Selected Biographies

Hart, Bertie George – Born: Cockfield, Suffolk on 6.3.1912.[1]  Parents: Harry Albert Hart (Horseman on Farm) and Ellen May [née Manning].  Family Connections: Brother to William James Hart [b1898] and Leslie Frank Hart [b1915]; also, brother-in-law of Arthur Leonard Smith [b1914].  Home: Smithwood Green, Cockfield, Suffolk (1921), Cottage near the School, Alpheton (1939).  Occupation: Stockman (1939).  Married: Kathleen Mary Smith of Alpheton, Suffolk in 1938.  Service Record: Bertie was a member of N^o.3 Platoon [Alpheton], 10^th Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard during the Second World War.  Died Bury St Edmunds in 1982.

Hart, Frank – Born: Christchurch, Hampshire on 2.1.1864.[2]  Parents: Henry Hart (Master Taxidermist) and Sarah Butler [née Sommerville].  Home: Bridge Street, Christchurch, Hampshire (1871), Godstone Road, Boscombe, Hampshire [1882], 8 Sirdar Street, Ipswich, Suffolk [1902], Westgate Lane, Long Melford (1911).  Occupation: Painter [1882], Groom [1901], Coachman (1911); also, a Soldier [1882 to 1919].  Married: Kathleen Wilding in 1901.  Service Record: Frank enlisted at Dover in 1882 as Dvr.34814 1^st Cinque Port Division Royal Artillery, serving in India from 1883 to 1898, transferring in 1889 to 48^th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, receiving his discharge after 16 years in August 1899.[3]  He re-enlisted at Ipswich in 1901 as Gnr.2564 with Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia), re-joining the regular army as Dvr.8090 serving for five years with 116^th Battery, Royal Field Artillery.[4]  Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities with Germany, he stepped forward yet again serving throughout the Great War.  He attested on 20.10.1914 as Dvr.34911 with 5^th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, transferring on 30.10.1917 as Pte.439571 to 399^th [Home Service] Employment Company, Labour Corps, receiving his discharge at the age of fifty-five in May 1919 as ‘being no longer physically fit for war service’.[5]  Died: Aldershot, Hampshire in 1944.

Hart, Leslie Frank – Born: Cockfield, Suffolk on 5.11.1915.[6]  Parents: Harry Albert Hart (Horseman on Farm) and Ellen May [née Manning].  Family Connections: Brother to William James Hart [b1898] and Leslie Frank Hart [b1915].   Home: Smithwood Green, Cockfield, Suffolk (1921 to 1939).  Occupation: Stockman on Farm (1939).  Married: Iris Lily Hughes in 1937.  Service Record: Leslie enlisted as Pte.5832636 with 2^nd Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment, being posted to Batu Pahat in Malaya to reinforce 15^th Indian Brigade.  Private Hart was captured either in the defence of the town or in the general surrender to the Japanese on Singapore Island in February 1942.[7]  Died: 17.8.1943 and is buried at Kanchanburi, Thailand.[8]  Leslie was one of nearly 12,500 British military personnel to die under the Imperial Japanese regime of slave labour.

Hart, William James – Born: Cockfield, Suffolk on 6.2.1898.[9]  Parents: Harry Albert Hart (Horseman on Farm) and Ellen May [née Manning].  Family Connections: Brother to Bertie George Hart [b1912] and Leslie Frank Hart [b1915].  Home: Smithwood Green, Cockfield, Suffolk (1901 to 1921).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1921 to 1939).  Married: Beatrice M. Davies in 1933.  Service Record: William was conscripted on 16.10.1916 with 2/6^th [Cyclist] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring on 6.10.1917 as Pte.395549 to 691^st [Agricultural] Company, Labour Corps engaged on home duties only, receiving his discharge on 1.11.1918.[10]  Died: Sudbury in 1965.

Related Biography

Smith, Arthur Leonard – Born: Alpheton, Suffolk on 2.5.1914.[11]  Parents: Sidney George Smith (Agricultural Labourer) and Lily Maud [née Moore].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Harry Boreham of Long Melford [b1905] and Bertie George Hart [b1912].  Home: Cottage near the School, Alpheton (1921 to 1939), 6 Bury Road, Alpheton [2003 to 2006].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Service Record: Arthur was a member of N^o.3 Platoon [Alpheton], 10^th Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard during the Second World War.

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Date of birth from British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920.  [3] [WO 364 – Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920].  [4] [WO 96 – Militia Service Records 1806-1915].  [5] [British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920].  [6] 1939 Register.  [7] [WO 345] Japanese Index cards of Allied POWs 1942-1947.  [8] Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  [9] 1939 Register.  [10] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  [11] 1939 Register.