Highland Road Cemetery

Portsmouth has a wealth of history and strong military connections, so it is not surprising to find a graveyard with so many interesting stories as Highland Road Cemetery. Amongst those interred are decorated servicemen and women from famous battles, as well as associates of Dickens and even Royalty.

Thomas Ellis Owen sold the land to the Burial Board for the first phase of the cemetery and when the original architect failed to produce plans, he designed his own and built the lodge, chapels and wall. It is thought that the lodge is a smaller version of his home, Dovercourt, and the Anglican chapel is a smaller version of St. Jude's Church. His only child, Louisa Ann Byng is buried here, as well as her first husband Rev. Thomas Richard Brownrigg. The only other cemetery that he designed and built was Ann's Hill Cemetery in Gosport in 1854/5.

Below are some of the graves researched and listed by the Friends of Highland Road Cemetery. By using the link to the right of the page, you can also read more detailed information on Thomas Ellis Owen.

The Victoria Cross

Buried in this cemetery are eight servicemen, all recipients of this highest award during Victoria's reign, the first three being decorated at the first investiture by the Queen herself in Hyde Park, June 1857. This decoration outranks even the Order of the Garter; it is always awarded individually 'For Valour'. Made from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sebastopol, the medal itself is only of bronze.

Crimean War Veterans

Henry James Raby d. 1907
a Lieutenant with the Navy Brigade at Sebastopol, he rescued a wounded soldier while under heavy fire from Russian guns. Promoted to Commander for his bravery, he was the most senior officer of the Senior Service at the first investiture and thus the first recipient of the VC.

Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett d. 1888
an acting-mate on a gun-vessel at the Battle of Inkerman, in many places a hand-to-hand fight, he ignored an officer's orders to withdraw and won the VC and promotion. The fifth recipient of the VC, at his death he was Admiral of the Channel Fleet.

John Robarts d. 1888
a gunner on HMS Ardent, he volunteered for a successful commando-style raid on an important Russian supply store.

Indian Mutiny Campaigners

William Goate d. 1901
Lance Corporal in the Queen's Royal Lancers, he showed valour at Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny; he received his VC in 1858. A headstone was erected on this grave in October 2003.

Hugh Stewart Cochrane d. 1884
a Lieutenant in the 86th Regiment, showed outstanding courage during the siege of the fortress of Jhansi. He received his VC on 1 April 1858

Veterans of the Land Wars in New Zealand

William Temple d. 1919
Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Artillery at Rangiriri during the Waikato War. He ignored personal danger at the assault on the Maori fortification. His investiture took place in 1864 in New Zealand

Hugh Shaw d. 1904
Lieutenant Shaw, who had seen service in the Crimea and in Afghanistan, received his VC in New Zealand in 1865 for his gallant conduct during a skirmish in the Taranaki region

The Cemetery's Last Recipient of the VC

Israel Harding d. 1917
a gunner of HMS Alexander during the bombardment of the forts of Alexandria in 1882, his bravery earned him promotion to Chief Gunner and the presentation of the Victoria Cross in 1883

The Royal Red Cross

Queen Victoria created the Royal Red Cross in 1883 as the first order designed solely for ladies, to be conferred upon members of the nursing service for their gallantry in the field.

Mrs George Fox d. 1888
she died from the effects of wounds received in the Transvaal in 1880, wounds in spite of which she tended the injured and dying who had been wounded with her. Although not a nurse, Mrs Fox was, at royal command, accorded a funeral with full military honours

Other Military

James Abbott d. 1913
survivor of the "Charge of the Light Brigade", 1854

Four Belgian Soldiers
First World War casualties

Father Frederick G Freeley, MC d. 1942
First World War RC Chaplain - "the Saint on a bicycle"

Frederick T Jane d. 1916
naval correspondent and artist, founder / editor Jane's Fighting Ships, 1898

Wm Johnson d. 1897
former "powder monkey"; memorial by public subscription for his good works

Hyacinth Lynch d. 1947
last survivor of the disastrous Battle of Miawand, Kandahar, 1880

Robert C Vernon-Inkpen d. 1916
member of the Royal Flying Corps which became the RAF

Graves associated with Charles Dickens

Ellen Wharton Robinson née Ternan d.1914
actress and mistress of Dickens 1857 to 1870

Maria Taylor née Ternan d. 1904
Dickens' leading lady 1857; became active suffragette

Frances Trollope née Ternan d. 1913
opera singer, sister-in-law of Anthony Trollope, sister of the above

Sarah Pearce d. 1902
lived in 393 Commercial Road (Dickens birthplace) till her death

Maria Winter née Beadnell d. 1886
Dickens' first love; model for Dora in 'David Copperfield'

Alfred Seale d. 1924
first Dickens Birthplace Curator; acquired Dickens' death-couch for the city

Sir William Thomas Dupree d.1933
as Mayor, obtained the Birthplace on Sarah Pearce's death (qv)

Georgina Hayman née Bridges d. 1910
daughter of Dickens' solicitor; at 17 was model for 'Little Dorrit'

Others of interest

Arthur Brickwood d. 1894
grandson of the founder and Chairman of the famous Brickwood brewery

Henry Burnett d. 1899
memorial only; buried in Dawson City after the Klondike Gold Rush

Monsignor John Crookhall d. 1887
first Roman Catholic Provost of Portsmouth

The Dupree Family
founded Portsmouth United Breweries (see also re. Charles Dickens)

Mother Emma d. 1920
active social reformer; deaconess and founder of The Home of Comfort

Communal Burial Ground
24 Sisters of Nazareth who died between 1900 and 1979

John Hawkins d. 1885
one of Conan Doyle's earliest patients whose sister became the first Mrs Doyle

Arthur Eggerton Knight d. 1911
a Portsmouth footballer who became an English International

Martha Linington d. 1908
left a widow, with a forge and 17 children, she built up the coach-building firm

Henry Rutley d. 1874
circus proprietor responsible for the first theatre on current site of New Theatre Royal

Gustave de Battyany-Strattman d. 1883
Austrian Count; died at a Newmarket race meeting

Bishop John Vertue d. 1900
Portsmouth's first RC Bishop - popularly called 'John the Magnificent'

Harry Whitman d. 1955
one of the last inhabitants of Southsea Castle, and Keeper of the Light

The above information has been researched and provided by The Friends of Highland Road Cemetery, who welcome any supportive work, research or publicity in relation to the cemetery.

For further information you can contact the Cemetery Office, Milton Road Telephone (023) 9273 2559

For help with genealogical searches, contact The City Museum and Records Office Telephone (023) 9282 7261