Greenstead Green War Memorial

Greenstead Green War Memorial

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

Other local war memorials

1914 – 1918

Charles Bush No information

CHAPLIN, JAMES THOMAS Private GS/48110 Royal Fusiliers. 4th Bn. 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. Died: 26/09/1917 Age:25 TYNE COT MEMORIAL. Son of James and Jane Chaplin of Plaistow Green Farm, Halstead, Essex. One of seven surviving children. Born Greenstead Green 1892. Father a general dealer, James learning similar trade, three sisters worked in silk mill.

The southern boundary of the Fifth Army lay approximately 800 yards (730 m) south of the Ypres–Roulers railway, in the V Corps area. The 3rd Division attacked either side of the line at 5:50 a.m. The right brigade met little resistance but was briefly held up crossing the Steenbeek. The advance slowed under machine-gun fire from Zonnebeke station on the far side of the railway as Zonnebeke was entered. North of the embankment the left brigade attacked at 5:30 a.m. in a mist. The attack reached the first objective, despite crossing severely boggy ground at 7:00 a.m. The advance resumed and reached the western slope of Hill 40, just short of the final objective. A German counter-attack began at 2:30 p.m. but was stopped easily. A bigger attempt at 6:30 p.m. was defeated with rifle and machine-gun fire, as the British attack on Hill 40 resumed, eventually leaving both sides still on the western slope. Battle of Polygon Wood

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GRAY, HAROLD ERIC. Gunner 3591. Royal Field Artillery. "D" Bty. 53rd (Howitzer) Bde. Died 27/10/1915. YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.During 1911 the family lived at Deerbolt Hall, Stowmarket, Stonham, Suffolk. Father CharlesWing Gray a farmer and MP for Maldon 1886 - 1892. Harold one of 8 children all surviving.

Entered war 10th May 1915.

Effects £9/-/11d War Gratuity £4

Father Charles Wing Gray MP for Maldon 1886 - 1892

HARRINGTON, ALBERT Private. 12036. Essex Regiment 9th Bn. 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division. Died 18/10/1915. Age: 21. LOOS MEMORIAL Son of Mr. J. Harrington, of Brook Cottage, Greenstead Green, Halstead, Essex.

The main thrust of the 'Battle of Loos' was over and the 12th (Eastern) Division entered the theatre at the beginning of October at the 'Quarries Sector' to hold the line for the next five months. On the 18th possibly during routine trench action Albert Harrington fell.

RAYNER, FREDERICK JOHN. Private G/43774. Middlesex Regiment 1stBn. 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. Died 04/11/1916 Age: 23. THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Charles and Eleanor Rayner, of Riven's Hall, Greenstead Green, Halstead, Essex. Born Earle's Colne 1894. During 1911 the family lived at 'Lovely Wells' Greenstead Green while father Charles worked as a horseman, younger brother William as a stockman on a farm with Frederick working as a domestic groom.

The battalion had been at Les Boeufs from the 1st to the 3rd November 1916. The end of the 'Battle of the Somme.'

Tyne Cot Memorial

WALFORD, CHARLES Private G/21340. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1st Bn. 100th Brigade, 33rd Division. Died 25/09/1917. TYNE COT MEMORIAL. Of Halstead, Essex.

Effects £7/8/9d War gratuity £5/10/- paid to mother Elizabeth.

Third Battle of Ypres.

The 33rd Division was to act in support of the 5th Australian Division in the forthcoming attack, taking over a length of the Wilhelmstellung captured by the Australians on 20 September. The divisional boundary ran along the Black Watch Corner–Reutel road, along the southern fringe of Polygon Wood. The left (northern) flank of the 33rd Division position was in an area east of Carlisle Farm, with supporting units in the farm ruins with a reserve position 250 yd (230 m) back at Lone House. At 5:15 a.m. on 25 September, just as the 33rd Division completed the relief of the 23rd Division, a huge German bombardment began on the divisional front. The shell-fire reached so far back that road transport was made impossible and the sound of the bombardment and vibrations in the ground were felt at Boulogne.^[29] SOS rockets were fired all along the 33rd Division front and British artillery and machine-guns replied at once. German infantry attacked up the Menin road from Gheluvelt, supported by flame-thrower teams, who fired burning oil 100 yd (91 m) forwards and upwards into trees which had dried out in the sunny weather and caught fire immediately. The forward positions of the 1st Queens (Royal West Surrey), on the right flank of the 100th Brigade were overrun and the 2nd Worcester in reserve at Inverness Copse lost half its strength in the bombardment. The 1/9th Highland Light Infantry (1/9th HLI) advanced quickly and filled a gap on the flank of the 1st Queen's and the remnants of the 2nd Worcester dug in as the 4th Battalion Kings Liverpool (4th King's) of the 98th Brigade extended its right flank. The 4th King's regained touch with the 2nd Worcester after it had sidestepped southwards, to keep in contact with the 1st HLI behind the 1st Queen's and to add to the small-arms fire being directed at the attackers. Action of 25 September 1917

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Wass Frank. Sergeant Frank Wass 1747.

1/5th Essex Regiment. 161st Bde. 54th (East Anglian) Division. Died 18th Aug 1915. Son of Henry Wass, Stone Cottages, Greenstead Green, Halstead. HELLES MEMORIAL. Suvla Bay. Died of wounds on Hospital ship. Buried at sea. Born Halstead 1879. Father, an Agricultural Labourer, lost his wife in 1885 and moved to Greenstead Green. Frank enlisted in Essex Regt and served in Boer War. Upon return lived Bocking and worked at Crittall's. Attested 29th August 1914.

Also on the Braintree and Bocking Great War Memorial

The Battalion landed on 'A' beach Suvla Bay on the 10th August 1915 and a few days later advanced under heavy fire to lane close to enemy line. Many casualties during advance, many more in difficult situation in lane, cover minimal, enemy within yards on occasion. Sergeant Wass wounded here, died on hospital ship and buried at sea. Much missed by the regiment.

1939 – 1945

Pseudopanax

ADDY, JOHN CEDRIC. DFM. Flight Sergeant Pilot. 748538. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 17/01/1942. Age: 21. JURBY (ST. PATRICK) CHURCHYARD. Son of Guy Cedric and Jessie Addy, of Halstead, Essex. Born Ightham, Kent 1920. While resident in Southend obtained his pilots licence on an AVRO Cadet April 1939.

During a raid on Hamburg his Wellington was severely hit by flak receiving some 80 hts. The pilot managed to bring the plane home to a forced landing during which the port engine died. Wellington Bombers were flying at night using dead reckoning and luck to achieve their targets. The losses were high. For his actions that night Sgt Pilot Addy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

London Gazette 24th October 1941

Flt. Sgt. J.C. Addy, D.F.M. was killed when piloting his Anson N5030 on a night Navex from Lichfield (27 OTU), crashing on Snaefell on 17 January 1942. Four of his crew members survived. Flt/Sgt Addy took off from Lichfield on a night navigational exercise accompanied by an Assistant Meteorologist, Mr Glyn Halford. At 20:15hrs his aircraft, a navigational / meteorological trainer (Avro Anson N5053) flew into the cloud covered slopes of Snaefell (2,038 ft above sea level) on the Isle of Man. John Addy's DFM was gazetted on 24 October 1941, after service with 103 Squadron. Also Killed in the accident were;

Flt /Sgt McManaman RCAF.

Mr Glyn Halford.(The Meteorologist)

Addy & and McManaman rest in Jurby (St Patrick Churchyard).

The three injured were:

W/O A S Patterson,

Flt/Sgt H Johnston,

Sgt K H Livett RAAF

Sgt N Dann RAAF,who were all admitted to the Island's military hospital at Douglas. Medals of England.

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BROOKES, SYDNEY 156625 Flying Officer Pupil Pilot Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 12/04/1944 Age: 31 CHESTER (BLACON) CEMETERY Son of J. H. Brookes, and of Mary Winifred Brookes, of Burtons Green, Essex. Born Lewisham 1912?

"Thy will be done"

Yorkshire Aircraft. Details of accident and crew. Brookes had experience but not of this aircraft the 'Halifax.' Pilot and Brookes training on four engined aircraft overshot runway in mist and crashed into mountain.

BUTLER, JOHN PERCEVAL. 130518 Pilot Officer. Navigator. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 09/01/1943 Age: 28. Born Lahore, India 1914. GREENSTEAD GREEN (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD. Son of Sir Montagu Sherard Dawes Butler, K.C.S.I., C.B., C.I.E., C.V.O., C.B.E., M.A. and Lady Butler, Kaisar-I-Hind Medal 1st Cl. (nee Smith); husband of Mary Hermione Anne Butler of Cambridge. M.A. (Cantab.).

"The Lord himself

Is thy keeper"

John (Jock) Perceval Butler lived in Cambridge and worked for the Civil Service, his brother 'RAB' Butler was Education minister and a leading member in later years of the Conservative cabinet. Volunteered for the RAF, trained as navigator and died on first mission when Bomber failed to take off, ice on wings.

Gravestone Find a grave

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COOK, KENNETH EDWARD Corporal 648743 Royal Air Force. Died 07/04/1944 Age: 23. GREENSTEAD GREEN (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD Son of Frederick George and Edith Ella Cook, of Greenstead Green.

"Tis better

To have loved and lost

Than never

To have loved at all"

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LARTER, HAROLD KITCHENER. Private 6023279 Essex Regiment 7th (H.D.) Bn. Died 19/11/1940. Born 1916 aged 24. HALSTEAD CEMETERY Son of Mr. and Mrs. William James Larter, of Halstead. Death recorded at Thurrock.

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The 7th (Home Defence) Battalion was raised specifically for home defence duties in the United Kingdom. The battalion was formed on 2 November 1939 from 8 Group National Defence Companies. The battalion consisted mainly of older and less fit men but who had had previous military experience and younger soldiers around the ages of 18 and 19 who later went on to help form the 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion. OMICS INT

The 7th formed part of the 59th Heavy Anti Aircraft force defending the north bank of the Thames.