Suffolk Regiment - Other Rank PoWs 1914

This is an edited roll of Other Ranks serving with the Suffolk Regiment, who were captured by the enemy and became Prisoners of War on or before the 25th December 1914. Read more about this data source on my 1914 PoWs page.

This data has been transcribed from two sources at the Imperial War Museum:

1. B.O.2 1/280. This is a thirty-one page typed list dated 31st December 1918 sent by the Suffolk Prisoners of War Help Committee.
2. B.O.2 1/281. This is a is a nine-page hand-written list, undated, no sender given.  This list probably pre-dates B.O.2 1/280.  

My full transcription of this Suffolk Regiment data (not reproduced here) also contains the following information against some or all of the names:

Battalion
Date of capture
Next of kin
Next of kin's address
Notes
Transcriber's notes

There are over 600 names on this list, the equivalent of more than half a battalion at war strength. The vast majority of these men, if not all of them, were serving with the 2nd Battalion and again, the vast majority were taken prisoner on the 26th August 1914. Having arrived in France on the 14th August, the old 2nd Battalion effectively ceased to exist 12 days later.

In his summary of the fighting on the 26th, Ray Westlake (British Battalions in France & Belgium 1914), drawing on the 2nd Battalion war diary records, "Came under heavy fire from machine guns situated on the Le Cateau-Cambrai Road. Enemy attacked in force at 2.30pm from front and right flank...Battalion eventually overwhelmed when enemy broke in from the rear. Withdrawal ordered and remnants of the Battalion fell back via Bohain to St Quentin."  When the roll call was taken the following day, just two officers and 111 other ranks answered it. The battalion had sustained 720 casualties, most of these listed below. The 2nd Suffolks had, quite simply, been devastated.

My grateful thanks to Taff Gillingham for permission to use the photo of 8233 Private Wellington Middleton (listed below) which was taken at the miners' strike at Chirk Colliery in 1912. Private Middleton was  captured at Le Cateau and on his release picked up a superb German Artillery officer's sword which is now in the Suffolk Regiment Museum in Bury St Edmunds. Any errors in the following transcriptions are entirely my own.

The full transcription is available for sale as a download or CD for £30. Contact me if you would like to purchase a copy.

7885 Private C Abbott, 8414 Private J Abbott, 7018 Private W Abbott, 6697 Private E Adkins
7180 Private F Ager, 6703 Private J Aldous, 6420 Private A Algar, 7338 Private J Amos, 8531 Drummer W Anderson, 6311 Private E Andrews, 8442 Private W Arbon, 5781 Sergeant J Argent, 6510 Private G Arnold, 8401 Private R Arnold, 6278 Private H Atterton.

8080 Corporal F Backler, 6906 Private W Badcock, 8745 Private A Baker, 6970 Private A Baker, 7618 Private A J Baker, 8567 Lance-Corporal C Baker, 6948 Private C Baker, 6281 Private J Baker, 8639 Private V Baker, 8197 Corporal H Baldry, 8705 Private H Balls, 6133 Private G Bantock, 6532 Private G Banyard, 8801 Private B Barber, 6848 Private R Barber, 6806 Private J Bardwell, 5335 Private J Barker, 5766 Private W Barnes, 8633 Private T Barrett, 8742 Private S Bartle, 6631 Private W Barton, 7339 Private L Baxter, 6467 Private A Beach, 6945 Private H Beaumont, 6382 Private C Beavis, 8680 Private C Bedford, 6234 Private T Bedford, 8682 Private A W Bennett, 6444 Private W Bennett, 6284 Private H Benstead, 7108 Private A Berry, 6580 Private C Berry, 8730 Private B Best, 6271 Private F Billingham, 6488 Private N Bird, 6488 Private N Bird, 8026 Private F Black, 7890 Drummer F Blacker, 8673 Private H Blake, 7890 Drummer F Blaker, 4766 Sergeant H Blanks, 8821 Private C Boast, 6523 Private H Bowers, 8019 Lance-Sergeant B Bowles, 7120 Private H Bradford, 8661 Private L Bradman, 6161 Corporal A Brayfield, 6395 Private E Bridges, 6401 Private F Bridges, 7968 Private W Bridges, 8823 Private E Briggs, 6431 Private C Brinkley, 8352 Private L Broad, 8724 Private J Brooks, 7199 Private W Brooksbank, 6246 Private E Broom, 6458 Private B Brown, 6398 Private J Brown, 6402 Private J Brown, 6654 Private F Brunning, 8627 Private A Bullard, 6481 Private E Bullard, 8549 Corporal F Burch, 8524 Lance-Corporal G Burch, 7003 Private C Burman, 8848 Private W Burns, 7275 Private G Burrell, 6212 Private F Burton, 6884 Private J Buzzard.

4198 Sergeant T Candler, 8297 Private B Carder, 7053 Private H Carlton, 7233 Private A Carr, 7381 Corporal W Carroll, 4125 CSM C Carter, 7235 Lance-Corporal F Carter, 8839 Private J Carter, 7041 Corporal W Carter, 7208 Private W Carter, 7970 Corporal J Castle, 6616 Private C W Catling, 8527 Lance-Corporal R Cattermole, 6851 Sergeant G Cawley, 6714 Private W Chaplin, 6282 Private A Chapman, 6305 Private W Chapman, 8403 Private W Clark, 8826 Private C Clarke, 4764 Sergeant D Clarke, 7351 Private G Clarke, 6935 Private G Clarke, 5935 Private G Clarke, 8005 Private H Clarke, 6219 Private J Clarke, 6498 Private J Clarke, 6961 Private S Clarke, 8674 Private S Clarke, 6749 Private W Clarke, 7382 Private T Clarkson, 6704 Private S Clarry, 6209 Private A Claydon, 7196 Private F Clover, 8388 Drummer J Cobbold, 7184 Private E Cockerton, 6257 Private A Codd, 8145 Corporal R Cole, 7673 Private J Collins, 6191 Private P Collop, 8006 Private D Constable, 8735 Private F Cook, 7386 Lance-Corporal W Cook, 6975 Private A Cook, 6287 Private P Cook, 8207 Private S Cooke, 6430 Private O Copping, 6239 Private F C Cornell, 6810 Private B Cornish, 6185 Private A Cornwell, 6731 Private J Cornwell, 7161 Private C Cottage, 7287 Private H Cowdery, 8174 Private F Cox, 6878 Private G Cox, 6897 Private T Cox, 6691 Private H Crabb, 5732 Private J W Crabb, 4426 CSM W Crack, 8425 Corporal J Crane, 5159 Lance-Corporal J Creak, 7093 Private C Crissell, 3336 Private C Cronin, 7299 Lance-Corporal A Crooks, 6521 Private G Crouch, 6896 Private W Custance.

8663 Private C Dade, 6864 Private A Dakin, 6393 Private A Dalton, 7839 Drummer M Daly, 7048 Private R Damant, 6919 Private J Davis, 8699 Private B Dawes, 8083 Lance-Sergeant D Dawes, 8383 Private W Daynes, 7267 Private C Deal, 8753 Private F Debenham, 7702 Private E Dempster, 10210 Private J Desborough, 7305 Private E Diaper, 5587 Sergeant G Diprose, 8634 Private C Dodgeson, 6929 Private T Doo, 6592 Private A Dooel, 8684 Private G Downey, 5925 Private A Drake, 6722 Private F Drake, 3263 Private G Drake, 8702 Private D Drew, 6769 Private S Dunthorne, 8720 Private W Dye.

6179 Private W Eady, 8778 Private W Earl, 7106 Private E Edwards, 8195 Corporal H Elliston, 8292 Private H Elliston, 6322 Private A Elvin, 7038 Sergeant W Endersly, 8737 Private B Evans.

6557 Corporal F C Faiers [should read "6557 Private F C Faiers"], 8727 Private P Fairweather, 6889 Private H Farrington, 8722 Private W Farrow, 6608 Private W Farthing, 7015 Lance-Corporal S Fayers, 6522 Private T Flegg, 8646 Private S Ford, 8718 Lance-Corporal W Fordham, 6492 Private W Fordham, 8803 Private D Foreman, 8825 Private E Foreman, 6222 Private J Forsdyke, 7629 Sergeant R Foulger, 6156 Private T Fowkes, 6923 Private S Fox, 8714 Private J Francis, 6362 Private R Francis, 7091 Private W Francis, 8804 Private F C Franklin, 7130 Private C Free, 6699 Private E Freeman, 7349 Private J Freeman, 7842 Sergeant M French, 6525 Private J Frohock, 7330 Private B Froud, 7629 Sergeant R Fulgar.

7191 Private B Gammon, 8602 Private E Gammon, 6720 Private J Gammon, 8440 Corporal F W Garrard, 8541 Private C Garrod, 8230 Corporal E Gates, 8732 Private C Gaught, 6736 Sergeant A Gedge, 6196 Private A George, 7711 Private G Gibbons, 6177 Private J Gibbons, 8384 Corporal S Gibbs, 6435 Private W Gifford, 6518 Private B Gill, 6169 Private G Gipp, 8787 Private T Gipp, 7279 Private W F Girling, 8495 Private R Glover, 3706 Drummer W Goddard, 6917 Private J Godfrey, 6505 Private W Golden, 6139 Private R Good, 8613 Private H Goodchild, 4706 Lance-Corporal T B Gotobed, 6614 Private J Grainger, 8746 Lance-Sergeant J Gravestock, 7755 Sergeant A Green, 6630 Private J Green, 7020 Private J Gunn.

8308 Drummer B Hall, 8177 Private C Hall, 8550 Private S Halls, 6238 Private E Hammond, 8345 Corporal G Hammond, 7297 Private T S Hammond, 7725 Private E Hardiment, 6159 Lance-Corporal T Hart, 7221 Private F Harvey, 6863 Private W Hatch, 8337 Sergeant C Hatcher, 8--5 Private A Haward, 6372 Private F Haward, 6429 Private C Hawes, 8500 Private G H Hawes, 7027 Private P Hayhoe, 6941 Private F Haylock, 8346 Private J Haynes, 6302 Private J Hayward, 6819 Private W Hayward, 6795 Private A Hearn, 7095 Private W Heffer, 7156 Private G Hemmins, 6943 Private H Hicks, 6908 Sergeant J Hill, 6539 Private B Hilling, 7065 Private A Hills, 8788 Private W Hills, 7938 Private E Horn, 8355 Corporal A Horrix, 7034 Private J Horsley, 6705 Private E Hoskins, 8305 Private A Howard, 6390 Private C Howard, 7099 Lance-Corporal C Howard, 6372 Private F Howard, 7125 Private R Howard, 8238 Private W Howard, 6552 Private F Howe, 6426 Private J Howlett, 8664 Lance-Corporal A Hoxley, 6549 Sergeant J Hoxley, 6262 Private W Hunt, 7638 Private W Hunt, 7683 Drummer A Hurrell, 8706 Lance-Corporal W Hutchins.

16540 Private A F Ince, 8485 Private H Ince, 15441 Private J W Ingram, 8454 Lance-Corporal R Ingrey, 6706 Private T Ivatt.

6963 Lance-Corporal G Jackson, 7031 Lance-Corporal G Jacobs, 6357 Private E Jaggard, 7137 Private F Jaggard, 6685 Private C James, 6598 Private E James, 8854 Private J Jarman, 8164 Corporal C Jobson, 6770 Private E Johnson, 7213 Private H Judd, 6847 Private H Jugg.

7255 Private A Keeble, 6918 Lance-Corporal E Kerridge, 7891 Private A Kersey, 8652 Private W Ketteridge, 3734 Private D Kiddy, 7677 Private G King, 8692 Lance-Corporal J King, 6460 Private S Knighton, 7374 Private A Knights, 8683 Lance-Corporal A Knights, 7066 Private D Knights.

7070 Private J Lancaster, 6497 Private D Langley, 6296 Private L Langley, 8611 Private F Lanham, 7070 Private John Lankester, 8751 Lance-Corporal George Larham, 6623 Lance-Corporal A Last, 8157 Private J Last, 6533 Private R Last, 6320 Private H Lawes, 7806 Private A Lawrence, 8791 Private G Lawrence, 8777 Private P Lawrence, 6468 Private A Laws, 7691 Sergeant W Laws, 8025 Sergeant E Leach, 6597 Private J Leake, 6478 Private C Lee, 6542 Private S Leeks, 8435 Private E Leggett, 6425 Lance-Corporal A Leverett, 6912 Private A Leverett, 6564 Private C Lillie, 6263 Private G Lines, 6570 Private J Linge, 6676 Private W Lloyd, 7067 Private J Lock, 7393 Private B Long, 6175 Private F Long, 6826 Private H Long, 8577 Private F Lovegrove, 3751 Private R Lovett, 7398 Private A Lucas, 6987 Corporal W Lucas, 8325 Private A Lythell, 7009 Private J Lythell.

7025 Private G Mace, 6220 Private A Mallard, 8675 Private W Mann, 7578 Private A Manning, 6194 Private D Manning, 6887 Private H Manning, 8621 Private F Mansfield, 7043 Private R Marchant, 8802 Private P Markham, 7001 Private J Marks, 7234 Private C Marsh, 6660 Lance-Corporal R Marshall, 6330 Private W Marshall, 7385 Private A Martin, 6351 Private E Martin, 7134 Private F Mason, 6823 Private J Mason, 7162 Private F Matthews, 6502 Private W Matthews, 6579 Private G Maxim, 8009 Drummer G Mayes, 8001 Sergeant C J McCarthy, 7838 Corporal W J McKean, 6801 Private J Meekings, 8503 Private W Merry, 8106 Corporal R Middleditch, 8233 Private Wellington Middleton, 6888 Private C Mills, 8636 Private T Mills, 6364 Private W Mills, 6408 Private E Minns, 6152 Private W Mitson, 8756 Lance-Corporal A Moffatt, 8919 Private H Moore, 7178 Private J Morphey, 7380 Private O J Mortimer, 6463 Private W Moull, 6808 Private J H Mouser, 6997 Corporal J Mumford, 6595 Private W Munnings, 8655 Private E Munns, 6560 Private H Munns, 8697 Private G Musk, 8818 Private R Myatt, 8651 Private P Mynott.

7807 Lance-Sergeant G Negus, 6392 Private H Newman, 7306 Private W Newman, 7984 Sergeant P Nice, 7370 Private G Nicholls, 7054 Private G Nightall, 7186 Private W Nightall, 7697 Private C Noble, 6629 Private S Norman, 8709 Private B Norris.

6151 Private E Orman, 6651 Private F Osborne, 8608 Private S Osbourne, 6312 Private W Otto, 5324 Private G Overland, 4845 Private P Owen, 8558 Corporal A Oxer. 

8302 Corporal G M Page, 8510 Lance-Corporal L Page, 6276 Private F Paine, 7876 Drummer C Palfrey, 8248 Private W Pallant, 6399 Private A Palmby, 8894 Private G Palmer, 7908 Private J Palmer, 8283 Private W Palmer, 7113 Private R Papworth, 8769 Private J Parmenter, 8620 Private P Parr, 6359 Private A Partridge, 6779 Private T Partridge, 6163 Private R Patenall, 6582 Private P Patman, 6190 Private W Peachman, 3715 CSM W Peacock, 7354 Private R Pearce, 8505 Private C E Peck, 8662 Private W Peckham, 6258 Private A Pelgrave, 6954 Private W Perry, 8094 Private J F Petch, 6404 Private W Petchey, 6844 Private E Pettit, 6869 Private G Pettit, 8616 Private J Phillips, 7050 Lance-Corporal W Phillips, 6160 Private P Pierce, 6201 Private B Pilesworth, 7459 Private W Pitches, 6259 Private C Place, 4347 Private W Pleasance, 8463 Private H Pledger, 8713 Private W Plumb, 6454 Private G Pooley, 6846 Private T Porter, 8110 Private S Pottrell, 8754 Private W Powell, 8656 Private F Pryke, 7227 Private G Purt.

8478 Corporal C Quilter, 6841 Private M Quinton.

6308 Private G Racey, 7135 Private B Rampley, 7617 Private J Ramsay, 8581 Private G Ranson, 6125 Private J Ray, 6022 Sergeant P Raymond, 4450 CSM W Read, 6237 Private W Reast, 6968 Private A Reeve, 7913 Private F Reeve, 8351 Private W Rete, 7651 Private J Reynolds, 6500 Private B Richardson, 6916 Private F Ridgeon, 6250 Private G Risby, 6760 Private G Rishes, 7037 Private A Roberts, 8372 Private A Roberts, 8841 Private W Roberts, 6680 Private W Roberts, 18048 Private A G Robinson, 7347 Private J Robinson, 6433 Private R Rogers, 8739 Private C Roper, 6642 Private F Roper, 8800 Private A Rosher, 6303 Corporal G Rouse, 7179 Private F Rowell, 7217 Private S Rozier, 6708 Private R Ruddock, 7148 Private F Ruffles, 8717 Lance-Corporal E Rumbelow, 7800 Private H Rush, 6391 Private H C Rush, 6947 Private W Rust, 8897 Private C Rutterford.

8099 Private G Sadler, 8671 Lance-Corporal A Salisbury, 7622 Sergeant F Sanders, 7674 Sergeant A Sandford, 8215 Private W E Sanford, 7684 Private G Sargent, 7280 Private S Sargent, 7215 Private S Saunders, 6754 Private W Savage, 5017 Private W Sayers, 6293 Private W Scoggins, 8394 Corporal R Scrivener, 6866 Private W Scrivener, 7281 Lance-Corporal R Searle, 7684 Private G Sergeant, 8610 Private A Sewell, 6489 Private C Shelley, 8645 Private J Shephard, 8565 Private G Sheppard, 7051 Private F Shipp, 6471 Private A Simpson, 8261 Private C Sisman, 8560 Private F Sizer, 8770 Private A Smith, 8797 Private A Smith, 8798 Private A J Smith, 7700 Private B Smith, 6469 Private C Smith, 8840 Private E Smith, 6942 Private E W Smith, 8891 Private G Smith, 6625 Private G Smith, 8891 Private G Smith, 6776 Private J Smith, 8328 Private J A Smith, 6182 Private R Smith, 6985 Private R Smith, 7001 Private S W Smith, 6925 Private W Smith, 6718 Private H Smy, 7550 Private A Soer, 8256 Private H Souter, 4525 Private J Souter, 7047 Private C Southgate, 8667 Private O Southgate, 7483 Drummer C Spall, 7846 Sergeant C Spencer, 8253 Lance-Sergeant T Spencer, 7346 Private W Spinks, 6881 Sergeant G H Spriggs, 6333 Private H Spriggs, 7238 Private G Stafford, 6328 Private F Stannard, 7681 Private R Stannard, 8144 Corporal T Steadman, 6388 Private E Stebbeds, 6389 Lance-Corporal P Stebbeds, 8369 Corporal E Steed, 7362 Private C Stokes, 6140 Private E Stopher, 6350 Private W Stratton, 8545 Private H Sturgeon, 6622 Private R Sutton, 5322 Private J Sykes.

8719 Private F Taylor, 6717 Private G Taylor, 7271 Private S Taylor, 8695 Private W Taylor, 7491 Lance-Corporal T Tebbs, 6380 Private F Thompson, 6356 Private W Thorby, 6906 Private G Tillett, 6633 Private A Todd, 8557 Corporal J Todd, 8815 Private A Trim, 8658 Private T Tuck, 8736 Private E Turner, 8681 Private J Turner, 7253 Private B Tweed.

6491 Private W Unwin.

7668 Private G Vernham, 7399 Private W Vincent.

8784 Private W Walden, 6882 Private E Waldock, 8657 Private A Walker, 8708 Private D Walker, 4855 Private J Walton, 8779 Private C Ward, 6494 Private W Ward, 6809 Private G Warner, 6324 Private A Warren, 6369 Private H Warren, 7144 Private A Watson, 6254 Private G Watson, 6607 Private M Watson, 6817 Private A Watts, 7886 Private R Watts, 6856 Private B Webb, 6931 Private G Webb, 8084 Private J Webb, 8653 Private J Webb, 7122 Private W Webb, 4961 Sergeant C Webb, 7205 Private I Webber, 8864 Private H Welham, 7635 Private L Welham, 6555 Private J Wells, 7261 Private W Wellum, 8551 Private J West, 7712 Private S Whight, 6768 Private W Whight, 6158 Private F Whiting, 7967 Drummer J Whymark, 7882 Private H Wiggins, 6690 Private J Wilcox, 7132 Private W Wilden, 7247 Lance-Corporal F Wilderspin, 6443 Private C Wilding, 6472 Private H Wilding, 5001 Private C Willbe, 8812 Private J Willis, 6204 Private H Wilson, 8808 Private A Winch, 7127 Private J Woodhouse, 6540 Private W Woodroffe, 5761 Sergeant W Woodrow, 6406 Lance-Corporal A Woods, 7133 Lance-Corporal E Woods, 8504 Private W Woods, 6434 Private H Wordley, 8643 Private S Wordley, 7995 Private F Wright, 8170 Private F Wright, 8438 Private R Wright.

7011 Private F Yull.

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4th Suffolk Regiment - 1908-1914

I was writing up some notes last night on a 4th Suffolk man with whom I had corresponded in the 1980s. I have already posted on this blog regarding the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Suffolk Regiment, and also the 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Here then is a snippet from my database of 4th Battalion men.

The 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion succeeded the 1st Volunteer Battalion which could trace its origins back to July 1859 with the formation of two companies raised in Ipswich. Over the next few years, more companies were added and the battalion supplied seventy-four men (three of whom died) for service in Suffolk Regiment volunteer service companies during the Second South African War. By 1907, the 1st VB had nine companies and 826 men out of an establishment of 1048 and would increase this number over the next couple of years.

By early 1914, The 4th Suffolk Regiment was headquartered at Portman Road, Ipswich with companies A to D also based in the town. Company E was the Lowestoft company and Company F was based at Halesworth with a drill station at Saxmundham. Fremlingham was home to Company G, which had a drill hall at Woodbridge, and Company H was located at Leiston with a drill station at East Bridge. The battlalion was originally part of the Norfolk and Suffolk Infantry Brigade with the East Anglian Division.

145 Arthur Reed joined on the 2nd April 1908. He was a serving member with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
766 Charles Button joined on the 11th February 1909
1102 Stanley London Mayhew joined on the 20th January 1910
1210 Thomas Charles Baker joined on 6th February 1911
1761 James Henry Cain joined on 23rd October 1913
1854 Harry Howard joined on 14th February 1914
1980 John Stocks joined on 3rd August 1914
2225 William Samuel John Smith joined on 1st September 1914
2327 Jack Reason joined on 5th October 1914
2730 John Henry Brown joined on the 13th November 1914
3018 Henry Williams joined the 2/4th Battalion on 14th December 1914

All of the above number/date information from surviving service records in WO 363 and WO 364 - online courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk.

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East Surrey Regiment curiosities - 364**

I was reading through posts on the Great War Forum the other day and came across this query about an East Surrey Regiment man: George Addison.

What puzzled me about this man was his number. He had enlisted in 1914 and yet his number was not from a series of numbers I would have expected to see for 1914 enlistments for this regiment. I decided to investigate further by making a list of men who had numbers beginning 364* and then checking their names against surviving service records in WO 363 and WO 364 to see if there were any patterns. Here are the results:

36411 William J A Edwards, arr o/seas 1916 onwards
36412 Stanley W Bartram, arr o/seas 1916 onwards, later L/13015
36414 Alfred W Green, arr o/seas 1916 onwards, later Labour Corps
36415 Sydney W Lloyd, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
36418 Joseph J Nicholson, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
34620 Henry Ernest Perry, arr o/seas 1916 onwards. SWB MIC gives enlist date as 02/11/1917
36423 Charles William Ashpole, arr o/seas 1916 onwards. WO 364. Enlisted 11/12/1915
36427 Joseph Kilborn. SWB MIC gives enlist date as 27/05/1916
36430 Robert D Paulett, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
36436 Joseph C Hall, arr o/seas 1916 onwards, later Labour Corps
36437 Charles T Hancock, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
36439 Herbert R Harris, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
36441 James H Chiverton, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
36453 Herbert Evans, Unknown Bn, arr F&F 07/10/1915, later ASC
36454 George F Addison, 7th Bn, arr F&F 28/07/1915
36455 Henry C Morland, 7th Bn, arr F&F 29/07/1915
36455 Horace Alfred Allen
36456 William S Beteux, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36458 Alfred T Clouder, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36459 George A Crouch, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36460 Alfred W Caston, 8th Bn, arr F & F 27/07/1915. WO 363. Attested Norwich 8th Sep 1914 with Norfolk Regt. Transferred to 8th Bn E Surrey Regt on 11th Sep 1914
36461 John Chestney, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36462 Albert Cullen, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915, later L/13024
36463 William Cullum, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36464 John W Flack, 8th Bn, arr F&F 25/08/1915
36465 William H Curtis, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36466 William J Cutting, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36467 Wilfred J Darkens MM, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36468 Albert Joyce, 8th Bn, arr F&F 25/08/1915
36469 Thomas A De’ath, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36471 George E Fox, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915; SWB MIC gives enlist date as 05/09/1914
36472 David Goodman, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36475 William G Collins
36477 Arthur Fisher, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36478 Alfred E Forder, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915
36479 Frederick James Pulsford, 8th Bn, arr F&F 27/07/1915. Formerly 4933 East Surrey Regt
36482 Albert Floyd, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
36483 Leslie Edward Fisher, 7th Bn, arr F&F 03/06/1915
36487 Thomas W Jones, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.
G/36491 Frederick William Manifold, arr o/seas 1916 onwards.

I have to say that the results are inconclusive due to the paucity of surviving service records, although I am tempted to draw the following conclusions:

36401-36441 are possibly Derby Scheme attestations from late 1915.
36454-36483 are mostly 7th and 8th Bn enlistments from 1914

I wonder whether there is a Norfolk/Suffolk link here somewhere as a number of the surnames are particularly common to those counties and I wonder how many of these man transferred onto the East Surrey Regiment from the Norfolk Regiment and the Suffolk Regiment. At least one did - 36460 - but admittedly, he may be the only one.


So as I say, an inconclusive result and a topic within a topic for which further responses would be most welcome.

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Suffolk Regiment - 5th Battalion

I was in 5th Suffolk territory today. En route to Bury St Edmunds, the headquarters of the 5th Battalion (and also home to a splendid Boer War Memorial, above) I passed through Sudbury. In the days before the Territorial Force was formed, Sudbury was home to two companies of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, and the building which housed D Company is still standing and still in use by today's territorials. There, above the large red doorway, carved into stone, is the legend, "D Company, 2nd Vol Batt, Suffolk Regt". That gives me as good an excuse as any to write a little bit about the 5th Suffolk Regiment.

This post will look at numbering in the 5th Suffolk Regiment between 1908 and 1916. All of the number information below is taken from service records which survive in the WO 363 and WO 364 series at the National Archives. You can view these there, or on-line via Ancestry which is offering a FREE 14-day trial.

Prior to 1908, the companies of the Suffolk Regiment's 2nd Volunteer Battalion were distributed as follows:

A Company: Stowmarket
B Company: Eye
C Company: Sudbury
D Company: Sudbury
E Company: Bury St Edmunds
F Company: Bury St Edmunds
G Company: Haverhill
H: Company: Newmarket

When the 5th Suffolk Regiment was born on the 1st April 1908, the distribution of its companies was slightly different:

A Company: Stowmarket, with a drill station at Eye
B Company: Beccles, with a drill station at Bungay
C Company: Hadleigh, with a drill station at Bildeston
D Company: Sudbury, with drill stations at Long Melford and Bures
E Company: Bury St Edmunds, with a drill station at Barrow
F Company: Bury St Edmunds, with a drill station at Lavenham
G Company: Haverhill, with a drill station at Clare
H: Company: Newmarket, with a drill station at Mildenhall

The battalion started numbering from 1 in 1908.

26 joined on 6th April 1908
654 joined on 18th January 1909
1062 joined on 21st February 1910
1167 joined on 6th March 1911
1504 joined on 27th March 1912
1690 joined on 25th January 1913
1944 joined on 20th February 1914
2080 joined on 10th August 1914
2190 joined on 2nd September 1914
2577 joined on 22nd October 1914
2715 joined on 14th November 1914
2876 joined on 15th December 1914
2964 joined on 2nd January 1915
3187 joined on 15th February 1915
3223 joined on 8th March 1915
3267 joined on 17th April 1915
3362 joined on 3rd May 1915
3519 joined on 1st June 1915
3656 joined on 26th July 1915
3752 joined on 20th November 1915
3774 joined on 25th January 1916
3832 joined on 8th February 1916
4062 joined on 1st March 1916
4545 joined on 12th April 1916
5189 joined on 31st May 1916
5636 joined on 17th July 1916
5697 joined on 4th August 1916
5719 joined on 4th September 1916
5848 joined on 12th October 1916
6285 joined on 11th November 1916

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in early 1917, the 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment was issued numbers within the block 240001 to 256000.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Suffolk Regiment titles from The Naval & Military Press:


History of the 12th (The Suffolk Regiment) 1685-1913

A very detailed history by an experienced author who observes that he was much assisted by the wealth of personal diaries, journals and varied reminiscences of the old 12th. There are informative appendices such as the succession of Colonels with biographies, succession of COs and Adjutants, and a chapter on uniform, equipment and the Colours.

During the almost 230 years covered by this history, the Suffolks served in India (Seringapatam is a principal battle honour), in Africa during the Kaffir and Boer Wars, in New Zealand in the Maori War, on the NW Frontier in the 2nd Afghan War, in the West Indies and Mauritius. Colour plates depict uniforms, battle scenes and the Colours in 1686 and 1849. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927

This volume begins on 1st January 1914 when the Suffolk Regiment consisted of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and the 4th, 5th and 6th (Cyclist) Battalions of the Territorial Force. After the outbreak of war sixteen more battalions were raised and added, and in 1917 the Suffolk Yeomanry converted into the 15th Battalion, making a grand total of twenty-three. Battalions of the Regiment served in France and Flanders, Gallipoli, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine, and at home.

This book, based on war diaries, private diaries, letters and interviews, tells the stroies of the men who served. 6,650 officers and men died for King and Country and two VCs were won and 73 Battle Honours awarded.

Given the scope of this volume and space considerations there is no Roll of Honour and the list of Honours and Awards is a very limited one showing only some of the more important honours gained. Inevitably some battalions get fuller treatment than others but the main events are clearly described.

The narrative appears in chronological order, beginning in 1914 with the 1st Battalion moving from Egypt to Khartoum and the 2nd Battalion in the Curragh with 14th Brigade, 5th Division, one of the original BEF divisions. As the story unfolds so the various battalions on active service are brought into the picture and the part they played in the battles is described. One chapter is given to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion at home and another to all the other battalions that did not go on active service. There is a comprehensive, 26-page index. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Diary of Colonel Bayly, 12th Regiment, 1796-1803 (Seringapatnam 1799)

Entertaining, if bloody, account of the 12th Regiment of Foot in India and their struggles against Tippoo Sultan. CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.


Centurions of a Century

Nostalgic look back at Britain’s military campaigns, battles and leaders as well as (Suffolk) regimental actions and regimental life, all spread over more than a hundred years. Published in 1914, the book deals with Britain's colonial wars up until the death of Queen Victoria. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.

Suffolk Regiment - 1st & 2nd Battalions

This post will look at army service numbers and the dates on which these were issued to men joining the regular battalions (1st and 2nd Battalions) of the Suffolk Regiment.

There are close to 37,000 Suffolk Regiment serviceand pension records (for this regiment - and its antecedents) in various War Office series held at the National Archives. Clicking on the link will take you to the results on Findmypast but you will need a subscription or Pay-Per-View credits to actually view the records. Some of these records can also be viewed on-line on Ancestry although Findmypast has by far the most comprehensive service record collection.

The Suffolk Regiment was born on 1st July 1881; formed out of the old 12th (East Suffolk) Regiment of Foot. This post will look at army service numbers issued between 1881 and August 1914. Service records for all of the numbers listed below, survive in WO 363 (Burnt Documents) and WO 364 (Pensions) in the National Archives. They can also be viewed on-line via the Ancestry.co.uk website.

5 joined on 12th July 1881
241 joined on 4th February 1882
444 joined on 27th January 1883
1055 joined on 18th November 1884
1196 joined on 27th January 1885
1815 joined on 8th September 1886
1968 joined on 27th January 1887
2111 joined on 16th January 1888
2648 joined on 27th May 1889
2877 joined on 15th September 1890
2999 joined on 15th January 1891
3361 joined on 24th October 1892
3457 joined on 9th February 1893
3808 joined on 31st March 1894
4162 joined on 4th February 1895
4389 joined on 5th February 1896
4710 joined on 21st September 1897
4966 joined on 19th January 1898
5315 joined on 2nd June 1899
5490 joined on 24th January 1900
5809 joined on 8th July 1901
6018 joined on 18th February 1902
6319 joined on 6th January 1903
6716 joined on 4th January 1904
7155 joined on 8th December 1905
7463 joined on 4th December 1906
7524 joined on 2nd February 1907
7882 joined on 15th December 1909
7936 joined on 27th January 1910
8182 joined on 12th January 1911
8634 joined on 3rd January 1913
8918 joined on 10th March 1914
9014 joined on 7th August 1914 (regular terms of enlistment)

Pictured on this page, Lt Charles Frederick Lennock c1883, courtesy of the excellent Soldiers of the Queen website.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Suffolk Regiment titles from The Naval & Military Press:


History of the 12th (The Suffolk Regiment) 1685-1913

A very detailed history by an experienced author who observes that he was much assisted by the wealth of personal diaries, journals and varied reminiscences of the old 12th. There are informative appendices such as the succession of Colonels with biographies, succession of COs and Adjutants, and a chapter on uniform, equipment and the Colours.

During the almost 230 years covered by this history, the Suffolks served in India (Seringapatam is a principal battle honour), in Africa during the Kaffir and Boer Wars, in New Zealand in the Maori War, on the NW Frontier in the 2nd Afghan War, in the West Indies and Mauritius. Colour plates depict uniforms, battle scenes and the Colours in 1686 and 1849. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927

This volume begins on 1st January 1914 when the Suffolk Regiment consisted of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and the 4th, 5th and 6th (Cyclist) Battalions of the Territorial Force. After the outbreak of war sixteen more battalions were raised and added, and in 1917 the Suffolk Yeomanry converted into the 15th Battalion, making a grand total of twenty-three. Battalions of the Regiment served in France and Flanders, Gallipoli, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine, and at home.

This book, based on war diaries, private diaries, letters and interviews, tells the stroies of the men who served. 6,650 officers and men died for King and Country and two VCs were won and 73 Battle Honours awarded.

Given the scope of this volume and space considerations there is no Roll of Honour and the list of Honours and Awards is a very limited one showing only some of the more important honours gained. Inevitably some battalions get fuller treatment than others but the main events are clearly described.

The narrative appears in chronological order, beginning in 1914 with the 1st Battalion moving from Egypt to Khartoum and the 2nd Battalion in the Curragh with 14th Brigade, 5th Division, one of the original BEF divisions. As the story unfolds so the various battalions on active service are brought into the picture and the part they played in the battles is described. One chapter is given to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion at home and another to all the other battalions that did not go on active service. There is a comprehensive, 26-page index. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Diary of Colonel Bayly, 12th Regiment, 1796-1803 (Seringapatnam 1799)

Entertaining, if bloody, account of the 12th Regiment of Foot in India and their struggles against Tippoo Sultan. CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.


Centurions of a Century

Nostalgic look back at Britain’s military campaigns, battles and leaders as well as (Suffolk) regimental actions and regimental life, all spread over more than a hundred years. Published in 1914, the book deals with Britain's colonial wars up until the death of Queen Victoria. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.