Herbert Dack……………………………….....................................................
DACK, HERBERT
Rank: Private
Service No: 41319
Date of Death: 03/05/1917
Age: 20
Regiment: Essex Regiment, 13th Bn.
Panel Reference
Bay 7.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Husband of Faith Mary Christmas, of 1, Council Houses, Market St., Tunstead, Scottow, Norwich.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/746538/DACK,%20HERBERT
SDGW has Herbert Dack as born and resident Tunstead, 41319 Essex Regiment.
Norlink No match
The baptism of a Herbert Dack, born 10th July 1896, took place at St Mary, Tunstead on the 30th August 1896. Parents were Michael, a Labourer, and Alice. The family lived in Tunstead.
See brother Arthur for details from the 1901 census.
According to his Medal Index Card listing, Herbert has previously been Private 29285, Norfolk Regiment.
A small piece on a group of Norfolk Regiment men who were subsequently drafted into the Essex Regiment that included Herbert.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=127362
While the Division that the 13th Essex were part of were involved in the Battle of Bullecourt which commenced on this day, (part of the bigger Arras campaign), I could not find details of the 13th Essex being specifically involved - indeed as the battalion had been nearly wiped out on the 28th April I would have expected them to be in reserve while being brought up to strength again.
Wallace R Drury………………………………................................................................
There is a headstone in the churchyard.
In loving memory
Of Wallace Robert
The beloved and only son of
Robert (?) and Ellen Drury
Who died from wounds received
In France Nov.6th 1918.
Aged 19 years.
“Safe in his keeping”
DRURY, WALTER ROBERT
Rank: Private
Service No: G/25983
Date of Death: 05/11/1918
Age: 19
Regiment: The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Grave Reference
North of church.
Cemetery: TUNSTEAD (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803435/DRURY,%20WALT...
SDGW has him down as born Smallbury, Norfolk, (sic - should be Smallburgh) and resident Tunstead.
Norlink No match
The baptism of Wallace Robert, born 13th April 1899, took place at St Mary Tunstead on the 22nd October 1899. Parents are listed as Robert Thomas Preston, a Farmer, and Ellen Lucy Shreeve. The family live at Tunstead.
On the 1901 census Walter was recorded as “Wallace”, aged 1 and born Tunstead, at 2, Upper Street, Tunstead. This was the household of his parents, Robert, (aged 30 and a Teamster on Farm from Hevingham, Norfolk), and Ellen, (aged 28 and from Tunstead). The Drurys also have a daughter, Gladys, (aged 3 and born Tunstead - she was born 27th December 1897 and baptised as Gladys Mary at St Mary, Tunstead on the 28th August 1898).
Also living with them is Robert’s brother-in-law, (and probably Ellen‘s brother), Frederick Mason, aged 26 and an Agricultural labourer from Tunstead.
His Medal Index Card Listing at the National Archive has his serial number recorded as G/25933.
Percival S Gibbs………………………………................................................................
GIBBS, PERCIVAL SEAMAN
Rank: Private
Service No: 29987
Date of Death: 15/03/1917
Age: 26
Regiment: Bedfordshire Regiment, 7th Bn.
Grave Reference
III. J. 16.
Cemetery: ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information:
Son of the late Alfred George and Ann Mary Gibbs, of Guestwick, Norfolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/295106/GIBBS,%20PERCI...
SDGW has him listed as Percy Seaman Gibbs, born Foulsham, Norfolk and resident Tunstead, 29987 Bedfordshire Regiment.
Norlink has a picture of a Private P S Gibbs of the 7th Bedfords, which has to be a strong contender for the man remembered here.
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read “Killed in action in France 16 March 1917 aged 27 years” - a slight variation on the CWGC information.
The baptism of Percival Seaman Gibbs, no date of birth recorded, took place at Holy Innocents, Foulsham on the 6th September 1889. Parents are listed as Alfred George, a Farmer, and Ann Mary.
The 11 year old Percy S, born Foulsham, Norfolk, was recorded on the 1901 census at Abbey Farm, Guestwick. This is the household of his parents, Alfred G, (aged 43 and a Farmer from Mautby) and Ann M, (aged 41 and from Oulton, Norfolk). Their other children are:-
Alfred G…………aged 17.………….born Foulsham……….Farmers Son
Arthur R………….aged 19.…………born Foulsham………..Merchants Apprentice
Ethel Maud………aged 7.…………..born Foulsham
Horace S………….aged 9.………….born Foulsham
Walter E………….aged 2.…………..born Guestwick
The Gibbs also have three domestic servants.
Other Gibbs baptised at Holy Innocents with parents Arthur and Ann
Arthur Robert…….no date of birth recorded…baptised 19th March 1882
Alfred George……no date of birth recorded…baptised 22nd July 1883
Hilda Emma Sarah..no date of birth recorded….baptised 24th May 1885
Roland Anthony…..no date of birth recorded….baptised 8th January 1888
Horace Sidney……no date of birth recorded….baptised 6th December 1891
Ethel Maud………no date of birth recorded….baptised 23rd July 1893
Blanche…………..no date of birth recorded….baptised 21st March 1896.. Address given as The Old Hall.
Percy was serving in C Company at the time of his death
www.achiet-le-grand.org/Bedfords casualties.pdf
From the Battalion War Diary
15-3-17 8 AM - 12 Noon C Company ordered to attack the Bihucourt line. A Company to act as immediate support. C Company attacked the Bihucourt line, on opening of the attack a very heavy machine gun fire developed from ACHIET le PETIT and the BIHUCOURT trench heavy shelling also took place. The advance under such conditions became impossible and C company dug in about 200 yards down the hill. A company did not advance. 1 PM - 5 PM The position was held without change. 6 PM Under cover of darkness C Company was withdrawn. A Company held the original line on the sunken road. B Company were in support. D & C companies in reserve 12 mid night This order was maintained throughout the day.
16-3-17 6 PM - 12 MIDNIGHT B Company took over the front line from A Company.
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/7thbn/7thbtn1917diary.html
John Goodson………………………………...............................................................
Probably
GOODSON, JOHN
Rank: Private
Service No: 7368
Date of Death: 17/11/1914
Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment, 2nd Bn.
Panel Reference
Panel 10.
Memorial: BASRA MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/865425/GOODSON,%20JOHN
SDGW has John listed as born Stoley, Norfolk, (sic, could possibly be Sloley or Stody).
He was 7368 Norfolk Regiment.
Norlink No match
There is no obvious match in the baptismal records that have been transcribed so far, but interestingly in the parish records for Sloley there is a Henry John, born 23rd July 1883 and who was baptised in St Bartholomew, Sloley on the 14th September 1884. Parents are Charles, a Labourer, and Sarah, with the family living in Sloley.
There is no obvious match for a Henry or John, born Sloley, on the 1901 census. There is however an 18 year old “Jack”, born Sloley and working as a Farm Servant, who was recorded at Upper Street, Tunstead. This is the household of his parents, Charles, (aged 51 and a Farm Labourer from Sloley) and Sarah, (aged 48 and from Westwick, Norfolk). Their other children living with them are:-
Alice………….aged 20.……….born Sloley
Aurthur……….aged 17.……….born Sloley……….Farm Servant
Bessie…………aged 13.……….born Sloley
James………….aged 10.……….born Tunstead
Also in the household are father Charles’s brother, Henry, aged 39, single and a Farm Servant from Westwick, and grand-daughter, Kate, aged 2 and from Tunstead.
Other baptisms at St Bartholomew, Sloley.
Katharine Harriet…….born 7th July 1876.………baptised 11th February 1883
Alice Mary……………born 6th August 1882.…..baptised 11th February 1883
Arthur George………..born 10th November 1885...baptised 3rd February 1886
Rose Elizabeth………no date of birth recorded….baptised 27th May 1888
The 2nd Norfolks arrived at Seniyeh in the Persian Gulf on 15 November 1914 and joined the 18th Brigade, which consisted of the 7th Rajput's, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry and 120th Rajputana Infantry.
They then took part in the advance on Basra which would fall to an attack by other elements of the force on the 20th November.
Ronald Lubbock……………………………….................................................
LUBBOCK, RONALD
Rank: Private
Service No: 14087
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Age: 26
Regiment: York and Lancaster Regiment, 8th Bn.
Grave Reference
V. C. 26.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information:
Son of Robert Lubbock, of Anchor St., Scotton, Norwich; husband of Ann Lubbock, of 51, Tudor Rd., Canterbury.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/185167/LUBBOCK,%20RONALD
SDGW has Ronald Lubbock recorded as born “Tunstad” Norfolk but with no place of residence recorded, 14087 York and Lancaster Regiment.
Norlink No match
The baptism of a Ronald Lubbock, born 8th May 1891, took place at St Mary, Tunstead on the 6th December 1893. Parents were Robert, a Labourer, and Laura. The family reside in Tunstead.
The 9 year old Ronald, born Tunstead, was recorded on the 1901 census at Meeting House Lane, Tunstead. This was the household of his parents, Robert, (aged 48 and an Agricultural Labourer from Tunstead), and Laura, (aged 39 and from Smallburgh). Their other children living with them are:-
Agnes………aged 20.………….born Tunstead
Robert………aged 14.………….born Tunstead………..Agricultural Labourer
Other baptisms at St Mary, Tunstead to the same parents.:-
Cecil…………born 9th April 1893.……..baptised 6th December 1893
Stella…………born 2nd April 1895.…….baptised 30th August 1896.
The marriage of a Ronald Lubbock to an Ann Randall was recorded in the April to June quarter of 1916 in the Bromley, Kent District.
It may be a co-incidence, but the birth of a Ronald J Lubbock was recorded in the July to September quarter of 1916 in the District of Blean in Kent. The mothers maiden name was Randall.
1st July 1916
The 8th Division
The 8th Division was in theory a Regular Army Division having been in France with the BEF since the outbreak of the war in 1914. They had suffered very heavy losses though and as part of the bolstering of the new Kitchener Divisions had swapped one of its Regular Brigades for the 70th. Thus for many of the men, like the 34th Division, this would be their first taste of a major battle.
The village of Ovillers sits on the southern side of a spur of land which points towards Albert. It was thus hoped that the 25th Brigade who would be attacking the village would have some cover up until the last few hundred metres as they came over the ridge.
To their right the 23rd Brigade would be very badly exposed as they made their way up Mash Valley. They would also be required to cross the widest section of no man's land on the Corps Front.
To the north of the ridge 70th Brigade were required to advance across another valley - called Nab Valley at the time but later designated as Blighty Valley. It was their task to push on past the village and up as far as Mouquet Farm.
Just before Zero at 07:30 hours the Division had put down a short barrage of Stokes Mortars onto the German positions giving the first wave of the assault an opportunity to get out into no man's land and closer to the German front line.
The Attack
Leading the 23rd Brigade out into Mash Valley, the 2nd Bn Middlesex Regiment and 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment managed to gain the German front lines and even a distance beyond, but they found themselves being fired at from three sides and their casualties soon grew to a thousand men between them - more than half their number. 70 survivors managed to hang on in the German front line for a while but soon their grenades and ammunition ran out and they too were forced to retire.
In the centre of the Division the attack against Ovillers was carried out by the 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire and 2nd Bn Lincolnshire. Whilst in theory they were going to be afforded some shelter from fire, they felt the full weight of a German counter barrage and half their number fell before seeing the enemy's front line.
The 70th Brigade's leading battalions: the 8th Bn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and the 8th Bn York and Lancaster, succeeded in crossing no-man's land and got into the German front line but their supporting waves of infantry came under increasing fire from the German barrage.
On the Brigade's left the defenders on the Thiepval Ridge were starting to beat off the assault by 32nd Division and now found themselves able to turn their attentions elsewhere - including the exposed flank of 70th Brigade.
Reinforcements
Thinking that the 32nd Division were in fact making headway on his left and that the 25th Brigade were getting into Ovillers, Brigadier General Gordon of the 70th Brigade ordered his support battalion the 11th Sherwood Foresters into the attack. They struggled across no man's land in the face of a storm of bullets only to be brought to a halt by machine gun fire a few metres from the German front line.
www.webmatters.net/france/ww1_ovillers.htm
Ovillers
Here the 8th Division, including the 1st Bn, Royal Irish Rifles was tasked with a direct assault on the village itself. In this area No Man's Land was 400 yards wide. South of the village the attack was conducted by 23 Brigade, 70 of whom reached the German front line, but they were forced out of it by a counter-attack after 2 hours. The 70th Brigade north of the village, attacking up a sunken road called 'The Nab' managed to reach the German Front line, but were stopped 80 yards short of the German second line by a machine gun at the top of the valley. In the centre, 25 Brigade were slaughtered as they tried to cross No Man's Land; very few of the reached the German line, and they failed to hold onto it.
Of about 300 officers and 8000 men, the Division lost 189 officers and 4719 men dead or wounded.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?9058-The-Som...
Marshall A Moore………………………………..................................................
MOORE, MARSHALL AMBROSE
Rank: Private
Service No: 22896
Date of Death: 19/09/1917
Age: 21
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment, 7th Bn.
Grave Reference
I. J. 20.
Cemetery: TILLOY BRITISH CEMETERY, TILLOY-LES-MOFFLAINES
Additional Information:
Son of Walter and Ellen Moore, of Old Farm Lane, Tunstead, Scottow, Norfolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/566137/MOORE,%20MARSH...
SDGW has Marshall Moore recorded as born Dilham, Norfolk but with no place of residence recorded, 22896 Norfolk Regiment.
Norlink No match
There is no obvious match for Marshall or his parents on the 1901 census.
On the 1911 census there is a Marshall “Ambross”, born Coltishall, circa 1897 who was recorded in the Smallburgh District on the night of the census. The village of Tunstead fell within the Smallburgh district..
In the same household was a Walter Moore, aged 43, and a Walter James, aged 24, as well as an Ellen aged 52 - there may well be more but I only have a limited subscription L
19th September 1917 - Battalion War Diary
Enemy trench mortars were fairly active during the day. At 5.15pm a sudden barrage of fishtails was put down on our saps. After a few minutes heavy and light trench mortars and artillery were added making a heavy bombardment on our front and support lines. Our retaliation proved fairly effective.
At 8.15 pm the enemy put down a heavy barrage on our trench system and their M.G’s were also active. Our MGs and artillery fired on SOS lines. There was no sign of an enemy attack except three men were seen creeping towards our extreme left. These were believed to be hit by our fire. The bombardment ceased at 9.30pm and from then onwards the night was quiet. Some damage was done to our trenches and a number of casualties caused.
There is a further note when the Battalion was relieved on the 23rd, following a successful raid by a neighbouring Essex Regiment Battalion on the 22nd.
Our casualties during the tour were 2/Lt ROBARTES wounded, 15 ORs killed or died of wounds and 49 OR wounded. From information obtained from prisoners captured by the Essex Rgt, it appears that the bombardment of the 19th was to cover a raid upon the Essex front. They stated that our artillery + rifle + mg fire broke up the raiding party. One man was killed and two wounded. It is probable that these were the three men seen and fired upon by our left company.
Walter R Pestell………………………………......................................................
PESTELL, W R
Rank: Private
Service No: 78025
Date of Death: 23/12/1918
Regiment: Royal Fusiliers, 10th Bn.
Grave Reference
VII. G. 10.
Cemetery: NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/904096/PESTELL,%20W%20R
SDGW has Walter Richard Pestell recorded as born and resident Tunstead, 78025 Royal Fusiliers.
NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY
Historical Information
The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there
In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony.
There are now 1,796 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Niederzwehren. This total includes special memorials to 13 casualties buried in other cemeteries in Germany whose graves could not be found.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/91502/NIEDERZWEHREN...
Norlink No match
The baptism of a Walter Richard, born 20th June 1899, took place at St Mary, Tunstead on the 22nd October 1899. Parents are Samuel William, a Labourer, and Maria Jane. The family live in Tunstead.
The 1 year old Walter R. , born Tunstead, was recorded on the 1901 census at Meeting House Lane, Tunstead. This was the household of his parents, Samuel, (aged 38 and an Agricultural Labourer from Neatishead, Norfolk) and Maria J, (aged 38 and from Stalham). Their other children living with them are:-
Charles D……………aged 5.…………..born Tunstead
Ethel V………………aged 10.…………born Tunstead
Voilet………………..aged 8.…………..born Tunstead
William R……………aged 12.…………born Tunstead.
Other baptisms at St Mary, Tunstead.
Edith Anna…………….born 19th January 1887.…….baptised 18th July 1897
William Robert………..born 4th December 1888.……baptised 18th July 1897
Ethel Violet……………born 1st February 1891.…….baptised 18th July 1897
Charles Samuel…………born 29th August 1895.…….baptised 18th July 1897
Maud Maria…………….born 12th August 1901.…….baptised 20th October 1901
According to his Medal Index Card listing at the National Archive, he had previously been Private 38404 of the East Surrey Regiment.
Herbert C Westgate……………………………….....................................................
WESTGATE, H C
Rank: Private
Service No: 7369
Date of Death: 30/07/1916
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment, 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference
IX. C. 15.
Cemetery: AMARA WAR CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/630704/WESTGATE,%20H%20C
SDGW has Herbert Charles Westgate recorded with Tunstead as his place of birth but no place of residence listed. He was 7369 Norfolk Regiment.
Norlink No match
The baptism of Herbert Charles, born 19th March 1890, took place at St Mary, Tunstead on the 28th May 1893. Parents are James, a Carpenter, and Emma. The family live in Tunstead.
The 12 year old Herbert, born Tunstead, was recorded on the 1901 census at Meeting House Lane. This was the household of his parents, James, (aged 40 and a Carpenter from Tunstead) and Emma, (aged 37 and from Scottow, Norfolk). Their other children living with them are:-
Frank……………aged 2.………born Tunstead
Kate……………..aged 7.………born Tunstead
Robert……………aged 3.……..born Tunstead
Voilet……………aged 4.……..born Tunstead
William………….aged 10.…….born Tunstead
Other family baptisms at St Mary:-
William Sydney………………no date of birth recorded……..baptised 28th May 1893
Catharine Mary………………born 8th August 1893.…………baptised 10th December 1893
Laetitia Violet………………..born 20th July 1896.…………..baptised 25th October 1896.
AMARA WAR CEMETERY (Iraq)
Location Information
Amara is a town on the left bank of the Tigris some 520 kilometres from the sea. The War Cemetery is a little east of the town between the left bank of the river and the Chahaila Canal.
Historical Information
Amara was occupied by the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force on 3 June 1915 and it immediately became a hospital centre. The accommodation for medical units on both banks of the Tigris was greatly increased during 1916 and in April 1917, seven general hospitals and some smaller units were stationed there.
Amara War Cemetery contains 4,621 burials of the First World War, more than 3,000 of which were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice. 925 of the graves are unidentified.
www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/69100/AMARA%20WAR%2...
