'Southrepps Boys' November 1914
A group photograph of some of the 'Southrepps Boy' taken in November 1914 and now hanging in the parish church of St. James, Southrepps, Norfolk.
Southrepps sent 64 men away to fight in the First World War, 31 did not return home.
Top row - left to right:
Albert Hurn:
Albert was born in 1895 at Southrepps, the son of Leonard and Ann Hurn of Lower Street, Southrepps. By the time of the 1911 census Albert is working as an estate labourer, the same occupation as his father.
After enlisting Albert served as Private 16235 in the Norfolk Regiment. It is thought he died in Norwich between July and September 1967.
Cyril Gotts (Triddler);
Cyril was born in 1898 to Matthew and Mary E. Gotts of Lower Street, Southrepps. The 1911 census records Cyril working as a farm labourer.
After enlisting Cyril was initially Private 16236 of the Norfolk Regiment before going on to join the Tank Corps. It is thought he died in the Ealing District of London between January and March 1969.
Earnest Bain (Gupper):
The baptism of an Ernest took place on the 26th. March 1893 at St. James. Southrepps, his parents were William and Mary.
Earnest, Albert Hurn, Cyril Gotts, Sam Burton-Pye and Herbert Butler who would go on to be Private 27819 in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were a group of Southrepps men who all enlisted together. Joining the Norfolk Regiment as Private 16234 Earnest later served with the Machine Gun Corps as Private 3532.
Charles Hewitt (Jockey):
On the 1901 census there is a 20 year old Charles Hewitt, born in Southrepps, who was recorded as a Private in an Infantry Battalion at Colchester Barracks.
On the 1911 census there is a 30 year old Charles, born Southrepps, who is employed as a farm labourer. He is recorded as a boarder at a household in Southrepps living there with his wife Ellen, aged 19 and from Southrepps, and their daughter, Ruby, born at Southrepps on 20th. February 1911 and aged under 2 months.
Charles was was probably recalled to the Army on the outbreak of war.
Robert C. Gotts:
Robert was born on 23rd. June 1892 in Southrepps and the 1911 census records him as a 18 year old living with his grandparents and 'working on farm'.
Upon enlisting Robert served as Private 16233 of the Norfolk Regiment. It is thought he died in the North Walsham district between July and September 1981.
William John Hewitt:
The name on the photograph is William John Hewitt who served the Royal Navy and would have been only 13 or 14 when the photograph was taken. The person in the photograph is wearing an Army uniform which points to him being Wilfred Henry Hewitt.
William John Hewitt was born 16th. March 1901 in Norwich, the son of John Henry and Anne E. Hewitt of Chapple Road, Upper Street, Southrepps.
William joined the Great Eastern Railway Company in 1915/15 and was employed as a parcel van lad at Cromer.
He enlisted in October 1918, his service record states he was 5ft. 3in. with a 33in. chest, brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. Profession was listed as railway porter. His rank was Boy 2nd. Class and his service number was J/93486, he served aboard HMS Powerful, a Boys Training Ship stationed at Devonport, Devon.
William died of ingluenza and broncho pneumonia on 16th. November 1918, aged 17. The CWGC incorrectly records the date as 16th. November 1916. He is buried in the south-west corner of the new burial ground of St. James church, Southrepps and is commemorated on the Great Eastern Railway Company War Memorial at Liverpool Street Station, London.
Wilfred Henry Hewitt was born in 1893 at Southrepps the son of Henry and Margaret Hewitt, later of High Street, Stalham.
Wilfred enlisted into the 7th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and served as Private 15146. He died on 31st July 1917, aged 24 and is buried in grave .I. E. 37. of Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, France.
Middle row - left to right:
John Hewitt;
The 1911 census records:
John Hewitt, aged 53, born Southrepps. A married farmer recorded at Trimingham Road, Sidestrand. Living with his wife Gertrrude Mary and their two children. Too old to serve.
John Hewitt, aged 20, born Southrepps, resident Lower Street, Southrepps. Farm labourer. Living with his aunt and uncle, Arthur and Ellen Hewitt.
John Herbert Hewitt, aged 30, born Southrepps, resident Overstrand. He was soldier 53038 of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and is commemorated on the Cromer War Memorial.
John Hewitt, aged 14, born Southrepps, resident Southrepps, Farm labourer, son of Walter and Florance.
It is thought the photograph shows the 20 year old.
John was born in Southrepps in 1891. He enlisted at Cromer and was posted as Private 40223 to the 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He was killed in action in France & Flanders on 18th. October 1916 and is buried in grave VII. B. 8 at Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
The John Hewitt on the photograph is not listed as killed. It would seem unlikely that there was a third John Hewitt from the village who served and survived but not impossible.
Sam Burton-Pye:
Difficult to find records, the family goes by Burton, Pye, Burton Pye and Burton-Pye.
The death of a Samuel Walter Burton-Pye, born 29th. March 1894, was recorded in the North Walsham district between April and June 1971.
Sydney Richard Hewitt:
Sydney was born in Southrepps and baptised on 26th. August 1888, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Hewitt. The 1911 census records Sydney as single, a labourer and still living at home in Lower Street.
It would appear that Sydney entered the war as a Corporal in 1914 and was promoted Serjeant 3/10693 in the 8th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He went on to become Company Serjeant Major 617536 in the 8th. Battalion, London Regiment.
Between January and March 1958 the death of a Sidney R Hewitt, aged 69, was recorded in the North Walsham district.
William Burton-Pye (Rusty):
On the 1911 census there is a William Burton-Pye Senior and Junior in the village. The person in the photograph is William Junior. At the time of the census he is living at home in Lower Street, aged 18 and a farm labourer.
William was a Lance Corporal at the outbreak of the war suggesting that he had joined the Army pre-war or at the very outbreak.
Mr. Pearson (Village postman):
On the 1911 census there is a William Pearson recorded at Southrepps. Aged 33 and married, he gives his occupation as Civil Service Postman and his employer as the General Post Office. He was originally from the St. Pauls district of Norwich. He lived in Southrepps with his wife of 4 years, Sarah, aged 30 and from Ipswich, Suffolk and their 4 children:-
William……………aged 3………………..born Norwich
Alice………………..aged 4………………..born Norwich
Rose……………….aged 1………………..born Southrepps
Grace……………..aged 3 months……born Southrepps
There is a record of a William Pearson who served with the Norfolk Regiment as Acting Corporal 3/10848 but it is not certain that was this person.
Benjamin 'Jack' Whitwood:
It would appear he referred to himself as Jack rather than Ben or Benjamin, possibly a reference to his twin brother John.
Benjamin was born 11th. December 1893 and baptised at the church of All Saints, West Beckham, Norfolk on the 12th December 1893. This is described as a Union Workhouse Baptism and the mother, Ruth Whitwood, is stated to be a single woman of Lower Street, Southrepps. It would appear Benjamin was a twin for the same details and dates are replicated in the next entry, that for a John Whitwood.
He enlisted in Norwich and whilst training with the 10th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, service number 16218, he was drafted as Private 21193 to the 11th. Battalion, Border Regiment while he was still in the UK.
Jack died of wounds in France and Flounders on 28th. March 1917, aged 24, and is buried in grave I.D.27 at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, Somme, France.
William Rodgers:
Two men from the village with that name died in action but there is no reference to William Rogers being killed on the photograph.
Of the two, one died in March 1918, aged 41, serving with the 9th. Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. His unit had been fighting since the German Spring Offensive had crashed through the British lines and finally on the 26th. March they were surrounded and annihilated after what the units diarist depicts as an epic last stand.
The other died probably aged 18 while serving with the 7th. Battalion Norfolk Regiment. He is thought to have died while part of a working party assisting another unit.
Bottom row - left to right:
Ernest Charles Smith:
Ernest was born in Southrepps, the son of Charles Smith of Lower Street, Southrepps.
He enlisted in Norwich and served as Private 16237 with 'A' Company, 2nd. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Earnest died of wounds in The Balkans on 8th. December 1915, aged 21, and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.
Ernest Robert Burton-Pye (Major):
Ernest was born on 20th. February 1897 in Southrepps, the son of Francis and Edith Burton-Pye. In the 1911 census he is a farm worker and is living with his uncle and aunt at Gillingham.
He enlisted in Norwich and served with 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment as Private 15019. He died in action in France and Flounders on 15th. September 1916 and is commemorated on pier and face 1C and 1D of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
William Moy:
Killed in action. No reference to this man is in village records or on the village war memorial.
Herbert Pitchers:
Herbert was born in Corpusty, the son of James and Rebecca Pitchers of The Warren, Southrepps. James would later die and Rebecca married William Bell of Lower Street, Southrepps.
Herbert enlisted in Cromer and served as Private 7985 in the 8th. Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and died of wounds in France and Flounders on 16th. October 1916, aged 25. Herbert is buried in grave II.I.3 of Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
'Southrepps Boys' November 1914
A group photograph of some of the 'Southrepps Boy' taken in November 1914 and now hanging in the parish church of St. James, Southrepps, Norfolk.
Southrepps sent 64 men away to fight in the First World War, 31 did not return home.
Top row - left to right:
Albert Hurn:
Albert was born in 1895 at Southrepps, the son of Leonard and Ann Hurn of Lower Street, Southrepps. By the time of the 1911 census Albert is working as an estate labourer, the same occupation as his father.
After enlisting Albert served as Private 16235 in the Norfolk Regiment. It is thought he died in Norwich between July and September 1967.
Cyril Gotts (Triddler);
Cyril was born in 1898 to Matthew and Mary E. Gotts of Lower Street, Southrepps. The 1911 census records Cyril working as a farm labourer.
After enlisting Cyril was initially Private 16236 of the Norfolk Regiment before going on to join the Tank Corps. It is thought he died in the Ealing District of London between January and March 1969.
Earnest Bain (Gupper):
The baptism of an Ernest took place on the 26th. March 1893 at St. James. Southrepps, his parents were William and Mary.
Earnest, Albert Hurn, Cyril Gotts, Sam Burton-Pye and Herbert Butler who would go on to be Private 27819 in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were a group of Southrepps men who all enlisted together. Joining the Norfolk Regiment as Private 16234 Earnest later served with the Machine Gun Corps as Private 3532.
Charles Hewitt (Jockey):
On the 1901 census there is a 20 year old Charles Hewitt, born in Southrepps, who was recorded as a Private in an Infantry Battalion at Colchester Barracks.
On the 1911 census there is a 30 year old Charles, born Southrepps, who is employed as a farm labourer. He is recorded as a boarder at a household in Southrepps living there with his wife Ellen, aged 19 and from Southrepps, and their daughter, Ruby, born at Southrepps on 20th. February 1911 and aged under 2 months.
Charles was was probably recalled to the Army on the outbreak of war.
Robert C. Gotts:
Robert was born on 23rd. June 1892 in Southrepps and the 1911 census records him as a 18 year old living with his grandparents and 'working on farm'.
Upon enlisting Robert served as Private 16233 of the Norfolk Regiment. It is thought he died in the North Walsham district between July and September 1981.
William John Hewitt:
The name on the photograph is William John Hewitt who served the Royal Navy and would have been only 13 or 14 when the photograph was taken. The person in the photograph is wearing an Army uniform which points to him being Wilfred Henry Hewitt.
William John Hewitt was born 16th. March 1901 in Norwich, the son of John Henry and Anne E. Hewitt of Chapple Road, Upper Street, Southrepps.
William joined the Great Eastern Railway Company in 1915/15 and was employed as a parcel van lad at Cromer.
He enlisted in October 1918, his service record states he was 5ft. 3in. with a 33in. chest, brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. Profession was listed as railway porter. His rank was Boy 2nd. Class and his service number was J/93486, he served aboard HMS Powerful, a Boys Training Ship stationed at Devonport, Devon.
William died of ingluenza and broncho pneumonia on 16th. November 1918, aged 17. The CWGC incorrectly records the date as 16th. November 1916. He is buried in the south-west corner of the new burial ground of St. James church, Southrepps and is commemorated on the Great Eastern Railway Company War Memorial at Liverpool Street Station, London.
Wilfred Henry Hewitt was born in 1893 at Southrepps the son of Henry and Margaret Hewitt, later of High Street, Stalham.
Wilfred enlisted into the 7th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and served as Private 15146. He died on 31st July 1917, aged 24 and is buried in grave .I. E. 37. of Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, France.
Middle row - left to right:
John Hewitt;
The 1911 census records:
John Hewitt, aged 53, born Southrepps. A married farmer recorded at Trimingham Road, Sidestrand. Living with his wife Gertrrude Mary and their two children. Too old to serve.
John Hewitt, aged 20, born Southrepps, resident Lower Street, Southrepps. Farm labourer. Living with his aunt and uncle, Arthur and Ellen Hewitt.
John Herbert Hewitt, aged 30, born Southrepps, resident Overstrand. He was soldier 53038 of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and is commemorated on the Cromer War Memorial.
John Hewitt, aged 14, born Southrepps, resident Southrepps, Farm labourer, son of Walter and Florance.
It is thought the photograph shows the 20 year old.
John was born in Southrepps in 1891. He enlisted at Cromer and was posted as Private 40223 to the 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He was killed in action in France & Flanders on 18th. October 1916 and is buried in grave VII. B. 8 at Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
The John Hewitt on the photograph is not listed as killed. It would seem unlikely that there was a third John Hewitt from the village who served and survived but not impossible.
Sam Burton-Pye:
Difficult to find records, the family goes by Burton, Pye, Burton Pye and Burton-Pye.
The death of a Samuel Walter Burton-Pye, born 29th. March 1894, was recorded in the North Walsham district between April and June 1971.
Sydney Richard Hewitt:
Sydney was born in Southrepps and baptised on 26th. August 1888, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Hewitt. The 1911 census records Sydney as single, a labourer and still living at home in Lower Street.
It would appear that Sydney entered the war as a Corporal in 1914 and was promoted Serjeant 3/10693 in the 8th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He went on to become Company Serjeant Major 617536 in the 8th. Battalion, London Regiment.
Between January and March 1958 the death of a Sidney R Hewitt, aged 69, was recorded in the North Walsham district.
William Burton-Pye (Rusty):
On the 1911 census there is a William Burton-Pye Senior and Junior in the village. The person in the photograph is William Junior. At the time of the census he is living at home in Lower Street, aged 18 and a farm labourer.
William was a Lance Corporal at the outbreak of the war suggesting that he had joined the Army pre-war or at the very outbreak.
Mr. Pearson (Village postman):
On the 1911 census there is a William Pearson recorded at Southrepps. Aged 33 and married, he gives his occupation as Civil Service Postman and his employer as the General Post Office. He was originally from the St. Pauls district of Norwich. He lived in Southrepps with his wife of 4 years, Sarah, aged 30 and from Ipswich, Suffolk and their 4 children:-
William……………aged 3………………..born Norwich
Alice………………..aged 4………………..born Norwich
Rose……………….aged 1………………..born Southrepps
Grace……………..aged 3 months……born Southrepps
There is a record of a William Pearson who served with the Norfolk Regiment as Acting Corporal 3/10848 but it is not certain that was this person.
Benjamin 'Jack' Whitwood:
It would appear he referred to himself as Jack rather than Ben or Benjamin, possibly a reference to his twin brother John.
Benjamin was born 11th. December 1893 and baptised at the church of All Saints, West Beckham, Norfolk on the 12th December 1893. This is described as a Union Workhouse Baptism and the mother, Ruth Whitwood, is stated to be a single woman of Lower Street, Southrepps. It would appear Benjamin was a twin for the same details and dates are replicated in the next entry, that for a John Whitwood.
He enlisted in Norwich and whilst training with the 10th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, service number 16218, he was drafted as Private 21193 to the 11th. Battalion, Border Regiment while he was still in the UK.
Jack died of wounds in France and Flounders on 28th. March 1917, aged 24, and is buried in grave I.D.27 at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, Somme, France.
William Rodgers:
Two men from the village with that name died in action but there is no reference to William Rogers being killed on the photograph.
Of the two, one died in March 1918, aged 41, serving with the 9th. Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. His unit had been fighting since the German Spring Offensive had crashed through the British lines and finally on the 26th. March they were surrounded and annihilated after what the units diarist depicts as an epic last stand.
The other died probably aged 18 while serving with the 7th. Battalion Norfolk Regiment. He is thought to have died while part of a working party assisting another unit.
Bottom row - left to right:
Ernest Charles Smith:
Ernest was born in Southrepps, the son of Charles Smith of Lower Street, Southrepps.
He enlisted in Norwich and served as Private 16237 with 'A' Company, 2nd. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Earnest died of wounds in The Balkans on 8th. December 1915, aged 21, and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.
Ernest Robert Burton-Pye (Major):
Ernest was born on 20th. February 1897 in Southrepps, the son of Francis and Edith Burton-Pye. In the 1911 census he is a farm worker and is living with his uncle and aunt at Gillingham.
He enlisted in Norwich and served with 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment as Private 15019. He died in action in France and Flounders on 15th. September 1916 and is commemorated on pier and face 1C and 1D of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
William Moy:
Killed in action. No reference to this man is in village records or on the village war memorial.
Herbert Pitchers:
Herbert was born in Corpusty, the son of James and Rebecca Pitchers of The Warren, Southrepps. James would later die and Rebecca married William Bell of Lower Street, Southrepps.
Herbert enlisted in Cromer and served as Private 7985 in the 8th. Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and died of wounds in France and Flounders on 16th. October 1916, aged 25. Herbert is buried in grave II.I.3 of Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.