Selected Biographies

Jacobs, Bertie James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.6.1899.[1]  Parent: Minnie Jacobs.  Family Connections: Nephew of Ernest Jacobs [b1878]. Home: Living with Henry and Sarah Jacobs (grandparents) at Cuckoo Tye Farm, Long Melford (1901), living with Henry Jacobs (grandfather) at Kewland Hall, Henley, Ipswich, Suffolk (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer [1918], Maltster’s Labourer (1939).  Married: Edith E. Pettitt in 1920.  Service Record: Bertie was conscripted on 20.2.1918 as Stoker N^o. K49565 with the Royal Navy, serving on the destroyer HMS Star from 25.5.1918 to 7.10.1918 on anti-submarine and counter-mining patrols off the river Humber.  On 29.9.1918 his ship depth-charged and sank the German submarine UB-115.  He continued his service after the War and was discharged in January 1920.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1981.[2]

Jacobs, Ernest – Born: Sproughton, Suffolk on 3.8.1878.[3] Parents: Henry James Jacobs (Farm Bailiff) and Sarah [née Jay].  Family Connections: Uncle of Bertie James Jacobs [b1899]. Home: Lower Street, Sproughton, Suffolk (1881 to 1891), Rotten Row, Long Melford (1901), The Square, Henley, Ipswich, Suffolk (1911 to 1921), 121 Council House, Main Road, Henley (1939). Occupation: Horsekeeper on Farm (1901), Agricultural Labourer (1911), Horseman for the East Suffolk Agricultural Committee (1921), General Labourer (1939). Married: Margaret Morphy in 1898. Service Record: Ernest was conscripted on 28.1.1916 as Pte.3145 with 3/1^st Battalion, Norfolk Yeomanry, being posted to France on 4.9.1917 with 1/4^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment as part of 98^th Brigade, 33^rd Division, seeing action during the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917.   In September he was transferred as Pte.51021 to 1/8^th (Irish) Battalion, King’s [Liverpool] Regiment attached briefly to 180 Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, then in January 1918 to ‘B’ Company, 1/5^th Battalion, King’s as part of 165^th (Liverpool) Brigade, 55^th (West Lancashire) Division. He was captured near Festaubert in Artois on 8.4.1918 and held as a prisoner of war in Germany until his repatriation in November 1918.   He received his discharge in April 1919.[4]  Died: Ipswich, Suffolk in 1968.

Notes – [1] 1939 Register for Long Melford and confirmed by his Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/965].  [2] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/965]; the Death Index records his birth year as 1898.  See also his Medal and Award Rolls [ADM 171/106].  My thanks to Alan Simmonds of Sudbury for bringing these records to my attention.  [3] Baptism Register 2.2.1879 for All Saints Church, Sproughton, Suffolk.  [4] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]