A village with a big story
Selected Biographies
Harrington, Albert Isaac – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 25.12.1885.[1] Parents: George Frederick Harrington (Stockman) and Ellen Maria [née Long]. Family Connections: Brother to Charles Walter Harrington [b1889] and Harry Harrington [b1898]; also, brother-in-law of William Harold Stanhope [b1889], William Pawsey [b1887] and Frank Harrison [b1889]. Home: Rotten Row, Long Melford (1891), Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), Prospect Terrace, Batt Hall, Bulmer, Essex [1920] to (1939). Occupation: Millwrights Labourer (1901 and 1911). Married: Sarah Ann Tuffin in 1917. Service Record: Albert enlisted on 11.1.1915 as Pte.5355 with Army Service Corps, being posted to France from 25.1.1915, transferring as Pte.235895 to 536th Company, Labour Corps attached to 13th [Works] Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. He was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged in January 1919 due to sickness.[2] Died: Halstead, Essex in 1940.
Harrington, Charles ‘Walter’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 28.11.1889.[3] Parents: George Frederick Harrington (Stockman) and Ellen Maria [née Long]. Family Connections: Brother to Albert Isaac Harrington [b1885] and Harry Harrington [b1898]; also, brother-in-law of William Harold Stanhope [b1889], William Pawsey [b1887] and Frank Harrison [b1889]. Home: Rotten Row, Long Melford (1891), Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901),[4] Mustapha Pasha Barracks, Alexandria, Egypt (1911), Cordell Cottages, High Street, Long Melford (1939). Occupation: Butcher’s Assistant (1901), Butcher (1911), Soldier [1907 to 1916], Landlord of the Cross Keys Inn in Little St Marys until 1925. Married: Alice May Wilby in 1916 (Silk Weaver). Following Water’s death Alice married Frank Duce [b1898]. Service Record: A member of 2nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment before 1907. Walter attested in the same year as Pte.7495 with ‘A’ Company, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to Egypt from 1911 and on to Khartoum in early 1914. Following the declaration of War the Battalion returned to England, moving to France from 16.1.1915 as part of 84th Brigade, 28th Division, and taking up position in the Ypres Salient. Towards evening of 15.2.1915 1st Suffolks were ordered into the front-line south of Ypres, to stem a German attack. Reaching their position Private Harrington and his comrades found themselves in poorly dug trenches half filled with water and vulnerable to enemy fire from the front and side. It was here or close by that Walter was shot in both thighs, later resulting in his right leg being amputated. This was the first major blooding of the War for 1st Suffolks, losing over 250 men killed, wounded, or missing.[5] After intensive treatment and convalescence Walter Harrington was discharged on 22.1.1916.[6] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1945.
Harrington, Henry ‘Harry’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 5.10.1898.[7] Parents: George Frederick Harrington (Stockman) and Ellen Maria [née Long]. Family Connections: Brother to Albert Isaac Harrington [b1885] and Charles Walter Harrington [b1889]; also, brother-in-law of William Harold Stanhope [b1889], William Pawsey [b1887] and Frank Harrison [b1889]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford [1898], Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 8 Martins Rise, Long Melford (1939), Cordell Place, Long Melford [1964], Swanfield, Long Melford [1974]. Occupation: Gardener to Charles Westropp of Melford Place (1901) to [1917]. Service Record: Harry was conscripted on 5.11.1917 as Pte.499355 with 369th [Home Service] Company, Labour Corps, transferring as Pte.645608 to 160th Labour Company, 24th [Training Reserve] Battalion, Labour Corps. Classified Grade III and considered ‘unfit in varying degrees and ways but still able to serve as auxiliary troops, cooks, clerks etc.,’ he was posted to France from 10.11.1918 with 302nd Reserve Labour Company, before transferring to 732nd Labour Company until his return to England and his discharge in April 1920.[8] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1974.
Selected Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 7.3.1886, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, the 1939 Register however, gives his birth date as 27.12.1885. [2] Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: B115953], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [3] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.3.1880, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [4] Recorded as Walter Harrington on the UK Census for 1901. [5] For details of 1st Suffolk’s movements during Walter’s time with the Battalion see War Diary [WO 95/2277/3] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.16-18 and 49-56. [6] Recorded as Walter Harrington on 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]. [7] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 26.1.1899, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [8] 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].
*Images courtesy of John Davies
Related Biographies
Duce, Frank – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.1.1898.[1] Parents: Charles Duce (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Emily Jane [née Boggis] (Horsehair Drawer). Family Connections: Brother to Charles Duce [b1880], Frederick Duce [b1885], Harry Duce [b1886], George Duce [b1888], Arthur Duce [b1890], Walter Duce [b1892] and Bertie Duce [b1895]. Home: Bishops Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 14 Bull Lane, Long Melford (1939), Flat 9, Holy Trinity Hospital, Long Melford [1974]. Occupation: Assistant Hawker (1911), Blacksmith (1939). Married: Ivy May Copsey [d1950] in 1927 and Alice May Harrington [née Wilby] in 1953. Alice was the widow of Charles Walter Harrington [b1889] [see above for military details]. Service Record: Frank served as a Sailor in the Royal Navy during the First World War.[2] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.9.1974.[3]
Pawsey, William Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.5.1887.[4] Parents: James Nathan Pawsey [Carter and Coal Merchant] and Elizabeth [née Gager]. Family Connections: Brother to Charles Cyril Pawsey [b1892]; also, brother-in-law of Albert Isaac Harrington [b1885], Charles Walter Harrington [b1889], Henry Harrington [b1898], Charles Albert Mills [b1876] and Thomas Henry Wheeler [b1882]. Home: Rodbridge Street, Long Melford (1891), Station Road, Long Melford (1901), Bull Lane, Long Melford [1903], Military Barracks in India (1911). Occupation: Labourer [1903], Soldier [1903 to 1918]. Married: Laura Harrison [née Harrington] in 1920. Laura was the widow of Frank Harrison [b1889] killed in action in Palestine in 1917. Service Record: William enlisted in 1903 as Pte.6191 with 3rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring as Pte.7838 to 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales’s [North Staffordshire] Regiment in December 1904, being stationed in India in 1911. During the First World War he was promoted to Corporal in 1st Battalion, North Staffs and posted to France from 10.9.1914 initially as part of 17th Brigade, 6th Division. On 14.10.1915 his unit was put under the command of 24th Division seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and the Assault of Messines Ridge in June 1917.[5] Before his discharge he was transferred to 8th [Service] Battalion, North Staffs.[6]
Stanhope, William Harold – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.9.1889.[7] Parents: Harry Stanhope (Wagon Painter, later Landlord of the White Hart Inn) and Zillah [née Theobald]. Family Connections: Brother to Percy James Stanhope [b1886], Bertie Stanhope [b1897] and Charles John Stanhope [b1900]; also, half-brother of Harry Stanhope Theobald [b1878], nephew of Arthur John Stanhope [b1877], cousin of Percy Theobald [b1892] and Owen Theobald [b1886], and brother-in-law of Edward Ballantine Wright [b1880] and George Henry Lefley [b1883]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891 and 1901), White Hart Inn, St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911), St Catherines Road, Long Melford [1952]. Occupation: Carpenter (1911), Bricklayer for Clement Theobald and Sons [1916 to 1918], Licensed Victualler [1923]. Married: Lily May Harrington in 1915. Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in October 1916, Clement Theobald and Sons [Builders], applied for William’s exemption, which was granted on the condition his situation remained unchanged. In October 1918 the National Service Representative sought to have Stanhope’s certificate of exemption revoked by the West Suffolk Appeals Tribunal; this failed, although at the next sitting of the Melford Tribunal, an exemption was only granted for one month.[8] It is not known if he was actually conscripted at the end of that period, this would seem unlikely however, as the Armistice came into force only two days after his certificate expired. Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 9.8.1952.[9]
Related Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 21.7.1898, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [2] I am grateful to Arthur Kemp of Long Melford for sharing information on Frank’s career in the Royal Navy. The only extant Royal Naval record relates to a Frank Ernest Duce from Asheldham in Essex, while the only extant Army records are a Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372] referring to a Dvr.199544 with the Royal Engineers. [3] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [4] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 5.6.1887, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [5] For details of 1st North Staffordshire’s movements during William’s time with the unit see War Diaries [WO 95/1613/3 and WO 95/2213/1]. [6] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1904, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [7] Date of birth from Baptism Register 3.11.1889, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [8] For the Tribunal’s rulings see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 4.10.1916 and 9.10.1918. [9] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.
Genealogical Tables
