Roll of Honour - Suffolk

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

SOUTHOLT WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Geoffrey Robinson - Worlingworth Local History Group - 2018

The memorial takes the form of a Celtic cross on a stepped base outside St. Mary's Church, Park Road, Southolt, Suffolk. There are seven names listed for World War 1 and one for World War 2. The memorial is a Grade II listed buiding. Within the church are two rolls of honour. The first takes the form of an oak Roll of Honour Board listing 14 names of men who served and returned and the 7 names of those listed on the external memorial. The second also takes the form of an oak board listing the names of the men and women who served in World War 2 and the one man that gave his life.

Photographs Copyright © Geoffrey Robinson - Worlingworth Local History Group - 2018

World War 1 Roll of Honour

1914 SOUTHOLT 1918
A CROSS WAS ERECTED IN THIS CHURCHYARD
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF THE SOUTHOLT MEN
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
{Names}
THE RESTORATION OF THIS CHURCH WAS COMPLETED
AS A THANKSGIVING FOR THE SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION
OF THE MEN WHO WENT FROM THIS PARISH
{Names}
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

World War 2 Roll of Honour

THIS ROLL OF HONOUR RECORDS
WITH GRATITUDE AND PRIDE THE
SERVICES OF MEN AND WOMEN OF
SOUTHOLT DURING THE SECOND GREAT WAR 1939 - 1945
{Names}
AND FLIGHT SERGEANT WILLIAM F JOHNSON RAFVR
MISSING OVER BERLIN 15/16 FEB 1944
R I P

War Memorial

TO THE GLORY OF GO
AND IN MEMORY OF THE ME
OF THIS PARIS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WA
1914-1918

CANHAM	Frederick John	Service No. 30383. Frederick was born on the 8th February 1891, the son of James and Eliza Canham of Southolt. Enlisted in the 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, probably as a volunteer in 1914 or 1915. Arrived in France on 31st August 1915. Transferred to the 1st Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as the 9th Suffolks had ceased to exist. His regiment took part in the main assault on the St. Quentin Canal, part of the Hindenburg Line, clearing a maze of trenches in severe fighting which claimed many lives. Private F.J. Canham, 27, was killed on the 29th September 1918 and is buried at BELLICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY near St. Quentin.
CHAMBERS	Bertie Edward	Service No. 420500. Private in the 43rd battalion of the Canadian Infantry. Albert Edward Chambers was born to Albert Chambers and Anna Maria Garnham in Redlingfield in 1896. Bertie emigrated to Canada between 1911 and 1914. He enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in Winnipeg on 31st December 1914. Bertie died on 8th October 1916 whilst his regiment was assaulting the German earthwork known as Regina Trench. Bertie is buried at REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY. “A loving son and a faithful brother, One of the Best that God could lend.”
CHAMBERS	Frederick William	Service No. 14390. Private in the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Son of Mrs. Lucy Jane Chambers of Park Road, Southolt. Born in Redlingfield in 1891, Frederick Chambers enlisted in September 1914 and went to France on 14th August 1915. He was wounded in September 1916 and sent to hospital in Colchester. He returned to France in January 1917. He was a casualty of the Arras Offensive on 9th/10th April 1917 aged 26 years. He is commemorated on the ARRAS MEMORIAL.
CLARKE	William Amos	Service No. 13126. Private in the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Son of William and Elizabeth Clarke of Bedingfield. Died on 16th August 1916 during the Somme offensive aged 22 years. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.
HAWES	Stanley	Service No. 201275. Private in the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. Son of Arthur and Elizabeth Hawes of Green Farm, Southolt, born in 1895. Died 18th August 1916 near High Wood aged 21 years. Buried at CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY near Longueval.
MARCHANT	Charles Frederick	Service No. 71652. Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Brother of Vivian Marchant. Enlisted in front of J.B. Chevallier, J.P. at Aspall on 10th December 1915. He embarked for France in June 1916. Originally 3rd Suffolks, then assigned to the 118th Siege Battery, R.G.A. Admitted to hospital on 10th November 1917 after being gassed. On 1st March 1918, he returned to active service with the 296th Siege Battery. On leave, he became engaged to Miss Violet Thrower of Debenham. After his return to his unit, he received serious wounds which resulted in his death at No. 12 Casualty Clearing Station on 4th October 1918. He was 24 years old. He is buried at TINCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY. There is a further memorial to thuis man at the church in the form of a rectangular metal plaque with lettering in relief. IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON CHARLES FREDERIC MARCHANT (R.G.A.) WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE ON OCT. 4TH 1918 AGED 24 YEARS
MARCHANT	Vivian James Barker	Vivian J. B. Marchant was born at Southolt Park Farm in 1890, the son of John Barker Marchant and his wife Florence (Mann). A draper’s clerk working at Harvey Nicholls in Knightsbridge, London, he was a territorial with the 9th County of London Queen Victoria's Rifles. Killed in action on 1st July 1916 during the attack at Gommecourt by 56th Division. He is commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.
1939-1945
JOHNSON	William Frederick	Flight Sergeant 1392448, 102 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 16th February 1944. Aged 27. Son of Frederick Cupper Johnson and Ada Irene Johnson, of Bedingfield, Suffolk. No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 219. There is a further memorial to this man, at the church, in the form of a granite tablet with hallowed corners on a rough hewn stone with high relief lettering. IN LOVING MEMORY OF RICHARD JOHNSON, DIED DECEMBER 10TH 1937, AGED 14 YEARS. ALSO F/SGT. WILLIAM FREDERICK JOHNSON KILLED IN ACTION 1944 - AGED 26 YEARS. REST IN PEACE.

Last updated 15 October, 2018

War Memorials Trust