No.6723, Sergeant, Joseph WEBB
Aged 28
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Joseph Webb was born in Dullingham in 1886(Newmarket Q1-1887 3B:513), baptised in Dullingham on 16th December 1886, son of Jane WEBB (of Loughborough).
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at Cross Green, Dullingham with his grandfather Henry WEBB [64] a widower, farm labourer born Dullingham and uncle Herbert WEBB [18] farm labourer born Dullingham. 1901 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at The Shade, Soham with his uncle William HAYHOE [38] hay trusser born Soham and aunt Elizabeth HAYHOE [41] born Dullingham. 1911 census... Aged 24 he was in the Army, at the Suffolk Regiment Depot, Bury St.Edmunds. He is recorded as married, (Ethel M according to "Soldiers Effects"), actually Ethel Maud FENNER [28-8-1889] (Bury St Edmunds Q4-1908 4A:1545) (br> The pension card has his widow at 12 Honey Hill, Bury St.Edmunds with their 5 children, Ivy Maud [27-8-1908], Constance Mabel [20-6-1909], Henry Arthur [22-9-1910], Leslie Joseph [6-4-1912] and Beatrice May[18-11-1913] |
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He enlisted in Ely. In late October the 7th Suffolks had been resting and training in the area of Bethune, taking their turn in the line at Givenchy-Hulluch. That week they had had only 3 killed, but then, on the 30th. (according to "Our Exning Heroes" entry for Jack Dennis) an aerial torpedo killed 5 near Hulluch Other local men helped to bury them but their graves were subsequently lost. Local press report Soham Sergeant Killed Mrs Webb, of the Shade, received a letter on Tuesday stating that her husband, Sergt.Webb, of the 7th Suffolk Regiment, had been killed. The deceased was brought up by Mr. and Mrs. Wm.Hayes of the Shade. He had been in the Army over 12 years, and at the outbreak of war was in Ireland, but left there for England. Instead of going with his regiment to the front he went to Bury, where he helped to train Kitchener's Army. He went to France in the spring, and was home on furlough about a month ago. He had not been back in the trenches long before he was shot. He was 30 years of age and leaves a widow and five little children, all under seven years of age. The notification of his death came from one of his comrades, who said, "I saw him fall at my feet". |
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