The Nettleton War Memorial (WW1) – St. Mary’s Church, Burton (Part 1)

As we mark 106 years since the end of ‘The Great War’ we thought it would be appropriate to produce an article which centred on those residents or relatives of residents who gave their lives in service to their country during WW1.

World War 1 (28^th July 1914 – 11^th November 1918)

This article will add to the information obtained by Mr John Belcher (see last para) author of a booklet detailing historic information on eight persons whose names appear on the 1914-18 War Memorial plaque inside St. Mary’s church, Burton and one additional person (not named on the plaque) but related to a family in the village. The booklet provides more detailed information from military and commonwealth graves records and would be an important read to fully appreciate the sacrifice these men made. At the time this booklet was compiled by Mr Belcher, he was unable to research detailed records of family history and the possible links with Nettleton/Burton parish. Therefore, I have explored available information using online sources such as ancestry.co.uk in an attempt to extend this information further and provide some rationale as to why or how these names are linked to Burton village. Census records for this period are available, however as can be seen from extracts below, in Wiltshire records the actual addresses are often missed out and we are only in most cases left with basic details such as ‘living in the Parish of Nettleton’ It should also be remembered the houses which form Burton village now, were up until the 1880’s actually listed as streets or roads within Nettleton, again without any specific reference to individual house names, etc. This had made at times the placement of families to specific addresses a very difficult task, more so for Wiltshire than some of the other counties/areas I have researched. Also, I have included some details on how the Census system began and was administered.

How the census forms are organised:

The English government took its first national census in 1801. A census has been taken every ten years since that date except in 1941, though the first genealogically useful census was not taken until 1841, when names were recorded. Enumeration forms were distributed to all households a couple of days before census night and the completed forms were collected the next day. If the head of the house was illiterate or had any problems completing the form the enumerator would assist as much as necessary. All of the details from the individual forms were later sorted and copied into enumerators’ books, which are the records we can view images of today. The original householders’ schedules from 1841 to 1901 were destroyed.

Please Note: For ease of compiling this article and minimising length of the article, I have only included one specific source document for each of the named soldiers. For those readers who are using the online newsletter you will be able to click on any links identified to read the additional source documents. However, for those readers who are reading the printable copies of the newsletter we provide/deliver, you will only see the single document. If you wish to view the additional source material, can I ask you contact a member of the editorial team who can arrange for access to a printable copy of the records.

The World War 1 Memorial Plaque in St. Mary’s Church.

Here is what we have discovered from this research:

Albert E Boucher (1884 – 1916)

Private – 16^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment

Census records for 1911 show the Boucher family living at 172 or 176 Pearl Street, Cardiff. Albert (then aged 27 years) is recorded as being employed as a Porter. His father is Thomas Boucher born in Cusop Herefordshire, a baker and his mother Catherine, from 11 Water Street, Hay, Breconshire. They have x9 children including Albert. Earlier census records for 1891 show the family were living at 163 Pearl Street.

Despite a search of Census records for 1901, 1911 and the Register for 1939 I have been unable to link the name Boucher with Nettleton/Burton, this will remain a mystery for the present time 🤔

You can view a copy of the Military record of Albert Boucher’s death here

Census Record 1911 – Boucher Family in Cardiff

Percy George Brookman (1896 – 1918)

Private – 12^th Gloucester Regiment

Census records for 1881 show a Hugh Brookman (then aged 5) living with his father Lot Brookman (Grandfather of Percy), a stone mason and his mother Sarah Brookman along with x5 children (including Hugh) at Chapel Lane, Nettleton. Census records for 1901 show the Hugh Brookman family living in Acton Turville with a Mr James Wallop, whose occupation was stated as ‘Army Personnel’ the father of Lydia. Percy’s father was Hugh Brookman, a stone mason, born in Nettleton and his mother was Lydia Brookman (nee Wallop), born in Acton Turville. By 1901 they had x5 children, Percy was by then aged 5 years.

You can view a copy of the 1881 census record for Brookman family here the census record for 1901 here and a copy of Percy’s military war medal record here

The register for 1911 (as shown below) show this family still living in Nettleton.

Census Record 1911 – Brookman Family

Ernest William Hacker (1891 – 1916)

Private – 7^th The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

Percival John Hacker (1894 – 1917)

Private – 1^st Devonshire Regiment

Census records for 1901 show Ernest William Hacker and brother Percival John Hacker living at Turnpike, Edington, nr. Westbury, Wiltshire. Their father was an Eli Henry Hacker, an agricultural labourer and mother named Elizabeth Hacker. The 1911 Census shows the Hacker family living at Hudds Mill, Edington. Interestingly, a military record records show Ernest & Percival’s next of kin (Eli & Elizabeth) living at Keepers Cottage, Nettleton.

The Census Register 1939 shows Eli Hacker (Father) now a widow living with his son Harold and daughter-in-law Leta at Nettleton Mill Farm. Harold is a dairy farmer. This would appear to be the possible link for the Hacker brothers appearing on the memorial plaque.

You can view a copy of the 1901 census record for the Hacker family here and the 1911 census record here. In addition, you can view a copy of a military record of death for Percival here, a copy of the war pension claim form for the Hacker brothers here and a war grave record for Ernest Hacker here

Census Register 1939 – Eli Hacker (father) living in Nettleton

Edwin Kent (1883 – 1915)

Private – 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment

The register for 1911 shows Edwin Kent aged 28 years living with his wife Elizabeth Eliza Kent and daughter Lillian Hester Kent (2 years, born in Castle Combe). Edwin is registered as being born in Binfield, Berkshire and employed as a ‘Carter on Farm’ living at Castle Combe. Earlier records for 1891 show Edwin (aged 7) living with his mother Ann Kent a widow, at Halfpenny Pool Cottages, Grove Lane, Church Yatton, Yatton Keynell. At this time there were x8 children, x1 grandchild and a lodger living at this property. In the 1901 census records Edwin is shown as a step-son living with a Frank & Annie Humphries at the same address and now employed as an agricultural labourer. Frank was born in Yatton Keynell and Annie born in the village of Aston in West Oxfordshire. I suspect Edwin was the son of Annie and became the step-son of Frank. Further research of UK World War 1 Pension records (see below) revealed his wife Elizabeth claiming a widow’s service pension and records the address given The Gibb, Burton, Wiltshire. The Gibb is a small hamlet where the Parish boundaries of Nettleton, Grittleton and Castle Combe meet. So, one may assume the Kent family lived in the western fringe of the hamlet to come under the Burton address. Edwin Kent was wounded, transferred to Norwich hospital, where he eventually died of the wounds. Edwin is buried in the cemetery of St Mary’s church in Burton.

You can view a copy of the 1891 census record for the Kent family here and the 1901 census record here In addition you can view a copy of the military record of death for Edwin here and a photograph of his grave in St Mary’s churchyard, Burton here

Census Record 1911 – Kent Family

Dependents Pension Record – Elizabeth Kent

Screenshot

Arthur George Reed (1895 – 1917)

L/Cpl – 3^rd Grenadier Guards

Census records for 1911 (as below) show Arthur George Reed aged 6 years living with his father George Reed and mother Sarah Reed at Pitmay Cottage, Nettleton Shrub. George is listed as a general labourer. Enquiries have taken place with current long-standing residents of Nettleton Shrub to identify this particular house which was listed as being next to the Baptist chapel. Unfortunately we have been unable to attribute this house name to a present day building.

Census Record 1901 – Reed Family

Victor Clark Tarling (1895 – 1916)

Private – 6^th Somerset Light Infantry

Census records for 1911(as below) show Victor living with his father Richard and mother Ellen along with x4 children and x1 grandchild in Nettleton. Richard was employed by Chippenham Council as a road labourer. Earlier census records for 1901 show the Tarling family were living in Chapel Hill Lacock, which is the place of birth for Victor. Later records for 1939 still show the Tarling family living in the Nettleton Green area. Later census records for 1939 show Victor’s brother Richard Tarling and his wife Lilian now living in Nettleton Green.

You can view a copy of the 1901 census record for the Tarling family here, and the 1939 register here In addition, you can view a copy of the war pension record here and war grave photo/record here

Census Record 1911 – Tarling Family

Frederick James Young (1895 – 1916)

Private – 6^th Wiltshire Regiment

Census records for 1911 (as below) show Frederick living with his father Charles and mother Kate and was the only child. Charles was employed as a labourer on a farm, as is Frederick. Earlier census records for 1861 show father Charles living with his parents and x6 children in Nettleton Shrub. In the 1901 census records show the family living at The Methodist Chapel in Nettleton Shrub.

You can view a copy of the 1861 census record for the Young family here, a copy of the military record of death here and war grave record here

Census Record 1911 – Young Family

Robert Barclay (1884 – 1916) (Please note, the name does not appear on the memorial plaque)

Private – 20^th Battalion The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment

Census records for 1901 (as below) show Robert living with his father John and mother Janet at Elmswood Cottage, Mossley Hill Road, Wavertree, Liverpool. John was employed as a domestic caretaker/gardener and Robert recorded as a shop porter. Later census records for 1911 (as below) show his mother Janet (now a widow) living with daughters Agnes and Amy Barclay at the School House, Nettleton. Agnes is the schoolmistress and Amy is a probationer nurse. Earlier census records for 1891 record the family living at Leeswood Hall Cottage, Mold, Flintshire. Mother Janet is buried in the church cemetery of St. Mary’s, Burton. There is an inscription on this grave headstone making reference to her son who died during the war. It is believed Robert may never have resided in Nettleton.

You can view a copy of the 1891 census record for the Barclay family here and the 1901 census record here

Census Record 1911 – Barclay Family

In conclusion, from the investigation of census records for the names of the servicemen which appear on the World War 1 Nettleton memorial plaque, none of them actually lived in a home within the present-day boundary of Burton village.

The World War 2 Memorial plaque will be the subject of a separate Bugle newsletter article in 2025.

The Nettleton War Memorial booklet compiled by author John Belcher can be viewed here

The Bugle Editorial Team would like to very much thank John Belcher for compiling the military records used in this article.

Article written by Chris Bennett

An earlier form of this article by Chris Bennett first appeared in The Bugle