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

Poor fello. He almost survived the war.

Acting Captain Frank Calder Tilbrook, b. 1895 in Caistor, near Grimsby, was the son of Edmund Montague Tilbrook (b. 1859) and Diana Tilbrook, later of 2 Pelaw Leazes, Durham, Co Durham.

Frank Calder Tilbrook joined 10th Lincolns, the Grimsby Chums, probably with friends from his schooldays, as they formed in Grimsby and was allocated the Regimental Number 10/622. They initially trained in Post Office uniforms on the Earl Yarborough's estate at Brocklesby. In May 1915, equipped with rifles and in proper uniforms, the battalion went to Ripon in North Yorkshire for skill at arms training, and then, with other elements of 101st Brigade of 34th Division, to Sutton Veney on Salisbury Plain. At one time warned for service in the Dardanelles, but then stood down, the men of 10th Lincolns were anxious that the war would be over before they were ready for deployment. (They eventually embarked for France in January 1916 - to suffer terrible casualties on the first day of the Somme on 1st July 1916).

Rapidly promoted to Corporal, Frank Tilbrook was meanwhile selected for officer training and was commissioned into 7th Durham Light Infantry on 1st August 1915, but immediately volunteered for secondment to the Royal Engineers. His attachment to 231 Fd Coy RE being published in the London Gazette of 8th September 1915, to be effective from 9th September 1915. 231 Fd Coy, raised in Doncaster, (together with 224 Fd Coy and 229 Fd Coy), was assigned to the recently formed 40th Division (a 5th New Army Division) and landed in France on 10th November 1916.

231 Fd Coy RE initially saw operations during 1917 in the Ancre area. On 3rd December 1917 they moved to Cambrai. When the Ludendorff Spring Offensive struck on 21st March 1918, 231 Fd Coy moved to St Quentin, and then withdrew on 24th March to Bapaume, before being rushed forward into action at Estaires on 9th April 1918.

The massed German attack on the British line, Operation Georgette, later described as the Battle of the Lys, commenced with the Battle of Estaires 9-11 Apr 1918. The German attack opened at 7am on 9th April 1918 with heavy gas and HE shelling, heralding German infantry assaults streaming forward using 'Hutier tactics' to storm the British positions under cover of thick fog. 231 Field Company would have been committed to the denial of crossings over the Rivers Lawe and Lys, by demolition of bridges, whilst enabling the infantry of 40th Division to withdraw in contact over reserved demolitions and temporary bridging - specifically around Bac St Maur. It is of note that Lieutenant Mark Christopher Ball RE of 231 Fd Coy RE was killed in action on 9th April 1918.

A/Capt Tilbrook is noted elsewhere as having died of wounds on 10th April 1918, it is likely that he was mortally wounded during the actions by 231 Fd Coy on 9th April.

Lance Corporal George William Beighton and Sapper Percy Horner of 231 Fd Coy RE were respectively awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Belgian Croix de Guerre for their gallantry at this time [LG 19 Jun 1919 and LG 4 Sep 1919]. Company Sergeant Major A C Stead and Corporal R W Burne of 231 Fd Coy both received the Meritorious Service Medal [LG 18 Jan 1919]. T/2Lt H Bowman RE and Sjt S J Richardson were Mentioned in Despatches [LG 4 Jul 1919].//

This portrait appears to have been taken at the photographic studios of George A Edes in Durham.//

The database UK Soldiers Died in The Great War 1914-1919 notes that he 'died of wounds'.

Born in 1895 he was the son of Edmund Montague and Diana Tilbrook and had 2 older sisters: Mary Lister and Annie Elizabeth. In 1901 the family lived at Laburnum Villa, Queens Parade, Great Grimsby where his father was Chief Clerk (Post Office). They employed a Housemaid.

The house was known by its number, rather than its name, a decade later and was now 7 Queens Parade. The house no longer exists but must have been a fairly substantial residence since the 1911 census shows the family occupied 8 main rooms plus ancillary rooms.

The Tilbrooks had been married for 22yrs and had had another two daughters: Edna Mabel and Catrina Diana. Edmund was now Superintendent of the Post Office at Grimsby.

National Probate Calendar shows that Frank Calder Tilbrook was of 2 Pelaw Leazes Durham at the time of his death. Probate granted to his father, now postmaster,. Effects £296 6s 6d.
This address is shown on his Medal Roll Index Card as being that for his father. It does not exist as Pelaw Leazes but may reflect the type of residence now shown as 2 Leazes Place maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=2+pelaw+leazes+durham&am...

Of his sisters, only Annie Elizabeth appears to have married. The others all died unmarried in Claro Registration District (Harrogate).

2nd Lieut Tilbrook is remembered on 3 War Memorials see the following links
www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=10969#listlink AND www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=7051#listlink AND www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=10584#listlink

30183 Clive Townsend Thompson was from Sydney in New South Wales. He was born in the parish of Stratfield and his next of kin on enlistment was recorded as his mother, Mary Thompson. He was a student aged 19 yrs and 3 mths when he enlisted on 5th September 1916, and was living at the family home at 17 Collingwood St, Drummoyne, Sydney. He had already completed 3 months compulsory military service with 31st Infantry Battalion and he signed for a voluntary 3 year engagement with 22/1st Field Artillery Brigade. He was killed aged 20 in the opening days of the Australian 9th Brigade involvement in the disastrously over-ambitious and inadequately planned Battle of Passchedaele (9th Brigade AIF attacked on 12th October). The Ypres battlefield had been churned into slurry by heavy shelling over the preceding 3 years and torrential rain during the month of August 1917. Passchendaele has rightly become synonymous with the squandering of mens lives in some of the most ill conceived attacks of the entire war. Photographs of the battle convey an idea of the horror of fighting there; it is almost unimaginable to understand what it must have been like on that battlefield at night. A fit, young, intelligent soldier, Clive Thompson could well have been a signaller, runner or rifleman with an artillery observation party, well forward in the front line, directing the preparatory shellfire on the German lines. This would also have placed him amongst the most exposed and vulnerable troops in areas where the ground offered indifferent protection from observation and enemy fire and was full of lethal traps even for the most experienced soldiers.//

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Thank you very much for this short bio.