No.41964, Lance Corporal, Hilary THOMPSON
Aged 25
Born in Woodditton in Q3-1892 [Newmarket 3b:518], 4th of five sons of Sam and Martha THOMPSON (née SWANN) of The Cottages, Sargeants Farm, Woodditton. In this case Woodditton is taken to be Newmarket side of the railway line. 1901 census...Aged 9, Hilary was at Westfield Cottages (golf links), Newmarket with his father [40] horse keeper at the Golf Links, born Cavendish, his mother Martha [38] born Woodditton, brothers John William [17]a journeyman blacksmith born Cavendish, Samuel Clement [15] was a groom, Edward Romaine was a grocer's assistant born Woodditton, Herbert Olis [3] and sisters Eleanor Hawardine [11] Martha Alice [4] and Sarah Hardy [9 months] all Newmarket born. 1911 census...Aged 18, Hilary was a hall boy at The Hall, Thornham Magna, Eye. His parents were still at the golf links He enlisted in Westminster, London. His elder brother Edward was killed 6 months earlier.. see here |
The 1st Essex appear to have been in reserve in the Ypres salient, the 1st day of the 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) as only 3 were killed this day. 1st Essex were involved at Langemarck on 16th August. It was the 2nd Battalion in France that were involved in action on 9th. |
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