Background information written by Prof. Brian Edwards (2015)

There are two principal war memorials in St Peter's Church, Edensor commemorating those who died in the first and second world wars as well as a number of memorials to individuals.

First World War 1914-1918

Captain Leonard Vale Bagshawe Son of Rev William Vale Bagshawe who had lived in Calver. He was educated at Uppingham School where his father had been Master of the Lower School. On leaving Oxford University he worked as a forest manager in Burma. He was commissioned into the Kings Own Scottish Borderers on the outbreak of war but later attached to the 1st Division of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Gazetted as Captain in May 1915.  Killed in the great charge at Hooge near Ypres when his Division attacked German trenches on 16th June 1915, aged 37 .  Commemorated on the Menin Gate. Ypres. Panel 22

Captain Herbert Graham Barber MC came from a Sheffield family where his father was the Master Cutler in 1909/10.He was a Territorial soldier with the York and Lancaster Regiment [Hallamshire] and enlisted in the 4th Battalion at the start of the War. His Battalion was involved in the Battle of the Somme where he had been awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the field. He was killed on 7th July 1916 during a German attack on the allied trenches. He was 31.  Buried Authuile Military Cemetery G.3.

Captain Maurice Barber whose family lived in Dore, Sheffield was the son of a former Master Cutler. His elder brother Herbert [see above] had been killed in 1916 and is listed on the same memorial. He enlisted in the 2nd/4th battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was killed by shell fire in the trenches near Cambrai on or about 22nd November 1917 aged 25.  Commemorated on Cambria Memorial Panels 9-10

 

Private Robert Bratby Bates worked at the Chatsworth  Estate in the

Building Department prior to his enlistment in the 4th Battalion of

the Northumberland Fusiliers.  Killed at the Battle of the Somme on

15th September 1916 during an attack on German lines. He was

aged 27.  Commemorated at  Thiepval Memorial 10B/11B/12B.

 

 

Private Allan Bowering son of a local farmer who worked on the Chatsworth Estate as a labourer ploughing and cutting grass. Enlisted in 1916 in the 15th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was killed near Maricourt in heavy fighting on or around 28th March aged 31.  Commemorated Pozieres Memorial

Lance Corporal Harry Brumby lived in Edensor as a boy. His father was a coachman. Enlisted in 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Injured in the trenches on the front line at Gorre in May 1918.Died a week later aged 24.

Buried Pernes British Cemetery IE.40

Major Lord John Spencer Cavendish DSO Grandson of the ih Duke of Devonshire. His older brother Victor became the s" Duke. After Eton and Cambridge University he opted for a military career and eventually became a Major in the 1st Life Guards Regiment of the Household Cavalry. Lord John as he was called was involved in the Boer War including the relief of Ladysmith in 1900. He was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He fought with the British Expeditlonary Force in the early months of the war seeing action in Halte, Saultain, Conpeigne and Nery.  He was killed in action near Ypres by a German machine gunner on 20th October 1914 aged 42. On Monday 19th October the Cavalry had been pushed out of the town of Roulers by force of numbers and by the end of the day they were to be found on the high ridge spread in a thin line that stretched from Roosebeck to Passchendale. Under cover of darkness a whole new German Army moved into position ready to strike the following day. The cavalry men were driven back and Lord John was killed by machine gun fire whilst giving orders to the Cavendish Squadron. [Keith Taylor. Dales life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages]  Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez near Arras. XXI,C.26

Sergeant Frank George Chamberlain worked on the Chatsworth Estate as a woodman. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in 1st Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. He died of his wounds after heavy German shell fire on the trenches at Eacourt on the Somme. He was 25. Buried Warlencourt British Cemetery. Bapaume.V11.H.48.

Acting Corporal Sidney Chandler Employed as a gardener at Chatsworth prior to enlisting in the Northumberland Fusiliers. His Battalion was part of the force attacking Sulva Bay on the Gallipoli Peninsular. He was killed in action on 19th August 1915 whilst attacking Turkish emplacements. Killed aged 22. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial. Gallipoli. Panel 33-35.

Lieutenant Andrew Pepys Cockerell son of the Chatsworth Land Agent. Educated at Eaton College. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Kings Royal Rifle Corps in November 1915.Arrived in France in May 1916 and was engaged in the Battle of the Somme. Killed by shell fire in Mametz Wood on 15th August aged 19.  Memorial service held at St Peters church.  Danzig Alley British Cemetery, Albert, France V.0.10.   Buried Authuile Cemetery. Albert. France. G 3

Private Edward Thomas Edwards worked on the Chatsworth Estate as a woodman. He  enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters but was transferred to the Lincolnshire Regiment which was heavily engaged in the Battle of the Somme. He was injured in trench fighting near the village of Gueudecourt. He was transferred to a base hospital near Rouen where he died on 29 September aged 24. Buried St Sever Cemetery. Rouen. France. B.15.36.

Private John Fearnley lived in Pilsley and worked on the Chatsworth Estate in the gardens and laundry. In August1916 he enlisted in-the Army Service Corps which had been created as a non-uniform support service by Sir Joseph Paxton and others. He later transferred to Sherwood Foresters and then to is" Battalion Royal Scots. He was killed on 9th April near the village of Monchy by machine gun fire. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial Bays 1 and 2.

Private-Edgar-Fletcher was born at Edensor to parents who worked on the Estate. With his wife Mary he emigrated to Canada before the war. In August 1915 aged 39 he enlisted in the Canadian Army in the Machine Gun Corp. In 1918 he was wounded and returned to Canada for treatment. He died of his injuries in September 1919. Buried Toronto [Prospect] Cemetery_G.W.V.A 337.

Lance Corporal John Forbes worked on the Duke of Devonshire's estate at Lismore in Ireland before moving to Chatsworth to work as a forester. Soon after the war was declared he enlisted in the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was killed in fierce fighting in Hessian Trench on the Somme on 26th September 1916 aged 23.

Commemorated on Thiepval MemoriaE10C/10D/11A

Private Charles William Froud worked as a gardener on the Chatsworth Estate alongside George Rydout his father in law. He had earlier worked as a woodman on the estate of the Marquis of Bath. He enlisted as soon as the war began in the Wiltshire Regiment where he had served as a Territorial before the war. For a period he served as a sapper in the Royal Engineers.ln 1917 he transferred to ih Battalion South Lancashire regiment. He was killed by shell fire in the trenches near Cambrai on Christmas Day 1917 aged 29. Buried Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery. V11.D.11

Private William Francis Heathcote grew up in Edensor and Baslow. His parents ran the Institute at Edensor. In 1917 he enlisted in the Army Service Corp and then transferred to 1st Battalion Hertfordshires. He was killed in heavy fighting, probably by shell fire, at Clery sur Somme on 23 March aged 19. Commemorated Pozieres Memorial Panels 28 and 29.

Private Edward Haynes Born in Beeley and worked on the Chatsworth Estate as a domain labourer and as odd job man for the Land Agent and Vicar. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was killed in fierce fighting near the village of Langemark in Flanders on 12th October 1917 aged 24. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial. Panel 99-102 and 162-162A.

Private Frank Hemming was born in Worcester and was a coach wheeler by trade. He worked on the Chatsworth Estate. He enlisted in the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Killed in action at Sulva Bay Gallipoli on 9th August 1915 aged 27. Commemorated Helles Memorial. Gallipoli. Buried Warlencourt British Cemetery .France V11.H.48.

Lieutenant Alwyne Chadwick Hobson was born in Cheshire the son of a Cotton Broker. He enlisted early in the war and joined the 2nd Life Guards, Household Cavalry. He was killed in action by shell fire on 13 May 1915 during the second battle of Ypres. Killed aged 22. Commemorated on the Menin Gate. Panel 3

Private William Henry Howard lived in Calton Lees and worked as a sanitary engineer. Enlisted in Sherwood Foresters in 1915.  Died at home having been wounded in Flanders. Buried St Peter's Edensor.

Private William Thomas Lovell worked as Foreman gardener at Chatsworth. Enlisted in 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Seriously wounded in fighting near Riaumont, Pas de Calais.  Evacuated to hospital at St Orner where he died on 20th May aged 36. Buried Longuenesse [St Omer] Souvenir Cemetery 1V.C3.

Private Richard Morton was born in Beeley and worked as a groom and a gardener for the Chatsworth Estate. He enlisted in the 16th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. He was wounded and captured by the Germans near Clery on the Somme .Eventually he contracted diphtheria and died in a German Military Hospital at Valenciennes aged 34. Buried Valenciennes [St Roch] Communal Cemetery V.E.19

 

 

Major Lord Charles George Francis Mercer Nairne MVO

Second son of the Marquis of Landsdowne. His sister

Lady Evelyn had married Victor Cavendish the 9th Duke of

Devonshire. Major 1st Royal Dragoons. Fought in the Boer

war. Equerry to George V when he was Prince of Wales

before joining his regiment in France. He was killed in action

by shell fire at his Brigade Head Quarters at Klein-Zillebeke,

Ypres on 30th October 1914 aged 40.

Buried Ypres Town Cemetery. E.1.10

 

 

Lance Corporal George Charles Radford was a Chatsworth estate worker before enlisting in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. He was killed on 10th September aged 22 in fierce fighting at Ginchy. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial. 8D.

Private George Edward Siddall MM. Born in Baslow he worked in various capacities at the House and the Cavendish Institute which became the Royal Naval Convalescent Hospital. He enlisted in the 10th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. As a stretcher bearer he risked his life rescuing a comrade under heavy shell and machine gun fire and was awarded the Military Medal. He was killed by a snipers bullet near the village of Neuvilly is" October 1918 aged 40.  Commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. Panel 7.

 

Second World War 1939-1945

Sergeant Gordon Bowering was brought up in Pilsley and worked on the Estate as a forester. His father Allan Bcwering had.heen killed In the first world war. He was called up in 1941 and eventually joined the 142 Squadron of the Royal Air Force and trained as a wireless operator and air gunner. He would have flown in Wellington bombers. He was killed in a bombing raid over Turin in November 1944 aged 24. Buried Florence War Cemetery Plot V Row J Collective grave 7-9.

Major Lord William Cavendish, Marquis of Hartington. On leaving Cambridge University he joined the Coldstream Guards and served with the British Expeditionary Force before being evacuated from St Malo in June 1940. In 1944 he was transferred to the Reserve in order to fight his family's traditional parliamentary seat in West Derbyshire in a bye election which he lost. He married Kick Kennedy the sister of President Kennedy in May 1944. Five weeks after his marriage he joined his regiment in Normandy and was promoted Major. He was killed in September 1944 aged 26 by a German sniper in Belgium whilst leading his men ahead of tanks. His wife was killed in an air crash in May 1948 and is buried at St. Peter's. Buried Leopoldsburg War Cemetery 1.V.B.13

 

 

Private George Allan Howard was born in Pilsley. His father

worked for the Estate in the building yard. George worked in

the kitchen garden and once married lived in a cottage in

Baslow. He enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Northumberland

Regiment in 1941.They were shipped to North Africa and

heavily involved in the battle for Tunis. Private Howard was

killed near Oued Zarga on 29th November aged 30.

Commemorated Medjez-el-Bab Memorial Tunisia Face 25.

 

 

 

 

Private Sidney Lord trained as a forester and worked for Greens Ltd when they felled trees on the Chatsworth Estate. He joined the Green Howards in the early days of the war but came out when he was offered a job in the reserved occupation of timber felling.  He re-joined the 1st battalion Green Howards in 1942 and saw action in Sicily, Italy and Palestine.  1945 his regiment moved to Germany.  Sidney Lord was killed by machine gun fire in an attack near Basedow, Germany.  He was 25. His father Tom Lord was to become Head Game Keeper at Chatsworth in the 1950's. Buried Hamburg Cemetery 1A.A1.12

Corporal Cyril Thomas Neave worked as a gamekeeper on the Chatsworth Estate and lodged in Pilsley. In 1940 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. In 1943 the Regiment fought in North Africa. Corporal Neave was killed by machine gun fire whilst on patrol deep into enemy lines near Mejez-al-Bab. He was 23. Buried Medjez-al-Bab War Cemetery 2.E.20

Trooper William Stone was born in Baslow but moved to the Hunting Tower on the Chatsworth estate where his father was a game keeper. On leaving school William trained as a carpenter for the Chatsworth Estate. He enlisted in the so'' Royal Tank Regiment ,Royal Armoured Corp in 1940.By July 1942 the regiment was fighting in North Africa at the first battle of EI Alamein. William Stone was captured by the Germans after his tank had been destroyed.  He was taken to an Italian prisoner of war camp in Benghazi. He was killed on 26th August 1942 when an Italian ship carrying prisoners of war was torpedoed and sunk in the Ionian Sea. He was 34.

Buried Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens 7D.1-10.

 

Acknowledgement

For a fuller version of the stories behind the memorials ana some pictures see Chatsworth Villages at Peace and War. Keith Taylor. Country Books. Little Longstone, Bakewell, Derbyshire.

 

Thiepval Memorial

Ypres Town Cemetery

Medjez-al-Bab War Cemetery

War Dead Additional Information