Not sure what the occasion is. Possibly a Birthday party. Maybe William Church's 75th which would be 1915 and line up with the other photos in the album
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Not sure what the occasion is. Possibly a Birthday party. Maybe William Church's 75th which would be 1915 and line up with the other photos in the album
I was visiting St Margarets Church in Lowestoft specifically to see the side chapel, dedicated to those who had lost their lives from the town in the Great War. The names of hundreds of them are written on panels down one side. I was here even more specifically to look for five names in particular – spread through-out the alphabet so that meant I needed good shots of at least five of the panels. Well I took pictures of them all, “just in case”. Not all are as sharp or framed as I might have liked and I definitely didn’t have time to thoroughly research all the names, (but who knows, I may come back!). So five panels are done, the rest are pot luck.
The Roll of Honour site has already made a start on trying to identify the names in the chapel.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/LowestoftStMargaretsChurch...
For more on each name see comments below.
Abbreviations used.
CWGC - Commonwealth War Graves Commission
SDGW – Soldiers Died in the Great War
Mutford was the Civil District for the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriage, (until 1935 - when it became part of the new District of Lothingland).
F R Charlesworth
B Chatteris
C R Childs
H T Chipperfield
E Chilvers
W R Chilvers
C G Church
E Church
F A Clark
T Clark
W Clarke
C A Clarke
F Clarke
E A Clarke
T K Claxton
R R Coates
W Cockel
W Colby
H W Coleman
There is a picture of Edward Church in the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday, April 6 1918.
The accompanying caption is:-
“Lance-Corpl. Edward Church, son of Mr. and Mrs. Church, Church Farm, Lowestoft, killed in France”
(The same photo gallery also has a picture of his brother Charles).
From the “In memoriam” Personal ads column of the Norwich Mercury, dated 2nd March 1918.
“CHURCH – In loving memory of Lac.-Cpl Edward H Church, Suffolk Regiment, Lewis Gun Section, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Church, Church Farm, Lowestoft, who was killed in action on February 28th, 1917, aged 20 years.
A loss so great, a shock severe,
To part with him I loved so dear,
The foreign grave was the bitterest blow,
None but my aching heart can know,
There is a link death cannot sever,
Love and remembrance last for ever.
Somewhere in France
From his sorrowing Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers”
Probably
CHURCH, EDWARD HENRY
Rank:………………………......Lance Corporal
Service No:………………….200625
Date of Death:……………..28/02/1917
Regiment:…………………....Suffolk Regiment, 4th Bn.
Panel Reference:…………Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
Memorial:………………….....THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/760115/CHURCH,%20EDWA...
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Lance Corporal Edward Henry Church was Killed in Action on the 28th February 1917 whilst serving with the 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He was born “Brundeston” and enlisted Ipswich. No place of residence is shown. He had previously been service number 2452 in the same regiment.
(At the end of 1916 all the men serving in Territorial Force units were renumbered into a standard six digit format, usually starting with 20. While the same number block was used for each Regiment it was a step towards standardising the formatting of service numbers which would lead to unique service numbers that stayed with a soldier regardless of unit).
The Medal Index Card for Private 200625 Edward H Church, Suffolk Regiment is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/4/117476
He had previously been Private 2452 in the same Regiment.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1797101
His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Army Service records were stored.
No obvious missing persons enquiry at the International Red Cross.
There is no obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.
1896 – Birth
The birth of an Edward Henry Church was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Mutford, Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1896. Mutford District included Lowestoft and the nearby villages.
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 4 year old Edward H Church, born Blundeston, Suffolk, was recorded living at a dwelling “Near Crossways”, Blundeston, Suffolk. This was the household of his parents, Father William, (aged 40 and a Yardman on Farm is shown as born Middleton) and mother Maryann, (aged 30, shown as born Bruisyard, Suffolk).
As well as Edward their other children living with them are:-
Charles G…..aged 10….born Middleton
Sybil E……..aged 8……born Middleton
Ethel M…….aged 2……born Blundeston
Lily M…..aged 7 months..born Blundeston
1911 Census of England and Wales
Parents William, (49, Farm Labourer) and Mary Ann, (41) were recorded living at Hall Lane , Lowestoft. The couple have been married 22 years and have had 8 children, of which 6 were then still alive. Still single and living at home are Edward Henry, (14, Farm Labourer), Ethel May, (12), Lilly Maud, (10) and William Arthur, (8, born Blundeston, Suffolk).
On the day
The official Regimental History mentions a successful trench raid by men from the 4th Battalion on the 13th, but after that the next event it feels significant is that an Officer from one of the Countys’ old families joins the Battalion on the 1st March.
Edward was one of six men from the Battalion who are recorded as dying on this day. The others are:-
Private 4960 Harry Boyden. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/767138/
Private 4957 Arthur Alfred Curtis. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/758125/
Sergeant 3267 Herbert Stearn. Now buried Sailly-Sailliel British Cemetery, but his grave was relocated there from the battlefield in October 1920. He was found in a marked grave with a date of death of the 29th February 1917 – presumably the 28th was the last date he was known to be alive and so that is now what is shown on the CWGC database. He was found at map reference 62c.C.27.c.7.7.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4037400/
Private 4995 Frederick Woodbine. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1555519/
Corporal 3710 James Woods. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1555662/
From a piece on Fred Woodbine.
The Cambs Times of March 16th 1917 describes what happened in letters to his adoptive parents: Mr & Mrs Boulten have received the following letter from Lance Cpl Smith of March: “I am very sorry to have to tell you the sad news of Fred Woodbine’s death which happened at 2am on Feb 28th through the explosion of a shell. Fred and I were very great pals after the loss of Will Taylor. We have had many a happy hour together in France. Fred was, as you know, on the Lewis Gun. He was a very cool, brave lad, never fussing or worrying about anything except you at home. I was not many yards from him at the time of this death. He was hit by a large piece of wood, death being instantaneous. Young Bates from Wimblington was sitting by his side at the time and Fred did not speak at all. He was buried and a cross has been erected over the spot where he lies. The deepest sympathy is felt by the officers and all of D company as Fred always made friends wherever he went. The Captain of the deceased’s Regiment wrote: He was in the front line trenches and a large trench mortar explode, killing him and 5 others. He regretted that it was not possible to recover any personal effect. Deceased was a good soldier.”
chatteris.ccan.co.uk/content/catalogue_item/chatteris-ww1...
(Moderately photoshopped to minimise damage on the original image)
In the inner oval of the GAR circle at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Private Edward A. Church of Comany K of the 57th Illinois Infantry. The 57th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois and mustered in December 26, 1861. They mustered out on July 7, 1865. They were at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca, Bentonville, and other fights. They took part in the Grand Review on May 24, 1865. The 57th lost 3 Officers and 65 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 108 Enlisted men by disease for a total of 180.
A tile rimmed window at Olana castle.
The view from the front of Olana Museum looking south down the Hudson River Valley, inspiring many a Church painting.
Old farmhouse, used by Church while hiltop castle was constructed.
Olana Museum, a castle built by Hudson River School painter Edward Church.
A closeup of a column from the porch of Olana castle.
Frontdoor of Olana Museum, home of Church.
