There is one war grave
in the churchyard at All Saints, NE of the church, that of
Captain Thomas Herbert Helme. His CWGC record is: HELME, THOMAS HERBERT Initials: T H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Captain Regiment/Service: London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles) Unit Text: 16th Bn. Age: 35 Date of Death: 03/11/1918 Additional information: Son of Herbert and Annie Helme, of "Downside", Salvington, Worthing, Sussex. Born at Cobham, Surrey. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: North-East of Church. Cemetery: LITTLE BOOKHAM CHURCHYARD https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/401182/ His headstone says he died 'of wounds received in Palestine.' The inscription is DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. In this photo the poppies at the grave were laid by the Bookhams Residents Association. |
please click the image for a closer view |
The church is mostly filled with memorials relating to the Pollen and Willock families. At the West End of the church, among the Hatchments, is a brass cross. Below it is a brass tablet inscribed: TO THE GLORY OF GOD
|
Thomas Mashiter Helme was born in 1804 in
Middle Tower Hamlets. In 1841 he married Susan Emily Coope, whose
memorial window at All Saints is shown above. She was a daughter of John
Coope of London, the
brewing family. Their first child was Edward Thomas Helme né
Mashiter, born 1843. A later son was Herbert Helme,
born 1852, the father of Captain Thomas Herbert Helme.
The Essex Record Office explains the change
of surname http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/Result_Details.aspx?DocID=1003253
Edward Thomas Mashiter né Helme JP (1842-1921) was the son of Thomas
Mashiter né Helme JP (1804-1896) of the Manor House, Little Bookham,
Surrey, and Hornchurch Lodge, Hornchurch, and Susan Emily Helme née
Coope, daughter (d.1878) of John Coope of London. Thomas was a director,
and Edward was at one time chairman, of Ind, Coope and Company Ltd,
brewers of Romford.
Their change of surname stemmed indirectly from the marriage of Thomas's
father Robert Helme of Walthamstow to Blandina Mashiter, daughter of
William Mashiter of Romford. Thomas and his son Edward adopted the name
Mashiter under the terms of the will of Thomas's maternal uncle Thomas
Mashiter (1779-1862), of Hornchurch Lodge, Hornchurch. However, neither
did so immediately, Thomas waiting until 1884 and Edward until 1899 before
taking out the royal licence required.
Surrey Advertiser 9 November 1918
DEATH OF CAPTAIN T. H. HELME
The death occurred on Sunday week at the Hamilton Officers' Hospital, of
influenza and pneumonia, following a severe wound received in action, of
Captain Thomas Herbert Helme, London Regt., only son Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
Helme, of Salvington, Sussex, and formerly of Cobham Lodge, Surrey.
The late officer was born at Cobham in 1883, and was educated at Eton and
Magdalen College, Oxford, obtaining a commission in the Queen’s
Westminster Rifles in 1914. He served with his regiment in France,
Macedonia and Palestine, acting as adjutant for 13 months, until posted to
the command of a company. It was while landing his men in action between
Jericho and Es Salt on the 30th April that he was severely wounded.
The funeral took place at Little Bookham on Wednesday, the service being
conducted by the Rev. C.J. Vernon, rector of the parish. The hymns sung
were "Lead us, Heavenly Father," and “For all the saints," and Miss
Vernon, who was at the organ, played "Agnus Dei" (Mozart). Deceased was
buried in a grave adjoining that of his grandfather, Thomas Mashiter, late
of the Manor House, Little Bookham. A bearer and firing party of the
regiment paraded under the command of Lieut. Gibbon, and fired three
volleys over the grave. At the conclusion of the service the Last Post was
sounded.
The relations present were Mr. Herbert Helme. Miss Beryl Helme, Miss Emily
Helme, Miss Vera Helme, Colonel Sir George Helme, C.M.G., Mr. and Mrs.
Leathley Chater, Capt. G. Chater, Capt. D. Chater, Miss M. Chater, Mr. and
Mrs. O. S. Gordon Clark, Mrs. Herbert Helme, Miss Eleanor Helme, and Mrs.
Burrell Fuller. Mr. E. T. Mashiter, Mrs. Chater and Miss E. Hull were
unavoidably prevented from attending.
Among others present were Mr. and Mrs. Ashcroft, Mr. Oscar Ashcroft, Mrs.
Bowen Buscarlet, Miss Day, Colonel Gordon Clark, C.M.G., D.S.O. (late
commanding 2nd Batt. Queen’s Westminster Rifles), Capt. H. H. Gordon
Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Mrs. F. B. Eastwood, Colonel Guise. Miss
Henderson, Mr. S. F. Jackson, Mrs. Kitching, Mrs. J. Barnard Hankey, Mr.
and Mrs. H. Willock-Pollen, Miss Ross, Mrs. E. R. Still, Colonel G. H.
Trollope (Hon. Colonel Queen’s Westminster Rifles), the Misses Vernon and
others.
Among the wreaths sent was one from his brother officers in the regiment.
Illustrated Sporting and
Dramatic News 30 November 1918
No kind of sport or game came amiss to Captain Thomas H. Helme, 2/16th London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles), who died in London on November 3rd from wounds received in action in Palestine, followed by influenza and pneumonia. The foundation of his unbounded enthusiasm for golf was laid at Ashdown House Preparatory School, the Royal Ashdown Ladies’ Golf Club encouraging the boys to play over their course. At Oxford he played for the ’Varsity
in numerous Trial Matches of his last year there (1904-5), but
without obtaining his Blue. Whilst in business at
Newcastle-on-Tyne he represented Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Golf Club in
the “Chronicle” Cup, his partner being Mr. Norman A. Lee, brother
of the Hampshire cricketer. They won the event in 1911. Captain Helme was also a member of the Guildford and Burhill, both clubs rating him at scratch. At Eton he got his house colours (R.C. Radcliffe's) at the field game and cricket, won a number of fives cups and gained the school shield at racquets, he and A.S.B. Tull beating the keepers after they had played at Queen's. At Oxford he played hockey and lawn tennis for Magdalen. From 1913 he was whip to the Newcastle and District Beagles. He was the only brother of the well known writer and county golfer, Miss Eleanor E. Helme. |
CAPT. THOMAS H. HELME, 2/16 LONDON REGT. who died in London on the 3rd inst. |
Source: List of Etonians who fought
in the Great War 1914-1919 (via findmypast)
First name(s) T H
Last name Helme
School / university name Eton College
Narrative 1902 Helme, T. H., Captain, London Regiment,
wounded twice. France, Balkans, Palestine (died of wounds 03.11.1918)
Notes Left Eton College in 1902
OXFORD UNIVERSITY ROLL OF SERVICE
(CLARENDON PRESS, 1920)
p267 MAGDALEN COLLEGE
Helme, T. H., B.A. (Nov. 23, 1914). Capt. and Adjt. 2/i6th London
Regt. (Queen's Westminster Rifles). France, Salonika, Palestine.
Died on Nov. 3, 1918, of wounds received at Es Salt on Apr. 30, 1918,
followed by influenza and pneumonia.
https://archive.org/stream/oxforduniversity00univuoft/oxforduniversity00univuoft_djvu.txt
Other Links
Surrey
in the Great War
IWM
Life Story - Thomas Helme
He is also listed on the Worthing
War Memorial and on the Lord's
Cricket Members' World War 1 Memorial.
Other sources: Ancestry.com, findmypast
Images: Frank Haslam
If you can add to this page please contact
the editor.
page added 15 Feb 2009: updated 24 Feb 2009: CWGC link updated 11 Nov 17:
memorial images and further research added 11 Feb 2018