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COLKIRK
WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Geoff Clark - Colkirk
Village Webmaster - 2008
In
November 1926, a Committee of 8 people was set up to investigate the
provision of a War Memorial. The Committee included ex-servicemen and
representatives of the families who had lost their loved ones. Two possibilities
were considered: either a Parish Hall (which had been suggested by Colkirk
W. I.) or a stone memorial. A small fundraising committee was set up
with separate funds for a stone or a Parish Hall giving people the option
of donating to their preferred cause. It was eventually decided that
a stone memorial would be more appropriate.
In
December 1926 three possible sites were considered for the memorial.
It was decided that the site by the gate leading to the sawpit (which
it is thought was then located at the end of the Campying Land) was
the most suitable. The proposed design was displayed in Mr. Crane's
shop in Colkirk for public inspection.
By
January 1927 sufficient funds had been collected to cover the cost of
a memorial stone.
The
design was agreed and included a separate base stone. It was agreed
at the time that only the names and initials of the men who had lost
their lives would be engraved and in the order in which their deaths
occurred ( although the names were ultimately engraved in alphabetical
order ).
Although
he did not die until five years after the war, Reg Greef's name was
included because his death was the result of having being gassed ( so
the full War Pension was granted to his children) and his family had
specially requested that his name be memorialised. This was agreed unanimously
by the committee.
Wording
was to be: To the Glory of God. In loving memory of our men who fell
in the war 1914 - 1918.
The
land for the memorial site was donated by the Rector, the Rev. A. R.
Hoare. A Parish Councillor, Mr. Goodman, offered his time and expertise
in laying the concrete foundation.
The
memorial was to be tended by the Colkirk Women's Section of The Royal
British Legion. In 1949 they asked the Parish Council to take some action
regarding the state of the railings around the War Memorial. It was
agreed to remove the railings and dispose of them by tender. This was
done and in 1951 arrangements were made to clean, face and black the
lettering, and also to inscribe the name of Basil Doy who was killed
in World War II. This work was done by Mr. Percival of Dereham at a
cost of £10.
The War Memorial is situated at the eastern end of the Campyngland (
near the Church ) and is maintained by voluntary help within the community.
The memorial stone which carries 17 names ( 16 from WWI and one from
WWII ) was refurbished in 2002 and the concrete surround replaced in
2007 ( work paid for by the Parish Council )
If
you can provide further information about any of those commemorated
on the memorial, especially R. Cooke, A. J. Collins and W. Hoare (all
WWI) and B. W. Doy (WWII) please contact colkirkvillage@btinternet.com
There
is also a Roll of Honour within St. Mary's Church.
 |
Photographs
Copyright © Geoff Clark - 2008 |
TO
THE
GLORY OF GOD
IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
OUR MEN
WHO FELL IN THE WAR
1914 - 1919
| ANDREWS |
Walter
James |
Sergeant
22186, 174th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds
on Thursday 21st June 1917 at Lijssenthoek Casualty Clearing Station,
aged 28. Enlisted in Fakenham. Born 1889 in Colkirk, lived in Dereham
Road, Colkirk (1891 Census) and Spring Well, Whissonsett (1901 Census).
Son of Christmas and Susannah Andrews of Colkirk. Formerly 1113,
Rifle Brigade. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. |
| CATTON |
Herbert
Arthur |
Private
7971, 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died on Saturday 20th January
1917 in Mesopotamia, aged 25. Enlisted in Norwich. Born 1891 in
Colkirk, lived in Gateley (1901 Census). Son of Herbert and Eberlener
Catton. Eberlener Catton, nee Farrow, was the daughter of Susannah
Farrow and a half sister to Walter J Andrews. Christmas Andrews
married Susannah, making Herbert Arthur Catton the nephew of Walter
J Andrews. Buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq. |
| COOKE |
Arthur
James |
Private,
8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action on Tuesday
6th August 1918 in France, aged 26. Enlisted in King's Lynn. Born
1892 in Colkirk, lived in Dereham Road, Colkirk (1901 Census). Son
of George and Anna Cooke. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme,
France. |
| COOKE |
R |
No
information available. |
| COLLINS |
A
J |
No
information available. |
| CLEMENTS |
A
B |
Private
16063, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regimentt. Killed in action on Wednesday
13th October 1915, aged 25. Enlisted in Norwich. Son of the late
Henry and Rebecca Clements of New Trinity Road, Finchley, London.
Husband of Alice Margaret Clements of Hall Lane, Colkirk. Commemorated
on Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. |
| CUBITT |
Matthew
George |
Born
1897 in Colkirk. Son of Fred and Anna Cubitt of Pattesley (1901
Census) then Whissonsett. Could be
George Cubitt, Private 19539, 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 25th
September 1916, aged 19 (yet to be proved). |
| DUNN |
James
William |
Private
766365, "D" Company. 3rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry
(Central Ontario Regiment). Killed in action on Saturday 31st August
1918, aged 24. Born 1893 in Colkirk. Lived in Tofts Road, Colkirk
(1901 Census). Son of Oscar and Sarah Ann Dunn of Oxwick. Buried
in Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. |
| GREEF |
Reginald
George |
 |
Reginald
George Greef and Eliza
Sucker before their marriage in
1911 |
Born
1883 near Swaffham. Married to Eliza Sucker in 1911. Died in Kings
Lynn after the war from the effects of being gassed. His
wife Eliza died in 1924, aged 36. Their orphaned daughter, Eileen,
was brought up in Oxwick hence the family's request that her father
be memorialised on the Colkirk memorial. Son of John and Mary Ann
Greef. The family were living at The Green, Oxwick in the 1891 Census. |
| HOARE |
Vincent
Robertson |
 Major,
12th Battalion (The Rangers), London Regiment. Killed in action
on Monday 15th February 1915, in Belgium, aged 41. Born in Colkirk.
Lived at The Rectory, Colkirk (1891 Census) and was a schoolboy
at Eton. Son of Rev. Walter Hoare (Rector of Colkirk) and Mrs Jessica
Hoare. Married in 1901 in Marylebone to Elsie Florence Hogg. Vincent
played one football game for Norfolk (1888-89). He later played
cricket for Cambridgeshire (1895-98) and 6 matches for Norfolk Cricket
Club (1903-1905). Vincent's brother was Walter Robertson Hoare,
Captain, Hampshire Regiment. - attached to the RAF, who survived
the war so was not the W. Hoare mentioned below. Buried in Ypres
Town Centre Extension, Menin Gate, Leper, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
See also Lord's M.C.C. Cricket
War Memorial
Extract
from Broad Arrow - Friday 26 February 1915, page 5:
NORFOLK
CASUALTIES.
Major
Vincent Robertson Hoare, of the 12th Battalion County of London
Regiment (the Rangers) who was killed on February 15th aged 41
years, was the son of the late Rev. Walter Hoare, of Colkirk Rectory,
Fakenham. He was educated at Eton, where he was in the Eton XI.,
besides being in the "Field" and winner of the School
Fives. He married in 1901 Elsie, the daughter of the late Mr.
Quintin Hogg, and leaves a widow and five children. V. R. Hoare
will be remembered locally as the youngest of the three cricketing
brothers who rendered valuable service to Norfolk cricket. A brilliant
fieldsman in any position, and particularly in the slips, he was
also a good bat and medium-paced bowler. He was also a good footballer,
and assisted the Old Etonians for many years.
Extract
from Broad Arrow - Friday 5 March 1915, page 28:
CASUALTIES.
ARMY
Major
Vincent Robertson Hoare, 12th Bn. London Rangers), who was killed
on the 15th ult., aged forty-one years was the son of the late
Rev. Walter Hoare, of Colkirk Rectory, Fakenham, and was educated
at Eton. He was promoted major in September last. He was keenly
interested in philanthropic work, and was for many years a governor
of the Polytechnic of Regent Street. He was a director of the
North British and Mercantile Insurance and other companies. He
served in the South African War of 1899-1902 as a trooper in the
Suffolk Yeomanry, afterwards gaining a commission. As an officer
in the Rangers, he raised a double company of Polytechnic members,
who accompanied him to the front.
|
| HOARE |
W |
No
information available |
| HUCKINS |
Edgar
Phillip |
 |
Private
Edgar Huckins, Chelsea Barracks, 1914 |
Private
18111, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action on Friday 24th
December 1915 aged 36. Born in Coome, Oxford. Enlisted in London.
Grandfather of David and John Whiteside. Husband of Susannah Huckins
of Colkirk. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. |
| NELSON |
A.
A |
Believed
to be Albert William Nelson, Private, 2nd Battalion,
Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds on Friday 18th February 1916 in
Mesopotamia. Born 1892 in Colkirk. Enlisted in Norwich. Commemorated
on Basra Memorial, Iraq. |
| NELSON |
Harry |
Corporal
17245, 122nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds
near Ypres on Tuesday 16th November 1915 aged 32. Born Henry Nelson
in 1884 in Colkirk. Husband of Ann Mary Nelson of Long Yard, Colkirk.
Enlisted in Fakenham. He joined the Regiment in October 1914 as
a Bombardier and was promoted to Corporal on 9th May 1915. Commemorated
at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
|
|
Ann
Nelson, with children, Victor and Win |
Win
with her husband, Bill High |
Harry
was a member of 122nd Heavy Battery, part of 11th Heavy Brigade.
The Battery had been formed in October 1914 from men of the Southern
Division, Royal Garrison Artillery - they were drawn from a number
of coastal artillery companies, mainly believed to be stationed
in the Portsmouth/Fareham/Isle of Wight areas.
They
formed at Forts Nelson and Fareham before moving to Woolwich for
a period of training. They had to learn the new techniques of heavy
artillery in mobile field work including learning to ride and looking
after horse drawn guns and equipment. They tended to be big men,
with a more technical appreciation of the complexities of firing
huge guns at moving ship targets.
 |
 |
Gun
of the type used at this time |
Harry's
headstone |
Harry
was a bombardier on the formation of the battery. By May 1915, the
battery was positioned near the village of Potijze, near Ypres.
On 8th May 1915, the Germans launched a major attack and the battery
was hit by some 1200 rounds. Six men were killed and thirty wounded.
Harry was promoted to Corporal on 9th May 1915. He was obviously
promoted in place of one of those killed or wounded but also because
he had been noted for his work during this grim period. Harry was
included in a list which said " The following NCOs and men
performed their duties in a particularly meritorious manner ".
Harry
is shown to have been wounded at Kruistraat (just south of Ypres)
on 15th November 1915 with a note saying " died ".
The
battery journal for Monday 15th November 1915 states: Weather cold
and misty. Enemy busy crumping round our old billets and our observation
post. Two men of the guard wounded near the billet in the afternoon,
Cpl. Nelson and Gr. Perry or Parry. Calibrated from Hill 40 in the
morning ' .
It
later went on to say ' The shell that wounded the two men was found
to be a French 155mm. This was odd ' (This was probably a captured
gun).
Photos
and Regimental archive information courtesy of Alan Jones |
| POPE |
Ernest
William |
Captain,
7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Killed in action on Friday 18th August 1916
in France, aged 44. Born 1872 in Walsingham District. Son of Stephen
and Frances Elizabeth Pope of Colkirk House. Commemorated on Thiepval
Memorial, Somme, France. |
| SCOTT |
Alfred
Cecil |
Private
467696, 430th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Died on Monday
25th November 1918 aged 23. Born about 1895. Son of Alfred and Emma
Scott of Oxwick. Buried and commemorated in the churchyard of All
Saints' Oxwick. |
| 1939-1945 |
| DOY |
Basil
W |
Born
1917 in Mitford Reg. Dist. Mother's maiden name Havers. Lived in
Oxwick. No further information available. |
| |
|
Transcription
of Colkirk Roll Call |
| ABSOLON |
A. |
Army |
| ABSOLON |
S. |
Army |
| ADHIMAR |
H. |
Army |
| ANDREWS |
C. |
Army |
| ANDREWS |
H. |
Army |
| ANDREWS |
W. |
Army |
| BARTABY |
A. |
Army |
| BARTABY |
W |
Col.
Sgt. Royal Marines |
| BAYFIELD |
W. |
Army |
| BETTS |
G. |
Army |
| BROOM |
A. |
Army |
| CATTON |
E. |
Army |
| CATTON |
G |
Royal
Navy |
| CATTON |
G. |
Army |
| CATTON |
H. |
Army |
| CATTON |
J. |
Army |
| CATTON |
W. |
Army |
| CLARKE |
F. |
Army |
| CLEMENTS |
A. |
Army |
| COKER |
E. |
Army |
| COLLINS |
A. |
Army |
| COOKE |
E. |
Army |
| COOKE |
G. |
Army |
| CRANE |
I. |
Army |
| CUBITT |
B. |
Army |
| CUBITT |
G. |
Army |
| CUBITT |
W. |
Army |
| DAWSON |
G. |
Army |
| DUNGAR |
|
Army |
| DUNGER |
A. |
Army |
| FORDER |
A. |
Army |
| FROST |
W. |
Army |
| GIBSON |
I. |
Army |
| GOODMAN |
A |
Royal
Navy |
| GOODMAN |
D. |
Army |
| GOODMAN |
G. |
Army |
| GOODMAN |
V. |
Army |
| GREEF |
A. |
Army |
| GREEF |
E. |
Army |
| GREEF |
R |
Royal
Navy |
| HALL |
F. |
Army |
| HALL |
I. |
Army |
| HARDY |
N. |
Army |
| HAZEL |
A. |
Army |
| HOARE |
A.R. |
Rev
Army |
| HOWE |
S. |
Army |
| HUCKINS |
E. |
Army |
| JOHNSON |
A. |
Army |
| JOHNSON |
M. |
Army |
| KELLY |
W. |
Army |
| LAKE |
E |
C.P.O,
Royal Navy |
| LAKE |
G. |
Army |
| NELSON |
A. |
Army |
| NELSON |
H. |
Army |
| NELSON |
I. |
Army |
| NOBES |
W. |
Army |
| PARKER |
A. |
Army |
| RAMM |
D. |
Army |
| RAMM |
I. |
Army |
| SAKE |
U. |
Army |
| SYSON |
A. |
Army |
| SYSON |
C. |
Army |
| TOLL |
A. |
Army |
| TOLL |
T. |
Army |
| UTTING |
|
Sgt.
Army |
| VINNICOMBE |
|
Sgt.
Army |
| WOODHOUSE |
B. |
Army |
| WOODHOUSE |
G. |
Army |
| The
following were accepted for Home Service only |
| COLLINS |
R |
|
| NEWTON |
|
|
| TURNER |
R |
|
| WRIGHT |
W |
|
| The
following offered themselves for Service but were not accepted: |
| CRANE |
D |
|
| DAWS |
E |
|
| KNIGHTS |
C |
|
| NELSON |
E |
|
| NELSON |
W |
|
| PARKER |
G |
|
| SCOTT |
C |
|
Last updated
16 June, 2023
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