Selected Biographies

Andrews, Alfred – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk 31.1.1871.[1]  Parents: Robert Andrews (Bricklayer’s Labourer) and Caroline [née Theobald] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Uncle of Alfred Andrews [b1889] and David Andrews [b1891].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), Liston Lane, Long Melford (1901), Chapel Green, Little St Marys, Long Melford (1911 to 1939).  Occupation: Coconut Mat Weaver (1901) to [1934].  Married: Eliza Mary Todd in 1906.  Service Record: From 1901 to 1908 Alfred was a member of 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, reformed in 1908 as Pte.130 of ‘D’ Company, 5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment [Territorial].  He was also recorded as a member of the Melford Silver Band in 1900, 1911 and 1914.[2]  During the First World War he was engaged on home service only, transferring to 64^th [Reserve] Battalion on 20.6.1915 and being discharged on 6.4.1916.[3]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1946.

Andrews, Alfred – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 24.4.1889.  Parents: David Andrews (Stockman on Farm) and Kate [née Ambrose].  Family Connections: Brother to David Andrews [b1891]; also, nephew of Alfred Andrews [b1871] and brother-in-law of Ernest George Ginger [b1894].  Home: Hall Street Yard, Hall Street, Long Melford (1891), Westgate Hill Cottages, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), emigrated to Canada [1912].  Occupation: Labourer at Ward’s Iron Foundry (1911), Painter [1914].  Married: Louisa Mabel Ford in 1919.  Service Record: Before 1912 Alfred was a member of the Army Service Corps.  He attested on 8.8.1914 in Valcartier, Quebec as Pte.32994 with N^o. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance, 1^st Canadian Divisional Train, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and was posted to France on 9.2.1915, serving on the Western Front until 25.3.1919.  During his period of service in France and Flanders he would have seen action at many of the following battles: Second Ypres in 1915, the Somme 1916, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Second Passchendaele in 1917, and Second Arras and the Hindenburg Line in 1918.  He received his discharge six weeks later.  Died: Ontario, Canada on 24.9.1961.[4]

Andrews, Arthur – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 5.11.1894.  Parents: Jane Chatters (Horsehair Weaver and Housekeeper to Henry John Andrews), – see under Chatters.

Andrews, David – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1891.  Parents: David Andrews (Stockman on Farm) and Kate [née Ambrose].  Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Andrews [b1889], also, nephew of Alfred Andrews [b1871]. Home: Westgate Hill Cottages, Long Melford (1901, 1911).  Occupation: Jobbing Labourer (1911).  Service Record: No definitive military record found.

Andrews, Edward James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 27.6.1894.[5]  Parents: Charles Edward Andrews (Gardener) and Mary Ann [née Slater].  Family Connections: Cousin of Henry George Andrews Chatters [b1889], Arthur Andrews Chatters [b1894] and Ralph Andrews [b1899].  Home: The Green, Long Melford (1901 and 1911),[6] 30 Queen Street, Taunton, Somerset (1939) to [1961].  Occupation: Gardener (1911), Gardener to Mr Lomas of Grove Park, Yoxford, Suffolk [1914], Builder’s Labourer (1939).  Married: Holly May Ellett in 1921.  Service Record: Attested on 1.9.1914 as Gnr.98254 with ‘B’ Battery, LXVII [Howitzer] Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, being posted on 9.8.1915 to Gallipoli as part of 13^th [Western] Division.  Edward transferred in January 1916 to Salonika as part of 10^th [Irish] Division, moving with them to Egypt in July 1917 before his discharge in 1919.[7]  Died: Taunton, Somerset on 5.12.1960.[8]

Andrews, Henry George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1889.  Parents: Jane Chatters (Horsehair Weaver and Housekeeper to Henry John Andrews), – See under Chatters.

Andrews, Launcelot Charles Victor – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1897.  Parents: Charles Andrews (Horseman and Waggoner on Farm) and Sarah [née Head].  Family Connections: Brother to Robert George Andrews [b1899]; also, brother-in-law of George Finch [b1880] and Frederick Simpson [b1884].  Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Lad Porter at Felstead Station for the Great Eastern Railway [1915].  Service Record: Attested as Pte.45052 with 11^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France as part of 101^st Brigade, 34^th Division.  During April 1917 the Battalion was in action at the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, taking particularly heavy casualties during the attack on the chemical works north of Roeux. In October Private Andrews’ unit moved from the Somme valley to the Ypres Salient.  It was here while bivouacked at Stray Farm that Launcelot was fatally wounded.[9]  Died: He is officially recorded as dying of wounds on 17.10.1917.  The day of his death may be open to question as the 11^th Suffolk’s War Diary does not record any enemy action or injuries on that day, on the following day however, it does note that the camp was bombarded by gas shells, seriously injuring twenty men.  Launcelot Andrews is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery [grave ref: X.G.11], Poperinghe, Belgium and commemorated on both the Great Eastern Railway Memorial at Liverpool Street Station in London and the Long Melford War Memorial.[10]

Andrews, Ralph – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 28.8.1899.[11]  Parents: Henry John Andrews (Ostler at the Hare Inn) and Jane Chatters (Horsehair Weaver and Housekeeper to Henry John Andrews).  Family Connections: Brother to Henry George Andrews Chatters [b1889] and Arthur Andrews Chatters [b1894]; also, half-brother to Reuben Chatters [b1879] and Albert Chatters [b1886] and cousin of Edward James Andrews [b1894].  Home: The Green, Long Melford (1901), High Street, Long Melford (1911).[12]  Occupation: Sailor [1917 to 1942].  Service Record: Attested in 1917 as N^o. LZ/7544 with the Royal Navy.  Ralph served as Stoker N^o. SS123632 during the First World War, continuing into the inter war years.  He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1933.  During the Second World War he was Stoker First Class N^o. C/K61758 on the destroyer HMS Martin.[13]  Died: Ralph was killed in action on 10.11.1942 when the HMS Martin was torpedoed by U-431 off Algiers and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial [panel 61.3] and on the Long Melford War Memorial.[14]

Andrews, Robert George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 28.12.1899.[15]  Parents: Charles Andrews (Horseman and Waggoner on Farm) and Sarah [née Head].  Family Connections: Brother to Launcelot Charles Victor Andrews [b1897]; also, brother-in-law of George Finch [b1880] and Frederick Simpson [b1884].  Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901), living with John Abbott (Uncle) in Upper Street, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk (1911), Meadow Cottage, Stratford St Mary (1939).  Occupation: Vanman [1918], Journeyman Bricklayer (1939).  Married: Violet Maria James in 1926.  Service Record: Attested on 28.1.1918 as Rfn.TR13/81281 with 53^rd [Young Soldier] Battalion, Rifle Brigade [The Prince Consort’s Own], transferring to 52^nd [Graduated] Battalion, Rifle Brigade.  Robert was posted to France from 2.7.1918 to ‘D’ Company, 3^rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade and on 9.7.1918, one week after arriving at the Front, was shot in the right buttock, and briefly hospitalized.  Within the month he was back on duty, however this proved to be premature as by 18.10.1918 he was again receiving treatment and did not return to active service until late November, by which time all fighting had ceased.  He remained with his unit until March 1919 when he was transferred as Rfn.64767, first to 25^th [Service] Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and then to 16^th [Service] Battalion, KRRC, returning to England in December 1919, and receiving his discharge in March 1920.[16]  Died: Stratford St Mary, Suffolk in 1971.

Andrews, Stanley John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1900.  Parents: Harry Andrews of Cockfield, Suffolk (Groom) and Sarah [née Stebbing].  Home: Bone Mill Cottage, Station Road, Long Melford (1901), 9 Park Cottages, Lavenham, Suffolk (1911).  Service Record: No definitive military record found.  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1982.

Related Biographies

Chatters, Arthur Andrews – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 5.11.1894.  Parents: Jane Chatters (Horsehair Weaver and housekeeper to Henry John Andrews).  Family Connections: Brother to Reuben Chatters [b1879], Henry George Andrews Chatters [b1889] and Ralph Andrews Chatters [b1899]; also, and cousin of Albert Chatters [b1886], Charles Chatters [b1874] and Alfred Chatters [b1881].  Home: The Green, Long Melford (1901), High Street, Long Melford (1911).[17]  Occupation: Factory Hand (1911), Porter [1914].  Service Record: Arthur enlisted on 2.9.1914 as Pte.12332 with 2^nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, posted to France on 7.4.1915 for two months before being posted to Salonika, transferring on 6.11.1915 as L/Cpl.24014 to 7^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, as part of 30^th Brigade, 10^th [Irish] Division.[18]  In August 1917 Arthur was posted to Egypt for service in Palestine and transferring on 29.7.1918 as L/Cpl.21440 to 1^st [Garrison] Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, receiving his discharge in 1919.[19]

Chatters, Henry George Andrews – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 25.6.1889.[20]  Parents: Jane Chatters (Horsehair Weaver and housekeeper to Henry John Andrews).  Family Connections: Brother to Reuben Chatters [b1879], Arthur Andrews Chatters [b1894] and Ralph Andrews Chatters [b1899]; also, cousin of Charles Chatters [b1874], Alfred Chatters [b1881] and Albert Chatters [b1887]. Home: Recorded as Henry Chatters in Westgate Lane, Long Melford (1891), recorded as George Chatters at The Green, Long Melford (1901), recorded as George Andrews in High Street, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Ostler (1911), Agricultural Labourer [1948].  Service Record: It is not known if Henry served in the First World War as no definitive military has been found.

Finch, George – Born: Acton, Suffolk in 1888.  Parents: Robert Finch (Agricultural Labourer) & Elizabeth Ann [née Chatters].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Launcelot Charles Victor Andrews [b1897] and Robert George Andrews [b1899] both of Long Melford.  Home: Spond, Acton, Suffolk (1891), The Green, Acton (1901, 1911).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911).  Married: Alice Eleanor Andrews of Long Melford in 1910.  Service Record: George enlisted as Pte.17923 with 9^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and was posted to France on 31.8.1915 as part of 71st Brigade, 24th Division, seeing action at the Battle of Loos on 25 September.  In 1916 his battalion came under the command of 6^th Division seeing action again at the Battles of Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy during the autumn phase of the Somme Offensive.[21]  Died: By the spring of 1917 George was in front-line trenches in the Loos-Hulluch sector when on 27 April he was killed during one the enemy’s frequent bombardments.  He is buried in St Patrick Cemetery, Loos, Pas de Calais [grave ref: I.K.12] and commemorated on the memorial plaque in All Saints Church, Acton, Suffolk.[22]

Ginger, Ernest George – Born: Hornsey, Middlesex on 5.12.1894.[23]  Parents: David Ginger (Contractor’s Carman) and Charlotte [née Potton].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Alfred Andrews [b1889].  Home: Denmark Road, Hornsey (1901), 137 Mount View Road, Muswell Hill, Middlesex [1915], Liston Lane, Long Melford [1917], Webbs Court, The Green, Long Melford [1919], Westgate Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Greengrocer [1914], Roadman and Air Raid Warden (1939).  Married: Annie Andrews of Long Melford in 1916.  Annie wrote a rather poignant letter to the Army in July 1915 regarding her relationship with Ernest, it reads: ‘Gunner Ginger is my sweetheart, and I am expecting to be a mother he said he would marry me, so please will you look into the matter so myself and child will be provided for, as I was given to understand you could.  PS. My parents are poor and cannot afford to keep me and the child, we have been together for 2 years last March’.[24]  Their daughter was born in April, the couple marrying when Bombardier Ginger was given leave in August 1916.  There is however a sad coda to the story when in November 1917 a Death Certificate was issued for Annie May Andrews who died of meningitis aged only 19 months.  Service Record: Ernest enlisted on 6.9.1914 as Gunner, later promoted to L/Bdr.22446 with ‘B’ sub-section ‘D’ Battery, LVI [Howitzer] Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and posted as part of 10^th [Irish] Division to Gallipoli from 19.7.1915 to January 1916.  He was later posted to France to 11^th Divisional Ammunition Column, RFA, serving on the Western Front from 12.8.1916 to 28.2.1918, where he was twice wounded; first by a gunshot to his right leg on 22.8.1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres, and later by a gunshot to the buttock on 18.4.1918.  He was discharged in March 1919.[25]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1961.

Simpson, Frederick ‘Fred’ – Born: Acton, Suffolk on 28.11.1884.[26]  Parents: Charles Simpson (Agricultural Labourer) and Betsy [née Parmenter].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Launcelot Charles Victor Andrews [b1897] and Robert George Andrews [b1899] both of Long Melford.  Home: Sudbury Road, Acton, Suffolk (1891), Newmans Green, Suffolk (1901), Post Office Row, Acton (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901, 1939).  Married: Alice Eleanor Andrews of Long Melford in 1924.  Service Record: Fred enlisted on 26.2.1913 as a Waggoner Pte.F.65565 with Special Reserve ‘C’ 114 [Horse Transport] Company of the Army Service Corps 6^th Reserve Park and was posted to France from 20.8.1914 to 5.12.1917.  He was downgraded to medical category Bii and transferred in 1918 as Pte.615534 to 692 [Agricultural] Company, Labour Corps, receiving his discharge in 1919.[27]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1969.

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [2] My thanks to Tim Seppings of Sudbury for showing Alfred’s connection to the Melford Silver Band. [3] Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [TNA – WO 364]. [4] For his military career see Library and Archives of Canada [ref: BO177-S002]. This document also records Alfred’s dates of birth and death. [5] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 5.8.1894, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [6] Recorded as Edward Chatters on the UK Census for 1901. [7] For details of 67^th Brigade, RFA’s movements in Palestine and Egypt see War Diary [The National Archives – WO 95/4573].  See also his Service Record [TNA – WO 363], Medal Roll [TNA – WO 329], and Medal Index Card [TNA – WO 372]. [8] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [9] For details of 11^th Suffolk’s movements in 1917 see War Diary [TNA – WO 95/2458/3].  See also his Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [10] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 564666]. [11] Date of birth from his Royal Navy Record. [12] Recorded as Ralph Chatters on the UK Census for 1901. [13] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services to 1919 [TNA – ADM 188/1129/123632].  See also his RNRSS from 1919 [TNA – ADM 188/984] and Royal Navy Medal and Award Rolls [TNA – ADM 171/202]. [14] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record. [15] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Stratford St Mary, Suffolk. [16] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [17] Recorded as Arthur Chatters on the UK Census for 1901. [18] For details of 6^th Royal Dublin Fusiliers involvement in the Salonika and Palestine Campaigns see War Diaries [WO 95/4836] and [WO 95/4583]. [19] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [20] Baptism Register 3.11.1889 of Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [21] For details of 9^th Suffolk’s movements on the Western Front see Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.120-26 and 194-99.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [22] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 493286]. [23] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [24] Annie’s letter and Annie May’s Death Certificate are both to be found in Ernie’s Service Record. [25] For details of 16^th Brigade’s deployment in Gallipoli and 11^th DAC’s movements on the Western Front see War Diaries [WO 95/4295] and [WO 95/1802/5].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [26] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Acton, Suffolk. [27] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].