Abingdon and the First World War
Those Who Served
Challenor
Norman Bowen Challenor
Details from the Abingdon Roll of Honour
Name: CHALLENOR, Norman Bowen
Status: Died
Address: The Firs
Rank: Captain
Battalion, Ship or Squadron: 3rd attached 2nd
Regiment: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Chronology: from January 1915, France
Cause of Death: Killed
Place at death: Fleurbaix
Date of death: 31 July 1915
Buried or Commemorated: Buried in WHITE CITY CEMETERY, BOIS-GRENIER, Nord, France.
Reference: Section C. Grave 12.
There are entries in the Roll of Honour for other Abingdon men with this surname. To find them go to
Oscar Bernard Challenor
Details from the Abingdon Roll of Honour
Name: CHALLENOR, Oscar Bernard
Status: Wounded
Address: The Firs
Rank: Captain
Battalion, Ship or Squadron: 1/4th
Regiment: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Chronology: August 1914 to March 1919, France, Belgium, Italy
Awards: both Military Cross (M.C.) and Mentioned in Despatches
There are entries in the Roll of Honour for other Abingdon men with this surname. To find them go to
Basil Montford Challenor
Basil is seated in the centre of this photograph.
Details from the Abingdon Roll of Honour
Name: CHALLENOR, Basil Montford
Status: Returned
Address: The Firs
Rank: Chaplain - Captain
Regiment: Royal Chaplain's Department
Chronology: November 1915 to April 1919, Western Front
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
There are entries in the Roll of Honour for other Abingdon men with this surname. To find them go to
From far right; Oscar, Basil and Norman.
These three sons can also be seen at a younger age in the photograph of the whole family outside their house, The Firs, on Marcham Road.
Gladys Challenor
Gladys Challenor in her nurse's uniform outside The Firs and preparing vegetables, (probably for Tesdale House hospital meals). It is likely that the man with her in clerical dress is her brother, Basil.
Mercy Challenor
Mercy Challenor was also a nurse.
The Challenor Family
The family portrait from around the turn of the century helps identify the members of the family as their dates of birth are on record.
The eldest son shown seated above was named Bromley (like his father). In 1914, he married Agnes Lenora Duncan who, as Agnes Challenor, became the first female Mayor of Abingdon.
The above details are from an article by Ruth Weinberg, published by the AAAHS on their "Abingdon Buildings and People" website. To read the full article, use the link below and then ensure that you click on the "long history" in the tabs at the top of the article.
https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/history/people/agnes-leonora-challenor
Oscar, the youngest, born 1890.
Basil, 2nd youngest boy, born 1887.
Norman, 2nd eldest boy, born 1885.
Gladys, youngest girl, born 1889.
Original scans from the WW1 Families Collection
click on an image to see it in close up
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We welcome new scans of photographs and other documents, and personal details or memories. They must be of someone who lived or worked in Abingdon or very nearby and relate to the First World War. Click here for further information about how to contact us to do this.
