Charles Edwin Ralph Mallett was killed on the 14th May, 1916 near Loos in France. Charles, 21 years old, and the eldest son of Mrs P Mallet of Gorey was a Rifleman in the Jersey Company of the 7th Royal Irish Rifles. It was reported that he had been wounded putting up wire in the trenches but later died in a dressing station in the presence of his brother, A Mallet. He is buried at the Bois-Carre Military Cemetery, Haisnes. Ian and I visited his grave along with several other Jersey Contingent men's graves in that area two years ago. (The 7th Royal Irish Rifles War Diary notes that three men were wounded and one killed on the 13th May so maybe the JEP got the date wrong).

Edward Bienaime Bertram was a Private in the 14th Bn, New Brunswick Regiment, Canadian Infantry, when he was killed in action in France. It was reported that whilst returning back with some comrades of the Machine Gun Section a shell had landed nearby killing him instantly. Edward was just 22 when killed on the 6th April, 1917, and is buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois. He was the son of Adele Eugenie Le Clercq (formerly Bertram) of "Beachside" La Rocque, Grouville, and the late Edward Philip Bertram who had sometime earlier drowned whilst out fishing.

On 9th April, 1917 the Canadians stormed Vimy Ridge. Private Leonard William Bertram died that day while fighting with the Quebec Regiment, as part of the Canadian Infantry. The third son of Mr and Mrs John Bertram of East Lynne, La Rocque, St Clement, it was reported that Leonard was killed by a sniper. He was 23 years old and is buried in Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville-St Vaast.

The third Bertram on the memorial was also serving with the Canadian Infantry at the time of his death on 6th September, 1916. Rolf Guillaume de la Vieuville Bertram was originally born in Grouville, and was the second son of the Hon. Louis John Bertram CMG and Mrs Bertram of Mandeville, Jamaica, British West Indies. Aged 24 at the time of his death Rolf was a Lieutenant in the 8th Bn, Manitoba Regiment. He was wounded in July 1916 then moved to the "Daughters of the Empire" Hospital at Hyde Park in London where he subsequently died of his wounds. He is buried in the Kensal Green (All Souls') Cemetery. (Editor: Rolf was an "Old Victorian" and the Book of Remembrance informs us that the wound resulted during grenade practice when a man threw short! Now, where have we heard of accidents on the throwing range?)

Edward Francis De Faye was the son of Francis George and Phoebe De Faye, of 21, David Place, St. Helier, and Pamproux, La Rocque, St Clement, but Edward must have had a link with Grouville as he is remembered on the Grouville Memorial. Killed in action in Gauche Wood near Gouzeaucourt, during the Battle of Cambrai it is only fitting that Edward was at the time of his death a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Tank Corps, serving with A Bn. Edward is remembered on Panel 13 of the Cambrai Memorial. He died on the 1st December, 1917 at the age of 25.

Just a few yards away from the memorial is a building which also is of great importance to Jersey history; an old railway station from the Jersey Eastern Railway days stands just to the south of the memorial and is now converted into a house. It's wonderful building and I can't help but think how many of the men now inscribed on the memorial used that station to board a train for St Helier on their way to leaving the Island to fight in the war. It's a fine setting for a fine memorial.