A Private with 1st Bn. Joseph  died on 19th of May 1915 at the age of 38. Joseph was born at Lowestoft in 1877, a son of William and Charlotte Cleveland. In 1881 his family lived at 80 Selby Street. By 1891 his father had died and his family were living at 30 Selby Street. Later his brother Arthur lived at 13 Dove Street, Lowestoft. Joseph was working as a labourer, for Mr. Chapman of Lowestoft, when he enlisted in the Suffolk Artillery Militia, at Lowestoft, on 11 December 1899. On 8 March 1900 Joseph joined the regular army and enlisted in the Royal Scots, at Lowestoft, with service number 7167. He served with the 1st Battalion in the Boer War, from 7 September 1901 to 21 November 1902 and was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal. He then served in India until his transfer to the Army Reserve on 7 March 1908. He was discharged from the reserve on 7 March 1912. On 30 March 1912 Joseph enlisted in the 3rd Reserve Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, number 7560, at Scarborough. He was working as a blacksmith's striker at that time. It seems that Joseph did not serve with the Yorkshire Regiment for very long.After the outbreak of the First World War Joseph volunteered and he enlisted in the Royal Scots at North Shields. He arrived in France on 14 April 1915 to serve with the 1st Battalion and he joined C Company. He was wounded in the face at Ypres on 27 April 1915 and admitted to 18 General Hospital on 28 April 1915. On 29 April 1915 he was transferred to hospital at Versailles. Once recovered he returned to the 1st Battalion. Joseph was killed in action on 19 May 1915 and buried at Sanctuary Wood Old Cemetery. The precise location of his grave was lost and plans made to add his name to the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. However, it was realised that he was buried in the vicinity of Sanctuary Wood Cemetery and his headstone bears the note 'buried near this spot.'While casualty records state that Joseph died on 19 May 1915 the 1st Battalion War Diary records no casualties for that day. Checking the buried records on Commonwealth War Graves shows that there are several discrepancies between the dates of death recorded in Commonwealth War Graves records and the details from the War Diary. It is inferred that Joseph died on or by 17 May 1915 at the latest. Also Commonwealth War Graves records state that he was 47 when he died: his actual age was 38.

A Chief Skipper with H.M. Trawler Myrtle, William died on 14 June 1940, aged 46.William was born at Lowestoft on 25 April 1894, a son of James and Mary Cleveland. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 25 May 1894 and his family lived at 7 Wollaston Road. In 1901 his family lived at Laundry Lane. By 1911 his father had died, and his family lived at 4 Strand Street. Later they lived at 3 Spurgeon Street. By the 1950s William’s mother lived at 273 Saint Peter’s Street. In 1918 William married Ellen Rae, this was registered in the Woodbridge district. For a time, they lived at Stamshaw Street, Portsmouth. By 1921 they were living with William’s mother at 273 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. In early 1939 William, Ellen and their daughter, lived at Portsmouth and Ellen died. William then moved to Grimsby and lived at 6 Nacton Street, Grimsby. William married Doris M. Robinson, at Grimsby, just three weeks before his death. William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 12 August 1914, service number A 5908, and initially he served as a Seaman with the Royal Naval Division. In November 1914 he was posted to the trawler section and served with the Otway. In 1916 he was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand and in early 1917 he was advanced to the rank of Second Hand. In April 1917 he joined the trawler Maria. In 1918 William was awarded his certificate of competency as a Skipper and on 26 April 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Skipper, service number WSA 2274. On 8 May 1918 William joined the trawler Shooting Star and, on 20 March 1919, the Gunner. He was demobilised on 16 February 1920, but soon re-enrolled.In his civilian life William worked on the trawler Victoria LT 1056 in 1920. In 1922 he was the Second Hand with the Dalby, BN 61, and then joined the Banby, BN 165. In 1923 he was the Mate with the Marjorie Grace, LT 491, before joining the Emblem, LT 755. He was the Skipper of the Boy Charlie, LT 1067, from 1924. In 1926 he served with LT 285. During 1927 William worked on the Cineraria (sic), the Hurn (sic), and then the trawler I.F.S. Then he joined the 1928 Obern (sic).By 1935 William had been promoted to Chief Skipper with the Royal Naval Reserve and he was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Officer’s Decoration (the Reserve Decoration). William was called out for service at the start of World War Two and he took command of the trawler Myrtle which was being used as a minesweeper. On 22 November 1939 the Myrtle rescued survivors from S.S. Lowland which had been mined off Clacton on Sea. On 14 June 1940 the Myrtle was in the Thames Estuary and the crew attempted to take a magnetic mine on board when the mine exploded killing all of the crew. William was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 11 July 1940, for his service in minesweeping duties. William’s brother, George, served with the Mercantile Marine and died in 1915.With thanks to Andy Pearce

A Wren with H.M.S. Minos, Freda died on 26th of April 1941, aged 35. Freda was born at Lowestoft on 26 May 1905, a daughter of William Alexander and Alice Elizabeth Coates. She was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 15 June 1905 and her family lived at 45 Princes Road and this was still her family home in 1939. Freda joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service and was posted to H.M.S. Minos at Lowestoft. 

A Private with 54th (1/1st East Anglian) Casualty Clearing Station, Reginald died on 13th of August 1915 at the age of 19. Reginald was born at Lowestoft in 1896, a son of William and Martha Coates. In 1901 his family lived at 76 Clapham Road, Lowestoft, and by 1911 they had moved to 39 Princes Road, Lowestoft. Reginald was living at 39 Princes Road when he volunteered and he joined the Army on 8 February 1915. He served with the local territorial unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps which became part of the 54th (1/1st East Anglian) Casualty Clearing Station. Reginald embarked the Royal Edward at Devonport on 30 July 1915 and arrived at Alexandria on 11 August 1915. The Royal Edward sailed for Gallipoli on 12 August, but was torpedoed and sunk on 13 August. Reginald was reported 'missing, believed drowned in the sinking of the Royal Edward.'Reginald's family subsequently gave their address as Daybreak Villa, Princes Road, Lowestoft.

A Telegraphist with H.M.S. Woolwich, Duncan died on 3rd of May 1940 aged 19.Duncan was born at Lowestoft on 28 October 1920, a son of Adam James Dott and Ellen Cockburn. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 18 November 1920 and his family lived at 31 Sandringham Road. By 1939 Duncan’s father had died and his mother lived at 13 All Saints Road. Duncan served with H.M.S. Woolwich. In the first half of 1940 his ship was based at Scapa Flow. No specific details of what happened to Duncan can be found, however the Royal Navy War Graves roll lists him as missing – death on war service presumed. 

A Private with the 12th/13th Battalion, William died on 29th of May 1918 aged 21. William was born at Lowestoft in 1896, a son of Daniel John and Matilda Cockel. In 1901 his family lived at 4 Thurston Road, and by 1911 at 11 Erskine Place, Factory Street. Records show a variety of spellings for his surname. William volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, service number 2090. In 1917 he was posted to France to serve with the 1/4th Battalion, service number 265306. He was transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers, service number 235350, and served with the 16th Battalion, until it was disbanded in February 1918, then the 19th Battalion and then the 12/13th Battalion. In May 1918 the 12/13th Battalion were at Berry-au-Bac. In the early hours of 27 May they were subjected to a heavy enemy barrage, including gas. The Germans then made a major attack on their left and the battalion had to withdraw to the Cormicy Line and then to Chalons Wood. That evening they moved back to Vaux-Varennes. The next day they continued to withdraw, and that evening were at Jonchery. The battalion faced a further heavy attack on the 29th. From 27 to 29 May the battalion’s casualties were 18 officers and 493 men.William was reported missing between 27 and 29 May and later presumed to have been killed.  

A Lieutenant with H.M.S. Martello, William died on 28 January 1942, aged 48. William was born at Wivenhoe, Essex, on 10 September 1893, a son of William Frederick and Margaret Christina Cockrell. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe, on 26 October 1893. By 1901 his family had moved to Lowestoft and lived at 4 Waveney Drive, and this was still their address in 1911 when William worked as an engineer. By 1916 their home was at Chesterfield House, Lowestoft, and later his parents lived at Arlington, North Parade.William was commissioned as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 26 July 1916. He served with Motor Launch 12 in November 1916, and Motor Launch 414 from December 1916. He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 26 July 1917. On 25 May 1918 he joined H.M.S. Queen for hydroplane duties and was awarded the First-Class certificate. Later he joined H.M. Trawler Stephen and was demobilised on 1 June 1919. On 29 March 1924 William married Caroline Isabel Belton at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. William was an engineer and they both lived at Kirkley. By 1939 they were living at The Homestead, 40 Victoria Road, Oulton Broad, and William was a refrigeration engineer. William was commissioned as a Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 16 December 1940 and served with H.M.S. Martello, the minesweeper base at Lowestoft, William died from illness. 

A Chief Petty Officer with H.M.S. Boadicea, Victor died on 13th of June 1944 aged 32. Victor was born at Oulton Broad on 7 January 1912, a son of Ernest and Florence Colby. In 1921 his family lived at 1 Oswald Cottages, Bridge Road. On 13 December 1939 Victor married Elizabeth Codling at Saint Mark’s Church, Oulton Broad. Victor was a Petty Officer with the Royal Navy and gave his address as 5 Station Road, Sycamore Avenue, and Elizabeth lived at 25 Blackheath Road. Their home was at 22 Sycamore Avenue.Victor worked as an acetylene cutter before joining the Royal Navy, as a Boy 2nd Class, on 1 April 1927. Victor served continuously with the Royal Navy until his death in 1944.  In June 1944 Victor served with the destroyer H.M.S. Boadicea. On 13 June the Boadicea was off Portland Bill escorting a convoy of merchant ships to France, German bombers attacked the ship causing the ship’s magazine to explode, sinking the ship. Only twelve of the ship’s 182 crew survived. 

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Bracklyn, William died on 11th of May 1917 at the age of 32. William was born at Lowestoft on 4 June 1884 a son of Arthur and Alice Colby. In 1891 his family lived at 28 Jacob’s Street. In 1901 William was the cook on the trawler United, LT 192, at Lowestoft, and his family lived at 58 Stanford Street. By 1911 they were living at 98 Haward Street. By 1916 William was living at 10 Raglan Street.On 24 December 1916 William married Dorothy May Hook at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a deck hand and gave his address as 177 Saint Margaret’s Road and Dorothy lived at 147 Saint Margaret’s Road. In 1917 Dorothy lived at 1 Alma Road. In 1919 she married Samuel Martin and they lived at 8 Coastguard Cottages, Battery Green, Lowestoft.William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 20 April 1915. He served on the trawler Bracklyn.  On 10 March 1916 the Bracklyn, along with four other ships, ran aground at Corton, in bad weather and had to be towed off the beach.On 11 May 1917 the Bracklyn was sunk by a mine off Great Yarmouth. All ten of the crew were killed. William's daughter, Dorothy, married Patrick Furrell, who served in the Royal Navy and died in 1943. 

A Private with the 11th Battalion, Sidney died on 26th of August 1917 at the age of 23. Sidney was born at Ashby, near Somerleyton, in 1894, a son of John and Alice Cole. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Ashby, on 26 August 1894. In 1901 his family lived ‘near Hill Farm’, Ashby. By 1911 his father had died, and his mother had married Charles Howes, and the family lived at The Retreat, Somerleyton, and Sidney worked as a carpenter. Later his mother lived at 4 West Road, Westcliffe-on-Sea.Sidney volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in autumn 1914. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 1434, and was posted to the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion. He was then posted to the 4th Battalion, in France, and renumbered 43400, before being posted to the 11th Battalion. By August 1917 Sidney was attached to the 101st Trench Mortar Battery.No definite details of what happened to Sidney can be found. On 26 August 1917, 101 Trench Mortar Battery were giving support to the 101st Brigade attack at Quarry, near Bellicourt. The war diary for the Headquarters of 101 Infantry Brigade states that the various objectives were obtained but there had been many casualties from enemy shell-fire. Sidney was killed in action on 26 August. 

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Damito, Thomas died on 13th of July 1940 at the age of 42. Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 14 May 1897, a son of Thomas William and Bertha Lavinia Cole. In 1901 his family lived at 9 Nelson Road, Carlton Colville, and by 1911 they were living at 13 Payne Street, Lowestoft.On 2 May 1916 Thomas joined the Royal Naval Reserve, number 11047 DA. At that time he was living at 28 Edward Street, Milford Haven. During the First World War he served as a Deck Hand with the Sabrina and then the Idaho. He was demobilized on 28 January 1919. In 1921 Thomas was a Deck Hand on the trawler William Hannan, based at Milford Haven. By 1922 his home was at 46 Florence Road, Pakefield, and later he lived at 14 Saint Margaret's Place, Pakefield.In 1925 Thomas was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand. In 1936 Thomas married Violet Sarah Rachel Adams at Lowestoft. In 1939 they lived at 8 Crossways, Long Road, Pakefield, and Thomas worked as an ice cream salesman and general labourer. During the Second World War Thomas served as Second Hand with the minesweeping trawler Damito. He died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Portland, Dorset, from injuries received on active service.

A Private with 1/4th Battalion, Wilfred died on 16th of February 1944 aged 32. Wilfred was born at Gisleham on 6 October 1911, a son of Samuel Whyatt and Ellen Cole. In 1921 his family lived at White House Farm Cottages, Gisleham. His father died in 1931 and in 1939 his mother lived at Black Street, Gisleham.In 1939 Wilfred was living at 18 Peldon Avenue, Richmond, Surrey, and working as a house parlour man. Wilfred served with the 1/4th Battalion Essex Regiment. His unit arrived in Italy in November 1942 and from 2 February 1944 was involved in the battle for Cassino. Wilfred was killed in action. He was buried at map reference 11GR/RFW/2100 and in 1945 he was buried at Cassino War Cemetery. 

A Private with 1st Bn., William died on 21st of June 1915 at the age of 35.William was born at Ellough, near Beccles, in 1879, a son of William Walter and Harriett Cole. He was baptised at All Saints' Church, Ellough, on 7 September 1879. In 1881 his family lived at Ellough. By 1891 they were living at Beccles Road, Barnby, and William was a farm servant. In 1901 they lived at Barnby Green, Barnby, and William was fisherman. Later his parents lived at 2 Beanes Cottages, Kessingland. On 25 December 1910 William married Annie Bunn at Saint Edmund's Church, Kessingland. William was a fisherman and they both lived at Kessingland. In 1911 Annie lived at 6 Elizabeth Terrace, London Road, Pakefield. After William's death Annie married Arthur Hurren.William volunteered and joined the Army at Lowestoft. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment. He arrived in France on 18 May 1915 to join the 1st Battalion. On 12 June 1915 the Battalion moved into trenches in the St. Eloi area. William was part of working party that had gone out to the wooded area nearby. At 2.30 a.m. the working party was held up by enemy shell-fire and one man was killed and one wounded. William was the soldier that was killed. 

A Private with 7th Bn., Albert Henry died on 13th of August 1915 at the age of 20.Albert was born at Blundeston in 1895, a son of Albert James and Hannah Coleby. Albert was baptised at Saint Mary's Church, Blundeston, on 18 November 1895. In 1901 his family lived at The Red Lion, The Street, Blundeston, where is father was both publican and a shoemaker. In 1911 they still lived at The Red Lion and Albert worked as a butcher.  Albert was working as a gardener when, on 18 August 1914, he volunteered to join the Army. He joined, at Norwich, on 19 August, for 'General Service' with the Norfolk Regiment and was soon posted to the newly formed 7th Battalion. Albert arrived in France with the 7th Battalion on 30 May 1915 and he served with C Company. On 10 August 1915 the 7th Battalion occupied trenches at Ploegsteert, Belgium, including Hampshire Trench and Hunter's Trench. During the next few days they were subject to sporadic sniper fire and occasional shelling from enemy artillery. The battalion war diary does not mention any casualties, but at some point Albert received a shrapnel wound to his head and was taken to 38th Field Ambulance where he died of his wounds on 13 August 1915. Albert was buried at the nearby civil cemetery at Pont-de-Nieppe with Reverend A. T. Morgan, Chaplain to the Forces, officiating. From 1917 his parents lived at the Telephone Exchange, Blundeston. 

A Private with the 1st Battalion, Arthur died on 3rd of August 1943 aged 34. Arthur was born at Kirkley on 7 August 1908, a son of Thomas William and Florence Elizabeth Coleby. In 1911 his family lived at 9 Ontario Road. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 6 May 1915. By 1921 they were living at 19 Beaconsfield Road, and this was still their home in 1939 when Arthur worked as a painter. In 1940 Arthur married Edna Grace Chapman, this was registered in the Lothingland district. During the war Edna lived at 36 Mary Street, Langworth, near Mansfield. Edna remarried in 1946. Arthur enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1941 and, on 13 August 1941, transferred to the Cambridgeshire Regiment and was posted to the 1st Battalion and served with D Company. Arthur served with the 1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment. In late 1941 his battalion, as part of 18 Division, was engaged in training exercises. In October 1941 they were sent by ship to Nova Scotia and then sent to South Africa before arriving at Singapore on 29 January 1942. On 1 February the battalion moved to a position south of the aerodrome with D Company in reserve, near the naval radio station, but the company were soon moved up to a coconut grove in front of the Seletar garrison and were placed under control of the garrison. Later they moved to the Sime Road Camp and by 13 February were holding that position. The battalion were surrounded for two days but still held their positions until ordered to surrender on 15 February. Arthur was taken prisoner when Singapore surrendered. On 2 November 1942 he was among a party of men taken overland to Thailand to work on the Burma Railway. Arthur was at Chungkai when he died from beriberi.

A Lance Corporal with the 2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Basil died on 21st of April 1918 at the age of 26. Basil was born at Lowestoft on 2 July 1891, a son of William and Sarah Coleby. In 1901 his family lived at 261 Raglan Street. By 1911 Basil’s family were living at 7 Selby Street, and Basil worked as a fish curer. Before the First World War Basil served with the 1st Norfolk Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) for fifteen months. Basil was living at 39 Park Road and working as a brewer’s labourer when he attested for the Army at Lowestoft on 15 October 1914. He joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, service number 1516. Basil was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 25 May 1915. He was reduced to Private on 7 August 1915, for neglect of duty, but was again appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 10 September 1915. At a medical board on 29 October 1915 Basil was diagnosed with valvular disease of the heart. A subsequent medical board, in January 1916, felt that his condition was not attributable to his service, but aggravated by it, and that Basil would be totally unable to work for at least two months. Basil was discharged, at Skegness, on 6 February 1916 ‘being no longer physically fit for war service’. It is unclear, from Basil’s service papers, when he was posted to the 2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, but this was his unit when discharged. When discharged Basil stated that he would be living at 60 Ipswich Road and intended to work as a baker. Basil was awarded the Silver War Badge. Basil was living at 8 Factory Street and working as a brewer’s drayman when he died. His exact cause of death is not known, but given that he was given a Commonwealth War Graves headstone it must have been in some way connected to his military service. He was buried at Lowestoft Cemetery on 25 April 1918. 

A Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Brian died on 2nd of December 1944 aged 22. Brian was born at Lowestoft on 1 November 1924, a son of Leonard E. and Bessie M. Coleman. In 1939 his family lived at 251 Victoria Road, Oulton Broad, and Brian was till at school.Brian joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve after October 1942. In December 1944 he was a member of 70 Squadron based at Tortorella, Italy. On 2 December he was part of the crew of a Wellington X bomber, number LP239 'K' that was flying a Special Operations supply drop (possibly for S.O.E. agents or partisans) to Pridgard, Yugoslavia, when the aircraft flew into high ground near Manfredonia, north of San Marco, Italy, in bad weather.WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass

A Gunner with 147 (The Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Donald died on 27th of October 1940 aged 20. Gordon was born at Lowestoft on 9 March 1920, a son of Gordon Knight Coleman and Lily Catherine Coleman. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 1 April 1920 and his family lived at 75 May Road. By 1939 his family were living at 237 Saint Peters Street and Donald was a junior insurance clerk. Later his parents lived at Carlton Colville. Donald joined the Royal Artillery in 1939. Donald died at the sick bay of 147 Field Regiment. The exact cause of his death is unknown. 

A Chief Engineer with Fishing Vessel Westfield (Milford Haven), George died on 6th of July 1941 aged 48. George was born at Lowestoft on 25 April 1893, a son of Albert Harry and Mary Ann Coleman. In 1901 his family lived at 61 Clemence Street and in 1911 at 6 A Carlton Road, Pakefield, and George was a fisherman. On 24 September 1913 George married Susan Ethel Drew at Saint Margaret’s Church. George was an engine driver and they both gave their address as 16 Cambridge Road. By 1917 their home was at 101 Stanley Street, but George lodged at 49 Robert Street, Milford Haven.George applied to join the Royal Naval Reserve on 22 March 1917, service number ESX 5214, but his application was cancelled. In 1921 George and Susan were still living at 101 Stanley Street and George was an engineer working for W. Robbens, a fishing boat owner. By 1939 their home was at 11 Enstone Road. In July 1941 George worked as the Chief Engineer on the fishing vessel Westfield. Several of the Westfield’s crew were from the Lowestoft area. The Westfield was reported to be missing, of St. Govan’s Head, on, or after, 6 July 1941. The vessel was supposed to have been sunk by German aircraft. It was assumed that George was drowned. All ten of the Westfield’s crew were lost.  

A Sergeant with 7th Bn. Henry died on 13th of August 1917 at the age of 23. Henry was born at Lowestoft in 1894, a son of Henry George and Esther Emma Coleman. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church on 9 November 1894 and his family lived at 9 Jacob Street and this was still their home in 1901. By 1911 they had moved to 45 Haward Street, and Henry worked as a box maker. Later they lived at 58 Haward Street.In May 1913 Henry enlisted in the 1/4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment at Lowestoft, service number 1732. He was mobilized when the war began and arrived in France on 8 November 1914 with the Battalion.   Henry died of wounds on 13 August 1917. He is buried at Duisans and the cemetery there originated with burials associated with three Casualty Clearing Stations in the area. While we do not know when Henry received his fatal wound(s) the 7th Battalion War Diary shows that the Battalion was subject to a gas attack, near Beaurains, on 8 August and a Brigade attack on 9 August. 

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Cantatrice., Matthew died on 5th of November 1916 at the age of 28. Matthew was born at Lowestoft on 2 April 1888, a son of Ezer and Eliza Burwood Coleman. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 25 April 1888, and his family lived at 27 Goldsmith's Buildings. By 1891 his family lived at 27 Spurgeon's Street, and in 1901 they lived at 5 Spurgeon's Score. Matthew married Florence May Butcher at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 26 December 1911. At that time he was living with his parents at 42 Beccles Road and worked as a fisherman. Florence lived at 65 Beccles Road. By June 1915 they were living at 59 Beccles Road. Matthew was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper in 1913. Matthew joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 7 June 1915. Matthew served as the Second Hand on H.M. Trawler Jacinth and, on 31 March 1916 joined H.M. Trawler Cantatrice.The Cantatrice was reported missing on 5 November 1916 and in January 1917 it was concluded that the trawler was lost with all hands, included Matthew. Subsequently Florence remarried and lived at 53 Reeve Street, Lowestoft.Three of Matthew's brothers served with the Navy in World War One and one brother served in the Army. 

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Stanley died on 18th of April 1916 at the age of 22.Stanley was born at Carlton Colville in 1893, a son of James and Ellen Coleman. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville on 11 June 1893, and his family lived at Carlton Colville. In 1901 his family lived at Low Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 they were living at 9 Marsh Road, Oulton Broad, and Stanley was a grocer’s assistant.Stanley volunteered and enlisted in the Army, probably at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 179299. He was posted to the 7th Battalion and arrived in France on 11 August 1915.  It appears that Stanley was wounded when the Battalion were in trenches near Noyelles, but exactly when is not known. We do not know exactly where he was when he died, but, given that he is buried at Bethune, he may have been at 33rd Casualty Clearing Station.     

A Private with the 1/4th Battalion, Stanley died on 18th of August 1916 at the age of 19.Stanley was born at Lowestoft in 1896, a son of William Edward and Emily Jane Coleman. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 17 January 1897 and his family lived at 15 Edinburgh Road. By 1901 his family was living at Alpha Villa, 6 Ipswich Road, and this was still their address in 1911 when Stanley was a shipwright’s apprentice.Stanley volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in February 1913. He joined the Suffolk Regiment and served with the 1/4th Battalion. He was mobilized when the war began, and he arrived in France with the 1/4th Battalion on 8 November 1914. On 14 August 1916 the 1/4th Battalion moved into an area of trenches known as Seaforth, Black Watch and Worcester Trenches, near High Wood. At 2.45 p.m. on 18 August the battalion attacked the German trenches opposite their position as part of a brigade assault. D and C Companies reached the German line but had to retire as they had both flanks ‘in the air’ and no reinforcements were forthcoming. Two Lewis rifles (machine-guns) were positioned in the German trench and hostile bombing attacks repulsed. Finally, the men withdrew to Seaforth Trench. In the attack the battalion had three officers killed and three wounded, and 33 other ranks killed, 108 wounded, 17 missing presumed killed and 23 missing.  Stanley was killed in action on 18 August. A note in the East Anglian Daily Times, 18 September 1916, page 8, gave details of Stanley’s death:Private Stanley F. Coleman, son of Mrs. Coleman, of Ipswich Road, Lowestoft, has died at the front. He was one of the Machine-gun Section, and took charge of the gun after one of his mates had been wounded. He had been at the front 22 months. He was a member of Saint Margaret’s choir, Lowestoft, and a scholar of Church Road Council School. 

A Seaman with the Royal Naval Reserve, Thomas died on 14th of January 1918 at the age of 28. Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 31 December 1889, a son of Charles Edward and Sarah Coleman. In 1891 Thomas' family lived at 25 Jacob's Street, Lowestoft, and this was his home throughout his life. By 1911 Thomas was working as a fisherman. The 1911 Census shows him as the Forth Hand on the trawler Loch Lomond at Padstow. Thomas joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 3 January 1913. In 1913 he worked on trawlers based at North Shields including LT 250 and the trawler Highland Prince. During the First World War Thomas worked on Armed Merchant Cruisers. He joined H.M.S. Victorian on 1 April 1915. From 6 April (?) 1916 he served on S.S. Basilisk (? name indistinct on service record).Thomas became ill with general paralysis of the insane and was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham. He was invalided from the Royal Naval Reserve, through illness, and discharged on 29 October 1917. On 13 November 1917 he was transferred to the Suffolk County Asylum, Melton, where he died. On Saint Margaret's War Memorial.

A Private with 7th Battalion, Walter died on 4th of November 1915 at the age of 21. Walter was born at Lowestoft on 9 May 1894, a son of George and Henrietta Coleman. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 30 May 1894, and his family lived at 61 Reeve Street, Lowestoft. By 1901 Walter’s mother had died and the family lived at 3 Sudbury Cottages, Bevan Street, Lowestoft. In 1911 his family lived at 71 Norwich Road, Lowestoft, and Walter was a stable boy working for the Great Eastern Railway (G.E.R.). Later his father lived at 8 Winnipeg Road, Lowestoft. In 1912 Walter became a greaser, at Lowestoft with the G.E.R., and by the time he enlisted he was an acting fireman, still with the G.E.R. Walter volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He was already an Acting Corporal when arrived in France with the 7th Battalion on 30 May 1915. Between June and August 1915 the 7th Battalion were based in Belgium, and often sent out working parties. During this period Walter unearthed some ‘Belgian treasure’, artefacts from a Belgian monastery, which he handed over to the Belgian authorities. From 30 October 1915 the 7th Battalion were in support trenches north of Vermelles. They then spent a couple of days in the front line and, on 2 November, returned to the support trenches. During the night of 3-4 November working parties were sent out. The enemy shelled the working parties and the bombardment became particularly intense around 11 p.m. with trench mortar bombs and rifle grenades falling on the Suffolks causing extensive damage to the front trenches and blowing in the Headquarters dug-out. Thirty-eight men became casualties including Walter Coleman and Fred Mullender, both from Lowestoft, who were killed. 

A Private with 2nd Bn., William died on 25th of September 1915 at the age of 28. William was born at Ramsgate in 1887, a son of William Danton and Martha Coleman. He was baptised at Saint George's Church, Ramsgate, on 10 April 1887, and his family lived at 22 Liverpool Lawn, Ramsgate. In 1891 his family lived at 64 Maygrove Place, Great Yarmouth. By 1901 William's father had died and his family lived at 9 Stevens Street, Lowestoft. By 1911 they were living at 77 Norwich Road, Lowestoft, and later his mother lived at 36 Denmark Road, Lowestoft.William volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Chelsea. He joined the Royal Sussex Regiment and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, arriving in France on 1 May 1915. It is probable that he joined the Battalion, at Oblinghem, on 10 May 1915, as one of a draft of 120 reinforcements. On 24 September 1915 the 2nd Battalion moved into trenches near Vermelles in preparation for the forthcoming attack. On 25September the Battalion moved to positions at Bayou, near Hulluch. Once the attack had begun the Battalion were to move into the British front line and occupy the trenches vacated by the two battalions that had moved off ahead of them. At 6.30 a.m. the assaulting battalions moved off and the 2nd Battalion moved forward. Dense smoke made it impossible to see what was happening in front of the Battalion. A Company commander then decided to advance toward the German lines and they soon found that the wire had not been cut: all of the officers and men that reached the wire were either killed or wounded and the machine-gun section wiped out. I front of the 2nd Battalion the Germans were still holding their front line in strength. Supporting attacks from 'Green Force' took place during the day and about 3.40 p.m. the Germans in front of the 2nd Battalion surrendered. Th remnants of the Battalion then entrenched themselves in the old German front line until relieved at about 3 a.m. on 26 September.In that day the Battalion's casualties mounted to 19 officers and 600 men, of which 183, including William, were known to have been killed in action. For that action Sergeant Wells, of William's Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross and his citation gives us an idea of what William would have experienced:"For the most conspicuous bravery near Le Routoire on the 25th September, 1915. When his platoon officer had been killed, he took command and led his men forward to within 15 yards of the German wire. Nearly half the platoon were killed or wounded, and the remainder very much shaken, but with the utmost coolness and bravery Sergeant Wells rallied them and led them forward. Finally when very few were left, he stood up and urged them forward once more, but while doing so he himself was killed. He gave a magnificent display of courage and determination."William, along with four other men of the 2nd Battalion, was buried at map reference G.23.A.6.5. By 1920 they had been reburied at Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos. William's brother-in-law, Alexander Summers, died in the loss of the trawler Incentive in 1915. His sister, Susan Hambly, died in an air raid in 1942. 

A Skipper with Trawler Queen of Devon (Lowestoft), Arthur died on 20th of December 1914 at the age of 38.Arthur was born at Lowestoft in 1876, a son of William and Hannah Elizabeth Collins. In 1881 his family lived at 38 Stevens Street. They were still living at 38 Stevens Street in 1891 and Arthur worked as a general labourer. On 15 September 1896 Arthur married Johanna Forder at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. Arthur was a fisherman living at 38 Stevens Street and Johanna lived at 9 Thurston Road. By 1898 they were living at 11 Factory Street. In 1901 they lived at 12 Factory Street and Arthur was a fisherman. In 1911 their home was at 37 Beckham Road. Later Johanna lived at 23 Wilde Street, Lowestoft. She remarried in 1920.  His son Arthur who was also serving on the Queen of Devon died at the same time. His son William died in 1917 in the loss of the trawler Chrysolite. On Tuesday 15 December 1914 the Queen of Devon sailed from Lowestoft. On 20 December an explosion was heard around fifty-five miles east by north of Lowestoft and it was presumed that the Queen of Devon had struck a mine. See: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)Named on Saint Margaret's War Memorial.Arthur's brother-in-law George Forder died in an air raid in 1941.

A Fourth Hand with Trawler Queen of Devon (Lowestoft), Arthur died on 20th of December 1914 at the age of 16.Arthur was born at Lowestoft on 10 March 1898, a son of Arthur and Johanna Collins. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 30 March 1899, and his family lived at 11 Factory Street. He attended London Road Council School before, on 4 July 1910, becoming a pupil at Saint John's School. A marginal note in Saint John's School register states that Arthur left on 22 February 1912 - gone to sea. In 1910 his family lived at 37 Beckham Road, and later they lived at 23 Wilde Street, Lowestoft. His father Arthur who was also serving on the Queen of Devon died at the same time. Arthur's brother William died in 1917 in the loss of the trawler Chrysolite. On Tuesday 15 December 1914 the Queen of Devon sailed from Lowestoft. On 20 December an explosion was heard around fifty-five miles east by north of Lowestoft and it was presumed that the Queen of Devon had struck a mine. See: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)

A Skipper with H.M. Drifter Spotless Prince, Henry died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 29. Henry was born at Kirkley on 28 September 1889, a son of James and Mary Collins. In 1891 his family lived at 20 Grosvenor Road. By 1901 Henry’s father had died and his family were resident at the Lothingland Union Workhouse. In 1909 Henry married Violet Eva Cook at Lowestoft. By 1914 they were living at 82 Alexandra Road and later Violet lived at 114 Worthing Road.Henry was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper in 1913. Henry joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914 and served as Second Hand with the trawler Eager. On 27 January 1915 Henry was promoted to Skipper and took charge of the drifter Spotless Prince. In February 1915 Henry’s naval kit was lost in transit from Lowestoft to Dover and had to be replaced by Messrs. Alston Ltd. of Dover.  In 1916 the Spotless Prince was part of a fleet of trawlers that maintained the anti-submarine barrage across the Dover Strait. On the night of 26-27 October 1916 German destroyers attacked the barrage with the intent of causing maximum damage to the trawlers. The trawler was sunk and all ten of the crew, including Henry, were killed.   For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)

A Private with the 3rd Battalion, John died on 30th of November 1917 at the age of 19.John was born at Saint Leonards, Sussex, on 3 May 1898, a son of George and Ann Elizabeth Burgess. He was baptised at Saint Emmanual’s Church, Hastings, on 12 June 1898 and his family lived at 4 Plynlimmon Road, Hastings. In 1901 his family lived at 212 Melbourne Road, Leicester. By 1911 they had moved to Lowestoft and lived at 30 Sussex Road. Later his parents lived at 15 Grove Road. John attended London Road School before, on 12 September 1911, becoming a pupil at Lowestoft School of Science. By 1916 he was living at Waddington, Lincolnshire (his mother was from Bracebridge), and working as a clerk. John attested for the Army at Ipswich on 12 March 1916. He joined the Coldstream Guards, service number 18257. He was posted to France on 9 November 1916 to join the 3rd Battalion. On 28 November 1917 the 3rd Battalion marched to billets at Metz en Couture. On 30 November, in conjunction with the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards and the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, they counter-attacked the enemy and retook Gouzeancourt and were able to consolidated a line near the village. The battalion’s casualties for 30 November were:Officers: nine woundedOther ranks: six killed, three missing, 83 woundedJohn was killed in action at Gouzeancourt. 

A Leading Seaman with H.M.S. Penzance, Leslie died on 24th of August 1940 at the age of 30. Leslie was born at Lowestoft on 16 December 1911, a son of William and Elizabeth Collins. In 1921 his family lived at 54 Clemence Street. On 31 October 1936 Leslie married Dorothy Bethune Lake at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. Leslie was an Able Seaman on H.M.S. Lupin and Dorothy a shop assistant living at 72 Rotterdam Road. Dorothy died in 1937.In 1938 Leslie married Eva Doris Sharp and in 1939 Eva lived at 48 Oxford Road. Leslie was working as an errand boy when he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 9 March 1927. During World War Two Leslie served on H.M.S. Penzance. On 15 August 1940 the Penzance left Sydney, Nova Scotia, as the armed escort for convoy SC1. On 24 August the Penzance was torpedoes around 700 miles couth-west of Iceland. The ship was split in two by the explosion and some of the ship's depth charges also exploded. Leslie was one of 89 crew who were killed in the loss of the ship and one man died later.   

A Deck Hand with HM Drifter Protect, William died on 16th of March 1917 at the age of 24. William was born at Lowestoft on 6 February 1893, a son of Arthur Josiah and Jane Collins. In 1901 his family lived at 15 Albert Street. By 1911 the family were living at 57 Beresford Road and William was a barman at a public house. On 21 April 1915 William married Alice May Barkaway at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a furniture remover living at 57 Beresford Road, and Alice lived at 335 Raglan Street. Alice later remarried and lived at 17 Summer Road. William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 May 1916. He served on the trawler Violet may before joining the trawler Protect. On 16 March 1917 the Protect was sailing in the Straits of Dover when it struck a mine and sank. Ten of the crew, including William, were killed and three survived.  William’s name appears on the War Memorial at Saint Margaret’s Church. 

A Cook with sailing trawler Chrysolite (Lowestoft), William died on 4th of July 1917 at the age of 15. William was born at Lowestoft on 11 January 1902, a son of Arthur and Johanna Collins. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 5 February 1902 and his family lived at 11 Factory Street. In 1911 their home was at 37 Beckham Road. Later Johanna lived at 23 Wilde Street, Lowestoft. She remarried in 1920.  On 4 July 1917 the Chrysolite was fishing four nautical miles off Haisbro Lightship. The trawler struck a mine and sank. Five of the crew were killed. William's father, Arthur, and his brother, also named Arthur, both died in 1914 in the loss of the trawler Queen of Devon.

A Private with the 5th Battalion, Arthur died on 22nd of June 1945 aged 31.Arthur was born at Lowestoft on 9 July 1913, a son of Thomas William and Anne Elizabeth Collis. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 29 July 1913 and his family lived at 271 Raglan Street. In 1939 his parents lived at 1 Maidstone Road.  In 1937 Arthur married Ivy Baxter, this was registered in the Lothingland district. In 1939 they lived at Anstruthers, Chestnut Avenue, and Arthur was a butcher journeyman.  Arthur enlisted in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and was transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment and served with the 5th Battalion. The 5th battalion landed at Normandy on D-Day.Official casualty lists show that Arthur was accidentally killed. His death was registered in the York district.  

A Leading Cook with H.M. Trawler Wallasea. Tom died on 6th of January 1944 at the age of 36.Tom was born at Hull on 9 February 1907, a son of Thomas William and Annie Elizabeth Collis. In 1911 his family lived at 5 County Villas, Milton Road, Lowestoft. Later his family lived at 1 Maidstone Road, Lowestoft. Tom married Helena Frances Folkard at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 26 April 1931. At that time Tom was working as a confectioner and Helen as a shop assistant. By 1939 they were living at 20 Winnipeg Road, Lowestoft, and Tom worked as an insurance agent. At that time he was also an A.R.P. man. Tom served on H.M. Trawler Wallasea. On 6 January 1944 the Wallasea was escorting convoy WP 457. Off Mounts Bay, Cornwall, the Wallasea was attacked and sunk by a flotilla of German motor torpedo boats. Seventeen of the crew, including Tom, were killed. See: HMS Wallasea | John Knifton

A Private with 35th Company, Clifford died on 14th of July 1917 at the age of 28.  Clifford was born at Lowestoft on 22nd November 1887, a son of Arthur and Esther Annie Cone. Clifford was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 1st January 1888.In 1891 his family lived at 19 Union Road, Lowestoft. By 1901 Clifford, and his brother Thomas, were lodging at Lound. The 1911 Census shows them lodging with Sarah Youngs at Lound and Clifford worked as a 'estate' carpenter and he probably worked on the Somerleyton Estate.In World War One Clifford volunteered to join the Army and initially he served with the Suffolk Regiment, service number 12099. He arrived in France with the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment on 30th May 1915. The 7th Battalion were part of 35 Brigade in the 12th Division.Clifford was a machine-gunner and he was transferred to serve with the Machine Gun Corps. He joined the 35th Company which had been formed from the machine-gunners of the 35th Brigade. We do not know exactly when Clifford was wounded but the War Diary of the 35th Company (WO 95/1853) shows that during July 1917 one man died of his wounds, which must have been Clifford. On 6 July 1917 the Company had relieved the 36th Machine Gun Company in positions near Monchy (close to Arras). There was an enemy counter-attack on 'Long Trench' on 10 July as well as heavy fire on Lanyard and Puppy trenches during the night of 10/11 July. It is possible that this is when Clifford was wounded.   He would have been taken to one of the nearby Casualty Clearing Stations where he succumbed to his wounds on 14 July 1917.   

A Private with 9th Battalion, Ernest died on 26th of April 1918 at the age of 19. Ernest was born at Hull in 1899, a son of Thomas and Martha Cone. Both of his parents came from Lowestoft. In 1901 his family lived at 1 Ellis Terrace, Wassand Street, Hull. By 1911 they were living at 12 Saint Andrew’s Terrace, Gillett Street, Hull. By 1921 Ernest’s father had died and his mother lived at 3 Till Road, Lowestoft. Ernest enlisted in the Army at Hull. He joined a Training Reserve Battalion, service number 27690. He was transferred to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, service number 39318, and posted to serve with the 9th Battalion in France.  On 26 April 1918 the 9th Battalion were at Cheapside, ne mile north-east of Beaver Camp. At 1 a.m. the order was received that at 4.25 a.m. they would attack the Vierstraart Line. The battalion would be at the brigade front taking a line from Siege Farm to the north-east of Rossingnol Wood. The battalion ‘jumped off’ at 4.25 a.m. to following a creeping barrage with their key objective 250 yards beyond the Vierstraat-La Polka trench line. However, the expected barrage did not materialise, rather there were shells from a few 18 pounder guns fired at one minute intervals, Despite this the battalion advanced in good order. Nearby units had not moved off, leaving both flanks in the air which meant that the battalions flank companies suffered greatly due to enemy machine-gun fire. Defensive flanks were formed and the centre company had advanced around 1,200 yards, despite very heavy casualties. By 6.30 a.m. the centre company had to withdraw to a point around 400 yards in from of the start line. At 7 a.m. the commanding officer decided that further withdrawal was required. At 12 midday the German artillery began a very heavy barrage that lasted until 3 p.m. By the end of the day the battalion numbered about 100 rifles. Ernest was reported missing on 26 April and later it was concluded that he had been killed in action on that date.   

A Civilian, Daisy died on 13th of January 1942 aged 28. Daisy was born at Lowestoft on 5 August 1913, a daughter of William and Edith Emily Constance. In 1921 her family lived at 9 Coronation Terrace, Pakefield Street, and this was still their home in 1939. In 1939 Daisy lived at Wilson Square, Redenhall Road, Harleston, and was seeking work in domestic service.  Daisy died at Waller’s Restaurant, 90 London Road North, during the Waller Raid.

A Skipper with H.M. Drifter George V, Albert died on 3rd of June 1917 at the age of 37.Albert was born at Kessingland on 11 October 1879, a son of Robert and Anna E. (aka Hannah) Cook. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 9 November 1879. In 1881 his family lived at Black Street, Gisleham. By 1891 they were living at Rushmere Road, Gisleham. In 1901 they were living at 2 Mill Hill, Gisleham, and Albert was a fisherman. Later his parents lived at 6 Elizabeth Terrace, Kessingland. On 20 January 1909 Albert married Cathagina Bird at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland. Albert was a fisherman living at Gisleham and Cathagina lived at Kessingland. In 1911 they were living at 1 Providence Place, London Road, Kessingland, and later Cathagina lived at South View, Kessingland.In 1910 Albert was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper.Albert joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 23 January 1915. He was the Skipper of the trawler King George V.Albert was buried at Kessingland on 8 June 1917. A marginal note in the burial register states that on 3 June 1917 the trawler was ‘hauling’ mines in the Dover Strait when one blew up and sank the trawler. Eight men, including Albert, were killed and one man was wounded but survived. Albert’s brother Arthur also served on the King George V and died in the loss of the trawler. 

A Deck Hand with H.M.S. Q20., Alfred died on 29th of March 1917 at the age of 18. Alfred was born at Lowestoft on 21 December 1898, a son of Joseph and Sabina Cook. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 13 January 1899, and his family lived at 3 Cook’s Buildings. In 1911 they were still living at 3 Cooke’s Buildings, but in 1915 their address was 2 Cooke’s Buildings. Later his family lived at 16 Waveney Terrace, Whapload Road.Alfred joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 July 1915, addin two years to his age. He served on the trawler Friends. On 16 April 1916 he joined the trawler Test II, and on 30 June 1916 the trawler Babs. Alfred joined H.M.S. Q 20 on 17 January 1917. H.M.S. Q 20 was a motor lugger, fishing vessel, built in 1908. The vessel also went under a number of different names, including: H.M.S. Bayard, Ledger 898, and Syren. Technically a ‘Q ship’ the lugger was fitted with one 13 pounder and one 3 pounder gun and would be ‘disguised’ until it came upon an enemy submarine, or other boat, at which point the ‘Q ship’ would engage the enemy. On 11 March 1917 the Q 20 engaged two enemy submarines and damaged one of them. On 29 March 1917 the Q 20 was in the English Channel and collided with the S.S. Tainui. The Q 20 sank with the loss of 16 crew.  

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter George V, Arthur died on 3rd of June 1917 at the age of 36. Arthur was born at Kessingland on 1 November 1880, a son of Robert and Anna E. (aka Hannah) Cook. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 2 January 1881. In 1881 his family lived at Black Street, Gisleham. By 1891 they were living at Rushmere Road, Gisleham. In 1901 they were living at 2 Mill Hill, Gisleham. Later his parents lived at 6 Elizabeth Terrace, Kessingland. In 1911 Arthur married Amy Hunt. In 1915 they lived at 6 Elizabeth Terrace. Later Amy lived at 438 London Road, Lowestoft.In 1911 Arthur was the Third Hand on the trawler Osprey at Haking and Milford, Pembrokeshire.  Arthur joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 27 January 1915 and served on the trawler King George V with his brother Albert. On 3 June 1917 the trawler was ‘hauling’ mines in the Dover Strait when one blew up and sank the trawler. Eight men, including Arthur, were killed and one man was wounded but survived. Arthur’s brother Albert also died in the loss of the King George V.

A Lance Corporal with the 11th Battalion, Charles died on 1st of October 1918 at the age of 23. Charles was born at Lowestoft in 1895, a son of James and Jane Anne Cook. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 3 January 1896 and his family lived at 98 Clemence Street. In 1901 his family lived at 43 Clemence Street. Charles attended Hervey Street School and, from 2 February 1903, was a pupil at Saint John’s School. In 1911 his family lived at 28 Stevens Street and Charles was a milk can ‘hand’ with a dairy. On 6 September 1914 Charles married Christina Dorothy Susannah Ayers at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Charles was a mariner, and they were both living at Melbourne Road. By 1917 their address was 15 Stevens Street. In 1919 Christina married Ernest Williams and lived at 10 Beach Street, Pakefield, Lowestoft. Charles enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 43035. Charles served with the 4th Battalion, then the 7th Battalion, then the 12th Battalion, before being posted to the 11th Battalion. There is no information to say when, or how, Charles was wounded, but he died of his wounds on 1 October 1918.

A Gunner with 29th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, Ernest died on 23rd of October 1915 at the age of 35. Ernest was born at Carlton Colville in 1879, a son of James and Ann Cook. In 1881 his family lived ‘near The Ship’, Carlton Colville. By 1891 they were living at a cottage ‘near the Railway Station’, Carlton Colville.Ernest served with the Suffolk Artillery (Militia). Ernest was working as a painter when he enlisted in the regular army, at Great Yarmouth, on 1 March 1899, joining the Royal Artillery, service number 33905. Ernest served in South Africa from 28 April 1900 to 31 October 1901 and saw active service in the Boer War, including the Battle of Laing’s Nek. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal. He then served in India until 12 March 1907. He joined Section B of the Army Reserve on 15 March 1907 and was discharged, at the end of his engagement, on 28 February 1911. In 1911 Ernest lived with his mother and sister at Marsh Road, Oulton Broad, and Ernest worked as a house painter.  On 18 October 1913 Ernest married Emily Charlotte Smith, a widow, living at 62 The Hemplands, Lowestoft. Ernest was working as a painter and living at Oulton. Later Emily lived at 229 Raglan Street, Lowestoft.     Ernest volunteered and by November 1914 he had enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 68588. Ernest served with the 29th Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC), an artillery support unit that was part of the 29th Division. He landed in Egypt with his unit on 6 April 1915. The unit was meant to go to Gallipoli but because there was little requirement for artillery they remained in Egypt. The 29th DAC was transferred to the 10th Division and was deployed to Salonika. They embarked the transport ship Marquette: 10 officers and 439 other ranks, and departed form Alexandria, Egypt, on 19 October 1915. At 9.15 a.m. the ship was hit by a torpedo and with in ten minutes had sunk. Around 100 men of the 29th DAC, including Ernest, died in the sinking. 

A Aircraftwoman 2nd Class with RAF Gloucester, Ivy died on 21st of April 1941 at the age of 19. Ivy was born at Lowestoft on 2 September 1921, a daughter of Herbert Anthony and Amy Mary Florence Cook.In 1939 her family lived at 226 Denmark Road, Lowestoft, and Ivy worked at a canning factory.Ivy joined the Women's Royal Air Force in early 1941 and served with the Technical Training Command. She became ill and was treated at hospital where she died of natural causes. She is buried at Normanston Drive Cemetery, Lowestoft.  She was serving at RAF Gloucester when she died in the Papworth Village Settlement from generalised tuberculosis.  She is buried in Lowestoft (Beccles Road) Cemetery. CREDIT:Malcolm Barrass

A Private with 4 Motor Ambulance Company, John died on 1st of October 1941 aged 25. Son of William John and Violetta Cook of Lowestoft Suffolk. In 1939 his family lived at 1 Pidgeon Cove Cottages, Guestling, Sussex. Previously John’s mother had lived at Corton.  John attended Chichester High School for Boys from 1931 to 1933. See: The Fallen - John Krempowiecki Cook - Old CicestriansJohn was captured at Boulogne on 20 May 1940 and then held as a prisoner of war in Germany. John contracted tuberculosis and died ay Kingswartha Hospital, near Dresden.  

A Mate with Sailing Trawler Young Bert (Lowestoft), John died on 30th of July 1917 aged 40. John was born at Lowestoft in 1877, a son of John Edward and Harriet J. Cook. In 1881 his family lived at 17 Seago Street and by 1891 they were living at 65 Roman Road. On 21 March 1905 John married Alice Kate Hales at Saint Margaret’s Church. John was a fisherman and they both gave their address as 2 Norwich Road. In 1911 they lived at 83 Rotterdam Road and John was a fisherman. On 30 July 1917 the sailing trawler Young Bert, LT 454, was sunk by submarine UC-63 somewhere in the North Sea. All five crew were killed. 

A Corporal with the 47th Battalion, Leonard died on 25th of January 1917 at the age of 27. Leonard was born at Lowestoft on 15 May 1889, a son of Henry John and Eliza Cook. In 1891 his family lived at 48 Seago Street. Leonard was a pupil at Christchurch School until 2 March 1896, when he joined Saint John’s School. From 15 December 1896 he was a pupil at Saint Margaret’s School. By 1901 his family were living at Battery Green Road. Leonard emigrated to Canada in 1907. His brother Clifford also moved to Canada.  Leonard was working as a logger when he attested for the Canadian Army at Vernon, British Columbia, on 12 August 1915. He joined the 62nd Battalion, service number 463965. On 1 April 1916 Leonard sailed for England on S.S. Baltic and arrived there on 9 April 1916. On 12 May 1916 he was transferred to the 47th Battalion and embarked for France on 10 August 1916. He was promoted to Sergeant on 8 January 1917. On 18 January 1917 he received gunshot wound to the head and admitted to No 6 Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of wounds on 25 January 1918. 

A Civilian, Pauline died on 22nd of July 1941 at the age of 17. Pauline was born at Lowestoft on 12 March 1927, a daughter of James William and Emily Cook. In 1921 her parents had lived at 1 May Road and by 1939 they were living at 27 Ontario Road, Lowestoft, and Pauline worked as a factory hand - food packer. Later her parents lived at 26 Ontario Road.  Pauline died at 42 Lorne Park Road during an air raid.Note: the back of 42 Lorne Park Road backs onto the back of 27 Ontario Road.

A Driver with G Battery, Percy died on 10th of October 1918 aged 23. Percy was born at Lowestoft on 1 August 1895, a son of John and Harriet Frances Cook. In 1901 Percy's family lived at Waterford Villa, Alexandra Road. His father died in 1901/2. Percy was a pupil at Roman Hill School until 11 June 1906 when he joined Saint John’s School. By 1906 Percy's family were living at 83 Rotterdam Road. In 1911 Percy was a bricklayer’s labourer. In 1916 his mother lived at 5 Avondale Road. Later she lived at 79 Norwich Road.Percy volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery, service number 59359, and was posted to France on 2 April 1915. It is not possible to say exactly when and how Percy was wounded, but it may have been at Levergies on 5 October 1918. Percy was evacuated to Rouen, a base for several military hospitals, where he died of wounds on 10 October 1918. 

An Able Seaman with H.M.M.B. Cervantes, Reginald died on 3rd of November 1942 at the age of 40. Reginald was born at Lowestoft on 27 April 1902, a son of Charles and Mina Cook. In 1911 his family lived at 44 Acton Road. On 26 December 1927 Reginald married Louisa Durrant at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. Reginald was a fisherman and they both lived at Kirkley. By 1939 they were living at 80 Lowestoft Road, Carlton Colville, and Reginald was a timber labourer. Reginald was accidentally drowned in the River Swale, near Elmley Ferry. Note: Commonwealth War Graves lists Reginald as serving with H.M.S. Wildfire. Wildfire was actually the accounting base for H.M. Motor Boat Cervantes.Reginald's brother, Sidney, was the Skipper of the trawler W. A. Massey and died in 1918.

A Skipper with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), Sidney died on 11th of March 1918 aged 35. Sidney was born at Kessingland on 14 February 1883, a son of Charles and Mina Cook. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 30 March 1884. Sidney attended Kessingland School and on 14 October 1889 became a pupil at Cunningham School, leaving that school on 19 February 1895. In 1891 his family lived at Stone Alley, 8 Pakefield Street, and by 1911 their home was at 44 Acton Road and Sidney was a fisherman.In 1911 Sidney married Ethel Mildred Hall, who came from Geldeston. By 1918 their home was at Foxburrow, The Avenue, Kirkley. Later Ethel lived at Sunnymeade, Geldeston.  On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. Sidney's brother, Reginald, served with H.M.M.B. Cervantes and died in 1942. 

A Lance Sergeant with the 1st Battalion, Stanley died on 14th of October 1944 aged 25. Stanley was born at Kirkley on 11 September 1919, a son of Thomas William and May Annie Cook. In 1921 his family lived at 192 The Avenue, and this was till their home in 1939 when Stanley was an apprentice printer.Stanley served in north-west Europe with the 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. His battalion landed at Normandy on D-Day.  1st Battalion of the Norfolks spent the night in the woods around Overloon on October 13, 1944. At 7.00 a.m. the next morning, two companies, B and D, left for Venray.Lieutenant G.D.H. Dicks MC wrote a personal account of his experiences in May 1945 while convalescing from wounds received in March 1945:Next morning, 14 October 1944, we received our orders for the attack. B company was to be the one of the two forward companies having the thankless task of first bumping and locating the enemy. Friar (Lt. D.B. Balsom) was given the task of being the leading platoon.Inevitably we soon came under fire from the Germans lines and Friar's platoon suffered casualties. Everybody took to the deep ditches either side of the road and crawled forward cautiously. I have a constitutional aversion to crawling so very soon I began to shuffle along using my hands and feet, with my knees off the ground. Result: one bullit through my haversack. I subsided for a time but soon my constitution overcome my caution and once more I raised my body. Result: another bullet through my haversack. I did not risk a third chance.Lieutenant "Friar" Balsom described the attack on Molenbeek between Overloon and Venray as follows:Between the woods near Overloon and Venray the countryside stretched out as flat as only Holland can be and across this bleak, wet terrain, at right angles to our line of advance, lay a number of drainage ditches called "beeks". They were of varying widths, but all of them were obstacles to tanks etc. About halfway between Overloon and Venray lay the biggest of them -the Molenbeek. Dawn broke damp again and with light equipment only we took part in the battalion attack, D company to the left and we in B Company on the right. At 7.00 a.m. on that dull October morning we moved out of the woods. 11Platoon was leading on the right near the road. We Advanced until enemy fire began to become effective. We located one of their positions ahead of us, made our plan and using platoon covering fire moved quickly in to take it. I remember we passed through the remains of a still smoking and smouldering haystack. We raced on until we reached the line of a beek halfway to the Molenbeek - a position we had codenamed "Cartwright"- our first objective. Our position in that flat terrain was very exposed; 11 Platoon was forward, protected only by the banks of the ditch, and spent a very uncomfortable two days and nights.Slit trenches soon reached down to the water level and still it rained from time to time. There was  frequent shelling and mortaring and movement, especially the bringing up of food, tea or ammunition, could only take place with any degree of safety after dark.We had had little difficulty, but unfortunately Lance Sergeant Stan Cook was killed by machine gun fire from a point far to the right of the road as he came to the "O" Group for the final assault. It was the very day that he put on his sergeant's stripes....   Lance Sergeant Stanley William Cook was killed on Oct. 14, 1944, and was temporarily buried on the Venrayseweg in Overloon. He was reburied at Overloon War Cemetery on May 14, 1947. CREDIT: overloonwarchronicles.nlSources: Book: “Thank god and the Infantry” from John LincolnFamily Welbers, Overloon Researchers: Leo Janssen and Oscar Huisman

A Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Walter died on 24th of May 1943 aged 31. Walter was born at Lowestoft on 7 September 1911, a son of Harry and Rosemond Cook. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, and his family lived at 47 Lorne Park Road. This was still their home in 1921. On 1 June 1936 Walter married Winifred Maud Gouldby at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. Walter was an insurance agent and they both lived at Kirkley. In 1939 they lived as 9 Sefton Avenue, Wisbech, and Walter was an assurance agent for Co-operative Insurance and he was also a Special Constable. By 1943 their home was at Melrose, Boyces Lane, Wisbech. Walter enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve between September 1939 and February 1940. By May 1943 Walter was a Flight Engineer serving with 101 Squadron based at Holme-on-Spalding Moor. On 24 May 1943 Walter was a member of the crew of a Lancaster bomber, number W4919 SR-A, that was on a night-raid on Dortmund when it was shot down by a night fighter and crashed on the east bank of the River Maas near Bergen. All of the crew were killed. WITH THANK TO: Malcolm BarrassWith thanks to Andy Pearce 

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Walter died on 12th of August 1916 at the age of 23. Walter was born at Lowestoft in 1893, a son of John and Harriet Frances Cook. In 1901 Walter's family lived at Waterford Villa, Alexandra Road. His father died in 1901/2 and by 1906 Walter's family were living at 83 Rotterdam Road. In 1911 Walter was a grocer's assistant. In 1916 his mother lived at 5 Avondale Road. Later she lived at 79 Norwich Road, Lowestoft.Walter enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in early September 1914. He was on one of a number of Lowestoft men who had volunteered to join the Army and who enlisted into 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 7th Battalion was part of the 18th (Eastern) Division and was based in the Colchester area during the first few months of its formation. Walter went to France with the 7th Battalion, arriving there on 28 July 1915. From 9 August 1916 the Battalion were in trenches near Bois Grenier. The Battalion's War Diary for 12 August 1916 has:Quiet day and very hot. At 11.10 a.m. enemy put twelve 4.2 c.m. shells on apparently ranging on Trench 51, the first of these set some hay near Water Farm alight.Between 10 p.m. and twelve midnight enemy artillery and trench mortars were active on subsector on our right.The War Diary does not mention any casualties, but it is likely that Walter was killed by the shell-fire. John Kerridge, also from Lowestoft, was also killed on 12 August 1916 whilst serving with the 7th Battalion.  

A Seaman with H.M. Trawler Grouse., William died on 26th of May 1917 at the age of 21. William was born at Lowestoft on 11 July 1895, a son of William James and Edith Jane Cook. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church on 11 August 1895, and his family lived at 28 Spurgeon Street. In 1901 his family lived at Spurgeon Street. By 1915 his family were living at 1 Barcham Street, The Beach, Lowestoft, and later at 70 The Hemplands.In 1911 William worked on the trawler Early Morn.William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 January 1915. He served with the trawler China from 21 February 1915 and joined the trawler Bermuda on 28 February 1915 before joining the trawler Grouse on 27 April 1915.William died at the Royal Naval Hospital Plymouth, on 26 May 1917, from a perforated typhoid ulcer.  

A Gunner with 67 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Frederick died on 6 September 1944 at the age of 23. Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 19 June 1921, a son of Henry James and Emma Jane Cooke. In 1921 his family lived at 185 Clapham Road, and this was still their home in 1939 when Frederick worked and a wood machinist’s assistant, possibly at the same saw mill as his father.Frederick enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1941, service number 1808654. On 21 August 1941 he was posted to serve with Heavy Anti-Aircraft Artillery. Frederick was posted to the 67th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. At present the date of this posting is not known. The regiment served in Egypt from September 1941 to January 1942, and from February 1942 in India and in October 1943 they joined 4 Corps at Imphal. From February 1942 his regiment was armed with 3.7 inch HAA guns with Matador (lorry) Tractors. Frederick and four other men of his unit died on 6 September 1944. Their Royal Artillery casualty cards states that they were all ‘battle casualties not due to enemy action.’ Frederick, and the other men, are buried in adjacent graves. With thanks to Andy Pearce. 

A Lieutenant attached to the 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment (Airborne), Frederick died on 7th of January 1945 at the age of 29.Frederick was born at Walthamstow on 9 March 1915, a son of George and Edith Alice Cooke. He was baptised at Hermon Hill, South Woodford, on 16 January 1916. In 1939 his family lived at 83 Station Road, Chingford, and Frederick was a student. The 1939 register shows that Frederick was a member of the A.R.P.  Frederick married Eunice Mary Vale, of Walthamstow, in late 1939. Frederick served in the Royal Artillery, number 974233, before attending, from 21 December 1940, 168 Officer Cadet Training Unit. He was commissioned in the Border Regiment on 29 March 1941 (London Gazette 15 April 1941). Frederick was commissioned in the Border Regiment but was attached to the 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. This battalion was a parachute, or airborne, battalion that had been trained for glider landings. It is possible that he joined the 12th Battalion before D-Day, in which cause he would have been involved in the Normandy landings. The battalion was withdrawn, to England, in September 1944, but returned to France in September 1944. Frederick was one of three men of the 12th Battalion killed on 7 January 1945. They were all initially buried at Resteigne Temporary Burial Ground, Belgium, and in 1947 were reburied at Hotton War Cemetery.  Subsequently Eunice lived at South Lowestoft, Suffolk. She remarried in 1951. Note that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website states that Frederick served with the 7th Battalion Border Regiment (this battalion did not serve overseas), while original War Graves Commission documents (on the website) do not state his battalion in the Border Regiment but clearly show that he was attached to the 12th Devons. 

A Sub Lieutenant with Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division, John died on 30th of December 1917 at the age of 22. John was born at Balham, Surrey, on 17 February 1895, a son of Walter Ulric and Mary Gertrude Cookes. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Balham, on 28 April 1895, and his family lived at 10 Dornton Road, Balham. In 1901 his family lived at York Villas, Commodore Road, Oulton Broad. By 1911 they were living at Avonholme, Romany Road, Oulton Broad.John volunteered and enlisted in the Army. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 14499, and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He was already a Corporal when he arrived in France, with the battalion, on 30 May 1915. John served with A Company. He suffered a contusion to his left thigh and was admitted to 2nd General Hospital on 19 October 1915 and he was discharged to a convalescence camp the next day.John attended No 2 Officer Cadet Battalion, Pembroke College, Cambridge. He was granted a temporary commission as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for service with the Royal Naval Division and had seniority from 26 April 1917. He was posted to the 2nd Reserve Battalion, Blandford, on 5 June 1917. Fron 27 June he attended a ‘Pioneer Course’ at Reading, which he passed, and he returned to Blandford on 9 August. On 7 September 1917 he was drafted to France to join Drake Battalion, France. Initially he was at the Base Depot, Calais, and joined the battalion on 18 September. John was reported missing on 30 December 1917. Red Cross and Royal Naval Division records mention information that had come from Petty Officer J. Heald who thought that John had been ‘shot through head’ and, according to Sub Lieutenants G. M. Love and T. M. Bennett, John had been severely wounded and form all appearances succumbed to wounds, they believed there was ‘no doubt as to (his) death’. Officially, on 2 September 1918, his death was presumed by ‘lapse of time’.John’s medals were sent to/claimed by his aunt Lilias Roberts, who lived at Mostyn, Glossop Road, Sandershead, Surrey. John is named on Saint Margaret’s Church War Memorial. NOTE: Romany Road was not formally named, as such, until 1933 and it seems that by that date Avonholme had been renamed as 'Helouan'.

A Private with the 10th Battalion, Ernest died on 8th of August 1918 aged 22. Ernest was born at Lowestoft in May 1896, a son of Peter and Annie Cooper. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 14 October 1896. Throughout Ernest’s life his family lived at 10 Cathcart Street. From 1 February 1904 Ernest attended Saint Margaret’s School. In 1911 Ernest was a confectioner’s errand boy.  Ernest volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in September 1914. He joined the Essex Regiment, service number 14633, and was posted to the 10th Battalion arriving in France with the battalion on 25 July 1915. Ernest was wounded three times in 1916, first on 19 February, then in July-August, and then, on 28 September he received a gunshot wound to his left leg and was admitted to 11 Casualty Clearing Station and the same day he was transferred via 18 Ambulance Train. Once recovered he returned to the 10th Battalion. In late July and early August 1918 the 10th Battalion were training. On 8 August they launched an attack south of the Bray-Corbie Road with Gressiare Wood as their objective. Mist hindered the attack and when this lifted they had their flanks in the air and had to withdraw. During that day the battalion lost 58 killed, 27 missing, and 199 wounded. It seems that Ernest was wounded and died the same day. He is buried at Beacon Cemetery next to the Bray-Corbie Road.   

A Sergeant with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Harold died on 26th of November 1941 aged 20. Harold was born at Penzance, Cornwall, on 2 March 1921, a son of Ernest Sidney and Selina Dorothy Cooper. In 1921 his family lived at Low Road, Thurlton, Norfolk. By 1939 their family home was at 70 Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, and Harold was a butcher’s apprentice. Harold enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve between September 1939 and June 1940. By November 1941 he was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner with 214 Squadron. Harold was a member of the crew of a Wellington II bomber, number Z8373, that took off from Stradishall, on a bombing raid on Emden, Germany. The aircraft had engine trouble and had to return. Contact was lost when they were about eighty miles from the English coast. A search and rescue operation failed to find the aircraft and all of the crew were presumed to have died. Another member of the crew was Mervyn Weavers who also came from Lowestoft. See No. 214 (FMS) Squadron RAF - Personnel - Personnel C (214squadron.org.uk)WITH THANKS TO:Malcolm Barrass

A Second Hand with Drifter Fraternal (Lowestoft). James died on 3rd of November 1914 at the age of 42. James was born at Lowestoft in 1868. In 1871 he lived with his grandmother, Harriet Cooper, at Crowe's Buildings, 2 Eastern Square, Lowestoft, and in 1881, he was still living with his grandparents, at Crowe's Buildings. On 12 June 1895 James married Edith Nora Stone at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. James was working as a fisherman and lived at 1 Capps Buildings, The Beach, Lowestoft, and Edith lived at 11 Wildes Street. By 1891 they were living at 18 Wildes Street, and James was a fisherman, and in 1911 they lived at 20 Anguish Street and James was a herring fisherman.  Edith died in 1913. In 1914 James married Eleanor Rose Rose , formerly Fuller, the widow of John Rose. Their home was at 3 Clemence Street, Lowestoft.On 3 November 1914 the Fraternal was fishing is a restricted area about 16 miles nne of Lowestoft and struck a mine. Three members of the crew were killed and survivors were picked up by the Launch Out and the Hasting Castle and taken to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.  For further details see: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)

An Able Seaman with Anson Battalion, Kenneth died on 25th of March 1918 at the age of 20.Kenneth was born at Lound on 29 January 1898, a son of John and Rose Cooper of The Street, Lound. He was baptised at Saint John the Baptist Church, Lound, on 1 May 1898. In 1911 Kenneth was an errand boy (domestic). Kenneth attested for the Army Reserve on 11 December 1915 but was called up to serve with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 16 June 1917 and actually joined the Royal Naval Division which was designated to fight on land but was made up of naval personnel. From 18 June 1917 Kenneth served with the 3rd Reserve Battalion, at Blandford, as an Ordinary Seaman. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 22 October 1917 and on that date was posted to the Anson Battalion in France. He embarked at Folkstone on 24 October and disembarked at Boulogne on 25 October, joining the Base Depot, at Calais, the same day. He then joined Anson Battalion in the field. From 23 to 25 March 1918 Anson Battalion were involved in a fighting withdrawal. On 25 March they fought a rearguard action to Thiepval and during the night of 25/26 they withdrew across the River Ancre with the intention of holding the railway line position.    It is not clear exactly what happened to Kenneth, but he was reported missing in action on 25 March 1918 and was later assumed to have been killed on that date.Kenneth is record as John Cooper on the war memorial at Lound Church.   

An Aircraftman 2nd Class with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Sydney died on 30th of August 1946 aged 19. Son of Sydney Bertram and Ethel Blanche Cooper of Lowestoft. In 1939 they lived at 31 Stanford Street. Sydney joined the air force in late 1945 served with 265 Maintenance Unit based at Grove, Berkshire.  On 30 August Sydney was walking back to R.A.F. Grove, from Wantage, with two colleagues when they were struck by a R.A.F. lorry travelling toward Wantage, and Sydney and Aircraftman Woodall were knocked down a bank and died as a result. The third man, Aircraftman Wide, was seriously injured. The lorry was being driven without permission.  WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass

A Gunner with 260th Siege Battery, Walter died on 26th of September 1917 at the age of 20. Walter was born at Oulton in 1896, a son of Simon George and Kathleen Maud Cooper. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 3 February 1897. In 1901 his family lived at Oulton Street. By 1911 they were living at 1 Pretoria Terrace, Rock Estate, Oulton Broad.Walter enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 885396, and was posted to the 3rd East Anglian Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade. His Brigade was broken up in France in December 1916 and it is likely that, at this point, Walter was transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery, service number 316578, and posted to the East Anglian (Essex) Heavy Battery. Later he was posted to 260 Siege Battery.There is contradiction concerning Walter’s details in the official records. Commonwealth War Graves give his unit as 260 Siege Battery, and his number as 316578. Soldiers Died in the Great Was lists his unit as East Anglian (Essex) Heavy Battery, and his service number as 316578. The Army Resister of Soldier’s Effects states that his unit was 260 Siege Battery, but gives his number as 885396 and may also indicate an earlier service number, 1188.The difficulty in identifying unit complicates any account of what happened to Walter. However, Walter is buried next to Gunner Albert Clews, of 260 Siege Battery, and his service papers survive. Given the proximity of the two burials and the fact that the Commonwealth War Graves original records state that Walter was serving with the 260 Siege Battery is seems certain that this was his unit and that the Soldiers Died record is in error.On 8 September 1917 260 Siege Battery were in positions at Messines. The war diary for 260 Siege Battery (WO 95/466) has the following entry for 26 September 1917:4.25 p.m. Hostile shell fell on No 4 Gun Pit. Casualties 2 killed, 1 wounded, 3 suffering from shock.Walter and Albert Clews were the two men killed in action on that day. 

A Sergeant with the 11th Battalion, William died on 9th of April 1918 at the age of 32. William was born at Lowestoft on 22 October 1885, a son of William and Phyllis Emma Cooper. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 27 December 1885. By 1891 his family were living at 36 Edgeware Street, West Derby, Liverpool, and in 1901 they lived at 59 Edgeware Street, and William was an office boy. By 1911 the family had moved back to Lowestoft, living at 20 Kirkley Street, and William was a clerk. Later his mother lived at 6 Kirkley Street.  William volunteered and enlisted in the Army, at Saxmundham, in October 1914. He joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, service number 1561. Subsequently he was posted to the 1/4th Battalion in France with service number 43376 and afterwards posted to the 11th Battalion.On 5 April 1918 the 11th Battalion occupied billets at Erquinghem, France. The Germans began bombing Erquignhem on 9 April and the battalion immediately moved into front line trenches in anticipation of an attack which came from the direction of Fleurbaux, but was driven back. A second attack from the Feurbaix area took place on 10 April and later that day the battalion were ordered to withdraw to north of the River Lys. A further withdrawal on the 11th was hampered by sniper and machine-gun fire but the battalion reached the Armentieres-Bailleul railway. On the 12th the battalion moved into attack formation about one mile south-east of Bailleul and late in the morning became involved in the fighting. The next day there was a heavy artillery bombardment and the enemy attacked in force from Outerstern and the battalion had to fall back. During the 14th the battalion took up positions near Bailleul railway station and late in the day they were relieved and marched to Meulehook. On the 15th due to enemy advances they were again in the front line. The next day they were patrolling and digging in. During the 17th there was heavy shelling and attempts by the enemy to advance. The battalion were relieved at 2 a.m. on April 18. What precisely happened to William is not known. He was reported missing at some point between 9 April and 19 April 1918 and in October 1918 was presumed to have been killed in action between those dates. However, both Soldiers Died in the Great War gives his date of death as 18 April. The battalion’s casualties between 9 and 19 April were:Officers: four killed; four died of wounds; five missing, ten woundedOther ranks: 39 killed; three died of wounds; 272 missing; 157 wounded

A Skipper with the Trawler Mistletoe (Lowestoft). William died on 7th of May 1919 at the age of 52. William was born at Wangford, by Southwold, in 1867, a son of Joseph and Mary Ann Cooper. He was baptised at Wangford on 2 June 1867. In 1871 he was living with his grandparents, William and Mary Ann Easter, at Henstead. In 1881 William lived at Mill Lane, Corton, and he worked as a cow boy.  On 25 December 1890 William married Susie Alice Boon at Saint Margaret’s Church. William was a fisherman living at 121 Raglan Street and Susie lived at Oulton Corner. In 1891 their home was at 95 Cambridge Road and by 1901 at 28 Seago Street. Later Susie lived at 61 Rotterdam Road. Susie married John Ayers in 1922.In 1891 William was the Second Hand on the trawler Wanderer. In 1911 he was the Master of the trawler Boys Friend at Padstow. Subsequently he became the Skipper of the trawler Mistletoe. On 7 May 1919 the trawler Misteltoe was fishing about half a mile off Lowestoft when it was blown up by a mine. The Skipper of the smack Colinda saw the wreckage and sailed to the spot. The crew of the Colinda were able to recover the body of Thomas Woolner. All of the Mistletoe's five crew were killed.  

A Sergeant with the 11th Battalion. William died on 7th of August 1918 at the age of 33. William was born at Lowestoft on 21 November 1884, a son of William and Mary Cooper. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 9 March 1890, and his family lived at 253 Raglan Street. In 1891 they were still living at 253 Raglan Street. By 1901 they were living at The Cottage, Waveney Drive, Kirkley, and William worked as an errand boy at the port. In 1911 they lived at Colville House, Carlton Colville, and later at Birds Farm, Birds Lane, Lowestoft.  William married Gertrude Harriett Russell in late 1911, this was registered in the Edmonton district. They lived at Havana Street, Millwall, and later Gertrude lived at 62 Tinto Road, Plaistow, Essex. William volunteered and joined the Army in December 1914. He enlisted at Poplar. William joined the Royal Fusiliers and served with the 12th Battalion, in France, from 6 Octber 1915 until 30 January 1918 when he was posted to the 11th Battalion. William was wounded twice and awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 12 March 1917, page 2483). The official pages of the 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers War Diary covering the period 1st to 21st August 1918 are missing, so no details of what happened to William are known. However, a hand-written note from Captain Baker to the Adjutant of the Battalion shows that during the night of 6-7 August the Battalion were in front line tranches and had to withstand a sustained and heavy German counter-attack. Twenty-six men, including William, were killed. 

An Air Mechanic 2nd Class with No. 12 Reserve Squadron, Ernest died on 10th of December 1916 at the age of 23. Ernest was born at Lowestoft in 1894, a son of Herbert Walter and Annie Charlotte Coote. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 4 February 1894 and his family lived at 15 Ontario Road, Kirkley. In 1901 his family lived at the Baker’s Shop, Kendal Road, Lowestoft. By 1911 they were living at 18 Winsley Road, Colchester, and Ernest was a waiter with the Great Eastern Railway Company. By November 1915 they were living at 37 Roman Road, Colchester, and later his parents lived at 69 Lawson Road, Lowestoft. Ernest was living at 37 Roman Road, Colchester, and working as a car attendant, when he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps at Stratford, London, on 8 November 1915. The following note appeared in The Newsman (Essex) on 23 December 1916, page 3:The death occurred at Cambridge Military Hospital (1st Eastern General Hospital) on December 10 after two operations for appendicitis of 2nd A.M. of Ernest F. Coote, aged 23, R.F.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Coote, late of 37 Roman Road, Colchester. Mr. and Mrs. Coote have three other sons serving; one a prisoner in Germany. This notice was published in The Evening Star and Daily Herald, 23 December 1916, page 3:YOUNG AIRMAN’S FUNERAL AT KIRKLEYErnest Coote, late of a Reserve Air Squadron, has been buried at Kirkley Cemetery. The unfortunate young man died at Cambridge Military Hospital, and the body brought to his parent’s home, 69, Lawson Road, South Lowestoft. He was formerly employed as a waiter on the G.E.R. restaurant cars, but joined up some time ago, entering the R.F.C. as an air mechanic. As an employee of the G.E.R. Company and a comrade in his squadron he was greatly respected. The deceased’s father has three sons serving their King and country, one of these being a prisoner of war in Germany. The deceased was accorded full military honours, a squad of airmen acting as bearers. The Rev. F. W. Emms, curate of Saint John’s officiated.    

A Second Hand with H. M. trawler Princess Beatrice. Charles died on 5th October 1914 at the age of 30. Charles was born at London on 29 October 1883, a son of Charles Henry Copeland. Charles married Annie Louisa Swan Pearson at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 13 September 1905. At that time he was a fisherman living at 249 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. By 1911 Charles and Annie were living at 52 Haward Street and later at 57 Bevan Street, Lowestoft. Charles had been awarded his Certificate of Competency as a Second Hand in 1908.  Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 18 August 1914, but had previously served for seven years with the Reserve. Charles served on board the converted trawler Princess Beatrice and was killed, with the rest of the crew, when the vessel was sunk by a  mine off the Belgian Coast on 5th October 1914. Annie later remarried and moved to London. 

A Private with the 3/6th Battalion, Herbert died on 24th of October 1917 at the age of 27. Herbert was born at Woodbridge, Suffolk, on 13 July 1890, a son of John and Martha Copping. He was baptised at Woodbridge on 31 August 1890. In 1891 his family lived at Cumberland Street, Woodbridge. By 1901 they were living at 17 Hamilton Street, Ramsey, Essex, and this was still their home in 1911.In 1910 Herbert married Ethel May Martin, in Lowestoft, and in July 1910 they were living at 245 Raglan Street and Herbert was an insurance agent. In 1911 they lived with Herbert’s parents at 17 Hamilton Street and Herbert worked as a quay labourer. Later, and by 1915, they were living at 3A, Vansittart Street, Bathside, Harwich. After Herbert’s death Ethel returned to Lowestoft and lived at 14 Saint Peter’s Street. In 1921 Ethel married Arthur Harvey and they lived at 173 London Road, Lowestoft. Herbert stated that his home was at 3A, Vansittart Street, Bathside, Harwich, and that he was working as a cycle and motor-cycle fitter, when he attested for the Army, at Brighton, on 9 October 1915. Note: he may have been lodging at 21 Montpelier Place, Brighton. Herbert joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 6/1985. Herbert was posted to the 3/6th Battalion which was absorbed into the 4th (Reserve) Battalion. In June 1916 Herbert repaired the motor-cycle of Lieutenant F. Smithers and took it for a test ride. He was stopped by the police and presented the officer’s driving licence, rather than one of his own, and was fined 5 shillings by Purfleet magistrates. Herbert arrived in Boulogne, France, on 5 October 1916 and joined an administrative centre. He became unwell and was admitted to 24 General Hospital, Etaples, on 16 October 1916 to be treated for bronchitis, this was later determined to be pleurisy. Herbert returned to England on 9 November 1916.A medical board found that Herbert was suffering from tuberculosis of the lung and concluded that this illness was due to exposure while Herbert was on active service. He was discharged, medically unfit, on 26 February 1917, and granted a disability pension and the Silver War Badge. Herbert’s funeral took place at Saint Nicholas’ Church, Harwich, on 29 October 1917. Herbert’s name appears on Saint Margaret's War Memorial and his surname is given as Coppin.Herbert’s daughter, Ruby, died in the Waller Raid in 1942. 

A Civilian, Ruby died on 13th of January 1942 at the age of 24. Ruby was born at Harwich on 28 November 1917, a daughter of Herbert and Ethel Copping. She was born a month after her father’s death. Her family lived at 3A, Vansittart Street, Bathside, Harwich. After her father’s death they moved to Lowestoft and lived at 14 Saint Peter’s Street, and then at 173 London Road. Ruby died at London Road North during the Waller Raid.Her father died in 1917 from illness contracted while on active service. 

A Seaman with H.M.S. Cressy. Alonzo died on 22nd of September 1914 at the age of 21. Alonzo was born at Lowestoft on 14 July 1893, a son of Joseph William and Charlotte Corbin. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's church on 22 January 1896 and his family lived at 20 Union Road. In 1901 his family lived at 68 Stanford Street, and by 1911 they were living at 29 Sandringham Road Lowestoft (Note his parents were often known as Joseph and Lottie).Alonzo joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 13 February 1912. Between 15 June 1912 and October 1913 Alonzo served as a Seaman on the following trawlers: Bronliers (LT 216); Arthur William (LT 216 sic); and White Heather (LT 1013).  On 29 March 1913 Alonzo married Maude Christina Newson at Saint Margaret's Church. Alonzo was a fisherman living at 29 Sandringham Road and Maude lived at 41 Oxford Road. Later Maude lived at 1 Clements Square, Carlton Road.Alonzo was called out for service at the start of the First World War and in early August 1914 joined H.M.S. Cressy. On 28 August 1914 H.M.S. Cressy was part of the British naval force at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, but took no active part in the battle. On 22 September H.M.S. Cressy, sailing with sister ships Aboukir and Hogue, were in the Broad Fourteens area of the North Sea when each ship was sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U-9. A total of 560 men, including Alonzo, were killed in the loss of the Cressy. His brother Frederick died in 1917 with the loss of the trawler Dalmatian.

A Deck Hand with Trawler Dalmatian (Boston), Frederick died on 15th of April 1917 age 14. Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 9 June 1902, a son of Joseph William and Charlotte Corbin. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church on 27 June 1902 and his family lived at 68 Stanford Street. By 1911 his family were living at 29 Sandringham Road. (Note his parents were often know as Joseph and Lottie).On 15 April 1917 the trawler Dalmation was stopped by the German submarine UC-44. The crew were put into lifeboats and the submarine then sank the trawler. However, none of the crew survived.  Frederick's brother Alonzo died when H.M.S. Cressy was sunk in 1914.Note: Commonwealth War Graves gives his date of death as 14 April 1917. 

A Rifleman with 3/17th Bn., Charles died on 11th of November 1918 at the age of 29. Charles was born at West Ham in 1889, a son of Charles Albert and Elizabeth Corby. By 1901 his family was living at 1911 58 Arthingworth Street, Stratford, West Ham, London, and this was still their home in 1911 when Charles worked as a locomotive fitter for the Great Eastern Railway Company. Later his parents lived at 55 Pakefield Street, Lowestoft. Charles was working as a mechanic when he volunteered to join the Army and enlisted at Bow on 26 April 1915. He joined the 17th London Regiment, number 4099. Charles was serving with the 3/17th Battalion, at Winchester, when he was court martialed and found guilty of absence and insubordination and he was sentenced to 28 day detention. He was posted to the 1/17th Battalion and went to France 6 July 1916. He served with B Company. Charles suffered from myalgia and had to undergo treatment in October 1916. Charles returned to England on 21 March 1917, probably because of illness, wound or injury. In early 1917 he was renumbered 571703. He returned to serve with the 1/17th Battalion in France on 14 June 1917. On 10 July 1917 he was posted to the 8th London Regiment in France. On 25 September 1917 he returned to England. It seems that Charles was placed into a lower category of medical fitness as he never served overseas again.   In early 1918 Charles was attached to the Training Wing of the Royal Flying Corps at Shoreham. He was reported absent without leave on 19 February 1918 and his details circulated in the Police Gazette. He returned to the unit and it seems that he was then posted back to the 17th London Regiment and would, therefore, have joined the 3/17th Battalion.Charles contracted influenza and pneumonias and died at the Military Hospital, Purfleet.

A Private with the 1st Battalion, Albert died on 21st of September 1918 aged of 27.Albert was born at Fisherton Delamere, Wiltshire, on 4 June 1891, a son of James William and Frances Helen Cornish. He was baptised at Fisherton Delamere on 26 July 1891 and his family lived at Bapton. By 1901 they were living at the Dairy House, at the College of Agriculture, North Clanford, Hampshire. In 1911 his family lived at Benacre and Albert was a farm stockman. Albert emigrated to the U.S.A., arriving there on 21 May 1913. His intended residence was Cleburne, Texas. Albert was working as a dairyman when he enlisted in the British Army at Dallas, Texas, in late 1917. He travelled to Windsor, England, via New York, and joined the East Surrey Regiment, service number 3/38953. On 19 March 1918 Albert married Emma Louisa Moore at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Albert was on active service and Emma lived at 169 High Street. In 1920 Emma married William Mills and lived at 170 High Street.  In 1918 Albert was transferred to the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), service number G/31239, and posted to the 1st Battalion in France. In mid-September 1918 his battalion moved to positions near Neuville-Bourjonval. There is no record of when or how Albert was wounded but, given that he is buried at Grevillers, it is likely that he died of wounds at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations based there.   See house on LowestoftOldAndNow.org 

A Pilot Officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Kenneth died on 29th of January 1944 aged 20. Kenneth was born at Norwich in 1923, a son of Sydney Frank and Dorothy Olive Cornwell. Kenneth’s father was a teacher at Church Road Boys’ School before working at Roman Hill Senior Boys’ School. By 1939 his family were living at 36 Kirkley Park Road.  Kenneth was a Navigator and flew his first sortie with served with 166 Squadron on 22 September 1943. Kenneth was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, London Gazette 21 January 1944, with the following citation:Pilot Officer Kenneth Frank CORNWELL (168642), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 166 Squadron.  Pilot Officer Joseph HORSLEY (161592), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 166 Squadron. These officers were navigator and pilot respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin one night in December 1943. Soon after crossing the enemy coast one of the aircraft's engines became useless. Pilot Officer Horsley continued his mission, however, being greatly assisted in reaching the target at the prescribed time by excellent navigation on the part of Pilot Officer Cornwell who, despite the fluctuations in height and speed displayed great accuracy. In spite of intense light anti-aircraft fire, Pilot Officer Horsley displayed great persistence and made three runs over the target before releasing his bombs. Considerable height had been lost and one of the starboard engines was hit and caught fire; the artificial horizon and the directional gyro were also rendered useless. Two engines were now unserviceable. Nevertheless, Pilot Officer Horsley flew the damaged aircraft to base. On the homeward flight, Pilot Officer Cornwell proved his skill in extremely difficult circumstances and his faultless navigation contributed materially to the safe return of the bomber. These officers, who have completed many sorties, have invariably displayed a high degree of skill, courage and devotion to duty. On 29 January 1944 Kenneth was a member of the crew of a Lancaster III bomber, number ND382 AS-Z, that took off from Kirmington on a night-raid on Berlin. The aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Fretzdorf near Bonn. All of the crew were killed. WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass

A Private with the 12th Battalion, George died on 6th of May 1917 at the age of 35. George was born at Oulton on 2 June 1881, a son of Charles and Alice Cowles. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 26 June 1881. By 1891 George’s father had died and his mother had married John Alexander and the family lived at 76 Queen’s Road. In 1901 George was living at Mollets Farm, Farnham, Suffolk, and worked as a mineral water carter. In 1904 he married Agnes Mary Messenger: this was registered in the Plomsgate district. In 1911 they lived at Albion Street, Saxmundham, and George was a carter for a mineral water manufacturer.  George enlisted in the Army at Saxmundham. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 32002, and was posted to the 12th Battalion in France. At 11 p.m. on 5 May 1917 men of the 12th Battalion, in conjunction with 119 Brigade, carried out a trench raid on the German lines in the vicinity of La Vacquerie. The men advanced under the cover of an artillery barrage. D Company was held up by heavy machine-gun wire and the fact that wire had not been cut, so they bombed the German trenches over the wire. A Company gained the objective only to find that they were dummy trenches. A party from A Company were able to advance further and captured several prisoners.   Eighteen men, including George, were killed in the raid. 

A Cadet with M.V. Harpagus (London), Denis died on 5th of August 1943 at the age of 20. Denis was born at Reading in 1922, a son of Henry and Eleanor Mary Cox. By 1939 Denis' parents were running the Post Office at Chediston, and later they lived in Lowestoft. Denis died, at Algiers, in an accident caused by the explosion of a nearby ship.  

A Civilian, Dorothy died on 22nd of July 1941 at the age of 20. Dorothy was born at Lowestoft on 18 August 1920, a daughter of Dennis George and Lily Maud Cox. She was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 3 September 1920, and her family lived at 58 Lorne Park Road. In 1939 her family were living at 42 Lorne Park Road and Dorothy worked at a factory (paste and jam?). Dorothy died at her home during an air raid. 

A Private with 131st Company, Edward died on 21st of March 1918 at the age of 29. Edward was born at Lowestoft on 24 September 1888, a son of Frederick and Susan Mary List Cox. In 1891 his family lived at 10-12 Albert Road, Lowestoft, and this was still the family home in 1901. In 1911 Edward lived with his brothers, and sister, at 23 Arnold Street, Lowestoft, and he worked as a general labourer at a provision manufacturer. Edward married Phoebe Louisa Saunders at Lowestoft on 2 January 1915. Edward was a painter living at Bishop's Buildings and Phoebe lived at 155 London Road. They lived at 55 Edinburgh Road, Lowestoft.Edward was a food packer when he attested for Army, at Lowestoft, on 7 December 1915. He was not called up until 23 February 1917. Initially he served with the 29th (Works) Battalion Middlesex Regiment, service number 48481. He was then posted to France to join The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He served in France from 12 March 1917. His unit was the 23rd Infantry Labour Corps (still part of The Queens) and upon the formation of the Labour Corps this unit was absorbed into the new Corps. On 9 May 1917 Edward was transferred to the Labour Corps, with service number 78042. He was granted leave from 17 to 31 January 1918.On 21 March 1918 he sustained a shell-wound to his left thigh. He was taken to 19 Field Ambulance, at Vlamertinghe, and thence to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, based at Nine Elms near Poperinghe, Belgium, where he died from his wounds. 

A Civilian, Henry died on 22nd of July 1941, aged 46. Henry is believed to have been born at Whitechapel, London, on 1 January 1894, however his year of birth may have been 1895. His father was Robert Cox. No member of Henry’s family can be traced in any census record before 1921, however Henry and two of his brothers served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and details of their early life have been found in their service records. Between 1904 and 1907 Henry’s family home was at 48 Hayles Street, Southwark. By late 1912 Henry was working at a market garden in South Wales. On 30 December 1912 Henry enlisted in the Army at Carmarthen. He joined the Welch Regiment and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. On 22 August 1913 he was allowed to transfer from the Army to join the Royal Marine Light Infantry in which two of his brothers, William Robert and Dennis George, were already serving. During the First World War Henry served with H.M.S. Lowestoft, until 2 April 1915, H.M.S. Tyne, until 19 June 1915, H.M.S. Angora, until 14 November 1915. From 16 February to 1 May 1916, he served with the Royal Marine Brigade in the Mediterranean. He joined H.M.S. Colleen on 3 September 1916 and served with the Colleen until 20 April 1918. Henry was awarded prize money for the destruction of the German ship Blucher and for the destruction of enemy ships during the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914. On 29 August 1919 Henry left the Royal Marines and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker, number K 58405. He was discharged on 3 March 1920, permanently unfit for further service. There is no trace on Henry in either the 1921 Census or the 1939 Register, but by July 1941 he was living with his brother, Dennis George, and his family, at 42 Lorne Park Road. Henry joined the Home Guard in Lowestoft and was promoted to Corporal. Henry, and his niece Dorothy, died at 42 Lorne Park Road in the air raid on 22 July 1941.

A Private with 1/4th Bn., William died on 16th of May 1915 at the age of 19. William was born at Holloway, London, in 1895, a son of George and Ellen Eliza Cox. In 1901 his family lived at Church Road, Kessingland, and by 1911 at 3 Wivenhoe Cottages, Florence Road, Pakefield, and William worked as a saw mill. Later his parents lived at 11 Florence Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft.William volunteered and enlisted in the 1/4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment (Territorial Force) in March/April 1913.He was mobilized when the war began and arrived in France with the Battalion on 8 November 1914. On the night of 4 - 5 May the 1/4 Battalion took over trenches opposite the Bois du Biez and close to Port Arthur, where they were subject to a considerable amount of enemy shell-fire. The main attack, at Aubers Ridge, took place on May 9, with the Battalion in support, and the Battalion remained in their positions until relieved on 19 May. The Battalion War Diary for 16 May has:Ordered to support attack with machine-gun and rifle fire which was to take place at 11.30 p.m. Bombardment was very heavy on both sides - the enemy shelling our trenches and the communication trench very severely about 3 a.m. The Brigade around Festubert made good progress.  William was killed by shell-fire on 16 May. Three other men of the Battalion were killed that day and eleven wounded.  

A Private with 7th Bn., Victor died on 12th of October 1916 at the age of 24. Victor was born at Lowestoft in 1892, a son of Joseph and Florence Crack. In 1901 his family lived at 9, The Street, Lound, where is father had a grocery and draper's shop. In 1911 they were still living at 9 The Street, and Victor was working in his father's business. Before enlisting in the Army, Victor worked for the Post Office. Victor enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, number 24707, and was posted to the 7th Battalion in France. The War Diary for the 7th Battalion has:10 October 1916Relieved 11th Middlesex in Bulls Runs, near Flers, four companies in front line.12 October 1916Attack to be made on Bayonet Trench and Luisenhoff Farm. Morning very quiet.5 a.m. Battalion lying in shell holes in front ready.10 a.m. Major Henty went forward to advance Battalion Headquarters in Grass Street to receive reports.2 p.m. Zero. Attack started. German barrage very intense. Battalion proceeded in four waves, each company with a platoon front.No definite report until 6 p.m. when Battalion was back in front line having failed to attain objective.B and D Companies gained objective, but were driven out by superior numbers.1st Essex on right gained objective but were unable to hold it, finally and they managed to keep part of it.Battalion withdrew to reserve in Flers Trench. Colonel Murphy, in history of the Suffolk Regiment, felt that the attack failed because the enemy wire had only partially been destroyed and that the British barrage was ineffective.All fifteen officers that went over the top became casualties: eleven killed and four wounded. Ninety two other ranks were killed and, in total, the Battalion had over 500 casualties.  Victor was reported missing on 12 October and it was not until September 1917 that he was officially concluded to have died on 12 October. His body had been found and buried at map reference 57.C.N.20.B.5.1 and in 1921 he was reburied at Beaulencourt. Daniel's name is recorded in the General Post Office Memorial Book. See GPO War Heroes

A Private with 1st Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Charles died on 25th of August 1918, at the age of 20 years. Charles was born at Lound on 29 March 1897, a son of George and Louisa Cracknell. He was baptised at Saint Bartholomew's Church, Corton, on 2 May 1897. In 1901 his family lived at 12 Back Lane, Lound, and, by 1911, at Fern House, Back Lane, Lound, and Charles was a farm labourer. Later his parents lived at The Corner, Lound, Lowestoft.Charles enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Great Yarmouth on 2 November 1915. he attended the Recruit Depot at Deal from 2 November 1915 to 25 May 1916 when he joined B Company, Plymouth Division, in the 3rd Royal Marine Battalion. On 16 April 1918 he was drafted to the 1st Royal Marine Battalion, in France, and joined 5 Platoon of B Company. On 25 August 1918 the 1st Battalion were at Loupart Wood and began an attack with the ultimate objective of capturing the eastern edge of the village of La Barque. This final objective was gained by 6.30 a.m. During the operation 150 prisoners were taken and two trench mortars, eight machine guns and much material captured. Numerous counter attacks were made during the day. Charles sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was admitted to 14 Field Ambulance where he died from his wounds that same day. He was buried at an isolated grave at Achiet le Petit, four and a half miles north-west of Bapaume, France. Later he was reburied at Gommecourt No 2 Cemetery, Hebuterne, France.  During August 1918 the battalion’s casualties were:Officers: three killed, twelve woundedOther ranks: 46 killed, 7 died of wounds, 260 wounded, 31 missingCharles' brother Percival died in 1915 whilst serving with the Royal Field Artillery. 

A Driver with 22nd Battery, Percival died on 9th of May 1915 at the age of 21. Percival was born at Lound on 28 September 1894, a son of George and Louisa Cracknell. he was baptised at Saint Bartholomew's Church, Corton, on 4 November 1894. In 1901 his family lived at 12 Back Lane, Lound, and, by 1911, at Fern House, Back lane, Lound. Later his parents lived at The Corner, Lound, Lowestoft.Percival was aged 14 years and 261 days when he enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, as a boy soldier, at Great Yarmouth on 16 June 1909, service number 31825. He was appointed Trumpeter with 29 Company on 22 September 1911. He joined 37 Company on 15 March 1912, and 100 Company, at Malta, on 21 March 1912. He was transferred to serve as a Driver with the Royal Field Artillery, in England, on 2 January 1913, and posted to 22nd Battery with service number 71669.  Percival arrived in France with 22nd Battery on 16 August 1914. On 8 May 1915 Percival was wounded and admitted to 85 Field Ambulance where he died from his wounds the following day. He was buried in a field at the farm of Henri, Pattyn, Vanlaeres, on the west side of Poperinghe at the Westoutre Road, about 300 yards south of Poperinghe. In 1919 his body was exhumed and he was reburied at Klien-Vierstraat British Cemetery.Percival's brother Charles served with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, in the Royal Naval Division, and died of wounds in 1918. 

A Private with the 1/7th Battalion, Ambrose died on 14th of April 1918 at the age of 25. Ambrose was born at Lowestoft in 1893, a son of James and Elizabeth Crake. In 1901 his family lived at 2 Albert Street, Lowestoft. In 1901 they were living at 98 Alexandra Road and Ambrose was a twine-spinner. By 1916 his family were living at 113 Wollaston Road. Ambrose enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in 1916. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 28701. Ambrose was transferred to the West Yorkshire Regiment, service number 42668, and was posted to the 1/7th Battalion in France. He was wounded in 1917 and his name appears in the official casualty list, the War Office Daily List, of 23 November 1917.On 12 April 1918 the 1/7th Battalion moved into positions near Wytchaete, Belgium. The battalion was diary gives no indication of what happened to Ambrose and records, for 14 April, that the battalion headquarters moved to Irish House. Official records show that Ambrose was killed in action on 14 April.  

A Private with the 9th Battalion, Frederick died on 12th of September 1917 at the age of 27. Frederick, also known as Freddie, was born at Pakefield on 5 April 1890, a son of Benjamin and Ada Crake. In 1891 his family lived at 86 Pakefield Street, where his father kept a butcher’s shop. This was his parents’ home throughout Frederick’s life. On 1 July 1895 Frederick became a pupil at Kirkley School and, on 13 April 1904, he became a pupil at Lowestoft School of Science. In 1911 Frederick was a butcher’s assistant and believed to have worked with his father. In 1916 Frederick married Sarah Phyllis Savory: this was registered in the Mutford district. By June 1917 Sarah, often known as Phyllis, was living at 54 Wilson Road, and in 1921 she lived at 125 Worthing Road. In 1930 Sarah married Alan Cook. Frederick enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 32052, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in France. Subsequently he was posted to the 9th Battalion.  In September 1917 the 9th Battalion spent time in support, and then front line, trenches in the vicinity of Bracquemont, near Noeux-les-Mines, and Mazingarbe.  It is not possible to state exactly when, or how, Frederick was wounded. He died of wounds on 12 September and is buried at Chocques. For several years Chocques was the base of No 1 Casualty Clearing Station, hence it is likely that he died at that Clearing Station. Chocques is just a few miles north-east of Noeux-les-Mines. Note, in some sources Frederick’s middle name is incorrectly given as Edward.

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Charles died on 9th of April 1917 at the age of 20. Charles was born at Gisleham in 1897, a son of David and Caroline Crane. He was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Gisleham, on 11 March 1897. By 1901 his family were living at Burton's Lodge, Gisleham, and in 1911 they were living at White House Lodge, Gisleham, and Charles worked as a lad on the farm. Subsequently his parents would live at Homestead, Gisleham. Charles, like his brother, served with the 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Charles arrived in France with the Battalion on 31 August 1915. He was wounded at the attack on the Quadrilateral at Beaumont-Hamel in September 1916: the attack in which his brother was killed. His name appears in the list of wounded in the War Office Daily List of 25 October 1916. Once recovered Charles was posted to the 7th Battalion.   On 6 April 1917 the 7th Battalion were billeted in cellars at Arras. On 9 April the battalion were involved in the attack at Arras. Charles was killed in action at some point during 9-10 April 1917. Charles' brother David was killed in action in September 1916 while serving with the 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. 

A Private with the 9th Battalion, David died on 16th of September 1916 at the age of 23. David was born at Lowestoft on 2 May 1893, a son of David and Caroline Crane. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 14 June 1893 and his family lived at 40 Tennyson Road. By 1901 his family were living at Burton's Lodge, Gisleham, and in 1911 they were living at White House Lodge, Gisleham, and David worked as a lad on the farm. Subsequently his parents would live at Homestead, Gisleham. David enlisted in the Army at Beccles. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 22341. In 1916 he was posted to the 9th battalion  in France. On 13 September 1916 the 9th Battalion were in trenches near Guinchy on the Somme. At 6.20 a.m. they attacked the German lines and were able to capture two lines of German trenches, however, the enemy artillery and machine-gun fire inflicted heavy casualties. The situation could not be cleared up and so, at 7.30 a.m. A Company made an attack on the German strongpoint known as The Quadrilateral, but they failed to reach their objective due to enemy machine-gun fire. By the end of the day two officers and 15 men had been killed and 10 officers and 185 men wounded. On 15 September the Battalion made an attack on the enemy trenches with a final objective between Lesbouchs and Morval. The Battalion were to advance at 7.50 a.m. There was heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fire and half of C Company could not even leave the trench. The rest of the Battalion were held up by heavy machine-gun fire from The Quadrilateral. There were many casualties, including Lieutenant-Colonel Mack. During the day the Battalion lost four officers and 35 men killed, seven officers and 99 men wounded, and two officers and 93 men missing. The Army Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that David was killed in action between 13 and 16 September 1916. But the 9th Battalion war diary states that there were no casualties on 16 September.  In 1930 David's body was discovered at map reference 57c.T.20.b.75.65. He was identified by his uniform shoulder titles and an identity disc. David was exhumed and reburied at Serre Road Cemetery No.2. David's brother Charles was killed in action in April 1917 while serving with the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. 

Katie died on 9th August 1915 at the age of 18.Katie, known as Kate, was born at Pakefield on 24 April 1898, a daughter of Frederick Sidney and Jane Elizabeth Crawford of 18 Oaklands Terrace, Kessingland. Katie worked as a live-in kitchen maid for Arthur Stebbings who had a shop at 12 Lovewell Road, Kirkley. At 10.30 p.m. on Monday 9th August 1915 a German zeppelin bombed Lowestoft. One of the bombs fell on 12 Lovewell Road and Kate was killed. Her death certificate notes her cause of death as: 'being crushed and suffocated as the result of a collapse of a house caused by the explosion of a shell or bomb discharged from a hostile enemy aircraft.'Katie was buried at Saint Edmunds Churchyard, Kessingland, on 16 August 1915.(With thanks to Ivan Bunn/Bob Collis for providing this information)  

A Civilian, Ernest died on 9th of April 1941 aged 50. Ernest was born at Lowestoft on 20 January 1891, a son of Walter William and Sarah Ann Creasy. In 1891 his family lived at 52 A Tonning Street and this was still their home in 1901. Ernest attended Hervey Street Infant School and then, on 28 February 1898, became a pupil at Saint John’s School. From 20 April 1904 he was a pupil at Roman Hill School and, at that time his family lived at 8 Essex Road. By 1911 Ernest’s family were living at 50 Essex Road and Ermest was an apprentice bricklayer, possibly working with his father, a master builder.  Ernest enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery on 15 April 1912. He did not serve overseas during the First World War. By 1919 he was a Shoeing Smith Corporal serving with the 1st Reserve Brigade. Ernest was discharged on 17 February 1919, through sickness. He was awarded a pension of 6/- per week and the Silver War Badge. His address on discharge was 52 Essex Road. In August 1920 Ernest began work as a Skilled Workman Class 2 with the General Post Office.  On 23 April 1921 Ernest married Jane Greenall at Saint Mary’s Church, Tadcaster. Ernest was a Skilled Workman Class 2 (maintenance of telegraphs, etc.) living at Lowestoft and Jane lived at Tadcaster. Later that year they lived at 38 Selby Street, and Ernest worked at Lowestoft Post Office. By 1939 their home was at 35 Stanley Street, but the 1939 Register shows Ernest lodging at 96 Crest Road, Willesden, London, and working at the General Post Office Engineering Department. By April 1941 Ernest was a member of the Home Guard at Lowestoft. At some point the family moved to 126 Raglan Street. Ernest died at Till Road during an air raid. Note: although some casualty records give Ernest’s surname as Creasey most civil records show the correct spelling as Creasy.  

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Lucknow, Charles died on 18th of May 1917 at the age of 25. Charles was born at Lowestoft on 1 May 1892, a son of Charles Henry and Elizabeth Crews. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 20 May 1892 and his family lived at 4 Till Road. Charles attended Saint John’s Infant School and then, from 5 February 1900 Saint John’s School. In 1901 his family lived at 69 Norwich Road. By 1911 his family were living at 31 Selby Street.Charles was awarded his certificate of competency as a second hand in 1914. Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 April 1917 to serve as a Deck Hand. On 1 May 1917 he was advanced to Second Hand and joined the trawler Lucknow. On 18 May 1917 the Lucknow was sailing off Portsmouth, about 2 miles west of the Over Light Vessel, when it struck a mine and sank. Nine crew, including Charles, were killed. Charles’ body was recovered and details of his funeral appeared in the Lowestoft Journal 2 June 1917, page 3:On Saturday afternoon [26 May] Mr. Charles Henry Crews, nephew of Mr. C.H. Crews (of Crews and Son, Trawl Market, Lowestoft) who lost his life at sea, was buried at Lowestoft with naval honours. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed on a gun carriage. A considerable number of naval men attended, the buglers sounded the “Last Post”. The Rev. Sidney J. Jones (Wesleyan) officiated. The coffin was inscribed:CHARLES HENRY CREWSDied May 21st 1917 Aged 26 years.Wreaths were sent as follows: - In loving memory of our dear son, form his mother and father; In loving memory of our dear brother, Molly and George; In loving memory of dear Charlie, from his sweetheart Lizzie; In affectionate remembrance, from aunt Alice and uncle Will; With all true sympathy, from uncle Ernest and aunt Ellen (Bungay); With all true sympathy, from uncle Ernest  and aunt Ellen (Bungay); In loving memory, from uncle Jim, aunt Fish, and cousins; In loving memory from his cousins Bob, Nellie, Miriam, and Ernest; with deepest sympathy, from grandfather, aunt Edith, and uncle Norton; with deepest sympathy, from Mrs. Lincoln and family “Rest in peace”; with sincere sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Walter Podd; with deepest sympathy from Mrs. Curtis and family “peace perfect peace”; with deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds; ”; with deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Cullen; ”; with deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Bull; ”; with deepest sympathy from F. E. Moore; in affectionate remembrance, from Mrs. Charlish and family, London; ”; in sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Wooden and family; ”; with deepest sympathy from Kate and Reggie Saunders.Mr. Horace Richards, Raglan Street, was undertaker.Mr. Charles Crews and family desire to take this means of thanking the many friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in sending wreaths, etc., in their recent sad bereavement. They also wish to thank the officers and men at the Lowestoft Naval Base. 

An Ordinary Seaman with H.M.S. Ajax, Leonard died on 29th of May 1941 aged 18. Leonard was born at Lowestoft on 29 October 1922, a son of Walter William and Blanche Cripps. His family lived at 19 Princes Road before moving to 14 Wood’s Loke. Leonard served with H.M.S. Ajax. In August 1940 the Ajax was assigned to the Mediterranean for convoy duties. On 21 May 1941 the ship was involved in the Battle of Cape Matapan and then took part on operations to evacuate troops from Crete. It was during this latter operation that Leonard was killed.    

A Private with the 11th Battalion, Clement died on 3rd of April 1917 at the age of 32. Clement was born at Griston, near Watton, in 1884, a son of Henry and Martha Crisp. He was baptised at Griston on 9 November 1884.In 1901 his family were living at White House Cottages, Carlton Colville, and Clement was a carter on a farm. By 1911 they were living at Beccles Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, and Clement worked as a drift net fisherman.Clement served with the 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. From 1 to 6 April 1917 the 11th Battalion were in Saint Nicholas and Saint Catherine's billets at Arras, but from 2 April to 6 April the Battalion had to provide working parties to take trench mortar ammunition up to the front line and to cut wire in front of the British trenches. The Battalion War Diary does not mention any casualties for 3 April 1917, be we do know this this is when Clement was killed in action.

A Seaman with H.M.S. Aboukir. James died on 22nd of September 1914 at the age of 30. James was born at Lowestoft on 14 February 1884, a son of James Harris Crisp and Jemima Crisp. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 6 April 1884. In 1891 his family lived at 8 Clemence Street. By 1901 they were living at 4 Beckham Road and James was a deck hand on a smack. Later they lived at 28 Norwich Road, Lowestoft.James enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 April 1904.In 1911 James was the Third Hand on the trawler Hesperus at Padstow.  James was called out for service when the First World War began and on 3 August 1914 he was drafted to H.M.S. Aboukir. On 28 August 1914 H.M.S. Aboukir was part of the British naval force at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, but took no active part in the battle. On 22 September H.M.S. Aboukir, sailing with sister ships Cressy and Hogue, were in the Broad Fourteens area of the North Sea when each ship was sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U-9. A total of 527 men, including James, were killed in the loss of the Aboukir. 

A Skipper with H.M. Smack Nelson, Thomas died on 15th of August 1917 at the age of 41. Thomas, also known as Tom, was born at Lowestoft on 28 April 1876, a son of William and Mary Ann Crisp. In 1881 his family lived at 3 Rant Score East and by 1891 at 17 Seago Street. On 2 June 1895 Thomas married Harriet Elizabeth Alp at Saint Margaret’s Church. Thomas was a trawlerman and they both gave their address as 4 fir Lane. By 1901 they were living near Holly Farm, on Staithe Road, Burgh St. Peter, and Thomas was the mate on a fishing smack. Thomas went to sea as a young man, initially as a fisherman and then, for a time in the Merchant Service when he became a quartermaster on the S.S. Mobile. Subsequently he returned to fishing and was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper in 1904. Tom worked for the Chambers family and was, for many years, Skipper of the ketch George Borrow. By 1911 Thomas and Harriett’s home was at 56 Roman Road and by 1915 they had moved to 27 Stanford Street. Harriett died, at Lowestoft, on 12 June 1917. Their son Thomas William, who was with Thomas when he died, lived at 41 Stanford Street. On 15 December 1915 Thomas joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Deck Hand. He served in the trawler Ocean Fisher before, on 21 January 1916, joining the trawler Telesia LT 1155, a decoy or Q Ship. On 8 February 1916 Thomas joined the trawler Energic, LT 1195, another Q Ship. Thomas was advanced to Temporary Skipper on 28 February 1916 and joined the trawler Bird, LT 649, another Q Ship. Thomas’ service record does not show the exact date, but he took command of the trawler I’ll Try and this was before February 1917: his son Thomas had joined the Ill Try as Second Hand on 25 September 1916 and some sources suggest that Tom was already the Skipper at that time. The I’ll Try was a decoy trawler and as an attempt to keep its movements secret it was renamed Nelson in July 1917. On 1 February 1917 the I’ll Try, along with the trawler Boy Alfred, encountered two German submarines. In the ensuing engagement the submarines tried to sink the trawlers with torpedoes but failed. The two trawlers, however, were able to fire on the submarines and reported them as probably sunk. Tom’s leadership and bravery on that day led to him being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and he was awarded a £200 bounty.   An account of Tom’s death, and the events that led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross, was published in the Lowestoft Journal, 10 November 1917, page 6:LOWESTOFT V.C.Skipper Thomas Crisp, R.N.R., who has had the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross, was a Lowestoft man, and resided in May Road (sic) in that town. His son, a naval man, has the D.C.M. (sic), and his son-in-law the D.S.M. The gallantry that gained the award is told as follows:On an August afternoon, at about a quarter to three, the trawl was shot from the smack Nelson, and the smack was on the port tack. The skipper was below, packing fish, one hand was on deck cleaning fish for the next morning’s breakfast; and then the skipper came on deck, saw an object on the horizon, examined it closely and sent for his glasses. Almost directly he sang out: “Clear for action; submarine.” And he had scarcely spoken when a shot fell about a hundred yards away on the port bow. The motor-man got to his motor, the deck hand dropped his fish and went to the ammunition room, the other hands, at the skipper’s orders, “Let go your gear,” let go the warp, put a dan on the end of it, meanwhile the gun-layer held his fire until the skipper said. “It’s no use waiting any longer; we will have to let them have it.” Away in the distance the submarine sent shell after shell at the smack, and about the fourth shot the shell went through the port bow just below the water line, and then the skipper shoved her round. There was no confusion on board, not even when the seventh shell struck the skipper, passed through his side, through the deck, and out through the side of the ship. The second hand (Tom’s son) at once took charge of the tiller and the firing continued. All the time the water was pouring into the ship and she was sinking. One man, the gun-layer, went to the skipper to see if he could render first-aid, but it was obvious that he was mortally wounded. “It’s all right boy: do your best,” said the skipper, and then to the second hand, “Send a message off.” This was the message: “Nelson being attacked by submarine; skipper killed; send assistance at once.”And all this time the smack was sinking, and only five rounds of ammunition were left, and the second hand went to the skipper, lying there on the deck, and heard him say, “Abandon ship; throw the books overboard.” He was asked then if they should lift him into the boat, but his answer was, “Tom, I’m done, throw me overboard.” He was in too bad a condition to be moved, and they left him there on his deck, and took to a small boat, and about a quarter of an hour afterwards the Nelson went down by the head. It was just drawing into dusk then, and the crew of the boat pulled all that night. Towards morning the wind freshened and blew them out of their course. They pulled all that day, and had a pair of trousers and a large piece of oilskin fastened to two oars to attract attention, and once a vessel was sighted, and once a group of minesweepers, but they passed out of sight. At night the weather became finer, and through the night they pulled until daybreak, when, at 10.30 a.m., they found a buoy, and made fast to it. By afternoon they were sighted and rescued. The second hand, who took charge of the tiller after the skipper had been shot down, was his son, and so the tradition goes on.The award of Thomas’ Victoria Cross was announced in the London Gazette of 30 October 1917 (published 2 November 1917) and the Prime Minister, David Lloyd-George, made reference to Tom’s award in a parliamentary speech that same day. The citation for the award was published in the London Gazette on 20 November 1918, page 13695, and reads:On the 15th August, 1917, the Smack "Nelson" was engaged in fishing when she was attacked with gunfire from an enemy submarine. The gear was let go and the submarine's fire was returned. The submarine's fourth shot went through the port bow just below the water line and the seventh shell struck the skipper, partially disembowelling him, and passed through the deck and out through the side of the ship. In spite of the terrible nature of his wound Skipper Crisp retained consciousness, and his first thought was to send off a message that he was being attacked and giving his position. He continued to command his ship until the ammunition was almost exhausted and the smack was sinking. He refused to be moved into the small boat when the rest of the crew were obliged to abandon the vessel as she sank, his last request being that he might be thrown overboard.    Tom’s Victoria Cross was presented to his son Tom at Buckingham Palace on 19 December 1917.  The award of Thomas’ son’s Distinguished Service Medal, for the same incident that led to Tom’s Victoria Cross, was also published in the London Gazette on 2 November 1917. The message sent from the Nelson, to tell the authorities of the incident and the vessel’s fate, was carried by the pigeon “Red Cock”. A Lowestoft Heritage Green Plaque, giving details of Tom and his heroism, is located at 27 Stanford Street. The tenor bell at St. Margaret's Church Lowestoft is named the VC Bell and dedicated to Tom.

A Civilian, Dorothy died on 13th of January 1942 at the age of 35. Dorothy was born at Lowestoft on 3 March 1906, a daughter of Jack and Florence B. Crispin. From 16 January 1911 she attended Lovewell School, Kirkley. The 1911 Census shows her family living at 1 Bixley Place, Bixley Road, Lowestoft, and this was their home in for the rest of Dorothy's life. In 1921 Dorothy worked as a greengrocer's assistant for A. Dorling at London Road. By 1939 she was a printing machine feeder (unemployed). Dorothy died at London Road North.Dorothy's older brother, Jack, died in 1916. 

A Private with Motor Transport Training Depot (Reception Company). Jack died on 9th of May 1916 at the age of 24. Jack was born at Kirkley in 1892, a son of John and Florence Crispin. His given first name was John but is seems that he was known as Jack. In 1901 his family lived at 43 London Road South, Lowestoft. By 1911 they were living at 1 Bixley Place, Bixley Road, and Jack worked as a green grocer's errand boy. Jack enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. Jack died from pneumonia at the Military Hospital, Hounslow.Jack's sister, Dorothy, was killed in an air raid in 1942.

A Second Hand with Trawler Queen of Devon (Lowestoft), George died on 20th of December 1914 at the age of 44. George was born at Lowestoft in 1869, a son of William and Ellen Critten. In 1871 his family lived at 25 Selby Street, Lowestoft, and this was still their home in 1881. By 1914 George's widowed mother was living at 19 Beresford Road. On 20 August 1894 George married Phyllis Louisa Baxter at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. George was a smacksman living at 14 Clemence Street and Phyllis lived at 10 Union Road. In 1901 they lived at 14 Sandringham Road. The 1911 Census shows Phyllis living at 197 Stanley Street. On Tuesday 15 December 1914 the Queen of Devon sailed from Lowestoft. On 20 December an explosion was heard around fifty-five miles east by north of Lowestoft and it was presumed that the Queen of Devon had struck a mine. See: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)

A Skipper with Trawler Acacia, James died on 1st of December 1919 at the age of 46. James was born at Ipswich in 1873, a son of John and Amelia Crooks. His father died in 1879 and his mother married William Keeble. In 1881 his family lived at 5 Handford Cut, Ipswich. On 20 October 1897 James married Jane Elizabeth Hales at Saint Margaret’s Church. James was a mariner and they both gave their address as 22 Seago Street. In 1899 they lived at Arnold Street. In 1901 they lived at 2 Tennyson Road, and by 1911 were living at 24 Seago Street. In December 1891 gales on the east coast caused significant danger to fishermen. At this time James was working on the Lowestoft trawler Councillor and while at sea his arm was broken through the capsizing of the dandy winch (See Eastern Daily Press 14 December 1891, page 8). In late 1899 James worked on the trawler Chanticleer, LT 438. An accident occurred and James was badly injured by the boom falling on his back. The trawler returned to Lowestoft for James to receive medical treatment (See Lowestoft Journal 4 May 1899, page 5). By 1901 James was the Mate of the Chanticleer. Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal London Gazette 22/12/1916 for defending his trawler against a submarine. The following notice explains the circumstances of the award:DEATH OF A FAMOUS SKIPPERThe death is announced of Skipper James Crooks, D.C.M. (sic), of Lowestoft. Skipper Crooks won the D.C.M. in October 1916. He was in command of the Lowestoft smack Acacia on the fishing grounds, when a U-boat rose to the surface and riddled the smack with shells. The submarine then ordered the smack’s crew by signal to take to their boat. Skipper Crooks ordered his men to keep to their ship. “We will not give in without a struggle,” he said, and he drove his vessel at the U-boat, which was compelled to dive in order to avoid being rammed. Several other smacks on the fishing ground were thus saved from attack.On a previous occasion Skipper Crooks had his smack sunk by a U-boat and the crew turned adrift in their dingy.  James died at Lowestoft in late 1919. Notes: Newspaper reports state that James was awarded the D.C.M., this is an error, his award was the Distinguished Service Medal, or D.S.M.The date of James’ death is yet to be confirmed. The exact location of James' grave is yet to be confirmed, but given that one of his daughters and his widow are both buried at Lowestoft's Normanston Drive Cemetery it is assumed that this is where James was buried.