This picture appeared in the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday November 2nd 1918. The accompanying caption read “Corpl. B.J. Mann, Suffolk Yeomanry, Lowestoft, killed in action.”
MANN, B J
Rank:……………...Corporal
Service No:……….320836
Date of Death:……05/09/1918
Age:………………20
Regiment:…………Suffolk Regiment
……………………15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn.
Grave Reference:….III. N. 24.
Cemetery:.................PERONNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mann, of 103, Clapham Rd., Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/288886/MANN,%20B%20J
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Corporal Bernard Mann was Killed in Action on the 5th September 1918 whilst serving with the 15th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was previously 20308 Suffolk Regiment. Bernard was born and enlisted Lowestoft. No place of residence is shown.
The Medal Index Card for Corporal 320836 Bernard Mann, Suffolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/13/102732
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3916401
He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. There is no additional information on the card.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour has an entry for Bernard.
MANN, BERNARD JOSEPH, Corpl., No. 20308, 15th (Service) Battn. The Suffolk Regt., s. of Joseph Mann, of Lowestoft, Pharmaceutical Chemist, and his wife, Jeanie Mary; and nephew to Jabez Mann, A.M.I.C.E., F.S.I., of Sevenoaks; b. Lowestoft, co.Suffolk, 27 Jan. 1897; educ.there; was in his uncle’s office; enlisted in the 10th Suffolk Regt. in May, 1915; proceeded to Egypt in Feb. 1917, and was transferred to a battalion of the Suffolk Yeomanry on its formation as the 15th (Service) Battn.; served in the Palestine Campaign; was wounded at the taking of Jerusalem 9 Dec. following, and sent to hospital: on recovery rejoined his regiment, taking part in further fighting there; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Feb.1918, and was killed in action at Templeux-la-Fesse, north-east of Peronne, 5 Sept. following. Buried where he fell. His Commanding Office wrote: “Your son was very popular with us all here, and was, in addition, a valued Lewis Gunner. He did excellent work during our last engagement, and his loss is keenly regretted by us.”. Unm.
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 Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.
Bernard is remembered in the War Memorial Chapel at St Margaret, Lowestoft.
27th January 1897 – Born???
(Source – De Ruvigny). However this does not tie in with the age shown on CWGC.
The most likely Birth record is that of a Bernard John Mann whose birth was registered in the Mutford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1898.
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 3 year old Bernard J Mann, born Lowestoft, was recorded living at 2 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. This was the household of his parents, Joseph, (aged 47, a Chemist + Druggist, born Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Eliza, (aged 30, born Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire). As well as Bernard, their other children living with them are:-
Jeannie M…..aged 7…..born Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Norman J…..aged 5……born Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Eva M………aged 6 months…born Lowestoft.
1911 Census of England and Wales
The Mann family were now recorded living at 51 Roman Road, Lowestoft, although only mother Eliza Jane of the two parents was home on the night of the census.She records herself as wife of the head of the household. Aged 40 and a Dressmaker, she states that she has been married 18 years and has had 5 children, all then still alive. Still single and living at home are:-
Jeannie Mary…..aged 17
Norman James…aged 15….Carpenter & Joiner
Bernard John…..aged 13
Eva Maud………aged 10
Alfred Donald….aged 8…..born Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.
There doesn’t appear to be a match for father Joseph on this Census.
On the day
PERONNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Historical Information
Peronne was taken by the German on 24 September 1914. On 18 March 1917, the 40th and 48th Divisions captured the town, but it was recovered by the Germans on the 23rd March 1918. It changed hands for the last time on 1 September 1918, when it was taken by the 2nd Australian Division
The cemetery extension was begun by the 48th (South Midland) Division in March 1917, used by the Germans in 1918, and resumed by Australian units in September 1918. At the Armistice it contained 177 graves, now in Plots I and II. It was then enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields north and east of Peronne and from the following small cemeteries in the area:-
AIZECOURT-LE-HAUT CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, which contained the graves of 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from South Africa who fell in March 1918.
CARTIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND GERMAN EXTENSION, which contained the graves of 5,250 German soldiers, two from the United Kingdom and one from Australia.
COPSE TRENCH CEMETERY, ALLAINES, between Allaines and Moislains. Here were buried 64 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly 14th Black Watch and 12th Somerset Light Infantry) who fell in September 1918.
DRIENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, on the South side of the village, made by the 74th (Yeomanry) Division in September 1918, and contained the graves of 20 soldiers from the United Kingdom.
LIERAMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, in which 63 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried by the Germans in 1916-1918 and by the 58th (London) Division in September 1918.
MADAME MILITARY CEMETERY, Clery-sur-Somme (the origin of this name is uncertain, but the Germans had a "Maidan Trench" opposite), near the road to Bouchavesnes, where 56 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly 33rd Division) were buried in January-March 1917 (Three of these were moved to Serre Road Cemetery No.2, Beaumont-Hamel, and 53 to Peronne).
MOISLAINS BRITISH CEMETERY, a little South-West of the village, contained the graves of 54 soldiers of the 47th London) Division who fell in September 1918.
MOISLAINS CHURCHYARD, which contained the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada.
MOISLAINS GERMAN HOSPITAL CEMETERY, at the North-East end of the village, contained the graves of 38 soldiers of the Empire, who fell in 1917 and 1918, and 281 Germans.
TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE GERMAN CEMETERY, on the East side of the village, contained the graves of 34 soldiers from the United Kingdom. Of these 33 were buried by their comrades in September 1918.
VAUX WOOD BRITISH CEMETERY, VAUX-SUR-SOMME, within Eastern edge of the wood. Here were buried, in September 1918, 25 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly of the London Regiment).
There are now 1,595 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the extension. 224 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to seven casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and ten buried in other cemeteries whose graves could not be found. The extension also contains five Second World War burials. There are 97 German war graves, 68 being unidentified.
www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/29501/PERONNE%20COM...
As part of the Commemoration of the outbreak of the Great War, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have added a number of original documents to their website. One of these is a Concentration Report, detailing the exhumation and reburial at the current site. Unfortunately the one for Bernard is not clear. He was one of at least two marked graves found at Map Reference 62c.J.4.c.5.2.
From “The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927” by Lieutenant-Colonel C.C.R Murphy.
(Page 320) During the greater part of June and July the 74th Division formed part of G.H.Q. reserve, being liable to go anywhere at a moment’s notice. It was eventually sent in to the line in front of St. Venant, in the Haverskerque-Amusoires sector, at the vertex of the German salient on the river Lys, arriving in time to participate in the general counter-attack which was about to take place along the British line. On August 24th the battalion went back to Busnes, and shortly afterwards entrained at Lillers for Breilly, near Amiens. On the last day of the month they proceeded by bus to Maricourt on the Somme, relieving the 58th Division near Hind Leg Wood and joining IIIrd Corps of Rawlinson’s Army. Very heavy fighting was in progress round Mont St. Quentin and Peronne. On September 2nd the 74th Division took part in the operations west and south-west of Nurlu, the battalion being in support. On the 5th and two following days the battalion was engaged in the attack on the Templeux-la-Fosse and Gurlu wood system of trenches, sustaining about 100 casualties including the following officers wounded: Major T.de la G. Grissell and 2nd Lieut. R.Hogg (both remaining at duty); Captains G.B.Horne, M.C., and R.O.W. Pemberton; 2nd Lieuts. W. Murray, W.E. Strong, and J. Hodges.
and
The objectives on 5th were the Nurlu-Templeux la Fosse system of trenches. At the beginning of September the 15th Battalion was hidden in the vicinity of Hind Leg Wood and by the 3rd they had moved up to occupy Scutari Trench. At 09.30 on 5th September the Bn. received Brigade order no. 61. The Bn. was ordered to side step behind 231 Bde and take over from them the southern half of the Divisions front from an E & W line through (Map Ref) to the inter Bn. boundary on E & W line through (Map Ref) where touch was to be kept with 10th Buffs. 11.30 The advance on 1st objective (blue line) was begun. The Bn. passed through the 231Bde and pushed on. On approaching Larris Trench very heavy shell fire was experienced and met with a maze of barbed wire, causing a good deal of confusion. 16.00 Larris Trench occupied and advance continued on to Yellow Line. The whole of the line came under very heavy MG fire from the right causing a number of casualties in the leading companies. Shelling, H E and gas, was also very heavy. The Yellow was not taken. The men were very tired and wanted water badly, the C O decided to consolidate our line about 400 yards short of the Yellow Line and try again after dark.
CWGC records show the 15th Suffolks lost 10 men on 5th September 1918.
www.undyingmemory.net/LitThurlow/webb-william.html
Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage present on the original image.
