Roll of Honour - Essex

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

PURLEIGH WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 & Korean War - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Geoffrey Pugh 2021

The Purleigh war memorial can be found in the graveyard extension opposite All Saints Church, Church Hill. Purleigh, Maldon, Essex. It takes the form of a stone obelisk, about ten feet high, mounted on a double plinth on a stone, three step base, built by by Wray & Fuller of Chelmsford. There are 15 names listed for World War 1, 9 names for World War 2 and one for Korea.

“TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY
OF MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO FOUGHT FOR
KING AND COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918
THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO
RETURNED NOT AGAIN
ARE HERE INSCRIBED TO BE
HONOURED FOR EVERMORE.”

MAY THEIR SOULS THROUGHT
THE MERCY OF CHRIST REST
IN PEACE AND MAY LIGHT
PEPETUAL SHINE UPON THEM

1914-1918

CARTER	David	Lance Corporal 10657 ‘A’ Coy 3rd Bn., formerly 9th Bn., Essex Regt. He died on 10th March 1919 as a result of a gunshot wound to the head in September 1915. Son of Joseph & Kate Carter of Lodge Lane, Purleigh. Buried in Purleigh Churchyard.
COOLLEDGE	George James	Gunner 59040, 111th Bty. 24th Bde., Royal Field Artillery. Died on 19th September 1918. Son of Job & Sarah Ann Coolledge born in 1889 at Maldon. Husband to Nellie Maisie Wingham and father to Aubrey George, Leslie Jack and Maurice David William Coolledge. He died of wounds received at Demuin on the Somme and buried at BRIE BRITISH CEMETERY Plot 11.A.2
COOLLEDGE	John Henry	Leading Stoker 305541(RFR/CH/B/4875). H.M.S. "Cressy", Royal Navy who died at sea on 22 September 1914 aged 30. Son of Job & Sarah, husband of Harriet Alice Carey and father of John Henry Walter Coolledge. No known grave Remembered with Honour on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL 4.
DUNN	Alfred William	Private 251277 5th Bn., Essex Regt., who died on 26th March 1917 in Syria aged 20. Son of Mrs Alice Dunn of The Common, Purleigh, Essex. Remembered with Honour on the JERUSALEM MEMORIAL Panels 32-38.
DUNN	George James	Private 28270 6th Bn., Northamptonshire Regt., who died on 17th February 1917 aged 22. Son of Alice Mary Dunn of Purleigh, Essex. Killed in action in Flanders and is commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Pier and Face 11A & 11D. Extract from Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 1 February 1918, page 3: Mrs. Dunn, The Common, Purleigh, is notified that her son, Pt. George J Dunn, Northants Regt., aged 22, reported missing on Feb 17, 1917, was killed on that date. This is the second son Mrs. Dunn has lost in the war.
HOARE	Willie	Private DM2/179592, Army Service Corps who died on 6th June 1918 aged 35. Son of Samuel & Leah Hoare of Honiton, Devon and husband of Elizabeth Julia Clarke and father to William Alfred Sam, George Francis and John Hoare. Records show that he was in hospital and died of illness in France and was buried at WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY Plot XI.H.3.
HOWARD	Edward Albert	Able Seaman 230663, (R.F.R.Dev.5711). H.M.Submarine E.30., Royal Navy. Died on 7th April 1916 and killed by an explosion with three other crew members. Born in Purleigh, son of Walter & Ann Carter and married to Catherine Campbell (Strawbridge?) and father to Catherine, Olive M and Edna Howard. Buried at BLYTH CEMETERY, Northumberland. C.73.
JOSLIN	Edward Thomas	Private 27694 3rd Bn., Essex Regt., Died 22 October 1918 from diabetes, four months after being treated at Barnet Hospital. Son of Thomas Joslin and Sarah Osborn of Howe Green, Purleigh. Buried at Purleigh (All Saints) Churchyard Extension.
LINCOLN	Edward Walter	Private 20004, 1st Bn., Essex Regt., Killed in action in Gallipoli on 22nd October 1915. Son of Alfred Lincoln & Mary Clements and born on 9th October 1896 at Howe Green, Purleigh. Buried at TWELVE TREES COPSE CEMETERY Xl.C.5.
LINCOLN	William James	Private 20297 1st Bn., Essex Regt., who died on 27 November 1917, in the Battle of Cambrai. Son of Alfred Lincoln & Mary Clements and born on 15th April 1892. No known grave. Commemorated on the CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL, Nord, France. Extract from Essex Newsman - Saturday 14 October 1916, page 3: Pt. W. Lincoln, Essex Regt., son of Mrs. Lincoln, Howe Green, Purleigh, has been wounded for the second time. In the Dardanelles he had half his thumb shot off, and now he has been wounded in the head. His brother, Pt. E. Lincoln, was killed at the Dardanelles.
PARCHMENT	Arthur James	Lance Corporal 16053 1st Bn., Essex Regt., Killed in action on 10th December 1916 aged 28 on the Somme. Son of James Parchment & Jane Harrington of Chelmsford Road, Purleigh. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier & Face 10D. Extract from Essex Newsman - Saturday 15 December 1917, page 4: IN MEMORIAM. PARCHMENT. —In loving memory our dear son, L.-Cpl. A. F. Parchment, killed in action in France, December 10th. 1916, aged 28 years. One year has passed since that sad day When our dear son was called away; No mornings dawn, nights begin, But what we always think him. From his sorrowing Father, Mother, and Sister. —Purleigh, Essex. c 260
PAYNE	Walter	Private 7458, 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment. Died on 13th October 1914 aged 30. Born in Coggeshall, Essex on 1st February 1884. Son of Walter Payne & Rachel Burton. Buried at METEREN MILITARY CEMETERY, France. Plot ll.K.271
SMEE	Alfred George	Lance Corporal 12461, 9th Bn., Essex Regt., who died on 30th November 1917 in the Battle of Cambrai aged 25. He was awarded the Military Medal and Bar. Son of William Singer Smee & Florence Hazell of Round Bush, Purleigh. No known grave commemorated on the CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL on Panel 7 & 8.
SMEE	Alfred James	Private 12462, "C" Coy. 9th Bn., Essex Regt., died 29th March 1915 of pneumonia at Shorncliffe Military Hospital. Son of William Singer Smee & Florence Hazell of Round Bush, Purleigh. Born 17 February 1894 at Purleigh. Buried at Purleigh (All Saints) Churchyard Extension.
SOAR	Owen Laurence	Rifleman 1934, 5th Bn., London Regt., (London Rifle Brigade) died 16 July 1916 as a result of wounds at Gommecourt on 1st July. Son of Arthur Burgess Soar and Clara Johnson and born 18th November 1894 at Hendon, Middlesex. Buried at BRISTOL (CANFORD) CEMETERY Sec. V. Grave 4842.
1939-1945
CROPPER	Richard Alfred	Lieutenant Colonel 1A/773 Cdg.1st Bn.,17th Dogra Regt., OBE. Died on 2nd February 1943 aged 43. Born 2nd December 1899 at West Broughton, Lancaster, son of the Revd. James Cropper,MA, & Ethel Frances Percival-Smith, husband of Joyce Eileen Cradock-Watson. He was killed in action with no known grave and is commemorated on RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 49
HARKNESS	William	Private 6020617, 4th Bn., Suffolk Regt., who died on 28 May 1943 aged 27. Son of James Edgar Harkness & Lily Hazell born 29th March 1916 at Purleigh, Essex. Buried in CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand Plot 12.E.3.
HEARD	Henry James	Private 6013081, 2nd Bn., Essex Regt., died 18th May 1940 aged 19. Son of Henry Robert Heard & Ann Mott. He was buried at PONT-de-METZ CHURCHYARD 3kms southwest of Amiens. Plot 4 Row A Grave 18.
HOLDER	George Henry	Private 833206, 2nd Btn.,The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Died 1st February 1945 aged 34. Son of Caleb & Eileen Holder and born in Alderney, Channel Islands on 31 May 1921? Husband of Lillian Harkness and father to Barry James, Jennifer A., & Terry G Holder. He was buried at TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY, Myanmar. Plot 27.B.23.
HORNETT	Sidney Robert	Rifleman 6920330, 2nd Bn., Rifle Brigade, who died 23rd November 1941 aged 29. Son of William Hornett & Lucy Ogram Webb and husband of Rose Kathleen Powles and father to Antony L Hornett. Buried at KNIGHTSBRIDGE WAR CEMETERY, Acroma, Libya. Plot 1.B.13.
LOCKE	Norman Ernest	Assistant Steward S.S. Newton Ash (Newcastle-0n-Tyne) Merchant Navy died 8 February 1943 aged 22. Son of Ernest Edward Locke & Ethel Mary Bettis. The vessel was torpedoed and sunk south of Iceland a total of 38 crew were lost. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London, Panel 73.
MARSH	Frank James	Leading Telegraphist P/JX 159055 H.M.S. Barham, Royal Navy died 25 November 1941 aged 43. Son of John Herbert Marsh & Harriet Ansell. Husband of Gladys May Keeley and father to Joan G., Brenda Mary, and Patricia Margaret Marsh. Barham was sunk off the Egyptian coast by the U-boat U-331, with the loss of 862 crew. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 52, Column 3.
PORTER	Henry Alfred	Petty Officer D/JX129623, H.M.S. Defiance, Royal Navy died 7 January 1946 age 34. Son of Edward William Porter & Eileen Annie Griggs. Husband of Winifred Grace Manning and father of Brian Reginald Henry Porter. Buried at Purleigh (All Saints) Churchyard Extension Row 3.
YOUNG	Albert Arthur	Bombardier 6204875, 1 Bty.,1 Searchlight Regt., Royal Artillery died 26 March 1945. Son of Arthur William Young & Maud Golding. Husband of Constance Mary Bridgman of Heybridge, Essex. No known grave, remembered with Honour DUNKIRK MEMORIAL, column 9.
1951 in Korea
STRATHIE	James	Private 6032239, Essex Regt., attached to The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Died 3 October 1951 aged 20. Son of Robert Strathie & Mary Eadie. Killed in action and buried in United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Section 24, Row 12, Grave 1828.

Last updated 18 September, 2021

War Memorials Trust