Friends of Brockley & Ladywell Cemeteries

William Henry Harris, London’s Oldest Man.

He Invented “Tinsel”

1837-1939

A short stroll from Ladywell chapel, just past grave of Edward Ernest Dowson. lies the family grave of William Henry Harris.

William was born in Deptford, on the 3rd of February 1837. His parents were John Harris (a coal porter) and Martha (nee Bartley). He was baptised at St. Paul, Deptford on the 2nd July 1837, being born in the reign of William the IV, and just four months before Queen Victoria’s Coronation, he married Angela Wynn, at St Alfege Church, Greenwich on Christmas Day 1859.

William went to work when only six years old, labouring a 12-hour day as a child from 6am until 6pm, receiving half a crown a week. He served an apprenticeship as an engineer at New Cross, and was with the Lewisham silk mills for more than 50 years. Rising to be a Chief Engineer there (1911 census, Gold Lace Mills), it was whilst working there he 'invented Tinsel' which revolutionised Christmas decorations.

He was in his 40s, when a lucky accident led to William’s discovery of the secret of making tinsel garlands. His boss wanted to produce a thread that sparkled, but it was not until William picked up a silk thread with metal shavings adhering to it, that the idea became a practical possibility. Tinsel was born as he held it up  and it sparkled so prettily in the light, William recalled.  The idea was adopted by his manager and shavings were fixed to the silk.

(That gay glittering stuff whose sparkle puts paper streamers to shame)

Another of his inventions was a tube for tracheotomy, an operation on the windpipe, used in the treatment of diphtheria. William always claimed that one of his tubes was used to treat the German Emperor father of Kaiser Wilhelm II, who died of an infection of the throat.

William was a pioneer of the cycle industry, making his own machine and cycling until he was over 80, which was when his bike was stolen.

After his retirement in 1914, he did not become idle, for apart from working in his garden, he worked with his sons building a garage on Loampit vale.

At the age of 84, he went up in an aeroplane, and was annoyed because he could not have a second trip

Birmingham Mail-24 February 1939

Being a keen gardener, William celebrated his 100th birthday, by planting an apple tree in his garden. He kept himself fit by eating three loaves of bread a day, he said “If I hadn’t kept fit by eating plain simple food I would have been dead long ago”, until he was 75, he lived on bread and cheese, grilled meat and beer, since substituting the beer for milk. Every morning, he got up at 7.3, light the fires and made his breakfast, composed of a glass of hot water, bread and milk and some toast and marmalade.

But for his birthday dinner he had grilled steak, half a loaf of 24-hour old bread and fruit.

On his 101st Birthday, he spent most of the morning gardening, and later vividly told of things that had occurred during his long life, recalling the days of the Crimean War, and was then able to sing a song, 'Listen you sons of the nation, the glorious achievement is done, the great heights of Alma and Victory and Alice are won.' (He served as a Bandsman in the Kent Artillery Volunteers)

On his 102nd Birthday, he not only gave evidence of all his cheeriness and good spirits, but was able to read a newspaper without glasses.   

Sadly, after only one illness in his life. William Henry Harris, the oldest man in London at the age of 102, died at his home at 85 Algernon Road, on Saturday the 15th April 1939, his death was ascribed to old age.

In the presence of about 200 of his Family, friends and neighbours, the internment took place at Lewisham (Ladywell) Cemetery on Thursday afternoon of the 20th April 1939.

Remains of other centenarians’ repose in the cemetery but at the time William was said to be the oldest person buried there?

Chester Chronicle-22 April 1939

The Family Grave of William Henry Harris with his wife Angelina (Dear Grandma Harris)

Also, sons and daughters and reference to their grandchildren 

Ladywell Cemetery Plot No. E/213

Put together by Phill Barnes.  Committee Member FoBLC.

Researched using Ancestry, Find My Past. also, newspapers and Deceased online. 

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Amy Atkins, born 17 April 1871 Woman Clark-Board of Education aged 73 

Philip Atkins 17 Feb 1874. Retired Bank Clark, Bank of England, aged 70

Both the Atkins, brother and sister, died on the 18th June 1944, in the bombing of the Royal Military Chapel Wellington Barracks. Known as the Guards Chapel. Bird Cage Walk, just a few minutes from Buckingham Palace. 

The worst loss of life cause by a V1

The Sunday morning service was packed with guardsman, their families and friends. when disaster struck. At 11.11 am, the congregation were about to sing the Te Deum. When the noise of a V1 was heard, (the sound of a cheap outboard motor, an old model Ford) the engine cut out, followed by a brief silence, an intensive blue flash and an explosion. The chapel was hit when the flying bomb nosedived on to the chapel roof, entered through the western end and exploded, destroying the roof, its supporting walls, concrete pillars and the portico of the western door. The congregation were buried in 10ft of rubble. 

The death toll was124, 65 Military and 59 Civilians, (one unknown woman, buried in Westminster Cemetery) and well over a 100 injured, many seriously. The chapel was completely destroyed with the exception of the apse. The Bishop of Maidstone (Leslie Owen), who standing at the Alter was one of the very few left uninjured but he was very shaken by the explosion. 

The rescue crews and first aid teams, found a scene of utter devastation with an assessment of 400-to 500 casualties. The debris appeared impenetrable, the collapsed roof and walls had left many trapped, with doctors and nurses obliged to scramble between the concrete walls to administer morphine and first aid. Several rescuers and survivors recalled that the silver alter cross had been untouched by the blast and continued to burn. (the same cross and candle sticks remain in regular use today)

Coordinated by the rescue services and guardsman from the barracks, the rescue effort went on, day and night, for 48 hours before the last body was removed.  The incident was not declared closed until just before midnight on Wednesday, 21 June, 84 hours after the explosion. It was the largest loss of life through a V1 attack

The destruction of the Chapel was the largest single incident caused by the V1 Rockets.

You can visit the guards chapel today, which was rebuilt in the 1960's. The portico which sheltered the Bishop of Maidstone survived and forms part of the new structure.

Dates of Note; at the time

D Day the 6th June 

Cassino, a month earlier

First Doodle Bug to hit London. 13th June 1944 fell in Bow. East London.

18th June 1915. Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo (Guards battle honour)

Dundee Courier 26 December 1945

Despite wartime restrictions, a temporary chapel was erected in a Romney Hut attached to the undamaged apse and this was used from Christmas Day 1945 until 1962 when the rebuilding began.

The Funeral of Philip and Amy was held at St John the Baptist, Holland Road, a few doors from their home, on Monday, 26th June 1944, followed by cremation at Golders Green. Their ashes were later buried in Ladywell Cemetery, in the grave of their sisters Dora, Mabel and Kate.

Ladywell Cemetery. Plot No. D.125a

The grave of their parents Charles and Caroline, lies just to the front of the grave.

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Put together By Phill Barnes-Warden. FoBLC Committee Member.

Research from the book by Jan Gore. Send More Shrouds: The V1 Attack on the Guards' Chapel 1944.Pen & Sword Books. 

Also the websites

https://www.householddivision.org.uk/guards-chapel-about

https://theguardsdepot.co.uk/guards-chapel-v1-flying-bomb-wellington-barracks-1944/

Will was born in Catford and lived there all his brief life. His first job out of school was as an office boy with Charles Dodson, a coachbuilder in Victoria where his Father worked, but in 1923 he was working as an Engineer’s fitter in Vauxhall for Messrs Adam, Grimaldi & Co. of the Albert Embankment. They were manufacturers of aircraft parts, and at that time also manufacturers of a short-lived car called the “Albert”.

He was a keen cyclist and in March 1923 he had once again begun cycling to work after the winter. Thursday 12th April was a showery day, his ride home to Catford that evening took him over Camberwell Green and onward down Peckham Road. At that time the tram ran down the middle of the road with the area between the tracks and the central conduit paved. As he approached the junction with Talfour Avenue he overtook a steam waggon proceeding at a walking pace, and with a tram approaching from behind he pulled out onto the tram tracks to overtake, his bike slipped on the wet roadway, and he fell under the steam waggon. His clothing caught up under the vehicle and he died instantly from a fractured skull.

At the ensuing Coroner’s Inquest witnesses stated that Will “possessed a kindly and charming disposition”, and made friends everywhere. His employer wrote to Will’s parents that he had “always thought very highly of your son. In his conscientiousness to his work and in the progress he was making, I regarded him as one of the best boys we have ever had”.

Henry & Ada Minnie Cornwell had been living in Catford for nearly twenty years but neither were local. Henry was a shopkeeper’s son from Kedington in the South of Suffolk, but in the early 1890s his Father took up farming near Castle Hedingham, Essex. When Henry was 16 his Father tripped whilst walking in his fields and was accidentally killed after falling on the shotgun he habitually carried with him. Henry apprenticed as a wheelwright to a coachbuilder in the nearby village, where he met Ada Minnie Smith, an orphan living with her Grandmother. They married in 1900 and moved to Chadwell Heath in Essex where their first child, Stanley, was born. He died of whooping cough in 1903, aged just 10 months and was buried in Ilford. His name appears in remembrance on the grave in Ladywell Cemetery.

A further son, Arthur, was born in Chadwell Heath in 1903, after which the family moved to Sangley Road, Catford, where three further sons and a daughter were born. Henry worked for Dodson’s until in 1927 he was hired by Hovis Motor Garage on the corner of Bradgate Road and Rushey Green in Catford. Although known as a baker of bread, the company had an associated business repairing and selling motor vehicles. The family lived in a flat above the garage until he retired in 1943.

Their daughter Gladys had married Harold Lambert, who just before the war bought Davenport Garage in Catford, so upon retirement Henry & Ada Minnie moved to Davenport Road on the other side of Rushey Green. They remained there for the rest of their lives.

If you delve deep enough, many families have famous relatives. Henry Cornwell’s Great Grandfather Richard Cornwell had a 4 x Great Grandson called David John Moore Cornwell, who was the successful author better known as John Le Carré. Born more than fifty years apart, Henry was a 2nd Cousin 3 times removed from the younger David Cornwell.

Thanks to Trevor Ralph, Great Grandson of Henry & Ada Minnie Cornwell, who kindly penned this article and for the use of the family photos

Photo of grave. Phill Barnes-Warden

Posted by,  Phill Barnes-Warden. FoBLC,  committee member.

The Illustrious Ladies Tour on Saturday 9th March, led by Jane Hart, ties in with International Women’s Day, and will explore the lives of some of the women commemorated in the two cemeteries.

Meet 2pm at the Ladywell gate for this free tour which will be very informative.

On Monday February the 18th 1924, 12 young women and girls and one male foreman, Edward Jones of Dalmain Road, Forest Hill, were killed while dismantling Verey Light cartridges on Slades Green Marshes. 

The factory of W V Gilbert had been contracted by the Government to dismantle and empty Verey Light cartridges, which were used during World War I by soldiers in the trenches to send signals and light up No Man’s Land between the opposing trenches. The work entailed opening the cartridges with a brass tool, emptying the explosive, which the girls called the powder, this was then pushed through a hatch into a separate part of the shed.

On Monday the 18th February 1924, 26 girls and Edward started work at 8am, a new girl started that day and was being shown how to dismantle the cartridges.

At around 8.45am a cartridge ignited, there was a flash and stars were shooting around the shed, the stars were the flares that illuminated the trenches, a fire started and a fireball ran down the benches, burning the girls as they sat there,  7 of the girls were burnt beyond recognition, My Aunt Amelia Smith (Polly) was one of them. The girls were recognised by family members by the necklaces they wore or items of clothing.

A few of the girls managed to escape, and foreman Edward Jones returned to the building to rescue the girls and died in the process. One witness said the foreman Edward Jones, tried to lift one of the girls through the window but the heat and the smoke was too great and he fell back. Another manager opened one of the doors and he saw a girl on fire, he pulled her out, and she was taken to Erith hospital, her injuries were so severe she died the next day. 

The Crayford Fire Brigade were the first to attend the fire and worked bravely and efficiently to put out the fire preventing it from spreading to the Thames Munition which was next door. 

On the 18th February 2024 at 3pm there is to be a Memorial Service at St Augustine’s Church, Slade Green to mark 100 years since the disaster.

The Victims of the Disaster were:

Alice Mary Craddock (18)  Arthur Street, Erith

Doris Winifred Sturtivant (22)  Manor Road, Erith

Rene Annie Turtle (22)  West Street, Erith

Edith Louise Lamb (23)  Upper Road, Belvedere

Alice Maud Harvey (17)   Arthur Street, Erith

Gladys Constance Herbert (23)  Friday Road, Erith

Alice Sweeny (16)  St Francis Road, Erith

Stella Huntley (19)  Oxford Terrace, West Street, Erith 

Elizabeth Caroline Dalton (25)  18, Lewis Road, Welling

Amelia Mary Smith (Polly) (18)  52, Boundary Street, Erith

Ethel Louisa Pullen (Topsy) (18) 47, Bexley Road, Erith

Edna Allen (17)  Alexandra Road, Erith

Edward Jones (29) 52, Dalmain Road, Forest Hill

I am trying to trace the relatives of the victims to invite them to the Memorial Service. I think it important that these girls and their foreman are not forgotten and are remembered for the sacrifice they made. To date I have been unable to trace any relatives of Edward Jones. Edward is interred in Ladywell cemetery. Plot number No C/1567 in a common grave with 14 others.

Words By Mike Smith

Mick Martin and Phill Barnes-Warden, will be attending the memorial Service, There will be 13 candles at the altar, during the ceromony  the names will be read out, and a candle lit to each. Mick will light one in memory of Edward James Jones

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REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENT SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER  10.55am – 12.15pm approx

Meet at the Ladywell Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice

Following the 2 minute silence: Wreath laying at the Cross of Sacrifice, Ladywell Cemetery

Walk to the Brockley War Memorial via three relevant memorials

Wreath laying at the Brockley Cemetery War Memorial.

Join us for all or part of the event. All welcome.

Next Open Committee Meeting Saturday 21st October at 2pm. 

The next open committee meeting will be on Saturday 21st October at 2pm in the Chapel.  We still need members to join the committee, either as officers or committee members, for the group to function in accordance with the constitution. The tasks are not onerous and will help to maintain the viability the group. Please contact Vice-Chair Jeff Hart if you would like more information (Jeff.Hart@btconnect.com)

Work session Sunday 15th October 10am – 12.30pm

We will be planting additional daffodil bulbs on Chiesman Island, Ladywell Cemetery, so as to create a colourful display in the spring. Meet at the Brockley gate. If you can, bring a spade or trowel to dig the holes for the bulbs. Please let geoffrey@foblc.org.uk know if you will be coming along. Thank you.

General Tour of Both Cemeteries Sunday 22nd October at 2pm

Jeff Hart will be leading a general tour of the Cemeteries starting from the Ladywell gate. Please let your friends and neighbours know and join Jeff for his informative tour.

Remembrance Sunday Event 12th November 11am – 12pm

Our event will start of the Ladywell Cross of Sacrifice with the 11am Silence, followed by a reading and wreath-laying. On the way to the Deptford memorial in Brockley Cemetery, two or three significant graves will be visited. A wreath will be laid on the Deptford memorial. All are welcome to join our act of remembrance.

This year the FoBLC will be taking part in the National Trust’s national heritage open days.  

10am – 1pm:  Ladywell Chapel open with displays

10.30am General Tour starting at the Ladywell entrance

10.30am Tin Poppies and Tin Hats military history walk starting from the Ladywell Cross of Sacrifice

Local artist Luisa Maria MacCormack has kindly agreed to show some of her artworks in the chapel

All are welcome, no booking required

See the FoBLC listing on the Heritage Open Days website 

I thought that I would depart from my usual pattern of offering historical vignettes of some of the illustrious deceased buried in the two cemeteries and instead present the reader with some of my more memorable personal recollections, out of many, that have charted my time as a member of the Friends group and former Chair. By limning and selecting six discrete memories, drawn from the Foblc website (wonderfully edited by Patrick Napier) I hope to share something of my enduring taphophile passion for the historical richness which the cemeteries offer. But also a helpful timeline of my involvement with the Friends group for whom I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude and dedicate this valedictory post to my colleagues who have shared in this journey.

I have opted to copy into these posts some of the commentary originally offered for ease of convenience and to recognise that my parlous state of health needs some respite, but also for offering a lens into the freshness of the event, rather than a vapid recitation of moments in time sieved from the cemetery back locker

The first of these lasting memories dates from 2010 with the restoration of the grave of the 19th century poet, Ernest Dowson. 

Ernest Dowson Headstone restored

On Monday 2nd August there was a short ceremony at Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery to mark the restoration of Ernest Christopher Dowson's grave on the 143rd anniversary of his birth. The original memorial has been restored as fully as possible and a new stone at the foot of the grave quotes two verses of his poetry from Vitae Summa Brevis. 'They are not long, the days of wine & roses'.

The restoration was paid for by public subscription after a Facebook page was set up in his memory by Philip Walker. Attendees were an eclectic mix of local authors, poets and historians. Father Michael Lovett ( St Mary Magdalen's, Brockley) conducted a Service in the Dissenters Chapel after author Jad Adams (Dowson's Biographer) spoke movingly to the seventy or so present about Dowson's legacy at the graveside. He had earlier spoken on the Radio 4 Today programme together with local poet Katy Evans-Bush.

The music of Delius (to words by Dowson) wafted into the Chapel. Following the service many of those in attendance decamped to the Brockley Jack for an informal reception. Foblc's Mike Guilfoyle regaled those present with Dowson's poem 'Dregs' suitably delivered! Several of those who had made the effort to be present came from overseas (including a family from Italy whose aim is to see Dowson translated into Italian). Also present was an admirable representative of the Aubrey Beardsley Society who had travelled from Brighton dressed in contemporary funeral garb and dispensed shortbread with a Dowsonian brio! The absinthe tipple did attract one or two of the hardier visitors.

Hear the Radio 4 Dowson remembrance   - Was this the first time the Brockley & Ladywell Cemeteries have ever been on national radio?

First to the Corinthians: the story of England goalie Harry Albemarle Swepstone

Having a framed copy of a South London Press article on one's wall at home might not engender a flurry of wonderment. But discovering the grave of an England goalkeeper might tilt the balance is my second shared memory:

Harry Albemarle Swepstone (1859-1907) who was born in Stepney, East London, made his England debut against Scotland in 1880. During this match he was beaten by a 'cannon shot' from the Scottish 'Rooney', Centre Forward George Kerr. Harry had the dubious distinction of conceding 18 goals in six international matches as England goalkeeper between 1880 to 1883. When the famous Corinthian amateur football club was formed in 1882 to improve the flagging fortunes of the England football Team (sound familiar?!) and challenge the then supremacy of the Scottish Football Team, he suggested the name, which was accepted unanimously. The football club later came to be known as the Corinthian-Casuals in 1939, and was based in Tolworth after moving from Crystal Palace.

The world famous Brazilian Corinthian Paulista club founded in 1910 was inspired to adopt the name, following an historic football tour undertaken by the London based club. Real Madrid adopted the Corinthian's white shirts for their iconic strip. The team now play in the Isthmian League Division One South. Harry also played for Pilgrims FC and was an FA Cup winner in 1879/80. A solicitor by profession he practised at Bishopsgate and served on the FA committee in 1883/84. Harry died on the 7th May 1907 and is buried with his wife, Emmie and daughter who pre-deceased him aged just 10 years old. The family grave(which is sadly neglected) lies a few yards from that of the newly restored grave of the poet Ernest Dowson in the Ladywell section of the cemetery.

War poet David Jones commemorated with maroon plaque

Achieving the ambition of securing a maroon plaque for the poet, artist and soldier was one of those momentous occasions when my pride and joy in this collective act of remembrance brought home to me the strength of feeling attached to being a member of the Friends group. It is the third of my six memories.

The campaign to recognise David Jones, Brockley's most illustrious poet, soldier, artist has been spearheaded by the Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries and all the funding to pay for the maroon plaque was sourced from the generous donations of admirers of David Jones with the support of the Homeowners and Lewisham Archives.  The maroon plaque celebrates the achievements of former residents of Lewisham Borough.The unveiling was undertaken by Nicholas Elkin, trustee of the David Jones Society and great nephew of the war poet.

One worthy quote from the book 'I would like to have done anything as good as David Jones has done’ Dylan Thomas

On the 2nd December at 67 Arabin Road, SE4 there was an unveiling of a maroon plaque to commemorate the Great War poet, soldier and artist David Jones (1895-1974), who is buried in Ladywell Cemetery. Born in Brockley in 1895 he served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the Great War, having interrupted his studies at Camberwell Art School, and was wounded at the Battle of Mametz Wood during the Somme Offensive in July 1916. Of all the Great War poets he served the longest on the Western Front and his superb poetic memoir 'In Parenthesis' published in 1937 won the prestigious literary award The Hawthornden Prize and was described by writer T.S. Eliot as a 'work of genius'.  A convert to Catholicism, he spent time with the sculptor and artist Eric Gill and his calligraphy and brilliant artistic outpourings were compared by the art historian Kenneth Clark to those of the artist William Blake. He suffered greatly from the trauma of the trenches which resulted in nervous breakdowns and much of his artistic imagery is defined by these formative experiences.  Following the publication of his second long poem 'The Anathemata' in 1952 his critical acclaim as a poet and artist merited the accolade from Poet WH Auden as' probably the finest long poem written in English this century'. David Jones died in Harrow in 1974 and was buried in the family grave in Ladywell cemetery.  On November 11th 1985  the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes unveiled a memorial stone in Poets Corner Westminster Abbey to sixteen Great War poets including David Jones.

Kent and England cricketer Edgar 'Ned' Willsher

Serendipity and cemetery research seem at times to be kindly aligned, Certainly with the fourth inclusion this was very much the case.

For some years now one of the unrealised ambitions of the more active headstone hunters of the friends group, has been to locate the final resting place of the Kent and England cricketer Edgar 'Ned ' Willsher (1828-1885) who was the catalyst for the shift from round arm to overarm bowling. That ambition was finally realised recently when working with a black and white photograph of the stump of the Willsher headstone in Ladywell cemetery (featured in Giles Phillips 2012 biography on Edgar Willsher, 'The Lion of Kent') three members of the friends group experienced that jubilant eureka moment, having lighted on the remnants of the family grave close to one of the inner pathways nor far from the Ladywell chapel.

Born in Rolvenden, Kent in 1828 into a family with cricketing associations , Edgar whose fast left -handed bowling was to be his trademark, made his debut for Kent in 1850 at the Kennington Oval against Surrey. By 1860 his impressive wicket tally meant that he was now established as the key bowler for Kent,including securing a career best innings figure of 8/16 as well as scoring a maiden half-century with the bat.

Although by the 1860's round arm had replaced had replaced underarm as the standard method of bowling, overarm was still illegal.But in August, 1862 at the Oval, Edgar became the first cricketer to be no balled for bowling overarm. Playing for an England X1 against Surrey he was called no less than six times by the umpire , John Lillywhite ( of the famed sports outfitters family) for delivering the ball with his hand above his shoulder. Edgar then left the field with eight of his team mates and the game was then abandoned for the rest of the day. When the game was resumed (with Lillywhite being replaced as umpire ) he recorded 6 wickets for 49. As a result of the game, cricketing law was changed and from the beginning of the 1864 season, overarm bowling was legalised.

Edgar played first class cricket for Kent from 1850 to 1875 and took over 1,300 first class wickets ( in spite of having only one lung!) He led a tour of Canada and the USA in 1868 ( which included games of baseball ) and after retiring from cricket he became an umpire. Edgar played alongside the legendary W G Grace in his final invitation game.

The renowned bowler , known as the 'Lion of Kent' died in Lewisham in 1885, now forever famed in the annals of cricketing history for his bold move in walking off the field in 1862 to draw attention to the growing clamour to introduce overarm bowling.

Author with cemetery luminary Mick Martin(green top)

Passchendaele - Second Lieutenant Hugh Gordon Langton

The penultimate post has its own special poignancy as it involved members of the friends group visiting the town of Ypres, Belgium in 2017 to mark the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele. The story is told here:

One of many iconic images of the Passchendaele battlefield in 1917.-

Passchendaele is a small village five miles north-east of Ypres (Belgium) and is the name by which the final stages of the Third Battle of Ypres is better known. Along with the Somme, it has come to symbolise the Great War for many. The Third battle of Ypres was preceded by the attack on Messines ridge in June 1917. The main battle commenced on the 31st of July 1917, and stretched on until November the 10th, 1917. The final phase, the advance on Passchendaele, took place in October and November, the aim being to take the strategically important high ground of the Passchendaele ridge. The first battle of Passchendaele, on the 12th October, failed to take the village, and the second battle of Passchendaele lasted from the 26th of October until the 10th of November. After over three months, with 325,000 Allied and 260,000 German casualties the result was little more than to expand the ground covered by the Ypres salient and the controversy over the conduct of the Battle remains to this day.

Headstone of Second Lieutenant Hugh Gordon Langton -Poelcapelle British cemetery,  West Flanders  Belgium

On Sunday, November 5th, 2017 at Poelcapelle CWGC Cemetery nr Ypres , Belgium, there was a ‘special centennial memorial’ for Second Lieutenant Hugh Gordon Langton, (4th Battalion-London Regiment) Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action on October 26th, 1917, during the ‘Battle of Passchendale’. - Eight members of the Friends group attended as part of a British delegation at the kind invitation of Gil Bossuyt ( Local First World War guide). Also in attendance playing the moving music for the tribute were 45 musicians of the local Flemish Deerlijk Brass Band The event was recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ( see link below) and in a welcome break in the weather during a sunlit interlude a poppy wreath was laid at the headstone.

Hugh Gordon Langton was a very promising violinist, who was taught by the most prominent music teachers from that time from across Europe. The grave of Hugh Gordon Langton is the only one of all Commonwealth graves and memorials (there are more than a million worldwide) which has musical notes inscribed as an epitaph. However a recent tonal revision of the musical notation -the piece was originally thought to have been from ' After the Ball is over' a popular Tin Pan Alley song from 1891 has led to some doubts by music scholars as the notes would suggest a different composition?

As part of the planned visit the Friends group were able to benefit from an excellent guided walk from Gil over parts of the former Battlefield , to be present at the playing of the last post at the Menin gate, Ypres and to enjoy the warm hospitality offered after the Sunday tribute by sharing in a memorable meal with Gil and members of the band in nearby Zonnebeke before returning home.

The family grave lies in Brockley cemetery.

Jane Clouson book launch

The final memory dates to a book launch in the Chapel at Ladywell cemetery in 2016.

Jane Clouson's tragic story and that of the controversial criminal trial of the man accused of her murder was vividly recounted at the launch in the critically acclaimed book Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane by US author and academic Paul Thomas Murphy, nominated for an Edgar award for best crime Non-fiction in 2017. He had travelled from his home in Colorado(USA) to present his findings and the enraptured audience greatly appreciated his presentation after four years of research.

Jane Clouson is also remembered in a 2019 podcast – London Epitaphs 1. narrated by Mike Guilfoyle (produced by Tempest Productions).

An article in the South London press in 2021 by Mike can be viewed here : https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/jane-was-16-pregnant-and-brutally-murdered/

Paul Murphy's latest book is on the 19c polymath John Ruskin who was a close friend of Sir John and Lady Simon  they are buried in Ladywell cemetery.

The brutal murder of Jane Clouson in Eltham, South London in 1871 became a press sensation, with the police investigation and the trial keeping the public gripped with the accused's acquittal (largely due to legal rulings disallowing key evidence) causing outrage. This overdue re-examination of the case and the subsequent libel trials fought by the prime suspect reviews the evidence in the light of 21st-century procedure and finally identifies the culprit of this long-unsolved killing!

I hope this ready made assemblage of highlighted memories offers the reader some added interest in returning to past posts that have galvanised and enthralled me over the years I have been a member of the Friends of Brockley & Ladywell cemeteries.

Readers can also uncover some of the many other luminaries buried here by accessing my four history guides and twelve narrated podcasts (the latter free to download) flagged up on the sidebar of the Friends group website: https://www.foblc.org.uk/

Mention should also be made of the welcome publication of the latest edition of Hugh Meller and Brian Parsons Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer to London Cemeteries (including an expanded section on Brockley & Ladywell cemeteries) and now available to buy from stockists.

Located close to one of the inner pathways in Ladywell cemetery lies the final resting place of William James Spratling, sometimes referred to as W.J.Spratling. The cruciform headstone is often enveloped in shrubbery, so it needs a beady eye to spot it! Some while ago I discovered a fascinating link that W.J.Spratling had to Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen who committed one of the most notorious English murders of the 20th century. He dismembered his wife's body and buried the remains in the coal cellar of the house in North London they shared before fleeing with his lover, Ethel Le Neve, who was disguised as his son, as they tried to escape to Canada aboard the SS Montrose.

The story of that link and the 1910 trial is recounted here :

Inspector Dew escorting a handcuffed and muffled by scarf Dr.Crippen on arrival in England aboard the SS Megantic.

Source: Wikipedia.

Firstly Dr Crippen :

Born in Michigan in 1862, Crippen, a doctor of homeopathy, came to London in 1897 with his second wife, Cora. Mrs Crippen was a budding music hall singer, also known by her stage name Belle Elmore.  On the morning of 31 January 1910, Paul and Clara Martinetti left the Crippens’ house at 39 Hilldrop Crescent, after an evening dining and playing cards. Cora Crippen was never seen again.

After Cora’s friends caught Crippen out in his lies about her disappearance, the police began to look into her whereabouts. Despite them finding nothing suspicious, Crippen was sufficiently rattled by the investigation to flee, taking his lover and secretary, Ethel Le Neve, with him.

It was this act which caused Chief Inspector Walter Dew and colleagues to return to Hilldrop Crescent and conduct a second, more thorough, search of the property. Under the floor of the cellar, they discovered a mass of human flesh and internal organs, along with hair curlers, hair, and bloodied material from a camisole, pyjama top and handkerchief.

The chase to capture Crippen and Le Neve was played out in public. in 1910 newspapers contained regular updates of Crippen’s behaviour on the SS Montrose as received by telegraph. They were also given updates on the progress of Inspector Dew, as he raced to reach Canada before the suspects on the faster SS Laurentic.

As well as being the first time a police chase was played out in the media, the Crippen case also saw the debut of the modern forensic expert, personified by pathologist Bernard Spilsbury. There were three main pieces of evidence: the hyoscine found in the body. Crippen had purchased hyoscine and signed the poison book at Lewis and Burrows Chemists in January 1910, but had no known use for the drug and could not provide a convincing explanation for what had happened to his purchase; the pyjama top which matched a pair of pyjama bottoms found in Crippen’s bedroom, and a representative from Jones Bros stated these had only been on sale since after the Crippens had moved into Hilldrop Crescent; and an alleged abdominal scar.

It was this scar that was the key piece of evidence against Crippen. Despite the fact that even today experts cannot agree whether the mark is an operation scar or a fold in the skin, Spilsbury and his colleagues were able to convince the jury that this piece of skin provided proof of the identity of the victim.

After deliberating for less than half an hour, the jury found Crippen guilty of poisoning his wife with hyoscine and dismembering her body. He was sentenced to death and executed at Pentonville prison on 23 November 1910, still protesting his innocence.

Photo of Dr. Crippen and Ethel Le Neve in the dock.

Source: Daily Mail Online.

A series of snatched photographs of the American homeopathic doctor, in the dock alongside his mistress Ethel le Neve, were splashed all over the papers of the day, infuriating the judiciary and politicians. In the years after Crippen was convicted and hanged for the murder of his wife, parliament passed a new law.Although that law banned, not just photographs but sketches during trials, the rules were later relaxed to allow the press to employ the talents of court artists, to sketch a likeness of the accused and others involved in a particular trial. That is until 2020 when cameras were allowed back in courts in England and Wales.

Norfolk born Ethel Le Neve, also known as Ethel Clara Le Neve was exonerated of the charge of complicity to murder. She died in Croydon in 1967.

Belle Elmore , stage name of Dr. Crippen's wife Cora c.1910.

Source : My London

The ultimate posthumous destination for many notorious murderers such as Dr. Crippen (Madame Tussauds wax works London)

Image : Tripadvisor

Secondly William Joseph Spratling :

The link to the trial (see below) was originally overlooked as W.J.Spratling's name was added to the list of witnesses having earlier been omitted. Although employed as a Chemist, he also prosecuted cases when he became a Barrister.

As well as being a prominent Freemason, it should be noted that he was the first Headmaster of Haberdashers Aske's school, New Cross.

This excerpt from an earlier piece of research I undertook offers a brief biography :

Contemporary new clipping which confirms the link to the Crippen trial. W.J. Spratling appeared on behalf of Messrs. Lewis & Burrows, based in New Oxford Street, the chemists from which poison was purchased. He had been overlooked in original witness list!

The headstone of W.J.Spratling in Ladywell cemetery.

Source : Find a Grave

Also buried in the family plot are :

Kate Elizabeth Spratling d 1961

Emily Margaret Spratling d.1933

Catherine Jane Spratling d. 1924

Kenneth Walter Ellis . d 1900

For more stories like this get our new book 'A Tale of Two Cemeteries: A Guide To Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries'

Salford born Joe Bowker (1881-1955) was a British boxer who was world bantamweight champion from 1904 to 1905. In 51 professional fights, he compiled a career record of 40 wins, 8 losses and one draw with two no-decisions. Fourteen wins came by knockout.

British boxing historian Maurice Golesworthy wrote of him: "Indeed, there are many authorities who rate Joe Bowker as the most skilful boxer ever produced in this country. 

Source : Wikipedia

Joe Bowker is buried in Brockley cemetery and his remarkable life story as a boxer has been well covered. See this link for Joe Bowker's fighting history.

Sadly the inscription on the flattened headstone enveloped by undergrowth in Brockley cemetery of Joseph Lord Bowker has most of its lettering missing.

For the purposes of this post , I wanted to allude to a boxing match from 1905 in which Joe Bowker defeated a legendary East End boxer called Pedlar Palmer also known as Thomas Palmer nicknamed 'Box o' Tricks'

Pedlar Palmer (1876 – 1949) was an English boxer who held the world bantamweight championship from 1895 to 1899. His story is another remarkable one and this link gives you a flavour. 

One of Palmer’s last great performances was on March 20 1905, when he challenged Joe Bowker for the British featherweight title, and also the British version of the World featherweight title, and was stopped in the 12th round of a thrilling contest.

But in April 1907 Palmer was involved in an altercation, when he took exception to a passenger's use of abusive language in front of women and children, on a train returning to London from Epsom Races, this was to be a devastating turning point in his boxing career. The original charge of murder was reduced and he was jailed for 5 years for manslaughter. The fellow passenger on the train whose life was ended so tragically was a Deptford Gas fitter called Robert Choat who died from a blow to the head. The death of a train passenger at the hands of a former World Champion boxer attracted huge publicity here and abroad.

LONDON, April 25. -- "Pedlar" Palmer, the English pugilist, who with another man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of having caused the death of Robert Choat, a Gas house stoker of Deptford, whose body was found in a railroad car coming from Epsom, after the races, was charged at the Croydon Police Court this morning, with murder.

Source : New York Times.( 1907)

What of Robert Choat of Creek road, Deptford. Unfortunately we know very little of Roberts life before this time. His widow, Mary Elizabeth Choat received £67 when probate was settled. Robert was interred in Brockley cemetery on the 4th May 1907. His grave appears to be an unmarked one.

Another fascinating cemetery link is that of the Anglican priest who officiated at Robert's funeral. The funeral service was held at St. Nicholas Church, Deptford. The Reverend Arthur Hart 1859-1918  is buried aside the outer pathway in Brockley cemetery adjoining Brockley road. He lived on Wickham road, Brockley and his probate was slightly more eye catching than Robert's at £3267!

He had quite an illuminating position as the 'Friendly Vicar' of St Nicholas parish. This insert is from a piece of research I did on his life some while ago:

In March 1866 a British envoy had been dispatched to secure the release of a group of missionaries who had first been seized and held hostage when a letter Tewodros II had sent to Queen Victoria requesting munitions and military experts from the British, delivered by an envoy, Captain Cameron, had gone unanswered. They were released; however Tewodros II changed his mind and sent a force after them and they were returned to the fortress and imprisoned again, along with Captain Cameron.

The British won the battle of Magdala, which was an almost impenetrable mountain top fortress in northern Ethiopia which became the seat of power for Emperor Tewodros I, rather than being subjected to capture, Tewodros committed suicide as the fortress was finally seized.

The explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley (famous for his exploration of Central Africa and his search for missionary and explorer David Livingstone) travelled to Ethiopia as a war correspondent for the New York Herald accompanying the British force that was led by Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier in 1868.

Many sacred manuscripts were looted after the battle, Ethiopia's ' Elgin Marbles' and are now held in various places, including a boarded up cavity in Westminster Abbey!

The Emperor's son 6 year old Prince Alamayu was brought back to England where he charmed Queen Victoria. Sadly he died in 1879 aged 18 years and is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor- a haunting account of his years in England is contained in this recent book by Andrew Heavens

For readers interested in a fuller account of the life of this cruel, capricious and charismatic Emperor of Ethiopia, Philip Marsden's 2008 book is highly recommended.

Located close to one of the inner pathways in Ladywell cemetery is the headstone of a Major Joseph Mellor who was born in the village of Soyland, near Halifax Yorkshire in 1838. Details of his military service are presently sketchy. He did serve with the 33rd Regiment of Foot ( East Yorkshire Regiment) and was present at the Battle of Magdala which was was the conclusion of the British Expedition to Abyssinia fought in April 1868 between British and Abyssinian forces at Magdala, 390 miles from the Red Sea coast. The British were led by Robert Napier, while the Abyssinians were led by Emperor Tewodros II. General Napier was subsequently given the title of Baron Napier of Magdala in recognition of his part in the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia

Major Mellor who was married to a Charlotte Mills d.1926 (also interred here) spent his final years living in Brockley and died at 80 Howson road in July 1903. Their son, Cardell Frederick Mellor d.1929.

Image kindly supplied by Grace -Major Mellor's was her Great Great grandmother's brother.

Photograph of Major Joseph Mellor ( undated)

Source: Ancestry UK

The Abyssinian War Medal was awarded for service between 4 October 1867 and 19 April 1868 to those who participated in the Abyssinian Expedition of 1868.  About 14,000 medals were awarded, so is it safe to assume that Major Mellor was one of those awarded the medal seen above?

Headstone of Major Mellor is located in Ladywell cemetery.

Source : Foblc member Phill Barnes -Warden

Another denizen of the cemetery who was also present at the Battle of Magdala, and whose grave is located in the Roman Catholic consecrated section of Brockley cemetery is James Joseph Louis Ratton MD (1845-1924) who was a Lt.Colonel, physician ( Indian Medical Service) and a Catholic with strong anti-Masonic views. After a stint as Professor of Surgery at the Medical College, Madras (India) He published works about the manufacture of salt and was involved in famine relief work. He began to study the Book of Revelation and published a number of exegetical books on the topic. His wife Marie Adolphine Doveton died in 1890 and is also interred in the family burial plot.