No.12928, Private, Stephen MANNING
Aged 25
|
Stephen Manning was born on 7th March 1892 in Ingham (school register) (Thingoe Q2-1892 4A:763), son of Frederick and Emma Jane MANNING (née CLARKE).
His parents married in 1891 (Thingoe Q3-1891 4A:1073). His mother died, aged 22, in 1893.
He was admitted to Culford Voluntary School on 6th April 1896, leaving on 8th March 1906. 1901 census...Aged 9, he was at The Cottages, Culford with his grandfather George CLARKE [75] labourer born Timworth; his grandmother Rosina [73] born Timworth; uncle Stephen CLARKE [50] warrener born Timworth;aunt Sophia CLARKE [33] born Ingham. Possibly it is his father, widower Frederick MANNING [37], a labourer born Hessett, living at Brockley Hamlet Cottages, Culford with his widowed grandmother Mary A MANNING [71] born Hessett. 1911 census...None of the family have been found in this census. The pension card has as dependant Miss Sophia CLARKE, The Drift, Culford, his aunt. |
|
He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. His aunt Sophia is recorded by the Army as his sole legatee.
The battalion, after a spell of training in Beaufort early in April, moved into Arras, in the cellars. About midnight on 9th/10th they were in attack (war diary report not found). The objective was Feuchy which was reached by noon on 10th despite the sleet and snow during the night. CWGC has 17 of the battalion killed, only three with known graves. The Bury Free Press of 26th May 1917 reported:- A CULFORD SOLDIER'S HEROIC DEATH It was our painful duty last week to have to record the death of Prvt.Stephen Manning, of the 7th Suffolks. This loyal soldier was a Culford man and was one of the first to nobly come forward and offer his services to his country, for he enlisted during the fateful month of August 19154. After a short training he was sent to France, but was invalided home with enteric (sic) in May 1915.On his birthday, Mar.7th,1916, he re-embarked for France, and in the following July he was wounded, and was in consequence an hospital inmate for several months. He made his third trip to France in January last, where he remained until he met a true soldier's death in the severe operations on Easter Monday. He was an old chorister of Culford Church, and it was only fitting that a tribute to his memory should be paid in the sacred edifice, in which his voice had been heard so often. Such a tribute was paid on Sunday week by the Rector (the Rev.J.D.K. Mahomed)...
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Culford Estate memorial click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
