A village with a big story
Selected Biographies
Sansum, Arthur – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.9.1891.[1] Parents: Archibald John Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Kezia [née Cook]. Family Connections: Brother to James Sansum [b1894], George Sansum [b1896] and Frederick Sansum [b1901]; also, nephew of George William Sansum [b1880], and cousin of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Charles William Sansum [b1893] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 3 White Hart Cottages, High Road, Ilford, Essex (1921), 50 East Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1939). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Building Contractor for Wills and Sons (1921), Agricultural Labourer (1939). Married: Minnie Beatrice Cresswell [d1927] in 1919 and Florence Heaps in 1930. Service Record: Arthur enlisted in September 1914 as Pte.2506 with ‘D’ Company, 1/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli from 10.8.1915 as part of 163rd Brigade, 54th [East Anglian] Division. of 163rd Brigade were ordered to secure the heights to the east. Advancing nearly a mile through a hail of 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 withstood 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. He was evacuated on 6.12.1915 from Anzac Cove, Gallipoli to Egypt where he was given a new number as Pte.240624. The Suffolks went on to fight a successful campaign in Palestine, seeing action at the First, Second and Third Battles of Gaza in 1917 and the Battle of Sharon in September 1918.[2] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1976.
Sansum, Arthur Frederick – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.12.1893.[3] Parents: William Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Harriet [née Ost] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Brother to William Charles Sansum [b1891]; also, uncle of Leslie George Arthur Sansum [b1925], and cousin of Jack Sansum [b1889], Sydney Charles Sansum [b1892] and Basil Walter Sansum [b1886]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901) to [1916], 65 St Katherines Road, Notting Hill, London [1916], 65 Wilsham Street, Notting Hill (1921) to [1931], 37 Whitton Avenue, Ealing, Middlesex (1939), 2 Anglia Cottages, Hall Street, Long Melford [1980]. Occupation: Messenger for London, County and Westminster Bank [1916] to (1939). Service Record: Arthur was conscripted on 1.12.1916 as Rfn. S/29183 with the Rifle Brigade [The Prince Consort’s Own], transferring as Pte. G/24948 to 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s Own [Royal West Kent Regiment] sailing for India as part of 17th Indian Division. On 27.5.1917 he was posted to Mesopotamia, serving first with 2nd Royal West Kents, then transferring in the field to the Regiment’s 1/5th Battalion, as part of 54th Indian Brigade, 18th Indian Division. Private Sansum received his discharge in March 1920 shortly after returning to England.[4] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 15.2.1980.[5]
Sansum, Basil Walter [DCM] – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 29.11.1886.[6] Parents: Charles George Sansum (Horsehair Presser) and Beatrice Mary [née Chinnery) (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Cousin of Jack Sansum [b1889], Sydney Charles Sansum [b1893], William Charles Sansum [b1891] and Arthur Frederick Sansum [b1893]; also, brother-in-law of James Francis Woollcott [b1876]. Home: Living with William Stearns (uncle) in Hall Street, Long Melford (1891), 184 Usher Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London [1894],[7] 57 Oban Street, Bromley-by-Bow (1901), 227 Bow Road, Bow [1904], recorded as Walter Sansum [sic] at Royal Artillery Barracks, Bull Yard, Hertford Street, Coventry, Warwickshire (1911), Union Row, Military Hill, Dover, Kent [1919] to (1939). Occupation: Painter’s Layer On (1901), Kitchen Porter [1904], Costermonger [1909], Clerk (1921), General Labourer (1939). Married: Ethel Anne Roberts in 1908. Service Record: Basil enlisted in 1904 as Pte.3777 with 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers [Militia] transferring as Pte.7958 to The Queen’s Own [Royal West Kent] Regiment, being discharged in 1909. He re-enlisted in 1909 as Gnr.60342 with the Royal Field Artillery and was posted to India from 1911 to 1914. Following the outbreak of war, he was transferred to 97th Battery, RFA and posted to Gallipoli from 25.4.1915 as part of CXLVII Brigade, RFA, 29th Division. Basil was commended by being Mentioned in Despatches on 5.11.1915 and on 16.11.1915 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry in the attacks of the 2nd May, 4th and 28th June, 6th and 7th August, 1915, on Cape Helles. Gunner Sansum displayed the greatest bravery and resource in repeatedly repairing telephone lines under heavy shell and rifle fire. No work was too hazardous for him to undertake, and he showed throughout the greatest devotion to duty.[8] With his division he was evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916 and the following month was posted to France where he saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and at the Battles of Arras the following year.[9] Rising to the rank of Corporal, he was placed on the Army Reserve in June 1919. He was mobilised briefly in 1921 and enlisted for a further period in 1923 as L/Sgt.1004539.[10] Died: Dover, Kent in 1968.
Sansum, Charles William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 23.12.1893.[11] Parent: Emma Sansum (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Nephew to George William Sansum [b1880]; also, cousin of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Arthur Sansum [b1891], James Sansum [b1894], George Sansum [b1896], Frederick Sansum [b1901] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), Bull Hotel Tap, Hall Street, Long Melford (1921). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Roadman for West Suffolk County Council (1921). Service Record: Charles enlisted in February 1912 as Pte.8443 with 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to France on 16.1.1915 and quickly marched to the Ypres Saliant to strengthen the British front line as part of 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The next few months saw the Battalion fight battle after battle: Gravenstafel (22-23 April), St Julien (24 April – 4 May), Frezenberg Ridge (8-13 May) and Bellewaarde Ridge (24-25 May); the six weeks of fighting inflicting over a thousand casualties to Sansum’s unit alone.[12] In October 1st Suffolks were ordered to sail for Salonika, however Sansum’s records show him only serving in France which may indicate that it was at this time that he was transferred to the Regiments 2nd Battalion. If this assumption is correct then between July and November 1916, he saw more bloodletting during the Somme Offensive as part of 76th Brigade, 3rd Division followed by even more mayhem at Arras, Ypres and Cambrai in 1917. 1918 brought no respite to the carnage with the German’s launching their Spring Offensive in March, which unravelled most of the British territorial gains of the previous two years. It is unclear if any of his past experiences were the cause of his medical diagnosis of dementia praecox, it was considered severe enough however for the regiment to return him to England for treatment, and for him to be discharged on 14.6.1918.[13]
Sansum, Frederick – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1902. Parents: Archibald John Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Kezia [née Cook]. Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Sansum [b1891], James Sansum [b1894] and George Sansum [b1896]; also, nephew of George William Sansum [b1880], and cousin of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Charles William Sansum [b1893] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer [1919]. Married: Evelyn Barford in 1926. Service Record: Fred enlisted at Bury St Edmunds in July 1919 as Pte.78517 with 13th Hussars, serving with them until they were merged with a sister regiment in 1922 as 13th/18th Royal Hussars [Queen Mary’s Own]. Transferring to 11th Hussars [Prince Albert’s Own] he was posted to India from October 1923 until his return to England in 1926. In 1934 he sailed with his wife Evelyn for Egypt rejoining his unit which on the border with Italian Cyrenaica, in response to Mussolini’s expansionist plans in Abyssinia. One of the first units to be mechanized, by the start of the Second World War they had been equipped with Morris C9 Armoured Cars as part of the reconnaissance support for the 7th Armoured Division, the soon to be renowned ‘Desert Rats’. Four days after the Italian declaration of war on 10.6.1940, 11th Hussars as part of 1st Royal Tank Regiment, captured the enemy’s border stronghold of Fort Capuzzo, with the Italian 10th Army pushing the conflict back to Sidi Barrani in Egypt in September. The response began in December when the Allies launched Operation Compass, a force of 36,000 troops made up mainly of units from Britain, India and Australia, which retook Sidi Barrani and pushed the Italians into a hasty retreat, hotly pursuing them along the 300 miles of coastal road to Benghazi and collecting thousands of prisoners on the way. Meanwhile the Desert Rats, with Fred’s unit in the vanguard had been ordered to cross hundreds of miles of open desert to the south and cut off any enemy retreat into Tripolitania further east. Arriving at the coastal town of Beda Fomm on 5.2.1941 only a day ahead of the remnants of Italian army, the two sides clashed with much of the action at very close range. The following day 20 Fiat tanks attempted to breakthrough the Allied cordon but were stopped by artillery fire, this together with 6th Australian Division fast approaching on their heels and no further escape possible, the Italian commander surrendered, leading to the capture of 25,000 Italian soldiers.
In September 1941 Fred and Evelyn joined the troop transport RMS Laconia for passage home to England along with several thousand others including nearly 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. Sailing via Durban and the Cape of Good Hope, the ship was torpedoed 500 miles off the West African coast by a German submarine on the night of 12th September, the stricken vessel sinking ninety minutes later. In the confusion the couple got separated both fortunately finding a space in different, albeit overcrowded lifeboats. The U-Boat skipper launched a rescue mission, taking on board Evelyn and dozens of other women and several children, the crew giving up their bunks. Another U-Boat joined the rescue and Fred and men in the other boats were thrown tow lines and issued with food and water. The survivors lay in open boats for nine days before Vichy French warships took all the occupants to an internment camp in Casablanca, the only real danger coming from the air when American B-24 Liberators dropped bombs in an attempt to sink the submarines even though Red Cross flags were being clearly displayed. Fred and Evelyn were eventually re-united in Casablanca, spending nine weeks in a vermin-infested camp in French Morocco. Their return to dry land fortuitously coincided with the Allied assault on Northwest Africa begun on 8th November under the code name Operation Torch, the prison camp being liberated by the British shortly after.[14] Sergeant Sansom remained on the Army Reserve until 1945. Following the end of the War he joined Melford Silver Band a cornet player.[15]
Sansum, George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1896. Parents: Archibald John Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Kezia [née Cook]. Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Sansum [b1891], James Sansum [b1894], and Frederick Sansum [b1901]; also, nephew of George William Sansum [b1880], and cousin of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Charles William Sansum [b1893] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911). Service Record: George enlisted on 14.11.1914 as Pte.15999 with 8th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France from 25.7.1915 as part of 53rd Brigade, 18th [Eastern] Division and occupying trenches in the Albert sector of the Somme valley.[16] Died: George was killed in action during a trench raid on 27.6.1916, being buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery [grave ref: F.26], Somme, France and commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[17]
Sansum, George Henry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.4.1892.[18] Parents: Henry Sansum (Bricklayer’s Labourer) and Elizabeth [née Crisell] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Nephew of George William Sansum [b1880], and cousin of Arthur Sansum [b1891], James Sansum [b1894], George Sansum [b1896], Frederick Sansum [b1901], Charles William Sansum [b1893] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1901), Hollands, The Green, Long Melford (1911) and [1918]. Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1911). Service Record: George enlisted as Pte. GS/27387 with 7th [Extra Reserve] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers [City of London] Regiment and was posted to France from 24.7.1916 as part of 190th Brigade, 63rd [Royal Naval] Division. During Private Sansum’s time with the Battalion it saw action on the Somme in 1916 and at the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres in 1917. Over Christmas 7th Fusiliers had been out of the line recouping in Metz-en-Couture, returning to positions on Welsh Ridge on 28.12.1917. In its absence, the Front had been quiet although bitterly cold, with six inches of snow falling on Boxing Day. At dawn on 30 December a brief enemy barrage was followed by a surprise attack by stormtroopers dressed in white camouflage, who had already crossed no man’s land under cover of darkness. Spearheaded by squads spraying arcs of fire from flame-throwers, the enemy quickly gained control of the snow-covered crest, overwhelming the section held by the Fusiliers and killing or capturing all the officers and most of the men from ‘D’ Company. A counterattack was launched but it was unable to retake the line. The following morning a party of about thirty stormtroopers attempted to drive deeper into the support trench, this however was brought to a shuddering halt by well-aimed bursts of Lewis gun and rifle fire. George’s unit had been badly mauled during this action, losing more than 300 men killed, wounded, or captured, and when it was eventually relieved it was so short of men that it was provisionally formed into a composite unit with 1/28th [County of London] Battalion, London Regiment. This latter battalion, also known as the Artist’s Rifles, had also lost a significant number of men during a counterattack that it had launched earlier in the day.[19] At least five other Melford man were defending the Ridge at the time: Ernest Ambrose [b1878], Hubert Roy Barnes [b1898], Bertie Alfred Piper [b1893], Arthur Edward Whent [b1889], and Owen Charles Sewell [b1897] who was in the same battalion as Sansum and whose service number GS/27407 was probably issued on the same day. Their stories are to be found elsewhere in this history.[20] Died: George died of wounds on 9.2.1918 probably inflicted during the frenzied defence of Welsh Ridge. He is buried in Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford and is recorded on the Long Melford War Memorial under the name George Henry Garnsum.[21]
Sansum, George William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 10.2.1880.[22] Parents: Henry Sansum (Bricklayer’s Labourer) and Kate Caroline [née Mills]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Alfred William Turner [b1872]; also, uncle of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Arthur Sansum [b1891], James Sansum [b1894], George Sansum [b1896], Frederick Sansum [b1901], Charles William Sansum [b1893] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: Webbs Court, The Green, Long Melford (1881), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911). Occupation: Wood Cutter (1901 and 1911). Service Record: George enlisted as Pte.PW/6566 with 16th [Service] Battalion, transferring to 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own [Middlesex Regiment] and posted to France as part of 23rd Brigade, 8th Division. In early April 1918 the 2nd Middlesex were out of the front line mainly engaged in training as they had just received a draft of new recruits. By 24.4.1918 the Battalion had moved into reserve trenches, when an intense bombardment followed by an attack by enemy tanks and infantry, which after stiff resistance, captured the nearby village of Villers-Bretonneux. At 4:00 am the following morning a counterattack was launched successfully driving back the enemy, although at a heavy cost. When a tally was taken two days later it was found that 108 men from his unit had been killed or wounded, with 436 others recorded as missing.[23] Died: George was listed as missing presumed killed in action on 24.4.1918 and is commemorated on the Pozières Memorial [panel 60 and 61], Somme, France and on the Long Melford War Memorial [recorded in the name Sarnsum].[24]
Sansum, George William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 29.6.1894.[25] Parent: Ellen Sansum (Horsehair Weaver) married Alfred William Turner [b1872] in 1913 [see below for his military details]. Family Connections: Brother to Charles William Sansum [b1893] and nephew of George William Sansum [b1880]; also, cousin of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Arthur Sansum [b1891], James Sansum [b1894], George Sansum [b1896] and Frederick Sansum [b1901]. Home: Living with Henry and Kate Sansum (grandparents) in Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), living with Walter Sansum (uncle) in Westgate Street, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Coconut Mat Weaver (1911). Service Record: George is recorded as a member of the Melford Silver Band in 1909.[26] At the outbreak of the First World War, he is recorded as L/Cpl.8415 with 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France from 15.8.1914 and seeing action at the Battles of Mons, Le Cateau and the Marne in 1914. Following heavy losses in 1914 the Battalion moved to the Ypres sector coming under the command of 8th Brigade, 3rd Division.[27] Died: George was killed in action at around 10 pm on 20.7.1915 during a raid into Sanctuary Wood, which lay on the lower slope of Hill 62, three miles east of Ypres. Lance Corporal Sansum is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing [panel 21], Ypres, Belgium and on the Long Melford War Memorial.[28]
Sansum, Jack – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.10.1889.[29] Parents: Frederick Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Isabella [née Chatters] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Brother to Sydney Charles Sansum [b1893]; also, cousin of Basil Walter Sansum [b1886], William Charles Sansum [b1891] and Arthur Frederick Sansum [b1893]. Home: Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), 16 North Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire (1921), 32 Clifton Road, Wolverhampton (1939). Occupation: Unemployed (1911), Platelayer for the London and North-Western Railway (1921 to 1939). Married: Dorothy Florence Alice Bowkett in 1923. Service Record: Jack was conscripted in or after 1917 as Pte.240779 with 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Without an extant Service Record, it is not known if he was posted to Palestine with 1/5th Suffolks or remained in England on home defence duties.[30] Died: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire in 1972.
Sansum, James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 14.2.1894.[31] Parents: Archibald John Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Kezia [née Cook]. Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Sansum [b1891], George Sansum [b1896] and Frederick Sansum [b1901]; also, nephew of George William Sansum [b1880], and cousin of George Henry Sansum [b1892], Charles William Sansum [b1893] and George William Sansum [b1894]. Home: Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1939). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Publican of the Bull Hotel Tap (1921), Roadman and Road Sweeper (1939). Married: Annie M. Perry in 1921. Service Record: James enlisted on 14.11.1914 as Pte.15993 with 8th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to France from 25.7.1915 as part of 53rd Brigade, 18th [Eastern] Division. From July to November 1916 the Battalion saw action at several major battles during the Somme Offensive, most notably at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge on 26.9.1916. In 1917 his unit was moved to Arras, seeing action at the Third Battle of the Scarpe on 3/4 May. He was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged due to wounds on 18.7.1917.[32] Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1976.
Sansum, Leslie George Arthur – Born: Finchley, Middlesex on 12.11.1925.[33] Parents: Percy George Sansum of Long Melford (Caretaker) and Edith Florence [née Conner]. Family Connections: Nephew of William Charles Sansum [b1891] and Arthur Frederick Sansum [b1893]. Home: 266 Brompton Road, South Kensington, London [1947]. Service Record: Leslie served as Able Seaman C/JX.699557 with the Royal Navy.[34] Died: from an inter-abdominal abscess at the British Military Hospital on 16.8.1947 and is buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore [grave ref: 35.E.6].[35]
Sansum, Sydney Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 19.9.1893.[36] Parents: Frederick Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Isabella [née Chatters] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Brother to Jack Sansum [b1889]; also, cousin of Basil Walter Sansum [b1886], William Charles Sansum [b1891] and Arthur Frederick Sansum [b1893]. Home: Little St Marys, Long Melford (1901 to 1911). Married: Rose Lily Smith in 1916. Service Record: Sydney enlisted as Pte.4318, later Pte.30406 with 9th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted to France and transferring as Pte.40566 to ‘B’ Company, 9th [Service] Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, as part of 74th Brigade, 25th Division.[37] He was captured and sent to a German Prisoner of War camp at Lamsdorf in Silesia.[38] Died: Private Sansum died at Lamsdorf on 29.10.1918 and was re-buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery [grave ref: XVIII.C.3], Brandenburg, Germany and is commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[39]
Sansum, William Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.9.1891.[40] Parents: William Sansum (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Harriet [née Ost] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Frederick Sansum [b1893]; also, uncle of Leslie George Arthur Sansum [b1925], and cousin of Jack Sansum [b1889], Sydney Charles Sansum [b1892] and Basil Walter Sansum [b1886]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901) to [1974]. Occupation: Boot Repairer (1911 to 1939). Married: Ella Ruth Hume in 1917. Service Record: William was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[41] In 1922 he is recorded as a committee member of the Long Melford Ex-Service Men’s Club. Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 5.10.1974.[42]
Related Biographies
Piper, Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.10.1876.[43] Parents: Thomas Henry Piper (Bootmaker) and Sarah Ann [née Sore]. Home: Cock and Bell Lane, Long Melford (1881), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), Hall Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911). Occupation: Horsehair Curlers Assistant (1891), Coconut Mat Maker (1901 to 1911). Married: Laura Sansum of Long Melford in 1919 [sister of George Henry Sansum aka Garnsum [1892 to 1918]. Service Record: Thomas was conscripted on 25.3.1916 as Pte.26844 with ‘D’ Company, 10th [Reserve] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being discharged on 14.7.1916 as ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier being under the minimum chest and height measurement …. aged 40 but looks 50’. This deficiency notwithstanding, he re-enlisted on 20.6.1917 as Pte. TR/5/45785 with 81st Training Reserve Battalion, transferring on 1.9.1917 to the Labour Corps, this time being discharged after only thirty-five days.[44] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1943.
Turner, Alfred William – Born: Wickhambrook, Suffolk on 27.1.1881.[45] Parents: Charles William Kiddy Turner (Agricultural Labourer) and Charlotte [née Avis] (Tailoress). Family Connections: Stepfather of George William Sansum [b1894] and brother-in-law of George William Sansum [b1880]. Home: Genesis Green, Wickhambrook, Suffolk (1891), Parsonage Farm, Long Melford (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford [1920 to 1952]. Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), General Labourer (1939). Married: Ellen Sansum of Long Melford in 1913. Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1904 as Gnr.33919 with the Royal Artillery, mobilised on 5.8.1914 with 146th Battery, Royal Field Artillery and posted to France from 19.8.1914 with XLII Brigade, RFA as part of 3rd Division. His unit was engaged heavily throughout the War, seeing action at the following battles: Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne, and First Ypres in 1914, Loos in 1915, the Somme Offensive in 1916, Arras and Third Ypres in 1917, and Lys, First and Second Somme and the Hindenburg Line in 1918.[46] In January 1919 Gunner Turner was posted to Salonika for five months, serving with 39th Battery, RFA at his discharge in 1920.[47] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.12.1952.[48]
Woollcott, James Francis – Born: Islington, London on 6.6.1876.[49] Parents: George William Woollcott (Packer) and Julia Catherine [née Clark]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Basil Walter Sansum of Long Melford [b1886]. Home: 12 Clarence Place, Islington, London (1881), Haverstock Street, Islington [1888] to (1901), 16 Poole Street, Hoxton, London [1905], 7 Tanner Street, Bow, London (1911), 31 Norman Road, Old Ford, Bow [1918]. Occupation: Errand Boy (1891), Drapery Packer (1901), Stock Keeper [1905], Labourer in a Cardboard Box Factory (1911). Married: Maud Ellen Sansum of Long Melford in 1905. Service Record: James enlisted as Pte.19762 with 6th [Service] Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later promoted to Lance Corporal. He was posted to France on 26.10.1915 as part of 43rd Brigade, 14th [Light] Division, his unit seeing action during the Battles of the Somme in 1916, the Arras Offensive and Third Battles of Ypres the following year. Woollcott’s final unit was 10th [Service] Battalion [Cornwall Pioneers], DCLI, which he may have been transferred to when his former battalion was disbanded in February 1918.[50] Died: Private Woollcott died on 9.8.1918 from apoplexy and a cerebral haemorrhage and is buried Bleue-Maison Military Cemetery [grave ref: A.26], Eperlecques, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.[51]
The Laconia Incident
12 September 1942 at 2207 hours the German submarine U-156 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Werner Hartenstein torpedoed and sank the British troop transport RMS Laconia some 650 miles from the coast of West Africa. The liner was carrying approximately 2,700 passengers and crew, including 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. Hartenstein immediately began rescue operations and radioed for assistance from nearby U-boats, also sending out uncoded messages for any vessel in the area, promising to cease hostilities while the rescue was in progress. 15 September 1942 at 1130 hours U-506 arrived at the scene and continued to rescue the survivors, followed shortly after by U-507 and the Italian submarine Comandante Cappellini. What lifeboats that could be found were attached by lines with the intention of towing the hundreds of survivors to the nearest piece of land. 16 September 1942 at 1125 hours an American B-24 Liberator bomber operating from the Ascension Island arrived at the scene where its pilot spotted the boats (which at that time flew the Red Cross flag and were clearly not hostile to anyone). The pilot radioed his base for instructions, receiving the reply “Sink the Sub”. The pilot attacked at once, causing the U-Boats to cut all tow lines and dive immediately, leaving hundreds of people again struggling in the water. 17 September 1942 Warships of the Vichy French Navy dispatched from Dakar arrived at the scene and started picking up survivors and transferring others from the submarines. Roughly 1,100 survived the sinking, most casualties occurring at the time of the initial explosion, killing 1,400 Italians who were being held below deck and were closest to the point of impact. Consequence – This incident prompted one of the most controversial orders Admiral Karl Dönitz ever issued, usually known as the Laconia Order today, it made it absolutely clear that no U-boats were to take part in any rescue operations from that date and leave any survivors in the sea. Up to that time U-boats had on many occasions helped the survivors of their victims with supplies, water, directions to nearest land and so on. The Laconia order was used as a factor in the conviction of Dönitz for war crimes at Nüremberg in 1946. He served 11½ years in prison for this crime.[52]
Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Death Index. The 1939 Register records his year of birth as 1890. [2] For details of 1/5th Suffolk’s movements in Gallipoli and Palestine see War Diary [WO 95/4325] and Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329]. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [3] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 15.2.1894, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford, recorded as Sansom [sic]. [4] For details of 2nd and 1/5th Royal West Kent’s movements in Mesopotamia see War Diaries [WO 95/5208/4] and [WO 95/5227/4]. 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]. [5] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [6] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 30.12.1886, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [7] Address taken from the Monteith Road School, Admissions and Discharges Register of 1894. [8] For notification of the award of his being Mentioned in Despatches and his DCM see Supplement to the London Gazette 5.11.1915, p.10996 and the London Gazette 16.11.1915 respectively. It should be noted that the Distinguished Conduct Medal ranks just below the Victoria Cross in British Army’s awards for gallantry. [9] For details of 47th Brigade’s movements in Gallipoli see [WO 95/4308] and on the Western Front see War Diaries [WO 95/2292/2 and WO 95/203/7]. [10] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] op to 1909, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372], and Royal Artillery Record [1004539]. He is recorded as Walter Sansum on all military documents. [11] Baptism Record of 15.10.1895 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [12] For more information on this phase see the battalion’s War Diary [WO 95/2277]. [13] [WO 329 – Silver War Badge ref: 399950], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372], and Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 [ref: 11/M/291379]. [14] Suffolk and Essex Free Press 7.1.1943, Newmarket Journal 9.1.1943, Northampton Mercury & Herald 15.1.1943 and Bury Free Press 16.1.1943. My sincere thanks to Claire Dove for bringing the incident to my attention. [15] Royal Tank Corps Record, recorded as Sarnsum [sic]. [16] For details of 8th Suffolk’s movements during this period see War Diary [WO 95/2039/1] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], p.146-50. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372], all recorded as Sarnsum [sic]. [17] Commonwealth War Graves Commission records and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 275297]. [18] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 18.10.1894, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [19] For an impression of the conditions on the day of the assault see John Nash’s painting Over the Top at the Imperial War Museum in London. [20] For details of 7th Royal Fusiliers movements between 1916 and 1918 see War Diary [WO 95/3119/1]. See his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372] both recorded as Sarnsum. [21] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record in the name of Sansum, also his Burial Register 13.2.1918, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [22] Recorded as George William Sarnsum on Baptism Register 4.4.1880, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [23] For details of 2nd Middlesex’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/1713/1]. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372] all are recorded as William G. Sarnsum [sic]. [24] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 949187] both recorded as William G. Sarnsum [sic]. [25] Baptism Register of 15.10.1895 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [26] My thanks to Tim Seppings of Sudbury for showing George’s connection to the Melford Silver Band. [27] For this and 2nd Suffolk’s movements from August 1914 to 1918 see [WO 95/1424/1]. See also Lieutenant-Colonel C.C.R. Murphy, The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.82-85 for an account of the ever-present danger of enemy snipers in Sanctuary Wood in 1915. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [28] George Sansum’s death is noted in the Battalion’s War Diary. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 195398]. [29] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 21.11.1889, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [30] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [31] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [32] For details of 8th Suffolk’s movements up to 1917 see War Diary [WO 95/2039/1-5]. For its involvement during the Somme Offensive see Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.165-72 and Chris McCarthy, The Somme: The Day-by-Day Account [London: Brockhampton Press, 1998], pp.120-21. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 213881], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [33] Date of birth from his RN Record. [34] [ADM 104/136] Service Registers of Deaths and Injuries. [35] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and the National Probate Calendar. [36] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 1.12.1892, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford; his International Committee of the Red Cross Record [see below] records his birth date as 19.9.1893. [37] For details of 9th North Lancashire’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2246/1]. See also his Pension Record Card, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [38] POW records with the International Committee of the Red Cross [file refs: PA40935 and PA42753], [39] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 833112]. [40] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [41] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3,1915. [42] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [43] Baptism Register 28.1.1877, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [44] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364]. Thomas cut a slight figure at his medical examination, standing only five feet tall, with a chest measurement of 30 inches and weighing a little over seven stone. [45] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [46] For details of 17th Brigade RFA’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/1401/1]. [47] 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]. [48] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [49] Baptism Register of 25.6.1876 for St Thomas Church, Charterhouse, Islington. [50] Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [51] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 [ref: 725125]. [52] A precis of Gudmundur Helgason’s article ‘The Laconia Incident’ on https://uboat.net.
Genealogical Tables
