Bernard Oldershaw Warner

Rank 
Lieutenant
Regiment 
Essex Regiment
Date of death 
19 May 1917
Age of death 
27
Address 
Rydal
High Road
Woodford Green
Woodford
Essex
IG8 9DR
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born in 1890 at Woodford, son of Dr Percy Warner (Medical Practitioner), “Rydal” High Road Woodford Green. 1891: With his family at “Rydal”. 1901: A pupil at Pelham House Private School at Sandgate Folkstone. From 1904 to 1907 he was boarding at Berkhamstead School. 1911: Articled to Price Waterhouse Co (Accountants) living at “Rydal” with father Percy and mother Alice Annie. Mrs. Warner later lived at “Grassmere” Woodford Green. Dr Warner died in 1914 at the age of 61.

Bernard passed his final examinations in 1914, and rejoined the Artists Rifles (28 London) as Private 1385 soon after war broke out. Sent to France, he qualified for the 1914 Star. Invalided home in 1915 he recovered to take a Commission in 3 Essex on 25th April 1915, and was later attached to 1 Essex. He was sent to Gallipoli, taking part in the evacuations from Suvla Bay and Cape Helles. Returning to France, he was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme 1st July 1916. The Woodford Times reported he was home on leave having been shot in the thigh by a bullet from a machine gun. On regaining fitness he returned to the Front on 27th April 1917.

From 11th May 1917, 1 Essex found themselves back in Arras. An attack by 87 Brigade on Bois des Aubepines during 19th May 1917 provoked a heavy German artillery barrage in response, during which Bernard Warner was Killed in Action

The front of the old Jubilee Hospital contained a “Warner Ward” in the post war addition. It is believed, especially as this was built as a war memorial, that the Warner referred to is Bernard rather than his father, although the latter as a local GP was very involved in the workings of the hospital.  

He is also commemorated by the wooden high altar at St Christopher’s Church Willingale Doe, which was dedicated on 11th November 1926. The words reveal that during the war he was a comrade of the Rector of this Parish who was Robert Travers Saulez.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Woodford Times