Selected Biographies

Coley, Arthur Alfred Ÿ Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 30.4.1889.  Parents: Charles William Coley (Baker and Confectioner) [see below for his suggested military record] and Lydia ‘Ada’ [née Cadge].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1891), 25 High Street, Lavenham, Suffolk (1901), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911 to 1939), Hall Street, Long Melford [1958].  Occupation: Baker and Confectioner (1911 to 1939), Air Raid Precaution Warden (1939).  Married: Edith Lilian Mabson in 1923.  Service Record: A member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.  At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in October 1916 his father applied for exemption on Arthur’s behalf, which was refused.  Arthur was attested on 7.11.1916 as Pte.S4/218542 with 2^nd Field Bakery, Army Service Corps, posted to France from 6.3.1918 to 21.11.1918 and discharged in 1919.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 30.8.1958.[1]

Coley, Charles William Ÿ Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1866.  Parents: Henry Coley (Baker) and Mary Ann [née Markham].  Family Connections: Father of Arthur Alfred Coley [b1889].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1871 to 1891), 25 High Street, Lavenham, Suffolk (1901), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911) to [1937], Hall Street, Long Melford [1958].  Occupation: Baker’s Assistant (1881), Baker and Confectioner (1891) to [1925], Baker [1937].  Married: Lydia ‘Ada’ Cadge in 1888.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Charles may have attested as Pte.T/358646 of Army Service Corps, if this assumption is correct then was discharged in September 1920.  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 30.12.1930.[2]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from Baptism Register 24.5.1889, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 29.12.1915.  For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 11.10.1916.  See also 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].  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [2] Occupation also from Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk 1925.  See his proposed Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.