Archie was born in Saxlingham Nethergate on 1 November 1890. He was baptised in St. Mary’s Church on 1 March 1891. He was the third child of Charles and Mary English (nee Martins). Archie had a sister Bertha Emma born in1884 and a brother Frederick William born in 1888.
In 1911 both Archie and Frederick were working on their father’s farm on Pitts Hill. Bertha was an assistant elementary teacher at a school in Upwell, Wisbech. Bertha eventually married Arthur Bond and in 1939 was the head teacher of Newton Flotman School.
Archie joined the Norfolk Regiment, 3rd Battalion in 1916, his service number was 255540. He was 25 years and 3 months old and was 5 feet 6 inches tall. He transferred to the 428th Agriculture Corps on 3 March 1917. His records were burnt during the bombing of London in the Second World War and so only fragments remain. It is not known why he transferred it may have been for medical reasons. His service number changed to 240295. The 3rd Battalion was a reserve unit. Many men from Norfolk joined it and were trained in it before being transferred to other regiments, mostly to serve abroad.
In 1920 Archie was living in the family home on Pitts Hill. He married Ada E Smith, born 23 July 1887, in the Autumn of 1926. They lived in the Street in Saxlingham into the early 1930s. Archie was a market gardener in 1933. However by 1939 he was working as a cowman in Old Buckenham and lived at Woodland Lodge.
It is not known if they had any children.
Archie died on 19 June 1947 aged 56 years old.
His widow married John Cossey in 1950
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
1939 Register- www.findmypast.co.uk
Norfolk Electoral Rolls-Southern Division Saxlingham Nethergate and Thorpe, (Absent Voters Lists 1918-1920)
British Army Service Records
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal Records, Saxlingham Nethergate.
Kelly’s Norfolk Directory, 1933
The History of the Norfolk Regiment. Vol.II. – F. Loraine Petre. Norwich: Jarrold and Son Ltd. The Empire Press
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk