I am trying to locate details of the War Dead of Coleford (WW1)for the former Congregation Church on High Street/Cinder Hill, Coleford, Glos. Any help appreciated.
Thanks

Chris,
When you say you are seeking details of the World War 1 war dead of Coleford Congregational Church do you wish to trace and attribute the service details, places of burial or commemoration, and any biographical information of the men listed on a War Memorial there? Or do you seek to try to compile a list of names of Coleford Cong. Church members possibly known by forum members to have fallen in WW1?
If you have a list of names off a memorial it would be useful, as a start, if you would post it on the forum, please.

Harry, thanks for the reply.
I am trying to create an up to date list of the War Dead of Coleford and have been largely successful over some 10 years or so. Last year, I found, by chance, the Coleford Congregational Church Roll of Honour with some 40 names on it, but suspect that only one or two will actually be counted among the war dead (it was more like a record of those church members who actually went to war and thankfully most came home safely). I will obviously have to go to County Records to view the item again, I was just hoping that someone might just have the answer
Thanks
Chris Howell

Pte 52987, F OLIVER, Gloucestershire Reg, 7 Nov 1918 - age 29

Son of Robert & Elizabeth OLIVER, Broadwell Lane End, COLEFORD
Pte 24205 Thomas FLANNERY, Lancashire Fusiliers, 28 August 1919 - age 28

Gunner 13307, Sydney KILBY, Royal Field Artillery, 6 Aug 1916 - age 31
Son of John & Matilda, Five Acres, COLEFORD

William AMBURY, on active service 1918

The War Graves Commission site will give more detailed information - searching by cemetery (Slowhands) does make it much easier if they were buried at home - thanks

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Quote from

Portrait of Gloucestershire by T.A. Ryder (first edition produced 1966)

'Coleford is quite the most attractive of the Forest Towns; it has large playing-fields and grounds bought with public subscriptions in commemoration of the winning of the Victoria Cross, in 1916, by Captain Angus Buchanan, son of a local doctor'.

www.fweb.org.uk/Dean/towns/colefordproject/people/buchanan.html

The War Graves Commission site would be difficult to search by place of residence

search by cemetery instead :-)

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Name: BAYTON, ARTHUR STANLEY
Initials: A S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 18/06/1921
Service No: 926
Additional information: Son of James and Elizabeth Bayton.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: QQ. 3.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

Name: BENFIELD
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sapper
Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
Unit Text: Royal Monmouthshire
Age: 26
Date of Death: 20/02/1919
Service No: 387396
Additional information: Son of George and Catherine Benfield, of Victoria Rd., Coleford.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: O.C. 4.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

Name: BOZWORTH, CLIFFORD EDWIN
Initials: C E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 22
Date of Death: 02/07/1943
Service No: 1319795
Additional information: Son of William J. Bozworth and Mary Bozworth, of Broadwell.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave P.4.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

Name: DARBY, NORMAN
Initials: N
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 25/07/1943
Service No: 1401887
Additional information: Son of Frank and Edith Sara Darby, of Broadwell.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave O.4.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

Name: JONES, EWART RICHARD
Initials: E R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 231 Sqdn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 31/03/1943
Service No: 128862
Additional information: Son of Richard John and Elizabeth Jones, of Lydbrook.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave R.4.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

Name: STAITE
Initials: C J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps
Age: 22
Date of Death: 28/01/1919
Service No: 114419
Additional information: Son of Richard and Maria Staite, of Coleford; husband of Elizabeth May Staite, of 14, Ripon Rd., Plumstead, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: H10.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

Name: WHITE, BENJAMIN
Initials: B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment
Unit Text: "D" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 15/01/1916
Service No: 1449
Additional information: Son of Benjamin and Sarah White, of Broadwell, Coleford.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: M13.
Cemetery: COLEFORD CEMETERY

SOMERSET

Name: PHILLIPS, VICTOR JOHN
Initials: V J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 70th Bn.
Age: 18
Date of Death: between 26/04/1942 and 27/04/1942
Service No: 5193550
Additional information: Son of Harry Percival and Ethel Grace Phillips, of Lipyeate Holcombe.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: N W of tower.
Cemetery: COLEFORD (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD

Name: SHEPPARD, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Volunteer
Regiment/Service: Home Guard
Unit Text: 3rd Wiltshire (Salisbury) Bn.
Date of Death: 03/04/1941
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: N.W. Corner.
Cemetery: COLEFORD (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

I am interested in the person whose surname is Staite because this was a spelling given for my great, great, great grandmother's surname in some records. She was called Elizabeth Mary (or Marie)) Stead(e) born 20/1/1786 and died 26/5/1866. She was born in Hotwells,Bristol and died, probably, in Coleford or nearby. There is a family story that her mother came from France. However the father (Peter) appears to have come from Monmouth as did his father William. The mother, who I think was French lived from 1750-1835 and was called Marie/Mary. The family always remember the name as Steade but it is recorded in some places as Stead, Steele and Staite. If anyone is related to the unfortunate 22 year old who died in World War 1 listed here I would be interested if they knew of any connection. Thanks.

There is only one other burial in Coleford Cemetery belonging to the surname 'Staite' and that is Christopher Staite's mother, Maria Arabella Staite (1937) (widow of Richard) who died, I think, in Worcester. Whether this is the same thread of your family or not I cannot say, but her forenames (at least in my simple mind) do look a little French.

Thanks Slow Hands, I have details of those but would suggest that the last two in your list are from Coleford in Somerset (if I am wrong, I apologise and will do further research).

On Wednesday of this week, I went to Glos County Records Office to find the Roll of Honour for Coleford Congregational Church but, unfortunately, the Roll and the entire file for that Church was missing from their shelves. I have asked County Records to let me know when they are available.

I suppose it will remain a mystery, for the time being at least!

The War Graves Photographic Project lists those last two as in Somerset