HAPPISBURGH WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Transcribed by David Rudram; Researched by Lynda Smith - 2003

Happisburgh (pronounced Hasbro) is a coastal village in North Norfolk, famous for its red and white striped lighthouse. There are two War Memorials in the Parish Church. One on the west end by the arch to the tower has the names of all who fought in World War 1, and on the south wall is a memorial to those who died. The Memorial gives full name, date of death and Aged.

Photographs Copyright © Lynda Smith - 2004

To the Glory of God
and in honoured memory of the Men
of Happisburgh who fell in the
Great War 1914 - 1919

GRIMMMER	Richard	Private 13492, 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 10 March 1917. Aged 27. (Memorial gives age as 47). Born Happisburgh. Enlisted Norwich. Son of George and Selina Una Grimmer, of Happisburgh, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.
LEEDER	Norman Robert	Private 240195, 1st/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 19 April 1917. (Memorial gives 19 June 1917). Aged 20. Born Marsham. Enlisted Stalham. Son of Robert John and Ellen Margaret Leeder, of High House, Happisburgh, Norwich. No known grave. Commemorated on JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, Israel. Panels 12 to 15.
MASON	John	Probably: Petty Officer 1st Class, 196093, H.M.S. "Cressy.", Royal Navy. Died Tuesday 22 September 1914. (Age given for the John Mason on the Memorial is 32). No known grave. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom, Panel 1. Special note: In the early hours of the morning of 22 September 1914, HMS Cressy along with HMS Aboukir & HMS Hogue were sunk by torpedoes from a U-boat under the command of Otto Weddigen, in the North Sea.
MILLAR	William J	Private 6787, 1/5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) formerly 2nd/5th Norfolk Regiment and also Northumberland Fusiliers. Died Wednesday 11 April 1917. Aged 23. (Memorial gives age as 28). Buried in HAPPISBURGH (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Norfolk, United Kingdom. (Not on CD).
MONSEY	George	Private G/9332. 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, Labour Corps. Died Saturday 8 March 1919. Aged 29. (Memorial gives Aged as 19). Son of William and Clara Monsey, of Witton, Norwich. Buried in NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk, United Kingdom. Plot/Row/Section/Area 54. Grave 548.
MONSEY	John	Driver 211639. 18th Army Bde. Ammunition Col., Royal Field Artillery. Died Monday 2 December 1918. Aged 20. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section S. Plot II. Row HH. Grave 12.
PLATFORD	James	Private 325581. 1st/9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Formerly 5510 Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Friday 13 April 1917. Aged 28. Born Ludham, Norfolk. Enlisted Norwich. Buried in AGNY MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Row H. Joint graves 44-57.
SIELY	Cubitt Charles	[Family name SIEBY on SDGW] Gunner 105290, 227th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of gunshot wounds to the back, and right thigh fractured severely, at 8th Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 2 November 1918 which penetrated right thigh, fracturer femur. Aged 37. Born and resident Happisburgh, Norfolk, enlisted Norwich. Son of Mary Ann Seiloy, of Lower Happisburgh, Norfolk. Husband of Emma Jane Siely, of Lower Post Office, 97 Lower Road, Happisburgh, Norfolk. Labourer by trade. Attested 23 July 1916, aged 35 years 10 months, married, height 5 feet 8 inches, chest 37 inches. Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VII. Row B. Grave 1.
SPANTON	James Wiseman	Lance Corporal 15138, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 28 April 1917. (Memorial gives 24 April) Aged 26. Born Happisburgh. Enlisted North Walsham. Buried in DURY CRUCIFIX CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row H. Grave 18.
WISEMAN	Frederick George	Photograph Copyright © Barry Miles 2003 Petty Officer 1st Class 116160. (R.F.R./CH/A/839) H.M.S. Pembroke, Royal Navy. Died Monday 31 August 1914. (Memorial gives 30 August 1914). Aged 48. (Memorial gives age as 47). Born Happisburgh. Son of George and Emma Wiseman; husband of Anna Elizabeth Wiseman, of 1, Prospect Avenue, London Rd., Attleborough, Norfolk. Buried in GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY, Kent, United Kingdom. Naval. Section 12. Grave 617.
1939 – 1945
BATCHELOR	A	Possibly: Arthur Batchelor. Gunner 5768526, 1 Light A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died between 30th May and 2nd June 1940. Aged 33. Son of Edith Ward, of Stalham, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Dunkirk Memorial, France. Column 10.
BOYCE	R A	Probably: Robert Arthur Boyce. Able Seaman C/JX 157784. H.M.S. Bedouin Royal Navy. Died 15th June 1942. No known grave. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Panel 53, Column 1.
CLARKE	J D	No further information.
DENNIS	B B	Probably: Benjamin Bernard Dennis, Guardsman 2655379, 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died 11th November 1944. Aged 32. Buried in Venray War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands. Plot III. Row C. Grave 12.
GRIMMER	Wilfred Edward	[E.W. Grimmer on Memorial] Private 5834987, 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died as a Japanese Prisoner of War 16th October 1943. Aged 25. Son of George Walter and Ethel Emma Grimmer, of Happisburgh, Norfolk. Buried in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma). Plot B3. Row Z. GRave 11.
HARVEY	C G	Possibly: Christopher George Harvey. Private 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died as a Japanese Prisoner of War 21st March 1943. Aged 30. Buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar 9Burma). Plot 10. Row K. Grave 18.
HARVEY	Cannon William	Seaman LT/JX 242437, H.M. Trawler "Tervani", Royal Naval Patrol Service. Died 7th February 1943. Son of Cannon Benjamin and Anne Elizabeth Harvey, of Happisburgh, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk. Panel 11, Column 3.
PARDON	Cyril James	Gunner 983215, 107 (The South Notts. Hussars) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 6th June 1942. Aged 22. Son of James and Ellen Pardon, of North Lopham, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Column 14.
R.I.P.
In the Graveyard, not on the memorial
MARSH	William Horace	Ordinary Seaman C/JX 279738. H.M.S. Badger. Royal Navy. Died 30th October 1941. Buried in Happisburgh (St. Mary) Churchyard.
Unknown		A Sailor of the 1939 – 1945 War. Merchant Navy. Found 23rd August 1947.
Unknown		A Sailor of the 1939 – 1945 War. Merchant Navy. 14th October 1944.

The Wooden Board Memorial commemorates not only those who died in World War 1 but also those who served.

To the Glory of God
and in honour of the Men of Happisburgh
who served their King and Country in the
Great War 1914 – 1919

Deceased
GRIMMER	Richard	See World War 1 Memorial for details
LEEDER	Norman	See World War 1 Memorial for details
MASON	John	See World War 1 Memorial for details
MILLAR	William	See World War 1 Memorial for details
MONSEY	George	See World War 1 Memorial for details
MONSEY	John	See World War 1 Memorial for details
PLATFORD	James	See World War 1 Memorial for details
SEILY	Cubitt Charles	See World War 1 Memorial for details
SPANTON	James	See World War 1 Memorial for details
WISEMAN	F. George	See World War 1 Memorial for details
Survivors
BARNES	M. James	No Further information
BATES	Arthur	No Further information
BOWERS	Frank	No Further information
BENNINGTON	Thomas [William]	J/48494 (Devonport), Royal Navy. Born 26 December 1899 in Happisburgh. Before enlistment he was a Gardener. Enlisted 26 December 1917 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 5½ inches, chest 33½ inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. Served on various ships/establishm,ents final serving on H.M.S. Prembroke I 4 February 1922 to 9 August 1922. Invalided at R.N. Hospital, Chatham, with Urethritis, 12 July 1922.
CASTON	John	Attested 15 September 1914 at North Walsham as Private 42621, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, aged 23 years 10 months, height 5 feet 9¾ inches, chest 37½ inches, weight 152 lbs, full complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. Born and resident Happisburgh. Son of Harriet Caston, of Cliffe Cottage, Happisburgh; brother of Walter (older) and Minnie (she served with the British Red Cross Society Volunteer). Yachtsman by trade. Unmarried. Promoted Corporal 7 July 1915, promoted Sergeant 11 October 1915, transferred 25th Battalion, Training Reserve 1 September 1916. Posted to 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment 17 November 1918. Transferred to "Z" Class, Army Reserve on Demobilization 9 February 1919. Permanent address given on enlistment as Sand Dune, Happisburgh.
CLARKE	Charles	No Further information
CLARKE	Arthur	No Further information
COLE	Armine	HMS Inflexible, Royal Navy. Brother of Archie and Charles COLE below.
COLE	Archie	Brother of Archie and Armine COLE above.
COLE	Charles	Brother of Arthur and Armine COLE above.
CORK	Arthur	No Further information
CUBITT	[Thomas] Percy	Brother of Gilbert John and Cyril Robertt listed below. His parents ran the Hill House Hotel in Happisburgh.
CUBITT	Gilbert [John]	Brother of Thomas Percy and Cyril Robert listed here. His parents ran the Hill House Hotel in Happisburgh.
CUBITT	Cyril [Robert]	Brother of Thomas Percy and Gilbert John listed here. His parents ran the Hill House Hotel in Happisburgh.
CURTIS	Sydney [Walter]	J/48495 (Chatham), Royal Navy. Born 22 July 1900 in Happisburgh, Norfolk. Enlisted 22 July 1918 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 4 inches, chest 33 inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. Farm worker before enlistment. Last served on H.M.S. Kent before being transferred 1 January 1929.
DAVIS	Samuel	No Further information
DUCKER	Charles	No Further information
DUCKER	Robert [Fred]	Attested 1 March 1916 in Norwich, aged 20 years 7 months, appointed to Middlesex Regiment 21 August 1916, transferred 16 September 1916 as Private G/12949, 3rd Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), born Happisburgh, Norfolk. Resident Post Office, Happisburgh, Norfolk. Postman by trade. Unmarried. Son of David Frederick Ducker, of the Post Office, Happisburgh. Height on entry 5 feet 2¾ inches, on discharge 5 feet 6 inches, chest 32 inches, sallow complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair. Injured, awarded a Silver War Badge 229049 on 5 September 1917, invalided out of service, 1 March 1916 at Norwich, with limited movement to left shoulder not aggravated by military service ("Weak from Infancy").
DYBALL	George [William]	Born Happisburgh, resident Scottow. Attested 10 October 1914 at Norwich, aged 19 years, as 1561, 2nd Battalion transferred to 6th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, discharged as under age 8 March 1915, re-attested 20 November 1917 as Private 393117, Eastern Command Labour Company, 430th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Discharged as 15181, 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Son of Walter Dyball, of Mundesley Road, North Walsham. Resident Mundesley Road, North Walsham, a Labourer by trade, permanent address near Post Office, Scottow. Married Ethel Maud Hubbard at Scottow 16 November 1918. Height 5 feet 4½ inches, chest 33 inches. Admiited to War Hospital Bath6 July 1916 serving with 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Demobilised by post 20 February 1919 at Norwich.
DYBALL	Robert	No Further information
DYBALL	Frederick	No Further information
ELVIN	James	No Further information
FRENCH	Joseph	No Further information
GENTRY	John	No Further information
GIBBS	Harold	No Further information
GRIMMER	Robert	No Further information
GRIMMER	James	No Further information
GRIMMER	Albert [W]	Attested 11 December 1915 at Norwich, aged 19 years 6 months, posted 8 June 1916, served as Private 26113, in 2nd, and 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Born Happisburgh, Norfolk. Cattle Feeder by trade. Unmarried. Son of George Grimmer, of Happisburgh, Stalham, Norfolk. Height 5 feet 2½ inches, chest 33½ inches. Posted 3rd Battalion 9 June 1916. 2nd Battalion 9 October 1916, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion 17 November 1918, posted Depot 28 April 1919. Suffered effects of heat and transferred to 31 B. Stationary Hospital, Baghdad 24 July 1917, again 10 August 1917, suffered Colitis transferred to 31 B. Stationary Hospital, Baghdad 29 September 1918, finally suffered fron Dysentery and transferred to base Hopsital, Amara, 10 November 1918. Served in Mesopotamia 9 October 1916 to 14 June 1918 and 29 August 1918 to 16 November 1918. Served in India 15 June 1918 to 28 August 1916 and 17 November 1918 to 27 April 1919. Transferred to Class "Z" Army Reserve on Demobilization 8 June 1919.
GRIMMER	Horatio	No Further information
GOOCH	Samuel	No Further information
GOOCH	Stanley	No Further information
GOTTS	Thomas	No Further information
HARMER?	Robert	No Further information
HARVEY	Herbert	No Further information
HARVEY	William	No Further information
HITCHCOCK	Aldous	No Further information
HUBBARD	John	No Further information
JONES	Cecil	No Further information
JONES	Edward	No Further information
JONES	Sidney	No Further information
JONES M.C.	A. Ivan	No Further information
LAWSON	Thomas	No Further information
LEEDER	Frank	Served in the Royal Navy during both world wars. Enlisted 1915. Commissioned as Bosun. Retired as a Lieutenant in 1953. Awarded the Member of the British Empire (M.B.E.).
LONG	Barnard	No Further information
LUBBOCK	Robert	No Further information
MANTHORPE	James	No Further information
MANTHORPE	Richard	No Further information
MASON	Roland	[Listed as Rowland in Navy Records] 232451 (Portsmouth), Royal Navy. Born 29 March 1888 in Happisburgh, Norfolk. Farm servant by trade. Enlisted 29 March 1906 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 5½ inches, dark hair, light brown eyes, dark complexion. Last service H.M.S. Furious from 1 July 1917 to 19 February 1919.
MASON	Ambrose	No Further information
MASON	William	No Further information
MILES	Frederick	No Further information
MILES	Walter	No Further information
MILLAR	James [Robert]	Attested 12 September 1914 at Norwich, aged 19 years, as Private 15044, posted 3rd Battalion 2 October 1914 then 10th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Born Happisburgh, Norfolk. Transferred to Military Police 1 April 1917. Resident Happisburgh, Stalham, Norfolk. Carpenter by trade. Unmarried. Served in Mesopotamia and India. Height 5 feet 9½ inches, weight 11st 5lbs (159lbs), chest 36 inches, fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair. Religious denomination Church of England. Son of John and Annie Millar, of Light House Farm, Happisburgh; brother of William. Disembarked Basra 7 January 1916, wounded in the field 7 April 1916, transferred to hospital (field), transferred from sick convoy at Basra 12 April 1916, invalided to India from Basra 17 April 1916, disemabrked Bombay 22 April 1916. Given acting rank of Corporal 26 September 1917. Transferred to Class "Z" Army Reserve on Demobilization 15 November 1919. Residence Light House Farm, Happisburgh, Stalham, Norfolk.
NORFEY	Bertram	No Further information
NICKERSON	Frederick	No Further information
PERRY	George	No Further information
PEARCE	Reginald	No Further information
PEARCE	John	No Further information
PLUMMER	James	Seaman 235586, Royal Navy. Born 9 September 1888 in Happisburgh, Norfolk. Carpeneter by trade. Enlisted 9 September 1906 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 7 inches. dark brown hair. brown eyes, fresh complexion. Last served on H.M.S. Blake 1 March 1919 until 28 April 1919 then H.M.S. Pemboke I, Royal Navy, 8 April 1921 until demobilization 8 June 1921.
PURNELL	H. Moore	No Further information
PILGRIM	Harold	No Further information
SIELY	Cubitt [Faulke]	Attested 11 December 1915 at Norwich, aged 23 years 6 months, as Gunner 153354, 354th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Resident Holly Farm, Happisburgh, Norfolk. Son of Abba Elizabeth Siely, of Holly Farm, Happisburgh. Posted with 248th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery with B.E.F. France 22 August 1917; fell sick and admiited to Field Hospital 19 October 1917, discharged to Base 15 November 1917. Transferred 354th Siege Battery 23 November 1917. Readmiited to hospital 4 April 1918 and invalided to England, aboard Ambulance Train Pieter de Coninck 6 April 1918. On 4 April 1918, while with battery, was blown up, nerves gave way and he was sent down; remembered little about the incident; became quite nervous with little provocation, became very nervous making him unfit for any further military service. Discharged 23 August 1918 at Dover, aged 26 years 2 months, height 5 feet 11½ inches, chest 37 inches, fair complexion, grey eyes, fair hair, Farmer by trade, intended place of residence Holly Farm, Happisburgh, Norfolk. In France from 15 August 1917 to 6 April 1918.
SIELY	William	No Further information
SMITH	Charles	No Further information
STRIKE	Herbert	No Further information
STRIKE	William	No Further information
SPANTON	John	No Further information
THOMPSON	John	Attested 7 December 1914 in London, aged 36 years, joined at Woolwich 8 December 1914 as Shoeing Smith 1884 then 4851, Royal Army Service Corps then 15 January 1915 became Shoeing Smith (Farrier) 4336, 3 Veterinary Hospital, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Resident The Forge, Happisburgh, Norfolk. Shoeing Smith by trade. Married Gertrude Hagar Hall 25 October 1899 in Blakeney, Norfolk; four children. Height 5 feet 51/8 inches, weight 126lbs, chest 37½ inches. Embarked at Southampton 2 February 1915, disembarked at Havre 3 February 1915. Transferred to Class "Z" Army Reserve on Demobilization 5 March 1919.
TODD, MM & BAR	Norman	No Further information
TUDMAN	Sidney	No Further information
TUDMAN	Thomas	No Further information
TUDMAN	Ernest	No Further information
TUDMAN	Roland	No Further information
WATTS	Sidney	No Further information
WATTS	William	No Further information
WATTS	William	No Further information
WATTS	George	Born Happisburgh, Norfolk. Attested 12 September 1914 at Norwich, aged 33 years 151 days, as Private 15072, 10th and 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Fisherman by trade. Married to Mildred Agnes (nee Marlow) Watts, of Council Cottages, Happisburgh, Norfolk, married 17 April 1911 in Happisburgh, Norfolk. Posted 3rd Battalion 2 October 1914. Height 5 feet 5 inches, weight 134lbs, chest 37 inches. fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. Transferred to "Z" Class Army Reserve on Demobilization 11 May 1919. Resident on demobilisation Council Cottages, Happisburgh, Norfolk. Seved in Mesopotamia 10 December 1915 to 5 July 1917, India 6 July 1917 to 10 August 1917 and Mesopotamia (again) 11 August 1917 to 11 April 1919.
WATTS	Isaac	No Further information
WATTS	Herbert	No Further information
WILSON	Harry	No Further information
WILKINS	Frank	No Further information
WRIGHT	Cyril	No Further information
WEGG	William	No Further information

Photographs Copyright © Lynda Smith - 2004

H.M.S. INVINCIBLE

On 16 March 1801, HMS INVINCIBLE
was wrecked of Happisburgh when
on her way to join the fleet with
Admiral Nelson at Copenhagen.
The day following, the Ship sank with
the loss of some four hundred lives.
One hundred and nineteen members
of the Ship’s Company lie buried here.
“And the sea gave up the dead
that were in it…..”
Revelation 26:13
This memorial stone was given jointly
by the Parochial Church Council and
The Officers and Ship’s Company of
HMS Invincible. 1998

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The Bells

There is a plaque commemorating the restoration of the Bells dedicated to Mariners who perished in the North Sea in the Great War.

The Bells of St Mary’s 1637
To the Glory of God and in Memory
of the Officers and Men of the
Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine
who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the
North Sea in the Great War 1914 – 1919
These Bells have been restored.
Easter 1924.

The Window

On 27th October 1940, a bomb dropped in Happisburgh Churchyard blowing out most of the Church windows. In September 1951 a service was held marking the restoration of the Church, and St George’s Chapel and window were dedicated to those who lost their lives in the war.

Last updated 18 July, 2018