Redlynch Local History Society – New Forest Knowledge

Alfred Edward Brown

Alfred was born in Knighton-under-Lee in Worcester in 1877. His parents were John and Amelia (Radden) from Plymouth who were married in 1869. John was a teacher and travelled to Worcester before settling in the New Forest, firstly in Fordingbridge and finally in Redlynch.

Alfred was one if thirteen children and the 1911 census shows him as a house painter living with his parents at School House in Redlynch. Research has been unable to discover his whereabouts in the 1901 census, but Alfred did not live with his parents.

Alfred was a volunteer and joined the 7^th (Service) Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment which was under the command of 79^th Brigade under 26^th Division. The battalion spend a year in England before arriving in France in September 1915. Alfred whose service number was 12226 arrived in France on 21 September 1915. From here the battalion moved to Salonika in November 1915. Alfred would spend the rest of his war fighting in this Sideshow. He was killed, aged 39 on 27 April 1917 whilst attached to ‘A’ Company. The war diary entry for 27 April shows ‘1 OR (Attd MG Coy) killed, 1 OR to hospital’.[1] As there is no information to suggest that Alfred was attached to the Machine Gun Company he was in all likelihood the OR who was taken to hospital and subsequently died of his wounds. Alfred is buried Sarigol Military Cemetery. At the time of his death his parents were living in Percy Cottage.

[1] The National Archives, 7 Battalion Wiltshire Regiment war diaries, 27 April 1917, WO 95/4876.

Background to the Parish of Redlynch, 1914

The Parish of Redlynch, Wiltshire

The present Civil Parish of Redlynch, formed in 1934, includes Morgan’s Vale, Woodfalls, Lover, Hamptworth, Nomansland and Redlynch itself. It is situated approximately 8 miles south-east of Salisbury and much of it lies within the northern boundary of the New Forest National Park. In 2011 the population was 3,448

However, in 1914 the villages were not combined. Redlynch was already a Civil Parish, having been separated from Downton in 1896. The population, according to the 1911 census, was 1,299 plus 17 from Langley Wood. Morgan’s Vale and Woodfalls were still under the Parish of Downton and the population figures were not given separately, although the total for those areas, extracted from the 1911 census for Downton, is about 547. We know that by 1921 this figure had risen to 572. Nomansland had been made a Civil Parish by the extra-Parochial Act of 1857. In 1911 the population was 127 and in 1921 it was 131. Thus the total population for the combined villages was 1,990 in 1911 and 1,933 in 1921.

These figures were calculated as follows: –

1911 Redlynch plus Langley Wood 1,316. 1921 Redlynch 1,236
1911 Morgan’s Vale & Woodfalls 547. 1921 MV & W 566
(Added up from entries on Downton census)
Nomansland 127. Nomansland 131

Total 1911 = 1,990. Total 1921 = 1,933

The whole area was a rural community with woodland and farms; ponies from the New Forest were often seen wandering around the village. However there were also some industries, including brickworks, sawmills and an iron works. There were very few unemployed persons according to the 1911 census.

An increase in trades and industries had led to a growth in settlement in the late 19th century. In Redlynch the main development was through the village from the King’s Head to Harthill Drove and also at the other end of the village in the area known as Lover, which included Besomer Drove, Whiteshoot and Black Lane. In Morgan’s Vale there were properties in Orchard Road and Apple Tree Road as well as along the Vale to the Tower House. The main development in Woodfalls was along Slab Lane, with a few houses in Vale Road and along the Ridge.

There were also Estates such as Redlynch House, Paccombe, Trafalgar Park, Hale Park, Newhouse, Hamptworth Lodge and Lyburn Park, some of which owned land and property in the area and provided employment.

The Parish had three schools, two churches, five chapels, at least 16 shops, two reading rooms and a number of Public Houses. There was no mains water, drainage, electricity or gas until well into the 20th century.

Many roads were of gravel with wide verges. Some were listed as ‘Private Roads’ and did not have their present day names. Transport was limited. The main route to Salisbury, approximately 8 miles away, passed through Downton. The Downton, London and South-West Railway, which opened in 1866, was close-by.

N.B. In our project ‘Redlynch 1914 – 1918’ we have included all the areas of the present day Parish, as we were commemorating all those who served.

Charles James Newman, Fredrick Burnham and Albert Edward Phillimore

Charles James Newman

Charles James Newman was born in Redlynch to Charles and Lydia Newman. He was a broom maker, as were many members of the Newman family. He is shown on the right of the photograph, with, possibly, Alf Brown on the left. He enlisted, aged 19 years, in the Coldstream Guards on 2 September 1914 – a copy of his attestation papers are shown.

Charles served overseas before the end of 1915, and as such he received all three campaign medals that were awarded during the First World War.

The second photo of Charles would appear to be when he was in training, as it was taken a month after he enlisted. Charles is shown second row from the back, and third from the left

A further photo of Charles is shown which would appear to be at a hospital. Chalres is shown in the middle row, second from the left smoking a pipe. The photo shows not only medical staff, but also a wounded man, and soldiers from various regiments. It is interesting to note that there are no commissioned officers shown in this photo.

Charles was discharged on 30 June 1916. A character reference and his discharge papers are shown. It shows his reason for discharge as “no longer physically fit for war service” due to “gunshot wounds to right shoulder and right elbow”.

(Information kindly given by Juan Phillimore. Charles James Newman was her great uncle and lived at Park Gate. His daughter was Esme North.)

Albert Edward Phillimore

Albert Edward Phillimore served in the Army. He was Rod Phillimore’s grandfather and was the first full time postman in Redlynch. He lived in Sandy Lane.

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The following photographs have been provided from Rod Phillimore’s family archive. They relate to Frederick Burnham who enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) on 29 November 1916, and was discharged on 11 July 1919 (demobilisation). He originally lived in Salisbury and settled in Redlynch after the War.

He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from 3 May 1917 until 10 June 1919, and was awarded the Victory and British Medals.

Three photos are shown of the RMA, two showing the engines that were used to tow the naval guns, and one showing one of the naval guns that were used by the RMA. Two of these photos are linked and there location is probably France. There is no evidence to suggest which of the men in these photos is Fred Burnham.

Charles Percy Brown

The Redlynch Roll of Honour has listed P. Brown, this maybe Charles Percy Brown.

Charles was born in Knighton-under-Lee in Worcester in 1879. His parents were John and Amelia (Radden) from Plymouth who were married in 1869. John was a teacher and travelled to Worcester before settling in the New Forest, firstly in Fordingbridge and finally in Redlynch.

Charles was one if thirteen children. He appears in the 1881 and 1891 census, but research has been unable to trace him in the 1901 and the 1911 censuses. Perhaps he was a regular soldier. He may have enlisted in his teens and as such would not appear on the census if he was serving overseas when they were taken. The Western Gazette reported on 5 October 1917 that Private C P Brown of the Lancers was home on leave, and on 8 November 1918 he was in hospital in Southampton.[1] This would confirm that Charles was a regular soldier as research has shown that Charles P Brown served with the 9^th Lancers (Queen’s Royal), and then the Machine Gun Corps. Charles first entered France on 6 October 1914

Charles died in July 1964 and he is buried in Shackleford, Surrey.

Brother of Alfred Edward who served and fell.

[1] P. F. Millington, Rank on Rank (P. F. Millington, 2002), p. 70

Edward Charles Quinton

Edward Charles Quinton was born in the latter part of 1896 to Emily and William Quinton. He was baptised at St. Mary’s Church, Redlynch on 7 November 1896. The family lived in Bohemia, Redlynch, and his father cycled to work at the gunpowder factory at Redbridge where he was a labourer.[1] William died in 1907 leaving Emily as the head of the household..

Edward initially enlisted on 27 October 1915 reporting for duty on 5 November with 3/1^st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry with the service number 1943. The Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Territorial Force regiment and 3/1^st was a training, draft supplying reserve for the first and second lines of the regiment. Edward remained with his battalion and saw no active service before he was discharged on.25 February 1916 as he was claimed by his former employer. Edward was conscripted on 11 September 1916; possibly due to his experience with horses (he was a cowman/dairyman) he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a gunner with the service number 117237. Edward first served in France on 8 February 1917 with 261 Siege Battery before returning to England on 27 July 1917 after he had been wounded from shrapnel. His wound was not deemed to be sufficient for him to be discharged, he remained in England until November 1917 when he joined 181 Siege Battery and left for Italy where he stayed for the rest of the war. He was eventually discharged on 2 July 1919.

After the war he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. Edward appeared before a medical board as a result of sleeping in a damp area on 2 April 1918 to see if he was eligible for an army pension, but his request was denied.

Edward married Edith Peck in 1924 and died in June 1976.

[1] Information on Edward’s baptism and William’s occupation provided by Christine Mouland (granddaughter)

Ernest Withers and his brothers-in-law

ERNEST WITHERS[i]

Ernest Withers was born in Aldershot. He was postman in Redlynch who married Alice Plaskett in 1912. Records indicate that he joined the Royal Navy in January 1917 and joined the Victory 1, a shore based naval establishment in Portsmouth. He served as an ordinary seaman on HMS Tartar, joining the ship on 6 June 1917, a photo of the Tartar is shown.

He died on 17 June 1917, aged twenty-nine, in a mine explosion in the Straits of Dover. Ernest was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard on 23 June 1917. For serving overseas Ernest was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His widow Alice received his watch, and a letter from Buckingham Palace, a copy of which is shown. This was a standard letter sent to the family of all those who gave their lives in the service of their country.

His older brother William, who lived in Aldershot, had also been killed in action on 17 September 1914 in France. He was a Private with the 1^st Battalion the Queen’s (Royal West Surry Regiment). A second brother, Sydney, one of a twin, joined the Victory 1 on 8 March 1916. Sydney survived the War.

Ernest was commemorated on the memorial that was at the Post Office in Salisbury (whereabouts currently unknown), but a photo of which is shown here. News of Ernest’s death was recorded in the local papers, copies of which are shown.

WILLIAM PLASKETT

William George Plaskett was born in 1882, and in 1911 was recorded in the census as being a farm labourer. William was enlisted into the 1^st Battalion Dorset Regiment, before joining the 15^th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. It is said he was gassed during the War, and this may have been why he transferred from one regiment to another. It is likely he was sent home wounded, but was deemed fit enough for frontline service. William survived the war, and lived to be eighty-seven years old. He is buried in Redlynch Churchyard.

JOHN PLASKETT (JACK)

Jack Plaskett was born in 1885. He was a farm labourer in 1911 and enlisted on 15 August 1916 in the Royal Navy, surviving the War. His large heavy trunk was delivered by train to Downton Railway Station and then carried by horse and cart to Redlynch. He later married, and lived in Downton. Jack died in September 1958, and is buried in Barford Lane Cemetery.

A photograph of Jack and his naval hat box is shown.

ERNEST (Frank) PLASKETT

Ernest was born in 1890, and in 1911 was recorded as being a house carpenter. Information provided states he served as a stretcher-bearer in the War and survived. Although, research has suggested he served with the Army Ordnance Corps. He died in 1971, and is buried in Eversley Churchyard, Basingstoke.

STYLES WILLIAM CROOK

The son of Sidney and Sarah, Styles Crook was born in Southampton in 1878. He married Emily Jane Plaskett towards the end of 1905. Styles and Emily had seven children, George, William, Frederick, Albert, Nelson, Leonard, Stanley and Beatrice. Before the war he was an assurance agent with the Prudential living in Warminster, but by 1927, Kelly’s Directory shows him to be a boot and shoe repairer.

Styles enlisted on 24 August 1914, and was one of Kitchener’s volunteers. He joined 5^th (Service) Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, and was based in England until 1 July 1915 when he set sail for the Mediterranean, arriving at Gallipoli on 17 July. It would appear that Styles spent a week in the trenches before spending a further out of the trenches before he was involved in the Battle of Sari Bair. The 5/Wilts were involved in the action at ANZAC Cove, it was here that Styles sustained a serious leg injury which resulted in one leg being shorter than the other, this meant he had to wear a built-up shoe. As a consequence of this injury Styles was discharged from the army on 29 March 1916. At the time of his discharge he had attained the rank of sergeant. Two of his sons, Frederick and Leonard were killed in the Second World War.

Styles died in 1950.

[i] Some of the information on Ernest Withers was provided by Beatrice Harrison. Her uncles were William, John and Ernest Plaskett. Her Aunt Alice was married to Ernest Withers. Her father was Styles William Crook. These men were all related and lived in Redlynch or Morgan’s Vale.

Frank Bell

Frank was born at the beginning of 1894 and he was baptized on 10 June 1894 in Whiteparish. His parents were Frederick and Agnes Bell. Frank died in December 1944 in Salisbury.

The 1911 census shows Frank living with his parents and sister, Hilda at the Franchise, Hamptworth, and his occupation is given as a Domestic Groom. Sadly, with a fairly common name it has been difficult to trace Frank’s war record, but as a groom he would have a knowledge of horses and maybe he served with the artillery.

George Herbert Rose

George Herbert Rose

George Rose (see photo) was the third son of Eli and Edith Rose of Hamptworth Farm. He was one of nine children and was born at Compton Chamberlain in about 1895, but brought up in Hamptworth. The 1911 census records him as a farmer’s son, aged 16 working on the farm alongside two of his brothers, Richard (19) and Eli (15).

He enlisted as a Private in the 7th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment at the beginning of the war. He served in France and then Greece, and was killed in action at Salonika on 24 April 1917, aged 22. He is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.

A postcard sent by George is also shown

References:-
Lorraine Sainsbury – great niece
Rank on Rank – Pat Millington

You can read the full account of the battle on the 25th by visiting The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum website. Here is a link to the War Diary of the 7th Wiltshire Regiment for the 25 April 1917, Location, Greece, DOIRAN Sector

In the war diary of the 7th Wiltshire Regiment a trench map is mentioned and locations on it referred to. Here is a link to online copies of this (and other relative maps of the area) held by the Digital Archive at McMaster University Library, Ontario, Canada: Trench map, World War, 1914-1918; Dojran, UNKNOWN. April, 1917 – 1:5,000

You may also find this map (1918) held on The Long, Long Trail website of interest: Salonika theatre overview.

How the School Children of Redlynch supported the War Effort

In 1914 there were three established Elementary schools in the parish, one in Redlynch, one in Morgan’s Vale, and one in Nomansland. All three were Voluntary Aided Church Schools.

The school log books for Redlynch School show that the children were encouraged to collect money for the Overseas Club, a national organisation whose patron was King George V, and which provided basic goods such as tobacco and socks for the troops. From 1915 to 1917 various amounts of money (17/-, 14/- and 19/3d) were raised. On 24 May 1916 during the Empire Day celebrations, Mrs Eyre-Matcham (of Newhouse) visited the school and presented certificates to those who had contributed to the fund.

Pupils also raised funds for the British Red Cross Society in 1915, by selling flags, issued along with the collecting boxes by Mrs Eyre-Matcham. The school managers granted an afternoon holiday for the task and £4.7s.0d was collected.

Apart from fund-raising, the children were also encouraged to knit mufflers and mittens for the sailors.

In October 1918 when the Ministry of Food issued an urgent appeal for more blackberries to give to soldiers in hospital, the pupils were granted several half-day holidays for blackberry picking.

The logbooks for Nomansland and Hamptworth School reveal that in addition to gathering blackberries the children were granted half-day holidays to gather acorns for the War Office. Acorn collecting was a regular occurrence in the autumn when New Forest inhabitants had the right to ‘pannage’. During the war this activity was especially important as the acorns provided a substitute for timber, from which acetone, could be obtained and used in the production of ammunition.

John Cornelius Boyce

John was born on 13 October 1888 to Mark and Edith Boyce. A career soldier, the 1911 census shows him serving with the 1^st Bn Dorset Regiment. John enlisted on 10 May 1906 and he was an Old Contemptible landing in France on 27 August 1914. The 1^st Bn was part of 15^th Brigade serving under the 5^th Division. John would have been involved in the Retreat from Mons, the Battle of Le Cateau, the Battle of the Marne, the Battle of the Aisne, the Battles of La Bassee and Msssines, and the First Battle of Ypres. The Western Gazette reported that John was wounded on 1 January 1915.[1] It would appear that his wound was sufficient to prevent him from further frontline service as John at some point joined the Labour Corps.

He married Jessie Lywood towards the end 1934 in Salisbury, Jessie was born the middle of 1914. John and Jessie had one daughter, Jessie, born in 1935.

John died in 24 October 1936 in London.

[1] P. F. Millington, Rank on Rank (P. F. Millington, 2002), p. 69