WW1 Roll of Honour article; Malsom, Gabb, Edwards, Cooper... (General)
Searching the BNA site gives this extensive Roll of Honour article;
Gloucester Journal of Saturday 15th July 1916;
"FORESTERS’ ROLL OF HONOUR
The recent casualty lists have contained the names of several more Forest boys who have fallen in the great war. Official information has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Levi Malsom, Bilson Green, Cinderford, of the death of their son, Pte. Christopher Malsom (26), which occurred as the result of a bombing accident on June 16th. The young man was a collier at Ligbtmoor, and latterly worked in South Wales, where on the outbreak of war he joined the South Wales Borderers. He was selected from the Battalion to be a grenadier, so Captain John England writes to the distressed parents, and was looked upon as one of the most reliable bombers.
News of the death of Pte. Theo Gabb. son of Mr. William Gabb, has been received in Cinderford. The War Office had notified Mr. Gabb that his son was missing, and later letter has come from an officer of the battalion saying it was his sad duty to report the expected death of the soldier in question. “He was,” the writer says, "carrying out some very gallant work and was badly wounded. Every night since the accident search had been made, but no trace of the brave bugler was found.” The loss of this son is particularly sad, as on September 25th, 1915, another son, Dennis, of the Gloucesters, lost his life.
The news of a double bereavement of the family of Mr. and Mrs. George Edwards, of Buckshaft, Ruspidge, has also fallen heavily upon the whole neighbourhood, when a letter came announcing that two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards had been killed in action. Two comrades sent the distressing news, and said that Alec (who was nearly 21) was killed by a bullet through the head. The following evening his brother Arthur also met his death through a piece of shrapnel striking his head. Both deaths were instantaneous. Both soldiers were highly respected in the district, being faithful members of the Wesleyan Sunday School and Band of Hope, also members of the Rechabite Order. The younger boy worked at Lightmoor, and the elder was employed in forestry.
A letter from the captain has been received by Mrs Cooper, Bilson Green, telling her that her son, Pte. William John Cooper, who enlisted on June 7th, 1915, in the Gloucestershire Regiment, was struck down while executing a brilliant piece of work. He did his duty well, and died as a Britisher. The officer expressed the hope that Mrs. Cooper would be given strength to bear the blow, knowing that his life was not wasted, but given to his country to leave it a better place than he found it.
Mrs. Hancock. of the Bell Inn. Littledean, received intimation that her brother, Pte. Owen Williams, had been killed in action, but a further report states he is missing.
We also learn than Pte. Harry Thynne. St. Briavels, of the Gloucestershire Regiment, is reported wounded in the arm, and is in hospital at Chatham. Pte. Harold Hayward, of the A.S.C.. is also badly wounded in the eyes, and is being treated at Leeds."
It appears that most if not all have been included in this site's WW1 Servicemen database, but the full article is transcribed in the hope that it adds further supporting information to their existing records.
Sincere thanks to all these brave men and loved ones for their sacrifices 100 years ago.
R.I.P.
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