No.320322, Private, William TALBOT
Aged 33
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William Talbot was born in Brandon in 1884 (Thetford Q2-1884 4B:392), son of William and Anna TALBOT (née LOCKWOOD). 1891 census...Aged 5, Willie Talbot was at Ling Heath, Brandon Park with his father William TALBOT [41] labourer; his mother Anna [40] born Croxton, Norfolk; sisters Mary A [18], Elizabeth [16], Anne [9], Emily [6], Kate [2] and Alice [6 months]; brother Harry [11]. All except his mother were born in Brandon. 1901 census...Aged 15, a farm labourer, he was at Heath Farm, Thetford Road, Brandon with his parents, brother Harry (domestic groom); sisters Kate, Alice and Ellen [7] born Brandon. He married Jane DICKERSON at Santon Downham on 1st July 1905. Their 3 children were Kate Elizabeth [4th September 1905], Richard Henry [13th March 1908 and Frederick Charles [27th August 1911]. 1911 census...Aged 26, a gamekeeper, he was at High Lodge, Santon Downham with his wife Jane [26], daughter Kate [5] and Henry [3]. In 1918 Jane and the children were at Sandy Lane, Taverham. The Army "living relatives" form completed by Jane on 16th April 1920 gave her address as No.2 Thetford Road, Brandon and named the three children but no other relatives such as parents , brothers or sisters of William. |
click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
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He attested in Norwich on 29th May 1915 whilst living at Taverham, a gamekeeper, giving his age as 31 years and 1 month. He was 5 feet
8.25 inches (173 cm) tall, chest 33.5" to 37" (85.1 to 94 cm).
Embodied in in the 3rd/1st Norfolk Yeomanry No.2401. He forfeited a day's pay when on 28th June 1916, while warned for draft, he overstayed his pass by 9 hours.
Then to the 1st/1st in the Eastern Expeditionary Force leaving Devonport on 8th July 1916. They arrived at
Alexandria on 17th July and was admitted to Alexandria 17th General Hospital with PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin - Army shorthand for "don't know what is
wrong"). Reported to Base Detail on 22nd July and on duty at Montaza on 3rd October transferred to the 12th
Battalion on 16th December 1916.Re-numbered to 320322. He died at 230 Field Ambulance of wounds received in action on 9th December 1917 and was buried in
Kubeibeh Monastery Cemetery, Palestine. He was exhumed and re-interred in Palestine war Cemetery on 5th November 1920.
His widow was awarded a weekly pension for herself and three children of 29 shillings 7 pence (£1.47). She wrote to the Army from Taverham on 26th December 1917 to ask where her husband had died as she had only been told he had died. The 12th Norfolks led on the left for the attack on Jerusalem on 12th December 1917. The battalion managed to reach its objective at Beit Iksa despite heavy artillery and machine gun fire.They held for the night and on the 9th were to attack El Burj, but in the morning they found the Turks had left El Burj so they pressed on to El Burj and held it for the rest of the 9th. That possibly means William was actually injured on the 8th. CWGC has 8 died on 8th and 4 on the 9th.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
