From towers to trenches, we remember Anthony Joseph Fennemore

On the 3^rd December 1910 the local ringers of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Leckhamstead rang their first peal of Grandsire Doubles which took 2 hours and 54 minutes on 5 bells. At that time Leckhampstead belonged to The Towcester and District Branch of Church Bell Ringers. The peal was conducted by Dennis Carter who rang the 13-2-0 tenor; the treble was rung by 25 year old Anthony Fennemore.

Anthony was born in Leckhampstead to parents William and Margaret. He was one of 11 children born to the couple of which nine were still living at the time of the 1911 census. Anthony was employed as a farm labourer in 1911 as his father was before him. Being the youngest surviving child Anthony was the only one still at home in 1911, his parents were in their 70’s and were classified as old age pensioners. The Old Age Pensions Act of 1908 introduced the concept of a means tested state pension for those aged 70 and over from 1909. Anthony’s parents were probably one of the first couples to have qualified by earning less than £21 per annum.

Anthony enlisted in Buckingham and became a private in the Gloucestershire Regiment 10^th (Service) Battalion. The 10^th Service Battalion landed in France 8^th August 1915 on the 17^th August it transferred to the 1^st Brigade in the 1^st Division who were involved in the Battle of Loos between the 25^th September and 18^th October 1915.

The website The Long Long Trail gives a detailed account of the role the 1^st Division played. It states that the “lead Battalions (10/Gloucester and 8/R. Berkshires) advanced through all objectives despite heavy casualties. One of these casualties was 30 year old Anthony who is commemorated as one of the missing on the Loos Memorial which forms the sides and back of Dud Corner Cemetery.

Information sources

Census records for 1911, 1901, 1891, 1881

Commonwealth war graves commission

Buckinghamshire remembers

The Long Long Trail

Wikipedia