Roll of Honour - Suffolk - Great Waldingfield

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

GREAT WALDINGFIELD WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2012

The war memorial is in the parish church of St. Lawrence, Waldingfield and takes the form of a marble plaque affixed to the interior wall listing 34 names of the men who fell in World War 1 including two who were added later. The men are listed by surname, forenames, rank and regiment. The memorial was unveiled 20 June 1920 by Brigadier-General Lord Playfair; it cost £26 12s 0d to erect and the mason was F J Lindley. Details appeared in the East Anglian Daily Times 22 June 1920. Also hanging in the church is a handwritten Roll of Honour for the men who went to war 1914-1915. There is also a plaque to the 486th Bomb Group (H). There are also commemorative items within the church to the Braithwaite Family.

486TH BOMB GROUP (H)
U S A A F STATION No. 174 - EIGHTH AIR FORCE

THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE CITIZENS OF GREAT WALDINGFIELD, SUFFOLK, EAST ANGLIA, ENGLAND, TO COMMEMORATE THE HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THE 486TH BOMB GROUP (H) WHILE BILLETED IN THE AREA OF THIS VILLAGE FROM MARCH 1944 TO JULY 1946. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THE 486TH EXECUTED 191 AERIAL COMBAT MISSIONS OVER GERMAN CONTROLLED EUROPE. 408 AIRMEN GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR DEMOCRACY IN PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES ON THESE BOMBING MISSIONS.

TO THE CITIZENS OF GREAT WALDINGFIELD WHO SHARED THE SACRIFICES OF THAT WARTIME ERA, AND WHO HOSTED THE 486TH PERSONNEL AND THEIR SUPPORTING UNITS, WE GRATEFULLY AND HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE WITH FOND MEMORIES THE COOPERATION GIVEN BY THE CITIZENS ON BEHALF OF THE 486TH ORGANIZATION. GREAT WALDINGFIELD BECAME A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR SERVICE PEOPLE OF THE 486TH BOMB GROUP (H). OUR ETERNAL THANKS.

DEDICATED MAY 1994

GREAT WALDINGFIELD
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN SACRED MEMORY OF

ADAMS	John William	Corporal 132585, 73rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Died 20 April 1917. Aged 25. Born 19 December 1892 in Suffolk. Son of Emma Adams, of Great Watlingfield. Waiter by trade. Unmarried. Enlisted and passed fit 18 September 1915 at Montreal, aged 23years 9 months, height 6 feet 1 inch, girth 37 inches, complexion fair, eyes blue, hair fair; religion Church of England. Buried East of the church in GREAT WALDINGFIELD (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk. National archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 31 - 12
ALLEN	Wilfred	Private 138544, 5th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds 31 August 1918. Aged 22. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of Arthur Charles and Rosa Allen, of Leys Rd., Tostock, Bury St. Edmund's. Native of Great Waldingfield, Suffolk. Formerly 14919, Suffolk Regiment. Buried in BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT, Somme, France. Plot V. Row D. Grave 5.
BIRD	Capel	Lance Corporal 6526, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 3 October 1915. Aged 30. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Husband of Margaret Katherine Bird, of 23, Kingsgate Rd., West Hampstead, London. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 37 and 38.
BOWERS	Fosker Arthur	Private 14915, 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 20 November 1917. Aged 21. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of Mrs. Mary Ann Bowers, of The Heath, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. Commemorated in RIBECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY. Nord, France. Special Memorial A. 8.
BOWERS	Nicholson	Serjeant, Canadians - in the 1891 census Nicholson P Bowers was the son of Peter and Mary Ann Bowers, single, aged 15, a Farm Labourer, born Little Waldingfield, resident in Row Cottage, The Street, Great Waldingfield. In 1901 and 1911 there was no Nicholoson Bowers listed in either census. The National Archives of Canada does not hold his attestation papers. He would have been 38 when war broke out, born circa 1876. Can find no immigration or travel details for him.
BOWERS	Robert Malcolm	Private 240718, 1/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died in Egypt 31 July 1917. Aged 22. Enlisted Sudbury. Grandson of Elijah Bowers, of The Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. Formerly 2723, Siuffolk Regiment. In the 1911 census he is living with his grandparents, Elijah and Amelia Bowers, single, aged 15, Farm Labourer, born Gt Waldingfield, resindet Upsher Green, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk. His uncle, William James Bowers (below) was also killed. Buried in KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt. Section E. Grave 351.
BOWERS	Walter William	[Listed as Walker not Walter on SDGW & CWGC] Private G/38169, 11th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Killed in action 25 March 1918. Born and resident Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. In the 1911 census he is the son of Walter William and Octavia Kate Bowers, aged 20, Farmer's son, born Gt Waldingfield, resident Powers Farm, Great Waldingfield. Formerly 23336, Suffolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2.
BOWERS	William James	Private 40907, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 11 April 1917. Aged 33. Enlisted Sudbury. Son of Elijah Bowers, of Upsher Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, and the late Amelia Bowers; husband of J. E. Day (formerly Bowers), of Upsher Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. In the 1911 census he was living with his parents, single, aged 27, Farm Labourer, born Great Waldingfield, resident at Upsher Green Great Waldingfield Suffolk. Formerly 2686, Suffolk Regiment. No known grave. His nephew, Robert Malcolm Bowers (above) was also killed. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.
		There is a commemoration in the church to the BRAITHWAITE family which reads: REMEMBER FRANCIS JOSEPH HUMPHREY LAYLAND AND MARGARET DOROTHEA BRAITHWAITE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY 1914 - 1916 - 1919 MAY THEY REST IN PEACE A TRIBUTE FROM THEIR MOTHER
BRAITHWAITE	Francis Joseph	Major, 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 4 November 1914. Aged 42. Son of The Rev. Francis Joseph Braithwaite, of Waldingfield, Suffolk; husband of Norah R. Braithwaite, of Kingsley, Southwold, Suffolk. Buried in TANGA MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Tanzania. Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918: BRAITHWAITE, FRANCIS JOSEPH, Major, 2nd Battn. (81st foot) The Loyal North Lancashire Regt., eldest s. of the late rev. F. J. Braithwaite, R.D., Rector of Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, co. Suffolk; b. 5 Dec, 1872; gazetted 2nd. Lieut. North Lancashire Regt., 21 Jan, 1892; promoted Lieut. 23 Feb. 1895; Capt. 1 May, 1901, and Major, 4 feb, 1911; served in the South African War 1899-1902, being employed with the Mounted Infantry (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept, 1901]; Queen's Medal with two clasps and King's Medal with two clasps); also with the East African Expeditionary Force in East Africa, and was killed in action there at the end of 1914. Extract from The Bond of Sacrifice Volume 1 Aug-Dec 1914: MAJOR FRANCIS JOSEPH BRAITHWAITE, 2nd BATTN. LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT, who was killed in action in East Africa at the end of the year 1914, was the eldest son of the late F. J. Braithwaite, R.D., Rector of Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. He was born on the 5th December, 1872, and joined the North Lancashire Regiment in January, 1893, becoming Lieutenant in February, 1895, and Captain in May, 1901. He served in the South African War, being employed with the Mounted Infantry, and for his services was mentioned in Despatches ("London Gazette," 10th September, 1901), and received the Queen's and King's medals, each with two clasps. Major Braithwaite afterwards served on the Claims Commission Board of the Orange River Colony, and latterly was stationed in India. Major Braithwaite, who was promoted to that rank in February, 1911, left a widow and four children.
BRAITHWAITE	Humphry Layland	[Spelt Humphrey on SDGW] Second Lieutenant, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 10 July 1916. Aged 31. Son of Mary Braithwaite, of Brook House, Long Melford, Suffolk, and the late Rev. Prancis Joseph Braithwaite. Buried in BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, Hainaut, Belgium. Plot I. Row E. Grave 6. See also Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall and also Long Melford
BRAITHWAITE	Margaret Dorothea	(Miss) Assistant Nurse, Voluntary Aid Detachment. Died 3 March 1919 at 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. Death registered in Wandsworth, London (Volume 1D, page 1059). Aged 40. Not listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Birth registered Apr-Jun Quarter 1878 at Sudbury (Vol 4a page 544). In the 1911 census she was a spinster, a visitor to Sarah Woods, aged 32, born Gt Waldingfield, visiting 78 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London W. In 1901 she is listed as Margaret W Braithwaite, daughter of Mary Braithwaite, a widow, aged 22, single, born Gt Waldingfield, resident Acton Place, Acton Village, Suffolk. Probate granted on her will 25 April 1919 as follows "BRAITHWAITE Margaret Dorothea of Brook House, Long Melford, Suffolk, spinster died 3 March 1919 at 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, Surrey. probate London 25 April to Mary Elizabeth Braithwaite, spinster, and Thomas Miles Braithwaite, solicitor. Effects £8,839 9s 7d."
CLARY	Ernest Albert	Private 25348, 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 7 June 1917. Born Bulmer, enlisted Bury St Edmunds, resident Gt. Waldingfield. Son of George and Eliza Clary, of Bulmer, Essex; husband of Gertrude E. Ratcliffe (formerly Clary), of Upshire Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. Formerly 72654, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Buried in VOORMEZEELE ENCLOSURE NO.3, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XIII. Row K. Grave 18.
DAY	Albert Tip	Gunner 74309, 38th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action 21 August 1917. Aged 28. Born Little Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury, resident Great Waldingfield. Husband of Ivy Emily Day, of The Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. Buried in CANADA FARM CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II. Row C. Grave 28.
DAY	Alfred	Corporal 14303, 12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 25 March 1918. Aged 26. Born Cavendish, enlisted Sudbury. Son of Mrs. Hannah Day. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.
DIGGINS	Joseph	Gunner 282009, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 9 May 1918. Aged 41. Son of John and Eliza Diggins, of 18, St. John's Rd., Ipswich Rd., Parsons Heath, Colchester. Born at Great Waldingfield. Buried North of the church in GREAT WALDINGFIELD (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk.
FINCH	Samuel John	Private 2630, 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action at Gallipoli 21 August 1915. Enlisted Sudbury. No known grave. Commemorated on HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey (including Gallipoli). Panel 46 and 47.
FINCH	William	[Listed as Second Lieutenant, Suffolk Regiment on war memorial] C.S.M. 5867, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 27 March 1918. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.). No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 25.
GALLANT	Benjamin	Lance Corporal 7682, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 8 May 1915. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.
GOODAY	Walter	Lance Corporal 14916, 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 13 September 1916. Aged 24. Born Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of Elizabeth Gooday, of The Post Office, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk, and the late Walter Gooday. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
HILLS, MC	Cyril	Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 30 August 1918. Aged 32. Son of William H. Hills, of Church Farm, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk; husband of Mary Lillian Hills, of Prospect Place, Bulmer Rd., Sudbury, Suffolk. Rejoined 1914, and was wounded three times. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.). Buried in ECOUST-ST. MEIN BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 47. His attestation details show he was born in Gt Waldingfield, and resident in Gt Waldingfield when he attested aged 17 years 5 months on 21 May 1901 at Bury St Edmunds, passed fit 22 May 1901 and accepted as 5448, Suffolk Regiment. He was attached to 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 21 May 1901. His discharge corps is listed as Suffolk Regiment - 12th Foot, National Archives Reference: WO96 / 248 / 191. Labourer by trade, single. Height 5 feet 2¾ inches, weight 100 lbs, chest approx. 32 inches, complexion Fresh, eyes Dark, hair Dark brown; religion Church of England. Quote from attestation paper reads "Recommended as likely to attain standard, intelligent, promising youth." Citation in London Gazette, 29 November 1918, page 40: T./2nd Lt. Cyril Hills, 2nd Bn., Suff. R. For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. He went forward three hundred yards with an officer and three men and rushed a machine-gun nest of two guns, one of which he got in action against the retreating enemy. Later, he showed great grasp of the situation by filling up a gap in the defence and coolly organising the line. He behaved splendidly.
KEEBLE	Herbert	Private 242086, 2/5th Battalion (Territorial), Gloucestershire Regiment. Killed in action 6 April 1917. Aged 32. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of James and Selena Keeble, of Chilton Corner, Sudbury, Suffolk. Formerly 3212, 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Buried in VERMAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 1.
LEEKS	Claude Thomas	[Listed as Staff Serjeant on memorial] Serjeant 5819145, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 27 February 1921. Aged 33. In the 911 census he was a fulltime soldier serving overseas, aged 25, Cook, Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, born Gt Waldingfield, residet with Cyprus Command, Polymedia Camp, Cyprus. Buried in IPSWICH OLD CEMETERY, Suffolk. Grave reference JA. IA. 3. - * Added after the memorial was unveiled.
LEEKS	Sidney James	Private, Suffolk Regiment - In the 1901 census he is the son of Wakter W and Susannah Leeks, aged 13, Dog Leader (Greyhound), born Gt Waldingfield and resident the Cottage, The Street, Great Waldingfield. In the 1911 census he is a son, single, aged 23, Farm Labourer, born Gt Waldingfield, resident Great Waldingfield, Suffolk. Death registered as a Civil Registration at Sudbury October-December Quarter 1921, aged 34 (Vol 4A, page 926). - * Added after the memorial was unveiled
OFFORD	Arthur Albert	[Listed as Lance Corporal on memorial] Private 14917, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 22 March 1918. Aged 23. Born Acton, Suffolk, enlisted Sudbury. Son of David and Ellen Offord, of The Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, Frabnce. Bay 4.
OFFORD	Walter Charles	[Listed as R.F. for regiment on memorial] Private 27241, 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 9 October 1917. Aged 20. Born Acton, Suffolk, enlisted Bury St Edmunds, resident Sudbury. Son of David and Ellen Offord, of The Green, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. Formerly 2802, Suffolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 23 to 28 and 163A.
ROUSE	Robert [John]	Private 69785, 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London regiment). Died 29 July 1918. Aged 19. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted and resident Chelmsford. Son of John and Adelaide Alice Rouse, of Rumbolds Farm, Danbury, Essex. Formerly M/288784, Motorised Transport, Army Service Corps. Buried in LE QUESNOY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave 7.
RUDD	John	Private 9955, "A" Company, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 24 April 1915. Aged 36. Born and enlisted Sudbury. Husband of Rosanna Rudd, of 4, Vicarage Rd., Acton, Sudbury, Suffolk. No known gtrave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.
SANDFORD	Albert George	Serjeant 7674, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 24 October 1918. Aged 29. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of George Sandford; husband of Truda Maud Sandford, of 26, Cullum Rd., Bury St. Edmunds. Born at Great Waldingfield, Suffolk. Buried in BURY ST. EDMUNDS CEMETERY, Suffolk. Grave reference 34. 73A.
SANDFORD	Alfred Edward	Private 12488, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 18 April 1915. Aged 19. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of George Sandford, of Great Tree Cottage, Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk, and the late Emily Sandford. Buried in BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Enclosure No.4 Plot XI. Row AA. Grave 40.
SARGEANT	David J	Private 6610, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 26 August 1914. Aged 26. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of David and Alice Sargeant, of The Foule, Blackheath, Colchester; husband of the late Alice Maud Sargeant. No known grave. Commemorated on LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, Seine-et-Marne, France.
SARGEANT	Horace [Ernest]	Private 43720, 73rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Killed in action 7 June 1917. Aged 19. Resident Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of David and Alice Sargent, of The Foul, Blackheath, Colchester. Native of Great Waldingfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. Formerly 2631, Suffolk Regiment. Buried in AEROPLANE CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot III. Row C. Grave 44.
STEED	Harry	Driver 183161, Royal Field Artillery. Died in United Kingdom 21 February 1917. Aged 33. Born Gt. Waldingfield, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Husband of Annie Steed, of Great Waldingfield. Buried North of church in GREAT WALDINGFIELD (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk.
THEOBALD, DCM	Mitchell George William	Company Serjeant Major 6385, 3rd formerly 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died in United Kingdom 30 November 1916. Aged 30. Born Waldingfield, enlisted Sudbury. Son of Robert and Susan Ann Theobald, of Great Waldingfield. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). Buried North of the church in GREAT WALDINGFIELD (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk. DCM Citation London Gazette 15 March 1916: 6385 CSM M.G.W. THEOBALD 2nd Bn. For conspicous gallantry on several occasions, notably when he manned a crater immediately after the enemy had exploded a mine and himself brought into safety many wounded men under heavy fire.
WOODGATE	Walter C	Private 2038, 1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers), London Regiment. Killed in action 17 June 1915. Aged 20. Born Gt. Walllingfield (sic - should be Gt. Waldlingfield), enlisted Handel St., resident City of London. Son of Rufus George and Charlotte Woodgate, of The Upper Tye, Great Comard, Sudbury, Suffolk. Buried in RUE-DU-BACQUEROT NO.1 MILITARY CEMETERY, LAVENTIE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 18.
WHO DIED VICTORIOUS TO SAVE THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND THE LIBERTY OF THE WORLD IN THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 - 1919 "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"
Buried in the church yard but not on memorial
BYHAM	F J	Private 1176, Royal Defence Corps. Died 16 December 1919. Aged 55. Husband of Sarah Jane Byham, of High St., Acton, Sudbury, Suffolk. Buried North of the church in GREAT WALDINGFIELD (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk.

Last updated 9 April, 2018

War Memorials Trust