St Thomas Parish - The Great War Roll of Honour
The church of St Thomas was burnt out during a German Air Raid, and presumably any memorial that existed from the time of the Great War was consumed in the flames. Certainly when Jarrolds published a list of the Norfolk dead, circa 1922, there is reference to a parish list. This has now been photocopied, laminated and displayed in the church.
Apologies for the glare - if viewed large then all names are visible.
WW1
Beckham, Walter
Most likely
Name: BECKHAM Initials: W J
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 08/10/1916
Service No: 12245
Additional information: Husband of Edith Beckham, of 85, Gertrude Rd., Norwich. Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. E. 11A. Cemetery: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=498936
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour has only one Walter Beckham listed, and that’s Corporal Walter J, serial number 12245 who died in 1916.
There is no obvious match on the 1901 census for Walter - of the three possible, one born circa 1892 East Dereham and still resident there looks a possibility. However, on the 1911 census, the only match for a Walter Beckham in the whole of England and Wales, is one born Norwich circa 1885 and still resident there. Also in the household is an Edith Beckham, but she is aged 4, (born Norwich), Gladys, (aged 3, born Norwich), Donald, (aged 7 months, born Norwich). From the Genes Re-united site I can see there is an Edith, born circa 1884, Norwich, but I’ve not been able to confirm via the high-level search that I have access to whether she was part of the same household or not.
Walter appears on the Boys Model School Roll of Honour, which is in Norwich Cathedral. Detailed work has been done on this, which can be seen here
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/NorwichBoysModelSchool.html
Son of Samuel J. Beckham and Rachel Beckham of 46 Cardiff Road, Norwich. Husband of Edith Beckham of 85 Gertrude Road, Norwich. Born South Heigham, Norwich. Enlisted Norwich. His occupation is given as apprentice carpenter on the 1901 Census.
His parents address probably explains why he is on the St Thomas Roll of Honour.
Etaples Military cemetery
During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick
www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=56500&...
The Battalion had been in support in at attack on Bayonet Trench, NE of Guedecourt on the 7th October. Before that they had been in and out of the front line since arriving back in the Somme Sector on the 1st October. Prior to that they had been in the Arras sector, where both sides practised very active trench-raiding.
Beckett, William
Name: BECKETT, WILLIAM THOMAS
Rank: Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: R.N. H.M.S. Bulwark.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 26/11/1914
Service No: M/6629(PO)
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Amelia Beckett. of I, Carnarvon Rd., Earlham Rd., Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 48. 38. Cemetery: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803047
See my Flickr shot of his headstone.
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/2723115015/in/set-7215...
A picture of William can be seen on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes are:- Mr. Beckett, of 1 Caernavon Road, Norwich, enlisted September 3rd 1913. He was killed by an explosion of magazines on H.M.S. Bulwark and buried at Norwich Cemetery
From the outbreak of World War I she (HMS Bulwark) carried out Channel patrol duty and on the 26th November 1914 while loading ammunition at Sheerness, she was destroyed by a huge explosion, probably caused by black powder charges being mishandled, only 12 men survived.
www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/bulwark.htm
(Various pictures of the Bulwark can also be seen at the same site.)
Details of the investigation into the accident can be read here
www.nhcra-online.org/20c/bulwark.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bulwark_(1899)
And finally a Beckett family site gives more details on the family.
www.cave-kids.com/data/beckett/thomas_1862.htm
Bower, Charles F
Name: BOWER, CHARLES FRANCIS
Rank: Captain
Regiment: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 13/09/1917
Additional information: Son of James Garton Bower and Helen Brook Bower, of Earlham House, Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 1. Cemetery: LA CLYTTE MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=438189
A picture of Captain Bower can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
“Born 27th July 1891, the son of James G. and Helen H. Bower, Earlham House, Earlham Road, Norwich. He enlisted in the summer of 1915, and was killed on the 13th September 1917 “
The 9 year old Charles F, born Norwich, is recorded on the 1901 census at Ealham House, 148 Earlham Road. This is the household of his parents, James G, (aged 48 and an Iron Merchant\Iron Founder from Norwich) and Helen B, (aged 46 and from Huddersfield). Their other children are:-
George Noel Bower…………aged 16.……..born Norwich
William Le Neve Bower…….aged 17.…….born Norwich….”Learning Engineering”
The Bowers also have two live-in servants.
In 1887 Barnards became a Limited Company and Mr. James Bower took an active part in the affairs of the firm. By the beginning of the 20th century he had re-designed and re-built all the wire netting machinery and invented a special machine for weaving mixed mesh wire netting which was patented. Many thousands of miles of this netting were supplied to Australia for rabbit fencing.
The company became known as Barnards Limited in 1907 with Mr. Bower as Managing Director. During the 1914 -18 War Barnards supplied the Government with upwards of 7,000 miles of wire netting for road making across the Egyptian desert and the formation of revetments to trenches in the War Zone. Two hundred of the workers enlisted, and fifteen died, including the Managing Director‘s son, Mr. Charles F. Bower, who was killed near Hill 60, just as he had been gazetted to the rank of Captain.
www.heritagecity.org/research-centre/industrial-innovatio...
I can’t at this stage find any details of the battalion being in action at this time, which was a comparatively quiet period in the Battle of Passcendaele, as both sides re-grouped for the next phase of fighting.
Browne, E F
Name: BROWNE, ERNEST FREDERICK
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment
Unit Text: 11th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 28/04/1917
Service No: 43399
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Frederick Browne, of 25, Neville St., Norwich.
Memorial Reference: Bay 4. Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=742615
A picture of Corporal Browne can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
There are no accompanying notes
There is no obvious match for Ernest on the 1901 census. On the 1911 high level search, there is an Ernest Frederick Browne born Norwich circa 1893 and still resident there.
He is still resident in the same household as Alfred Frederick Browne, who was born circa 1866.
Going back to the 1901 census we can find Alfred, and looking at the census takers hand-writing on the original sheet I can understand why the transcribers at the various genealogy sites have got the family details wrong J
The family are at 38 Cardiff Road
Alfred F, (transcribed as Alfred J), is aged 38 and a Printers Compositor from Norwich.
His wife, probably Bessie, (transcribed as Busia), is aged 36 and from Lowestoft
Son Everard A, is aged 10
Son Ernest F (transcribed as Epusei F), is aged 8
Daughter Alice M. (transcribed as Alise M), is aged 4
Ernest is recorded as having enlisted in Lowestoft.
On the 28th the 11th Suffolks were involved in directly attacking Roeux, where they suffered heavy casualties.
28th April
4.25 a.m. Barrage commences.
4:27 a.m. Bn advanced to attack. The Bn was held up and driven back by very considerable hostile machine gun fire from a trench which had been entirely missed by our barrage. What was left of our Bn formed up in our front line.
5:30 a.m. Major G.L.J. Tuck went up to our front line to reorganise our defenses. In the front line were 5 officers, 300 other ranks (including 2 officers and 60 other ranks from 16th Royal Scots.
9:45 a.m. Enemy counter attack from Roeux captured Mount Pleasnt Wood and part of Ceylon (communication) trench.
10 a.m. All communications with the front line cut off. Enemy driven out of Ceylon Trench and out of Mount Pleasant Wood.
10 p.m. Bn moved out of front line trench & support line to enable the heavies to bombard the chemical works. Moved back into the front line at midnight.
www.curme.co.uk/april.htm#Arras
Cann, George Leonard
Name: CANN, GEORGE LEONARD
Rank: Private
Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 57th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/09/1918
Service No: 3367
Additional information: Son of Mrs. Sarah Arm Cann, of 77, Caernarvon Rd., Norwich, England.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 15. Cemetery: BELLICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=238012
A picture of Private Cann can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
There are no additional notes.
From the Australian War Memorial site
Place of birth Malling, Kent, England
School Avenue Road School, Norwich, England
Age on arrival in Australia 15.6
Religion Church of England
Occupation Bank clerk
Address North Melbourne, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 19
Next of kin Mother, Mrs S A Cann, 77 Carnarvon Road, Norwich, Norfolk, England Previous military service Nil
Enlistment date 11 April 1917
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 57th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/74/4
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A29 Suevic on 21 June 1917
Fate Killed in Action 29 September 1918
Place of death or wounding Bellicourt, France
Age at death 20
Family/military connections Brother: 19962 Sergeant William Stannard CANN, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 12 May 1919.
www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=45545
By the time of the 1911 census, a George Leonard Cann, born circa 1898 Malling, Kent was recorded in Norwich. However there is no obvious match for the same individual in the 1901 census.
There is also no obvious match for brother William on either the 1901 or 1911 censuses.
The Australian Army Records for George Leonard Cann, can be seen here
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3202335
At the time he enlisted, he noted his form that his father was already deceased.
There is a letter from his mother giving, (reluctantly) her consent for him to enlist even though he wasn’t yet 18. However, she signs herself Mrs G S Cann, and states she would prefer for her son to be known as “A.Slacker” - very odd.
There is a note from the Battalion adjutant, stating that he was killed by shellfire and death was instantaneous.
In his will he names his mother as Sarah Ann Cann.
The Australian Army records for his brother, William Stannard Cann, can be seen here
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3202426
Once again, mother Sarah Ann Cann is listed as the next of kin, but interestingly, on his enlistment papers signed in November 1915 it states fathers whereabouts unknown.
He proceeded to France from Training camp in England in November 1916. He actually served most of his time in a Trench Mortar Battery, being wounded a couple of times.
It was only after the end of the war that he was moved to the Field Artillery Brigade.
The Battalion would be engaged in an attack on the St Quentin canal at dawn on the 29th September, but I suspect Private Cann was already dead at that point.
Extract from the Battalion War Diary for the 28th.
Weather Cold and Bleak. Fine rain fell during the afternoon. Blankets were sent up at 8am and issued to the men. Enemy artillery shelled our area persistently during the morning and some casualties were sustained, including 2/Lieut.B G PITCHER wounded. (the rest of the entry deals with the peparations for the next days attack).
Cooke, John Edward
Possibly
Name: COOKE, JOHN EDWARD
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 21/08/1915
Service No: 2551
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 42 to 44. Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=680910
No match on Norlink
No obvious matches on the 1911 census for a John Edward with a Norfolk connection.
From the diary of Captain Montgomerie, of the 1st/4ths.
21st. - Standing to arms at 3 p.m. as an attack was commenced on our right. There was no movement in our part of the battle-field. At night a party of Turks tried to make 'an advanced trench but this was stopped by the torpedo boat on the left and the machine-guns.
user.online.be/~snelders/sand.htm
Corbe, John Bennett
No obvious match - original source checked
No match on Norlink. No match on Great War Roll of Honour.
To be investigated further:-
Name: CORKE
Initials: J B
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Scots
Unit Text: Depot
Date of Death: 14/12/1918
Service No: 352029
Grave/Memorial Reference: O. 28. Cemetery: BLACKPOOL (LAYTON) CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=372843
Great War Roll of Honour has down as a John B., and he is the only John B.
On the Military Geneology site, John Bennett Corke was born Craigellachie, and resided in Blackpool at the time of his enlistment.
There is no-one with the surname Corbe recorded on the Genes Re-united transcription of the 1901 census. Both genes re-united and findmypast have only one Corbe listed in the whole of England and Wales, a 16 year girl called Doris from Nottinghamshire, on the 1911 census. There are 27 individuals with the surname Corbe on the 1891 census, but most of them were either born in Russia or Poland, and with first names like Abraham, Benjamin, Israel and Jacob for the men, and Rachel and Sarah for the woman, the likelihood is that these were first generation refugees from the religious persecutions in their homeland. They are nearly all to be found in the East End of London, with another little cluster in Leeds.
I then went on to look at Thomas Corke below. That individual is covered by a family history web-site, which at first threw me off the scent, but by eventually its uncovered a possibility. (The author had stated that the Corke’s were recorded as Cooke’s, and their in-laws who were living with them were the Barry family, not the Berry family - I must give praise to their servant Edith Tibbles, otherwise I would never have found them.
familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/r/Pamela-A-Corke/...
Thomas Corke’s grandfather was a John Corke, who had been widowed and then re-married.
On the 1901 census, John, (aged 62 and a Retired Inland Revenue Officer from Leicester), was living with his new wife, Clara E, (aged 38 and a British subject from the US), at 5 St Phillips Road, Norwich. Also in the household was his wife’s brother, Samuel H Barry, (a 48 year old Retired Fruit Salesman who was also a British subject from the US), and his wife, Ida F, (aged 41 and a Retired Schoolmistress, again a British subject from the US).
This is where it gets interesting - also in the household is John’s son Francis L, (aged 29 and a widower from Norwich, who is a greengrocer by trade). There is then a grandson, John F, (aged 3 and from Norwich). It would not be unreasonable to assume John F is the son of Francis.
Corke, Thomas
Possibly (see Norlink picture)
Name: CORKE, CHARLES THOMAS
Rank: Private
Regiment: 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
Age: 21
Date of Death: between 14/09/1916 and 16/09/1916
Service No: 126277
Additional information: Son of Alice Rebecca Corke, of 37, St. Vincent St., Stratford, Ontario, and the late Charles George Corke.
Memorial: VIMY MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1566641
Private Corke can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Lance Corporal was born in Fakenham, 11th August 1895 and educated at the Municipal Secondary School in Norwich. He enlisted in September 1915 and was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme, 14th September 1916.
His Canadian Enlistments papers can be seen on line, and actually state he was born Norwich, (not Fakenham) on the 11th August 1895. He enlisted in September 1915.
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e...
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e...
His next of kin is given as Charles George Corke, of 52 Victoria Street, Stratford, Ontario. He was a Telephone Inspector by trade, single, and had served 4 years as a volunteer in the 28th Perth Regiment.
There is more about the Corke family and their immigration to Canada here - and following through the family tree, there is even a clue as who the John Bennett “Corbe” might be.
familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/r/Pamela-A-Corke/...
Battalion War Diary - September 1916
data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=5th+Canadia...
Cross, Fred
Name: CROSS Initials: F J
Rank: Private
Regiment: York and Lancaster Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 27/05/1918
Service No: 235620
Additional information: Son of Herbert and Mary A. Cross, of 39, Winter Road, Norwich. Scoutmaster of the 17th Norwich B.P. Scouts.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 1. Row D. Grave 18. Cemetery: ACHEUX BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=117888
The Great War Roll of Honour confirms that 235620 Private F J Cross is a Frederick J.
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match for Frederick with a Norwich connection on either the 1901 or 1911 census, although there is a Frederick G shown on the Genes Reunited Transcription of the 1911 census which might be a transcription error. That individual was born Norwich circa 1891.
Using the Find my Past site, we can confirm that Frederick Cross lives in the same household as Herbert Frederick Cross (aged 46), Mary Anne Cross, (aged 47) and George H.Cross. (aged 17) on the 1911 census. Going back to Genes Reunited for the same census reveals that Herbert was from Aldbury, Hants and Mary Anne came from Norwich.
The Military Genealogy site lists a Frederick Joseph born Lakenham, Norwich.
Neither Herbert, Mary or Frederick appear to be on the 1901 census for England and Wales..
The 7th Battalion was the Divisional Pioneers of the 17th (Northern Division).
Cross, George
Probably
Name: CROSS, GEORGE
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Secondary Regiment: London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
Secondary Unit Text: posted to 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 24/04/1918
Service No: 30051
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 23. Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1579496
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match for George on the 1901 census. The 1911 high level search has a George H, born Norwich circa 1894 and still resident there. This would appear to be the correct individual - see brother Frederick above.
The 8th Norfolks, along with many other units were disbanded in February 1918 as part of a general Army re-organisation. There is on-line the memoirs of one soldier, who had been an NCO with the battalion but who subsequently had been an instructor at a sniping and scouting school teaching newly arrived American troops, and who had then been posted to the 8th Battalion London Regiment as a Company Sergeant Major as his old unit no longer existed. He fought with them during the March battles of the German Spring Offensive, where their casualties were replaced with two companys of men, apparently all ex-8th Norfolks.
hastang.co.uk/pdf/Scouting on the Somme.pdf
D‘eath, Arthur
Probable
Name: DEATH Initials: A
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd/5th Bn.
Date of Death: 30/11/1915
Service No: 3598
Grave/Memorial Reference: 55. 239. Cemetery: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803111
As “A” Death didn’t die in a Theatre of War, his death was not recorded in the Great War Roll of Honour issued by the HMSO, circa 1921/1922.
Possible
Name: DEATH, ARTHUR JOSEPH
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 22/10/1916
Service No: 43599
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=756464
(On Military Geneology, Arthur Joseph is recorded as born Kirkley, Lowestoft. No place of residence at the time of enlistment is recorded.)
There is a picture of Arthur Joseph on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Private D'Eath was born at Kirkley, Lowestoft on 5th December 1878. He enlisted circa 1914 and killed in action in France, 22nd October 1916
The only likely candidate on the 1901 census is a 22 year old Arthur, born Norwich and employed as a Boot Finisher, who is recorded as a Boarder at 15 Ashbone Street, Norwich. I don’t believe that exists anymore, but it was in the Parish of St John Selpuchre.
To add to the confusion, the only matching entry for age on the 1911 census was born Kirkley, Lowestoft and was now resident Norwich..
I suspect this is Arthur Joseph, and the 1901 individual is either someone completely different who for some reason wasn’t recorded in 1911, or the 1901 census taker simply got it wrong, Going back to the 1891 census makes me plump for the latter option. There is no Arthur D’eath born Norwich, circa 1879, but there is an Arthur D’eath born circa 1879 in Lowestoft who was recorded at 11, Old Palace Road, Norwich.
This is the household of his parents, Arthur, (aged 36 and a Painter from Hadleigh, Suffolk) and Elizabeth, (aged 27 and from Norwich). Their other children are Fred, (aged 15 and an Errand Boy from Lowestoft), Florence M, (aged 2 and from Norwich), and Henry (aged 1 and from Norwich), Given the age of the oldest two boys, Elizabeth must have been their step-mother - she’d only have been 12 when Fred was born !
Saturday 21st October 1916. Day 113
Thiepval
Zero Hour was set for 12.06pm but the Germans set the ball rolling at 5am with an attack on Schwaben Redoubt, still occupied by 39th Div. 17th King’s Royal Rifle Cops and 14th Hampshires drove the Germans back with grenades.
18th Div attacked with two battalions of 53 Bde- 10th Essex and 8th Norfolks advancing in line with the Canadians on their right flank. The Norfolks were caught up in a bombing fight near the Grandcourt-Courcelette road which they won with the aid of the Lancashire Fusiliers of 25th Div.
Sunday 22nd October 1916. Day 114
Thiepval
19th Div relieved 25th Div and also took over the right sector of 39th Div. 18th Div extended it’s left flank to the Pozieres-Miraumont Road
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=9058&p...
Appendix 3 to the Battalion War Diary for October 1916 is a Short History of the Regina Trench Operations 21st, 22nd and 23rd October
Fourth Phase. 6 a.m to 6 p.m 22nd October
The enemy shelled REGINA more or less steadily through-out the day, but did not put up a heavy barrage on it. He also shelled VANCOUVER and HESSIAN, generally with 5.9, most of the shells seemed to come from LOUPART WOOD. Consolidation was pushed on with throughout the day.
Fifth Phase 6 p.m 22nd October to 6 a.m 23rd October
At 6 pm I decided to make the following changes in my line:-
………………………………................................................................................................
Company……………………..From………….To…………………………..Relieving
“A”…………………………VANCOUVER….REGINA…………………..”B” and “D”
“B”…………………………REGINA…………HESSIAN…………………Posts of “A”
“D”…………………………REGINA…………VANCOUVER……………”A”
“C”…Remained in Regina
************************************************************************
This relief was completed about 8 p.m and “D” Company immediately commenced work on KENORA TRENCH to open up communication between HESSIAN and REGINA. This company worked exceedingly well through-out the night and by 3 a.m KENORA was completely opened up, in spite of the fact that the Company was subjected to a very large amount of whiz bangs.
Between 5 am and 6 am 23rd, our guns opened a very heavy bombardment along the whole Army front. The Boche retaliation was conspicuously feeble.
Fish, Albert
Name: FISH, ALBERT ERNEST
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: "C" Coy. 7th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 28/04/1918
Service No: 43195
Additional information: Son of William Frederick and Edith Rebecca Fish, of 284, Dereham Rd. Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 52. Cemetery: MAILLY-MAILLET COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=282736
There is a picture of Private Fish on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying note is that he was killed on the 28th April 1918.
The 6 year old Albert, born Norwich, is recorded on the 1901 census at 78 Nile Street, Norwich. This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 36 and a Printer\Compositor from Norwich), and Edith, (aged 32 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Dorothy……….aged 7.………..born Norwich
Edith………….aged 9.………..born Norwich
Hannah……….aged 4.…………born Norwich
William………aged 12.………..born Norwich
On this day the battalion war diary notes that two shells hit a dug-out held by C Company. 7 OR’s were killed and 23 were wounded.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=102...
Gilbert, Burton
Name: GILBERT, EDWARD BURTON
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: Royal Fusiliers
Unit Text: 25th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 21/03/1918
Additional information: Son of Mrs. M. B. Gilbert, of 81, College Rd., Norwich, and the late Mr. A. B. Gilbert.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. A. 3. Cemetery: LEBUCQUIERE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=184460
No match on Norlink.
Edward is also on the Eaton War Memorial
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/3476690465/
(see there for my notes on his family on the 1901 census, his mention on the Aviva Group Roll of Honour and speculation as to which unit he was actually fighting with in France as the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers did not fight in that theatre of operations).
Gowing, Harry
Possible
Name: GOWING, HENRY ERNEST
Rank: Lance Serjeant
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 15/10/1917
Service No: 13111
Additional information: Son of Ernest and Mary Gowing, of 4, Derby St., Norwich. Grave/Memorial Reference: XLIV. E. 1. Cemetery: POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=491552
No match on Norlink
Military Geneology has no Henry recorded. The only Harry was born Ashford in Kent. However there is an Ernest Henry who is recorded as born in the Parish of St Phillips, Heigham, Norwich. (There is no E H Gowing recorded in the CWGC database).
There is no obvious match on the 1901 census - the most likely candidate is a 9 year old Harry, born Norwich, who is recorded on the census at 67 Alexandra Road, Norwich. This is the household of his parents, Ernest, (aged 35 and a Shopkeeper from Hempnall) and Elizabeth, (aged 35 and from London). They have 4 other children.
October 1917
The first three weeks of October were spent on the west bank of the Yser canal, and partly in training for the attack of October 22nd in the Poelcappelle neighbourhood. On the 8th Lieutenant -Colonel Ferguson and commanding the battalion almost continuously for three years proceeded on six months special leave to England and was succeeded by Major E. N.Snepp. The only other notable event was on the 15th when the German bombardment was specially severe causing several casualties. One shell made a direct hit on a 'pill-box' in which was the regimental aid post. The medical officer was wounded two men were killed and one wounded
Hall, Geoffrey
No obvious match
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour has a Private Geoffrey Hall, serial number 15555 of the Leicestershire Regiment who died in 1916. However, there is no Geoffrey or G Hall who serverd with the Leicestershire Regiment with that serial number on the CWGC database. There is another potential matching soldier who’s serial number is the same on the database
Name: HALL Initials: G
Rank: Private
Regiment: Lincolnshire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 13/12/1916
Service No: 15555
Grave/Memorial Reference: O. III. N. 1. Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=518034
During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.
www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2800&a...
However there are at least four other Geoffrey’s who can’t be ruled out.
The most likely match on the 1901 census is a 3 year old Geoffrey H Hall, born Norwich, who is recorded at 29 Cardiff Road, Norwich. This is the household of his parents, Thomas R, (aged 38 and a Shoemaker from Norwich) and Agnes, (aged 40 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Frank A…………..aged 5.…………..born Norwich
Gladys M…………aged 6.………….born Norwich
Sidney C………….aged 11.…………born Norwich
Helsdon, Fredk Colin
Name: HELSDON, FREDERICK COLIN
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 15/09/1916
Service No: 14294
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=791009
There is a picture of Lance Corporal Elsdon on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Lance Corporal Helsdon was born on 22 April 1892, in Rupert Street, Norwich. He was the son of Edward & Amelia Helsdon. He enlisted on 7 Sep 1914. Killed in France, 15 September 1918
This would seem to confirm that he and Stephen (below) were brothers.
The 1901 census has a 8 year old Colin, born Norwich, recorded at 98 Rupert Street, Norwich, This is the household of his great grand-mother, Eliza Ealestone, (aged 76 and a widow from Norwich). Living with her are Colins parents, her grandson Edward Helson, (aged 33 and a Cellarman from Norwich) and his wife, Amelia, (aged 34 and from South Creake). Their other children are:-
Sidney………………..aged 10.………………….born Norwich
Stephen………………aged 7.……………………born Norwich
What is known is that on 15th September the battalion was engaged in very heavy fighting as part of the Battle of the Somme and had taken up a position near the village of Ginchy in order to attack a German strongpoint called ‘the Quadrilateral’. As part of this attack the British were to use a new weapon for the first time; the tank was to be used to help punch the way through. It was hoped that the very presence of such a weapon would help to carry the day but unfortunately for the Norfolks the new weapon was to prove disastrous.
Tank tactics had yet to be worked out and little or no exercises had been conducted between the infantry and the tankies. Instead of being used en masse the tanks were used in penny packets all along the line and their effectiveness was thus reduced. Three tanks were supposed to precede the Norfolks twenty minutes before they went over the top. Two of these broke down. The third became totally disorientated and mistook the Norfolks forming up trench for the German front line and began to saturate the whole length of the trench with machine gun fire. A great many Norfolks were killed or wounded before one of the company officers managed to stop the tank and point it in the right direction. Despite these enormous losses the battalion managed to advance but was held up in front of uncut barbed wire that a preliminary bombardment was supposed to have cut. Here they were pinned down for most of the day, all the time being subject to German shellfire and casualties rose. On this single day the battalion suffered 432 casualties, about half their strength.
www.oldbuckenham-pri.norfolk.procms.co.uk/pages/viewpage....
St Thomas Parish - The Great War Roll of Honour
The church of St Thomas was burnt out during a German Air Raid, and presumably any memorial that existed from the time of the Great War was consumed in the flames. Certainly when Jarrolds published a list of the Norfolk dead, circa 1922, there is reference to a parish list. This has now been photocopied, laminated and displayed in the church.
Apologies for the glare - if viewed large then all names are visible.
WW1
Beckham, Walter
Most likely
Name: BECKHAM Initials: W J
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 08/10/1916
Service No: 12245
Additional information: Husband of Edith Beckham, of 85, Gertrude Rd., Norwich. Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. E. 11A. Cemetery: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=498936
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour has only one Walter Beckham listed, and that’s Corporal Walter J, serial number 12245 who died in 1916.
There is no obvious match on the 1901 census for Walter - of the three possible, one born circa 1892 East Dereham and still resident there looks a possibility. However, on the 1911 census, the only match for a Walter Beckham in the whole of England and Wales, is one born Norwich circa 1885 and still resident there. Also in the household is an Edith Beckham, but she is aged 4, (born Norwich), Gladys, (aged 3, born Norwich), Donald, (aged 7 months, born Norwich). From the Genes Re-united site I can see there is an Edith, born circa 1884, Norwich, but I’ve not been able to confirm via the high-level search that I have access to whether she was part of the same household or not.
Walter appears on the Boys Model School Roll of Honour, which is in Norwich Cathedral. Detailed work has been done on this, which can be seen here
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/NorwichBoysModelSchool.html
Son of Samuel J. Beckham and Rachel Beckham of 46 Cardiff Road, Norwich. Husband of Edith Beckham of 85 Gertrude Road, Norwich. Born South Heigham, Norwich. Enlisted Norwich. His occupation is given as apprentice carpenter on the 1901 Census.
His parents address probably explains why he is on the St Thomas Roll of Honour.
Etaples Military cemetery
During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick
www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=56500&...
The Battalion had been in support in at attack on Bayonet Trench, NE of Guedecourt on the 7th October. Before that they had been in and out of the front line since arriving back in the Somme Sector on the 1st October. Prior to that they had been in the Arras sector, where both sides practised very active trench-raiding.
Beckett, William
Name: BECKETT, WILLIAM THOMAS
Rank: Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: R.N. H.M.S. Bulwark.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 26/11/1914
Service No: M/6629(PO)
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Amelia Beckett. of I, Carnarvon Rd., Earlham Rd., Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 48. 38. Cemetery: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803047
See my Flickr shot of his headstone.
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/2723115015/in/set-7215...
A picture of William can be seen on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes are:- Mr. Beckett, of 1 Caernavon Road, Norwich, enlisted September 3rd 1913. He was killed by an explosion of magazines on H.M.S. Bulwark and buried at Norwich Cemetery
From the outbreak of World War I she (HMS Bulwark) carried out Channel patrol duty and on the 26th November 1914 while loading ammunition at Sheerness, she was destroyed by a huge explosion, probably caused by black powder charges being mishandled, only 12 men survived.
www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/bulwark.htm
(Various pictures of the Bulwark can also be seen at the same site.)
Details of the investigation into the accident can be read here
www.nhcra-online.org/20c/bulwark.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bulwark_(1899)
And finally a Beckett family site gives more details on the family.
www.cave-kids.com/data/beckett/thomas_1862.htm
Bower, Charles F
Name: BOWER, CHARLES FRANCIS
Rank: Captain
Regiment: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 13/09/1917
Additional information: Son of James Garton Bower and Helen Brook Bower, of Earlham House, Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 1. Cemetery: LA CLYTTE MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=438189
A picture of Captain Bower can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
“Born 27th July 1891, the son of James G. and Helen H. Bower, Earlham House, Earlham Road, Norwich. He enlisted in the summer of 1915, and was killed on the 13th September 1917 “
The 9 year old Charles F, born Norwich, is recorded on the 1901 census at Ealham House, 148 Earlham Road. This is the household of his parents, James G, (aged 48 and an Iron Merchant\Iron Founder from Norwich) and Helen B, (aged 46 and from Huddersfield). Their other children are:-
George Noel Bower…………aged 16.……..born Norwich
William Le Neve Bower…….aged 17.…….born Norwich….”Learning Engineering”
The Bowers also have two live-in servants.
In 1887 Barnards became a Limited Company and Mr. James Bower took an active part in the affairs of the firm. By the beginning of the 20th century he had re-designed and re-built all the wire netting machinery and invented a special machine for weaving mixed mesh wire netting which was patented. Many thousands of miles of this netting were supplied to Australia for rabbit fencing.
The company became known as Barnards Limited in 1907 with Mr. Bower as Managing Director. During the 1914 -18 War Barnards supplied the Government with upwards of 7,000 miles of wire netting for road making across the Egyptian desert and the formation of revetments to trenches in the War Zone. Two hundred of the workers enlisted, and fifteen died, including the Managing Director‘s son, Mr. Charles F. Bower, who was killed near Hill 60, just as he had been gazetted to the rank of Captain.
www.heritagecity.org/research-centre/industrial-innovatio...
I can’t at this stage find any details of the battalion being in action at this time, which was a comparatively quiet period in the Battle of Passcendaele, as both sides re-grouped for the next phase of fighting.
Browne, E F
Name: BROWNE, ERNEST FREDERICK
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment
Unit Text: 11th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 28/04/1917
Service No: 43399
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Frederick Browne, of 25, Neville St., Norwich.
Memorial Reference: Bay 4. Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=742615
A picture of Corporal Browne can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
There are no accompanying notes
There is no obvious match for Ernest on the 1901 census. On the 1911 high level search, there is an Ernest Frederick Browne born Norwich circa 1893 and still resident there.
He is still resident in the same household as Alfred Frederick Browne, who was born circa 1866.
Going back to the 1901 census we can find Alfred, and looking at the census takers hand-writing on the original sheet I can understand why the transcribers at the various genealogy sites have got the family details wrong J
The family are at 38 Cardiff Road
Alfred F, (transcribed as Alfred J), is aged 38 and a Printers Compositor from Norwich.
His wife, probably Bessie, (transcribed as Busia), is aged 36 and from Lowestoft
Son Everard A, is aged 10
Son Ernest F (transcribed as Epusei F), is aged 8
Daughter Alice M. (transcribed as Alise M), is aged 4
Ernest is recorded as having enlisted in Lowestoft.
On the 28th the 11th Suffolks were involved in directly attacking Roeux, where they suffered heavy casualties.
28th April
4.25 a.m. Barrage commences.
4:27 a.m. Bn advanced to attack. The Bn was held up and driven back by very considerable hostile machine gun fire from a trench which had been entirely missed by our barrage. What was left of our Bn formed up in our front line.
5:30 a.m. Major G.L.J. Tuck went up to our front line to reorganise our defenses. In the front line were 5 officers, 300 other ranks (including 2 officers and 60 other ranks from 16th Royal Scots.
9:45 a.m. Enemy counter attack from Roeux captured Mount Pleasnt Wood and part of Ceylon (communication) trench.
10 a.m. All communications with the front line cut off. Enemy driven out of Ceylon Trench and out of Mount Pleasant Wood.
10 p.m. Bn moved out of front line trench & support line to enable the heavies to bombard the chemical works. Moved back into the front line at midnight.
www.curme.co.uk/april.htm#Arras
Cann, George Leonard
Name: CANN, GEORGE LEONARD
Rank: Private
Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 57th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/09/1918
Service No: 3367
Additional information: Son of Mrs. Sarah Arm Cann, of 77, Caernarvon Rd., Norwich, England.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 15. Cemetery: BELLICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=238012
A picture of Private Cann can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
There are no additional notes.
From the Australian War Memorial site
Place of birth Malling, Kent, England
School Avenue Road School, Norwich, England
Age on arrival in Australia 15.6
Religion Church of England
Occupation Bank clerk
Address North Melbourne, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 19
Next of kin Mother, Mrs S A Cann, 77 Carnarvon Road, Norwich, Norfolk, England Previous military service Nil
Enlistment date 11 April 1917
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 57th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/74/4
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A29 Suevic on 21 June 1917
Fate Killed in Action 29 September 1918
Place of death or wounding Bellicourt, France
Age at death 20
Family/military connections Brother: 19962 Sergeant William Stannard CANN, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 12 May 1919.
www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=45545
By the time of the 1911 census, a George Leonard Cann, born circa 1898 Malling, Kent was recorded in Norwich. However there is no obvious match for the same individual in the 1901 census.
There is also no obvious match for brother William on either the 1901 or 1911 censuses.
The Australian Army Records for George Leonard Cann, can be seen here
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3202335
At the time he enlisted, he noted his form that his father was already deceased.
There is a letter from his mother giving, (reluctantly) her consent for him to enlist even though he wasn’t yet 18. However, she signs herself Mrs G S Cann, and states she would prefer for her son to be known as “A.Slacker” - very odd.
There is a note from the Battalion adjutant, stating that he was killed by shellfire and death was instantaneous.
In his will he names his mother as Sarah Ann Cann.
The Australian Army records for his brother, William Stannard Cann, can be seen here
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3202426
Once again, mother Sarah Ann Cann is listed as the next of kin, but interestingly, on his enlistment papers signed in November 1915 it states fathers whereabouts unknown.
He proceeded to France from Training camp in England in November 1916. He actually served most of his time in a Trench Mortar Battery, being wounded a couple of times.
It was only after the end of the war that he was moved to the Field Artillery Brigade.
The Battalion would be engaged in an attack on the St Quentin canal at dawn on the 29th September, but I suspect Private Cann was already dead at that point.
Extract from the Battalion War Diary for the 28th.
Weather Cold and Bleak. Fine rain fell during the afternoon. Blankets were sent up at 8am and issued to the men. Enemy artillery shelled our area persistently during the morning and some casualties were sustained, including 2/Lieut.B G PITCHER wounded. (the rest of the entry deals with the peparations for the next days attack).
Cooke, John Edward
Possibly
Name: COOKE, JOHN EDWARD
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 21/08/1915
Service No: 2551
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 42 to 44. Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=680910
No match on Norlink
No obvious matches on the 1911 census for a John Edward with a Norfolk connection.
From the diary of Captain Montgomerie, of the 1st/4ths.
21st. - Standing to arms at 3 p.m. as an attack was commenced on our right. There was no movement in our part of the battle-field. At night a party of Turks tried to make 'an advanced trench but this was stopped by the torpedo boat on the left and the machine-guns.
user.online.be/~snelders/sand.htm
Corbe, John Bennett
No obvious match - original source checked
No match on Norlink. No match on Great War Roll of Honour.
To be investigated further:-
Name: CORKE
Initials: J B
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Scots
Unit Text: Depot
Date of Death: 14/12/1918
Service No: 352029
Grave/Memorial Reference: O. 28. Cemetery: BLACKPOOL (LAYTON) CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=372843
Great War Roll of Honour has down as a John B., and he is the only John B.
On the Military Geneology site, John Bennett Corke was born Craigellachie, and resided in Blackpool at the time of his enlistment.
There is no-one with the surname Corbe recorded on the Genes Re-united transcription of the 1901 census. Both genes re-united and findmypast have only one Corbe listed in the whole of England and Wales, a 16 year girl called Doris from Nottinghamshire, on the 1911 census. There are 27 individuals with the surname Corbe on the 1891 census, but most of them were either born in Russia or Poland, and with first names like Abraham, Benjamin, Israel and Jacob for the men, and Rachel and Sarah for the woman, the likelihood is that these were first generation refugees from the religious persecutions in their homeland. They are nearly all to be found in the East End of London, with another little cluster in Leeds.
I then went on to look at Thomas Corke below. That individual is covered by a family history web-site, which at first threw me off the scent, but by eventually its uncovered a possibility. (The author had stated that the Corke’s were recorded as Cooke’s, and their in-laws who were living with them were the Barry family, not the Berry family - I must give praise to their servant Edith Tibbles, otherwise I would never have found them.
familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/r/Pamela-A-Corke/...
Thomas Corke’s grandfather was a John Corke, who had been widowed and then re-married.
On the 1901 census, John, (aged 62 and a Retired Inland Revenue Officer from Leicester), was living with his new wife, Clara E, (aged 38 and a British subject from the US), at 5 St Phillips Road, Norwich. Also in the household was his wife’s brother, Samuel H Barry, (a 48 year old Retired Fruit Salesman who was also a British subject from the US), and his wife, Ida F, (aged 41 and a Retired Schoolmistress, again a British subject from the US).
This is where it gets interesting - also in the household is John’s son Francis L, (aged 29 and a widower from Norwich, who is a greengrocer by trade). There is then a grandson, John F, (aged 3 and from Norwich). It would not be unreasonable to assume John F is the son of Francis.
Corke, Thomas
Possibly (see Norlink picture)
Name: CORKE, CHARLES THOMAS
Rank: Private
Regiment: 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
Age: 21
Date of Death: between 14/09/1916 and 16/09/1916
Service No: 126277
Additional information: Son of Alice Rebecca Corke, of 37, St. Vincent St., Stratford, Ontario, and the late Charles George Corke.
Memorial: VIMY MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1566641
Private Corke can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Lance Corporal was born in Fakenham, 11th August 1895 and educated at the Municipal Secondary School in Norwich. He enlisted in September 1915 and was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme, 14th September 1916.
His Canadian Enlistments papers can be seen on line, and actually state he was born Norwich, (not Fakenham) on the 11th August 1895. He enlisted in September 1915.
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e...
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e...
His next of kin is given as Charles George Corke, of 52 Victoria Street, Stratford, Ontario. He was a Telephone Inspector by trade, single, and had served 4 years as a volunteer in the 28th Perth Regiment.
There is more about the Corke family and their immigration to Canada here - and following through the family tree, there is even a clue as who the John Bennett “Corbe” might be.
familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/r/Pamela-A-Corke/...
Battalion War Diary - September 1916
data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=5th+Canadia...
Cross, Fred
Name: CROSS Initials: F J
Rank: Private
Regiment: York and Lancaster Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 27/05/1918
Service No: 235620
Additional information: Son of Herbert and Mary A. Cross, of 39, Winter Road, Norwich. Scoutmaster of the 17th Norwich B.P. Scouts.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 1. Row D. Grave 18. Cemetery: ACHEUX BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=117888
The Great War Roll of Honour confirms that 235620 Private F J Cross is a Frederick J.
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match for Frederick with a Norwich connection on either the 1901 or 1911 census, although there is a Frederick G shown on the Genes Reunited Transcription of the 1911 census which might be a transcription error. That individual was born Norwich circa 1891.
Using the Find my Past site, we can confirm that Frederick Cross lives in the same household as Herbert Frederick Cross (aged 46), Mary Anne Cross, (aged 47) and George H.Cross. (aged 17) on the 1911 census. Going back to Genes Reunited for the same census reveals that Herbert was from Aldbury, Hants and Mary Anne came from Norwich.
The Military Genealogy site lists a Frederick Joseph born Lakenham, Norwich.
Neither Herbert, Mary or Frederick appear to be on the 1901 census for England and Wales..
The 7th Battalion was the Divisional Pioneers of the 17th (Northern Division).
Cross, George
Probably
Name: CROSS, GEORGE
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Secondary Regiment: London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
Secondary Unit Text: posted to 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 24/04/1918
Service No: 30051
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 23. Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1579496
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match for George on the 1901 census. The 1911 high level search has a George H, born Norwich circa 1894 and still resident there. This would appear to be the correct individual - see brother Frederick above.
The 8th Norfolks, along with many other units were disbanded in February 1918 as part of a general Army re-organisation. There is on-line the memoirs of one soldier, who had been an NCO with the battalion but who subsequently had been an instructor at a sniping and scouting school teaching newly arrived American troops, and who had then been posted to the 8th Battalion London Regiment as a Company Sergeant Major as his old unit no longer existed. He fought with them during the March battles of the German Spring Offensive, where their casualties were replaced with two companys of men, apparently all ex-8th Norfolks.
hastang.co.uk/pdf/Scouting on the Somme.pdf
D‘eath, Arthur
Probable
Name: DEATH Initials: A
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd/5th Bn.
Date of Death: 30/11/1915
Service No: 3598
Grave/Memorial Reference: 55. 239. Cemetery: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803111
As “A” Death didn’t die in a Theatre of War, his death was not recorded in the Great War Roll of Honour issued by the HMSO, circa 1921/1922.
Possible
Name: DEATH, ARTHUR JOSEPH
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 22/10/1916
Service No: 43599
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=756464
(On Military Geneology, Arthur Joseph is recorded as born Kirkley, Lowestoft. No place of residence at the time of enlistment is recorded.)
There is a picture of Arthur Joseph on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Private D'Eath was born at Kirkley, Lowestoft on 5th December 1878. He enlisted circa 1914 and killed in action in France, 22nd October 1916
The only likely candidate on the 1901 census is a 22 year old Arthur, born Norwich and employed as a Boot Finisher, who is recorded as a Boarder at 15 Ashbone Street, Norwich. I don’t believe that exists anymore, but it was in the Parish of St John Selpuchre.
To add to the confusion, the only matching entry for age on the 1911 census was born Kirkley, Lowestoft and was now resident Norwich..
I suspect this is Arthur Joseph, and the 1901 individual is either someone completely different who for some reason wasn’t recorded in 1911, or the 1901 census taker simply got it wrong, Going back to the 1891 census makes me plump for the latter option. There is no Arthur D’eath born Norwich, circa 1879, but there is an Arthur D’eath born circa 1879 in Lowestoft who was recorded at 11, Old Palace Road, Norwich.
This is the household of his parents, Arthur, (aged 36 and a Painter from Hadleigh, Suffolk) and Elizabeth, (aged 27 and from Norwich). Their other children are Fred, (aged 15 and an Errand Boy from Lowestoft), Florence M, (aged 2 and from Norwich), and Henry (aged 1 and from Norwich), Given the age of the oldest two boys, Elizabeth must have been their step-mother - she’d only have been 12 when Fred was born !
Saturday 21st October 1916. Day 113
Thiepval
Zero Hour was set for 12.06pm but the Germans set the ball rolling at 5am with an attack on Schwaben Redoubt, still occupied by 39th Div. 17th King’s Royal Rifle Cops and 14th Hampshires drove the Germans back with grenades.
18th Div attacked with two battalions of 53 Bde- 10th Essex and 8th Norfolks advancing in line with the Canadians on their right flank. The Norfolks were caught up in a bombing fight near the Grandcourt-Courcelette road which they won with the aid of the Lancashire Fusiliers of 25th Div.
Sunday 22nd October 1916. Day 114
Thiepval
19th Div relieved 25th Div and also took over the right sector of 39th Div. 18th Div extended it’s left flank to the Pozieres-Miraumont Road
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=9058&p...
Appendix 3 to the Battalion War Diary for October 1916 is a Short History of the Regina Trench Operations 21st, 22nd and 23rd October
Fourth Phase. 6 a.m to 6 p.m 22nd October
The enemy shelled REGINA more or less steadily through-out the day, but did not put up a heavy barrage on it. He also shelled VANCOUVER and HESSIAN, generally with 5.9, most of the shells seemed to come from LOUPART WOOD. Consolidation was pushed on with throughout the day.
Fifth Phase 6 p.m 22nd October to 6 a.m 23rd October
At 6 pm I decided to make the following changes in my line:-
………………………………................................................................................................
Company……………………..From………….To…………………………..Relieving
“A”…………………………VANCOUVER….REGINA…………………..”B” and “D”
“B”…………………………REGINA…………HESSIAN…………………Posts of “A”
“D”…………………………REGINA…………VANCOUVER……………”A”
“C”…Remained in Regina
************************************************************************
This relief was completed about 8 p.m and “D” Company immediately commenced work on KENORA TRENCH to open up communication between HESSIAN and REGINA. This company worked exceedingly well through-out the night and by 3 a.m KENORA was completely opened up, in spite of the fact that the Company was subjected to a very large amount of whiz bangs.
Between 5 am and 6 am 23rd, our guns opened a very heavy bombardment along the whole Army front. The Boche retaliation was conspicuously feeble.
Fish, Albert
Name: FISH, ALBERT ERNEST
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: "C" Coy. 7th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 28/04/1918
Service No: 43195
Additional information: Son of William Frederick and Edith Rebecca Fish, of 284, Dereham Rd. Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 52. Cemetery: MAILLY-MAILLET COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=282736
There is a picture of Private Fish on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying note is that he was killed on the 28th April 1918.
The 6 year old Albert, born Norwich, is recorded on the 1901 census at 78 Nile Street, Norwich. This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 36 and a Printer\Compositor from Norwich), and Edith, (aged 32 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Dorothy……….aged 7.………..born Norwich
Edith………….aged 9.………..born Norwich
Hannah……….aged 4.…………born Norwich
William………aged 12.………..born Norwich
On this day the battalion war diary notes that two shells hit a dug-out held by C Company. 7 OR’s were killed and 23 were wounded.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=102...
Gilbert, Burton
Name: GILBERT, EDWARD BURTON
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: Royal Fusiliers
Unit Text: 25th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 21/03/1918
Additional information: Son of Mrs. M. B. Gilbert, of 81, College Rd., Norwich, and the late Mr. A. B. Gilbert.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. A. 3. Cemetery: LEBUCQUIERE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=184460
No match on Norlink.
Edward is also on the Eaton War Memorial
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/3476690465/
(see there for my notes on his family on the 1901 census, his mention on the Aviva Group Roll of Honour and speculation as to which unit he was actually fighting with in France as the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers did not fight in that theatre of operations).
Gowing, Harry
Possible
Name: GOWING, HENRY ERNEST
Rank: Lance Serjeant
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 15/10/1917
Service No: 13111
Additional information: Son of Ernest and Mary Gowing, of 4, Derby St., Norwich. Grave/Memorial Reference: XLIV. E. 1. Cemetery: POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=491552
No match on Norlink
Military Geneology has no Henry recorded. The only Harry was born Ashford in Kent. However there is an Ernest Henry who is recorded as born in the Parish of St Phillips, Heigham, Norwich. (There is no E H Gowing recorded in the CWGC database).
There is no obvious match on the 1901 census - the most likely candidate is a 9 year old Harry, born Norwich, who is recorded on the census at 67 Alexandra Road, Norwich. This is the household of his parents, Ernest, (aged 35 and a Shopkeeper from Hempnall) and Elizabeth, (aged 35 and from London). They have 4 other children.
October 1917
The first three weeks of October were spent on the west bank of the Yser canal, and partly in training for the attack of October 22nd in the Poelcappelle neighbourhood. On the 8th Lieutenant -Colonel Ferguson and commanding the battalion almost continuously for three years proceeded on six months special leave to England and was succeeded by Major E. N.Snepp. The only other notable event was on the 15th when the German bombardment was specially severe causing several casualties. One shell made a direct hit on a 'pill-box' in which was the regimental aid post. The medical officer was wounded two men were killed and one wounded
Hall, Geoffrey
No obvious match
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour has a Private Geoffrey Hall, serial number 15555 of the Leicestershire Regiment who died in 1916. However, there is no Geoffrey or G Hall who serverd with the Leicestershire Regiment with that serial number on the CWGC database. There is another potential matching soldier who’s serial number is the same on the database
Name: HALL Initials: G
Rank: Private
Regiment: Lincolnshire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 13/12/1916
Service No: 15555
Grave/Memorial Reference: O. III. N. 1. Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=518034
During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.
www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2800&a...
However there are at least four other Geoffrey’s who can’t be ruled out.
The most likely match on the 1901 census is a 3 year old Geoffrey H Hall, born Norwich, who is recorded at 29 Cardiff Road, Norwich. This is the household of his parents, Thomas R, (aged 38 and a Shoemaker from Norwich) and Agnes, (aged 40 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Frank A…………..aged 5.…………..born Norwich
Gladys M…………aged 6.………….born Norwich
Sidney C………….aged 11.…………born Norwich
Helsdon, Fredk Colin
Name: HELSDON, FREDERICK COLIN
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 15/09/1916
Service No: 14294
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=791009
There is a picture of Lance Corporal Elsdon on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Lance Corporal Helsdon was born on 22 April 1892, in Rupert Street, Norwich. He was the son of Edward & Amelia Helsdon. He enlisted on 7 Sep 1914. Killed in France, 15 September 1918
This would seem to confirm that he and Stephen (below) were brothers.
The 1901 census has a 8 year old Colin, born Norwich, recorded at 98 Rupert Street, Norwich, This is the household of his great grand-mother, Eliza Ealestone, (aged 76 and a widow from Norwich). Living with her are Colins parents, her grandson Edward Helson, (aged 33 and a Cellarman from Norwich) and his wife, Amelia, (aged 34 and from South Creake). Their other children are:-
Sidney………………..aged 10.………………….born Norwich
Stephen………………aged 7.……………………born Norwich
What is known is that on 15th September the battalion was engaged in very heavy fighting as part of the Battle of the Somme and had taken up a position near the village of Ginchy in order to attack a German strongpoint called ‘the Quadrilateral’. As part of this attack the British were to use a new weapon for the first time; the tank was to be used to help punch the way through. It was hoped that the very presence of such a weapon would help to carry the day but unfortunately for the Norfolks the new weapon was to prove disastrous.
Tank tactics had yet to be worked out and little or no exercises had been conducted between the infantry and the tankies. Instead of being used en masse the tanks were used in penny packets all along the line and their effectiveness was thus reduced. Three tanks were supposed to precede the Norfolks twenty minutes before they went over the top. Two of these broke down. The third became totally disorientated and mistook the Norfolks forming up trench for the German front line and began to saturate the whole length of the trench with machine gun fire. A great many Norfolks were killed or wounded before one of the company officers managed to stop the tank and point it in the right direction. Despite these enormous losses the battalion managed to advance but was held up in front of uncut barbed wire that a preliminary bombardment was supposed to have cut. Here they were pinned down for most of the day, all the time being subject to German shellfire and casualties rose. On this single day the battalion suffered 432 casualties, about half their strength.
www.oldbuckenham-pri.norfolk.procms.co.uk/pages/viewpage....