Private William Henry Atkins, 2/6th Suffolks, died 1917
There is a personal headstone in the Cemetery extension at Wetheringsett, Suffolk.
In
loving memory
of
WILLIAM HENRY ATKINS
Signal Section 2/6th Suffolk Regiment.
The dearly beloved son of
William and Susanna Atkins.
Died April 2nd 1917 Aged 31 years.
“Thy will be done.”
William is not on the Village War Memorial but he is on the one in the church.
Private ATKINS, WILLIAM HENRY
Service Number:……………. 265455
Died:…………………………….. 02/04/1917
Aged:……………………………. 31
Unit:……………………………..2nd/6th Bn.
……………………………………..Suffolk Regiment
Son of William and Susanna Atkins, of The Red House, Wetheringsett.
Buried at WETHERINGSETT (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397253/atkins,-willia...
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Private 265455 William Henry Atkins “Died” on the 2nd April 1917 whilst serving on the Home Front with the 6th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was formerly 2474 Suffolk Cyclists. William enlisted Ipswich. No place of residence is shown.
“Died” in SDGW terms means anything other than Killed in Action or Died of Wounds (received in action).
There is no obvious Medal Index Card. This is usually a strong indicator that the individual concerned did not serve outside the UK.
His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.
The 1917 Probate Calendar records that William Henry Atkins of Wetheringsett, Suffolk, a private in the Suffolk Regiment, died on the 2nd April 1917 at the 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln. Administration was granted at the Bury St Edmunds Court on the 24th May 1917 to William Atkins, farmer. His effects were valued at £711 7s 1d.
Source: probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Atkins&...
He is also remembered on the Ipswich War Memorial.
Source: www.ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk/william-henry-atkins/
1885 – Birth………………………….
The birth of a William Henry Atkins was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Hartismere District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1885.
Hartismere Civil Registration District included the Civil Parish of Wetheringsett.
1891 Census of England and Wales
The 5 year old William H. Atkins, born Wetheringsett, was recorded living in a dwelling at Blacksmith Corner, Wetheringsett cum Brockford. This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 36, a Wheelwright & Blacksmith, born Westhorpe, Suffolk), and Susanna, (aged 35, born Wetheringsett). As well as William they have another son, Francis J, (aged 8 and born Wetheringsett).
1901 Census of England and Wales
The two brothers, William H, (15) and Francis J., (18) were both working as an Engineers Clerk and boarding in a boarding house at 5 Priory Place, Friars Street, Ipswich.
Their parents were still living, and in father Williams’ case, still working at Blacksmith “Green”, Wetheringsett cum Brockford. William, (46) still works as a Wheelwright & Blacksmith. Wife Susanna (45), is now shown as born Brockford, Suffolk. Living with them is their 5 year old niece, Frances M. Gooding, born Debenham, Suffolk.
1911 Census of England and Wales
Both William Henry, (25) and Francis John, (28), were working as Clerks to an Agricultural Engineers and they were still boarding at 5 Priory Place.
Their parents William, (56), and Susanna, (55), were now living at The Red House, Wetheringsett. William is a Farmer and employer of others. The couple have been married 30 years and have had two children, both then still alive.
His unit………………………………………
Pre-war for most County Regiments like the Suffolks, the 6th Battalion was the Cyclist Battalion of the Territorial Force, drawing recruits from all over the county, (other T.F. Battalion tended to draw on specific areas of the county, west and east for example)
From his original number it seems likely that William volunteered pre-conscription for that unit after the outbreak of war. With minimal need for soldiers to ride into battle on bicycles, many of these battalions were broken up or used as training units, with drafts being prepared for the front. A few were still used to patrol long stretches of the coastline or ended up seeing service in Ireland.
All the infantry battalions of the Territorial Force adopted a six digit numbering system, starting with a 2, at the end of 1916. While it wasn’t quite a unique number for every soldier, it did do away with a wide variety of numbering systems, simplifying administration. It’s likely therefore William stayed in the same unit throughout his Army Career.
2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion
Formed at Ipswich in September 1914. Remained in England throughout the war.
Source: www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-brit...
On the day…………………………………
The death of the 31 year old William H. Atkins was recorded in the Lincoln District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1886.
As we have seen from the Probate Calendar he died in the 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln.
Without a personal source such as his service record for now the cause of death remains unknown.
Private William Henry Atkins, 2/6th Suffolks, died 1917
There is a personal headstone in the Cemetery extension at Wetheringsett, Suffolk.
In
loving memory
of
WILLIAM HENRY ATKINS
Signal Section 2/6th Suffolk Regiment.
The dearly beloved son of
William and Susanna Atkins.
Died April 2nd 1917 Aged 31 years.
“Thy will be done.”
William is not on the Village War Memorial but he is on the one in the church.
Private ATKINS, WILLIAM HENRY
Service Number:……………. 265455
Died:…………………………….. 02/04/1917
Aged:……………………………. 31
Unit:……………………………..2nd/6th Bn.
……………………………………..Suffolk Regiment
Son of William and Susanna Atkins, of The Red House, Wetheringsett.
Buried at WETHERINGSETT (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397253/atkins,-willia...
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Private 265455 William Henry Atkins “Died” on the 2nd April 1917 whilst serving on the Home Front with the 6th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was formerly 2474 Suffolk Cyclists. William enlisted Ipswich. No place of residence is shown.
“Died” in SDGW terms means anything other than Killed in Action or Died of Wounds (received in action).
There is no obvious Medal Index Card. This is usually a strong indicator that the individual concerned did not serve outside the UK.
His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.
The 1917 Probate Calendar records that William Henry Atkins of Wetheringsett, Suffolk, a private in the Suffolk Regiment, died on the 2nd April 1917 at the 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln. Administration was granted at the Bury St Edmunds Court on the 24th May 1917 to William Atkins, farmer. His effects were valued at £711 7s 1d.
Source: probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Atkins&...
He is also remembered on the Ipswich War Memorial.
Source: www.ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk/william-henry-atkins/
1885 – Birth………………………….
The birth of a William Henry Atkins was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Hartismere District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1885.
Hartismere Civil Registration District included the Civil Parish of Wetheringsett.
1891 Census of England and Wales
The 5 year old William H. Atkins, born Wetheringsett, was recorded living in a dwelling at Blacksmith Corner, Wetheringsett cum Brockford. This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 36, a Wheelwright & Blacksmith, born Westhorpe, Suffolk), and Susanna, (aged 35, born Wetheringsett). As well as William they have another son, Francis J, (aged 8 and born Wetheringsett).
1901 Census of England and Wales
The two brothers, William H, (15) and Francis J., (18) were both working as an Engineers Clerk and boarding in a boarding house at 5 Priory Place, Friars Street, Ipswich.
Their parents were still living, and in father Williams’ case, still working at Blacksmith “Green”, Wetheringsett cum Brockford. William, (46) still works as a Wheelwright & Blacksmith. Wife Susanna (45), is now shown as born Brockford, Suffolk. Living with them is their 5 year old niece, Frances M. Gooding, born Debenham, Suffolk.
1911 Census of England and Wales
Both William Henry, (25) and Francis John, (28), were working as Clerks to an Agricultural Engineers and they were still boarding at 5 Priory Place.
Their parents William, (56), and Susanna, (55), were now living at The Red House, Wetheringsett. William is a Farmer and employer of others. The couple have been married 30 years and have had two children, both then still alive.
His unit………………………………………
Pre-war for most County Regiments like the Suffolks, the 6th Battalion was the Cyclist Battalion of the Territorial Force, drawing recruits from all over the county, (other T.F. Battalion tended to draw on specific areas of the county, west and east for example)
From his original number it seems likely that William volunteered pre-conscription for that unit after the outbreak of war. With minimal need for soldiers to ride into battle on bicycles, many of these battalions were broken up or used as training units, with drafts being prepared for the front. A few were still used to patrol long stretches of the coastline or ended up seeing service in Ireland.
All the infantry battalions of the Territorial Force adopted a six digit numbering system, starting with a 2, at the end of 1916. While it wasn’t quite a unique number for every soldier, it did do away with a wide variety of numbering systems, simplifying administration. It’s likely therefore William stayed in the same unit throughout his Army Career.
2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion
Formed at Ipswich in September 1914. Remained in England throughout the war.
Source: www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-brit...
On the day…………………………………
The death of the 31 year old William H. Atkins was recorded in the Lincoln District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1886.
As we have seen from the Probate Calendar he died in the 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln.
Without a personal source such as his service record for now the cause of death remains unknown.