No.388018, Rifleman, Henry Edward DEBENHAM
Aged 40
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Whilst no direct connection with Elveden has been found, this man, living so close to Elveden seems to fit. Henry Edward Debenham was born in Barnham (Thetford Q4-1878 4B:377) son of George and Isabella DEBENHAM (née MACRO). 1881 census...Aged 2, he was at The Meadows, Barnham with his father George DEBENHAM [47] shoemaker; his mother Isabella [40] born Icklingham; sisters Isabella J [12], Annie [10], Ada S [7] and Frances E [4]; uncle Charles DEBENHAM [45] shoemaker. All except his mother are recorded as born in Barnham. 1891 census...Aged 12, he was at Station Lane, Barnham with his parents, sisters Isabella and Ada ( now both recorded as born Icklingham which seems correct) ; brother Ernest G [10] born Barnham, and uncle Charles DEBENHAM. 1901 census...Aged 22, single, a farm labourer, he was at Barnham with his parents, sister Ada and uncle Charles (both farm labourers) In 1905, in Thetford, he married Harriet Annie COUSINS [22-5-1883], later of 13 Newtown, London Road, Thetford. She already had one child, Bernard COUSINS [7-2-1904] 1911 census...Aged 32, a forester, he was at 9 Bury Road, Thetford with his wife Annie [27] born Thetford and sons Bernard [7] and Ernest [4]; daughters Isabel [5], Iris [3] and Winifred [10 months]. All the children were born in Thetford. The pension card has his widow at 61 Castle Street, Thetford with their children, Bernard COUSINS; Isabel Ellen [17-11-1905]; Ernest George [5-4-1907] Iris Annie [10-4-1908]; Elsie may [4-8-1911]; Doris Marjorie [21-2-1914]; Gertrude Kate [14-2-1915] and Violet Marjorie [2-7-1916]. Daughter Winifred died in 1917. |
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He enlisted in Thetford in the Norfolk Regiment. The 1st/8th London Regiment were disbanded in February 1918, and the men combined into one battalion, the 8th London Regiment
He was originally buried beside the Protestant Temple in Rongy, Belgium, the graves there were concentrated to Tournai in 1928. Tournai Communal Cemetery, Allied Extension contains a great number of re-interments as the small cemeteries in the area were gradually emptied and concentrated in Tournai. The Temple still stands in Rongy with a few civilian monuments. CWGC shows 3 killed that day from the Post Office Rifles, but their concentration cards show 4 were buried in Rongy and later moved to Tournai ? They had relieved the 7th Londons at Maulde and were holding several outposts on the banks of the Scheldt . The battalion war diary indicates they were training but on 28th were shelled during the day and heavily at night with several casualties, no mention of casualties on the 29th.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also on the Weather Heath Memorial (Elveden Column by the A11) click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
