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POTTER HEIGHAM WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright ©Michael Peck 2017

The memorial is to be found in the grounds of St Nicholas Church, Church Lane, Potter Heigham. It takes the form of an unadorned, rough hewn, stone, Latin cross on a two tier, rough hewn, stepped base. The centre of both front tier bases are smoothed and slightly recessed and the upper tier contains the dedication in black lettering while the bottom tier contains a poetic inscription in similar coloured lettering. There are eight names listed for World War 1 and three for World War 2. Within the church is an ornate hand written Roll of Honour.

Photograph Copyright © Michael Peck 2017

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
THE GIVER OF VICTORY
THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED A.D. 1919
IN SACRED MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE
GREAT WAR
AND WHOSE NAMES ARE HEREON INSCRIBED
AND IN HONOUR OF
ALL WHO SERVED IN THE FORCES
ON LAND AND SEA
THEIR NAMES LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
                    ECCLUS 44.14

BENSLEY Wr
Walter Bensley. Deck Hand 10/34DA, Royal Naval Reserve. HM Trawler ‘Gwenllian’ (survived war). Died 19th May 1918. Son of Charles and Hannah Bensley. Husband of Mabel Bensley of Decoy Road, Potter Heigham, Norfolk (as both CWGC and Sailors Died Great War). Born 30th June 1889 Potter Heigham, Norfolk (as both RN Graves Roll and RNR Service Record). Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. 30.

Note: Mabel Jane Bensley (nee Mason) of Decoy Road in 1911 described as ‘widow’, and widow of George Charles Bensley who dies 1910. Walter Bensley (brother of George Charles Bensley) marries Mabel Florence Craske Sept ¼ 1911 and she appears to be next of kin Walter Bensley.

BROOKS B J
Benjamin James Brooks. Leading Deck Hand 11390/DA, Royal Naval Reserve. HMS ‘Victory’ (shore establishment). Died of disease 21st October 1918. Son of James and Edith Ellen Brooks of Chapel Road, Potter Heigham, Norfolk (as 1911). Husband of Gertrude E Brooks (nee George). Born 3rd March 1893 Repps with Bastwick. Commemorated Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery. E.34.8.
GOODWIN G F
George Frederick Goodwin. Deck Hand 3621 DA, Royal Naval Reserve. HM Drifter ‘Enterprise II’ (sunk by mine laid by German submarine UC-12). Killed in action 8th March 1916. Son of William and Harriet Goodwin of Mill Cottage, Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Born 31st January 1893 Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. 19.
HADINGHAM L G
Lewis George Hadingham. Corporal 46041. 19th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, formerly 179114 Royal Engineers. Died of wounds 18th April 1918. Son of Hannah Rebecca Hadingham (daughter of (the late) James and Hannah Hadingham, now wife of Thomas Wright). Born c1878 (as census, birth not found) Tharston, enlisted Great Yarmouth and resident Wymondham, Norfolk (as SDGW, of Mill House, Potter Heigham 1911). Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial. Panel 54 to 60 and 163A.

Note: property to Edith Carr (relationship unexplained).

LING J W
John William Ling. Private G/21388. 2nd Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment, formerly 21186 East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 11th May 1917. Son of Robert and Mary Elizabeth Ling of Marsh Lane, Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Born 1897 Potter Heigham, enlisted Great Yarmouth and resident Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Commemorated Arras Memorial. Bay 2.
WHITE S J M
Spencer John Meadows White. Lieutenant (Pilot). 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment attached 47 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 15th January 1917. Son of Rev Lewis Meadows and Elizabeth White of Potter Heigham Vicarage, Norfolk. Born 1889 Horning Vicarage, Norfolk. Commemorated Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery. 1602.

Note: pilot of Armstrong Whitworth FK3 aircraft with Second Lieutenant (Observer) Henry Matthews.

WOODS E J
Ernest John Woods. Private 240378. 5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died Palestine 19th April 1917. Son of Walter G and Harriet Woods of Riverside, Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Born 1894 Brundall and enlisted Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Commemorated Gaza War Cemetery. XXIII.D.4.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
PRIVATE ERNEST J WOODS 5TH BATT, NORF REGT
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
AT THE SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA
IN THE HOLY LAND
APRIL 19TH 1917. AGED 22 YEARS
R.I.P.

BENSLEY J E
ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED WHEN ON LEAVE.
John Edmund Bensley. Deck Hand 134SD (RN Graves Roll has Leading Deck Hand), Royal Naval Reserve. HM Motor Launch 76. Died 18th August 1918. Son of George Sidney and Charlotte Jane Bensley of Bungalow, Church Lane, Potter Heigham, Norfolk (as CWGC, naval record has of Chapel Corner, Potter Heigham). Born 7th June 1893 Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Commemorated Potter Heigham (St Nicholas) Churchyard.
1939-1945
WORLD WAR
BARBER A
Aubrey George Barber. Sergeant 327558, Royal Air Force. Died 9th May 1944. Son of Sydney George and Mary Ann Maria Barber. Husband of Susie Elizabeth Grendon Barber (nee Nutt) of Windyridge, Riverside, Potter Heigham, Norfolk (as probate). Born c1902 Horstead, Norfolk. Commemorated Potter Heigham (St Nicholas) Churchyard.
CHITTLEBURGH K
Kenneth Trevor Chittleburgh. Lieutenant 186045. D Squadron (Section Commander), 1st Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps. Killed in action by mortar fire 21st September 1944. Son of Charles Frederick and May Mildred Chittleburgh (nee Snell) of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Born 1921, commissioned Norfolk Regiment 10th May 1941 and transferred 27th October 1942. Commemorated Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. 3.B.6.
THACKER J
Unable to identify and no further information.

Roll of Honour

Note: partially obscured, paper slipped behind decorative card frame.
[Names in order as memorial]

August 4th 1914 Nov 11th 1918
HOLY FATHER in Thy mercy
Hear our anxious prayer,
Keep our loved ones, now far absent,
Neath Thy care.
Roll of Honour
GOODWIN Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve. March 8th 1916.
WILKINSON Obscured
Royal Garrison Artillery.
WHITE John ?
4th Bn, Norfolk Regiment, attached Royal Flying Corps. Jan 15th 1917.
AMIS Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
BENSLEY Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
BENSLEY Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve. Accidentally drowned Aug 18th 1918.
WOODS Obscured
5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. April 19th 1917.
POWLEY Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
MASON Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
APPLEGATE Obscured
Army Service Corps.
APPLEGATE Obscured
Royal Engineers.
GOODWIN Obscured
Petty Officer, HMS ‘Yarmouth’.
HOWARD Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
LING Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
BENSLEY Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve.
BENSLEY Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve. May 19th 1918.
BENSLEY Obscured
Bedfordshire Regiment.
LING Obscured
East Surrey Regiment. May 11th 1917.
BAILEY Obscured
Royal Navy.
APPLETON Obscured
Yorkshire Regiment.
AMIS Obscured
Royal Flying Corps.
GEORGE Obscured
Royal Engineers.
GOODWIN Cornelius ?
Royal Sussex Regiment.
STIMPSON Obscured
Northamptonshire Regiment.
BROOKS Obscured
Royal Naval Reserve. 21 Oct 1918. Died RNR Hospital from pneumonia.
GEORGE Obscured
Royal West Surrey Regiment.
COX Harry ?
Royal Naval Reserve.
HUNT Walter
Royal Flying Corps
HADINGHAM Obscured
Royal Engineers. April 18th 1918.
AMIS John W
Royal Naval Reserve.
GEORGE Alfred R
Royal Naval Reserve.
FLATT George
Royal Naval Reserve.
GRAPES Harold C
London Scottish.
HOWARD Robert J
Royal West Surrey Regiment.
JERMY H C
Royal Fusiliers.
WILKINSON Leonard
Rifle Brigade.
Grant them eternal rest O LORD.

Last updated 21 November, 2017

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