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November 2018
No.447
LEST WE FORGET
100 years since the End of World War One This year when we meet at the village War Memorial to acknowledge the sacrifices and courage of those men who did not return home we will also commemorate the end of WW1, a war which took 17 young Stradbroke lives. Over the past four years we have tried to bring forward each of their stories so that they are not just names but remembered as brave sons, husbands, brothers, friends who lived in our village and should not be forgotten. The soldiers pictured below are four of those names.
There are two stories not yet told because they died within days of the armistice:
Pte James Mann Private James Mann of the 9th Btn. Norfolk Regiment who died on the 30th October 1918 aged 26 was the son of John and Laura Mann and brother to nine siblings. His family lived at Grove farm, Denham and asked that the inscription ‘EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS’ would be engraved on his gravestone.
Gnr. Ernest Hawes Gunner Ernest Hawes of the Royal Artillery Depot Base Draft Depot who died on 14th November 1918 aged 29 was the son of Robert and Susan Hawes and was husband to Hilda. The military record of Ernest shows that he was 5ft 8inches tall, with a chest measurement of 37 inches. He lived at Verdons Farm and married Hilda Knevett at Stradbroke Baptist Church on 20th October 1915. Hilda and Ernest had one child, Stanley, who was born on 24th February 1918. The papers record the list of items returned to Hilda as: Letters, Photos, Testament, 5 Cent Piece, Silver Watch, Cased Leather Guard, Torch and Refill, Knife, Scissors, Coins, 2 Keys, Buttons, Purse, 2 Mirrors, Strap, Shaving Brush and Soap, Tooth Brush, Brush, 2 Tins Polish, Tin of Jam, Brush and Brasso, Soap, Laces, Pair of Socks. Stradbroke Village Archive An Act of Remembrance—11th November 2018 10.55am At the Memorial, followed by Worship service in All Saints Church