Selected Biographies

Brockwell, Allen Herbert – Born: West Ham, Essex on 9.9.1880.[1]  Parents: Samuel Brockwell (Railway Ticket Examiner) and Kate Selina [née Sherman], both of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Brother to Ernest Frederick Brockwell [b1874], William James Arthur Brockwell [b1879] and Arthur Albert Brockwell [b1892].  Home: 2 Alfred Terrace, Wellington Road, Forest Gate, Essex (1881), 60 Wellington Road, Forest Gate (1891), 98 Field Road, Forest Gate (1901), 67 Pembroke Road, Seven Kings, Essex (1911 to 1921), 41 Grosvenor Gardens, Woodford Green, Essex (1939) to [1959].  Occupation: Carrier’s Clerk (1901), Fire Assurance Clerk for the Guardian Assurance Co. Ltd (1911 to 1939).  Service Record: Allen was conscripted on 24.11.1916 as Stoker No.37991 in the Royal Navy.  He was posted to the battleship HMS Malaya from 30.1.1917 to 10.1.1918 and discharged in March 1919.[2]  Died: Woodford Green, Essex in 1959.

Brockwell, Arthur Albert – Born: West Ham, Essex on 13.1.1892.[3] Parents: Samuel Brockwell (Railway Ticket Examiner) and Kate Selina [née Sherman], both of Long Melford. Family Connections: Brother to Ernest Frederick Brockwell [b1874], William James Arthur Brockwell [b1879] and Allen Herbert Brockwell [b1880]. Home: 98 Field Road, Forest Gate, Essex (1901), 69 Pembroke Road, Seven Kings, Essex (1911), living with Joseph Bacon (father-in-law) at 93 West Street, Warwick, Warwick, Warwickshire (1921), 32^a Jersey Road, Rochester, Kent (1939), 112 East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent [1959]. Occupation: Iron Merchant’s Clerk (1911), Accounts Clerk for Winget Ltd (Concrete Making Machinery) of Warwick (1921), Cashier at an Engineering Works and ARP Warden (1939). Married: Ada Mary Bacon [d1922] in 1920 and Lily Ethel Daffern in 1924. Service Record: Arthur enlisted on 10.12.1914 as Pte.4310 with the Army Pay Corps, then on 4.4.1917 was transferred as Pte.97636 to the 92^nd Company, Machine Gun Corps, as part of 92^nd Brigade, 31^st Division, was posted to France and wounded on 5.9.1917.  He received his discharge in March 1919.[4] Died: Sittingbourne, Kent on 7.5.1967.[5]

Brockwell, Ernest Frederick – Born: Clapton, Middlesex on 8.6.1874.[6] Parents: Samuel Brockwell (Railway Ticket Examiner) and Kate Selina [née Sherman], both of Long Melford. Family Connections: Brother to William James Arthur Brockwell [b1879], Allen Herbert Brockwell [b1880] and Arthur Albert Brockwell [b1892]. Home: 2 Alfred Terrace, Wellington Road, Forest Gate, Essex (1881), 60 Wellington Road, Forest Gate (1891), lodging with Annie Boler (widow) at 2 Elizabethan Cottages, St Johns Road, Leatherhead, Surrey (1901), 66 Dover Road, South Woodford, Essex (1901) to [1930],[7] 10 Broadmead Road, Woodford Green, Essex [1939 to 1952]. Occupation: Railway Clerk (1891), School Principal’s Clerk (1901), Accountant and Cashier (1911), Cashier for Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd., Publishers (1921), Chartered Secretary [1939]. Married: Ethel Louise Lidbury in 1903. Service Record: No definitive military record has been found. Died: Woodford, Essex on 16.8.1952.[8]

Brockwell, Frederick John – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk on 24.5.1853.[9] Parents: John Brockwell (Agricultural Labourer) and Frances ‘Fanny’ [née Reeve]. Family Connections: Father-in-law of William Syer Cracknell [b1878], Arthur Stanley Tanner [b1876], Walter Bennett Maxim [b1888] and Arthur Kemble Jonas [b1894]. Home: Chapel Street, Cavendish, Suffolk (1861 and 1871),[10] Hall Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1921). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1871), Carpenter (1881 to 1901), Master Carpenter (1911 to 1921), Builder [1916].[11] Married: Louisa Medcalf in 1873. Service Record: Frederick was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[12] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1927.

Brockwell, George William – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk in 1877.  Parents: Harry Brockwell (Blacksmith) and Julia [née Broughen]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Woodins Brockwell [b1878] and Harry Brockwell [b1855]. Home: living with James Brockwell (uncle) in Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), High Street, Cavendish, Suffolk (1891, 1901). Occupation: Errand Boy (1891), Grocer’s Assistant (1901). Service Record: No definitive military record found.

Brockwell, Harry – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk on 11.8.1888.[13] Parents: Harry Brockwell (Blacksmith) and Julia [née Broughen]. Family Connections: Brother to George William Brockwell [b1877] and Thomas Woodins Brockwell [b1878]. Home: High Street, Cavendish, Suffolk (1891 to 1911), Glebe Side, Foxearth, Essex (1939). Occupation: Brewer’s Clerk for Ward & Sons of Foxearth (1911 to 1939). Married: Edith Rebekah Beaumont in 1915.  Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: Halstead, Essex in 1970.

Brockwell, Thomas Woodins – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk in 1878. Parents: Harry Brockwell (Blacksmith) and Julia [née Broughen]. Family Connections: Brother to George William Brockwell [b1877] and Harry Brockwell [b1855]. Home: High Street, Cavendish, Suffolk (1891), 18 Lysias Road, Balham, London (1911 to 1921). Occupation: Errand Boy (1891), Tram Conductor for the London County Council (1911 to 1921). Married: Emily Anna Jennings in 1904. Service Record: No definitive military record found. Died: Wandsworth, London in 1961.

Brockwell, William James Arthur – Born: Forest Gate, Essex in 1879. Parents: Samuel Brockwell (Railway Ticket Examiner) and Kate Selina [née Sherman], both of Long Melford. Family Connections: Brother to Ernest Frederick Brockwell [b1874], Allen Herbert Brockwell [b1880] and Arthur Albert Brockwell [b1892]. Home: 2 Alfred Terrace, Wellington Road, Forest Gate, Essex (1881), 60 Wellington Road, Forest Gate (1891), 171 Shirley Road, Southampton, Hampshire (1911), 137 Irving Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire (1921). Occupation: Ship’s Storekeeper in the Merchant Marine (1911), out of work Chief Steward formally with P & O Steam Navigation Company (1921). Married: Edith Burroughs in 1904. Service Record: William served in the Merchant Navy during the First World War.[14]

Related Biographies

Cracknell, William Syer – Born: Bedingfield, Suffolk on 13.11.1877.[15] Parents: Syer Cracknell (Miller and Farmer) and Mary Ann [née Leggett]. Family Connections: Son-in-law of Frederick John Brockwell [b1854] of Long Melford. Home: Rookery Farm, Bedingfield, Eye, Suffolk (1881, 1891), Mill House, Bedlingfield, Eye [1916 to 1943]. Occupation: Miller [1916],[16] Miller and Farmer (1921), Incapacitated Miller and Farmer (1939). Married: Elizabeth Bailey [d1912] in 1899 and Blanche Louisa Brockwell in 1913. Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, William possibly enlisted as Pte.395122 with the Suffolk Regiment. Died: Hartismere, Suffolk on 14.7.1943.[17]

Jonas, Arthur Kemble – Born: Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire on 16.4.1894.[18] Parents: William Kemble Jonas J^nr (Painter) and Annie Elizabeth [née Fisher]. Family Connections: Nephew of Edwin Walter Jonas [b1875] and son-in-law of Frederick John Brockwell [b1854] of Long Melford. Home: Saxon Street, Woodditton, Cambridgeshire (1901), living with Ernest Ashby at The Perseverance Inn, Station Road, Long Melford (1911), 16 Crescent Road, South Weald, Essex (1921), 39 Crofton Avenue, Sheffield, Yorkshire (1939), 43 Heath Estate, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk [1967]. Occupation: Great Eastern Railway Clerk (1911), Clerk at the Brentwood Mental Hospital (1921), Assistant Clerk and a Mental Hospital Steward (1939). Married: Ethel Maude Brockwell of Long Melford in 1916. Service Record: Arthur was granted a conditional exemption from conscription at the Long Melford Military Service Tribunal in May 1916.[19]  He is however recorded as a Corporal in the Royal Engineers at his marriage only one month later.[20]   His medal records confirm that he attained the rank of A/Sgt.50198 by the time of his discharge.[21] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1967.

Maxim, Walter Bennett – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 9.3.1888.[22] Parents: Walter Maxim (Carpenter) and Arethusa [née Glazin]. Family Connections: Son-in-law of Frederick John Brockwell [b1854] and cousin of Farrance Thomas Glazin [b1892] both of Long Melford. Home: Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk (1891 to 1901), 2 Avon Terrace, Mill Lane, Witham, Essex (1911) to [1915], 119 Rayne Road, Braintree, Essex (1921), 62 Silver Street, Witham, Essex (1939). Occupation: Sadler (1911) to [1915], out of work Steel Window Fitter formally with Crittall Manufacturing Co. Ltd (1921), Inspector of Metal Windows at Crittalls (1939). Married: Beatrice Brockwell of Long Melford in 1919. Service Record: Walter was conscripted on 26.11.1915 as Pte.2582 with the Essex Yeomanry, being posted as Pte.33895 to 11^th [Service] Battalion, Essex Regiment in France on 14.12.1916, as part of 18^th Brigade, 6^th Division.  In August 1917 his unit saw action at the Battle of Hill 70 and at the Battle of Cambrai in the following November.  He was captured at Monchy during the Battle of St Quentin on 22.3.1918, the second day of the German Spring Offensive, and was held at Freidrichsfeld POW Camp until his repatriation in December 1918.[23] Died: Braintree, Essex in 1961.

Tanner, Alfred Stanley – Born: Nettleton, Wiltshire on 26.11.1876.[24] Parents: John Jones Tanner (Farmer) and Emily Rose [née Winders]. Family Connections: Son-in-law of Frederick John Brockwell [b1854] of Long Melford. Home: Lane End Farm, Ganlard, Wiltshire (1891), Senacre House, Otham, Kent (1901), Iron Cottage Barnardiston Hall, Barnardiston, Suffolk (1911), Waltham St Lawrence, Twyford, Berkshire [1915], 6 Wickhurst Cottages, Little Wick, Windsor, Berkshire [1919 to 1920], Slape Cottages, Beaminster, Dorset (1939), South View, Rushall, Norfolk [1952]. Occupation: Gardener (1901 to 1939). Married: Ellen Brockwell of Long Melford in 1907. Service Record: Alfred was conscripted on 8.12.1915, transferring on 1.10.1916 as Pte.7060 with 2/4^th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.  On 15.10.1917 he was posted as Pte.427553 to 536^th [Agricultural] Company, Labour Corps, receiving his discharge in February 1919.[25]  Died: Derwade, Norfolk on 8.6.1952.[26]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register. [2] See his Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/942].  [3] Date of birth from the 1939 Register. [4] For military details see his 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].  Address taken from the Passenger List for the SS Iberia of 11.3.1959.  [5] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [6] Date of birth from the 1939 Register.  [7] Address from the Electoral Register.  [8] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [9] Baptism Register 11.6.1853, St Marys Church, Cavendish, Suffolk.  [10] Recorded as John Brockwell on the UK Census of 1861 and 1871.  [11] His occupation is given in Kelly’s Directory Suffolk 1916.  [12] For Training Corps articles see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915 and 29.12.1915.  [13] 1939 Register.  [14] British Merchant Navy Medal Card [ref: BT 351/1/15436].  [15] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register. [16] For occupation see Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk. [17] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [18] 1939 Register for Sheffield, Yorkshire. [19] For details of the Tribunals decision see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 17.5.1916. [20] Marriage Register 10.6.1916, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford and marriage notice in SEFP 14.6.1916 which confirmed his rank as Corporal.  [21] 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] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register. [23] For military details see his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and International Committee of the Red Cross [refs: PA30717, PA41643 and R53350].  [24] 1939 Register.  [25] For military details see his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]. [26] Date of death taken from the National Probate Calendar.