Selected Biographies

Albon, Albert ‘Roger’ – Born:  Long Melford, Suffolk on 12.4.1878.[1]  Parents: Ann Albon (Horsehair Weaver) [married Samuel Drury (Coconut Mat Weaver) in 1883].  Family Connections: Brother to George Albon [b1876]: also, half-brother of Frederick Drury [b1884] and uncle of Basil Raymond Albon [b1919].  Home: High Street, Long Melford (1891 and 1901).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901).  Married: Maud Woodgate in 1907.  Service Record: Attested in 1902 as Gnr.9906 with the Royal Garrison Artillery, purchasing his discharge 1903.  Albert saw service during the First World War as Gnr.10242 of the RGA, later recorded as Gnr.285242.[2]

Albon, Alfred James – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1901.  Parents: Sargent James Albon (Coal Carter) and Ellen [née Pawsey] both of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Nephew of Arthur Robert Albon [b1878], Frederick John Albon [b1885], Ernest Frank Albon [b1887] and John Albon [b1891].  Home: 28 Mill Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk (1911).  Married: Kate Brown in 1921.  Service Record: No definitive military record found.  Died: Colchester, Essex in 1969.

Albon, Amos Gracie – Born: Stanwell, Middlesex on 22.9.1887.[3]  Parents: Amos Albon of Long Melford (Innkeeper) and Margaret Maben [née Gracie].  Family Connections: Cousin to George Albon [b1883], Ephraim John Albon [b1889], Henry William Albon [b1892] and Harry Albon [b1895].  Home: Queens Arms, Broad Street, Teddington, Middlesex (1891), Kinwood, Downside, Shoreham-on-Sea, Sussex (1939), 10 Crown Road, Portslade-by-Sea, Sussex [1966].  Occupation: Hired Labourer at Rosyth Dockyard [1912-1917].  Married: Robina Burnside [d1956] in 1909 and Phyllis Irene Elkins in 1959.  Service Record: Amos was conscripted in May 1917 as Spr.287122, later WR/506690 with the Royal Engineers.[4]  Died: General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex in 1966.

Albon, Arthur Robert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 1.10.1878.[5]  Parents: Frederick John Albon (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Emma [née Gager].  Family Connections: Brother to Sargent James Albon [b1880], Frederick John Albon [b1885], Ernest Frank Albon [b1887] and John Albon [b1891]; also, uncle of Arthur James Albon [b1901].   Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1881 and 1891). Occupation: Labourer [1897].  Married: Mary A. Honeyball in 1914.  Service Record: Attested in 1897 as Pte.4561 with the Suffolk Regiment, later Pte.8881, serving in India.  Arthur re-enlisted in 1908 in India as Pte.9032 of 1^st Battalion, Essex Regiment, being discharged in 1910.  It is not known if Arthur saw service during the First World War as no extant record has been found.[6]

Albon, Basil William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 11.4.1899.[7]  Parents: John Albon (Bricklayer’s Carman) and Adelaide [née Perry].  Family Connections: Half-brother to George Perry [b1886] and brother to George Albon [b1892].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Service Record: Basil was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1916.[8]  He was conscripted as Pte.38165 of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, transferring as Pte.G/25861 with 10^th [Service] Battalion [Battersea], The Queen’s [Royal West Surrey] Regiment, posted to France as part of 124^th Brigade, 41^st Division.  In early April 1918 the Battalion moved into the Passchendaele sector of the front line, however by 16.4.1918 it had been forced to retire to Ypres due to pressure from advancing German troops.  In the following days Basil’s unit came under repeated bombardment from mustard gas shells, killing and wounding thirty men.[9]  Died: Basil died of wounds on 22.4.1918, is buried in Haringhe [Bandaghem] Military Cemetery [grave ref: III.E.34], Poperinghe, Belgium and commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[10]

Albon, Basil Raymond – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.12.1919.  Parents: George Albon (Gardener) and Ada [née Hardy].  Family Connections: Nephew of Albert Roger Albon [b1878].  Home: Cocoanut House, Hall Street, Long Melford [1954].  Occupation: Builder [1940], Civil Engineer [1954].[11]  Married: Sheila Isobel Miller in 1964.  Service Record: Basil enlisted with the RAF training as an Air Gunner No.653361 with N^o.78 Squadron as part of 4^th Group Bomber Command, rising to the rank of Sergeant.  He was posted to Malta, and when on a bombing mission over southern Italy on 10.2.1941, was forced to bail out.  He was captured and taken to Sulmona POW Camp in Italy from where he escaped until recapture seven months later.  Transferred to Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug in East Prussia (now Ŝilute in Lithuania) where he met up with fellow Melfordian Herbert Ruse [see his entry below].  In early 1945 the camp was hurriedly evacuated ahead of advancing Soviet troops and he and thousands of others were force marched to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel, which on 16 April was liberated by the British 7^th Armoured Division.  In an interview with a reporter upon his return to England, he related that with two other prisoners he ‘borrowed’ a car and drove nearly 1,000 miles to Brussels.[12]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1988.

Albon, Ephraim John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.8.1889.[13]  Parents: Ephraim Albon (Cabinet Maker) and Ann Maria [née Howe] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Cousin to George Albon [b1883], Amos Gracie Albon [b1887], Henry William Albon [b1892] and Harry Albon [b1895].  Home: Sargents Yard, Hall Street, Long Melford (1891 and 1901), Back Lane, Long Melford (1911).  Occupation: Painter for A. J. Hempstead of Sudbury [1907], Painter (1911).  Service Record: Before 1907 Ephraim was a member of 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  In 1907 he enlisted as Pte.7456 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolks, being discharged in 1909.  By 1912 he had joined 5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment [Territorial] the successor unit to 2^nd Volunteer Battalion.  Following the declaration of War, the men of 5^th Suffolks were asked to sign on for overseas service, which Albon and other many Melford men agreed to do.  As L/Sgt.1500 of N^o. 8 Platoon 1/5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, he was being posted to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 10.8.1915. The condition in the trenches on Hill 60 during September were harsh in the extreme.  In addition to a constant barrage of artillery and sniper fire from the Turkish lines, water was strictly rationed and washing, and ablution facilities were rudimentary or non-existent.  Flies were everywhere feeding on poorly buried corpses and human waste, causing an epidemic of dysentery and diarrhoea.  By the end of the month the Battalion had lost nearly 400 men killed, wounded or sick.[14]  Died: Ephraim died at sea on HMS Grampian of enteric fever 1.10.1915, is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery [grave ref: B.XVII.2], Malta and commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[15]

Albon, Ernest Frank – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.3.1887.[16]  Parents: Frederick John Albon (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Emma [née Gager].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Robert Albon [b1878], Sargent James Albon [b1880], Frederick John Albon [b1885] and John Albon [b1891]; also, uncle of Arthur James Albon [b1901].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1891), 5 Bridge Foot, Ballingdon, Sudbury (1901), 92/93 Alstin Yard, Cross Street, Sudbury (1911) 94 Cross Street, Sudbury [1918].  Occupation: Cattle Drover (1901 and 1911).  Service Record: Attested as Pte.24903 with 7^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France and transferring to 2^nd Suffolks as part of 76^th Brigade, 3^rd Division.[17]  Died: Ernest was killed in action on 30.8.1918 during an attack on Écoust, south of Arras and is buried in Écoust-Saint-Mein British Cemetery [grave ref: D.60], Pas-de-Calais, France.[18]

Albon, Frederick John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.2.1885.[19]  Parents: Frederick John Albon (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Emma [née Gager].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Robert Albon [b1878], Sargent James Albon [b1880], Ernest Frank Albon [b1887] and John Albon [b1891]; also, uncle of Arthur James Albon [b1901].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1891), 5 Bridge Foot, Ballingdon, Essex (1901), 92 Alstin Yard, Cross Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1911), 94 Cross Street, Sudbury [1916].  Occupation: River Stour Bargeman (1901), General Labourer (1911).  Service Record: Attested in 1902 as Pte.5699 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being discharged in 1908.  Frederick served in the First World War as Pte.22346 of 7^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and was posted to France from 29.12.1915 as part of 35^th Brigade, 12^th [Eastern] Division.  During the Battle of the Transloy Ridges, part of the larger Somme Offensive, the Battalion was entrenched in the Gueudecourt sector.  On the morning of 12.10.1916 Frederick’s unit attacked a section of the German lines dubbed ‘Bayonet Trench’ and the adjacent Luisenhof Farm.  Disastrously for the men of the Suffolks they were impeded by uncut barbed wire and caught in a withering crossfire from enemy machine-guns.  The attack was beaten back, with the Battalion taking over five hundred casualties.[20]  Died: Frederick was killed during this action and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme [pier and face 1c and 2a], Somme, France.[21]

Albon, George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 21.9.1876.[22]  Parents: Ann Albon (Horsehair Weaver) [married Samuel Drury (Coconut Mat Weaver) in 1883].  Family Connections: Brother to Albert Roger Albon [b1878] and half-brother to Frederick Drury [b1884].  Home: Living with James Albon (Uncle) at High Street, Long Melford (1881), living with Mother and Samuel Drury (adopted Father) at High Street, Long Melford (1891), living with Harry Steed (Brother-in-Law) at 10 Bridgemen Road, Acton, Middlesex (1901), Westgate Hill, Long Melford (1911), Bull Lane, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Furniture Carman’s Assistant (1901), Gardener (1911).  Married: Ada Hardy in 1903.  Service Record:  Although no definitive military record has been found, George may have attested on 3.4.1915 as Pte.3253 with 1/5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he was posted to Gallipoli 15.11.1915, then to Egypt, being renumbered in 1917 as Pte.240938, and may have gone on to see action during the campaign in Palestine in 1917/18.  He may also have been issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged due to poly-articular rheumatism in March 1919.[23]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1950.

Albon, George – Born: Hartest, Suffolk in 1883.  Parents: Alfred Baldwin Albon (Innkeeper) and Emma [née Ford] both of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Brother to Harry Albon [b1896]; also, cousin to George Albon [b1883], Amos Gracie Albon [b1887], Ephraim John Albon [b1889] and Henry William Albon [b1892], and brother-in-law of Albert Henry Dakin [b1886].  Home: The Green, Hessett, Suffolk (1891), The Duddery, Shimpling Road, Hartest (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Journeyman Butcher (1911).  Service Record: Attested on 11.12.1915 as Pte.28700 with 3^rd [Reserve] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring on 19.8.1916 to 1^st Suffolks in Salonika, as part of 84^th Brigade, 28^th Division.  George returned to England on 26.10.1918, transferring to 2^nd Battalion, Suffolks before his discharge in September 1919.[24]

Albon, George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.1.1892.  Parents: John Albon (Bricklayer’s Carman) and Adelaide [née Perry].  Family Connections: Half-brother to George Perry [b1886] and brother to Basil William Albon [b1899].  Home: St Catherines Rd, Long Melford (1901), 31 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, London (1911), 22 Ramsey Street, Bethnal Green, London [1916], 123 Hubert Road, Hornchurch, Essex (1939) to [1947].  Occupation: Porter in the Drapery Warehouse of Messrs. J. Rotherham & Co (1911), Acetylene Welder [1916] Electric Acetylene Welder (1939).  Married: Kate Clara Staines in 1916.[25]  Service Record: No definitive military records found.  Died: Hornchurch, Essex on 20.10.1947.

Albon, Harry – Born: Hartest, Suffolk on 17.12.1896.[26]  Parents: Alfred Baldwin Albon (Innkeeper) and Emma [née Ford] both of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Brother to George Albon [b1883]; also, cousin to George Albon [b1883], Amos Gracie Albon [b1887], Ephraim John Albon [b1889] and Henry William Albon [b1892], and brother-in-law of Albert Henry Dakin [b1886].  Home: The Duddery, Shimpling Road, Hartest (1901 and 1911), Belle Vue, Hartest (1939), The Bungalow, Hartest [1960].  Occupation: Butcher’s Lad (1911), Butcher’s Assistant (1939).  Married: possibly to Florence Garwood in 1932.  Service Record: Attested on 3.9.1914 as Pte.14825 with 8^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France as part of 53^rd Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division.  Harry’s unit saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917.[27]  As no extant Service Record appears to have survived, it is not known when Harry Albon was promoted to Corporal and when he was transferred to 3^rd [Reserve] Battalion, Suffolks.  Although only conjecture this may have been in February 1918, when 8^th Suffolks was disbanded.  Harry was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 5.7.1918 due to wounds.[28]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 24.5.1960.[29]

Albon, Henry William – Born: Margate, Kent on 4.5.1891.[30]  Parents: Henry Thomas Albon of Long Melford (Maltman) and Mary Ann [née Barker].  Family Connections: Cousin to George Albon [b1883], Amos Gracie Albon [b1887], Ephraim John Albon [b1889] and Harry Albon [b1895].  Home: 12 Grotto Road, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent (1911) onboard HMS Agamemnon at Chatham, Kent (1911).  Occupation: Errand Boy [1910], Stoker in the Royal Navy (1911).  Married: Elizabeth Jane Lulham in 1918.  Service Record: Henry enlisted on 17.1.1910 as a Boy Sailor No. K5041, serving as a Stoker on the battleship HMS Agamemnon from 1910 to 28.4.1916, taking part in the bombardment of Ottoman Turkish forts guarding the Dardanelles Straits in February 1915.  In 1916 he transferred to the Duncan Class battleship HMS Exmouth, on blockading duties along the Aegean Coast of Greece and Bulgaria and later that year to the Erebus Class monitor HMS Terror engaged in bombarding German targets off Zeebrugge and Ostend.  Henry reached the rank of Petty Officer, continuing his naval career beyond 1927.[31]  Died: Dartford, Kent in 1946.

Albon, John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1891.[32]  Parents: Frederick John Albon (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Emma [née Gager].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Robert Albon [b1878], Sargent James Albon [b1880], Frederick John Albon [b1885] and Ernest Frank Albon [b1887], also, uncle of Arthur James Albon [b1901].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford [1891], 5 Bridge Foot, Ballingdon, Essex (1901), 92/93 Alstin Yard, Cross St, Sudbury, Suffolk (1911).  Occupation: Cattle Drover (1911).  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, John may have enlisted in 1914 as Pte.1963 with 1/4^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he would have been posted to France on 8.11.1914 initially as part of the Jullundar Brigade, 3^rd [Lahore] Division of the Indian Army Corps.  By 1917 John Albon had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and issued with a new service number as Sgt.200376.  Between 1914 and 1917 the Battalion saw action at the following battles: Neuve Chapelle, St Julien and Aubers Ridge in 1915, and the Somme in 1916.[33]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1961.

Albon, Sargent James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 13.1.1880.[34]  Parents: Frederick John Albon (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Emma [née Gager].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Robert Albon [b1878], Frederick John Albon [b1885], Ernest Frank Albon [b1887] and John Albon [b1891]; also, brother-in-law of William F. Pawsey [b1885] and Charles Cyril Pawsey [b1892].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1881, 1891), 92 Cross Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901), 28 Mill Lane, Sudbury (1911).  Occupation: Coal Carter (1901), Agricultural Labourer (1911).  Married: Ellen Pawsey in 1901.  Service Record: No definitive military record found.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1942.

Albon, Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1873.  Home: High Street, Long Melford [1915].  Service Record: On 16.10.1915 Thomas was recorded has suffering from Tuberculosis.  No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Long Melford on 25.10.1915.[35]

Related Biography

Dakin, Albert Henry – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 7.8.1886.[36]  Parents: George William Dakin (Horsehair Curler) and Emily Ann [née Younger] of Long Melford (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to George William Dakin [b1872]; also, cousin of Jonathan Younger [b1879] and Sidney Charles Younger [b1898], and brother-in-law of Arthur William Clary [b1881], Amos Henry Clary [b1897], George Albon [b1883] and Harry Albon [b1896].  Home: Church Gate, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), 29 School Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901).  Occupation: Loom Weaver (1901), Porter [1904].  Married: Sarah Albon of Long Melford in 1911.  Service Record: Albert enlisted in 1904 as Pte.2823 with 4^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment [Territorials],[37] being re-engaged in 1914 as Pte.6864 with 2^nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and posted to France on 15.8.1914 as part of 14^th Brigade, 5^th Division.  On 24.8.1914 Dakin’s unit met the full force of the Imperial German Army at the hill-top town of Mons in Belgium, valiantly holding off the enemy before being forced into a fighting withdrawal.  Two days later the Suffolks were chosen to fight a rear-guard action near the village of Le Cateau.  The bravery of Dakin and his comrades was a determining factor in slowing the German advance, allowing the bulk of the British and French forces time to successfully regroup further south.  Three-quarters of this battalion, however, were either killed, wounded, or captured in this battle.  Albert and the other survivors spent the remainder of the conflict at the Prisoner of War Camp at Chemnitz in Germany.[38]  Died: 1972.

Notes – [1] Date of birth from Baptism Register 18.10.1882, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [2] Recorded as Roger Albon on Census Returns, and his military Service Record, Medal Roll, and Medal Index Card. [3] Date of birth from Baptism Register 4.6.1876, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [4] Silver War Badge record [ref: 364691], and his military Service Record, Medal Roll, and Medal Index Card. [5] Date of birth from Baptism Register 3.11.1878, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [6] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]. [7] Date of birth from Admission Register 1.4.1902, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford. [8] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 27.12.1916. [9] For details of 10^th Royal West Surrey’s movements in 1918 see War Diary [The National Archive – WO 95/2643/2].  See also his Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [10] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record. [11] For occupation and address see Passenger List of SS Carthage 30.4.1954. [12] Long Melford Welcomes Prisoners of War [SEFP 10.5.1945]. [13] Date of birth from Baptism Register 30.4.1891, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [14] For 1/5^th Suffolk’s part in the Gallipoli Campaign see War Diary [TNA – WO 95/4325] and Capt. A. Fair and Capt. E. D. Wolton “The Suffolk Regiment”: the history of the 1/5^th Battalion [London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1923], pp.13-37.  Also see the entry for Bertie John Allen [b1886] for an account of the Suffolk’s first days after stepping ashore in Gallipoli.  See also his SR, CWGC record, British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 [ref: 195875], Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [15] A moving letter from a comrade in arms Sergeant Tommy Panton was sent to Ephraim’s mother, which was later reprinted under the headline ‘The Death of Lance Sergeant Albon’ in SEFP 8.12.1915.  Ephraim is also recorded on the Roll of Honour in Fair and Wolton, p.118. [16] Date of birth from Baptism Register 1.5.1887, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [17] Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [18] For details of the action see 2^nd Suffolk’s War Diary [TNA – WO 95/1437/1] and Murphy, p.289.  See also his CWGC record, Effects file [ref: 865163]. [19] Date of birth from Baptism Register 7.2.1885, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [20] For details of the action see 2^nd Suffolk’s War Diary [WO 95/1437/1] and Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. Murphy, The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], p.180.  For a wider perspective see M^cCarthy, p.136. [21] See also his CWGC record, Effects file [ref: 389090], SBD, MR, and MIC. [22] Date of birth from Baptism Register 3.6.1877, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [23] For details of 1/5^th Suffolk’s time in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine see War Diaries [WO 95/4325 and WO 95/4658] and Fair and Wolton, pp.13-107.  See also his SWB record [ref: B149987], MR and MIC. [24] For details of 1^st Suffolk’s time in Salonika see War Diary [TNA – WO 95/4916] and Murphy, pp.303-10.  See also his SR, MR, and MIC. [25] Address and occupation taken from the Marriage Register for 23.4.1916 of St Matthews Church, Bethnal Green, London. [26] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Melford Rural District, Suffolk. [27] For details of 8^th Suffolk’s movements on the Western Front see War Diary [TNA – WO 95/2039/1-5] and Murphy, pp.146-50, 165-72 and 238-43. [28] SWB record [ref: 415605], MR and MIC. [29] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [30] Date of birth from his Royal Naval Service Record. [31] Royal Naval Service Record [TNA – ADM 188/877]. [32] John Albon has been identified by his grandson from the group photograph of returning veterans taken at Melford Hall on 19.9.1919 and currently on display at the Long Melford Heritage Centre. [33] For details of 1/4^th Suffolks movements see War Diary [TNA – WO 95/2427/2 and Murphy, op. cit. See also Albon’s suggested MR and MIC. [34] Date of birth taken from Baptism Register of Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford on 5.3.1881. [35] Tuberculosis: Register of Notification from Medical Practitioners, Bury Record Office ref; EF501/4/23. [36] Date of birth from his POW record. [37] Militia Service Records 1806-1915 [WO 96]. [38] For POW records see International Committee of the Red Cross [ref: PA19092 and P59], also, Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  For details of 2^nd Suffolk’s many actions see War Diary [WO 95/1437/1] and for the period from Mons to Le Cateau see Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.32-35.