A village with a big story
Selected Biography
Hancock, Philip Charles – Born: Limehouse, London on 25.4.1896.[1] Parents: John Cornish Hancock (Chemical Works Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Smith]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Wilfred Hempstead of Long Melford [b1891]. Home: 30 Church Road, Limehouse, London [1896], 39 Garford Road, Limehouse (1901), 146 Campbell Road, Bow, London (1911), 264 Barking Road, Plaistow, London [1917], 55 Bradgate Road, Catford, Kent [1934]. Occupation: Greengrocer’s Assistant (1911), Asbestos Worker [1916], Greengrocer’s Assistant [1917]. Married: Alice May Hempstead of Long Melford in 1921. Service Record: Philip was conscripted on 5.3.1917 as Pte.G48962 with 24th Infantry Labour Company, Queens [Royal West Surrey Regiment]. Posted to France and transferring briefly to 8th Infantry Labour Company, Northamptonshire Regiment before its conversion to 146th Labour Company, Labour Corps. Over his army career he was given other regimental numbers, namely Pte.35976, Pte.78792 and Pte.87210. He received his discharge in 1920.[2] Died: Princess Alice Hospital, Eastbourne, Sussex on 12.9.1934.[3]
Selected Notes – [1] Date of birth from Baptism Register 13.9.1896 for St Annes, Limehouse, London. [2] First World War Service Records ‘Burnt Documents’, WO 363, Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [3] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.
Related Biography
Hempstead, George Wilfred – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk on 5.11.1891.[1] Parents: Harry Hempstead (Gardener) and Florence [née Martin] (Silk Weaver). Family Connections: Cousin of Alfred Arthur Hempstead [b1885] and brother-in-law of Herbert Ernest White [b1888] and Philip Charles Hancock [b1896]. Home: Patient in St Leonards Hospital, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901), 15 Croft Row, Sudbury (1911), Rodbridge, Long Melford (1939). Occupation: General Labourer (1911), Agricultural Labourer (1939). Married: Ethel Lizzie Mason of Long Melford in 1918.[2] Service Record: Recorded as a ‘Soldier’ at his marriage in January 1918, regrettably his unit is not given. Although no definitive military record has been found, George may have attested as Pte.45628 with 9th [Service] Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. If this assumption is correct then he was transferred as Pte.41892 to 6th [Service] Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, then as Pte.579077 to 986th Company, Labour Corps, and finally as Pte.GS/104344 to 43rd [Garrison] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.[3] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1965.
Related Notes – [1] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [2] For military status in 1918 see Marriage Register 16.1.1918, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, Marriage was also announced in Suffolk and Essex Free Press 16.1.1918. [3] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].
Genealogical Table
