Tag Archives: Norfolk

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Norfolk, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, war

Private William Preston

Leave a comment
Private William Preston

William Robert Preston was born on 2nd January 1888, and was the oldest of six children to William and Alice Preston. William Sr was a blacksmith from Norwich, Norfolk, and this is where the family were initially raised.

The 1901 census saw a move to Northamptonshire, however, the document confirming that the family were living at Tanner Cottages in the village of Walton.

When he finished his schooling, William Jr found work as a painter’s labourer. However, he sought bigger and better things and, on 5th June 1905, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a number of tattoos on his arms.

Private Preston was sent to barracks in Deal, Kent, for his initial training. He spent the best part of a year there, before being transferred to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in April 1906. He was given his first ocean-going posting in January 1907, when he joined the crew of the cruiser HMS Terrible.

Over the next eight years, Private Preston served on three further ships, returning to HMS Victory, Portsmouth, in between trips. In March 1915, he was assigned to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner converted to a minelayer at the start of the war.

On 27th May 1915, while Irene was moored off Sheerness, Kent, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew. Private Preston was among those who perished, but whose body was identified: he was 27 years of age.

The body of William Robert Preston was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Able Seaman, accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, Leading Seaman, Norfolk, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Petty Officer Ellis Sayer

Leave a comment
Petty Officer Ellis Sayer

Much of the life of Ellis Edward Sayer seems destined to remained shrouded in the mists of time. Born in Attleborough, Norfolk on 31st January 1888, the only census return he appears on dates from 1891. This records him as living with his grandmother, Maria Simons, who was noted as being married and working as a laundress. Ellis’ 16-year-old uncle, William, was also living there and employed as a groom.

Jumping forward a few years and, on 31st December 1907, Ellis enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records note that he had previously been employed as a messenger, and there seems to have been some previous marine connection. The document shows that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m), with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having tattoos of a dragon, a rose and the word ‘unity’ on his left forearm.

As an Ordinary Seaman, Ellis was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He was only there for a matter of weeks before being assigned to the HMS Cochrane then HMS Natal.

On 7th April 1908, Ordinary Seaman Sayer was attached to the cruiser HMS Lancaster, and he was to remain with her for close to two years. Promoted to Able Seaman on 26th November 1909, his time on board came to a close in May 1910.

Over the next few years, Ellis continued his progress in his naval career. After a year on shore in Chatham, he was assigned to HMS Blonde, and was promoted to Leading Seaman in August 1912. He returned to HMS Pembroke the next month, and remained attached to the dockyard for the next year and a half: his experience likely being used to support newer recruits.

On 6th March 1914, Leading Seaman Sayer was assigned to the battleship HMS Commonwealth. Over the next three years she patrolled the North Sea, from the Norwegian coast and Shetland in the north to Dogger Bank in the south. On 1st August 1915, Ellis receive a further promotion, holding the rank of Petty Officer for the remainder of his time on board Commonwealth.

On 18th February 1917, Ellis’ life came to an abrupt end. There is little information available about his passing, one record stating that he died from an injury to his kidney which was as a result of an accident, while another states ‘rupture of kidney caused through [a] fall’. HMS Commonwealth seems to have been moored in Chatham, however, as he passed away in the town’s Royal Naval Hospital. He was 29 years of age.

Petty Officer Sayer’s next-of-kins were noted as his sister, Mrs J Andrews, who lived in Norwich, and a friend, Mrs Ethel Hampton, who lived in Gillingham, Kent.

Ellis Edward Sayer’s body was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the dockyard he had called home for so long.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, Norfolk, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private William Griffin

Leave a comment
Private William Griffin

William Richard Griffin was born in the summer of 1899, the fourth of six children to James and Joice Griffin. James was from Somerset and worked as a superintendent for a life assurance company. He met his wife while working in Wales, and this is where their oldest three children had been born. By the time of William’s birth, however, James had moved the family back to Somerset, setting up home in the Weston area of Bath.

There is little information about William’s life. When war was declared, he joined the Devonshire Regiment, and was assigned to the 51st (Graduated) Battalion. His troop remained on home soil – remaining in Norfolk for the duration – so it is unlikely that Private Griffin saw any active service overseas.

William survived the conflict and returned home. He passed away, possibly due to an infection, based on what little is documented, on 22nd July 1920. He had not long turned 21 years of age.

William Richard Griffin was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Martin’s Church in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare.

Bedfordshire Regiment, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Norfolk, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private Eric Grant

Leave a comment
Private Eric Grant

Eric William Grant was born at the start of 1901, the middle of three children to Ernest and Annie Grant. Ernest was a carpenter from Bath, Somerset, and it was here they he and Annie raised their young family.

Little information is available about Eric’s young life. When war came to Europe, his father joined up, enlisting in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. Keen not to miss out, Eric also signed up, lying about his age to ensure he was accepted.

When he joined in February 1916, Private Grant was assigned to the 52nd (Graduated) Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. Full details of his service are lost to time, but towards the end of the war, Eric was based in East Anglia.

It was here, in early 1919, that Private Grant fell ill. He was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital, but whatever his condition, it proved fatal. He passed away on 2nd March, aged just 18 years old.

Eric William Grant’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Michael’s Church, Monkton Combe, where the family now living.

Despite her understandable concern at seeing her husband and son go off to war, and for Eric to die because of it, Annie was to be reunited with Ernest. Again, full details of his service are lost, but the 1939 Register found him and Annie living with their daughter and Ernest’s brother in Bathavon, Somerset.

Annie passed away in 1947, at the age of 73. Ernest lived on until 1952, having lived to 76 years old. Both were buried in St Michael’s Churchyard, reunited with their son at last.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, story, war

Leading Stoker Victor Jordan

Leave a comment
Leading Stoker Victor Jordan

Victor Jordan was born on 20th November 1893 in Beeston Regis on the north Norfolk coast. The second of four children, his parents were school teachers Albert and Melletta Jordan.

By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved from one coast to another, setting up home in Bognor Regis, Sussex. Albert had given up teaching, and had become an insurance agent for Prudential. Victor had left school and found work as a wheelwright, while his older sister, Emily, had taken up where her father had left off, teaching in an elementary school, The family of six was expanded by the inclusion of Albert’s mother, Emily, who had moved in with them.

By 1914, war was on the horizon, and Victor sought out a career beyond wheel work. On 21st May he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.78m) tall, had light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Stoker Jordan was initially sent to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, for training. After an initial six-month period, he was assigned to the battleship HMS Indomitable, on board which he was to serve for the next four years.

During his time on board, Victor proved to be a disciplined and determined worker. He was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in July 1915, and reached the rank of Leading Stoker in the summer of 1918. HMS Indomitable was involved in some of the key naval battles of the First World War – including Dogger Bank and Jutland – and Victor would have been on the forefront of maintaining the vessel’s power.

By October 1918, Leading Stoker Jordan was back on dry land, and was based once again in Portsmouth. As the war came to a close, however, he became unwell, and was admitted to Haslar Naval Hospital in nearby Gosport, suffering from acute tonsillitis.

Tragically, the condition was to get the better of him: Leading Stoker Jordan died of heart failure on 8th December 1918, having not long turned 25 years old.

Victor Jordan’s family were, by now, living in the Somerset hamlet of Brewham, and this is where his body was brought for burial: he was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St John the Baptist’s Church.

Leading Stoker Victor Jordan
(from findagrave.com)

Scandal was set to rock the grieving family. Albert, who was now teaching again, was charged with indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl three times over the winter of 1918/19. He denied the accusation and a jury found him not guilty after only a few minutes’ deliberation.

Albert and Melletta seem to have found it impossible to remain in the quiet corner of Somerset, and moved to Essex. The couple took up new teaching posts, Albert eventually becoming the headmaster of Doddinghurst Church of England School, near Brentwood, while his wife worked as a school mistress for one of the classes.

Melletta died in February 1931, and at this point, Albert came back to Somerset to live with his daughter and her family in Cheddar. He was 75 years old when he passed away at Emily’s family home – called Melletta after her mother – and was laid to rest in St Andrew’s Churchyard, Cheddar.

Commonwealth War Graves, Driver, Great War, history, illness, Norfolk, photography, Royal Field Artillery, Somerset, story, war

Driver George Brown

Leave a comment
Driver George Brown

George Edward Brown was born on 26th June 1898 in South Petherton, Somerset. An only child, his parents were Escourt and Alice Brown. Originally a millstone dresser, by the time of the 1911 census, Escourt had turned his hand to farm work, while Alice made shirts and did housekeeping to bring in a little more money for the family.

George was only 16 years old when war broke out, but he was keen to play his part as soon as he was able to. In the spring of 1917, he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery, and was assigned to the 105th Company.

Little information remains of Gunner Brown’s military service, but it is evident that he did his training in Norfolk. While here, he came down with appendicitis, and was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital in Norwich. He was operated on, but sadly died following the procedure. He passed away on 29th June 1917, having just turned 19 years of age.

George Edward Brown’s body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the family grave in South Petherton Cemetery. He was reunited with his parents, when they passed away, Escourt in 1924 and Alice some time later.

Commonwealth War Graves, Denbighshire, Great War, history, illness, Norfolk, photography, Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, story, Wales, war

Private James Jones

Leave a comment
Private James Jones

James Ward Jones was born on 17th August 1871 in the Denbighshire town of Llangollen. He was the oldest of eleven children to William and Anne Jones. William was a bricklayer’s labourer, and James followed suit when he finished school.

On 30th April 1898, James married fisherman’s daughter Mary Jones. The couple set up home in Llangollen and went on to have ten children.

When war came to Europe, James stepped up to play his part for King and Country. Sadly, little detail of his military service remains available. but it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and, as a Private, he was assigned to the 47th Provisional Battalion. The troop was based on home soil, and James found himself sent to Norfolk for his war work.

It is unlikely that Private Jones was in camp for long. On Christmas Day 1915 he collapsed having had a seizure, and passed away. He was 44 years of age.

James Ward Jones’ body was brought back to Wales for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St John’s Church in his home town of Llangollen.

Mary was left with ten children to bring up on her own. She married again, to a Jack Evans, in the autumn of 1916. The couple had two children of their own. Mary passed away in December 1935, aged just 58 years old.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire Regiment, history, illness, Norfolk, photography, Private, Somerset, story, war

Private Victor Langdon

Leave a comment
Private Victor Langdon

Victor Frank Langdon was born in the autumn of 1897, the only child to Francis and Martha Langdon. Frank was a carter and cowman from Clatworthy in Devon, but it was in Bradford-on-Tone in neighbouring Somerset that Victor was raised.

Victor was 16 years old when war was declared, but he was still keen to play his part. While full details of his military service are not available, he initially enlisted in the Hampshire Yeomanry, before transferring across to the 15th (Service) Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment in 1917.

Records suggest that Private Langdon served as part of a territorial force and, by the summer of 1918, was based in Norfolk. It was here that he fell ill, and, while in the camp hospital on 15th June 1918, he passed away. Details of his condition are lost to time, but it was noted as “disease”. He was just 21 years of age.

Victor Frank Langdon was brought back to Somerset for burial. He lies at rest in the graveyard of St Giles’ Church, in his home town of Bradford-on-Tone.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Norfolk, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 2nd Class Harry Barker

Leave a comment
Stoker 2nd Class Harry Barker

Harry Barker is one of those people whose lives are likely to remain lost to time as very little information remains that can be directly connected to him.

The only document that can be directly attributed to him is his Royal Navy service record. This confirms Harry’s date and place of birth as 5th January 1896 in West Dereham, Norfolk and confirms that he was a farm labourer before enlisting.

Census records confirm that, in 1901 there was a Harry Barker living in that village. He was residing with his grandparents – Robert and Elisabeth Barker – their son, Cornelius, and five more of their grandchildren.

One of the Barkers’ grandsons, Sidney, appears next to a Harry Barker on the 1911 census. Both were inmates at the Downham Union Workhouse, as does a Cornelius Barker. It seems likely, therefore, that the three are connected, and that this is the Harry Barker who appears on the service records five years later.

Harry’s records show that he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 27th October 1916. He was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Barker was initially stationed at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. After six months he received his first ocean-going post, aboard the dreadnought battleship HMS Hibernia. He spent five months on board, before returning to Chatham.

He was billeted in the Drill Hall, which had been set up with temporary accommodation during 1917, when the barracks themselves became overcrowded.

On the 3rd September 1917, the German Air Force carried out one of its first night-time air raids on England: Chatham was heavily bombed and the Drill Hall received a direct hit. Stoker Barker was amongst those killed instantly. He was just 20 years of age.

Harry Barker was laid to rest, along with the other victims of the Chatham Air Raid, in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham.

Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Captain, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, Hong Kong, Ireland, Lieutenant, London, Major, Norfolk, Northern Ireland, photography, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, story, unknown, Wales, war

Major Stafford Douglas

Leave a comment
Major Stafford Douglas

Stafford Edmund Douglas was born on 4th January 1863, the second of four children to Stephen and Mary Douglas. Stafford came from a military family, his father having been a Captain in the Royal Navy. This led to a lot of travelling and, having been born in Donaghadee, County Down, he then moved to South Wales.

By the 1880s, when Stephen and Mary had set up home in Portsmouth, Stafford had started to carve out a career for himself, and was a Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, based at Edinburgh Castle.

Over the coming years, Lieutenant Douglas, who stood 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall and also spoke French, travelled the world, serving in South Africa, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Hong Kong. By 1894 he had made Captain, and he finally retired in 1903, after nineteen years’ service.

On 29th April that year, at the age of 40, Stafford married Mary Louisa Harris. She was the daughter of an army colonel, and the couple wed in St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London. The couple set up home in Exeter, Devon, and went on to have two children – Violet and Stafford Jr.

At this point, Stafford’s trail goes cold. When war broke out in 1914, he was called back into duty, working as a Railway Transport Officer in Norwich. He continued in this role until 1919, before being stood down and returning home.

Stafford Edmund Douglas passed away on 15th February 1920, at the age of 57 years old, although no cause of death is immediately apparent. He was laid to rest in the Milton Road Cemetery in Weston-super-Mare, presumably where his family were, by this time, residing.