Selected Biographies

Prigg, Alfred Edward – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk on 25.3.1900.[1]  Parents: Edward Thomas Prigg of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) and Florence Selina and [née Coote].  Family Connections: Brother to Edward Thomas Prigg [b1901] and half-brother of Albert Charles Coote [b1898]; also, cousin of Aubrey William Prigg [b1891] and Bertie Horace Prigg [b1900].  Home: Back Meadow, Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1911 to 1921), 2 Back Lane, Long Melford (1939), 7 Cordell Road, Long Melford [1969].  Occupation: Labourer at the Flax Factory (1921), Lorry Driver (1939).  Married: Florence Maud Hitchcock in 1930.  Service Record: Up to 1922 Alfred was serving as Pte.27068 with the Royal Sussex Regiment, re-enlisting in that year as Pte.6080858 in The Queen’s [Royal Surrey] Regiment.[2]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 12.1.1969.[3]

Prigg, Arthur William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 1.12.1880.[4]  Parents: James Prigg (Horsekeeper) and Harriett Maria [née Brown] (Dressmaker).  Family Connections: Brother to Oliver James Prigg [b1876] and Clement Edward Prigg [b1883]; also, uncle of George Oliver Prigg [b1903, cousin of Charles William Prigg [b1881], and brother-in-law of Henry Stewart Richold [b1874] and Frederick Sewell [b1893].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1891), lodging with David Baker (future Father-in-law) at the Newsagents, Tudor Road, Prittlewell, Essex (1901), 11 Broadway Market, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (1911), 79 Dalmatia Road, Southend-on-Sea (1939).  Occupation: Tobacconist Shop Assistant (1901), Tram Driver (1911), Unemployed Electrician (1939).  Married: Agnes Baker in 1901.  Service Record: Arthur was a member of ‘D’ Company, 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment before 1908.  He enlisted on 16.10.1914 as Spr.7937 with the Royal Engineers, being wrongly mobilised as Pte.22977 with 2/6^th Battalion, Essex Regiment and immediately transferred as A/Cpl.387937 to the Royal Engineers.[5]  Died: Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1951.

Prigg, Aubrey William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 15.6.1891.[6]  Parent: Harrietta Ann Prigg (General Servant, later Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Bertie Horace Prigg [b1900]; also, cousin of Alfred Edward Prigg [b1900] and Edward Thomas Prigg [b1900] and stepson of James Stanhope [b1885].  Home: Back Meadow, Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), St Marys Street/Little St Marys, Long Melford (1921 to 1939).  Occupation: General Labourer (1911), Labourer at the Long Melford Gas Works (1921), Chemical Worker for Stafford Allen and Sons, Distillers of Herbal Oils (1939).  Service Record: Aubrey enlisted in October 1914 as Pte.2508 with 1/5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli from 10.8.1915 as part of 153^rd Brigade, 54^th [East Anglian] Division.  Within hours of landing his unit was moved forward into frontline trenches on the south face of a steep and rocky hill called Karakol Dagh.  At dawn two days later the Suffolks and the three other untested battalions of 163^rd Brigade were ordered to secure the heights to the east.  Advancing nearly a mile through a hail of Turkish artillery and machine gun fire, by the end of the day the enemy had been held at bay and a secure forward defence line established.  When Bertie and the other Melford men were finally relieved by fresh troops after three gruelling days, they were found in a sorry state, having baked under the searing heat they had run desperately short of drinking water and been plagued by swarms of flies attracted by the dead and dying around them. When the Roll was called it was found the Suffolks alone had lost 186 men either dead or wounded with a further 150 laid low by dysentery.  After four months of grinding stalemate the British Government decided to evacuate all Allied troops to Egypt.  Prigg was transferred as Pte.203873 to 1/4^th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment for service in Mesopotamia, as part of 37^th Indian Infantry Brigade, 14^th Indian Division.  In February 1917 Aubrey’s unit together with a battalion of Ghurkhas assaulted Turkish positions south of Kut.  Whilst the attack successfully dislodged the Ottoman forces, it came at a terrible price.  Of the 400 Devonshires who entered the fray, over half were either killed or wounded.  Although he may have written it earlier, a poem sent to his mother entitled ‘A Letter to dear old England’, was published in a local newspaper in July 1917.  Aubrey’s unit remained in the Middle East for two more years, where it was engaged in road building and guarding prisoners of war.  He returned to England in March 1919, receiving his discharge a month later.[7]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1967.

Prigg, Bertie Horace – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk 7.4.1900.[8]  Parent: Harriett Ann Prigg (General Servant, later Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Brother to Aubrey William Prigg [b1891]; also, cousin of Alfred Edward Prigg [b1900] and Edward Thomas Prigg [b1900] and James Stanhope [b1885].  Home: Back Meadow, Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), 19 Salisbury Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk (1921), London Road South, Lowestoft (1939) to [1973].  Occupation: Hairdresser (1921 to 1939).[9]  Married: Marjorie Rosamund Ivy Crews in 1930 and Dorothy Ethel Jones Dunsdon in 1946.  Service Record: Bertie was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[10]  Died: Lowestoft, Suffolk on 22.11.1973.[11]

Prigg, Charles William [MM] – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 11.5.1881.[12]  Parents: Alfred Prigg (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann ‘Polly’ [née Lee].  Family Connections: Cousin of Oliver James Prigg [b1875], Arthur William Prigg [b1880] and Clement Edward Prigg [b1883].  Home: St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), lodging with Harry Lee (Uncle) at 32 Wolsey Road, Islington, London (1901), 45 Mayville Street, Woodville Road, Islington (1911), 10 Springfield Road, Stoke Newington, London [1917].  Occupation: Drapery Warehouseman (1901 and 1911).  Married: Jane Roberts in 1909.  Service Record: Charles enlisted on 2.9.1914 as Pte.13310 with 8^th [Service] Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, being posted to France from 25.7.1915 as part of 53^rd Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division.  He saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 at Montauban and Delville Wood in July; Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt in September and at Regina Trench in October.  He was awarded the Military Medal, which was confirmed in January 1917 and promoted to Lance Corporal shortly after.[13]  Died: Private Prigg was killed in action on 15.10.1917 at Poelcappelle near Ypres.  The Battalion War Diary for that day records that the unit’s position was under a regular bombardment and that one enemy shell hit a pill box being used as the Regimental Aid Post.  Two men were killed, a medical orderly and a stretcher-bearer.  It is possible that Charles Prigg was acting in this latter role on the day of his death.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing [panel 34 to 35 and 162a], Zonnebeke, Belgium.[14]

Prigg, Clement Edward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.9.1883.[15]  Parents: James Prigg (Horsekeeper) and Harriett Maria [née Brown] (Dressmaker).  Family Connections: Brother to Oliver James Prigg [b1876] and Arthur William Prigg [b1880]; also, uncle of George Oliver Prigg [b1903, cousin of Charles William Prigg [b1881], and brother-in-law of Henry Stewart Richold [b1874] and Frederick Sewell [b1893].  Home: St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1891), Kinsale, Ireland (1911), 11 Herschell Road, Exeter, Devon (1921 to 1939).  Occupation: Soldier Groom (1911), Coalman for the London and Southwestern Railway Company (1921 to 1939).  Married: Florence Reed in 1912.  Service Record: Clement is thought to have enlisted some time in 1904 as Pte. L/8177 with 1^st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment serving in Ireland up to 1914.  He was posted to France from 16.8.1914 as part of 14^th Brigade, 5^th Division, seeing action at the Battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne in 1914.  He was later transferred to 2^nd Battalion, then to 9^th [Service] Battalion East Surreys, as part of 72^nd Brigade, 24^th Division.  Both the 1^st and 9^th Battalions seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916.[16]  Died: Exeter, Devon in 1962.

Prigg, Edward Thomas V. – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 13.11.1901.[17]  Parents: Edward Thomas Prigg of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) and Florence Selina and [née Coote].  Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Edward Prigg [b1900] and half-brother of Albert Charles Coote [b1898]; also, cousin of Aubrey William Prigg [b1891] and Bertie Horace Prigg [b1900].  Home: Back Meadow, Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1911 to 1921), Council Houses, Rough Common, Blean, Kent (1939).  Occupation: Labourer at the Flax Factory (1921).  Married: Emily Rose Bundock in 1922.  Service Record: Up to 1922 Edward was serving with 10^th [Prince of Wales’s Own] Hussars, re-enlisting in that year as Pte.529636 in the Royal Tank Corps.[18]  Died: Canterbury, Kent in 1975.

Prigg, George Oliver – Born: Maldon, Essex on 25.4.1903.[19]  Parents: Oliver James Prigg of Long Melford [see details below] and Lillian Alice [née Holmes].  Family Connections: Nephew of Arthur William Prigg [b1880] and Clement Edward Prigg [b1883].  Home: 25 Milton Road, Wealdstone, Middlesex (1911), 42 Herga Road, Wealdstone (1921), 261 Pinner Road, Harrow, Middlesex (1939).  Occupation: Coalman (1921), Lorry Driver and Coal Porter (1939).  Married: Ethel E. I. Swann in 1927.  Service Record: During the Second World War George was conscripted as Aircraftsman N^o.845043 with the Barrage Balloon Section of the Royal Air Force.[20]  Died: Harrow, Middlesex in 1985.

Prigg, Oliver James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 20.1.1876.[21]  Parents: James Prigg (Horsekeeper) and Harriett Maria [née Brown] (Dressmaker).  Family Connections: Father to George Oliver Prigg [b1903] and brother of Arthur William Prigg [b1880] and Clement Edwards Prigg [b1883]; also, cousin of Charles William Prigg [b1881] and brother-in-law of Henry Stewart Richold [b1874] and Frederick Sewell [b1893].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1891), Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex (1901), 25 Milton Road, Wealdstone, Middlesex (1911), 42 Herga Road, Wealdstone [1918 to 1936], 15 Bye Way, Wealdstone [1937] to (1939).  Occupation: Ostler (1891), Blacksmith (1901 to 1921), retired Blacksmith (1939).  Married: Lillian Alice Holmes in 1901.  Service Record: Oliver enlisted as Pte.MS/349 with the 72^nd [Mechanical Transport] Company, Army Service Corps, being posted to France from 23.9.1914 and attached to 2^nd Indian Cavalry Divisional Ammunition Park.  The Division saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916.[22]  Died: Hendon, Middlesex in 1942.

Prigg, William – Born: Great Cornard, Suffolk in 1843.  Parents: William Prigg (Farmer) and Hannah Hayward [née Smith].  Home: Kings Head Lane, Great Cornard, Suffolk (1851), Wells Hall, Great Cornard (1861), Cloggs Hall, Great Cornard (1871 and 1901), Tye Farm, Great Cornard (1881 and 1911).  Occupation: Farmer (1881) to [1917].  Service Record: William was a member of the Board of Guardians for the Sudbury Union Workhouse and the Melford Rural District Council before the First World War, a member of the Melford Military Service Tribunal from 1916 and sat on the following panels until his death in 1917: the Suffolk County Agricultural War Committee, the Sudbury War Agricultural Sub-Committee, the Melford War Agricultural Sub-Committee, and the South Suffolk National Service Committee.  Died: Great Cornard, Suffolk on 30.12.1917.[23]

Related Biographies

Coote, Albert Charles – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk on 10.11.1898.[24]  Parents: Florence Selina Coote (Coconut Mat Winder), married Edward E. Prigg (Farm Labourer) of Long Melford in 1901.  Family Connections: Half-brother to Alfred Edward Prigg [b1900] and Edward Thomas Prigg [b1901].  Home: 4 Overalls Yard, Sudbury, Suffolk [1898], 2 Laundry Gardens, Cross Street, Sudbury (1901), Smaley Meadow, Long Melford (1911).  Service Record: A member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915,[25] Albert was conscripted as Pte.21839 with 8^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring as L/Cpl.493903 to 1/13^th [County of London] [Princess Louise’s Kensington] Battalion, London Regiment and posted to France from 30.6.1916 as part of 168^th Brigade, 56^th [1/1^st London] Division.  His battalion saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and at the Battles of Arras in April and May 1917.[26]  Died: Albert was killed in action by shellfire on 4.5.1917 during the Third Battle of the Scarpe and is commemorated on the Special Memorial 66 at Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France and on the War Memorial in Long Melford.[27]

Richold, Henry ‘Harry’ Stewart – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.9.1874.[28]  Parents: Henry Richold (Plumber and Painter) and Ann Crawley [née Stewart].  Family Connections: Father to Harold Victor Richold [b1904] and cousin of Charles Richold [b1889] and Sidney Richold [b1886]; also, brother-in-law of Oliver James Prigg [b1875], Arthur William Prigg [b1880] and Clement Edward Prigg [b1883].  Home: Westgate Street/Lane, Long Melford (1881 to 1891), Rotten Row, Long Melford (1901), Chapel Green, Long Melford (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1921) to [1947].  Occupation: Blacksmith (1891), Plumber (1901), Plumber and Painter (1911), unable to work due to injury sustained during the Great War (1921), retired Handyman (1939).  Married: Jessie Theobald Prigg in 1899.  Service Record: Harry enlisted on 1.9.1914 Pte.9725 of 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  He was transferred to 8^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks and posted to the Western Front on 25.7.1915 as part of 53^rd Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division and seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and at the Third Battles of Ypres in the following year.[29]  He was later transferred as Sgt.441175 to 104^th Labour Company, Eastern Command Labour Corps.  Harry fell ill, possibly with influenza and was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 21.3.1918.[30]  He may also have been wounded during his period at the Front.[31]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1947.

Sewell, Frederick – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 5.2.1893.[32]  Parents: Robert Arthur Sewell (Clerk at George Whittle’s Coconut Matting Factory) and Mary Ann [née Ambrose].  Family Connections: Brother to Herbert Arthur Sewell [b1889] and Owen Charles Sewell [b1896]; also, brother-in-law of Oliver James Prigg [b1875], Arthur William Prigg [b1880] and Clement Edward Prigg [b1883].  Home: Aurora House, Hall Street, Long Melford (1901 to 1939).  Occupation: Cycle Repairer (1911), Cycle Agent and Cycle and Motor Repairer (1921), Motor Engineer and Proprietor (1939).  Married: Edith Hester Prigg in 1915.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record can be found for Frederick serving in the Regular Army during the First World War, he was a member of the Band of 5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, first with ‘C’ Company [Volunteers] and then with ‘D’ Company [Territorials] from 1908 to 1914 and beyond.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1959.

Stanhope, James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 19.4.1885.[33]  Parents: George Stanhope (Bricklayer) and Emma Jane [née Gridley].  Family Connections: Brother to John Stanhope [b1877] and brother-in-law of Cecil George Brooks [b1890]; also, stepfather of Aubrey Prigg [b1891] and Bertie Horace Prigg [b1900].  Home: High Street, Long Melford (1891 and 1901), Military Barracks in Egypt (1911), High Street, Long Melford [1914].  Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1901), Soldier [1902 to 1916].  Married: Harrietta Ann Prigg in 1915.  Service Record: James gave a false age when joining the army in 1902 being only 16, attesting as Pte.6050 of 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to India in 1905, Malta 1909 and Egypt in 1911, receiving his discharge in March 1914.  He was recalled to the Colours and transferred as Pte.3/9742 to 8^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks, posted to France from 25.7.1915 as part of 53^rd Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division, and seeing action on the Somme at the Battle of Delville Wood, which began on 15.7.1916.[34]  Died: Private Stanhope was killed in action on 21.7.1916 at Delville Wood and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme [pier and face 1c and 2a], Somme, France and on the War Memorial in Long Melford.[35]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Surrey Regimental Rolls for 1922.  [3] National Probate Calendar.  [4] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.2.1881, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. The 1939 Register for Southend-on-Sea, however, records his date of birth as 1.12.1879. [5] 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].  [6] Baptism Register 2.8.1891, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [7] For details of 1/5^th Suffolk’s involvement in the Gallipoli campaign see War Diary [WO 95/4325] also Capt. A. Fair [mc] and Capt. E. D. Wolton [compiled by] “The Suffolk Regiment”: the history of the 1/5^th Battalion [London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1923], pp.13-37.  For 1/4^th Devonshire’s involvement in the Mesopotamian campaign see War Diaries [WO 95/5030/2, WO 95/5180/3, WO 95/5018/1-2].  See also the entry for Bertie John Allen [b1886] for an account of the Suffolk’s first days after stepping ashore in Gallipoli.  For the text of his poem see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 27.6.1917, also quoted in full elsewhere in this volume.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [8] 1939 Register for Lowestoft in Suffolk. [9] Bertie is mentioned in Benjamin Britten’s Diary for 31.1.1931, when the young composer visits Prigg’s Barber Shop for a haircut. [10] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915.  [11] Register of 27.11.1973 for Great Yarmouth Crematorium [ref: 4657].  [12] Baptism Register 3.7.1881, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [13] For details of 8^th Norfolk’s movements during 1916 and 1917 see War Diary [WO 95/2040/1].  For notification of his Military Medal see Supplement to the London Gazette 5.1.1917, Issue N^o. 29893 p.387.  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].  [14] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 621193].  [15] Baptism Register 4.11.1883, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [16] The assumption that he enlisted as early as 1904 is based on his service number, which is contemporary with this date.  See http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/east-surrey-regiment-1st-2nd-battalions.html.  For details of the movements of the various East Surrey battalions mentioned, see War Diaries [WO 95/1563/1-4, WO 95/1579/1 and WO 95/4217 for 1^st Battalion] and [WO 95/2215/1 for 9^th Battalion].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [17] 1939 Register.  [18] Royal Tank Corps Record. [19] 1939 Register.  [20] 1939 Register.  [21] 1939 Register.  [22] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [23] National Probate Calendar.  [24] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 5.3.1899, St Gregorys Church, Sudbury, Suffolk. [25] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915. [26] For details of 1/13^th London’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2955/1-3].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [27] For notification of his death see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 4.7.1917, Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 474977].  [28] 1939 Register.  [29] For more information of Harry’s time at the Front see 8^th Suffolks War Diary [WO 97/2039].  [30] Silver War Badge [TNA – WO 329/356571] and Medal Roll [WO 329].  [31] See comments on his entry in the UK Census for 1921.   [32] 1939 Register.  [33] Baptism Register 7.6.1885, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [34] For details of 8^th Suffolk’s actions in July 1916 see War Diary [WO 95/2039/1-2], and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.165-68.  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].  [35] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 358391.