Little Saling (Bardfield) War Memorial

A brief memorial to local men who gave their lives in two world wars

Other local war memorials

1914 -1918

ADAMS, FRANK. Private G/14647. 2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. Previously 3473. 8th (Cyclists) Essex Rgt. Died 27/09/1916. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Son of an Agricultural labourer in 1901 the family lived in Bardfield Saling by 1911 they were at ‘Four Elms’ Little Saling, where 14 year old Frank was a stockman on farm. Frank had three sisters and one brother at this time.

Wiki

BROUGHTON, Robert Thomas. Chief Engine Room Artificer 1c, 129257 (Po), HMS 'Invincible' Royal Navy. Born Cork 1862 to William and Eliza Broughton.

BROUGHTON, Robert T, Chief Engine Room Artificer 1c, 129257 (Po), Invincible, 31 May 1916, Jutland, ship lost. http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCasAlpha1914-18B2.htm

HMS 'Invincible' was the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland. The squadron had been detached from Admiral Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet a few days before the battle for gunnery practice with the Grand Fleet and acted as its heavy scouting force during the battle. She was destroyed during the battle by a magazine explosion during the battle when the two German ships Lützow and Derfflinger fired three salvoes each at Invincible. A 30.5 cm (12.0 in) shell from the third salvo struck Invincible's Q-turret amidships, detonating the magazines below, causing her to blow up and sink. All but six of her crew of 1,032 officers and men, including Rear-Admiral Hood, were killed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Invincible_(1907)

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CHEEK, FRANK. Private CH/17917. Royal Marine Light Infantry. H.M.S. "Formidable." Died 01/01/1915 Aged 22. CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL Son of Harry and Mary Cheek, of Yew Tree Cottage, Little Saling, Braintree, Essex. Born 1893 to Harry and Mary Cheek (nee Olley). Father Harry a horsekeeper on farm and Frank was destined to follow his father into farm labouring. His mother had seven children in all, two dying young.

Frank volunteered for the Royal Navy Marines on 16^th April 1913 while the family lived in Little Saling. He was serving aboard the pre-Dreadnought battleship ‘Formidable’ when she was sunk by two torpedoes from U-24. The attack occurred in rough weather at night and many were lost in the confusion of the sinking and the difficulty in getting lifeboats to shore. 35 Officers and 512 men were lost out of a compliment of 780.

Following the outbreak of World War I, the squadron conducted operations in the English Channel, and was based at Sheerness to guard against a possible German invasion. Despite reports of submarine activity, early in the morning of 1 January 1915, whilst on exercise in the English Channel, Formidable sank after being hit by two torpedoes. She was the second British battleship to be sunk by enemy action during the First World War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Formidable_(1898)

http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/Wrecks%20off%20Burton%20Bradstock/HMS%20Formidable.htm

https://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/2233.html

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DODD, WILLIAM. Private. 3/2387. 1st Bn. Essex Regiment 88th Brigade in 29th Division. Died 12/10/1916 Aged 35. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Alfred and Alice Dodd; husband of Annie Dodd, of Crows Green, Little Saling, Braintree, Essex.

Entered war 26^th January 1915 so presumed to have volunteered around August 1914.

War Diary: 1^st Essex attack near Gudecourt. While battalion advanced and took enemy trenches, 1^st objective taken, several hundred enemy killed and at least 60 pow taken the attack failed under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. All companies retired to jumping off trench.

Presumed dead.

DYER, GEORGE. Private.13556. 10th Bn. Essex Regiment. 53rd Brigade in 18th (Eastern) Division. Died 20/07/1916. QUARRY CEMETERY, MONTAUBAN. Born Bardfield Saling 1896.Parents William and Anne had nine children, all living in 1911. Father a farm labourer, George a stockman in 1911, brothers Arthur and William also worked on farm.

Entered war 25th July 1915 with the 10th Battalion.

19th July the battalion struggled along road to Longueval, battalion ahead held up by machine guns and road heavy with dead. Single file much of the way. Supporting Norfolks as they attacked Delville Wood, much opposition and confusion. Fighting along 'Princes Street' line enduring many casualties from machine gun fire. Confusion during the night led to men firing on Royal Welch Fusiliers. Heavy firing stopped any attempt to advance and line consolidated by remaining ranks. Firing slackened during day and relieved by Royal Fusiliers after midnight.

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FRANCIS, GEORGE WILLIS. Cook's Mate. M/25094. Royal Navy. H.M.S. "Bergamot." Died. 13/08/1917. Age: 27. PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of John William Francis and Mary Ann Francis, of Little Saling Mill, Braintree, Essex.

Born 1888, father a miller and baker and large family mostly participated in family business. During 1911 George worked as miller and baker yet by February 1917 was serving on his first ship and during August of that year was aboard the 'Bergamot.'

Sunk by U-84 while acting as a ‘Trap Ship.’

HMS_Bergamot_(1917)

U-84.

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UNDERWOOD, BENNETT Private G/21899. 13th Bn. Middlesex Regiment. attd 8th Bn. East Surrey Regiment. Died 30/09/1916. Aged 22. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Arthur Albert and Elizabeth Ann Underwood, of High Roding, Dunmow, Essex. Living Waltham Cross when enlisted.

Fighting at Schwaben Redoubt. War Diary 8th East Surrey Regiment.

Effects to father Arthur £/7/9d plus War Gratuity £3.

1939-1945

ADAMS, WILLIAM FRANK. Private. 14519860 6th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment. Died 13/10/1944. Aged 21. Born 1923. ASSISI WAR CEMETERY. Son of Alfred and Ethel Adams, of Little Saling, Essex.

Killed during the attack on the ‘Gothic Line.’ Being buried in Assisi some miles to the south implies he could have been injured and died later at hospital.

MACBETH, ALAN GODFREY. First Radio Officer. S.S. 'Cape Corso' (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. Died 02/05/1942 Aged 30. TOWER HILL MEMORIAL. Married Phylis Jane 1934 in Surrey. Lived 98 Drayton Avenue, West Ealing London W13.

Convoy PQ15 to Soviet Union.

Completed for Newport-Normandy Line Ltd as Knight of St. George. Change of name to Cape Corso and owner to Lyle Shipping Co. Ltd. 1934. The vessel was sunk on 2 May 1942 by a torpedo fired by an aircraft at position 73° 02' N 19° 46' E with the loss of 50 lives whilst en route from Hull to North Russia with a cargo of munitions. Of her crew of 56, there were only 6 survivors of whom 3 were injured.

SS Cape Corso

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STOCK, WILLIAM ERIC. Sapper. 14631857. 966 (I.W.T.) Operating Coy. Royal Engineers.

Died 27/05/1945. Aged 36. JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY. Son of George Wendon Stock and May Stock, of Little Saling, Essex; husband of Winifred Alice Stock, of Little Saling.

VE Day was 8^th May 1945. Eric William died on the 27^th indicating he died of wounds or disease.