Roll of Honour - Hertfordshire - St. Albans, Sopwell Lane

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

ST ALBANS, SOPWELL LANE WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2006

In 1914 Sopwell Lane, once a main thoroughfare for coaches before the age of the railways, was a crwoded street of old houses, many in poor repair, inns, shops, lodging houses.. (Details taken from "THE STREET MEMORIALS OF ST ALBANS ABBEY PARISH" by Alice Goodman published by St Alban's and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society 1987 ISBN 0 901194 08 5)

FOR REMEMBRANCE
1914-1918

BAKER

James [John]

Private 4/7173, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds 27th April 1915. Born Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, enlisted and resident St Albans. Husband of Clara Baker, of 70, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans. Served in the South African Campaign. Buried in BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VIII. Row A. Grave 24. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

BEASLEY

[Arthur] William

Private 14267, 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds 28th October 1916. Born Sopwell, Hertfordshire (sic), enlisted and resident St Albans. Buried in CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY, CONTAY, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row C. Grave 19. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

EPHGRAVE

Bert aka Bertie

Acting Lance Serjeant 1802, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 13 July 1916. Born, resident and enlisted St Albans. In the 1911 census he was the son of John William and Mary Ann Ephgrave, aged 17, a Solicitor's Clerk, born St Albans, resident 88 Sopwell Lane, St Albans; brother of John William (below). Buried in CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section G. Grave 25. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

EPHGRAVE

John [William]

Private 1892, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 18 December 1914. Aged 38. Born and resident St Albans, enlisted Birmingham. Son of John William and Mary Ann Ephgrave, of 78, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans. In the 1911 census he was the son of John William and Mary Ann Ephgrave, aged 35, a Builders Labourer, born St Albans, resident 88 Sopwell Lane, St Albans; brother of Bertie (above). No known grave. Commemorated on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, Hainaut, belgium. Panel 2 and 3. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

FOUNTAIN

Charles [Walter]

Private 4711, 60th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died in United Kingdom 25 March 1916. Enlisted St Albans. Son of Mr. A. Fountain, of 58, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans. Formerly 22474, Bedfordshire Regiment. Buried in GRANTHAM CEMETERY, Lincolnshire. Plot 6. Row S. Grave 38. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

GAZELEY

Harry

Private 361039, 808th Area Employment Company, Labour Corps. Formerly 32337, 1st garrison Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Brother of Mrs. B. Osman, of 47, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans, Herts. In the 1911 census he is the brother-in-law of John Thomas and Beatrice Osman, aged 18, an Silk Doubler, born St Albans and lving with his brother, Jesse (see below), at 47 Sopwell Lane, St Albans. Buried in BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY, Surrey. Plot VI. Row D. Grave 4. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

From National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918 Section V Luton:

GAZELEY, H., Private, Labour Corps,
He volunteered in April 1915, and after his training was sent to Egypt and thence to Palestine. Throughout the campaign on this front he was engaged on road-making and other important duties, and service at Ludd, Mejdil Yaba and Jerusalem. He later contracted a severe form of malaria, of which he died on January, 14th, 1919. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory

47, Sopwell Lane, St Albans.

3081.

GAZELEY

Jesse

Private 9941, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 4 October 1917. Born and resident St Albans, enlisted Hertford. Brother of Mrs. B. Osman, of 47, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans. In the 1911 census he is the brother-in-law of John Thomas and Beatrice Osman, aged 15, an Errand Boy, born St Albans and lving with his brother, Harry (see above), at 47 Sopwell Lane, St Albans. Buried in RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot IV. Row H. Grave 19. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

From National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918 Section V Luton:

GAZELEY, J., Private, 1st Devonshire Regiment, He was mobilised at the commencement of hostilities, and soon afterwards was went to France. After taking part in several engagements on this front, including those at Mons and Ypres, he was killed in action at Arras on October 4th, 1917. He was entitled to the Mons Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
47, Sopwell Lane, St Albans.	X3080/C.

HALES

Ralph

Private 47207, 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Died of wounds 19 April 1918. Aged 32. Enlisted Abbeville, France, resident St Albans. Son of Harry and Louisa Hales, of St. Albans; husband of Maud Hales, of 94, Park Corner, St. Albans, Herts. Formerly 342620, Royal Army Service Corps. Buried in DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row C. Grave 45. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

HALSEY

George

Private 27907, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wound sin the United Kingdom 27 December 1916. Aged 39. Born and resident St Albans, enlisted Bedford. Son of William and Ann Halsey, of 72, Park Corner, St. Albans. Buried in ST ALBANS CEMETERY, Hertfordshire. Plot/Row/Section D. Military Grave 1A. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

From National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918 Section V Luton:

HALSEY, G., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment - Joining in March 1916, he was drafted to France at the conclusion of his training. He was engaged in the fighting at Arras, and at Ypres, where he received a serious wound, of which he subsequently died in hospital at Stockport. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
72, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans	X3423.

JAVELEAU

Charles

Private 269396, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 31st July 1917. Aged 20. Born, resident and enlisted St Albans. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. Javeleau, of 2, Orchard St., St. Albans, Herts. Formerly 6295, Essex Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 54 and 56. See also St Albans WW1 memorial and Orchard Street memorial

PARLES, MSM

Bertram

Corporal 19796, 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds 6th April 1918. Aged 24. Born, resident and enlisted St Albans. Son of Harry and Emily Parles, of St. Albans, Herts. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Buried in ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot III. Row G. Grave 30. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

POPE

Percy

Private 22135, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 11 July 1916. Aged 20. Born, resident and enlisted St Albans. Son of Henry George and Alice Pope, of 45, Sopwell Lane, St. Albans. Buried in BERNAFAY WOOD BRITISH CEMETERY, MONTAUBAN, Somme, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 2. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

SWAIN

Noah

Private 73803 [SDGW} or 73893 [CWGC], 124th Company, Labour Corps. Died of wounds 13 August 1917. Aged 33. Born Weston, Herts, enlisted St. Albans. Formerly 47371, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Husband of Amy Swain, of 62, Park Corner, St. Albans, Herts. Buried in BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY NO.3, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VI. Row E. Grave 3. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

WRIGHT

Herbert

Private 36497, 6th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Died of wounds 15 October 1916. Aged 20. Born and resident St. Albans, enlisted Hertford. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, of St. Albans, Herts. Formerly 6112, Hertfordshire Regiment. Buried in CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY, CONTAY, Somme, France. Plot III. Row C. Grave 11. See also St Albans WW1 memorial and St Albans St Saviour Church.

WALDOCK

William

Private 22501, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds 3 July 1916. Born and resident St. Albans, enlisted Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Son of Mrs. W. Waldock, of 92, Park Corner, St. Albans, Herts. Buried in LA NEUVILLE BRITISH CEMETERY, CORBIE, Somme, France. Plot I. Row A. Grave 61. See also St Albans WW1 memorial

R.I.P.

Last updated: 13 May, 2021

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