WEYMOUTH historian Greg Schofield took the opportunity to find out more about some of the 47 men from Weymouth who lost their lives fighting the Ottoman Empire.
He recently visited the Military Cemetery in Jerusalem to pay his respects to the 10 Weymouth men who are commemorated there after they were killed in the First World War.
Greg said: “Situated on a hill which overlooks the Dome of the Rock, the cemetery is the responsibility of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is maintained immaculately.
“It contains 2,515 burials and a memorial containing the names of 3,300 British and Commonwealth servicemen whose bodies have never been found.
“The British and Commonwealth forces led by General Allenby were attempting to drive the Ottoman Armies out of Palestine, and the Battle of Jerusalem occurred during 1917 when fighting for the city developed from November 17, continuing after the surrender until December 30, during which four Weymouth men died.
“The more conclusive Battle of Megiddo was fought between September 19 and 25 1918, and was the final Allied offensive of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War.”
This is what Greg discovered about the Jerusalem Dead from the Sinai Campaigns and 1917.
Edward Betts - A 39-year-old Private in the 2nd/4th Dorsetshire Regiment, he was wounded on November 22 and then reported killed in action through the blowing up of a field hospital.
He was employed as a schoolmaster at Holy Trinity School, was married to Maud, had one child and lived in Newberry Terrace.
Edward was only serving because he volunteered to take the place of another teacher who had heavier family responsibilities.
Harold Bugler - A 24-year-old private in the Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action during the approach to Jerusalem on November 13. He was the only son of Mr G.Bugler and lived at Rodwell Garage.
Sydney Downer - A 23-year-old Private in the 1st/5th Welsh Regiment, he was killed in action on March 25. The son of Albert and Helen Downer, he lived in Argyle Road.
A. Collins - A private in the 16th Devonshire Regiment, he was killed on December 3.
S. Hockley - A private in the 24th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, he died on December 27.
Greg also found out information about members of The Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry, who were equipped with camels upon their arrival in the Middle East.
Ernest Keely - A private in The Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry, he was wounded and reported missing on November 21.
William Strange - A private in The Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry, he was reported missing on November 28 and confirmed killed in action May 1918. He had been in the Dorset TA, joined up in 1915 and was sent to Egypt in December 1916. The second son of Mr & Mrs J.Strange, he was a member of the Church Lad’s Brigade, and employed by Eldridge Pope as a Clerk in their Weymouth branch n Frederick Tarrant - A 21-year- old Private in The Queens Own Dorset Yeomanry, he was killed in action on November 28.
And finally, Greg found out the following about the Dead from the Battle of Megiddo 1918 & Mopping-Up Campaigns:- n G. Pitman - A private in the 2nd/14th London (Scottish), he was killed in action on May 1.
J. Rimmer - A 37 year old Serjeant in the Royal Engineers who was killed on October 16. He was married to Rose and lived in Victoria Street.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article