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2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were at the Curragh in Ireland serving with 14th Brigade, 5th Division when war broke out in August 1914. They returned to England and proceeded to France landing at Le Harve on the 17th of August 1914. They were in action in The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, after suffering heavy casualties at The Battle of Le Cateau the transferred to GHQ Troops. On the 22nd of October 1915 they transferred to 76th Brigade in 3rd Division. They took part in the Winter Operations of 1914-15, The First Attack on Bellewaarde and the Actions at Hooge. In 1916 they took part in The Actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters then moved to The Somme for The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin helping to capture Longueval, The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 They were at Arras, seeing action at Battles of the Scarpe and The Battle of Arleux. They moved north to the Flanders and were in action during The Battle of the Menin Road and Battle of Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres. Then moved south and were in action at The Battle of Cambrai. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme, in the Battles of the Lys, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of the Selle. After the Armistice 3rd Division advanced into Germany as part of the Occupation Force.
9th of August 1914 At Southampton
13th of August 1914 Landing in France
13th of August 1914 Landing in France
14th of August 1914 Advance Party Leave
15th of August 1914 Arriving Busigny
16th of August 1914 Billets Organised
17th of August 1914 Brigades Pass Through
18th of August 1914 15th Bde Arrives
20th of August 1914 Preparing to March
21st of August 1914 March Instructions
22nd of August 1914 On the March
23rd of August 1914 Holding the Line
25th Aug 1914 Artillery in Action
25th Aug 1914 In Defence
26th of August 1914 Holding Position
27th of August 1914 Retirement in the Dark
28th of August 1914 An Exhausting March
29th of August 1914 Sleeping in the Streets
30th Aug 1914 On the March
31st Aug 1914 On the March
31st of August 1914 Pursued by Germans
1st of September 1914 A Delayed March
2nd of September 1914 An Early March
3rd of September 1914 Across the Marne
5th of September 1914 March Finished
6th of September 1914 Army Advances
7th of September 1914 Another March
8th of September 1914 An Early March
9th of September 1914 On the Move
10th of September 1914 Marching
11th of September 1914 Marching
12th of September 1914 A Wet March
13th of September 1914 A Showery March
14th of September 1914 Broken Bridges
15th of September 1914 An Attack Falters
16th of September 1914 Bad Roads
17th of September 1914 Artillery Reinforced
18th of September 1914 Some Enemy Firing
19th of September 1914 Trenches Fired Constantly
20th of September 1914 Sappers Make a Bridge
21st of September 1914 Missy on Fire
22nd of September 1914 Enemy Retiring?
23rd of September 1914 Heavy Shelling
25th of September 1914 Very Quiet
26th of September 1914 Moves Successful
27th of September 1914 A False Alarm
28th of September 1914 Shelling
29th of September 1914 Quiet
30th of September 1914 Astride the Aisne
19th of November 1914 Movements 
14th December 1914 Heavy Artillery Bombardment
2nd Feb 1915 Registration
4th Feb 1915 Attack Made
16th Feb 1915 Barrage
17th Feb 1915 Attack Made
24th Feb 1915 Artillery Support
26th Feb 1915 Reliefs
27th Feb 1915 Conference
28th Feb 1915 Shelling
8th Mar 1915 Instruction
9th Mar 1915 Instruction
16th March 1915 "L" sector was taken over by the 2nd Suffolk's.
24th May 1915 Gas
30th Aug 1915 The Best Shots
30th September 1915 Counter attack
15th November 1915 Training
2nd Mar 1916 Attack made
3rd March 1916 Orders received to reconnoiter the "Bluff"
28th Mar 1916 New CO
29th Mar 1916 In Action
29th Apr 1916 Reliefs
28th May 1916 Reliefs Complete
14th Aug 1916 Reliefs
15th Aug 1916 Trench Work
16th Aug 1916 In Action
19th September 1916 Reliefs
23rd October 1916 "B" Coy. will be attached to the 2nd Suffolk Regt.
1st May 1917 Reliefs
17th May 1917 Report
31st of January 1918 Training
8th May 1918 Improving and repairing defences
1st Aug 1918 Some Shelling
1st Aug 1918 Dispositions
2nd Aug 1918 Hostile Artillery Active
3rd Aug 1918 Quiet
4th Aug 1918 Orders Received
5th Aug 1918 Patrols
6th Aug 1918 Some Shelling
7th Aug 1918 HQ Moves
29th Aug 1918 Message
4th of September 1914 An Easier March
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Alden Ernest Charles. Pte. (d.4th September 1918)
- Allen Mark Thomas. Pte. (d.15th Apr 1917)
- Baker James. Pte. (d.26th August 1914)
- Blinco DCM. Charles William. Sgt. (d.19th Apr 1918)
- Bragg DCM Henry. Sgt.
- Bridges William. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Brighton Austin Benjamin John. Pte.
- Brown Frederick William. Pte.
- Bryant Arthur James. Sgt. (d.16th June 1917)
- Bullman Benjamin. Pte. (d.16th Aug 1916)
- Bunn MM. Clifford Charles. Cpl. (d.21st March 1918)
- Cartz Louis. Pte.
- Cartz Louis. Pte.
- Cox Francis. Pte
- Curtis George Jams. Pte. (d.13th November 1916)
- Diprose George Patrick. L/Sgt. (d.29th Sep 1918)
- Easter Albert. Pte. (d.16th August 1916)
- Eaton Charles. Pte. (d.21st Sep 1917)
- Favell George Gordon. Pte. (d.10th May 1917)
- Flack Harry. Pte. (d.18th Jun 1917)
- Francis DCM. Reginald Clement. Pte. (d.16th Dec 1914)
- Hall Arthur George. L/Cpl.
- Hall William. Pte. (d.22nd Jan 1916)
- Harradine John Henry. Pte (d.1st Aug 1916)
- Howard Samuel. Pte. (d.28th Nov 1916)
- Howlett Ernest George. Pte. (d.16th Aug 1916)
- Jay John. L/Sgt (d.12th March 1915)
- Jordan MM. James Henry. Pte
- Knapp Victor Harry. Pte. (d.16th Nov 1916)
- Laurie William. Pte. (d.20th July 1916)
- Lee Leslie. Cpl. (d.26th Nov 1918)
- Lister MM Rudolph Beckley. Pte. (d.23rd August 1918)
- Mackinder MM. Joseph Liney. Pte. (d.1st Oct 1918)
- Mackinder MM Joseph Liney. Pte (d.1st October 1918)
- Palfreman Richard John. Pte.
- Parkes Alfred. Pte.
- Payne MM, CdG. Jack. Sgt.
- Pearson James. Pte. (d.16th Jul 1916)
- Pocock William Henry. Pte. (d.13th May 1917)
- Race Horace Victor. Pte. (d.28th April 1917)
- Randall Bertie Sumner. Pte. (d.16th August 1915)
- Rayner Sydney John. Pte. (d.30 August 1918)
- Revell Walter William. Pte. (d.9th April 1917)
- Robinson Bert John. Pte. (d.8th October 1918)
- Royal George. Pte. (d.20th November 1918)
- Seeley Harry. Pte. (d.16th Jun 1915)
- Sharp James. Cpl. (d.3rd Oct 1918)
- Smith Reginald Arthur. Pte.
- Southgate DCM. Hiram Ashford. Pte. (d.30th March 1916 )
- Walters Jack Harold. Pte. (d.8th October 1918)
- Wilderspin Frank. Cpl
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Bert John Robinson 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.8th October 1918) Bert Robinson died on the 8th of October 1918, aged 27 and is buried in the Naves Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
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Pte. Alfred Parkes 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment Alfred Parkes was a Boy Soldier. He was only just 16 years old when he was volunteering in August 1915. He was drafted three months later to the Western Front where he was engaged in several sectors and took part in the Battle of the Somme, the Battle at Arras, the Battle at Cambrai and finally the Battle of St Quentin. During these engagements he was wounded and afterwards returning home he was discharged in November 1918. He holds the 1914 - 1915 Star, British War and Victory Medals.
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Pte. Harry Flack 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.18th Jun 1917) Harry Flack served with the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.
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Pte. Jack Harold Walters 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment (d.8th October 1918) My Great Uncle Harry Walters was a glass designer. I think he was a pacifist. He was sent white feathers and joined up later on in the war.
I know Harry was an exceptionally brave man in civilian life as he dived into the River Severn to rescue a little girl. Her parents gave him a gold signet ring with an expression of eternal thanks for saving their daughter. I have that ring now. I am the only one left in the family. My ambition is to visit Forenville Military Cemetery where he has been buried. He was buried at La Targette British Cemetery first but was then exhumed and reburied. I do not know how or why he died. However, I think he may have been involved in the Second Battle of Cambrai since the cemetery is so near there.
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Pte. Reginald Arthur Smith 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment Reginald Smith attested on the 3rd of February 1915 and entered France with 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 26th of July 1916.
He was wounded and posted as missing on 13th of November 1916 and
reported as a Prisoner of War on 15th of February 1917. He was repatriated on 11th of January 1919.
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Pte. Harry Seeley 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.16th Jun 1915) Harry Seeley of the 2nd Suffolk Regiment was the son of Elijah and Fanny Seeley of Heath Road, Norton, Bury St. Edmunds and husband of Mary Ann Seeley of Shop Corner, Drinkstone, Bury St. Edmunds.
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Pte Francis Cox 11th Btn. Suffolk Regiment Francis Cox served with the 2nd and 11th Battalions, Suffolk Regiment.
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Pte. Hiram Ashford Southgate DCM. 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment (d.30th March 1916 ) Hiram Southgate was born 23rd November 1889 at Onehouse, the son of Laban & Charlotte Curl (nee Woollard,) and later moved with the family to Chelmondiston.
The London Gazette Supplement 2894 of 15th of March 1916 records Hiram Ashford Southgate being awarded the DCM "For conspicuous gallantry. He had volunteered for a raiding party and during the retirement, when his Lieutenant was in barbed wire and badly wounded, he turned back under hot fire and dragged him to a place of safety".
I found that Holbrook High School had chosen Hiram as one of their selection from the Suffolk Regiment and described the way he had met his death:
Private Hiram Ashford Southgate DCM.
"During the night of 28th/29th of March 1916, the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment moved into the trenches at St Eloi. Fierce fighting was taking place there and the 2nd Battalion moved into the trenches under heavy shellfire. In the morning the Battalion realised that part of a trench to the right of the Battalion was still held by the Germans. Bombers, led by Lieutenant H P Gardham, tried to clear this part of the trench. However, after 20 yards they came up against a barricade that the Germans had constructed to defend their position. Heavy German machine gun fire meant that they could not get past that point. Private Southgate attempted to climb the barricade but was cut to pieces the moment he dropped down the other side".
In the "History of the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, 1914-1927", Hiram A Southgate's death is described slightly differently.
"28th of March 1916 Captain G C Stubbs assumed command of the battalion. On reaching the trenches the situation was found to be obscure and complicated. Some of the craters had been occupied by the Battalion and dawn 29 March revealed the unhealthy fact that part of the trench on the right edge of the battalion sector was still held by the Germans. Early the next afternoon our bombers, under Lieut H P Gardham, endeavoured to clear this portion of the trench, but after making about 20 yards of ground, came up against a barricade which the enemy had erected. Heavy machine-gun fire foiled all attempts to get beyond this point. The leading bayonet man, Pte H A Southgate, recently decorated with the D.C.M. for gallantry at the Bluff, was killed 30th of March 1916 trying to cross the barricade."
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Pte. Walter William Revell 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment (d.9th April 1917) Walter Revell attested on the 19th of November 1915 and was called up on the 5th of May 1916. After training he left Felixstowe for France on the 12th of September 1916. His last letter was received on the 6th of Apr 1917 written on the 1st. The last field card from him was received on the 10th of Apr 1917 written on the 3rd. His family received news of his death from The War Office on the 23rd of Apr 1917.
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Pte. Sydney John Rayner 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment (d.30 August 1918) Sydney was a signaller highly skilled in first aid. He was killed in action on the 30th August 1918 with a number of other members of the 2nd Suffolks.
He is buried with 37 other Suffolks at the Ecoust St Mein Cemetery.
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Sgt. Jack Payne MM, CdG. 1st Btn. Suffolk Regiment Jack Payne was born in Shepreth, Cambridgeshire in 1888 and joined the 1st Suffolk Regiment in 1908.
He fought in WW1 at both Mons and Ypres as well as Loos.
He also participated in several other WW1 conflicts including the southern Macedonian front and attained the rank of sergeant.
The records show him as being part of several battalions during his army career including 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th Suffolk Regiment as well as the 2nd Northants.
He was awarded the Mons Star, Victory and British War Medals.
He married a Belgium women called Emilie Rosalie Timmermans and lived in Belgium for most of his life from leaving the army in 1922 until his death in 1975.
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Pte. James Baker 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.26th August 1914) Jamaes Baker's service records do not exist and his service history is presumed from CWGC death records. The Regiment was in Ireland at the outbreak of war and was part of the BEF deployment to Flanders in mid-August 1914 and fought at Mons.
James was killed in the retreat from Mons at the battle of Le Cateau, as the 2nd Suffolks were mounting a heroic defence giving others more opportunity to continue their retreat.
He left a young widow Henrietta (Hettie) and three small children.
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Pte. Richard John Palfreman 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment Richard Palfreman, my uncle, appears to have joined up in 1916 or 17. He was wounded in both legs (probably shell injury) and was invalided out and spent some time in hospital recouperating.
Dick then forever walked aided with walking sticks.
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L/Sgt. George Patrick Diprose 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (d.29th Sep 1918) Lance Serjeant Diprose was the son of Joseph and Myra Josephine Diprose, of 48, Sun St., Waltham Abbey, Essex. Born at Rochester, Kent.
He was 33 when he died and is buried in The Hague Roman Catholic Cemetery in the Netherlands.
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Pte. William Henry Pocock 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.13th May 1917)  William Pocock was at Dartford Grammar Sschool between 1908 and 1910. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps (Supply) on 31st March 1916 and transferred to the 2nd Suffolk Regiment in February 1917. He was sent to the front in France in March 1917. His regiment was part of the 3rd Division and was involved at the battle of Arras, particularly the battles around the River Scarpe and at Arleux. He was killed on 13th May 1917 in the Arras area and is buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt.
The Summer 1917 Dartfordian included the following obituary: "We much regret to report the death in action of yet another Old Boy, William Henry Pocock of Eynsford, who was at the school from 1908 to 1910. After leaving school W H Pocock entered his fathers business and became manager of the Eynsford branch. Early in the war he enlisted in the ASC (Supply) hoping to be able to turn his trade to good account there, but being disappointed in this he transferred to a battalion of the London Regiment and went with it to France. He was killed in action during a recent big advance. All at DGS wish to convey their deep sympathy with his sorrowing relations."
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Pte. George Gordon Favell 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.10th May 1917) George Favell lived in Hemingford Grey, St Ives, Hunts and was the son of William & Sarah Jane Favell.
He joined the Suffolks at the start of hostilities when he was only 16 years of age. He was invalided home in 1916 with shell shock and loss of speech from which he recovered in three or four months and was again sent out.
He was killed on the 10th May 1917 aged 19 years at the Battle of Arras (Bullecourt). Researching history as part of Every Man Remembered.
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Pte. Frederick William Brown 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment I never met my great grandfather, Fred Brown, although I have made up for it ever since. We have not a lot of information on his military career. All I know is he was shot in the stomach whilst being rescued by an Anzac soldier who received, I believe, the Military Medal. Any additional information would be great to see.
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Sgt. Henry Bragg DCM 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment Harry Bragg served 22 years, first with the 1st Battalion (Boer War) and then the 2nd Battalion (WWI). He received the Queen's South Africa medal, King's South Africa medal, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal (WWI), "For conspicuous gallantry. When the enemy exploded a mine, burying him and four men, he dug his men out under a hot fire, manned the crater and held it all day. (15th of May 1916)"
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Pte. William Laurie 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment (d.20th July 1916) My great uncle, William Laurie, who lived at 51 Bromley St, West Hartlepool, was killed in action at the Somme on 20th of July 1916, possibly during the Battle of Delville Wood. It was two days after his 24th birthday. He left behind his wife, Selina (Codling), and their one-year old son, William. My mother, Ada was also only one-year old when he was killed. Although she never knew him, she still refers to him as Uncle Will. He fought with the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and is reportedly buried near Thiepval.
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Cpl. James Sharp 2nd Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.3rd Oct 1918) James Sharp was my 2x great uncle. He came from London and was killed on the Somme. I know nothing more about him but have a photo that I believe is him.
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