251629 Cpl. Bertram Gordon Tolley British Army 1st/1st West Somerset Yeomanry from:Upottery Bertram Tolley was born in 1885 in Reeds & Hamlets Kingsnympton the son of James Fisher Tolley and Dinah Hulland Adams. He along with the rest of the family moved from Kingsnympton to Upottery Nr. Honiton in 1895 to Lambpark farm. In 1903 he joined the West Somerset Yeomanry, todays TA.
When war broke out in 1914 he was moblised and sent to Colchester for training, the West Somerset Yeomanry were attached to the Hussars.
He sailed on the RMS Olympic from Liverpool in September 1915, the West Somerset Yeomanry were attached to the Hussars, and saw action in Suvla, Gallipoli. Initially they were to dig trenches but by November they were fighting in the front line having taken over the Anzac trenches, they were evacuated in late November, early December, to Alexandria Egypt. On his return to the UK, Bertram asked to be discharged and this was granted due to the number of years of service he had done prior to the war.
He lived at Kings Lease in Upottery until at least 1919, this was another property attached to Lambpark farm.
In 1917 he married Mary Ellen Dimond, formally of Gordhayes Farm Upottery, in Bermondsey London, the reason being Mary's sister Elizabeth Pearcy lived in London but were about to move to Chelows Park, estate which Tom Pearcy had purchased. Bertram and Mary lived at Old Chellows, Nr. Lingfield, Surrey, from around 1919/20, this was part of the estate owned by Tom and Elizabeth Pearcy. Mary and Bertram lived here until the untimely death of Mary in 1928. Tom and Elizabeth had returned to London in the early 30's due to financial losses endured by the crash, they died there in 1940 but are buried in the same grave as Mary Ellen Tolley, in Lingfield.
Bertram then moved and purchased Brick Kiln Farm in Great Totham Nr. Maldon Essex, in 1929. He had been billeted near here when he was called up for WW1 service. He later sold this around 1937/38 to the Keyes family, he was still at Great Totham in Kelly's directory at this time, and moved to 41 North Street this appears to have been lodgings according to the 1939 register listed as a retired farmer. He later purchased and moved to 37 Church Street Maldon, Essex, he then worked for the council as a recreation ground attendant.
Bertram died at the age of 65 in 1950 at Maldon Hospital. He left his money and property to his brother Fred, who lived in Boreham a few miles away.
Bertram was buried in Maldon Cemetery in London Road, Essex in Row h43 v78 plot 6615 on the 17th March 1950. There is no headstone.
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