Private 3/10390, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 20 July 1916. Aged 19. Born Rattlesden, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Son of A. J. Punchard (formerly Bye), of 1, Council Cottages, Latchingdon, Chelmsford, and the late Harry H. Bye. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 Cand 2 A.

Lance Sergeant 17451, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 2 September 1918. Born Stanton, Suffolk, enlist Bury St Edmunds. Born in Oct/Dec Quarter of 1893 in Stanton, Suffolk, son of John Clarke and Fanny Maria Baker. No known grave. Commemorated on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 3.

Extract from Bury Free Press - Saturday 28 September 1918, page 3:

COCKFIELD SOLDIER KILLED
BY SHELL FIRE.

Mr. and Mrs. John Clarke, of Capel Farm, Cockfield, have received the sad news that their eldest son, L.-Sergt, R. F Clarke, of the Suffolk Regiment, fell in action, in France, on Sept. 2nd. The parents have received a letter from the Captain of the Battalion, part of which reads as follows : "I am sorry to inform I you that your son was killed by enemy shell fire on Sept. 2nd. He had been with us a long time, and was an efficient soldier and a brave man; he was much liked by the men and had many friends. All the officers, N.C.O.’s, and men join with me in tendering to you our deepest sympathy. He was buried in a British Cemetery, behind the lines." The deceased soldier, who was 24 years of age, enlisted in January, 1915, went overseas the following May, and in June was sent to hospital suffering from gas poisoning. In 1917 he was seriously wounded in the shoulder and back by shrapnel, his wounds necessitating his return to England for medical treatment. Previous to enlisting he worked for Mr. H. Colson, of Rattlesden. Sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved parents, who have had two other sons serving with the Forces—Prvt. Ernest Clarke, Suffolk Regiment, whose leg was amputated as the result of being wounded by shrapnel whilst going up to the lines in 1915; and Rifleman Edward Clarke, of the King’s Royal Rifles, who is in hospital in Sussex, having been wounded in the thigh last June.

Private 17/510, 17th Battalion (N.E.R. Pioneers), Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed in action 29 July 1917. Aged 25. Born 9 February 1892 in Rattlesden, enlisted York. Son of James Edward and Sarah Anna Gladwell. Native of Rattlesden, Bury St. Edmund's. He was a Greaser with North Eastern Railway at Spennymoor. Buried in GWALIA CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot I. Row G. Grave 1.

Photograph Courtesy of Railway Museum Study Centre

Extract from The Post, Thursday 6 September 1917:

BUXHALL

Extract from North Eastern Railway Magazine, Vol 7 Oct 1917, page 222:

Private 3/8706, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 24 April 1915. Born rattlesden, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.

Lance Serjeant 5249, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 16 September 1916. Aged 22. Born and enlisted Rattlesden. Son of John and Lucy Knights, of High Town Green, Rattlesden, Bury St. Edmund's. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 6 B and 6 C.

Private 21/406, 20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action 31 Juily 1917. Born Stowmarket, enlisted West Hartlepool, resident Fleet Shot, Castle Eden. Baptised 20 June 1897 in St Nichollas Church, Rattlesden, born 5 Novemebr 1891, son of James (an engine driver) and Agnes Laura Poole. In 1901 he was aged 4, born Rattlesden, son of James and Agenes L Poole, with 10 siblings, resident Poy Street Green, Rattlesden, Stow, Suffolk. In 1911 he is listed as aged 14, Farm Labourer, born Rattlesden, resident Poy St Green, Rattlesden, Woolpit. He attested 7 December 1915 and was eventually enlisted 13 January 1916 and served in the 21st (Service) Battalion and 20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. At the time of enlistment he was aged 19 years 1 month and worked as a farm hand; his address was given as Poy St Green, Rattlesden. No known grave. He was 5 feet 4½ inches, chest 36 inches, 130 lbs, religious denomination Church of England. First embarked France 5 May 1916. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 36 and 38.

Private 42756, 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Killed in action 24 October 1916. Aged 27. Born Hitcham, enlisted and resident Rattlesden. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Durham, of Poystreet Green, Rattlesden, Bury St. Edmunds. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 A and 6 C.

Private 203179, 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment formerly 201165, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 30 July 1918. Aged 21. Resident Saxmundham, enlisted Ipswich. Son of Emma Jane and the late Gilbert George Sparkes. Buried in NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XV. Row B. Grave 16.

Photograph Copyright © Susan C. Hulme-Screen 2022

JESU MERCY
IN THE MEMORY OF

Aircraftman 1st Class 1129837, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died from Beriberi and Acute Enteritus as a Japanese Prisoner of War 21 February 1945. Aged 39. Son of Mrs. F. E. Larter, of Rattlesden, Suffolk. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji War Cemetery, Kranji, Singapore. Column 454.

He arrived at Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp bteween 8th and 18th April 1943, PoW Number 2684. He died, aged 39, at Maringan (East of Tampias) and was buried beside the track where he died.