ASHBY
WAR MEMORIAL
World
War1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Christine Yaxley 2018
There
are two war memorials in Ashby, one inside and one outside the Church
of St. Mary. The World War 1 memorial within the church is a marble
plaque fixed to the wall of the nave listing three names. To the left
of the gate as you enter the churchyard is the memorial stone to the
7 USAAF airmen who were filled nearby in the World War 2. The first
five names belonged to the 100th Bomb Group, stationed at Thorpe Abbotts,
nicknamed the "Bloody Hundreds", the last two men were from
the American 5th Emergency Squadron based at Halesworth.
| |
| Photographs
Copyright © Helen Steed 2010 |
“TO
THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN
GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF ASHBY
WHO FELL IN THE
GREAT WAR 1914-1918”.
| BOYCE |
Jack
Arthur |
Able
Seaman R/894, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve. Died of wounds in 149th (R.N.) Field Ambulance
8 October 1918. Born 4 December 1898 in Blundeston. Son of Jack
Boyce, of Ashby Dell, near Lowestoft. Farm Labourer before enlisting.
In Army Reserve 4 December 1916 ; entered 9 March 1917 ; joined
draft for Howe Battalion, British Expeditionary Force 31 December
1917, admitted to hospital 11 January 1918 with sprained left
ankle, joined Hood Battalion from Base Depot Calais 13 March
1918 until 10 May 18, contracted Rose Measles, rejoined Hood
Battalion 6 June 1918 until his death. Hright 5 feet 5 inches,
chest 34 inches, fresh complexion, light brown hair, grey eyes,
religious denomination Church of England. In the 1911 census
he was aged 12, born Blundeston, son ofr John and Emma Boyce,
resident The Hole, Ashby, Suffolk. Suffolk, Buried in NOYELLES-SUR-L'ESCAUT
COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave
3. |
| PEARMAN |
Arthur
William |
Private
2991, 2nd/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died of
wounds 29 July 1916. Enlisted Rugby, Warwicks. In the 1911 census
he was agede 18, born Ashby, Suffolk, an Accountant Clerk, son
of Eliza Pearman, resident The Doles, Ashby, Suffolk; brother
of Henry John (below). Buried in KEIGHLEY (MORTON) CEMETERY,
Yorkshire. Special Memorial. |
| PEARMAN |
[Henry]
John |
[Listed
as 6th Battalion on memorial] Private 43084, 7th Battalion,
Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 12 October 1916. Enlisted
Lowestoft. In the 1911 census he was aged 13,born Ashby Suffolk,
at School, son of Eliza Pearman, resident The Doles, Ashby,
Suffol; brother of Arthur William (above)k. No known grave.
Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face
1 C and 2 A. |
| “THEIR
NAME LIVERTH FOR EVERMORE” |
 “
NEAR
THIS PLACE ON MAY 7TH 1944
|
The
first five names listed here were from the 100th Bomb Group
stationed at Thorpe Abbotts, nicknamed the "Bloody Hundreds".
A number of Flying
Fortresses set off on the early morning of 7th May1944, for
a raid on Berlin. One of these caught fire before it reached
the east coast. Several dozen signal flares in cartridges
stored in the top turret compartment started to explode and
set on fire the entire front of the plane. Though the top
turret gunner tried to put out the flames, the cabin was filled
with smoke. Moving to the forward hatch to make his escape
he found it blocked by the body of a man whose parachute was
outside the plane. Five of the crew escaped through the gun
turret while the pilot kept the plane steady, but the remaining
five, including the pilot and co-pilot, died in the crash
and explosion nearby.
|
| WRIGHT |
Ralph
W |
Second
Lieutenant O-753834, U.S. Army Air Forces, 349th Bomber Squadron,
100th Bomber Group, Heavy, Army Air Force. Killed 7 May 1941,
near Ashby. Entered Service from Oklahoma. Buried in Cambridge
American Cemetery, Cambridge. Plot G Row 4 Grave 159. |
| RAPPER |
Jack
W |
Lt.,
U.S. Army Air Forces, 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group,
Heavy, Army Air Force. Killed 7 May 1941, near Ashby. |
| CURRAN |
Richard |
Lt.,
U.S. Army Air Forces, 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group,
Heavy, Army Air Force. Killed 7 May 1941, near Ashby. |
| HERRMAN |
Carl
A |
Lt.,
U.S. Army Air Forces, 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group,
Heavy, Army Air Force. Killed 7 May 1941, near Ashby. |
| MOORE |
Randolph
C |
Staff
Sergeant 34211048, U.S. Army Air Forces, 349th Bomber Squadron,
100th Bomber Group, Heavy, Army Air Force. Killed 7 May 1944,
near Ashby. Entered Service from North Carolina. Buried in Cambridge
American Cemetery, Cambridge. Plot F Row 1 Grave 38. |
ALSO
ON APRIL 8TH 1945
The
last two men were from the American 5th Emergency Squadron
based at Halesworth involved in a crash 8 April 1945 when
they were in collision in two USAAF P47 Thunderbolts over
Fritton Lake, whilst either returning from an air-sea rescue
mission or just practising aerial maneouvres. One went into
the Lake and parts were recovered later from the Lake in 1971
and were exhibited at Fritton Hall, the other crashed in the
field opposite White Lodge, fragments being scattered over
a wide area.
|
| JUDD |
Russel
P |
Second
Lieutenant O-552830, 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, U.S. Army
Air Force. Killed 8 April 1945, near Ashby. Entered Service
from Ohio. Buried in Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge.
Plot E Row 4 Grave 69. |
| DAVIS |
Louis
S |
Flight
Officer T-063496, 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, U.S. Army Air
Force. Killed 8 April 1945, near Ashby. Entered Service from
Georgia. Buried in Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge. Plot
E Row 6 Grave 12. |
ALL
OF THE U.S.A. 8TH ARMY AIR FORCE
GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE
OF THIS COUNTRY."
“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FRIENDS”.
Last
updated
16 April, 2018
|
