Selected Biographies

Clover, Arthur Robert Raynham – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 25.5.1896.[1]  Parents: Robert Raynham Clover (Moulder at Ward’s Iron Foundry) and Elizabeth Ellen Phoebe [née Lineham].  Family Connections: Brother to Harry John Raynham Clover [b1894]; also, son-in-law of William Ringer [b1872].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 6 Star Cottages, St Catherines Road, Long Melford [1928 to 1968].  Occupation: Carpenter’s Apprentice (1911), Joiner [1915], Picture-Frame Maker [1920], Joiner [1937], Woodworker and Picture-Framer (1939).  Married: Mabel Ringer in 1927.  Service Record: Arthur enlisted as Pte.21319 with ‘D’ Coy, 10th [Service] Battalion, Essex Regiment.  He was posted to France with 12th [Reserve] Battalion, Essex Regiment from 31.12.1915 to 1.8.1916, transferring to 13th [Service] Battalion, (West Ham Pals) Essex Regiment on 23.6.1916.  Briefly returning to England he was he returned to the Western Front on 11.1.1917, re-joining 10th Essex, as part of 53rd Brigade, 18th Division.  On 22.10.1917 his unit was subjected to concentrated enemy shelling with gas and high explosive near the village of Poelcappelle in Belgium, causing Arthur any many of his comrade’s life-changing injuries.[2]  After lying blinded and in pain overnight, he was taken by field ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Station at Lozinghem forty-five bumpy and uncomfortable miles from the Front.  Suffering from the severe effects of mustard gas poisoning he was transferred several days later to the American run Base Hospital at Camiers, near the coastal port of Boulogne.  It was not until the beginning of November that he was transferred by hospital ship to England and on to the Military Hospital in Sheffield for long-term care.  Although the damage to his lungs slowly improved, his vision never recovered, leaving him permanently blind.  He remained hospitalised for a further year.  With the help of St Dunstan’s Home for blinded ex-servicemen he was retrained as a picture-framer, which provided him with a livelihood for much of his later life.  He was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 18.12.1918.[3]  In 1922 Arthur is recorded as a committee member of the Long Melford Ex-Service Men’s Club.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1968.

Clover, Harry John Raynham – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 6.12.1894.[4]  Parents: Robert Raynham Clover (Moulder at Ward’s Iron Foundry) and Elizabeth Ellen Phoebe [née Lineham].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Robert Raynham Clover [b1896].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901) to [1984].  Occupation: Gardener (1911), Drug Extraction Worker for Stafford Allen & Son (1921), Gardener (1939).  Married: Bertha May Plumb [née Plum] in 1927.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Harry may have enlisted on 19.4.1915 as Gnr. L/19738 with 4^th Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.  If this assumption is correct then he was posted to France on 30.12.1915, later joining the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Salonika.  Gunner Clover was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 22.2.1918 due to wounds received.[5]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 31.5.1984.[6]

Related Biographies

Snell, Ernest George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 19.2.1901.[7]  Parent: Harriet Snell (Horsehair Drawer).  Family Connections: Nephew of Henry William Snell [b1885].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1911).[8]  Occupation: Motor Driver [1919].  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Ernest may have enlisted as Stoker No. K58115 with the Royal Navy on 1.8.1919 for a period of 12 years.  If this assumption is correct, then served beyond he proscribed time through to the outbreak of the Second World War.[9]  Died: Preston, Lancashire in 1992.

Snell, Henry William msm – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 8.5.1885.[10]  Parent: Mary Ann Snell (Horsehair Weaver).  His probable father was Albert Clover for whom Mary Ann was the long-term housekeeper.  Family Connections: Uncle of Ernest George Snell [b1901] and cousin of Oswald Snell [b1876].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1891 and 1901), Hall Street, Long Melford [1903], 4 Meadow Street, Southsea, Hampshire (1911), Long Melford [1916], Church Street, Great Ayton, Yorkshire (1921), 13 Jubilee Bank, Ormesby, Yorkshire (1939).[11]  Occupation: Carpenter (1901) Wheelwright in the Army Service Corps (1911), Carpenter and Undertaker working for Mr Bixby of Hall Street, Long Melford [1916], Joiner (1921), Steel Works Joiner and Works Air Raid Precaution Auxiliary Fireman (1939).  Married: Clare Hannah Galloway Wilson in 1909.  Service Record: Henry enlisted in 1903 as Pte.21102 with 66^th Company, Army Service Corps, posted to France from 20.8.1914 as Wheeler/Driver T/21102 with 3^rd Reserve Park, ASC and transferring to Headquarters Company, 63^rd [Royal Naval] Divisional Train on 9.10.1916.  He was later promoted to Transport Staff Sergeant and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service in the field.[12]  During the Second World War he was his Works Air Raid Precaution Auxiliary Fireman.[13]  Died: Middlesborough, Yorkshire in 1956.

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 17.9.1896, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [2] For details of the action see 10^th Essex War Diary [WO 95/2038].  [3] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: B60781] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 21.1.1895, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [5] Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 319780], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [6] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [7] Date of birth from his suggested RN Record.  [8] Recorded as Ernest Clover living with Albert Clover and Mary Ann [Snell] (grandparents) on the UK Census for 1901. [9] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/977] and [ADM 363/66/135]. [10] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 28.11.1885, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [11] Recorded as Henry Clover on the UK Census for 1891.  Henry’s mother Mary Ann Snell appears to have lived with Albert Clover as his common law wife. [12] 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]. [13] 1939 Register.