LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI

Rifleman Harry Caleb Skilton
8th Bn. Rifle Brigade

Town Memorial P7.R4.C1

Rifleman
Henry C Skilton
8th Rifle Brigade

France
Sept 17 1916

Taken, Not Given Liam Sumption: page 64

The Parish magazine, issue of November 1916, recorded the death of Rifleman Skilton in action on 17 September 1916. (1)

Rifle Brigade records (2) give a few more details. His full names were Harry Caleb Skilton, No. S/14463, Rifleman, 8th Bn. He had enlisted at Guildford (residing Leatherhead) and had been born in Leatherhead.

The War Diary of the 8th Bn., Rifle Brigade, gives a terse but telling account of what took place. The episode commenced on 12 September when they were in Fricourt-Camp. On 13th September the Battalion moved to Delville Wood and the relief was completed by 1.30 a.m. (14th). (3)

On the 15th, The Rifles moved to 'Brown' trench and 'A' Company sustained casualties from shelling.
Zero hour was fixed for 6.20 a.m. and the battalion went 'over the top'.

The 8th K.R.R.s were on the left, and the Guards on the right. Very few casualties were sustained for the first 150 yards. However, the next 200 yards over 'no mans land' incurred heavy losses. A "great shortage of stretchers and stretcher bearers" became apparent.

'Pint' trench and 'Switch' trench were carried, but only a 'trench strength' of 6 officers, the medical officer and 160 ORs remained.

On 16th September The Rifles were relieved by the 5th Ox & Bucks.
By the 17th the battalion was back in Fricourt-Camp where they had started.

An Appendix gives the names of all the casualties:
Killed:  Officers 10; ORs 39
Died of wounds:  Officers 2; ORs nil
Wounded: Officers 3; ORs nil
Wounded included D.O.W.: Officers nil; ORs 269
Missing: Officers nil; ORs 106
Totals: Officers 15; ORs 414

A total of 429, about half strength, but allowing for a 'trench strength' of only 167 The Rifles must have been depleted and much below establishment.

In the casualty list S14463 Rifleman Skelton H of 'D' Company is reported as 'Missing'. His name is spelt Skelton and not Skilton.

Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead: issue of November 1916
2. Soldiers Who Died in the Great War: copy in the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth
3. File W095/1896 War Diary of 8th Bn The Rifle Brigade: Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond

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Further research

Rifleman
SKILTON, H C
Service Number S/14463
Died 17/09/1916
Aged 22
8th Bn. Rifle Brigade
Son of Albert Henry and Sarah Annie Skilton.

Buried at GROVE TOWN CEMETERY, MEAULTE
Location: Somme, France
Number of casualties: 1397
Cemetery/memorial reference: I. D. 4.

LEATHERHEAD & THE WAR
PTE H. SKILTON KILLED.
Report has come to hand of the death in action in Pte H. Skilton, a nephew of Mrs. Richardson*, of Sunnyside, Kingston-road, Leatherhead, and who was well known locally. Pte H. Skilton, who was 22 years of age, was one of the many local lads who received their early training in the Church Lads' Brigade under Mr. B. C. Stenning, and then when war broke out joined the colours and did well in their respective regiments.

The deceased, after leaving Leatherhead, joined the Union Castle Line and rose to the rank of quartermaster in that company's service. He left home for his last trip to South Africa a few days before war was declared, and on reaching Cape Town his boat and crew were taken over by the Government for conveying troops, and the boat was afterwards used as a hospital ship.

When he came to England with his boat in October, 1915, he expressed wish to join the Army, and enlisted in the Rifle Brigade. Pte Skilton went out to France in the early part of this year, and died wounds received in action September 17th.

[* Grace Julia Richardson, née Skilton]

 

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 30 December 1916

ROLL OF HONOUR. BRAVE SURREY MEN FALLEN IN THE WAR.
LEATHERHEAD AND DISTRICT
OCTOBER
SKILTON, Pte. H., Rifle Brigade, died from wounds received in action, nephew of Mrs. Richardson, Sunnyside, Kingston-road, Leatherhead.

He is on the Church Lad's Brigade Roll of Sacrifice 1914-1920 Tryptich at All Saints' Church, Leatherhead.

Harry is listed among serving 'In the Fleet and at the Front' in the July 1915 Parish magazine:

Skilton, H., S.S. Galway Castle

In the January 1916 Parish magazine he is listed

In the Territorial Battalions, or New Army.
Skilton, H , Rifle Brigade

And in the March 1916 issue:

In the Territorial Battalions, or New Army.
Skilton, H., Rifle Brigade

His life

Henry or Harry Caleb Skilton was born on 20 July 1894, Leatherhead, Surrey. He was baptised on 21 October 1894 at Christ Church, North Brixton.

His father was Albert Henry Skilton (1872-1895), a House Painter (1891 Census) born at Holmwood, Surrey, baptised 12 May 1872 in the Parish of Capel, Surrey.

In the 1881 Census Albert was with his grandparents, Robert Willard, a Post Office Messenger from Beeding, Sussex and Eliza Willard, a Dressmaker from Capel, Surrey.

In the 1891 Census Albert was living at Bridge Street, Leatherhead, with his parents and many siblings. His father was Henry Skilton, a Jobbing Builder, born Holmwood Surrey. His mother was Julia Skilton (?née Willard) born Capel, Surrey.

Albert's death at the early age of about 23 was registered at Epsom in January 1895.

Henry/Harry's mother was Sarah Ann(ie) Holman baptised 13 April 1873, at St Stephen's, Lambeth, Surrey. She was a daughter of Caleb Holman (1838-1913), a Bricklayer, and Charlotte Laura Trodd (1844-1932), born Walworth, Surrey. She died in 1916.

The marriage of Albert Henry Skilton and Annie Sarah Holman was registered at Epsom in Q2 1893.

Henry/Harry's genealogy then gets less clear. Did he have any siblings? The death of Albert Henry Skilton in 1895 is noted above. However the Register of Baptisms at St Mary's, Wimbledon, Surrey has these entries:

2502 May 11 1902 Albert Victor Skilton, born April 17 1900
Albert & Annie Skilton, 26 Bussell or Russell Rd, Painter

2503 May 11 1902 Kenneth James Skilton, born March 30 1902
Albert & Annie Skilton, 26 Bussell or Russell Rd, Painter
[Kenneth's death was registered at Kingston, Surrey, in October 1902]

Harry/Henry lived at:
1901 Census: 7 Mole Villa, Leatherhead (with Skilton grandparents)
He has not been traced in the 1911 Census, which may be because he was aboard a Union Castle vessel.

 
It appears he was single when he died.

Harry/Henry Skilton is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Leatherhead Company, Church Lads Brigade Tryptich, All Saints Church
Surrey in the Great War

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the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

page added 21 Mar 2018: updated 8 Dec 20