Selected Biographies

Pryke, Ernest Alfred – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 30.4.1887.[1]  Parents: Alfred Warren Pryke of Long Melford (Ostler) and Susan Eliza [née Ives].  Family Connections: Nephew of Harry William Pryke [b1873].  Home: Nethergate Street, Clare, Suffolk (1891 to 1901), 2 Chapel Street, Peterborough, Northamptonshire (1911), 6 Trinity Street, Peterborough [1913], 4 Albert Villas, Mill Hill Grove, Acton, Middlesex [1919] to (1939).  Occupation: Harness Maker’s Apprentice (1901), Saddler (1911), Saddler and Harness Maker (1921), Seedsman’s Shop Assistant (1939).  Married: Jessie Mary Steels in 1908.  Service Record: Ernest enlisted on 25.3.1913 as Gnr.4308 with 1/4^th East Anglian Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, being posted to France on 18.11.1915, then to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from 13.3.1916, transferring as Saddler/Cpl.891310 to 54^th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery.  This Division was heavily engaged in the Palestine Campaign of 1917/1918, seeing action at the Battles of Gaza and Jaffa in 1917 and the Battle of Sharon in September 1918.  Corporal Pryke received his discharge in July 1919.[2]  Died: Brent, London in 1966.

Pryke, Harry William – Born: Hitcham, Suffolk in 1873.  Parents: Robert Pryke of Little Waldingfield, Suffolk [Farm Bailiff] and Sarah [née Allen].  Family Connections: Uncle of Ernest Alfred Pryke of Long Melford [b1887].  Home: Haughton Hall Farm, Cavendish, Suffolk (1881 to 1911).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891), Horseman on Farm (1901 to 1911).  Married: Agnes Grace Byford Ince in 1905.  Service Record: Harry was conscripted after 1915 as Pte.34658 with the West Yorkshire Regiment, transferring as Pte.44497, first to 16^th Battalion, then to 25^th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers [Tyneside Irish], who he joined in France.[3]  Died: Private Pryke was killed in action on 9.4.1917 at the Battle of Arras and is buried in Roclincourt Valley Cemetery [grave ref: III.B.15], Pas de Calais, France.[4]

Pryke, Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 15.9.1889.[5]  Parents: Samuel Pryke (Wet Hackler at Horsehair Factory) and Sarah [née Beales] of Long Melford (Horsehair Washer).  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Ambrose [b1874], Percy Parmenter [b1892] and John Edward Connell [b1890].  Home: Lecture Hall Yard, Hall Street, Long Melford (1891 to 1901), Hall Street, Long Melford (1911) and [1916], St Marys Street/Little St Marys, Long Melford (1921 to 1939).  Occupation: Buncher at Horsehair Factory (1911), Wet Hackler J.W. Gould, Horsehair Manufacturer (1921 to 1939).  Married: Clara Parmenter in 1916.  Service Record: Thomas was conscripted on 11.3.1916 as Gnr.120182 with the Royal Garrison Artillery, transferring to 41^st [Anti-Aircraft] Company, RGA on 4.11.1916, then to 39^th [Siege] Company, RGA on 5.5.1917, and latterly to 45^th [AA] Company, RGA in 1919.  Both Anti-Aircraft units were allotted to the coastal defence off Plymouth in Devon.[6]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1975.

Related Biographies

Ambrose, George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 8.12.1873.[7]  Parents: Thomas Ambrose of Lavenham, Suffolk (Painter at Ward’s Iron Foundry) and Anna [née Elger].  Family Connections: Father to George Samuel Ambrose [b1904] and brother of Albert William Ambrose [b1871], Ralph Ambrose [b1874], James Ambrose [b1878] and Ernest Harold Ambrose [b1884]; also, uncle of William Mallett Ambrose [b1897] and Ralph Ambrose [b1899], and brother-in-law of Robert Arthur Sewell [b1864], Alfred Charles John Potter [b1880] and Thomas Pryke [b1889].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), 34 Nene Parade, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (1911), Manor Terrace, Terrington St Clement, Cambridgeshire (1921), Hall Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Coconut Mat Trimmer (1891), Soldier [1892 to 1913], Fruit Grower (1921), House Painter (1939).  Married: Susannah Pryke in 1903.  Service Record: George enlisted with the Suffolk Regiment in 1892, being posted to South Africa and seeing action in the Second Anglo-Boer War.[8]  On the 1911 Census he is recorded as a Colour Sergeant Instructor in 1^st Battalion, Cambridgeshire [Territorial] Regiment and was also a member of the Melford Silver Band.[9]  It is not known if he saw service during the First World War as no definitive record has been found.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1953.

Connell, John Edward – Born: Walsoken, Norfolk on 1.11.1880.[10]  Parents: Richard Connell (General Labourer) and Sarah Ann [née Hall].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Thomas Pryke of Long Melford [b1889].  Home: 10 Witham Street, Walsoken, Norfolk (1891), 59 St Peters Street, Dover, Kent (1901), 3 York Terrace, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (1911), 21 New Street, Bentley, Doncaster, Yorkshire [1915], Manor Terrace, Terrington St Clement, Cambridgeshire (1921), 7 Grosvenor Crescent, Arksey, Yorkshire (1939).  Occupation: Machinist at a Steam Sawmill (1911) to [1915], Fruit Grower’s Labourer (1921), Sawyer (1939).  Married: Ellen Pryke of Long Melford in 1918.  Service Record: John enlisted 15.1.1915 as Pte.17006 with the Northamptonshire Regiment, transferring as Pte.19683 to 2nd Battalion. He was posted to France on 29.4.1915 as part of 24th Brigade, 8th Division transferring to the brigade’s Machine Gun Company on 24.1.1916. He saw action at Aubers in May 1915 and Albert in July 1916, the latter battle presaging the start of the six-month Somme Offensive.  John received a penetrating gunshot wound to his left lung and shoulder on 24.10.1916, occasioning his return to England and a transfer as Pte.318564 to 600 [Home Service Employment] Company, Labour Corps.  In January 1918 he moved again, this time as Gnr.196453 to 47 Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, before receiving his discharge at the end of the year.[11]  Died: Doncaster, Yorkshire in 1969.

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [3] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.  [5] Baptism Register 3.11.1889, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [6] Both Anti-Aircraft Companies records are held in War Diary [WO 95/5456].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  [7] Date of birth from Baptism Register 5.4.1874, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [8] Welcoming the Brave of Melford East Anglian Daily Times 20.11.1902.  [9] My thanks to Tim Seppings of Sudbury for showing George’s connection to the Melford Silver Band.  [10] 1939 Register.  [11] 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].