163257 Sergeant

Joseph Smith

75th Bn. Canadian Infantry

(Central Ontario Regiment)

Died of wounds 02/12/1916,

aged 26

Plot O. III. K. 2

Son of Joseph H. and Marie Louise L'Amy Smith; husband of Laura Dorothy Smith, of 259, Macpherson Avenue, Toronto.

His grandson Jesse T. Smith adds:

11328 Lance Corporal

George Saxby

1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

Formerly 4014, 17th Lancers.

Died of wounds 08/11/1916, received 3rd/4th/11/1916.

Plot O. I. H. 4.

156635 Gunner

William James Spalding

69th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

11/11/1918, aged 26.

Son of Richard and Louisa Spalding, of 62, Richmond Park Rd., Kingston-on-Thames.

Plot S. II. GG. 3.

127141 Private

John Henry Alderton

38th Bn. Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry)

18/09/1918, aged 19.

R. III. L. 24.

The only son of Charles & Edith Annie Alderton (Nee Chittock) of Ilford, Essex, UK. Edith having been widowed after only two years later married James Jennings. Edith was my Great Aunt.

Picture courtesy of Derek Miller

36687 Corporal

Joe E. Peters D C M

8th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment

05/11/1918, aged 29.

Plot S. III. H. 27.

Joe Peters was born in 1887 at Cammers Green, Berrow,  and pre-war worked as a carpenter making carts and building houses, he built his own house at Cammers Green and a relative still lives in the property making carts in Birtsmorton, Worcs. He was married to Ellen on 2nd November, 1909 and they ran the Post Office, which was located at his house. He joined the Worcestershire Regiment before war broke out and originally travelled to France as part of the 7th Bn. He was later transferred to the 8th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment as part of a draft of 80 men, this happened sometime before December 1917. By 1918 he was serving in “D” Company, 8/Royal Berks. when the German offensive started on 21 March. The unit were at La Guingette Farm, 6 miles south of La Quentin when he earned his DCM. The citation [published LG 3 Sept. 1918] reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He volunteered to accompany an officer over the top of the trench to tackle an enemy sniper who was doing much execution amongst our men. Under heavy fire he rushed the sniper and took him back to the trench”.

The Battalion War Diary amplifies this:

12 March. Bn. takes over front line trenches, B and C Companies in the front line, A Company along the St. Quentin Road, and D Company in the Quarry.

20 March. Notice of impending attack received during the evening.

21 March. The enemy put down a heavy barrage which included much gas shelling. All communications were destroyed almost immediately. At 11.00 the enemy advanced in a thick line to attack the trench west of Bn. HQ. Owing to the mist they were able to reach 50 yards from our trench, but were then shot down almost to a man. One sniper, in a shell hole about 50 yards in front, was particularly active. Lieut. N. Williams, having located him, climbed over the parapet, accompanied by his servant 36678 Pte. J.E. Peters, rushed him with the bayonet and took him prisoner. When returning to the trench this Officer was killed. By this great act of gallantry he undoubtedly saved many lives. About this time the mist began to lift and the leading enemy troops were seen advancing towards la Fontaine. The remainder of the battalion was ordered to withdraw down Seine alley, towards the Battle Zone.

26 July L.-Cpl. J. E. Peters, “C” Company, who was awarded the DCM in May, was presented with the medal ribbon by the Corps Commander

He was not destined to survive the war, however, as he was wounded on 23 October, serving with “C” Company. The battalion had assembled for an attack in the railway cutting north of the Halt near Le Cateau: Cpl. Peters was amongst the many such casualties from enemy artillery fire during the assembly. [source: Battalion War Diary] He died of his wounds 13 days later, and was buried in St. Sever Extension in Plot III, Row H, Grave 27.

His widow remarried in 1921.