A village with a big story
Selected Biographies
Allen, Alfred ‘Bodger’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1857. Parents: George Allen (Poultry Dealer) and Rachel [née Hume]. Family Connections: Father of Herbert Thomas Allen [b1889] and William George Allen [b1887]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1891) to [1925]. Occupation: Butcher (1881 to 1911). Married: Sophia Ambrose in 1884. Service Record: Alfred was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[1] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.5.1925.[2]
Allen, Bertie John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 3.1.1886.[3] Parents: John Allen (Chimney Sweep) and Sarah Ann Hardy [née Parmenter]. Family Connections: Brother to William Cornelius Allen [b1891], Jack John Allen [b1893] and Henry Allen [b1899]; also, half-brother to Sydney Thomas Parmenter [b1884] and brother-in-law of George David Bloomfield [b1890]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891), Little St Marys/St Marys Street, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), East Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1921 to 1939). Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1901), Chimney Sweep (1911) unemployed Labourer (1921) Chimney Sweep (1939). Service Record: Bertie enlisted on 2.9.1914 as Pte.2195 with 1/5th Suffolk Regiment, being posted to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 10.8.1915 as part of 163rd Brigade, 54th [East Anglian] Division. Within hours of landing his unit was moved forward into frontline trenches on the south face of a steep and rocky hill called Karakol Dagh. At dawn two days later the Suffolks and the three other untested battalions of 163rd Brigade were ordered to secure the heights to the east. Advancing nearly a mile through a hail of Turkish artillery and machine gun fire, by the end of the day the enemy had been held at bay and a secure forward defence line established. When Bertie and the other Melford men were finally relieved by fresh troops after three gruelling days, they were found in a sorry state, having baked under the searing heat they had run desperately short of drinking water and been plagued by swarms of flies attracted by the dead and dying around them. When the Roll was called it was found the Suffolks alone had lost 186 men either dead or wounded with a further 150 laid low by dysentery. In December the Battalion was evacuated to Egypt, spending the summer guarding the Suez Canal. On 26.9.1916 Bertie was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged due to wounds.[4] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1956.
Allen, Charles Arthur – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1881. Parents: George Allen (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Sarah [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Brother to Harry John Allen [b1876]. Home: Westgate Lane, Long Melford (1891), 64 Taunton Road, Lee, Lewisham, London (1901). Occupation: Groom (1901). Service Record: No military record found.
Allen, Charles Sidney – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 25.8.1887.[5] Parents: Ambrose James Allen (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Ann [née Stearns]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Allen [b1875] William Allen [b1878] Frederick Allen [b1885] and Harry Allen [b1885]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891,1901), 9 Ellerdale Road, Hampstead, London (1911), 6 Ashmere Rise, Sudbury, Suffolk [1986]. Occupation: Farm Boy (1901), Groom (1911). Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 7.8.1986.[6]
Allen, Frederick – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1885. Parents: Ambrose James Allen (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Ann [née Stearns]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Allen [b1875] William Allen [b1878] Harry Allen [b1885] and Charles Sidney Allen [b1888]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891), 23 Oban Street, East India Docks, Poplar, London (1901, 1911). Occupation: Horse Keeper for NMT Co. (1901), Railway Contractor’s Labourer (1911). Service Record: No definitive military record found.
Allen, Frederick ‘Fred’ Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 3.1.1878.[7] Parents: Alfred Allen (Butcher) and Ann Louisa [née Coe]. Family Connections: Father of Frederick Charles Allen [b1899] and brother to Samuel Ward Allen [b1874]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), Park Terrace, St Marys Street, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1939), The Green, Long Melford [1949]. Occupation: Butcher (1901 to 1911), Journeyman Butcher for the Cooperative Stores in Haverhill, Suffolk (1921), Butcher and Shopkeeper (1939). Married: Alice Ellen Turner in 1899. Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 25.7.1949.[8]
Allen, Frederick Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1899. Parents: Frederick Charles Allen (Butcher) [see record above] and Alice Ellen [née Turner]. Family Connections: Nephew of Samuel Ward Allen [b1874]. Home: Park Terrace, St Marys Street, Long Melford (1901, 1911). Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: Long Melford and buried at Holy Trinity Church on 25.9.1920.[9]
Allen, George Henry James – Born: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 6.7.1885.[10] Parents: James Allen of Long Melford (Gardener) and Emily [née Soames]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891), 44 Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (1901). Occupation: Shop Lad (1901), Ostler (1911). Service Record: George enlisted in 1915 as Pte.S4/128334 with the Army Service Corps being posted to France on 15.11.1915, joining 33rd and then 8th Field Bakery. He later transferred as Pte.55855 to the 17th then 18th [Service] Battalion, Welsh Regiment attached the 119th Trench Mortar Battery, 40th Division.[11] Died: Private Allen was listed as missing presumed dead on 25.3.1918, during the opening phase of the German Spring Offensive, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial [ref: bay 6], Pas de Calais, France.[12]
Allen, George Stafford – Born: Stoke Newington, London on 2.6.1871.[13] Parents: Edward Ransome Allen (Drug Miller and Manufacturing Chemist) and Ellen [née Watlock]. Family Connections: Father-in-law of Edwin Oakes Ransome [b1897]. Home: Clissold Road, Stoke Newington, London [1871], Stokes Lodge, Lordship Lane, Stoke Newington (1881), Westgate Terrace, Long Melford (1901), Hill House, High Street, Long Melford (1911) to [1942]. Family Connections: Father of Gilbert Stafford Allen [b1901]. Occupation: Manufacturing Chemist and Essential Oil Distiller, and Director of Stafford Allen and Sons of Long Melford (1901) to [1941].[14] Married: Ida Robson in 1901. Service Record: George was a member of the Melford Military Service Tribunal from 1916 and sat on the parish War Memorial Committee from February 1918. By 1925 he was serving as a County Magistrate for the Melford Petty Sessions. Died: Royal Free Hospital, Holborn, London on 22.10.1941.[15]
Allen, Gilbert Stafford – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1901. Parents: George Stafford Allen (Manufacturing Chemist) [for profile see above] and Ida [née Robson] [for profile see below]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Edwin Oakes Ransome [b1897]. Home: Hill House, High Street, Long Melford (1911), Fairfield, Daisy Bank Road, Longsight, South Manchester, Lancashire (1921), Toynbee Hall, Stepney, London [1925],[16] 13 Williams Mews, Devonshire Street, Westminster, London [1927]. Occupation: Manager [1927].[17] Married: Elizabeth Lily May Fernando in 1925. Service Record: No definitive military record found.
Allen, Harry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 10.9.1885.[18] Parents: Ambrose James Allen (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Ann [née Stearns]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Allen [b1875] William Allen [b1878] Frederick Allen [b1885] and Charles Sidney Allen [b1888]. Home: Hollands, The Green, Long Melford (1891 to 1901), 99 Cyprus Street, Bethnal Green, London (1911), 3 King Edward Road, Walthamstow, Essex (1921 to 1939). Occupation: Stockman (1901), Metropolitan Police Constable (1911), Tool Forger’s Hammerman for the Slough Trading Company, Engineers of Slough, Buckinghamshire (1921), Bus Conductor (1939). Married: Eliza Emily Freeman in 1910. Service Record: No definitive military record found.
Allen, Harry John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.11.1871.[19] Parents: John William Allen (Cattle Dealer) and Emily Sophia [née Todd]. Family Connections: Brother to Oliver Charles Allen [b1875]. Home: Bowling Green Farm, Lavenham Road, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk (1881). Service Record: No definitive military record found.
Allen, Harry John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 6.4.1876.[20] Parents: George Allen (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Sarah [née Potter] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Brother to Charles Arthur Allen [b1881]. Home: Westgate Lane, Long Melford (1881 and 1891), White Hart Yard, St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911), 19 Rose Lane, Carr Street, Ipswich, Suffolk [1920]. Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1891), Gardener’s Labourer (1911). Married: Esther Coffey in 1902. Service Record: Harry served with 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment before he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment as Pte.24718. He was posted to France from 20.7.1915, transferring to 1st [Garrison] Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 15.5.1918. He re-enlisted in 1920 as Pte.G/142663 in 47th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and was posted to France from February to September before his discharge in November 1920.[21]
Allen, Herbert Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.7.1889.[22] Parents: Alfred Allen (Pork Butcher) [see above for military record] and Sophia [née Ambrose]. Family Connections: Brother to William George Allen [b1887]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1891 to 1911), 38 Grove Park, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (1939). Occupation: Carpenter for West Suffolk County Council (1901), Butcher [1932],[23] Woodworker (1939). Service Record: In October 1916 the Melford Military Service Tribunal noted that Herbert, whose case had previously been adjourned, was to be sent to Bury St Edmunds to be assessed again by the medical board to judge if he was fit to serve. The outcome is not recorded. In a session of the Tribunal the previous March when his brother William was seeking exemption, the wording implies that Herbert may already have been conscripted.[24] It is possible that he is the Herbert Thomas Allen recorded as Sgt.39505 serving at the base depot of the Royal Garrison Artillery.[25] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1973.
Allen, Mrs Ida [née Robson] – Born: Saffron Walden, Essex in 24.4.1876.[26] Parents: Walter Robson (Draper and Justice of the Peace) and Christina. Home: Westgate Terrace, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), Hill House, High Street, Long Melford [1916] to (1939), 1 Westgate Terrace, Westgate Street, Long Melford [1959]. Occupation: County Magistrate for the Melford Petty Sessions [1925].[27] Married: George Stafford Allen (Director of Stafford Allen and Sons) in 1900. Service Record: Mrs Stafford Allen was a volunteer with the British Red Cross Society and a member of the Red Cross Working Party in Long Melford from January 1916 to October 1918.[28] She also sat on the Melford Women’s War Agricultural Sub-Committee from 1916 and was a member of the newly formed Long Melford Women’s Institute in 1918. Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.6.1959.[29]
Allen, Jack John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.2.1893.[30] Parents: John Allen (Chimney Sweep) and Sarah Ann Hardy [née Parmenter]. Family Connections: Brother to Bertie John Allen [b1886], William Cornelius Allen [b1891] and Henry Allen [b1899]; also, half-brother to Sydney Thomas Parmenter [b1884] and brother-in-law of George David Bloomfield [b1890]. Home: Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901), lodging with Harry Walford at 1 Rotten Row, Long Melford (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1921 to 1939). Occupation: Maltster’s Labourer (1911), unemployed Labourer formally for Flax Production Company of Glemsford (1921), Agricultural Labourer (1939). Married: Dorothy Piper [née Grindley] in 1919. Service Record: Jack was a member of 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment before the First World War. On 22.9.1914 he was posted to the Western Front as Pte.3/8290 joining 2nd Battalion Suffolks, along with hundreds of other reinforcements sent to rebuild the regiment after its heavy losses, sustained at the Battle of Le Cateau during the British Army’s hurried retreat from Mons.[31] He was captured near the village of Zonnebeke in July 1915, probably when his unit took part in bombing raid on German positions at Hooge.[32] He was to remain a prisoner of war until the end of hostilities in November 1918.[33] Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and buried at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford on 9.5.1945.[34]
Allen, Oliver Charles – Born: Great Waldingfield, Suffolk on 29.8.1875.[35] Parents: John William Allen of Long Melford (Cattle Dealer) and Emily Sophia [née Todd]. Home: Bowling Green Farm, Lavenham Road, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk (1881), Sudbury Road, Great Cornard, Suffolk (1891). Family Connections: Brother to Harry John Allen [b1871]. Service Record: Oliver served in India and South Africa before 1914, re-enlisting at Ambala in India as Staff/Sgt.18444 with 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s [West Riding] Regiment, part of 2nd [Rawalpindi] Division.[36] Died: He died on active service in East Africa on 16.12.1917 while attached to the Supply and Transport Corps, Army Service Corps and is buried in Dar-es-Salaam War Cemetery [grave ref: 4.C.7], Tanzania.[37]
Allen, Samuel Ward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 24.4.1874.[38] Parents: Alfred Allen (Butcher) and Ann Louisa [née Coe]. Family Connections: Brother to Frederick Charles Allen [b1878] and uncle of Frederick Charles Allen [b1899]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891 to 1901), Hazel House, St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911), Park Terrace, St Marys Street, Long Melford (1939), Holy Trinity Hospital, Long Melford [1951]. Occupation: Butcher (1891 to 1911), Butcher and Cattle Dealer (1939). Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1951.
Allen, Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1806.[39] Parents: Thomas Allen and Mary. Home: School Lane, Sudbury [1843], 11 Sepulchre Street, Sudbury (1851 to 1861), 3 Inkerman Row, Sudbury (1871). Occupation: Labourer (1861), Labourer and Chelsea Pensioner (1871). Married: Jane Taylor in 1843. Service Record: Thomas enlisted at Colchester in 1823 as Pte.374 with 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, receiving his discharge in 1841 being unfit for further service. During his time with the regiment, he spent for years in Malta, six in the Ionian Islands off Greece and five years in England.[40] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1877.
Allen, Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.1.1875.[41] Parents: Ambrose James Allen (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Ann [née Stearns]. Family Connections: Brother to William Allen [b1878] Frederick Allen [b1885] Harry Allen [b1885] and Charles Sidney Allen [b1888]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891 to 1901), Holland, The Green, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1901 to 1911). Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: Long Melford and buried at Holy Trinity Church on 30.10.1915.[42]
Allen, Walter Edward – Born: Stratford, West Ham, Essex on 31.10.1896.[43] Parents: Harry Allen of Long Melford (Carman) and Emily Rosella [née Dolder]. Family Connections: Brother to William Arthur Allen [b1898]. Home: 20 Milton Road, West Ham, Essex (1901), 81 Brooks Road, Plaistow, Essex (1911), 94 Corporation Street, West Ham (1921), Whitecot, London Road, Benfleet, Essex (1939). Occupation: Apprentice Furrier (1911), Furrier [1915] to (1939). Married: Grace Eleanor Price in 1920. Service Record: Walter enlisted on 26.6.1915 as Gnr.L29944 with 178th [East Ham] Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and was posted to France with 185th [Howitzer] Brigade as part of 40th Divisional Artillery. The Brigade saw action at the Battle of the Ancre in 1916, Cambrai in 1917 and at the Somme and the Lys in 1918. Returning to England in April 1919 Corporal Allen received his discharge the following year.[44] Died: Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1986.
Allen, William James – Born: Long Melford on 26.4.1877.[45] Parents: Ambrose James Allen (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Ann [née Stearns]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Allen [b1875] Frederick Allen [b1885] Harry Allen [b1885] and Charles Sidney Allen [b1888]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1881, 1891), 405 Walworth Road, Newington, London (1901). Occupation: Milk Boy (1891), Barman (1901). Service Record: No definitive military record found.
Allen, William Arthur – Born: Stratford, West Ham, Essex in 1898. Parents: Harry Allen of Long Melford (Carman) and Emily Rosella [née Dolder]. Family Connections: Brother to Walter Edward Allen [b1896]. Home: 20 Milton Road, West Ham, Essex (1901), 81 Brooks Road, Plaistow, Essex (1911). Service Record: William enlisted as Pte.5398, later re-numbered as 275909 with 1/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment. His unit was posted to Gallipoli in August 1915 as part of 161st Brigade, 54th [East Anglian] Division, then to Egypt in December where it took part in the Palestinian Campaign the following year.[46] Died: Private Allen was killed in action at the First Battle of Gaza on 26.3.1917 and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.[47]
Allen, William ‘Willie’ Cornelius – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 21.11.1891.[48] Parents: John Allen (Chimney Sweep) and Sarah Ann Hardy [née Parmenter]. Family Connections: Brother to Bertie John Allen [b1886], Jack John Allen [b1893] and Henry Allen [b1899]; also, half-brother to Sydney Thomas Parmenter [b1884] and brother-in-law of George David Bloomfield [b1890]. Home: Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901), Hunts Hill, Glemsford, Suffolk (1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911). Service Record: Willie enlisted as Pte.16217 with 9th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to France on 30.8.1915 and transferring to 11th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks as part of 101st Brigade, 34th Division and seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe in April 1917.[49] Died: William was killed in action on 28.4.1917 during an unsuccessful dawn attack on the chemical works at Roeux, east of Arras. He is buried in Roeux British Cemetery [grave ref: A.48], Pas-de-Calais, France and commemorated as William Canalis [sic] Allen on the Long Melford War Memorial.[50]
Allen, William George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1887. Parents: Alfred Allen (Pork Butcher) [see above for military record] and Sophia [née Ambrose]. Family Connections: Brother to Herbert Thomas Allen [b1889]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1891 to 1911). Occupation: Butcher [1916]. Service Record: William’s father applied to the Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 to have his son exempted from military service. Allen’s case was that his son, as shop manager and the only slaughterman, he could not be spared from the family business. He could not run the business without him or be able get another slaughterman and furthermore, if his son was conscripted, the business would have to close. Temporary exemption was given for three months; at the second hearing in the following June any further exemption was refused.[51] William was conscripted as Pte.G/12851 with 8th [Service] Battalion, The Queen’s [Royal West Surrey] Regiment, transferring to 1st Battalion, The Queen’s, as part of 100th Brigade, 33rd Division. In 1917 his unit saw action during the Arras Offensive and at the Third Battles of Ypres. The War Diary for 1st Queen’s gives no indication of any enemy action on 21.9.1917, however 100th Brigade’s diary records that at 2:00 am a shell hit the camp at La Clytte, killing one soldier from 1st Queens and wounding eight others.[52] Died: While the local paper raised hopes that he was only missing, William had already been killed in action three weeks earlier on 21.9.1917.[53] He is buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery [grave ref: III.A.21], Heuvelland, Belgium and commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[54]
Related Biographies
Bloomfield, George David – Born: West Hanningfield, Essex on 18.11.1890. Parents: George Bloomfield (Agricultural Labourer) and Sarah [née Daniels]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Bertie Allen [b1886], William Cornelius Allen [b1891] and Jack John Allen [b1893]. Home: Near the Ship Inn, West Hanningfield, Essex (1891), Galleywood Common, Great Baddow, Essex (1901), living with Daniel Bareham (stepfather) at 4 Ada Cottages, Stebbing, Essex (1911), 7 Rodbridge Hill, Long Melford (1939). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), General Labourer in Brickworks (1939). Married: Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Allen of Long Melford in 1914. Service Record: George enlisted in 1914 as Pte.16510 with 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to France from 1.4.1915 as part of 84th Brigade, 28th Division. Without an extant Service Record, it is not possible to confirm exactly when he transferred to 9th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks, before moving on to 11th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks. However, whilst 1st Suffolk was posted to Salonika from October 1915, the other two battalions remained on the Western Front, both seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and the Battles of Arras the following year. Private Bloomfield received his discharge in March 1919. Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1970.[55]
Day, Frederick ‘Fred’ – Born: Alpheton, Suffolk in 1882. Parents: Henry Day of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) and Elizabeth Bennett. Home: Lower Road, Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk (1891 and 1901), Bridge Street, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901 and 1911), Traction Engine Driver on Rowhedge Farm in Alpheton [1916]. Married: Annie Priscilla Allen of Long Melford in 1916. Service Record: At the Long Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 Fred’s employer Herbert Harvey of Rowhedge Farm applied for his exemption, which was granted on the condition his situation remained unchanged.[56] It is not known if Fred Day’s certificate remained valid until the end of hostilities, however no definitive military record has been found which might suggest otherwise.
Parmenter, Sydney Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.7.1884.[57] Parent: Sarah Ann Parmenter [married stepfather John Allen in 1885]. Family Connections: Half-brother to Bertie John Allen [b1886], William Cornelius Allen [b1891], Jack John Allen [b1893] and Henry Allen [b1899]; also, cousin of Horace Parmenter [b1893]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891), Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901), 8 Chapel Green, Long Melford (1921). Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1901), Agricultural Labourer for Stafford Allen & Sons (1921). Married: Emma Mitchell in 1919. Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Sydney may have attested as Pte.3/5661 with the Suffolk Regiment. If this assumption is correct then he was posted to France from 30.8.1914 to reinforce the Regiment’s decimated 2nd Battalion, which had only days earlier lost three-quarters of its men at the Battle of Le Cateau. The Battalion, which was part of 3rd Division, went on to see action throughout the War: at the Marne, the Aisne, and First Ypres in 1914, the Somme in 1916, Arras and Polygon Wood in 1917, and in 1918 St Quentin, Bapaume, Wancourt, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Béthune, Canal du Nord and the Second Battle of Le Cateau.[58] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1958.
Ransome, Edwin Oakes – Born: Warrington, Lancashire on 16.9.1897.[59] Parents: Harold Edwin Ransome (Gentleman) and Alice Jane [née Oakes]. Family Connections: Son-in-law of George Stafford Allen [b1871] and brother-in-law of Gilbert Stafford Allen [b1901]. Home: Seaford Grange, Peopleton, Worcestershire (1901), Wellington Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire (1939) to [1943], 52b Linden Road, Bournville, Birmingham [1962]. Occupation: Managing Director Grocery and Provisions (1939), Chairman of the Birmingham Probation Committee [1953].[60] Married: Hilda Stafford ALLEN of Long Melford. Service Record: Edwin was a conscientious objector during the First World War, joining the British Red Cross Society as a medical orderly, serving initially in a field ambulance unit in France, and in 1917 aboard the hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle.[61] Died: Birmingham, Warks on 26.7.1962.[62]
Notes – [1] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915. [2] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [3] Date of birth taken from Baptism Register 7.3.1886 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [4] For details of the action see the Battalion War Diary [The National Archives – WO 95/4325]. For the 1/5th Suffolk’s part in the Gallipoli Campaign see Capt. A. Fair and Capt. E. D. Wolton “The Suffolk Regiment”: the history of the 1/5th Battalion [London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1923], pp.13-37 and Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. Murphy, The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.103-10. See also his [WO 329] Silver War Badge record [ref: 71007], Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [5] Date of birth taken from Baptism Register 26.9.1887 of Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [6] Date and place of death from the NPC. [7] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [8] Place and date of death taken from the NPC. [9] For burial details see [Bury Record Office ref: FL509/4/17]. [10] 1939 Register. [11] Medal Roll [WO 329]. [12] British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 and Commonwealth War Grave Commission. [13] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [14] For occupation see Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk 1916 and 1925. [15] Date of death from the NPC. [16] Electoral Roll. [17] For addresses and occupation see Electoral Roll for Stepney 1925 and Passenger Manifest for SS Patuca of 26.12.1927. [18] Date of birth taken from Baptism Register 7.2.1886 of Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [19] Date of birth from Baptism Register 1.1.1872, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [20] Date of birth from Baptism Register 4.6.1876, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [21] See also his SWB record [ref: 364691], MR and MIC, and his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]. from 1920. [22] Date of birth from Baptism Register 1.9.1889, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. The birth date recorded in the Death Index however is 11.7.1890. [23] See the National Probate Calendar entry for his mother Sophia Allen. [24] For the Tribunals comment and rulings see SEFP 4.10.1916 and 11.10.1916. The article in SEFP 8.3.1916 entitled ‘Long Melford Tribunal’ mentions that Alfred Allen had another son, a carpenter, already serving in the military. His only son fitting this profile is Herbert Thomas Allen. [25] See his proposed MR and MIC. [26] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [27] Magistracy taken from Kelly’s. [28] British Red Cross Record Card. [29] Date of death from the NPC. [30] Date of birth taken from Baptism Register 17.3.1893 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [31] For the 2nd Suffolk’s movements in the Ypres Salient see Murphy op, cit., pp.82-5. [32] For confirmation of the date and place of his capture see Prisoner of War records held by the International Committee of the Red Cross [file ref: PA2866]. [33] MR and MIC. [34] Burial Register 9.5.1945 for Holy Trinity Church. [35] Date of birth from Baptism Register 15.3.1876, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [36] MIC. [37] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 [ref: 680825]. [38] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [39] Baptised on 17.8.1806 at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. The UK Census records his place of birth as Long Melford, whereas his Attestation Papers records it as the neighbouring village of Acton. [40] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record. [41] Date of birth taken from Baptism Register 2.1.1875, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [42] For burial details see [Bury Record Office ref: FL509/4/17]. [43] 1939 Register. [44] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [45] Baptism Register 25.1.1875 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [46] Medal Roll [WO 329]. [47] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 [ref: 493399]. [48] Date of birth from Admission Register 30.1.1896, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford. [49] For details of 11th Suffolk’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2458/3] and Murphy op. cit., pp.172-77, 249-51. See also his MR and MIC. [50] See also his CWGC record, Effects file [ref: 494310]. [51] For the Tribunals ruling see SEFP 8.3.1916 and 7.6.1916. [52] For details of this period see 1st Queen’s and 100th Brigade’s War Diaries [TNA – WO 95/2430/1] and [TNA – WO 95/2429/1]. See also his MR and MIC. [53] See SEFP 10.10.1917 for a report of him of being ‘missing’. [54] See also his CWGC record, Effects file [ref: 608817]. [55] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [56] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 22.3.1916. [57] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 7.9.1884, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [58] For details of 2nd Suffolk’s movements see War Diaries [WO 95/1424/1 and WO 95/1437/1]. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [59] 1939 Register. [60] Birmingham Daily Gazette 16.9.1953. [61] British Red Cross Register of Overseas Volunteers 1914-1918 and Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [62] National Probate Calendar.
Genealogical Tables
