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Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Regiment

Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Regiment

the 5. Boer War 6. St Edmunds 9. Bevan Window, 10. War Grave Discover Memorial Place Memorial St Edmundsbury Borough – Cornhill Cathedral Cemetery in

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Many churches and chapels have House war memorials though most only list , Bury St Edmunds men’s names. The churches below of the most unusual houses in East have memorials which include Suffolk Anglia, Ickworth House was completed in Regiment men: the1820s by the 1st Marquess of . St Peter’s The 3rd Marquess was the Honorary St Edmund RC Colonel of the 3rd () Battalion of St John’s the Suffolk Regiment from 1865 to 1907 Methodist Chapel and there is a portrait of him in the house Baptist Chapel today.

For opening times contact www.stedmundsburychurches.com

Greene King Visitor Centre The visitor centre contains the Great War Greene King war memorial which includes the names and battalions of Suffolk Regiment men.

Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 10am – 3.30pm Entry is free www.greeneking.co.uk 01284 714297

Produced by Suffolk Regiment Museum and St Edmundsbury Borough Council July 2009 The Suffolk Regiment was formed in 1685 when the Duke of on Newmarket Road was built as an raised a regiment for James II to meet the threat of administrative and training centre. the Monmouth Rebellion. The regiment was known in its early This marked the start of a the close relationship between the regiment and years by the names of the various colonels who commanded it; the of Bury St Edmunds which in 1751 it was designated the XIIth Foot, confirming its position was symbolised by the granting of the Freedom of the Borough in 1944. To as one of the oldest in the Army. make the local connection even stronger the regiment finally acquired the title Suffolk Regiment in 1881.

The regiment fought in the Battle of the In the 1914-1918 War battalions of the Boyne and in the next forty-five years regiments served on the Western Front, saw service in , the Gallipoli, Salonika and in the Middle and the Balearic Islands. In the middle of East; 360 officers and 6,513 other ranks the century it fought against the French, lost their lives. earning its first Battle Honours at Dettingen in 1743 and Minden in 1759. In 1939-1945 the regiment fought at Dunkirk and on D-Day, in Burma, North In 1769 the regiment went to Gibraltar, Africa and ; the Territorial battalions where it spent the next fourteen years, were captured in in 1942 and enduring a four-year siege by the spent the rest of the war as POWs. The Spaniards. In 1781 it was designated cost in lives this time was 87 officers The Regiment. In 1796 it and 1,508 other ranks. paid its first visit to and in 1810 helped capture Mauritius. In 1842 a After the war, the regiment served in Reserve Battalion was formed; it was , Palestine, Greece, Malaya, where a draft of men for this battalion which it was highly successful in jungle warfare was on the troopship Birkenhead when against Communist infiltration, Trieste, it was wrecked off in 1852. Germany and .

From 1854 to 1866 the regiment was In the late 1950s most of the buildings based in Australia and New Zealand. at Gibraltar Barracks were demolished The 2nd Battalion sailed for India in and the land sold; in August 1959 the 1864 and from then until 1907 one Suffolk Regiment itself ceased to exist or other battalion was usually serving when it was amalgamated with the 1st there. Battalion The to form the 1st East Anglian Regiment. Until 1878 the regiment, despite its name, was hardly ever based in Even though the Regiment no longer Suffolk. However in 1872 regimental exists its traditions live proudly on today Detail from Ernest Smythe’s painting districts were created to encourage in the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian ‘Crossing the Cavery’, showing the local recruitment, and in 1878 the Regiment. 12th Regiment’s attack on Tippoo Depot (later named Gibraltar Barracks) Sultan’s fort at Seringapatam in 1799. Victoria Crosses Both of the Suffolk On 1 August 1759 Regiment’s Victoria six British Bury St Edmunds Crosses – ‘for most regiments, including 1. The Suffolk conspicuous bravery’ the 12th, routed the Regiment Museum - were won during the French cavalry at the Great War. The first was Battle of Minden After earned in September the battle the soldiers 1916 at Loos by of the 12th picked Sergeant A F Saunders red and yellow roses 3. Moyse’s Hall Museum of the 9th Battalion; and put them in their the second was won berets. Since then, by Corporal S J Day soldiers of the Suffolk of the 11th Battalion Regiment,and their 6 during the battle of successors in the Royal 7 Hargicourt. in August Anglian Regiment, have 1917. worn roses in their caps on the anniversary of the battle. 1 3 2. St Mary’s Church OUT RISBYGATE ST 8 4. Record Office 5 Wreck of the 9 Birkenhead 1852 On its way to the Kaffir Wars in South Africa this troopship carrying 10 soldiers (including 71 from the 4 Reserve Battalion of the 12th 2 Regiment) and their families struck rocks near the Cape of Good Battles Hope. Although lifeboats were released there were not enough remembered to go round. It was this that led to Many streets in Bury the order ‘Women and Children St Edmunds have been first’, the first time such an order named after battles in was issued. Most of the troops which the Regiment died while they stood to attention. took part: these Artefacts from the wreck can be include Arras Road, seen in the Boyne Road, Dettingen and at Moyses Hall; there is a Way, Gilbraltar Close, memorial in St Mary’s Church to Minden Close and the 55 Suffolk Regiment soldiers Minden Drive. who lost their lives. 1. The Suffolk Regiment Museum 2. St Mary’s Church 3. Moyse’s Hall Museum, Other Suffolk The Regimental Chapel Suffolk Regiment Gallery Regiment Memorials

5. Boer War Memorial – Cornhill The memorial to the 155 Suffolk Regiment men who lost their lives in the Boer War (1899-1902); also lists the names of men from other units. It was erected in 1904, restored and rededicated in 2002. The Keep houses the Regimental The Suffolk Regiment Gallery in Moyse’s Headquarters of the Royal Anglian 6. St Edmunds Place Hall Museum presents an overview Regiment, the local Army recruiting office The Regimental Chapel Built in 1463, of the 275 years of the Regiment’s and the Suffolk Regiment Museum. The A rare survival of a street war memorial. as part of an extension to the East end of history. Highlights include the original Museum was opened in 1935 and owed Originally erected in 1920; restored in St Mary’s, the Chapel was originally called Colour of Colonel Scipio Duroure its existence to the enthusiasm of Lieut- 1992 and again in 2008. Most of the The Jesus Chapel, and was for centuries presented in 1745, and the Keys to Col H B Monier-Williams. The displays men on it were in the Suffolk Regiment. used as a storeroom. Refurbished in Gibraltar, presented to the Regiment to tell the story of the regiment from its 1935, it was dedicated to the Suffolk commemorate the part it played during foundation in 1685 to amalgamation 7. St John’s Church Regiment on the 250th anniversary of the the Great Siege from 1779 to 1783. A with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1959. Memorial Window founding of the regiment. series of figures represent the Suffolk The history covers the regular, militia, Memorial window to Lt Col A J Watson, Windows, kneelers, chairs and soldier through the ages. volunteer and war-time battalions as well memorials celebrate individuals who commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, as the experience of individual soldiers served in the Regiment. The chief battle killed in 1900 in South Africa while Open daily 10am – 5pm and is told through medals, uniforms, honours are on scrolls superimposed on leading his men in an attack on a Boer (last entry 4pm) photographs, weapons, equipment and the red and yellow Minden roses on the stronghold. Closed Bank Holidays personal memorabilia. ceiling of the chapel. A number of old 01284 706183 Regimental Colours hang in the chapel 8. Suffolk Regiment Homes www.moyseshall.org or are in glazed wooden frames. Others A pair of houses across the road from the Open 1st and 3rd Wednesday are in the St Wolstan’s Chapel, above and 1st Sunday of every month Keep; opened in 1904 as a practical Boer the cenotaph dedicated to the members 4. Record Office War memorial for ex-servicemen. (other times by arrangement) of the regiment killed in the 2 World 9.30am – 3.30pm Wars, with its accompanying book of Bury St Edmunds Record Office holds Free entry; free parking remembrance. the Suffolk Regiment Collection. The 9. 01284 752394 archives and photographs illustrate Elsewhere in the Church are Memorial window to Capt Beckford the history of the Regiment from 1685 memorials to men who lost their lives Bevan, killed in the . in other wars, from Afghanistan (1878- to its amalgamation with the Royal 1880) to Malaya (1949-1953), and who Norfolk Regiment in 1959. If you want died of illness in India and Egypt. to research ancestors who served in 10. Borough Cemetery the regiment the experienced and The Cemetery contains Commonwealth knowledgeable staff will help you get War Graves Commission headstones to Open daily 9am – 4pm underway. (10am – 3pm Winter) 26 Suffolk Regiment soldiers who lost 01284 754680 Open Monday – Saturday their lives in the two World Wars. www.stmarystpeter.net 9.00am – 5.00pm

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