William Henry BATES
WILLIAM HENRY BATES
Corporal, C Company, 3rd Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, 57 Brigade, 19th Division. Army no. 207283
He was killed in action on 27 May 1918 in what became the final push of the war. He was 23 He was the son of Joseph and Emma Mary Bates, West End, Souldern He is buried in grave I D 1 Marfaux British Cemetery near Reims.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Souldern
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Oxford
Harry BINDING
HARRY BINDING
Private, 2nd/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, 199 Brigade, 66th Division. Army no. 202605
He was killed in action on 8 October 1917 in the third Battle of Ypres. He was 26 He was the son of John Binding, 671 Sixth Street, Trafford Park, Manchester. He is remembered on panel 120-124 and 162-162A and 163A of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Additional Information
Birth Place: Buxton, Derby
Residence: Trafford Park, Manchester
Enlistment Location: Ashton-under-lyne
Sidney BLENCOWE
SIDNEY BLENCOWE
Private, 23rd Battalion, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force. Army no. 5553
He was killed in action on 3 May 1917 during the second battle of Bullecourt, the Somme. He was 34 He was the son of Michael and Sarah Blencowe and the husband of Louisa Ruth Blencowe He is remembered on Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
Additional information
In the 1891 Census he was living in Souldern but moved later to Kings Norton Sidney and his brother, Austin, migrated to Sydney in 1914 followed by wife Louisa and one son. The family settled in Melbourne and Sidney was a labourer before enlisting in 1916. He was Killed in action 3 May 1917 (the first day of the second battle of Bullecourt, two weeks of bitter trench fighting which eventually, and at the cost of 2,250 Australian casualties, cleared and held part of the Hindenburg Line.) From the history of the 23rd “This, toughest of all propositions since Pozières, was tackled on May 3rd, the 6th Brigade forming the centre pivot, with a British Division on our left, and the 5th Brigade on the right flank. It was there the Battalion distinguished itself by its dash and determination to break the famous Siegfried line. The feat was accomplished, and for a time the boys hung on to the position with a tenacity that neither our severe losses, the enemy's artillery or infantry could break. The work of the officers and men throughout was splendid, and the behaviour of the reinforcements, who had joined up the day previous, showed they were made of good material. To many it was their first and last fight."
More information is available at http://blencowesww1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/sidney-blencowe-1882-1917.html.
William James CALLOW
WILLIAM JAMES CALLOW
Private, 2nd/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 184 Brigade, 61st Division. Army no. 240310
He was killed in action on 22 August 1917 in the fighting around Ypres. He was 27 He was the husband of Florence Phoebe Callow, Chapel Row, Souldern. He is remembered on panel 96 to 98 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Additional Information
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Oxford
George Moore DAY
GEORGE MOORE DAY
Stoker, 2nd Class, HMS Laforey, Royal Navy. RN no. K/37983
He was killed at sea on 23 March 1917. He was 36. He was the son of Thomas William and Elizabeth Day of Souldern He is remembered on panel 24 of the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Additional Information
During 1917, operations in the English Channel became more dangerous as enemy units became more adventurous in their operations against the link between Britain and France. Just four days before Laforey was lost, a raid by German destroyers sank the destroyer HMS Paragon with all but 10 hands. On 23 March 1917, HMS Laforey and her sister ship, HMS Laertes were escorting several cargo ships to France, using the Folkstone to Boulogne route. The merchant ships arrived safely, but at around 16:30 hours and after the destroyers had begun the return trip, a large explosion occurred amidships on HMS Laforey. The ship immediately broke in half, and the stern sank rapidly. The bow remained afloat for a short time, during which HMS Laertes struggled to rescue survivors. Only 18 of the 77 aboard survived.
Arthur John LAKE
ARTHUR JOHN LAKE
Private, 9th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, 39 Brigade, 13th Division. Army no. 27547
He was killed in action on 25 January 1917 attacking the Hai Salient during the Battle of Kut al Imara. He was 19 He was the son of Stephen and Esther E Lake He is buried in grave XVIII C 3 Amara War Cemetery
Additional Information
Birth Place: Souldern
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Birmingham
John Henry PAYNE
JOHN HENRY PAYNE
Private, 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 17 Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division. Army no. 9076
He was killed in action on 22 November 1915. He was 25 He was the son of the late James and of Sarah Payne of Souldern He is remembered on panel 26 and 63 of the Basra Memorial
Additional Information
Birth Place: Drayton
Enlistment Location: Banbury
He was a Regular soldier.
William Frederick ROBBINS
WILLIAM FREDERICK ROBBINS
Corporal, 7th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 78 Brigade, 26th Division. Army no. 21257
He was killed in action on 8 May 1917 during the Battle of Doiran. He was 29 He was the son of Joseph and Mary Robbins of Oxford and the husband of Ethel Alice Robbins, 3 Tichborne Row, Paddington. He is remembered on the Doiran Memorial, Macedonia.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Oxford
Residence: London
Enlistment Location: Oxford
William Robert ROBBINS
WILLIAM ROBERT ROBBINS
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 145 Brigade, 48th Division. Army no. 203330. He was formerly with the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, Army no. 2561
He was killed in action on 15 June 1918 in the Battle of the Piave, fighting on the Asiago Plateau. He was 19 He was the son of Frederick and Fanny Robbins of Souldern He is buried in plot 3 row A grave 14 Boscon British Cemetery, Italy.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Souldern
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Oxford
Kenneth Sutherland RUDD
KENNETH SUTHERLAND RUDD
Captain, 10th Battalion, The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 50 Brigade, 17th Division.
He was killed in action on 10 October 1918 during the Allied pursuit to the Selle. He was 24 He was the son of the late Rev Prebendary Eric J S Rudd of Souldern and of Edyth T H Rudd, Whitehall, Goodrich, Ross, Herefordshire He is buried in grave II F 17 Caudry British Cemetery.
Additional Information
The plaque states that he is buried at Audencourt, near Cambrai. Subsequently those interred in Audencourt have been moved to Caudry.
Frederick Henry SWEETMAN
FREDERICK HENRY SWEETMAN
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 25850
He died of his wounds on 30 April 1917 probably received at the Battle of Arleux. He was 36 He was the son of the late George and of Elizabeth Sweetman and the husband of Sarah Sweetman of Souldern He is buried in grave II J 34 Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Solgrave
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Banbury
The town of Aubigny was a hospital centre
William John SWEETMAN
WILLIAM JOHN SWEETMAN
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 18465
He was killed in action on 30 July 1916 in the fighting on the Somme. He was 18 He was the grandson of Elizabeth Swetman, The Green, Souldern He is remembered on pier and face 10A and 10D of the Thiepval Memorial.
Additional Information
Residence: Souldren
Enlistment Location: Oxford
Aubrey Ernest WESTBURY
AUBREY ERNEST WESTBURY
Private, 16th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), 86 Brigade, 29th Division. Army no G/25256
He was killed in action on 12 August 1916. He was 38 He was the son of Thomas and Mary Westbury He is buried in Enclosure No. 2 IV C 28 Bedford House Cemetery.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Souldern
Residence: Stonebridge, Middlesex
Enlistment Location: Harlesden, Middlesex
Walter Thomas WESTBURY
WALTER THOMAS WESTBURY
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 18149
He was killed in action on 31 July 1916 in the fighting around Delville Wood. He was 18 He was the son of Frederick and Sarah Westbury, The Green, Souldern He is buried in plot 2 row A grave 1 Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Souldern
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Oxford
William Henry WESTBURY
WILLIAM HENRY WESTBURY
Lance Corporal, 12th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 17 Brigade, 24 Division. Army no. 50502. He was formerly with 2nd Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Kensington). Army no. 176
He was killed in action on 26 January 1917. He was 36 He is remembered on panel 25 to 27 of the Loos Memorial.
Additional information
Birth place: Souldern
Residence: Souldern
Enlistment Location: Shepherd’s Bush
George CLEAVER
GEORGE CLEAVER
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 1878
He died on 19 September 1915. He is buried in the Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Souldern.
Additional Information
He had served in France landing there on 25 June 1915.
Arthur PARKER
ARTHUR PARKER
Private, D Company, 12th (Service) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. Army no. 13600. He was formerly with Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Army no. 7239.
He died on 24 December 1914. He was 48 He was the husband of Hephzibah Parker, Priors Marston, Byfield, Northants He is buried in grave 3 1231 Worting Road Cemetery, Basingstoke.
Additional Information
Birth Place: Souldern
Residence: Priors Marston, Warwick
Enlistment Location: Rugby
Aubrey J FINCH
AUBREY J FINCH
Private 2nd (Airborne) The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 5388610
He died in action on 24 March 1945. He was 28 He is buried in grave 36 B 9 Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Additional Information
The 2nd (Airborne) The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (2 OBLI) were once again involved in a glider-borne air assault landing, known as Operation Varsity, the objective of which was to cross the Rhine. The Germans were defending their last great natural barrier in the West and Operation Varsity which began on 24 March 1945 was the last major battle on the Western Front during WW2. 2 OBLI landed further east than any other British Army unit to capture bridges from the Germans. The battalion, like many others during the assault, suffered heavily as the Germans met the landing gliders with ferocious fire, suffering hundreds of casualties. The battalion's objective was to capture the line of the River Issel northwest of Hamminkeln. This included the Hamminkeln-Ringenburg road bridge, the railway bridge, Hamminkeln railway station and the road junction to the west. On 19 March the battalion moved to Birch camp, RAF Birch, near Colchester. 2 OBLI took off from Birch and Gosfield airfields at 06.30hrs on 24 March and the gliders moved southwards over the North Sea, then east over Brussels and landed in Hamminkeln area at about 10.00hrs. Each company was designated a landing zone in the area of its objective. At Hamminkeln the gliders flew into a barrage of anti-aircraft fire; there were 4 enemy anti-aircraft guns gun-pits positioned near Hamminkeln station. During the landing which took only 10 minutes to complete there was thick smoke and dust from the area of Wesel and many of the gliders were on fire and there were many casualties. 2 OBLI casualties included 103 killed during the battle of the landing area. The battalion had lost half its strength, the 4 rifle companies were severely depleted and non-commissioned officers were frequently required to act as platoon commanders. The battalion saw very heavy fighting at Hamminkeln, where its objectives were the railway station and bridges over the River Issel between Hamminkeln and Ringenburg. Lieutenant Hugh Clark led a bayonet charge to take a road bridge for which he was awarded a Military Cross. CSM John Stevenson was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for defeating several enemy attacks with a platoon he commanded on the east bank of the River Issel. 2 OBLI captured and held all its objectives. The Germans launched a number of counter-attacks, all of which were repelled. At midnight on 25 March the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) relieved the battalion and by 06.00hrs on 26 March the unit was based in a farm on the west side of Hamminkeln. Later that morning 2 OBLI were informed that 6th Airborne Division would lead the advance across Germany.
William George PAINTIN
WILLIAM GEORGE PAINTIN
Canteen Manager HMS Hartland Royal Naval RN no. C/NX 207
He died on 8 November 1942. He was 31. He was the son of Albert and Elizabeth Paintin and the husband of Florence M Paintin of Souldern He is remembered on panel 66, 3 of the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Additional Information
His name is also inscribed on the Charlton and Newbottle War Memorial The operation was the prevention of destructive sabotage by the French preceding the allied troop landings in Algeria. A contemporary newspaper report described the action as follows;
“A 53 year-old captain in the Royal Navy, who led a “suicide charge” by two small cutters at Oran in November 1942 has been awarded a posthumous VC. He was Acting-Captain Frederick Thornton Peters, DSO, DSC, and the award, says the official citation, is given “for valour in taking HMS Walney in an enterprise of desperate hazard into the harbour of Oran on 8 November 1942. “Walney” and “Hartland”, ex US Coastguard cutters, were lost in a gallant attempt to prevent the scuttling of block ships in the harbour of Oran during the landings on the North African coast. They had the task of ramming the boom. Both ships broke through - a feat which was described as one of the great episodes of naval history - and although on fire penetrated to the inner harbour. Troops were landed from them at the west end of the Bassin Gueybin before the ships were sunk. After his ship had rammed the boom, sunk a destroyer, attacked a cruiser and herself been sunk, Captain Peters was taken prisoner. He was thrown into prison in Oran by the French authorities but when the city capitulated he was released by the populace and carried through the streets shoulder-high and showered with flowers.
For his bravery in the action in Oran Captain Peters, who has since died in an air crash while on a special mission, was also awarded the American DSC”
Welcome to the Souldern Village Website, which has been created to be used by the parishioners of the village, and others who may be interested in the content that has been posted. The site is packed with information relating to past, present and future events.
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Souldern or “Sulthorn” as it was originally named was founded before Roman times, the village was established on the site of excellent freshwater springs, some of which to this day continue to flow through the village pond. More details of the history of our village may be found in the history section of this site.
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Recent Announcements
- Bicester Community Hospital Christmas Bazaar [2018-11-01]
BICESTER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LEAGUE OF FRIENDS APPEAL Bicester Community hospital, also fondly known as the ‘Cottage Hospital’ has been well served for many years by the volunteer group known as ‘The League of Friends’. This group of volunteers contribute to...
- New House Search Page [2018-10-31]
New House Search Page The site has a new facility to search for houses. Currently you can search on any combination of house names, road names and postcodes. Images are provided for each house, but submissions for new house images...
- Notice of Vacancy in Office of Parish Councillor [2018-10-18]
Souldern Parish Council Clerk to the Council: Cathy Fleet Clerks address: Westfield Farm Cottage, Fenway, Steeple Aston, Bicester. OX25 4SS. Email: clerktosouldernparishcouncil@gmail.com NOTICE OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF PARISH COUNCILLOR PARISH OF SOULDERN NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant...
- Relaunch souldern.org [2018-10-16]
souldern.org relaunched! This souldern.org website has been re-implemented on a new hosting platform (github-pages instead of google sites). Hopefully all pages are working in the new system, but if you spot any issues please let us know by email or...
- New Three Parishes [2018-10-05]
New Three Parishes The new style Three Parishes magazine is being delivered to homes in the area, and is also available at the new Three Parishes website.