Hi everyone.
I thought I would give you a full overview of where I think we are at the moment after collating all the information identified so far, from all the different sources.
I believe our chaps are as follows (including their link to Reading where known):
· Lt Harry Aust Yorkshire Regt. Northcourt Avenue, Reading.
· LCpl Charles Bostwick Essex Regt. Amity Road , Reading.
· Capt Francis Brain Royal Berkshire Regt. Alexandra Road, Reading.
· LSgt Harold Challen Royal Berkshire Regt. Bulmershe Road, Reading.
· Pte Gordon Colebrook Berkshire Yeomanry.
· 2nd Lt W. Cooper Worcestershire Regt. London Street, Reading.
· Lt Wilfred Drake Devonshire Regt. Living in Reading with wife.
· Dvr John Eighteen Royal Field Artillery. Living in Reading.
· Pte H.T. Eighteen Royal Berkshire Regt. Living in Reading.
· Pte Arthur Freeman London Regt. Castle Street, Reading.
· Pte Horace Harding Royal Scots Fusiliers. Born Reading.
· 2nd Lt Walford Knowles Royal Berkshire Regt. Born Reading.
· Spr Stanley May Royal Engineers. Shinfield Road, Reading.
· 2nd Lt Charles Moss Royal Berkshire Regt. Basingstoke Road, Reading.
· Pte Horace Pinker Royal Berkshire Regt.
· Cpl John Satchell Royal Marines Light Infantry. Born Reading.
· Cpl Phillip Steer Royal Fusiliers. Shinfield Road, Reading.
· Cpl Mark Watts 15th Hants Yeomanry.
· LCpl Frank Weight Royal Engineers. Curzon Street, Reading.
· Pte Percy White Royal Army Service Corps. Sidmouth Street, Reading.
I have made contact with the following organisations:
· UK National Inventory of War Memorials
· War Memorials Trust
· Thames Valley Branch of the Western Front Association
· Reading Remembrance Trust
· Reading University
· Royal Berks Regiment Museum, Salisbury
I am awaiting replies from:
· UKNIWM, who are checking about 5000 paper records (phew!)
· Reading Remembrance Trust
· Reading University
Enquiries are in hand with:
· Researchers who have carried out extensive research into the men of Alfred Sutton School
· Researchers who have carried out extensive research into the Royal Berkshire Regiment
· I have to wait for office hours to contact the Diocesan Church House, Oxford, but will do so this week
The memorial may have originated from a Baptist Church situated on Basingstoke Road, Reading, which was demolished to make way for a roundabout. This information is being checked out. Another possible location is the Alfred Sutton School. Again, this is being checked out.
Sites that may be approached to accept the memorial (although no approaches will be made until further investigations have been completed):
· Reading University
· Alfred Sutton School
· Royal Berkshire Regiment in Salisbury
· However, if the original location can be identified, I think I might approach the nearest church to that location. Lets discuss that once we have a clearer picture.
The future:
· Get these chaps back home.
· Have a re-dedication service
· Liaise with a very nice chap who has offered to get several soldiers in WW1 uniform to attend the re-dedication service.
I think thats where we all are at the moment. I cannot thank you all enough. This really has been a great team effort. I will, of course, keep you all up to date with developments.
Sorry about the long post!
Regards,
Thudders
