Selected Biographies

Dakin, Albert Henry Ÿ Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 7.8.1886.  Parents: George William Dakin (Horsehair Curler) and Emily Ann [née Younger] of Long Melford (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to George William Dakin [b1872]; also, cousin of Jonathan Younger [b1879] and Sidney Charles Younger [b1898], and brother-in-law of Arthur William Clary [b1881], Amos Henry Clary [b1897], George Albon [b1883] and Harry Albon [b1896].  Home: Church Gate, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), 29 School Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901).  Occupation: Loom Weaver (1901), Porter [1904].  Married: Sarah Albon of Long Melford in 1911.  Service Record: Albert enlisted in 1904 as Pte.2823 with 4^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment [Territorials], being re-engaged in 1914 as Pte.6864 with 2^nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and posted to France on 15.8.1914 as part of 14^th Brigade, 5^th Division.  On 24.8.1914 Dakin’s unit met the full force of the Imperial German Army at the hill-top town of Mons in Belgium, valiantly holding off the enemy before being forced into a fighting withdrawal.  Two days later the Suffolks were chosen to fight a rearguard action near the village of Le Cateau.  The bravery of Dakin and his comrades was a determining factor in slowing the German advance, allowing the bulk of the British and French forces time to successfully regroup further south.  Three-quarters of this battalion, however, were either killed, wounded, or captured in this battle.  Albert and the other survivors spent the remainder of the conflict at the Prisoner of War Camp at Chemnitz in Germany.  Died: 1972.[1]

Dakin, George William Ÿ Born: Lavenham, Suffolk on 28.2.1872.  Parents: George William Dakin (Horsehair Curler) and Emily Ann [née Younger] of Long Melford (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Albert Henry Dakin [b1886]; also, cousin of Jonathan Younger [b1879] and Sidney Charles Younger [b1898], and brother-in-law of Arthur William Clary [b1881] and Amos Henry Clary [b1897].  Home: Church Gate, Glemsford, Suffolk (1881 and 1891), St Catherines Road, Long Melford [1894], 80 York Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (1911), 38 Gwyder Street, Cambridge [1918], 129 Ross Street, Cambridge (1939).  Occupation: Horsehair Curler (1901), General labourer (1911), GPO Wireman [1918], Window Cleaner (1939).  Married: Kate Mary Ann Theobald of Long Melford in 1894.  Service Record: George was conscripted on 12.6.1918 as Pnr.372410 with the Royal Engineers, receiving his discharge in December 1918.  Died: Gipping, Cambridgeshire 1952.[2]

Notes – [1] Militia Service Records 1806-1915 [WO 96], for PoW records see International Committee of the Red Cross [ref: PA19092 and P59], also, Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  For details of 2^nd Suffolk’s many actions see War Diary [WO 95/1437/1] and for the period from Mons to Le Cateau see Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.32-35.  [2] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Cambridge.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].