No.13679, Lance Corporal, Benjamin AVES
Aged 27
|
Benjamin Aves was born in West Row (Mildenhall Q3-1890 4A:728), son of Leonard and Caroline AVES (née FLATT).
1891 census...Aged 8 months, he was at market Garden, West Row with his father Leonard AVES [29] market gardener; his mother Caroline [27]; twins Lewis and Ada [5] and sister Dora [1]. All were born in Mildenhall (most likely West Row). 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Youngman's Lane, West Row with his great uncle Jacob BUTCHER [73] single, a farmer (Benjamin's father's mother was Letitia BUTCHER). With them were his parents; sisters Dora and Ivy [7]; brothers Newdick [9]and Joe [6], all new siblings born Mildenhall. 1911 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer, he was at Parker's Drove, West Row with his widower father, brothers Newdick, Joseph (both farm labourers) and Leonard [8] born Mildenhall, and sister Ivy. 5 siblings had died. His brother Newdick joined the 9th Suffolks (13723) in Sept 1914, was wounded twice, second time in Sept 1916, brought back to UK where he had most of his right leg amputated and fitted with an artificial limb. He was discharged as no longer physically fit for war in Feb 1918 and died in Bury St Edmunds in 1988 aged 96. |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket. The war diary is sparse: " SOULT CAMP -17-10-17- 2 pm - Battalion moved forward to STRAY FARM area. Battalion HQ in concrete dugout in STRAY FARM, remainder of battalion in bivouacs. Transport remained in BRIDGE camp" Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" has no details for that month other than that they were engaged in repairing roads in the forward area, suffering constant shelling and gassing. CWGC has 8 killed that day, only one with an identified grave. Google earth via www.tmapper.com and Mildenhall war memorial click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
