The War Memorials, Names on Starkholmes Memorial

Photo © Charles Beresford 2006		THEY DIED FOR US
		FREDERICK G A ARKWRIGHT^{[1, 2]} SAMUEL FOX^[2] CHARLES FOX^[2] FREDERICK FOX^[2] THOMAS FERN^[2] JESSE FLETCHER^[2] SAMUEL GROWCOTT^[2] CHARLES JOSHUA KNOWLES^[2] WALTER ROBERT KNOWLES^[2] BERNARD MILNE^[2] HAROLD PURSGLOVE^[2] ERNEST READ^[2] FREDERICK SMITH WILLIAM ERNEST TAYLOR^[2] THOMAS WHERRETT^[2]
		and gained The CROWN of LIFE

Abbreviations

DoW - Died of Wounds
KiA - Killed in Action
ToW - Theatre of War
F & F - France and Flanders

M Bank - Matlock Bank
M Bath - Matlock Bath
M Dale - Matlock Dale

Mar - Married
NoK - Next of Kin
s/o - son of
Unm - Unmarried
WO - War Office

Those who died in WW1, 1914 - 1919 : further information

ARKWRIGHT, Frederic George Alleyne^{[1, 2]}
Born 23 Oct 1885
Died 14 Oct 1915, aged 29
Captain Royal Flying Corps
Secondary Regiment: formerly 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars and was an officer (lieutenant) before the War.
s/o Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Charles Arkwright of Willesley, Matlock. Educated Eton and Sandhurst. Killed in a flying accident close to Glamis Castle. For full story, read Charles Beresford's book^[3].
Cemetery: Cromford (St. Mary) Churchyard

FERN, Thomas^[2]
Born Slaley, Bonsall 1896 (Thomas George)
DoW 10 Aug 1915 - in the Dardenelles (Soldiers Died says At Sea), aged 18
Private 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 13251
s/o Charles and Emma Fern. The family were in Bonsall in 1901 but later moved to Riber. Enlisted Derby.
The 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters was formed at Derby 24 Aug 1914, moving first to Grantham and then, in April 1915, to Frensham area. In July 1915 the regiment embarked at Liverpool for Mudros and 20 - 31 July they were at Helles. On 7 Aug 1915 landed at Suvla Bay.
Memorial: Helles Memorial (Turkey)
Memorial Reference: Panel 150 to 152 (buried at sea).
Also commemorated St. Giles (sister Dorothy also on headstone) More Info

Assumed to be the Thomas FEARN commemorated on the Matlock Memorial

FLETCHER, Josiah or Jesse^[4]
Named Josiah at birth, later Jesse on Soldiers Died and Medals Cards at TNA
Born Ashover 1892 (Holloway on Soldiers Died)
DoW 5 Sep 1916, aged 24
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rifleman 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 26958
ToW: F & F
s/o Joseph and Selina Fletcher, of Matlock. Living Holloway in 1901. As Jesse later worked as Corn Miller and Farm Labourer at Whatstandwell. Enlisted: Matlock. Residence: Draycott, Derbyshire
Cemetery: Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1
Grave Reference: III. E. 12.

FOX Charles^[2]
Born 1889 Starkholmes, Matlock
KiA 24 April 1917
Private 5th Bn. Border Regiment
Service No: 242112
ToW: F & F
Enlisted Derby Residence Matlock
s/o James A and Emily J Fox. Living Starkholmes Road in 1891 | Ward's End in 1901 and later Riber. Worked on a farm.
Memorial: Arras Memorial
Memorial Reference: Bay 6.

[There is a 1918 Will for Charles Fox, Private 243379 Lancashire Fusiliers made 11 Oct 1916 naming sister Annie Atkins (she mar Wilfred A 1911) but the details do not match Charles Fox of Starkholmes and this soldier not found on CWGC website]

FOX, Frederick William (Fred)^[2]
Born Matlock (Starkholmes) 1888
KiA: 5 Aug 1916, aged 28
Corporal 5th Bn. Dorsetshire Regiment
Service No: 14017 Formerly 20518, Hussars
ToW: F & F
s/o Mary Jane Fox, of Derwent House, Knowlestone Place, Matlock, and the late Frederick Fox (a baker of oatcakes). Living Wards End in 1891 | Starkholmes in 1901. Worked as a Labourer.
Buried: Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Pas de Calais (6 km S of Arras)
Grave Reference: I. F. 5.

FOX, Samuel^[2]
Born Matlock 1878
KiA 27 May 1918
Private 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment
Service No: 43099 Formerly 3583, Notts & Derbys Regt
ToW: F & F
s/o Luke and Mary Fox, who both died before him. Living Wards End in the 1881 census | the 1891 census | the 1901 census. Worked as a Mason's / Builder's Labourer. Enlisted Matlock.
Memorial: Soissons Memorial, Aisne. The Soissons Memorial commemorates almost 4,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom forces who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and who have no known grave.

GROWCOTT, Samuel^[2]
Born Brackenfield 1891 [Soldiers died has born Matlock]
DoW 9 Oct 1918, aged 27
Private 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 14898
ToW: F & F
s/o Catherine Growcott, of Starkholmes, Matlock, and the late James Growcott. Living Starkholmes in the 1901 census. Worked as a Cotton Doubler. Enlisted Derby
Buried: Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave Reference: I. A. 18.

KNOWLES, Charles Joshua^[2]
(brother of Walter below)
Born Matlock 1888
KiA 21 Mar 1918 ("Soldiers Died" gives death as 31 Mar 1918)
Private 1st Bn. attd. 16th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 3620426963
ToW: F & F
s/o John George and Mary Ann Knowles, of Riber Hill Side, Matlock. See the 1891 census | the 1901 census. He later moved to Langley to work with his brother Frank. Enlisted Matlock
Memorial: Pozieres Memorial (6 km north-east of Albert). The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.
Memorial Reference: Panel 52 to 54.
Also commemorated St. Giles (with parents and brother) More Info

KNOWLES, Walter Robert^[2]
(brother of Charles above)
Born Matlock 1898
KiA: 13 Dec 1917, aged 19
Private 2nd/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 26963
ToW: F & F
s/o John George and Mary Ann Knowles, of Riber Hill Side, Matlock. See the 1901 census. Enlisted Matlock
Cemetery: Ribecourt Road Cemetery, Trescault, Pas de Calais (13 km south-west of Cambrai)
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 16.
Also commemorated St. Giles (with parents and brother) More Info

MILNE, Bernard^[2]
Born Derby 1899
KiA 9 Apr 1918
Private 9th (Northumberland Hussars) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
Service No: 60012
ToW: F & F
s/o John and Lydia Milne. Living Derby in 1901. The family later moved to Starkholmes. Enlisted Derby.
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2.

PURSGLOVE, Harold^[2]
Born Middleton 1897
DoW 19 Apr 1917, aged 19
Private 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 46215
ToW: F & F
s/o Edwin and Caroline Pursglove, of Sitches Farm, Starkholmes, Matlock. Living Middleton in the 1901 census. He worked for his father as a Farmer. Enlisted Matlock.
Cemetery: Bethune Town Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. D. 33.

READ, Charles Ernest (known as Ernest)^[2]
Born Starkholmes - 1893?
Died 27 Oct 1916
Private 1st Bn. Regiment/Service: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 70716
s/o James and Lydia Read, of Matlock.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.

SMITH, Fred (Frederick)^[2]
Born Starkholmes
KiA 26 Sep 1917, aged 30
Private 2nd/7th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 42385
ToW: F & F
s/o William and Agnes Smith. NoK given as William Smith, of 2, Mostyn Terrace, New St., Matlock. Enlisted Matlock.
Living Starkholmes in the 1891 census | in the 1901 census
Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial, is NE of Ieper and one of four Memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders
Memorial Reference: Panel 99 to 102 and 162 to 162A.

TAYLOR, William Ernest^[2]
Born Starkholmes, Matlock 1893
KiA 15 Sep 1916, aged 22
Private 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 23419
ToW: F & F
s/o Mr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor, of Starkholmes, Matlock. Living Starkholmes in the 1901 census. Worked for a time as an errand boy for H Smith & Sons. Residence Matlock. Enlisted Buxton
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, nr Albert, is the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.
Also commemorated St. Giles (Richard also on headstone) - More Info

WHERRETT, Thomas^[2]
Born Matlock 1898
DoW 12 Dec 1917
Private 2nd/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 240931
ToW: F & F
s/o George and Sarah Wherrett. Living Matlock Town the 1901 census. Enlisted Matlock
Buried: Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme
Grave Reference: VIII. A. 6.
Also commemorated St. Giles (parents also on headstone) More Info

^[1] Also commemorated on the Cromford War Memorial.
^[2] Also commemorated on the Matlock War Memorial: See WW1 Surnames A - J and WW1 Surnames K - W
^[3] Charles Beresford, in "The Bath at War, A Derbyshire Community and the Great War" (2007)

Starkholmes War Memorial

With very grateful thanks to Mr. Charles Beresford for help and additional material. Background research from "The High Peak News", GRO BMD indexes and FreeBMD, from returns for the 1891 census and 1901 census (click link to go to on-site transcripts), parish registers and family members. Names also compared with information provided on "Soldiers Died in the Great War" CD.

If you know any more about the above men, we would very much like to hear from you. Please email and in the subject line write Starkholmes War Memorial. Thank you.