Kirstead War Memorial - a photo on Flickriver

Roll of Honour site: www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/KirsteadGreen.html
(Information sourced from there is marked (RoH))

Lnt Dudley W Hall………………………………RMLI
AB Charles Burgess……………………………..RN. DIV
Gnr Cecil B.Ringer………………………………RGA
Pte Albert W Taylor…………………………….Norf.Rt
“ George A Taylor………………………………”..”
" Ernest E Taylor..............................................".."
“ Arthur J D Lawrence………………………….”..”
“ John G S Lawrence……………………………”..”
“ Robert Copeman………………………………”..”
“ Ernest H.Fiske………………………………...”..”
“ Harry Todd……………………………….......”..”
“ Leonard J Pye………………………………..”..”
“ Augustus Keeble…………………………….”..”

“ Alfred J.Deadman………………………Middlesex Reg
“ Herbert J Riches………………………..Queens R W Surrey Reg
“ Robert Andrews……………………….Essex Reg
“ Thomas B.Reeve……………………….Wark-s’re Reg

IN HONORED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
AND SOME NEIGHBOURS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1918
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.

Andrews, Robert Charles………………………………..............(RoH)

Private 20641. 1st Battalion Essex Regiment. Formerly 17717 Norfolk Regiment. Died at sea on 13th August 1915. Born Swainsthorpe, Norfolk. Lived Kirstead. Enlisted Norwich. Commemorated: Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 144 to 150 or 229 to 233.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/682420/ANDREWS,...

No match on Norlink

The Military Genealogy transcription of Soldiers Died in the Great War records Robert Charles Andrews as born Swainsthorpe and resident Kirstead.

Census However there is no obvious candidates on the 1911 or 1901 census that match these details. The 1911 census does have a Robert Charles Andrews, born circa 1883 at Swanton Morley, Norfolk and who was recorded in the district of Hartlepool on the night of the census.

There is also a Charles, born circa 1877 Swainsthorpe, who was recorded in the Mike End Old Town, London district on the night of the census.

There appears to be two Robert Charles whose birth might fit. One, recorded in the July to September 1882 quarter is probably the Swanton Morley individual on the 1911 census. The other birth was recorded in the Depwade district of southern Norfolk in the July to September 1879 quarter. Depwade does not however reach as far north as Swainsthorpe.

On the day A passage from the History of Norfolk Regiment tells the … story: Colonel Tonge refers to the loss of 300 men, the best draft that ever left Felixstowe. These men volunteered to join the Essex Regiment and appear to have constituted the drafts of June 23 and July 24 1915. They were part of the reinforcements carried by the transport "Royal Edward" which was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea on August 14th 1915. She sank two and a half minutes after the torpedo struck her. Of the 1,400 men she carried only 600 were saved,and the drowned included all but 18 of the 300 Norfolk men. The men who had had a route march just before leaving Alexandria, were waiting on deck for foot inspection at about 9.20 am. Their lifebelts were down below, and when the ship was unexpectedly struck most of them ran below to fetch the belts. Owing to the ship's sudden heeling over and sinking, these never got up again. Those who escaped were picked up by a hospital ship which responded to the s.o.s. signal. To partly replace this sad loss, another draft of 150 men to the Essex Regiment was dispatched on September 29, 1915. Addenda 1994 From: "Men of Gallipoli"(David & Charles,1988) by kind permission of the publishers. One of the features of the Cape Helles monument is the rows of names of men drowned in the torpedoing of the Royal Edward,which sank in the Eastern Mediterranean on 13th August with a loss of over 850 lives.A.T.Fraser in the Border Regiment,was in a deckchair on the afterdeck starboard side when suddenly dozens of men ran past him from port to starboard. The explosion came before he had time to ask what was the matter."The ship had no escort and we had not been ordered to have our life-belts with us.The hundreds on deck ran below to get their life-belts and hundreds below would have met them on their way up.I shared a cabin accessible from the deck I was on and I raced there to get my life-belt and ran to my life-boat station which was on the star- board side.As the men arrived they fell in two ranks. Already the ship was listing and this prevented our boats from being lowered,so we were ordered to jump for it.I saw no panic,but of course one could imagine what was happening on the inside stairs. I swam away from the ship and turned to see the funnels leaning towards me.When they reached the sea,all the soot was belched out,there was a loud whoosh and the ship sank. No explosion,no surge. So I was alone. The little waves were such that in the trough you saw nothing,on the crest you saw a few yards.The water was warm. I wondered if there were sharks". Fraser found some wood to rest on and he was joined by a seaman,an older man who had twice previously been torpedoed.This brought the young Scot confidence.An up turned Royal Edward lifeboat was to provide 17 of the survivors with a little more security though in what Fraser calls half-hourly recurring turbulence,the boat turned over,offering them conventional but completely waterlogged accommodation every alternate half hour but at least providing them with something to do.There was no singing and little conversation. The first ship that passed hailed the scattered men and promised to signal for help.It could not stop as it had high explosives for Lemnos.Some of the men became depressed and showed unwillingness to clamber back in the life boat when it overturned,but on each occasion all were persuaded.Finally the hospital ship SOUDAIN arrived to pick them up in her life-boats,and at 2 o'clock Fraser was safely aboard her after just under five hours in the sea. He remembers that"a large number of men lost their false teeth as we were constantly sick in the sea- and these men were sent back to England. We the younger ones,were clothed and kitted and on another ship three days later for Gallipoli
www.geocities.com/heartland/acres/5564/royaledward.html

Burgess, Charles………………………………............................(RoH)

Able Seaman R/3039. Hawke Battalion. Royal Navy Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died on 3rd September 1918. Aged 29. Son of the late William and Rachel Burgess; husband of Ellen E. Burgess, of Loddon Comer, Kirstead, Brooke, Norwich. Commemorated: Vis-En-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 1 and 2.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1740629/BURGESS...

No match on Norlink

Charles appeared to have been killed in action, along with a number of members of the unit.
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-09Sep.htm

Another member of the battalion was awarded a VC for his actions at this time.
Chief Petty Officer George Prowse VC DCM (29 August 1886 – 27 September 1918)
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 2 September when he collected a small group of men to attack a German strongpoint, capturing it along with 5 machine guns and 23 men. Later he singlehandedly attacked an ammunition limber which was recovering ammunition, capturing the limber and killing 3 men. On 4 September he led an attack on 2 German machine guns in a concrete emplacement, killing 6, capturing the machine guns and taking 13 prisoner. He was the only member of the attacking party to survive.
yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Geor...

Census The 11 year old Charles, born Kirstead, Norfolk, was recorded on the 1901 census at Back Lane, Kirstead. This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 54 and a Yardman on Farm, from Kirstead) and Rachael, (aged 56 and a Charwoman from Shelton, Norfolk). Their other children living with them at this time are:-
Clara…………..aged 23.…………….born Kirstead…………Domestic Servant
Edith…………..aged 14.…………….born Kirstead
George…………aged 29…………….born Kirstead…………Agricultural Labourer
James…………..aged 28.……………born Kirstead…………Agricultural Labourer

The baptism of Charles, born 27th April 1889, took place at St Margaret Kirstead on the 2nd June 1889. Parents are William, a Labourer and Rachel. The family live at Kirstead. Among the other baptisms in the same period at the same church are:-
Alice…born 29th January 1883...baptised 13th May 1883
Edith…born 3rd April 1886.….baptised 23rd May 1886

Copeman, Robert……………………………….........................(RoH)

Lance Corporal (Memorial has Private) 13764. 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds at home on 10th December 1916. Aged 23. Born St James’ Suffolk. Enlisted Norwich. Buried: Mundham (St. Peter) Churchyard, Norfolk. North of Church.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2802946/COPEMAN...
(On CWGC as R Copeman)

No match on Norlink

The medal index card listing for Private 13764 of the 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment at the National Archive is in the name of Robert Copeman.

Census On the 1901 census the 8 year old Robert, born St James, Suffolk, was recorded at The Street, Shotesham All Saints. Shotesham is a few miles norh west of Kirstead.
This is the household of his parents, Thomas, (aged 33 and a Teamster on Farm from Brixton Hill, London) and Mary Ann, (aged 29 and from Suffolk St James). Their other children are :-
Ada……………aged 2.………….born Shotesham
Albert……….aged 10.…………born Shotesham
Bertha………aged u/1.……….born Shotesham
Maud………..aged 6.…………..born Suffolk St James

The death of a Robert Copeman, aged 24, was recorded in the Liverpool District in the October to December 1916 quarter. I suspect Robert was in a local hospital there.

Deadman, Alfred Joseph………………………………...............(RoH)

Private F/1096. 17th Battalion Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 1st August 1916. aged 31. Born Southfields Surrey. Enlisted London. Son of George and Elizabeth Deadman, of Fernhurst, Haslemere, Surrey; husband of Bessie L. Deadman, of The Ling, Kirstead, Norwich. Buried: Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, Somme, France. Ref. III. E. 3.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2802946/COPEMAN...

No match on Norlink

Census The Genes Re-united transcription of the 1911 Census for England and Wales has an Alfred Joseph, born circa 1886 Wimbledon, Surrey, who was recorded in the Wandsworth district on the night of the census. There is no obvious match on the 1901 census,

Checking the Find My Past site for the 1911 census, it does not look as if Bessie is in the same hold as Alfred however this is explained by a check of the GRO index for marriages, which shows the marriage of an Alfred J Deadman to a Bessie L Baldwin took place in Kingston, Surrey in the July to September 19111 quarter.

The Deadman’s look to have had one child, a daughter Eva E, who’s birth was recorded in the January to March 1912 quarter.

The most likely match for Bessie on the 1911 census is a Bessie Louisa, born Bedingham, Norfolk circa 1882, who was recorded in the Kingston, Surrey district on the night of the census. There is however a Bessie born Wodton, Norfolk, circa 1888, who was recorded in the Loddon, Norfolk District on the night of the census.

My Grandfather, Alfred Deadman enlisted at Kingsway London on 16th March 1915. He was employed as a butler and had married my Grandmother Bessie Louisa Baldwin on 25th July 1911. He served from 16th March 1915 at home and then served in France from 17th November 1915 until he was killed in action on 1st August 1916. He is buried at the Quarry, Mauntaubaun. My Grandfather's name appears on the war memorial at St. Margaret's Church in Kirstead, Norfolk.
Diane Sambridge

www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/view.php?u...

On the day The battalion had taken the position of Delville Wood, (aptly known as Devils Wood) on the 27th July 1916 and held it until relieved on the 31st.
However they may only have been moved back into reserve lines rather than taken out of the line altogether.

Fiske, Ernest Henry……………………………….........................(RoH)

Private 43196. 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 4th September 1916. Aged 20. Born Caistor, Norfolk. Enlisted Woodton, Norfolk. Grandson of Mrs. H. C. Pitelen, of 41, Kirstead Ling, Brooke, Norwich. Buried: Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France. Ref. XXIV. K. 1.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/549299/FISKE,%2...

No match on Norlink

Census The Genes Re-united transcription of the 1911 Census for England and Wales has an Ernest Fiske, born Caistor St Edmunds, Norwich circa 1897, who was recorded in the Loddon District on the night of the census.

On the 1901 census he was recorded at Norwich Road, Lower Caistor, Caistor St Edmunds. This was the household of his widowed grandmother, Harriet E Fiske, aged 53 and from Brooke, Norfolk. Harriet also has a 19 year old son living with her, James, J, a Horseman on Farm from Caistor St Edmunds.

The birth of a Ernest Henry Fiske was recorded in the Henstead District which covers Caistor St Edmunds in the July to September 1896 quarter.

On the Day Tragedy at Falfremont Farm
The attack was held up and casualties were being caused by bombing and small arms fire before they eventually took the objective only to come under friendly artillery fire that caused serious casualties. According to the Regimental casualty book 56 all ranks were killed, 219 wounded and 94 missing, believed killed, a total of 369. The battalion was relieved the next day.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t...

Hall, Dudley Walter Rowland……………………………….......(RoH)

Lieutenant. 1st R.M. Battalion, R.N. Div. Royal Marine Light Infantry. Died on 27th March 1918. Aged 26. Son of the Rev. Thomas Rowland Hall and Flora Lucy Hall, of 10, Northcote Avenue, Ealing, London; late of Kirstead Rectory, Norfolk. Buried: St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. Ref. Officers, B. 8. 9.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/514930/HALL,%20...

No match on Norlink

Census The 9 year old Dudley W R Hall, born London, was recorded on the 1901 census at 3. Osmond Road, Hove, Brighton. This is the household of his parents, Thomas R, (aged 47 and a Church of England Clergyman from London) and Flora L. (aged 36 and from London). Their other children are:-
Rutland S R……………aged 11.…………born London
Sydney C……………….aged 3.………….born Brighton, Sussex

The Halls have two live in servants.

On the 1911 census, Dudley Walter Rowland, born St Johns Wood, London, circa 1891, was recorded in the Ware District.

On the day
21-23 March Battle of St Quentin (First phase of First Somme 1918)
The artillery bombardment began at 02:00 with an intensive German barrage opened on British positions south west of St Quentin for a depth of 4–6 At 04:35, a heavy German barrage opened up simultaneously along the whole 40 mile front. Trench mortars, mustard gas, chlorine gas, tear gas and smoke canisters were concentrated on the forward trenches, while heavy artillery bombarded rear areas to destroy Allied artillery and supply lines.. Over 1,100,000 shells were fired in five hours, hitting targets over an area of 150 sq miles; this was the biggest barrage of the entire war and it hit all areas of British front occupied by Fifth Army, most of the front of Third Army, and some of the front of the First Army to the north. In total, the British suffered 7,500 casualties during this bombardment alone. The front line was badly damaged and communications were cut with the rear zone, which was severely disrupted.
The infantry assault went in between 06:00 and 09:40. Most forward positions were overwhelmed and nearly all of the British front line fell during the morning.

Withdrawing further, the division fought at Bapaume on March 24th and 25th, and on April 5th at the Ancre. The British had to yield a lot of ground in March and April, but were able to hold at Amiens. Gough's Fifth Army was practically annihilated.
HALL, DUDLEY WALTER ROWLAND Lieutenant Royal Marine Light Infantry 1st R.M. Battalion. R.N. Division Born 21 April 1891 commissioned 08 October 1915 Died of wounds Age: 26 Date of Death: 27/03/1918
www.royalmarinesonline.com/rnd-kaiserlacht-1918.php

Given that he had been evacuated as far back as Rouen I would suspect his wounds had been incurred several days earlier.

RND, 1st RM Battalion, France - 27th March 1918
EDWARDS, Sidney, Private, RMLI, S 2309 (Po)
HALL, Dudley W R, Ty/Lieutenant, RM, DOW
SUTTON, Ernest G, Private, RMLI, S 2282 (Ply)
WILLIAMS, Walter, Private, RMLI, S 2047 (Ply), DOW
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-03Mar.htm

Update 30th December 2019...............

From the edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Friday, April 5, 1918.

LOCAL OFFICERS IN RECENT FIGHTING.

LIEUT. D.W. ROWLAND HALL.

Lieut. Dudley Walter Rowland Hall, R.M.L.I., who died of wounds on March 27th, was the third son of the late Rev. T. Rowland Hall, of Kirstead, Norfolk, and Mrs. Hall, of 5, Inglis Road, Ealing, W. He was educated at Windlesham House, Brighton, and King Edward VI. School, Norwich. He enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a private when war broke out, and served in Gallipoli, where he was wounded. He returned in October, 1915, to take up his commission, and went to France in January 1917, when he was invalided home. He went out again in October 1917, was again wounded on or about March 24th, 1918, and died of these wounds on the 27th, aged 26 years.

Keeble, Augustus……………………………….....................(RoH)

Private 13821. 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 22nd October 1916. Born Stradbroke, Suffolk. Enlisted Norwich. Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/797457/KEEBLE,%...

No match on Norlink

Census On the 1901 census, the 12 year old Augustus, born Stradbroke, Suffolk, was recorded as a lodger at Rattle Row, Stradbroke, in the household of John Howard, a 73 year old retired Agricultural Labourer who is widowed. Making up the household is what is probably Augustus’ brother - a 19 year old Francis Keeble who is also recorded as a lodger. Francis, born Stradbroke, is employed as an Ordinary Agricultural Labourer.

On the 1911 census, Augustus was recorded in the Hartismere District that covers Stradbroke.

On the day 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...

(8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment were part of 18th Division)

From the Battalion War Diary

21st October 1916

Appendix 3 to the Battalion War Diary for October 1916 is a Short History of the Regina Trench Operations 21st, 22nd and 23rd October

1. Orders from Brigade.
On the 20th October 1916 the Battalion was ordered to attack REGINA TRENCH on the following day.
The object of the Battalion’s attack, which was in conjunction with the 10th Essex Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade on the right, and 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, 74th Infantry Brigade on the left, ws to take and occupy the REGINA TRENCH from a point 150 yards S.W of the WEST MIRAUMONT ROAD to its junction with left trench and to establish strong points at:-
a) Junction of REGINA and COURCELETTE TRENCHES
b) Junction of REGINA TRENCH and TWENTY THREE ROAD
c) Junction of REGINA and LEFT TRENCHES

2. Attached Units
To the battalion were attached:-
a) 2 Guns, 53rd Machine Gun Company.
b) 2 Guns, 53rd Trench Mortar Battery
c) A few Sappers from 79th Field Company, R E, to be used in the construction and improvement of dug-outs in REGINA TRENCH.

3. Disposition of the Battalion.

a) “C” COMPANY.
The right attacking Company with objective from a point in REGINA TRENCH 150 yards S.W of the WEST MIRAUMONT ROAD to the junction of REGINA and KENORA TRENCHES (exclusive) and to include the strong point to be made there.

b) “B” COMPANY
The left attacking Company with objective from junction of REGINA and KENORA TRENCHES (exclusive), to the junction of REGINA and LEFT TRENCHES (inclusive)

c) “D” COMPANY
The support Company. To proceed to REGINA and help consolidate and to return, immediately REGINA has been deepened, to HESSIAN TRENCH via KENORA TRENCH, leaving one platoon in KENORA to open it up.

d) “A” COMPANY.
To act as Reserve Company.

4.FORMING UP OF THE BATTALION

“C” and “B” - HESSIAN TRENCH - 2 waves each
“C” and “B” - VANCOUVER - 1 wave each
“D” - SUDBURY TRENCH
“A” - ZOLLERN - to move up to VANCOUVER at zero hour.
1 gun 53rd Machine Gun Company, and 1 Stokes Mortar, 53rd Trench Mortar Battery, were allotted to both “B” and “C” Company.
Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company - R.29.c.9.9

5. STRENGTH OF BATTALION
Strength of Battalion on proceeding into action:-
18 Officers…540 Men.

6. FIRST DAY….Zero to 2 p.m.
Punctually at Zero Hour (12.6pm), “C”, “B” and “D” Companies left our trenches and REGINA was entered at 12.121/2pm. Germans holding it adopted different attitudes. So far as can be gathered, those opposite “C” surrendered easily: those opposite “B”, especially in a gap about 100 yards left of “B” Company and the right of 11th Lancashire Fusiliers showed fight and put up a good resistance, but were finally either killed or taken prisoners. We lost four officers in taking the trench:-
2nd Lieut. J W Case……………..Killed
(John Wyatt Case, aged 19 and from Gorleston)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1542617
2nd Lieut H V Marsh…………….Wounded. (Since Died of Wounds)
(Harry Victor Marsh, aged 22 and from Fulham, London)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=81650
Captain C Shelton……………….Wounded.(This Officer has been with the Battn. Since September1914)
(Charles Shelton, MC from Tottenham, is listed as dieing on the 21st October 1916 on CWGC)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1552367
2nd Lieut S Darrington………….Wounded
(Stanley Darrington)
About 90 other ranks were casualties.
One machine gun was knocked out on the way over.
Information was slow in coming back.(Due to the fact that a German Barrage opened on ZOLLERN, delaying the runners). The first intimation of things mentioned above was at 1.53pm, (1 hour.47 minutes after zero), when Captain F J MORGAN D.S.O Commanding “B” Company stated that the objective had been achieved and that he was in touch with 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, 74th Infantry Brigade on his left and the 10th Essex Regiment on his right.

Second Phase - 2pm to 6 pm, 21st October
A considerable amount of consolidation was necessary and “D” company remained in REGINA. Owing to the casualties and the amount of work to be done, I decided that “D” Company should remain in REGINA and not return. At the same time I issued orders to “A” Company to be in readiness to move into REGINA should Captain Morgan require them.(Message sent 2.43pm) At the same time 53rd Infantry Brigade allotted me two more machine guns, 53rd Machine Gun Company, which were situated in ZOLLERN, and informed me that 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment had been ordered to place a Company in VANCOUVER and HESSIAN should my “A” Company move up to REGINA. On receipt of my message, “A” Company moved into HESSIAN, and sent out a liaison Officer to get in touch with “B” Company. Capt.MORGAN informed this Officer, however, that he did not require more troops in REGINA, and “A” Company moved back into VANCOUVER.In the meantime, however, the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment had commenced to move up a Company. This Company, finding HESSIAN empty - “A” Company having moved back to VANCOUVER - moved into it. (Message received from 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment to this effect 4.7pm.) I immediately got in touch with liaison Officer, 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment and arranged that this Company should be withdrawn. Orders to this effect were issued at 5.20 pm to the O C 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment and their Company in support to my Battalion moved back to Zollern.
The situation was, therefore, as follows at 6pm.
“B” “D” “C” Companies. REGINA TRENCH from a point 150 yards S W of the WEST MIRAUMONT ROAD to just east of the junction of REGINA and LEFT TRENCHES. “B” Company in contact with the Battalion on the left, “C” Company with the Battalion on the right.
3 machine guns, 53rd Machine Gun Company. (One had been put out of action) and 6 Lewis guns in the front line.
The approximate strength of Companies at this moment was:-
“B” - 50 OR’s………..”D” - 60 OR’s…………….”C” - 50 OR;s
“A” in VANCOUVER with two posts in HESSIAN. Approximate strength - 80OR’s.
Strong points had been established in REGINA at the junction of KENORA and REGINA TRENCHES and TWENTY THREE ROAD and REGINA TRENCH.

Third Phase - 6 pm 21st October to 6 am 22nd October.
The night was comparatively quiet, patrols sent out reported that the Germans did not appear to be closer than GRANDCOURT TRENCH. Two hostile patrols which approached were wiped out, every man being killed.

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.

Lawrence, Arthur James Daniel……………………………......................(RoH)

Private 18331. (CWGC gives 8502). 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Died in Mesopotamia on 29th November 1916. Born Ranworth. Enlisted Norwich. Son of James Lawrence, of Ling, Kirstead, Brooke, Norwich. Buried: Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq. Ref. XXI. M. 12.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/634179/LAWRENCE...
(Listed as A J D Lawrence)

No match on Norlink

The medal index card for Private 8502 of the Norfolk Regiment is in the name of Arthur J D Lawrence. There does not appear to be a medal index card for soldier 18331 of the Norfolk Regiment.

The baptism of an Arthur James Daniel took place at St Helens, Ranworth, on the 18th September 1892. No date of birth was recorded. Parents are James, a Carpenter, and Sarah Ann. The family were living then at Ranworth.

Census The 9 year old Arthur, born Ranworth, was recorded on the 1901 census at Rackheath Road, Little Plumstead, Norfolk. This was the household of his parents, James, (aged 39 and a Wheelwright from Seething, Norfolk), and Sarah, (aged 39 and from Bergh Apton, Norfolk). Their other children are:-
Ernest………………aged u/1.…………born Little Plumstead
Frederick……………aged 17.…………born Seething……….Apprentice Wheelwright
George……………..aged 4.……………born Longham
John………………..aged 6.……………born Longham

I couldn’t find Arthur on the 1911 census, although brothers George and John are recorded in the Loddon District.

On the day Private Lawrence was probably one of those who died following capture at the siege of Kut.

Kut falls
On 29 April 1916 Kut surrendered to the Turks. After agreeing terms, Townshend marched his troops out into captivity, and certain death for most of them. Most of the Arabs left in Kut were hanged by the Turks for helping the British.
Thus began the forced march from what is now Iraq into Turkey to prison camps. This forced march being a foretaste of similar marches in the Second World War, such as the forced march of American and Pilipino POWs on Bataan in 1942.
During May 1916, 2000 British Troops, including the Norfolks, started the march some were still in Khaki some were almost naked. The first day they walked 15 miles without food or water. Behind the column were many dead or dying, those who dropped out were killed by the Arab guards. They were first taken to a temporary camp at Shumran about 80 miles from Kut.
The Kurdish guards had stolen the troops food rations and even their water bottles and boots. The British officers were separated at Shumran and were taken up river by steamer leaving their men to walk and die. Wounded officers were then repatriated to India. From Kut to Baghdad is 100 miles, marching 12-15 miles a day lying at night on the open ground. They were herded like sheep by mounted guards with sticks and whips.
The route of the death march was through what is now Iraq into Turkey, a distance of over 400 miles: Aziziya, Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul, Nisibin, Ras alAin, Mamourra and Aran
The American Ambassadors at Constantinople (Messrs. Morgenthau and Elkus) saw the results of the march and protested, but to no avail. Other diplomatic efforts during the siege, such as the payment of ransom to the Turkish Government, failed. It seems that the Turkish Government wished to impress its Central Power partners.
261 Norfolks were captured at Kut of whom only 78 ever returned to Norfolk, a rate of loss of 70%.; 7 out of every 10 Norfolks died during their captivity of maltreatment and disease.
www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

Lawrence, John George Sidney………………………………..........(RoH)

Private 13400. 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 20th September 1918. Aged 24. Born Longham, Norfolk. Enlisted Norwich. Son of James and Sarah Lawrence, of 40, The Ling, Kirstead, Brooke, Norwich. Buried: Brie British Cemetery, Somme, France. Ref. II. D. 2.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/265198/LAWRENCE...

No match on Norlink

See brother Arthur above for family details.

The baptism of John George Sidney, (no date of birth recorded), took place at St Peter, Longham, Norfolk on the 24th March 1895. Parents are James, a Labourer and Sarah Ann. The family live in Longham.

On the day
From History of the Norfolk Regiment - Page 292 - 293

Orders on the 17th were for attack on the following morning. At midnight the battalion moved forward to the South side of Holnon Wood into a quarry. Owing to the lateness of the start, a heavy barrage and rain only three companies had reached the quarry by zero hour (5.30am). These three left it at 6 am: the fourth was found later and sent tot the assembly point. To reach that point the battalion had to march in parallel to the front under a barrage in the rain, and the here companies lost direction and got scattered. Only one company and two platoons of the others reached the assembly point, which was on the east side of the Holnon Wood. That Wood, with bad tracks and drenched with gas, was almost impassable, and for that reason the 71st Brigade had to go round by its south side, the 16th by the north.
The 6th Division front was practically coextensive with the eastern side of the wood, and the advance was to be up 3,000 yards of slope to the heights overlooking St Quentin. About the centre was another Quadrilateral, recalling unpleasant memories of the one in the Somme battle. The 71st was to attack on the right, the 16th on the left. The left on the 71st included the Quadrilateral in its objective.
At 9 am the six platoons of the Norfolk battalion advanced, but under the heavy barrage and machine gun fire of the Quadrilateral were compelled to edge of to the right where they remained in action. The remaining companies and battalion headquarters were assembled in a sunken road at 3 pm and presently the presently the battalion was re-organised in three companies of which one was engaged at the Quadrilateral and two were held in reserve at the sunken road. The difficulties of attack were enhanced by the failure of the French to take Round and Manchester Hills on the right.
Little or no progress having been made on the 18th , orders issued at 1.45am on the 19th for a renewal of the attack at 4am with the objective of capturing North Alley, in conjunction with the rest of 71st Brigade on the right and the 16th brigade on the left.
Owing to the failure of the troops on the right to attack and of the 16th Brigade being held up by the Quadrilateral on the left, the companies of the Norfolk battalion who had got forward as far as midway between Douai Trench and North Alley, were compelled to retire to the former, where they remained in action for the rest of the day. A company and two platoons were withdrawn to reserve in the sunken road. There had been hard fighting and great losses on the two days and it was decided to defer further attack, pending more complete preparations for what was recognised to be much more than the rearguard action which the Germans were at first believed to be fighting.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=133803

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