AGER, Elijah


No.17269, Private, Elijah AGER
Aged 26


11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 4th August 1916


Elijah Ager was born in Shudy Camps in 1889 (Linton Q4-1889 3B:505), baptised Castle Camps Congregational Church, son of Samson and Harriet AGER (née MYNOTT).


1891 census...Aged 1,he was at Shudy Camps with his father Samson AGER [33] farm labourer; his mother Harriet [31] born Castle Camps; sister Edith [11] and brother Charles [9] born Castle Camps; brothers Frederick [7], Walter [6] and Alfred [3] all born in Shudy Camps.

1901 census...Aged 11, he was at The Village, Shudy Camps with his parent; brothers Charles, Frederick, Walter and Alfred (all farm labourers); sisters Martha [9], Annie [7], Esther [4], Julia [2] and Milly M [5 months]. All of them were born in Shudy Camps.

1911 census...Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was in Shudy Camps with his parents; brothers Fred and Alfred (both farm labourers); sister Hester (Esther), Julia, Milly Maria, Daisy May [8] and Bessie [7] both born in Shudy Camps. All 13 siblings survive.


He enlisted in Cambridge. When recruiting at the start of the war threatened to overwhelm the barracks at Bury St Edmunds, a camp was set up in Cambridge. The recruits here were of course in the main from the Fens and East Cambs and for a while they were actually referred to as the Cambridgeshires but soon acquired the title of the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.
Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" tells us they were near the Bazentin-le-Petit / Martinpuich road. The Germans held part of Intermediate trench about 200 yards north of the British line, the Germans in the western part and the British in the eastern part. The 101st Brigade on the 4th August 1916, at 1 am, attacked the Intermediate trench without success. Only four companies, 2 from the 16th Royal Scots and 2 from the 11th Suffolk were detailed for the attack but only one actually carried it out, "B" Company of the Suffolks. They captured the objective and consolidated and held on to it until ordered to withdraw at daylight, when it became obvious that no support would be forthcoming. They were skilfully extricated but suffered nearly 100 casualties.

CWGC records show only five were actually killed.



Elijah, Pte J Gent and Pte A Miller found buried in one grave here
and moved to London Cemetery Extension in 1936





photo: Rodney Gibson



Elijah Ager is buried in Longueval, London Cemetery and Extension, joint Grave 7:H:304

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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