Today, 11 November 2017, is just a year away from the 100th anniversary of World War One guns falling silent, Allied victory and Dedication of Capel St Mary’s War Memorial Monument

CapelIssue Two – November 2017 Times Free to all residents, friends and supporters Great support but we do need the final push Group Captain Gary Bunkell CBE Chairman, Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust

With just one year to go before the Dedication Service of Capel St Mary’s War Memorial Monument, we are delighted with the support and money we have received from across many community groups and individuals of all ages. We still have some money to raise so, if you can, please help. One way is to become a Friend of Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust. A membership form is on Page 11. The Memorial’s granite block has been excavated and shipped from a quarry in India. Neil Luxton, our stone mason, will engrave on it the 35 names of the fallen. Full story on the Back Page. The project to refurbish Ben’s Garden at Capel St Mary Primary School, and to include a Memorial to the children of the school lost in two world wars, has made good progress. Full story on page 2. Some of our Heritage Lottery Grant money will be allocated to East Bergholt High School for specific projects to widen the students’ understanding of World War One and its impact both at home and abroad. Full story on Page 3. The 1914 World War One garden party in June attracted 300 people and raised £1,275. Full story on Page 4. Planning will start shortly for the War Memorial Dedication Service on 11 November 2018. On the same day, we will mount an exhibition on the impact of the war on Capel. A beacon, one of a thousand across the United Kingdom, will A beautiful emblem for next year? be lit. Symbols of remembrance of the losses and tragedies of war can be We will need volunteers over the weekend of 10 and 11 as simple as this evocative painting by Dianne Harvey, a member of November next year. If you can help, please e-mail me Capel St Mary Art for Fun Club. The painting is being considered as at [email protected] an emblem for the coming last year of the War Memorial campaign. Capel Times November 2017 Page 2

Dress up and join the dance Ben’s Garden is back at Orchard The refurbishment of an area of Capel St Mary Players 1940s School garden, dedicated to the memory of Ben Swing Night Alcock, a pupil who died in Dress up! Dress up! Dress 1992 aged nine, is almost up in 1940s clothes! complete. The Orchard Players are The work is being carried putting on a 1940s Swing out and financed by Capel Night with a period cabaret St Mary War Memorial and songs, Glen Miller Trust. music and dancing for all in aid of the War Memorial The Trust is keen to involve Fund. There will be a prize young people in its for the most original 1940 campaign to build the clothing. village’s War Memorial The night is being Monument, and to create Above: The newly refurbished garden. Below: The garden before work had begun. organised by the Players’ awareness of the causes chair Lynn Perera, Val and sacrifices of World War Munns and Julie Wardley. One and World War Two. Julie said that they are The school and Ben’s responding to a public parents agreed that the request for more music and Trust would provide more dressing up following volunteers for the the Players’ great refurbishment and to install performance at the June Garden Party. See Garden a Memorial to the 22 Party report on Page 4. former pupils who went to war and never returned. The event will be in Capel Village Hall on Saturday, 10 The work started in late March next year. The hall August. It included the will be dressed up, too, in removal of overgrown Quote authentic 1940 style. An Acorn Pillar for the shrubs, the installation of a “The children have been Tickets are £10 a person picket fence, laying paving, excited to see the changes and will be on sale in raising beds and seating. school’s lost children and are looking forward to January. There will be The original wooden bench Twenty-two of the Headteacher for special using the Ben’s Garden.” nibbles and the bar will be has been stripped and school’s former pupils congratulations. open. Tickets can be Zara Davis, the teacher repainted. who died in World War who is overseeing the reserved in advance. The child takes the card One and World War Two project. home to celebrate with Ben Harris, who was Ben are to be remembered. Alcock’s best friend at family. When all 9 SMARTs “Ben’s Garden was Gains for all school, used his skills to Their names are to be are achieved, the child is looking very tired. The build the circular seat, engraved on a stone pillar. given an acorn badge to Trust and volunteers have beautifully upgraded it to at a host of pictured right, around the The pillar will have on its sew on a jumper or a fitting tribute. Their work tree in the garden, in top a stone acorn. Acorns cardigan and is recognised is a sign of a spirit of garage sales memory of his lost friend. are very special to the in a special ACORN community partnership. school. collective worship to which It was a great garage sale The project was managed family is invited. Very well done to one with a different aim. by Jim Sporle, who did a Zara Davis writes: and all.” To earn a People SMART it Lisa Blumsum, of Capel, significant amount of work. Children work towards a Canon Pendorf, Priest-in- may be that children have and Joanna Green, of special reward system Charge at St. Mary's Parish Trust and other volunteer shown the ability to work Copdock, charged a £5 fee called SMARTs. They Church. workers included Griff really well with others, have to promote the sale at Johns, Bill Dimond, Mike work to gain a significant garages all round the achievement in nine shown kindness and Woodward, Gary Bunkell, village. different learning areas: consideration towards The full refurbishment Steve Prior, Chris Easy, Number, Word, People, others or have thought of cost, once additional The fee raised £175 which Ian Alcock, Stuart Harris, Body, Self, Nature, Music, others before themselves. items have been was donated to the War Jon Bunkell, Eddie and sourced, will be about Presentation and Picture. We use the acorn on the Memorial Trust Fund. Other Geoff Cox, Charlie Nixon £2,500. The money badge due to the donations brought in £63, a and Nathan Robinson. When a child achieves a spent on refurbishment total for the Fund of £238. SMART, a staff member magnificent oak tree within was raised separately Nathan, when a pupil at the writes out a SMART the school grounds which from that donated The sellers, the buyers and school, helped to raised postcard detailing the is the school's symbol on solely for building the the Fund all gained. Worth money for an earlier achievement and sends uniform and our headed War Memorial. another go next year? refurbishment. the child to the paper. Capel Times November 2017 Page 3 Cash for High School

Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust is able to help East Bergholt High School to pay for a series of World War One educational projects and visits to the Western Front sites from a Heritage Lottery Fund awareness grant of £10,000. Heritage Lottery believes that understanding and sharing heritage brings people together, inspires pride in communities and boosts investment in local communities. Guest of Honour at War Memorial Battlefield visits Dedication is Cheryl Schmidt Assistant Headteacher Suffolk Deputy Lieutenant Students at East Bergholt High School study the World War Sir Michael Bunbury, Bt., One in years 9, 10 and 11. One of our GCSE units of work KCVO, DL, will be the is based on the Western Front with a focus on injuries, Guest of Honour, treatments and the trenches. Students begin to study World representing Her Majesty War One in depth in year 9 with a unit of work in their first The Queen, at the term looking at the conflict in depth and the consequences Dedication of Capel St of the war for Europe. Mary’s War Memorial Monument next year. We take an annual trip to the battlefields of Belgium The Dedication will be at A welcome to and the Somme and the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month students are encouraged to exactly 100 years after the our arts expo research their family and High School Students at the Vimy Memorial which World War One Armistice Many High School students local history and, where commemorates more than 11,000 Canadians killed in and the silencing of the and their families live in Capel possible, visit the graves France in World War One, many of them at Vimy Ridge. guns. St Mary and have and monuments to the fallen connections with the Primary Sir Michael is a Deputy men and women with whom School and the Village, writes Lieutenant of the County Cheryl Schmidt. they have a connection. of Suffolk. He was We are delighted and Our poppy art project at the nominated for the post by privileged to be invited to be start of the centenary the Lord Lieutenant and part of such an important encouraged students to talk received his commission community project. to their families about their of appointment from the We look forward to reporting own family history and Lord Chancellor by the our progress during the next produce a piece of art in command of Her Majesty 12 months. their memory to be part of The Queen. We will warmly welcome our art installation. He was High Sheriff of residents to our arts expo at Suffolk, an annual the High School next year. We are incredibly excited to appointment, in 2006. be able to build upon these County Sheriffs are the learning opportunities with World War One De Havilland fighter plane at Duxford. holders of the the oldest Lottery cash is help from the Capel St Mary secular office under the paying for a free War Memorial Trust and Crown. have many activities A fantastic Duxford trip Sir Michael, of Nau ton Capel book planned over the next 12 those involved in warfare. n Chris Sodey Hall, Rendlesham, has months. As well as the High School, Art Teacher Students created their own served as Chairman of the Heritage Lottery money is being and Leader of Music artwork which reflected the Council of the Duchy of Every department, from Lancaster. used to research into events computing to food broad range of interpretations surrounding World War One. technology, has put forward School young artists visited artists have when observing The senior military officer They include how the lives of an idea to be included in Duxford Imperial War new material. This showcased at the Dedication will be Museum in October to study Air Vice-Marshal Simon Capel villagers were affected, this project. the talent of our students. those who went to the Front, historical artefacts, military Dougherty. The fantastic experience for families who never saw their With help from Heritage vehicles and the dramatic The Dedication will be all was expressed by Rhys sons again, wives who never Lottery funding, we are movements and sound of followed by an exhibition saw their husbands again, hoping to make a film of war the airborne aircraft: a Elsey (Year 9) who produced in the Village Hall and, in children who lost their fathers poetry and local stories. fantastic place for students one of the finest pieces of the evening, the lighting of and those working on the Home photography of the day. Front. to become inspired and a Beacon, one of a 1,000 develop their observational He liked the way the day ran. across the country. Their stories are to be told in a More news about the skills. “I really enjoyed our tasks. book by Griff Johns which will High School World War be distributed free of charge to One projects will be in It was a thought-provoking The day was perfect and it Capel people. It will also be the next Capel Times. experience and students was my most enjoyable available online. reflected upon the lives of school trip ever.” Students research all aspects of World War One Capel Times November 2017 Page 4 What an amazing garden party in Capel...

An amazing £1,275 was raised on the day at Capel’s 1914 World War One garden party. There were exhibitions, a replica trench, concert and art show. Entrance and tea and cakes were free. The money, for the War Memorial Fund, came from generous donations, sale of war-themed paintings and raffle tickets sold on the day. The trench was originally in an Army regimental museum. It was found in bits in a field by former Capel resident, David Empson. He is a collector and exhibitor of items from both the World War One and World War Two. Many items on display were lent by him. The trench was put together over three weeks by Trust committee members. In it, were a periscope for spotting Above: The Orchard Players entertained in a variety of costumes. the enemy, a period stretcher Art Club’s and sand bags. There was a recording of artillery and war-themed machine gun fire. The concert, in two sessions, paintings was by The Orchard Players who sang World War One sold well songs and then World War Capel St Mary’s Art for Fun Club Two songs. The Players were members exhibited a variety of dressed in a variety of war-themed paintings. uniforms, see the photograph They sold well and all the money top right. Other residents and raised was donated to the War visitors dressed in war- Memorial Fund. themed clothes. The evocative painting featured The paintings were by the Art on Page 1 is being considered for Fun for members. A full by the War Memorial Trust as an emblem for the coming final report is in column four on this year of the Memorial campaign. page. The painting is by Dianne The exhibitions included war Harvey, of Capel. It was bought weapons and items used by by Sue Johns, also of Capel. the Armed Services and by The Club’s war-themed civilians. There were displays paintings will be on sale to raise of posters of women at war money for the Memorial at a and women working for the future event. war effort at home. Art Club members made a The garden party was held at valuable contribution to The Tudor House, 1a The Street Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations last year. on 25 June. Writer Griff Johns in World War One uniform The replica World War One trench ...It raised £1,275 for the Memorial Fund Capel Times November 2017 Page 5 The continuing story of World War One

Faced with superior1914 German numbers the British Expeditionary Force makes a fighting retreat from the Belgian town of Mons Between 24 August and 28 September, the Allies Issue One of Capel Times told of the War opens retreat to the River Marne build up, outbreak and first days of with the artillery taking place on 26 World War One. The story is continued on Eastern August. here in Issue Two with the British Front During the British retreat Expeditionary Force and French allies from Mons in the early The first battle on the hours of 1 September, the making fighting retreats which gives Eastern Front, at 1st British Cavalry Brigade, larger German forces early successes. Stalluponen, follows the with L Battery Royal Horse Russian army of the Neman Artillery, is attacked at Nery entering East on 17 between 28 September and and British and French in Northern France by a August. The battle is a 10 October. Forces. Greetings, gifts and much larger German minor victory for Germany souvenirs are exchanged, Cavalry Division. Both sides In the first , but it doesn’t deter Russian football and other games fight dismounted. fought between 1 and 4 forces from advancing. are played. October, the French army In the early stages of the The Russians withdraw attacks and tries to outflank from East Prussia with battle, British artillery is put The break in fighting allows heavy casualties after the out of action, apart from a the Germans. The Germans for the recovery and burial first battle of the Masurian single gun from L Battery are trying to outflank the of the fallen with both sides French during the race to helping each other in this Lakes between 7 and 14 that continues a steady fire September for two-and-half-hours. the sea, and where the not very pleasant task. The trenches and defensive removal of dead and Austro-Hungarian forces Reinforcements arrive and positions were being decaying bodies from the suffer a defeat by the counter attack, routing the extended north. trenches was humanitarian Russians on 2 September Germans and forcing them and hygienic. at the battle of Rava to retreat. Three men of L At the battle of Yser Russka, in the Ukraine. between 16 and 21 The High Command of Battery are awarded the Research There is another Russian Victoria Cross. L Battery October, French and both sides do not like this Belgian troops secure the victory at the battle of itself is awarded the Battle fraternisation and issue and words Warsaw fought between 29 coast line of Belgium along Honour Nery, the only stern orders for it to stop. It September and 31 October. British Army unit to carry a 22-mile stretch of the does not happen again. The this Honour. Yser River and the Yperiee launches a surprise attack Although it is widely on the Russian Black Sea On 14 September, Erich The thought that the Christmas Griff coast on 29 October. von Falkenhayn replaces between 19 and 22 October Truce happened along the Helmuth von Moltke as ends the entire front it did not. In Russia declares war on German Chief of Staff. and stops the Germans some sectors, the war the Ottoman Empire on 1 reaching Calais and Johns November. Four days later, raged on and men on both The French achieve a France and the United Dunkirk. sides die, even on tactical victory on 29 At the end of 1914 all Kingdom declare war on September at the battle of The first battle of Artois is Christmas Day. the Capel St Mary the Ottoman Empire. St Quentin, also known as fought between 17 When 1914 comes to an men who have gone The battle of Lodz, in the battle of Guise. The December and 13 January end, the war that many to war are still alive. Poland, between German German advance is halted 1915. people had thought will be The mourning of and Russian forces was allowing for an orderly allied During Christmas Eve and over by Christmas village families is still fought in bad winter retreat. Christmas Day in some continues. The end is not in to come as it has conditions from 11 The Belgian city and port of sectors of the Western sight and the war will November to 6 December. already for villages The result was Antwerp is besieged and Front an unofficial truce is continue for four more across all the country. falls to the Germans observed between German years. inconclusive. Capel Times November 2017 Page 6 Death toll mounts in stalemate war Commander United K

French 1915 French R War on the War on the Western Eastern Front Front After initial success the British Russians launch a offensive in the battle of Carpathians offensive on 2 Neuve Chapelle in the Artois January. It lasts until April. Joffre region of France between 10 Germans fire chemical and 13 March is halted.The weapons for the first time, Imperial Germ 18,000 shells of Xylyl bromide between 22 April and 25 May tear gas, a war crime, on 31 ends in stalemate. January at the battle of The Germans use poison gas Bolimov, west of Warsaw. It is for the first time. It is a 2nd so cold the gas freezes. A War Crime, this time on the Zeppelins bring terror to the skies Russian Army is defeated at Western Front. The first German Zeppelin airship bombing raid on Britain is the second Masurian Lakes on the night of 19-20 January. The targets of the two battle between 7 and 22 A secret is Zeppelins, L3 and L4, is Humberside but strong winds divert February. signed on 26 April between them. They drop their bombs on Great Yarmouth, Sheringham, A minor German push at the Triple Entente of the and King’s Lynn. The toll is four civilians killed, 16 injured and United Kingdom, France, Gorlice-Tarnow, south east of minor damage to buildings. Zeppelins are branded baby killers Krakow, on 1 May to relieve Russia and the Kingdom of after bombing London in May and October. In total, 500, Russian pressure on Austro- Moltke Italy. mainly civilians, die in Zeppelin raids. Hungarian forces, becomes Its purpose is to gain the Baby-killer raids kill 500 civilians 1915’s main offensive and Austro-Hunga alliance of Italy against its lasts until October. Defeated former allies of Germany and Russians retreat deep into Austro-Hungary. The lure is battle of Ypres. His full story fails. The battle Russia. is told in Issue One of Capel of , a the swathes of Austro- From June to September Times. Hungary territory north of Italy phase of the battle of Loos, is Russians retreat from Poland and east across the Adriatic. Italy declares War on Austria- fought between 25 September and Galicia. Germans break Britain promises funding and Hungary on 23 May. and 15 October. through the Russian lines near Lviv in the Ukraine on 22 Italy promises to enter the war The first aerial victory by a Capel’s third casualty, June. Austro-Hungarians the following month. The synchronised gun-aimed secret deal is published in Second Lieutenant enter Lviv on 5 August. fighter aircraft is by German Richmond Deck, Suffolk 1917 by the Bolsheviks. air force Lieutenant Kurt On 8 September, Germans Regiment, is killed in action Emperor Joseph Capel’s first casualty, Henry Wintgens flying a Fokker occupy Warsaw and Tsar on 30 September. His full Chiverton, Royal Engineers, Eindecker. He brings down a Nicholas II takes command of story is told in Issue One of died of wounds on 2 May French Morane-Saulnier the Russian army from Grand Russian during the second battle of Parasol two-seater flown by Capel Times. Duke Nicholas Nikolayevich. Captain Paul de Peuty with Ypres. His full story is told in Capel’s fourth casualty, The United Kingdom declares Issue One of Capel Times. observer Lieutenant De war on Bulgaria on 15 William Fallows, Suffolk Boutiny on 1 July. October, followed by France a The British Liner Lusitania is Regiment, is killed in action day later. Italy and Russia sunk by a German U Boat on Captain Hawker, of the Royal on 3 October. His full story is declare war on Bulgaria on 19 7 May. The full story of the Flying Corps, is on July 25 told in Issue One of Capel October. War at Sea will be told in a the first British combat pilot to Times. later issue. be awarded the Victoria Cross. He attacks and brings Sir John French is replaced by The story of the War on Capel’s second casualty, down three enemy aircraft the Eastern Front, Italian Edgar Fallows, Suffolk Douglas Haig as Commander over Passchendaele. Front and Balkan Front Regiment, is killed in action of the British Expeditionary continues on Page 11. Grand Duke Nikolayevich on 8 May during the second A major British offensive in the Force on 19 December Capel Times November 2017 Page 7 ders in Chief First military conscription imposed Kingdom

Haig Republic 1916At the villages of Mametz and Montauban, German War on the defence crumbles by the Western end of the day. The British meet machine gun fire in the Gommecourt Front to Thiepval area where large Conscription into the services deep bunkers give the key in the United Kingdom is strong points of introduced for the first time Gommecourt, Serre, Nivelle on 27 January by the Military Beaumont-Hamel and erman Empire Service Act 1916. Thiepval protection. The United Kingdom is the The preliminary only European army without bombardment kills and conscription but as the war injures only a few Germans. goes with fewer and fewer volunteers it is essential. Tanks on battlefield for first time British casualties are Conscription ends in 1920. The British Army is the first in the world to develop and use unprecedented: 58,000 with The begins tanks. The first tanks, nicknamed Little Willie, are 19,000 dead. on 21 February. It becomes demonstrated to the Army in February. Their first appearance in warfare is at Flers-Courcelette, during the battle of the There are battles for the largest and longest Somme, in September. The new secret weapon has mixed Longueval and Delville battle on the Western Front success. One-in-three breaks down, others do break through Wood from 14 July to 15 during World War One. Falkenhayn to German lines. They travel at walking pace, cannot withstand September, and Fromelles It ends on 18 December. The heavy shells and get stuck in mud. from19 to 20 July, ngarian Empire German objective is to bleed Mixed success for new weapon France dry of men. But the Capel’s sixth casualty, line held. Private William Friend are tried and 16 are There are some successes. Abbott, Suffolk Regiment, Capel’s fifth casualty, executed. In the opening phase of the is killed in action on 20 July. Private George William second on His full story is told on Norris, Suffolk Regiment, At Hulluch, north of Loos, the 1 and 2 July, the British Page 8. dies in France. His story is Germans send two clouds of capture Fricourt. on Page 8. a mixture of chlorine and Somme offensive battles of phosgene gas at British Between 3 and 17 July, the Pozierand and Guillemont Germany declares war on lines. The first, on 27 April, are fought between 23 July Portugal on 9 March. reaches the lines allowing British capture Le Boisselle, Portugal officially enters the the Germans to gain a small Mametz Wood and Orvillers. and 28 Emperor Charles war. foothold.The second, on 29 During the second battle of Capel’s seventh casualty, an Empire The Easter Rising for an April, comes as the wind Albert and the battle of Lance Corporal Frederick changes. The gas blows independent Ireland lasts Bazentine Ridge, the British Walter Grimsey, Suffolk from 24 to 29 April. Irish back over German lines. capture Contalmaison and Regiment, died during the citizens take over key Panicking Germans run into Trones Wood. . His buildings in Dublin, including the open and are shot giving full story is told on P8. the Post Office which the British a victory. Before the attack there is becomes their headquarters. seven-day artillery The Somme offensive ends The battle of the Somme with enormous casualties on They are led by Patrick bombardment. German front begins on 1 July and lasts Pearse, a school master. 18 November. until 18 November with little and rear positions are The nationalists are gain. The first day is the damaged and the German The battle of Verdun ends on outgunned and surrender. worst in British military nerves tested. But their 18 December with casualties h Tsar Nicholas The toll is 485 killed and history with nearly 20,000 barbed wire defences are of 377,231 French and 2,600 wounded. The leaders casualties. not badly damaged. 337,000 Germans. Capel Times November 2017 Page 8

Three more William brave Capel Abbott men lose their Suffolk Regiment lives and more will die before 1890 - 1916 the end of the William Friend Abbott enlisted war in 1918 in Ipswich and after basic training he was posted as Private 18342 Abbott to the Second Battalion. Suffolk The village they left Regiment. He was posted 1916George Frederick missing, killed in action, on 20 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Norris far behind... Grimsey William has no known grave Suffolk Regiment Suffolk Regiment but is remembered with Honour on Pier & Face 1c & 2a 1894 - 1916 1894 - 1916 of the Thiepval Memorial. His name is also on a Memorial George William Norris enlisted Frederick Walter Grimsey Plaque at St John’s Church, as Private 8930 Norris in the enlisted in the Suffolk Great Wenham. Suffolk Regiment in 1914. By Regiment and served with 8th He was posthumously early December he was in Battalion. He was a Lance awarded the 1914-1918 British France and would have seen Corporal, number 13007. The active service during 1915. War Medal and the 1914–1919 rest of his early military record Victory Medal. His parents The winter of 1915-16 was has not survived. All that is would have received the cold and wet, with trenches known is that he arrived in Memorial Plaque and Scroll. ankle deep in water. They were France on 4 October 1915 and without duck boards on which died during the battle of the William was born January to walk . This caused many Somme. 1890 in a cottage on Coles , casualties from frost bite, His body was not found and Wenham Magna, now known pneumonia and trench foot. he has no known grave. He is as Great Wenham. He remembered with Honour on attended Capel St Mary George became one of these the Thiepval Memorial Pier and School, as did his siblings. men, succumbing to Bronchopneumonia on 5 Face 1.C & 2.A and on the His parents were Thomas and March 1916. Plaque in St Mary’s Church, Ellen (nee Friend) Abbott . Capel. He was posthumously Thomas was born circa 1860 awarded the 1914-1915 Star, The photographs show, from the top: The King’s Frederick was posthumously in Wenham Magna and was 1914-1918 British War Medal Head; St Mary’s Church; London Road cottages and awarded the 1914-1915 Star, baptised on 4 November 1860 and the 1914-1919 Victory the 1914-1918 British War in All Saints Church, Wenham police station; Fuchsia Cottage. Frank Goddard lived Medal. His parents, and next there with his mother before emigrating to Australia. Medal and the 1914-1919 Parva, now Little Wenham. He of kin, would have received the Victory Medal died in 1948. Memorial Plaque and Scroll. He died with the Australian Imperial Forces in 1917. His next of Kin would have His mother, Ellen Friend, was George is remembered with received the Memorial Plaque born circa 1860 in Wenhaston. Honour on a plaque on St and Scroll. Before marriage, she was John’s Church, Great Wenham Frederick was born in 1894 in employed as a general servant and at Wimereux Communal by Arthur E. Smith, a coach Cemetery, Pas de Calais, Capel St Mary the son of Isaac Grimsey, a shepherd and builder’s manager, in France. Grave number 1. L. Sarah Grimsey (nee Beer). Halesworth, Suffolk. She died 28. They lived at Watts Farm. in 1944. The youngest son of Robert Isaac was born at Hintlesham The couple married in 1889 Seaman Norris and Elizabeth in 1851 and died in Capel. He and had five children two of Norris, nee Smith, George was was buried in St Mary’s whom died as infants. born in 1894. His father, Robert, a farm worker, was Churchyard on 22 November On the 1911 census, Thomas born in 1851 at Hacheston. He 1934. Sarah was born in 1855 is aged 50 and employed as a died in the Samford in Hintlesham and died in horseman on a farm. The registration district of Suffolk Capel. She was buried in St surviving children are listed as in 1940. George’s mother, Mary’s Churchyard on 17 William, aged 21, employed as Elizabeth, was born in January 1934. The couple a cowman on a farm; his Saxmundham in 1854 and married in 1877 in Hintlesham. younger brother, Frederick worked as a servant before They had four children: Harold Abbott, aged 14, also a marriage. She died in 1920 in Tabitha, born in 1878, died the Samford district of Suffolk. cowman on a farm and their 1958; James John, born sister, schoolgirl Laura Ellen The couple had married in in1880, died 1964; Earnest Abbott, aged 12. All the 1878 in Parham. George with William, born in1882, died Abbott children were born in his brother Frederick, was 1964. They were born in Great Wenham. The family was educated at Capel St Mary Hintlesham. Frederick was living near Carriers, Great Primary School. They were baptised in St Mary’s Church, Wenham. two of eight siblings. ...Never to see again Capel, on 28 September 1895. Capel Times November 2017 Page 9

The horror The European nations which of life and stayed neutral and avoided the death in sufferings of trench the war warfare begins in the first few weeks of World War One. Denmark and the The deaths, injuries, and Danish-Norwegian disease of the trenches Spitsbergen continue until the end of co-dominium the war.

The first trenches are dug Fix Bayonets by the British on the orders of their Commander, Sir John French, on 14 September, 1914, the Liechtenstein second day of the first battle of the Aisne.

It is day one of the race to the sea by the British and French to stop the Germans reaching the Monaco Channel ports, outflanking the French and putting them out of the war.

The German response is to dig opposing trenches. The Netherlands The first battle of the Aisne and Dutch Empire ends in a draw on 28 September two weeks after the stalemate and the beginning of the horror of the trenches for millions of Over the top men. Norway The first winter of the war, 1914-1915, is bitterly cold and wet. Trenches are exposed to the weather and some are waist deep in water and running with lice Spain and its and vermin. African territories An estimated 20,000 troops go down with trench foot, a very painful condition of pealing skin and open sores. It goes Switzerland on and on for years The lookout Sweden Capel Times November 2017 Page 10 The forgotten colonial war across Africa 1914 - 1918 The forgotten war in In the battle of Mlila, General Smuts leads three British Africa is not planned divisions from Kenya into Lion of Africa to happen. Colonial German Tanganyikia. As the Germans avoid a full-scale Britain, France, confrontation, it is a British Belgium, Portugal tactical victory. and Germany decide In September, Dar Es Salaam, in 1885 to be neutral a city and port on Tanganyika’s Indian Ocean coast, is captured in Africa even if there from the Germans. Its radio is a European War. station is cut off from Berlin. It is one of the most notable In the battle of Kisaki, large disasters in British military Their military forces history. South African forces are routed are small, poorly attacking heavily defended In November 1914, British equipped and in positions in German East Africa. Indian Expeditionary amphibious force and a land Africa to only control German Togoland is divided into force from British East Africa the Africans. British and French fails to take the German East administrations. African port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean and a German 1914 settlement on the slopes of 1917 Mount Kilimanjaro. Britain’s Committee of Imperial large-scale engagement in the In January, a malaria pandemic From that date, the German Defence, formed in August, 1915 East African Campaign. It is is devastating South African East African Commander, established that command of In January, Germans win a close to the border town of troops in German East Africa. General Paul von Lettow- the seas was to be maintained. Vorbeck uses guerilla tactics battle at Jassin on the British Taveta in present day Kenya. The battle of Behobeho is German coaling and wireless judged to be inconclusive. until the end of the war. stations must be destroyed. and German East Africa border. General Jan Smuts, the former Despite victory, and removing a Boer leader, commands 2,300 In July, a British force of 4,000 In August, British, French and threat to the port of Tanga, the troops from Britain, India, attack 3,000 Germans Belgium troops invade the Germans cannot sustain losses 1918 Rhodesia and South Africa, with defending the Kiawe bridge German colony of Kamerun, of men and equipment and turn 1,300 men on the hill and 1,000 over the Lugonya river in East From June to August, 30,000 today’s Cameroon and Nigeria. to guerrilla warfare. Adubi fighters, a sub group of in the surrounding area. They Africa. The German force is German troops and civilians flee Nigeria’s Yoruba people. rebel In June, the battle of Bukoba, have only light weapons. destroyed with 500 killed and against British colonial rule, to neutral Spanish Guinea. on Lake Victoria, is the British 2,500 captured for the loss of destroy key railway and first victory in German East The German assault begins with 122 British. The Royal Navy shells the telegraph lines and kill a Africa. The German radio a four-inch guns bombardment German Dar Es Salaam wireless In August, six thousand British European trading agent. station is destroyed preventing followed by artillery from 2,000 station. and Portuguese troops defeat both German broadcasts and metres away. 2,400 Germans at the battle of They are protesting against Germans attack Belgium British interception of them. As the British retreat they are Rumbo in German East Africa. taxes and forced labour. facilities on Lake Tanganyika In November, the Volta-Bani outflanked and attacked by a German losses are 1,500 killed and a Portuguese outpost on The British Army restores order war by an African Indigenous relief column from Taveta. and 600 captured. British and and the rebel leaders are jailed the Tanzania-Mozambique Army against the French in what Portuguese losses are 386 or executed. border. Germany surrenders its is now Burkina Faso and in killed with some men wounded Kamerun (Cameroon) colony. In August, after evading the Britain and France invade West Africa starts. It involves or missing. 15,000 – 20,000 Africans. The Britain and France divide it. allies during months of guerrilla Togoland, forcing Germans to In October, Germans win a raids in Portuguese East Africa, withdraw from the capital Lome French prevail though In March, British and South resistance continues until pyrrhic victory against South the German General Von and later surrender. African troops make three African and Nigerian troops at Lettow-Vorbeck is almost February 1917. Rebel leaders assaults on German positions in In September, Germans forces the battle of Mahiwa, in German encircled at the town of Lioma are jailed or executed. jungle surrounded by hills in the raid deeply into British East East Africa. Both sides suffer by Britain’s King’s African Rifles. The French suffer many battle of Lateman Nek in East Africa and Uganda. heavy losses and withdraw. He manages to break out, cross casualties fighting the Zaian Africa. to Northern Rhodesia and hold South African troops invade Confederation of Berber tribes In November, the Germans are The German break and retreat down large numbers of allied German South West Africa. in Morocco. The tribes have unable to fight because of a to Lake Kahe. troops. They are defeated at the battle ’ financial and shortage of food and of Sandfontein. intelligence backing. Fighting The battle of Kahe is the last in ammunition.In three columns In November, under a white lasts until a French victory in the Kilimanjaro area. they set out to invade flag a British magistrate hands Germans try to take the Orange 1921. Portuguese East Africa. One Von Lettow-Vorbeck a telegram River crossing into British South British and South Africans column is cut off before the saying that two days earlier the Africa but fail at the battle of inflict heavy casualties on the border and surrenders. In the Armistice has been signed on Karamas. South African forces 1916 Germans for the loss 21 men. battle at Ngomano, the other 11 November. Von Lettow- eventually take control of In February, Germans win the The Germans retreat deep into columns outflank and rout the Vorbeck orders a ceasefire and German South West Africa. battle of Salaita Hill, the first the interior. Portuguese. surrenders on 25 November. In the next Issue of Capel Times: War in the Middle and Far East and the Naval War Capel Times November 2017 Page 11 Eastern, Balkan and Italian fronts 1915 - 1916 King of Hungary, Francis Joseph I, dies on 21 The Eastern November. The Balkan Germans occupy Bucharest Front 1916 on 6 December. Front 1915 The in The Russian mystic, Grigori The French land at Salonika Galicia is the greatest Russian Rasputin, is assassinated in and with the British and offensive against Austro- St. Petersburg on 29 Italians establish a Balkan Hungary, Germany, and the December. Front on 27 October. Ottoman Empire. It is the Austro-Hungarians’ worst In the offensive, crisis, and the greatest Serbians push into Albania. Russian victory, of the war. The Italian Seven days later the Serbians But it is at great human cost: collapse, retreat to the Adriatic 1,000,000 Russian dead, and are evacuated by the wounded or captured. Front 1916 Italian and French navies. Italy declares war on Austro- German, Austro-Hungarian Austro-Hungarians leave and Ottoman casualties are Hungarians on 23 May. after the battle of 1,337,000 . Italians capture Gorizia in the Kolubara which lasts from 16 At the Battle of Kowel, in sixth battle of the Isonzo River, November to 15 December. Galicia, during the Brusilov in Western Slovenia, which offensive, between 24 July lasts from 6 to 17 August. 1916 and 8 August, Austro- An Italian offensive between Hungarians stall a Russian 12 September and 11 Austro-Hungarians launch an advance. December at Monastir on the offensive against Montenegro Romania enters the war on the Salonika front is designed to on 5 January. They capitulate break a deadlock in Allies side on 27 August. By 12 days later. Macedonia and force December it is defeated in two Bulgarians to capitulate. Bulgarians beat off a French battles and the conquest of Monastir is captured but there and British attack at the Battle Romania is complete. is little other success. of Doiran in August. The Brusilov offensive ends The battle of Krivolak between Serbia is invaded by Germans, with Russian success on 20 17 October and 21 November Austro-Hungarians and September. sees the start of the Salonika Bulgarians between 7 October The Emperor of Austria and front in Macedonia. and 4 December.

Who are we? Support us now by Gary Bunkell (Chair) - [email protected] Mike Woodward (Treasurer) - [email protected] becoming a friend David Thompson (Editor) - [email protected] You can support us now by becoming a friend of Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust. Jon Bunkell - [email protected] Griff Johns - [email protected] ! £5 per year ! £25 lifetime Jim Sporle - [email protected] Chris Streatfield Payment can be made by cash, cheque made payable to John Sturgeon - [email protected] Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust or by online transfer using the details below. William Dimond - [email protected] Account No: 00004000 Reference: 800046453 Sort Code: 23-44-48 A full list of the Sponsors and Donors who are happy to have their names published will Full Name appear in Issue Three of Capel Times.

Postal Address Capel Times Issue Three next Spring will cover all the European Fronts from 1917 to 1918, Telephone Number the Middle East, Asian and Pacific Fronts from 1914 to 1918, and the Naval battles Email Address* from 1914 to 1918.

Please return this form along with your payment to 16 Thorney Road, Capel St Mary, IP9 2LQ Capel Times Issue Four next October will cover the build up to, and the course of, World War Two. * We will only contact you with information about the Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust, or Capel Times is published by the Capel St Mary Memorial Trust, village information we deem appropriate. We will not pass your details to any third parties. 16 Thorney Road, Capel St Mary, Ipswich IP9 2LQ The work is beginning to create our War Memorial Monument The stone for Capel St Mary’s War Memorial Monument has arrived from India and preparation work has begun. Provided there is no very wet or snowy weather, the ground work will be finished and the Memorial will be ready for erection on the village green by late Spring next year. There will be further work on landscaping and the Garden. The stone has been shipped from a renowned quarry in Khammam, in the state of Hyderabad, to Luxstone Stonemasons in Sudbury. It is a very tough quartz and mica based igneous mid-grey Sadahalli granite, which polishes well, will not erode and requires only minimum maintenance. The names of the brave men from Capel who gave their lives in two world wars will be machine engraved on the Monument’s panels. To stand out, the letters will be filled with black enamel and should not require much more than a re-paint every 10 to 20 years. The masons working on the Monument are Neil Luxton, pictured left below, with Rob Hoskin.

Neil, a second generation stonemason and lettering specialist, has worked at Brentwood and Ely Cathedrals and the Old Bailey. He is the in-house stone mason for Highgate Cemetery, London, and has created memorials for many well-known people. From a granite quarry in India: Capel’s War Memorial stone Rob is a specialist in renovating The photographs, above, illustrate the first steps in the creation of our village’s War Memorial Monuments and headstones. He has Monument. From the top, the extent of the huge, renowned granite quarry in the Indian state of also worked, among other places at Hyderabad, the selection of the granite block and the cutting of the block. Highgate.

Printed by Keith Avis Printers, Hadleigh - 01473 823366