The Roll of Honour site page for Happisburgh was the starting point for my research, and to which I am deeply indebted.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Happisburgh.html
(RoH = sourced from that page)
1914 – 1919
Grimmer, Richard……………………………………………………….(RoH)
Private 13492. 8th Bn., Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 10 March 1917. Age 27. (Memorial gives age as 47). Born Happisburgh. Enlisted Norwich. Son of George and Selina Una Grimmer, of Happisburgh, Norfolk. Commemorated: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=787816
No match on Norlink
The most likely match on the 1901 census is an 11 year old David Richard Grimmer, born Happisburgh, who was recorded at The Street, Happisburgh. This is the household of his parents, George, (aged 38 and an Ordinary Agricultural Labourer from Happisburgh), and Selina Grimmer, (aged 37 and from Stalham). Their other children are:-
Allbert William…………….aged 4……..born Happisburgh
Alexandra Gladys………….aged u/1……born Happisburgh
George Walter……………..aged 17…….born Happisburgh – Cattleman on Farm
Horation Nelson……………aged 3……..born Happisburgh
James………………………aged 6………born Happisburgh
John………………………..aged 15……born Happisburgh…Ord.Agricultural Lab.
May Flora………………….aged 9………born Happisburgh
Robert……………………..aged 8………born Happisburgh
Victoria Rosanna………….aged 1………born Happisburgh
Baptism at St Mary’s Happisburgh
20th December 1891 Flora May. Dob 9th June 1891.Resident Happisburgh.
26th July 1895 David Richard Dob 2nd April 1891. Resident Happisburgh
On this day the 8th Norfolks were engaged in a confusing but ultimately successful attack against the German Trench system opposite them. Trialling attack methods that drew on lessons learned from the Somme and would be put into effect the following month in the opening of the Battle of Arras, the Norfolks had a comparatively light butchers bill - 6 dead, 7 missing although many wounded. The Commanding Officer wrote a lengthy appraisal of the operation and his assessment of it success factors. My transcription of this can be seen below as comment 1.
Leeder, Norman Robert………………………………………(RoH)
Private 240195. 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 19 April 1917. (Memorial gives 19 June 1917). Age 20. Born Marsham. Enlisted Stalham. Son of Robert John and Ellen Margaret Leeder, of High House, Happisburgh, Norwich. Commemorated:
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1645980
No match on Norlink
The 4 year old Norman, born Marsham, is recorded on the 1901 census at “Golds Houses”, Happisburgh. This is the household of parents, Robert, (aged 31 and a Stockman on Farm from Swanton Novers) and Ellen, (aged 30 and from Thurgarton). The Leeder’s also have another son, Frank, aged 2 and from Catfield.
The baptism of Norman Robert Leeder took place at All Saints, Marsham, on the 14th March 1897. No date of birth is listed. Parents are Robert John and Ellen. The family were living at Marsham at the time, and father Robert’s occupation is listed as Farmer.
The baptism of Frank Leonard, born 29th March 1899, took place at St Mary’s, Happisburgh, on the 21st July 1901.The family were resident in the parish, and his fathers occupation is now listed as Labourer.
On 19th April the Norfolks took part in a disastrous attempt to take Gaza. In this action casualties for the (1st/4th)battalion were 478 (55 killed, 323 wounded and 100 missing). The battalion’s sister unit, 1/5th Norfolks, also took part in the assault and they fared even worse, suffering 643 casualties.
www.oldbuckenham-pri.norfolk.procms.co.uk/pages/viewpage....
Following the failure of the first two attacks by mounted forces to flank the city, it became obvious to the Turks and their German advisers that the next attack would be likely to be an infantry one, centred on taking Gaza itself.
Although inferior in numbers, the German aircraft available were technically superior to the Allied craft, and were able to carry our reconnaissance almost at will, and carry out harassing raids on the Allied build up.
To protect the city, the Turkish forces were set to digging, and more guns were brought up. Except to the north, the city was soon surrounded by a series of redoubts, intended to ensure that the Beersheba road remained open.
And so the race was on - to build up military superiority, (in terms of numbers the Allies utnumbered the Turks 2:1, but weren’t aware of it), would give the Turks time to make their defences almost impregnable. And in the eyes of the Allied Commanders in the field, Murray, Dobell and Robertson, the earlier assaults had come within a whisker of success. So in their eyes there was no time to extend the water pipeline, or build up supplies.
(Page 43)The plan also grew in size, as the Turkish construction out-paced the Allies ability to bring troops to the front. The initial plans, a two division attack, a mounted break-through along the shore-line, had to be abandoned. The generals settled on a three division attack, with the 54th (East Anglian) being allotted the eastern sector, furthest from the coast, most beset with supply troubles, and tasked with taking the first part of the Beersheba Road line.
Further to their east was the Camel Corps and the rest of the cavalry, serving as a flank guard, but ready to sweep through any opening .
The first stage of the attack came on the 17th April. The three infantry divisions moved forward at dawn, and by 7.30 am were at their chosen positions, where they entrenched. The Turks did little to interfere, though one of the British tanks exposed itself unnecessarily and was put out of action by accurate Turkish artillery fire. Clearly one of the tasks which had been successfully accomplished by the Turkish side in the three weeks since the first battle had been accurate artillery registry of all the visible places in the area where necessarily an attack would come.
(Page 45)The second stage of the attack, after a days work on trenches and dug-outs, went as might be expected, considering it was made by soldiers walking over open ground towards well entrenched and protected men armed with rifles and machine guns. An artillery bombardment of an hour or so, including the gas shells, and including fire from the ships at sea off Gaza, seems to have woken up the Turks rather than intimidated them - there was still insufficient British artillery to provide a really serious bombardment. The Turks did not actually notice the gas shells: higher air temperature seems to have encouraged rapid evaporation.
The 54th Division set-off behind this bombardment to attack the entrenchments of the Turkish 53rd Division along the Beersheba Road.
(Page 49) From Brigade HQ, Lieutenant Buxton was sent forward to find out what was happening.
(Page 50) (He subsequently reported on the attack on the redoubt) “held it for some time until the ammunition was spent. No support came and so those that did not get away, sixty in all, were captured in the Turkish counter-attack. My second tank, under Captain Carr, had done well in getting into the redoubt. The first tank had had a direct hit and was burning. It was obvious that our attack here had failed and most of our men had been killed. So I waited a bit longer, and when things were a shade quieter, I got out of my shell hole and ran back over the rise. There I came upon about 40 men of our brigade of all regiments, Major Marsh who was O C 8th Hants was there and Lieutenant Wharton of the 4th Norfolks. These men where just stragglers and all collected there. We decided it was no good going on then, so we started to dig ourselves in. This was all quite early in the morning - about 9. Marsh had a telephone line so I phoned back to Brigade HQ and gave them all the news.
(Page 51). There were a lot of dead men and wounded all round us. Some of the latter we got behind our lines, in case the Turks tried a counter -attack, We were about forty men and one Lewis Gun, and no-one on our left or right for several hundred yards. The place we were holding was the top of a rounded hillock. The Turks kept us under pretty good machine gun fire all day. Marsh and I lay in a rifle pit and ate dates and biscuits for a bit. We allowed no firing, as we wished to keep our ammunition in case of a counter attack.
About 4 in the afternoon the 5th Suffolks were sent up to support us and consolidate the position we held. This was really a great relief. About seven the Brigadier came out after dusk and saw the place. He ordered us to retire during the night right back to our starting point, for it would not have been possible to hold this advanced position as long as there was no-one on our flanks at all”
The strongpoint from now on was called Tank Redoubt.
This was an attack on a single strongpoint and a strectch of trenches little over a mile long, by four battalions. It had made no progress after being expelled from the strongpoint, and had only reached so far because of the bravery of the tank crew, (three men). The last reserve of the 163rd Brigade, the 5th Suffolks, which was at last sent forward, as Buxton noted with relief, late in the afternoon. With no more troops available, the brigadier had no option but to pull all the survivors back.
Extracts from “The Battle for Palestine 1917” by John D. Grainger
books.google.co.uk/books?id=3SVvryoR2A0C&pg=PA50&...
Mason, John………………………………………………………….(RoH)
Probably: Petty Officer 1st Class. 196093. H.M.S. "Cressy.", Royal Navy. Died Tuesday 22 September 1914. (Age given for the John Mason on the Memorial is 32). Commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom, Panel 1. (Special note: In the early hours of the morning of 22 September 1914, HMS Cressy along with HMS Aboukir & HMS Hogue were sunk by torpedoes from a U-boat under the command of Otto Weddigen, in the North Sea.)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3049601
No match on Norlink
The baptism of a John Mason, born 21st November 1881, took place at St Marys on the 23rd September 1883. His parents were a William Napoleon and Sarah Ann Mason. His mothers maiden name was Cox. The family lived in Happisburgh, and his father’s occupation was listed as Labourer.
Napoleon and his wife Sarah Ann are recorded on the 1901 census at Cliff Cottages, Happisburgh. Napoleon is aged 45 and a Corn Threshing Machine Feeder from East Ruston, Sarah was 42 and from Barton Turf. John is no longer living with them, but their other children are Ambrose, (aged 13, born Happisburgh, working as a General Labourer), Blanche Edith, (aged 5, born Happisburgh), Rowland (aged 12, born Happisburgh) and William, (aged 9 and born Happisburgh).
The loss of three (admittedly very old) Capital ships to one submarine barely a month into the war, compounded by the loss of so many middle age reservists and young cadets who were crewing them caused something of a national scandal at the time.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cressy_(1899)
Millar, William J……………………………………………………..(RoH)
Private 6787. 1/5th Bn. , Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt.) formerly 2nd/5th Norfolk Regt. and , Northumberland Fusiliers. Died Wednesday 11 April 1917. Age 23. (Memorial gives age as 28). Buried: HAPPISBURGH (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Norfolk, United Kingdom.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803418
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match for the family as either Millar or Miller on the Genes Reunited transcription of the 1901 census. However there are baptism records at St Marys, Happisburgh for a James Robert Millar, (born 11th September 1895, baptised 20th October 1895), Donald Alexander Millar, (born 3rd October 1897 and baptised 21st November 1897), and Gladys Maud, (born 30th October 1898, baptised 18th December 1898). Parents of all three are a John and Annie Millar, the family reside within the parish, and the fathers occupation is listed as Farmer.
The family appear to be on the 1911 Census, and although I only have a high level search with my subscription seems to consist of:
John….born circa 1853…Ayrshire, Scotland
Annie…born circa 1859….Ayrshire, Scotland
Margaret……….born circa 1885…Ayrshire, Scotland
Eleanora………..born circa 1892…Happisburgh
William John…born circa 1894…Happisburgh
James Robert..born circa 1896…Happisburgh
Donald……………born circa 1898…Happisburgh
Gladys Maud….born circa 1899…Happisburgh
The memorial in the Churchyard gives his unit as the 2nd/5th Norfolk Regiment.
Monsey, George…………………………………………………..(RoH)
Private G/9332. 3rd Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment, Labour Corps. Died Saturday 8 March 1919. Age 29. (Memorial gives age as 19). Son of William and Clara Monsey, of Witton, Norwich. Buried: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk, United Kingdom. Ref. 54. 548.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803242
There is no reference to a Monsey family living in Happisburgh on either the 1901 or 1911 census. There is a George Monsey born Witton circa 1890 on the 1911 census, who was resident in the Flegg District on the 1911 census.
The baptism of a George Monsey took place at St Margaret Witton on the 28th February 1890, (no date of birth is recorded. Parents are William and Clara Maria. Fathers occupation is listed as Farmer.
Other children of George and Clara Maria baptised in the same church:-
Clara……..baptised 10th July 1881
Edith May….baptised 25th February 1883
Gertrude…..baptised 4th May 1884
Queenie…….baptised 6th September 1885
Kate………….baptised 8th August 1886
Sydney William….baptised 6th September 1887
Stanley…….baptised 15th February 1889
Beatrice…..baptised 5th February 1892
Mary………..baptised 18th November 1892
Florence….baptised 28th November 1893
Monsey, John………………………………………………………..(RoH)
Driver 211639. 18th Army Bde. Ammunition Col., Royal Field Artillery. Died Monday 2 December 1918. age 20. Buried: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Ref. S. II. HH. 12.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=519637
No match on Norlink
The most like match on the 1911 census is a John Monsey, born circa 1897 Waterden, and now resident in the Flegg District. There is no Monsey family on either the 1901 or 1911 census associated with Happisburgh.
Platford, James……………………………………………………..(RoH)
Private 325581. 1st/9th Bn., Durham Light Infantry. Formerly 5510 Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Friday 13 April 1917. Age 28. Born Ludham, Norfolk. Enlisted Norwich. Buried: AGNY MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. H. 44/57.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=249734
(Military Genealogy and CWGC has two James Platfords, a Durham LI man and a Norfolk Regiment man. One was born Ludham and resident Happisburgh according to Military Genealogy, while the other is shown on that site as born Neatishead, and on CWGC the parents as shown as residing Beeston St Lawrence. As the Roll of Honour site usually takes into account the entry from Soldiers who died in the Great War, I’m assuming this is a correct attribution for now)
No match on Norlink
The 13 year old James, born Ludham, is recorded on the 1901 census at Neatishead Road, Barton Turf, working as an Agricultural Labourer. This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 40 and a Teamman on Farm from Horning), and Jane, (aged 40 and from Smallburgh). The Platfords other children are Daisy, (aged 7 and born Ludham), and Harry, (aged 2, born Barton Turf).
The 9th Durhams were in the line just south of Guemappe on this day, waiting for the 1st/6th and 1st/8th to join them for the planned attack on Wancourt Tower the following day.
www.gutenberg.org/files/16660/16660.txt
Siely, Charles Cubitt……………………………………………(RoH)
(Family name SIEBY on CD). Gunner 105290. 227th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds Saturday 2 November 1918. Age 37. Born and lived Happisburgh. Enlisted Norwich. Husband of Emma Jane Siely, of Norfolk. Buried: TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. VII. B. 1.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=4027178
No match on Norlink
The 9 year Cubiit, born Happisburgh, is recorded on the 1891 census at “Near the Hill”, Happisbugh, which on the page looks to be at one end of The Street. His 42 year old widowed mother, Mary A, is head of the household and working as a Charwoman. Her other children are:-
John……………aged 16………born Happisburgh……..Agricuultural Labourer
Catherine…..aged 5………..born Happisburgh.
Alice…………..aged 3……….born Happisburgh
Charles Cubitt Siely does not appear to be on the 1901 census.
However, he does re-appear on the 1911 one, resident in the Smallburgh district which includes Happisburgh.
Looking at the baptism records, Cubitt Charles, born 24th September 1881 was baptised in St Marys on the 30th October 1881. Parents were James and Mary Ann Siely, resident in Happisbugh. Father James worked as a labourer.
The baptism of an Elizabeth Catherine Siely, born 3rd June 1885, took place in St Marys on the 28th June 1885, Elizabeth was the daughter of a James and Mary Ann of Happisburgh. James occupation is given as Fisherman, and there is a note that he was deceased.
Strangely the youngest daughter born two years after this tragedy, does not appear to have been baptised.
Spanton, James Wiseman…………………………………..(RoH)
Lance Corporal 15138. 7th Bn., Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 28 April 1917. (Memorial gives 24 April) Age 26. Born Happisburgh. Enlisted North Walsham. Buried: DURY CRUCIFIX CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. II. H. 18.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=254272
(Shown as J W Spanton)
No match on Norlink
The 8 year old James Wiseman Spanton (born Happisburgh) is recorded on the 1901 census at Grub Street, Happisburgh. This is the household of (probably) his stepfather James Wiseman, (aged 30 and a Horseman on Farm from Happisburgh) and mother Alice Mary Wiseman, (aged 29 and from East Ruston). The Wisemans also have a daughter, Ethel Emma, (aged 7 and from Happisburgh).
The baptism of James Wiseman Spanton, born 5th April 1892, took place in St Marys on the 29th May 1892. No father is listed. Mother is Alice Mary Spanton from Happisburgh, whose occupation is listed as Domestic Servant.
When Ethel Emma, born 1st April 1894 was christened in St Marys on the 27th May 1894, then James and Mary Ann are both listed, and are down as Wiseman. Perhaps in the case of the older boy, Mary Ann thought that at least if she couldn’t get her lover to do the right thing by marrying her, (and couldn’t put his name down on the birth certificate without his consent), then she’d make damn sure everyone knew who the father was.
Battle of Arleux
28 - 29 April 1917
Although the Canadian Corps had successfully taken Vimy Ridge, difficulties in securing the south-eastern flank had left the position vulnerable. To rectify this, British and Canadian troops launched an attack towards Arleux-en-Gohelle on 28 April.[37] Arleux was captured by Canadian troops with relative ease, but the British troops advancing on Gavrelle met stiffer resistance from the Germans. The village was secured by early evening, but when a German counterattack forced a brief retreat, elements of the 63rd Division were brought up as reinforcements and the village was held. Subsequent attacks on 29 April however, failed to net any further advances.[37] Despite achieving the limited objective of securing the Canadian position on Vimy Ridge, casualties were high, and the ultimate result was disappointing.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1917)
66 fatalities are recorded against the 7th Battalion on this day on the CWGC database, (source:Geoff’s search engine).
28th - Roeux. 7th Norfolk on right, 5th Royal Berkshires on left. Attack against Rifle and Bayonet Trenches. 7th Norfolks forced back to start. Berkshires reach Bayonet Trench and part of Rifle Trench. 7th Suffolks pass through Berkshires. Stopped by machine gun fire from Roeux.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=487...
Wiseman, Frederick George………………………………(RoH)
Petty Officer 1st Class 116160. (R.F.R./CH/A/839) H.M.S. Pembroke, Royal Navy. Died Monday 31 August 1914. (Memorial gives 30 August 1914). Age 48 . (Memorial gives age as 47). Born Happisburgh. Son of George and Emma Wiseman; husband of Anna Elizabeth Wiseman, of 1, Prospect Avenue, London Rd., Attleborough, Norfolk. Buried: GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY, Kent, United Kingdom. Ref. Naval. 12. 617.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057140
No match on Norlink
On the 1901 census, a 34 year old Frederick G, born Happisburgh, Norfolk, is recorded on His Majestys ship, Edinburgh anchored at no. 21 buoy, Sheerness, Kent. His marital status is given as single, and his rank as Petty Officer 2nd Class.
Pembroke, RN Barracks/Base, Chatham
WISEMAN, Frederick G, Petty Officer 1c (RFR B 839), 116160, died
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1914-08Aug.htm
