Saxmundham Roll of Honour

In 2005, a booklet commemorating those who died during the First and Second World Wars of the twentieth century was produced and distributed by Saxmundham Town Council to all households in the town as a tribute to their memory and to mark the occasion of the unveiling of the new public War Memorial in Fromus Square, Saxmundham on Sunday 17 July 2005 by General Sir Michael Walker GCB, CMG, CBE, ADC Gen, Chief of the Defence Staff.

The information on this page is transcribed from this booklet, which was compiled by the Royal British Legion, Saxmundham & District Branch, and Saxmundham Town Council., based upon Commonwealth War Graves Commission [CWGC] records, 'Debt of Honour Register', available on-line at www.cwgc.org.
Compiled by RWLS, 2005.

• Saxmundham War Memorials
• World War I
• World War II
• Errata on Memorial Plaques

 

Saxmundham War Memorials 

 

The Suffolk town of Saxmundham has, until recently, commemorated its dead of the two World Wars of the twentieth century with two War Memorial tablets, one fixed to the east end of the south aisle wall in the Parish Church of St, John the Baptist, the other on the east (ritual south) wall of the Congregational Chapel (now the United Reformed Church), These memorials are identical. The Parish Church places the Great War memorial above the later tablet; in the Chapel, the Great War memorial is fixed to the left of the central window, with the Second World War tablet to the right of that same window. The Memorial Field, Rendham Road, was purchased with the remaining proceeds raised by subscription in 1919-1920 and was chosen in preference to a public War Memorial by a referendum of the town's inhabitants in 1920.

An initiative from the Royal British Legion, Saxmundham & District Branch, to raise funds to provide (belatedly) a public War Memorial in the town, was achieved in 2004 in time for laying of wreaths at 11 am on Armistice Day, 11th November.

The new Memorial takes the form of an obelisk, rising from a stepped platform base, with north and south sides listing the dead of the First and Second World War respectively.

The east side has an inscription commemorating American forces based locally who gave their lives in World War Two.

The Memorial is sited in the new public space in the historic centre of Saxmundham, now known as Fromus Square.
 

THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM

 

 

 

 

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918

 

Private W Abbott

This is 33995 Private Hines William Abbott, East Surrey Regiment, 8th Battalion. Died 13.10.17 , aged 25. Son of William Hines of Saxmundham and the late Harriet Hines. Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.
CWGC records give first Christian name, which appears to be the usual family surname.

Regimental Sergeant-Major H E Backhouse

This is 319998 Company Sergeant-Major Henry Edward Backhouse, MM, Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion. Died 12.10.17. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.
Recorded in CWGC records as Company Sergeant-Major.

200701 Private Harry Lewis Balls

Cambridgeshire Regiment, 1st/lst Battalion. Died 1.5.18, aged 21. Son of Harry & Caroline Balls, The Lodge, Saxmundham. Buried in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, Nord, France.

Private E A Batley

??Is this PW/6380 Private C Batley, Middlesex Regiment, 16th Battalion who died 24.12.16, aged 41. Son of John & Mary Batley of Cransford; husband of Mary Woods (formerly Batley) of Badingham. Buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.
No E A Batley in CWGC records.

27214 Private Sidney George Cady

Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Died 30.7.16. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme. France.

38158 Private A Chapman

Gloucestershire Regiment, lst Battalion. Died 15.9.18, aged 20. Son of Mr H C & Mrs A M Chapman of Chapel Road, Saxmundham. Buried in Savy British Cemetery, Aisne, France.

495390 Sapper Bertie Charles Cooper

Royal Engineers, 'L' Signal Battalion. Died 23.12.19, aged 28. Son of George Frederick & Mary Ann Cooper; husband of Lizzie Kate Cooper of 3 Chapel Terrace, Saxmundham. Buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery Extension, Wimille, France.

Lieutenant S B Cooper

Wiltshire Regiment. Died 24.4.18. Buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.

23810 Sergeant Charles George Cooper

Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Died 26.9.17, aged 21. Son of Ben & Elizabeth Cooper of Bank Cottage, Saxmundham; husband of Ethel Grace Cooper of 4 Quebec Cottages, Curlew Green, Kelsale. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial. Zonnebeke, Belgium.

235761 Private Arthur Edward Cordle

York & Lancaster Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Died 18.9.18, aged 32. Son of Charles & Georgiana Cordle of 29 Fairfield Road, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

32002 Private George Charles Cowles

Suffolk Regiment, 12th Battalion. Died 6.5.17, aged 35. Son of Charles Cowles of Lowestoft; husband of Aggie Cowles. Buried in Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich, Nord, France.
CWGC records give second Christian name.

Private A E Everett

??Is this 23712 Private E. Everett, Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion, who died 17.2.17, aged 22. Son of Mrs E Everett of 51 Commercial Road, Ipswich. Buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France.
CWGC records list no A E Everett.

205876 Private Frank William Flatman

Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion. Died 23.8.18. No known grave. Commemorated on Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

200149 Lance-Corporal Thomas George Freeman

MM, Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion. Died 15.7.16, aged 20. Son of John Henry & Charlotte Freeman of Rendham Road, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

4161 Rifleman W W Gildersleeves

London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), 8th Battalion. Died 24.5.16, aged 32. Son of the late Robert & Rose Gildersleeves of Saxmundham. Buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas-de-Calais, France.

6146 Private John Richard Good

London Regiment, 1st/24th Battalion. Died 14.9.16. Son of Mrs A M Good of Mill Road, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Sergeant W F Jermyn

??Only Sergeant in CWGC records is 8667 Sergeant S Jermyn, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 91st Battalion who died 24.3.16. Buried in Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-sur-Somme, France.
No W F Jermyn of any rank is listed in CWGC records

Private A E Kerridge

??Is this 1489 Private Arthur Kerridge, London Regiment, 1st/13th Kensington Battalion who died 9.5.15, aged 19. Son of Mr D G & Mrs F E Kerridge of 787 Harrow Road, Willesden, London. No known grave. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
No A E Kerridge is listed in CWGC records.

320648 Regimental Sergeant-Major Basil William Last

Suffolk Regiment, 15th Battalion. Died 2.11.18, aged 23. Son of Henry & Sarah Last of Bigsby's Corner, Saxmundham. Buried in Don Communal Cemetery, Annoeullin, France.

14923 Private Horace Edgar Lee

Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion. Died 3.3.17, aged 24. Son of Walter & Esther Ruth Lee of 9, St Nicholas Street, Ipswich. Buried in north- eastern part of churchyard of St. John the Baptist Parish Church, Saxmundham. Military-style headstone.

58665 Private William George Leeder

Northamptonshire Regiment, 3rd Battalion. Died 7.11.18, aged 19. Son of George John & Julia Leeder of Gordon Terrace, Sudbury; native of Sudbury. Buried in family plot and commemorated on family headstone in south-western part of graveyard of Congregational Chapel (now United Reformed Church), Saxmundham.

Private F Martin

? ?Is this 18450 Private F Martin, Essex Regiment. 13th Battalion, who died 9.8.16. Buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval. Somme, France.

44100 Private Frederick Gerald Orford

Suffolk Regiment, 9th (formerly 4th) Battalion. Died 12.10.16, aged 23. Son of Mrs J J Orford of London House, High Street, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme. France.

Corporal H G Peaty

This is 9592 Lance-Corporal Herbert George Peaty, King's Own (Royal Lancashire Regiment), 2nd Battalion. Died 20.2.15. No known grave. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
In CWGC records as Lance-Corporal.

52200 Private William(?) G Poole

Royal Fusiliers, 'B' Company, 26th Battalion. Died 7.6.17 , aged 28. Son of William Alfred Poole of 15 Fairfield Road, Saxmundham; husband of the late Eliza Poole. Buried in Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, Ypres, Belgium.

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Frederick Pretor-Pinney, DSO

Rifle Brigade, 13th Battalion. Died 28.4.17, aged 53. Husband of Phyllis Julia Pretor-Pinney of 36 Sloane Court, Chelsea, London. Buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas-de- Calais, France.

Lieutenant H A Row

This is Second Lieutenant Harry Akers Row, Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion. Born 22.3.1886, died 11.3.15, aged 28. Son of William Benjamin & Emily Row of North Lodge, Saxmundham. Buried in Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord, France. Additionally commemorated on an engraved brass plaque, fixed to the nave east wall (south side) in St. John the Baptist Parish Church, Saxmundham, erected by his parents. (Killed in action during battle of Neuve Chapelle.)
In CWGC records (and on Church plaque) as Second Lieutenant. (Brother of J E Row.)

Lieutenant J E Row

This is Second Lieutenant John Eric Row, Suffolk Regiment, 8th Battalion. Born 22.1.1891, died 29.10.16, aged 25. Son of William Benjamin & Emily Row of North Lodge, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Additionally commemorated on an engraved brass plaque, fixed to the nave east wall (south side) in St. John the Baptist Parish Church, Saxmundham, erected by his parents. (Killed near Courcelette during battle of the Somme.)
In CWGC records (and on Church plaque) as Second Lieutenant. (Brother of H A Row.)

G/95345 Private Arthur Alfred Salter

London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 2nd/2nd Battalion, Died 11.8.18, aged 28. Son of Frederick William & Fanny Salter of Fairfield Road, Saxmundham; born at Saxmundham. Buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery. Wimille, France.

42757 Private Charles John Shipp

Worcestershire Regiment, 10th Battalion. Died 17.4.18, aged 27. Son of William Shipp, 5 North View, Rendham Road, Saxmundham; born at Sternfield. Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.

28314 Private W F Shipp

Essex Regiment. 10th Battalion. Died 23.10.17. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.

Sergeant C F Spalding

This is 7560 Corporal Charles Frederick Spalding, Suffolk Regiment,1st Battalion. Died 14.10.14. Buried in Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan.
In CWGC records as Corporal.

6108 Private S H Spatchett

London Regiment, 24th Battalion. Died 14.9.16. Buried in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France.

11585 Sergeant Allan Spink

Lincolnshire Regiment, 7th Battalion. Died 15.2.16. No known grave. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

Lance-Corporal P C Steward

This is 55772 Lance-Corporal Charles Percival Steward, Machine Gun Corps, 17th Battalion. Died 3.7.18, aged 22. Son of George & Eliza A Steward of South View, Saxmundham; native of Leiston. Buried in Varennes Military Cemetery, Somme, France.

12500 Private Reginald Tillett

Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion. Died 3.7.16, aged 23. Son of Mrs R A Tillett of 5 Fairfield Road, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

75119 Private Henry George Ward

Royal Fusiliers, l0th Battalion. Died 21.3.18, aged 19. Son of Thomas William & Rosaline Ward of Northcote, Albion Street, Saxmundham; native of London. Buried in The Huts Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.

Private T W Ward

This is 242 Private W T Ward, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 4th Battalion. Died 19.11.19, Buried in south-western part of graveyard of Congregational Chapel (now United Reformed Church), Saxmundham. Military-style headstone.

473141 Private Clifford John Welham

MM, Royal Army Medical Corps, 88th Field Ambulance. Died 23.11.17, aged 21. Son of Mr & Mrs J Welham of Station Road [sic], Saxmundham. He is commemorated on family headstone in western part of graveyard of Congregational Chapel (now United Reformed Church), Saxmundham, but buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme, France.

319008 Private Louis W Woodard

Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion. Died 9.8.16, aged 25. Son of John Woodard of Chantry Road, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
In CWGC records as Louis Woodard.
 

 

GREAT (LATER CALLED FIRST WORLD) WAR - TOTAL 40 DEAD


ooOoo

 

 

 

TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE WAR 1939-1945

 

Lieutenant Michael Firth Atkinson

Royal Navy (HMS Somali). Died 24.9.42, aged 30. Son of George Leslie & Margaret Atkinson. Lost at sea. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (HMS Somali, a Tribal Class Destroyer, was torpedoed 20.9.42 by U.703, and, whilst under tow, sank on 24.9.42 with the loss of 82 lives.)

1250631 Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) George Frederick Kenneth Bedwell

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 9th Squadron. Died 2.1.44. aged 24. Son of Walter Gordon & Mabel Sophia Bedwell of Saxmundham; husband of Joan Louisa Bedwell of Saxmundham. Buried in collective grave in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. (Shot down over Hanover and buried there.)
CWGC records give third Christian name.

5828241 Private Alfred Douglas Blake

Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion. Died 21.9.44, aged 25. Son of Ernest & Alice Blake of Saxmundham. Died as Japanese Prisoner of War; no known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial. (Brother of E F & W G Blake.)

1137279 Gunner Eric Frank Blake

Royal Artillery, 72 Anti-Tank Regiment. Died 18.1.43, aged 19. Son of Ernest & Emily Blake of Saxmundham. Buried in Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia. (Brother of A D & W G Blake.)

5828252 Private William George Blake

Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion. Died 28.8.43, aged 25. Son of Ernest & Alice Blake of Saxmundham. Died as Japanese Prisoner of War, working on Burma-Siam Railway. Buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand. (Brother of A D & E F)

953133 Lance-Bombadier Alfred Ernest Bloomfield

Royal Artillery, 67 Medium Regiment. Died 24.7.42, aged 23. Son of Ernest James & Sarah Ann Bloomfield of Saxmundham. Buried in Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya.

5826561 Lance-Corporal John William Brock

The King's Regiment, (Liverpool), 13th Battalion. Died 12.5.44, aged 27. Son of William & Isobel Maude Brock of Saxmundham. Died as Japanese Prisoner of War. Buried in Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma).

T/6030301 Driver Jack Cook

Royal Army Service Corps, 463 Water Tank Company. Died 2.3.44. aged 38. Son of Jack & Grace Cook; husband of Dorothy Alice Cook of Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Brookwood Memorial, within Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.

299630 Lieutenant Derrick George Gooch

Royal Army Service Corps, 297 General Transport Company. Died 2.11.44, aged 20. Son of Wilfred George & Florence Isabel Victoria Gooch of Rushmere St Andrew. Buried in Zaamslag General Cemetery, Zoeland, Netherlands.

73407 Major Arthur Charles Copinger Hill

Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion. Died 20.7.44, aged 29. Son of Charles Copinger Hill & Ethel Mary Geraldine Hill of Park House, Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Bayeux Memorial, Calvados, France.

1735559 Gunner Jack Clarence Howard

Royal Artillery, 21 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Died 19.12.43, aged 37. Son of Charles & Caroline Louise Howard of Saxmundham. Died as Japanese Prisoner of War. Buried in Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia.

5828233 Private Leonard Stanley Pearce

Cambridgeshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Died 21.9.44, aged 24. Son of Stanley Francis & Edith May Pearce of Saxmundham. Died as Japanese Prisoner of War; no known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial.

A R Smith

This is 5828234 Corporal Arthur William Smith (known as "Pim"), Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion. Died 9.2.42, aged 22. Son of Frederick and Esther Mary Smith of Saxmundham. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial. (Died during the Japanese invasion of Singapore.)

 

SECOND WORLD WAR - TOTAL 13 DEAD

FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS - COMBINED TOTAL 53 DEAD


ooOoo


"THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT"

 

 

"And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. Their seed shall remain forever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.")
The Apocrypha, Ecclesiasticus, Chapter XLIV, Verses 9 to 14

 

ooOoo

 

 

ERRORS ON WAR MEMORIAL TABLETS 

1914-1918 (1919)

Pte W Abbott - recorded officially as H W

RSM E Backhouse - he was CSM; also awarded MM

Pte A Batley - ?? is this Pte C Batley

Spr B C Cooper - he died in 1919

Lieut S B Cooper

Sergt C G Cooper - these two are listed in incorrect alphabetical order

Pte G Cowles - recorded officially as G C

Pte A E Everett - ?? is this Pte E Everett

L/Cpl T G Freeman - awarded MM

Sgt W F Jermyn - ?? is this Sgt S Jermyn

Pte A E Kerridge - ?? is this Pte A Kerridge

Cpl H G Peaty - he was L/Cpl

Lt Col C F Pretor-Pinney - awarded DSO

Lieut H A Row - he was 2nd Lieut

Lieut J E Row - he was 2nd Lieut

Sergt C F Spalding - he was Cpl

L/Cpl P C Steward - correct initials are C P

Pte T W Ward - correct initials are W T; he died in 1919

Pte C J Welham - awarded MM

Pte L W Woodard - recorded officially as L (only)
 

 

1939-1945

 

G F Bedwell - recorded officially as G F K

A R Smith - correct initials are A W