Selected Biographies

Hurrell, Albert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1888.  Home: Military Barracks in Egypt (1911). Occupation: Labourer [1904], Soldier [1905 to 1915].  Service Record: Up to 1904 Albert was a member of 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  He attested in 1904 as Pte.6605 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolks, transferring in 1905 as Pte.6973 to 1^st Battalion, Suffolks stationed in Egypt in 1911.  He was posted to France with 2^nd Battalion, Suffolks from 15.8.1914 as part of 8^th Brigade, 3^rd Division, seeing action at the Battles of Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne in 1914.  The fiercely fought rear-guard action at Le Cateau on 26.8.1914 saw the Suffolks in a leading role and resulted in the Battalion’s near destruction, with only 111 men answering the roll call the following morning, the remainder being either killed, wounded, or captured.  Towards the end of the year 2^nd Suffolks moved north as part of the counter to the German advance on Ypres, remaining entrenched in the Salient throughout the following year.[1]  The weather conditions over the winter and into 1915 had, when combined with the low-lying land, turned the trenches around the Belgian town into a sea of sticky mud, with the men having to stand for days on end half immersed in water.  Most injuries in the Battalion during this period were due to the resultant issue of trench foot, or the effect of rifle grenades or gun fire from enemy snipers.  It was during this period that Albert was wounded, although how is not recorded, however it was considered severe enough for him to be issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 6.4.1915.[2]

Hurrell, Bertie – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 14.12.1896.[3]  Parents: Thomas Nathan Hurrell (Maltster’s Labourer) and Sarah Ann [née Pettitt].  Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Nathan Hurrell [b1886] and Frederick George Hurrell [b1901].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911).  Service Record: Bertie was attested as Pte.5174 with 1/4^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France as part of 98^th Brigade, 33^rd Division and seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916.[4]  Died: Private Hurrell was killed in action at Bouchavesnes-Bergen on 25.1.1917 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme [pier and face 1c and 2a], Somme, France and on the Long Melford War Memorial.[5]

Hurrell, Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1794.[6]  Home: Chapel Green, Long Melford (1841 to 1851).  Occupation: Labourer [1811].  Married: Eliza Aylward in 1822.  Service Record: Charles enlisted on 4.5.1811 with 68^th [Durham] Regiment of Foot [Light Infantry], being posted to Portugal in June as part of 7^th Division and seeing action during the Peninsula Campaign at the following battles: Vitoria and Nivelle in 1813, receiving a head wound in the latter engagement and in February 1814 at Orthez in southwest France, where he was wounded in his right leg.  He was granted a Chelsea Pension in 1822.[7]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk and buried in Holy Trinity churchyard on 27.7.1857.[8]

Hurrell, Frederick George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.5.1901.[9]  Parents: Thomas Nathan Hurrell (Maltster’s Labourer) and Sarah Ann [née Pettitt].  Family Connections: Brother to Bertie Hurrell [b1896] and Thomas Nathan Hurrell [b1886].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford [1905], French Furze Camp, Curragh, Ireland (1921), 10 Victoria Gardens, Wembley, Middlesex (1939).  Occupation: Commissionaire at a Building Factory (1939).  Married: Violet A, Mower in 1929.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Frederick may have been conscripted in 1918.  By 1921 he is however he is stationed in Ireland with 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  His post as a commissionaire in 1939 suggests that he had spent time as a Regular in the British Army.  Died: Sudbury on 18.4.1959 and buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Long Melford.

Hurrell, Frederick Thomas – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 8.7.1909.[10]  Parents: Thomas Nathan Hurrell (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Jane [née Brown].  Family Connections: Son-in-law of William James Purdy [b1878] and brother-in-law of Frank William Purdy [b1907] of Long Melford.  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1911), Church Row, Long Melford, Suffolk (1921), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1939), 4 Laurel Drive, Long Melford [1987].  Occupation: Maltster (1939).  Married: Mildred Florence Clover [d1966] in 1932 and to Bessie Margaret Purdy in 1968.  Service Record: Frederick was a member of ‘H’ Company, 10^th Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard when it was formed in August 1942.  His name is recorded in the official tribute to the organization entitled The Lion Roared his Defiance, photographed in and around Long Melford in 1944.[11]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 25.12.1986.[12]

Hurrell, George Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 3.8.1873.[13]  Parents: Sarah Ann Hurrell (Horsehair Weaver) [married Thomas Whittle (Coconut Mat Maker) in 1877].  Family Connections: Half-brother to Albert Whittle [b1876].  Home: Back Meadow, Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1881), Hall Street Yard, Hall Street, Long Melford (1891), Sargents Yard, Long Melford [1895], Crown Inn, Hall Street, Long Melford (1911).  Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1891 to 1911).  Married: Sarah Ann Sargent in 1893.  Service Record: Enlisting in 1893 as Pte.3608 with 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment George was discharged ‘with ignominy’ 1894.  His previous conduct notwithstanding he re-enlisted in August 1895 as Pte.4259 with 1^st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, however his time with the Lincoln’s was short-lived being convicted four months later of ‘having made a false answer at attestation’ and was summarily discharged.[14]  It is not known if he

Hurrell, Thomas Nathan – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 14.2.1886.[15]  Parents: Thomas Nathan Hurrell (Maltster’s Labourer) and Sarah Ann [née Pettitt].  Family Connections: Brother to Bertie Hurrell [b1896] and Frederick George Hurrell [b1901].  Home: St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), Station Road, Long Melford (1901).  Occupation: Milkman on Farm (1901), Labourer for C. J. N. Roe of Long Melford [1904].  Married: Mary Jane Brown in 1913.  Service Record: Thomas enlisted in 1904 as Pte.6386 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, receiving his discharge in 1910.  Recalled to the Regiment on 31.8.1914, he was posted to France from 3.12.1914 as Pte.3/9678 with 2^nd Battalion, Suffolks as part of 8^th Brigade, 3^rd Division, seeing action at the Battles of Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne in 1914.[16]  During 1915 the Battalion was entrenched on the Ypres Salient, and it would have been here that Thomas was wounded in action, severe enough for him to be issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 18.9.1915.[17]

Hurrell, William John – Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 7.12.1866.[18]  Parents: George Hurrell (Gardener) and Sarah Ann [née Bigg] of Long Melford.  Home: Trusthams, Shimpling, Suffolk (1871 to 1881), Cobham Road, Fetcham, Surrey (1891), Angel Inn, Church Street, Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk (1901).  Occupation: Servant (1881), Groom (1891 to 1901).  Service Record: William enlisted in 1892 as Pte.3983 with ‘K’ Company, 1^st Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, being posted to South Africa from 1899 to 1900 and seeing action during Second Anglo-Boer War.  He received his discharge in 1902.[19]  It is not known if he served during the First World War.

Notes – [1] For details of the various actions see 2^nd Suffolk’s War Diary [WO 95/1424/1] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.31-44, 39-44 and 56-60. [2] Also see his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 23966], 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 Admission Register 15.10.1900, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford. [4] For details of the action see the Battalion’s War Diary [WO 95/2427/2] and Lieutenant-Colonel C.C.R. Murphy, The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], p.193.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [5] He is recorded on the 1/4^th Suffolk’s Nominal Roll [Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Record Office ref: GB554/G4/3].  See also his Commonwealth War Graves Commission record, British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 417635], [6] Date of birth based on his Army record; his Death record however suggests an earlier date of 1792. [7] Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913 [WO 97].  [8] My thanks to Anne Grimshaw for her research and for bringing this man to my attention.  [9] 1939 Register.  [10] 1939 Register.  [11] Published by Marten & Son, Ltd., of Market Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk in 1946. [12] National Probate Calendar.  [13] Date of birth from Baptism Register 7.12.1873, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [14] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] to 1895.  The age recorded on enlistment suggests a birth year of 1876.  [15] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 17.3.1887, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [16] For details of the various actions see 2^nd Suffolk’s War Diary [WO 95/1424/1] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.31-44, 39-44, 56-60, 72-84 and 82-85. [17] See the entry for Albert Hurrell [b1888] who also served in the same unit.  See also his Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1910, Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 432745], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [18] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 17.3.1867 for St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk. [19] Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913.