Related Biographies

East, Ernest George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 21.4.1894.[1]  Parents: George East (Coconut Mat Trimmer) [see below for military details] and Elizabeth Torpy [née Mitchell].  Family Connections: Brother to Herbert East [b1889].  Home: Liston Lane, Long Melford (1901), Park Terrace, St Marys, Long Melford (1911), 66 Railway Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (1939).  Occupation: Stable Boy (1911), Cowman and Groom [1914], Bricklayer (1939).  Married: Orpah Throney Smalley [née Beales] in 1922.  Service Record: Ernest enlisted on 24.12.1914 as Dvr.57959 with the Royal Field Artillery, posted to France from 28.7.1915 to 1918, re-enlisting in 1921 as N^o. 1003574 with the Royal Artillery, receiving his discharge in December 1926.[2]  Died: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 1977.

East, George – Born: Lavenham, Suffolk in 1863.  Parent: Mary Ann East.  Family Connections: Father of Herbert East [b1889] and Ernest George East [b1894].   Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1891), Liston Lane, Long Melford (1901), Park Terrace, St Marys, Long Melford (1911).  Occupation: Coconut Mat Weaver (1891), Mat Trimmer (1901 and 1911).  Married: Elizabeth Torpy [née Mitchell] in 1887.  Service Record: George was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[3]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1915.

East, Herbert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 9.7.1889.[4]  Parents: George East (Coconut Mat Trimmer) and Elizabeth Torpy [née Mitchell].  Family Connections: Brother to Ernest George East [b1894].  Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1891), Liston Lane, Long Melford (1901), Kelvedon Bridge, Kelvedon, Essex (1911).[5]  Occupation: Butcher’s Assistant (1911).  Service Record: Herbert enlisted as Pte.2732 with 14^th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps, transferring as Pte.7042 to the Somerset Light Infantry, then as Pte.23827 to 2/4^th Battalion, then to 5^th [Service] Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.  Herbert was posted to France from 19.5.1915 as part of 42^nd Brigade, 14^th [Light] Division, seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916, and the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres in 1917.[6]  Died: Private East was listed as missing presumed killed in action on 23.3.1918, defending the canal at Pozières during the German Spring Offensive.  The village fell to the enemy a few days later.  Herbert is commemorated on the Pozières Memorial [panels 50 and 51], near Albert, Somme, France.[7]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from Admission Register 26.4.1897, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford and Death Index. [2] Royal Artillery Service Record, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [3] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915.  [4] Date of birth from Admission Register 19.11.1895, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford. [5] Recorded as Bert East on 1911 Census Return. [6] For details of the action see 5^th Ox and Bucks War Diary [WO 95/1900/4].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [7] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 934035] [which lists his mother as Elizabeth].