Selected Biographies

Maxim, Bennett George – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 28.2.1891. Parents: Walter Maxim (Carpenter) and Arethusa [née Glazin].  Family Connections: Brother to Walter Bennett Maxim [b1888] and Willoughby Farrance Maxim [b1893].  Home: Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk (1891 to 1911).  Occupation: Butcher (1911), Carter on Farm [1916].  Service Record: Bennett was conscripted on 6.4.1916 as Pte.G/24450 with 1^st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, being posted to France on 11.7.1916 where he transferred to 9^th [Service] Battalion, as part of 72^nd Brigade, 24^th Division and seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 at the Battles of Delville Wood and Guillemont.  On 18.9.1916 he was transferred in the field to 1^st Battalion, Queen’s [Royal West Surrey Regiment], as part of 100^th Brigade, 33^rd Division still in the Somme valley.  In March 1917 he was returned to England, to the Regimental Depot at Stoughton Barracks near Guildford, receiving his discharge in December as being ‘no longer physically fit for War Service’.[1]   Died: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk on 31.7.1921.  Bennett is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St Peter and St Paul Church in Clare, and on the village’s War Memorial.

Maxim, Frederick – Born: Foxearth, Essex on 9.10.1876.[2] Parents: Robert Maxim (Agricultural Labourer) and Ann [née Piper].  Family Connections: Brother to Harry Maxim [b1886].  Home: Western End, Foxearth, Essex (1881 to 1891), 57 Farm Lane, Fulham, London (1901 to 1911), The Street, Foxearth (1921), 4 Council Houses, Huntsmans Road, Halstead, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891), Brewer’s Labourer (1901), Carman (1911), Roadman Labourer (1921 to 1939). Married: Rosalind Gibbins in 1919.  Service Record: Frederick was conscripted on 2.3.1916 and mobilized on 13.4.1917 as Pte.328313 with 1^st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment.  In December he was transferred as Pte.26750 to the Suffolk Regiment, and in February 1918 as Pte.529638 to 691^st [Agricultural] Company], Labour Corps.[3]  Died: Foxearth, Essex on 18.2.1941.[4]

Maxim, Harry – Born: Foxearth, Essex on 30.12.1886.[5] Parents: Robert Maxim (Agricultural Labourer) and Ann [née Piper].  Family Connections: Brother to Frederick Maxim [b1876]: also, brother-in-law of Alfred John Arbon [b1888] and Herbert Frederick Daniel Arbon [b1894].  Home: Western End, Foxearth, Essex (1891 to 1901), 106 Halford Road, Fulham, London (1911), Fern Hill Hospital, 130 Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk (1921), 65 Church Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901), General Labourer (1911), Labourer for E. Baker, Millers of Great Cornard, Suffolk (1921), Sack Machinist (1939).  Married: Florence Elizabeth Sophia Arbon in 1915.  Service Record: Harry served from 4.12.1915 to 22.11.1919 as Pte.33647 with 7^th [Service] Battalion, The Border Regiment.  He was posted to France as part of 51^st Brigade, 17^th [Northern] Division and saw action during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and at Passchendaele in 1917 and was later wounded.[6]  Died: St Leonards Hospital, Sudbury, Suffolk on 16.8.1969.[7]

Maxim, Joseph ‘Joe’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 29.1.1864.[8]  Parent: William Maxim of Cavendish, Suffolk (Shepherd) and Ellen [née Simpson] (Horsehair Seating Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Alfred Ambrose [b1878].  Home: Plum Street, Glemsford (1871), 3 New Cut, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), Foxearth Mill, Foxearth, Essex (1901), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1911), Hall Street, Long Melford [1915], Little St Marys/St Marys Street, Long Melford [1918] to (1939).  Occupation: General Labourer (1891), Timekeeper at Flax Works (1901), Bricklayer’s Labourer (1911), [1915], Drug Grinder for Stafford Allen & Sons (1921), retired (1939).  Married: Alice Mary Ambrose in 1896.  Service Record: Joe was a member of 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment before enlisting in 1884 as Gnr.41663 with the Royal Artillery until his discharge in 1896.  He may have attested again on 21.6.1915 as Pte.T4/12351 with the Horse Transport section of the Army Service Corps.  If this assumption is correct then he was posted to France from 1.7.1915 as a Cook, being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged due to sickness on 29.9.1918.[9]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1943.

Maxim, Walter Bennett – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 9.3.1888.[10] Parents: Walter Maxim (Carpenter) and Arethusa [née Glazin].  Family Connections: Brother to Bennett George Maxim [b1891] and Willoughby Farrance Maxim [b1893]; also, son-in-law of Frederick John Brockwell [b1854] and cousin of Farrance Thomas Glazin [b1892] both of Long Melford.  Home: Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk (1891 to 1901), 2 Avon Terrace, Mill Lane, Witham, Essex (1911) to [1915], 119 Rayne Road, Braintree, Essex (1921), 62 Silver Street, Witham, Essex (1939). Occupation: Sadler (1911) to [1915], out of work Steel Window Fitter formally with Crittall Manufacturing Co. Ltd (1921), Inspector of Metal Windows at Crittalls (1939). Married: Beatrice Brockwell of Long Melford in 1919. Service Record: Walter was conscripted on 26.11.1915 as Pte.2582 with the Essex Yeomanry, being posted as Pte.33895 to 11^th [Service] Battalion, Essex Regiment in France on 14.12.1916, as part of 18^th Brigade, 6^th Division.  In August 1917 his unit saw action at the Battle of Hill 70 and at the Battle of Cambrai in the following November.  He was captured at Monchy during the Battle of St Quentin on 22.3.1918, the second day of the German Spring Offensive, and was held at Freidrichsfeld POW Camp until his repatriation in December 1918.[11] Died: Braintree, Essex in 1961.

Maxim, Willoughby Farrance – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 13.8.1893.[12] Parents: Walter Maxim (Carpenter) and Arethusa [née Glazin].  Family Connections: Brother to Walter Bennett Maxim [b1888] and Bennett George Maxim [b1891].  Home: Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk (1901 to 1939), High Street, Clare [1960].  Occupation: Cycle Repairer (1911), Cycle and Motor Mechanic (1921), Master Cycle and Wireless Engineer (1939).  Married: Emma Watson in 1920.  Service Record: Willoughby was conscripted as Pte.42625 with 12^th [Service] Battalion, The Prince of Wales’s Own [West Yorkshire Regiment].  This unit saw action on numerous occasions while under the command of 9^th Brigade, 3^rd Division when it was stationed on the Western Front, including the Battles of the Somme in 1916 and the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917.  Maxim also served with 19^th [Reserve] Battalion and 2/5^th Battalion, receiving his discharge in 1919.[13]  Died: Clare, Suffolk on 13.1.1960.[14]

Related Biographies

Arbon, Alfred John – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk in 1888.  Parents: Arthur Alfred Arbon (Brewer’s Labourer) and Elizabeth [née Sparkes].  Family Connections: Brother to Herbert Frederick Daniel Arbon [b1894].  Home: Huntsmans Lane, Foxearth, Essex (1891), Foxearth Street Cottage, The Street, Foxearth (1901, 1911), Cavendish Road, Glemsford, Suffolk [1915], The Street, Foxearth [1918].  Occupation: Backhouse Boy (1901), Road Man Labourer (1911), Agricultural Labourer [1915].  Married: Jessie Maria Golding in 1915.  Service Record: Alfred enlisted on 10.9.1914 as Pte.1687 being called for active service on 18.2.1915 as Pte.M2/035385 with one of the Mechanical Transport Companies of 19^th Divisional Supply Train, Army Service Corps.  He was posted the Western Front on 16.7.1915, delivering vital supplies along the front line when he was killed by enemy shell fire near St Waast on 8.11.1918.[15]  Died: Alfred is buried in Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-au-Bois, Nord, France [grave ref: II.D.16].  He was well regarded by his senior officers whose glowing comments are recorded in De Ruvigney’s Roll of Honour and is further commemorated on a memorial plaque inside St Peter and St Paul Church, Foxearth, and on the war memorial in the nearby churchyard.[16]

Arbon, Herbert Frederick Daniel – Born: Foxearth, Essex on 12.12.1894.[17]  Parents: Arthur Alfred Arbon (Brewer’s Labourer) and Elizabeth [née Sparkes].  Family Connections: Brother to Alfred John Arbon [b1888].  Home: Foxearth Street Cottage, The Street, Foxearth, Essex (1901, 1911), The Street, Foxearth [1918], Lower Hall, Foxearth [1919], The Street, Foxearth [1921, 1922].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Packer [1915].  Married: Alice Martin in 1921.  Service Record: Herbert enlisted on 2.11.1915 as Pte.PO1169 with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, after only two months he was diagnosed with Chorioretinitis and invalided out of the service, being unfit for further duty.[18]  He is recorded on a memorial plaque inside St Peter and St Paul Church, Foxearth, Essex.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1932.

Brockwell, Frederick John – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk on 24.5.1853.[19] Parents: John Brockwell (Agricultural Labourer) and Frances ‘Fanny’ [née Reeve]. Family Connections: Father-in-law of William Syer Cracknell [b1878], Arthur Stanley Tanner [b1876], Walter Bennett Maxim [b1888] and Arthur Kemble Jonas [b1894]. Home: Chapel Street, Cavendish, Suffolk (1861 and 1871),[20] Hall Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1921). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1871), Carpenter (1881 to 1901), Master Carpenter (1911 to 1921), Builder [1916].[21] Married: Louisa Medcalf in 1873. Service Record: Frederick was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[22] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1927.

Glazin, Farrance Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.7.1892.[23]  Parents: Farrance Glazin (Carpenter) and Elizabeth Mary [née Sore].  Family Connections: Cousin of Walter Bennett Maxim [b1888] and brother-in-law of Sidney Lancelot Reeve [b1900].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901) to [1976].  Occupation: Clerk for Clement Theobald and Son, Builders of Long Melford (1911), Builder’s Manager Estimation and General Clerk (1939).  Married: Kate Amelia Lenney in 1915.  Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in 1916 his employer Clement Theobald applied for an exemption on Farrance Glazin’s behalf.  Theobald argued that Glazin was indispensable to the day-to-day management of the business.  He further argued that as he had lost half of his workforce already, the loss of one more would ‘cripple him’.  The Tribunal was not persuaded, and the application was refused.[24]  Farrance was conscripted on 14.9.1916 as Aircraft Mechanic N^o. F20666 with the Royal Naval Air Service and posted to South Shields.  This air station at the mouth of the Tyne, was used primarily for the maintenance and re-fuelling of seaplanes.  On 1.4.1918 he was transferred as an Aero Rigger to the Royal Air Force, being placed on the RAF Reserve in February 1919 and receiving his discharge in 1920.[25]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 23.8.1976.[26]

Notes – [1] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [2] 1939 Register. [3] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [4] Date of death taken from his grave marker in Saints Peter and Paul Church, Foxearth. [5] 1939 Register. [6] [WO 329 Silver War Badge ref: B347605], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [7] National Probate Calendar. [8] 1939 Register for Long Melford. [9] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1896, Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: B19095] which suggests a year of birth as 1870, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [10] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register. [11] For military details see his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and International Committee of the Red Cross [refs: PA30717, PA41643 and R53350]. [12] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register. [13] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [14] National Probate Calendar. [15] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [16] See his entry in de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-18, Vol. V, p.4, also his Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref:839541]. [17] Date of birth from his RM Record. [18] Royal Marines: Registers of Service [ADM 159/2051169 & ADM 157/2674/4] and Royal Navy Medal and Award Rolls [ADM 171/167]. [19] Baptism Register 11.6.1853, St Marys Church, Cavendish, Suffolk. [20] Recorded as John Brockwell on the UK Census of 1861 and 1871. [21] His occupation is given in Kelly’s Directory Suffolk 1916. [22] For Training Corps articles see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915 and 29.12.1915. [23] Date of birth from Admission Register 9.1.1899, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford, and confirmed by his Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/601/20666]. [24] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 5.4.1916. [25] Medal and Award Rolls [ADM 171/202]. [26] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.