No.27457, Lance Corporal, Daniel BITTEN
Aged 21
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Lawrence Daniel Bitten was born in Cowlinge in 1895 (Risbridge Q2-1895 4A:735), baptised in Cowlinge on 19th May 1895, son of Charles Arthur and Agnes
Elizabeth Bitten (née RANSOME). 1901 census...Aged 6, (Lawrence) was at Lambfair Green with his father Charles Arthur BITTEN [39] farm labourer; his mother Agnes [37]; brothers Harry [11], George [9],Walter [7] and twins Jack and Fred [11 months] and sister Ellen [3]. All are recorded as born in Cowlinge. 1911 census...Aged 16 (Lawrence), a gardener's labourer, he was at Lambfair Green with his parents; brothers George, Walter, (both farm labourers), twins Fred and Jack; sisters Ellen, Edith[7] and Hilda [5] born in Cowlinge. His mother had borne 10 children but one had died. The pension card shows the family had not moved from Lambfair Green. Four brothers died in the great War, Arthur (known as Harry), Lawrence (known as Daniel) Charles (known as Walter) and George William, all are commemorated on this memorial. All of them have their given name order changed throughout their lives in civilian or Army records. They had even got his name as David on the pension card |
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He enlisted in Hertford in September 1914.
The war diary has many pages devoted to the period 23rd to 28th October, far too much for this project, but in essence the 2nd Berkshire were trying to advance towards Transloy. Recording the day to day casualties might have seemed to be one task too many under the circumstances, but only three men have no exact date recorded CWGC records show 61 of the 2nd Berkshires killed in that period. |
The CWGC headstone in Cowlinge commemorating all four brothers click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
The rough area of their endeavours
All four brothers are commemorated on a special memorial in Cowlinge (St Margaret) Churchyard, south of church