IWM Collections

HMS Constance was a C-class light cruiser, launched in 1915: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Constance_(1915)

The Internet Archive and National Library of Scotland have digitised the Navy List of July 1918; this includes a Herbert C. Apperly, with the rank of Surgeon (p. 6): digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=9... The British Medical Journal of 24 July 1915 (PDF) lists a H.C. Apperly as having been approved in examinations at the Second College (Anatomy and Physiology) by the Conjoint Board in England (p.163). The Calendar of the Royal College of Surgeons, August 1921 lists a Herbert Claude Apperly of Chandos Street as a Member (p. 172): archive.org/details/calendar1921roya The British Medical Journal of 22 May 1954 (PDF) records under deaths (p. 1221): Apperly. - In February, 1954, Herbert Claude Apperly, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.D.S., of 37. Crossways, Sutton, Surrey, and 92, Harley Street, London, W., aged 59.

The evidence from genealogical records available on the Internet (e..g. the Ennever family tree) suggests that Apperly practised as a dental surgeon. There is also a brief mention of a H. C. Apperly as a dental surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital in a resumé of a 2010 conference presentation by Stanley Gelbier (PDF). The final paper appears to have been published in Dental History as "Great Ormond Street Hospital, its dental surgeons (1856-1946) and the Cartwright family" (PubMed entry), but I haven't been able to track that down as yet. The Ennever family tree cited above states that Herbert Claude Apperly was born in Hampstead in 1894, the son of Herbert Apperly (also a Dental Surgeon) and Florence (Edmunds); then married to Kathleen Jean Forbes Morris on the 8 April 1926. Interestingly, the National Portrait Gallery catalogue lists two portraits of "Herbert Apperly (died 1932)," there described as consulting dental surgeon to Elizabeth Garnett Anderson Hospital. This (I think) would have been H. C. Apperly's father.

On the 1911 census the family were recorded at North Bar Millway, Reigate, Surrey. Head of the household was Herbert Apperly, (aged 50 and a Dental Surgeon from Rodborough Stroud, Gloucestershire) and his wife of 24 years, Florence, (aged 54 and from Bunbury, Oxfordshire). Still living with them are:- Phyllis Walton....................aged 22............born Hampstead, London Florence Enid....................aged 19...........born Hampstead, London........Student Sybil May...........................aged 14............born Redhill, Surrey John Kenneth Gordon......aged 13............born Redhill, Surrey The family have two live in servants. Herbert Claude, (aged 16 and born Hampstead), was recorded at a boarding school at Monkton Combe, Bath, Somerset. Note that John's age on the 1911 census doesn't really tie up with him being born in 1894. A check of the passengers lists on outbound ships from the UK does indeed include a John Apperly, who sailed from Southampton for Wellington, New Zealand in 1924. His year of birth however is 1897 - which would tie in with the likely birth year for the individual on the census. Herbert Claude's promotion to Temporary Surgeon , effective 22nd January 1918, was gazetted on the 19th February 1918. www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30533/pages/2214

Sadly, Herbert Claude Apperly's body was found at Walton Heath, near Dorking Road, Walton on the Hill, Banstead on April 11, 1954. His death certificate states that he died from an overdose of barbituric acid and that the cause of death was by suicide whilst of unsound mind. He had last been seen alive on Feb 28, 1954

In the “SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8 NOVEMBER, 1945” I found the listing “537540 W.O. II W. H. BAYES”. Is it possible that this is actually the man depicted in the photograph? - not being an army expert by any stretch of the imagination, I did some research: “In February 1915, with the general introduction of warrant officers throughout the army, Conductors and Sub Conductors became Warrant Officers Class I.” (Wikipedia) As regards insignia “from 11 July 1900, Conductors were authorised to wear a crown within a laurel wreath on their lower sleeve and Sub-Conductors a crown, although they did not start actually wearing these until 1901 and 1904 respectively. In 1915, Conductors were authorised a crown in a laurel wreath and Sub-Conductors the royal coat of arms. In 1918, Conductors began wearing the royal arms in a laurel wreath, still their badge of rank.” (Wikipedia) The man shown in the photograph appears to have this insignia on the badge on his cap – you can’t see the lower sleeves. I’ve also discovered that there is a listing for a ‘William Bayes’ on the Woking Memorial to World War One in the Town Square but no rank is listed against the listing. Not sure if this helps at all but thought I should post these facts with nothing seemingly known about this brave man.

I wonder if this was actually H H W Boyes who served in the Royal Engineers. His medal card says his rank was Temporary Captain. Corps of Royal Engineers: Temp. Lt. H H W Boyes from N. Staff. R., to be Temp. Lt. 9th April 1916, with seniority as from 13th Oct 1915. Source: Suppl. to the London Gazette 6th May 1916. H H W Boyes M.C. was granted the rank of Major when he resigned his commission in 1919. Source: Suppl. to the London Gazette 5 Nov 1919. This would mean he had survived the First World War and checking on the CWGC website there's no record of the loss of H Bayes or H Boyes during WW1. The Free BMD indexes record the death of a Henry H W Boyes in the Hove district of Sussex in 1959, aged 71. [b.c.1888].

Thank you Coolshanagh25 and M2901. Interesting questions, we will have to do a bit more work here to get to the bottom of this. This is going to take a little time, so please bear with us. In the meantime, if anyone else has anything to add to this, we'd welcome their comments here.

I concur with the research done by 'Coolshanagh25'. This is Captain (later Major) H H W Boyes MC RE. He was a "Tunnelling Officer" on the Western Front, having transferred to the Royal Engineers from the North Staffordshires in the Autumn of 1915 (officers of relevant experience were sought out in preparation for the 'mining' of German positions in the Somme sector). Temporary Lieutenant H H W Boyes MC was promoted to Acting Captain in the Royal Engineers whilst commanding a section of a Tunnelling Company with effect 13 Oct 1915. (LG 29838 dated 24 Nov 1916). Captain H H W Boyes MC RE was promoted to Acting Major with effect 2 Sep 1918. (LG 31110 dated 3 Jan 1919).//

Temporary Captain Henry H W Boyes MC RE was also awarded a Mention in Despatches published in the London Gazette on 11 December 1917. The 1891 census for Scotland shows a Henry H W Boyes born in Roxburghshire in 1888. The Institute of Mining Engineers records (Transactions Volume LIX) for 1919-1920 shows a Henry H W Boyes, registered with the Mining Institute of Scotland, as working at Ropp Tin Mines, Ropp, on the Jos Plateau in Bukuru, Northern Nigeria. The Bulletins of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy for 1946-1947 report that Lt Col H H W Boyes arrived from Northern Nigeria and was appointed as Officer for West Africa (Bulletin 478); and that he later returned to Northern Nigeria (Bulletin 481).//

Award of the Military Cross announced in the London Gazette, 4 June 1917, p. 5477: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30111/supplements/5477/ DSO citation from the London Gazette, 16 September 1918, p. 10863: Capt. Alfred Raymond Bare, M.C., N. Lan. R. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Under cover of a heavy barrage the enemy attacked, very quickly surrounding a strong point, where this officer had his company headquarters and one platoon. In face of superior numbers, he put up a stout resistance until forced to retire on to another strong point, where the position was very critical, the officer in charge having been killed. He took command, and after a stiff fight, drove back the enemy. He was twice wounded during the fight." www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30901/supplements/10863/

An officer of the same name was earlier commissioned into the 22nd County of London Regiment: London Gazette, 3 November 1914, p. 8894: "22nd (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's); the undermentioned Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants. Dated 25th September, 1914 : -- Alfred R. Bare. John D. Tate." www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28961/pages/8894/ London Gazette, 12 August 1915, p. 8009: "22nd (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's); the undermentioned Lieutenants to be temporary Captains: -- Lawrence J. Clarke. Dated 10th July, 1915. Noel C. Boosey (since died of wounds). Dated 10th July, 1915. Alfred R. Bare, Dated 23rd July, 1915." www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29261/supplements/8009/

A Major A. R. Bare, DSO, MC, ret. appears in the list of retired officers re-employed in the Second World War, 31/7/1943 (Army List, January-March 1944, p 2991): archive.org/details/armylistaprpart221944gre

My Headmistress, Miss Swanton's husband. He made a good Santa every year at the Swan School, Salisbury. (At least, I thought it was him - others say it was Major Higdon - the disguise worked!) I was there September 1964 until July 1968. He was born on the 26th March 1886. (It was both of them! They took it in turns.)

4th Bn. Loyal #.—Lt.-Col. A. R. Bare, D.S.O., M.C. (Maj. ret. pay), resigns his commn. 4th Apr. 1938. www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34509/page/3024/data.pdf THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 MAY, 1938