Selected Biographies

Jarvis, Donald Percival – Born: Woolwich, Kent on 18.1.1894.[1] Parents: Samuel Jarvis of Clare, Suffolk (Royal Horse Artillery) and Jemima [née Inglis]. Home: 208 Herbert Road, Plumstead, Kent (1901), Military Barracks, Fort Purbrook, Havant, Hampshire (1911), Military Barracks, Moascar, Ismailia, Egypt (1921), Leighswood, Headley, Hampshire [1926],[2] Kiln Farm, Long Melford (1939), Leighswood, Withersfield, Suffolk [1968]. Occupation: Boy Soldier (1911), Lieutenant (1921), Retired Lieutenant Royal Artillery (1939). Married: Mabel Dorothy Tilbrook of Little Thurlow, Suffolk in 1922. Service Record: Donald enlisted in 1909 as Gnr.61103 with the Royal Field Artillery rising to the rank of Bombardier, and subsequently being awarded a commission in 1915.[3] He was posted to France on 16.8.1914 with XXV Brigade, RFA as part of 1^st Division seeing action at the Battles of Mons, the Marne, the Aisne, and First Ypres in 1914. He was hospitalised in November 1917 with a contusion to his left shoulder, sustained during the Battle of Passchendaele while commanding ‘B’ Battery, CXXIV (Howitzer) Brigade, as part of 37^th Division.[4] He remained in the Army after the war being stationed with 19^th Brigade, RFA in Egypt in 1921.[5] Died: Withersfield, Suffolk on 13.9.1968.[6]

Jarvis, William James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.2.1899.[7] Parents: James Thomas Jarvis (Gardener) and Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ [née Poulson]. Home: High Street, Long Melford (1901), Hall Garden, Pentlow, Cavendish, Suffolk (1911), 16 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex (1921). Occupation: Universal Miller for Hoffman Manufacturing Ltd (Ball and Roller Bearing Makers) of Chelmsford, Essex (1921). Service Record: William was conscripted on 3.7.1918 as Pte.G/39821 with 7^th [Service] Battalion, The Queen’s Own [Royal West Kent] Regiment, posted to France from 8.11.1918, and receiving his discharge in the following February.[8]  Died: Chelmsford, Essex in 1924.

Related Biographies

Matthews, Alfred Jarvis – Born: Acton, Suffolk on 16.8.1887.[9] Parents: George Matthews of Cockfield, Suffolk (Agricultural Labourer) and Phoebe [née Jarvis]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Robert Matthews [b1883] and William Hyham Matthews [b1894]. Home: Spond, Acton, Suffolk (1891), Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901) to [1915], 28 Gregory Gardens, Sudbury, Suffolk [1918], 32 Gregory Gardens, Sudbury (1921), 14 Jubilee Road, Sudbury (1939). Occupation: Stockman on Farm (1911), Miller’s Labourer for S. B. Baker of Cornard Mills, Great Cornard, Suffolk (1921), General Labourer (1939). Married: Gladys Lilian Irene Hollingsworth in 1910. Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1905 as Pte.7015 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, considered unfit for duty and dismissed three months later.[10] On 16.7.1915 he appeared before the magistrate at Sudbury Petty Sessions on a charge of marital desertion having allegedly abandoned his wife ten months earlier.  The case was dismissed.[11]  Matthews was conscripted on 6.11.1915 as Pte.22882 with 10^th [Reserve] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring on 16.6.1916 as Pte.25397 to 22^nd [Reserve] Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers before being posted to the Western Front a week later and joining 17^th [Service] Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, as part of 104^th Brigade, 35^th [Bantam] Division, seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916. Alfred Matthews received a gunshot wound to the chest, returning to England on 8.12.1916. After more than six months recovery he was deemed unfit for any further active service an in August 1917 transferred as Pte.219886 to 524^th [Home Service Employment] Company, Labour Corps, before being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 10.9.1918 as ‘being no longer physically fit for military service’ due to wounds received.[12] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1964.

Matthews, Thomas Robert – Born: Acton, Suffolk on 18.2.1883. Parents: George Matthews of Cockfield, Suffolk (Agricultural Labourer) and Phoebe [née Jarvis]. Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Jarvis Matthews [b1887], and William Hyham Matthews [b1894]. Home: Spond, Acton, Suffolk (1891), Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), 7 Back Lane, Long Melford (1939). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901 to 1939). Married: Kate Starling in 1923. Service Record: Thomas enlisted in 1901 as a Private with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, receiving his discharge later in the year.[13]  It is not known if he served during the First Word War as no definitive military record has been found. Died: Sudbury, Suffolk 1940.

Matthews, Walter Hyham – Born: Long Melford in 1894. Parents: George Matthews of Cockfield, Suffolk (Agricultural Labourer) and Phoebe [née Jarvis]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Robert Matthews [b1883] and Alfred Jarvis Matthews [b1887]. Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911). Service Record: William enlisted in Halstead as Pte.10130 with 2^nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, being posted to the Western Front as part of 12^th Brigade, 4^th Division. He landed in France on 22.8.1914, seeing action at the Battles of Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne and Messines. It may have been at this latter engagement in October 1914 that he fell into enemy hands and held at a Prisoner of War Camp at Wittenburg in Germany.[14] Died: William died on 20.4.1915 at Wittenburg.  In 1922 his body was reinterred in Berlin South-Western Cemetery [grave ref: XIV.A.2], Brandenburg, Germany. William Matthews is commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[15]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Electoral Roll.  [3] Second Supplement to London Gazette 6.4.1915.  [4] Admission and Discharge Book, Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital at Millbank, London – [TNA – MH 106/1676]. For details of 37^th Division’s movements see http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/37th-division/.  [5] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329].  [6] National Probate Calendar.  [7] Baptism Register 7.5.1899, St Peter and St Paul Church, Lavenham, Suffolk.  [8] For details of 7^th Royal West Kent’s movements in 1918 see War Diary [WO 95/2040/2].  See also 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].  [9] 1939 Register.  [10] Militia Service Records 1806-1915 [TNA – Wo 96].  [11] Register of the Court of Sudbury [BB508/1/16].  [12] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Silver War Badge N^o. B5880 [WO 329], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [13] Militia Service Records 1806-1915 [TNA – Wo 96].  [14] Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [15] British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 and Commonwealth War Grave Commission.