Roll of Honour - Norfolk

The Royal British Legion

(CD names him as Walter) Rifleman 9545. 1st/5th Battalion,, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). Killed in action Thursday 13 May 1915. Age 19. Born and lived Streatham. Enlisted London. Son of Mrs. A. C. Claridge, of 72, Riggindale Rd., Streatham, London. Commemorated: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 52 and 54.

Corporal G/15273, 11th. Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (Formerly Private 3166 Norfolk Regiment). Died Wednesday 20 February 1918 – Aged 19. Gerald was born in Hickling on 22 December1898 the son of Alan Garway Atkins, a Clerk in Holy Orders, and Mabel (née Houtchen). He was baptised at St. Margaret of Antioch, Palling on 16 February 1899.

In 1901 the family were living at The Green, Hickling. The family comprised Alan Garway (aged 35, born: Romsey ,Hampshire), a Church of England Clergyman, Mabel (38 born: Swaffham), Edward A. (4 born: Brockley, Suffolk), Gerald E.G. (2). In addition Priscilla Haywood (21 born: Palling) a Domestic Nurse and Sarah Ann Reynolds (17 born: Mumford) a Cook were residing with the family.

In 1911 Gerald (12) was a schoolboy border at Kirkley House School, Kirkley Cliff Road, South Lowestoft, Suffolk. The School’s proprietor was Louis William Paul, School Master His parents were living in Weston Super Mare, Devon and had been married for 15 years, had 2 children both of whom were then still living.

War Diary – 20 February 1918
In Line (near Revelon Farm near Gouzeaucourt)

“Day fine. Enemy artillery active. Coys. and B.H.Q. employed at night on cable burying and trench digging. Casualty: 1 O/R killed”

He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Gerald is buried in GOUZEAUCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot II Row E Grave 6)

Private 27811. 6th Battalion,, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Formerly 15754 Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Friday 17 November 1916. Age 24. Born Aldborough, Cromer. Lived Waxham. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Charles Harry and Kezia Beane, of Waxham, Stalham, Norwich. Commemorated: DOIRAN MEMORIAL, Greece.

Seaman 8909A. H.M.S. "Carron.", Royal Naval Reserve. Died Wednesday 16 May 1917. Age 20. Son of George T. and Anna M. Bell, of Hall Lodge, Waxham, Norfolk. Commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom. Panel 26.

Corporal 15937, 9th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment Died Saturday 1 December 1916 – Aged 21.

Lewis was born in Martham on 16 December 1895 the son of Edgar Ernest Dyball, a Farm Labourer and Elizabeth Rose (née King)In 1901 the family were living in Hemsby Road, Martham and comprised Edgar Ernest (aged 26), Elizabeth Rose (26 born: Chelsham, Surrey), Lewis (recorded as Louis age 5), Edith (2) and Edgar (9 months). All were born in Martham except Elizabeth Rose.

In 1911 the family had moved to Church Street, Martham and had the following additions Dallas (8 at school), Eileen (6 at school), Florence (4 at school) and Mirren (4 months). All born in Martham. Lewis was then 15 and employed as a Telegraph Messenger. At that time his parents had been married for 15 years, had 9 children all of whom were still alive.

He enrolled in the Norfolk Regiment in Norwich on 10 September 1914 (Army records has his year of birth as 1894) He gave his occupation as Agricultural Farm Servant. He gave his father Edgar Ernest of Waxham bridge as next-of-kin. His papers record his height as 5’10 ½”, grey eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.

He served In England from 10 September 1914 to 29 August 1915, in France with the British Expeditionary Force from 30 August 1915 to 9 January 1916 when he was hospitalised in Etaples with bronchitis. In England and posted to 10th. Battalion on 14 February 1916 and served until 1 March 1916 when he was posted to 9th. Battalion and returned to France. Promoted to Acting Corporal on 2 September 1916.

War Diary: 1 to 4 December 1916 – Mazingarbe – Mairie, France
“Battalion formed working parties under the Tunnelling corps. No casualties. Everything Quiet” So assume that Lewis died of wounds suffered earlier?

He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Victory medalsLewis is buried in WOBURN ABBEY CEMETERY, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France Plot I Row E Grave 20

He is also commemorated on the Memorial Tablet in St John, Waxham and on the Martham War Memorial.

Gunner 102497. 230th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action Sunday 17 June 1917. Born and lived Sea Palling. Enlisted Cromer. Buried: ATHIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. L. 12.

Private 17106. 7th Battalion,, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action Wednesday 13 October 1915. Age 28. Born Sea Palling. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Robert and Ellen Hall; husband of Mabel Hall, of Malling, (presume this should be Palling) Norwich. Commemorated: LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 30 and 31.

Deck Hand 11597DA. H.M. Drifter "Tuberose.", Royal Naval Reserve. Died Thursday 31 August 1916. Age 27. Son of Robert and Ellen Mary Hall, of Waxham, Stalham, Norfolk. Commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom. Panel 19.

Private 25980. 10th (R. East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion,, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds Saturday 26 October 1918. Age 19. Born Horsey. Lived Sea Palling. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Robert Hall and Ellen Mary Hall, of Waxham Bridge, Stalham, Norwich. Buried: DON COMMUNAL CEMETERY, ANNOEULLIN, Nord, France. Ref. I. A. 56.

Private 28089. 13th Battalion,, Essex Regiment. Killed in action Monday 13 November 1916. Age 21. Born and lived Sea Palling. Enlisted Great Yarmouth. Son of Mrs. Mary Postle, of Baptist Chapel Rd., Sea Palling, Norwich. Buried: SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No. 2, Somme, France. Ref. I. B. 13.

Skipper. H.M. Drifter "New Dawn.", Royal Naval Reserve. Died Saturday 23 March 1918. Age 37. Husband of Kate Alice Woolston, of Church Rd., Palling-on-Sea, Stalham, Norwich. Commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL Kent, United Kingdom. Panel 30.