Formed in early 1915, the East Bergholt Volunteer Training Corps (VTC) was made up of volunteers who were either too old to serve in the Armed Forces, or who were excluded for other reasons, but who were still anxious to “do their bit” to protect the country.
On the night of 12 September 1915, East Bergholt came under aerial attack for the first time in its history. A total of 8 bombs were dropped on the Parish, by a German Army Zeppelin, the LZ74. Fortunately, there were no casualties and no damage was caused.
Unveiled on 8 August 1920, the Village Memorial to those who Gave Their Lives in The Great War can be found in the South Aisle of St. Mary's Church. It contains the names of 65 men from the village (or whose close family lived in the village) who lost their lives in the Great War, or shortly afterwards as a result of their wartime service.
Originally unveiled on 9 April 1920 in the Village School at Burnt Oak, the Roll of Honour records the names of 342 men from East Bergholt - or with close family connections to it - who served in the Forces during the Great War.
The first of the Great War memorials in the village, were unveiled in the Congregational Church on 21 March 1920. These were not memorials to the men from the village as a whole, but commemorated those connected to the Congregational Church and its Sunday School.
Unveiled on Remembrance Sunday 1948, the Village Memorial to those who Gave Their Lives in the Second World War can be found in the South Alcove of St. Mary’s Church. It contains the names of 13 men from the village (or whose close family lived in the village) who lost their lives in that War.
A Territorial soldier, Joseph - as he was known to his family - was mobilised at the outbreak of the War in August 1914, but was too young then to be sent to fight overseas. He was sent to France in July 1916, and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment the following month. Joseph was Killed in Action on 16th August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.
An Army Reservist, Algernon was sent to France in September 1914 and served with 2nd Battalion, the Essex Regiment. In July 1915, Algernon died of wounds he had received nearly two months earlier during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, leaving a wife and two children.
The second of the East Bergholt men to die in the Great War, Ernest was an Army Reservist. He was sent to France at the outbreak of the War in August 1914, where he served with 2nd Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment. He died of wounds on 6th October 1914, leaving a wife and 3 children.
Father of Michael Barthorp. Arthur was a retired Army Officer, who was recalled upon the outbreak of War in August 1914. At the time of his death from natural causes, he commanded the Northamptonshire Regiment’s Depot in Northampton. He was survived by his wife, and a son – two other sons having pre-deceased him.
Son of Arthur Barthorp. In August 1914, Michael was a Cadet at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He subsequently joined his father’s old Regiment – the Northamptonshire Regiment.- and served with their 1st Battalion in France. Michael was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme, and is one of many thousands who have no known grave.
James was working as a Postman at the time he was conscripted into the Army in 1916. He was formally “called up” the following year and served in France with 11th Battalion, the South Lancashire Regiment. James was killed in action near the town of Ham, on the third day of the great German Offensive in March 1918.
Herbert served in France with the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. He was captured by the Germans during the Battle of Arras in 1917 and died just over 3 years later, from ill health attributed to his time as a Prisoner of War in Germany. Herbert was buried with full military honours in East Bergholt Cemetery.
Born in India, Charles attended school in England and lived for a time with his grandparents at The Hermitage. He initially served in France with the Indian Army before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. Charles was killed in action in 1917 when the plane he was flying in was shot down, south of Ypres.
John spent most of the War serving in the Army Ordnance Corps on the Western Front, before being transferred to Italy in late 1917. He was honourably discharged on medical grounds and died less than a month later.
The oldest of the East Bergholt men to be killed in action in the Great War, Arthur served with the 21st Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifles Corps. He was killed in action in the Ypres Salient in February 1917.
Joseph worked at the British Xylonite factory at Brantham before the War. He volunteered to join the Essex Regiment in September 1914, but was transferred to the East Surrey Regiment shortly afterwards. Joseph lost his life in a tragic accident in January 1915.
Brother of Felix Clarke. Edward served on the Western Front, initially with the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment before later being transferred to the Regiment’s 11th Battalion. Edward was seriously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died in hospital, shortly afterwards.
Brother of Edward Clarke. Starting as a Boy Seaman, Felix served 12 years in the Royal Navy before transferring to the Royal Fleet Reserve when he became a civilian. Recalled to active service upon the outbreak of War in August 1914, Felix was killed the following year when his ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat.
Sydney was living in Ipswich when he volunteered to join the Army in November 1914. He served with 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment and was wounded during The Second Battle of Ypres. Sydney died of his wounds in hospital in Boulogne.
Brother of Max Clifton. Fred volunteered to join the Royal Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of War and was wounded during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. He later served on the Western Front before being killed during the Battle of Arras.
Brother of Fred Clifton. Having emigrated to Australia before the War, Max volunteered to join the Australian Imperial Force in 1915. He served at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front.
Arthur joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18 and for his service before 1914 had been awarded the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and also a campaign medal. He was killed in 1916, during the Battle of Jutland, leaving a wife and young son.
Having worked before the war as a Horseman on a farm, Frank volunteered to join the Cavalry in 1914. He was transferred to the Infantry before being sent overseas where he served in Flanders with 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.
Arthur served in the Machine Gun Corps (nicknamed “The Suicide Club”, due to its high casualty rates) on the Western Front. He was killed in action in during the Battle of the Somme, in September 1916.
Ernest moved to East Bergholt with his young family in April 1911. He spent most of his service in the UK before being sent to Russia at the end of October 1918. Ernest died there less than a week later, leaving a wife and daughters.
Leslie is one of six 19 year olds who are commemorated on the Village Memorial to Those Who Died in the Great War. He was was killed in action on the Western Front, less than two months before the Armistice was signed.
Brother of John Dale and William Dale. Abram volunteered to join the Army in September 1914 and served for nearly 3 years on the Western Front with 11th Battalion, the Essex Regiment. He died of wounds in May 1918.
A pre- war Territorial soldier, Jack was mobilised upon the outbreak of war in August 1914. Initially too young to serve overseas, he was not sent to France until 1917. Jack was killed during the Third Battle of Ypres, aged 19.
Brother of Abram and William Dale. John worked as a Farm Labourer and was conscripted into the Army in 1916. Serving in the Coldstream Guards, John fought at the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917 but was killed later that year during the Battle of Cambrai.