No.26728, Private, William SCRIVENER
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William Scrivener was born in Wicken on 5th January 1885, (Newmarket Q1-1885 3B:589), son of Robert Grindeln and Rachel SCRIVENER (née RUSSELL).
1891 census...Aged 6, he was at Asplands Farm, Wicken, with his father Robert SCRIVENER [50] farm labourer; his mother Rachel [49] born Stretham; sister Elizabeth [21]; brothers Russell [20] farm labourer, George [16] farm labourer and Robert [14] farm labourer. All, except his mother, were born in Wicken. His mother died in 1896 1901 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at North Street, Wicken with his widower father, sister Anne (Elizabeth) and brother George. 1911 census...Aged 26, single, he was at North Street, Wicken with his father and sister Anne Elizabeth. |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds.
In the August of 1916 the Pozières area witnessed the severest fighting as British and Australian troops pushed doggedly towards Thiepval along the route of the old German Second Line. A series of parallel trench lines was pushed out from Pozières towards Thiepval and by the 8th August 7th Suffolks and other troops of 12th (Eastern) Division occupied the fifth line of trenches - Fifth Avenue or Ration Trench. Here they were subjected to repeated and fierce German flammenwerfer (flamethrowers)and bomb attacks, the War Diary reporting.. '2am - Hostile fire becomes very intense and enemy assaulted Ration Trench unsuccessfully. 5am - Attack renewed and about 70 yards of Ration Trench captured by the enemy'. Later that evening and on into the early hours of the next morning the trench was retaken, the Regimental History recording ..... 'Capt Isham's company attacked with great dash and gained an additional two hundred yards.' The Suffolks lost 52 men killed on 9th August 1916, of which only 8 have known graves, the rest are named on the Thiepval Memorial Four Newmarket men died in this action
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