Hadleigh & Thundersley WW1 Roll of Honour (Surnames F-M)

FARLEY, 823816 Pte. Thomas Henry, 1st Canadian Labour Corps.

As a child of four years old, Private Farley was boarded out from Rochford Workhouse with Thomas and Annie Barnes of New Road, Hadleigh. He was then sent to Canada through the instrumentality of the Guardians and was engaged for some years in agricultural work. He joined the Canadian Contingent and was home on leave in Hadleigh for Christmas 1916. He died as the result of a severe abdominal wound on 19th August 1917, following eighteen months service in France. He was 20 years old and was buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No.3 at Ypres. He is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

FEAKINS, 35124 Pte. Robert James, 7th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Born at Hadleigh, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Feakins, Private Feakins lived at 23, Fernbrook Avenue, Southchurch, and enlisted initially in the Essex Regiment (No.3526) at Westcliff in November 1914. He was killed in action on 7th October 1916, during the battle of Le Transloy, of the Somme offensive.  He was aged 19, and was buried at Guedecour. His grave was not found and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The caption to the photograph printed in the Southend Standard of 26th October 1916 gives his unit as the Essex Regiment. He is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial as Robert Feakin.

FIELDING, 14089 Pte Albert Edward, 10th Essex Regiment.

Private Fielding was born at Thundersley and was the son of Hannah Fielding of Valley Cottage, Daws Heath Road, Thundersley and the late  George Fielding.  He had been in the army for three years and had gone back to France for the second time in May 1917.  He took part in the “big push” of 31st July 1917 and was in hospital the following August with a poisoned hand.  He returned to the firing line on 13th September and died from the effects of wounds and poison gas on 2nd November 1917.   He was 30 years old and is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.  His name is commemorated in St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

FRENCH, 299542 Stoker Jack R N.

Stoker French was born in Thundersley, the son of George and Harriet French of Fairlight Road, Hadleigh. He was killed on 1st January 1915, aged 38 years, when HMS Formidable was sunk by a torpedo near the Isle of Wight. Of the 780 aboard, 35 officers and 512 men were drowned. He left a widow Annie, a son John and daughter Annie. His name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

GILBERT, 16081 Pte. Alfred, 1st Essex Regiment.

Born at Barningham, Suffolk, the son of Harry and Hortensia Gilbert, Private Gilbert lived at 1 Fairview Villas, Lynton Road, Hadleigh. He worked as groom-gardener to Mr Hughes of ‘Woodcroft’, Thundersley for some years. A member of the Hadleigh Wesleyan church, he was for about ten years class leader and local preacher in the Southend and Leigh circuit. He enlisted at Watley on the 2nd December 1914 and first served in the Balkans on 10th June 1915. He was reported missing at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, on 6th August, aged 36. The Southend Roll of Honour states that he was killed in action at Cape Helles, and was buried there. He was reburied in the Twelve Trees Copse Cemetery in Turkey. He left a widow Mary Rebekah and four young children and is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

GINN, P/8 Warrant Officer Alfred, Military Mounted Police.

Born at St Neots, Warrant Officer Ginn had served through the Boer War in a Hussar Regiment, and lived at 6, Nursery Terrace, Hadleigh with his wife Annie Mary and three children. He had lived on the Salvation Army Colony at Hadleigh for three years, re-enlisting at Southend at the outbreak and was made a sergeant. He was killed in action in France on 1st October 1915, aged 43. His name appears on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery, France and on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

GOOD, R/11385 Rifleman Morton Handley, 7th Kings Royal Rifle Corps.

Rifleman Good was the son of William Thomas and Ellen Jane Good of “Hazlemere”, Bread and Cheese Hill, Thundersley.  He was born at Westbourne Park, Paddington, and came to Westcliff early in life.  Going to Nottingham he entered into the service of Messrs. Gilbey & Sons, wine merchants and was a staunch member of the Church of England Mens’s Society at Ruddington.  In April 1916 he enlisted at Hounslow (Kingsway), going to France in the following June.  He was wounded on the 5th September 1916 and brought to Winchester on 21st September.  He was later sent to Coldfield Convalescent Camp.  He returned to France in April 1917, serving as a bomber and sniper, and two weeks later was fatally wounded, dying at a Casualty Clearing Station on 2nd May 1917. He is buried at Walincort Halte British Cemetery, Saulty.  He was 21 years old and was described as of a studious nature, and very fond of art.

GULLETT, J/41341 1st Class Boy,  James Anthony, Royal Navy.

!st Class Signaller Gullett was the son of Frank and Dorcas Emma Gullett of “Daisy Bungalow” Kiln Road, Thundersley.  He joined the Navy in 1915 and was lost on H.M.S. Black Prince at Jutland, 31st May 1916, when after being under heavy German fire, the ship exploded with the loss of all hands.  He was 17 years old and his name appears on the Chatham Naval Memorial. *see footnote.

HALL, M2/115684 Pte. Charles Arthur, Royal Army Service Corps.

Private Hall was born at Stratford and was formerly in business with his mother at the “Sun and Whalebone” Harlow, and after marriage to Alice was living at “Alice Dene” London Road, Hadleigh. He enlisted in London on July 1915 and was sent to France where he injured his leg as a despatch rider. He was later sent to East Africa where he died of dysentery on 6th September 1917 aged 25. He is buried in Dar es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania.  His widow was left £1166.8.3 in his will.

HARRISON, G/10289 Pte. John, 2nd Duke of Cambridge’s Own, (Middlesex Regt).

Private Harrison was born in Mansfield, Notts and at the outbreak was living in Hadleigh.  He enlisted at Southend and was sent to France where he was killed in action on 24th March 1918.  His name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

HART, K/16218 1st Class Stoker, Frederick, Royal Navy.

Stoker Hart was born at Lambeth and was the son of Richard and Mary Jane Hart of “Brookland” Kiln Road Thundersley where he had lived for ten years. In 1911 he was a farm worker.  He had been in the  Navy for three and a half years, serving on the “Renown” and the “Edgar”. He took part in the battle of Heligoland Bight and was lost on HMS Queen Mary at the battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916.  He was 23 years old.  His name is commemorated on the Royal Navy and Royal Marines War Graves Roll, the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 18 and in St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

HAVES, G/17254 Pte. Stanley Alfred, 13th Royal Sussex Regiment.

Private Haves was a Chorister at St James the Less, Hadleigh. He was the son of Mr Alfred H. Haves of “Hawthorne”, Sandleigh Road, Southend-on Sea and was born at West Ham. He enlisted at East Ham in February 1917, and was killed in action on 26th September following, aged 19. Reported missing, the British Red Cross were finally able to confirm that on the morning of 26th September 1917, during the attack at Tower Hamlets near Passchendaele, (the German lines being three quarters of a mile away), Haves was knocked over as his regiment “went over the top”. He tried to get up but could not do so. His regiment reached their objective and held it. There is a memorial plaque to Private Hayes in St James-the-Less Church.

HIMPETT, 204480 Pte. William Edward, 7th Bedfordshire Regiment.

Private Himpett was born at Sittingbourne, Kent in 1887 the son of the late William and Alice Himpett of 7 Pooles Lane, Hullbridge.  He spent his early years in Canada, returning in 1894. He married Louisa Robinson in 1911 and lived at Thundersley, enlisting at Southend in January 1917.  He was reported as missing during the fighting along the Crozat Canal and was later confirmed to have died of wounds on 22nd March 1918 aged 32.  His name appears on the Pozières Memorial, France and on the Barling War Memorial.

HOLGATE, 2nd Lieut. Harold Arthur, 14th East Surrey Regiment.

2nd Lieutenant Holgate was born in Fulham, the son of Arthur Joseph and Evelyn Alice Holgate of “Sans Souci”, London Road, Hadleigh.  In 1911 the family were still living in Fulham where Harold was employed as a boy clerk.  After enlistment Harold was sent to France on 8th August 1916 where, after only six weeks at the front, he was killed in action on 25th September 1916, during the battle of Morval, part of the Somme offensive.  He was aged 20, and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

HOOKEY, 372909 Rifleman William George, 1/8 London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).

Rifleman Hookey was the eldest son of George and Minnie Hookey of Whitehead Lodge, Great Wakering.  He was born at Downton, Wilts and educated at Great Wakering School.  In 1910 he married Eliza Ann and was subsequently employed as a postman at Rayleigh, living at “Ivyglen” Rayleigh Road, Thundersley.  He enlisted in the Post Office Rifles with the first married groups under the Derby Scheme.  He had been in France for seventeen months, and had only recently returned to the front from 14 days home leave when he was killed in action on 5th December 1917 aged 28. He is buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, France.  His officer, Lieutenant B.C. Wright wrote: “It is with very great regret that I have to write and announce your son’s death.  He was killed outright, with nearly the whole of his section, and only one of them escaped.  It was a great blow to me and the company, as he was a very fine man.  Although he was so young he was one of the very bravest, and it must be a great blow to you.”  His name appears on the Great Wakering war Memorial

HOPWOOD, 2nd/Lieut. Frederick William, MM, 8th Royal Berkshire Regiment,(Princess Charlotte of Wales)

2nd Lieutenant Hopwood was the second son of Mr & Mrs Hopwood of 4,Orchard Cottages, Common Lane, Thundersley.  He joined the Royal West Kent Regiment in 1915 and was sent to France in May 1916.  He was promoted to Sergeant and then commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in early 1918 and attached to the 8th Bn.Royal Berkshire Regiment.  He had been twice wounded and on the second occasion on Vimy Ridge won the Military Medal (London Gazette 21/8/17).  He had been back from leave for three months before he was killed leading his men into action on 27th August 1918 aged 21.  He is buried in Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, Somme, France.  His father Private F W Hopwood, Army Veterinary Corps had spent three years in Salonika, and was then at Marseilles.  His elder brother Private A J Hopwood was serving in the Machine Gun Corps.  A memorial service was held for him in October 1918, attended by his brother and fiancee who was a V A D nurse in the Overcliff Hospital.  A fellow-officer wrote:“Second-Lieut. Hopwood was shot in the head whilst gallantly leading his men into action.  A more right royal gallant lad no one could wish to have fighting by his side.  He will be especially missed by his platoon and the whole battalion sends sympathy.” His name is commemorated at St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

HOWARD, 28731 Pte. Henry, 9th Suffolk Regiment.

Private Howard was born in Thundersley in 1891, the son of Henry and Matilda Howard of Hart Road, Thundersley.  By 1911 the family had moved to Southend and Henry was working as a builder’s labourer.  He enlisted at Southend and was sent to France where he was killed in action during or prior to the start of the battle of Flers Courcelette on the Somme on 13th September 1916 aged 25.  He is buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, France.

HUGHES, 826936 Pte Hugh William, 143rd Bn.Canadian Expeditionary Force

Private Hughes was the son of John James and Mary Ann Hughes and was born in London in 1880.  He lived at Thundersley for many years prior to emigrating to Victoria, British Columbia where he farmed before enlisting on 28th August 1916.  He came back to England with the Canadians in January 1917, and in the following September was severely wounded near Lens. He died of shrapnel wounds to his right foot and shell gas on 17th September 1917 in no.56 General Hospital at Étaples. He was aged 37, and is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery. He had married Daisy May Shelley who at the time of his death was living with their two children in Main Road, Thundersley.  He had been active in British Columbia in forming a troop of boy scouts, becoming Scoutmaster.  His name is commemorated at St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

JEMMETT, T/201481 Private Sidney Ernest, 4th East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)

Private Jemmett was born at Hadleigh in 1895, the son of James William and Frances Jemmett.  His father James Jemmett was the manager of the brickworks at the Hadleigh Salvation Army Colony.  The family later moved to Murston in Kent and at the outbreak of war Sidney enlisted at Canterbury.  He died in India on 2nd November 1918.  His name appears on the Karachi 1914 – 1918 war memorial.

KEMP, 470365 Pte. Frederick Charles, 206th Coy. Labour Corps.

Private Kemp was born in Ramsgate, Kent, the son of Tom and Emma Kemp.  He later moved to Hadleigh and enlisted at Southend, initially joining the 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade (S/9338) then transferring to the Labour Corps.  He was sent to France on 2nd September 1915 and was killed in action 25th May 1918 aged 45.  He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

KING, 9893 L/Cpl Herbert John, 3rd Royal Fusiliers, (City of London Regiment).

Lance Corporal King was born in Thundersley and was the son of Charles and Emily King of the Common, Thundersley.  In 1911 Herbert (John) was working as a telegraph messenger before enlisting at Hounslow in November 1914.  He served in Gallipoli and France, and was acting as a bomber when he was killed at Salonika on 22nd May 1917.  He was 21, and is buried at Struma Military Cemetery, Greece.  His name is commemorated at St Peter’s Church, Thundersley.

LAMBERT, 6321 Sergeant Frederick Charles, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

Sergeant Lambert was born in Somersham, Suffolk, the son of Mrs Alice Rimington of Common Lane, Thundersley.  In 1911 he married Maud Lydia Bevan and the couple lived at Lower Court Road, Epsom, Surrey. He enlisted in London and had been in France for only six months when he was reported as missing, presumed dead on the 23rd of July 1916 during the attacks at High Wood, part of the Somme offensive.  He was aged 34 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial.

LEWIS, 20578 Cpl. Charles MM, 8th West Yorkshire Regt.(Prince of Wale’s Own).

Corporal Lewis was born at Canning Town, the son of Charles and Louisa Lewis of “De Bligny”, Catherine Road, Thundersley.  He enlisted at Woolwich initially as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps (T/36805) later transferring to the West Yorkshire Regiment. He was sent to France on the 29th May 1915 where he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery and was killed in action at the battle of Bapaume on 1st September 1918 aged 19.  He is buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery, France.

LINCE, G/43364 Private Charles William John, Duke of Cambridge’s Own, 23rd Middlesex Regiment.

According to ‘Soldiers Died’, Private Lince was born at Littlebury, Essex, and enlisted at Purfleet, his address being given as Northfleet, Kent. He is possibly the C.J. Lince whose name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial (as Charles J.W. Lince), but no further information is known.

MANN, 34144 Pte. Benjamin, 2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

Private Mann was born in Hadleigh.  In 1911 he was lodging at Thurrock and working as a dock labourer (census shows birthplace as Thundersley).  He enlisted at Grays, initially in the Norfolk Regiment (20550), later transferring to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.  He was sent to the Balkans where he died of wounds 8th December 1916 aged 37.  He is buried at Struma Military Cemetery, Greece.

MASON, 10553 Pte. Ernest Edward, 2nd Essex Regiment.

Private Mason was born and educated at Hadleigh, where his father, Walter Mason, was engineer to the Salvation Army Colony and lived at 1, Brittania Cottages, Leigh Road (now London Road) Hadleigh. He was a former member of the Salvation Army Citadel Sunday School and later belonged to Hart’s Sunday School in connection with the Congregational Church. He was employed by Mr Jordison, dairyman of Hadleigh, for several years, and later worked as a builder’s assistant at Southend. He was the first Hadleigh man to enlist at Southend on the Monday following the outbreak, his elder brother Rueben having already been called to the colours as a reservist. Private Mason was first sent to France on 30th May 1915. After six months in the trenches, he was wounded in the leg and shoulder, and sent to King George’s Hospital, London for treatment. On his return to the front he was attached to a R.E. Tunnelling Company, serving in a kit store and later in the Quartermaster stores. He subsequently rejoined the Essex Regiment and was killed at Ypres in Belgium on 10th October 1917, aged 25. He is buried at the Perth Cemetery (China Wall) in Belgium and is commemorated on the Hadleigh War Memorial. His brother Rueben was killed in action on 5th March 1917 (see below).

MASON, 6791 Pte. Reuben, 13th Hussars.

Born at Chelmsford, Private Mason had lived in Hadleigh for 27 years, at 1, Britannia Cottages, Leigh Road, Hadleigh. He was unmarried and had served in the army for seventeen years altogether but, prior to the war, took his discharge and for four or more years was engaged in the building trade in Southend and Leigh. He was called up with the reserve in 1914, embarking for France on 7th October 1914, and was thus awarded the 1914 Mons Star. Private Mason was present at the defence of Antwerp and was wounded at the 1st battle of Ypres. He was subsequently sent to Mesopotamia, where he was killed at Lajj, on 5th March 1917, aged 35. Several reports from comrades were later received giving the circumstances of his death. Trooper J. Welsh of the same squadron saw the deceased lying dead as they came under fire. Pte. A. Steadman dismounted and found him to be dead. Trooper Styles stated that after sighting the Turks they rode through a dust storm. Mason, riding near him, dismounted to replace some ammunition boxes which had fallen off a pack horse when he was shot through the chest and died within a minute. An officer and two or three men stayed behind with him and the rest charged the Turks. His name appears on the Basra Memorial in Iraq and on the Hadleigh War Memorial. His brother Ernest Mason was killed in action on 10th October 1917 (see above).

McCORMICK, 1409 Pte. John Rowland, 3rd Royal Fusiliers.

Private McCormick was the son of Rowland and Harriet McCormick of 1 Rectory Cottages, Rectory Road, Hadleigh, and was a native of that village. He enlisted at Southend in August 1914, and was killed in action on 3rd May 1915, aged 17, being buried at Zonnebeke. His grave was not found and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial at Ypres, Belgium. A memorial service was held for him at the Hadleigh Wesleyan Church. His name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

MEGGS, 2nd/Lieut. Stewart Gordon, 213rd Siege Battalion, Royal Garrison Artillery.

2nd Lieutenant Meggs was the son of Charles and Florence Meggs of ‘Hazledene’, Daws Heath, Thundersley. He enlisted in August 1914 and was sent to France. In late February 1917, he was taken to a hospital in France where he was found to be in a dangerous condition, and died of pneumonia on 3rd March 1917, aged 21. He was buried in the St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens. His name appears on the Hadleigh War Memorial.

MONK, 427288 Pte Ernest James, Labour Corps.

Private Monk was born at Latchingdon, the son of Alfred and Matilda Monk and lived in Church Road, Thundersley.  In 1901 he was living with his brother Alfred and working as a bricklayer’s labourer, later that year he married Alice Manser.  By 1911 Ernest and Alice had four children and were living in Steeple, Southminster where Ernest  worked as a farm horseman.  He had served with the 445th Agricultural Company in Cornwall for four years and the 17th Yorkshire Regiment (No 40714), later transferring to the Labour Corps.  He died nine days after he returned home of pneumonia on 20th February 1919 aged 37.  He left a widow and six children and is buried in a war grave, west of the church in St Peter’s Churchyard, Thundersley.

MOSS, 7095 L/Sgt. Reginald Bertram, 1/6th Durham Light Infantry.

Lance Sergeant Moss was born in Dunstable, the son of Edwin John and Mary Louisa Moss of The Triangle, Daws Heath, Thundersley.  In 1911 he was living at Ilford and working as a draper’s stock keeper.  He enlisted in the 2/6th Essex Regiment (4557) in 1914, later being transferred to the Durham Light Infantry in July 1916.  He was killed in action in France in October 1916 in the battle of Le Transloy during the Somme offensive.  He was aged 22 and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

MUNDEY, 7976 Cpl. Henry, 1st East Yorkshire Regiment.

Born at Orsett, Corporal Mundey was the son of James Mundey of Cambridge Cottage, St John’s Road, Hadleigh. He was a former regular, and had served twelve years in the army, six of them in India. Corporal Mundey was recalled with the reserve at the outbreak of war, earning the Mons Star. He was killed in action on the first day of the Somme, at Fricourt, part of the battle for Albert on 1st July 1916, aged 33, and was presumed to have been buried at Ovillers. His officer wrote that he was ‘Hardworking, intelligent and absolutely trustworthy.’ He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, and on the Hadleigh War Memorial as “Monday”.  There is also a family grave memorial in St Giles & All Saints Churchyard in Orsett.

MURRAY, 251339 Cpl. James, 5th Essex Regiment.

Corporal Murray was born in Thundersley.  He was living at Bulphan and enlisted at Stratford.  He was sent to Palestine, where he was killed in action on 26th March 1917.  His name appears on the Jerusalem Memorial and the Bulphan War Memorial.

– – – – –

{Ed: * reported in Southend Museums  as follows:

Signal Boy James Anthony Gullett (No. J/41341) lived at 8, The Avenue, Kiln Road, Thundersley. He joined the Royal Navy in 1915 and was onboard HMS Black Prince at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916. She lost contact with the rest of 1st Cruiser Squadron while HMS Defence and HMS Warrior were heavily engaged with German Forces at 17:42. She later sent a message that she had spotted a submarine at 20:45. It is believed that she approached between five and six German vessels at 23:35 and took salvoes at point-blank range. She sunk in 15 minutes, losing all her hands. He died aged 17 and was son of Frank Baker and Emma Dorcas Gullett. He is commemorated on 16, Chatham Naval Memorial. }

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  • GULLETT, J/41341 1st Class Boy, James Anthony, Royal Navy.
    He is also remembered on South Benfleet War Memorial and St. Mary’s Church Memorial Board.

    By Tony (09/11/2020)
  • FRENCH, 299542 Stoker Jack R N.
    There is a family grave in St. James churchyard remembering John (Jack) French

    By Tony (09/11/2020)
  • There is a family grave memorial to Henry Mundey in St.Giles & All Saints Churchyard in Orsett.

    By Tony (07/07/2013)

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