Page 10 - Hunstanton Town & Around - May 2014

10 Hunstanton Town & Around May 2014 Tel: 01485 533422 email: editor@townandaround.net
1914 THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME 2014

100 YRS ON – TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SOLDIER WHO ‘GAVE HIS LIFE’ - FOR US!
Soldier article No. 3
On the Hunstanton Cenotaph are 52 Dewsbury and a widow. The Belgium. (of the 3,592 graves – He rejoined his unit and now
names of Soldiers who fought in boarding house was Cranmer 2,405 are unidentified, so bad were found himself fighting in the 1917
WW1 and who sadly, paid the House, Belvoir Terrace, Westgate, these Battles). Battle of Ypres, where sadly on the
ultimate price and would never Hunstanton. It was sad that The second soldier this month is: 25th November 1917 he was
return to their loved ones, or Elizabeth, the mother, was made a Lieut. Percy James Deane severely wounded and died from
Hunstanton. widow at about 35yrs old, husband Flecknoe. those wounds at a Field Hospital,
To most visitors, and I dare say Fred had been a Coal Carter in Percy was born in Peterborough most certainly the 44th Casualty
residents now after 100yrs, they are Hunstanton. When he died she kept and was educated at King’s School, Clearing Station near Poperingue,
just a name, that is very sad, we the boarding house and raised a Peterborough under the Rev E. J. he was just 29 yrs old. He is buried
should remember them more – Lest family of 4 children on her own. Bidwell, but moved here with his and remembered in Grave Ref: IX.
we forget !. There are still some Agnes and Claude married about parents Mr & Mrs James Flecknoe, A. 11 at Nine Elms British
residents who are related to those 1910 and lived at 2, Charlbury he was the only child and they lived Cemetery, West Vlaanderen,
names living here, many of those Buildings, Hunstanton. in 6, Victoria Avenue, Hunstanton. Belgium.
have helped me research the Claude joined the Army in He had worked in the office of Posthumously he was awarded
soldiers behind the name, for which October 1916, he became Pte 10th English Bros, Timber Merchants the 1914/15 Star, The Victory and
I am very grateful. I am not going Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers. S/n. before moving, and after a while, in British Medals, he had already
to name them, they know who they 40674. Once trained, he awaited a 1910 he went to Johannesburg to received the Sth Africa Medal for
are and all have agreed to having posting which was to France and join his Uncle, Mr W. E.Horter who his earlier fighting.
their relative written about and Flanders. He sadly hadn’t been also was a Timber Merchant. When I will just mention the untimely
‘remembered’ especially this year there very long when he was killed war broke out he immediately sequence of mail at his parents
being the ‘Centenary of the start of instantly by Shrapnel fire on joined the Imperial Light Horse and home reporting his death. Mr and
WW1’. October 27th 1917. A letter to his went into the campaign in German Mrs Flecknoe received a Telegram
This month’s article is about 2 wife Agnes from Sgt P. Dolan gives South -west Africa, coming through a Monday, informing them of his
separate Hunstanton connected some information and adds that the it unscathed. death the day before. On that
Soldiers: soldier was buried very quietly and A short time after the disbanding Monday morning in the Post was a
Pte Claude Victor respectably and that a cross marks of the Light Horse, he again joined Christmas and New Year card from
Emmerson S/n. 40674 his last resting place. The writer the Army and with 6 of his friends his Battery, and on the Wednesday
Claude was born and raised in adds that Pte Emmerson was well landed in England in December they received a Field Card from
Cambridge, his connection with liked by N.C.O.’s and men. The 1915, and spent Xmas at their Son, written 2 days before his
Hunstanton started with the Great deceased who was 30 yrs old, and Hunstanton. He was promoted and death – stating he was fine and well.
Eastern Railway Company. He had leaves a widow (nee Dewsbury) mentioned in the London Gazette in We can only imagine how that felt.
worked for them for 16 yrs and was and 3 children, had only been in January 1916, now being in “C” R.I.P.
now a Conductor of a Luncheon car France 5 weeks and “up the line” Battery, 64 Bde Royal Field Research by Tony Armstrong.
which was attached to the train but 2 days. Artillery and then went off to a.armstrong116@btinternet.com
which ran from Liverpool Street Now Agnes, the youngest France. He went into the fighting at I HAVE COPIES OF ARTICLES
station to Hunstanton. He met his sibling, only married 7 yrs with 3 Loos followed by the Somme, FROM THE LOCAL PAPER
wife to be, Agnes, whilst boarding children under the age of 6 – is now Arras, Messines, Ypres and ABOUT THESE SOLDIERS,
here at Hunstanton when he a Widow herself – like her Mother Passchendale, so was well and truly THEY CAN BE SEEN ( BY
‘stopped over’ here. Agnes Elizabeth. So sad ! ‘battle hardened’. He came home REQUEST )IN THE SOLDIER
Dewsbury was the daughter of a Claude is buried in Grave Ref: I. on leave to Hunstanton in early BOOK IN THE HUNSTANTON
Boarding House Keeper, her K. 3, at the Cement House October 1917, returning to France HERITAGE CENTRE.
mother’s name was Elizabeth Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, in early November. N.B. Limited access times.