Great Bardfield War Memorial

A brief memorial to those locals who gave their lives for their country.

Other local war memorials

1914 -1918

CARTER, FRED Private. 202881. Essex Regiment.  1st Bn. 88th Brigade in 29th Division. Died: 17/08/1917. Age:  33. DOZINGHEM MILITARYCEMETERY.  Son of Elizabeth Carter, of Great Lodge, Great Bardfield, Braintree, Essex.

"He is not dead but sleepeth"

Fred Carter worked as an agricultural labourer most of his life.  He served with the Territorial   1st Hertfordshire regiment before being assigned to the 1st Essex Battalion.  He enlisted at Witham while living at Great Totham.

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COOTE, JAMES EDGAR. Private. 61183. Royal Fusiliers. 24th Bn.5th Brigade, 2nd Division. Died: 08/07/1917. LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY.  Son of John and Alice Coote, of Great Bardfield, Braintree, Essex.

Born 1895 in Little Bardfield, father John then an agricultural labourer, later a gardener.  James worked as a 'house boy, domestic' in 1911.  Mother Alice had fifteen children all still alive in 1911! St Omer was a hospital centre during the war and James appears to have died from wounds.

CORNELL, ERNEST. Private.  4404 Australian Infantry, A.I.F.  28th Bn.   Died: 19/10/1916. Age: 27. WANDSWORTH (EARLSFIELD) CEMETERY.  Son of Alice Cornell, of Church Rd., Great Bardfield, Braintree, Essex.

Cornell Ernest : SERN 4404 : POB Bardfield Essex England : POE Blackboy Hill WA : NOK M Cornell Alice. Australian Records

Born Gosfield 1889, Father William a domestic gardener, by 1911 Ernest was a farm labourer.  His mother Alice had twelve children of which one had died by 1911.

Ernest enlisted in the Australian Infantry 25th February 1916 at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia.  Joined the 28th Battalion in France 2nd August 1916.  Wounded in action 4/6th August gunshot wound to left leg.  Admitted London general Hospital 11th August.  Died from secondary haemorrhage in thigh wound 19th October 1916.  

Younger brother of Herbert William below. Two other brothers also served, Albert Henry and Frederick Charles.

CORNELL, HERBERT WILLIAM.  Private. 26933. Essex Regiment. 11th Bn. Attchd  1/4th Suffolks.  Date of Death: 18/08/1916.  Age: 30. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.  Son of William and Alice Emily Cornell, of Church Rd., Great Bardfield, Essex.

Born Great Waltham 1886 father a domestic gardener.  Elder brother of Ernest above.  Two other brothers also served, Albert Henry and Frederick Charles.

EASY, HAROLD HENRY.  Driver. 49937. Royal Engineers. 82nd Field Coy.       Died: 05/05/1918.  Age:21. ESQUELBECQ MILITARY CEMETERY. Son of William Henry and Ellen Easy, of Hall Farm, Theberton, Leiston, Suffolk.

"He died that we might live"

Connected to Gamblers Hall Farm, Great Bardfield

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GREEN, JAMES.  Private.13549.  Coldstream Guards  3rd Bn. 4th Guards Brigade 31st Division.  Died:15/09/1916.  Age: 24. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.  Son of Mr. and Mrs. Green, of 3, Bridge St., Great Bardfield, Essex; husband of Florence Green, of 27, Lily Rd., Leyton, London.

Father an agricultural engineer working threshing machines.  Born Bardfield in 1892 James worked as a farm labourer in 1911.  He had two sisters.  James army number indicates he enlisted on 9th November 1914 in the Coldstream Guards and disembarked on 11th June 1915 in France.

Between Lesboeufs and Givenchy.  15th September 1916.

At 6:20 am the battalion attacked.  Four waves fifty paces apart advanced.  Great opposition from sunken road 50o yards from our trenches.  After this was overcome the 'Green Line' was taken and after reoganising the battalion advanced to the 'Brown Line' which the enemy had vacated.    Invasion Zone

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HARDY, WALTER.  Private. 40187.  Essex Regiment. 1st Bn. 88th Brigade in 29th Division.  Date of Death:  18/07/1918.  Age:  24.  ST. AMAND BRITISH CEMETERY.   Son of Mrs. Fanny Hardy, of Ponds Farm, Great Bardfield, Essex.

Stockman on farm 1916  Enlisted May 10th 1916. 3rd East Surrey Reg, transferred to Royal West Surrey. Wounded May 12th 1917 and in hospital at Leicester (Exington?) 17th May 1917 -25th August 1917  with GSW  (Gunshot wound) to forearm.  Returned to unit 5th September 1917.  Medically unfit for service, discharged from 3rd Royal West Surrey's on 3rd Dec 1917.

Walter is killed in action on the 18th July 1918 with the 1st Essex battalion.  Was he recalled in spite of wounds?  More like he rejoined to see the victory as he saw the war nearing its end, or he was unhappy with returning to farm labouring.

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MIZEN, ARTHUR.  Lance Corporal. 19274.  Essex Regiment. 9th Bn. 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division.  Died: 03/07/1916. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Mrs. E. Mizen, of Letche's Yard, Great Bardfield, Braintree, Essex.

Born Great Barfield 1884 the son of a farm worker. agricultural labouring was to be Arthur's life until he enlisted in the volunteer 9th Battalion.  Brother Frederick William also served with the RGA reaching rank of Bombardier, being honourably discharged when unfit in 1918.

PARKINS, HENRY JOHN. Private. 59775.  Canadian Infantry. 21st Bn.   Died: 11th October 1918. Age: 25. NIAGARA CEMETERY, IWUY, Cambrai.  Born Great Bardfield, son of Mr. Fred and Mrs. Elizabeth Parkins (nee Lanham), of Little Lodge, Great Bardfield, Essex, England. 

13th Nov 1914: Attested into 21st Battalion Kingston, Ontario. Number 59775. Assigned to B company, later A company. Entered war 15th Sep 1915.  Wounded once, served with light mortar battery for a few months, requested return to 21st Battalion August 1918.  Killed in action with battalion 11th October 1918.

"The LORD deal kindly with you

 As ye have dealt with me"

Enlisted Ontario.  Canadian Memorial

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Frederick J. Perkin Private 5th Batt Essex Regiment. 161 Brigade, 54th (Eastern) Division.  Born Great Bardfield 1884. Died 17th April 1919. St Mary's Churchyard Great Bardfield. (private grave) Son of Walter and Alice Perkin, father a farm worker later a horse keeper on the farm. Wethersfield Road, Great Bardfield, near the windmill.  By 1911 Fred and his brothers William and Montague were also farm workers.  His brother Harry a Miller. Sisters Rose, Edith and Alice/Florence. Living in four rooms by 1911 on .

Frederick arrived in Egypt in February 1917. During the attack on Gaza in March 1917 he recieved a gunshot wound and was later transferred back to 'Blighty.' Here he was again transferred to a Labour Battalion where during 1918 he was thrown from a horse while hay gathering was underway. Fredericks injuries were severe and he was discharged late in 1918 and awarded a Silver War Medal. He died in Colchester Hospital on 17th April 1919.

Frederick J. Perkin was 35 years of age.

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Herbert L Richardson

Herbert was born 1885 in Great Bardfield to Alfred and Julia Richardson.  His father a domestic groom and later a stockman on a farm his mother a laundress.  By 1891 one brother, William, was an 18 year old  wheelwright while another, Ernest, 16, a shoemakers apprentice.  Edgar, Ellen and Herbert himself were at school in 1891. By 1901 Herbert was a farm worker a job in which he remained and by 1911 the family had moved to farm at Model Hall, Little Sampford. 

There is one claim re his death, as yet uncorroborated.

"During December 1915 he enlisted in the Essex Regiment, No 35864, possibly the home based 2/5th Battalion.  However he suffered from nephritis and was discharged as unfit in May 1917 and awarded a Silver War badge (given to discharged wounded men).  He did not serve overseas."  Rootsweb

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SWAN, PERCY.  Driver. 44073. Royal Engineers. 13th Div. Signal Coy.  13th (Western) Division.  Died 19/03/1916  Aged 19. JERUSALEM MEMORIAL.  Percy Swan born Great Bardfield 1897, to William and Elizabeth Swan.  His father a Job-master in stable in 1901, a carrier in 1911 when Percy worked as a driver for his father. At that time they lived in 'The Bell Yard, with Frank Swan, a butchers assistant lodging with them.

Entered war 7th August 1915 with Egypt Expeditionary Force and sent to Gallipoli.  The Division returned to Egypt and made ready for Mesopotamia.  Somehow, on the 19th March 1916, in a situation not identified Percy drowned, his body was not recovered.

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SWAN, ROBERT WALTER 1St Cavalry Brigade (Royal Horse Artillery) Born Great Bardfield in 1887 to Frederick and Elizabeth Swan. Father an agricultural labourer, by 1901 Robert worked in the farm aged 13, his father a groom and his brother John an Ostler.  The 1911 census

In 1911 aged 23 he is found in Aldershot as an Acting Bombardier with the 1St Cavalry Brigade (Royal Horse Artillery), Wellington Lines, Aldershot. 

Died 23rd September 1921 and placed on the war memorial.  Death clearly a result of war service.

A Driver, Robert Swan RHA/RFA 40667 was awarded Silver War Medal (Given to discharged, wounded men).

Discharged due to sickness.  No conformation regarding whether this is our man.  If so why is he a Driver?

THOROGOOD, HERBERT.  Private. 3/2579 Essex Regiment. 9th Bn. 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division.  Died: 07/10/1915.  Age: 32.  LOOS MEMORIAL. Son of the late W. and M. Thorogood.

Born Great Bardfield in 1884 Herbert had little option but farm work following his father onto the land.  By 1911 he was working as a horseman on the farm and must have enlisted early in the 9th 'Kitchener' volunteers Essex battalion which formed at Warley during August 1914.  The battalion landed at Boulogne on the 31st May 1915 and as Herbert has been awarded the '1915 Star' it is to be presumed he was amongst them.  Died of wounds

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Battle of Loos 3 October 1915. Close fighting is renewed in the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and all but Big Willie Trench is lost to the enemy. 12th (Eastern) Division relieves 1st and 2nd Guards Brigades in area of the Chalk Pit. They are put to work on completing preparations of new trenches, roads and positions in preparation for the assault. Heavy enemy shelling causes many casualties among the working parties. Major-General Wing, O.C. 12th Division, is among those killed. The renewal of the offensive is delayed until 6th October, to enable preparatory attacks on Fosse 8 and Hill 70 to take place. Following the days loss of the trenches of Hohenzollern Redoubt, this area takes priority. The 12th and Guards Divisions are ordered to capture the Quarries and the Fosse 8 / Hohenzollern respectively, on 9th October. Fighting continued well into October. The Long, long Trail. 

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THOROGOOD, WALTER.  Private. 16524.  Essex Regiment. 9th Bn. 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division.  Died: 05/04/1918.  Age:34. POZIERES MEMORIAL. Son of John Thorogood, of Dumow Rd., Great Bardfield; husband of Beatrice Maud Newman (formerly Thorogood), of Bridge End, Great Bardfield, Essex.

Born Great Bardfield the son of a farm labourer Walter also worked on the land. Enlisted Chelmsford. Entered war 30th September 1915. CWGC lists him as 9th Battalion while his war medals indicate 11th battalion.  He may have been allocated to 11th during action.  The 'Battle of the Ancre' on 5th April 1918 was the last through by Ludendorff's great 'push,' and as this failed set the beginning for the Allied push to end the war.

WHITTAKER, WILLIAM. Private. G/14741. Royal Sussex Regiment. 2nd Bn. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division.  Died: 28/09/1916.  THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Born 1897 in Little Bardfield to John & Emily Whittaker, John was a farm labourer a job William was also employed at in 1911.   In 1914 he served as Private 3242 in the 2/5th Home Based Territorial Essex Regiment.  He with several others was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex, either willingly or unwillingly and he and at least four others from the 2/5th died in action.   

Battle of Morval. (25-28 Sep 1916, including the capture of Combles, Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt).  On the 27th September the 1st Division attacked the heavily defended Flers Switch Trench successfully and was relieved during the night.  It appears William remained behind on the battlefield.

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WILLIS, ALFRED.  Private.  203376.  Suffolk Regiment. 2nd Bn. 76th Brigade 3rd Division.  Died:  27/09/1918. FLESQUIERES HILLBRITISH CEMETERY. nr Cambrai.

Born in Great Bardfield 1892 the son of a farm worker Alfred worked the land likewise in 1911.

Enlisting at Chelmsford in the 5th Battalion Essex Regiment, Territorials, he later joined the 12th Suffolk's then the 2nd Suffolk battalion with whom he was killed on 27th September 1918.

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WILLIS, FRANK

Born Bocking 1883, son of John, a maltster, and Ellen a crepe roller and living in Church Lane 1891.  By 1901 the family lived of four lived in Eagle lane, Bocking and his father John's name had become Walter!

During 1901 Frank worked as a butcher and by 1911 aged 28 he was still butchering but in Great Bardfield and lodging with the Swan family.   The Swan's were to lose their son Percy during the war as well as their lodger.  Married Minnie Saggers in St Mary The Virgin, Great Bardfield in 1912.  There is no trace of Frank's military records.

Willis, George F.  Served with the Army Service Corps and survived.

 1939 - 1945

HMS "Sphinx" Halcyon Class

DUNELL, ERIC JOHN.  Able Seaman, C/JX 139875 Royal Navy H.M.S. Sphinx.  Died 04/02/1940. Age: 21. WICK CEMETERY. Son of Maurice Dunell, and of Ethel Dunell, of Great Bardfield, Essex; husband of Kathleen Elizabeth Dunell. Born Rochford 1918.

"He lives in our memory"

Halcyon Class Minesweeper based at Rosyth.  On the morning of 2 February 1940 the Flotilla was minesweeping in the Moray Firth, 15 miles north of Kinnaird Head, in position 57°57′N 02°00′W, when it came under attack by German aircraft. Sphinx was hit by a bomb, which penetrated the foredeck and exploded, killing five men, including the commanding officer Cdr. John Robert Newton Taylor. The crippled ship was taken under tow by Harrier, but eventually capsized 17 hours after being bombed Boreas rescued 46 of her crew, but 49 men were lost. The wreck later drifted ashore two miles north of Lybster, and was eventually sold for scrap.

On 7 June 1940 the OBE was awarded to Sphinx's Senior surviving Officer and two members of the crew, and there were five Mentions in Despatches, three to crewmen of Sphinx and two from Boreas. HMS "Sphinx" Wiki

Gravestone

HMS "Sphinx" Crew (pictures)

Naval Losses 4th February 1940

HMS "Sphinx" Naval History

A rescue attempt from HMS "Boreas"

HMS "Sphinx" Wrecksite

Bofors Gun

RICKWOOD, CHARLES BENNETT Gunner 6012848 Royal Artillery, 94 Lt. A.A. Regt.  Died 18/09/1944  Age: 22  LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY.  Born Great Bardfield 1921, parents Charles and Minnie Rickwood, three brothers, three sisters. Father a harness worker 1911, his father a coach builder on the Dunmow Road, Great Bardfield.

Died of wounds

Unit worked in support of Guards Armoured Division.