Lest We Forget – Norfolk Teachers who died in the Great War

Every day, hundreds of people walk past a memorial at County Hall, Norwich, on the way to the sandwich shop and canteen. The plaque reads as follows:

 “Lest we Forget”

Norfolk Teachers

who died for

King and Country

1914-1919

Through death to life everlasting

 Ager B.W.

Bindley R.H.

Catchpole E.J.

Carless F.H.

Crawford L.O.

Hadingham B.G.

Holman W.J.

 Johnson L

Loades G

Markwick W.P

Overment F

Payne A.C

Wade H.J.C.

Warby A.S

Withers E

The list of names may mean little to most who pass, although many of the surnames might be recognised as having local connections. Through this blog I hope to elaborate a little on the initials and surnames which grace the corridor wall and give a hint at some of the personal histories represented.

The teachers mentioned were not all born in Norfolk – one from Dorset, another from Walworth, others from Wisbech and Little Bytham in Lincolnshire for example – but all have links with the County through family, through moving to teach or by enlisting in Norwich or serving in the Norfolk Regiment. 

Some were from teaching families; more represent many other walks of life. A few were pupil teachers who taught in schools when they were as young as 14. 

Many died in France, but others served and/or died further afield – Gallipoli, Calcutta, East Africa and the Persian Gulf – thousands of miles from little old Norfolk. The names conceal stories of tragedy – one family lost two of three sons, a wife lost both her husband and brother, teachers in Bunwell and Mileham respectively – and the lives of these men deserve to be celebrated. 

Through the research, albeit brief, offered here, I hope to provide more information for those interested in the men’s origins and lives before the Great War, and perhaps even alert family members to the presence of a memorial they may not know exists. I should point out that although this memorial is present at www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/NorfolkTeachersMemorial.html, not all of my research has uncovered the same results. 

While I have relative confidence in my findings, it is important that I note that research for a memorial such as this, with no dates or places of birth, may have its faults. I would appreciate it if anybody who knows better (or can fill in the blanks) could contact me with information to improve this post – I apologise if anything is incorrect.    

Benjamin Norton (William?) Ager was born in Portland, Dorset, in 1886. The 1911 census shows him in Bunwell, working as an assistant teacher for the County Council. His sisters Elizabeth Jane (who I believe possibly later married Albert Payne, a teacher in a neighbouring village also featured on the memorial) and Jane are assistant and pupil teacher respectively. The trio’s father, William, is also working at Bunwell School – as the head teacher. Benjamin’s mother, Mary, sister Lilian and nephew Kenneth, complete the household. 

Private Ager was killed in action in France on 11^th January 1917. He enlisted in Norwich and fought in the 22^nd Battalion Manchester Regiment and previously the Royal Sussex Regiment. 

Raymond Hall Bindley was born in Catton and died 3 July 1916 in France. He enlisted in Norwich and joined 7^th Battalion Norfolk regiment (no 17148). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. 

Corporal Bindley’s birth was registered in the December quarter 1893. His parents were Thomas James Bindley, a gas and hot water fitter, and Minnie Eliza Hall. The 1911 census shows him at 17, attending secondary school and living with his parents and two younger sisters, Marjorie Maggie Bindley (13) and Phyllis Beatrice Bindley (six) at 13 Patterson Road, Norwich. 

Francis Harold Carless was born in Walsall, Staffordshire and appears on the 1911 census working as a pupil teacher, along with his brother Ernest, for Salop County Council. His address at the time was 45, Park Avenue, Oswestry. Francis was living with his parents Fredrick (a currier) and Ada and two other siblings at the time of the census. 

Private Carless was killed in action on 22^nd October 1917 in France. He enlisted in Norwich, so perhaps moved to the County to teach between 1911 and 1917. Like Private Warby (see later) he was part of the Royal Army Medical Corps. 

Edward John Thomas Catchpole was born at North End, Great Yarmouth. The 1911 census finds him, aged 19, boarding with Mary Ann Spoore at Allotment Hill, Wenhaston, Suffolk, working as a teacher in Elementary School. 

Lance Corporal Catchpole died 12 August 1916 in France. Like Raymond, he was part of 7^th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (no 9270) and enlisted in Norwich. He was awarded the Victory, Star and British War medals. 

Lindsay Oswald Crawford, aged 19, was noted on the 1911 census as an assistant teacher working for the County Council. The eldest son in his family, he was named after his father, a clerk for an electricity company. The census shows Lindsay at home with his mother and father (his mother Florence Rhoda nee Corke) and four siblings – Lizzie Ada (21), Wallace John (16), Percy Graham (14) and Reginald Charles (five). Lindsay was born in Wisbech but the family moved to Cromer around the turn of the century in time for Reginald’s birth and in 1911 are living at 39, Cabbell Road, Cromer. 

Lance Corporal Crawford signed up at North Walsham and became part of the 8^th Service Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (267218). He died in action on 22 September 1918 in France, just three weeks before the end of the war.   

Bertie Gordon Hadingham ‘Certificated Assistant Teacher for the Norfolk Education Committee’ appears on the 1911 census, aged 20, at 50 Pelham Road, Norwich. Bertie was at the time boarding with the Read family headed by Edgar, a retired cigar factory foreman. The Reads’ daughter Elizabeth Agatha, 30, is also a teacher. Bertie was born in Carleton Forehoe. 

Lance Corporal Hadingham died on 17^th December 1915 at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, Star and British War medals. He was part of 6^th Battalion, Essex Regiment. At some time he must have moved to Westcliff-On-Sea, a suburb of Southend, perhaps to continue his teaching career – this is given as his enlistment location and residence. Tragically, his brother Donald James, also died, in 1918 respectively, leaving his parents – Hedley Hadingham born Woodton and Catherine Emily nee Wade born Stibbard – with two remaining children from a total of five, a daughter Mabel and son Lewis (one child had already passed away prior to the 1911 census). (Thanks to Mr Wray for additional information via e-mail).

William James Holman was born in Narborough, the son of a gamekeeper, in 1891. One of six children – four boys and two girls – he was recorded in Narborough with his parents James and Emily (nee Finbow) and siblings in 1911. His occupation is given as an assistant school teacher at a County Council elementary school. A visitor to the household, Emma Winifred Jackson, aged 19 and born in Thetford, is also a teacher. 

Sergeant William James Holman (200554) enlisted in the 2^nd/4^th Norfolk Regiment 7^th September 1914. He died 4^th January 1919 in East Africa. His entry at www.roll-of-honour.com shows he may have been assistant scout-master at Attleborough at the time of his death? 

I have not been able to track down “L Johnson” with enough certainty to include here. It is a possibility that this L Johnson refers to Leonard Johnson, born in Martham, but I have no evidence to suggest he was ever a teacher. If you can correct me, please get in touch. 

George William Loades, aged 18, appears on the 1911 census in a large household led by his parents, Cubitt Woodbine Loades, born in Catfield, a railway platelayer, and Alice nee Spooner, born in Winterton. George was one of eleven children, of whom eight were surviving in 1911. George is accompanied by sisters Ethel, May, Ena, Hilda, Beatrice and Eve, and two grandparents on the household schedule. The family live on Martham Road, Hemsby, where all the children were born. At the time of the census, George was working as a game keeper. 

Sergeant George William Loades died on 13^th October 1915 in France, having enlisted in Great Yarmouth and fought in 7^th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. George’s only brother, another George William, died in infancy several years before he was born. 

William Percival Markwick was born in Little Bytham, near Grantham in Lincolnshire. In the 1911 census he appears, aged 20, as a student at St Peter’s College, Peterborough. His name also appears on the War Memorial for the College in Peterborough Cathedral. The College was a teacher-training college until 1914, reopening briefly to train women teachers between 1921 and 1930. The building remains today, converted to offices and known as ‘Peterscourt’. 

Lieutenant William Markwick died 5^th June 1918 in 5^th Battalion (Territorial) Norfolk Regiment. Unlike most of the men on the memorial, William was married, having wed Florrie Brown near Huntingdon in 1915. 

Frederick Overment, rifleman in the 2^nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade, was already a serving soldier in 1911, having enlisted at 17 in Fakenham. The schedule shows him serving at Fort William, Calcutta with the rest of the battalion in 1911. Frederick was 25 at the time of the census. He was born in Toftrees near Fakenham. Ten years earlier, the 1901 census shows him at home with his parents and siblings Sidney, Blanche and Katie. Aged 14, he is recorded as a school teacher. 

His mother received Victory, Star and British War Medals on behalf of her son after his death – Frederick died on 9^th May 1915 in France, where he was still a Rifleman of 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own). 

Albert Carsewell Payne was resident in Mileham at the time of his death and is also recorded on Mileham’s memorial. Like William Markwick, he is recorded as a training college student in the 1911 census, this time at Culham College, Abingdon, Berkshire. Albert was born in Kelvedon, Essex in 1886 to farmer James Payne and his wife Helen. 

Private Albert Payne died of wounds 8^th August 1917 in France, number 30000, 7^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Albert left a wife, Elizabeth Jane (nee Ager – see above) and a baby daughter, Marjorie. 

Herbert John Clark Wade was born in Felthorpe and appears as an assistant school master for the County Council, aged 20, on the census return for Roughton, 1911. His father Clark was a general smith while his brother worked for a rural district council and his 14 year old sister Mabel worked as a pupil teacher. 

Lieutenant Wade appears in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour:

“His Commanding Officer wrote: One of the best and most popular officers in the company, his death was a blow to the whole company, both offices and men” and another officer: “Your son was one of the best; by his own personal hard work he had made his section the first and best in the company. He died a brave soldier’s death, knowing no fear, and had not a single enemy. He was specially mentioned, and the Military Cross would have been his had he lived.”” 

He died 14^th November 1917 from wounds received on 7^th November. 

Albert Stanley Warby was born in Walworth, London but moved with his family to 21, Clapham Road, Lowestoft between 1899 and 1901. The 1911 census shows him as a booting clerk working on Claremont Pier and living with his parents John (a house painter) and Jane, and his three surviving siblings, Gertie, Jessie and Frank. The whole family were born Londoners. His elder sister Gertie is listed as a school teacher in 1901. 

Private Warby, 475299, died of wounds on 4^th October 1917 in France. He enlisted in Norwich and went on to serve in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He left a widow, Ida Mary (nee Smith), born in Norwich. 

I believe “Withers, E” to refer to William Ernest Withers, an assistant teacher in 1911, born in Fakenham before moving as a baby to Tittleshall – the village where he remains at the time of the census. William was then living with his parents, who ran a grocer and draper’s shop, his younger brother Robert and aunt Harriet. 

Private Withers died in the Persian Gulf on 3^rd September 1916, having enlisted at Battersea and fought in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). 

To finish, let me just say that I hope, little as I have described here, that the names on the County Hall memorial will perhaps represent a little more than lettering next time you pass them…