WORLD WAR I
Bingham War Memorial
Service Record
| Lieutenant Theophilus Russell Buckworth | 177th Tunnelling Co. Royal Engineers |
born 1892 | |
| Medal roll | Officers did not have numbers Awarded Victory and British medals. Entered France 13th March 1916. Medals sent to The Rectory, Bingham, 23/9/1920 No service/pension records exist on Ancestry |
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| 1915 | Officer records at National Archives: On November 30th, after interviewing Theophilus, the Officer Commanding Tunnelling Companies wrote: “Whilst Mr Buckworth appears, as you suggest, extremely keen, I am rather doubtful of his strength of character. He is a typical Eton boy and his age is against him. On the other hand, it is possible, that if placed with Mr Gregson for at least 2 if not 3 months, then his physical and mental character might be developed. If at the end of this time you should not wish to choose him for the tunnelling companies, he could then enter a good infantry unit through one of the schools of instruction that have been established.” NB. Later documents demonstrate that his time with Mr Gregson must have paid off and Theo did serve with 177 tunnelling company. |
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| War Diary 1918 | The war diary of 177th Tunnelling Company for March 1916 shows
Buckworth arrived and joined the Company on 31st March 1916; clearly Major
Gregson had some effect! The diary for 20th October 1918 records that in early October the company had been in Cambrai clearing and checking cellars and galleries for mines. They had Found explosives charges in a bridge. They then marched to Montrecourt, arriving 0530 on 20th October, and met with materials sent for bridge building. The village was being shelled frequently; Lieut . Buckworth and 2 other ranks were wounded, presumably by shrapnel. The Company went on to build and open the bridge for traffic. The next day one O/R was killed and two wounded installing protective decking on the bridge. |
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| Medical history | The form records service at home from26/2/16 [three months
following his interview] to 12/3/16 and again from 24/10/18 to 24/3/19 Records service in France 12/3/16 to 23/10/18 He received treatment at Prince of Wales’ Hospital, Marylebone for GSW [the war diary implies shrapnel wound not gunshot] in the left arm which resulted in a compound fracture of the humerus. He was wounded at Cambrai on 20/10/1918. Another form records that since his first medical board on 28.2.1918 further treatment has brought some improvement. He received electrical treatment (Galvanism and Faradism) to treat muscular atrophy presumably caused by the injury. “Recommended for transfer to Brighton”. ON 13th July 1919 he wrote to the War Office: Addressed from Kitchener War Hospital, Brighton Re their “communication of Aril 1st 1919… I beg to submit this application for a further wound gratuity. I have now been in hospital for 9 months and my disability is still as great as ever” On 2nd May 1920 Buckworth wrote that: He did “not receive letter of 26/4/20 notifying me to appear at dispersal medical board on 30/4 until 1/5/20 : 1. Change of address: now Stratton, Silverdale Road, Hove, Sussex, not now at Rectory Bingham. 2. He had told them this 6 months previously and the Medical Board on 18/4 had granted 6 months further leave. 3. In view of this he went to Devonshire then Hove and post did not catch up with him until now. On 7th May 1920 the War Office wrote to the Central Hospital for officers, 21 Chesham Place, Brighton to inform them that Buckworth has been told to hold himself ready to proceed to dispersal hospital Brighton medical board with view to release from army. |
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| http://www.1914-1918.net/tunnelcoyre.htm | The war on the Western Front bogged down into siege conditions
by November 1914. Both sides faced the need to break through the enemy's
defensive entrenched positions. It was not long before an ancient art was
remembered and used most effectively: mining under the enemy lines, placing
explosives and blowing them up. In some areas, both sides mined and counter-mined
intensively. For the infantry above ground, the wait for underground explosions
was nerve-wracking indeed; for the men underground, hard toil often came
accompanied by sudden death. The first Tunnelling Companies are formed A decision was taken in February 1915 to form 8 Tunnelling Companies, made up of men drawn from the ranks, mixed with drafts of men specially recruited for this kind of work. This has been described as the quickest intentional act in the war: men who were working underground as civilians in the UK on 17 February 17th were underground at Givenchy only four days later, such was the urgency of needing countermeasures against the aggressive German actions. Another 12 Companies were eventually formed in 1915, and one further one in 1916 177th Tunnelling Company On formation, moved to the Fricourt sector of the Somme. Moved up to try to mine enemy positions in High Wood, as the advance progressed in July 1916. In March 1918, the Company was spread in Fins, Gouzeaucourt and Heudicourt, when the enemy bombardment struck these places. After this the Company was engaged in Tortille bridge demolition, and other defensive activities. |
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| Roll of Honour AVL |
RoH: Wounded once on the Western Front AVL Address: Theophilus Russell Buckworth, The Rectory, Church St. |
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Family history etc
| Theophilus Russell Buckworth III | |||
| 1892 | Born Swaffham, Norfolk 28th May | ||
| Baptismal record | Father Richard, mother Catharine Jessie Parish: Cockley Clay Theophilus Russell Buckworth was the brother of Mrs Mary Hutt, the wife of Canon H R M Hutt, Rector of Bingham during WW1. Apart from the AVL address there is no record of his living in Bingham. Right: |
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| 1846 UK Poll Books and electoral registers (Ancestry) |
Cley Hall, Cockley Clay, Norfolk: Theophilus Russell Buckworth (snr) [I] Theophilus Russell Buckworth (jnr) [II] Charles Phelips Buckworth |
Mansion and land as occupier, at upwards of £50 per annum rent & freehold house and land of upwards of 40s per annum value. Freehold houses and land in the street. Freehold houses and land in the street. |
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| 1851 Census (family) |
Cley Hall, Cockley Clay: Theophilus Russell Buckworth [I], b.1795, Finsbury Square, London, widower Theophilus Russell Buckworth [II], b. 1817 Bloomsbury Square, London AND 12 live in servants |
Landed gentleman, land in excess of 2100 acres with 52 labourers and 8 women. Magistrate; chairman of Board of Guardians, Swaffham Union Housekeeper, laundry maid, two housemaids, dairy maid, kitchen maid, washer woman, gardener, Butler, footman. |
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| 1857 | Theophilus [I] died Swaffham | ||
| 1871 Census (family) |
The Manor House, Swaffham: Theophilus R Buckworth [II], b. 1816 London Pleasance G Buckworth [neé Bragge], b. 1834 Gaywood, Norfolk Children: Everard Buckworth, b. 1867 London Mary P Buckworth, b. 1869 London Richard Buckworth, b. 1870 London AND Visitors: Thomas E Bagge Agnes Ashburner AND Nine live in servants |
Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Formerly domestic servant Lady’s maid, cook, nurse, housemaid, nurse maid, sewing maid, kitchen maid, footman, groom |
Mary Pleasance Buckworth married Rev Hutt Jun qtr 1904 in St George Hanover square. Father of Pleasance |
| 1873 | Theophilus [II] died Swaffham | His death was announced in the London Evening Standard, on the 10th February | |
| 1881 Census (family) |
Mintlyn House, Hunstanton, Norfolk: Pleasance G Buckworth, widow Daughter: Mary P. Buckworth Myriam Warde, b. 1849 Hutingdon And Four Visitors And Five servants |
Governess Housekeeper, Cook, Serving maid, parlour maid, house maid |
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| 1881 Census |
Richard Buckworth, aged 11 at Woodcoate House boarding school, Wallingford, Surey | ||
| 1891 Census (family) |
The Hall, Cockey Cley, Norfolk: Richard Buckworth, b. 1870 Paddington Richard’s mother: Pleasance Grace Buckworth, b. 1840, Gaywood Norfolk Richard’s siblings: Mary Pleasance Buckworth, b. 1869 Marylebone Edward Powell Buckworth, b. 1872 Marylebone AND Visitor: Katherine Maud Winter, b. 1871 East Bradenham AND Ten live in servants |
Living on own means Music Student Housekeeper, Butler, Cook, dairy Maid, 2 housemaids, kitchen maid, footman, Groom |
14th April 1891 Richard married Catherine Jesse Boardman. Theophilus Russel
III was born to them July 1892 Richard also employed a gamekeeper, gardener and a farm Steward on the Home farm. 1891 census – Henry RM Hutt Cambridge undergraduate; his father was Rector of Huckwold |
| Cambridge University alumni | Richard Buckworth Adm. pens. at TRINITY, May 21, 1888. S. of Theophilus Russell [II] (1834), of Cockley Cley Hall, Norfolk. B. Feb. 26, 1870, in London. School, Eton. Matric. Michs. 1888. [Rector] Henry Robert Mckanzie Hutt Adm. pens. at CORPUS CHRISTI, Oct. 1, 1889. Of Norfolk. [2nd] s. of the Rev. W[illiam] W[ayman] (1841), R. of Wilton, Norfolk. B. there Mar. 19, 1870. Schools, Haileybury and Methwold. Matric. Michs. 1889; B.A. 1892; M.A. 1918. Ord. deacon (Liverpool) 1894; priest, 1895; C. of Warrington, Lancs., 1894-7. C. of Gaywood, Norfolk, 1897-1903. C. of Shaw with Donnington, Berks., 1903-4. R. of Brushford, Somerset, 1904-10. R. of Bingham, Notts., 1910-33. Surrogate, 1912-33. Rural Dean of Bingham, 1927-33. Died Jan. 21, 1933, at Bingham. Buried at Cockley-Cley, Norfolk. (Haileybury Reg.; Crockford; The Times, Jan. 23, 1933.) |
Richard and Rev Hutt were at Cambridge University at the same time. R.
of Bingham, Notts., 1910-33. Surrogate, 1912-33. Rural Dean of Bingham,
1927-33. Died Jan. 21, 1933, at Bingham One may assume this is how Mary and Henry met |
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| 1892 | Theophilus Russell [III] born 28th May Swaffham, Norfolk | ||
| 1901 census | Richard living at Redworth Manor Berkshire No record of Theophilus Russell [III] – he may have been at Prep school or Eton, aged 11. |
Widower, own means | |
| 1904 | Henry RM Hutt married Mary P Buckworth in London | ||
| School and University Rolls 1910 |
Eton College, List of Etonians who fought in the Great War
1914-1919: 1910: Buckworth, T. R., Lieutenant R.E., wounded twice. France He left Eton in 1910, aged 18. His mining course at Camborne would have been at least three years, so he would have graduated about 1914-5, and by 1916 he was in France. |
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| 1911 census |
Theophilus’ father, Richard was living at a racing table in Newbury with racehorse trainer as boarder. | ||
| 1911 census | Theophilus III was a Boarder at Treanger House, Basset Street, Camborne
with: Annie Richards, widowed, with 5 children Arthur Burt Lane |
Mining Student Boarding House keeper Mining Student |
Camborne School of Mines admissions Register: Age on entering the school :18.5 years Date entered school [of mines]: January 1911 Date left school [of mines]: June 1913 Parent/Guardian/Home Address: R Buckworth, Lambourne Place, Lambourne Buckinghmamshire Previous School Attended: Eton There is no record of his subsequent occupation. |
| 1911 census (Hutt) |
Bingham Rectory: Henry Robert McKenzie Hutt, b. 1870 Hockwold, Norfolk Mary Pleasance Hutt, b. 1870 Cockley Cley, Norfolk Ellen Richardson, b. 1849 Norwich Emma Richardson, b. 1848 Norwich Ellen Hall, b. 1895 Smalley, Derbyshire |
Clergyman Housekeeper Domestic servant Domestic servant |
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| 1913 | Richard (Theophilus’ father) was declared bankrupt in 1913, as reported in the Grantham Journal. He had mortgaged his estates, including one near Grantham and had lost money racing. Richard died in Paddington in 1936. | ||
| 1913-1915 | In his interview note of November 30th the Officer Commanding
Tunnelling Companies noted that from 1913 to 1915 Buckworth had been employed
by Coniston Electro Copper Company, doing assaying and surveying chiefly
on the surface. “His knowledge of timbering and blasting is confined
to what he was able to gain during the practical parts of his duties and
Camborne, and of course he has had no opportunity of handling men.” [note: he had left the School of Mines in June 1913]. |
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| AVL | Theophilus Russell Buckworth’s address was The Rectory, Bingham. His father having been declared bankrupt and the family estates having been sold, Theophilus after completing his studies and after his work in Cumbria probably had no formal abodes, which may explain his AVL address. He had joined the army by February 1916. He may have lodged with Canon and Mrs Hutt in the short periods between Camborne and Cumbria and Cumbria and the army, we have no record. Clearly he used the Rectory as his postal address. | Theophilus thus had minimal contact with Bingham, but given that he had no other family home, one can perhaps sympathise with what may have been his sister’s desire to have his contribution remembered somewhere. | |
| Electoral Roll | 1919, 1921: Henry Robert McKenzie Hutt, The Rectory. Theophilus not listed. | ||
| 1920 | In May 1920 his address was Stratton, Silverdale Road, Hove, Sussex. | ||
| 1920 | December 9th Theophilus married the widowed Edith G Baillie (neé
Satow) Steyning, Sussex No ages or occupations are quoted on the certificate His address was “Rock House”. Edith was born 1876. |
1911 Census: She was married (1903) to Henry Lancaster Satow (no occupation given). They had a son, Arthur, aged 6 and lived with her family) in Pimlico. Her father was a clergyman. Henry Satow died on 1st November 1911. Probate was granted to Edith Georgina Buckworth 18th June. His estate was £957 14s. 2d. 1927. |
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| 1921 | Electoral Roll: Theophilus and Edith Georgina Buckworth, Rock House, Church Road, Boughton, Monchelsea, Kent | ||
| 1955 Probate |
Edith G Buckworth, aged 79, died 6th July 1955 at Hellingley
Hospital nr Hailsham, Sussex. Address: Guestling Lodge, Martineau Lane,
nr Hastings. Probate granted to Arthur Henry Ivan Satow (son by previous
marriage, see above), retired market gardener: £788 4s 1d. She was described as a widow in the probate register but as wife of Theophilus Buckworth on the death certificate. His address was given as Guestling Lodge, Martineau Lane, Guestling, Nr Hastings, as on the probate register. |
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| 1964 | Certificate: [Theophilus’] dead body found at 8 Cordova Court Sandgate
Road, North Folkestone on 29th December 1964. Aged 72, retired schoolmaster (Private School). |
Cause: emphysema. Informant: K Larkin, Ridge Cottage, Etchinghill, Folkestone. Causing body to be cremated. |
Probate granted to Kenneth Jack Larkin, Sales manager, £20,077 |