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TITTLESHALL-CUM-GODWICK WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Geoff Clark 2009

Tittleshall is a village 6 miles south-west of Fakenham. The memorial stands by the main road through the village and takes the form of a wheeled-cross on a large shaft mounted on a plinth with a single-step base. The whole is surrounded by white chain-link supported by wooden posts. There are twelve names for World War 1 and one for World War 2. There are two burials in the churchyard, both of whom are on the memorial, and one battlefield cross in the church for another man on the memorial.

Photograph Copyright © Geoff Clark 2009

FOR THEIR COUNTRY
1914-1919

ALCOCK

Oscar J

[Listed as ALLCOCK on CWGC and SDGW] Private 320445, 12th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds 2nd October 1918. Aged 22. Enlisted Norwich. Son of John and Jessie Allcock, of Tittleshall, Swaffham, Norfolk. Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot V. Row C. Grave 34.

DIGBY

Lionel Kenelm

Private 38456, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds 18th October 1918. Aged 34. Born Bramley, Surrey, enlisted Norwich. Son of Reginald and Caroline Grace Digby, of Geashill Castle, King's Co. Rector of Tittleshall, Norfolk. Buried near south-east corner of the church in RAIMBEAUCOURT CHURCHYARD, Nord, France.

The battlefield cross that originally marked his grave hangs in nthe parish church - the date on the cross is 2 days later than the CWGC database date of 18th October 1918:

RIP
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
38456 PTE L. K. DIGBY
7TH BN NORFOLK REGIMENT
KILLED IN ACTION
20 OCTOBER 1918

EVERITT

Uriah

[Listed as EVERETT on SDGW] Private 153055, Labour Corps formerly 81477, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Died in United Kingdom 15th June 1917. Aged 19. Born Weasenham, enlisted Attleborough, resident Thetford. Son of Mrs. E. Everitt, of 74, Fakenham Rd., Tittleshall, King's Lynn. Buried in BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH CEMETERY, Essex. Plot/Row/Section D. Grave 55.

HOWE

Eric

[Listed as HOW on CWGC and SDGW] Private 6172, 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars. Died 19th January 1915. Born Tittleshall, enlisted Norwich, resident Swaffham. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot A. Row 3. Grave 14.

JOHNSON

Leslie Oliver

Private 31170, Depot, East Lancashire Regiment formerly 100813, Durham Light Infantry. Died in United Kingdom 15th March 1919. Aged 20. Born Tittleshall, enlisted King's Lynn. Son of Mr. W. Johnson, of Lower Farm, Tittleshall. Buried north-west of the church in ST. MARY CHURCHYARD, TITTLESHALL, Norfolk.

PALMER

Sidney

[Cannot locate on SDGW] Driver T4/173232, Royal Army Service Corps. Died 12th November 1918. Aged 25. Born Tittleshall, King's Lynn. Son of Mrs. Ann Palmer; husband of Elizabeth Alison Palmer, of 91, Overstone Rd., Northampton. Buried in BILLING ROAD CEMETERY, NORTHAMPTON, Northants. Screen Wall. 33. 2115.

PALMER

Wilfred David

Private 41974, 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment formerly TR/10/6705, Training Reserve. Killed in action 10th October 1918. Born tittleshall, enlisted King's Lynn. No known grave. Commemorated on VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 10.

ROBERSON

Robert

Private 9369, 1/5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry formerly 24405, Norfolk Regiment and 5932, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 7th November 1916. Aged 25. Born and resident Tittleshall, enlisted Norwich. Son of Charles and Harriett Roberson, of Tittleshall, King's Lynn. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 14 A and 15 C.

SMITH

William A

Enlisted in the Royal Navy as William A. Robinson. Ordinary Seaman J/52479, H.M.S. Negro (a Torpedo Destroyer), Royal Navy. Drowned on 21st December 1916. Aged 20. Born at Whissonsett, Norfolk, the son of Hannah Smith who was a widow. According to the 1891 Census Hannah's husband was 42 years older than she was, and was also a deaf mute (she gave birth to her 4th son in 1891). In 1900 she married the lodger, Arthur Robinson, a shepherd, and he was probaly William's father, although not named in the Register of Births; they moved from Whissonsett to Tittleshall. In the 1911 Census William is named as Smith, aged 14, occupation Farm Labourer. William enlisted using his Mother's new married name of Robinson, although he served as Robertson. The inscription on his Mother's grave in Tittleshall Churchyard includes "William the beloved son of Hannah & Arthut Robinson Drowned Dec 21st 1916 aged 20 serving on HM Torpedo Boat destroyer Negro". No known grave. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent.

THOMPSON

Abel

Private 42784, 14th Battalion formerly 1st/6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry formerly 24637, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 27th September 1916. Aged 33. Born Tittleshall, enlisted East Dereham, resident Swaffham.Son of the late Abel and Susan Thompson, of 49, High St., Tittleshall, King's Lynn. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 14 A and 15 C.

THOMPSON

John Abel

[Abel spelt Able on CWGC] Private 16189, 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 11th August 1917. Aged 23. Born Tittleshall, enlisted Norwich. Son of John and Rebecca Thompson, of 18, High St., Tittleshall, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Buried in TYNE COT CEMETERY, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot LX. Row F. Grave II.

WITHERS

[William] Ernest

Private T.F.290326 [SDGW incorrectly states 290336], 1/10th (Territorial) Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) formerly 1777, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Died as a Prisoner of War at Yarbaschi in the Persian Gulf 3rd September 1916. Born 31st August 1891 in Fakenham, Norfolk, enlisted Battersea, Surrey. Admitted to Fakenham School 19th October 1896, son of Edgar Withers, left 17th February 1905. In the 1901 census he was aged 9, born Fakenham, son of Edgar and Anna Maria Withers, resident Grocers Shop, Tittleshall, Mitford, Norfolk. In the 1911 census he was aged 19, born Fakenham, an Assistant teacher, son of Edgar and Anna maria Withers, resident Tittleshall, Swaffham, Norfolk. Buried in BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Plot XXI. Row J. Grave 49. See also Norfolk Teachers War Memorial

1939-1945

LUSHA

Reginald Alfred

Leading Aircraftsman (Observer) 1003160, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died in United Kingdom 28th September 1941. Aged 23. Son of Francis H. Lusha and Maud E. Lusha, of Tittleshall. School Teacher by profession. Buried in ST. MARY CHURCHYARD, TITTLESHALL, Norfolk.

AFGHANISTAN 2008
WHATLEY Benjamin Mark Lawson aka Ben

Lance Corporal P063692W, 42 Commando, Royal Marines. Died 24 December 2008. Aged 20. Born 29 July 1988. He joined 42 Commando Royal Marines as a rifleman in Mike Company. It was during this formative stage of his career that he deployed to Afghanistan for the first time on Operation HERRICK 5. A hugely successful tour, it saw Ben realise his potential as an infantryman and he began to grow into a junior commander, relishing any opportunity to step into the breach and provide an example for others to follow. He was killed in Nad-E-Ali district, central Helmand, while Lima Company was conducting an operation to clear enemy forces from the north of the district. Leading his men from the front, Lance Corporal Whatley was killed by enemy fire during a prolonged and fierce battle with insurgents. Cremated at Mintlyn Crematorium, Lynn Road, Bawsey, Kings Lynn, PE32 1HB. Reembered on the Armed Forces Memorial, Staffordshire.

For more information see his details on the Government announcements page

Last updated 25 October, 2022

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