Capel St Mary suffers mounting losses as World War One’s stalemate staggers to victory and the countdown to another war

CIssue Three – Junae 2018 p e l T Freei to all mresidents, friendes and sus pporters Great village achievement We will Army Chaplain Major Mandy remember Reynolds will them Dedicate the It was a great, but solemn, Memorial in occasion and an achievement for the village. November It was the day when the young men of Capel St Mary who lost their lives in war were remembered on a stone War Memorial Monument. It was the day which signalled that Capel had come together in just two years to ensure that those who lost their lives would have a lasting memorial. That they would be remembered by generations yet to come. The village’s first-ever Monument, erected in the centre of the village on Friday, 27 April 2018, is engraved with the names of the 35 who died in two world wars and since. The Chairman of Capel War Memorial Fund, Group Captain Gary Bunkell, said that the next stage is the laying of a memorial garden around the Monument. My life as a Until the Memorial’s Dedication on British Army 11 November, the Monument is wrapped and is enclosed by Chaplain by boards. The boards have been beautifully Major Mandy painted by East Bergholt High Our wonderful Monument is in Meet monument Sad meeting with School art students. village - Page 2 wraps - Page 3 masons - Page 19 brother - Page 19 Page 20 Capel Times June 2018 Page 2 Our Wonderful Village Very generous donors, supporters and friends have made it possible to create Capel’s first-ever War Memorial Monument

Great legacy Great help for future from 2018 generations generation Group Captain Pupils from the High School Gary Bunkell CBE and the Primary School performed alongside others at Chairman, Capel War a sell-out concert at St Mary’s Memorial Trust Church. As someone once said: “Never The memorial structure was doubt that a small group of installed on time and received thoughtful, committed citizens excellent coverage in the local can change the world; indeed, press. it's the only thing that ever has.” The High School’s art department students have While the War Memorial designed and painted project doesn’t claim to boarding that will protect the change the world, it will leave Monument until it is Dedicated an exceptional legacy for in November. future generations of villagers. Suffolk County Councillor The project has been featured At the same time, it creates a Gordon Jones, centre, on BBC Radio Suffolk. fitting memorial to 35 men who presents a cheque gave their lives for others. Men for £3,000 from his Following briefings provided by our committee the local who deserve to be admired community fund to military community has and respected and above all Capel War Memorial pledged its support. who deserve to be Trust members, remembered. from the left, The project has been made David Thompson, possible by the efforts of local Chris Streatfield, Help needed people who have done Mike Woodward, extraordinary things. They Jim Sporle, in November have answered the call in Gary Bunkell, much the same way as the Jon Bunkell, Thoughtful and committed men the project seeks to John Sturgeon citizens have shown just what honour. and Bill Dimond. can be achieved when they Looking back over the last two come together in a common Orchard Players’ cause. years it is uplifting to reflect on stars Lauren Broom just what has been achieved and James Finbow, Over the next few months we by individuals and community back row, and will be carrying out paving and groups within the village: Sophie Edwards, landscaping in the run up to the Dedication service. Many projects Lily Bobby, Maddy Mayo and Planning for the service, which More than 300 people Molly Griffin raised will include an exhibition, is attended a garden party which money for the Memorial underway. We expect to have included an exhibition of World at their pantomime. more than 500 people in War One events and their attendance. impact on the village. In November 2017, more than have offered and already Volunteers held a garage sale 200 primary school children, delivered their support to the in support of the project. We will be seeking volunteers More than 100 took part in a to help on the day so please and many of their parents, building project. fund-raising quiz. Using Heritage Lottery email me if you want to get took part in a Service of funding, East Bergholt High Ben’s Remembrance Garden More than 10 community involved in what is a once in a Remembrance at Capel St School has been supported to at Capel St Mary Primary groups within the village, and lifetime event. Mary Primary School. enrich its World War One School was renovated with a further five in the surrounding ([email protected]) curriculum studies, including help from local volunteers. area, have received More than 60 families in the Finally, very many thanks to presentations on the project. supporting student visits to A memorial stone for Ben’s village have become Friends of memorial sites in France and everyone who has played a Garden is being created by our the Memorial and will be listed All those community groups Belgium where they visited part so far, without your help stonemason and will be in the written history of the have made donations to locations where some of our none of this would have been installed shortly. project. Four local businesses support the various projects. fallen are remembered. possible. Capel Times June 2018 Page 3 Outstanding! School reports, poems, art

A party of students from East Bergholt High Wreaths for School visited World War One battlefields, Memorials and cemeteries earlier this year. the lost and Other students engaged in creative writing about the war. Their reports, poems - and unnamed the painted panels around Capel’s War Memorial Monument - are outstanding.

By Ben Lawes From Friday the 16th March to Monday the 19th March 2018 we took part in the History Battlefields of the First World War trip to CJT De Lork Kemmel, near Ypres in Ava Wilcock and Oliver Burch at a World War One Memorial Belgium. On Saturday, we travelled to Vimy Ridge and the Somme area in France. We visited Towering Trench Life Delville Wood, Newfoundland Park and Thiepval where we By Oliver Burch By Edward Dean experienced first hand the mass During the once-in-a- lifetime Startled, at the scale of how many lives were lost trip to visit the battlefields, as sound of gunfire, in the war. Rows and rows of gravestones, some unmarked, a group we saw many I awake and fumble, A squad of allies covered the whole area. In the memorials, small and large evening we got to spend time with roadside cemeteries, to charge towards me, And to the ground I tumble. relaxing with a game of bowling. the largest Commonwealth Sunday was spent in Ypres, Rats and disease everywhere. cemetery in the world, Tyne Passchendaele, Tyne Cot My gun in my hand, The beautiful panels enclosing the War Memorial Cot. with 11,695 burials. Cemetery, Sanctuary Wood and I scramble around, Monument until November were painted by East Last Post Ceremony at the Menin As well as the cemeteries gathering my stuff, Bergholt High School students Thomas Butcher, Gate. We experienced life in the there, we went on to visit Seeing the enemy, Liam Warburton, Felix Mallet and Artemio Gamlin. trenches and the devastating there they stand. memorials like Thiepval. The High School’s Leader of Art, Mrs Susanna bomb crater. In the evening we dressed in our school uniforms to Huge structures towered over Dave, like the brother Spencer, supervised their work. I never had look smart and attended the Last us commemorating those Post Ceremony. Men in uniform Dived on a grenade, who lost their lives in The with their trumpets performed Everyone’s distraught and Great War. Creative writing extracts whilst we stood out of respect. thankful that his life Pairs of representatives from Also we visited the huge has been paid. When I signed up I got told that this I catch the eye of one of my fellow different schools and other groups Canadian Vimy Ridge Many thanks to Dave, would be fun with my mates. Well, soldiers and a sudden flash of memory then approached the Memorial to Memorial and the trenches He didn’t deserve now all my friends are dead. They all floods into my brain. A vivid picture of lay a wreath of poppies in there. what he got. got killed in our last trip over the top. my Mother, Father, little brother and I remembrance of the people lost Like many others Holly Friston running around the green garden. and unnamed in the war. On the Sunday evening we he died a hero, Mother shouting whilst I pick my The Battlefields Trip was a thought went to the Menin Gate Bill, Steve, Jack War changes you; war makes you brother up and pretend to throw him to the ground. Oh how I miss home; the provoking experience that really memorial; this is where they do things you would never do and and Mike the lot. simple lives we all lived every single made us grateful to the people play the Last Post every night later regret. War kills you. War killed Looking at the letters day. Little did we know the tragedy our who lost their lives in order to keep and then lay wreaths as a sign me. War kills a part of all of us. make me feel sad, boring routine would turn into. us safe. The trip really helped us of respect. Poppy Curtis Wishing I could see Sophie Cook understand more about the First World War. That was an amazing place. them once more, “It will be okay” she says when papa I sense the presence of a girl beside The weather overall was quite We’re losing too bad, tells us he’ s going to enrol. “It will be me. Becoming aware of the scissors bitter but it was a great I’m sorry that wasn’t right, okay” she says when we have our in her pale hands, and my mind Broken Promises heartwarming experience. I shouldn’t have said it, last meal together. wanders elsewhere, not wanting to be By Emily Blumsum But one thing I didn’t tell you, conscious while the nurse cuts my The war; I loved hating it. “It will be okay” she says when they bandages. I’ve seen too many I look around, this is not tuck me into bed for the last time. grotesque things in the trenches to what I was promised Dear diary The losses you have But two hands instead of four will acknowledge the wounds on my own There are corpses, By Nina Lones to cope with, never be the same again. quivering body. strewn about like The action keeps you Alice Green Millie-Rose Brookwell and Tamsyn Today was the worst day so on your toes, Phillips shells on a beach, far and it will never be erased The friends you miss and the The instruction is given. All together We shall always remember There are children, from my mind, it was like a family you want. we climb over the top. My life and honour you. who lied to the bloodbath out there. flashes past my eyes. The But the best thing out there For it is because of you authorities so they could are the potatoes. picturesque image of amazing kids, We couldn’t keep up with the that we are who we are, win glory and honour. Finally My time has come. wife and family. But I can’t over And it is because tomorrow casualties. There is no honour here, I get shot in the back. think it. I run, I shoot, aim ready. brings a new day Dead people covered the The enemy is advancing, Men dropping around me. One by And so when the sun shines There is no glory. one they go. Hoping it’s not me ground like fallen leaves. This Hopefully the lads will give in the morning. Just broken promises, next. may be the last day… them a big ‘WACK’. We shall remember you. And empty dreams. Sam Rahmanpour Ella Knights Capel Times June 2018 Page 4 World War One Concert hit £1,285 for our War Memorial Songs, poems, letters from the Front Line and a singalong A World War One Concert to raise money to build Capel St Mary’s first-ever War Memorial Monument was a sell-out on Saturday, 14 April. An audience of 150 packed the venue, Capel’s Parish Church, and added £1,285 to the War Memorial Fund. The concert, led by professional sopranos Susanna and Anna-Marie Hyman and professional pianist and organist Stephen Smith, was a mixture of World War One songs and music, recitation of poems and readings of very moving letters from the Front Line.

Concert leaders Anna-Maria and Susanna Hyman

Letters from the Front Line were read by ex-Royal Marine Griff Johns in a World War One Army uniform, Group Captain Gary Bunkell, Mike Johansen, in World War One Army Medical Corps uniform, the Rev Roger Balkwill, from Shropshire, and Josephine Balkwill in a World War One Nurse’s uniform. Songs sung by Susanna and Anna-Maria Hyman were Oh! Primary School’s stone Acorn It’s a Lovely War, Is my Team Ploughing, There’s a Long, Long Trail, Sweet Chance that Led my Steps Abroad, When Soft Voices Die, Keep the Home Fires Burning, Good By-ee, Sister pillar to the 23 lost children Susie and I Vow to Thee my Country. The mason’s drawing above At the top of the pillar is a There was a singalong finale with the songs It’s a Long, Long The refurbishment of gives an expanded view of the carved stone Acorn. Acorns Way to Tipperary, Pack up your Troubles and I do like to be Ben’s Garden and the four sides of the stone pillar to are very special to the school Beside the Seaside. The concert ended with the singing of provision of the pillar has and its pupils. Land of Hope and Glory and the National Anthem to organ be erected in Ben’s Garden at been financed by Capel St music. Mary War Memorial Trust. Capel St Mary Primary School. The pillar is an important and lasting memorial to the men Photographs by Lucy Taylor The full cost of both was The pillar is engraved with the who went to war and did not raised separately from names of the 23 former pupils return to their homes. money donated solely for of the school who died in building the War Memorial It will for years to come help to World War One and World War Monument in the centre create an awareness of the Uniform, period dresses and a happy supportive audience of the village. Two. They are the school’s lost causes and sacrifices of the children. two world wars. Capel Times June 2018 Page 5 World War One Concert hit £1,285 for our War Memorial

Front row from the left: Darrell Thompson (1940s’ costume, Aldeburgh), Josephine Balkwill (World War One Nurse, Shropshire), Judith Sutcliffe (1940s’ coat and hat), June Woodward (Land Girl, best costume prize), Sharon Pendorf, Penny Thompson (organiser, 1940s’ evening dress), Hille Peartree (1940s’ evening dress), Susanna and Anna-Maria Hyman, professional sopranos. Back row from the left: David Thompson (ex-Army),Chris Streatfield (ex-Merchant Service), Mike Woodward, (ex-RAF, organiser, Home Guard uniform), The Rev Roger Balkwill (Shropshire), Mike Johansen (World War One Army Medical Corps uniform), Group Captain Gary Bunkell (Serving officer, RAF), Griff Johns (ex-Royal Marine, World War One Army uniform), Howard Watts (parachutist’s jump suit, Aldeburgh), Stephen Smith (professional pianist and organist).

Stardom from our schools Performances by pupils of Capel St Mary Primary School and school students from East Bergholt High School were of star quality and won appreciative applause from the packed audience. Pictured left to right above are Primary School pupils Gracie Harper, who recited The Soldier by Rupert Brooke and Max Mothersole, who recited Flanders Field by John McCrae, High School students Alice Green recited The Falling Leaves by Margaret Postgate-Cole and Edward Dean recited Spring Offensive by Wilfred Owen. Also from the High School, Sam Kilbourn played And Now Let’s Handel on the piano and Holly Nixon played Apres un Reve on saxophone. They also won appreciative applause. Uniform, period dresses and a happy supportive audience Capel Times June 2018 Page 6 More Capel men die in bitter winter 1917 War on the A terrible Western loss for Front Capel as On the front line, early in 1917 the British prepare for a Spring offensive at Arras to 17 young keep German attention on the Somme. men die in Sir Douglas Haig instructs the 5th Army to make short advances in the Ancre Valley. frost and From 11th January to 22nd February 1917 the Germans are forced back five miles on a four- endless mile front. By the 23rd, they have been forced back three fighting. more miles on a 15-mile front. Exhausted Australian stretcher bearers rest in the mud Capel’s eighth casualty, Private Frederick Ratford, Essex Regiment, dies on 1 July. His Winter 1916-1917 on the Western Front and in Germany is the coldest in living story is on Pages 10 and 11. Regiment, dies on 12 February. memory, a nightmare for the soldiers. Trenches have little cover, especially at His story is on Page 9. night. Clothes and blankets freeze. Food and water is hard to consume. Soldiers Capel’s 17th casualty, Gunner The second battle of Arras suffer from trench foot and frostbite. German crops fail. There is very little to eat Frank Richardson, Royal Field begins on 9 April with little and for the civilians, 1917 is the Turnip Winter. Artillery, dies on 18 August. His success for a British push story is on Pages 10 and 11. forward. Australians attack Noreuil. After initial success, a North to capture Laon city. The Lieutenant John Lott MC, The third Battle of Ypres, also The largest tank battle so far in disaster. Canadians capture British are to attack in the battle Royal Engineers, dies on 21 known as the Battle of the war is at Cambrai between Vimy Ridge. A success. of Arras. May. His story is on Pages 10 Passchendaele, is fought in July 20 November and 7 December. and 11. for the control of ridges south British and French artillery The ridge has been quarried and The Germans withdraw to the and east of Ypres in Belgium. It has tunnels and caves which bombard German defences and Hindenburg Line defensive Capel’s 13th casualty, Gunner rages from 31 July until 10 cover the Germans from the Royal Flying Corps attacks positions between February 23 Walter Cole, Royal Garrison November. Unusually wet artillery. French infantry are cut ground positions in a bid to and 5 April. The line was Artillery, dies on 22 May. His weather turns the battle into a down by massed German capture Cambrai, an important prepared over the 1916-1917 story is on Pages 10 and 11. slog in mud and with the onset machine gun and artillery fire. supply point for the German winter between Arras and of winter the campaign The attack fails. In the second Battle of the Hindenburg Line. Tanks roll Laffaux, near Soissons, on the becomes difficult. Aisne River. Messines Ridge, the British forward behind a creeping The defeat devastates the blow 19 mines under German Added to this, the British and artillery barrage, infantry follows. French Army and many Capel’s ninth casualty, Private front lines causing total French have diverted troops to divisions mutiny. General Nivelle The Royal Tank Corps 378 Charles Gough, Suffolk devastation. the Italian front following an Regiment, dies on 5 May. is replaced as Commander in tanks make great gains on the His Austro-German victory at the story is on Page 9. Chief by Phillip Petain. Artillery and infantry advances first day. But they are unreliable recapture the ridge lost earlier. Battle of Caporetto, fought and many break down. The second battle of the Aisne, Capel’s 10th and 11th between 24 October and 19 between 16 April and 9 May, casualties, Privates William Capel’s 14th casualty, Private November, This allows the The Germans launch their was a French disaster. Pettingale and Edgar Pittock, Frank Cook, Machine Gun German 4th Army to put up stiff biggest counter attack since Suffolk Regiment, die on 11 Corps, dies on 14 June. His resistance and avoid a general 1914, with rapid reinforcements In the first battle in September May. Their stories are on Pages story is on Pages 10 and 11. withdrawal. The campaign ends 1914, General Robert Nivelle, in the defence of the Bourion 10 and 11. when the Canadians finally French Commander in Chief, Capel’s 15th casualty, Private Ridge. They hope that the capture Passchendaele on the planned to take the East-West Several battles are fought in the Frank Goddard, Australian offensive will win the war last ridge east of Ypres. ridge of the Chemin Des Dames, Arras campaign during April and Imperial Forces, dies on 26 before the overwhelming a quarry area 68 miles North- May. They include Bullecourt, June. His story is on Page 10 Capel’s 16th casualty, Private mobilisation of the new allies, East of Paris and then attack Scarpe. Capel’s 12th casualty, and 11. Herbert Bullard, Essex the Americans, is complete. Capel Times June 2018 Page 7 Last German push - to total defeat

On 24 March, the French Field On 9 April, the Battle of Lys is Marshal is appointed supreme 1918 launched, part of the Georgette Allied Commander. offensive. Portuguese forces are End of the Western Front quickly overrun and part of the Germans launch a spring British line breaks. offensive with attacks along the Western Front bolstered by Germany comes close to victory in 1918 long after the belief in The German breakthrough reinforcements from the East. 1914 that the Allies would win by Christmas. In 1917, Russia nearly succeeds with only 15 more miles to the Channel They know that Allies have to be collapses into revolution and withdraws from the war on the Ports. The failure is due to lack defeated before American of logistics and German forces troops and resources are fully Eastern Front. Fifty German divisions move from the Eastern having exposed flanks. deployed and the 50 Divisions Front to reinforce their armies on the Western Front. The huge from the East is an advantage. The British Commander in numbers of troops, weapons and equipment are a potential Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, issues Four offensives are launched overwhelming advantage against the Allies. It nearly succeeds. the order of the day. codenamed Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau and Blucher-Yorck. With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our Michael is the main one cause each of us must fight to designed to break through Allied the end. lines and outflank the British At the same time, on 29 April, holding the Front Line from the the German Commander, Somme River to the English Ludendorff, calls a halt to the Channel. The Germans believe Georgette offensive. that a British defeat will lead the French to seek an Armistice. The danger of a German breakthrough has passed. The other three offensives are German forces in their push for designed to divert troops away Victory victory suffer heavy casualties from the main offensive on the from which they cannot recover. Somme. The Allies are On 28 May in their first major concentrating their main forces action American troops are in essential areas, approaches victorious at the Battle of to the Channel Ports and Cantigny. Amiens rail junction. They leave On 8 August Allied armies worthless ground devastated by bolstered by fresh American years of war lightly defended. troops counter attack in the Michael is launched from the Battle of Amiens, the opening Hindenburg Line on 21 March at last phase of the 100-day offensive near Saint-Quentin, France. It is as it became known. Allied led by fast-moving storm armoured divisions smash troopers who make spectacular Between 4 October and 11 November, German forces and their German defences. gains. But they are unable to allies are in total disarray. On 21 October, Germany ceases On 26 September, the Meuse- carry enough food and unrestricted submarine warfare. On 30 October, German sailors Argon offensive is the start of ammunition to fight for long. the last French-American mutiny in Kiel and Turkey requests an Armistice. On 3 campaign of the war. On 4 The German rear is unable to November, Austro-Hungary concludes an Armistice with the October, Germany asks Allies move supplies and for an Armistice. By mid- reinforcements forward fast Allies. On 7 November, Germany begins negotiations for an October the Allies have pushed enough to maintain the Armistice. On 9 November, German Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates the Germans back and have advances. The offensive peters taken back almost all of the out at Villers Bretonneux just and flees. On 11 November 1918, Germany signs the Armistice. occupied parts of France and east of Amiens. Belgium. Life and loss of Capel’s men - Pages 9-11 Capel Times June 2018 Page 8 MUD - the enemy of the war horse 1917 - 1918 1917 was foul all year with a late Spring, no Summer and storms

The terrible conditions in which the war horse and their soldiers went to war are described in a graphic edited extract from Wikipedia , A feature of the Ypres salient was mud. Apart from ridges, the battlefield was low-lying, Ypres was on the “20-metre contour, Gheluvelt Plateau at 55 to 60 metres. Naturally swampy, farming in this area was possible only because of an extensive drainage system. The drainage system was largely destroyed, although some parts had been restored by Land Drainage Companies brought from England. On the whole, the area was Photographs and considered by the British to be My grandfather’s war horse drier than Loos, Givenchy and stories about Ploegsteert Wood farther your family’s sinks deep into Flanders mud south. In 1917 there was foul weather, war experiences a very late Spring and not would make an Terry Bramer, of Capel St Mary, researched his much Summer. There were grandfather’s role in World War One and found him, thunderstorms in July and archive for the August. September was dry, second from the right, in the photograph above. young to study October onwards was wet. Mud was a defining feature of in the future. War horses and their soldiers had the war, is the second man, the My mother was even more certain to battle against the mud as well tallest man, from the right in the that it was her father, who had the battle for soldiers on both sides. It did a great deal to There are more as the Germans on the Western photograph. survived the war. I can remember Front in the bitter winter of 1917. very clearly his height and rather hamper operations. My mother saw the photograph in family stories on gaunt face. General Haig was aware of the The photograph above a newspaper story about the war. demonstrates more about the nature of the ground he was Pages 19 and 20 She was certain from his facial Before the war, my grandfather terrible conditions of trench attacking and closely features that the tallest man was was a horse groom in service at Please send your stories to warfare than any words, however monitored weather conditions. her father. Through the Drayton Park, a stately home near David Thompson, Tudor House, many thousands of words. The 1a The Street, Capel IP9 2EB photograph is of the utmost newspaper, I contacted the Kettering, Northamptonshire. My What Haig knew about the Telephone importance to me. My maternal Imperial War Museum, obtained a grandmother was a laundry maid likely conditions is one of the 01473 314185 grandfather, Frederick Robinson, better copy of the photograph, there at the same time. They battles’ many a horse groom and driver during enlarged and enhanced it. married before the war. controversies. ” Capel Times June 2018 Page 9 Capel’s death toll keeps on mounting 1917 - 1918 Frederick Charles William Comment Ratford Gough Pettingale Essex Regiment Suffolk Regiment Suffolk Regiment 1897 - 1917 1895 - 1917 1890 - 1917 Frederick Charles Ratford enlisted Charles Henry Gough enlisted at William Arthur Pettingale enlisted in in the Suffolk Regiment during 1915 Woodbridge in the Suffolk the Suffolk Regiment at Ipswich in becoming Private 23825. He was Yeomanry (the Duke of York’s 1914. He was posted to the 2nd later transferred to the Essex Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars), as Battalion as Private 40722 Regiment as Private 6895 Ratford. Private 1807. Pettingale early in 1916 as a replacement following the By 1916, the Suffolk Yeomanry During a training route march he battalion’s heavy losses. In the were in Egypt as part of the 3rd suffered a ruptured appendix, Battle of Le-Cateau 750 men were Dismounted Brigade on Suez collapsed and was taken to Ripon killed, wounded, or missing from a Canal defences. His unit became Military Hospital, Yorkshire, for strength of 1,000. The casualties the 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) emergency surgery. Following the included the commanding officer. battalion of the Suffolk Regiment operation septicemia set in and he The survivors were transferred to after conversion from cavalry to died on 12 February 1917. He was GHQ to regroup and reform. Painting by Yvonne Rogerson, a member of Capel’s Art for Fun Club. buried with Military Honours in infantry in January 1917. In late 1915, the men became part Ripon Cemetery. Under orders of 74th (Yeomanry of 3 Division where they stayed for The following two pages tell the stories of the 15 men who Division), the unit saw action in There is no record of service the rest of the war. William was died for King, country and their village in the fierce and the Second Battle of Gaza overseas, but if he did serve killed in action on 11 May 1917. bloody World War One battles of 1917 and 1918 and for overseas Frederick would have between the 17 and 19 April those among them who died later of wounds or infections. been posthumously awarded the 1917 and were in Palestine until He is remembered with Honour at British War Medal 1914-1918 and April 1918. Charles died of Feuchy Chapel British Cemetary at At the outbreak of war in 1914 Capel St Mary was an the Victory Medal 1914 – 1919. His wounds in Egypt on 15 May Wancourt, Pas De Calais, France 1917. and on the Brass Plaque in St agricultural village with a population of around 500. The next of kin would have received The Mary’s Parish Church, Capel St Memorial Plaque and Scroll. He is remembered with Honour villagers would have known less about their wider world than Mary. we know today about our wider world. The deaths of so Frederick is remembered with in Deir el Belah War Cemetery, many of Capel’s mainly young men was a tragedy which their Honour in Ripon Cemetery and on Palestine, Memorial C52 and on William was posthumously the plaque in St Mary’s Parish awarded th1914-1918 British War families could not have foreseen. the Brass Plaque in St Mary’s Parish Church, Capel. Church, Capel. Medal and the 1914-1919 Victory Medal. The proportion of the village population killed was high, very Frederick was born in the White He was posthumously awarded House, Blacksmiths Hill (now the 14-18 British War Medal and His next of Kin would have received high. Other men, whose names we do not at present know, the 1914-1919 Victory Medal. the Memorial Plaque and Scroll. came home with wounds or infections which needed hospital Windmill Hill), Capel St Mary in 1897. His next of kin would have William was born in Capel in 1890, and other care. It is unthinkable that Capel could suffer a received the Memorial Plaque one of 12 children all born in Capel similar proportion of deaths and injuries today. He was one of ten children of and scroll. to John Pettingale and Alice George Ratford and Eliza Ratford Helena Pettingale (nee Finch). The Charles was born in Colchester (nee Cole). The couple were couple were married in St Mary’s At 11am on 11 November this year Capel St Mary’s first-ever in 1895 to John Gough, a serving married in the Samford Registration Church on 25 February 1876. After War Memorial Monument, erected on the village green, will soldier, and Elizabeth Gough District in 1889. George, a leaving school, William was a (nee Gunn), a cook and domestic be Dedicated in memory of those who lost their lives in World blacksmith, was born in Capel in grocer’s assistant in Bredfield, servant.The couple had married War One, World War Two and since. 1866 and died in 1948. He was Suffolk. buried in Capel. in 1891 in Colchester. They had four children, all born in His father, a farm worker and a road The Monument will be an ever-present reminder to future Eliza was born in Capel in 1866, Colchester. man, was born in Wenham Magna, generations of all those who die in wars and the grief of those died in 1934 and was buried in now Great Wenham, in 1852. He In the 1901 census, Charles’s who mourn them. Capel. Before marriage she was an died in 1938 in Deben. William’s father was the relieving officer agricultural labourer. mother was born in Capel in 1857. and registrar of births, marriages She died in December. 1938 in Every year on Remembrance Sunday we recite words from Frederick was a very good singer and death, living at Bush Farm, Ipswich and was buried with John Robert Laurence Binyon’s moving poem: and sang solo for St Mary’s Church London Road, Capel. Choir. in St Mary’s Churchyard on 29 Charles attended Capel School. December that year. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: He and his siblings went to Capel His father died in Woodbridge in William’s siblings were a baby who Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. School. On leaving school, 1907, at which time Charles was died; John Henry, 1876 - 1958; Frederick was a waiter in the Great living with Ada Goddard, in The At the going down of the sun and in the morning Edward William, 1878 - 1914; White Horse Hotel, Ipswich. Street, Capel. We will remember them. Frederick Ernest, 1880 - 1966; A family story is that they are Ada’s son, Frank, was also killed Charles Bernard, 1883 - 1962; Those words will be even more poignant this November. related through Frederick’s in the war. In the 1911 census, Elizabeth Alice, 1886 - 1938; grandmother, Emma Sage, born in Charles’s occupation was listed Florence, born 1889, Annie, born 1837, died in 1926, to Mr Sage, the as kitchen boy. When Charles 1893; Daisy born 1895; Alfred Cecil, David Thompson, man cutting reeds in John died his mother was back at born 1898; Dorothy Grace, born Editor Constable’s Haywain painting. Bush Farm, Capel. 1901; William Arthur, 1890 -1917. Capel Times June 2018 Page 10 More Capel men die in the vast sea of mud with wounds and infections adding to the toll 1917 - 1918 - 1919 - 1928 Edgar John Walter Frank Frank Herbert Pittock Lott MC Cole Cook Goddard Bullard Suffolk Royal Royal Garrison Machine Gun Australian Essex Regiment Engineers Artillery Corps Imperial Force Regiment 1884 - 1917 1875 - 1917 1875 - 1917 1875 - 1917 1884 - 1917 1883 - 1917 Edgar Pittock enlisted in the John English Lott was one of Walter Cole enlisted in Frank Cecil Cook enlisted at Frank Goddard, born in Herbert Bullard enlisted as Suffolk Regiment in July 1915 the first to volunteer, joining Harwich, Essex, joining the Bury St Edmunds, joining the London, educated at Capel Private 269541 Bullard,1st after an enthusiastic recruiting the 4th Public Schools’ 36 Siege Battery, Royal Bedfordshire Regiment as School and emigrated to Battalion, the Hertfordshire meeting in Capel St Mary. He Battalion, Royal Fusiliers City Garrison Artillery, as a Private 31278. Australia in 1905, enlisted in the Regiment, at Warley Essex, in was posted to 1st/4th Battalion of London Regiment, on 11 Gunner 132361. Australian Imperial Forces on 1914. He transferred to the Machine and went to France on 18 November 1914 as a Private. 31 May 1916. He died of wounds at No 20 Gun Corps as Private 66674 He was transferred to the 11th January 1916. He was wounded In France a year later, he was Casualty Clearing Station, Cook of 76 Company. He embarked for Portsmouth Battalion, Essex Regiment. in July. promoted to acting Corporal France, on 28 May 1917. on 30 September 1916 and He was killed in action on 14 On 26 June 1917, Herbert was After two months in hospital, he and later Second Lieutenant Walter was 21 years old. arrived on 28 December 1916. June 1917 during the Battle of fatally wounded and died on 1 returned to the trenches where and posted to tunnelling and Walter is remembered in Arras and has no known Frank got into trouble going July 1917. His personal effects he contracted pleurisy and surveying duties. Sunken Road Cemetery, grave. absent enroute to Folkestone to were sent to his widow, Mary pneumonia. Edgar was sent to Surveying in the Royal Boisleux St Marc, Memorial visit his parents who then lived Ann Bullard, of Capel St Mary. England and on 27 January Engineers, John was fatally I.D.9. His name is also on a Frank is remembered with near St Mary’s Church, Capel. Herbert is remembered with 1917 tuberculosis set in. He wounded on 7 May 1917 plaque at St John’s Church Honour on Bay 10 of the Arras Honour at Noeux-les-Mines died on 11 May at Ford Military when he went under German Great Wenham. Memorial and on a brass He arrived at Etaples, France Communal Cemetery, Grave Hospital, Devonport. heavy fire to aid wounded plaque in St Mary Parish on 29 March 1917 and was in Walter was posthumously 11.D.5, Pas de Calais, France. soldiers. He was hit in the Church, Capel St Mary. the front line by 6 April 1917. Edgar was given a full military awarded the 1914-1918 head by shrapnel. Frank was posted killed in He was posthumously funeral with a band. A gun British War Medal and the Frank was posthumously action on 26 June 1917 in the awarded the 1914-1918 carriage bore his body to For conspicuous gallantry 1914-1919 Victory Medal. awarded the 1914-1918 Battle for Messines Ridge, British War Medal and the Plymouth railway station. A train and devotion to duty John British War Medal and the His next of kin would have around Ypres. He has no 1914–1919 Victory Medal. His brought his body to Capel. Lott was awarded the Military 1914-1919 Victory Medal. received the Memorial known grave. next of kin would have Cross. The ribbon of the MC A procession to his grave in the Plaque and Scroll. His next of kin would have received the Memorial Plaque was pinned on his chest a Frank is remembered on panel old burial ground of St Mary’s received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll. few hours before he died. Walter Cole was born 7/17/23/25/27/29/31 of Ypres Church was attended by the 6th and Scroll. circa1896 near Bottle Bridge, Menin Gate, Belgium, and on Herbert was born in 1883 in Cyclists Battalion firing party,. John was awarded the 1914- Wenham Parva (now called the Australian National War Bentley, Suffolk, one of three Three volleys were fired and 1915 Star, the 1914-1918 Frank was born July 1884 in Little Wenham), Suffolk. Memorial, Canberra. children of Alfred Bullard and Last Post sounded. The school British War Medal and the Capel St Mary, the son of William Cook and Elizabeth Rachel Bullard (nee Steward), flag was flown at half-mast and 1914-1919 Victory Medal. He was one of nine children He was posthumously awarded Jane Cook (nee Gibbs), who who were married in Ipswich pupils saluted the cortege. He is remembered with born to Walter Cole and the 1914-1918 British War kept The White Horse Inn on in 1872. His siblings, were Honour in La Chapelette Hanna Cole (nee Marjoram). Medal and the 1914-1919 Stephen, born in 1874, a Edgar is remembered on the British and Indian Cemetery, the London Road. Victory Medal. Walter’s father, also Walter, porter and shunter, and Lydia, brass plaque inside the church, Peronne, France, Grave was born in Raydon, Suffolk, His father was born circa 1839 His next of kin would also have born in 1876, about whom His grave is in the North Ground. 1.B.5, on a stone memorial on 28 June 1858. His wife, in Bawdsey, Suffolk, and his received the Memorial Plaque now nothing is known. plaque over the entrance He was posthumously awarded Hanna, was born circa 1857 mother was born circa 1848 in and Scroll. porch to St John’s Church, After leaving school, Herbert the British War Medal, 1914- in Dennington, Suffolk. Orford, Suffolk. 1918, and the Victory Medal, Great Wenham and a brass Frank’s father, John Goddard, worked as a horseman on a They married in 1881. Frank 1914 – 1919. His next of kin plaque erected by brother They married on 26 April was born in Wenham Magna farm. In 1908, he married Mary was one five children all born would have received the officers inside the Church. 1880. At the time of Walter’s (now called Great Wenham) Ann Abilitt, who was born in in Capel. Memorial Plaque and Scroll. His next of kin would have death they were living at 11 around 1851 and worked in Bramford in 1886. received the Memorial Queens Road, Wenham London for a time as a brewer’s One child died. The surviving Before marriage Mary Ann had Edgar and his nine siblings were Plaque and Scroll. Magna (now called Great labourer. His mother, Ada, was siblings were Harry William, been a general domestic all born in Capel and all went to Wenham). born in Capel St Mary around John was born in Ashen born circa 1883, Violet, born servant. The couple had one Capel School. After school, 1853. She was a tailoress and House, Essex, in 1875, the Walter’s siblings were, circa 1886, and James born son, Alfred Herbert Bullard, Edgar was a gardener and game it was said that her sister, Selina eldest child of five of John Agnes, born 1880; Frederick, circa 1888. born in 1909 in Capel. keeper. He married Agness Ostinelli, was dress maker to Green Lott, born in Clacton in 1882; Gertrude, 1884; Ellen Miles in 1911 and they lived at Frank and his siblings were Queen Victoria. Herbert’s father, Alfred, was 1850, and Maria Ellen Lott and Sarah 1888; Albert, an address in The Street. educated in Capel School. On born in 1845 in Wherstead, (nee Gibbin), born in 1891; Ethel, 1892 and John, leaving school he assisted his The family were back in Capel Suffolk. His mother, Rachel, Edgar parents were Joseph Ridgewell, Essex, in 1851. 1901. widowed mother running The St Mary by 1891 living in was born in 1854 in Haste Pittock and Harriet The children had a Fuchsia Cottage (now After leaving Capel School White Horse Inn. Tattingstone, Suffolk. Pittock (nee Pinner) They governess. John was later a demolished) opposite the Old and before the war, Walter married in St Mary’s Church in boarder at Framlingham Frank married Eva Martha Post Office in The Street. Frank By the time of the 1911 was employed as a 1864, Joseph was an School. John’s father died in Skitter in St Mary’s Parish was one of six children but only census, Alfred was a milkman houseboy in domestic agricultural labourer. He died in East Bergholt in 1944. His Church on 31 December he survived infancy. Frank was on a farm and Rachel was a service. 1908. Harriet died in 1915. mother died in 1939. 1913. a farm labourer. milk woman. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them Capel Times June 2018 Page 11 More Capel men die in the vast sea of mud with wounds and infections adding to the toll 1917 - 1918 - 1919 - 1928 Frank Ernest Arthur Arthur Ernest Francis Richardson Rush Peck Stiff Richardson Moncreiff Royal Field Suffolk Lancashire Essex Royal Garrison Royal Artillery Regiment Fusiliers Regiment Artillery Scots 1892 - 1917 1886 - 1918 1896 - 1918 1883 - 1918 1899 - 1919 1883 - 1928 Frank Oliver Richardson Ernest William Rush enlisted in Arthur Peck enlisted at a date Arthur George Stiff enlisted in Ernest Walter Richardson Francis Beresford Moncreiff’s enlisted in the Royal Field the Suffolk Regiment in 1904. now lost in the the Essex Regiment at enlisted on 7 November 1916 service record has not survived Artillery in London, He rose through the ranks Cambridgeshire Regiment at Walthamstow, where he lived at at Bury St Edmunds as a but he most likely arrived in becoming Gunner 148269, seeing early action in what the Bury St Edmunds, becoming 24 Albion Road, in 1915 as a Private and was placed on France with the Royal Scots possibly in 1916. He could German Kaiser described as Private 331073 Peck. He was Private. reserve the next day. (Lothian Regiment) 13th have joined earlier but did Britain’s Contemptible Little later transferred, as happened Following training, he was Battalion, part of Kitchener’s He arrived in France on 17 not serve abroad until 1916. Army. Ernest was promoted to very often due to high mobilized on 24 January 1918 New Army on 8 July 1915. November 1915 becoming a Second Lieutenant on 1 April casualties, to the 1st Battalion and posted as Gunner 179410 Lance Corporal, then acting The Battalion fought in the His full service record was 1918 and was killed in action Lancashire Fusiliers, Richardson, Royal Garrison Corporal, with the 11th Battle of Loos, 1915, the probably lost in air raids 27 days later. becoming Fusilier 325045. Artillery. during World War Two. Battalion. He was fatally German gas attack at Hulluch He is remembered with Peck is listed as a private, wounded and died on 9 July He sailed for France on 30 in 1916, and the Battles of the Frank was killed in action on Honour on the Rushmere War killed in action. His body was 1918. January 1918 and joined Somme, including Poziers, 17 August 1917, possibly Memorial, Suffolk, and never recovered. His next of 353rd Siege Battery, Royal Flers-Loulelette, the capture of Arthur is remembered with during the third Battle of in Happy Valley British kin, his mother, lived at Garrison Artillery. Martinpuich, Le Transloy and Honour at Nine Elms British Ypres. His younger brother, Cemetery, Fampou, France, Chaplin’s Farm, Capel St the attack on Butte de Cemetery, Belgium, Plot XI, F, He survived action but on Ernest, died in 1919 from Grave A.12. Mary. Warlencourt. broncho-pneumonia while 20. garrison duty following the Ernest was posthumously Arthur is remembered with war fell ill and was admitted to It is likely that Francis was on garrison duty. He was posthumously awarded awarded the the 1914 Star, the honour on Ploegsteert No 10 Casualty Clearing wounded during the battle of the 1914-1915 Star, the 1914- Frank is remembered with British War Medal,1914-1918 Memorial, Panel 4, and is also Station, France, on 22 Poziers between 23 July and 3 1918 British War Medal and the Honour at Artillery Wood and the Victory Medal, 1914- remembered on the Brass February 1919. September 1916 as he was 1914-1919 Victory Medal. His Cemetery, Boezhinge, 1919. His next of kin, his wife, Plaque in St Mary’s Church. listed as a casualty on 23 July. next of kin would have received Ernest died from broncho- Belgium, Grave Memorial would have received the He was posthumously the Memorial Plaque and Scroll. pneumonia on 20 March After initial treatment at a 1.A.23. He is also Memorial Plaque and Scroll. awarded the 1914-1918 1919. He was 20. His elder casualty clearing station, remembered on Brass Arthur was born in 1883 in Capel Ernest was born 1886 in British War Medal and the brother, Frank, lost his life on Francis was transferred to Plaque in St Mary’s Parish St Mary, possibly in Days Road, Rushmere, and was a farm 1914-1919 Victory Medal. His 18 August 1917. Britain. He never recovered Church, Capel St Mary. the third of nine children of Harry stockman before joining the mother would have received from his wounds and died in and Alice Stiff (nee Pinner). His Ernest is remembered with regular army. the Memorial Plaque and Leeds aged 45. Frank was posthumously parents had married 1877 in the Honour at Tourcoing (Pont- Scroll. awarded the British War He was the eldest of five Samford Registration District, Neuville) Communal He was laid to rest in All Saints Medal 1914-1918 and the children of William Thomas Arthur was born in Capel in probably in Capel. Cemetery, France, Grave Churchyard, Little Wenham. Victory Medal 1914 – 1919. Rush, a farm labourer, born in 1896 to William James Peck Memorial M8 and on the Arthur’s siblings were Walter, Francis would have been His next of kin would have Rushmere in Suffolk in 1859, and Mary Ann Peck (nee Brass Plaque in St Mary’s born 1879; Agnes, 1881; entitled to the 1914-1915 Star, received The Memorial and Caroline Rush (nee Skeet), Mowles). His father was a Parish Church, Capel. George, 1885; Annie, 1889; the 1914-1918 British War Plaque and Scroll. Frank born in Tattingstone, Suffolk, in farm worker, born in 1859 in William,1893; Alice, 1895; Ernest was posthumously Medal, the 1914-1919 Victory was born circa 1892 in 1857. They were married on 15 Westhall, Suffolk. Edward,1897 and Harry, 1902. awarded the 1914-1918 Medal and the Silver War Capel St Mary. His parents November 1884 at St Mary’s His mother, born in Layham, British War Medal and the Badge for wounds. His next of were Walter George Robert Parish Church, Capel. Arthur’s father, a farm worker, Suffolk, in 1864, was a 1914-1919 Victory Medal. His kin would have been entitled to Richardson and Elizabeth Earnest’s siblings, all born in was born around 1852 in domestic servant before next of kin would have Memorial Plaque and Scroll. Ann Richardson (nee Skeet). Rushmere, were Maud, 1888; Raydon, Suffolk. He died in marriage. The couple married received the Memorial Plaque They married in the Samford Ethel, 1890; Hiesel, 1891 and Hendon, Middlesex, in 1919. Francis was the second son of around 1888 in the Samford and Scroll. Registration District in 1889 Joseph, 1902. Arthur’s mother was born in the Hon. Francis Jeffrey Registration District. and had three children. Capel, also around 1852, and Ernest was born circa 1899 in Moncreiff and Mildred Ernest married Flossie Ellen They had five children: Annie died in Ipswich in 1907. Capel St Mary. His parents Moncreiff (nee FitzHerbert) Walter, a farm worker, was King in Ipswich in 1913. Their Maria, born in 1889, died in were Walter George Robert who were married in Uttoxeter, born in Capel in 1869 and family home was in The Street, Arthur had left Capel and 1978; Thomas William, born in Richardson, a farm worker, Staffordshire in 1880. died in 1941. Elizabeth was Capel St Mary, near the Post worked as a paver’s labourer. He 1891, died in 1918; Rose, and Elizabeth Ann Richardson born in Stratford St Mary, Office. They had a son, Frank married Jane Agnes Gilson, a Francis was educated at Fettes born in1894, died in 1977; (nee Skeet). The couple Essex, in 1869 and died in Louvain, who was baptised in laundry ironer, in London in College, Edinburgh. He was a Arthur, born in 1896, died in married in the Samford 1945. St Mary’s Church, on 29 1908. They had two children, land agent, came to Suffolk 1918 and Beatrice, born in Registration District in 1889. October 1916. Alice, born 1909 and William, and lived at Little Wenham Hall On leaving school, Frank 1900, died in 1981. born 1911. They had three children, all and Valley House, Raydon. He was a farm labourer. Flossie married Herbert Walter The children would have born in Capel and who went married Winifred Laxon, of Webb in 1923. She died in Arthur’s widow, Jane, was living attended Capel School. After to Capel School. After leaving Coventry, in 1911 at Stivichall, Ipswich in 1954. with the two children at 6 Albion leaving school, Arthur became school, Ernest was a farm Warwickshire. Road. a farm worker. stockman. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them Capel Times June 2018 Page 12 USA is provoked into entering Europe’s war The Americans 1917 - 1918 First attack UK arms The day after war is declared the US Navy for US sails to seize the German commerce America mobilises immediately raider, SMS Cormoran, after declaring war on 6 April. In interned by the 1914, the United States Army Americans in Apra number 98,000 with 27,000 in reserve. During the war, Harbour, Guam, since 4,000,000 personal are December 1914. mobilised. German sailors scuttle The first American troops to the ship rather than let land in France in June are it fall into enemy hands. commanded by General The ship, built by Pershing. Germany for the The first American troops, from Russian merchant fleet, the 1st Division, enter trenches was captured off Korea near Nancy, Lorraine, with early in the war by the British and French equipment German Cruiser Emden and fire their first shells into and converted into a German lines on 21 October Bayonet charge: African-American infantry in action commerce raider. 1917. The first American troops to The American 1st Division gains engage closely with the German Army are three Step by step to the end of neutrality its first victory at the Battle of American Engineer Regiments, Cantigny on 28 May 1918. the 11th, 12th and 14th, The United States is neutral for most of World War One with many people The first major and sole working on construction behind wanting to stay out of Europe’s war. But it does supply the Allies with raw American offensive is the the British line at Cambrai. materials and money. American public opinion begins to change with successful attack at Saint- On 30 November, they are reports of German atrocities in Belgian in 1914, the sinking of the liner Mihiel during September 1918 rushed to the front in an Lusitania by a German submarine and unrestricted sinking of US merchant with General Pershing in emergency and become the command of American first American soldiers to meet ships in 1917. Divisions plus 110,000 French the enemy. troops. On 19 January 1917, Germany’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Arthur To gain experience, Americans Zimmermann, makes a secret telegram offer to Mexico. British intelligence The victory allows American move in small numbers to troops to move in readiness for intercept it, decode it and give it to the US. Germany’s offer is to help trenches under British and the Meuse-Argonne offensive, a French command. They take Mexico to regain the American states of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico major part of the final offensive part in the third Battle of Aisne if the US joins the war against Germany. Mexico lost the states during the of World War One. Troops along between 27 May and 6 June in Mexican - American War of 1846 – 1848. That war followed the annexation the entire Western Front engage 1918. They also take part in the the Germans from 26 Battle of the Marne and Allied of Texas by the United State in 1845. The offer is made public in America September until the Armistice attacks at Le Hamel and the on 1 March. Canal du Nord. on 11 November, the day the On 2 April, President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to approve a war to guns fall silent for the first time After the workup phase in the in just over four years of field, the Americans have by the end all wars and to make democracy safe. The US declares war on 6 April. fighting. spring of 1918 four Divisions ready for action. General The Meuse-Argonne offensive Pershing keeps the Americans From a handful army to four million is at the time the largest United under his command, not under States offensive in its history. It Allied supreme command. involves 1,200,000 soldiers. Capel Times June 2018 Page 13 Russia, Balkans, Greece and Italy 1917 - 1918 Russia is out of Long hard struggle for the war Bloody fighting final victory in Italy The Russian revolution in February 1917 forces the Tsar to abdicate. The new Russian republic, along with In the Balkans Romania, continue to side with the Allies. The Tzar and his family are slaughtered on 16-17 July 1918. Balkan fighting begins on 28 July 1914 with A provisional Government is led first by Austro-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, firing Georgy Lvov and later by Alexander Kerensky, who oversees a failed July the first shots on 29 July and crossing the Drina offensive against the Germans. That river border between the two nations. The leads to the collapse of the Russian Army. declaration of war follows the assassination of The offensive begins on 1 July 1917 Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophia, and after initial successes the advance on 28 June 1914 by Gavrilo Princip. Princip, the Thirty-eight Italian divisions launch the 10th battle of the Isonzo is halted when soldiers mutiny and man who triggers World War One, dies of River in May and June 1917 against 14 dug-in Austro- refuse to fight. The Germans counter Hungarians divisions. The Italians are trying to break through to attack on 18 August and the Russian tuberculosis in Terezin Prison on 28 April 1918. Trieste, seize Mount Skabrijel and open the way to the Vipava retreat 150 miles. The Balkan campaign is between the Central Valley. After heavy fighting, they advance close to Trieste but lose Popular demands for peace, especially Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria most gained land. within the army, means the offensive is the last Russia undertakes in the war. and the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of Italy, The Mount Ortigara battle in June 1917 opens with 300,000 France, Greece, Romania, Russia, Montenegro, Italians with 1,600 artillery pieces, attacking near the Austro- In one last fight on 1 September Hungarian front line. Austro-Hungarians have 100,000 men and Germans capture Riga when the Serbia and the United Kingdom. 500 artillery pieces. The Italians are defeated with 23,000 dead Russians run away. or wounded against Austro-Hungarian 9,000 dead or wounded. Russia withdraws from the war after the October revolution in 1917 and a British barrage of 100,000 shells In the 11th battle of the Isonzo River, Italian armies cross the bloody civil war between the river and have some successes leaving the Austro-Hungarians Bolsheviks, who win, and the The Battle of the Dorian in Macedonia begins on 22 April 1917 with a four- worn out and unable to withstand another attack. The Italians conservative White Guard. day British artillery barrage of 100,000 shells. It is an attempt to break are also worn out and cannot mount another attack. The result Bulgarian defensive positions. is an inconclusive bloodbath with 273,000 casualties. The Bulgarians open up with their artillery, positioned between Vardar and At the battle of Caporetto in Slovenia between 24 October and Dorian, and fire day and night on to the British positions. British infantry 4 November Austro-Hungarian forces, German storm troopers start their attack on the night of 24 -25 April and after bloody fighting take and Alpine troops attack the Italian Second Army. the Bulgarian positions of Nerezov-Knyaz, Boris and Pazardzhik. Gas is fired into Italian trenches. The Italians’ gas masks protect Bulgarians counter attack and repulse the British. In attack and counter them for only two hours and they flee. Six hundred men are attack in April and early May, the British are defeated and abandon further killed. After further German attacks the Second Army collapses attacks. The British suffer heavy casualties: 12,000 killed, wounded or and is forced back into North-East Italy. captured. The Bulgarian defenders bury 2,250 of the fallen. German supply lines are stretched and they cannot exploit their Leon Trotsky A Spring offensive begins on Salonika front between 5 May and 15 May. success. The Italian commander withdraws a further 10 miles With the Bolsheviks in power, their The Battle of the Crna Bend, a loop of the Crna river, is part of the offensive. to set up new defensive lines. He is replaced a few days later. leader Lenin, promises peace, bread It is designed to break a stalemate in the fight but despite the numerical German forces are finally halted by 23 December. and land to the people. On 26 October, and material advantage of the Allies, German and Bulgarian defensive With Russia out of the war, large reinforcements of Austro- Lenin calls on all belligerents to end the positions hold until the end of the war. war. Germany and its allies agree to an Hungarian and German troops from the Eastern Front go to Eastern Front Armistice. The 1st Battle of Marasti is a joint offensive by Romanians and Russians Italian Fronts. The Italians are reinforced with British and French in July and August 1917 to encircle and trap the German 9th army . It is a troops and aircraft. Trotsky, Lenin’s deputy, negotiates for tactical success. a peace treaty with Germany and its In the second Battle of Piave River between 15 and 23 June allies at the Polish town of Brest- The Battle of Marasesti in August 1917 is the last major battle between 1918, Austro-Hungarians and Germans attack in mass Litovsk. When Trotsky refuses to sign Germany and Austro-Hungary against Romania which is supported by formations. Italian artillery inflicts heavy casualties. harsh terms, Germany resumes the war Russia. pushing farther into Russia in five days Moving south along the Adriatic coast Austro-Hungarians force in February 1918 than in three years of Most of Romania has been occupied by the Central Powers throughout a bridgehead over 20km miles wide and six km deep. Before the war. World War One. The victory at Marasesti keeps North-Eastern Romania being forced to retreat, an Italian artillery barrage destroys river free from occupation. crossings, trapping Austro-Hungarians who are then easy On 3 March 1918,Trotsky signs away pickings. Finland, Poland, Baltic provinces, In the two-day Battle of the Skra, North Western Thessalonika, in May 1918, Ukraine and Transcaucasia, a third of an overwhelming force of three Greek Divisions and one French Brigade An estimated 20,000 troops drown. The Austro-Hungarian Russia’s agricultural land and three- capture the Skra French Brigade and overrun one Bulgarian Brigade. Emperor orders a full retreat. By 23 June the Italians have quarters of its industry. War on the The Vardar offensive in Macedonia in September 1918 is the last major regained all lost ground. The Italians finally break the Austro- Eastern Front is over and 50 German offensive of the war in the Balkans and a victory for the Allies. Hungarian back with victory at the battle of Vittorio Veneto on 3 divisions move to the Western Front. November 1918. Capel Times June 2018 Page 14 War against the Ottoman Empire 1914 - 1918 Gallipoli’s beaches a British Indian Army slaughter house Dardanelles Middle East Victory First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, The war in Mesopotamia, now largely Iraq, opens on devises a plan to kick Turkey and the Ottoman 6 November 1914 when, after a Royal Navy Empire out of the war with a joint British-French bombardment, Royal Marines and British Indian Army naval assault on the Dardanelles in March 1915. It troops seize the Ottoman port of Far on the Persian is a disaster. Gulf to protect British oil supplies. The Ottomans never recover from the British victory The assault force, 18 battleships, cruisers and which leads to a string of defeats in 1915. destroyers, sails into the Dardanelles on 18 March and bombards shore batteries. Minesweepers DEFEAT The British attack Basra, a communication and manned by civilians retreat leaving minefields largely industrial area, on 11 November, taking it 13 days intact. later. The capture secures the Abadan oilfields and the Ottomans retreat to defensive positions at Qurna A French battleship and Britain’s HMS Irresistible Gallipoli where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet. and HMS Inflexible hit mines and sink. HMS Ocean An Ottoman attack fails to retake Basra between 12 sent to the rescue is damaged by an explosion and and 14 April 1915. The British Indian Expeditionary sinks. Two French battleships sink. The assault is Force captures Ottoman defences along the Tigris on called off and plans are made for a land invasion of 28 September. It leads to the capture of Kut the the Gallipoli Peninsula. Then victory following day. The land battle for the Gallipoli Peninsular begins on On 7 December, Ottoman forces surround Kut and the 25 April with the landing of the Australian and cut off supplies. On 8 March, at Dujaila, a British New Zealand Army Corps on what is called ANZAC attempt to relieve Kut fails and the British Indian Cove. Other regiments land on the beaches along Force surrenders on 29 April 1916. Cape Helles. The Royal Dublin and Munster Fusiliers across the Ottomans retain Kut until a British Indian Force are in the thick of the fighting at Cape Helles. retakes the town on 23 February 1917. The British The two regiments lose so many men they are take Baghdad between 8 and 11 March 1917. amalgamated into the Dubsters. Only one officer Ottomans try to link 10,000 troops north of Baghdad Middle East with 115,000 coming from Persia. These two forces and 11 men survive unscathed. attempt to regroup into one force. Royal Marines from Plymouth also land that day. The British Indian Force takes control of the Lancashire Fusiliers land with 27 officers and 1,002 War in the Middle East stretches from Libya Samarrah railway and on 13 March begins moving other ranks. They win six Victoria Crosses before and Egypt, through the Suez Canal, 45,000 troops north. By 23 April, the Samarrah breakfast. Twenty-four hours later, only 16 officers railway is in its hands 81 miles north of Baghdad. The and 300 men answer roll call. Palestine, what is now Saudi Arabia, Iraq, British Indian Force controls most of Mesopotamia. The broken landscape of deep cliffs and rocky Syria and Iran, Russia, the Black Sea, South The British take Ramadi, 62 miles west of Baghdad gullies prevents co-ordinated movement inland. The Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, with its large supplies of ammunition and 3,500 Army is trapped on the beaches. and Turkey. prisoners An Indian Division takes the town of Hit without a shot being fired. The Division, with trucks On the Dardanelles Asian side, French colonial and armoured cars, encircles Khan al Baghdadi, troops land at Kumkale as a diversion and then There are naval actions in the Black Sea, blocks escape and takes prisoner the whole Ottoman withdraw. Several attempts are made to break out Dardanelles, Eastern Mediterranean and the force. Farther north, the Ottoman main supply base, from the beaches. At Sulva Bay on 6 to 8 May, 4 Red Sea. along with several high-ranking German officers, is June and 6 August a breakout by the ANZACs and captured in the last action on the Euphrates front. British to join up fails. The last battle in Mesopotamia is at Sharqat between An attack at Scimitar Hill also fails due to Allied forces are British, Australian, New the 23 and 30 October 1918. determined Turkish troops. Zealand and Indian, Russian until the 1917 The campaign is a war of attrition. The Turkish 57 revolution, French and Italian and the Great Regiment runs out of ammunition and fights with Arab Revolt. Persian Front stalemate only bayonets. Turkish Commander Kemel tells his The Persian Front opens in western Persia and men “I do not order you to fight, I order you to die.” Enemy forces are Turkey and the vast Iranian Azerbaijan in December 1914. It is a war Every man of the 57 Regiment is killed or wounded. between the Ottomans and Russian and British Ottoman Empire, Germany, some Arabs and Empire forces. The war is a series of attacks and The campaign is a complete disaster. The final the Senussi religious sect fighting in Libya counter-attacks. Several cities change hands and withdrawal is on 9 January 1916. The Royal Marines change back. It ends in stalemate at the signing of from Plymouth, first ashore on 1 March, are the last and Egypt. the Armistice of Mudros on 30th October 1918. to leave. British Empire casualties are 154,568 killed, dead of disease or evacuated sick. French The war lasts from 1 November 1914 and casualties are 47,169 killed, dead of disease or ends with the Armistice of Mudros on 30 evicted sick. Ottoman War October 1918. (Continued on Page 19) Turkish losses are around 250,000 men. Capel Times June 2018 Page 15 Battles to control oceans round the Globe

Royal Navy’s Kitchener’s first loss tragic death The first Royal Navy ship to The British War Secretary be sunk is HMS Amphion, an Field Marshal Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, is the most active-class scout cruiser. On senior military officer of any the first day of the war, as part The War nation killed during the war. of the Harwich force, she and her destroyers encounter and He dies when the Royal Navy’s HMS Hampshire sink a German minelayer. explodes and sinks within Nine days later, Amphion minutes one mile off the strikes a mine off the Thames Orkney coast on 5 June 1916. estuary and sinks with the It is believed that the ship hit loss of 132 of its crew of 293. a German mine. At least 643 at Sea lives are lost. Germany sinks 22 fishing trawlers later in the month. Victory at 1914 - 1918 Heligoland The Battle of Heligoland, from 26 to 28 August 1914, is the first large naval clash of the The Field Marshal, an empire- war and victory for the Royal builder whose recruitment Navy. poster is the war’s most effective, is sailing in secret to Both sides are patrolling Archangel, in Russia, to close to the German coast bolster the country’s fading and Heligoland’s fortress war effort against the base. The British Germans. Commodore, Roger Keyes, Lord Kitchener is a devises a plan to take the controversial figure. His death fight to the enemy. is at first seen as a national German cruisers escort disaster. Later, there are conspiracy theories and even destroyers into the North Sea Attacks on Submarine Government involvement. His at night looking for British The Battle body has never been found ships and are escorted back Warfare by the cruisers in the early East Coast of Jutland hours. Four months after the Battle of The only time the Royal To starve Germany into Hospital ship Heligoland a German cruiser submission, Britain’s Grand Keyes’ plan is for his Navy’s Grand Fleet and the squadron attacks the East German High Sea Fleet Fleet blockades its ports. To submarines to surface close is sunk Coast towns of Scarborough, meet is at the Battle of starve Britain, Germany uses to Heligoland as if in distress. Whitby and Hartlepool. Jutland between 31 May unrestricted submarine warfare Austro-Hungarian and A destroyer, HMS Fearless, and 1 June 1916. to sink merchant ships, German ships avoid the On the 24 January 1915, the appears to be going to their principally in the Atlantic. combined British, French, aid. cruiser battle of Dogger Bank The Grand Fleet Italian and Japanese navies in Commander, Sir John is a British victory. Germans In 1914, Germany sinks the Mediterranean, relying on German ships are lured into Jellicoe, has 151 warships. are out-gunned and run to 312,672 tons of ships then their U-boats and mines. the North Sea away from the The German fleet, port. British casualties are one builds more U-boats and sinks The hospital ship Britannic protection of their fortress. commander Vice Admiral battle cruiser, one destroyer many more ships. hits a mine and takes 50 The British spring the trap Scheer, has 99. out of action, 15 men killed and minutes to sink off the Greek cutting off the Germans from At the end of the battle, 14 On 7 May 1915, a U-boat 32 wounded. German losses island of Kea on 21 the base. British and 11 German sinks the liner Lusitania off the are one cruiser sunk, one November 1916. All but 30 of combat ships are sunk. Irish coast. Of 1,962 the 1,065 people on board are The Royal Navy sinks three heavily damaged, 954 men British casualties are 6,768 passengers and crew 1,196 saved. Britannic is the largest German light cruisers and one killed, 80 wounded and 189 killed or wounded. German lose their lives. International ship to be lost in World War destroyer and damages three taken prisoner. casualties are 3,058 killed opinion turns against Germany. One. destroyers for damage to one or wounded. On 24 April 1916 a German In March 1917, Britain British light cruiser and three battle cruiser squadron plans Both sides claim victory. introduces the convoy system destroyers. to attack Lowestoft and Great The Germans because protecting merchant ships with War at Sea British losses are higher. The German Kaiser instructs Yarmouth to entice a small warships. During the war, 178 The British because the his navy to remain in port for Royal Navy detachment out to U-boats are sunk. Following continues Germans return to port several months to avoid sea to be picked off. The never to put to sea again. the Armistice 179 U-boats are contact with the Royal Navy. British did not take the bait. surrendered. Page 17 Capel Times June 2018 Page 16 Fighting for total supremacy in the skies

needed to support the tail Flying machines causes drag. swiftly become Pushers are used well into warplanes 1917 although faster planes with synchronised gun World War One was the first mounts, engines and major conflict with large- propellers placed at the scale use of aircraft though War in front are in service. Early observation balloons were development to being used even before the synchronise gun and Battle of Waterloo in 1815. propeller results in ricocheting bullets and Early in 1914 the British disintegrating propellers commander, Sir John with disastrous results. French, writes of the admirable observation work There is air-to-air combat of the Royal Flying Corps. the Air throughout the war on all “Their skill, energy and fronts of the war. As aircraft perseverance through all improve their pilots become conditions have been air aces, the term for any beyond all praise. They pilot who shoots down five have furnished me with the or more enemy aircraft. It is most complete and 1914 - 1918 first used by French accurate information, which newspapers to describe has been of incalculable Adolphe Celestin Pegoud value in the conduct of who downs seven German operations.” aircraft. He is killed on 31 In September, October and August 1915. November 1914, the Royal Top ace is Germany’s Baron Naval Air Service raid Manfred von Richthofen, German Airship sheds at the Red Baron, with 80 Dusseldorf, Cologne and victories. He is killed on 21 Friedrichshafen. April 1918. Top Allied ace is As the war goes on the role Rene Paul Fonck, of of aircraft rapidly changes. France, with 75 confirmed, They become bombers and but 100 assumed, victories. fighters. At first, bombs are He survives the war. Top dropped by hand over the British Empire ace is side. Canadian William Avery Bishop credited with 72 Air combat is at first rare. victories. He survives the First, Allied and German war rising to Air Marshal. observation aircrews wave and smile at each other. Early fighter planes are called Pushers because the engine Attacking aircraft from the This does not last. Crews and propeller are behind the crew and gun ground using rifles and start to throw grenades and machine guns is not grappling hooks at each successful so ground-to-air other. Then comes pistol Aircraft are in early stages of development in 1914 with artillery is being developed. and rifle fire and on 5 average speeds of 70 - 80 mph and a maximum flying height The first successful November 1914, French downing is on the Balkan pilot Louis Quenault fits a of 7,000 feet. The Royal Flying Corps, formed in 1912, has two Front on 30 September machine gun and opens fire wings: Royal Flying Corps for the Army and Royal Naval Air 1915 by Serbian Army on a German aircraft. It is Private Radoje Ljutovac. the birth of the fighter Service for the Admiralty. In August 1914, the Royal Flying plane. Corps has 147 officers, 1,097 other ranks and 179 aircraft. The Early fighters are called Royal Naval Air Service has 93 aircraft. In April 1918, they Bomb Aiming Pushers because the become the Royal Air Force. By December 1914, Britain has engine and propeller are Paul Bewsher’s behind the crew. This allows 300 aircraft. Germany has 1,000 and 450 privately owned, machine guns to be France has 1,500 and 500 privately owned. In November 1918, first-hand mounted at the front to give account. a clear view of the target. the RAF has 22,647 warplanes with speeds up to 155 mph Pushers are slow because reaching 30,000 feet. Page 17 the extra rigging and struts Capel Times June 2018 Page 17 Research War at Sea and words War in the Air Continued from Page 15 Continued from Page 16 Sunk - German dream of Far East empire

Step-by-step from 1914 He engages and defeats a Germany is deprived by the British squadron commanded British, New Zealand, by Rear Admiral Sir Australian and Japanese Christopher Craddock. naval forces of its supply and The British lose two armoured radio stations and thus the cruisers and 1,570 men. ability to communicate and German casualties are three provide food, coal and oil to wounded. The action costs its naval and merchant ships the Germans half their in Africa, the Far East and ammunition with no prospect Pacific. of resupply. This makes its operations in Attacking the Falkland Islands First, we dropped bombs the Indian Ocean and Pacific on 8 December, Admiral difficult. Spee’s force is surprised and then we aimed them at Nevertheless, the German destroyed by a larger British cruiser, Emden, on a sole naval task force. Just one mission in the Indian Ocean, German ship, Dresden, the Germans below sinks or captures 30 Allied escapes. Dresden is scuttled ships, bombards Madras, in after a short battle three By Bomb-aimer Paul Bewsher India, and Penang, in Malaya, months later. and destroys the radio relay Only the Emden is successful, Ahead lay the red glare of the blast furnaces of Hagendingen station in the Cocos Islands. sinking two Allied warships in Alsace-Lorraine. When Admiral Von Spee and 16 other vessels before being sunk by the Australian I lifted up my seat to get into position and crawled to the little hears that Tsing-tau, in China, room behind. I stood on a floor of little strips of wood with is under attack he heads for cruiser, Sydney, on 9 November 1914. Griff walls and roof of tightly stretched canvas which clattered and Chile to secure provisions. In September and October Germany’s dream of a Far flapped with the rush of wind from the propellers. Behind was 1914, he is joined by two East empire sinks below the the petrol tank under which hung the 12 bombs. cruisers. waves. Johns I lay on my chest and under the pilot’s seat, and pushed aside All the research and a little wooden door away from a hole in the floor through Baltic becomes German Lake writing of the history of which there was an updraft of wind. World War One, and Over this was placed the bomb sight with its sliding range bars The German navy, with modern warships, and the Russians, with an ageing fleet, are the combatants in the Baltic Sea. the stories of the brave painted with phosphorescent paint. On my right, fixed to the British submarines support the Russians who play a young men of Capel St side of the machine, was a wooden handle that operated a defensive role attacking merchant ships sailing from Sweden Mary who fought and metal drum from which ran a cluster of release wires to the to Germany. Russian divers retrieve the secret naval code died in it, in this and bombs further back. book from a scuttled German light cruiser and pass it to the Royal Navy. It contributes to British successes in the North previous Issues of This handle was the bomb release lever: I could release one Sea. In August 1915, the Germans finally succeed in Capel Times, is by bomb or all at once. capturing islands in the Gulf of Riga from where they damage former Royal Marine Just in front of me was the pilot’s thick flying boots on the Russian shipping. The Russian Revolution and the withdrawal Griff Johns. from the war under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk makes the rudder and occasionally I would pull one or the other to guide Baltic Sea the German Lake. Griff Johns will be him. Once the targets were in my sights I would pull the lever writing again in Issue and in a moment would be up beside the pilot shouting: “Bombs gone, let’s get out of here.” Cat-and-mouse Fleeing German Four of Capel Times , to be published in When a German soldier raised his eyes to the sky and saw a in Black Sea ship scuttled October, which will tell British plane it was either going to bomb him or radio the guns so their shells crept closer. The soldier can become The first Black Sea action is At the outbreak of the war, the story of World War accustomed to shelling, he can judge where the shell is likely the Ottoman navy the German light cruiser Two and of the Capel to fall and if not in a trench he could be out of the line of fire. bombarding Russian coastal Konigsberg is in the Indian men who fought and towns. The Ottomans are Ocean. She attacks Zanzibar died in that war. But under aerial bombing there is a sense of helplessness strengthened by two new harbour, sinks HMS Pegasus German battle cruisers which which can turn to terror. The bomb screams as it falls, it may and retreats to the Rufiji River Griff Johns is also are more than a match for land half a mile away or land on his head, there is nothing he delta. A British force traps her. Russia’s ageing ships in one- writing a book about can do about it. to-one battles. The Russians Two shallow-draft monitor Capel and the two The continual bombing of German positions made the operate in force and with ships, the Mersey and the world wars. The book soldiers’ life full of alarm and unrest almost beyond endurance. cat-and-mouse tactics. Severn, are sent from England will be distributed free and go up river on 11 July The artillery directed by aircraft was no less feared. This would With help from two modern of charge throughout Dreadnoughts they 1915 to destroy her. The be true for the soldier of any nation who saw enemy aircraft outmanoeuvre the Ottomans. Konigsberg crew scuttled her. the village. over his position. Capel Times June 2018 Page 18 Tragic failure of the war to end all wars The Aftermath 1919 - 1939 Street Riots Where is Hitler’s rise Emperors As the war ends, students in Vienna guns, machine guns, trains, wagons Dictators march through the streets shouting the PEACE and lorries. down with the Austro-Hungarian The British Prime Minister, David Hapsburg monarchy. Karl, the last The end of World War One Lloyd George, says that the treaty OUT emperor abdicates. Hungary IN didn’t bring peace. It brings a terms are so harsh that we would declares independence from world of violent and lasting have to fight another war in 25 years Austria. There is street fighting in change. It brings the end of at three times the cost. He is out by Prague. monarchies, the collapse of only five years. empires and the creation of new From the collapsed empire, four In the 1920s, the German economy states. It brings the countdown new independent nations emerge: collapses. Adolf Hitler, spokesman to World War Two. Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia for the National Socialist German and Yugoslavia. The Armistice, on 11 November Workers Party, the Nazis, Yugoslavia is a confederation of 1918, is the day the guns fall campaigns against the Versailles South Slavic peoples: Serbs, silent. The official end of the war Treaty, Jews and capitalists in Slovenes, Croats and comes with the signing of German society. He demands an Montenegrins. Versailles Peace Treaty by the alliance with Communist Russia. warring nations. The Russian emperor, Nicholas II, is Hitler leads a push to seize power, Germany: Wilhelm II, Germany: Hitler, forced to abdicate on 15 March The date is 28 June 1919 is arrested and charged with high abdicated 1918 suicide 1945 1917. Bolshevik troops shoot, exactly five years to the day treason. He is jailed for five years, bayonet and club him and his entire since Archduke Franz but is released after eight months. family to death on 16-17 July 1918. Ferdinand, heir to the Austro- His book, Mein Kampf, written in The story of the murder is on Hungarian throne and his wife prison attacks Jews and glorified Page13. Sophie, are assassinated in war. Sarajevo. The assassination The German emperor, Wilhelm II, Capel’s 22rd casualty, Lieutenant triggers the war. abdicates on 9 November 1918 and Francis Moncreife, Royal Scots, flees into exile in The Netherlands. died on 18 December 1928. His Revolution sweeps the new German A greater death toll than the war story is on Pages 10 and 11. republic into 1919 with later sweeps the world in the winter of 1918-1919: the pandemic Spanish Hitler becomes German Chancellor unsuccessful socialist and in 1933. communist uprisings. Flu. One-in-five of the world’s population is infected. The flu His speeches denounce what he Austro-Hungary: Charles I, The Versailles Treaty returns to seems at first nothing more serious calls the “criminals and cowards” Italy: Mussolini, deposed 1922 Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and than a common cold but it kills who signed the Armistice and the shot 1945 France areas which Germany has millions. What is unusual is that Versailles Treaty. captured in earlier conflicts. Alsace- those who die are mainly between Lorraine goes back to France Hitler vilifies Jews and extols the 20 and 40. Flu usually kills the Aryan race. He sets Germany to having been under German elderly and young children. administration since the Franco- work, builds up his military forces in Prussian war of 1870-1871. Capel’s 21st casualty, Gunner defiance of the Versailles Treaty and Germany complains that the Allies Ernest Richardson, Royal Garrison starts to seize parts of Germany lost are trying to introduce slavery. Artillery, dies on 20 March, 1919. in 1919. His story is on Pages 10 and 11. While the map of Europe is redrawn Britain and the Allies do nothing. In Allied troops occupy the Rhineland. 1938, they sign the Munich treaty French troops open fire on rioters in Versailles which allows Hitler to take over the Ruhr. Unrest spreads provoked Czechoslovakia. Russia: Nicholas II: by communists and nationalists. Treaty The British Prime Minister, Neville Russia: Stalin, abdicated 1917, killed 1918 Everywhere in Britain and across Chamberlain, declares that Munich died 1953 Europe there are many thousands The Versailles Treaty, the treaty marks peace in our time. He of men suffering from physical and which started the countdown to couldn’t have been more wrong. mental wounds. They have little, if World War Two, makes Germany On 1 September 1939, Hitler any, help. pay compensation of £10 billion, invades Poland. Britain warns that give up its submarine and surface unless he withdraws his troops by The Land fit for Heroes, which fleets, disband its air force and 11am on 3 September a state of Britain’s fighting men were limits its army to 100,000 . war will exist between us. He promised, does not materialise. Conscription was abolished. doesn’t. There are calls for better houses, better food, strikes for better pay Germany has to give to the Allies in The countdown is over. World War and working conditions. good condition thousands of heavy Two begins.

Ottoman: Mehmed VI Spain: Franco, deposed 1922 20 years to World War Two died 1975 Capel Times June 2018 Page 19

Ottoman Empire War Continued from Page 14

The Great Arab Ottomans seek revolt begins an Armistice THANKS The Great Arab revolt against The Sinai and Palestine the Ottoman Empire begins on Campaign begins on 22 FOR YOUR 5 June 1916 with an attack on January 1915 when the the Ottoman garrison at Ottomans, supported by HERITAGE Medina. The attack was Germans, attack the Sinai repulsed. Peninsula and Suez Canal in LOTTERY the British Protectorate of On 10 June, Hussein bin Ali, Egypt. The attack is By Group Captain Gary the Hashemite Arab leader, unsuccessful. Bunkell, Chairman of Capel attacks the Ottoman garrison St Mary War Memorial Trust at Mecca. There is intense After battles in August and street fighting with the December 1916, a German- This issue of Capel Times is the Hashemites joined by Egyptian last of three made possible by the led Ottoman army is pushed generosity of the Heritage Lottery artillery troops sent by the out of the Peninsular by the Fund. British. ANZAC Mounted Division and The Fund granted the Capel War Indiscriminate Ottoman the 52 Lowland Division. Memorial Trust £10,000 for shelling causes considerable education purposes. damage. Hashemites portray We have used the money to the Ottomans as desecraters publish in this and the two earlier of the Holiest city in Islam. Issues of Capel Times the history Hussein sends his son, Emir of World War One, the stories of the young men who died in the Meet the Monument’s masons Abdullah, to the town of Ta’ir. conflict and how the loss affected It falls on 22 September. the village and its people. The War Memorial Monument is constructed of tough An Arab army of 3,500, with Money from Heritage Lottery has quartz and mica based igneous mid-grey Sadahalli Royal Navy fire support, also been used to support the granite from India. It has been created and installed attacks the port of Jidda on visits of East Bergholt High School by, from the left, stone masons Neil Luxton, Robert students to World War One the Red Sea on 10 June. The battlefields, Memorials and graves Hoskin and Ollie Read of Luxstone of Sudbury. garrison surrenders on 16 in France and Belgium, and other June. Australian Light Horse school projects. By the end of September, Arab On 31 October 1917, after a The story of Capel in World War armies, with Royal Navy help, period of stalemate, and late in One and World War Two will be published in a book to be have taken five coastal towns the afternoon, the 4th distributed free of charge to Capel and 6,000 prisoners. Seven Australian Light Horse makes people. It will also be available on hundred Iraqi Arab prisoners the last-ever great cavalry line. join the Great Arab Revolt. charge. It leads to the capture The Heritage Lottery Fund is of Beersheba. After more responsible for distributing the pursuit and several small heritage share of National Lottery skirmishes 50 miles of funding. It supports a wide range Ottoman territory is captured. of projects across the United Kingdom. Following battles at Mughar The Heritage Lottery Fund believes Ridge between 10 and 14 that understanding, valuing and November and the battle of sharing heritage brings people Jerusalem between 17 together, inspires pride in Step-by-step and the November and 30 December communities and boosts Monument goes up investment in local economies. Lawrence of Arabia more successes come in That is most certainly true in Capel. The Ottoman weakness is the March and April 1918. length of the railway supply The overall campaign to bring the Infantry attacks at Tulkarm and line through the Hejaz region terrible reality of war to young Tarsor allow the Desert people was funded by Heritage of what is now Saudi Arabia. In Mounted Corps to encircle the Lottery. October, the British in Egypt Ottomans fighting in the send a young officer, T.E. The money to build the village’s Judean Hills. first-ever War Memorial Monument Lawrence, known later as and memorial garden came from Lawrence of Arabia, to work grants, donations and events. A with the Hashemites. Thousands of stone monument in the Primary School to the pupils who lost their He persuades the Arab prisoners lives in the two wars is being paid northern army to use hit-and- for separately from money donated run tactics when attacking the The campaign goes on to solely for the War Memorial. destroy three Ottoman armies, Hejaz railway. This pins down And the village of Capel St Mary Ottoman forces and is the capture thousands of has come very close together. Arab Revolt’s main war prisoners and their equipment. contribution. In your Capel Times today there is The Ottoman Empire sues for a form for membership of the By 1917, there are 20,000 an Armistice and its signing at Friends of Capel St Mary War Meeting the brother who died Ottoman troops in the Hejaz Mudros, on the Greek island of Memorial Trust. Joining will be of A poignant moment for Alfred Burch, known as Joe, region. Working closely with Lemnos, brings the Middle great help. If the form is missing, or pointing to his brother Harry’s name engraved on the East War to an end on 30 more forms are needed for family Emir Faisal, Lawrence joins Monument. As a child, Joe remembers his mother Arab attacks. On 6 July 1917, October 1918. The war has or friends outside the village, they are available at Drayton Insurance sitting in Blue Gates Farm kitchen, crying over a letter he leads the capture of the lasted for three years, nine Services, 27a The Street, Capel Jordanian port of Aqaba. months and two days. IP9 2EE telling of Harry’s death, aged 24, in World War Two. Capel Times June 2018 Page 20 My life as a British WAR My father at just 18 MEMORIAL Army Chaplain by FUND lost both legs, an eye Rev’d Major Mandy and lived Born and bred in Leicester, I moved to Islington, London, on marriage to a Metropolitan Police Officer. After 3 years there, and Quiz until 79 the birth of our first son, Matthew, we moved to Wembley, in Middlesex, staying put for the next 23 years. Capel St Mary’s During this time, I became very involved with our local church, Churchwarden Trevor initially helping out with Sunday School, then becoming a Youth Night Peartree tells the story Leader, and eventually being encouraged to lead prayer and praise of his brave father services in church on a Sunday. GENERAL Having explored my vocation and calling to the ministry, I then My father, Ernest William Peartree, offered myself up for ordination to the priesthood, (Vicar of Dibley was born in East Bergholt in KNOWLEDGE December 1898 and after school definitely a role model here) and having been accepted, trained for worked for a farmer picking stones three years and ordained deacon in St Paul’s Cathedral, and QUESTIONS from fields so that they didn’t subsequently as priest the following year. Plus Raffle damage the plough. Following two years as a curate in the Parish Church of Wembley, At 17, he and a friend answered where I found myself taking on the roles of Chaplain to the local Lord Kitchener’s call to join the Army and Air Cadets, and Wembley Police Station, and following Army as it seemed an exciting attendance on a Chaplains’ Course at the Armed Forces CAPEL proposition. Chaplains’ Centre at Amport House in Hampshire, I somehow Ernie, as he was always known, found myself undergoing Basic Training at Sandhurst and Passing VILLAGE enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment on Ernie Peartree, 17, Off as Chaplain in the British Army posted to Germany. 2 July 1916 and was transferred to off to the Front Line. HALL the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment. For the next 10 years during my army service, I experienced He was soon on his way to France. postings in both Germany and the UK, and on training exercises Saturday, In early 1917, aged just 18, Ernie in Poland, Bavaria and Canada, all of which was preparation for was severely wounded in the leg operational duty in Iraq. 23rd June 2018 and eye and lay untended in no- Doors open at 19.00 man’s land for two days before being picked up by Germans. Quiz starts at 19.30 He had both legs amputated, one through frostbite. He also lost his Team size right eye. He had five operations in maximum of six Germany and was treated well. Entry including nibbles Ernie spent the rest of the war in a £5 a head PoW camp at Altdam, in Poland, where he exchanged letters with his mother. How To Enter On repatriation, Ernie was treated Entry forms at the Western General Hospital, in available from: Manchester, and Queen Mary's Convalescence Auxiliary Hospital Drayton at Roehampton before coming Insurance Services, home to East Bergholt. His mother or Capel Library took care of him. during opening hours. He was given, first, a hand- propelled chair, later upgraded to Ernie Peartree, 18, lost legs and an eye. Or call 01473 310580 petrol. He was fitted with artificial limbs. In 1950, he was issued with or 07802 315597. a Ford Anglia converted to hand Major Mandy on operational duty in Iraq controls. I have served with many branches of the Army, including Cavalry Closing date Through his mother, Ernie met my (Tank Regiments now), Infantry and Training Regiments and for entries mother, Chrissie, a district nurse. spending almost three years at the infamous Deepcut Barracks, in 16 June 2018. They married in 1933 at East Surrey. Bergholt Church. Their first child was stillborn in 1936, my brother It was during this time serving at Deepcut and in the Garrison Join in and make Norman was born in 1938. I was Church of St Barbara (Patron Saint of the Royal Engineers and born in 1942. Artillery) I began working with the Normandy Veterans’ Association this the best-ever Ernie purchased a piece of land in becoming their National Chaplain in 2014, a duty and privilege quiz night White Horse Road, opposite Orvis which I continue to enjoy still, especially as my father was a D-Day Lane and had a bungalow built veteran, and went on to take part in the liberation of Belsen where they lived. It was named Concentration Camp. Capel Times is Roisel after the place in France where he fell. I was also Chaplain for The Army Widows’ Association for a published by number of years. Capel St Mary It was difficult even for able-bodied men to find work between the I am now a full-time Chaplain for the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Memorial Trust, wars, so my mother took in nursing and enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, all cultures and 16 Thorney Road, mothers for their confinements at backgrounds. I feel especially blessed and humbled to be involved Capel St Mary, the bungalow from the late 1940s. with Palliative and End of Life care for our patients. Ipswich IP9 2LQ My mother died, aged 60, from cancer in 1959. My father lived on My sons, Matthew and James, together with their other halves, It is free to residents, with help until he died, aged 79, in have given me the joy of eight grandchildren between them, Ernie Peartree, 20, supporters and friends St Mary's Hospital. bathchair bound. ranging from 18 years of age to six. Printed by Keith Avis Printers, Hadleigh - 01473 823366