Haverhill Echo - 17 November 1917
Herbert Leslie Bentley dangerously wounded in Egyptian campaign at Gaza and lying in hospital at El A Arzh. Gunshot wounds to the head, back and arms. News reported to parents, Mr & Mrs James Bentley.

Haverhill Echo - 24 November
Herbert Bentley died in hospital. ‘Another son of Mr & Mrs Bentley is at present in hospital in Alexandria’

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 18 June 1915, page 8:

Steeple Bumpstead Man’s Death.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bunton, of Steeple Bumpstead, have sustained a sad loss by the death of their son, who was a private in the Bedfordshire Regiment, and died in the Military Hospital at Aldershot. The deceased, who was only 18 years of age, was wounded in the back by shrapnel on Hill 60. He was visited by his parents at the Hospital, and died with his mother at the bedside on Sunday week. The remains were brought home and interred in the cemetery at Steeple Bumpstead on Friday last.

Extract from Haverhill Echo June 1915:

“Jack Bunton died at the Military Hospital, Aldershot. Wounded in the back by shrapnel on Hill 60. His parents visited him and his mother was at his bedside when he died. Buried Friday.”

Haverhill Echo - 1 September 1917
“Pte Chas Clayden has been missing in France since 23 October 1916. Pt Clayden, 29, is the second in the family to be returned as missing.”

Haverhill Echo - 20 Oct 1917
“Wire received W Clayden passed away in night as a result of shrapnel wound in thigh is Australian Hospital, Rouen.”

Drowned HMHT ‘Royal Edward’
HMHT – His Majesties Hired Transport. He was one of a 230 man draft who transferred from the 3 Norfolks to the 1st Essex who were in Gallipoli. Royal Edward and her sister ship Royal George (Canadian Northern Steamships Ltd – Toronto) were taken over by the Government for troop carrying in 1914. Royal Edward sailing Avonmouth – Alexandria – Mudros was torpedoed in the Aegean by UB14 and sank in 6 minutes. The worst troop transport disaster of the Great War. 900 troops and 132 crew were lost. 178 of the Draft (230) were lost.

Haverhill Echo - 3 October 1914
Local casualties.
Robert Coote, severely wounded, being shot in right wrist, in action.~
Fred Coote, severely wounded, being shot in left wrist, in action.~

Haverhill Echo - 10 Oct
Local casualties.
Fred Coote who was reported in our last issue as being severely shot in the left wrist returned to his home last (Thursday) evening. His left hand is useless as a hole has been made through his wrist.

Haverhill Echo - 3 November 1917
Charles Cox wounded 20 Oct in France. Struck by shrapnel in left leg and progressing favourably

Haverhill Echo - 28 September 1918
Pte C E Cox of 2nd Lincolnshire Reg has been severely gassed on the Western Front. He has been brought to England and is now in the 1st Northern General Hospital Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Haverhill Echo – early 1918 W Cresswell wounded in both legs. In Military Hospital Oxford. Progressing favourably.)

Haverhill Echo
“James Playle [Sibling to above] also serving, posted missing 18 August 1918. 6 October – posted J Playle German POW. 25 January 1919 - Returned POW’s. Two local soldiers who have been prisoners of war in Germany have just returned to their homes. They are Pte Frank Hardy of the Northamptonshire Regiment who was taken prisoner in France and Pte James Playle of the 1st Essex Regiment, who was wounded in the right arm in France and taken prisoner more than a year ago.

Haverhill Echo - 9 December 1916
“H Portway, son of Mr and Mrs Portway was wounded on the 15th in the chest, and died the following day. One of the first to join up. He had been wounded some months ago and only rejoined his unit a short time before.”

Haverhill Echo – 18 August 1917
Pt Sharman, age 26 leaves widow and one child. Member of parish choir.

Haverhill Echo - 19 October 1918
“Accidentally killed – Labour Corps, Pte G Westley.”

Frederick Willis served with the RA

Haverhill Echo - 8 December 1917
Mr & Mrs H Willis received information that their son L C Willis has died at the 2nd Corp dressing station of wounds received in action on 30 November in France

Basil John Boggis - Essex County Constabulary.

Served from 13th June 1938. Killed in action 2nd October 1944.

Police Constable Basil John Boggis was the son of John Sydney and Violet Edith Boggis and was born on 27th August 1915 in East Ham, London E6. He had been employed as a joiner with B. G. Brooks Ltd of Barkingside before joining Essex County Constabulary on 13th June 1938.

After training at Headquarters he was posted to Braintree from 6th August 1938. On 4th September 1939 (the day after the war broke out) Basil was transferred to Witham, and it was while there he married Hilda Victoria Boggis of Hatfield Peverel. His final posting was to Steeple Bumpstead on 12th September 1940. He remained there until leaving the police on 13th September 1943.

The following day he joined the army. Basil Boggis was killed in action on Monday, 2nd October 1944, whilst serving as Lance Corporal 14664830 with 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards. He was aged 29. He was buried in grave 11. A. 7. at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery in The Netherlands.

Police Constable 188. Serial Number 3270.

[The above is from the Essex Police Roll of Honour. He is on the memorial plaque at Essex Police HQ, Chelmsford]

Mother, Elizabeth Betsey Clayden, buried Steeple Bumpstead Cemetery. She died 29 July 1984. On her headstone is an inscription for her son, Stanley Clayden, from the family, John, Jack, Harold and Ada.

Halstead Gazette issue of 16 June 1940:

Steeple Bumpstead Casualty

“Intimation has been received of the death on active service in France of Platoon Sergt. Maj. William E (Bill) Clayden, elder son of Mr and Mrs S W Clayden, of Steeple Bumpstead. Deceased, who was only just 26 years of age, was of a genial disposition and was highly respected in the village and district, where his parents are so well-known. He was educated at the local school and for a time was employed as a roundsman by Mr C R Green. He joined the Welsh Guards when he was 18 years of age, and, having completed seven years' service, signed on for a further period just prior to the commencement of hostilities. He went to France with the BEF in October last year. Much sympathy will be felt with Mr and Mrs Clayden in their loss. (Photograph)”

He was in the Suffolk Regt. at 1 Sep 1939 (possibly a Reservist rather than actually serving) and that he was born in Essex and resident in Essex at enlistment. He apparently had a brother, Norman, who also served in the Far East but apparently survived and they lived at Mill House, Steeple Bumpstead.

He was born in Essex and resident in Essex at enlistment, and was in the Suffolk Regiment at 1st September 1939 (or on Reserve). He proably lived at The Stores, Steeple Bumpstead. Although his service no. is close to James Harold Wesley they were not related.]

On the 18th August 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain flying with 85 Squadron Gowers possibly destroyed a Ju87 on a patrol over Canterbury. The next day Gowrs and his 85 Squadron moved to Croydon to relieve 111 Squadron.

On the 28th August Gowers damaged a Me110, on the 30th August he destroyed a Me110 and on the 31st August he destroyed two Me109's.

On 1st September in combat with Me109's over Oxted Gowers' Hurricane, V7343, was badly damaged and he baled out with badly-burned hands and wounds to a hand and a foot. He was taken to the Hospital at Caterham for treatment and from there to East Grinstead for plastic surgery with pioneering New Zealand surgeon Archiblad MacIndoe.

Awarded DFC July 1st 1941 at Buckingham palace by King George V1.

On 19th April 1943 Gowers led 183 Squadron on its first operation, a bombing attack on the power station at Yainville, France. The next operation did not take place until 14th May when eight Typhoons were escorted by 486 (NZ) Squadron to bomb Triqueville aerodrome.

In the early evening of 24th October 1943 Gowers led 183 Squadron from Predannack for an attack on the blockade running 6,000 ton motor vessel SS Münsterland” carrying rare metals for the V1 and V2 weapons, in Cherbourg Harbour. Heavy flak was encountered and Gowers' Typhoon was seen to go down in flames just outside the mole. Two other 183 Typhoons were also shot down.

Halifax III serial NR131 code ZA–N from 10 Squadron took off from RAF Melbourne at 16.57 on the evening of 5th March 1945 on Ops to Chemnitz. and due to enemy action crashed near Stalag IXC at Mulhausen. There were no survivors.

The rest of the crew were as follows

Flt A D Stephen
Sgt T T Elliott
FSgt K V Rees
FO H C Maria RNZAF
PO C J Roberts RCAF
FO R E Heap DFM

Bruce Robson was the bomb-aimer on Handley-Page Halifax Mk III serial NR131 (carrying the squadron code ZA and individual aircraft letter N), which took off from RAF Melbourne at 16.57 on 5 Mar 1945 on an operation to Chemnitz. It crashed near Stalag IXC PoW camp at Muhlhausen, with the loss of all seven crew, the bodies being recovered by prisoners from the camp. For whatever reason, the Germans forbade a burial service, but despite that a service was conducted on 20 Mar by the camp Chaplain, Rev J R Bamber, MA. Post-war, the remains were re-interred at Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.

The other crewmen were: F/Lt A D Stephen (pilot), Sgt T T Elliott (F/Eng), F/Sgt K V Rees (Nav), F/O H C Maria, RNZAF(W/Op), P/O C J Roberts RCAF (A/Gnr), F/O R E Heap (A/Gnr - apparently the tail gunner). F/O Heap had gained the DFC on a previous tour with 10 Sqdn (details in London Gazette, 13 Jul 1943) and was a timer-served Regular. F/Sgt Rees was another long-serving Regular, having joined the RAF in the 1920s as an apprentice clerk.

Details of the raid on Chemitz 5/6 March 1945 :

OPERATION THUNDERCLAP
760 aircraft took part on this raid including 498 Lancasters, 256 Halifaxes, 6 Mosquitos - to continue Operation Thunderclap (see below). The operation started badly when 9 aircraft of No 6 Group crashed near their bases soon after taking off in icy conditions. No 426 Squadron, at Linton-on-Ouse, lost 3 out of their 14 Halifaxes taking part in the raid in this way, with only 1 man surviving. 1 of the Halifaxes crashed in York, killing some civilians. 22 further aircraft were lost in the main operation - 14 Lancasters and 8 Halifaxes.

OPERATION THUNDERCLAP
The Air Ministry had, for several months, been considering a series of particularly heavy area raids on German cities with a view to causing such confusion and consternation that the hard-stretched German war machine and civil administration would break down and the war would end. The general name given to this plan was Operation Thunderclap, but it had been decided not to implement it until the military situation in Germany was critical. That moment appeared to be at hand. Russian forces had made a rapid advance across Poland in the second half of January and crossed the eastern frontier of Germany. The Germans were thus fighting hard inside their own territory on two fronts, with the situation in the East being particularly critical. It was considered that Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz - all just behind the German lines on the Eastern Front now - would be suitable targets as they were all vital communications and supply centres for the Eastern Front. There was the intention of preventing the Germans from moving reinforcements from the West to face the successful Russian advance. The Air Ministry issued a directive to Bomber Command at the end of January. On 4 February, at the Yalta Conference, the Russians asked for attacks of this kind to take place, but their involvement in the process only came after the plans had been issued. So, Bomber Command was specifically requested by the Air Ministry, with Churchill's encouragement, to carry out heavy raids on Dresden, Chemnitz and Leipzig. The Americans were also asked to help and agreed to do so. The campaign should have begun with an American raid on Dresden on 13 February but bad weather over Europe prevented any American operations. It thus fell to Bomber Command to carry out the first raid.

796 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitoes were dispatched in two separate raids and dropped 1,478 tons of high explosive and 1,182 tons of incendiary bombs. The first attack was carried out entirely by 5 Group, using their own low-level marking methods. A band of cloud still remained in the area and this raid, in which 244 Lancasters dropped more than 800 tons of bombs, was only moderately successful. The second raid, 3 hours later, was an all-Lancaster attack by aircraft of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups, with 8 Group providing standard Pathfinder marking. The weather was now clear and 529 Lancasters dropped more than 1,800 tons of bombs with great accuracy. Much has been written about the fearful effects of this raid. Suffice it to say here that a firestorm, similar to the one experienced in Hamburg in July 1943, was created and large areas of the city were burnt out. No one has ever been able to discover how many people died but it is accepted that the number was greater than the 40,000 who died in the Hamburg firestorm and the Dresden figure may have exceeded 50,000.

Note: HMS Malcolm was a Scott Class Destroyer. Commencement of build - 29th May 1919 at the Cammell Laird Shipyard. Operated at Dunkirk. Later converted to a short range escort and served in home waters. On 13/14th September 1940 HMS Malcolm, Wild Swan and Venonous bombarded Boulogne in a sweep along France. Sold for scrap July 1945. Scrapped at Barrow.

ARMY

GUNN

C

Pte 5th Suffolk

LAWLER

R J

Pte 5th Suffolk

BARNES

George

Suffolk

BARNES

Walter

Essex

BENTLEY

Arthur

Essex

BUNTON

Robert

Essex

CLAYDEN

Arthur

Worc

CLAYDEN

John

Yorkshire

CLAYDEN

Robert

Essex

COOTE

Robert

1st Norfolk

COOTE

Frederick

1st Norfolk

COX

Arthur

Suffolk

COX

Edward

Essex

CRESSWELL

Albert

Essex

CRESSWELL

Frank

RA

CRESSWELL

William

Essex

GUNN

Charles

5th Suffolk

HARDY

Frank

Worc.

HAYLOCK

Walter

Worc

LAVER

William

1st Norfolk

LAWLER

Reginald

Tpr Hussars

MIDSON

Charles

RA

NEWMAN

Peter

Rifle Brigade

NUNN

Frederick

Essex

NUNN

William

Essex

PORTWAY

Harry

Essex

SALMON

James

Norfolk

UNDERWOOD

M

Rifle Brigade

WARREN

Oliver Q

British Columbia Horse

WASH

Reginald

Essex

WILLIS

Frederick

RA

VOLLER

Loader

ASC

MEARS

C S

RAMC

HUMPHREY

Herbert L

Trooper Loyal Suffolk Hussars.

WHITING

Joseph

5th Suffolk

NAVY

RANDLE

Joseph

Ordinary Seaman HMS Magnificence

TOTTERDELL

Robert

Ordinary Seaman HMS Vengence

WASH

Frederick

Ordinary Seaman HMS Victorious