17 May 1915

Lance Corporal Frank HARRADINE 1894-1915 Born Ashwell, Hertfordshire Died 17 May 1915, Age 21 years Regiment 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Commemorated Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France Occupation Farm Labourer Other 30 Nov 1912 Enlisted for army service 1914-15 Fought in France & Flanders 17 May 1915 Killed in action near Festubert, France during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. He was buried in a grave over which his comrades placed a cross inscribed “For King and Country”

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08 May 1915

Private Richard BONFIELD
Born	Baldock, Hertfordshire
Died	8 May 1915, Age 24 years
Regiment	2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Commemorated	Ypres (Menin) Gate Memorial
Occupation	Coremaker at Motor Works

Private William Douglas EVERSDEN
Born	Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Died	8 May 1915, Age 27 years
Regiment	2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Commemorated	Ypres (Menin) Gate Memorial
Occupation	Barrel Washer

Richard’s brother Julius EVERSDEN died on 23 December 1918, following service in WW1

WW1 Service Records (a selection)

Wing Commander Allan Hepburn DFC
Regiments		Artists Rifles, Royal Flying Corps
Occupation		Draftsman
Other
1915	Completed WW1 registration in Australia but did was forbidden to serve by his conscientious objector father Allan smuggled himself on to a ship to England, joined the Artists Rifles & fought in WW1 initially in the trenches in France. He learned to fly, and then joined the Royal Flying Corps.
1918	In the Royal Flying Corps his history as a WW1 Flying Ace took off and he went on to have 16 victories in a Bristol Fighter in 1918.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1918.
He joined the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) after World War 1. In 1934 he became Wing Commander and in the latter part of his career became Regional director of Civil Aviation in New South Wales and the representative in Canada.

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05 May 1915

Corporal Frederick BAKER
Born	Layston, Hertfordshire
Died	5 May 1915, Age 22 years
Regiment	1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Commemorated	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Occupation	Labourer

WW1 Service Records (a selection)

Private Cyril Ellis FOLDS MM
Regiment	15th Battalion, London Regiment
Other
1915	Enlisted & served at home
1916-1919	Served in France, wounded at least once (record difficult to read)
11 Feb 1919	Awarded Military Medal for bravery in the Field

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27 April 1915

Private George Victor GAWLER 1897-1915 Born Islington, London Died 27 April 1915, Age 18 years Regiment 1st/4th Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)  Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Other 1911 Living in Islington, London, at home, age 15, Railway Employee at St Pancras, carting stable & Market staff

Both George’s brothers also served in WW1 (see below)

WW1 Service Records (a selection)

Private Edward William GAWLER b1889
Regiment	7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Occupation	Labourer
Other
1911	Enlisted, served with 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.  Edward enlisted under his brother Sidney’s name (not known why, he was not underage)
1916	Discharged, reason unknown.  Unclear if he served during the war itself & he was not awarded a campaign medal

Gunner Sidney Albert GAWLER
Regiment	2nd Division, Artillery Company
Occupation	Presser for Tailor
Other
1901	Living in Islington, London, widowed mother in household, occupation, Labourer
1914-1915	Served at home
1915-1918	Served in France
Aug 1918	Discharged as physically unfit, much of record difficult to read

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25 April 1915

Private John Henry TURNER 1890-1915
Born	Henlow, Bedfordshire
Died	25 April 1915, Age 25 years
Regiment	1st Battalion, Border Regiment
Buried/Commemorated	Helles Memorial, Turkey
Occupation	Railway Clerk

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21 April 1915

Private Victor John MEAD 1898-1915 Born Ickleford, Hertfordshire Died 21 April 1915, Age 17 years Regiment 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Buried/Commemorated Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium  Service Volunteered in Aug 1914 & was drafted to France the same month. He took part in the retreat from Mons & the subsequent Battles of the Marne, Neuve Chappelle & Ypres. He was killed in action at Hill 60 & entitled to the Mons Star, General Service & Victory Medals

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20 April 1915

Private Walter PICKING 1882-1915
Born Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire Died 20 April 1915, Age 33 years Regiment 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Occupation Butcher’s Assistant & House Painter Other 1901 Living in Chadwell, Essex with cousin William Flack, occupation, Assistant Butcher 1911 Living at home in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, occupation, House Painter with FJ Bailey & Co 1914-15 Served in France & Flanders Apr 1915 Walter was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the fight on Hill 60 and died at his post. He was noted to be of a cheery disposition and a favourite with his comrades

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