NORFOLK TEACHERS WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Lynda Smith - 2005

The wording of this memorial was copied from a magazine dated 1995. At the time, the Memorial was in a passage close to the staff refectory at County Hall, Norwich. As the County Hall building is relatively new, we assume the memorial has been moved here from somewhere else. Does anyone know where it used to be situated? These types of memorial are very difficult to research, especially when, as in this case, only initials are used. The men could have come from anywhere in Norfolk, or indeed the country, therefore information regarding their place of birth etc is not particularly helpful. However, I have assumed there is a Norfolk connection somewhere, and have also assumed the men must be at least aged 21 or more. The research below is based on a “best guess” at the identity, and we will welcome any further information or corrections.

Photograph Copyright © Stuart McLaren - 2007

Norfolk teachers who died for King and Country
1914 - 1919.

AGER	Benjamin Norton	Private 43536, 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Formerly G/9361 Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 11th January 1917. Aged 30. Born Portland, Dorset. Lived and enlisted Norwich. Once a student teacher at Bunwell School. Son of William Norton Ager and Mary Agar of Patterson Rd Norwich. Buried in Frankfurt Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France. Row B. Grave 38.
BINDLEY	Raymond Hall	Corporal 17148, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 3rd July 1916. Born Catton, Norfolk. Enlisted Norwich. Assistant Master at Browick Road Boys School. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D. See also Wymondham
CATCHPOLE	Edward John Thomas	Lance Corporal 9270, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died in France & Flanders on 12th August 1916. Born North End, Great Yarmouth. Enlisted Norwich. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.
CARLESS	Francis Harold	Private 72682, 56th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 22nd October 1917. Aged 25. Born Walsall, Staffordshire. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Frederick John Carless, of 3, Whittington Rd., Oswestry, and the late Ada Ellen Carless. Twice previously wounded. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 160. See also Fakenham
CRAWFORD	Lindsay Oswald	Lance Corporal 267218, 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 22nd September 1918. Aged 27. Lived Thetford, Norfolk. Enlisted North Walsham, Norfolk. Son of Lindsay Oswald and Florence Rhoda Crawford, of "Balcarres, Cabbell Rd., Cromer, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 60 to 64. See also Cromer
HADINGHAM	Bertie G	Private 2335, 1st/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died of dysentery, in Alexandria, Egypt, contracted at Gallipoli, on 17th December 1915. Aged 25. Lived and enlisted Westcliffe on Sea. Son of Hedley and Catherine Hadingham, of Carleton Forehoe, Wymondham, Norfolk. Buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military And War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Plot C. Grave 98.
HOLMAN	Walter I	Private 20542, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Formerly 17870 Norfolk Regiment. Died at sea on 13th August 1915, drowned in the sinking of H.M. Transport Royal Edward. Aged 34. Born and lived Shipdham, Norfolk. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Fredrick and Hannah Holman, of Letton Rd., Shipdham, Norfolk. transferred to the 1st Essex as a reinforcement from the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 144 to 150 or 229 to 233.
JOHNSON	L	No further information available at present.
LOADES	George William	Serjeant 9281, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 13th October 1915. Aged 23. Born Hemsby, Norfolk. Enlisted Great Yarmouth. Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Loades, of White House, Hemsby, Great Yarmouth. No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 30 and 31. See also Hemsby
MARWICK	William	Private 43403, 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Formerly 1897 Northumberland Hussars. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 5th September 1918. Aged 39. Born Edinburgh. Lived Gosforth, Northumberland. Enlisted Stockfield, Northumberland. Son of William and Ann Marwick, of "Cramond," Bolam, Heighington, Co. Durham; husband of Margaret A. C. Marwick, of Binham, Wighton, Norfolk. Buried in Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval, Pas de Calais, France. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 2.
OVERMENT	Frederick	Rifleman 1604, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 9th May 1915. Aged 28. Born, lived and enlisted in Fakenham. Son of Rose Anna Overment, of Mount Pleasant, Fakenham, Norfolk, and the late James Overment. No known grave. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel 10. See also Fakenham
PAYNE	Albert Carsewell	Private 30000, 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 8th August 1917. Aged 31. Born Feering, Essex. Lived Mileham, Norwich. Enlisted Norwich. Son of James and Helen Payne, of Coggleshall, Essex; husband of Elizabeth Jane Payne, of 100, Patteson Rd., Norwich. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XVII. Row D. Grave 7A.
WADE	Herbert John Clark	Lieutenant, 130th Company [SDGW gives 180th] Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds on 14th November 1917. Aged 27. Baptised 26 April 1891 in Felthorpe, Norfolk, son of Clarke James and Elizabeth Wade. Son of Clark J. and Elizabeth Wade, of Roughton, Norwich. Gazetted July, 1917. Buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Plot F. Grave 29. See also Roughton Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1918: WADE Herbert John Clark of Roughton Norfolk second-lieutenant M.G.C. died 14 November 1917 at 31st General Hospital in Egypt Probate Norwich 8 April to Clark James Wade agricultural machinist. Effects £235 10s. 5d. Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour 1914-1918, Volume 4, page 221: WADE, HERBERT JOHN CLARK, Lieut., Machine Gun Corps, 2nd s. of Clark James Wade, of Boughton, co. Norfolk, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of John Waters ; b. Felthorpe, co. Norfolk, 24 Oct. 1890 ; educ. Norwich Higher Grade School, Paston Grammar School, and St. John's College, Battersea ; was a Student, taking his B.Sc. degree at London University ; joined his College O.T.C. in Sept. 1914 ; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 10th (Service) Battn The Leicestershire Regt. 22 July, 1915 ; transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 15 Feb. 1916 promoted Lieut. 1 July, 1917 ; served with the Expeditionary Forces in France, Greece and Egypt, and died at Port Said Hospital 14 Nov. 1917, from wounds received in action at Gaza on the 7th of that month. Buried in the Cemetery, Port Said. His Commanding Officer wrote ; "One of the best and most popular officers in the company, his death was a blow to the whole company, both officers and men," and another officer : "Your son was one of the best; by his own personal hard work he had made his section the first and best in the company. He died a brave soldier's death, knowing no fear, and had not a single enemy. He was specially mentioned, and the Military Cross would have been his had he lived." He had a brilliant scholastic record, and had distinguished himself also as a keen sportsman ; unm.
WARBY	Albert Stanley	Private 475299, 88th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 4th October 1917. Aged 24. Lived Lowestoft, Suffolk. Enlisted Norwich. Son of John and Jane Warby, of Lowestoft, formerly of London; husband of Ida Mary Warby, of 65, Rotterdam Rd., Lowestoft, Suffolk. Buried in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VII. Row F. Grave 16. See also Lowestoft, also Lowestoft St Andrews, Lowestoft St Margaret's and Lowestoft St John's
WITHERS	[Wiliam] Ernest	Private T.F.290326 [SDGW incorrectly states 290336], 1/10th (Territorial) Battalion, attached 2nd Battalion, , Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) formerly 1777, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Died as a Prisoner of War at Yarbaschi in the Persian Gulf 3rd September 1916. Born 31st August 1891 in Fakenham, Norfolk, enlisted Battersea, Surrey. Admitted to Fakenham School 19th October 1896, son of Edgar Withers, left 17th February 1905. In the 1901 census he was aged 9, born Fakenham, son of Edgar and Anna Maria Withers, resident Grocers Shop, Tittleshall, Mitford, Norfolk. In the 1911 census he was aged 19, born Fakenham, an Assistant teacher, son of Edgar and Anna maria Withers, resident Tittleshall, Swaffham, Norfolk. Buried in BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Plot XXI. Row J. Grave 49. See also Tittleshall

Last updated 24 April, 2021