The Village memorial is in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity, Ingham.
(ROH) = Roll of Honour. I am considerably indebted to this website for the initial information on each of the individuals below.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Ingham.html
1914 – 1918
CLAXTON John Robert
Corporal 41074. 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment. Formerly 25502 Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 3 May 1917. Born Brisley. Lived Ingham. Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7 (RoH)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=744732
No match on Norlink
The 2nd Essex were in the 4th Division, which was involved in the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe which commenced on this day.
Third Battle of the Scarpe
3 - 4 May 1917
After securing the area around Arleux at the end of April, the British determined to launch another attack east from Monchy to try and breakthrough the Boiry Riegel and reach the Wotanstellung, a major German defensive fortification.[30] This was scheduled to coincide with the Australian attack at Bullecourt in order to present the Germans with a two–pronged assault. British commanders hoped that success in this venture would force the Germans to retreat further to the east. With this objective in mind, the British launched another attack near the Scarpe on 3 May. However, neither prong was able to make any significant advances and the attack was called off the following day after incurring heavy casualties
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1917)
The only John Claxton on the 1901 Census who was born Brisley was already aged 36, making him 52 by the time of this soldiers death - unlikely but not impossible. I can’t find any Claxton connection with Ingham at the time of the 1901 Census.
HUNT Alfred William
Private 19045. 1st Bn., Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Monday 23 April 1917. Born Swanton Abbott. Enlisted Norwich. Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France Bay 3. (RoH)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=784689
No match on Norlink
Attack on La Coulotte
23rd April 1917 - from the War diary of the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
Appendix XII. OPERATION ORDER No.73. Map Reference VIMY Scale 1/10,000. 22nd April 1917.
1. ATTACK. The 5th Division will attack and capture S Trenches from VIMY-AVIONS Railway to the SOUCHEZ Railway.
2. POSITION. 15th Infantry Brigade will attack on the right. 95th Infantry Brigade will attack on the left. 15th Infantry Brigade will attack with first Battalion Norfolk Regiment and 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment on the left. (95th Infantry Brigade on the left of 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment.)
3. BOUNDARIES. 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment – Right T.1.c.80/60 – T.1.d.10/90. Left S.6.central to junction of railway and road at N.31.c.95/90 exclusive.
4. OBJECTIVES. 1st Objective T.1.b.10/10 to T.1.b.0/6 thence to N.31.c.3/1. 2nd Objective T.1.b.60/85 to N.31.d.20/50 thence to 31.c.95/90.
5. BARRAGE. On German front line from Zero to Zero plus ten. German second line (1st objective) from Zero plus 10 to Zero plus 14. About 100 yards (1st objective) a pause of 24 minutes will be observed. It then creeps forward at a rate of 100 yards in 4 minutes until it reaches the outskirts of AVION.
6. GENERAL METHOD. A & B Companies will take the first objective with two platoons each in first wave and two platoons in second wave. A Coy. on the right, B Coy. on the left.
C & D Companies will take second objective, “C” on the right, “D” on the left.
Dividing line between Companies – T.1.a.7/7 (where LENS – ARRAS road crosses German second line) to N.31.d.3/3.
7. DETAILED METHOD. From 30 yards our side of Outpost Line.
A Company. 1st platoon of this company that moves will avoid CYRIL TRENCH on East side of the road and close to it will deploy 150 yards from the road. 2nd platoon will follow this one keeping along the road and from 200 yards to 400 yards will change direction man by man and lay in the ditch in the road. The advance will be made from the left about half hour after deployment. 3rd platoon will attack the triangle at T.1 central and enfiladed with -- (1) Bombs below ground (2) Lewis Guns on top – the WATER TOWER TRENCH and FOSSE No.7 TRENCH. 4th platoon will support the 3rd and act as Moppers Up for the whole company. Touch must be kept with the 1st Norfolk Regiment on the right and the whole triangle including junction of CYRIL TRENCH taken.
B Company. Right on LENS – ARRAS road and left on left boundary keeping touch with 95th Infantry Brigade. The first two platoons will go straight to their objectives and the second two platoons will get into the German front line and mop up.
C & D Companies will advance at 100 yards distance from assaulting companies and will get into A & B Companies objective as soon as it is taken. They will wait in this trench until barrage moves forward from stationary line Zero plus 38 when they will move forward to final objective behind the barrage.
8. Watches to be syncronised at Commanding Officers conference.
9. FIRING. There will be no firing or bombing until after barrage had opened. If parties are met they will be bayoneted.
10. COMMUNICATION. I Power Busser junction of A & B Companies in first objective. Visual should be possible at south end of same wall to a point to be notified.
11. CONTACT AEROPLANE. Will fly at Zero plus 1 hour and Zero plus 2 hours. Flares will be lit if called for by KLAXON HORN and in places as invisible as possible from the enemy. Only front line troops will light them.
12. S.O.S. See V.P.A.
13. TIME TABLE. Time table and detail for relief of 15th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment as attached. Previous time tale to be cancelled.
14. ROYAL ENGINEERS. R.E. i/c section will report to Battalion headquarters at 2am.
15. PRISONERS. To be collected in CYRIL TRENCH. 16th Royal Warwickshire Regt. to arrange escorts.
16. ZERO HOUR. 4.45am
17. FLAGS. Flags will be carried and not stuck in the ground.
18. BATTALION H.Q. Battalion Headquarters at S.12.b.8/1
Please acknowledge.
(Signed) Beale Lt. & Adjt., 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Report on action at La Coulotte.. Lt. Colonel P.B. Worrall M.C. Commanding 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Sir, I have the honour to report that I received orders to attack LA COULOTTE from T.1.d.1/9 to T.1.a.3/9. and attach a copy of my Operation Orders which I personally explained in detail to all Officers and NCO’s. Briefly, I had to make:
(a) a frontal attack to the N.
(b) a flank attack East on WATER TOWER TRENCH.
AND (c) attack on triangle south of WATER TRENCH from the south, including a large part of CYRIL TRENCH held by the Germans.
The whole undertaking seemed to be most hazardous.
I considered the WATER TOWER TRENCH to be key to the situation and so attacked it frontally and in enfilade. Had I not got this footing, my Battalion must haave been wiped out by WATER TOWER TRENCH if we were held up by wire.
NARRATIVE.
4.40am. For half an hour previous to this I heard no M.G. fire and this proved a successful deployment.
5.15am. Two wounded reported that left company had reached 1st line German trench. It proved afterwards to be correct but with regard to extreme left only.
6.15am. 24 prisoners marched in from DEVONS and BEDFORDS captured at the junction of these two Battalions. 6.5am O.C. right assault company reported wounded but right company going through gaps. This Officer in charge and many others afterwards reported that it took at least five minutes to get through the wire, that there were few gaps, and a double belt (the first one 15 yards thick) in front of the first line.
7.05am. Touch with NORFOLKS reported.
7.55amj. Right 2nd wave (“C” Coy.) report they had passed through first objective (second German line) met with strong resistance, machine gun fire from houses and minerwerfer, but captured 9 prisoners (sent back), and 2 machine guns which they later smashed, and parties actually reached buildings T.1.b.5/9 and made a great attempt to rush LA COULOTTE from there, patrols were also sent out from there to try and get touch with the NORFOLKS , and companies on the left.
9.50am. NCO’s from “B” and “D” (left companies) reported that their right was held up, they had been surrounded and several prisoners had been taken. I have satisfied myself that these men were between two belts of wire with wire and a communication trench on the right from which they were enfiladed, and the gaps through which they had advanced were covered, and that they were bombed from the front and like rats in a trap.
Lt. Hunter from the right and who was on the other side of the road witnessed it and stated they were absolutely powerless.
10.00am. I sent orders to “A” and “C” to hang on and throw a defensive flank from junction of LENS-ARRAS ROAD and 1st German line and make strenuous efforts to get in touch with “B” and “D” .
11.05am. Lt. Woodford wounded, reported that “B” and “D” took the German 2nd line and were at once driven out of it with the exception of extreme left (communication trench T.1.a.30/95). Capt. C.A.S. Morris O.C. B Company was killed in rallying his men to make a gallant attack on machine guns, holding up their advance from 2nd line. At the same time I received a message that the remnants of A and C Companies were under 100 in WATER TOWER TRENCH and TRIANGLE, and that there were some NORFOLKS fighting with them and that they could not hold out much longer. They asked for reinforcements and bombs.
1.30pm. I applied at once for permission to conduct retirement in person but on this being refused I despatched Lt.H.J.EVERERTT MC with all available men from headquarters with 700 bombs and detailed orders for retirement if forced back, and I considered it imperative:
1. To hold the strong point in CYRIL TRENCH and not save the OUTPOST LINE
2. To evacuate my wounded (some 30) in the TUNNEL before evacuation.
My orders were more than carried out, the bombs were taken up under heavy fire, though some sent up by another Regiment failed to arrive, a splendid attack was led by a Sergeant of the NORFOLKS before the withdrawal, all the wounded were got away, and barricade strengthened before withdrawal.
[Cannot read time]. Verbal message received that A and C Companies had withdrawn to our original OUTPOST LINE and that Lt. H.J.EVERETT MC again sent up with a further supply of ammunition and bombs for strong point in CYRIL TRENCH.
[Cannot read time]. My position at the time of this withdrawal was:
1. About 60 men of “A” and “C”, all me effective rifles and some NORFOLKS from about T.1.a.6/7 to T.1.a.9/0 (German Front Line).
2. On my left from T.1.a.5/6 to T.1.a.1/8 the remnants of “B” and “D” lying out in front of German Wire till dusk, being continually bombed, grenaded and minenwerfened.
[Cannot read time]. A proportion of “B” and “D” Companies withdrew under the smoke of a protective barrage on German 2nd Line trench, to left of OLD OUTPOST LINE.
Copy of orders of my forced retirement attached.
I consider that my Officers, NCO’s and men showed great devotion to duty against untold odds, particularly wire and machine guns and I am forwarding under separate cover a list of recommendations.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant
P.R.WORRALL, Lt.Colonel commanding 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/1stbtn/1stbtn1917appendices.html
The 1901 Census has the 17 year old Alfred, born Swanton Abbott and a Brickmaker by trade, living at The Hill, Swanton Abbott. This is the household of his parents, John B, (aged 54, a Corn Miller and Farmer, born Swanton Abbott) and Mary E, (aged 50 and born Scottow). Also resident are Alfred’s 6 year old brother Benjamin, 8 year old sister Florrie R, 30 year old brother Herbert G, (still single and giving his profession as Miller & Labourer), and sister Rachel E, aged 12.
LITTLEWOOD, MC Charles William Stephen
Second Lieutenant 7th Field Coy., Royal Engineers. Killed in action Tuesday 10 July 1917. Age 19. Son of William and Kathleen Mary Littlewood (nee Sinnott). Commemorated: LONDON CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-VITASSE, Pas de Calais, France. Wancourt Road Cem. No. 2 Mem., Panel I. (The entry on CWGC is somewhat confusing here) (RoH)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=285446
No match on Norlink
The most likely match on the 1901 Census is a 2 year old Charles W living at Brightside in Sheffield, although the family have no obvious links with Norfolk. There is a 1 year Charles E living at The Hill, Skeyton.
The 7th Field Company were the Divisional Engineers for the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part14.htm#wes...
www.fairmile.fsbusiness.co.uk/50th.htm
Unfortunately, as usual I couldn’t find a report of the award of the Military Cross to 2nd Lt Charles Littlewood in the London Gazette online archive.
PESTELL Bertie James
Private 15028. Norfolk Regiment. Died on Saturday 11 November 1916. Age 25. Son of the late Charles and Susan Pestall, of Ingham. Buried: INGHAM (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD, Norfolk, United Kingdom. (Not on the CD) (RoH)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=4028473
No match on Norlink
The 1901 Census has a 9 year old Bertie Pestell living at Common Road, Hempstead. This is the household of his parents Charles, (aged 45, a Teamster on Farm born Hempstead) and Susan, (aged 37, born Palling). The rest of the family are Alice, (aged 6, born Lessingham), Ethel, (under 1, born Hempstead), Florence, (aged 14 and Yard “Boy” on Farm, born Hempstead), George, (aged 8, born Hempstead) and Percy, (aged 12, born Lessingham).
RUDRAM Samuel Henry
Deck Hand 6035DA. H.M. Trawler "Thomas Cornwall., Royal Naval Reserve. Died Tuesday 29 October 1918 when his ship was involved in a collision. Son of Clement Rudram and Harriet Lucy Elizaveth Goose (formerly Rudram), of Ingham, Stalham, Norwich. He was born on 26 April 1896 in Ingham and baptised there on 13 Sep 1896. He joined the RNR on 29 March 1915. He gave his address as Gurney's Cottage, Ingham and his next of kin as his mother Lucy. He was 5ft 6in tall, 36 in chest with a fresh complexion and grey eyes. He mobilised before receiving any training and was a deck hand (service no - DA6035) on HM Trawler "Thomas Cornwall". However since he was mobilised into the RNR he must have been a sailor by trade and as he went to trawler rated as deck-hand he was probably a fisherman. Unfortunately as he had no peacetime service there is no indication of what boats he worked in on his RNR record card. (RN and RNR records are much easier to read than the army ones and 80% weren't destroyed in WWII). His mother was now given as Sydney Rd, Ingham. Commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom. Panel 31. (RoH)
The CWGC site only lists him as Samuel Rudram, the son of Lucy Moson, (formerly Rudram), of Ingham, Stalham.
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3047959
No match on Norlink
The Thomas Cornwall was actually a “Q” ship. This probably explains some of the confusion for the researcher on the Roll of Honour site. Officially she was Admiralty No 3702, launched 10th June 1918, 1 x 12 pounder gun, 1 x 3.5 " gun
Sunk 29th October 1918 in collision off Flamborough Head.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Ships/QShips.html
www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishQships.htm
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-10Oct.htm
Rudram family website. Samuel was born 6th April 1896 and enrolled 29th March 1915, and his parents were Clement & Lucy.
www.rudram.org/sailor13.html
The 1901 Census has a 3 year old Samuel living at Calthorpe Street, Ingham, (I would expect him to 5 if the family website is correct, although of course the Census is only as accurate as the information given by the householder). This was the household of his parents, Clement, (aged 38, born Palling, and an Agricultural Labourer), and Lucy, (aged 37, born Horsey). The family consisted of Ernest, (aged under 1 and born Ingham), Ida, (aged 16 and born Stalham), Mary, (aged 11 and born Ingham), and Olive, (aged 7 and born Ingham).
WOOLSTON Robert William
Private 15214. 8th Bn., Norfolk Regiment attd. , London Regt (Post Office Rifles). Died of wounds Friday 26 April 1918. Born Palling. Enlisted Norwich. Buried: CROUY BRITISH CEMETERY, CROUY-SUR-SOMME, Somme, France. Ref. I. C. 15. (RoH)
On the CWGC site his unit is given as the 8th Battalion, London regiment (Post Office Rifles).
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=71630
No match on Norlink
On 13th April they were moved to front line positions, where coincidentally two companies of the disbanded 8th Norfolks, that had been on attachment to the 7th Norfolks, joined the battalion to partially replace their losses.
The defence of Amiens at Villers Bretonneux cannot be more vividly described than by the following extract from the battalion history:
"Villers Bretonneux will long live in the memory of those who had the misfortune to be there as one of the most unpleasant and hotly contested positions in the defence of Amiens. Under continual bombardment by night and day by shells of all calibres - mostly gas, no place not even its deepest cellar, afforded security. One gas shell knocked out ninety men of Headquarters details of whom fifty died from gas poisoning. From 17th to 19th April there were more than 150 gas casualties, including six Officers, while Captain Massey-Miles, MC, one of the whitest and most gallant Battalion Medical Officers in France died of gas poisoning, after a heroic attempt to succour others similarly poisoned, removing his gas mask in order to do so, thus courting an inevitable and agonising death. Three Medical Officers were sent in quick succession in one day, two of whom became casualties, one killed, one wounded. The last to arrive, Lieutenant MacBean of the American Army, survived the ordeal and remained with the Battalion for the rest of the War."
Alas, time had also run out for S.A.D., on 18th April he was evacuated suffering from gas poisoning, one of the twenty five percent of the battalion affected. He had ingested mustard gas, possibly as a consequence of eating tainted rations
www.hastang.co.uk/SAD/end.htm
On the 1901 Census, the 4 year old Robert was living at Bridge House, Ingham, having been born at Palling. This was the household of his parents, Jeremiah, (aged 48, born Ingham and a Farmer), and Sarah, (aged 43, born Sloley). The rest of the family was Kate, (aged 12, born Palling), May, (aged 1, born Ingham) and Rachel, (aged 15, born Palling).
1939 – 1945
HALES Walter John
Leading Aircraftman 927117. 228 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on Tuesday 25 August 1942. Age 25. Husband of Vera Joan Hales, of Littlethorpe, Yorkshire. Buried: INGHAM (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD, Norfolk, United Kingdom. (RoH)
On the CWGC site he is listed as John Walter
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2763932
Leading Aircraftman Hales may have been part of the crew of Sunderland W4026 which crashed into the side of a Scottish Mountain on this day, while ferrying H.R.H The Duke of Kent, brother of the King, to Reyjavik. Only one person survived the crash.
www.ww2inthehighlands.co.uk/folders/crashes/thecrashofsun...
On these sites there is reference to a leading Aircraftman John Walter “Holes” being on board.
freespace.virgin.net/paul.sclyde/page9.htm
www.rafoban.co.uk/page10.htm
Contemporary flight magazine article covering the crash.
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1942/1942 - 1862.html
A family history site has details of John’s family. Vera’s name before marriage was Trulling.
bbhales.com/genealogy/hales/pafg04.htm#604
While I don’t agree with the views expressed on this site, it does give an interesting insight into the make up of the party travelling that day.
Officially the Duke of Kent was one of fifteen people on board the aircraft. Also on board were Prince George’s private secretary (John Lowther), his equerry (Michael Strutt) and his valet (John Hales).
educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=749397ff6981677c89...
I don’t think this is quite correct - on CWGC John is shown on the strength of 228 Squadron. On the site with references to John “Holes” he is described as a Batman. As the Squadron Commander of 228, Wing Commander Thomas Moseley was also on board, I suspect John was probably his batman, at best temporarily loaned to the Duke.
1.Air Commodore George Edward Alexander Edmund Windsor
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2436351
2.Lieutenant John Lowther RNVR
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2720375
3.Pilot Officer (Air Gunner) The Hon C.V.Michael Strutt 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2703017
4.Flight Lieutenant Frank McKenzie Goyen 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2457509
5.Wing Commander Thomas Lawton Moseley 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2457529
6.Flying Officer Sydney Wood Smith RAAF 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2457538
7.Pilot Officer (Navigator) George Richard Saunders 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2413709
8.Flight Sergeant William Royston Jones (Flight Mechanic and Air Gunner) 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2716602
9.Flight Sergeant Charles Norman Lewis 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2965572
10.Flight Sergeant Ernest Hewerdine 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2417352
11.Sergeant Edward Francis Blacklock RNZAF (Wireless Operator\Air Gunner) 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2457501
12:Sergeant Arthur Rowland Catt (Wireless Operator\Air Gunner) 228 Squadron.
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2430570
13. Sergeant Leonard Edward Sweett, (Flight Engineer) 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2948512
14. Leading Aircraftman John Walter Hales 228 Squadron
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2763932
15.Sergeant Andrew S W Jacks - survived
A mini-biography of George Windsor, Duke of Kent, (Both to be taken with a slight pinch of salt !)
everything2.com/e2node/George Edward Windsor, 1st Duke of Kent
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_George,_Duke_of_Kent
