Selected Biographies

Poulter, Albert Edward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 21.5.1901.[1]  Parents: George Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) and Minnie Elizabeth [née Andrews] (Crinoline Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Charles George Poulter [b1895] and Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898]; also, nephew of Charles Poulter [b1870] and cousin of Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911].  Home: Liston Lane, Long Melford (1911), 82 Church Road, Bexleyheath, Kent (1939) to [1964].  Occupation: Foreman Service Layer of Gas Services (1939).  Married: Ellen May Queenie Rump in 1920.  Service Record: Albert served as a Steward in the Merchant Navy during the First World War, being discharged in 1919 and later issued with War medals.  He was serving in the Mercantile Marine in 1922.[2]  Died: Bexleyheath, Kent on 27.4.1964.[3]

Poulter, Alfred Frederick ‘Fred’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 21.12.1898.[4]  Parents: George Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) and Minnie Elizabeth [née Andrews] (Crinoline Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Charles George Poulter [b1895] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901]; also, nephew of Charles Poulter [b1870] and cousin of Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911].  Home: Liston Lane, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 68 Mellish Street, Poplar, London [1918 to 1928], 4 Tobago Street, Poplar [1949 to 1958].[5]  Occupation: Merchant Seaman.  Service Record: Fred served as an Assistant Steward in the Merchant Navy, being later issued with First World War medals, receiving his discharge in 1921, by which time he is listed as a Cook.[6]  Died: The Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich, London on 19.9.1958.

Poulter, Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 11.2.1870.[7]  Parents: Robert Poulter (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Hannah [née Whittle].  Family Connections: Father to Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911]; also, uncle of Charles George Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: The Green, Long Melford (1871 and 1881), Hall Street, Long Melford (1891), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901) to [1942].  Occupation: Coconut Mat Trimmer (1891 to 1911), retired Gardener (1939).  Married: Ellen Matilda Downey in 1892.  Service Record: Charles enlisted in 1889 with the Rifle Brigade, being discharged after only two days.[8]  It is not known if he saw service during the First World War as no definitive record has been found, however a newspaper article of 1942 suggests he served with the Suffolk Regiment.[9]

Poulter, Charles George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.12.1895.[10]  Parents: George Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) and Minnie Elizabeth [née Andrews] (Crinoline Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901]; also, nephew of Charles Poulter [b1870] and cousin of Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911].  Home: Liston Lane, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 68 Mellish Street, Millwall, London [1918 to 1921], 31 Campden House, Peel Street, Kensington, London [1921 and 1926], 38 Dowsett Road, Tottenham, London [1928 to 1939], 216 Parsonage Lane, Enfield, Middlesex [1945 to 1962].[11]  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Contractor’s Clerk [1959].[12]  Married: Jessie Florence Davies in 1920.  Service Record: Charles enlisted as Rfn.1957 with 1/17^th [County of London] Battalion [Poplar and Stepney Rifles], London Regiment, posted to the France on 9.3.1915 as part of 141^st Brigade, 47^th [2^nd London] Division.  During his time with the Battalion, it saw action at the Battles of Loos in September 1915 and on the Somme in the following year.  By 1917 Rifleman Poulter had risen to the rank of Sergeant and been recommended for a commission.  On 26.6.1917 he joined 4^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment as a Second Lieutenant, returning to the Western Front attached to ‘C’ Company, 7^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks as part of 35^th Brigade, 12^th [Eastern] Division.  The only major actions undertaken by Poulter during his brief time with the Battalion was at the Battle of Cambrai on 20.11.1917, and the devastating German counter-offensive ten days later.  The official regimental history had the following to say about the surprise enemy attack: Early in the morning of November 30 the hostile artillery became very active, and almost before the battalion had had time to stand-to Germans in enormous masses swarmed round the flanks of the division, attacking from all sides.  At the same time numbers of low-flying aeroplanes wheeled about overhead firing machine-guns and dropping bombs.  Men banded themselves together offering such resistance as lay in their power.  By the time the remnants of the Battalion had extricated themselves from the chaos and regrouped, 230 of their comrades lay dead, wounded, or were listed missing.  Second Lieutenant Poulter and a handful of others were among this latter group that was captured at Gonnelieu and sent to the Prisoner of War camp at the Rhineland city of Karlsruhe.  In the New Year Charles had been moved north to Heidelberg and by 12.2.1918 was incarcerated at Saarbrücken, where he stayed until the end of the War.  He was repatriated by way of Rotterdam to Hull, arriving in England of 3.12.1918, receiving a Lieutenant’s commission on 27.12.1918.  Charles Poulter continued his service with the Suffolk Regiment into the Second World War, transferring to the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1944.  In August 1946 he relinquished his commission, being granted the honorary rank of Major.[13]  Died: Enfield, Middlesex on 10.7.1962.[14]

Poulter, Clifford Cyril – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 6.8.1908.[15]  Parents: Parents: Charles Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) [see above for military record] and Ellen Matilda [née Downey].  Family Connections: Brother to Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911]; also, cousin of George Charles Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1911 to 1921), 45 Whitehaven Street, Marylebone, London (1939).  Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker [1926], Painter and Decorator (1939).  Married: Frances Ann Smith in 1950.  Service Record: Clifford enlisted on 2.6.1926 as Gnr.770910 with the Royal Artillery, receiving his discharge in September 1927.   A newspaper article of 1942 suggests that he also saw service during the Second World War.[16]  Died: Camden, London in 1993.

Poulter, Gordon – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 12.5.1911.  Parents: Charles Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) [see above for military record] and Ellen Matilda [née Downey].  Family Connections: Brother to Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908] and Russell Poulter [b1911]; also, cousin of George Charles Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1921), Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex [1942].  Married: Daisy Annie Cattermole in 1938.  Service Record: Gordon was a Private with the Essex Regiment.  He was captured in Italy in 1942 but managed to escape to Switzerland.[17]  Died: Colchester, Essex in 1979.

Poulter, Jack – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.3.1906.[18]  Parents: Charles Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) [see above for military record] and Ellen Matilda [née Downey].  Family Connections: Brother to Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Polter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911]; also, cousin of George Charles Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1911 to 1921), 46 High Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Plaiter for George Whittle, Mat Manufacturer (1921), General Labourer for the Air Ministry (1939).  Married: Margaret A. Woodgate in 1933.  Service Record: In 1939 Jack was on the Army Reserve as Pte.5823585 with the Suffolk Regiment, which is confirmed by a newspaper article of 1942.[19]

Poulter, Reginald Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 28.11.1897.[20]  Parents: Charles Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) [see above for military record] and Ellen Matilda [née Downey].  Family Connections: Brother to Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911]; also, cousin of George Charles Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: Smaley Meadow, Long Melford [1898], St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), 6 Commercial Road, St Ebbes, Oxford, Oxfordshire (1921), 109 Friars Street, St Ebbes (1939) to [1961].  Occupation: Coir Yarn Winder (1911), Metal Polisher at Morris Motors (1921 to 1939).  Married: Dora Gladys Miller in 1923.  Service Record: Reginald enlisted on 4.11.1914 as Pte.5190 with 2/5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring to 1/4^th Battalion, Suffolks, posted briefly to France from 3.12.1916 as part of 98^th Brigade, 33^rd Division.  He was invalided to England on 1.1.1917 suffering from trench foot, transferring on 2.6.1917 to 2/5^th Battalion, Cameronians [Scottish Rifles], then on 24.2.1918 as Pte.376768 to 1/10^th [Cyclist] Battalion, The Royal Scots [Lothian Regiment].  He is believed spent time in Ireland before returning to the Western Front on 3.7.1918 where he joined ‘C’ Company, 11^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Scots as part of 27^th Brigade, 9^th [Scottish] Division.  Barely a month had passed when he fell ill and was invalided to England, where he remained until his discharge in March 1919, having been diagnosed as a chronic carrier of amoebic dysentery.[21]  Died: Oxford, Oxfordshire on 2.4.1961.[22]

Poulter, Russell – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 12.5.1911.  Parents: Charles Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) [see above for military record] and Ellen Matilda [née Downey].  Family Connections: Brother to Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Stanley Edward Poulter [b1901], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908] and Gordon Poulter [b1911]; also, cousin of George Charles Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1921), Kirby Cross, Essex [1942].  Married: Doris I. Airey in 1937.  Service Record: Russell saw service during the Second World War although his unit is unknown.  By 1942 he held the rank of Corporal when he was listed as missing in action while stationed in North Africa.[23]  It is possible that he is the R. Poulter serving as Sgt.859512 with the Royal Artillery who was held in Stalag IV-B at Mühlberg in Saxony.  Died: Colchester, Essex in 1993.

Poulter, Stanley Edward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.4.1901.[24]  Parents: Charles Poulter (Coconut Mat Maker) [see above for military record] and Ellen Matilda [née Downey].  Family Connections: Brother to Reginald Charles Poulter [b1897], Jack Poulter [b1906], Clifford Cyril Poulter [b1908], Russell Poulter [b1911] and Gordon Poulter [b1911]; also, cousin of George Charles Poulter [b1895], Alfred Frederick Poulter [b1898] and Albert Edward Poulter [b1901].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1911), 30 Stratford Street, Millwall, London [1921], 30 Strafford Street, Millwall [1927], 199 West Ferry Road, Millwall [1929].[25]  Service Record: Stanley joined the Merchant Navy as a Steward in 1918 on the SS Gambia of the Elder Dempster Steamship Company, admitted to the Dreadnaught Seamen’s Hospital in 1923.[26]  A newspaper article of 1942 suggests that he saw service during the Second World War.[27]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from Admission Register 27.6.1905, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford. [2] For Albert’s Merchant Navy Identity Certificate see Board of Trade Record [BT 351/1/114118]. [3] National Probate Calendar.  [4] Date of birth from Admission Register 2.1.1908, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford.  The birth date on his Board of Trade Identity Card in 1919, is recorded as 23.12.1898. [5] Some addresses taken from the Electoral Roll.  [6] Registry of Shipping and Seaman: Register of Seaman [BT 349/22/42/224210 and BT 350/20/83/208330] and Registry of Shipping and Seaman: Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals and the British War Medal [BT 351/1/114119].  [7] Baptism Register 1.5.1870, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [8] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97].  [9] ‘Twins in Middle East’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press and Post 15.8.1942.  [10] Baptism Register 6.9.1896, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [11] Some address taken from Electoral Roll. [12] Occupation taken from his brother Alfred Poulter’s entry in the National Probate Calendar of 1959. [13] For details of 1/17^th London’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2737/1].  For those of 7^th Suffolk’s see War Diary [WO 95/1852/3] and Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. Murphy The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], p.232-37, which mentions Poulter by name.  Charles Poulter’s medals were auctioned in 2017 by Spink of London for £250.  For notification of his commission and other official announcements see the following Supplements to the London Gazette: 17.4.1919, p.5024, 13.10.1944, p.4722 and 20.8.1946, p.4172.  For his Prisoner of War Record see International Committee of the Red Cross [file refs: PA17318, PA18408, PA19089, R52254 and R53542], 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 of 1962.  [15] 1939 Register.  [16] ‘Twins in Middle East’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press and Post 15.8.1942.  [17] ‘Twins in Middle East’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press and Post 15.8.1942.  [18] 1939 Register.  [19] 1939 Register and ‘Twins in Middle East’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press and Post 15.8.1942.  [20] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.1.1898, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford.  The 1939 Register for Oxford, Oxfordshire however, records his birth date as 25.11.1897. [21] For details of 1/4^th Suffolks and 11^th Royal Scots movements in France see War Diaries [WO 95/2427/2] and [WO 95/3025/10].  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]. [22] National Probate Calendar.  [23] ‘Twins in Middle East’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press and Post 15.8.1942.  [24] Date of birth taken from his Board of Trade Record, however, the Admission Register of 4.4.1905 for St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford records his birth date as 6.4.1901.  [25] Some addresses from the Electoral Roll.  [26] Board of Trade Record [BT 350/20/83/208335].  [27] ‘Twins in Middle East’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press and Post 15.8.1942.