Great Snoring War Memorials
The War memorial is on the outer wall of the Churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin, in the Street, Gt. Snoring. Its metal plate, on which the names are engraved, covers the original stone base in which the names were first cut because this became very worn.
It is interesting that the dates for the First World War on this Memorial are given as 1914-1919, not 1918, but that is because the war did not officially end until the peace treaty of June 1919, despite the Armistice of 1918.
Here are the names and a few details of the men who served:
- Leslie Benstead. From the Parish Magazine of 1917 we read "Great Snoring has sustained another loss. Herbert Leslie Benstead has passed away in Mesopotamia. By patient industry he had been working up a business in our parish, when he was called from it to the sterner task of war. Great sympathy is felt for his parents, who have had to lament the loss of two sons within the last few months.
- Victor Benstead. "The sad tidings that Albert Victor Ernest Benstead has been seriously wounded reached his parents on February 16th, only to be confirmed by a later notification that he had been killed in action. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his sorrowing relatives. He was only 19 years of age."
- Sidney Bushell. Private Sidney Bushell emigrated to Canada and served in the 8th BN Canadian Infantry and was killed in action on 10th August 1918, aged 22 years.
- Arthur Collins
- Frederick Dawson
- Charles Dewing
- Frederick Fox. Frederick was born in 1897 and died in December 1917.
- Herbert Fox. His brother Herbert, an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, also died on 6th July 1916 during the terrible Battle of Jutland.
- Arthur Gent. Arthur was in the Essex Regiment and died in 1918. He is buried at Amiens. When he lived in Gt. Snoring he worked as a groom, then moved to Rougham, then to Burnham Market and later to Wells. His name therefore appears on three local War Memorials!
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Leonard Gould
Via email, September 2007: "Leonard Gould (after whom I am named) was a private in the 1st Bn Norfolk Regiment. He died on 3rd November 1917 aged 21 at Passchendaele. My Mother wrote this small poem when he died, she was about 15 years old and recorded in what was Leonard's bible, which I now have.The cup was bitter, the sting severeTo part with one I loved so dearThere came a mist and a blinding rainAnd the world was never the same again."(from) Frank Leonard Hiscox, Attleborough (address on application)
- Alfred George Hambling
- Norman Hamblin
- Walter Hamblin
- William Kingham
- John Lambert
- Dennis Linford. The brother of Hilda, and Horace. Hilda married Elvin Southgate (this is the son of Mary Ann [Polly] Southgate, and not the Elvin, son of William and Sarah Southgate who lived in the village. A commemorative plaque for Elvin Southgate's service in the Great War can be seen in Little Snoring church. See this page.
- Horace Linford - brother of the above. The photograph below MAY show Denis and Horance Linford. It was amongst the possessions of Elvin Southgate when he died in Hindringham.
- Berry W. Newton - B.W. Newton was born in 1895 and joined the Rifle Brigade of 11th Battalion. He died in September 1917 and his life was commemorated at the momorial in Zonnebeke, Belgium.
- Frederick Smith - Before he moved to Kent, Fred worked in the shop in the village run by Edward Barrett Adams and his wife Matilda (nee Tuck, widow of Wm Southgate). Fred left a widow, Ethel, who remarried. His sister Matilda was never able to accept that he had been killed.
- Stanley White - From a card presumably sent to his parents, we read: "L. Cpl Stanley White who served in the 9th Norfolk Regiment and died from wounds received in action on 9th July 1917, aged 23 years."
- Ernest White
- Ephraim White - From a card sent to his mother, we learn that he was killed in action in France on September 5th 1918, aged 26 years. In a letter sent from Capt. Pluck of 4th Batt Beds Regiment, Langinsalza, Germany, he was referred to by the name Edward.
2nd World War
- Frederick D. Plane - The youngest member of a large family who, before he moved to London, worked for the Perowne family in the house. It is believed that he falsified his age when he joined the Navy and was on the Warship HMS Kelly commanded by Admiral Mountabetten. He died in 1941 when the ship sank off the island of Crete.
- Herbert Smith - Herbert moved to Great Snoring when his mother came as a housekeeper. Until he was called up in May 1940 he had worked on the farm. He went into the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was killed at the Salerno landings off Italy in 1943.
Other References
In the National Archives, (Records of the Royal Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals) there are documents relating to other Great Snoring men who saw action in war. These are listed as follow:- ROBERT WEEKS Born GREAT SNORING, Served in 1st Foot Guards Discharged aged 29 (1803-1814)
- JOHN COMER Born GREAT SNORING, Served in 12th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 19 (1852-1854)
- JAMES FULLER Born GREAT SNORING, Served in 63rd Foot Regiment Discharged aged 37 (1810-1824)
- EDWARD KENDLE Born GREAT SNORING, Served in 97th Foot Regiment; 63rd Foot Regiment Discharged aged 43 (1810-1837)
- JOHN KENDLE Born GREAT SNORING, Served in 63rd Foot Regiment; 97th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 43 (1810-1833)