St Mary Baconsthorpe - WW1 memorial

BACONSTHORPE 1914 - 1919

 

After doing my research, I found that the Roll of Honour site (RoH) has also done research on the memorials for those who died.

www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Baconsthorpe.html

 

William Barnes……………Died

 

No obvious match on the CWGC database - I found a Canadian soldier who’s parents are recorded as living at Cley, but his parents first names are different to those recorded below. Otherwise there are too many W \William Barnes with no age or additional information, at least two of which served with the Norfolk Regiment and so probably had a connection with the county. The Roll of Honour site was also unable to identifiy this individual.

 

No match on Norlink

 

The 1901 Census has an 8 year old William, (born Langham) recorded at School Lane, Baconsthorpe, This is the household of his parents, Matthew. (aged 40 and a Yardman on Farm from Langham), and Martha, (aged 44 and from Langham). Their other children are:-

Ephraim…….aged 24...born Langham……Agricultural Labourer

Ernest……….aged 6.…born Calthorpe

Florence,,,,,,,,,aged 15...born Langham

Frederic……..aged 1,,,,,born

George………aged u/1..born Baconsthorpe

Henry………aged 11.….born Langham

Matthew……aged 10.…born Langham

 

Fortunately I had also taken a walk round the churchyard, and although large parts had been fenced off, one headstone caught my eye.

 

In loving memory of Martha Elizabeth,

The beloved wife of Matthew Barnes,

Died October 7th 1914

Aged 57 years,

 

Also William Barnes son of the above

2nd Norfolk Regiment

Who fell in battle in Mesopotamia

April 12th 1916, aged 23 years

 

That leads us to this man

 

Name: BARNES Initials: W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Date of Death: 11/04/1916 Service No: 19471 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: XXII. B. 16. Cemetery: AMARA WAR CEMETERY

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=627383

 

Note the discrepancy of a day in the date of death between the headstone and the CWGC entry.

 

The Siege of Kut

During the siege of Kut which lasted for 5 months aircraft were first used to try and drop supplies to the garrison. The aircraft could not carry enough supplies some were shot down and the attempt ended in failure. The Turks used aircraft more successfully in bombing the town, many troops having been wounded were then killed in hospital by an air raid. Several attempts were made to break out across the river on floating bridges, but as the river was in flood at this time of the year the attempts failed. Radio contact with the outside world was kept up until the end.

Towards the end of the siege the daily ration for British troops was reduced to ten ounces of bread and one pound of horse or mule flesh. Indian troops who refused to eat flesh were dying of scurvy at the rate of 10 to 20 a day. In all 1746 people died during the siege from wounds or disease.

Kut falls

On 29 April 1916 Kut surrendered to the Turks. After agreeing terms, Townshend marched his troops out into captivity, and certain death for most of them.

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

 

Richard Cletheroe………….Died

 

Name: CLETHEROE, ARTHUR WILLIAM RICHARD

Rank: Private

Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.

Age: 21 Date of Death: 19/04/1917

Service No: 240202

Additional information: Son of Arthur Edward and Alice Ann Cletheroe, of Baconsthorpe Hall, Norfolk.

Grave/Memorial Reference: XXIII. C. 2. Cemetery: GAZA WAR CEMETERY

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=649742

There is a picture of Arthur in the Norlink Archive.

norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...

 

The accompanying notes read:-

Born at Bodham, 10th March 1896, Private Cletheroe was from Baconsthorpe Hall. He was educated at Baconsthorpe and enlisted 5th August 1914. He was killed at the Battle of Gaza in Palestine, 19th April 1917 and buried at Gaza Military Cemetery.

 

The 1901 Census has the 5 year old Richard, (Born Bodham), recorded at Baconsthorpe, (no specific address). This is the household of his uncle, Stephen Cletheroe, (aged 45 and a farmer from Baconsthorpe), and aunt, Maria, (aged 44 and from Thornage). Richard doesn’t appear to be on the 1911 census, although Stephen and Maria are.

 

19th April 1917 During the 2nd Battle of Gaza,

 

Facing the Tank Redoubt was the 161st Brigade of the 54th Division. To their right were the two Australian battalions (1st and 3rd) of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade who had dismounted about 4,000 yards from their objective. As the infantry went in to attack at 7.30am they were joined by a single tank called "The Nutty" which attracted a lot of shell fire. The tank followed a wayward path towards the redoubt on the summit of a knoll where it was fired on point blank by four field guns until it was stopped and set alight in the middle of the position.

The infantry and the 1st Camel Battalion, having suffered heavy casualties on their approach, now made a bayonet charge against the trenches. About 30 "Camels" and 20 of the British infantry (soldiers of the 5th (territorial Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment) reached the redoubt, then occupied by around 600 Turks who immediately broke and fled towards their second line of defences to the rear.

The British and Australians held on unsupported for about two hours by which time most had been wounded. With no reinforcements at hand and a Turkish counter-attack imminent, the survivors endeavoured to escape back to their own lines.

To the right (west) of Tank Redoubt, the 3rd Camel Battalion, advancing in the gap between two redoubts, actually made the furthest advance of the battle, crossing the Gaza-Beersheba Road and occupying a pair of low hills (dubbed "Jack" and "Jill"). As the advances on their flanks faltered, the "Camels" were forced to retreat to avoid being isolated.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Gaza

 

More than a thousand one hundred of the men of the 54th posted killed wounded or missing were from the two Norfolk regiment battalions, equating to 75% of their strength. Eastern Daily Press "Sunday" section May 5, 2007

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Gaza

 

George Cooper…………….Died

 

Norlink has a potential match in a George Alfred Cooper born Alby, who served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...

 

The accompanying notes read

Born at Alby, 8th May 1893, Private Cooper enlisted in September 1914. He was killed in action Festubert, France, 5th January 1915.

 

There is a George born Baconsthorpe circa 1892 and still resident in the same district on the 1911 Census.. There is no George Cooper born Alby - just a Charles D, born circa 1892, and a Jonathan, born circa 1895 on the 1911 census, However there is one born circa 1894 on the 1901 Census, so looks like the Norlink picture is for a different person.

 

The 1901 Census has a George R Cooper, aged 9 and born Baconsthorpe, recorded at Baconsthorpe, (no specific address). This is the household of his parents, James, (aged 43 and a farmer from Upper Sheringham), and Phyllis, (aged 48 and from Baconsthorpe). Their other children are:

Phyllis………..aged 15.…..born Baconsthorpe

Richard F…….aged 19.…..born Baconsthorpe…..Teamster on Farm

 

The CWGC has 5 G R Coopers recorded, all of which can be fairly safely eliminated - the two shown as George R have parents with different names. Of the three simply shown as as G.R,, two, an officer in the Royal Berks who died in 1916 and a private in the Coldstream Guards who died in 1918, do not appear on the Great War Roll of Honour under the first name George. The final candidate, another G R with no age or additional details, was a Lance Bombardier in the Royal Garrison Artillery who died in 1919. He is buried at Royton, Lancashire in the UK. I would have thought it more likely that he would have been returned to his hometown - I’m not an authority on the UK military forces, but I can’t think of many military bases round there, and a quick scan of the 38 other records for this cemetery indicates that nearly all have an obvious link with the Royton\Oldham area and the WW1 burials come from a wide variety of units..

 

That unfortunately leaves us with a large number of G. Coopers on the CWGC database,

 

Postscript. The Roll of Honour site believes it is possibly this individual.

Name: COOPER, GEORGE

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 27 Date of Death: 25/05/1918 Service No: 17401

Additional information: Son of Charles and Harriet Cooper, of North Barningham, Norfolk.

Memorial Reference: Panel 3. Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1641963

However, as we can see, parents names are different to the individual on the census.

 

Fred Dew……………….Died

 

Name: DEW, FREDERICK BENJAMIN

Rank: Private

Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 23 Date of Death: 26/03/1916

Service No: 13993

Additional information: Son of Mr. B. Dew, of Baconsthorpe, Norfolk; husband of Brenda M. Dew, of Hingham, Norwich.

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10. Memorial: BASRA MEMORIAL

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=864652

 

No match on Norlink

 

The 1911 Census has a Frederick born circa 1893 in Baconsthorpe, and still recorded in the district of Erpingham. On the 1901 census, the 8 year old Frederic, (Born Baconsthorpe), is recorded at The Street, Baconsthorpe. This is the household of his parents, Benjamin, (aged 31 and a General Labourer from Baconsthorpe), and Rosetta, (aged 30 and from Baconsthorpe). Their other children are:-

Alice……………….aged 7.………….born Baconsthorpe

Hilda……………….aged 1.………….born Baconsthorpe

Horace………………aged 6.…………born Baconsthorpe

Marian………………aged 4.…………born Baconsthorpe

 

Frederick is probably one of the Norfolk men who died during the final days of the siege of Kut, (although far more would die on the subsequent march into captivity). He may possibly have been one of those outside as a composite unit, the Norsets, consisting of available drafts and recovered sick and wounded from the two parent battalions of the Norfolks and Dorsets, who were fighting to break the siege.

 

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t...

 

Horace Dew…………..Died

 

Name: DEW Initials: H E

Rank: Corporal Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 7th Bn.

Date of Death: 30/05/1916 Service No: 12576

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 45. Cemetery: LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=54022

 

Genes Re-united site confirms this was a Horace.

 

Lapugnoy Military Cemetery

 

The first burials were made in Plot I of the cemetery in September 1915, but it was most heavily used during the Battle of Arras, which began in April 1917. The dead were brought to the cemetery from casualty clearing stations, chiefly the 18th and the 23rd at Lapugnoy and Lozinghem

www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=5501&a...

 

No match on Norlink

 

The 1911 Census has a Horace born circa 1895 in Baconsthorpe, and still recorded in the district of Erpingham. See Frederick above for family details

 

William Jarvis………….Died

 

As there was no obvious William Jarvis associated on the 1901 or 1911 census with Baconsthorpe, I initially thought it was a Willie Reginald Jarvis from Langham, who died in the Middle East in 1918 while serving with the 1st/4th Norfolks CWGC.http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1645773

His parents were Herbert and Martha.

 

No match on Norlink

 

However, I then discovered the Roll of Honour had identified another individual who was much more likely.

Name: JARVIS Initials: W T

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 7th Bn.

Age: 20 Date of Death: 20/09/1917 Service No: 19515

Additional information: Son of Alfred and Ann Jarvis, of Baconsthorpe, Holt, Norfolk. Grave/Memorial Reference: V. B. 6. Cemetery: DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=169980

 

The 1911 Census lists an Arthur William Jarvis, born circa 1902 at Baconsthorpe, and still resident in the District of Erpingham which covers the village. Other Jarvis’s are:-

Mary Beatrice, born circa 1878 at Baconsthorpe

Sidney, born circa 1890 at North Walsham

Thomas John, born circa 1904 at Baconsthorpe.

 

There is no obvious William who’s parents are an Alfred and Ann born circa 1897 / 1898

On the Genes re-united transcript of the 1901 and 1911 Censuses.

 

The battalion appears to have been in action near Monchy, and there seems to be a steady but small number of casualties over the period 19th to the 23rd - 7 on the 19th for example.

 

Robert Jermy…………………Died

 

CWGC has only one R Jermy

Name: JERMY Initials: R

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment/Service: London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles) Unit Text: 9th Bn.

Date of Death: 04/07/1918 Service No: 392969

Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 10. Cemetery: BAVELINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=587482

 

Norlink has a Robert Jermy, but tenuous link to Baconsthorpe

norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...

 

Acconpanying notes are

Rifleman Jermy was born at Blofield on 13th July 1891, and was educated at Blofield and Holt schools. He enlisted on 11th March 1916 and was killed in action in France on 4th July 1918

 

The 1911 Census has a Robert Jermy, born circa 1892 at Strumpshaw and now registered in the District of Erpingham which covers the village of Baconsthorpe. The other Jermys in the same District are:

Emma Jane, born circa 1869 at Lingwood.

Robert, born circa 1871 at Hemblington

Maude, born circa 1893 at Blofied

Clifford born circa 1911 at Baconsthorpe.

 

The 1901 Census has a 9 year old Robert, (Born Blofield), recorded at Holt Road, Thornage. This was the household of his parents, Robert, (aged 29 and a Teamman on Farm from Hemblington) and Jane, (aged 30 and from Lingwood). They also have a daughter, Maud, (aged 8 and from Blofield)

 

9th Battalion London Regiment was affiliated to the Royal Fusiliers, and was part of the 175 Brigade, 58th Division at the time of Robert’s death.

www.warpath.orbat.com/divs/58_div.htm

 

Fred Knowles…………………..Died

 

Possibly

Name: KNOWLES Initials: F J

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Date of Death: 22/04/1916 Service No: 18830

Grave/Memorial Reference: XXII. D. 13. Cemetery: AMARA WAR CEMETERY

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=629143

 

Genes reunited copy of the Great War Roll of Honour confirms that this Norfolk Regiment man was a Frederick J.

No match on Norlink

 

The 1911 Census has only a Sidney Knowles recorded at Baconsthorpe. The 1901 Census has a 21 year old Fred H.Knowles, born North Walsham, and now resident at the Green Grocers Shop, Baker Street, Sheringham. There is also a Frederick Knowles, born Hunworth, and now recorded working as an Ostler at The Hasting Arms , Melton Constable. I have no firm way of establing whether either of the two individuals are the same as the CWGC man, and whether any of them are the Fred Knowles on the Baconsthorpe Roll of Honour.

 

See William Barnes and Frederick Dew above for details of the siege of Kut.

 

Henry Smith……………………Died

 

There was no obvious candidate on the the CWGC at first glance - hundreds of H Smiths. However a review of the 1911 and 1901 Censuses threw up two individuals - a Henry J born 1898 and a Henry Marston born 1871. Now of the two, you’d expect Henry J. to be the more likely to have served, but looking at the numerous candidates matching either H J or Henry J, on the CWGC, there is still no obvious candidate. Under a search for an H M Smith, however, there is this individual.

 

Possibly

Name: SMITH, HENRY MARSTON

Rank: Engineman

Service: Royal Naval Reserve Unit Text: H.M. Drifter "Hilary II."

Date of Death: 25/03/1916 Service No: 2508TS

Grave/Memorial Reference: 19. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3051664

 

No match on Norlink

 

On the 1901 Census, the 30 year old Henry is recorded as a farmer, at Manor Farm , Baconsthorpe, the village of his birth. Unfortunately he is already a widower. The household is made up by a live in servant, Laura Hazlewood, aged 19 and from Baconsthorpe.

 

The RoH site gives us this candidate, which its sources, (probably “Soldiers who died in the Great War”), state was born Baconsthorpe and enlisted Norwich.

.

Name: SMITH, HENRY JOHN Initials: H J

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Middlesex Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Date of Death: 01/08/1917 Service No: TF/203340

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 49 and 51. Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=917408

 

31st July 1917 Battle of Passchendaele (3rd Ypres) commences

 

Hooge

 

8th Division

 

23 Bde

2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt and 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt attacked here, supported by 2nd Scotish Rifles and 2nd Middlesex Regt respectively.

 

Both attacking battalions reached their objective, the Yorks taking Ziel House. The support units then passed through, with the Scottish Rifles taking Jaffa Trench despite heavy fire from Kit and Kat Blockhouses. The blockhouses were also captured.

 

This brigade was also forced back to Westhoek Ridge.

 

1st August 1917

 

Frezenberg

 

At 3.30pm under cover of smoke and artillery, the Germans attacked along the Ypres-Roulers Railway line, the boundary between 15th and 8th Divisions. North of the railway artillery stopped the Germans but to the south the 8th Div was forced back, exposing the right flank of 15th Div which was held by 8/10th Gordon Highlanders. The Gordons left fell back to North Station Buildings while the right was reinforced by 6/7th Royal Scots Fusiliers and 11th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. The three battalions were ordered to retake the Black Line which they did at 9pm.

 

Westhoek

 

25th Div relieved 8th Div.

 

forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=11535

 

Frank Thursby………………..Died

 

Norlink has a picture of an Earl Francis Thursby of the Border Regiment.

norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...

The accompanying notes read

Private Thursby was born in Upper Holloway, London, on 18th July 1897. He was educated at Baconsthorpe, Norfolk. He enlisted on 29th May 1915, and was killed in action in Flanders on 4th October 1917

 

Name: THURSBY, EARL FRANCIS

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Border Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 21 Date of Death: 04/10/1917 Service No: 21246

Additional information: Son of Mrs. E. M. Thursby, of Lower Gresham, Norwich. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 85 to 86. Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=827749

 

The 1911 Census has four Thursby’s associated with Baconsthorpe. They are:-

Fenn Waller, born circa 1854 at Sheingham, Norfolk.

Leiza Mary, born circa 1859 at Islington, London

Earl Francis Zeats, born circa 1897 at Hornsey, London

Cecle Samuel Phypps, born circa 1903 at Holt, Norfolk

 

The 1901 Census has Earle F Y Smith, (aged 4, born Islington, London), recorded at 26 Enfield Road, Hornsey. This is the household of his parents, Fenn Waller Thursby, (aged 48 and a Carpenter from Sheringham), and Eliza M.Thursby (aged 42 and from Islington). Interestingly, one of their other children is an Ethel G. Smith, (aged 11, born Hornsey) who is described as an adopted daughter - I wonder if Earle is adopted as well.

 

Their other children are:

Eliza L…………….aged 20.…………born Islington

Elizabeth M……….aged 19.…………born Islington

 

The RoH site advises that he was an ex-Norfolk Regiment man

 

Today marks the start of the Battle of Broodseinde.

 

Zero Hour was set for 6 am.

 

Polygon Wood

 

7th Div

 

20 Bde

8th Bn, Devonshire Regt led the attack reaching the first objective in good time. 2nd Bn, Gordon Highlanders then took over but they strayed left keeping in touch with the Australians on the left flank. 2nd Bn, Border Regt was then brought up to fill the gap on the Gordon’s right.

forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=11535&...

 

 

Done