World War I - Home on leave
The photograph above was taken in Stamford's Yard on Boxing Day 1917.
The yard, off Kneesworth Street behind the Museum, was the premises of the Stamford family who ran a coaching business for many decades. The son of the family, James Burrell “Bert” Stamford, had recently died on active service in France. This left his mother Hannah Maria to continue the business. She was widowed in 1908 on the death of her husband, also James.
There are 17 men in the photograph, some in uniform, some in civilian clothes. The latter wear or received Silver War Badges to acknowledge their service and to stop criticism from the general public that they should have been at the front.
Research shows that the men all served in WW1 but some had been wounded and, as a result, discharged.
Not all lived in the town in 1911, although most have a connection to Royston and district in some way.
Like Herbert Wookcock and Percy Godfrey, some of the men had relatives who appear on the Royston War Memorial. Others, like Alfred ‘Curly’ Humphrey, returned to the fighting after their Christmas leave. Alfred died on 5th April 1918 is commemorated on the Memorial.
The men are displaying three copies of “John Bull” magazine with headlines : “Haig’s Next Surprise”, “Poor Old Fellow” and “Stop Fooling Us”.
Karno’s Crush
The name Karno probably refers to Frederick John Westcott’s stage name “Fred Karno”. He is credited with the invention of slapstick comedy and worked with Charlie Chaplin and Arthur Jefferson, later known as Stan Laurel. A song, “Karno’s Army” was popular with troops in WW1. “Karno’s Crush” may have been a private joke between the men.
Silver War Badge
Given to those who sustained injuries and were no longer fit to serve.
Private, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (202565).
Son of Jacob and Harriet Woodcock. He was wounded in action in France on 19th August 1916 and discharged as unfit on 20th June 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Believed to be Edward Alfred Thomas - Private, British Expeditionary Force.
Son of John and Mary Thomas.
Lance Corporal, 1st Cameron Highlanders (9866 & 61897).
Son of George and Mary Rowles. Discharged as unfit on 3rd August 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Believed to George Bird - Private, Bedfordshire Regiment (25553).
Son of Charles and Emily Bird of Green Street, Royston. Reported in May 1918 as missing in action and later to have been taken prisoner.
Believed to Arthur William Bird - Private (1733).
Son of William and Sarah Bird. Described in his service record as a Driver from November 1915 to July 1916. Discharged as unfit on 17th July 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Private, Signalling Corps, Royal Engineers.
Son of George and Alice Gray.
Private, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment (5173) and 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (15572).
Son of Stephen and Alice Sharp and brother of Hubert Sharp (see 15). He was injured in the Somme campaign, discharged on 16th October 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery (88373).
Son of Charles John and Emily Jane Freestone. Injured in September by handling shells contaminated with mustard gas. He was awarded the British War Medal in December 1920.
Lance Corporal, Royston Company, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment (2502).
Son of Joseph Carter. Wounded in the head by shell burst at Neue Chapelle on 19th May 1915. He recovered but was discharged on 19th August 1915 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Lance Corporal, Leicester Regiment (2/17034).
A past member of Royston “E” Company, he rejoined in September 1914 and transferred to the Leicester Regiment. It was reported in the Crow on 27th May 1918 that he had been taken prisoner.
Believed to be William John Bird, DCM - 37 Signal Company, Royal Engineers (60092).
Son of Charles and Sarah Bird of Melbourn.
Sergeant, Lincolnshire Regiment (235052), formerly Hertfordshire Regiment (2524).
He was Assistant Scoutmaster in the Royston Troop of Boy Scouts and an employee of Messrs WC Titchmarsh &Co, grocers. He was killed in action on 5th April 1918.
Believed to be George Stamford - Lance-Corporal, Military Foot Police (P/220)
He was discharged as medically unfit in September 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Sergeant, 4th East Anglian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (120), later Second Lieutenant, Royal Army Service Corps.
Son of William and Elizabeth Hamshaw. Served in Salonica and discharged in 1919.
Private, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment (20035).
Son of Stephen and Alice Sharp and brother of Frederick (see 7). He was wounded in action in August 1915, discharged in May 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Sergeant Instructor, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (No. 22022).
In March 1917 he was buried by shell burst with eight other men, six of who were killed. He was severely wounded and repatriated to England.
Lance Corporal, 11th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (24028).
Son of John and Alice Beale and brother-in-law to Joe Hamshaw.
Private, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (202565).
Son of Jacob and Harriet Woodcock. He was wounded in action in France on 19th August 1916 and discharged as unfit on 20th June 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Believed to be Edward Alfred Thomas - Private, British Expeditionary Force.
Son of John and Mary Thomas.
Lance Corporal, 1st Cameron Highlanders (9866 & 61897).
Son of George and Mary Rowles. Discharged as unfit on 3rd August 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Believed to be George Bird - Private, Bedfordshire Regiment (25553).
Son of Charles and Emily Bird of Green Street, Royston. Reported in May 1918 as missing in action and later to have been taken prisoner.
Believed to be Arthur William Bird - Private (1733).
Son of William and Sarah Bird. Described in his service record as a Driver from November 1915 to July 1916. Discharged as unfit on 17th July 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Private, Signalling Corps, Royal Engineers.
Son of George and Alice Gray.
Private, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment (5173) and 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (15572).
Son of Stephen and Alice Sharp and brother of Hubert Sharp (see 15). He was injured in the Somme campaign, discharged on 16th October 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery (88373).
Son of Charles John and Emily Jane Freestone. Injured in September by handling shells contaminated with mustard gas. He was awarded the British War Medal in December 1920.
Lance Corporal, Royston Company, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment (2502).
Son of Joseph Carter. Wounded in the head by shell burst at Neue Chapelle on 19th May 1915. He recovered but was discharged on 19th August 1915 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Lance Corporal, Leicester Regiment (2/17034).
A past member of Royston “E” Company, he rejoined in September 1914 and transferred to the Leicester Regiment. It was reported in the Crow on 27th May 1918 that he had been taken prisoner.
Believed to be William John Bird, DCM - 37 Signal Company, Royal Engineers (60092).
Son of Charles and Sarah Bird of Melbourn.
Sergeant, Lincolnshire Regiment (235052), formerly Hertfordshire Regiment (2524).
He was Assistant Scoutmaster in the Royston Troop of Boy Scouts and an employee of Messrs WC Titchmarsh &Co, grocers. He was killed in action on 5th April 1918.
Believed to be George Stamford - Lance Corporal, Military Foot Police Regiment, (P/220).
He was discharged as medically unfit in September 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Sergeant, 4th East Anglian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (120), later Second Lieutenant, Royal Army Service Corps.
Son of William and Elizabeth Hamshaw. Served in Salonica and discharged in 1919.
Private, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment (20035).
Son of Stephen and Alice Sharp and brother of Frederick (see 7). He was wounded in action in August 1915, discharged in May 1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge.
Sergeant Instructor, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (No. 22022).
In March 1917 he was buried by shell burst with eight other men, six of who were killed. He was severely wounded and repatriated to England.
Lance Corporal, 11th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (24028).
Son of John and Alice Beale and brother-in-law to Joe Hamshaw.