Albert

Private 201206, 15^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 22 February 1919. Son of George Cracknell. of Horseheath. Buried between the chancel and the north boundary in ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, HORSEHEATH, Cambridgeshire.

His British Army World War 1 Pension Records 1914-1920 exist still. These incorrectly state that he died 17 February 1919. He enlisted 31 May 1915 at Cambridge. His occupation prior to being enlisted as a Shepherd. He was originally in the 3/4th Battalion and was posted to the 15th Battalion 15 March 1917 and subsequently to the Depot 1 February 1918. He served in the Middle East from 15 March 1917 to 31 January 1918. He enlisted aged 23 years 3 months. He was 5 feet 2½ inches tall, with a girth of 34½ inches. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship Kalyan from Alexandria 20 January 1918. He had been admitted to 31st general Hospital, N.Y.D. mental Department in October 1917. He was listed as "feebleminded" after an attack of measles.

Frank

Able Seaman R/1240, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division Volunteer Reserve. Killed in action 26 October 1917. Aged 19. Born 20 May 1898 in Horseheath. Son of Elijah and Eliza Dockerill, of Horseheath Green, Cambridge. A Cowman by trade. Enetred the Army Reserve 20 June 1916, subsequently entered Royal Naval Reserve 24 April 1917 and included in the draft for British Expeditionary Force 6 August 1917, joined Howe Battalion 27 September 17 and served until his death. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 2 to 3 and 162 to 162A.

The following kindly supplied by Samantha Mason:

No.R/1240, Able Seaman, Frank DOCKERILL
ROYAL NAVY
Killed in action on Friday, 26th October 1917
Died aged only 19

Frank Dockerill is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, panels 2,3,162 and 162A.

Frank Dockerill was born in Horseheath on 20th May 1898.

According to the 1901 census: Aged 2, he was at Cardinal's Green, Horseheath; his father Elijah DOCKERILL [39] horseman born Horseheath; his mother Elizabeth [31] born Balsham; sisters Ethel [10] born Balsham and Emily [8] born Horseheath; uncle Joseph R DOCKERILL [28] farm labourer born in Horseheath.

He was admitted to Horseheath Junior Middle Infants School on 21st October 1903, leaving 26th May 1911, for ‘beneficial employment’.

1911 census... Aged 12, he was in Horseheath with his parents; uncle Joseph; sister Emily (sister Ethel was away); brothers Sidney [9] and Herbert [7] (both born in Horseheath). One of the six siblings had died.

He enlisted on 20th June 1916 in Army Reserves.

He was a cowman, living with father Elijah at Horseheath Green. He was 5 feet 2½ inches (158.8 cm) tall, chest 33in (83.8 cm), grey eyes, black hair, Church of England. Transferred to Royal Naval Division on 24th April 1917, promoted to Able Seaman on 5th August 1917 and sent to BEF in Flanders. Joined Howe Battalion in Belgium on 27th September 1917.

Died fighting over a very small area around Varlet Farm in Belgium.

God rest his soul and we need to be thankful for his bravery and remember he gave up his youth and dreams to do his duty so we can live in freedom.

Benjamin Philip Augustus

[Spelt DOCKRELL on CWGC & SDGW] Rifleman 452070, 11th (County of London) Battalion (Finsbury Rifles), London Regiment. Killed in action 8 August 1918. Born Horsingsea, enlisted London, resident Pimlico. Buried in HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES Somme, France. Plot VIII. Row H. Grave 14.

George Harold

Private SPTS/5448, 6th posted 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 24 November 1918. Aged 21. Resident near The Real Lion, Horseheath in 1915. Son of Samuel George and Alice Freestone, of Barham Rd., Linton, Cambs. Buried in between the chancel and the North boundary of ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, HORSEHEATH, Cambridgeshire.

His British Army World War 1 Pension Records 1914-1920 exist still. Born 2 June 1897 at Horseheath. A Labourer by trade. Enlisted 6 June 1916 at Bury St Edmunds. Height 5 feet 4¾ inches, girth 36½ inches. He was gassed in action on 7 August 1917 and discharged 8 May 1918 as no longer physically fit for active duty due to the effects of shell gas poisoning.

Richard

Rifleman 2479, 1^st/5^th City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), London Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Aged 18. Enlisted London, resident Clare, Suffolk. Son of Edward and Maria Kate Hanchett, of Horseheath, Linton, Cambs. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 D.

Thomas Alfred

[Listed as City of London Regiment on memorial] Gunner, 925312, "A" Battery, 280th (City of London) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 22 August 1917. Aged 23. Born at Belchamp St. Paul's, Clare, Suffolk close to Stansted, Suffolk, enlisted London. Son of Edward and Maria Kate Manchett, Horseheath, Linton. Formerly Gunner, 915, Royal Field Artillery. Buried in BIRR CROSS ROADS CEMETERY, Ypres, Plot III. Row B. Grave 16.

Thomas

[Listed as Royal Fusiliers] Thomas Morrell, Sapper 527933, Section 4, Railway Transport Establishment, Royal Engineers. Died of wounds 26 September 1917. Aged 21. Enlisted Cambridge. Son of John and Rose Eleanor Morrell who were publicans at the Montford Arms, Horseheath, in 1911. In 1911 Thomas was working from home, born Tottenham, Middlesex; his brother Cecil was born in Horseheath. Formerly 4428, Cambridgeshire Regiment and then 326748, Suffolk Regiment. Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XXIII. Row A. Grave 10. See also Liverpool Street Station, London

William

Driver 123189, 19^th Division Ammunition Column H.Q., Royal Field Artillery. Died 27 October 1918. Aged 22. Born Linton, enlisted Haverhill. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Scotcher, of Haneheath End, Linton, Cambs. Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row D. Grave 17.

Arthur

Private 40893, 2^nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 28 March 1918. Born and enlisted Linton. Son of Walter and Mary Ann Shore, of Horseheath, Linton. Formerly 4351, Suffolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.

George

Private SD/3022, 12^th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 1 July 1916. Aged 24. Born Linton, enlisted Hastings. Son of Walter and Annie Shore, of Six Mile Bottom, Newmarket. Buried in MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot VI. Row Q. Grave 71.

Frederick William

[Listed as RAF on memorial] Sergeant 1160840, 420 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 12 February 1942. Husband of J. W. Ashfield, of Halstead, Essex. No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 77.

Leslie James

Flying Officer (Pilot) 40198, 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 15 May 1940. Aged 22. Son of Frederick Henry and Stina Ashfield, of Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. Buried in OOSTERHOUT PROTESTANT CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Grave 5.

Arthur

Private 5933765, 2^nd Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died as a prisoner of war of the Japanese 21 September 1944. Aged 26. Son of Walter and Bessie Hammond, of Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji, Singapore. Column 59.

Note: On 21 September 1944 the Hofuku Maru sailed with Convoy MATA-27 for Takao in Formosa. She was attacked by an American aircraft carrier about 80 miles north of Corregidor, the aircraft carrier’s planes sank the whole fleet including the Hofuku Maru, not knowing she carried prisoners. The Hofuku Maru was carrying 1,289 prisoners from Manila to Japan, 1,047 were lost.

Leslie [Robert]

Private 5933766, 1^st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action during the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore during the defence of Singapore 13 February 1942. Aged 21. Son of Robert Henry Jacobs, and of Annie Jacobs, of Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji, Singapore. Column 59.

Reginald [George]

Guardsman 2615098, 1^st Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 12 September 1940. Aged 25. Son of Henry George and Annie Murrell; husband of Violet Murrell of Horseheath. Buried in ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, HORSEHEATH, Cambridgeshire.

Bernard [Henry]

Coporal 5933708, 1^st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action during the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore during the defence of Singapore 13 February 1942. Aged 27. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 18. Row A. Joint grave 10-11.

Frederick