Photographs Copyright © Carolynn Langley - 2004

Private 20740, 10th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Killed in action 22 May 1915. Aged 36. Born 15 August 1885 in Surbiton. Son of J. W. Allen, of 39, Paternoster Row, London. Next of kin listed as John Allen, of Allernderne, Blakeney, Norfolk. Motor Engineer by trade. Enlisted 23 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, aged 29. Height 5 feet 10½ inches, girth 38½ inches, complexion dark, eyes blue, hair balck; Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 106 - 18

Percy Allen relaxing at Blakeney
Photograph © William Finlayson 2013

See extracts from Percy sent from the front

Lieutenant. 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Killed in action on 20th September 1914. Aged 28. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Claudius James Ash, of Blakeney, Norfolk. Buried in Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, Aisne, France. Plot 6. Row C. Grave 4.

Able Seaman 190103. (RFR/CH/B/6413). H.M.S. "Aboukir. Royal Navy. Died on 22nd September 1914. Aged 34. Son of Robert John and M. Balding, of Blakeney, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Panel 2.

Chief Stoker 277882. H.M.S. "Vanguard. Royal Navy. Died on 9th July 1917. Aged 44. Son of William Richard and Ellen Bullen, of Blakeney, Norfolk; husband of Marian Elizabeth Bullen, of 5, St. Ethelbert St., Hereford. No known grave. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Panel 23.

Midshipman, H.M.S. "Vanguard," Royal Navy. Killed when his ship blew up due to an internal explosion 9 July 1917. Aged 18. Son of Arthur Cooke, F.R.C.S., and Lucy Vivien Cooke, of Grove Lodge, Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Panel 20.

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918, Vol 4., page 35:

COOKE, CHRISTOPHER ARTHUR GRESHAM, Midshipman, Royal Navy, eldest s. of Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Cooke, of Grove Lodge, Cambridge, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), by his wife, Lucy Vivien, dau. of John Collyer; b. Cambridge, 16 June, 1899; educ. St. Peter's Court, Broadstairs, and the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth; joined the Navy in May, 1912; served in H.M.S. Aboukir, which was torpedoed 22 Sept. 1914; later he served in H.M.S. Vanguard; took part in the Jutland Battle, and was killed in action 9 July, 1917, by an explosion. His Commanding Officer wrote : "He was such an exceptionally brilliant young officer, and I know Capt. Dick had a very high opinion of him ; so much so that he specially selected him for his personal staff in action." Unm.

Commemorated within the church:

Giving thanks to God
for the Beloved Memory
of
Christopher Arthur
Gresham Cooke
Midshipman R.N.
Aged 18
HMS Abouku-, torpedoed
22nd Sept 1914
Battle of Jutland 31st May 1916.
Killed by explosion in
HMS Vanguard 9th July 1917.
He lived happily
and died bravely.

Gunner 116211, 301st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds 12 September 1918. Aged 33. Born Blakeney, Norfolk, enlisted Enfield, resident Enfield Lock, Middlesex. Married a Blakeney girl (Ellen Walker) and had two children. In 1911 they were living at 83 Clarence Road, Grays, Essex, where George was a Dairyman. Buried in CROIX-ROUGE MILITARY CEMETERY, QUAEDYPRE, Nord, France. Plot II. Row B. Grave 24.

Commemorated within the church:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND AFFECTIONATE MEMORY
OF GEORGE PETER HUDSON
WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION NEAR YPRES
SEP 12th 1918 AGED 33 YEARS HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY;
HIS SOUL TO GOD.

[Plaque lists him as Warrant Officer] Gunner, H.M.S. "Bulwark," Royal Navy. Died 26 November 1914. Aged 39. Brother of George (above). Enlisted 21 March 1908. No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 1.

Commemorated within the church:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
WARRANT OFFICER WILLIAM E. KING R-N.
26th NOV 1914 AGE 39 YEARS
ALSO HIS BROTHER
WARRANT OFFICER GEORGE A. KING R.N.
DROWNED FROM H.M.DESTROYER “CRUSADER”
DOVERPATROL 21st JAN 1917 AGE 32 YEARS
THEIR DUTY NOBLY DONE.

Second Lieutenant, 1st Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed in action at Oppy Wood 28 April 1917. Aged 21. Born 2 July 1895. Youngest son of the Reverend Canon R. Gordon Roe, (Rector of this parish) and Isobel Alice his wife, of Acle Rectory, Norwich. Born on July 2nd 1895. No known grave. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 1.

Also commemorated within the church:

Thanking God for the beloved Memory of Cyril Charles Gordon Roe 2nd Lieut 1st Bait Royal Marine Light Infantry. Youngest son of the Reverend Canon R. Gordon Roe, Rector of this parish and Isobel.... Alice his wife .............. Born on July 2nd 1895 killed in action at Oppy Wood April 28th 1917 in the Great War. “Eternal rest grant him 0 Lord and let light perpetual shine upon him.”

Private 5775179. 5th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died on 21st September 1944. Aged 29. Son of Christopher John and Mary May Grimes, of Blakeney, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 50.

Leading Aircraftman 906720. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on 8th November 1944. Son of Hugh and Hilda M. Harcourt, of Field Dalling, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 438.