Hadleigh & Thundersley WW1 Roll of Honour (Surnames A-E)

Stephen Choppen

Fred Choppen

ALDRIDGE, S/13041 L/Cpl. Leslie George, 3rd Rifle Brigade. (The Prince Consorts Own).

Lance Corporal Aldridge was the son of blacksmith Henry and Eliza C Aldridge of “Amersham” Daws Heath Road, Thundersley and was born at Earlsfield, Surrey. He lived at Leigh-on-Sea and was employed by Mr Rolph of Leigh Road until his enlistment at Belhus Park, Middlesex in June 1915. He was invalided home from France with pneumonia in 1916, and upon recovery returned to France in August of the same year, coming home on leave in November 1917. He was killed in action in France at Dean Trench on 22nd March 1918.  His officer wrote that he “used his gun with great effect and undoubtably saved a large party from being cut off…..absolutely  fearless…..if he had lived would have received some high decorations.” He was 21 years old and had two brothers serving in France. His name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France and in St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

ALLEN, 12071 Cpl. James Edward, 1st Essex Regt.

Corporal Allen was the son of James Edward and Sarah Allen of ‘Myrtle Villa’, Lynton Road, Hadleigh. He enlisted in August 1914 and first served in France on May 30th 1915. He died at Hadleigh from the effect of wounds and gas on 8th April 1919. He was 22 years old. During his three years service in France he had been wounded three times. He was demobilised on 17th September 1918 and had spent his last months lying in a serious condition resulting from his injuries. He is buried in a war grave in Hadleigh, St James-the-Less churchyard, and is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial. His brother Sidney died in April 1918 (see below).

ALLEN, 59529 Acting Bombardier Sidney Charles, Royal Garrison Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Dept. (Parkhurst).

Acting Bombardier Allen was the son of James Edward and Sarah Allen of ‘Myrtle Villa’, Lynton Road, Hadleigh. He enlisted in October 1915 and died, aged 24, at Parkhurst Military Hospital on the 24th April 1918, of wounds received in September 1917 at Ypres. He is buried in a war grave in Hadleigh churchyard. His Sergeant Major wrote that: ‘He was a great favourite with everyone with whom he came in contact. His readiness to assist his fellow soldiers made him beloved by his comrades.’ His brother Cpl James Edward Allen, Essex Regt., who died of wounds on 8th April 1919 lies in the same churchyard (see above). His name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

ARNOLD, John A.

The above name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial, and the St James memorial plaque. He died in 1918 but the name does not appear in any military records. He could possibly be the John Albert Arnold Clarke who died 26th April 1918.(see below). Confirmation required.

BANKS, 10403 Cpl. Victor Edward, 1st Essex Regiment.

Corporal Banks was born at Woodford, the son of Mariam Banks of “Ascania”, Lynton Road, Hadleigh and the late Septimus Samuel Banks.  In 1911 the family were living at Walthamstow and Victor was employed as a grocers assistant. He was living in Southend at the outbreak and enlisted at Warley in August 1914. He was sent to the Balkans where he was killed in action at Gallipoli aged 18. He is buried at Twelve Trees Cemetery, Turkey.

BARTHOLOMEW, 2nd Lieut. George Leo Walter, Royal Fusiliers.

George Bartholomew was the son of George and Georgina Bartholomew of “Ilfracombe”, London Road, Hadleigh, where he died on 7th April 1919, aged 20. He had served nearly four years in the army and had only recently been demobilized. He was buried at Ilford.

BARTLETT, 2nd Lieut. Ernest Jack, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own).

2nd Lieutenant Bartlett was the son of Richard and Lydia Bartlett of “Clifton”, Templewood Road, Hadleigh. His parents had connections to the Salvation Army. In 1911 he was living with his family in Tottenham and employed as a shorthand typist. In 1915 he married Annie. After enlistment he was sent to France where he was killed in action on 16th April 1917 aged 23. He is buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France.

BOAG, 2nd Lieut. Herbert Edward, Machine Gun Corps, attd. “B” Bn. Tank Corps.

2nd Lieut Boag was born in Peckham, the son of the late Thomas Reginald Lister-Boag of Yokahama, Japan, and Elizabeth Boag of “Oxenford”, Kennington Avenue, New Thundersley. At the age of eight, Herbert and his sister Florence Elizabeth, aged twelve, were inmates of the Infant Orphan Asylum, Wanstead. By the time he was eighteen, he was boarding at Hackney and working as a journalist for a “Financial Paper”. After enlistment, he was sent to France where he was killed in action on 31st July 1917, aged 25. His name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial and in St Peter’s Church, Thundersley

BONE, 2173 Pte. William John Arthur, 6th Essex Regiment.

Private Bone was born in Brockley, Kent in 1884. He was the son of William and Isabella Bone and lived at ‘Ingleside’, Hadleigh Road, Thundersley. He was single and worked as a market gardener and had enlisted in August 1914. In October 1915, he lost his puttees and after making enquiries believed they had been taken as a joke. He later found them in his own quarters and went back to apologise for having troubled his comrades. Private Ding, who was doing sentry duty, jokingly said: ‘Let’s shoot the bounder,’ and fired his rifle at him, believing it unloaded. Bone fell mortally wounded, and died later on 3rd October 1915, at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, aged 32. He is buried in a war grave in the north-west part of St. Peter’s churchyard, Thundersley.

BOOSEY, 4127 Pte Thomas Frank, 9th Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).

Private Boosey was born at Upminster and lived in Thundersley, the eldest son of Frank and Rosa Boosey. He was employed by Mr Brewer, baker. He enlisted at Southend in September 1914 and served at Festubert, Givenchy and Loos and had been in France for two years when he was reported missing on 7th July 1916 at Ovillers near Albert during the battle of the Somme, aged 21. He was known to have been severely wounded in the jaw, shoulders and arm by a shell, and was later searched for by Captain Rowley who was only able to find the Lewis gun of which Boosey had been in charge.  It was concluded that he could not have been taken prisoner as the nearest German trench was 300 yards away. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France and in St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

BRIGHT, 5695 Cpl. Joseph Charles George, 21st London Regiment.(First Surrey Rifles).

Corporal Bright was born at Kentish Town, the son of Joseph and Emma M Bright of “Millfield” Rectory Road, Hadleigh. In 1911 the family were living at Marine Parade, Southend. He enlisted at St Pauls Churchyard, London, initially in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (11260), later transferring to the London Regiment. He was sent to France on 22nd May 1915 where he was killed in action on 15th September 1916 at Flers Courcellette during the battle of the Somme aged 20. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

BRUTON, 251343 (12316,4270) Pte. George, 1st/5th Essex Regiment.

Private Bruton was born in Hadleigh, the son of George and Kate Annie Bruton. In 1911 he was living at Eastwood Road, Rayleigh and working as a school bootshop errand boy, later moving to Chingford. He enlisted at Southend and was sent abroad on 30th May 1915 and died of wounds in Palestine on 27th March 1917 aged 20. He is buried in the Gaza War Cemetery.

BUDD, 110859 Pte. John Henry, Royal Army Medical Corps.

Private Budd was born at Southend, the only son of Henry and Maud Emma Budd of “Langholm”, 2 Hadleigh Park Avenue, Thundersley. He was living in Forest Gate and working as a clerk when he enlisted at Stratford on 4th August 1916, aged eighteen years and eight months. He was fighting in Turkey where he contracted malaria and pneumonia and died on 15th August 1919 aged 21. He is buried at Tiflis British Cemetery and his name appears on the Haidar Pasha Memorial.

BURR, G/35431, Cpl. Harry Rivers, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt.

Corporal Burr was born at Hadleigh, the son of John and Mary Burr of 33, North Street, Leigh-on-Sea. He enlisted at Southend in November 1916, and had on one occasion been taken prisoner, but managed to escape.  He was killed in action in Belgium on 18th October 1918, aged 20. His name appears on Panel 6 of the Visen Artois Memorial.

BUSH, 40137 Pte. Herbert John, 2nd Essex Regiment.

Private Bush was the son of John and Esther Bush of New Road, Hadleigh, and had been born at Runwell. He attended the Congregational Church and worked for Mr Upson, builder, of Hadleigh. He enlisted at Southend in March 1916, and had been abroad for six weeks when, on the 15th October, he was shot in the heart by a sniper at Les Boeufs in the fighting at Le Transloy during the battle of the Somme – dying instantly.  According to a letter from Private W. Ager – ‘with a smile on his face’. He was 31 years old. His name appears on the Thiepval memorial and on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

CABLE, 8704 Pte. Frederick James, 2nd Essex Regiment.

Private Cable was born at Rayleigh, the son of Frederick and Sarah A. Cable and the husband of Mrs K. Cable of 3, Hillside Cottage, Thundersley.  He joined the 3rd Bn. Essex Regiment  (9355) on 28th August 1906 aged 18. At the outbreak, he was working as a postman at Leigh-on-Sea, being called up with the reserve in August 1914.  He was killed in action during the loss and recapture at La Gheer, Ypres on 21st October 1914 aged 26, and is buried at Lancashire Cottage Cemetery, Hainault, Belgium. Thirty men of the battalion were killed on that day. His name is commemorated on the Holy Trinity Church, Rayleigh and the British Legion memorials as J. Cable.  His name was displayed on the Post Office Roll of Honour in Southend Post Office.

CALVERLEY, 10486 Pte. Harold Henry, 12th Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).

Born at Hadleigh, Private Calverley was the son of Henry and Emma Calverley of 2, Lyndon Villas, London Road, Hadleigh. He enlisted at Southend and first served abroad on 1st September 1915. He was reported missing in action on 28th September 1915, aged 19, and was later presumed to have been killed in action at Loos on that date. His officer described him as ‘A fine soldier’. His name appears on the Loos memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery in France and on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

CAREY, 26237 Pte Stanley, 2nd Essex Regiment.

Private Carey was born at Thundersley, the second son of William James and Sarah Ann Carey of “Ivy Cottage” Daws Heath Road, Rayleigh and was unmarried.  He enlisted at Southend in February 1915 and died of wounds in France on the 11th May 1917 aged 34.  He is buried at Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Rouex. He was one of four brothers serving, three of whom fell. His brother, Rifleman Albert James Carey K.R.R.C., was killed in action on 4th October 1917 aged 22, and his brother, Rifleman Sydney Carey K.R.R.C., was killed in action on 23rd March 1918 aged 28. Stanley Carey and Albert Carey are commemorated on the Rayleigh War Memorial.

CARTER, 5879 Pte Charles Ernest, 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers.

Private Carter was the son of Mrs Ada Carter of “Cliftonville”, New Thundersley and the late Joseph Carter. He was born at Tolleshunt D’Arcy and in 1911 was living with his family at Goldhanger and working on a local farm as horseman. He enlisted at Southend in August 1914 and was reported missing at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 3rd August 1915. His death was later confirmed on 21st August 1915. He was 25 years old and his name is commemorated on the Hellas Memorial and in St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

CARTER, 33612 Rifleman Frederick, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) 10th Battalion.

Rifleman Carter was the son of Edward and Annie Carter and had been born at Southchurch. In 1911, ten-year-old Frederick, along with his brother Bertie, was boarded out with Alice Wilkinson of Love Lane, Rayleigh. At the outbreak of war he was boarded out with William and Rebecca Snow of ‘Ivydene’, Short Road, Hadleigh. He enlisted at Southend just before his 14th birthday and was killed in action at Guillemont during the battle of the Somme, on 3rd September 1916, aged 15½. He was awarded the Victory medal posthumously, but it was returned unclaimed to the military in 1921. His name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

CASSON, 5560 Pte. Edward, Essex Regiment,  1st/2nd Bn.

Private Casson was born at Bow, Middlesex, the husband of Adelaide Matilda Casson of “The Brambles”, Cinder Path, Hart Road, Thundersley.  In 1899, at the age of eighteen, he was living in Leyton and working as a builder’s labourer. On the 22nd of August of that year he enlisted at Stratford for six years to serve in the 4th Essex Militia. In 1914 he was living at East Ham and enlisted at Warley. He was sent to France on 22nd September 1914 where he died of wounds on 12th October 1916 after taking part in the battle of Transloy, during the Somme offensive.  He is buried in the London Cemetery Extension, Longueval, France.

CHILDS, 9174 Pte. Samuel Walter, 3rd Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).

Private Childs was born at St Pancras, the son of the late William and Sophia Childs and the husband of Elizabeth Childs of “Blenheim Cottage”, High Street, Hadleigh. When he married Elizabeth on 29th July 1899 he was employed as a chemists assistant. In 1911, Samuel and Elizabeth were living at Bethnal Green with two children. Samuel enlisted at Holborn and was sent abroad on 24th February 1915, he was killed in action two months later on 26th April 1916, aged 39. His name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

CHOPPEN, R/10818 Rifleman Fred, 7th King’s Royal Rifle Corps.

Rifleman Choppen was born in 1889 in Thundersley, the son of blacksmith  James and Maria (nee Bull) Choppen of Church Road,Thundersley.  Frederick was the youngest of three children and lost his father when he was only seven.  He was the nephew of Mr. Henry Choppen of ‘Ashburnham’, Church Road, Hadleigh, with whom he apparently lived. He was unmarried, and had been employed by M. W. Thorrington, dairyman, for about ten years. Rifleman Choppen enlisted at Westcliff and was posted to the British Expeditionary Force on 30th May 1915 first serving in France on 3rd August 1915. He was killed in action during the battle of either Delville Wood or Flers Courcelette on the Somme on 15th September 1916, aged 27. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial and on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

CHOPPEN, 12073 L/Cpl. Stephen, 9th Essex Regiment.

Lance Corporal Choppen was born in 1895 and was the third son of Henry and Frances (nee Harrison) Choppen of ’Ashburnham’, Church Road, Hadleigh, and was employed by Mr L. S. Upson, as a plasterer, joining his brother William. He enlisted at Southend in the early days of the war, joining the 9th Batallion, Essex Regiment and posted to the British Expedionary Force in France, and had been at the front since 30th May 1915. He was accidentally killed by the explosion of a grenade on the 25th May 1916, aged 21, and was buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, France. He is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

CLARK, 59116, Pte. Frank, 75th Machine Gun Corps.

Private Clark was the son of George and Mary Clark of ‘Eva Cottage’, The Chase, Thundersley, and had lived in the parish since babyhood. Prior to his enlistment, he was employed by Mr A. Davey, nurseryman of Leigh. He had served at Salonika and was then sent to Egypt, where he spent two years. He died on 10th December 1918 of pneumonia, following wounds, and was buried at Ramleh Military Cemetery Palestine. He was 27 years old and left a widow and little daughters. His C. O. described him as ‘one of my best gunners’.

CLARKE, 22756 Pte. Frederick John, !st Garrison, Essex Regiment.

Private Clarke lived at 3, Rayland Cottages, Ash Road, Hadleigh. He enlisted on 18th August 1914 at age 44 and, possibly due to his age, was posted to a garrison regiment for police and guarding duties. On 24th August 1915, he embarked at Devonport on the “Empress of Britain” for the Balkans, arriving at Mudros on 3rd September 1915. He served in Egypt in 1916 and then Khartoum in 1917. Later that year he was discharged due to sickness. He died on 7th November 1919, aged 48, and was buried with full military honours near the west boundary in the churchyard of St James the Less, Hadleigh. His coffin was borne by a contingent of men of the 4th E.V.R, and the mourners present included,a brother, little daughter, stepsons and three step-daughters.

CLARKE, 12360 Sgt. George William, “D” Coy. 9th Essex Regiment.

Sergeant Clarke was born in Thundersley in 1896, the son of George and Emily Clarke.  By 1901 the family had moved to Purfleet where his father was an oil worker.  In 1911 they were living at Jarrah Cottages, Purfleet and George was employed as an apprentice sawyer. He enlisted at Grays and was sent to France, where he was killed in action on 21st March 1917 aged 21. He is buried in Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.

CLARKE, 368003 Pte. John Albert Arnold, 5th (7th) London Regiment

Private Clarke was born at Bow, and was the son of Mr and Mrs O. Clarke of 4, The Broadway, Hadleigh. He lived at Ilford, and enlisted at Stratford in March 1917. He was killed in action on 26th April 1918, aged 19, and was buried at Arras. His name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France.

CLAY, 16709 L/Cpl. Frederick Shaw, 2nd Coldstream Guards.

Lance Corporal Clay was born at Kimberley, Notts, the son of John and Alice Clay. In 1911 he was boarding in Kimberley with his brother Ernest and working as a shop assistant.  He later moved to Hadleigh and after enlisting at Nottingham was sent to Flanders where on the 24th September 1917 he was killed in action aged 19. He is buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belguim.

CLIFFORD, G/15706 A/Sgt. Harold, 11th Royal Sussex Regiment.

Acting Sergeant Clifford was born at Battersea and had lived in Hadleigh with his parents for three and a half years, at ‘Arnewood’, Rectory Road, and was employed as a foreman at the Salvation Army Colony nurseries. In 1914 he married Florence Winifred Smith. He enlisted in June 1916, and was killed in action on 18th September 1917 aged 35. A shell killed him and five others while he was doing duty as an observation scout. He was buried at Zillebeke at Ypres but his grave was never found. His officer wrote: ‘He has worked closely with me for the last seven months as sniping and intelligence N.C.O., and as an observer scout, his reputation went beyond the Battalion’. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial and on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

COLLINS, Charles C.

The above name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial though nothing further is known. It may relate to VJ/44193 A.B. Charles Collins, Hong Kong Special Reserve, H. M. S. Triumph, who died on 25th May 1915, and is commemorated on Panel 9 of the Plymouth Memorial. Any connection with this area is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, however there may be a connection to Samuel and Elizabeth Collins. (Samuel Collins was the headmaster at the Salvation Army Colony when the Hadleigh War Memorial was erected).

COLLINS, 721265 Sgt. Reginald, 2nd/24th London Regiment.

Sergeant Collins was the eldest son of John and Florrie Collins, of ’Homefield’, Woodfield Road, Hadleigh. He was born at Chelsea and educated at the City of Westminster School, and became a clerk in the Civil Service. He enlisted at Kennington, on the 27th April 1915, aged 17. After six months in France, he was sent to Salonika, where he was killed in action on 7th May 1917, aged 19. Captain J. H. Twigg wrote the following letter to his parents: ‘I feel I must write to offer you and Mrs Collins my deepest sympathy at the sad death of your son. He went out last night on a patrol in front of our trenches where a party of Germans was met. They were quickly driven off in the confusion, but your son who behaved most gallantly in the action was shot and died within the hour. He had been in my Company for over a year, and was among the few remaining sergeants who came out from England with me last June. He was a great favourite amongst us all and his death has caused a gap, which we shall find almost impossible to fill. Sergt. Collins has left behind him a fine record for cheerful devotion to duty. I always looked upon him as being a man to be relied upon, one who would do his work, whether difficult or dangerous, readily and well. We buried him in a small cemetery behind the trenches and a cross marks his grave. As many of his personal friends as could be possibly be spared, attended the funeral, which was conducted by the Brigade Chaplains’. He was buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery in Greece and is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

COMPTON, 1170 Pte. John Hugh, 2nd East Surrey Regiment.

Private ‘Jack’ Compton was born at Walthamstow and lived at 2, Sydney Terrace, Meadow Road, Hadleigh, enlisting in September 1914, and training at Devonport and Plymouth. Private Compton first served on the Western Front on 24th March 1915. He was killed in action at Hill 60 on 25th April 1915, and was buried by another Southend man who at the time of the report was in Nottingham Hospital. His grave could not be found and he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres. His name appears on both the Prittlewell and Hadleigh War Memorials.

COOLLEDGE, 305541 Leading Stoker John Henry, Royal Fleet Reserve.

Leading Stoker Coolledge lived at Leigh-on-Sea and joined the Navy in 1904. He married Harriet Alice in 1911. He died at the age of 30 when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed in the North Sea on 22nd September 1914. His brother Gunner George Coolledge was killed in action on 19th September 1918. His name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial and the Hadleigh and Purleigh War Memorials.  Also the Roll of Honour from Purleigh Congregational Church which now hangs in All Saints Church.

COWELL, 342578 Pte. Richard, 231st Labour Corps

Private Cowell was the only surviving son of John and Mary Cowell of Castle Cottage, High Road, Hadleigh. He came to Hadleigh as a baby, and was the manager of a business at Woolwich. He enlisted under the Derby Scheme in May 1917, and first served in the 25th Reserve Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. After transferring to the Labour Corps, he died of bronchopneumonia in France on 19th November 1918 aged 25. His C.O. wrote that he was ‘Intelligent and hardworking with a moral character above reproach’. He is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in France. His name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial. His brother William had earlier been killed in 1915 (see below).

COWELL, 12076 Pte. William, 9th Essex Regiment

Private Cowell was the son of John and Mary Cowell of Castle Cottage, High Road, Hadleigh, and brother of Pte. Richard Cowell (see above). He enlisted at Southend at the end of August 1914, doing most of his training at Shorncliffe. He left for the Front on 30th May 1915. On 17th December he died of shock two hours after receiving severe wounds to both legs, dying in the 133rd Casualty Clearing Station. He was 18 years old, and was buried at Bethune town Cemetery. His parents received the following letter from the hospital: ‘I regret I have sad news for you concerning Private W. Cowell, 9th Essex Regiment, who was admitted here last evening suffering from very severe wounds to both legs. He was very collapsed and suffered severe shock, following injuries, and in spite of every aid died peacefully two hours later. With my sympathy, I remain, yours truly, (Sister) A.C. Jackson, 133rd Casualty Station, British Expeditionary Force’. His last letter had been received about a week before, it read: ‘I think we have earned the rest that we are now having, after six months in and out of the trenches, and I am sure the regiment has made a name for itself. I don’t know whether we shall have the luck be out of the trenches for Christmas, but we hope so. I am pleased to hear that the rest of the Hadleigh lads have joined the Army, and I really think that Hadleigh has done her little bit’. A comrade wrote: ‘He was a soldier that his old village could be proud of and was one of the best gunners of the Division’. His Officer wrote: His pluck was amazing and I shall mourn not only a good machine gunner, but a brave man and a good soldier.’ His name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial. His brother Richard died on 19th November 1918 (see above).

DAVIS, 41175 Pte. Hubert, 11th Suffolk Regiment.

Private Davis was born at Redhill, Surrey, the eldest son of John and Marian Davis of Thundersley House Nurseries and lived at “Kildare”, Manor Road, New Thundersley. He was employed as a clerk by Messrs Maple’s and was living at Walthamstow where he enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment in early 1917 (27291) and was subsequently transferred to the Suffolk Regiment. He was killed after several weeks service in France on 1st June 1917 aged 36. He left a widow Balbina Davis and three children. His name is commemorated on the Arras memorial and in St Peter’s Church Thundersley, where it appears as Davies.

DUNN, 9249 Sgt. Edwin Watson, 2nd Suffolk Regt.

Sergeant Dunn a veteran of the Boer War was born at Gloucester and lived at Hadleigh. He enlisted at Southend in August 1914 and was killed in action in France on 4th December 1914 aged 32. His name appears on Panel 21 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial.

EADE, 18040 Pte. Charles, 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment.

Private Eade was born at Weeley Heath in Essex, the son of Simeon and Mary Ann Eade, and lived at Hadleigh. He enlisted at Southend and was wounded on his first day in France, 8th June 1915 and died on 16th June 1915, aged 18. He is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial in France and the Hadleigh and Weeley War Memorials.

ELLIS, 40495 Pte. Edward, 2nd Essex Regiment.

Private Ellis was born at Leigh on Sea, the son of Thomas and Ellen Ellis of Weslyan Flats, Avenue Road, Hadleigh. In 1911 he was employed as a carman, delivering parcels. He enlisted at Southend and was killed in action on 1st September 1918 aged 27. He is buried at Fenchy Chapel,Wancourt, France.

ELLISON, 22421 Sapper Stanley Thomas, Royal Engineers, 56th Field Coy.

Born at Enfield in 1893, Sapper Ellison was the son of Thomas Daniel and Alice Eliza Ellison of “The Manor”, New Thundersley, and was serving at the outbreak, having enlisted at Mill Hill in 1912. He was killed in action at Nimee, Belgium on 23rd August 1914 aged 21. He is buried in Hautrage Military Cemetery, Belgium.  Writing from a German P.O.W camp, Sapper E Hargreaves told his mother: “On 23rd August 1914 your son went into action with me as a cyclist signaller at a place called Nimee near Mons, and at 10am recieved a bullet through the head, death being instantaneous. I was myself severly wounded at the same time and place, but am well again now.  The sad news I give you with great reluctance, and I trust you may bear up under the shock.”  His name appears on the South Benfleet War Memorial and on a family grave in St Peters Church, Thundersley.

ENGLAND, 548040 Pte. Ernest Walter Henry, 15th London Regiment.  (Prince of Wales’ Own, Civil Service Rifles).

Private England was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Ernest Edward and Margaret Elizabeth England of “Woodview” Benfleet Road, Hadleigh.  He was educated at Brentwood Grammar School and had passed the Oxford local examination with honours. He was the assistant scout master at Wickford and was a member of the Volunteers.  Ernest enlisted in London in March 1917, initially in the 5th London Regiment (305625), later transferring to the Civil Service Rifles. He was recommended to a cadet school to take a commission in 1917, but preferred to remain in the ranks. He was sent to France in March 1918 where he was severely wounded on 2nd September 1918 and died two days later on 4th September 1918 aged 19. He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, Somme, France. His name appears on the Wickford War Memorial with his unit given as 5th London Regiment.