No.8479, Lance Corporal, Bertie MASON
Aged 22
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Bertie was born in Whepstead (3rd qtr 1893 Thingoe 4a:752 , son of George and Ruth MASON (née MEAD).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Rede Road, Whepstead with his father George MASON [50] carpenter born Hawkedon; his mother Ruth [41] ; brothers Frederick [15]apprentice wheelwright, Harry [13] and Frank [11]; sisters Agnes [5], Ethel [3] and Lily [2]. All except his father were born in Whepstead. 1911 census...Aged 17, farm labourer, he was at Rede Road with his parents, brother Fred (assisting in father's business as wheelwright); sisters Ethel, Lily and Florrie [9].
He married Constance Victoria SMITH [9-11-1893] in Woodbridge in 1915. Their son Bertie was born in Whepstead on 25th March 1917 (2nd qtr 1917 Bury St Edmunds 4a/1412)so quite likely father and son never met.
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds.
The 7th Suffolks at the time were in the battle of the Scarpe, British and Canadian troops of the 12th Division making an attack between the Scarpe and Monchy. They went over the top at 4;45 attacking the Blue Line, passing through the 5th Royal Berkshires. who had captured BAYONET TRENCH. They immediately came under devastating enemy machine gun fire from Roeux and suffered very heavy losses. They reached their first objective but were unable to make further progress. All the officers,except the Colonel and Adjutant, were killed or wounded and they returned to Black Line as it got dark and reduced to 190 effectives, withdrew at 1 am to the support line.
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