Selected Biographies

Laflin, Bertie William – Born: Barking, Suffolk on 26.8.1897.[1] Parents: Harry Archibald Laflin (Farmer) and Mabel Jane [née Flowerdew]. Family Connections: Brother to Norman Roland Laflin of Long Melford [b1916].  Home: Barking Tye, Suffolk (1901), Park Farm, Long Melford (1911), 1 Westgate Terrace, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1921), Blooms Hall, Upper Street, Stansfield, Suffolk [1939], Spring Hall, Stanstead, Suffolk [1959]. Occupation: Horseman on Park Farm, Long Melford [1916] to (1921), Farmer [1939].  Married: Eva May Crick in 1917. Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in October 1916 his father’s application for his exemption was refused.[2]  The only extant record in Bertie’s name records that he was already under arms as Pte.GS/29032 with 3^rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers [City of London] Regiment, serving in Salonika as part of 85^th Brigade, 29^th Division.  On 3.7.1918 Private Laflin was posted directly to France with his battalion, joining 149^th Brigade as part of 50^th [Northumberland] Division, seeing action at the Battle of St Quentin Canal at the end of September.  He returned to England on 7.10.1918.[3] Died: Newmarket General Hospital, Exning, Suffolk on 10.11.1959.[4]

Laflin, Norman Roland – Born: Long Melford on 11.9.1916.[5] Parents: Harry Archibald Laflin (Farmer) and Mabel Jane [née Flowerdew]. Family Connections: Brother to Bertie William Laflin [b1897]. Home: Park Farm, Long Melford [1916], Warehams, Stanstead, Suffolk (1939), 35 Stewart Avenue, Hornchurch, Essex [1965 to 2010].[6] Occupation: Lorry Driver (1939). Married: Phyllis Elizabeth Young in 1946. Service Record: Norman enlisted in 1940 as No.955479 with the Royal Air Force. Died: Romford, Essex in 2014.

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Melford Rural District, Suffolk. [2] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 11.10.1916. [3] See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [4] National Probate Calendar. [5] 1939 Register. [6] UK Census and Electoral Roll.