Ambrose John Warnes

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Ambrose died on 14th of October 1917.

Ambrose was born at Norton, Loddon, in 1887, a son of John and Emma Warnes. In 1891 his family lived at Staithe Dam, Norton Subcourse, near Loddon. By 1901 they were living at Ferry Road, Norton Subcourse, and Ambrose was a general agricultural labourer. Later his parents lived at Raveningham.

In 1908 Ambrose married Charlotte Ellen Victoria Barber, of Beccles. In 1911 they lived at Bull’s Green, Toft Monks, and Ambrose was a farm labourer. After Ambrose’s death Charlotte lived at 7 Raglan Cottages, Raglan Street, then at Thurlow Yard, Northgate Street, Beccles, before returning to Lowestoft. In 1919 she married George Manthorpe and later lived at 56 Bevan Street.

Ambrose was living at Bull’s Green, Toft Monks, and working as an agricultural labourer, when he enlisted in the Army at Norwich on 20 January 1915. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 18412. Ambrose went to the Depot and, on 9 February 1915, was posted to the 10th Battalion. 

Ambrose arrived in France on 7 October 1915, to join the 9th Battalion, but was posted to the 7th Battalion and joined that battalion on 17 October 1915. On 13 September 1916 Ambrose was admitted to 36 Field Ambulance with inflammation of connective tissue in his legs, and the rejoined the battalion on 19 September. On 26 July 1917 he was admitted to 37 Field Ambulance, and then 8 Casualty Clearing Station, with a sprained ankle. He returned to the battalion a few days later. He had sprained his ankle whilst carrying rations.  

In early October 1917 the 7th Battalion were at Beaurains Camp rehearsing a large scale attack. On the evening of 13 October, they moved into the front line at Pick Cave, near Monchy le Preux, in readiness for the attack, which began with a barrage at 4.55 p.m. The barrage continued for six hours and the battalion’s ‘raiders’ formed up behind the barrage. At zero hour + four the barrage lifted, and the raiders entered the enemy trenches. The line was strongly held, but many Germans surrendered another 200 were killed. The enemy trenches were destroyed, and the Royal Engineers blew up two dugouts. Having reached all their objectives, the raising parties returned to their front line at zero + thirty. The raiders took thirty prisoners ands captured one light machine-gun and one ‘fish-tail’ trench mortar. 

The battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: four killed, one died of wounds, one wounded
Other ranks: 17 killed, one died of wounds, 37 wounded, 11 missing

Ambrose was killed in action on 14 October.