Author Chris Shaw
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Albert Hurn
Albert was born in Southrepps in 1894 to Leonard & Ann Hurn. He was one of 13 children. Before enlisting in November 1914 he was an estate labourer.
Albert landed in France in October 1915 with 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. He was discharged from the Army in April 1917 due to having received gunshot wounds to both legs.
The Battalion War Diary for June 1916 records that Albert has been awarded the Military Medal but doesn’t list any further detail. It is believed that he saved the life of a wounded officer but no citation has been found as yet.
On returning to civilian life Albert married Daisy Leeder in 1919 and lived in Norwich. He died in September 1967 aged 72. He is our most decorated soldier in this photograph.
Cyril Gotts
Cyril, also known as Triddle, was born in Southrepps in 1897 to Matthew & Mary Gotts. He was one of our youngest recruits. Prior to enlisting in November 1914 with 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment Cyril was a farm labourer. We don’t have much information about his military life but we know he was promoted to Acting Sergeant and also served with the Tank Regiment.
Back in civilian life Cyril joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable and married Ivy Hicks in London in 1925. Cyril died in Ealing in 1969 aged 72. His brothers Archie, Bertie, Matthew & Samuel also served in the Army.
Ernest Bane
Ernest, also known as Gupper, was born in Southrepps in 1892 to William and Mary Ann Bane.
Prior to enlisting in November 1914 Ernest was a labourer. We know he initially served with the Norfolk Regiment but at some stage he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps before being demobbed in February 1919.
He married Martha Whitwood in Greenwich in 1922 and they were still living there in 1939. Ernest died in Bromley, Kent in 1968 aged 76.
Charles Hewitt
Charles, also known as Jockey, was born in Southrepps in 1879 to Charles & Elizabeth Hewitt.
Charles enlisted with the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in 1900 but was discharged in 1901 due to being medically unfit.
Charles married Ellen May Burton-Pye in Southrepps in 1911 and they went on to have 9 children despite the War disrupting their family life.
He enlisted with 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in November 1914 but was transferred to 2nd Battalion prior to overseas service in the Balkans. Whilst in the Balkans he was transferred to 6th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers and during this service Charles contracted malaria and was invalided back to England in July 1917. He was discharged from the army in September of that year.
Charles died in 1955 aged 76. His brother Sidney is also on this photograph.
Robert Charles Gotts
Robert Charles Gotts was born in 1892 in Southrepps to Arthur & Keyoma Baker. He was born before his parents married therefore Arthur Baker is his assumed father. Robert was a labourer on his grandparent’s farm before enlisting with the Norfolk Regiment in November 1914.
After enlisting Robert married Gertrude Burton-Pye in Southrepps in September 1915, his two brothers in law, Samuel & Ernest Burton-Pye, are also part of this group.
He arrived in France in October 1915 with the 9th Battalion and received a gunshot wound to his arm in September 1916. His injuries were treated in a Rouen hospital. Robert was transferred to 430th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps, possibly as a result of his injuries, and was demobilised in April 1919.
The 1939 register shows Robert living in Antingham with his family where he was a foreman in road construction.
He died in July 1981 aged 89 and was buried at St Martin’s Church in Overstrand.
Wilfred Henry Hewitt
Wilfred was born in Southrepps in 1893 to Henry & Caroline Hewitt, he was one of 14 children.
Wilfred enlisted with the 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in September 1914, prior to that he had been a Gardener.
He landed in France in October 1915 but was wounded in the leg in June 1916. After initial treatment in a Boulogne military hospital he was transferred back to Norfolk. Wilfred returned to his unit but was killed in action on 31st July 1917 aged 24. He was buried at Monchy British Cemetery in the Pas de Calais region.
Middle Row Left to Right
John Henry Hewitt
John Hewitt was born in Southrepps in 1896 to Walter and Mary Hewitt. The family lived in Lower Street.
John enlisted with the 10th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in September 1914 but was soon transferred to 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment. He landed in the Dardanelles in September 1915 and spent 4 months there before transferring to 1st Battalion Essex Regiment in Egypt where he stayed for the next 2 months.
The Battalion then moved to France where John received a gunshot wound to his right arm. His injuries were treated back in England. He was back in France in January 1917 where he joined 14th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was gassed in July 1917 and after a short period of recuperation was back with his battalion. However he was back in hospital in February 1918 suffering from diphtheria.
Finally John was transferred to 660th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps in November 1918 before being demobbed in February 1919.
John married Ethel Rosa Turner in 1930 here in Southrepps where John had returned to farm labouring.
He died in 1952 aged 56 and was buried at St James’ Church.
Samuel Walter Burton-Pye
Samuel was born in Southrepps in 1894, the son of Francis and Edith Burton-Pye. The family lived in Lower Street near the Methodist Chapel. Sam’s mother died when he was 6 and his sister Laura seems to have looked after many of her younger siblings including Sam.
He enlisted with 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in November 1914 with his pal Ernest Smith aka Taffy. There is a remarkable set of letters which have survived from Sam back to his sister Laura covering the period from October 1915 to September 1916 which describes his life and travels. Many parts of the letters were censored but with modern scanners and computers we have managed to reveal many of the missing words.
The ship transporting the soldiers arrived in Greece on 15th October 1915 and Sam comments on the loads that the donkeys are carrying; he thinks the owners should be locked up. The fact that he was in Greece and there were thousands of soldiers on the ship was censored!
At the start of December 1915 there are a few grumbles about have to live in the mountains with limited rations, he thinks the lads in France will be better off! The rain is turning to snow and he hasn’t any linings for his trousers.
However things took a dramatic turn on 8th December when Sam and many others, while attached to the 6th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, were taken prisoner by the Bulgarians. The Bulgarians were not noted for their hospitality but it appears the British and French prisoners fared far better than the Serbs who were beaten regularly.
Sam’s first letter to his sister after being captured is in January 1916. He says he’s very hungry as they only get a small loaf and two bowls of stew each day. Can she ask Father to lend him 5 shillings to send a food parcel containing treacle, Woodbines and other essentials.
February 1916 – Sam asks how his pals in France are getting along. His food rations haven’t improved and is short of writing paper. Hopes the war will be over soon.
April 1916 – has received a food parcel from his sister and also one from the Red Cross. Laura’s last letter took 14 days to arrive. Can you send some more Woodbines and treacle in the next parcel. I hope to be with you next Christmas.
May 1916 – parcels are taking 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. Sam requests many things including writing paper, cocoa, sugar, soap and Woodbines. Has received a clothing parcel from a lady in London so not short of clothes now. Sam asks how everyone else is at home. Unfortunately the cake that was sent wasn’t edible, Woodbines will do in its place.
June 1916 – Sam is feeling quite well now as the food parcels have perked him up, and he’s got rid of the vermin!
August 1916 – the length of letters seems to be restricted, one page only so there’s little information. Sam hopes for a quick end to the war so he may have a change of food and some puddings.
September 1916 – Sam asks his sister to send him a knife to trim his toe nails. He suggests she sew it into the lining of a cap! And could she put a pound into a bag of sugar. It’s now a year since he left England and hopes to be home for Christmas.
We don’t have any more letters from Sam after this but unfortunately his incarceration continued until the Bulgarians released him in November 1918. He arrived back in Dover on 1st December 1918.
Back in Southrepps Sam married Winifred Elizabeth Briggs in 1922 and they went on to raise a family of 5 children. Sam died in 1971 aged 77 and was buried here at St James’ Church.
Sidney Richard Hewitt
Sidney Hewitt was born in Southrepps in 1888 the son of Charles and Elizabeth Hewitt.
Prior to enlisting Sidney was a farm labourer in Lower Street. He enlisted initially with 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment with the rank of Corporal. Whilst in France in 1915 he was promoted to Sergeant before transferring to 2/13th London Regiment where he was further promoted to Company Sergeant Major.
He stayed on in the Army until April 1920 and on his return to civilian life married Rose Elizabeth Hicks.
Sidney died in 1958 aged 69 and was buried at St James’s Church.
William Henry Burton
William Henry Burton aka Rusty was born in Southrepps in 1892 to William and Mary Burton..
In 1913 William married Emily Allen here in Southrepps and prior to enlisting he was a farm labourer. His army service has been difficult to ascertain but we know he served with 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment and finished his war service in March 1919 as an Acting Corporal.
In 1939 William was working for Norfolk CC as a road ‘lengthman’ and a member of ARP Rescue.
He died in August 1954 aged 61 and was buried at St James’ Church.
William Pearson
William Pearson was born in Norwich in 1877 to William and Harriet Pearson. He enlisted with 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade in 1898 and during his 8 years’ service spent some time in India.
He married Sarah Ellen Arabia Wicks in Norwich in 1906 and they went on to have 14 children, 11 of them survived to adulthood. The family moved to Southrepps in 1909 and lived opposite the Vernon Arms.
William enlisted with 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in November 1914 but was discharged from the Army in March 1916 due to Tuberculosis of the Lung. After treatment for his TB he resumed his duties as village postman until 1926 when the family moved to Trimingham.
He died in July 1952 at the age of 74 and was buried in Trimingham.
Benjamin Whitwood
Benjamin Whitwood (Jack) and his twin brother John were born in 1893 to Ruth Whitwood at West Beckham Workhouse. The census returns for 1901 and 1911 show him living with his grandmother in Lower Street.
Benjamin enlisted with 10th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in November 1914 but a year later he was transferred to 7th Battalion Border Regiment. After being wounded in the thigh in March 1916 he was evacuated back to England. On his return to duty in October 1916 he joined the 11th Battalion Border Regiment but was seriously injured in an accidental bomb explosion in March 1917 and subsequently died of his injuries.
Benjamin was buried at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery in the Somme.
Front Row Left to Right
Ernest Charles Smith
Ernest, also known as Taffy, was born in 1894 in Southrepps to Charles and Emma Smith. Ernest lived in Lower Street and was employed as a labourer prior to enlisting with 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment.
He departed Devonport in September 1915 bound for the Mediterranean and disembarked in Salonika. Ernest had treatment for dysentery shortly after his arrival in Greece, this being a common complaint for the soldiers in that region. After receiving treatment he was attached to the 6th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers but was wounded in the abdomen during a battle with the Bulgarians and subsequently taken prisoner.
Ernest succumbed to his injuries in December 1915 aged 21 in Philippole, now known as Plovdiv, and has no known grave. He is remembered on the Doiran Memorial in Greece.
Ernest Robert Burton-Pye
Ernest, also known as Major, was born in Southrepps in 1897, the son of Francis & Edith Burton-Pye. His mother died just before his fourth birthday and he was brought up by his older sister Laura. Prior to enlisting Ernest was working as a farm labourer for his uncle in Gimingham. He was brother to Sam Burton-Pye.
Ernest, aged 17, enlisted with 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in September 1914 and landed in France in October 1915. In September 1916 the Battalion war diary shows that they carried out an attack around Ginchy with the objective being the Quadlitateral. Unfortunately delays in cutting the barbed wire resulted in the loss of 431 Other Ranks, Ernest being one of them.
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
William Edward Moy
William Moy was born in 1894 in Southrepps to Herbert and Edith Moy. Prior to enlisting William lived in both Upper and Lower Street and worked as a farm labourer.
He enlisted with 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in September 1914 and landed in France with 8th Battalion in August 1915. July 1916 saw him wounded in the right leg and hand and he was repatriated to England for treatment which lasted until November of that year.
Whilst back in France in February 1918 William was wounded again this time in his thigh and once more he was returned to England for treatment where he remained until he was demobbed in March 1919. In that same year he married Ethel Hurn and they lived in Thorpe Market.
Herbert Pitcher
Herbert Pitcher was born in Southrepps in 1891 to James & Rebecca Pitcher. His father died when Herbert was 2 years old and his mother re-married in 1896.
He appears to have been fostered out to a local family before enlisting with the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in 1907. We believe Herbert continued serving in the Army prior to the start of the War but at some stage he was transferred to 2nd and 8th Battalions of the Suffolk Regiment.
He landed in France in January 1915 but died of his wounds on 16th October 1916 aged 25. Herbert was buried at Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery in the Somme region.
William George Rogers
William Rogers and his twin Anna were born in Sheringham in 1897 to John and Sarah Rogers. Unfortunately misfortune seemed to bedevil this family, William’s older brother Herbert was killed in 1903 when the septic tanks on the foreshore in Sheringham exploded. It was his second day at work. Then William’s father John was admitted to the County Asylum in 1905 and he died there in 1907.
The remaining family moved to Southrepps and we know they were here in 1911, Sarah, her 7 children and a grandchild. William was employed as a caddy at the Royal Cromer Golf Club but left that job in October 1913 to join 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment. His declared age was 17 years & 6 months, in fact he was a year younger than that.
William was transferred to 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in August 1914 and arrived in France in November 1915. One week before Christmas 1915 William was killed aged 18 and buried at the Guards Cemetery, Cuinchy, in the Pas de Calais region.
A brief summary
Of the 17 men in this photograph, 6 did not return from the War, 3 were invalided out of the Army, 1 was a Prisoner of War for 3 years, 3 suffered gunshot wounds but were patched up and rejoined the fray and 4 men appear to have come through it without physical injury. It’s likely that all of those who survived carried the memories of their battles for the rest of their lives.
The History Hub has further information on these soldiers and many others from our village who took part in the Great War. If you would like any information then please contact us via the Contact Page.