Private F/3393, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Died 31 July 1917. Aged 34. Baptised 8 October 1882 in Watton, Hertfordshire. Son of William George and Emma Beadle, of High Street, Watton; husband of Florence Mary Beadle (nee Parker), of 254, Mill Cottages, Watton, Herts, married January to March Quarter 1910 in Hertford Registration District. I(n the 1911 census he was aged 29, born Watton at Stone, a Drayman, married to Florence Mary with one son, resident Cold Bath Yard, Hertford, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 49 and 51.

Second Lieutenant, 47th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Died of Wounds while a Prisoner of War 20 November 1917, he had been wounded and made a Prisoner of War 29 October 1917 after aerial combat. flying an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.12. In the 1901 census he was aged 8, born Midlothjian, Scotland, grandson of Richard and Gertrude Gubbin, son of William B Gubbin (a widower), resident Village Street, Watton At Stone, Hertford, Hertfordshire. Buried at SKOPJE BRITISH CEMETERY, Republic of Macedonia. Row C. Grave 6.

Extract from Hertford Mercury and Reformer - Saturday 24 November 1917, page 8:

WATTON-AT-STONE

Lieut. J. R. F. Gubbin, R.F.C., is officially reported missing on October 29. He was the only son of the late Dr. W. B. T. Gubbin, of Bristol, and grandson of the late Mr. B. Gubbin, Trafalgar House, Watton-at-Stone. He returned from S. Africa to join the Army, and after training in England obtained a commission in R.F.C., and was sent first to Egypt and afterwards to Salonica.

Second Lieutenant, 6th (Reserve) Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Died 9 May 1915. Born 1893. Son of Dora Katharine Hodges, of "Corey's Mill," Stevenage, Herts., and the late Herbert Chamney Hodges, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Educated at Epsom College. Honorary Scholar of Hertford College, Oxford. In the 1911 census he was aged 17, a boarder, at school, born Watton at Stone, Hertfordshire, resident Epsom, Surrey. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 32 and 33.

Extract from Bond of Sacrifice: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1916, Volume 2, page 229:

2nd LIEUTENANT HAROLD WARDALE HODGES, 6th (RESERVE) attd. 2nd BATTN. KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS, was the elder son of Herbert Chamney Hodges, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., and Dora Katharine Wardale, of Watoon (sic) at Stone, Hertford, where he was born on the 14th October, 1893. His maternal great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncle were all Fellows of Clare College, Cambridge, and he was also related to Lieutenant-Colonel A. D. P. Hodges, M.D., C.M.G., P.M.O. Uganda, and Director of Medical Supplies for East African Troops.

Lieutenant Hodges obtained Junior, Senior, and Leaving scholarships at Epsom College, where he was well known on the cricket football fields, and Captain of the hockey team. From Epsom he gained a Leaving scholarship for Oxford and an Exhibition for Hertford College, being afterwards made an Honorary Scholar on taking a First Class in Moderations. At Oxford he was a member of the hockey, cricket, and football teams of his College, was Editor of the Hertford College Magazine, a member of the Shakespeare Society and of the Junior Common Room.

At both Epsom and Oxford he was a member of the O.T.C., and at the outbreak of war in August, 1914, he was gazetted to the 6th (Reserve) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion for service. He went to the front in December, 1914, where he served until the 9th May, 1915, when he was fatally wounded in the head while leading a bombing party at Rue du Bois.

Private 489784, University Company, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). Killed in action 30 October 1917 while operating a Lucas Signal Lamp at Bellevue Pill-Box, Passchendaele Ridge, he was instantly killed by enemy shell fire. Aged 25. Born 25 December 1892 in Costock, Nottinghamshire. Son of John and Ellen Elizabeth Richards, of The School House, Watton-at-Stone, Hertford. Clerk in the Bank of British North America in London and Montreal. In the 1911 census he was aged 19, born Costock, Nottinghamshire, a Clerk, son of John and Ellen Elizabeth Richards, resident School House, Watton at Stone, Hertfordshire. Attested 27 April 1916 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a bank Clerk by trade, aged 23 years 4 months, 5 feet 8½ inches, chest 36½ inches. clear complexion, brown eyes, dark hair, religious denomination Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated at YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 10. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8233 - 59

Extract from Hertford Mercury and Reformer - Saturday 17 November 1917, page 8:

WATTON-AT-STONE

We regret to announce that Signaller John S. Richards, of the Canadian Forces, was killed in Flanders at the end of October. He was the oldest son of Mr. John Richards, who for the last 25 years has been schoolmaster at Watton, The deceased was formerly a clerk in Messrs. Gilbertson and Pago's factory at Hertford. He afterwards gained an appointment in the Bank of British North America and was installed first in the London Office in Gracechurch Street, and the Headquarters Bank at Montreal. In April of 1916 he joined the University Company, and commenced his training at Montreal. A special draft being required, he was one of 50 chosen, and was transferred to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He arrived in England in July, 1916, and after spending three weeks at Shorncliffe, was dispatched to France at the beginning of August, and became attached to the 3rd Division of Canadians. Since then he has been in continuous action, including the capture of Vimy Ridge and the Battle of Passchendaele, where he met with his death. In notifying his death Lieut. Reynolds writes: ’As a Signaller he was always most efficient and conscientious, and we feel his loss keenly. It will a great relief to you know that he was killed instantly, during our recent fighting, on duty signalling.’ Great sympathy is extended to his parents by the whole village, as he was a general favourite, being one of its keenest cricketers and one of the best full backs in the Watton Football Team.

 

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
REMEMBER BEFORE GOD THESE MEN OF
WATTON-AT-STONE WHO FELL IN WAR 1939-45