Photographic Archive

6^th October 1915

Wedding of Arthur Dickens (from Brixworth) and Evelyn Taylor of Spratton. Because of war restrictions, the bride did not wear a long white dress, nor did she carry flowers.

Arthur Dickens was born in Brixworth in 1894, the eldest of four sons born to Charles Dickens and his wife Elizabeth. When he left school Arthur became an ironstone labourer like his father and worked at the Scaldwell pits. He married Evelyn Taylor on 6 October 1916. Evelyn worked at Creaton Hospital and after the wedding the couple lived in Manor Road, Spratton.

Arthur enlisted in 1915 and was sent to France with the Northamptonshire Regiment on 11 December 1915. He fought at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and was reported wounded in September that year. He returned home to convalesce and get married and was then sent back to the Front. He was finally discharged on 14 December 1918 and was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Arthur and Evelyn lived for the rest of their lives in Spratton and Arthur served in the Home Guard in the Second World War. He died in 1969 and is buried in the new parish cemetery in Spratton with his wife, Evelyn who died in 1990.

Image Reference: 0503

Related Searches: People | War 1914-1918 | Weddings | 1910

Men who served: Private Arthur DICKENS

Circa 1916

Joseph and Mary-Ann Copson's family. A happy family photograph probably taken in 1916. With five sons and three sons-in-law fighting in the war, this might well have been the last time the family were all together. Happily all the men returned home at the end of the war.

Back row: Joseph Copson, a daughter-in-law, Alfred Copson, Archibald Copson , Margaret Copson (a daughter-in-law), Ebenezer Copson, a daughter-in-law, John Copson

Front row: Mabel Copson, Bertha Copson, Joseph Copson, Mary Ann Copson, Mary Ann Copson (daughter), Mary Hannah Copson

On the ground: Edna Copson (daughter of Mabel), Tom Whitton, Sheila Whitton (daughters of daughter Mary-Ann)

Joseph Copson helped with the Voluntary Defence Force set up by Mr Muggleton (baker).

Image Reference: 0831

Related Searches: Copson family | People | War 1914-1918 | 1910

Men who served: Sapper Ebenezer COPSON | Private James COPSON | Private John William COPSON

1910s - William Buswell

Image Reference: 0842

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1915

Lieut. W.B. Rhodes-Moorhouse, Special Reserve, Royal Flying Corps, killed in action on 26^th April 1915, and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Image Reference: 0875

Related Searches: Moorhouse family | People | War 1914-1918 | 1910

1915

Lieut. W.B. Rhodes-Moorhouse, Special Reserve, Royal Flying Corps, killed in action on 26^th April 1915, and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Image Reference: 0875 (v2)

Related Searches: Moorhouse family | People | War 1914-1918 | 1910

1998

The War Memorial in the churchyard of St. Andrew's Church.

Those from the village who died in the 1^st World War are:

George Manning, 1^st Royal West Kent Regt.

George Martin, Royal Field Artillery

A Walter Page, 5^th Northants Regt.

W R Rhodes Moorhouse V.C., Royal Flying Corps (first airman to receive the V.C.)

John W Smith, 1^st Northants Regt.

Ernest Tite, Royal Sussex Regt.

Joseph Tirrell, Royal Army Service Corps

Edward Wadhams, 6^th Beds Regt.

Edwin Wadham, Machine Gun Corps

Image Reference: 0942

Related Searches: Church | War 1914-1918 | 1990

Men who served: Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert) | Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM | Private Thomas Albert COOKE (known as Albert) | Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry) | Private Benjamin Gammage GREEN | Private Walter Ernest HAYTER | Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE | Driver John Henry LEESON | Private Edward Reginald LETTS (known as Reginald) | Private George MANNING | Private Arthur Walter PAGE | Private John William SMITH (6942) | Gunner George Albert MARTIN | Lieutenant William Barnard RHODES-MOORHOUSE VC | Private Joseph William TIRRELL | Private Ernest TITE | Private John Edward WADHAMS | Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS

Circa 1914 - George Manning and family.

George was killed at Vimy Ridge in 1917

Image Reference: 1001

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Men who served: Private George MANNING

1915 - Private Harry (Micky) Cook, probably in the Norfolk Regiment, before moving to the Northamptonshire Regiment. He fought in France and came home safely at the end of the war.

Image Reference: 1195

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Circa 1916

Charles Walter Libious Branson (1900 - 1975) in Royal Flying Corps as a mechanic during World War I

Charles Branson was born in Northampton in the summer of 1900 to Charles and Florence Branson. His father was a market gardener who later became the farm bailiff at Broomhill Farm and his mother was a Spratton-born girl whose family were long-established in the village. Young Charles has left written memories of his very happy childhood in the Northamptonshire countryside and his work on the farm with his father and brothers. He claims to have been very friendly with William Rhodes-Moorhouse, a young man who lived at Spratton Grange nearby and who went on to be awarded the first air Victoria Cross in April 1915.

His admiration for William Rhodes-Moorhouse may have led Charles to follow his example and join the Royal Flying Corps. However, he was extremely young and was not sent overseas. Possibly he became a driver. His name is on the Roll of Honour in St Andrew's Church Spratton, but very little other information has been discovered about his war service. After the war, he owned a garage in Yew Tree Lane and later moved to Warwickshire. He died in 1975.

For further information see “Lt William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC, RFC—A Northamptonshire Hero”
by Enid Jarvis published by Spratton Local History Society

Image Reference: 1599

Related Searches: People | War 1914-1918 | 1910

Men who served: Charles Walter L BRANSON