No.22315, Private, Samuel DEARSLEY
Aged 43
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Samuel Dearsley was born in Stradishall (4th qtr 1872 Risbridge Union 4a:453), son of William and Ann DEARSLEY (née SAMS).
Baptised in Stradishall on 29th December 1872.
1881 census...Aged 8, he was at Thurlow Road, Stradishall with his father William DEARSLEY [34] farm labourer; his mother Ann [37] born Hundon; sister Mary Ann [12]; brothers William [5] and Harry [2]. All except his mother were born in Stradishall. 1891 census...Aged 18, a farm labourer, he was at Near Street, Lidgate with his parents; sisters Matilda A. [23], Mary A. [21] and Louisa M. [9] born Stradishall; brother William [15] and Harry [13] both farm labourers. He enlisted in the Army in 1894. 1901 census...Aged 28, he was in the Suffolk Regiment 2nd Battalion on the North West Frontier at Quetta. His parents were at Front Street, Lidgate with his sister Louisa. 1911 census...Aged 38, he was a Private in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment at Mustapha Pasha Barracks, Alexandria, Egypt. m His parents were at Near Street, Lidgate. He married Sarah Ann CHAPMAN [25-2-1886] in 1913. They set up home in Pound Lane, Cowlinge. The pension card has his widow in Lidgate with their 2 daughters, Julia Annie [20-2-1914] and Queenie Alice [12-6-1915]. |
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He enlisted for 7 years with the Colours, in Bury St. Edmunds on 11th December 1894, in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, No.4099, giving his age as 21 years, a farm labourer, born
Stradishall. He was 5 feet 4.8 inches tall, weighed 131 lbs, chest 33.5 to 35 inches, hazel eyes, black hair, Church of England. Was transferred to 2nd Battalion on 21st February 1895 and was permitted to extend his service to 12 years with the colours on 2nd December 1901. Then, in Madras, on 10th January 1906 he extended his service to complete 21 years with the Colours. After 18 years service, at his own request (to draw a pension) he was discharged (from 1st Battalion) on 28th January 1913. His discharge was approved whilst in Cairo, Egypt and completed at Gosport, England. Intended place of residence was Lidgate. Having served 18 years he was not required to register for the 1914-18 war but he died so and served in the Essex 1st Garrison Battalion. These garrison battalions comprised mainly of men who were fit, but not fit enough for front line service, or were retired serviceman or older recruits. They were seldom posted overseas unless to relieve younger, fitter men on Garrison duties for war service. It appears Samuel was actually with a Battalion that served in Gallipoli, carrying out admin and labouring duties at the rear of the line. When the Allies withdrew from Gallipoli the battalion went to Egypt which was where Samuel was taken ill and evacuated to UK. He died in No.2 Western General Hospital, Manchester from carcinoma of the stomach It seems strange that he was not included on the Lidgate War Memorial with that history of connection with the village. There are however moves to have him added to the Stradishall memorial as he was born there.
photo:C.W.G.C. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
