WW1 Fallen

GEORGE HENRY SIMPSON, who died in the Somme and was buried at Thiepval, is commemorated on one of our Ubbeston gravestones. There are other Simpsons buried in Ubbeston underlining the family's long association with the place. George was a private in the Suffolk Regiment, 12th Battalion and died on 6 May 1917. He was 33. He received the Victory Medal. On the 1911 census the family was living and working at Boats Hall on the Ubbeston/Laxfield border. George was a horseman on the farm, his father, John, was the foreman and his siblings were domestic servants. All members of the family, apart from his mother, Elizabeth, were born in Ubbeston.

ERNEST WOODS was born in Coddenham, Suffolk, c1891 but in 1911 he was living at Grove Cottage, Ubbeston, with his father, James, a horseman, his mother, Ada and three brothers and sisters. Ernest was unmarried and working as a labourer. Ernest joined the Suffolks 8th Battalion on the 7 April 1914 and died three years later on the 17 December 1917 in Flanders, aged 26. His mother was still living in Grove Cottage, Ubbeston.

WILLIAM JOHN GREEN son of Frederick Green and Alice was born c1898 in Heveningham and was living in Ubbeston by the time he joined 7th Q (RWSR). He died in France on 23 March 1918 at the age of 19.

ALBERT J UPSON was born in Ubbeston c1889 son of Albert and Hannah Upson. By the time he went to war he was living in Laxfield Road, Fressingfield, with his wife, Pamela and their three young children. A member of the 7th Suffolk, he died in Flanders on 3 July 1916, aged 27. He was awarded the Victory Medal.

HENRY CHARLES SPINNER born in Ubbeston but lived in Sandwich, Kent, was a soldier in the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own). He was killed in action in France on 25 September 1915.

BERTIE HOWARD served in the 10th HLI. He was born in Ubbeston and died in France on 25 September 1915.

WILLIAM MAYHEW left behind a widow and three small children when he died in Belgium on 6 September 1915. They were all living in Laxfield at No3 Ladysmith Villas. His widow, Sally Louisa Wright was born in Ubbeston and was living on the Low Road in 1891. The three children were Olive Louise (6), Myrtle Mabel (4) and Ralph (2). In October the same year the Laxfield Parish Magazine printed the following tribute to William: ... of the 18th Suffolks, 28 years of age, was wounded on Sunday Sept 5th, and died the next day. He was laid to rest 'somewhere in Belgium'. Loved and respected by all who knew him - 'he did his best' for his Country, and shall not be forgotten. He has left to our sympathy and care a widow and three little ones.

CHARLES WALTER STANNARD had Ubbeston connections - it was the birthplace of his father, Arthur c1867. Charles' mother, Alice was from Stradbroke but all eleven children, including Charles, were born in Laxfield. In 1911 the family was living at Rookery farm on the Laxfield/Ubbeston border. Arthur was a farm horseman. Charles, born in 1899, is listed on the WW1 memorial roll in All Saints Church, Laxfield.