Little Maplestead War Memorial

Other local war memorials

A brief memorial to the local men who gave their lives during the Great War 1914 - 1918

John Webber

LAYZELL, CECIL JOHN act.Leading Stoker K/7795 Royal Navy H.M.S. "Invincible." Died 31/05/1916. Age: 25. PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of John and Emma Layzell, of School Rd., Little Maplestead, Halstead, Essex.

BornWickam St Paul 1891, 1901 lived Victory Inn, Wickam St Paul. 1911 Cecil John is in the Royal Navy in the Med as a stoker on HMS "Exmouth."

HMS “Invincible” was hit during the Battle of Jutland, the flash from the explosion was enabled to reach the ammunition store which exploded, tearing the ship in half. Only six survivors were picked up. “At 6.32 Admiral Beatty reached his station ahead of the battle fleet. Ahead of him again was Admiral Hood with his three battle cruisers, leading the fleet, and leading it in a manner worthy of the honoured name he bore. Upon him was concentrated the fire of three or four of Admiral Hipper's five ships. Under pressure of the oncoming British Dreadnoughts they had turned again to the southward. For the past ten minutes the action between them and the " Invincibles " had been growing hot upon similar courses, and Admiral Hood with Captain A. L. Cay, his flag-captain, at his side was directing it from the bridge. Having the advantage of the light he was giving more than he received. The range was down below 9,000 yards, but it was the greatest that visibility would permit, and he was doing too well to alter. " Several shells," says Commander von Hase of the Derfflinger," pierced our ship with a terrific force and exploded with a tremendous roar which shook every seam and rivet. The captain had again frequently to steer the ship out of the line to get clear of the hail of fire." So heavy was the punishment he was inflicting that Admiral Hood hailed Commander Dannreuther, his gunnery officer, in the control top, and called to him, " Your firing is very good. Keep at it as quickly as you can. Every shot is telling." They were the last words he is known to have spoken. Just then the mist was riven and from the Derfflinger her tormentor was suddenly silhouetted against a light patch of sky. Then as another salvo from the Invincible straddled her she began rapid salvoes in reply, in which probably the Konig joined with as many. One after another they went home on the Invincible. Flames shot up from the gallant flagship, and there came again the awful spectacle of a fiery burst, followed by a huge column of dark smoke which, mottled with blackened debris, swelled up hundreds of feet in the air, and the mother of all battle cruisers had gone to join the other two that were no more. As her two consorts swerved round her seething death-bed they could see she was rent in two; her stem and stern rose apart high out of the troubled waters as though she had touched the bottom, and near by a group of half a dozen men were clinging to a life raft, cheering the ships as they raced by to continue the fight.1So in the highest exultation of battle—doing all a man could do for victory—the intrepid Admiral met his end, gilding in his death with new lustre the immortal name of Hood............” Extract from the Official History; " Naval Operations" by Sir Julian S. Corbett North East Medals

HMS H5

LAYZELL, FREDERICK ALFRED. Able Seaman J/14692. Royal Navy H.M. Submarine "H5" Died 02/03/1918. Age: 22. CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Layzell, of Little Maplestead, Halstead, Essex; husband of Lillias Maria Layzell, of 35, Livingstone Rd., Lower Tranmere, Birkenhead.

Born Wickham St Paul 1896.

HMS "H5" was in Caernarfon Bay when she was spotted by SS 'Rutherglen' a British merchant ship. Believing the 'H5' to be a German U-Boat the 'Rutherglen rammed her. Cries were heard in the water and petrol was noticed in the air but there were no survivors. The 'H5' was reported lost after failing to return four days later and it was concluded the 'Rutherglen' had rammed her. The news was kept hidden from the world for decades and at the time the crew of the merchant ship were paid a bounty and kept unaware of the mistake.

HMS H5 Wrecksite

BBC News Report

Daily Post Memorial

Submarine Museum

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TURNER, FRANK Private 41957 Essex Regiment 1st Bn. 88th Brigade, 29th Division. Died 16/08/1917. TYNE COT MEMORIAL. Frank was the son of Samuel Turner a farmer in Little Maplestead. It appears his mother may have died in childbirth. He lived and worked on the farm with his brothers James, John and Arthur while his aunt Mary Ann acted as housekeeper.

During the Third Battle of Ypres the 29th Division attacked to the north of Langemarck making progress and taking their first objectives. There was no rain that day. Somewhere during this advance Frank Turner fell, his body not being recovered.

Some 38 men served in some capacity through the war, three did not return. The number of those injured is as yet unknown as is the number who died from the effects of war during the next twenty years.

Not on the war memorial but the widow lived in the village after his death.

SYER, HUBERT LIONEL. MC. Captain, London Regiment (London Scottish), 1st/14th Bn. 168th Brigade, 56th (London) Division. Died 18/11/1916. Age: 38 HAMPSTEAD CEMETERY Son of the Rev. and Mrs. Barrington Blomfield Syer, of Kedington Rectory, Suffolk; one of ten children, husband of Helen May Syer, of "Westwode," Little Maplestead, Halstead, Essex. Served in the South African Campaign.

Previous address ‘The Pippens’ Royden, Essex.

Born Kedington Rectory, Suffolk, March 1878. Joined the London Scottish 1895 while at the Stock Exchange, served with Gordon Highlanders 1899-1902 winning Queens Medal and five clasps. Enlisted London Scottish at outbreak of war, commissioned 2nd Lieut September 1914, Temp Captain November 1914. Served in France from December 1914. Wounded in action at the Somme during September 1916 moved to St Thomas's Hospital where he died 18th November 1916. Mentioned in despatches January 1916 and awarded the Military Cross for his actions at the Battle of Loos 1915.