No.240221, Private, William RUMBELOW
Aged 21
|
William SMITH was born in Freckenham on 23rd December 1895 (Mildenhall Q1-1896 4A:796, son of Ellen Elizabeth SMITH.
His mother married William Westrope RUMBELOW in 1900.
1901 census... Aged 5, he was William SMITH at Hall Farm with his grandmother Mary RUMBELOW [62] born Wickhambrook, step-father William W RUMBELOW, [37] a farmer, mother Elizabeth E RUMBELOW [28] and sister Marjorie SMITH [2]. All except Mary were born in Freckenham. William RUMBELOW was admitted to Soham Grammar school from Freckenham Council School on 5th May 1908, aged 12 years 4 months (23-12-1895). (source:- http://www.sohamgrammar.org.uk/go-to-admission-register.htm ) 1911 census... Aged 15, a farm worker, he was now William RUMBELOW, at Freckenham Hall, with his step father William W RUMBELOW [47] a farmer, born Freckenham; his mother Ellen RUMBELOW [38], born Freckenham; sister Marjorie [11] and half-brothers Walter [9] and Norman [7] and grandmother, widowed Mary RUMBELOW [72] born Wickhambrook. All the children were born in Freckenham. |
|
He enlisted in Mildenhall.
It is not certain whether William died of wounds or illness since by May 1917 the rate of illness in Palestine
rose to 2.75%, albeit the 5th Suffolk's had the lowest rate. Sickness often causing 3, 500 to 4,00 men a week in the E.E.F
whereas wounds only accounted for about 400 per week. In fact in 1917 the wounded accounted for 29,000 and illness accounted for
over 138,000.
|
© Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details