Selected Biographies

Medcalf, Alfred – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1848.  Parents: William Medcalf (Proprietor of the George Inn, Long Melford) and Sarah Dixey [née Wilson].  Family Connections: Father to William Samuel Medcalf [b1877], Alfred Charles George Medcalf [b1888] and Sydney Phillip Medcalf [b1889]; also, nephew of James Medcalf [b1790] and brother-in-law of Frederick John Brockwell [b1854].  Home: George Inn, Hall Street, Long Melford (1851 to 1861), Cavalry Barracks, Chapeltown Road, Leeds, Yorkshire (1871), Cavalry Barracks, Fulford Road, York, Yorkshire (1881), 1 Archibald Road, Harold Wood, Essex (1911), Hall Street, Soham, Cambridgeshire (1921).  Occupation: Labourer [1873], Stockbroker’s Clerk (1911).  Married: Sarah Ann Stern Catherall in 1876.  Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1866 with 5^th Dragoon Guards, re-enlisting in 1873 as Tpr.1215 with 16^th [Queen’s] Lancers, being posted to India from 1873 to 1877.  He returned to England and was transferred to the Shropshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1881 where he continued until his discharge in December 1894.[1]  Died: Soham, Cambridgeshire in 1921.

Medcalf, Alfred Charles George – Born: Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 6.6.1888.[2]  Parents: Alfred Medcalf of Long Melford (Labourer) [see above for details] and Sarah Ann Steen [née Catherall].  Family Connections: Brother to William Samuel Medcalf [b1877] and Sydney Phillip Medcalf [b1889].  Home: 80 Stafford Road, East Ham, Essex [1905], Cavalry Barracks, Woolwich Common, Kent (1911), Church Road, Harling, Norfolk [1915], Bridge Street, Carbrooke, Norfolk (1921), Knoll House, Hindringham, Norfolk (1939) to [1963].  Occupation: Labourer [1905], Lancer (1911), Police Constable (1921), retired Police Constable (1939).  Married: Gladys Esther May Saintly [d1917] in 1913 and Isabella Howe in 1919.  Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1905 as Pte.5393 with 5^th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers transferring shortly after to his father’s regiment, 16^th [Queen’s] Lancers as Pte. L/13172.  The Lancers were posted to France on 18.8.1914 as part of 3^rd Cavalry Brigade, 1^st Cavalry Division and saw action at the Battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne and Ypres in 1914.  Lance Corporal Medcalf was placed on the Army Reserve in January 1919.[3]  Died: Norwich, Norfolk on 28.2.1963.[4]

Medcalf, Edwin Ernest – Born: Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire on 28.4.1880.[5]  Parents: Mark Medcalf of Long Melford (Gamekeeper) and Matilda Charlotte [née Hume].  Home: Pollards Wood, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire (1881), The Shop, Ousden, Cambridgeshire (1911), 2 Prospect Avenue, Ruskin Road, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex (1921), 5 Poley Road, Corringham, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Dock Labourer (1921), Butcher’s Assistant (1939).  Married: Alice Mary Hammond in 1919.  Service Record: Edwin was conscripted on 7.12.1915 as Gnr.189209 with 3^rd Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.  He was posted to Salonika where he was injured by gas poisoning, being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 19.11.1918.[6]  Died: Thurrock, Essex in 1955.

Medcalf, James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.2.1790.[7]  Parents: Abraham Medcalf (Labourer) and Elizabeth [née Forster].  Family Connections: Uncle of Alfred Medcalf [b1848].  Home: Dove Yard, Northfleet, Kent (1841 to 1851), Chelsea Hospital, London (1861).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1841 to 1851).  Married: Susannah Jolly in 1808, Sarah Bagshaw in 1814 and Sarah Ware in 1832.  Service Record: James enlisted as a Driver with the Royal Artillery in 1806.  He was posted to Portugal and saw action during the Peninsula Campaign at the Battles of San Sebastián and Vitoria in 1813.  On 18.6.1815 he was part of Captain-Commissary William Humphrey’s Horse Artillery at Waterloo and as a member of ‘H’ Troop had been tasked with supporting the defence of Hougoumont against repeated French attacks.  Medcalf received his discharge in 1816 probably as part of the peacetime reduction following the defeat and exile of Napoleon Bonaparte.[8]  Died: Chelsea Hospital, London in 1869.[9]

Medcalf, Sydney Phillip – Born: Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 13.7.1889.  Parents: Alfred Medcalf of Long Melford (Labourer) [see above for details] and Sarah Ann Steen [née Catherall].  Family Connections: Brother to William Samuel Medcalf [b1877] and Alfred Charles George Medcalf [b1888].  Home: Emigrated to Australia before the First World War.  Occupation: Milkman [1905], Fireman [1912].  Married: Isabella Richings in 1913.  Service Record: Sydney enlisted in 1905 with the Royal Field Artillery, transferring in 1907 as Tpr.790 to 16^th [Queens] Lancers, where his brother and father were already serving.  He was placed on the Army Reserve from 1912 to 1915.[10]

Medcalf, William Samuel – Born: Bangalore, India on 24.2.1877.[11]  Parents: Alfred Medcalf of Long Melford (Labourer) [see above for details] and Sarah Ann Steen [née Catherall].  Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Charles George Medcalf [b1888] and Sydney Phillip Medcalf [b1889].  Home: 99 Priory Road, Croydon, Surrey (1911).  Occupation: Boiler Foreman (1911).  Married: Amy Dorothea Ashley in 1902.  Service Record: William enlisted in Shrewsbury on 22.8.1891 as Tpr.3734 with 2^nd Dragoon Guards, being posted to India and Egypt, receiving his discharge in 1895 as ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier’.[12]  During the First World War he enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps.  Died: Croydon, Surrey in 1918.

Related Biography

Brockwell, Frederick John – Born: Cavendish, Suffolk on 24.5.1853.[13]  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]; also, brother-in-law of Alfred Medcalf [b1848].  Home: Chapel Street, Cavendish, Suffolk (1861 and 1871),[14] Hall Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1921).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1871), Carpenter (1881 to 1901), Master Carpenter (1911 to 1921), Builder [1916].[15]  Married: Louisa Medcalf in 1873.  Service Record: Frederick was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[16]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1927.

Notes – [1] Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913 [WO 97].  [2] 1939 Register.  [3] 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].  [4] National Probate Calendar.  [5] 1939 Register.  [6] [WO 329 – Silver War Badge ref: B46964], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [7] Baptism Register 12.3.1790, Independent Chapel for Dissenting Protestants, Hall Street, Long Melford.  [8] Royal Hospital Chelsea: Admission Books, Registers, and Papers 1702-1876 [WO 23].  [9] My thanks to Anne Grimshaw for her research and for bringing this man to my attention.  [10] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  My thanks to Pamela Andre for sharing this image.  [11] Madras ecclesiastical records, omissions and corrections, 1777-1884.  [12] Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913 [WO 97].  [13] Baptism Register 11.6.1853, St Marys Church, Cavendish, Suffolk.  [14] Recorded as John Brockwell on the UK Census of 1861 and 1871.  [15] His occupation is given in Kelly’s Directory Suffolk 1916.  [16] For Training Corps articles see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915 and 29.12.1915.