The Grave Detectives

The Grave Detectives We are lovers of history, and have a fascination with the last resting places of the rich & famous!

30/03/2026

Another selection of famous graves from our recent travels around Somerset and Wiltshire…

Acker Bilk… buried in the picturesque little church yard at All Saints Church, Publow, Somerset.Musician. Born Bernard S...
30/03/2026

Acker Bilk… buried in the picturesque little church yard at All Saints Church, Publow, Somerset.

Musician. Born Bernard Stanley Bilk, he took the name Acker from the Somerset slang for mate. He lost two front teeth in a school fight and half a finger in a sledding accident, which he claimed affected his playing style. He did his three years national service with the Royal Engineers, where he first was given a clarinet. He became well known for his trademark goatee, bowler hat, striped waistcoat and distinctive clarinet playing. The instrumental "Stranger on the Shore" became the UK's biggest selling single of 1962 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 in USA.

Buried next to his second wife , Actress Sally Home at All Saints Churchyard, West Lavington,Wiltshire… actor, George Ba...
30/03/2026

Buried next to his second wife , Actress Sally Home at All Saints Churchyard, West Lavington,Wiltshire… actor, George Baker.

Actor. He is best remembered for his recurring portrayal of Inspector Reg Wexford in the syndicated sitcom "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries". Born into a family of wealth and position, one of three sons of an honorary council businessman and registered nurse, following the completion of his formal education at Lancing College, he joined the stock players of the Old Vic and began his career as a leading man on the stage. Upon being discovered by director Guy Hamilton while appearing in a production of "Wuthering Heights", he was so impressed by his dark good looks, slim physique, and commanding voice, that upon taking notice of his potential he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a major role in "The Intruder" (1953). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 140 features. Often typecast as husbands, fathers, uncles, relatives, wealthy bachelors, playboys, swashbucklers, detectives, reporters, white collared workers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, aristocrats, dashing lovers, heroes, historical or literary figures, bankers, landlords, neighbors, curmudgeons, doctors, soldiers, sergeants, lieutenants, and patriarchs. He appeared in such motion pictures as "The Ship That Died of Shame" (1955), "The Feminine Touch" (1956), "No Time for Tears" (1957), "The Moonraker" (1958), "The Finest Hours" (1964), "Curse of the Fly" (1965), "Mister Ten Per Cent" (1967), "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), "The Executioner" (1970), "A Warm December" (1973), "Intimate Games" (1976), "The Thirty Nine Steps" (1978), "Hopscotch" (1980), "Time After Time" (1986), "Out of Order" (1987), "For Queen & Country" (1988), and "Back to the Secret Garden" (2001). On television, he appeared in various guest spots on such programs as "The Square Ring," "Nick of the River," "The Sullavan Brothers," "The Wednesday Play," "Survivors," "Bowler," "Doctor Who," "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em," "The Gentle Touch," "Triangle," "Miss Marple," "Robin of Sherwood," "Bergerac," "No Job for a Lady," "Midsummer Murders," "Spooks," "Heartbeat," and "New Tricks". During his career, he was a member of the Order of the British Empire, authored two books, had been a notable commentator for the BBC, was a politically active conservative, had been a regular parishioner of the Anglican church, was active within his local charters of the Boys and Girls Clubs and the Red Cross, had been a theatrical instructor for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, sat on the board of directors for the Royal Shakespeare Company, had been a celebrity spokesman for Tetley's Tea and Burberry Clothing, and he was married to costume designer Julie Squire from 1950 to 1974, actress Sally Home from 1974 to 1992, and actress Louie Ramsay from 1993 to 2011 (his first union ended in divorce, his second upon Home's death, his third union upon his own death, and he fathered five daughters all together). Following his 2007 retirement, he spent the remainder of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and was involved in charitable causes and religious observations, until his death from the complications of pneumonia.

At the small church of St Peter’s, Blackland, Wiltshire… the grave of David Hemmings…Screen Actor and Motion Picture Dir...
30/03/2026

At the small church of St Peter’s, Blackland, Wiltshire… the grave of David Hemmings…

Screen Actor and Motion Picture Director. He is best remembered for his role as the photographer in Antonioni's film "Blow-up" (1966). He also appeared in "Camelot" (1967), "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1968), "Barbarella" (1968), "Murder by Decree" (1979) and more recently in "Gladiator" (2000) as Casius, "Spy Game" (2001), "Gangs of New York" (2002) and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (2003). As director is remembered for "Just a Gigoló" (1979) and TV series as "Magnum P.I.", "The A-Team," and "Quantum Leap." He died of a heart attack while filming "Samantha's Child" in Romania.

Also at St Andrews, Mells. Politician, Baroness. She was the only daughter among five children of Liberal Prime Minister...
30/03/2026

Also at St Andrews, Mells. Politician, Baroness. She was the only daughter among five children of Liberal Prime Minister H. H. Asquith by his first wife, Helen. Unlike her brothers she had no formal school education but was educated by governesses, later spending time in both Dresden and Paris perfecting her languages. In 1915 Violet married her father's principal private secretary Maurice Bonham Carter and they had four children. Even with her family commitments she continued to accompany and support her father. Lady Violet Bonham Carter, as she was now known, subsequently went on to fight two elections in her own right, losing on both occasions. Her upbringing made her ideally suited to hold the position of President of the Women's Liberal Federation, an office she held twice, from 1923-5 and again 1939-45. In 1945 she was invited to become President of the Liberal Party Organization, the first woman to do so, holding office until 1947. During this period she was appointed a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). She was in later life persuaded to use her writing talents to write a biography of her lifelong friend Winston Churchill, her only book. The first volume of Churchill as I Knew Him was published in 1965, the year of his death, but unfortunately the second volume was never completed. In 1964, she was created a life peer and took the title Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury.
She was also the grandmother of actress Helena Bonham-Carter.

Siegfried Sassoon, War Poet. In the churchyard of St Andrews at Mel’s, Somerset. He was an English poet, writer and sol...
30/03/2026

Siegfried Sassoon, War Poet. In the churchyard of St Andrews at Mel’s, Somerset. He was an English poet, writer and soldier, who was one of the leading poets of the World War I. With the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the British Army and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in May of 1915. In March of 1916, he was sent to the Western Front, where in action was awarded a Military Cross for bringing back a wounded soldier during heavy fire. After being wounded himself in January of 1917, he began to write his angry and compassionate poems about the horrors of the war. For the remainder of his service time, he wrote primarily some one hundred poems which protested the continuation of World War I. After the war, he published his collection "The War Poems of Siegfried Sassoon," which had 64 poems of the war. He lectured and continued to write, some of his most successful works include "The Memoirs of George Sherston," "Springfield Republican," "Memoirs of an Infantry Officer," and "Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man." In 1951, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, became an honorary fellow at Clare College, Cambridge in 1953 and received an honorary degree from Oxford University in 1965. Although he had very public romantic encounters with a host of people, he married in 1933 and the couple had a son, which he adored. He died one week before his 81st birthday.

The grave of Colonel John Rouse Marriott Chard… hero of Rorkes Drift. St John The Baptist Churchyard in The sleepy Somer...
30/03/2026

The grave of Colonel John Rouse Marriott Chard… hero of Rorkes Drift. St John The Baptist Churchyard in The sleepy Somerset village of Hatch Beauchamp.

Anglo-Zulu War Victoria Cross recipient. He received the award from Lieutenant General Garnet Wolseley on July 16, 1879 in South Africa for his actions as a lieutenant in the 5th Company, British Royal Engineers on 23 and 23 January 1897 at Rorke's Drift in Natal Province, South Africa during the Anglo-Zulu War.

He received his education at Cheltenham Grammar and Plymouth New Grammar Schools, followed by the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, Greater London. In July 1868 he was commissioned a lieutenant in the British Royal Engineers and underwent an additional two years' training at Chatham, Kent. Following tours in Bermuda and Malta, he returned to England in 1879 where he was assigned to the 5th Company, British Royal Engineers.

In December 1878 he and his unit was sent to Natal, South Africa to assist with building bridges in preparation for the invasion of the Zulu Kingdom and he was placed in command of the British defences at Rorke's Drift. On the morning of January 22, 1879, a Zulu Army annihilated a large British force at Isandlwana. Later in the afternoon, a smaller Zulu force, which did not participate in the earlier victory, attacked the small supply outpost at Rorke's Drift, ten miles to the West on the Buffalo River. Defended by only 131 soldiers, of which 39 were in the hospital, against almost 4,000 Zulu warriors, he and his men, a company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, along with a large company of the 3rd Natal Native Contingent, held out against unceasing Zulu attacks throughout the evening and into the night. Early the next morning, after heavy losses, the Zulus withdrew. As a result of their incredible bravery in the face of an overwhelming enemy force, 11 men, including Lieutenant Chard, were awarded the Victoria Cross. This was the largest amount of Victoria Crosses ever awarded for a single engagement, and the bravery of Lt. Chard is still commemorated by the South African Army with the John Chard Medal for Bravery.

Following his award, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and Brevet Major and saw further action at the Battle of Ulundi. He remained in South Africa until the end of the Anglo/Zulu War in July 1879 and was sent to England where he received a hero's welcome and was assigned to duty at Devonport in Devon. In December 1881 he was assigned to Cyprus and returned to Preston, Lancashire, England in March 1887. In December 1892 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to Singapore, returning to England in 1896 and became the Commanding Royal Engineer at Perth, Scotland with a promotion to the rank of colonel in January 1897. Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with tongue cancer and he died as a result the following November at the age of 49.

In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the 1880 South African Medal (with 1879 clasp). His Victoria Cross citation reads: "The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus, as recorded against their names, for their gallant conduct at the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1879. Royal Engineers Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) J. R. M. Chard, and 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) G. Bromhead. The Lieutenant-General commanding the troops reports that, had it not been for the fine example and excellent behaviour of these two officers under the most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke's Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it. The Lieutenant-General adds that its success must, in a great degree, be attributable to the two young officers who exercised the chief command on the occasion in question."

He was portrayed by actor Stanley Baker in the 1964 film "Zulu" which was based on the defence of Rorke's Drift. His Victoria Cross and South African Medal are on display at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery of the British Imperial War Museum in London, England.

Francis ‘Frankie’ Howard. Grave at St Gregory’s Church, Weare in Somerset… Actor. A figure in motion pictures and televi...
30/03/2026

Francis ‘Frankie’ Howard. Grave at St Gregory’s Church, Weare in Somerset…

Actor. A figure in motion pictures and television, he is best known for being a member of the "Carry On” team and his part in “Up Pompei”

William Arnold Ridley, actor, playwright and soldier. Bath Abbey Cemetery, Widcombe, Bath.British Actor and Playwright. ...
30/03/2026

William Arnold Ridley, actor, playwright and soldier.
Bath Abbey Cemetery, Widcombe, Bath.

British Actor and Playwright. Most famous for his role as "Private Charles Godfrey" in the classic BBC comedy "Dad's Army," he also wrote the play "The Ghost Train." He was awarded an OBE in 1982 for his services to theatre. Ridley was cremated at Golders Green, the ashes later being removed.

The grave of Sir Arthur Phillip… First governor of New South Wales in Australia. Also at St Nicholas’ Church, Bathampton...
30/03/2026

The grave of Sir Arthur Phillip… First governor of New South Wales in Australia. Also at St Nicholas’ Church, Bathampton.

British Naval Officer, Colonial Governor. Born in the parish of All Hallows in Bread Street, London, his father, Jacob Phillips, came from Frankfurt and had emigrated to London to teach foreign languages; his mother, Elizabeth French, was the widow of a naval officer named Captain Herbert. Arthur Phillip was educated in Greenwich and, in 1755, became a midshipman on "HMS Buckingham", which, the following year, became the second flagship of the British Fleet in the Mediterranean, under the command of Admiral John Byng. Phillip was then transferred to the West Indies on "HMS Stirling Castle", under Captain Everett. In 1762, he saw action at the siege of Havana, after which he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. The following year, peace was declared, and Phillip married a lady named Isabella and settled at Lyndhurst in Hampshire as a farmer. In 1778, however, war broke out with France and he rejoined the Royal Navy. In 1786, he was assigned the duty of forming the first convict settlement in Australia. The "First Fleet" set sail on the May 13, 1787, consisiting of two frigates, six shiploads of convicts, and three shiploads of stores. They reached Botany Bay on January 18th, and, eight days later, Phillip founded the city of Sydney. Before the end of February, a plot by the convicts for a raid on the stores was discovered. The soil around Sydney proved less productive than had been hoped, and, by January 1790, the troops were on the verge of mutiny and the whole settlement was on half-rations. In November 1792, Phillip asked for permission to resign, on the grounds of ill-health, and sailed back to England on December 11. It should, perhaps, be mentioned that the native chiefs, Bennilong and Yemmeraweri, asked to accompany him to England. On his return, Phillip was promoted to the rank of Admiral. He lived for another two decades, died in Bath, and is buried in the nearby village of Bathampton.

The grave of Victorian impressionist painter Walter Sickert at St Nicholas’ Church , Bathampton, Somerset.He was German-...
30/03/2026

The grave of Victorian impressionist painter Walter Sickert at St Nicholas’ Church , Bathampton, Somerset.

He was German-born English painter, who was a dominant figure in 19th-century British Impressionism. Born Walter Richard Sickert into a Danish-German family in Munich, his family moved to London in 1868. He used his middle name Richard professionally. He had shown early artistic talent, but he first worked unsuccessfully as an actor, and then studied painting at the Slade School, London. For a while, he was J. Whistler's assistant, and later in Paris, he worked with Edgar Degas. In 1885 he married Ellen Cobden, the daughter of the influential Liberal politician Richard Cobden. The marriage was childless and unhappy. His wife divorced him in 1899. In 1911 he married Christine Drummond Angus, his student, who was eighteen years his junior. She died in 1920. Sickert had studios in the East End, a working-class section of London, where between August and November of 1888 five prostitutes were murdered. In 1909, he produced a series of paintings, known as the Camden Town Murders, which were based on these killings by Jack the Ripper. One of Sickert's works was named "Jack the Ripper's Bedroom". His studio become the center for young artists, which, at Sickert's suggestion, called themselves the Camden Town Group, named from the district of London in which he lived. From 1920 to 1922 he lived in Dieppe. His third wife, whom he married in 1926, was the painter Thérèse Lessore. From 1924 Sickert was an associate of the Royal Academy, and from 1928 to 1930, its President. As a well-known figure, he met briefly Winston Churchill, a talented amateur painter, who invited him to Chartwell to give advice on technique. In the 1990 book "Portrait of a Killer" by Patricia Cornwell, the author claims that Sickert is the serial killer, Jack the Ripper. However Ripperologists have not favored this theory and for the majority the exact identity of the suspect remains a mystery.

The graves of Cassandra Austen, mother of Author Jane Austen, and Janes’s sister… also named Cassandra, at St Nicholas C...
30/03/2026

The graves of Cassandra Austen, mother of Author Jane Austen, and Janes’s sister… also named Cassandra, at St Nicholas Church, Chawton, Hampshire.

Cassandra Elizabeth Austen (9 January 1773 – 22 March 1845) was an amateur English watercolourist and the elder sister of Jane Austen. The letters between her and Jane form a substantial foundation for scholarly understanding of the life of the novelist.

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