No.9101, Private, Jack Valentine GARDNER
Aged 22
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Born Jack GARDNER on 14th February 1893 in West Ham (4th qtr 4a:112) son of Benjamin Joseph and Mary Boreham GARDNER (née WILLIAMSON). Baptised All Saints, West Ham on 7th January 1894. He seems to be GARDINER in the Army. His father died in 1896 1901 census...Aged 8, he was at 32 Repton Street, Limehouse with his widowed mother Mary [35] draper born Limehouse; sister Dorothy [5] born West Ham. 1911 census...Aged 18, a blacksmith's striker, he was at 5 St Mary's Place, Bury St.Edmunds with his mother, a needlewoman, sister Dorothy M ( a domestic) and Nellie May WOODS [13] a nursechild. His mother later moved to 1 Bridewell Lane, Bury St.Edmunds |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. 1st October 1915 the 7th Suffolks had just finished linking two lengths of trench in front of the Chalk Pit ( by the Lens/La Bassee road) during the night, sustaining a few casualties in the process At 8 am the German artillery opened up a very heavy barrage which carried on all day, at times completely burying men. Battalion HQ, in the Chalk Pit, was the centre of the heaviest shelling. It was reported that enemy entrenching was so busy there was an almost complete absence of rifle fire. 7 men of the 7th Suffolk were killed, none has an identified grave.
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