Private Bloxham was the youngest son of George and Ann Bloxham. Prior to enlisting he was a farm labourer.
He enlisted on 19th June 1916 in the Royal West Kent Regiment, 10th Service Battalion. He was wounded on 7th June 1917 and re-joined the regiment on his recovery and became a stretcher bearer.
Private Bloxham was killed in action on 21st September 1917 at Tower Hamlets Ridge whilst assisting a comrade. He is buried at Railway Cutting Cemetery, Ypres.
He left a wife and two sons.
Private Golder was born in Avon Dassett. Before enlisting he was a groom/gardener. He was married to Ethel Amy and had two sons Godfrey and Alec.
He enlisted, aged 31 in 3rd Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 17th February 1917 and was with the British Expeditionary Force in France where he was then posted to 16th Battalion the Royal Warwickshire regiment. He received a gun shot would to his right thigh in September 1918. He served for three years and 73 days and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Gunner Checkley was born in Mollington. He was a groom before he enlisted.
He enlisted, aged 21, in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Field Artillery on 24th August 1914 at Rugby. He was transferred to ‘A’ Battery 49th Brigade on 9th January 1915.
He embarked at Marseille, Frances on 3rd November 1915 and disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt 11th November 1915. He embarked at Alexandria on 27th November 1915 and disembarked at Salonica on 10th December 1915 where he spent the duration of the war. He was struck off strength on 19th January 1919.
Captain Thomas Joseph Weld MC
CAPTAIN THOMAS JOSPEH WELD, MC. Was born in Avon Dassett . He was the older son of Wilfred and Jesse Weld of Orchard Lodge.
He was living in South Africa at the outbreak of war and returned home to take up a commission with in Lovat’s Scouts. He was seconded to the King’s African Rifles in July 1916.
He was awarded the Military Cross in in December 1917 and a bar in July 1918. He fought in the East Africa campaign until he was severely wounded. He died of pneumonia on November 18th 1918 aged 25.
Private Mullis was born in Avon Dassett in 1876. Before enlistment he was a farm labourer. His family consisted of Ruth his wife and four children.
He enlisted, aged 36, in the Royal Engineers at Coventry on 10th December 1916. He was classified A1 fitness. During his service he qualified as a stevedore.
He was posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force and transferred to the 25th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Private Mullins was demobilised on 8th March 1919. He received the British Medal and the Victory Medal.
The Men of Avon Dassett who served during 1914- 1918 War
When war broke out in August 1914 the British Army numbered approximately 730,000 men. By the end of the war in 1918 more than 7 million men and women had been in service.
Unfortunately more than half of their service records were destroyed by a German bombing raid on the War Office in London in 1940.
Of the 31 men of Avon Dassett who enlisted only 12 have surviving service papers. From these documents , some of which are very badly damaged and hard to read, the information following has been extracted, giving us a brief glimpse into their world in 1914-18.
The loound at the beginning of the new minute book for the Parish of Avon Dassett commencing 11 April 1916.
ROLL OF HONOUR
BURNHAM
BURNHAM
COOPER, ALBERT (Herbert) (killed)
COOPER, AUSTIN
COOPER, THOMAS Sergeant RMC
COOPER, ARTHUR M Medal
COOPER, WALTER
BLOXHAM, ALBERT
BLOXHAM,ERNEST (killed)
MASON, ALBERT
MASON. WATLER
GOLDER, CLARENCE
GOLDER, HARRY
GOLDER, SYDNEY ASC
CHECKLEY, BERNARD RFA
CHECKLEY, HARRY
MASON, JOSEPH LIEUT RGA
WRIGHT, JACK
WYTON, HARRY RVC
PIKE, RVC (Spike?)
SPIKE, PERCY
SPIKE, LEWIS
WELD, THOMAS JOSPEH MC& Bar Capt. Lovat Scouts/KAR
INGE, Revd NEVILLE
HERBERT, HUBERT RAC
SEALEY, HENRY AMC
WATERS, CHARLES wounded
STRANKS, G H RE
WATTS, WILLIAM W MM
WADLAND HENRY A Sergeant Warwickshire Yeomanry
MULLIS, ALBERT RE
Sir – Your readers may be interested to know that the Warwickshire Hunt Horse Show Committee have decided to hold their annual show at Kineton this year on September 17th.
It is now more important than ever to encourage the breeding of horses. Having this object in view, some of the riding classes have been suspended, and new classes for brood mares and young stock have been introduced so that the value of the show may be increased from the national point of view.
Yours faithfully
WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE
Compton Verney, Warwick, 12 July 1915
Banbury Guardian, July 1915
It will be a matter of gratification to many farmers and horse breeders in South Warwickshire to know that at a meeting of the Hunt Horse Show Committee, held recently, it was decided to hold the show this year, and Friday, September 17th, was fixed as the date. One or two classes have been deleted and one added, otherwise the schedule is much the same as formerly. The schedules and entry forms will soon be issued. We print in today’s issue a letter from Lord Willoughby de Broke in reference to the show.
Banbury Guardian, July 1915
On Thursday morning a somewhat serious motor collision occurred near the old Metropolitan Bank at the bottom of the Market Place. Mr W. G. Waldron’s car from Farnborough was proceeding down the Market Place to catch the 8.35 train for London, and just at the same time Mr Millar, manager for the firm of P. J. Perry, seedsmen and florists, was crossing from the High Street to Castle Street at right angles across by the Fox Tenure and a collision ensued. The car was turned on to the path by the old bank premises and Mr Millar and his motor cycle got jammed between the car and a lamp post. Miss Reeves, Mr Millar’s sister-in-law, who was seated on the rear of the cycle got clear and uninjured but Mr Millar sustained a cut at the back of the head and a somewhat badly bruised left shoulder and ankle. He was taken into the Fox Inn and afterwards removed to the Horton Infirmary where he is progressing as favourably as can be expected. The injury to the should is, we understand, somewhat severe.
Banbury Guardian, July 1915
By direction of the Trustees of the late John Griffin, Esq.
An estate of about 350 Acres, Dwelling houses, Buildings and Accommodations Lands,
To be sold by auction by
Miller and Abbotts
Early in September at the Red Lion Hotel, Kineton as follows:
KINETON: 25 Acres, Accommodation and Building Land, House and Cottage
RADWAY: ‘The Valley’, ‘Arnolds’, and ‘Norton’s’ Farms in 4 Lots. About 300 Acres
SHENINGTON, OXON: The ‘T’ Closes, about 9 Acres, as occupied by Mr Clarke Greenway
FARNBOROUGH, near Banbury: 18 Acres of Rich Feeding Land, let to Mr C. Griffin
GRIMSBURY, Banbury: The Valuable Freehold Houses, 13 and 14, North Street, Grimsbury
Plans and particulars are in preparation; when ready may be had at the Red Lion Hotel, Kineton; of H. F. Bennett, Esq., Solicitor, Banbury; or of the Auctioneers, 30, High Street, Banbury.
Banbury Guardian, July 1915