th July, a second major offensive was launched, this time against the German second line of defences stretching from Longueval to Bazentin-le-Petit. On 19th July, 1st East Surrey of 95 Brigade moved into the trenches to the West of Longueval. They remained in these forward positions, preparing to attack, for three days during which time they came under constant shell fire. On 22nd July the shelling started in the morning, continued all day and reached a crescendo in the evening when it was combined with fierce machine-gun and rifle fire. The battalion sustained well over one hundred casualties on this day. One of them was William Finch who was killed in action 22nd July 1916 aged 20. His grave is at the Quarry Scottish Cem.Mem. QUARRY CEMETERY,MONTAUBAN
Walter Percy Freeland
Service Number 40245, a Lance Corporal in the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. (Formerly Service Number 30148 in the East Surrey Regiment). He was born at Woking, Surrey in 1893. He was the son of Richard (born Guildford, Surrey 1856 – a Stonemason), and Sophia Freeland (born Guildford 1856), of 161, Gladstone Road, Wimbledon. The family had six children: – Frances Roberta (born Guildford), Thomas Charles Richard (born Guildford 1888 – a platelayer with the South Western Railway), and Albert John Henry (born Woking 1891 – a fishmonger’s assistant), Walter Percy (born Woking 1893 – a fishmonger’s assistant), Francesca Roberta (born Woking 1897 – a domestic nurse), and Derek (born Wimbledon 1911). He married Lydia Eliza Frake in Wimbledon on 11th June 1916. He joined the army at Kingston and was killed in action in France 8th November 1917. He is commemorated on Panel 5 PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
William Robert Frost
Service Number L/11097, a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). One of four children, he was born in Wimbledon in 1901. He was the son of James Frost – a Fruiterer & Greengrocer – and Elizabeth Ann Frost of 147, Haydons Road, South Wimbledon. He joined the army in Kingston and was killed in action at Flanders on the second day of the Battle of the Somme, 3rd July 1916. Two diversionary attacks were launched on this day to take the attention of the Germans away from the real target. The first of these was an attack by 12th Division on Ovillers. 5th Royal Berkshire and 7th Suffolk from 35 Brigade attacked on the right whilst 6th Royal West Surrey (Queens) and 6th Royal West Kent from 37th Brigade did the same on the left. It was a familiar tale of disaster and by 9am it had been declared a total failure. Those who could, made their way back to their own lines. William never made it back and his grave can be found at VII. C. 5.OVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY. His effects – totalling – £6 4s 7d were sent to his father, James.
William Arthur Gadd
Service Number 265315, a Gunner in the 20th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. Born in Brixton, he was the husband of Teresia Evelina Gadd, of 9, Laburnum Rd., South Wimbledon. He joined the army in Wimbledon and died in France 26th August 1918 aged 32. His grave can be found at V. C. 10.BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT. His effects – just £16 1s 8d -were sent to his widow.
Gezaincourt
Charles Gibbons
Service Number 120, a Private in the 7th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. Born in Mitcham in 1897, he was the son of William Gibbons – a Bricklayer – and Rose Emma Gibbons of 21, Leyton Road, South Wimbledon. One of eight children, he joined the army in Wimbledon and died of wounds 28th July 1915. In early June, 1915, 12th Division, including 7th East Surrey of 37 Brigade, reached France and in late June, after a period of trench instruction around Armentières, they took over a sector of the front line near Ploegsteert. 7th East Surrey had three periods in the front line trenches during July, 1915, the last one commencing on 28th July, the day Private Gibbons died. His grave is IX. A. 2.CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES. His effects – £4 6s 5d – were sent to his widow.
Cemetery, Armentieres
Henry Charles Glazier
Service Number 43736, he served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was born 5th October 1898 and baptised at All Saints’ Church, South Wimbledon 9th November that same year. He was the son of Henry Glazier and Rosa Glazier. He died in France of wounds 9th October 1918 and is buried at XVI. D. 10. GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY. His effects totalling £30 18s. were sent to his father.
Charles Richard Grist
Service Number G/2924, he served as a Private in the 8th Battalion of the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Born in Wimbledon, he was the son of George Grist – a labourer – and Laura Grist, of 22, Milton Rd., Wimbledon, London. He was christened by the Rev. Pickering in All Saints’ Church, South Wimbledon 1st January 1896. (at this time the family were living at 5, East Road, South Wimbledon). He joined the army in Wimbledon and was killed in action on the second day of the Battle of Loos, 26th September aged 19. This was fought by the British Army along a six-and-a-half-mile front running north from the mining village of Loos. On 26th September 9th East Surrey and 8th Royal West Kent led the advance, but as they moved further forward, they met increasing fire both from in front and from the flanks. 8th Royal West Kent had 580 casualties on this day, their first in battle, one of whom was Charles Grist. He is commemorated on the LOOS MEMORIAL.
William J. Grist
Service Number 195086, a Private in the 20th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). Born in 1888, he was the son of George Grist –a Hodd Carrier – and Laura Grist- an Ironer – of 93, Deburgh Road, South Wimbledon. He died at Maroc in France 17th January 1917 aged 29. His grave is I. L. 42. MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, GRENAY
Grenay
Alfred Ernest Groves
Service Number 1899, a Sergeant in the 8th Battalion of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was the son of Noah Groves, of 39, Hubert Rd, South Wimbledon. He died on the last day of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, 2nd August 1917. This was the opening attack of Third Battle of Ypres and began at 3.50am on 31st July when British and French troops launched their offensive to break out of the Ypres salient. 8th Royal West Surrey (Queens) pressed forward behind their own barrage and an hour later had reached Jehovah Trench, their first objective. Here they waited for their own barrage to lift and then followed it on to the next objective. On reaching this point they were hit by flanking fire on their left and from a German stronghold on their right. Under this pressure consolidation proved impossible and they withdrew to the line taken up south of Bodmin Copse, which marked their gains for the day. 8th Queens remained in these forward positions throughout the next day, during which time it rained continuously. In the afternoon, enemy artillery began a very heavy shelling of their positions which caused many casualties. The total casualties for the battalion since 30th July amounted to over 300, nearly half of their total strength, and included Alfred Groves who died from wounds aged 23. His grave is I. F. 1. BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
Military Cemetery
Charles William Grubb
Service Number 116243, a Private in the 61st Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He was born in Caterham, Surrey in 1899- one of four children. He was the son of William Grubb – a Builder’s Labourer – and Caroline Grubb of 6, Herbert Road, S. Wimbledon (Later 23, the family lived at Haydons Road, South Wimbledon). He joined the army in Wimbledon and was reported as ‘presumed dead’ at Flanders 21st March 1918 aged 19. His body was never recovered, but he is commemorated on Panel 90 to 93. POZIERES MEMORIAL. By the time of his death his mother was widowed and his effects of £9 7s 2d were sent to her.
William Gundry
Service Number 11467, a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Born in Merton, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Gundry, of 188, Haydons Rd., Wimbledon, Surrey. He joined the army in Kingston and was killed in action 13th January 1915 aged 22. He is buried at 16. F. 20.CANADIAN CEMETERY NO.2, NEUVILLE-ST. VAAST. His father George received his effects – £10 9s 1d
Neuville-St Vaast
All Saints' Church, South Wimbledon 