BRIDGE

Victor

Rifleman S/654, 10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Killed in action 18 September 1916. Aged 25. Born Hawkedon, Suffolk, resident Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, enlisted East Ham, Essex. Son of George David and Emma Bridge, of High St., Fulbourne, Cambridge. In the 1901 census he was aged 7, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, son of George and Emma bridge, resident Church Street, Fulbourn, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 17, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, a Grocer's Assistant, son of Emma bridge (a widow), resident High Street, Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire. Buried in GUARDS' CEMETERY, LESBOEUFS, Somme, France. Plot X. Row C. Grave 5.

CLARKE

John

Lance Sergeant 5189, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Born Hawkedon, Suffolk, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. In the 1901 census he was aged 16, a Farm Labourer, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, son of David and Mary A Clarke, resident The Green, Hawkedon, Sudbury, Suffolk. Buried in DANTZIG ALLEY BRITISH CEMETERY, MAMETZ, Somme, France. Plot VII. Row V. Grave 9.

Exract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 8 January 1916, page 8:

HOME FROM THE FRONT.—Sergeant John Clarke, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke, who is serving in the East Surrey Resiment. paid a briefvisit to his home this week. He was in the National Reserve, and when war was declared rejoined as a private, was promoted corporal, and has now attained the rank of sergeant. He has been in France five months, this being his first visit home. We wish him a continuance of good health and a eate return to England.

FARTHING

Robert

Lance Corporal 8750, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Taken prisoner 26 August 1914 and died in germany 9 April 1915 [SDGW]. Born Exning, Suffolk, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds. No known grave. Commemorated on LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, Seine-et-Marne, France.

Extract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 24 July 1915, page 8:

DEATHS.
KILLED IN ACTION

FARTHING - April 9th, Lc.-Corpl. R. Farthing, 2nd Batt. Suffolk Regt.. third and dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Farthing, of Hawkedon; place death unknown.

Extract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 30 September 1916, page 8:

FARTHING— In ever memory of Walter Farthing, R.F.A., second son of Mr. and Mrs. Farthing, of Hawkedon, who gave his life for his country Sept. 26th, 1914. Also of Lance-Corpl. Robert Farthing, 2nd Suffolk Regt., reported missing after the battle of Le Cateau August 26th, 1914, later reported died in Germany, April 9th, 1915.

Not now, but in the coming years,
It may be in that better land,
We’ll read the meaning of oor tears,
Then, ah! then we'll understand.

FARTHING

Walter Leonard

Gunner 45439, 135th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 25 September 1914. Aged 26. Born Hawkedon, Bury St. Edmund's, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Son of William and Alice Farthing, of Pine Acre Gardens, Sunningdale, Berks. Buried in ST. NAZAIRE (TOUTES-AIDES) CEMETERY, Loire-Atlantique, France. Row B. Grave 24.

Extract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 25 September 1915, page 8:

IN MEMORIAM.

FARTHING.—In affectionate remembrance of Walter Leonard Farthing. R.F.A., second and dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. Farthing, who gave his life tor his country Sept. 25th, 1914:

Now is at rest and sleeping
Where fell on an alien shore,
But his grave is here in England,
In our hearts for evermore.

Extract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 30 September 1916, page 8:

FARTHING— In ever memory of Walter Farthing, R.F.A., second son of Mr. and Mrs. Farthing, of Hawkedon, who gave his life for his country Sept. 26th, 1914. Also of Lance-Corpl. Robert Farthing, 2nd Suffolk Regt., reported missing after the battle of Le Cateau August 26th, 1914, later reported died in Germany, April 9th, 1918.

Not now, but in the coming years,
It may be in that better land,
We’ll read the meaning of oor tears,
Then, ah! then we'll understand.

GOLDSPINK

Edward Newell

Temporary Second Lieutenant, 17th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment). Killed in action 31 July 1917. Aged 21. Son of George Frederick and Emily Hannah Goldspink, of Whittingham Hall, Tressingfield, Harleston, Norfolk. Admitted to the H.A.C. 25 November 1914 as a Private, 1st Battalion, transferred 1916 to King's (Liverpool Regiment), 7 May 1916 in cadet School. Went overseas 1 July 1915. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 4 and 6.

Extract from Suffolk and Essex Free Press - Wednesday 15 August 1917, page 8:

DEATHS.
WHILST ON SERVICE.

Goldspink.—Edward Newell Goldspink, 2nd-Lieut. of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, killed in action July 31st, dearly loved eldest son of the late G. F. and Mrs. Goldspink. of Whittingham Hall, Fressingfield, and nephew of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Marsh, of Hawkedon Hall, aged 21 years and 9 months.

Extract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 25 August 1917, page 2:

HAWKEDON

THE LATE 2nd LIEUT. E. NEWELL GOLDSPINK whose death in action on July 31st was reported last week, wasthe eldest son of Mrs. J. J. Marsh’s second brother, the late Mr. G. F. Goldspink, of Fressingfield. Upon leaving school in 1911 he came to the Hall as farm pupil, his conscientious discharge of his duties, unassuming manner, and kindly sympathetic nature winning the warm esteem of all who knew him. Possessed of a keen sense of justice and right and eager to defend the weak against the strong, his chivalrous spirit was fired by the outrages inflicted upon Belgium at the commencement the war, and upon reaching his nineteenth birthday entered the Hon. Artillery Company as a private, going out France in July, 1915. After some months of active service he returned to England to study for a commission. Failing at first entered a cadet school at Fermoy, Co. Cork, in December, having passed successfully was gazetted to the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, returning in June to France, where, as already stated, he laid down his gallant young life in his country's cause. The bereaved mother has received the following letter:-

“17th King’s Liverpool Regiment, 17th August, 1917. Dear Mrs. Goldspink,-I have refrained from writing to you before about your son’s death, as I thought you would rather hear officially in the first place. We all feel his loss most severely, and offer you our deepest sympathy in your great loss, At the time of his death he was in command of his Company, We had finished the attack of 31st July, and were consolidating the ground won. He was doing a splendid work, encouraging and cheering his men on under heavy fire, walking about in the open with utter indifference to his own safety to do so. A shell burst near him, wounding him, and rendering him unconscious. He brought into the regimental post at my headquarters, and died almost as he reached it. I am sure that it will be some small consolation to you to know that he died without pain, and that he was doing magnificent work when he was hit. Again, on behalf of the battalion and myself, allow me to offer you the deepest sympathy—Yours sincerely, J. S. Rendell, Lieut.-Col., commanding 17h King’s Regiment.”

Also the subjoined telegram: “Buckingham Palace. To Mrs. Goldspink, Whittingham Hall, Fressingfield, Harleston, Norfolk. The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow.”

MASON

Daniel Thomas

Acting Lance Corporal P/1089, Military Foot Police, Military Police Corps. Killed in action 1 August 1917. Born Hawkedon, resident Bury St. Edmunds, enlisted Stratford. Brother of Joe (below). In the 1891 census he was aged 5, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, son of Daniel and Sarah Mason, resident Hawkedon, Suffolk. In the 1901 census he was aged 15, born Hawkedon, an Agricultural Labourer, son of Daniel and Sarah Mason, resident The Green, Hawkedon, Suffolk. In the 1911 census he was a Police Constable, aged 25, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, boarding at 8 Manor Place, Amhurst Road, Hackney, London N.E. Buried in VLAMERTINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot V. Row B. Grave 7.

MASON

Joe

Private 702937, 1st/23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment. Killed in action 7 June 1917. Born Hawkedon, Suffolk, resident and enlisted Marylebone. Brother of Daniel T (above). In the 1891 census he was aged 7, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, son of Daniel and Sarah Mason, resident Hawkedon, Suffolk. In the 1901 census he was aged 17, born Hawkedon, an Agricultural Labourer, son of Daniel and Sarah Mason, resident The Green, Hawkedon, Suffolk. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panels 52 to 54.

SHINN

William

Private 5305, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Born and enlisted Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. In the 1901 census he was aged 14, born Stansfield, Suffolk, an Ordinary Agricultural Labourer, son of Fred Shinn (a widower), resident Cresslands, Hawkedon, Sudbury, Suffolk. In the 1911 census he was aged 24, born Stansfield, Suffolk, a Horseman on Farm, son of Fred Shinn (a widower), resident Cressland Farm, Hawkedon, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 6 B and 6 C.

SMITH

Sam

Private 1923, 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action at Gallipoli 12 August 1916 [Memorial] or 21 August 1915 [CWGC & CWGC]. Born Hawkedon, Suffolk, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds. Husband of Harriet Jessie Smith, of 3, Albert St., Bury St. Edmund's. In the 1901 census he was aged 20, born Hawkedon, Suffolk, a Hospital Porter, resident Suffolk general Hospital, Bury St Edmunds. In the 1911 census he was aged 31, born hawkedon, Suffolk, a Hospital Porter, married to Harriet Jessie Smith, resident No 3 Albert Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. No known grave. Commemorated at HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey (including Gallipoli). Panel 46 and 47.