Skip to main content

Background to our Updates

Below are the (very rough) notes we sent to ourselves as we checked the existing databases and made updates/additions and deletions. Hopefully it gives an insight into how much work was involved. Often it took far longer to establish that a name should NOT be included. T-MINUS represents time until live launch of project to public hopefully 15/4/23

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 06

more soon

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 07 

KIRKLEY ADDITIONS    or adaptations 
Beamish     Francis W    Added wife’s first names – cannot find age 
Church    Harry 
Crosswell    Victor B    (Initials N B on memorial also correctly listed St Margarets) 
Dale        Ernest Herbert 
Dare        Albert E 
Darkins    Frederick E  
Easter        Thomas John 
Fenn        Walter James 
Gladwell    George Edward 
Gravelles    David  
Grimble    W A        Tidied and added CWGC details and found parents’ details and middle name 
Hayes        Sydney Arthur 
Hubbard    Bertie R 
Jeffery        Frank William    (and family connection) 
King        Frederick V 
Linder        Joseph L    Added parents’ names and the address 
Linder        William    Brother of above  
Mallett        Robert Samuel 
Salter        George Phillips 
Ward        Ernest William 
Ward        Frank George

KIRKLEY    ISSUES    MAIN PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH INITIALS – they do not match the actual records/people 
Butler        H F 
Burgoyne    L C    Impossible initials probably connected to SA or R  
All 39 men with the surname Burgoyne found on CWGC have been checked for any connection to Kirkley/Lowestoft and variant spellings of surname have also been considered  
Church    E A 
Church    C A 
Cook        S C    Sidney Charles – died 11/03/1918 – husband of Ethel – had moved to Geldeston – born Kessingland – had lived at Pakefield 
Dye        J J    All possibles on CWGC checked 
Fisher        E D 
Foulger    J F    All possibles on CWGC checked 
Garrod     William George – 1st Suffolk – can identify the man but no tangible connection to Lowestoft (I think one of his sisters lived here but which and when?) 
Goldspink    Arthur – 1st Norfolk – again can clearly identify the man but no tangible connection to Lowestoft      
Hebbes    Arthur E – Lieutenant Suffolk Regt – he appears on many memorials but no tangible address connection – he gave his own address as a hotel at Piccadilly Circus and his parents were at Woburn Sands. NOTE – he had been the Conservative Party agent for Lowestoft but left the area in 1913 (sources Halesworth Times 28/10/1913) 
Long        Shown as F E on memorial actually F C 
Mummery     Shown as J H on memorial actually I H 
Peek        Shown as T E on memorial actually L E 
Pitchey, O    Actual name Pitcher 
Sladden     Shown as A B on memorial actually A V 
Sparkes    Shown as H J on memorial actually H G  
Todd        Shown as C H on memorial actually H C 
Wall        Shown as H H on memorial actually T H H 
Waters    Shown as E J on memorial actually J E

OTHERS – tidied up / adjusted 
BYRGOYNE        Samuel A    Added CWGC and family connection 
BURGOYNE        Robert added family connection  
HART            Albert    - added middle name 
HOWARD        James Ben – added first names, age and parents

 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 08 

LOWESTOFT    C and E MORTON 
BIRD            C    Several details added – not possible to categorically identify parents 
BURWOOD        FV    Parents’ names 
COX            E    Parents’ names 
FENNELL        EA 
STOLWORTHY    T 
MORTON ISSUES 
Melvin            A    No tangible connection nor address found 
Stephen        C    Aberdeen man 
NOTE: A number of the names on the Morton roll have no connection to Lowestoft and have Aberdeen addresses – having looked at some of these and done a little digging what is found is that Morton’s had a factory in Aberdeen and the head office was at Lowestoft. The memorial, rather than being a ‘Lowestoft’ memorial, is the company memorial and includes their other site.

SOMERLEYTON 
Allum            C 
Betts            CW 
Burnaby        G 
Butcher        A 
Cole            SW    Middle named added 
Garwood        RJ 
Kitson            RW    First names added 
Wilson        H 
Welling        Is listed on Somerleyton memorial – died after being discharged – hence not on CWGC – also probate shows he died at Blundeston – not clear where he is buried – probably either Somerleyton or Blundeston  - I have put N/A on spreadsheet


Somerleyton Issues 
Andrews        Cannot add as no proven connection  
Richmond        Cannot add as no proven connection

WRENTHAM 
Bailey        Clifford C 
Bird        James A 
Bird        Robert A 
Chambers    H 
Friend        A J 
Girling        Jack H 
Hammond    Walter G 
Heal        John 
Hudson    Alfred J 
Johnson    Frederick C 
Julings    Robert 
Kent        Harry    R 
Martin        Harry J 
Martin     Henry        detail of mother added 
Martin        Herbert E 
Minister    AWP    First names added 
Myall        Bertie L 
Thrower    Jack H 
Tuthill        William F    middle name added  
Walker    William 
WRENTHAM CIVILIAN 
Greeves    Elsie E    Waller Raid but died of injuries in 1944 
WRENTHAM     ISSUES 
Dangor    Ronald     No one of this exact name known – possibly Ronald A I Dungar – but cannot prove connection – there is a suggestion that he was the son of Clara Jane Wilson (nee Dungar) 
SAINT ANDREWS 
AYRES    G E        Note his surname is definitely AYRES 
BREEZE    E H 
BRYANT    Lovewell 
BUCK        Herbert G 
Clarke        Ernest        I have found details of his wife and added the home address. I have swopped the primary and secondary regiments. Ernest had joined 35 R Fusiliers – but in March 1918 these became 101 Company Labour Corps (hence army register etc has this as his unit). In May 1918 his company was shelled and the Germans used gas – about 100 were killed and 250 gas-wounded. This became the single largest loss of life to the Labour Corps and the largest recorded number of gas related casualties to a single unit during WW1. Also added his parents’ details – which took some finding as, from age 8 or 9, he lived with his sister – no idea what happened to the parents – either moved away or died

SAINT ANDREWS    ISSUES 
BUCKMORE        W        No person with this surname/initial combination can be traced in any Lowestoft record of the WW1 era


OTHERS ADJUSTED 
BRYANT        George    CWGC added – wife’s name corrected – parents added 
BRYANT        John Herbert        Address added 
BRYANT        Joseph        Address added

Comparisons with Roll of Honour 
Ashby                    ALL DONE 
Barnby                ALL DONE 
Blundeston                ALL DONE 
Corton                ALL DONE 
Herringfleet                ALL DONE 
Lound                    ALL DONE 
Mutford                ALL DONE 
Pakefield                ALL DONE 
Somerleyton                ALL DONE 
Wrentham                 ALL DONE 
LOWESTOFT – various 
•    Town 
•    C and E Morton        ALL DONE 
•    CWS 
•    Eastern coachworks    ALL DONE 
•    Fisherman’s Bethel        ALL DONE 
•    St Andrews 
•    St Johns 
•    St Margarets 
NB the Flixton on RofH is not relevant to Lowestoft – rather it is the Flixton near Bingay

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 09

BLUNDESTON ADDITIONS      
ALDRED CW Family details and brother of WG      
ALDRED WG      
COLEBY AH      
DANIELS AW Note this was a case that needed a bit of work! In his records his home had been transcribed as Hixton – whereas it was actually Flixton – that hamlet between Oulton and Blundeston – pleased to work this one out as he had no details recorded on RofH      
GILLINGS SC WW2 Address and middle name      
GILLINGS SC WW1 Note - brother of Gillings C      
GILLINGS C      
HOLLAND FJ      
WESTON RB Note next of kin is sister at Blundeston. Naval roll has a couple of glaring errors – such as where he was born – and gives her address as ‘Sound Street’ – I firmly believe that this is Lound, not Sound      
WATTS GE      
WATTS WJ      
Note that the WATTS (half) brothers George and Walford are not transcribed on RofH – hence this is a new confirmation of their connection to Blundeston. They are definitely half-brothers and there is a definite connection to Blundeston. The Blundeston War Memorial give Gorge as George ‘E’ – I have not found any      
information about his middle name or what it might be. That point notwithstanding they both need to be added to the Lowestoft Our Fallen      
WRIGHT A J Again no details on RofH but able to trace him      
HOWES DH

ISSUES - BLUNDESTON      
EWELVES JW      
I am 95% certain this is James William EWLES of 1 st Battalion Suffolk Regiment – the trouble is there is nothing tangible to tie him to Blundeston      
PETERS L On Blundeston WW2 but impossible to trace      
HANTON D R On Blundeston WW1 but no tangible Blundeston      
address

CORTON ADDITIONS      
BACON WR      
FREEMAN LL added first names and corrected mother’s first names and added father’s names      
FREEMAN SJ Added parents’ first names      
 

NB have deleted that familial ‘f’ by LL and SJ – not sure what the connection was supposed to be but they were not brothers


BUTTIFANT RC Added first names      
AYRES FB and WHB – address and family relationship      
BULLEN FH Added address      
HILL JW Note cannot find a more specific address      
BOON BGW      
HIGH CE      
HOUGHTON CH

 

CORTON ISSUES      
DAVIES KG Cannot find any specific connection – and no address to tie him to. It is possible that his father had once been the vicar there      
The war memorial has two names of people who died in bomb disposal actually at Corton – no specific link to Corton i.e. no address

================

LOWESTOFTUPDATES T-MINUS 10


YALLOP JW Parents and correct first names for wife      
YALLOP CH Address      
YOUNG PP Parents      
YOUNGMAN EG Mother      
YOUNGMAN GW Mother      
YOUNGS L Parents’ names      
YOUNGS A Parents’ names      
YOUNGS JC Address      
CLAXTON TK Added      
ALDRED J First name      
ANNIS J CWGC details      
BABBAGE W First names and prefix to service number      
BAILEY S First name

ASHBY additions      
BOYCE JA      
PEARMAN AW      
PEARMAN HJ

BARNBY additions      
BAILEY AR *      
BAXTER GR      
BAXTER GW      
BAXTER SW      
BRIGHTON CW

BUNN CC Added gazette date for MM      
JERMANY RS      
LEE GG      
LEE H      
WILSON Thomas and Samuel – noted family connection

Comparisons with Roll of Honour      
Ashby ALL DONE      
Barnby ALL DONE      
Blundeston      
Corton      
Flixton      
Herringfleet ALL DONE      
Lound ALL DONE      
LOWESTOFT – various      
Mutford      
Pakefield      
Somerleyton

=======


LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 11

ARTHUR PEAK 33543 Private 11 th Battalion SUFFOLK REGIMENT      
EVIDENCE:      
1. Soldiers Died in the Great War has:      
Born Lowestoft      
Enlisted Lowestoft      
11 th Battalion Suffolk Regiment      
Killed in action 19 April 1918

2. Commonwealth War Graves show that he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial

3. The Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects has the same detail and the fact that his sole legatee was his      
widow Mabel and that his death was presumed to have taken place between 9 and 19 April 1918.

4. There is a Pension Record Card that clearly show that he was serving with the 11 th Battalion      
Suffolk Regiment and also gives Mabel’s details, details of their six children, and their address, 52      
Haward Street.

5. Checking Arthur’s Medal Index Card this also shows his regiment as the Suffolk Regiment.

6. Checking the medal rolls for the British War and Victory Medals we find that Arthur had been      
posted to the 12 th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. This battalion landed in France on 6 June 1916. The      
roll then shows that at some point he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment and was      
subsequently posted to the 11 th Battalion Suffolk Regiment.

Now confusion occurs because of one significant factor: the 11 th Battalion Suffolk Regiment was      
technically called the Cambridgeshire battalion.      
Because of this a second set of casualty record entries were created. Firstly Soldiers Died in the      
Great War which shows all of the same detail as above but gives his unit as “1 st Battalion      
Cambridgeshire Regiment”. Commonwealth War Graves as exactly the same detail as Soldiers Died      
in the Great War and records his name on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

The spreadsheet should show Arthur Peak 33543 11 th Battalion Suffolk Regiment is the main entry      
and make a note of the secondary, erroneous, entries in Soldiers Died and on the Commonwealth      
War Graves site.

=====

LOWESTOFTUPDATES T-MINUS 12


WEEDS FH Parents and husbands full name      
WELCH PW Correct first names and parents names      
WELLINGTON H Address and parents      
WEST FC Wife’s first names and address      
WESTGARTH AM Parents names      
WESTOBY EH Age and parents      
WESTOBY LJ Address      
WHITE ACB Correct first names and parents added      
WHITLAM MEJ Parents      
WIGG AW Parents and wife first names      
WILKIN DH Address      
WILLGOSS GF Address      
WILLIAMS MGT Father’s names      
WILLIAMS JT Address and parents’ names      
WILLIS AT Age and parents’ names – address      
WILLIS TW Address      
WILSHER A Address      
WILSON AJ Address corrected and parents’ names      
WILSON J Address      
WILSON S Parents’ names      
WILTON C Wife’s and parents’ names      
WINGFIELD JR Address      
WINK J Wife’s first names corrected and parents’      
names added      
WINTERBORN JE Parents’ first names      
WOMACK LW First names sister’s first names age added      
number corrected and address adjusted – parents’ rather than sisters

WOOD S Mother’s first name      
WOOD Stanley Mother’s first name and address added      
WOOD GJ Address and parents’ first names      
WOODGATE CA Address and first names and parents’      
names      
WOODHOUSE C Wife’s names and parents’ details      
WOODS TCH Parents’ first names      
WOODS WJ Parents’ fist names – and his first names      
WOOLNER BS First names – parents’ address      
WOOLNOUGH A Details of gazette for MM / grandmother      
(who brought him up) and address      
WOOLNOUGH JV Address and unit      
WOOLNOUGH ERJR Address / parents’ names / noted FEPOW      
WOOLSTON EE Address      
WRIGHT A Father’s details      
WRIGHT CH Mother’s details      
WRIGHT FS Parents’ names and correct fist names for      
wife      
WRIGHT W Address      
WRIGHT RE Parents and detail of wife’s names      
WRIGHT EGG Address and wife’s first names      
WRIGHT EV Noted Le Paradis Massacre and address      
WRIGHT GH Mothers’ name and wife’s first name      
WRIGHT GS Address      
WRIGHT GM Parents’ first names      
WRIGHT CA Address and noted FEPOW      
WYLIE CRE Address      
WYLIE JER Address

Difficulties      
WESSON H Surname corrected – Wesson not Weeson      
and details added      
WHALEY FAJ      
There is an issue with the way that the records are collated which meant that he was listed twice – once as a civilian ‘buried’ at Lowestoft cemetery and once as a soldier buried at Kirkley: the latter is accurate.      
The matter arises because there is a CWGC data set that seems to locate all civilian casualties at Lowestoft Cemetery and this has been interpreted as meaning that they are buried there WILLIS JS Cannot find a specific address for his wife – but she did live in Lowestoft until 2013      
WRIGHT George William – his mother was probably Esther – but can’t find positive proof

DELETIONS      
WILTSHIRE Major Only connection was that he lived on Lowestoft Road in Great Yarmouth      
WOODMAN Doris Louisa Waller Raid – wrong place wrong time      
– from Norwich not Lowestoft – on a day out?      
WRIGHT Fredk John from Uggeshall

=========

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 13

Additional entries for Herringfleet      
BARRETT AJ      
KITTLE R W B      
LEATHES R H de M      
MOATES B      
RICHES WJ      
WOOLNOUGH JA

Additional details for Herringfleet people      
BROWN AE First names

Not included      
PUGHE MJ Died at Herringfleet – but not from there – a Swansea man      
TURNER F C On Herringfleet memorial – but Fritton/St Olaves

Additional entries for Lound      
CONE C F      
CRACK V H      
DIXON A V      
GOOCH A R (pleased with this as no details on RofH!)      
JEFFERY P W      
PEARSON F W (pleased – again no details on RofH)      
FOX S J      
WARD B C

Additional details for Lound/ connected to Lound      
BARNARD AE First names / address      
CRACKNELL C E First names      
GOOCH L T Address

Not added – Lound      
BARNARD A No tangible address      
COOPER John No details      
MAWSON WE No tangible connection      
WESTON R No details

Additional entries (other)      
GOOCH E G First names      
WADLOW IT First names and parents      
WAKE W H Address      
(NB his family background is complex!)      
WALKER B A Mother      
WALKER E M Parents      
WALL T H H Parents      
WALLER M S J Address      
WARD H W First names      
WARD J A Corrected mother’s details      
WARD S R Fist names & 2 nd number      
WARD W R Address      
WARNER G G Address      
WARNES A J Age and parents      
WATERS G Age and wife’s names – and parents

WATERS JW First names      
WATERS BA Address      
WATERS WH Wife’s first name      
WATSON FJ Correct age      
WATSON RN Address      
WATSON EG Correct first names      
WEBSDALE SA First names and parents

DELETED      
WEBB Robert Bertie 9 th Suffolks      
WEBB Godfrey George 1941      
Both from the wrong Rushmere

WRONG PLACE – WRONG TIME      
WARDILL W G      
To delete – a Waller raid casualty – from Luton

=======

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 15

U surnames now completed - see attached

Additions etc are:      
Notes for surnames – U      
UNDERWOOD CHF Address      
UPSON Ivan Address      
UPTON HF Parent      
UTTING RM Address / age

Added      
UPSON CWH Lowestoft

Note there is a William Anthony Vyse that crops up - he married at Saint Johns in 1915 but there is no other significant connection - his parents lived in Norwich, so did his widow, and that is also where he is buried - I am not minded to include him.

======

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 16

SURNAME T        
TATLER G Address             
TAYLOR G Battalion             
TAYLOR H Address             
TEMPLE LG Address and mother’s details             
TEMPLE TJ As above           
TENNANT FJ DELETE – WRONG RUSHMERE – IPSWICH!        
THACKER SA Parents             
THACKER T Parents             
THACKER BE Address/parents/wife             
THARRATT NO ADDRESS CAN BE FOUND             
THAXTON Parents             
THOMAS S CANNOT FIND PARENTS             
THOMPSON GE Address adjusted to wife’s             
THOMPSON G F Address             
THOMPSON CWP Parents and address             
THOMPSON RG CANNOT FIND A MORE SPECIFIC ADDRESS             
TIBBENHAM AT Parents             
TIMMS FA Wife’s name and parents’ names        
CANNOT FIND A MORE SPECIFIC ADDRESS        
TIMONEY AR Parents’ names             
TOBUTT J W Address and parents             
TOVILL LJ Address             
TRELOAR FM Parents             
TROLLOPE JA Address             
TRUNDLE RA Address             
TUCKER JWJ Address             
TURNER D Parents             
TURNER WF Address        
TURNER BF Address             
TURNER JK Address             
TURNER DR Address             
TURRELL CF Address (house number)             
TURRELL WB Address             
TURRELL O Parents and address             
TURRELL CA Address             
TUTTLE HA Father             
TUTTLE WC Parents address        
BUT NOTE PARENTS DIED BEFORE WW2 – DELETE?        
TWEEDY A Address             
TYRRELL JA Address and unit        
ADDITIONS             
TALBOT HE Lowestoft             
TRIPP W Blundeston/Herringfleet             
TARBOX BH Lowestoft             
TAYLOR Henry Oulton Broad             
THURLING JC Lowestoft             
THURSTON MC Lowestoft Note service papers survive – without these he would have no evidence to connect him to Lowestoft at all!             
TURRELL Charles John Lowestoft             
TURRELL Edward G Lowestoft             
TUTHILL James R Kirkley             
TOWNSEND JH Kirkley Note definitely lived Lowestoft – mother died 1939 buried Kirkley but need additional info for specific address             
THACKER GD Lowestoft        
Not added             
TARRATT No tangible connection can be found        
TRIPP HE Not added – his father lived at Saint Peter’s Street and died in 1916 while his son, also Harry Edward was serving in the London Regiment – the son died 1917 but had no (traceable) relatives in Lowestoft             
THROWER JH Wrentham – he was born there but joined navy and never returned – hence no Wrentham address either for him or his wife        
=======           

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 17

Have made additions to        
THOMAS - first name Sydney - cannot find parents        
THORPE - willam - age        
TOMLINSON RE - age/address        
TRIPP - names        
TALBOT HE - father's name and an address        
However - cannot add sheet rows - which will be a problem - for example TALBOT's father - died 1919 - should be added.        
Anyway copy saved and more to do later        
==========             
Just to say I am approaching the T's with the following strategy:        
a. To check all details on the database first and fill in any missing details        
b. Then to check against R of H and make any additions        
=======      

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 18

Annie Elizabeth Davey age 21 - daughter of William and Emma Davey             
Sidney Herbert Davey age 16 - son of William and Emma Davey        
The closest address I have for them is 20 Sandringham Road - but that was 1911 - and I think we will find a 1916 address in one or other of the old newspapers.        
William Thomas Hollis - born 1882 - served as Acting Petty Officer with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve mobile anti-aircraft unit. Service number AA2116. His address (from probate) was Northend, Lowestoft. Nearest next of kin was his aunt Ellen Gibbs of St Helen's Strand, Ryde, Isle of Wight. He is buried at Ryde.        
There is also mention in some old papers of a baby whose surname was Mumford - still looking for details.        
=======        
The Davey's and a baby named Mumford were all killed at Sandringham Road (I assume number 20).        
Mrs. Mumford and her baby son were, it seems, lodging there while her husband was away with the army.        
I shall try to find more about her and the baby.        
There is a suggestion, from the write up in the Diss Express, that William Hollis had been asleep in a house that caught fire after being wrecked by a shell.        
The baby was Robert Vernon Mumford aged just nine months. However it seems that his mother had the maiden name Brunton and his birth and death were registered as Brunton not Mumford. Speculating I think his father was Mumford and that mum and dad had not married when he died.        
Also note        
CRAWFORD, Katy Maria, age 17, killed by enemy bombardment of Lowestoft on 9 August 1915. Daughter of Frederick and Jane Crawford.        
=====        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 19


Have finished detailing the S surnames - added information to:        
SPOONER, JW             
SPRATT              
SPURGEON CGD / FM             
STANNARD WJ             
STARLING A             
STERRY DV / MA             
STEWARD AH             
STOFER              
STOLLERY TB             
STONE HJ             
STOREY WG             
STRATFORD             
STROWGER A             
STUDD W             
And DSM details for SAYER        
I think that STRUDLEY could/should be deleted - in 1949 his wife remarried and was in the Uxbridge area - she was also from Marlow and my feeling is that her time in Lowestoft was quite brief.        
======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 20


Not quite finished - but all the names are merging together - so need a break.        
Have added three:        
SHIPLEE, GGE             
STONE, Walter             
SMITH, CJN        
But deleted a couple - SNELLING (wrong place wrong time)        
SPALDING        
And tidied details of        
SUMMERS, A             
SELWYN, E M             
SLATER, AE             
SMITH, GAS / AA / GB / HW / PHB / WM x 2             
SOLOMON, M             
SPALL, D        
WIth the s surnames, from the first down to SPALL, Doctor - if there is no address that is because I have not been able to find one using available sources.        
Hope to finish the S surnames tomorrow        
======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 22


I popped into the library earlier and they don't seem to have a copy but thought the records office might - if all else fails I think I know where we could borrow a copy as I did a funeral last year and the son of the deceased had a copy (he was telling me about his grandfather in WW1 - served with 1/4th Suffolk - was wounded by a bullet that came through his own rifle - seems that the stretcher bearers kept hold of the weapon and gave in to him - he brought it home as a souvenir and it had pride of place in the house on Maidstone Road - but, sadly, whereabouts now lost).             
Just noticed Kessingland WM is on Flickr - seems there is a book about it by Neville Skinner and Gerald Brown        
Book called - Never Forgotten: The Story of Kessingland War Memorial        
Think this would be very useful as well        
Just been adding a bit more to the S surnames - there are a couple on RofH that have connections to Lowestoft but are rather frustrating as there is no tangible evidence.        
Shall be returning to these later        
FYI last new name input was Frank SUSTINS        
======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 23

;   
I have recently been looking at some material about the 1/4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment in WW1.        
They had the unusual distinction of being a territorial battalion in France in 1914 and were part of one of the Indian Divisions.        
A book about them was printed in 2007 by Neville Skinner - and I have discovered, today, that it includes biographies of 50 Lowestoft men who served with the battalion.        
Needless to say I shall be trying to source copy as it may be very useful.        
======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 24


few points:        
I have filled in as much missing detail and as many addresses as I can find for the S surnames.        
Deletions: SPRATT - there is no connection to Lowestoft until after his death - he never lived here        
SPALDING - Reg Charles - family moved from Lowestoft before WW1 - no tangible connection to Lowestoft thereafter        
STRUDLEY - F G - no tangible actual connection to Lowestoft - he was born in Buckingham, lived there, married there - his widow moved to Lowestoft afterwards and remarried        
Note - the address for STOREY William Gaul is 12 A - but I couldn't enter 12 A as the house number - hence the A in brackets        
Finally              
The three chaps who died 12/09/1944 and 21/09/1944 - either Norfolk or Cambridgeshire Regiment - one was killed in the sinking of the 'Hell-Ship' Rayuko Maru - the others were probably on board as well        
Just having a trawl through Ebay and spotted the single WW1 Victory Medal to Pte Edward Nichols - RFC - one of the chaps on the spreadsheet        
Interesting the listing has:        
Edward died of his injuries on 7th May 1917 when his hut was hit by an aeroplane.        
His medal is named as RFC which confirms that the Army had accepted him as having been transferred from the RFA to the RFC by the time he was killed.        
Useful bits of detail to add to the spreadsheet.        
Have been adding addresses to the s surnames        
Have worked down to R C SPALDING - only a few gaps        
Probably need to delete        
SNELLING - Dorothy - Waller Raid - wrong place wrong time - all addresses in records show Norwich        
SPALDING - Richard C - not Lowestoft born - family emigrated to Canada - formerly Lowestoft - no obvious addresses for family and non for him in Lowestoft at all        
======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 25


SNELLING - Dorothy Is interesting.. we CAN exclude her from the spreadsheet and map of ‘lowestoft fatalities’              
BUT as the website expands to give details of Walker raid for example could she appear there because that page is about the raid?? So suggest leaving her for import BUT I will ensure she is not on the final spreadsheet        
If we are lucky the website could expand to give many different insights             
could this be a new one??        
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/28840131648/in/photolist-KWvdn7-NnSv9V-P6NWa5-Px6E3C-PFr2Dg-U5VBPf-Ua4rzT-UfCKiM-UfE9By-UrjqtS-UE5Mng-UEk5Jb-UFFfg7-VdMNKC-VeEnVF-Vhu8QD-VxBUUU-VGeEGw-VJq5Mb-22FJ9CT        
This is intriguing - I have - this morning - entered 27 Lovewell Road as an address        
More to follow . .             
Good spot        
I have just filled in the details        
He and his wife lived at Fir Lane and I would have expected him to have been included on St Margarets memorial        
Highlights the issues we face - his CWGC makes no mention of his family - and he is not on RofH!        
======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 26


Two more to delete (again couldn't do this myself)        
SMITH, Arthur - died 13/12/1917        
SMITH, Thomas - died 12/04/1917        
Both were born in the Lowestoft area and became fishermen - settling in Aberdeen and Grimsby, respectively. By the turn of the century their families had also moved on from Lowestoft as well. Arthur is interesting - his 'common-law' wife claimed a pension - then couldn't be traced by the navy.        
Now back to the transfer of address and the missing 400 - I think if we just concentrate of filling in the addresses - not checking with RofH or chasing the difficult ones - then we could add around 75% of the missing addresses within a week - I base this on it taking no more than five minutes to complete one of the easy win missing address entries.        
So - change strategy to get the addresses found - and then go back to cross- checking?        
I went to              
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/faces-of-the-fallen-1939-1945 and just put Lowestoft in additional field and got 3 results but can’t see them as don’t have account        
Missing 400 - great idea. If you want to train me up and give me access to your accounts I am happy to help        
=======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 27


For some reason I cannot delete SEELEY Kenneth - I must be pressing the wrong button!        
SHAW John W - he died at Shirebrook Derbyshire - which is where he had lived and where his parents lived. He married Dorothy Jackson in 1938 and in 1939 she lived at Blackwell Derbyshire. The earliest record of her in Lowestoft area is 1946 when she marries William F Hall. She stays in the area and died in 1981 - this registered in the Waveney district. So no tangible address. Keep or delete?        
Finally noticed today a website called Faces of the Fallen which could be useful        
A few little bits        
I have added a note to L A Seaman - might you have a look and see what you think - want to make sure he still fits criteria        
K J Seeley - I think ought to be deleted. The list of airman killed in WW2 says he was 'native of Lowestoft' but his family does not seem to have moved to Gunton until after WW2 and his probate gives his residential address as East Dereham -note I think the arimen's roll is based on CWGC rather than original documents        
L A Seaman - I think OK to leave as the notes explain his connection to Lowestoft        
Seeley agree delete        
Just concentrated on a small group of S surnames - the Sc's - and did a bit of tidying up.        
All straightforward - but in reviewing I noted, on the Town Memorial, two Sa surnames - SALTER H E and SANDY G R        
To be fair to the people who did the RofH for these they have noted the problem - these men are noted in the original text but there is absolutely no tangible, provable, at a century's remove, way of connecting them to Lowestoft. I think we leave them out, trusting that if there is a family out there where these men are remembered, then that will come to light when the details go out to the public.        
Trust this makes sense.        
Another interesting frustration - Thomas SCARLL (and despite what it says on RofH it is always Scarll) - found his marriage details - no father recorded (there is a long established legal right for the parties in a marriage not to have to name parents) - found his birth register index - but this has no parents names - found him in 1871 - a pauper - even found his RNR service sheet - and there is no mention of parents anywhere! Again, hopefully someone out there can add the detail.        
Reginald Clifford Baker - not Dieppe Raid - but just as interesting.        
H M M G B 77 = His Majesty's Motor Gun Boat 77        
These vessels looked like the Motor Torpedo Boats but were armed with various types of machine gun and small artillery pieces and their job was to shoot up things like German E Boats or trawlers and merchant vessels.        
The navy war graves register shows that Reginald 'died on war service' but does not specify a cause. What we can glean is that he was in hospital and I infer that he died of his wounds.        
On 14/15-07-1942 Reginald's boat, part of a larger flotilla, had been in action off Cherbourg. The action resulted in several gallantry awards and, from the brief details in the London Gazette citations it seems that some of the boats were badly mauled and I expect there were several casualties.        
For an overview have a look at Robert Peverell Hitchens entry on Wikipedia        
Reginald's father had died in 1929 (probate register). His mother, Merab, remarried in 1932 to become Mrs. Huke - Merab Huke - now that's not a name you forget in a hurry! In 1939 she lived at 22 Winnipeg Road.        
=======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 28


Surname R now complete        
One to delete - however -        
RUSH W G H        
Born Southwold - family Halesworth 1911 / Deben in 1939 and CWGC has lived Rushmere, Ipswich I can find no actual connection to Lowestoft        
Noted - perhaps a brief note re the three arms of service and their distinct awards - in precis        
VC - all branches of service (Army, Navy, Air Force)             
Distinguished Service Order - all branches of service - but officers only (and generally more senior officers)        
NAVY             
Distinguished Service Cross - officers             
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - ratings (and very scarcely awarded)             
Distinguished Service Medal - ratings        
ARMY             
Military Cross - officers             
Distinguished Conduct Medal - other ranks             
Military Medal - other ranks        
AIR FORCES             
Distinguished Flying Cross - officers             
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - other ranks (very rare)             
Distinguished Flying Medal - other ranks             
Air Force Cross - officers - non-combat flying such as test pilots             
Air Force Medal - other ranks - non-combat flying        
Of these only the VC, DSO, DCM and CGM (Navy) existed before WW1 - the others were introduced during WW1 - the reason the CGM could be given to air forces is because half of the air forces have their foundation in the Royal Naval Air Service        
Now looking further afield:        
CIVILIAN             
George Cross             
George Medal             
Empire Gallantry Medal - very rare - phased out in 1940             
British Empire Medal (Gallantry) - awarded from 1940 onwards             
King's Commendation for Brave Conduct - introduced in WW2        
SEAFARING GALLANTRY        
These awards are more commonly found in 'sea' towns and are generally for life saving at sea and usually (not always) awarded to civilians        
Sea Gallantry Medal             
Royal Humane Society Medal - Stanhope (Gold) - very rare - two Lowestoft wards were made - neither will be relevant to the casualty roll / Silver / Bronze             
RNLI Medals        
At this stage we don't know which of these different awards are relevant to the research - when we are nearer to completion we could narrow down the scope and have a brief introduction to, and roll for each.        
Am working through the Ro surnames        
Had a lot of fun with G T Robinson - Irish Guards        
Other than marrying Betty in Lowestoft there was nothing to say exactly where he was from        
I found, by chance, a photo of a headstone on Ancestry that commemorated a G Robinson died 3 -- 1944 - this at Briston Churchyard        
After a lot of searching in the Docking/Briston area - managed to find him - and he is commemorated on his parents grave        
Took a lot of time - but enjoyed the detective work        
=======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 29


R surnames down to and including Ri checked and adjusted        
For some reason we had a double entry for C A Raven - now dealt with        
One to question - J E R Rayner             
he was born in London and does not appear in Lowestoft addresses in 1901 and 1911 Census - his mother appears in Lowestoft from 1911 when she married Hitcham - she remains until the 1930s             
We do have an address for her - but no detail that actually connects him - he may have lived here - he may not - the evidence is not conclusive- my thinking is to keep him - as his mother would have mourned him here        
Have been doing some tidying - not quite finished yet        
Some points to note:        
RIBBANS - Edith - no tangible connection to Lowestoft other than the fact that she died here - another wrong place example - delete?        
There is, on St Andrews War Memorial an A RADMORE - he was RNR - now he was not from Lowestoft and only lived here during the war - but was at Jacob Street in 1916 when his son was born/baptised - his wife left Lowestoft soon after the war - include or not?        
ROBINSON - G R - buried at St Margarets and on St Margarets WM - born Grimsby - served RNR - his wife was living at Trafalgar Street when he was killed - but then moved to Blackpool - do we include him because he is buried in Lowestoft?        
Glad of your thoughts        
Just been working on surnames beginning 'Re'        
Two added - Redgrave FC / Reynolds John        
Several adjusted - one with wring artillery unit (there were three in WW1 - Field / Garrison / Horse - having the wrong one makes a big difference in following up) - one Australian had the wrong address details despite his service papers (which clearly state his parents address) being entirely free and accessible        
One deleted - John Lancelot Reed - was born at Lowestoft but as an infant his family moved away and thereafter had no known association with the lowestoft area        
One to ponder - REYNOLDS James - 1916 HMS Porpoise - family at Belton - but he is a native of Herringfleet - question then is Herringfleet our remit (it is just next to Somerleyton) - to my mind yes - but thought to check        
Might get some more done tonight - otherwise I would expect to finish the Rs tomorrow        
=======        
 

LOWESTOFT UPDATES T-MINUS 30


ave made a start on reviewing the R surnames        
When comparing to RofH found another 5 - from the Ra surnames alone - which I think is a bit unusual        
A couple of matters arise:        
RADFORD - the only record that connects him/his wife to Lowestoft if CWGC. This does give an for his wife, at May Road, but I think her time here was transient - anyway the entry should remain - but indicates something of the mobility of people in the 20s        
RACKHAM Gordon - CWGC only has Oulton Broad as his parents address - buy 1939 Register has them at Peacehaven, Normanston Drive - should we use this address? Or try to look at electoral registers to find something more accurate in Oulton Broad?        
The five added are:        
RACKHAM, G R             
RAYNER, S H             
RAYNER, P             
RACKHAM, W and              
RAVEN, C A - next to his baptism entry, in 1895, the incumbent has written 'Died for England'        
I have simply entered CWGC or CWGC and . . in the 'Primary Source' column for these five as I don;t know the technical detail that that column now has - trust you understand what I mean!        
==========        
Letter N now completed        
7 added from RofH - I tidied up some of the details on RoH by using military records on Ancestry (for example RoH speculated about Charles Nunn and Herbert Nunn - checked the details and sorted those).        
I deleted Harry NORRIS - he was from Watford and the only Lowestoft connection was his address - 1 Lowestoft Road!        
Now to relationships:        
John Charles NATHAN married Lilian May ALLEN - the widowed mother of Ernest John ALLEN. Ernest's biological father was Albert ALLEN (John and Lilian married in 1919 - and lived at 71 Beresford Road - just a few doors along from here).        
BROWNs - William Brown was born at Somerleyton in 1880 - his wife's first name was actually Rose (evidence pension record card). His father was born in 1842.        
George William Brown - he is in the 1911 Census at 7 Fir Lane - he is shown as William - age 19 - and his parents are Samuel and Hannah Elizabeth - you can see how Hannah would easily become Anna        
In short these two Browns are not brothers        
BLOWERS - Victor and Stella are brother and sister. Victor born 1896 and Stella 1903. They are shown on the 1911 Census with their parents living at Kessingland Beach.        
On to the Os tomorrow.        
======        
ASHBY        
I have found a way of checking these situations.        
In this case his family lived at 39 Maidstone Road in 1911 - and Ashby Road connects with Maidstone Road - so they had, effectively, just moved around the corner.        
But to double check the possible existence of an Ashley Road I looked at Find My Past. They have the 1921 Census details and you can check an address. Logically if Ashley was a possible address it would appear in the 1921 Census details - which it does not. Hence Ashby for sure, and not Ashley.        
Aiming to get the Rs and Ss done this evening - but need to clear the work emails first!        
======        
NAPIER - George Emmerson        
He is a slight problem. I have found a number of records for him, his parents and, particularly, his mother, Hannah. But none of these have any Lowestoft connection at all. He was born at Middlesborough - this is where the family were in 1911. When he died his home was at Bedford and this, in 1942, was where his mother was living.        
We even have his merchant navy casualty index card (a very useful document) which confirms that his address and his mother's were both the address in Bedford.        
What I cannot understand is why CWGC states that she was 'of Lowestoft'?        
My inclination is to delete him from the list - but would like your opinion.        
=====        
Working through the Ps and tidying up        
Note Gertrude PAYNTER - victim of the Waller Raid        
Home addresses at Brook Cottage, Branford Speke, and 10 Delamere Road, Ealing. Probate shows her estate was worth £17,057 gross.        
Seems that she was a civilian visiting Lowestoft (no reason known) and happened to be caught up in the Waller Raid.        
As far as I can see she had no connection to the town. I have checked all available civil records and even followed her daughter's details via Ancestry and Find My Past - but can see no actual connection.        
I wonder, then, if there is anything in the Waller Raid book about her? And so it might be worth looking at that book before making a decision.        
====        
Have just finished reviewing and updating the Ps        
Two points:        
PRATT W C - born Blundeston Parents at Gorleston 1911 and wide at Boston. I think the only connection is the fact he was born at Blundeston and there is certainly no obvious link in 1911 or 1921 I suggest deleting.        
PRESS S A        
Married Elizabeth Lyons at Hackney in 1929 - he was a career sailor        
In 1939 she is in Chingford        
In 1991 at Colchester and she dies at Norwich in 2005        
However, CWGC has her as 'of Lowestoft' - but no documents online with an address        
I suggest leaving this one until Electoral Registers and local newspapers have been checked.        
I have added a couple - one through RofH and, oddly, one who had a brother that was killed and recorded with Lowestoft connections - but he was not recorded - I found him through pension record cards as these, generally, mention siblings.        
Finally - PUTTERFOOT - I cannot find a marriage for her - I would have liked to have included her parents details - I know the marriage must have been between 1920 and 1935 (the latter is when her husband died) and is most likely to have been in Lowestoft - but just cannot find the details.        
=====        
Just been working on surnames beginning 'Re'        
Two added - Redgrave FC / Reynolds John        
Several adjusted - one with wring artillery unit (there were three in WW1 - Field / Garrison / Horse - having the wrong one makes a big difference in following up) - one Australian had the wrong address details despite his service papers (which clearly state his parents address) being entirely free and accessible        
One deleted - John Lancelot Reed - was born at Lowestoft but as an infant his family moved away and thereafter had no known association with the lowestoft area        
One to ponder - REYNOLDS James - 1916 HMS Porpoise - family at Belton - but he is a native of Herringfleet - question then is Herringfleet our remit (it is just next to Somerleyton) - to my mind yes - but thought to check        
Might get some more done tonight - otherwise I would expect to finish the Rs tomorrow        
=====        
Some points to note:        
RIBBANS - Edith - no tangible connection to Lowestoft other than the fact that she died here - another wrong place example - delete?        
There is, on St Andrews War Memorial an A RADMORE - he was RNR - now he was not from Lowestoft and only lived here during the war - but was at Jacob Street in 1916 when his son was born/baptised - his wife left Lowestoft soon after the war - include or not?        
ROBINSON - G R - buried at St Margarets and on St Margarets WM - born Grimsby - served RNR - his wife was living at Trafalgar Street when he was killed - but then moved to Blackpool - do we include him because he is buried in Lowestoft?        
Glad of your thoughts