A Brief memorial to those connected to Black Notley who fell in two world wars
Other local war memorials
Braintree & Bocking Cressing Panfield Gosfield Finchingfield Warner & Sons Great BardfieldDied of wounds 18 days before the armistice.
Born Little Leighs 1897 by 1911 William was living in Black Notley and working as a domestic gardener. his father was a blacksmith, his two older brothers wheelwrights. There was one sister.
Lived at Black Notley Hall while a farmer in 1911. A world traveller it is unclear how he enlisted in the Australian Army. The 55th Battalion was raised February 1916.
55th Battalion suffered heavily at Fromelles, partly through inexperience of infantry and artillery. In June 1916, the battalion was transferred to the European theatre along with the other battalions of the four Australian infantry divisions that were in the Middle East at that time and they arrived in France at the end of the month. Following this, the 55th Battalion took its place in the trenches along the Western Front in mid-July, amidst heavy fighting on the Somme. The battalion did not have to wait long before they experienced their first engagement of the campaign, being committed to the Battle of Fromelles a week later on 19 July. Initially they were placed in reserve, but as the attack stalled, the 55th Battalion was tasked with providing the rearguard for the withdrawal of the assault formation. 55th BattalionBuried at Chocolate Hill, re-interred in Green Hill July 1920. Does not appear to have been either killed in action or died of wounds. Company at Sulva Bay, Hill 60. Many men died from disease in summer and icy conditions during November.
Henry entered the war in July 1915 with the Service Battalion the 10th Essex. He was killed in action somewhere around Maricourt, possibly in the wood, either by rifle, machine gun or very likely artillery fire. Originally buried at Maricourt, re-interred in the early twenties.
Born Springfield, Chelmsford 1897, son of George, a horseman on farm, mother Rebecca. Brother cattleman on farm.
Additional Information: Son of Mr Alfred and Mrs Jane Digby, of Buckwood's, Black Notley, Essex; husband of Florence Lily Digby, of Crawford's Cottages, South Hornchurch, Essex.
"God is Love"
Born Colchester 1882, married Ellen 1910. Entered war 1st June 1915 and qualified for '1915 Star.'
The 6th Bedford's participated in ending the last Great German 'Push' of the war. 'Operation Michael' was supposed to push the British army back to the ports and out of France. It failed and Private G.F. Hammond was one of the young defenders in the thick of the action.
Born Terling 1877, father Benjamin an agricultural labourer, mother Sarah, sister Emily Jane. Both parents appear deceased by 1915. His will made out to married sister. His army number indicates he enlisted between January 1893 and February 1894, possibly late 1893. However dying in 1915 indicates he would be 38, not 36. Aged 4 on 1881 census. Did he enlist as a ten year old claiming to be 12 years old as a drummer boy or suchlike? There is no 1911 census return so possibly he remained in the army. He was with the 2nd Essex when they entered the war on the 24th August 1914 and he was awarded the '1914 Star.'
Effects to Minnie Blanche £15/14/9d War gratuity to Mrs Minnie B Perry £5.
Born Braintree 1885, father Arthur a Farm Baliff, mother Jane, four brothers. Enlisted late 1903 according to army number. the 1911 census finds him working in a yard in Thronton heath. Like many other ex-servicemen he rejoined his regiment as war broke out. Killed in Action aged 29, 26th August 1914. Buried alongside comrades by Germans. Their stone read "Honour & Glory to 112 British soldiers. The grave of the battle of 26th Aug 1914" This was the date of the 'Battle of Le Cateau.' The regiment, as part of the 4th Division entered the war on 22nd August 1914
Born Black Notley 1897, father deceased soon after, mother remarried 1905. Two sisters, one brother and two half siblings. Death accepted on 22nd December 1917. At times, the Cavalry brigades formed dismounted units and served in the trenches as regiments under the command of their brigadiers. It appears Pilgrim was lost at such a time.
"Sad memory, Mum and Dad, from Black Notley"
Born Leytonstone 1896, father Edward a carpenter, mother Annie. One brother, two sisters. 1911 worked as gardener, domestic. The 9th Battalion were a volunteer 'Kitchener' Service Battalion formed at Warley.
Father Arthur Taylor of Black Notley, deceased by 1914. Enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment at Bury St Edmunds 1908. Entered France 16th January 1915. Sister Susan Robinson of Kings Cross the only surviving relative. During 1910 he became drunk in Belfast and 'violently resisted' the MP's arresting him, he got 10 days CB.
Enlisted for only a few months, worked in Mill, died of illness in Cambridge.
Born Bathgate 1893, son of Peter and Emma Constance Louise McNaughton. Emigrated to South Africa and enlisted 1914 in Rand Rifles and served in western Campaign. November 1915 he joined the RAMC and Nalmugu, East Africa he contracted Blackwater Fever and died. His mother remarried and lived in Black Notley.
Born Stanway 1887 father Thomas a Nurseryman and mother a laundress. 1911 Henry was also a nurseryman and married Edith 1914 and moved to Black Notley. The 15th Royal Welsh were a 'Service' Battalion and it is likely Henry enlisted after 1916 and was placed in this regiment.
Sson of a groom at 'Oaklands' Black Notley. Brother John, sisters Hilda & Flora. Father a coachman and groom, Percy became chauffeur at Oaklands. Married 1914 had one son Arthur Percy, who was awarded the DFM but killed in action 1941.
Died of illness.
The 185th Infantry Brigade,3rd Infantry Division, landed on D-Day on 6 June 1944 with the first assault on the Normandy beaches and fought the Battle for Caen and the break out from Normandy. From D-Day until the end of the war the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment lost 286 officers and men killed in action, with nearly another 1,000 all ranks wounded, missing or suffering from exhaustion. Robert Owen Barnard was buried at first near Saliere France, reburied Bayeux War cemetery 1954.
"God takes our loved ones from our homes
But never from our hearts."
"At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember him"
Born Braintree 1914, father farm labourer, grandparents agricultural labourers from Inworth.
Born Saffron Walden 1926. The men of the fighting services buried at Rheinberg mostly lost their lives during the battle of the Rhineland, or in the advance from the Rhine to the Elbe. The battalion had seen nearly a year of solid action - but at a high cost; it lost 144 men killed, 66 missing and 552 wounded.
"Your knightly virtue proved
Your memory hallowed
In the land you loved"
In July 1944 the Squadron went to Scotland, where it remained for the rest of the war. Tain, Caithness, 28/06/44.
Liberator VIII: Feb 1945 - Apr 1946.
Possibly died from disease.
In April, the Regiment moved to Syria and because of a shortage of guns in Tunisia had to lose its own. In May, more guns arrived and combined operations with further intensive training were carried out in the Suez Canal area. Shropshire Regimental Museum
Mentioned in Despatches
Died at the 'Emergency Hospital, Black Notley.' Mentioned in Despatches
Father died in Great War. Known as 'Mick.' 'The Cottage on the Hill' Black Notley.
Died at Saltby Sproxton, Leics.
"Not just today but every day
In silence we remember."
The 8th battalion raised for Home defence.
HMS "Curacoa"
Escorting the RMS "Queen Mary" carrying 10,000 US Troops the "Curacoa" was in collision with the liner. The liner followed a zig-zag pattern slightly faster than the ageing Cruiser escort yet the escort attempted to stay close by as protection against aircraft attack. The Cruiser did not adjust it's position when the liner continued to follow their course and eventually the "Queen Mary" rammed the "Curacoa" midships cutting her in two. The rear of the vessel sank immediately, the front remaining afloat for a few minutes. Escort destroyers eventually picked up 101 men. Some 337 officers and men were lost Ronald Dennis Sharp, a 1st Class Stoker was among them, his position aboard leaving no chance of escape.This link has eye witness accounts and descriptions of the collision and contains pictures of the Stokers at work while docked in Rosyth. WW2 TodayNavalHistory net account.