Paul was born in Seething and came from a large family. His mother had 12 children of whom two died. His parents were Thomas Coleman and Sarah Ann Coleman (nee Ellis). Thomas was a market gardener and before her marriage Sarah worked as a domestic cook. Paul was born on 23 May 1895.
His brothers and sisters were;
Margaret born 1882
Walter born 1883
Rosie born 1887
Harriet born 1888
Beatrice born 1890
Peter born 1892
John born 1897
Elizabeth born 1898 and others whose names are unknown.
In 1901 the family were living at Brooke Road, Seething, Norfolk but by 1911 they were living in Saxlingham Nethergate.
Thomas was working as a market gardener, Walter was a farm labourer in Toft Monks, Rosie was a servant in Thorpe Hamlet, Harriet was a servant in Saxlingham, Beatrice, a laundress, was an inmate in a Female Prison in Aylsbury, Peter was a farm labourer, Paul was assisting his father, Elizabeth and John were both still at school. Margaret had married William Cushion and John was living with them in Saxlingham.
Unfortunately the military records of Paul have not survived. It is known that he was in the Machine Gun Corps, Service Number 42944. He received the British and Victory Medals and so was not on active service in 1914 or 1915. It is known that he was disembodied on 18 June 1919.
After the war he returned to Saxlingham and in 1920 was living with his mother and brother John in Cargate Lane.
In the same year he married Florence Burton. They had six children, one of whom was Audrey Coleman who was born 26 December 1927 in Lincolnshire. They had five daughters and one son. Florence died on 1 July 1936 in Grimsby.
In 1938 Paul married Gladys M Dixon, born 1 June 1910 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
In 1939 the family were living on Chapel Road, Grimsby. Paul was working as a county council roadman.
He died in 1987 in Grimsby.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
British Army Medal Roll Index cards, 1914-1920
1939 Register- www.findmypast.co.uk
Norfolk Electoral Rolls-Southern Division Saxlingham Nethergate and Thorpe, (Absent Voters Lists 1918-1920)
Coleman Family Tree- www.ancestry.co.uk