Thank you to the Friends of St. Margaret for allowing us to reproduce their research. Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for additional research.
Lionel Henry Liptrap Carver was born on 16th October 1883 at Melbury Abbas, Dorset to rector Henry Jonathan and Blanche Emma (nee Liptrap). He was baptised on 25th November 1883 in Melbury Abbas.
Lionel’s father Henry was born on 6th June 1847 in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk to clergyman Jonathan, born about 1802 in Sunderland and Ann (nee Mindham), born about 1810 in Wells-next-the-Sea. Henry was baptised on 31st March 1848 in Wells. Lionel’s mother Blanche Emma Liptrap was born in the 1st quarter of 1856 in Highgate, London to Lieutenant General of His Majesty’s Bengal Army John, born about 1797 in Stepney, and Emma, born about 1815 in Margate, Kent. Blanche was baptised on 21st May 1856 at St Pancras, London. Henry married Blanche on 28th November 1876 at St Paul’s, Addlestone, Surrey.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at Melbury Water, Melbury Abbas. Henry was the rector of Melbury Abbas and Blanche was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Ethel, Grace and Mary. The family was looked after by a housemaid, a nurse and a cook.
Lionel had eight siblings: Ethel Janet born about 1878 and Grace Louisa born about 1880 in Hinton, Berkshire; Mary Cecily born about 1881; Blanche Emmeline Anne born about; Jessie Elinor born about 1885; Agnes Mildred born about 1887; Bernard Nash born about and Helen Faith born about 1891, all in Melbury Abbas.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at the Rectory, Melbury Abbas. Henry Jonathan was working as a clergyman and Blanche Emma was a housewife. The household further comprised of their children. The family was looked after by a housemaid, cook and a nurse.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Lionel was a scholar at St John Foundation School in Epsom Road, Leatherhead.
‘Lionel Henry Liptrap Carver came up to Cambridge in October 1902. He was a Rustat Scholar and took his BA in 1905 having gained a second class in the Classical Tripos, Part I. He stayed on for a further year and gained a similar result in the Historical Tripos, Part II.’
Jesus College Cambridge archives website reads: ‘This is little mention of Carver in the College archives other than as a member of a disappointing association football team. The Chanticlere lamented, in Lent Term 1905, “Who would have thought when Jesus were head of the First Division, having gone through the season without suffering defeat, that in two years’ time we should descend to bottom place and be forced to start the next season in the Second Division?”. (p. 544)’
‘We also know, from a cutting from The Cambridge Independent Press of 13 March 1903 that Lionel appeared before the Borough Magistrates. He was fined 5 shillings (the equivalent of about £10 today) for riding a bicycle on the footpaths of Midsummer Common.’
Lionel entered the service of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, Ltd in September 1906 and went to the East the following year. While at Moulmein, Mr Carver was the first organiser and secretary of the local branch of the St John’s Ambulance Association.
Lionel’s father Henry died on 19th May 1915.
Lionel Carver joined the Moulmein Volunteer Rifles on 29th July 1915.
He returned to England in March 1917 and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant of the Irish Guards the following October. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 17th December.
At the time of his death, he was 2nd Lieutenant of the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards.
Lionel was killed in action on 26th May 1918 in Arras, France. He is buried at the Ayette British Cemetery in France. His memorial reference number is: B.4.
He is commemorated on St Margaret’s WW1 panel in Ockley, Surrey and Jesus College WW1 Memorial in Cambridge.
Hi Commanding Officer wrote: ‘I can’t tell you what a loss your son is to the Battalion. He was quite my best junior officer – he never failed me in anything I asked him to do. He was keen, through and energetic in all his work, and he was rapidly acquiring the knowledge that would have made him a first-class leader.’
The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation also wrote: ‘It is a very difficult matter to express in any way adequately the loss that the Corporation has sustained by his death, as his natural ability and unlimited capacity for work had long ago made it a certainty that he would eventually fill the highest position that the Corporation could offer him with the greatest distinction and credit.’
He received the British War and Victory medals.
Lionel’s mother lived at Hatchlea, Ockley.
| Born | Melbury Abbas. Dorset | |
| Son of | The late Henry and Blanche (nee Liptrap) Carver of The Rectory, Melbury Abbas | |
| Regiment | 1st Battalion. Irish Guards | |
| Number | 19842 | |
| Date of Death | 26th May 1918 | |
| Place of Death | Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 37 | |
| Cemetery | Ayette British Cemetery, France |
