Upton-by-Chester War Memorial First World War

The unveiling - 13th February 1921

The Inscriptions

The front:

The Great War 1914 -1919 In honoured memory of the men

connected with Upton and District who sacrificed their lives in the

service of their King and Country This cross is erected by their relatives and friends ‘Their memory hallowed in the land they loved’

The back:

The site of this memorial

was given by Sir Philip B. Grey Egerton Bt in Memory of his sons

Lt. Philip de Malpas Wayne Egerton, 19th Royal Hussars

and 2nd Lt. Rowland le Belward Egerton

RWF who fell in the War

North Face

Capt. Helenus M. Robertson R.W.F.

Capt. Francis F. Hodgson 84th Punjabis

Capt. Roland O. Logan Oxf and Bucks L.I.

Lt. Archibald Buck L’pool Sco.

Sergt. Charles W Harding Lanc. Fus.

Cpl. Thomas Knowles M.M. Lanc. R

Cpl. Donald Cowie M.M. L’pool Sco.

Pte. Arthur Morris Hamps. R.

Gr. John Cash R.G.A.

Gr. Charles Coppack Tank Corps

Pte. James Cecil Williams Rif. Brig.

Pte. Wm. Hancocks King’s L’pool R.

South Face

Lt. Col .E. Townshend Logan D.S.O. Ches. R.

Capt. T. Laurence Frost Ches. R.

Lt. Geo. R. Simpson Ches. R.

Lt. Lewis Reginald Hughes Staffs. R.

Serg’t. Ernest Ley Hamps. R.

Cpl. Philip J. Evans M.M. G.C.

Pte. James Anderton Ches. R.

Pte. Harry Lloyd Ches. R.

Pte. John Williamson Ches. R.

Pte. Wm. Joseph Hughes Ches. R.

Pte. George Crosby Loyal N. Lancs. R.

Trooper John Sturman Ches. Yeo.

Cpl. James Alexander Benson R.G.A.

Taking each man in turn …

James Anderton Private, Cheshire Regiment

•  Born in Hoole Village in 1883

•  Lived at

– Guilden Sutton Lane in 1901

– Rigby’s Cottage, Flag Lane in 1911

– Upton Heyes, Flag Lane at time of death

•  Worked as a garden labourer

•  Killed in action 10th August 1917

•  Commemorated at Menin Gate, Ypres

•  Effects worth £175 left to widow, Jane

James (Alexander) Benson

Corporal, Royal Garrison Artillery

•  Born in Saughall in 1887 •  In 1911 a live-in Asylum Attendant with Cheshire

County Council •  Died in Flanders 6th November 1918 •  Military memorial stone at Saughall Methodist

Chapel •  War Memorial Committee minutes advise that the

name of Alec Benson – recently notified – was to be added if there was room for it. Note how it is squeezed in at the bottom and out of sequence, which is otherwise by rank.

•  The name is also added at the bottom of the memorial in the Parish Church (in a significantly bolder font than the rest!)

Archibald (Charles Watson) Buck 2nd Lieutenant, Liverpool Scottish

Regiment •  Born in Pimlico in 1871

•  Educated in the Scottish Borders •  Lived at

–  Formby in 1910 – Upton Park in 1911 and at the time of his death

•  Worked in Liverpool as a clerk for The Bank of England

•  Signed up as an inaugural member of the Upton and District Unit of the Cheshire Volunteer Regiment when it was formed on 29th April 1915 (minuted in the book that also contains the War Memorial Committee minutes)

•  Killed in action on 9th August 1916 •  Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial •  Effects worth £322 left to widow, Gertrude

John (Henry) Cash Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery

•  Born in Great Sutton in 1885

•  Lived at

–  The Damage in 1911

–  1 Heath Cottages in 1915

•  Married Elizabeth Martin in Wrexham in 1906

•  Worked as a bricklayer

•  Killed in action 16th May 1917

•  Body exhumed and reburied at Douchy Les Ayette British Cemetary near Arras

•  Curiously there was a John Alex Cash (no obvious relation) living on Long Lane who also served in the war

(John) Charles Coppack Gunner, Tank Corps

•  Born in Upton in 1898

•  Lived at

– Swindley’s Row in 1901

– Upton Heath in 1911

•  Had 4 brothers and 1 sister

•  Father a lunatic asylum attendant and member of War Memorial Committee

•  Killed in action on the Somme 25th August 1918

•  Commemorated at Achiet le Grand Communal Cemetary

•  Mentioned on gravestone of parents at Holy Ascension Churchyard

Donald Cowie Lance Corporal, Liverpool

Scottish Regiment

•  Born in 1897

•  Lived at

– Newton Nurseries in 1901 (father a nurserymen’s manager)

– Upton Park in 1911

•  Had 11 siblings, 3 of whom had died by 1911

•  Died of wounds on 1st December 1916

•  Commemorated at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetary

•  Mentioned on gravestone of parents and sister at Holy Ascension Churchyard

George (William Louis) Crosby Private, Loyal North Lancs

Regiment

•  Born in 1891 or 1892

•  Lived at Grafton Villa, Upton Park at time of death

•  Medal records state killed in action on 14th July 1918 yet probate records show place of death as Longsight, Manchester. Effects worth £19 18s, left to father, John Crosby, retired police officer.

•  Commemorated at Poelcapelle British Cemetary

•  The name appears out of sequence and to the bottom of the memorial in the Parish Church, immediately above Alec Benson, suggesting it too was a late addition

•  This was the only name that could not be traced in Commonwealth war graves commission records

Philip de Malpas Wayne Egerton Captain, 19th (Queen Alexandra’s

Own) Royal Hussars

•  Born in 1895 in London

•  Twin son of Philip B Grey Egerton, last Lord of the Manor

•  Lived at

– Oulton Park in 1901

– Wellington College, Berks in 1911

•  Went to Sandhurst

•  Killed in action 8th October 1918

•  Acting captain at time of death

•  Commemorated at Busigny Communal Cemetary and in stained glass window at St Peter’s Church, Little Budworth

Rowland le Belward Egerton 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

•  Born in 1895 in London

•  Twin son of Philip B Grey Egerton, last Lord of the Manor

•  Lived at

– Oulton Park in 1901

–  Eton College in 1911

•  Went Sandhurst

•  Promoted to Captain during course of war

•  Killed in action at Zonnerbeke on 30th October 1914 during what would have been the 1st Battle of Ypres

•  Mother made strenuous efforts to trace him when advised missing

•  He had a notable adversary in the german ranks that day

•  Commemorated at Ploegsteert and in stained glass window at St Peter’s Church, Little Budworth

Philip (John) Evans MM Captain, Machine Gun Corps (Heavy

Branch)

•  Born in 1896

•  Lived at

– Schoolhouse, Upton in 1901 (father schoolmaster)

– Westminster at time of death

•  Died 4th July 1917

•  Commemorated at Gwalia Cemetary

•  Effects worth £86 left to widow, Annie Elizabeth

(Thomas) Laurence Frost Captain, Cheshire Regiment

•  Born in 1889

•  Lived at Upton Lawn

•  Career soldier, commissioned in 1911

•  Son of John Meadows Frost, Lord Mayor of Chester 1913 – 1919 and descendent of original Miller of Dee

•  Shot by sniper in front line trench 28th March 1915 in run up to 2nd Battle of Ypres

•  Commemorated at Bedford House Cemetary, Belgium

•  Effects worth £14,245 left to John Meadows Frost jnr (brother), Major in Cheshire Brigade of Royal Field Artillery Territorial Forces

Laurence Frost

William Hancocks Private, King’s Liverpool Regiment

•  Born in 1892 in Whitchurch

•  Lived at

–  Toxteth Park in 1901 and 1911 (different addresses)

•  Father a coachman/ groom (1901) and chauffeur living apart from family (wife and 8 children) at Banastre Cottage, Mollington (1911), home of the Humberston family

•  Worked as a butcher’s shop assistant

•  Died 13th January 1919

•  Commemorated at St Sever Cemetary Extension, Rouen

•  Parents (and brother ‘Ted’) are buried together in Holy Ascension Churchyard, mother dying in 1939 and father in 1959

•  War Memorial Committee Minutes for meeting on 7th November 1919 contain a scribbled note that reads ‘Hancocks son added’.

•  Interestingly, he isn’t on the memorial in the Parish Church and so is overlooked at every Remembrance Day service!

Charles (William) Harding Sergeant, Lancashire Fusiliers

•  Born in 1891

•  Lived at

– Cartref, Dale Cottage (with several other families) in 1901 and 1911

– Aigburth, Liverpool during War according to Army Records

•  Eldest of 4 brothers

•  Worked as a gardener

•  Father a bootmaker

•  Enlisted for service in Bury

•  Killed in action in Flanders 28th August 1918

Francis (Faith) Hodgson Captain, 84th Punjabis

•  Born in 1880

•  Lived at

–  Penge in 1891

– Rawal Pindi, India in 1915

•  Career soldier in Indian Army but attached to Cheshire Regiment for a year

•  Married a descendent of Elizabeth Fry and daughter of Registrar of Madras

•  Entered European War with Indian Expeditionary Force on 1st November 1914

•  Own daughter born 15th March 1915

•  Died of wounds received at Festubert 16th May 1915, during the final forays of the 2nd Battle of Ypres

•  Connection with Upton not established beyond Cheshire Regiment attachment

Francis (Faith) Hodgson

Lewis Reginald Hughes Lieutenant, North Staffs Regiment

•  Born in 1883 in Whitchurch

•  Died 19th May 1915

•  Commemorated at Bethune Town Cemetary

•  Connection with Upton not established

William Joseph Hughes Private, Cheshire Regiment

•  Date of birth not found

•  In 1911 there is a William Hughes, a 27 year old farmer’s son, living at Heath Farm, Backford

•  Believed to have been killed in action on 22nd April 1916 and to be commemorated at Poziers Memorial

•  There was a William Henry Hughes living in Newton/ Upton in 1901 at the age of 8 and later killed in action 21st March 1918. He started out in the Cheshire Regiment but was with Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment at the time of his death. He is not recorded on the War Memorial.

Thomas Knowles MM Corporal, Lancashire Regiment

•  Born in 1867 •  Lived at

– Upton (address given as ‘The Village’ in 1891 and 1901)

•  Profession unknown, merely recorded as ‘farmer’s son’ in 1891. Father was a farmer with 160 acres.

•  Killed in action 3rd May 1918

•  Commemorated in Nine Elms British Cemetary

•  ‘MM’ is in a bold font on memorial in Parish Church suggesting this was added at same time as Alec Benson’s name

Ernest George Ley Sergeant, Hampshire Regiment

•  Born in 1885

•  Lived at

–  Longworth, Berkshire in 1891

– Windlesham, Surrey in 1901

– Army Barracks, Farnham, Surrey in 1911

•  Nursery worker in 1901 and soldier (lance corporal) in 1911

•  Killed in action 1st July 1917

•  Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial

•  Both parents born in Devon but father served in coastguard from 1871 to 1890 and was a shipyard worker in Liverpool in 1891. No closer connection to Chester than this has been established.

Harry Lloyd Private, Cheshire Regiment

•  Born in 1891

•  Lived at

–  Storeton, Wirral in 1891

–  Acres, Upton 1901

–  Raby Mere 1914

•  Worked as a milk boy at Acres Farm (owned by Edward Dean) in 1901. Enlistment records in 1914 describe him as a carter.

•  Killed in action 11th April 1917 in Mesopotamia

•  Pre-deceased by father and two sisters – all three, along with mother who died in 1939, are referenced on gravestone at Holy Ascension

•  Also commemorated on Basra Memorial

Edward Townshend Logan Lieutenant Colonel, Cheshire Regiment •  Born in 1865 in Valparaiso, Chile. Son of a copper merchant.

•  Lived at

–  Ashfield Hall, Neston in 1881

–  Upton Lawn (presumed as this was family home, though no actual record of him there)

–  Christleton Bank in 1915

•  Worked as a copper merchant in 1891. Then became a career soldier, served in Boer War, winning King’s Medal, Queen’s Medal and Distinguished Service Order

•  Married Hilda Emma Frances, his cousin and daughter of Charles Carruthers Johnstone of Chorlton Hall in 1906

•  In charge of the Cheshire Regiment at Birkenhead but killed in action commanding the Durham Light Infantry at the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915

•  Effects worth £1891

•  Widely commemorated, including in a stained glass window at Chester Cathedral where there was a grand memorial service in his honour, and with his father and two brothers in the east window of Holy Ascension Church

Edward Townshend Logan

Roland O(ctavius) Logan Captain, Oxford and Bucks Light

Infantry •  Born in 1882 in Upton

•  Lived at

– Upton Lawn in 1891

– Wellington, Nilgiris, India in 1911

•  Career soldier – served in the Boer War, winning the Queen’s Medal, and in India (where his and Edward’s brother, Balfour, was killed on active service in 1898)

•  Killed in action at Ypres 17th October 1915

•  Buried in an unmarked grave near Menin-Rouliers road

•  Correspondence address on Medals Index card given as ‘C G Logan, Great Ness House, Baschurch, Salop’. This property belonged to his brother, Crawford, a ranchman in the USA. Crawford, as Roland’s only surviving male relative, returned to England in early 1916 to settle his estate which Crawford estimated to be worth $35,000. Crawford later enlisted in the US Army.

(Edward) Arthur Morris Private, Hampshire Regiment

•  Born in 1891

•  Edward Morris living at Brewer’s Arms, Upton in 1901 and working as a gardener at Shardlow, Derbyshire (place of birth Upton) in 1911

•  Enlisted at Salisbury Plain – residence recorded as Upton-by-Chester

•  Killed in action at Kut, Mesopotamia 31st December 1916

•  Commemorated on Basra Memorial •  Parents, Joseph and Margaret, buried at Holy Ascension

Church. Gravestone includes the words ‘also of their beloved son Edward Morris, died of wounds at Kut 1915 aged 25 years’. Discrepancy in date of death compared with military records, but details on gravestone not reliable following father’s example. Also it could not have been put in place until1930 when his mother died.

Helenus (Macaulay) Robertson Captain, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

•  Born in 1881

•  Lived at

–  Toxteth Park in 1891

–  Wavertree in 1901

–  Eaton Terrace, London in 1911 (fellow boarder was his brother, James Archibald St George Robertson, later an MP). This was a 12 room property occupied by four people, including a servant.

–  Possibly Upton Grange in 1914 (his father’s home)

•  Worked as a barrister

•  Killed in action at Cuinchy, France 26th January 1916

•  Commemorated at Cambrin Churchyard Extension (between Ypres and the Somme)

•  Remembered on father’s gravestone at Holy Ascension

•  Note father, a retired cotton broker, died on 22nd March 1919. War Memorial Committee Minutes for inaugural meeting the day before record Major Robertson’s (i.e. James’s) apologies for absence on account of his father’s critical illness.

George (Ricardo) Simpson Lieutenant Colonel, Cheshire

Regiment •  Born in 1895

•  He was an only child

•  Lived at

–  Newton Bank in 1901

–  St Peter’s Institute, Radley, Abingdon in 1911 (scholar)

•  Died of wounds on 30th August 1918

•  Commemorated at Terlincthun British Cemetary

•  Father and mother, Ricardo and Florence, erected memorial in Parish Church to the fallen 1914 –1919 in memory of their son

•  Ricardo, a salt merchant, was a committed member of the War Memorial Committee

John (Jack) Sturman Trooper, Cheshire Yeomanry

•  Born in 1893 in Boughton

•  Lived at Oakfield cottages, Upton Heath

•  Worked as a fitter

•  Moved on to Shropshire Light Infantry after Cheshire Yeomanry

•  Killed in action 21st September 1918

•  Commemorated on Vis-en-Artois Memorial

James Cecil Williams Private, Rifle Brigade (Prince

Consort’s Own)

•  Date of birth uncertain. Born at Knotty Ash.

•  Enlistment location Chester

•  Killed in action on 15th September 1917

John Williamson Private, Cheshire Regiment

•  Born in 1883

•  Lived at

–  Flag Lane in 1891 and 1901

–  Quarry Cottage, a 3 roomed house in Christleton in 1911

–  1 Upton Heath in 1915, according to army service records. (Certificate of approving officer says ‘fit for home service’! Distinguishing marks include scar on back of left wrist)

•  Married in 1907 and first of two sons was born 11 days later

•  Worked as head gardener for Mrs. Dobie, Upton House

•  Member of Upton St Mary’s Football Club

•  Died on 20th June 1917 from wounds sustained in action on 7th June

•  Commemorated at Wimereux Communal Cemetary

•  Parents buried at Holy Ascension and John James referenced on their gravestone

John Williamson

Notable omissions

H(arrington Holper) Meadowcroft Private, Denbigh Hussars Yeomanry

•  Military stone in Holy Ascension churchyard

•  Born in 1895 in Frodsham

•  Lived at Ivy Cottage, Little Sutton in 1901

•  Died 10th July 1915

•  Lived at

–  Ivy Cottage, Little Sutton in 1901

–  Colwyn Bay in 1911 (parents’ 13 roomed house) at time of death

•  Was based at Eccleston Camp and death recorded as ‘at home’

•  Father was a ship canal rep at Ellesmere Port

G Stone Private, Cheshire Regiment

•  Military stone in Holy Ascension churchyard

•  Died 19th November 1918

•  No further details known

D McLeod Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

•  Military stone in Holy Ascension churchyard, shared with G Stone

•  Died 1st October 1920

•  No further details known

William Henry Hughes Cheshire Regiment and Princess

Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment

•  No local commemoration – identified through research into William Joseph Hughes

•  Born in 1892 or 1893

•  Lived in Upton/ Newton in 1901

•  Killed in action 21st March 1918

Appendices

Upton connections

James Benson Born in Saughall

Charles Coppack Born in Upton March 1898

lived at 11 Swindley’s Row and Upton Heath

James Anderton Born in Hoole Village

C1883 Lived in

Guilden Sutton Lane and Flag Lane

Archibald Buck, George Crosby and Donald Cowie lived in Upton Park

Laurence Frost, Roland Logan and E Townsend Logan lived at Upton Lawn

Charles Harding lived at The Dale Cottage

Thomas Knowles Born in

Upton 1867

Harry Lloyd lived and worked at

The Acres

George Simpson Lived at Newton Bank

John Sturman Lived at

Oakfield Cottages

John Williamson Lived at Flag Lane and Upton Heath

Multiple connections with Holy Ascension Church

John Cash Born in Great Sutton

Nov 1885. Lived at The Damage and Heath Cottages

Helenus Robertson Family lived at Upton Grange

John Sturman Born in Boughton

1883

Philip Evans lived at Schoolhouse

Arthur Morris lived at The Brewer’s Arms

France and Flanders legacy

Donald Cowie Commemorated at

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetary,

Poperinghe

Laurence Frost Killed on the Somme and

commemorated at Bedford House Cemetary

Helenus Robertson

Killed at Cuinchy Commemorated at

Cambrin Churchyard Extension

Archibald Buck and Ernest Ley

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial

James Anderton Commemorated at Menin Gate

Memorial, Ypres

Charles Coppack Died on the Somme Commemorated at Achiet Le Grand

Cemetary

Thomas Knowles Commemorated at Nine Elms British Cemetary,

Poperinghe

Edward Townshend Logan

Killed at Sailly Labourse during

Battle of Loos

William Hancocks Commemorated

at St Sever, Rouen

John Cash Buried at Douchy

Les Ayette Cemetary near

Arras

Francis Hodgson Died of wounds at

Festubert

Lewis Reginald Hughes

Commemorated at Bethune

Town Cemetary

Roland Logan

Buried in unmarked grave near Menin-

Rouliers road

George Simpson

Commemorated at Terlincthun

British Cemetary, Boulogne

John Sturman Commemorated at Vis-en-Artois

Memorial

Jack Williamson

Commemorated at Wimereux

Communal Cemetary

Harry Lloyd and Arthur Morris both commemorated on Basra

Memorial, Iraq

George Crosby Commemorated at Poelcappelle British Cemetary

William Joseph Hughes

Commemorated at Poziers Memorial

Medal record (where known) Name Medals Other

Victory British Star

James Anderton X X

John Cash X X

Charles Coppack X X

Donald Cowie X X MM

Philip de Malpas Wayne Egerton

X X X

Rolwand le Belward Egerton

X X

Philip J Evans MM

Laurence Frost X X X

Charles Harding X X

Thomas Knowles X X MM

Ernest Ley X X X

Harry Lloyd X X X

Roland O Logan Queen’s Medal (Boer War)

E Townshend Logan X X X DSO Queen’s Medal, King’s Medal and Distinguished Service Order (Boer War)

Arthur Morris X X X

Helenus Robertson X X

John Sturman X X

Sample medal record

WW1 Timeline

1914 1915 1916 1917 1918

28 Jun Franz

Ferdinand assassinated

28 Jul Austria

declare war on Serbia

1/3 Aug Germany

declare war on Russia and France and

invade Belgium

23 Aug Germany invade

France

4 Aug Britain

declares war on Germany

18 Oct 1st Battle of

Ypres

25 Apr Allied

landing in Gallipoli

25 Sep Battle of Loos

starts

19 Dec Gallipoli

evacuation starts

27 Jan Conscription introduced in

Britain

21 Feb Battle of

Verdun

29 Apr British

surrender at Kut,

Mesopotamia

1 July Battle of the Somme

starts

15 Sep First mass use

of tanks

7 Dec Lloyd George becomes PM

16 April USA declares

war on Germany

31 Jul 3rd Battle of Ypres starts

5 Dec Armistice between

Germany and Russia

3 Mar Germany and Russia sign

peace treaty

15 Jul German

collapse starts at

Marne

10 Aug James

Anderton Killed in action

11 Nov Armistice

signed

9t Nov Kaiser

abdicates

6 Nov James Benson

Died

9t Aug Archibald Buck Killed in action

16 May John Cash

killed in action

25 Aug Charles Coppack

Killed in action

30 Nov Donald Cowie

Died of wounds

4 Oct George Crosby Killed in action

8 Oct Philip Egerton Killed in action

30 Oct Rowland Egerton

Killed in action

4 Jul Philip J Evans

Died

28 Mar Laurence

Frost Shot by sniper

13 Jan 1919 William

Hancocks Died

28 Aug Charles Harding

Killed in action

17th May Francis

Hodgson Died of wounds

19 May Reginald Lewis Hughes

Died

1 Jul Ernest Ley

Killed in action

3 May Thomas

Knowles Died of wounds

11 Apr Harry Lloyd

Killed in action

17 Oct Roland Logan

Killed in action

25 Sep Edward Logan

Killed in action

31 Dec Arthur Morris Killed in action

26 Jan Helenus

Robertson Killed in action

30 Aug George Simpson

Killed in action

21 Sep John Sturman

Killed in action

15 Sep James Williams Killed in action

20 June John

Williamson Died of wounds

When and how

they fell

World events