Roll of Honour - Essex

Epping War memorial

Additional Names

IN MEMORY OF
THOSE BRAVE MEN OF EPPING
WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES
FOR OUR COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WAR
OF 1914-1919
& 1939-1945

EPPING’S WAR DEAD - THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914 – 1919
ADAMS	Victor E.	(82814) Sapper 121st Field Coy., Royal Engineers Died 10th April 1916 Age 42 Commemorated GEZAINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME, FRANCE Son of George and Sarah Adams, of “The Lodge”, Hemnall Street. Born in Epping, he enlisted into the Royal Engineers in London in March 1915 as a Shoeing Smith and was posted to Ireland. He went to France on the 5th October the same year and died of pneumonia there in April 1916. On the first anniversary of his death his parents inserted the following notice in the West Essex Gazette: “In affectionate remembrance of our dear son Sapper V.E. Adams. RE, who died on active service April 9th 1916., and was interred in the cemetery, Gezaincourt, Somme, France. Sadly missed.” Victor is commemorated on his father’s grave in Epping Cemetery.
ALLEN	Herbert	(41859) Private 8th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died 5th August 1917 Aged 19. Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Son of Edward and Margaret Edith Allen, of Chapel Road. Born in Epping, he enlisted into the Dorsetshire Regiment in Chiseldon, Wiltshire, and later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres. There is a memorial to him on the Allen family grave headstone in Epping Cemetery. Known as Bert, he was a great friend of Gerald Church, who was also killed in August 1917.
AUSTIN	George	(7607) Lance Corporal 9th Bn., York & Lancaster Regiment Died 8th June 1917 Commemorated LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, POPERINGE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, the son of Mr & Mrs G Austin of Ivy Chimneys. He joined the Army as a regular soldier in 1904, and went to France with the 2nd Battalion, Yorks & Lancs on 21st September 1914. The following March he was seriously wounded in the thigh, entering hospital on the 3rd. He recovered from his wounds and transferred to the 9th Battalion. He was wounded again in June 1917, and died in a casualty clearing station on the 8th. His brother, Lance Corporal A. Austin, was wounded at Ypres in 1915. He never fully recovered and died in 1920. George’s brother-in-law was Harry Gulliford, who was also killed near Ypres.
AWBERY	Charles L.	Captain 4th Bn., Essex Regt, attached. 1st/1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regt Died 31st July 1917 Age 38 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Born in Tooting Common, Charles Luker Awbery was a Chartered Accountant in civilian life. He took an interest in soldiering, and served in the Boer War with the London Scottish Regiment. He remained with them for a number of years, and qualified as an instructor at the Army School of Musketry. In 1911 he moved to Epping and took a commission in the Essex Regiment. He was attached to ‘G’ Company of the 4th Battalion, which was based in Ongar with a detachment in Epping. On October 11th 1914 he was promoted to temporary Captain. He landed in Gallipoli with his Battalion on 21st July 1915, and remained there until the Allied evacuation five months later. His rank of Captain was made permanent in December. He spent some time on sick leave and when fit again he was attached to the Cambridgeshire Regiment and sent to France. In the autumn of 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action. The following citation was published in the London Gazette on 12th October 1917:“Charles Luker Awbery, Capt. Essex R. attached Cambridge R. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company direct to the final objective and got into touch with the battalions on the right and the left, sending his report to Battalion HQ. He carried out a difficult operation with great courage and skill.” Captain Awbery was reported missing in August 1917, but it was later discovered that he had in fact been killed in action at St Julien, near Ypres, on 31st July. The West Essex Gazette said at the time “His honourable sportsmanlike conduct made him many friends in Epping, by whom he will be sadly missed”. A special Mass was said for him at Coopersale House on Sunday 9th September 1917.
BARKER	Horace W.	Deck Boy SS Windsor Hall (London), Mercantile Marine Died 17th January 1918 Age 15 Commemorated TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, LONDON Son of Alfred and Emily Ellen Barker, of St John’s Road. His father worked at Cottis’ foundry. Horace enlisted in the Mercantile Marine and became an Apprentice Deck Boy on the SS Windsor Hall, a defensively armed merchantman of 3,693 tons. On 17th January 1918 the Windsor Hall was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea, 45 miles north-west of Alexandria. The ship’s Captain was taken prisoner, but Horace Barker was one of 27 crew members who lost their lives. He was presumed to have been drowned. At just 15 years of age he was the youngest of Epping’s war dead.
BARNES	John F.	(200552) Private 4th Battalion Essex Regiment Died 19th April 1917 Commemorated GAZA MILITARY CEMETERY, ISRAEL The son of Mr J Barnes of Lindsey Street, Epping, he was a member of the 1st Epping Scout Group before enlisting into the Essex Regiment at Brentwood. He served with the 4th Battalion in the Middle East where he lost his life in April 1917. He is commemorated on the memorial tablet in the United Reform Church in Lindsey Street.
BAYLIS	Albert	(419158) Private 42nd Bn., Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) Died 25th May 1916 Age 24 Commemorated MENIN ROAD SOUTH, BELGIUM Son of Charles and Ellen Baylis of Epping, he was killed in action at Hooge in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1916.
BETTS	Alfred	(2782SD) Deck Hand HM Trawler “Speeton”, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Died 31st December 1915 Age 17 Commemorated CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT Son of Mr and Mrs R Betts, of 3 Allnuts Estate, Epping, Alfred Betts lost his life when HM Trawler Speeton, the vessel on which he was serving, struck a mine off Lowestoft and sank on New Year’s Eve 1915. Speeton was a Hull-registered fishing trawler (number H1011). The fishing community gave great assistance to the Royal Navy throughout the war.
BINDER	Fred. W.	(200397) Serjeant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 30th April 1918 Commemorated RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY, ISRAEL Born in Walthamstow, he later became a resident of Epping. He enlisted at into the Essex Regiment at Brentwood and landed with them in Gallipoli on 12th August 1915. He continued to serve in the Middle East after the British withdrawal from the Dardenelles, and was killed in action on 30th April 1918.
CABLE	Alfred J.	(118906) Gunner 354th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery Died 11th August 1918 Commemorated HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES, FRANCE Born in Epping. He enlisted in Stratford, initially into the Essex & Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery, and later transferred to the 354th Siege Battery. He was killed in action on the Western Front in August 1918.
CHATER	Walter J.	(SS/111526) Stoker 1st Class HMS Queen Mary, Royal Navy Died 31st May 1916 Age 24 (CW) Commemorated PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, SOUTHSEA COMMON, HAMPSHIRE Born on the 31st March 1893 at Romford, he was the only son of Sarah Lunniss (formerly Chater), of High Street, Epping. He took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight and was killed in action when the Queen Mary was sunk at the Battle of Jutland. The ship had exchanged fire with the German battle cruisers Derfflinger and Seydlitz. At 4.26pm a direct hit on the Queen Mary caused a huge explosion. In just ninety seconds the ship sank, leaving only 21 survivors. Walter Chater was one of the 1,266 men who lost their lives. It has since been suggested that the there was too much cordite stored in and around the gun turrets, and that safety rules were ignored in an effort to speed up the supply to the guns. Four of the British fleet’s capital ships were lost at Jutland, prompting the famous comment made at the height of the battle by Admiral Jellicoe - “There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today”. Walter Chater had previously been employed at the Co-Operative Society in Epping, and was a member of the Temple of Peace Lodge of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Society. On the first anniversary of the Battle Sarah Lunniss inserted the following notice in the West Essex Gazette: “In loving memory of our dear son Walter Lunniss, Stoker, HMS Queen Mary, who died in Jutland battle, May 31st 1916, aged 24. Gone dear one, but not forgotten”.
CHEW	Percy J.	(13107) Corporal 1st Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment Died 9th November 1917 Age 26 Commemorated BUTTES NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, POLYGON WOOD, BELGIUM The son of William H and Julia M Chew, of High Street, Epping, he was born in the town and enlisted at Stratford. He went to France with his Regiment on the 6th July 1915. The following month he was slightly wounded in the left shoulder. He recovered from his wound and returned to the Western Front, serving in the Ypres Salient. On 9th November 1917 he located a German machine gun and reported its position to his Commanding Officer. An attempt was made to capture the gun, during which Percy Chew was shot and killed. He had been a member of Epping Football Club, and the following report was written by “the Old ‘un”, a football reporter for the West Essex Gazette: “The sadly depleted ranks of Epping Football Club have just sustained another blow in the lamented loss of one if its younger and more useful members. In Percy Chew, otherwise ‘Young Cota’, we older members saw a hope for the future so far as football was concerned, and to know that never again will his keenness be displayed in the white shirt brigade on the Bell Field is saddening. The condolence of every supporter of the EFC will go to the worthy Hon Sec of the Club and his family in their sad loss”. Captain A. Ball, his Commanding Officer in the Lincolnshire Regiment, wrote to Percy’s parents: “I must say how we all feel the loss of your brave son. I knew him well, and never met a braver soldier. He was well-respected by all ranks, and was always a volunteer for any dangerous work. Your son was one of my best NCOs and I will have some trouble to replace him. It may be some consolation to know that he always did his duty, and bravely too”. Members of the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British Legion commemorated Corporal Chew with a parade at the Buttes New British Cemetery in June 2000.
CHURCH	Gerald W. R.	(52817) Private X Coy., 19th Bn., Durham Light Infantry Died 28th August 1917 Age 19 Commemorated VILLERS-FAUCON COMMUNAL CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Son of Stephen and Alice Church, founders of the pork butchers in Epping, who lived at the Homestead, in the High Street. Gerald wanted to become a farmer, and took an apprenticeship at a farm belonging to Maurice Pegrum in North Weald. In May 1916 he enlisted into the Army Cyclist Corps. Later that year he was transferred into the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and went to France in December. While there he met up with his brother James, who was serving with the Essex Yeomanry. Two more brothers were also in HM Forces at the time; Stephen, a Trooper in the Dragoon Guards, and Leslie, with the Royal Flying Corps. On 28th August 1917 Gerald was a member of a working party entering a trench during the Battle of the Somme when a German shell killed him and five other members of his unit. In a letter to Alice Church, Lance-Corporal J. Whitlock, a comrade of Gerald’s from the DLI, said “He was in our gun team and we thought a lot about him. It is hard to realise that he is gone, for he was such a good man on the team. He was killed instantly and had no suffering. I visited his grave in a French cemetery a good way behind the line. The gun team and all the platoon send their deepest sympathy”. Gerald had been a great friend of Herbert (Bert) Allen, who had been killed only three weeks previously. Bert’s brother Eddie, an Air Mechanic in the RFC, also wrote to Gerald’s mother: I was very sorry to hear of the death in action of Gerald. He was like a second brother to Bert and myself. We both started school on the same day, and were the best of pals ever since. While we had him we never wanted other pals. In all the time I knew him he never did anything one would be ashamed of. I am sure you must feel proud of him, for he died the noblest of all deaths. The West Essex Gazette described him as “a bright, cheerful lad who was greatly liked in the district.” The original cross from his grave in France now forms part of a memorial to Gerald outside the United Reform Church in Lindsey Street. A wreath was laid at his grave in Villers-Faucon, France by the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British Legion in June 2003.
CLARK	James A.	(3/1405) Corporal 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 15th October 1916 Age 22 (CW) Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Forest Gate, his parents, Mr & Mrs T J Clark, later moved to the Duke of York public house in Epping (now the site of Barclays Bank). He enlisted in Stratford and went to France with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment in November 1914. He was invalided home with frostbite and subsequently went to Egypt. He returned to France with the 11th Battalion and was involved in some of the heaviest fighting. He was killed in action on 15th October 1916.
COOTE	Joseph	(285103) Private 6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Died 12th-16th May 1917 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Portsmouth, he was residing in Hemnall Street at the outbreak of war. He enlisted in Epping, joining the Middlesex Regiment. He later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders and was killed in action on the Western Front some time between the 12th and 16th May 1917.
CORDELL	Arthur C.	Driver 53 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Died 29th April 1918 Age 25 Commemorated BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM Born in Epping, the son of Mr & Mrs A Cordell. Enlisted in London. He was killed in action on the Western Front.
COX	Frank	(40071) Corporal 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment Died 25th September 1916 Age 19 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Son of George and Sarah Cox, of 8 Granville Terrace, Lindsey Street, Epping. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Brentwood in October 1914. He later transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and was reported missing during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. In August 1917 his parents were informed that he was now presumed to have been killed on 25th September. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, which contains the names of 73,000 men who fought on the Somme and whose bodies were never found.
CRABB	George	(173) Serjeant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 27th November 1915 Age 29 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY George Crabb was born on 18th February 1886 at Hastingwood Common, the son of William and Dorothy Crabb. The family later moved to Hemnall Street in Epping. After leaving school he worked for W Cottis in their iron foundry, and stayed with them for fifteen years. By the time war broke out he had already served for 13 years in the local Volunteer and Territorial battalions of the Essex Regiment, rising to the rank of Serjeant. He was a member of the Epping Town Band, the Epping Ramblers Football Club and the Epping Volunteer Fire Brigade. When war was declared in August 1914 he took his place in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment and was sent for training in Suffolk. While stationed there he married Ada Angell Butcher of Lindsey Street at the Epping Congregational Church on the 23rd May 1915. His best man was his brother William who was also serving with the 4th Battalion. William also lost his life in the war. The newly weds received a silver teapot from George’s comrades with the inscription “ Presented to 173 Sgt G Crabb by NCOs and men of ‘D’ Coy., 1/4th Essex Regiment”. Within weeks of being married George Crabb was posted overseas and landed on the Gallipoli peninsular at Suvla Bay on 12th August. After 8 weeks there he was taken ill with Enteric Fever and Dysentery and taken to the military hospital in Alexandria. His condition worsened and he was sent home on the Hospital Ship “Neuralia”. His health continued to deteriorate and he died just as the ship was docking at Southampton. As he died in this country, his widow was allowed to claim his body. His funeral, conducted by the Rev. J H Locke, was held at the Congregational Church, and he was buried in Epping Cemetery .The funeral procession was led by a body of the Home Battalion of the Essex Regiment led by Sergeant-Major Kent, who had served alongside George at Gallipoli. The Epping Fire Brigade brought up the rear. His coffin was borne to its resting place by four of his old workmates from the Foundry. Buglers from the 4th Essex played the Last Post. At the time wife Ada was living in Brewery Cottage, Lindsey Street. She later moved to Tower Road and lived there until her death in 1975. George Crabb was commemorated during a service at the cemetery held by the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British Legion in November 2004.
CRABB	William R.	(200146) Private 4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 26th March 1917 Age 23 Commemorated JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, ISRAEL Brother of George, William Crabb was born in North Weald and later moved to Epping, where he enlisted into the Essex Regiment. In May 1915 he was best man at George’s wedding. On 12th August the same year he landed at Suvla Bay during the Gallipoli campaign. He continued to serve with the 4th Battalion in Palestine and was wounded twice. In March 1917 he was again reported to have been wounded. Four months later his next of kin, brother Walter Crabb, of Beaulah Cottages, Lindsey Street, was informed that William had actually been killed on 26th March.
CRACKNELL	Ernest	(7083) Private 3rd Bn., Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) Died 28th May 1915 The son of Mrs Goody from Epping, Ernest Cracknell was born in Saxmundham, Suffolk. He was living in Epping when war broke out in 1914, and enlisted into the Army at Stratford. He went to France with the Middlesex Regiment on 12th May 1915. He had been on the front line for just two weeks when Mrs Goody received a letter informing her that her son had been killed in action. The letter came from a comrade, Lance-Corporal Bouvier. Two years after his death his family inserted a notice in the West Essex Gazette: “Two years have passed, but we still miss him. Some may think the wound has healed, but they little know how deep the sorrow lies within our hearts concealed”. He is commemorated on the grave of his two young children in Epping Cemetery.
CRYER	Eric	(48747) Lance Corporal 17th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 15th November 1918 Commemorated WIMBORNE MINSTER CEMETERY, DORSET Lived in Forest Side, Epping. He died of wounds whilst a patient at Wimborne Hospital in Dorset. He is commemorated on the memorial in the grounds of All Saints Church at Epping Upland.
DAVIS	Edward	(12381) Private 5th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died 10th October 1918 Age 24 Commemorated BEAUMONT CHURCHYARD, NORD, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Mrs Lavinia Davis, of Bisley Villa, 44 St John’s Road, Epping. Enlisted at Stratford, initially serving in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. He later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
DAVIS	John N.	(394733) Rifleman 9th Bn., London Regt, attached. 1st/15th Bn., London Regt. Died 1st September 1918 Age 19 Commemorated PERONNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME, FRANCE Son of Alfred B Davis (the proprietor of the West Essex Gazette) and Ethel Davis, of 1 Bower Hill, John North Davis was born in Epping on 20th April 1899. He was educated at Loughton School and on leaving became a clerk at Lloyds. He enlisted on 1st May 1917 into the 9th Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) of the London Regiment. He later transferred to the 1st/15th and served in the 4th Army under General H Rawlinson during the British advance of 1918. The advance led through Albert to Bouchavsenes and Moslains, where he was killed in action.. A comrade wrote to his parents “…he was one of the coolest fellows I have ever met”.
DAY	Harry	(26613) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 12th October 1916 Age 27 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Son of John and Eliza Day; husband of Alice Matilda Day of 1 Hemnall Street, he enlisted into the Essex Regiment in Epping. He was reported missing in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. In September 1917 the Army Council informed his family that he was now presumed to be dead.
DAY	Henry J.	(103367) Private 10th Bn., Sherwood Foresters ( Notts & Derby Regiment) Died 23rd September 1918 Age 19 (CW) Commemorated THILLOY ROAD CEMETERY, BEAULENCOURT, FRANCE Born in Theydon Bois, Henry Day was living in Epping when war broke out. He enlisted at Romford and served on the Western Front, where he died of wounds in 1918.
DOE	George	(G/2590) Private 8th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Died 25th September 1915 Age 23 Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL , PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Henry and Ellen Doe, of 2 Chapel Row, High Street. He enlisted in Stratford and went to France on 31st August 1915. Less than one month later he was killed in action in the Battle of Loos.
ELLIOTT	Wallace	(39899) Private “C” Coy., 1st Bn., Wiltshire Regiment Died 24th October 1918 Age 35 Commemorated GLASGOW WESTERN NECROPOLIS, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND Son of Thomas and Emma Elliott, of North Weald. A resident of Epping, he was attached to the Regimental Depot in England at the time of his death in October 1918.
FENNER	Richard	(1901) Lance Corporal 2nd/1st (London) Field Coy., Royal Engineers Died 3rd July 1916 Commemorated DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION No. 1, SOMME, FRANCE Richard Fenner was born in London and enlisted at Victoria Park. He died of wounds received in action on the third day of the Battle of the Somme.
FENNER	William H.	(96771) Sapper 87th Field Coy., Royal Engineers Died 12th March 1918 Commemorated CROIX-DU-BAC BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK, NORD, FRANCE Born in Coopersale, he enlisted at Stratford. Killed in action on the Western Front. See also Liverpool Street Station, London
FISH	Benjamin	(54858) Private 16th Bn., Welsh Regiment Died 27th August 1917 Age 37 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Sawbridgeworth, he was married to Gertrude Fish and lived at 1 Causeway Cottages, High Road, Epping. He enlisted in Epping and was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres.
FLEMING	Herbert	(40180) Private 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment Died 18th October 1916 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Herbert Fleming was born in Epping and was living in Coopersale when he enlisted. His Battalion was serving in the front line near Transloy in France when it was accidentally shelled by Allied heavy batteries on October 18th 1916. Herbert Fleming was one of 25 casualties. Also commemorated on the war memorial at St Albans Church in Coopersale.
FOWLER	Edward	(8564) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 6th August 1915 Commemorated TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY, TURKEY Born in North Weald, he enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Warley. He landed in Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. On 6th August of that year Edward Fowler was one of the 142 men of the Essex Regiment who lost their lives, he was killed in action at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, and they are commemorated on a special memorial in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey.
FRESHWATER	Jesse	(7476) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 6th August 1915 Commemorated TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY, TURKEY Brother of Percy, he was born in Coopersale and lived at Stewards Green. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Stratford. He was reported missing after the Suvla Bay landings at Gallipoli in August 1915. Nothing further was heard of him until February 1917, when the West Essex Gazette reported that news had been received that he had been killed at Suvla. A week later the same newspaper reported that his wife had not received any definite news. The Army Council, having no information on his whereabouts, has concluded that he was dead. His wife had been told by one of his comrades that a number of men from his Regiment were in the hands of the Turks, and that there was a possibility that he was among them. The Gazette report concluded “It is to be hoped that after the war Private Freshwater will return safe and well to his wife and four children”. Unfortunately it was later discovered that he had in fact been killed in action at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard on 6th August 1915.
FRESHWATER	Percy	(32900) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 1st December 1917 Age 19 Commemorated CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Mr and Mrs J Freshwater of Stewards Green. He was living in the Town at the time of his enlistment into the Essex Regiment. He was killed in action on the Western front in December 1917. He was the brother of Jesse, who had been killed two years earlier.
FROST	Arthur C.	Second Lieutenant 11th Bn., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Died 25th September 1915 Age 18 Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Arthur Frost was the second son of James and Ellen Frost of St Margarets, Station Road, Epping. He was educated at Sherborne School. At the outbreak of war he volunteered to join the Army and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. On the 9th July 1915 he sailed for France. On 25th September the same year, the first day of the Battle of Loos, he was shot and killed by a sniper. His brother James also lost his life in the Great War. In 1919 the family moved to Hayes in Kent, and the two brothers are also commemorated on the war memorial there.
FROST	James J.	Lieutenant 11th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers Died 7th July 1916 Age 21 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Like his brother Arthur, James Frost was educated at Sherborne School. He volunteered for the Army and was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers as a Second Lieutenant on 19th September 1914. He served in France and was promoted to Lieutenant. He was in charge of a Machine Gun Section but was actually leading a rifle company “over the top” at Contalmaison when he was killed during the Battle of The Somme. His mother received an official telegram telling her of his death on 12th July 1916.
FURLONG	Edward	(R/5023) Rifleman 4th Bn., King’s Royal Rifle Corps Died 1st December 1915 Age 37 Commemorated MIKRA BRITISH CEMETERY, KALAMARIA, GREECE Born in Epping, the husband of Gertrude Esther Furlong of Fiddlers Hamlet. He enlisted into the Army in Stratford. He was killed in action in Salonika in December 1915.
GARDENER	Stanley	(32399) Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd April 1917 Age 22 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Braintree but later became a resident of Epping. His father was a well-known local policeman living in Lindsey Street. Stanley enlisted into the Essex Regiment in Epping and was killed in action on the Western Front in 1917.
GOODEY	Peter J.	(29347) Private 1st/8th Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment Died 27th September 1917 Age 19 Commemorated WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Stondon Massey. Son of Francis and Emily Goodey of Magdelen Laver, he enlisted in Epping and initially joined the Suffolk Regiment. He was transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and died of wounds in September 1917.
GOSLING	William	(G/72796) Private 1st/24th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Died 30th August 1918 Commemorated VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Stanford Rivers and at the outbreak of war lived in Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted in Epping, joining the Sherwood Foresters before transferring to the Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action in France.
GOULD	Albert E.	(28147) Private 11th Bn., East Yorkshire Regiment Died 3rd May 1917 Age 23 Commemorated ORCHARD DUMP CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Josiah and Louisa E Gould, of Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment at Stratford and later transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 3rd May 1917. By a tragic coincidence, his brother Joseph was killed on the same day. Also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.
GOULD	Joseph	(R/31756) Rifleman 8th Bn., King’s Royal Rifle Corps Died 3rd May 1917 Age 33 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Like his brother Albert he was born in Epping. He was married to Bertha, and lived at 3 Smith’s Villas, Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted at Woolwich and was killed in action on the same day as Albert. Also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.
GREEN	Herbert T.	(200602) Lance Serjeant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 3rd November 1917 Age 22 Commemorated GAZA WAR CEMETERY, ISRAEL Known as Tom, he was born in Epping, the son of Frederick William and Eliza Green of Hemnall Cottages, Hemnall Street. He worked for J Whiffin & Sons as second clerk for six years and was a member of the Epping Rifle Club before joining the Essex Regiment at Brentwood on 2nd November 1914. He was wounded on 26th March 1916 and spent ten days in hospital with heart trouble. He returned to his Regiment and volunteered to go to Egypt in June 1916. He was killed in action in Palestine on 3rd November 1917. He regularly sent letters from the front to the West Essex Gazette. A poem who had written shortly before his death appeared in the paper in December 1919.
GREEN	L.aurence T.	(1371) Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 15th November 1915 Commemorated 7TH FIELD AMBULANCE CEMETERY, TURKEY Laurence Green was born in Loughton but was living in Epping High Street when war broke out. He was formerly a Telegraph Boy and later a postman at Epping Post Office. He was also a member of the 1st Epping Scout Troop. He transferred to Ilford Post Office before enlisting into the Essex Regiment in Epping. He was one of several men from the Town who landed in Gallipoli on 12th August 1915. He died of wounds in November the same year.
GULLIFORD	Harry	(29217) Private 16th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) Died 23rd April 1915 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Originally from Wells in Somerset, Harry Gulliford was living with his wife and children in Canada when war was declared. His wife came from Epping. He brought his family to stay at his wife’s parents in Epping and enlisted into the Canadian Infantry. He was killed in action on 23rd April 1915 in what became known as the Battle of Kitchener’s Wood.. This action took place at St. Julien, three miles north-east of Ypres. The Germans had used gas which caused panic amongst French Colonial troops. They fled from their trenches and the Canadians had to try and plug the gap. Of a total of 600 men involved, the 16th Battalion lost 12 officers and 265 other ranks. Brother-in-law of George Austin, who also lost his life in the War.
HALL	Alfred C.	(G/43062) Private 4th Bn., Middlesex Regiment Died 18th November 1916 Age 19 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE The son of Joseph John and Emily Speller, of Lindsey Street, Alfred was born in London but by the outbreak of war had moved to Allnuts Road in Epping. He became the selling agent in the Town for the London Evening News. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment but later transferred to the Middlesex. On the day he lost his life the 4th Middlesex assisted the Somerset Light Infantry in taking and holding Puisieux Trench. during the last hours of the Battle of The Somme.
HAMMOND	Alfred S.	(2053) Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 21st January 1917 Age 30 Commemorated CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, EGYPT Born in Epping, the fourth son of Louisa Hammond, of Wellington Place. Alfred was an active member of the Epping Wesleyan Church. He was a member of the Essex Volunteers for many years and worked for J Hill & Sons in Epping. He enlisted into the Army at Brentwood at the beginning of the war and served in the Gallipoli campaign.. He died of peritonitis in Egypt in 1917.
HANCOCK	George	(TF/203568)Private 16th Bn., Middlesex Regiment Died 4th October 1917 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping but living in Harlesden, Middlesex when war broke out. He enlisted into the Middlesex Regiment at Mill Hill.
HARRIS	J	(SD/5339) Private 7th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment Died 14th November 1916 Commemorated AGNY MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS-DE-CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, and enlisted at Petworth, Sussex. He was a member of a Lewis gun section of the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, and was in charge of his gun when he was killed by a shell in France in November 1916. He was the brother of Epping Council chairman E Harris, JP. The West Essex Gazette described him as “well-known and highly esteemed in Epping”.
HARRIS	Sydney Ernest	Lieutenant 9th Squadron, Royal Air Force Died 4th July 1918 Age 21 Commemorated VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Lived at Lower House, High Street, Epping. He was the son of Ernest and Annie Jane Harris. On the outbreak of war he enlisted into the 5th London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in October 1915 and later commissioned into the Royal Air Force. He was killed at Hamel, France in July 1918. He is commemorated on the headstone of his mother’s grave in Epping Cemetery.
HASLER	Donald F.	(M2/051536)Private 257th Coy., Army Service Corps Died 22nd September 1916 Age 19 Commemorated PUCHEVILLIERS BRITISH CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Frank and Alice Hasler, of The Cottage, Theydon Place. His father was a coachman. Frank worked for W Cottis before enlisting into the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in September 1914. He went to France the following February. He was admitted to hospital with severe back wounds on 21st September 1916. Despite an operation he never recovered from his wounds and died the next day. He became the sixth employee of W Cottis to be killed in the war.
HILLS	Harold	(269803) Private 2nd/5th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Died 21st March 1918 Age 35 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Joseph Hills, manager of Wm Cottis cycle and repair shop in the High Street. Harold enlisted into the Army in Epping. He was wounded while serving with the Sherwood Foresters in 1917, and around the same time his brother Percy was gassed while serving with the Essex Regiment. Harold recovered from his wounds and rejoined his Regiment. He was killed in action on the first day of the German spring offensive in March 1918.
HOLLAND	Charles	(31457) Lance Corporal 9th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 29th June 1918 Age 34 Commemorated HARPONVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, FRANCE Son of William Holland, of Newport, Essex, he was married to Clara and lived in Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Warley, and was killed in action on the Western Front. He is also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.
HOLLAND	Ernest F.	(G/24795) Private 1st Bn., Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Died 21st March 1918 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping. Lived in the Town and enlisted there. Like Harold Hills, he was killed in action on the first day of the German Spring Offensive in 1918. Also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.
HOWE	Archibald J.	(1517) Private, "B" Company, 1st Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers Died 25th April 1915 Age 24 Commemorated HELLES MEMORIAL, TURKEY Son of John Howe and Emma Hummerston (formerly Howe), of Briar Cottage, High Road, Epping. He was born in Stratford and enlisted there in 1907. He served in India and returned with his Regiment in February 1915. He paid a brief visit home before embarking for Gallipoli. He was killed in action on 25th April in the vicinity of "W" Beach, Helles sector. A memorial service was held for him at Theydon Bois Parish Church by the Reverend G V Collier. He is commemorated on his father’s grave in Epping Cemetery, and also on Theydon Bois war memorial.
HUMMERSTON	Alfred	(3136) Private 2nd Bn., Wiltshire Regiment Died 12th March 1915 Age 31 Commemorated LE TOURET MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, he enlisted into the Army at Stratford on 6th August 1914, just 2 days after war was declared. He sailed for France on 9th November, and was killed in action on 12th March 1915. His brother Jack was wounded the following month. The family lived in Epping High Street.
HUMMERSTON	Henry L	(3328) Serjeant 2nd Bn., Middlesex Regiment Died 26th April 1918 Commemorated ADELAIDE CEMETERY, VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, SOMME, FRANCE. Born in Epping, he was a member of the Epping Weslayan Church. He enlisted into the Army at Warley and was killed in action in France in 1918. His Battalion suffered heavy casualties during this action, amounting to 13 officers and 539 other ranks.
JENKINS	Harold G.	(G/79198) Private 9th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 12th November 1918 Age 18 Commemorated ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Son of George and Matilda Jenkins, of Epping. He unfortunately died of pneumonia the day after the Armistice has been signed
JERVIS	George H.	(31021) Private 9th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 8th April 1918 age 19 Commemorated ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Son of James and Alice Mary Jervis, of Shelley House, Ongar, late of St John’s Road, Epping. He was a member of Epping Rifle Club. Served on the Western Front where he died of wounds received in action in 1918.
JUNIPER	Arthur	(3600) Trooper Guards Machine Gun Regiment Died 8th October 1918 Commemorated BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, BRAY-SUR-SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping and lived there. A member of the Epping Wesleyan Church, he enlisted into the Army at St Pancras. He served initially with the 1st Life Guards and travelled to France with them on 15th August 1914. He later transferred to the Guards Machine Gun Regiment. He died of wounds in October 1918. His brother Ernest and sister Emily were also lost in the War.
JUNIPER	Ernest	(S/21624) Rifleman 11th Bn., Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) Died 1st April 1918 Age 35 Commemorated HAM BRITISH CEMETERY, MULLE-VILLETTE, SOMME, FRANCE Son of John Wesley Juniper and Mary Emma Juniper. His father was the manager of Cottis’ Ironmongers, and his mother owned a wool shop in Epping High Street, where they lived. He married Harriet in 1905 and lived in Shepherds Bush, London. He was a fully qualified chemist with Harrods. He enlisted in London and died of wounds in April 1918, leaving a 6 year old daughter, named Winnie. His brother Arthur died six months later. His sister Emily enlisted as a nurse and died of illness on board a ship.
KENT	Arthur J.	(254146) Gunner “A” Battery, 93rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Died 2nd September 1918 Commemorated GOMIECOURT SOUTH CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Husband of E E Kent, of 7 Lindsey Street, Epping. Enlisted into the Royal Artillery and was killed in action while serving on the Western Front in 1918.
KINNELL	Guy R.	Brevet Major 4th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) Died 9th December 1919 Age 27 Commemorated MELCOMBE REGIS CEMETERY, DORSET. Born in Epping on 14th November 1892. His father, who for some years had been manager of Cottis ironmongers, died when Guy was two years old. Mother Emily moved to Church Hill and became a teacher in the Parish Church Sunday school. He was educated first at Epping School and later at St Albans School, St Albans, Hertfordshire, which he entered in 1907. He played football and rugby for the school as well as captaining the cricket team. He was a member of the school’s Officer Training Corps from 1908 until the time he left in 1912 and went to Oxford. In January 1914 he took a commission in the Special Reserve, and on the outbreak of war he was with his Regiment, the 4th West Yorks, at Richmond. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment on the Western Front on 12th February 1915. On the 13th March he was seriously wounded in action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and on 15th April his leg was amputated. After several months in hospital he rejoined his Regiment. He went to serve as a Staff Officer and as an Embarkation Officer, being promoted to Captain on 22nd August 1916. For his excellent work in the repatriation of POW’s he was given the rank of Brevet Major in the King’s Birthday Honours list in June 1919. He was honoured with three foreign decorations, the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour of France, Chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Belgium, and the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia). In August 1919 he went to Weymouth as the Station Accountant. He was married at Princess Christian’s Hospital in November of the same year. On 9th December, in the same hospital, he finally succumbed to the lingering effects of his wounds and died of heart failure. He was buried with full military honours in Melcombe Regis Cemetery on 13th December 1919. His younger brother Paul was also killed during the war. The name and details of Guy’s death are on his father’s gravestone in All Saints Churchyard at Epping Upland.
KINNELL	Paul	(301045) Rifleman 1st/5th Bn., London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) Died 1st July 1916 Age 22 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Younger brother of Guy, Paul Kinnell travelled to France with the London Regiment on 2nd September 1915. On July 1st the following year his Regiment was one of the many taking part in the disastrous first day of the Battle of the Somme. The London Division launched an attack on Gommiecourt at 7.20am. The first two lines of German trenches were taken with comparatively few casualties, and the third after a fierce fight. The London Regiments were then cut off as the Germans began to shell them and spray the area with machine gun fire. All attempts to reinforce them failed, and they eventually had to withdraw. Paul Kinnell was at first reported missing. In April 1917 the Army Council informed his family that he had in fact been killed.
LADHAM	Archibald F	(2100144) Private 4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 27th March 1917 Age 20 Commemorated JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, ISRAEL Born in Chelmsford, the son of Mr and Mrs Ladham, of High Street, Epping. He was a member of the 1st Epping Scout Troop before the war. He enlisted into the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment in Epping and served with them in Palestine. He was killed in action in March 1917.
LATTER	George W. W.	Second Lieutenant 3rd Bn., Rifle Brigade Died 11th July 1916 Age 20 Commemorated POND FARM CEMETERY, HEUVELLAND, WEST-VLAANDEREN, BELGIUM Originally from Chichester in Sussex, George Latter worked as a clerk at the Epping branch of Barclays Bank from November 1913 until November 1914 when he enlisted into the London Regiment. He was described as “tremendously keen” on military life and on 3rd October 1915 he was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade. In a report of his death the West Essex Gazette said that he was much liked by all who came in contact with him. It also said that he had been so successful in his Army service that it was most likely that he would have adopted a military career had he survived. His parents received the following letter from a comrade, 2nd Lieutenant C J Chamberlain: “As an intimate friend of your son, and one who has served with him for more than a year, I feel it is my duty to write to tell you that he was most unfortunately killed on the night of July 10th. Both of us were former members of the LRB, and we first met when the Battalion was doing work on lines of communication last summer. First at Aire and later at St Omer we were together, and I think it is due to the fact that he wished to be among friends that induced him to apply for a commission in the Rifle Brigade. A few days ago it was decided to carry out a raid on the German trenches on our front. Volunteers were called for, and a list of names more than three times the number required was sent in. Your son expressed a keen desire to be one of the party, and eventually, when the scheme had been prepared, was put in command of one of the bombing squads, whose duty it was to enter the enemy’s trench, clear it of Germans, and hold the ground until a search party had secured necessary identification. The actual operation was entirely successful, and your son, one of the first to enter the trench with his party, worked his way along the trench in accordance with the scheme. Alone, he entered one of the dug-outs in the trench and secured important documents which were safely brought back, and when the order to return was passed along he worked his way clear with his party, regaining our trenches without loss. At this stage some difficulty arose because it was not known whether one of the party which should have returned earlier was back or not. Your son immediately volunteered to go out in front and render assistance, but was prevailed upon to remain until a messenger went down the trench to find if the missing party had re-entered at another point. It was then that a trench mortar bomb landed quite close to the parade, killing your son almost instantaneously. A stretcher-bearer was standing beside him at the time, and in spite of his immediate assistance he quickly realised that the help he could render was unavailing. All the members of the party, as well as all the officers and men of the Battalion, were much upset when they heard that your son had been a victim to such an unlucky accident, but the memory of his recent achievement, his coolness and courageous display, must comfort you as it does us. You part is to suffer the loss bravely, while it is ours to pay the sacrifice if called upon. Bear in mind that your son died bravely while calmly waiting to go forward and help his comrades. When quietness was restored he was brought by stretcher-bearers to a small village some distance behind the lines, where he was buried yesterday by the Regimental Chaplain. Rest assured that everything was done for him, and that his name and fame will ever be remembered”.
LAW	Ernest	Private 10th Bn., York and Lancaster Regiment Died 3rd July 1916 Age 19 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Coopersale, the son of Mrs Mary Ann Law, of New Cottages, Ivy Chimneys, he enlisted in Stratford into the Lincolnshire Regiment. He transferred into the York and Lancs and saw service in France and Belgium. He was killed in action in July 1916, the third day of the Battle of The Somme.
LEWSEY	Harold	Private 3rd Kite Balloon Section, Royal Air Force Died 28th October 1918 Commemorated ETRETAT CHURCHYARD EXTENSION CEMETERY, ETRETAT, FRANCE A Kite Balloon was large cylindrical gas-filled bag with a rope attached. Along this rope were attached a series of umbrella shaped wind catchers, which resembled the tail on a child’s kite, hence the name Kite Balloon. They were used behind the lines for observation purposes.
LOVE	Alfred J.	(S/9920) Rifleman 9th Bn., Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own) Died 28th February 1918 Commemorated BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY, SURREY Born in Epping, he enlisted at Warley. Died of wounds in the UK.
LOVE	Ernest A.	(16047) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment. illed in action at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard on 6th August 1915 Age 20 Commemorated HELLES MEMORIAL, TURKEY Son of William and Lizzie Love, of 2 Bridge Hill, Ivy Chimneys, Epping. He was killed on the same day as two other Epping men from the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, Edward Fowler and Jesse Freshwater.
MAYNARD	Thomas	Second Engineer Steam Trawler “Nelson”, Mercantile Marine Died 5th September 1914 Commemorated TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Born in Epping. He was reported missing presumed drowned in September 1914, Epping’s first fatality of the War.
MEAD	Herbert	Private 2nd Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 28th February 1917 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in High Easter, and was living there when war was declared. He enlisted into the Army at Epping.
MILLER	Hugh M.	(927) Trooper Essex Yeomanry Died 13th May 1915 Age 19 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Hugh Meilke Miller was born in Belleville, Argentina. Just prior to the war he was living in Epping. At the age of 17 he joined the Essex Yeomanry at Abbey Farm. He was preparing to return to Argentina when war was declared, so on 14th August he opted to rejoin his Regiment and accompany it to France. He was killed in action on 13th May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. The Essex Yeomanry were a mounted Regiment, but on this day took part in the 8th Cavalry Brigade’s attempt to re-occupy previously lost front line trenches at Frezenberg Ridge without their horses. They lost 161 of their number in this action. Trooper Miller was originally reported as wounded in an account of the day’s action on the front page of the West Essex Gazette on 22nd May 1915. Other Epping men also took part in this action. Trooper J Church described the scene as “awful”. Harry Pegrum was wounded, and George Pegrum was left behind the lines to look after the horses. Hugh Miller is also commemorated on the war memorial in Theydon Mount Church. Members of the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British Legion took part in a parade in his memory at the Menin Gate in July 2004.
NEWMAN	Walter S.	(60377) Private 11th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 10th February 1917 Commemorated REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping, he enlisted into the Army at Brentwood and served initially with the Essex Regiment. He transferred into the Royal Fusiliers and was killed in action on the Western Front.
OAKLEY	Frank H.	(200592) Private 4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 26th March 1917 Age 25 Commemorated JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, ISRAEL Son of William and Emily Oakley, of Holly Cottage, St John’s Road, Epping. He was a member of Epping Rifle Club and enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Brentwood. He was reported as being wounded in Palestine in March 1917. Four months later it was reported that he had in fact been missing since March. He was never found and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.
PATTEN	Edward J.	(12/900) Lance Corporal 12th Bn., Durham Light Infantry Died 24th September 1918 Age 24 Commemorated DEMNANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, FRANCE Born in Cambridge, he died of wounds on the Western Front.
PERT	John P.	(32458) Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd April 1917 Age 33 Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Clewer near Windsor. He was married to Frances and lived at 4 St John’s Road, Epping. He enlisted at Waltham Abbey and was killed in action on the Western Front.
PLUMB	Cecil P.	(31020) Private 10th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd October 1917 Age 19 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Son of Arthur and Annie Plumb, of 6 Gordon’s Cottages, St John’s Road, Epping. On this day, during the third Battle of Ypres, the 10th Essex supported the 8th Norfolks in their attempts to gain a number of objectives. The Essex took Nobles Farm, and then pushed on to Meunier House, which was also taken. After a short artillery barrage, they occupied Tracas Farm. Cecil Plumb was killed in action.
PLUMB	Harry C.	(41379) Private 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment Died 21st June 1918 Age 19 Commemorated WARLOY-BAILLON CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME, FRANCE Son of William and Agnes Plumb, he was living in Lindsey Street at the outbreak of war. He enlisted into the Army at Warley and was killed in action on the Western Front.
POMPHRETT	L. J.	(A/367466) Private Royal Army Service Corps (Canteens) Died 30th January 1919 Commemorated STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE, FRANCE Lived in St John’s Road. He had served in the canteens of the British Expeditionary Force.
PORTER	William	(11119) Private 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment Died 18th August 1917 Age 26 Commemorated BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, VLAMERTINGHE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, the second son of George Lawrence and Annie Elizabeth Porter of St John’s Road, Epping. He worked for Wm Cottis & Sons before enlisting into the Army at Stratford in 1914. In August 1917 he was admitted to a base hospital after receiving serious shell wounds in the abdomen and the right elbow. He was immediately operated on, and told a nurse to write home for him saying that all was going well and he would soon be back in “Blighty”. He did not recover from his wounds, however, and died on the morning of 18th August. He had two brothers in the Army; Bert, in France with the Middlesex Regiment, and Chas, in the Dardenelles with the Essex Regiment.
POULTON	Arthur C.	(55579) Private 198th Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Died 20th September 1917 Age 22 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Son of Mildred Poulton, of 1 Lennon’s Cottages, Epping. He was born in Epping and enlisted there, originally joining the Royal Fusiliers before transferring into the Machine Gun Corps. He was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres.
POULTON	David C.	(200351) Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 4th November 1917 Age 20 Commemorated GAZA WAR CEMETERY, ISRAEL Born in Theydon Garnon, the son of Mr & Mrs D C Poulton of High Street, Epping. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment in Epping and was in camp with them when war broke out. He went to Egypt with his Regiment and died of wounds received in Palestine.
PRETLOVE	Sidney H.	(32423) Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 31st August 1917 Age 20 Commemorated MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, NORD, FRANCE Son of Charles and Emily Pretlove, of Coopersale Common, he was born in Parndon. Sydney was called up in 1916, and his father attended a tribunal to appeal for the exemption of his son from service as he was the main support of the family’s greengrocery business. The application was refused and he went to the Western Front with the Essex Regiment. He was killed in action in France in August 1917. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at St Albans Church in Coopersale.
RANDALL	Robert G.	(S/30801) Rifleman 6th Bn., Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) Died 22nd February 1917 Commemorated FORT PITT MILITARY CEMETERY, KENT Born in Epping and lived there. Enlisted in Stratford. Died in the U.K.
RATCLIFFE	E.	(18944) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 2nd September 1916 Age 18 Commemorated VLAMERTINGTHE MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM Son of George and Mary Ratcliffe, of 3 Ivy Chimneys, Epping. He was born in Bishops Stortford and enlisted in Warley. Killed in action in Belgium.
REES	Andrew M.	Lieutenant 9th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 18th October 1916 Age21 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Andrew Montgomery Rees was born on 19th June 1895, the son of the Revd Robert Montgomery Rees, M. A., and Catherine Rees, of Latchmore, Hartland Road. He was educated at Leys School in Cambridge from 1910 to 1914 and left with a Mathematical Exhibition to study at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Initially his poor eyesight led to his rejection for military service, but he was eventually accepted as an instructor, and later sent to fight in France. He was originally reported missing but it is now assumed that he was killed in action. He was a member of the Epping Wesleyan Church.
ROGERS	Walter	Serjeant 10th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd October 1917 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, he enlisted into the Army at Kingston-upon-Thames. Killed in action along with Cecil Plumb during the third Battle of Ypres in October 1917. Also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.
ROWLAND	Ernest J.	(13206) Private 8th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment Died 26th September 1915 Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Ernest Rowland was born in Epping. He enlisted in Stratford and was killed in action during the Battle of Loos in September 1915.
SAMPSON	Alfred Walter	Lance Corporal 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment Died 23rd October 1918 Commemorated HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU, FRANCE Alfred Sampson was born in Epping and lived in the Town. He enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regiment in Epping, and was killed in action on the Western Front.
SAMPSON	Harry A.	(35334) Lance Corporal 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment Died 17th April 1917 Commemorated ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, he was the son of Arthur and Rebecca Sampson of Chapel Road.. Enlisted in West Ham. He married Ada Sophia Neville on Saturday1st May 1915, returning to his Regiment just three days layer. He was killed in action on the Western Front.
SAUNDERS	Ernest M.	Second Lieutenant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 4th December 1917 Age 36 Commemorated KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, EGYPT Husband of Mary A. Saunders, of 7 Bower Vale, Epping. Died of wounds while serving in Palestine. He is also commemorated in St Peters Church, Shelley.
SAVILL	Charles W.	(469940) Private 685th Home Service Employment Company, Labour Corps Died 1st May 1919 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Son of Walter George and Mary Ann Savill of Epping. Died of phthisis. Buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Epping Cemetery.
SAVILLE	Alfred W.	(8495) Private 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment Died 15th March 1915 Commemorated GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY, FRANCE Son of Mr W Saville, of Bell Common, Epping. Born in Battersea and enlisted in Warley, he was killed in action on the Western Front while serving with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in March 1915.
SHELLEY	Harry L.	(27311) Private 8th Bn., Norfolk Regiment Died 24th October 1917 Commemorated MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, POPERINGE, BELGIUM Born in Southend-on-Sea, he later moved to Epping where he enlisted into the Army. Died of wounds during the third Battle of Ypres in October 1917.
SHOAT	Albert E	(63685) Private “D” Coy., 6th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Died 24th August 1918 Age 19 Commemorated MEAULTE MILITARY CEMETERY, FRANCE Born in Coopersale, the son of George William Shoat of Epping. Enlisted in Epping and lived there. Killed in action on the Western Front.
SIMMONS	Colin	(13966) Private 5th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died 17th August 1915 Commemorated EAST MUDROS MILITARY CEMETERY, LEMNOS, GREECE Born in Epping, the son of Mr W J Simmons of Chapel Road, he enlisted in the Town. He initially joined the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He landed in Gallipoli with the Machine Gun Section of the 5th Battalion on 7th August 1915. He was severely wounded and died on 17th August. His death was reported in a Casualty List published in the West Essex Gazette on 11th September.
STEVENS	William J.	(L/15815) Private 4th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 26th October 1914 Commemorated LE TOURET MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Mr & Mrs J A Stevens of Sunnyside Road. He joined the Army as a regular in October 1913. He went to the Western Front in the early days of the War and was killed in action during the Battle of the Aisne in 1914.
STOCK	John E.	(G/13292) Private 6th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Died 12th May 1917 Age 26 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Frederick Charles and Sarah Ann Stock, of Lindsey Street. Enlisted in Epping. Killed in action on the Western Front.
STRANGE	A. J.	Private 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment Died 8th October 1917 Age 39 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, the Son of Charles and Mary Jane Strange, of 6 St John’s Road. He enlisted in Epping and was killed in action serving with the Essex Regiment in the Ypres Salient in 1917.
STRANGE	William J.	(106717) Private 106th Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Died 22nd October 1917 Age 19 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, the son of George John and Ellen Wright, of 4 Twankhams Alley. Killed in action during Third Ypres.
TREDGETT	Arthur	(33381) Private 13th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment Died 22nd August 1918 Age 32 Commemorated PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, BELGIUM Son of Mrs M A Tredgett, of Lindsey Street, Epping. He enlisted into the Army in Epping, originally joining the Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was later transferred to the East Lancs and was killed in action on the Western Front.
TREDGETT	George	(19140) Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 19th August 1916 Commemorated HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping,, the son of Mr & Mrs Charles Tredgett of Epping Green, he was killed in action on the 19th August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. His sister, a Mrs Day, received the following letter from Second Lieutenant H K Harris, his platoon commander: “I feel so for you in the loss of your brother that I hardly know where to begin. He was one of the faithful soldiers in my platoon, always willing to do anything. His loss will be felt by all of us”.
TREDGETT	James H.	(K22822) Stoker 1st Class HM Submarine “K4”, Royal Navy Died 31st January 1918 Commemorated CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT Brother of William Tredgett, who was also killed. Just before the outbreak of war he had married and settled in Sheerness. He was killed in an accident involving a number of K Class submarines during an exercise in Scotland. A letter confirming his death was sent to his mother in Hemnall Street by the Accountant General of the Navy on 20th May 1919. The letter says “I have to state for your further information that on the night of January 31st 1918, just after having left her base in the Firth of Forth, whence she was proceeding for service in the North Sea with the Grand Fleet, HM Submarine “K4“, in which your son was serving, collided with another K Class submarine and sank almost instantaneously with all on board. The exposed position of the wreck combined with the depth of water unfortunately precluded the possibility of recovering the bodies of her crew”. In January 2002 a memorial cairn was erected in Anstruther harbour in memory of those who lost their lives in this incident, which became known as the Battle of May Island.
TREDGETT	William	(J/46435) Ordinary Seaman HMS “Laforey”, Royal Navy Died 23Rd March 1917 Age 20 Commemorated CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT Son of Mrs Payne (formerly Tredgett), of 2 Hemnall Street, Epping. HMS Laforey struck a mine in the Straits of Dover. The mines had actually been laid by the Royal Navy. Brother of James, who was killed in 1918.
TROTTER	Lionel	(1000868) Private 16th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) Died 8th November 1917 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Son of Raymond Douglas Trotter (Solicitor) and Emily Marston Trotter, of Epping. Also commemorated on page 340 of the Veterans Affairs Canada Book of Remembrance, and on the war memorial at St Albans Church, Coopersale.
TURNER	Walter J.	(179514) Gunner B Battery, 71st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Died 31st July 1917 Commemorated NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY, YPRES, BELGIUM Lived in Epping and enlisted there. Killed in action on 31st July 1917. A wreath was laid on his grave in New Irish Farm Cemetery by members of the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British Legion in July 2004.
WHITING	Percy M.	(471630) Rifleman 1st/12th Bn., London Regiment (The Rangers) Died 1st July 1916 Age 28 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Husband of Winifred Daisy Whiting, of High Street, Epping. His Battalion was involved in the same action as Rifleman Paul Kinnell on the first day of The Somme.
WIDOCKS	Herbert E.	Chief Steward Mercantile Marine Reserve Died 17th July 1917 Age 28 Commemorated PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, DEVON Eldest Son of Mr D Widocks, of St John’s Road, Epping, Herbert worked for the Continental Service of the Great Eastern Railway before volunteering for was service in the Mercantile Marine. He was 28 years old and married. He was drowned when the vessel on which he was serving, the Minesweeper HMS Newmarket, was sunk in an action with the German submarine UC38 in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The UC38 was herself sunk five months later by French destroyers in the Ionian Sea.
WINGFIELD	George E.	(16564) Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 21st August 1916 Age 28 Commemorated HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Copt Hall Green, the son of James and Annie Wingfield. He later moved to Epping, working on the Copped Hall Estate. He was married to of Ida Emily Wingfield, of Lindsey Street. He enlisted in Warley and was killed in action in August 1916.
WOOD	Horace L.	(10222) Private 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers Died 12th March 1918 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping and enlisted at Stratford. Also commemorated on the war memorial at St Albans Church in Coopersale.
WOOD	George J.	(Y/1041) Rifleman 12th Bn., Kings Royal Rifle Corps Died 2nd April 1918 Commemorated POZIERES MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping and enlisted in London. Killed in action. Also commemorated on the war memorial at St Albans Church in Coopersale
WRIGHT	John	Sergeant 2nd/4th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment Died 3rd December 1917 Age 21 Commemorated CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Chigwell, the son of Albert and Harriet Wright, and later moved to 1 Champness Cottage, St John’s Road, Epping. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 3rd December 1917.
EPPING’S WAR DEAD – THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945
ARCHER	Hubert J.	(1100031) Gunner 4 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery Died 17th December 1944 Age 34 Commemorated FORLI WAR CEMETERY, ITALY Son of Hubert & Emily Archer; husband of Annie Ida Archer, of Upshire.
ARMSTRONG	Eric S.	(7952843) Trooper 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps Died 28th June 1944 Age 21 Commemorated BAYEUX MEMORIAL, CALVADOS, FRANCE Son of Sidney Philip & Mary Armstrong, of 187 High Street, Epping. He enlisted in 1942, and was killed in Normandy in 1944. His death was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 22nd July 1944. The East Riding Yeomanry operated Sherman tanks, and landed in Normandy on D-Day. Eric’s father Philip worked for the Essex War Agricultural Committee in Epping.
BETTIS	Leonard E.	(900253) Sergeant 59 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 28th August 1940 Age 20 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Originally lived at Theydon Mount. His mother died when he was 4 years old. In 1935 he and his sister Mary went to live with his aunt and uncle, Mr & Mrs G Perry, in St John’s Road, Epping. He worked as a carpenter for Mr B Cable before joining the RAF in July 1939. He was killed on 28th August 1940 when his Bristol Blenheim bomber crashed in fog in England after a raid on occupied France. He had celebrated his 20th birthday the day before his death. The funeral was held at St John’s Church on Tuesday 3rd September. The service was conducted during an air-raid warning.
CLARK	Horace. C.	Private 2nd Bn., Ox & Bucks, 6th Airlanding Bde. (Gliders), 6th Airborne Died 24th March 1945 Age 22 Commemorated REICHSWALD FOREST, GERMANY Son of Mr & Mrs C Clark of 10 Coopersale Common, he was killed in a glider crash during Operation Varsity, the crossing of the River Rhine in Germany. He had been in the Army for three years. He took part in the D-Day landings, and later returned to England for further training. A short time before his death he spent a week on leave in Coopersale. He had been educated at St John’s School, Epping, and was employed at Cottis’ Foundry. He was married in 1942, and prior to joining the Army he was a member of the Home Guard in Epping. He had a brother, Percy, in the East Surrey Regiment, and a sister, Iris, in the Women’s Transport Service. Horace Clark’s name is mistakenly spelled with an ‘e’ o Epping War Memorial.
COKER	Cyril M.	(194080) Captain Royal Corps of Signals, attd. 77th Indian Bde Signal Section Died 6th September 1943 Age 28 Commemorated KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY, INDIA
DAVIDSON	Arthur J.	(959179) Gunner 3 Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery Died 10th July 1942 Commemorated EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, EGYPT Son of Frederick & Eliza Davidson, of Beulah Road, Epping . A former pupil of Epping Senior School, he was killed in action in the Middle East in July 1942. A report of his death appeared in the West Essex Gazette on August 1st of that year.
DOGGETT	Charles W.	(42207) Flying Officer Royal Air Force Died 17th January 1941 Age 28 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Son of Frank Hewitt Doggett and Charlotte Doggett, of the Rosary, Station Road, Epping; husband of Winifred Jane Doggett. He joined the RAF in 1939, and was killed on a training flight in 1941. His aircraft, a Whitley V Bomber (number N1494), crashed at Abingdon in Oxfordshire after an engine iced up during a snow storm. The Wireless Operator and Trainee Air Gunner managed to parachute to safety. His funeral was held at the Roman Cathololic Church in Epping, conducted by Father Burgess. F/O Doggett’s death was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 25th January 1941.
FLACK	Reginald F.	(1304494) Private Pioneer Corps Died 3rd October 1943 Age 30 Commemorated SALERNO WAR CEMETERY, ITALY Son of William & Alice Flack, he was born on 3rd December 1912 at 34 Chapel Road, Epping. He worked as a gardener for the Dudley Ward family in Theydon Bois. His hobbies included fishing and cricket. He died of Malaria in a Prisoner of War camp at Salerno, Italy in 1943. His death was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 23rd October of that year. He was the second oldest of four brothers, one of whom was captured in 1940 but managed to escape two years later. He was awarded the Africa Star, the Italy Star and the 1939-45 Star.
GLADWIN	James A.	(6014729) Lance Corporal 6th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment Died 7th December 1944 Age 22 Commemorated FAENZA WAR CEMETERY, ITALY Joined the Essex Regiment as a Territorial in 1938 and was called up as soon as war was declared a year later. His Regiment became part of the 8thArmy in Egypt, suffering so many casualties that the survivors were attached to the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. They fought their way across North Africa, Sicily and Italy, reaching the Gothic Line in the winter of 1944. On 7th December he was killed by a mortar bomb.
HAMMOND	Leslie	(T/107570) Driver 525 Infantry Brigade Coy., Royal Army Service Corps Died 6th June 1940 Age 22 Commemorated ST VALERY-EN-CAUX CEMETERY, FRANCE Son of William Charles and Annie Louise Hammond of Epping, who had s fish shop in the High Street. He was a member of Epping’s Volunteer Fire Brigade, and was one of three men reported missing in the West Essex Gazette on 6th July 1940. The others were Alfred Turner and Ernest Flack. They had been school friends, joined the Fire Brigade together, and finally joined the RASC together in October 1939.
JAMES	Harry	(7640081) Lance Corporal REME and No.6 Commando Died 12th June 1944 Age 26 Commemorated RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, CALVADOS, FRANCE Son of Mrs L A James, of 4 Charles Street, Epping. He had been serving for four years at the time of his death, which was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 29th July 1944. He was described as a first-class marksman and was popular in the services as a singer and impersonator. He had also been a chorister at Epping Church.
JOHNSON	Henry W.	(992997) Gunner 104 (The Essex Yeomanry) Rgt, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 14th April 1942 Commemorated HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY, EGYPT Son of Henry William & Henrietta Johnson; husband of Gladys Johnson, of Coopersale.
JONES	Sydney Rhys	(65537) Flying Officer 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAFVR Died 12th February 1943 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Son of John Jones; husband of Patricia Jones of Epping. He was killed when his aircraft, a Mk1 Lancaster(R5676), broke up during a training flight from Swinderby in Lincolnshire and crashed at Oldfields Farm, Sturton-by-Stow, eight miles north-west of Lincoln. All seven crew members perished, along with a ground staff airman who hade gone up in the aircraft for a trip. There is a memorial to the crew at the farm, which has been renamed Lancaster Farm in their honour.
KEARNS	Maurice W.	(6031600) Private 6th (10th Bn., Royal Welch Fusiliers) Bn., Parachute Regiment. , A.A.C. Died 10th September 1943 Age 20 Commemorated CASSINO MEMORIAL, ITALY Son of William & Alice Kearns, of Theydon Place Cottages, Epping. He was reported missing by the War Office on 9th September 1943. He had married Connie Bevis, of Tottenham, North London, a year earlier. He had been in the Army for eighteen months, the last six being spent in North Africa. Connie had received a letter from him on 4th September, telling her not o worry if she did not hear from him again for some time. He told her that he had got through Sicily okay and believed that his luck would hold out. Prior to joining the Army Pte Kearns was employed as an assistant tailor W E Cole in Epping High Street. He was educated at Epping Senior School, winning several cups for running, and was a very keen footballer.
LADHAM	Kenneth A.	(876742) Gunner 1 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Died 3rd March 1941 Age 21 Commemorated KEREN WAR CEMETERY, ERITREA Son of Christopher and Lucy Alice Ladham, of Lindsey Street, Epping. He was killed in action in Egypt in 1941. The West Essex Gazette reported his death on 22nd March. The report described the Ladhams as “a true Epping family, all doing their bit” – three sons were in the forces, the father had served in World War 1, the mother had given blood, and the youngest son was a fire spotter.
LOVE	Joseph H.	Chief Engineer Officer SS Tewkesbury, Merchant Navy Died 5th September 1943 Age 57 Commemorated ALL SAINTS CHURCH, THEYDON GARNON Son of Joseph Thomas Love and Alice Love; husband of Katie Mary Love, of Epping. On 4th May 1941 SS Tewkesbury loaded a cargo of beef at Rosario, Argentina. and then proceeded downriver to Montevideo to pick up the rest of her cargo. She was scheduled to return to the UK via Freetown and Oban, but received a wireless message to proceed to St Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands instead. At 21.45GMT on Tuesday 21st May she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. At the time Joseph Love was engaged in conversation with Captain Pryse on the main deck Both were thrown into the air as the torpedo struck the starboard side. Joseph landed heavily and was washed along the deck, struggling to take a hold on anything to prevent himself from being washed overboard. The order to was given to abandon ship and two boats were lowered, each holding 21 occupants. Both were eventually picked up by American ships, and all but two of the men were back in the UK by the end of July. Joseph Love never returned to sea, and died from his injuries two years later.
McCORMACK	John B.	(50661) Pilot Officer 102 Squadron Royal Air Force Died 10th September 1942 Age 23 Commemorated RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, SURREY Died when his aircraft, a Handley Page Halifax (W7752), crashed in the North Sea after taking off from Pocklington for a raid on Dusseldorf. Six bodies were recovered. John McCormack was never found and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
MOSS	Harry A.	(6010474) Private 4th Bn., Suffolk Regiment Died 6th July 1943 Age 26 Commemorated KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, THAILAND Son of Amy Moss, of Epping. The 4th Suffolks surrendered to the Japanese on the outskirts of Singapore in February 1942. After some time at Changi Prison they were transported to Thailand. Most were forced to work on the Japanese railway, with inadequate food and medical treatment. Many by contracting diseases such as Malaria, beri-beri and dysentery.
PERRY	Herbert J.	(6848621) Lance Sergeant 1st Bn., The London Rifle Brigade Died 25th September 1944 Age 27 Commemorated FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY, ITALY The son of Thomas William & Jessie Perry, he was known to his friends as Bert. He lost his life when he stepped on a shoe mine while leading a patrol on the night of 25th September 1944. His family received letters from two of his officers stating how he thought of his men to the last. He was a fine all round cricketer, and was member of Coopersale Cricket Club. He also played darts, tennis and badminton for the Coopersale Institute. His death was reported on the front page of the Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill and Woodford Gazette on 28th October 1944.
RICHARDSON	A. J.	(910760) Warrant Officer 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, RAFVR Died 25th June 1944 Age 22 Commemorated BELLENCOMBRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, SEINE-MARITIME, FRANCE Son of Arthur & Sarah Ethel Richardson, of Epping. He was the Wireless Operator on Lancaster Mk1 ME628 (Code KM-V) which took off from Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire, at 22.35 on 24th June 1944. His Squadron’s target was the V1 Flying Bomb site at Pommerval in France. The Lancaster crashed at Bellencombre, a village 30km from Dieppe. He was buried in the local cemetery there along with two other members of his crew.
RUMSBY	John N.	(1586158) Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 11th September 1944 Age 27 Commemorated RUNNYMEADE MEMORIAL, SURREY Born on Christmas Day 1916, he was the Ward of Mr FH Taylor, of Epping. After spending some time working as a gardener, he joined the Essex Constabulary in June 1937 as Police Constable No. 703. He left the Force on 5th April 1942, and joined the RAF the following day. He was reported missing presumed killed on 11th September 1944. he is also commemorated on a memorial at the Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford.
SANDERS	E. L.	(P/KX 663925) Stoker 2nd Class HMS Wrestler, Royal Navy Died 6th June 1944 Commemorated PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, HAMPSHIRE Son of Ernest James & Ethel Mat Sanders of Coopersale. The destroyer HMS Wrestler, originally commissioned in 1918, hit a German mine off Juno Beach on D-Day. She was damaged beyond repair and scrapped.
SAPSFORD	Charles G.	(2046335) Private 310 Bty., 74 Searchlight Regiment. , Royal Artillery Died 19th January 1941 Age 21 Commemorated CLACTON CEMETERY Killed during an air raid while on a training exercise in Clacton. Just two weeks prior to his death he had been home on leave. 310 Battery was based at the Armoury in Hemnall Street, Epping. Charles Sapsford’s death was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 11th February 1941.
SHARP	George L.	(6024734) Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 29th November 1941 Age 26 Commemorated KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, ACROMA, LIBYA Son of Harry & E Sharp of Epping, he was killed serving with the Essex Regiment at El-Duda in Libya. His name is spelled incorrectly as Sharpe on Epping War Memorial
SMITH	Frederick	(6014578) Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 29th June 1942 Age 22 Commemorated EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, EGYPT Another former pupil of Epping School, Fred Smith was one of five sons of Mr & Mrs K Smith of Bridge Hill, Epping. He worked at British Matthews before joining the Army. He was killed in action in the first battle of El Alamein.
SMITH	Frank E. L.	(6014812) Corporal 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 17th February 1943 Age 23 Commemorated BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY, LIBYA Son of Leonard and Jeanette Smith, of Epping.
STREET	Walter	(T/275397) Driver 53 Infantry Brigade Group Coy., RASC Died 2nd July 1943 Commemorated KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, THAILAND Son of Mr & Mrs Street of 64 Ivy Chimneys, Epping. In August 1943 his parents were officially informed that he was a prisoner of war in the hands of the Japanese. His wife had also received a postcard from him to this effect. It was the first time she had heard from him in eighteen months. Unfortunately by the time this news was received, Walter Street had been dead for over a month.
TREDGETT	H. J.	(LT/KX 150237) Engineman HM Motor Minesweeper 8, Royal Naval Patrol Service Died 24th June 1944 Age 20 Commemorated TILLY-SUR-SEULLES WAR CEMETERY, CALVADOS, FRANCE Son of Mrs W Tredgett, of James Street, Epping. Born in Epping, he had worked at Dennings before joining the Navy. His Mother was notified of his death just two days before his twenty-first birthday.
TURNER	Alfred W.	(T/118101) Driver 51 Div Ammunition Company, RASC Died 11th June 1940 Age 23 Commemorated ST VALERY-EN-CAUX CEMETERY, SEINE-MARITIME, FRANCE Son of William and Frances Turner, of Bury Road, Epping. He enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps in October 1939 with best friends Les Hammond and Ernie Flack. They had been in the Epping Fire Brigade together, and were known as the “Three Musketeers”. Alf and Les were killed by a shell after the retreat to Dunkirk. Ernie was wounded and captured by the Germans but later escaped to neutral Spain.
TURNER	J.	Gunner No further information currently available
TURPIN	Frederic G.	(7646462) Craftsman attd. 71st Infantry Bde, REME Died 7th October 1944 Age 31 Commemorated VALKENSWAARD WAR CEMETERY, NOORD-BRABANT, NETHERLANDS Son of Robert Richard and Alice Turpin, of 56 Hemnall Street, Epping. He was educated at Epping Senior School, and later worked at WC French in Buckhurst Hill. He was killed in action in Holland in 1944.His death was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 21st October.
WARD	Wallace H.	(876921) Bombardier 8 res. AA Regiment, Royal Artillery Died 2nd August 1942 Age 22 Commemorated KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY, INDIA Son of Mark Wallace and Emma Elizabeth Ward, of Epping.
WHIFFIN	David W.	(158101) Pilot Officer Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 22nd February 1944 Age 22 Commemorated OTTAWA MEMORIAL, OTTAWA, CANADA. Son of Mr & Mrs G W Whiffin, of Brynoak, Coopersale. He was reported missing in the West Essex Gazette on 4th March 1944.
WRIGHT	Walter H.	(269964) Captain Royal Army Service Corps Died 1st January 1945 Age 30 Commemorated BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY, LIMBURG, NETHERLANDS Son of Walter Henry & Edith Jane Wright, of Theydon Bois. He married Winifred Wilson in 1938, and they lived at 44 Bower Hill, Epping. He was manager of Brown’s Garage in Loughton. Walter Wright joined the Army as a Private four days before war was declared. Evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, he returned to France soon after D-Day in charge of RASC workshop units, following the fighting through France, Belgium and Holland. He was at Arnhem, and was specially commended by his C.O. for his work there. Winifred received a field card from her husband together with a photograph of a Dutch friend. Just one week later she received a telegram from the War Office telling her that he was dead. Speaking in the West Essex Gazette, she said “He was due home on leave next month and I am convinced he will be home”.

EPPING WAR MEMORIAL