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MELTON CONSTABLE WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Chris Harley 2008

The Melton Contsbale war memorial stands outside the former Elementary School on Briston Road (built 1896) and takes the form of a three-stepped base surmounted by a column flanked by two piers and ornamental supports with a brass plaque mounted onto the front face of the pillar with inscription and names for World War 1 (19 names), in relief, and below this is an additional plaque for World War 2 (1 name). The memorial was designed by Midland & Great Northern railway Engineers (Melton constable was the headquarters and main works of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway. It was created by them and was the Norfolk equivalent of Crewe and Swindon). The memorial was present in 1922. The memorial seems to commemorate both the employees of the Midland & Great Northern Railway Company & also the children of employees .

Photograph Copyright © Chris Harley 2008

1914 - 1918
TO OUR
GLORIOUS DEAD

BROWNE

William Frank

[Listed in records as Frank William] 28185 Private, 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action 22nd August 1918 near Sailly-Laurette, Somme, France, aged 20. Born Norwich, enlisted Cromer, resident Melton Constable. buried in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row B. Grave 13.

His father, Herbert James Browne, was a pattern maker who worked in the engineering workshop of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway at Melton Constable. Herbert Browne was also a union official and governor of the Melton Constable School. He played a major part in the design and installation of the war memorial.

1911 Census shows his parents were Herbert and Catherine Browne, married 25 years. Herbert is listed as a Signal Pattern Maker. Frank is listed as a schoolboy, aged 13, born Norwich. His siblings were Ernest, aged 20, a Fish Dealer, Walter, aged 18, an Engine fitter, Frederick, aged 10, a schoolboy and Winifred, aged 7, a Schoolgirl. They all were living at Burgh Beck Road, Melton Constable, Norfolk.

BUSSEY

Ernest Edward

1387 Private 1st/5th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Briston, Norfolk about 1894. Enlisted Melton Constable 8th November 1910 aged 17. Died Gallipoli 21st August 1915. Son of Walter Henry and Mary Bussey, of 29, Colville Rd., Melton Constable, Norfolk. Commemorated Helles Memorial.

His service record shows that he was a signal fitter with the Midland & Great Northern Railway at Melton Constable.

1901 Census shows that his father was a signal fitter born Heacham aged 35 & his mother born Briston aged 29. They were resident at 29 Colville Road, Melton Constable.

EBLING

Bert

M/5739 Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Royal Navy HMS Ghurka. Born Peterborough, Northants 3rd February 1892. Lost at sea 8th February 1917 aged 25. Son of Thomas and Elvina Ebling, of King's Lynn, Norfolk; husband of Alice Neale (formerly Ebling), of 14, Malmesbury Rd., Southampton. Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Ghurka sank on 8 February, 1917 after hitting a German mine off Dungeness and going down almost immediately. Only five crew were saved. Also remembered King's Lynn War Memorial, All Saints Church, South Lynn, Memorial Window & South Lynn, St Michael and All Angels.

The 1901 Census shows that his father aged 40 born Lincolnshire was a railway engine driver & his mother aged 44 born Lincolnshire. The family were resident at Saddlebow Road, Kings Lynn.

FOX

Frank Norman

240074 Lance Corporal 1st/5th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Heigham, Norfolk about 1895, Enlisted Melton Constable 3rd January 1912 aged 17. Reported as POW 28th August 1915. Died 4th April 1917. Son of Herbert & Mary Ann Fox of 6 Kitchener Road, Melton Constable. Commemorated Special Memorial Angora 68 Baghdad North Gate Cemetery War Cemetery.

He died whilst held as POW at Angora, Turkey. He was taken prisoner at Gallipoli.

His service record shows that he was a weighing machine fitter with the Midland & Great Northern Railway at Melton Constable.

1901 Census shows his father aged 33 a railway coach builder born Norfolk & his mother aged 32 born Norwich. The family were resident at Melton Constable.

GARWOOD

Richard Arthur Victor

13216 Private 8th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Norwich 1893 Enlisted Norwich. Killed in action 17th February 1917 in France aged 23. Son of Arthur W. and Helena Garwood, of 62, Unthank Rd., Norwich. Previously wounded at the Battle of the Somme 1st July, 1916. Buried Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt Grave VII.C.21.

The 1901 Census shows his father a solicitors clerk aged 42 born Norwich & his mother aged 40 born Norwich. The family were resident at 3 Essex Street, Norwich.

GIBSON

Arthur Charles

1586 Private 5th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Heigham, Norfolk Enlisted Melton Constable 3rd January 1912 aged 17 – a telegraph operator with the Midland & Great Northern Railway at Melton Constable. Discharged from the army due to medical grounds 19th July 1916 (at this point his trade is recorded as Booking Clerk). Mother Eileen Gibson of 9 Kitchener Road, Melton Constable – his father name unknown is shown as deceased.

His death requires further investigation as his medical conditions were due to & aggravated by military service.

LAMBERT

Cecil

38803 Private 7th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Ordsell, Nottinghamshire Enlisted Whitehall. Killed in action 16th October 1918 France. Son of Henry & Emily Lambert. Buried Loos British Cemetery Grave XVII. F. 2.

The 1901 Census shows his father aged 38 a telegraph lineman born Retford, Nottinghamshire & his mother aged 37 born Lincolnshire. The family were resident at Gloucester Terrace, Briston.

LOYNES

Robert Edmund

137760 Fitter Staff Sergeant 258th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. Formerly 13378 Private Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action France 6th June 1918 aged 36. Son of Robert John and Ann Loynes. Buried Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez Grave VIII.M.2.

1901 Census shows that he was born in Holt about 1882 the son of Robert (engine fitter born Cley Next The Sea aged 52) & Ann Loynes (aged 54 born Boston Lincolnshire). They were resident in Brancaster. He was also employed as an engine fitter. The family address was Main Road, Brancaster. The 1891 Census shows the family resident at Gravel Pit Lane, Holt his father employed as a blacksmith.

MARKWICK

William Percival

Lieutenant, 5th Battalion (Territorial), Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action at Vaux Wood on the 5th September 1918. Born 1890 in Little Bytham, Lincs. Husbanf of Florrie Markwick. Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. Plot V. Row M. Grave 9. Also commemorated on Stamford School Plaques, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

MARRIOTT

Stanley George

2nd Lieutenant 2nd Field Company Royal Engineers. Killed in action France 21st October 1916 aged 22. Son of William and Gertrude Marriott, of "Roquebrune," Cremers Drift, Sheringham, Norfolk. Buried Guards Cemetery, Lesbouefs Special Memorial 10.

The son of the Traffic Manager & Engineer of the Midland & Great Northern Railway.

PEARSON

Joseph Henry

16109 Corporal 2nd Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Holbeach, Lincolnshire Enlisted Norwich. Died 16th June 1916 India aged 27. Son of Tom Henry and Harriet Pearson, of Cobgate Lane, Moulton, Lincolnshire. Commemorated Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial.

Had previously served in France.

1901 Census shows his father aged 33 a railway porter Midland & Great Northern Railway born Holbeach & his mother aged 37 born Friday Bridge, Cambridgeshire. The family were resident at Station Street, Holbeach.

SHIPLEY

Enoch

5138 Private 1st/4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly 1591 Norfolk Regiment. Born Norfolk Enlisted Melton Constable. Killed in action 29th October 1916 France. The son of Samuel & Jessie Shipley. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial.

The 1901 Census shows his father aged 44 a railway engine driver born Bedlington, Northumberland & his mother aged 43 born Scotland. The family were resident at Melton Street.

SIMPSON

Reginald Jack S

15270 Lance Corporal 11th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Born Briston, Norfolk about 1897. Died England 20th May 1918 aged 21. Son of John and Mary Ann Simpson, of 6, Trafalgar Terrace, Norwich Rd., North Walsham. Buried Lowestoft Kirkley Cemetery Grave F.104.

The 1901 Census shows that his father aged 42 born Ipswich a signal linesman & his mother aged 46 born Beccles, Suffolk. The family were resident at Briston Road, Melton Constable.

STIMPSON

Henry [William] Thomas

1385 Private 5th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Briston, Norfolk about 1892 Enlisted Melton Constable 2nd January 1911 aged 18. Died England 13th November 1918. Son of Henry & Deborah Stimpson. Buried Burgh Parva St Mary Churchyard Grave East part.

His service record shows that at the time of his enlistment he was an engine painter with the Midland & Great Northern Railway at Melton Constable. He was discharged from the army at Bawdsey, Suffolk 14th January 1916 as his period of engagement was over – at this time he was serving with the 61st Provisional Bn Territorial Force. As his grave is recognised as a war grave he must have died as a consequence of his military service. His address on discharge was to be 5 London Road, Melton Constable.

The 1901 Census shows his father a railway carriage painter aged 32 born Briston, Norfolk & his mother aged 32 born Normanton, Yorkshire. The family was resident in Melton Constable.

TURBETT

Richard Bagnell

270690 Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Royal Navy HM Submarine D3. Born Gateshead Upon Tyne 26th March 1881. Lost at sea 15th March 1918. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Son of Alexander Stewart and Isobel Turbett, of Gateshead; husband of Sophia Coutts Turbett, of 30, Springhill, Dundee. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial.
HMS D3 was a British D class submarine built by Vickers, Barrow. D3 was laid down on 15 March 1910 and was commissioned on 30 August 1911.

D3 met her fate on 15 March 1918. She was mistakenly bombed and sunk by a French airship AT-0 off Fecamp in the English Channel. AT-0 was patrolling when at 1420 a vessel was spotted to her north east. The airship drew close for recognition purposes and according to her commander, the submarine fired rockets at her. Four 52-kilo bombs were dropped by the airship. The submarine disappeared but several minutes later men were seen in the water. Attempts were made by the airship to rescue the men but it proved too difficult. The airship withdrew to seek help but all the men had drowned by the time it arrived. It is clear that D3 was the victim of a serious identification error on the part of the French airship, with identification rockets being mistaken for aggressive gunfire.

The 1901 Census shows that Richard was engine fitter living at Saddlebow Road, Kings Lynn with his mother aged 44 who was born at Gateshead.

WARBY

Albert Stanley

475299 Private 88th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps. Born Walworth, London about 1893 Enlisted Norwich. Died of wounds 4th October 1917 Belgium aged 24. Son of John and Jane Warby, of Lowestoft, formerly of London; husband of Ida Mary Warby, of 65, Rotterdam Rd., Lowestoft, Suffolk. Buried Dulhallow ADS Cemetery Grave VII.F.16.

Also listed Lowestoft, St John's Church

The 1901 Census shows his father a store keeper/builders hand aged 47 born London & his mother aged 40 born Enfield, Middlesex. The family were resident at 32 Maidstone Road, Lowestoft.

WATERS

Sidney Charles

71966 27th Bn Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Born 31st August 1883 Fakenham, Norfolk Enlisted 27th October 1914 at Brandon, Manitoba. Killed in action 15th August 1916 aged 31. Son of Charles & Frances Waters, of 12, Astley Terrace, Melton Constable, Norfolk. Commemorated Vimy Memorial.

His Canadian service record shows his occupation as asylum attendant & his religion as Church Of England.

The 1901 Census shows his father a foreman boiler smith aged 44 born Fakenham, Norfolk & his mother aged 42 born Russington, Yorkshire. The family were resident at Melton Street, Melton Constable. Sidney is not shown as living with his family at this time.

WOOLNER

Leslie George

1837 Private 1st/5th Bn Norfolk Regiment. Born Hethersett Norfolk about 1895. Killed in action Gallipoli 21st August 1915 aged 20. Son of John and Harriet Woolner, of Kitchener Rd., Melton Constable, Norfolk. Commemorated Helles Memorial.

The 1901 Census shows his father a machine worker railway works aged 34 born Norfolk & his mother aged 29 born Norfolk. The family lived at Aubrey Terrace, Melton Constable.

WOOLWAY

John

241352 Private 7th Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Born Briningham, Norfolk about 1889. Died 26th November 1918 aged 29. Buried Briningham St Maurice Churchyard.

The 1901 Census shows that he was the grandson of John Linder aged 73 postmaster & railway ganger born Grimston, Norfolk & Harriet Linder aged 65 postmistress born Sporle, Norfolk. The family were resident at Melton Street Post Office, Melton Constable.

THEIR NAME FOR
EVER LIVETH

1939-1945

BARRETT

Wilfred William

D/J 106857, Petty Officer, H.M.S. Prince of Wales, Royal Navy. Died 10th December 1941. Aged 35. Son of Arthur and Miriam Barrett; husband of Alice Barrett, of West Malling, Kent. No known grave. Commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon. Panel 45, Column 2.

His parents were married in the 1901 census which confirms Arthur Thos Barrett married to Miriam M and living in Melton Constable.

Last updated 21 October, 2019

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