ALBERT EDWARD ELMES

5B

Private, 14047, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment Died 3rd September 1916, aged 22
Born in Alfred Road, Windmill Hill, Bristol.

Son of William and Grace Louisa Elmes (nee Ward) of 45 Eldon Terrace, Windmill Hill. William was a carpenter and decorator. They had eight children:

  •   William Elmes (b. 1893)
  •   Albert Edward Elmes (b. 1894)
  •   Gladys May Elmes (b. 1896)
  •   Ethel Mary Elmes (b. 1898)
  •   Alfred James Elmes (b. 1903)
  •   Winifred Maud Elmes (b. 1905)
  •   Thomas Henry Elmes (b. 1906)
  •   Harry Elmes (b. 1908)

    Enlisted at Bristol.
    Went to France on 21st November 1915. Killed during an attack on Wedge Wood.

    Also commemorated on both the WW1 Memorial Plaque in St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol and the Roll of Honour in St. Michael and All Angels Church, Windmill Hill.

Western Daily Press 1st September 1916

ELMES.- Lance-Corporal W. Elmes, Worcester Regiment, killed in action August 20, 1916, aged 23. Deeply mourned by his father, mother, sisters, brothers, and sweetheart. Could we have raised his dying head, and heard his last farewell, the grief would not have been so bad to those who loved him well. (African and New Zealand papers please copy.)

Western Daily Press 18th September 1916

ELMES.- Killed in action, August 20, Lance.-Corpl. Wm. Elmes, Worcester Regiment, eldest and beloved son of Mr and Mrs Elmes, 45, Eldon Terrace, Windmill Hill, aged 23 years 4 months. Sept. 3, Private A. E. Elmes, Gloucestershire Regiment, brother of the above, aged 22 years 5 months. Also their loved chum, Private J. Friend (*), Gloucestershire Regiment, aged 22, late of the Fox Inn, Windmill Hill. United we stood, together we fell. Nameless their graves on the battlefield gory, only a cross, or a mound of brown earth, dead in the pride of their youth and their glory, far from their homes and the land of their birth. God’s will be done. Mr and Mrs Elmes desire to thank all kind friends for their kind words and letters of sympathy shown to them in their sad bereavement.

(*) Private James Edward Friend, 14058, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, died on 3rd September 1916, aged 22. He is buried in grave XV.D.8 in Guillemont Road Cemetery.

His brother Lance Corporal William Elmes, 31429, 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, died on 20th August 1916, aged 23.

He is commemorated on Pier and Face 5A.

A cousin Private Albert Edward Latham, 260352, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, died on 4th October 1917.

He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Source: Norman Date & Susan Vincent (nee Elmes) (niece)

WILLIAM ELMES

5A

Lance Corporal, 31429, 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment

Died 20th August 1916, aged 23
Born in Alfred Road, Windmill Hill, Bristol.

Son of William and Grace Louisa Elmes (nee Ward) of 45 Eldon Terrace, Windmill Hill. William was a carpenter and decorator. They had eight children:

  •   William Elmes (b. 1893)
  •   Albert Edward Elmes (b. 1894)
  •   Gladys May Elmes (b. 1896)
  •   Ethel Mary Elmes (b. 1898)
  •   Alfred James Elmes (b. 1903)
  •   Winifred Maud Elmes (b. 1905)
  •   Thomas Henry Elmes (b. 1906)
  •   Harry Elmes (b. 1908)

    Killed during an attack on Tea Trench.

    Also commemorated on both the WW1 Memorial Plaque in St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol and the Roll of Honour in St. Michael and All Angels Church, Windmill Hill.

Western Daily Press 1st September 1916

ELMES.- Lance-Corporal W. Elmes, Worcester Regiment, killed in action August 20, 1916, aged 23. Deeply mourned by his father, mother, sisters, brothers, and sweetheart. Could we have raised his dying head, and heard his last farewell, the grief would not have been so bad to those who loved him well. (African and New Zealand papers please copy.)

Western Daily Press 18th September 1916

ELMES.- Killed in action, August 20, Lance.-Corpl. Wm. Elmes, Worcester Regiment, eldest and beloved son of Mr and Mrs Elmes, 45, Eldon Terrace, Windmill Hill, aged 23 years 4 months. Sept. 3, Private A. E. Elmes, Gloucestershire Regiment, brother of the above, aged 22 years 5 months. Also their loved chum, Private J. Friend (*), Gloucestershire Regiment, aged 22, late of the Fox Inn, Windmill Hill. United we stood, together we fell. Nameless their graves on the battlefield gory, only a cross, or a mound of brown earth, dead in the pride of their youth and their glory, far from their homes and the land of their birth. God’s will be done. Mr and Mrs Elmes desire to thank all kind friends for their kind words and letters of sympathy shown to them in their sad bereavement.

(*) Private James Edward Friend, 14058, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, died on 3rd September 1916, aged 22. He is buried in grave XV.D.8 in Guillemont Road Cemetery.

His brother Private Albert Edward Elmes, 14047, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, died on 3rd September 1916, aged 22.

He is commemorated on Pier and Face 5B.

A cousin Private Albert Edward Latham, 260352, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, died on 4th October 1917.

He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Source: Norman Date & Susan Vincent (nee Elmes) (niece)