Military Graves– Monumental Inscriptions
The churchyard at Wool’s Holy Rood church contains a relatively large number of military graves in comparison to its size. Bovington Camp - situated just two miles from Wool - is home to the Royal Armoured Corp and its training grounds.
The inscriptions on all 71 of the military graves have been transcribed by Justin Standfield, as follows:
786758 Private N Adams
Royal Tank Corps
Died 1st November 1926 aged 25
7877449 Bandsman J Andrews
Royal Tank Corps
Died 22nd May 1932 aged 21 years
Captain A G R Ashton
1st The Royal Dragoons
Died 3rd December 1956 aged 30
“The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine. Psalm LXXXIX”
23706 Private T Ayers
Wiltshire Regiment
Died 15th March 1915
“Thy will be done”
302225 Private J R Badcock
Tank Corps
Died 28th October 1918 aged 38
318957 T/Sergeant John Alan Speed Barkby
12th Royal Lancers
Died 7th August 1939
7014010 Rifleman T Baxter
Royal Ulster Rifles
Died 2nd October 1939
“All roads lead here to journey’s end – R.I.P.”
1555545 Private C Bickerton
Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Died 9th August 1943 aged 30
7871245 WO II (COY Sergeant Major) David Black
Royal Tank Corps
Died 23rd January 1933 aged 37 years
16652 Private H Brown
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Died 24th December 1915
JCA/1931748 Craftsman L C Campbell
Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Died 21st May 1947
To the memory of Trooper J W Carter
58th Training Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
Died 28th September 1941 aged 18 years & 8 months
This stone is erected as a token of esteem by his comrades
6912978 Rifleman J W Cave
Rifle Brigade
Died 4th October 1939 aged 26
“Our beloved soldier son - never shall thy memory fade - Lord, thy will be done”
18755 Private A V Conibere
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Died 8th October 1916 aged 19
2nd Lieutenant H R Cooke
Royal Tank Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
Died 18th May 1941
23891135 Trooper M Daley
Royal Tank Regiment
Died 20th January 1964 aged 18
“In memory of my son who left us suddenly. Always in our thoughts.
Loving mother”
14278495 Trooper J S Day
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 3rd September 1943 aged 20
“There is no death! The stars go down to rise upon a fairer shore”
7888714 Trooper I Dolman
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 11th November 1939 aged 20
“In loving memory of Jack – fear naught”
Sacred to the memory of 5721126 Private J C East
Depot the Dorsetshire Regiment
[no date of death]
Private T E Fisher
Royal Tank Corps
Died 5th December 1925 aged 28
Private H Gatehouse
Royal Tank Corps
Died 30th August 1928 aged 18
5495381 WO I H W C Gower
Royal Tank Regiment
Died 28th December 1954 aged 41
“God be with you till we meet again. Always, your loving wife, Iris”
Private T H Grainger
C Company Royal Tank Corps Depot
Died at the military hospital on 21st January 1932 aged 19
2365804 Private I T Green
1st Canadian Tank Battalion
Died 21st October 1918 aged 20
“He hath done what he could”
5028 Private E S Hayes
16th Battalion Australian Infantry
Died 5th November 1916
“The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away”
34757 Private H Hayward
Royal Defence Corps
Died 2nd January 1917
Private G Horsley
Royal Tank Corps
Died 15th July 1929 aged 18
Private J Inness
Royal Tank Corps
Died 23rd May 1925 aged 18
7401074 Corporal R C Jarrett
Royal Army Medical Corps
Died 19th April 1945 aged 44
“You are always with me dear, in life’s garden of beautiful memories. Evie”
Sergeant H F Kingaby
Royal Tank Corps
Died 1st March 1927 aged 42
Private J Kernan
Royal Tank Corps
Died 2nd December 1925 aged 18
5970 Private J Leonard
Lancashire Fusiliers
Died 24th April 1915
558434 Corporal A A Lester
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 12th August 1945 aged 25
“To live in the hearts of those he loved is not to die”
Lieutenant L B E Lloyd
12th Canadian Mounted Rifles and Royal Air Force
Died 12th October 1918 aged 29
“Fifth and much loved son of Benjamin S & Jane E Lloyd of Midnapore, Calgary, Canada”
7871351 WO II (QMS OR) A S J Lowe
Royal Tank Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
Died 9th July 1947 aged 47
Dearly beloved husband of Florence
“Sleep on beloved, take thy rest – goodnight”
To the memory of 7575160 Lance Corporal Thomas Lowes
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Who was accidentally killed on 8th March 1924 aged 31 years 10 months
“Erected by his comrades of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps at Bovington Camp – R.I.P.”
5731334 Gunner L J Marcantonio
Royal Artillery
Died 28th March 1942 aged 22
“In ever loving memory of our dearly beloved Lol – Mum, Dad, Frank, Flo & Rene”
2nd Lieutenant G McCormack
Tank Corps
Died 28th October 1918
Lance Corporal F D McFarlane
Royal Tank Corps
Died 28th September 1929 aged 32
13095403 Private W McTaggart
Pioneer Corps
Died 5th March 1942 aged 38
“Grant unto him eternal rest and let eternal light shine on him”
25062 Private F Merryweather
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Died 23rd August 1916
In treasured remembrance of my dear husband
Sergeant William George Kennedy Milne
Royal Tank Corps
Died on duty 8th May 1935 aged 37
“To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die”
3766832 Private D A Murrell
The King’s Regiment
Died 20th April 1942
2nd Lieutenant M C Niven
11th Hussars Royal Armoured Corps
Died 29th December 1940
R.I.P.
7942961 Trooper S C Northfield
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 1st October 1941 aged 38
“Rest in peace in God’s keeping – forever in our thoughts”
Private A E Parson
Royal Tank Corps
Died 4th April 1927 aged 25
7884480 Sydney Polley
Royal Tank Corps
Died 17th January 1934
20966 Private F Richardson
Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry
Died 14th December 1915
46641 Private G H Rooke
Dorsetshire Regiment
Died 8th January 1920
23084 Private T F Rose
Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry
Died 11th June 1916
WR/337640 Pioneer C Routledge
Royal Engineers
Died 16th July 1918
Private R E Ryder
Tank Corps
Died 6th May 1923 aged 20
Boy C H W Sampson
Tank Corps
Died 5th September 1921 aged 16
2366287 Junior Trooper R B S Saunders
Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
Died 11th June 1960 aged 17
“And ye now have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice”
Corporal W Sharp
Royal Tank Corps
Died 21st May 1929 aged 25
320530 Private P S Shaw
Tank Corps
Died 13th January 1920
In ever loving memory of my son 5725218 Private Edward Simmons
Dorsetshire Regiment
Died 6th June 1939 aged 25 years
Private H H J Simpkins
Royal Tank Corps
Died September 1934 aged 22
16992 Lance Corporal F Slater
Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry
Died 13th April 1916
91868 Gunner L Sorzano
Machine Gun Corps (Heavy BCH)
Died 19th February 1917
Captain G A Strachan
RAPC
Died 17th May 1971 aged 45 years
“Non timeo sed caveo”
1401344 Bty Sergeant Major S R Summons
Royal Garrison Artillery
Died 8th August 1921
7887619 Trooper J L Tagg
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 30th November 1939 aged 19
“For thy art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me”
14684269 Trooper T Telford
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 2nd August 1944 aged 19
“The years will hold sweet memories until we meet again. Ever remembered”
Erected to the memory of our dear comrade Frederick Viney
W T Battalion Royal Tank Corps
Died 25th March 1924 aged 16 years 11 months
“Until the day break and the shadows flee away”
7900351 Officer Cadet P A Wade
Royal Armoured Corps
Died 29th July 1940 aged 21
“There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying”
7884474 WO I (RSM) Edward Wall
Royal Tank Regiment
Died 21st January 1957 aged 44
“In loving memory of ‘Paddy’ beloved husband of ‘Babe’ – until we meet again”
Corporal C W Wallace
Royal Tank Corps
Died 21st May 1929 aged 23
Sacred to the memory of Major Christopher Thomas Wallington
Died 21st March 1943 aged 65 years
Erected by his comrades of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps & the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
R.I.P.
2684288 Lance Corporal V Ward
1st Canadian Tank Battalion
Died 29th October 1918 aged 27
“Loved too well to be forgotten”
52130 Private W Weller
Devonshire Regiment
Died 21st July 1918
14637074 Driver G J Widdows
Royal Signals
Died 17th October 1944 aged 37
“Only those who have lost can tell the pain of parting without farewell.
Loving wife and sons”