TERLING & FAIRSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL

WITH

ALL SAINTS CHURCH TERLING

&

ST MARY AND ST PETER CHURCH FAIRSTEAD

&

TERLING UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

LEST WE

FORGET

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This Book commemorates the Men of Terling & Fairstead who, at the call of King and Country, left

all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally

passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their

own lives that others might live in freedom.

Let those that come after see to it that their names are not forgotten

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This book was created at the request of Terling & Fairstead Parish Council to honour those

men of the villages of Terling and Fairstead that did not return from

war. It is not intended to glorify war, but to reflect upon the loss of

these men to their families and friends, and to give thanks for their

lives.

Many of these men came from families which still live within the

area, their sadly short life stories still remembered with love by close

relatives. The stories of others are now less clear but the effect of their

loss no less important to their families. The effect the loss of so many

young men must have had to a small area such as ours, let alone to

families such as the Does, Palmers, Cuthberts, Wagers, Russells,

Richardsons, Smiths, Brocks, Aves and Wagers, who lost so many

family members, cannot be imagined today.

It is hoped that families and friends will share their documents,

memories and reflections to help the book grow to show further

details of the lives of these men, to ensure they continue to be known

to future generations.

Information included to date has come from a variety of web based

sites, predominantly the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

and Ancestry.com, together with personal information from relatives.

Any mistakes or omissions by me in the compilation of these records

are regretted and will be corrected upon advice.

Heather Cutler

October 2013

Twitchers,

Fairstead Road

Terling

CM3 2BU

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Contents Men of Terling ......................................................................................................................................... 10

1914-1918 World War I ........................................................................................................................ 10

Ernle Algar ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Charles Aves ..................................................................................................................................... 11

Fred Aves ......................................................................................................................................... 12

Thomas William Eve ........................................................................................................................ 13

Frederick Guiver .............................................................................................................................. 14

Percy Harrington .............................................................................................................................. 15

Alfred Joyce ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Alfred William Richardson .............................................................................................................. 17

Douglas Higham Richardson ........................................................................................................... 18

George W Richardson ..................................................................................................................... 20

Frederick James Rule ...................................................................................................................... 21

Edmund James Russell ...................................................................................................................22

Fred Russell .....................................................................................................................................23

Arthur Edward Smith ..................................................................................................................... 24

Frederick William Smith ................................................................................................................. 25

Alexander Stevens .......................................................................................................................... 26

Bert Swallow .................................................................................................................................... 27

Hewitt Thurgood ............................................................................................................................ 28

Alec Wager ...................................................................................................................................... 29

Victor Wager ................................................................................................................................... 30

Walter Stanley Wager ...................................................................................................................... 31

Arthur Daniel White .........................................................................................................................32

William Wood ..................................................................................................................................33

1939-1945 World War II ......................................................................................................................34

Robert James Hawker .....................................................................................................................34

Gerald Ivo Cuthbert ......................................................................................................................... 35

Sidney John Cuthbert ......................................................................................................................36

Trevor Hugh Easter ......................................................................................................................... 37

Frederick Green .............................................................................................................................. 38

Lawrence William Joyce ..................................................................................................................39

Ernest Edward Palmer .................................................................................................................... 40

Francis William Palmer .................................................................................................................. 42

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Cecil Francis Burney Rolt ............................................................................................................... 44

Richard Windle ................................................................................................................................ 45

Dennis Walter Mackrow ................................................................................................................. 46

Men of Fairstead ..................................................................................................................................... 47

1914-1918 World War I ........................................................................................................................ 47

Edward Bearman ............................................................................................................................. 47

John Brock ...................................................................................................................................... 48

Wil l iam Brock ............................................................................................................................ 49

Bertie Cloughton ....................................................................................................................... 50

Albert Edward Doe .......................................................................................................................... 51

Percy Doe ......................................................................................................................................... 52

Frederick Ernest Underdown .......................................................................................................... 53

Edward Warner ............................................................................................................................... 54

1939-1945 World War II ...................................................................................................................... 55

Sidney Leonard French.................................................................................................................... 55

Arthur Edward Wyatt ...................................................................................................................... 56

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The stone memorial is located on Church Green, Terling, to commemorate the men of the Parishes of Terling Fairstead who did not return from the First World War (known then as the Great War) was dedicated in a ceremony on March 27th 1921. The names of those men from the Parishes who did not return from the Second World War were added after 1945. The following pages are copies of the original service of dedication.

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Terling & Fairstead

War Memorial Let us commemorate and commend to the loving mercy of our Heavenly Father, the Shepherd of Souls, the Giver of Life

Everlasting, those from this village who died in the wars of the last century.

And together with them we remember those others close to ourselves and whom we name in the silence of our own hearts.

Remember in thy Kingdom, Oh Lord Christ, those who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, but laid them down

for their friends:

Shed forth upon them the light of thy countenance, and grant that they may be numbered among the hosts of the redeemed,

going forth conquering and to conquer with thee their everlasting Lord; who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy

Ghost, world without end.

Amen

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Men of Terling

1914-1918 World War I

Ernle Algar Rank: Private

Service No: 15151 Date of Death: 13/10/1915

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 9th Bn. Panel Reference Panel 85 to 87. Memorial LOOS MEMORIAL

Born in Terling, son of Robert and Annie Algar, Ernle worked as a cowman and lived at Ringers,

Terling. His mother predeceased him.

Further Documents: ALGAR_ERNLE.pdf

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Charles Aves Rank: Private

Service No: 202873 Date of Death: 16/08/1917

Age: 31 Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 1st Bn. Formerly 7695, Worcestershire Regt

Grave Reference XIII. A. 6. Cemetery POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Henry and Emily Aves, of Terling, Chelmsford, Essex; husband of Edith Aves, of Ewelme, Wallingford, Berks, where he was a gardener.

Further Documents: AVES_C_H.pdf

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Fred Aves Rank: Private

Service No: 49253 Date of Death: 17/11/1918 Age:24

Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 50th Coy.

Grave Reference 147. Cemetery BEIRUT WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Henry and Emily Aves, of Farding's Cottages, Terling, Witham, Essex. Fred had previously worked as a stockman, like his father.

Further Documents: AVES_FRED.pdf

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Thomas William Eve Rank: Lance Corporal

Service No: 14120 Date of Death: 17/10/1916

Age: 19 Regiment/Service:

Essex Regiment "W" Coy. 1st Bn. Panel Reference Pier and Face 10 D. Memorial THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Son of William and Elva Kate Eve, of The Green, Terling, Witham, Essex. Thomas was known as Willie, and has a memorial stone in Terling churchyard

Further Documents: EVE_THOMAS_WILLIAM.pdf

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Frederick Guiver Rank: Private

Service No: G/40161 Date of Death: 12/05/1917

Age: 31 Regiment/Service:

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 6th Bn. Panel Reference Bay 2.

Memorial ARRAS MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of the late George and Sarah Guiver (nee Thurgood). Frederick had been a farm labourer in

1911, living in Mill Lane, with his mother, two sisters and brother.

Further Documents: GUIVER_FREDERICK.pdf

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Percy Harrington Rank: Private

Service No: 54534 Date of Death: 25/10/1918

Age: 35 Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment 21st Bn

Formerly 39337, North Lancs Regt.. Grave Reference I. C. 25.

Cemetery CROSS ROADS CEMETERY, FONTAINE-AU-BOIS

Additional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Harrington, of Ringer's Farm, Terling, Chelmsford. Percy was a carter on the farm in 1911, as was his father.

Further Documents: HARRINGTON_P.pdf

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Alfred Joyce Birth Place: Great Waltham

Residence: Terling Death Date: 21 Aug 1918

Death Location: France & Flanders Enlistment Location: Terling, Essex

Rank: Private Regiment: Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Battalion: 11th Battalion Number: 51684

Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Grave Reference I. F. 6. Cemetery BEACON CEMETERY, SAILLY-LAURETTE

Comments: Formerly 29950, Middx. Regt.

Alfred, married to Ethel, was a Hay & Straw Binder, living at Wat Hobbs Farm and had a son William Leslie Joyce, just 5 months old in 1911

Further Documents: JOYCE_A.pdf

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Alfred William Richardson Possibly known as William Richardson

Birth Place: Terling, Essex Death Date: 24 Sep 1917

Death Location: France & Flanders Enlistment Location: Chelmsford

Rank: Private Regiment: Cambridgeshire Regiment

Battalion: 1st Battalion Number: 330560

Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Comments: Formerly 12204, Essex Regt.

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Douglas Higham Richardson Rank: Lieutenant

Date of Death: 01/11/1918 Age: 31

Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Reserve H.M.T.B. "9" Cemetery

FAIRSTEAD (SS. MARY AND PETER) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Richardson, of Great Loys, Terling; husband of Beatrice Ada

Richardson, of "Lingdale," Cornwall Rd., Cheam, Surrey.

Further Documents: 1 Douglas Higham Richardson.docx

2 RICHARDSON_DOUGLAS_HIGHAM.pdf 3 Douglas Richardson.jpg

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Terling & Fairstead

War Memorial Douglas Higham Richardson

Douglas was born in 1887, the son of Charles and Laura Richardson, farmers at Great

Loyes, Terling. He was educated at King Edward Grammar School, Chelmsford and

Thames Nautical Training College, HMS Worcester at Greenhithe, where he qualified as a

1st Class Petty Officer in 1903.

His naval career continued when he joined the Alexander Nicol shipping company on the

sailing ship “Romanoff”, a clipper, as a midshipman. The Nicol company was then taken

over by the Aberdeen White Star Line and a photograph, of Douglas in navel whites

uniform, held by the family indicates that he served on their passenger ships to South

Africa and Australia.

Douglas married Beatrice Burton in 1913.

His war service was served in the Royal Navy Reserve on the Torpedo Boat Destroyer

TB9, as a Lieutenant and he may have been present at the Battle of The Dardanelles in

1915. Tragically, he died in the Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1918, in Chatham, just 10 days

before the Armistice. Douglas’ gravestone can be seen in Fairstead Churchyard.

(Information courtesy of a Nephew, the late Charles Richardson, Little Baddow)

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George W Richardson Rank: Private

Service No: 720018 Date of Death 27/12/1917

Age: 28 Regiment/Service: London Regiment 2nd/24th Bn. (County of London) Battalion (The Queens).

Formerly 4557, The Essex Regt. Grave Reference X. 75.

Cemetery JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information: Son of William and Mary Richardson.

Husband of Hilda Nellie Richardson, of Braintree Rd., Terling, Essex. In 1911 George had been working as a Farm Labourer and living with his parents, younger sister Mary and younger

brother William in Fuller Street.

Further Documents: 1 RICHARDSON_G_W.pdf

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Frederick James Rule Rank: Corporal

Service No: RMA/5820 Date of Death: 31/05/1916, Killed at the Battle of Jutland

Age: 40 Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Artillery H.M.S. "Lion."

Panel Reference 21. Memorial PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Husband of Mary Louisa Rule, of 53, Methuen Rd., Eastney, Portsmouth. Son of Edward and Matilda Rule, of Boreham Road, Terling, Essex. Frederick had been a gunner

in the Royal Marine Artillery in 1911 on board Repulse in Gibraltar.

Further Documents: 1 RULE_FREDERICK_JAMES (1).pdf

2 Rule memorial.jpg

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Edmund James Russell Rank: Private

Service No: 2192 Date of Death: 05/09/1915 at Gallipoli, Canakkale, Turkey

Age: 23 Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 5th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 144 to 150 or 229 to 233. Memorial HELLES MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Son of Alfred and Margaret Russell, of Whitelands Terling, Essex where he and his father were cowmen.

Records outside Terling show Edward as the first Christian name.

Further Documents: 1 RUSSELL_EDWARD_JAMES.pdf

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Fred Russell Rank: Private

Service No: 27634 Date of Death: 29/07/1918

Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Border Regiment 7th Bn. Formerly 5978, Essex Regt.

Grave Reference III. C. 17. Cemetery VARENNES MILITARY CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Stephen and Ella Louisa Russell, of Terling, Essex. In 1911 Fred was living at Flax Green with his parents and three of his siblings and working as a

cowman.

Further Documents: 1 RUSSELL_FRED.pdf

2 Fred Russell grave.jpg

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Arthur Edward Smith Rank: Serjeant

Service No: 80329 Date of Death: 11/04/1917

Age: 24 Regiment/Service: Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line

(incl. Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps) Battalion: Essex Yeomanry

Enlistment Location: Colchester Panel Reference Bay 1.

Memorial ARRAS MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of Mrs. Sarah Emma Smith, of Terling, Chelmsford, Essex. In 1911 Arthur was a groom,

living with his mother, seven siblings and nephew Gerald Sterck.

Further Documents: 1 SMITH_ARTHUR_EDWARD.pdf

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Frederick William Smith Rank: Corporal

Service No: 216160 Date of Death: 24/04/1919

Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force No. 2 Stores Depot

Grave Reference Near North wall of Church. Cemetery TERLING (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information:

Husband of E. R. Smith, of "Mons," Terling. Frederick was the son of Mrs. Sarah Smith and brother of Arthur who had died two years earlier. Frederick had been a carpenter in 1911.

Further Documents:

1 SMITH_FREDERICK_WILLIAM.pdf

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Alexander Stevens Rank: Private

Service No: 12744 Date of Death: 18/09/1915

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 1st Bn. Panel Reference

Panel 144 to 150 or 229 to 233. Memorial HELLES MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Sadly, it is not clear that this is the Alexander Stevens recorded on the memorial as no connection can be found in Commonwealth War Graves Commission or Ancestry.com records with either Terling or Fairstead. The search will continue and any information

gratefully received.

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Bert Swallow Rank: Private

Service No: 12850 Date of Death: 22/10/1917

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 10th Bn. Grave Reference XLI. A. 18.

Cemetery POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of John and Ellen Swallow, of Gambols Green, Terling, Chelmsford. In 1911 Bert was living with his parents and three siblings and was an Agricultural Labourer

Further Documents:

1 SWALLOW_BERT.pdf

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Hewitt Thurgood Rank: Private

Service No: 27336 Date of Death: 12/08/1917

Age: 33 Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 10th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 39. Memorial

YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of the late William and Amelia Thurgood, of Terling, Chelmsford. In 1911 Hewitt was living

with his parents and three siblings at the old Terling Post Office where he was a Postman.

Further Documents: 1 THURGOOD_HEWITT.pdf

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Alec Wager Rank: Private

Service No: 42874 Date of Death: 26/04/1918

Age: 18 Regiment/Service: South Staffordshire Regiment 4th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 90 to 92 and 162 to 162A. Memorial

TYNE COT MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of George Edward and Sarah Ann Wager, of Mill Rd., Terling, Chelmsford. In 1911 Alec was at school, living with his “Traction Engine Driver” Father, Mother, “Flour Millar’s Hand” older

brother William, two younger brothers Edward and Frank, and his cousin Ellen.

Further Documents: 1 WAGER_ALEC_ERNEST.pdf

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Victor Wager Rank: Private

Service Nos: 52605 and 132581

Date of Death: 18/09/1918

Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 237th Coy.

Grave Reference I. F. 21.

Cemetery EPEHY WOOD FARM CEMETERY, EPEHY France

Additional Information:

One of five sons of Fred and Elizabeth Wager (née Fullock) of Gambles Green. In 1911 Victor was just 12 years old and in school. By 1914, despite being only 15, he joined the Army as a Gunner/Driver with the Royal Artillery, serving in France and only being discharged, because he was underage,

when his Regiment disembarked back in England in May 1915. He re-enlisted when 17 and served with the Machine Gun Corps.

Further Documents: WAGER_V.pdf

Z:\War Memorial\Victor Wager

Victor Wager (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) Page 1

Terling & Fairstead

War Memorial Victor Wager

Victor Wager (born 1899) was a remarkable young man who packed an amazing amount into his sadly short life. What might he have achieved had he not been killed in action on the 18th September 1918?

The seventh of eight siblings, at just 15 years of age he joined up as a Gunner/Driver (service number 52605) with the Royal Field Artillery at the start of the war in 1914.

He served in France, only being discharged when his Regiment disembarked back in England in May 1915 and then re-joining in 1916 into the newly formed Machine Gun Corps.

Not one for a quiet life Victor married on the 2nd September 1916. His bride, Ethel Aves, (born Ethel Swains but adopted by Harry and Mary Aves) and was a lift attendant living in Fulham, London and showed her age on marriage as 21 years, despite being 24. So too did Victor, despite being still only 17 years old.

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Soon after, on the 1st November 1916, their son Victor George Wager, was born.

Victor re-enlisted into the 58th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (service number 132581).

In January 1918 Victor was wounded and recuperated back in England at Grantham Military Hospital, Belton Park. After his recovery he was sent back to the front line in France in May 1918.

While fighting and being treated he wrote various letters to his wife, some of which are shown here.

Like other similar letters from the front soldiers like Victor often spoke in his letters more of the ordinary day to day events rather than try to describe the terrible events unfolding around him.

Here, for example, he describes the parcel received of “cakes and fags” but that he didn’t get the one with “cakes and matches”. He does, however, try to reassure his young wife that “there is not much fear of getting hit at this place when they shell us as the trench is nearly 15 feet deep where we are”.

Sometimes all he could do was send one of the standard cards to his wife simply telling her is was alive. At other times he was able to send a picture postcard, but certainly not the type one might normally buy in France today.

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Sadly, Victor was killed on the 18th September 1918 at the Battle of Épehy, Somme, Picardie, France and is buried at Grave Ref - I.F.21.-Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy.

Épehy is a village between Cambrai and Péronne about 18 kilometres north-east of Péronne.

The village of Épehy was captured at the beginning of April 1917. It was lost on 22 March 1918 after a spirited defence by the Leicester Brigade of the 21st Division and the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers. It was retaken (in the Battle of Épehy) on the 18th September 1918, by the 7th Norfolks, 9th Essex and 1st/1st Cambridgeshires of the 12th (Eastern) Division.

The British assault was greatly assisted by a creeping barrage involving some 1,500 guns, with the addition of 300 machine guns. French assistance however, which had been promised in the south, never materialised, and success was limited on its flanks, but the centre of the advance - led by two divisions of the Australian Corps under General Monash - quickly gained around three miles.

Although by no means a large-scale success, Épehy, along with Havrincourt and St Mihiel before it, confirmed present German weakness, and thus encouraged further Allied action sooner rather than later, by which time the Germans may have consolidated their positions.

Épehy Wood Farm Cemetery is a little west of the village and on the north side of the road to Saulcourt. The cemetery takes its name from the Ferme du Bois, a little to the east. Plots I and II were made by the 12th Division after the capture of the village, and contain the graves of officers and men who died in September 1918 (or, in a few instances, in April 1917 and March 1918). Plots III-VI were made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from smaller cemeteries and from the battlefields surrounding Épehy.

The cemetery now contains 997 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 235 of the burials are unidentified but there are additional special memorials to 29 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to two casualties buried in Épehy New British Cemetery, whose graves could not be found when that cemetery was concentrated. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Victors widow Ethel received his medals - 1914-15 Star Medal, British Medal, Victory Medal and the large Death Plaque in 1920. Ethel had remained in contact with her birth Mother, and her husband George Booker. George was also killed time shortly before Victor’s death, on 31 July 1918, while

serving at sea on Submarine HMS Fearless K5, Royal Navy.

Ethel’s life was not to get easier. She did remarry, to Victor’s cousin, John Haden (Hayden) who in the 1918 Electoral Register is shown living at the same house, 14 Delorme Street, Fulham, as Charles and Thomas Aves.

Ethel and John had three sons, but sadly tragedy was to strike Ethel again. The first Hayden son was to die after just two days and then, during WW2 on 3rd December 1940, her youngest son Edward Hayden, aged just 15, was killed at the Hammersmith St Vincent Convent Air Raid Shelter during an air raid and Ethel was badly injured. Also killed was Edward’s Aunt Mary Haden together with 40 other people who died in the basement shelter that night.

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Walter Stanley Wager Rank: Private

Service No: 48346 Date of Death: 30/09/1918

Regiment/Service: East Surrey Regiment 12th Bn. Grave Reference V. A. 1.

Cemetery ZANTVOORDE BRITISH CEMETERY Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen Belgium

Additional Information:

Son of Alfred & Eliza Wager of Flax Green Terling where, in 1911, he was the youngest of three children at home. His Father was a gamekeeper, older brothers Alfred, a bricklayer and

Edward, a farm labourer.

Further Documents: 1. WAGER_W_S.pdf

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Arthur Daniel White Rank: Private

Service No: 17723 Date of Death: 05/04/1916

Age: 23 Regiment/Service: North Staffordshire Regiment 7th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 34. Memorial BASRA MEMORIAL Iraq

Additional Information:

Son of Henry and Alice White, of 1, Owls Hill, Terling, Chelmsford. Born in Terling, in 1911 Arthur had been a Cowman, living in Thorpe Morieux Suffolk with his parents and four

siblings. He was single and living at Navestock Hall as a Cowman when he was recruited at Warley on 7th June 1915.

Further Documents:

1. WHITE_ARTHUR_DANIEL.pdf 2. JPEG\BritishArmyWWIServiceRecords1914-1920ForArthurWhite.jpg

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William Wood Rank: Private

Service No: 14115 Date of Death: 20/04/1916

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 11th Bn. Grave Reference II. K. 14.

Cemetery ESSEX FARM CEMETERY West-Vlaanderen Belgium

Additional Information: Son of George and Ellen Wood, of Flax Green, Terling, Witham, Essex. In 1911 William was a

Farm Labourer, living with his parents and five siblings

Additional Documents: 1. WOOD_WILLIAM.pdf

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1939-1945 World War II

Robert James Hawker Rank: Private

Service No: 5675575 Date of Death: 15/11/1944

Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment 10th Bn.

Grave Reference 3.C.7. Cemetery DIGBOI WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of James and Emily Hawker; husband of Marjorie Gwenda Hawker, of Terling, Essex.

Further Documents: 1. HAWKER_ROBERT_JAMES.pdf

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Gerald Ivo Cuthbert Rank: Flying Officer

Trade: Pilot Service No: 90133

Date of Death: 14/05/1940 Age: 28

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 607 Sqdn. Grave Reference IX. C. 1.

Cemetery HOTTON WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information: Son of Capt. James Harold Cuthbert, D.S.O., Scots Guards, (killed in France 27th September

1915), and of Kathleen Alice Cuthbert, of Corbridge, Northumberland. His brother Sidney John Cuthbert also fell. Both brothers are also remembered on the memorial

in St John Lee St John of Beverley, Northumberland. Their Mother had married Lord Rayleigh in 1920.

Further Documents:

1. CUTHBERT_GERALD_IVO.pdf 2. CUTHBERT_JAMES_HAROLD.pdf

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Sidney John Cuthbert Rank: Major

Service No: 65937 Date of Death: 30/07/1944

Age: 30 Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 3rd Bn.

Grave Reference VIII. A. 1. Spec. Memorial. Cemetery HOTTOT-LES-BAGUES WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Capt. James Harold Cuthbert, D.S.O., Scots Guards (killed in France, 27th September, 1915), and of Kathleen Alice Cuthbert, of Chelmsford, Essex.

His brother Gerald Ivo Cuthbert also fell. Both brothers are also remembered on the memorial in St John Lee St John of Beverley, Northumberland.

Their Mother had married Lord Rayleigh in 1920.

Further Documents: 1. CUTHBERT_SIDNEY_JOHN.pdf

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Trevor Hugh Easter Rank: Sapper

Service No: 6014401 Date of Death: 16/05/1940

Age: 18 Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers Grave Reference Row 4. Grave 4.

Cemetery TERLING (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION

Additional Information:

Son of Norris and Adela Kate Easter, of Terling.

Further Documents: 1. EASTER_TREVOR_HUGH.pdf

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Frederick Green Rank: Serjeant

Service No: 6008560 Date of Death: 11/07/1942

Age: 29 Regiment/Service: Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. 5th

Grave Reference XXVI. E. 26. Cemetery EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Husband of Emila Elizabeth Green, of Terling, Essex.

Further Documents: 1. GREEN_FREDERICK.pdf

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Lawrence William Joyce Rank: Private

Service No: 14890303 Date of Death: 12/01/1945

Regiment/Service: General Service Corps Grave Reference Row 10. Grave 6.

Cemetery TERLING (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION

Additional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Joyce, of Terling.

Further Documents: 1. JOYCE_LAWRENCE_WILLIAM.pdf

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Ernest Edward Palmer Rank: Corporal

Service No: 518069 Date of Death: 15/11/1941

Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 113 Sqdn.

Grave Reference 15. E. 7. Cemetery HALFAYA SOLLUM WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Frederick Ernest and Phoebe Alice Palmer, of Terling, Essex.

Further Documents: 1. PALMER_ERNEST_EDWARD.pdf

2. Ernest Edward Palmer

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Terling & Fairstead

War Memorial Ernest Edward Palmer

Ernest Edward Palmer, one of four sons of Frederick Ernest and Phoebe Alice Palmer of

Sandypits Farm, was known to his family and friends as Ted. Fascinated by planes enough to

cycle to local airfields as a lad, Ted joined the R.A.F Volunteer Reserves before the war, passing

out from Cranwell in 1937 and serving at Blackpool and Hornchurch before being posted to

Egypt.

On the 10th October 1941 his Mother received a letter from him, amongst other things saying

that he had hoped to see the family again before Christmas but that it didn’t look like he would

now, and hoped to be able to sometime in the New Year. Sadly, Ted was to be killed in an attack

on his airfield on the 15th November 1941.

In the January 1942 edition of the Terling with Fairstead Parish Magazine the Rector’s Letter

gave the following news of Ted. The Rector, J C Morrice wrote;

“We announced in our last issue the death of Ernest Edward Palmer, (Ted), R.A.F. son of Mr

and Mrs Palmer, Sandypits Farm, who was killed in action in Libya. We are now able to

supply some details about the service he rendered to his Country. He was in the R.A.F. as a

Regular and had served for seven years in all the important theatres of War, in the Near East,

Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Libya. I’ve been privileged to read his letters which give an

interesting outline of his work since 1938. He liked Palestine and often compares its verdure

and fruitfulness with sandy barren Libya. For the most part he was rounding up rebels in

Palestine and won the medal for that expedition. He was astonished at the smallness of the

country, only 60 miles across. In Egypt and Libya he tells the long tale of sand, sand

everywhere and all its discomforts. He mentions meeting at different times Jack Twinn and

Ted Goodwin. Of one place in Libya he writes “It hasn’t rained here for seven years”. In

another he is impressed by a deserted city – deserted long ago by its inhabitants for some

unknown reason, yet still standing and telling its mute tale.

He became Leading Air Craftsman in 1939 and in 1940 Corporal. He was attached to the

Wireless Installation work and often had to go in advance of troops in action. Possibly it is

thus that he met his death, although details are not to hand.

In Greece he ran the risks that all our men ran and was taken off in a Flying Boat when our

troops evacuated that Country. Into his seven years of service he had crowded a good deal of

experience. His last letters spoke of coming “leave” long overdue. It was not to be. Ted was a

brave and unpretentious youth, very reserved but obviously fond of his native Country and

especially of Terling where the beauty and diversity of the landscape formed such a contrast to

the barren patches of the desert where most of his last seven years of his life were spent. May

he rest in peace and his parents and brothers find comfort in the thought that he died for

England and had served his Country well. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” (translation;

it is sweet and seemly to die for one's country)

P a g e 42

Francis William Palmer Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class

Service No: 1379529 Date of Death: 23/03/1942

Age: 21 Regiment/Service:

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 407 Sqdn. Panel Reference Panel 98.

Memorial RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of Frederick Ernest and Phoebe Alice Palmer, of Terling, Essex.

Further Documents:

1. PALMER_FRANCIS_WILLIAM.pdf 2. Francis Palmer

P a g e 43

Terling & Fairstead

War Memorial Francis William Palmer

Francis, known to his family and friends as Bill, was born on 17th April 1920, the son of Frederick

Ernest and Phoebe Alice Palmer. He was one of four boys, a keen tennis player and hoped to

marry a lass from Great Leighs. Francis was only 19 at the outbreak of war, and despite being a

farmworker, was called up for service once a Women’s Land Army girl had been allocated to the

family farm at Sandypits.

By December 1940 Bill was training at RAF station Mountbatten at Plymouth. Plymouth, being a

significant Royal Navy base, was the subject of many air-raids by the German Luftwaffe. One raid

took place as Bill was returning back to base after leave. His letter home describes the raid, which

delayed his train by 3 hours, as “Jerry was having a bit of a do down here, we were stuck outside

Plymouth for three hours….. It seems that Plymouth had its biggest raid so far, no bombs on the

camp…After we drew into the station we found that we could not get back to camp that night.

The last bus had gone, and after tramping all over the place to get a taxi and finding none of

them would turn out finished up at the YMCA. We crawled in there about 12.30, tired and

hungry and had a good feed. It was too late to get a bed, they were all booked, in fact the place

was packed out from the top to bottom. There were servicemen laying all over the place, on the

floor, on the tables, under the tables even on the billiard tables. Myself after trying to drop off on

a hard chair, crawled underneath one of the billiard tables and slept there until 6am…. That

was to all my troubles as the first thing I learnt on arriving back in camp was that I was due on

guard at 9.30….. That meant another night without taking my clothes off and broken sleep”

On Monday March 23rd 1942 at 1030 hours Bill left the Thorney Island camp in a Hudson plane

(AM811) as an additional wireless operator for a navigational exercise flight over the English

Channel. The plane did not return and no evidence of its fate was ever found. Despite numerous

requests for further information by the family, neither the Air Force nor flying colleagues were

ever able to assist the family further in understanding how their son had died.

Bill was attached to the 407 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which had been formed

on Thorney Island on 8th May 1941, and as such is listed in the RCAF Overseas record book Roll of

Honour, produced in 1945/46. The Canadians record that the squadron, operating from the

Island at the time of the death of Bill Palmer, was “engaged in shipping strikes against the

enemy”. The Squadron had received a letter of appreciation from the Air Council and Coastal

Command AO C-in-C for their excellent operational record during the six months to December

1941. When reformed on 1st April 1942 due to the heavy losses of aircrew, the Squadron had

earned two DSOs, two DFCs and three DFMs

Bill was commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial which was described, at the unveiling

ceremony by the new Queen Elizabeth in October 1953, as having been “built by the Imperial War

Graves Commission in memory of 20,455 airmen who gave their lives in the 1939-1945 War and

have no known grave. They died for freedom in raid and sortie over the British Isles and the lands

and seas of Northern and Western Europe.”

P a g e 44

Cecil Francis Burney Rolt Rank: Captain

Service No: 159811 Date of Death: 06/04/1945

Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps Grave Reference: 10. J. 10.

Cemetery BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany

Additional Information:

Lived in Tudor House Terling. Married to Lavinia Yoland Mary Rolt, but killed just two weeks after their wedding. Youngest son of the late Rev C H & Mrs Rolt of Terling. Cecil, known as Nick, had a brother John, who had four children, and another called David, who was an artist and whom, in 1951, donated a

painting to Terling church entitled the ‘The Head of Christ’, given in memory of his brother. Further Documents:

1. England Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 for Cecil Francis Burney Rolt (2).jpg

2. ROLT_CECIL_FRANCIS_BURNLEY.pdf 3. England Andrews Newspaper Index Cards 1790-1976 for C F B Rolt (2).jpg

P a g e 45

Richard Windle Rank: Second Lieutenant

Service No: 134987 Date of Death: 05/12/1941

Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps

1st King's Dragoon Guards Awards: M C

Panel Reference Column 14. Memorial ALAMEIN MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Son of Norman Whitmore Windle and Marian Julia Windle, of South Kensington, London. Believed to have lived at Tudor House Terling

P a g e 46

Dennis Walter Mackrow Rank: Private

Service No: 6286424 Date of Death: Between 10/05/1940 and 23/06/1940

Age: 19 Regiment/Service: The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

2nd Bn. Grave Reference Grave 12.

Cemetery MERRIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional Information: Son of Gladys Winniefred Mackrow, of Terling, Essex.

Further Documents:

1 MACKROW_DENNIS_WALTER.pdf

P a g e 47

Men of Fairstead

1914-1918 World War I

Edward Bearman Rank: Corporal

Service No: 2202 Date of Death: 20/11/1919

Age: 47 Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment transferred. to (246307) Labour Corps

Cemetery FAIRSTEAD (SS. MARY AND PETER) CHURCHYARD

Further Information:

Son of George Bearman; husband of H. E. Bearman, of Fuller St., Fairstead.

Further Documents: 1 BEARMAN_E.pdf

P a g e 48

John Brock Rank: Private

Service No: 31572 Date of Death: 20/11/1917

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 9th Bn. Panel Reference: Panel 7 and 8.

Memorial: CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL Nord, France

Additional Information: Son of Jo and Susannah Brock of Ranks Green Fairstead, John was a Farm Worker. John’s

brother William had been killed only the previous year.

Further Documents: 1 BROCK_JOHN.pdf

P a g e 49

William Brock Rank: Private

Service No: 27328 Date of Death: 23/10/1916

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 2nd Bn. Panel Reference: Pier and Face 10 D.

Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Somme, France

Additional Information: Son of Jo and Susannah Brock of Ranks Green Fairstead, William was a Farm Worker as was his

brother John, killed a year later.

Further Documents: 1 BROCK_WILLIAM.pdf

P a g e 50

Bertie Cloughton Rank: Rifleman

Service No: A/200608 Date of Death: 11/08/1917

Age: 19 Regiment/Service: King's Royal Rifle Corps 11th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 51 and 53. Memorial

YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Additional Information:

Son of Emily S. Cloughton, of Walnut Tree Cottage, Fairstead, Chelmsford, and the late Charles Cloughton (b.1866, Terling; bap.06/05/1866, All Saints Church, Terling;

d.1900). Charles was an agricultural labourer. Charles married Emily Sarah Wisbey née King (b.1862, Stanway) in 1898. Emily had four children, Robert, Percy, Bertie (Bert) and Amy.

In 1911, while still at school, Bertie was living in at 1 Brisbane Villa, Russell Road, Walton on

Thames (1911) with his half-brother Robert Wisbey. Bertie’s widowed Mother Emily was then living in Walnut Tree Cottage, Fairstead, along with her Mother, Brother and youngest child,

Amy. Amy subsequently married Herbert Brock, of Ranks Green, Fairstead. Amy and Herbert had no children.

Further Documents:

1 CLOUGHTON_BERTIE.pdf 2 Bertie Cloughton 1911.jpg 3 Bertie Cloughton 1901.jpg

4 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11986053

P a g e 51

Albert Edward Doe Rank: Private

Service No: T/202561 Date of Death: 27/06/1917

Age: 33 Regiment/Service: The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) 1st Bn.

Grave Reference I. S. 14. Cemetery

PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY, MAZINGARBE Pas de Calais France

Additional Information:

Brother of F. N. Doe, of Troys Cottages, Fairstead, Witham, Essex.

Further Documents: 1 DOE_ALBERT_EDWARD.pdf

P a g e 52

Percy Doe Rank: Private

Service No: 40974 Date of Death: 01/06/1918

Age: 19 Regiment/Service:

King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 1st/4th Bn. Grave Reference I. A. 19.

Cemetery HOUCHIN BRITISH CEMETERY

Pas de Calais France

Additional Information: Son of George and Ellen Doe, of Ranks Green, Fairstead, Witham, Essex.

Further Documents:

1 DOE_PERCIVAL.pdf 2 Upload reqd\HC731.jpg

P a g e 53

Frederick Ernest Underdown Rank: Sapper

Service No: 564476 Date of Death: 23/06/1917

Age: 39 Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers London Electrical Engineers

Cemetery FAIRSTEAD (SS. MARY AND PETER) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information:

Frederick lived at Woodlands, Terling Essex. Son of John and Emily Underdown; husband of Charlotte Cecilia Underdown, of 21,

Sheringten Rd., Charlton, London. Born at Shepherd's Bush, London, he died in the Military Hospital at Bere Island, Ireland

Further Documents:

1. England Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 for Frederick Ernest Underdown.jpg

2 UNDERDOWN_FREDERICK_ERNEST.pdf

P a g e 54

Edward Warner Rank: Corporal

Service No: 54420 Date of Death: 20/04/1920

Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 172nd Coy. transf. to (661689) Labour Corps

Cemetery FAIRSTEAD (SS. MARY AND PETER) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Warner, of Dines Farm, Fairstead.

Further Documents: 1 WARNER_EDWARD.pdf

P a g e 55

1939-1945 World War II

Sidney Leonard French Rank: Private

Service No: 6017703 Date of Death: 27/12/1944

Age: 23 Regiment/Service: Wiltshire Regiment 5th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 5. Memorial GROESBEEK MEMORIAL Gelderland Netherlands

Additional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. French, of Fairstead, Essex.

Further Documents: 1 FRENCH_SIDNEY_LEONARD.pdf

P a g e 56

Arthur Edward Wyatt Rank: Private

Service No: 6016299 Date of Death: 26/06/1942

Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 2/5th Bn.

Grave Reference XIX. C. 27. Cemetery EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY Egypt

Additional Information:

Son of Arthur and Sarah Wyatt, of Fairstead, Essex.

Further Documents: 1 WYATT_ARTHUR_EDWARD.pdf