KENNINGHALL
ROLL OF HONOUR
To the Glory of God
and in memory of
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
who gave their lives for their country
during the Great War 1914-1919.
7378 Private John William Ward, 2nd. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Born at Diss, Norfolk.
John died on Wednesday 14th. April 1915. He is buried in Grave: III. E. 10. at Basra War Cemetery, Basra, Iraq.
20551 Private Samuel Davison, 1st. Battalion, Essex Regiment, formally with the Norfolk Regment.
Born in East Harling in 1892.
The 1911 census records Samuel employed as a gardener and domestic assistant and was living in with his family at Railway Cottage in Eccles.
He married Beatrice Purse in October 1913, and they had a son, Ernest Leonard, born in 1914.
On 28th. July 1915 the 11,117 ton HMT Royal Edward, formally RMS Cairo, embarked 1,367, including members of the Royal Army Medical Corps at Avonmouth. The majority were reinforcements for the British 29th. Infantry Division, and were destined for Gallipoli.
Royal Edward arrived at Alexandria on 10th. August, then sailed for Moudros on the island of Lemnos, a staging point for the Dardanelles.
On the morning of Friday 13th. August 1915, Royal Edward passed the British hospital ship Soudan, heading in the opposite direction. Oberleutnant zur See Heino von Heimburg, commander of the German submarine UB-14, was off the island of Kandeloussa and saw both ships. He allowed Soudan to pass unmolested, and focused his attention on the unescorted Royal Edward some 6 nautical miles (6.8 miles - 11 km) off Kandelioussa. He launched a torpedoes from about 1 mile (1.6 km) away and hit the ship in the stern. She sank by the stern within six minutes.
Royal Edward was able to get off an SOS before losing power, and Soudan arrived on the scene at 10:00 after making a 180° turn. She rescued 440 men in six hours, and two French destroyers and some trawlers rescued another 221.
An Admiralty casualty list, published in The Times in September 1915, named 13 officers and 851 troops as missing believed drowned. It is believed the Royal Edward's death toll was actually 935 and was high because the ship had just completed a boat drill and the majority of the men were below decks re-stowing their equipment.
Samuel has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 146 to 151 or 229 to 233 of the Helles Memorial, Eceabat İlçesi, Çanakkale, Turkey and on the Eccles, Norfolk Roll of Honour.
16869 Private Cecil John Wells, 7th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, previously with the 3rd. Norfolk Militia for 6 years.
Born in 1888 at Thorndon, Suffolk, the son of Frederick W. and Olive Emma Wells of East Church Street, Kenninghall.
On 11th. August 1909 at South Lopham, Norfolk Cecil married spinster Eleanor Elizabeth Emms. The couple have had two children, Frederick Cecil, born 29th. January 1910 at North Lopham, and Olive Emma Lilly, born 19th. February 1913, Blo Norton, Norfolk.
Enlisted on the 25th November 1914 at Norwich, Norfolk where he was recorded as 5' 5.5" tall, and weighed 113 lb. with scar on the top of his head and on the right cheek.
On 26th. November 1914, Cecil was posted initially to the Depot, then to 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment at Felixstowe, Suffolk on the 1st. December 1914. On the 29th. June 1915 he was posted to the 7th. Battalion. He went initially to 12th. Infantry Base Depot in France before joining up with his new unit on the 23rd. August 1915.
Cecil was killed in action, aged 27, on Wednesday 13th.October 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 30 and 31 of the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and on his fathers headstone in St. Andrew's churchyard, South Lopham, Norfolk.
Cecil's his personal effects were sent to his wife who was living at The Butts, Kenninghall.
20092 Private Frederick Burrows, 14th. Platoon, 'D' Company, 5th. Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
Born in 1890, the son of Thomas and Selina Burrows, later Holman, of East Church Street, Kenninghall.
Frederick was killed in action at Loos, aged 25, on Saturday 25th. September 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 49 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
PLY/316S Private George William Mitson, Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Indefatigable, formally 316 Private, RMLI, Plymouth Division and PLY/316/S Private,
Royal Marine Brigade, Plymouth Battalion.
Born on 27th. September 1886 at Kenninghall, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Mitson of Lopham Road, Kenninghall.
George died, aged 30, on Wednesday 31st. May 1916 when at the Battle of Jutland, Indefatigable was hit around the rear turret by two or three shells from the German battlecruiser Von der Tann. She fell out of formation and started sinking towards the stern and listing to port. Her magazines exploded at 16:03 after more hits, one on the forecastle and another on the forward turret. Smoke and flames gushed from the forward part of the ship and large pieces were thrown 200 feet (61.0 m) into the air. Of her crew of 1,019, only three survived.
George has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 18 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon.
19895 Gunner Frederick William Wells, 111th. Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Born at Thorndon, Suffolk, the son of Frederick W. and Olive Emma Wells of East Church Street, Kenninghall.
Resident of Rickinghall, Suffolk.
Enlisted at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
William died, aged 30, on Wednesday 20th. June 1917. He was buried in a marked grave at map reference N.6.D76 and was reburied, possibly in September 1919, in Grave: XIII. D. 15. at Voormezeele Enclosure No.3, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium with the personal inscription
'TILL LIFE'S LONG SHADOWS
BREAK IN CLOUDLESS LOVE'
William is also remembered on his fathers headstone in St. Andrew's churchyard, South Lopham, Norfolk.
16901 Private William John Claxton, 3rd. Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
William was killed in action in the attack towards Lesboeufs on Friday 15th. September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Pier and Face 7 D and 8 D of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, Picardie, France.
3/10058 Private Edward Francis, 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, formally 3/10058 Lance Corporal, Norfolk Regiment.
Born in Quidenham, Norfolk.
Edward was killed in action in the attack of The Quadrilateral (Ginchy) on Friday 15th. September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, Picardie, France.
5171 Corporal Henry James Williams, 12th. (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers.
Born in Battersea, London.
Resident of Kenninghall.
Henry died on Sunday 15th. April 1917. He is buried in Grave: III. J. 49. at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais, France.
G/18298 Private George Francis, 11th. Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Born in Quidenham, Norfolk.
George was killed in action in the attack on Gird Lines on Saturday 7th. October 1916. He was buried in a marked grave at map reference SH57c.S.W.M.24.a. He was reburied, possibly in September 1920, in Grave: V. C. 36. at Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
74430 Bombardier James Thomas Fulcher, 'A' Battery, 124th. Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Born in 1893, the son of Mr. & Mrs. T. Fulcher, of Whitegate Farm, Ludham, Norfolk.
Resident of Kenninghall.
James was killed in action, aged 24, on Tuesday 24th. April 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Bay 1 of the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
14383 Private William Arthur Bilham, 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
The son of John and Sarah Jane Bilham of The Market Place, Kenninghall.
William died, aged 28, on Tuesday 20th. November 1917. He id buried in Grave: I. B. 9. at Ribecourt British Cemetery, Nord, France.
G/48667 Private William Alfred Fenn, 2nd/10th. Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.
Born in 1875 at Kenninghall, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Fenn.
Husband of Ethel May Fenn of 78 Diana Road, Walthamstow, London.
Enlisted in Eastbourne, East Sussex
William was killed in action, aged 42, on Saturday 3rd. November 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panels 41 and 42 of the Jerusalem Memorial and on the Richmond, Surrey war memorial.
30320 Private Henry John Witham, 8th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Henry was killed in action on Saturday 11th. August 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 4 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
3/10813 Private Stanley Barrett, 8th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Husband of Edith Maria Barrett, later Bocking, of 47 Market Hill, Maldon, Essex.
Stanley was killed in action, aged 31, on Saturday 11th. August 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 4 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
25666 Private William Thomas Wilson, 3rd. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Born in Lambeth, London.
Resident of Kenninghall.
William was killed in action on Sunday 30th. December 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt.
14305 Private Earnest William Bush, 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Born in 1889 at Tivetshall St. Margaret, Norfolk.
Earnest died on Tuesday 20th. November 1917. He was buried in a marked grave at British Cemetery Argyle Road, map reference 57c.Q12.B13, and was later reburied in Grave: II. H. 8. at Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich, Nord, France.
701967 Rifleman Lennox Cunningham, 23rd. Battalion, London Regiment.
Born in West Ham, London.
Resident of Windsor, Berkshire.
Enlisted at Clapham Junction, London.
Lennox died on Thursday 13th. December 1917. He is buried in Grave: P.80 at Jerusalem War Cemetery.
"My heart is towards those that offered themselves willingly
amongst the people ........ that jeoparded their lives unto the
death in the high places of the field." Judges V.
1939 + 1945
C/KX 85783 Stoker 1st. Class Sydney George Cunningham, HMS Grenade, Royal Navy
The son of Sydney R. and Dora Cunningham of Kenninghall.
Sydney died, aged 24, on Thursday 30th. May 1940. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's in Kenninghall.
1591862 Gunner Albert Collins, 10th. Maritime Battery, Royal Artillery.
Albert died, aged 29, on Thursday 29th. June 1944. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 93, Column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon.
539361 Aircraftman 2nd. Class Stanley Clifton St. Swithin Rolfe, 912 Balloon Squadron, RAF.
Born in 1917, the son of Clifton G. and May Rolfe of Kenninghall.
Stanley died, aged 22, when he was overcome by dope fumes while making a balloon repair on Thursday 16th. November 1939. His death was registered at Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's in Kenninghall.
5776248 Private Edward Henry Ringer, 6th. Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Born in 1918 at Wayland, Norfolk, the son of Thomas Henry and Alice Ringer.
Edward died, aged 23, on Tuesday 18th. February 1941. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's in Kenninghall.
5773341 Private George Harold Taylor, 1/6th. Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).
The son of Harry and Beatrice Taylor of Kenninghall.
George died, aged 25, on Friday, 16th. June 1944. He was buried in the US cemetery at St. Laurent, map reference SSP/C/NWE/1991 and was reburied on 11th. November 1944 in Grave: X. B. 25. at Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France.
5773716 Private Earnest Trudgill, Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Born in 1919 at Norwich, Norfolk, the son of Edward and Minnie Trudgill of Kenninghall.
Earnest died, aged 26, at North Walsham, Norfolk on Thursday 7th. March 1946. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's in Kenninghall with the personal inscription
'HIS BROTHER RONALD
ROYAL AIR FORCE
DIED IN CYPRUS
26TH JANUARY 1945 AGE 20'
1335257 Leading Aircraftman Ronald Trudgill, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
T the son of Edward and Minnie Trudgill of Kenninghall.
Ronald died, aged 20, in Number 57 General Hospital of toxaemia and peritonitis following an internal obstruction on Friday 26th. January 1945. He is buried in Grave: 4. B. 1. at Nicosia War Cemetery, Nicosia Cyprus.
*Not on the memorial but remembered in the church*
Frank William Crook.
Born in 1910.
Frank died in 1952 through injuries sustained during his service in WW2.
The red marble First World War memorial bears the music for the bugle call 'Fall In'.
The memorials are in St. Mary's church, Kenninghall.