January 4th 1914

At Belchamp Rural District Council meeting held at the workhouse, Sudbury, last Thursday, water supply certificates were granted to four new houses belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners at Belchamp St Pauls.

January 4th 1914

A request was made by Belchamp Otten parishoners that a well be sunk at a central spot in the village.

January 10th 1914

The tenants of Belchamp Hall estate presented Mr S.Philip St Clare Raymond with a pair of silver candle sticks on the occasion of his marriage to Miss Mabel C.Astel. The wedding took place in Bombay.

January 17th 1914

Mr John T.Borrow of Belchamp Walter sued Oswald Hanson of Belchamp Otten for £ 11 16s, the balance for a horse def.had bought off him, def.said the horse had gone lame. Pay within 14 days.

January 24th 1914

The body of a Melford woman, Rose Anna Molten, was found in the Mill pool at Liston Mill. The body was conveyed to Liston Place farm.

March 7th 1914

At the meeting of Belchamp District Council it was reported that there a case of alleged of extraordinary traffic through Belchamp Otten because of a traction engine carting timber, an inspection of the roads will take place when carting was finished.

March 30th 1914

Totsy Twinn a fishmonger of Glemsford was summomed for having in his possession 57 partridge eggs at Belchamp Walter. Mr Gerald Bright of the Essex Poaching Prevention Society appeared for the prosecution. Fined £ 6 6s.

May 30th 1914

Ezra Slater, aged 43 years, a labourer of Glemsford was charged with being in a sheep fold for an unlawful purpose.
Inspector Goodchild and P.C.Gibbons said they were on duty in Cavendish road when they heard sheep blundering about in Mr C.S.Goodchild's fold, they recognised def.who said " if you had waited until I got it into the road or home, you would have had a better case agaist me". 14 days hard labour.

June 13th 1914

A remarkable litter of fox cubs is to be seen at Finchingfield where a vixen and 13 cubs regularly disport themselves.
They have attracted a lot of attention from huntsmen and gamekeepers, experts versed in the habits of the fox state that it has never been known for two litters to amalgamate, it is assumed that the litter of 13 cubs belongs to the same vixen.

June 13th 1914

The village of Belchamp Otten now has a good supply of water, a public pump now having been erected in the centre of the village. Mr W.Clark of Pebmarsh was entrusted with sinking the well to 95 feet. Cost of sinking the well was £ 57 5s. and the pump and fixtures etc which was fitted by Mr.H.Mitson of Clare was £ 38 7s.

June 27th 1914

A sow was struck by lightning and killed at Clock House farm, Glemsford, the property of Mr S.C.Goodchild. 2 inches of rain was reported in some parts of the village while 100 yards away no rain fell.

September 19th 1914

Elizabeth Barber of Belchamp Walter applied for an order for cruelty against her husband, Moses Barber. The bench dismissed the case.

December 5th 1914

Nearly 50 men have enrolled in the newly formed Athletes Volunteer Force at Cavendish. The first drill took place last week under Sgt Burbridge of Sudbury, late of Suffolk Regt. Mr Goodchild of Blacklands Hall has put his meadow at their disposal. Shooting practice will soon be in full swing, drills twice a week in the church schools on Mondays and on the cricket meadow on Sunday afternoons. The Force has been recognised by the War Office.

March 6th 1914

Death of Mrs Ramsay L'Amy of Cavendish Hall. She was the eldest daughter of Capt James Atty of the 52nd Light Infantry D.L.
Lincolnshire. She first married Mr James Malcolm and then Major Ramsay L'Amy.
October 3rd 1914.- Roll of Honour - Men from Cavendish serving in the Armed Forces.
Sgt J.Argent 1st Suffolks Reg - Pte J.Ballard - Lance Corporal W.Ballard 1st Suffolks - Driver Fred Brown R.S.C. - Pte E.Brown 3rd Suffolk Reg Pte S.Bullock - Pte G.Chatters - Pte Clarry 3rd Suffolk Reg - Pte Deeks 5th Suffolk Reg - Sgt B Finch R.A.M.C. - Pte A.Fitch R.A.M.C.
Pte F.Fitch - Pte M.Fitch - Pte French 1st Suffolk Reg - Pte W.French 1st Suffolk Reg. - Pte C.N.Hutchinson Royal Fuseliers City Of London Pte Arthur Ince 1st Suffolk Reg - Pte Fred Ince 1st Suffolk Reg Pte A.Johnson - Pte A.Johnson - Pte J.Johnson - Pte William Mason Pte D.Maxim 3rd Suffolks - Pte G.Maxim 3rd Suffolk Reg - Pte W.Mitson 1st Suffolk Reg - Pte R.Mortimer Mechanical Transport - Pte William Newman 1st Suffolk Reg - Pte H Parmenter 3rd Suffolks - Pte William Parmenter 1st Suffolks - Sgt Spalding 1st Suffolks - Pte R.Savage Pte A.Steff - Pte J Steff - Pte B Underwood - Pte A.Wells - Pte Charles Wells - Capt Woodyatt Lancashire Fuseliers - Royal Navy-J.French Pte George Argent 9th Suffolks - Pte J.W.Stiff R.F.A.

March 22nd 1915

Honours for Cavendish man Lance Corporal A.Ince of the 1st Suffolks has been mentioned for distinquished bravery at the front. In a letter to his sister he says " we have been three weeks in the trenches and have seen a lot of fighting, I cannot tell you how many of us have been cut up because I am not allowed to but if you did know you would hardly believe it, but it was worse than the 2nd Suffolks got at Mons, I do not know how I got out of it. I have been very lucky and have seen some terrible sights, men with arms, legs and some heads blown off, as it my job to bandage the wounds and get them back. In one case I and three other men took a comrade who weighed 14 stone, 7 miles so that he would not be taken prisoner, he had got his thigh smashed and we volunteered to take him back, my C.O. told me he had sent in my name for a medal, I do not know if it got any further as the C.O. is now missing. This will make it twice I have been recommended but I do not care about all that, all I think about is getting the wounded back.
The following note is attached to the letter, " you can be proud of the lad he has done splendidly, I think his medal is alright, it is a Russian decoration for good work done, trust God to see him through," an officer" The writer of this letter has another brother at the front who was badly wounded, sometime ago he has been home on leave.

June 12th 1915

Sale at Kirby Hall, Castle Hedingham. Messrs Balls and Balls were favoured with instructions by Mr Dudley Payne to sell by auction-40 fat cattle-100 lambs, there was a large company of buyers and a sharp trade.

July 14th 1915

Roll Of Honour - Pte E.Graham of Cavendish has joined the London Scottish making 49 names published in the Roll Of Honour.

July 31st 1915

It was decided not to run Cavendish Flower Show this year but to give prizes for garden cultivations. 20 rods-Walter Mortlock Harry Mayes-10 rods-Arthur Bullock-George Skeemer-P.Angel New allotments-O.Adams-Arthur Bullock-Sam Malyon. Pentlow-Herbert Kemp- Henry Chatters-Albert Maxim-Edward Ives.

August 14th 1915

Sad news reached Cavendish on Sunday morning that Pte J.Ballard of the 2nd Suffolks has been killed in action in France.
Ballard volunteered for service soon after war broke out and when training was complete he was sent to France. His death is a sad blow to his mother as this is the second son she has lost in the war, they were her only support, besides this,(Mrs Ballard) had a daughter die two months ago, thus she has lost three children in six months. The following is a letter received by Mrs Ballard written by a comrade of her son and in which she received the intimination of his death.

Dear Madam, I am writing to you to express my heart felt sympathy with you in the lamentable death of your son. Your son was a member of my company, I can assure you the loss of his services is keenly felt by the officers and men. I thought you would like to know he suffered no pain whatsoever, a party of his comrades laid him to rest with military honours in a peaceful burying place close by our H.Q. and his grave will be registered by the Burial Registration Committee. A bullet passed through his kneck, severing his windpipe at 2-45 p m this morning (Thursday) the 5th. No doubt it is a terrible blow to you, but you must try and comfort yourself knowing he died a true hero, manfully performing his duty in the best interests of the state and the freedom and emancipation of the working masses of the whole world from the cursed yoked of militarism in all its forms and from the ever increasing burden of taxation for armanents which today has wrought such havoc and plunged Europe into an awful abyss of slaughter and destruction, but he is not dead, his sepulchre is the wide world, his epitaph is written in the hearts of all who knew him. Where-ever there are speeches of noble deeds performed, his name will be amongst the honoured and remembered. We will forget the horrors of Poland and Belgium, but we will never forget the heroism of our brave women, the women and the men who are giving their all for an idea, for a country fo which they hold very little in a matter of sense, which is spiritly their all. Again expressing my sincere sympathy with you and all in your sad bereavement, hoping you will pardon the liberty I have taken in writing to you, but as a socialist I considered it my duty, justice and equality with fellow men, May God and his holy mercy comfort you in this hour of tribulation, I am dear Madam.yours sincerely.
9316 Pte Peter McName C.Comp. 2nd Suffolk Reg.
British Expeditionary Force.

August 14th 1915

A church parade of several corps of the V.T.C.was held on Sunday evening at Foxearth church, those taking part were Long Melford, Cavendish and Glemsford. The church was crowded with the Rev Carpenter preaching an appropriate service and at the close Mr David Ward played the national anthems of Russia, Serbia, France and Belgium.
The men were afterwards entertained by Mr Ward.

September 18th 1915

There is some sad news from London that a Cavendish man, Mr A.A.Newman has been killed in a Zepplin raid. The unfortunate gentleman had been to London from Walthamstow where he lives to visit a relative home from France, he was returning home when he was struck by a falling bomb. He was a master at St.Saviours school Walthamstow.

August 14th 1915

The Cavendish Estate of 1318 acres has been sold to the tenants comprising Colts Hall, Lodge, Robbs, Wales End and Wales.

September 11th 1915

Belchamp St Pauls - Sgt.John Wiffen of the Welch Fusiliers who was only 19 years old died on August 17th at Dardanelles while leading his company right gallantly. Great sympathy for his parents has been expressed in the kindest manner by Capt.Farrar who spoke of him as an excellent Sergeant and a good man, also from Col.and Mrs Lynes with whom he lived in N.Wales. His father has lived with Miss Goody at the Limes, Belchamp St Pauls for 30 years.

November 6th 1915

Information has just been received in Cavendish that a another native of this village has lost his life in the war. A comrade of Pte C.Wells of the 9th Suffolks wrote to his mother. In his letter the Captain says" I am sorry to have to tell you that yesterday owing to a shell bursting in our trench he was killed instantly and another man named Goldsmith was buried in the earth thrown up by the shell, we were able to dig him out alive although injured, later we dug out Wells and his body was sent down to La Brique in Belgium where he was decently buried and our Adjutant has arranged a cross to be put over his grave.
I am sorry to lose a good man from my company especially a keen soldier like Pte.Wells. As you know during our last attack all our men behaved splendidly, advancing in the open under heavy shell fire, our boys kept up the record of the old regiment. Please accept my sincere condolences in your loss which all ranks of B company join in". This is the third Cavendish man killed at the front, the other two were the brothers Ballard and singulary enough the parents of all these lads live side by side.

January 8th 1916

At a meeting of Belchamp R.D.C. on Friday a letter was read from the Essex County Surveyor asking to be furnished with particular sites in the area suitable for landing military aeroplanes on.

February 26th 1916

A newspaper report has been forwarded to us from Portland U.S.A., reporting the wedding of Mr William White of Bury St Edmunds to Miss Hermie Brand daughter of Mr J.E.Brand of Bures and formerly of Belchamp Walter where he was a well known farmer.

March 11th 1916

Sydney Starling of Cavendish pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and refusing to leave the Bull at Cavendish on the 17th, there was five previous convictions. £ 2.

March 18th 1916

At Clare Tribunal Mr W.S.Stubley of Cavendish appealed for exemption for Len Johnson aged 21 a machinist from Pentlow also for Henry Braybrook from Pentlow aged 22 a threshing machine feeder. 1 month deferment.
Mr Charles Cornell of Wales End appealed for William Deeks aged 22, temporary exemption. Thomas Chinery a butcher from Cavendish for himself, 3 months exemption. H.E Evans of the post office Cavendish, refused. S.Starling, small holder, adjourned. Robert Morley of Burnt House farm, refused.

May 13th 1916

Mrs Clarke of Hickford Hill, Belchamp St Pauls has received the following letter in respect of the death of her son Pte H.Clarke.
Cranfield House, Polzeath, Cornwall.
Dear Madam, I am very anxious to let you know how grieved I am to hear your son has been killed, he was under me for a short period at the Front and I had an affection for him which was only equalled by the respect I bore him. He was absolutely fearless, a true brave man of whom you may well be proud and I shall always be proud to remember him as one of my friends, sincerely yours, R.M.Treadwell, 9th Essex Reg. April 9th 1916.

March 11th 1916

Sydney Starling of Cavendish pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and refusing to leave the Bull at Cavendish on the 17th, there was five previous convictions. £ 2.

March 18th 1916

At Clare Tribunal Mr W.S.Stubley of Cavendish appealed for exemption for Len Johnson aged 21 a machinist from Pentlow also for Henry Braybrook from Pentlow aged 22 a threshing machine feeder. 1 month deferment.
Mr Charles Cornell of Wales End appealed for William Deeks aged 22, temporary exemption. Thomas Chinery a butcher from Cavendish for himself, 3 months exemption. H.E Evans of the post office Cavendish, refused. S.Starling, small holder, adjourned. Robert Morley of Burnt House farm, refused.

May 13th 1916

Mrs Clarke of Hickford Hill, Belchamp St Pauls has received the following letter in respect of the death of her son Pte H.Clarke.
Cranfield House, Polzeath, Cornwall.
Dear Madam, I am very anxious to let you know how grieved I am to hear your son has been killed, he was under me for a short period at the Front and I had an affection for him which was only equalled by the respect I bore him. He was absolutely fearless, a true brave man of whom you may well be proud and I shall always be proud to remember him as one of my friends, sincerely yours, R.M.Treadwell, 9th Essex Reg. April 9th 1916.

Dear Madam, Just a note to say how deeply I deplore the loss of your son, he was one of the most popular men in my command. His death was sudden and painless, he died at his post like the soldier he was, he was one of our bravest men and a credit to his battalion, I wish there were more like him, Lieut.E.B.Hickox.9th Essex Reg.

June 1916

Corporal G.Maxim of the Suffolk Reg who returned to the Front a fortnight ago after a short furlough at his home in Cavendish has been unfit since his return, he was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the hand giving him a nasty wound, it is not serious.

June 10th 1916

Mr Thomas Ambrose of Cavebdish applied for his ploughman, Charles Murkin. 6 months def. Capt.Woodyatt applied for his gardener Charles Wordley, refused.

August 16th 1916

Mr R.Maxim of Cavendish has received news that his son Harry has been killed. Harry went to Australia four years ago and when war broke out he volunteered and came with the famous Anzacs to Gallipoli, afterwards he went to Egypt, he was then drafted to France and has been taking part in the big push which proved fatal to him. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Maxim who had four sons in the war, two being killed and two wounded, one serious. In writing to a friend a short time before he was killed, he said an army doctor wanted him to undergo an operation for a internal complaint but he thought the war would soon be over and he would wait and finish the job, he could then have a good long rest in old England.
This letter was from the Chaplain.
Dear Mr Maxim, I regret to say that your son Pte H.Maxim of the M.G.Co.
A.I.F.was killed last night on July 19th and I buried him in a little soldier's cemetry near the trenches. Writing to my wife I said I would never forget the look of glorious nobility on the face of your boy as he lay in the calm of death in a disused trench. He seems to have met his death through a fragment of shrapnel which entered his breast. The field ambulance has forwarded his effects and you will recieve them in due course. May God comfort you in your hour of trial. I too am Australian and though my brother has passed on since the war began and another wounded, I am proud of this sacrifice my native land has made for the dear old country.

August 1st 1916

Mr J.A.Dixon of Houghton Hall applied at Melford tribunal for Frank Fitch 32-William Fitch 31, horsemen and ploughmen.
George Wells stockman. Mr Dixon says he farms 530 acres, 450 is arable, he has 13 men including those applied for and 5 horsemen, there are 20 beasts-15 working horses-100 pigs. He had tried to get women to but they would not come. Geo.Wells was granted 1 month and the others 6 months each. Charles Cornell of Nether Hall applied for W.Deeks 27-1 month C.S.Goodchild for Robert Death, farm bailiff, exemption granted, also for Harry Ballard of Cool Street and Alfred Brown, conditional exemption.
Henry Creane, baker, for himself, 6 months.

August 26th 1916

Sad news has reached Cavendish that Pte C.Clark has been killed at the Front. Writing to his father under the date of the 11th instant the 2nd Lieut states that he was killed in the early hours of the 10th, his death was instant and he adds he was very sorry to lose him as he was one of the most promising fellows in his platoon and only a fortnight ago was promoted lance corporal.

September 30th 1916

There was a Memorial service in Cavendish Church for soldiers who have fallen in the war. Eight Cavendish soldiers have been killed:-John and William Ballard, H.C.Clarke, William Parmenter, Charles Slater, Albert Staff, in addition two Cavendish men who have left the village for some time have been killed in action, viz the brothers William and Harry Maxim. Thomas Bullock and Fred Wells have been missing for sometime and are presumed dead. During the week news has reached Cavendish that four soldiers have been wounded: viz A.Finch- P.Clark and J.Johnson of the Suffolks and W.R.Page of the London Scottish.

November 4th 1916

(under local names K.I.A.) Lance Corporal R.Savage of Cavendish

November 18th 1916

The fourteenth Cavendish death. Mrs Wells of Cavendish has received the following letter from the Front on the death of her son Pte E.Wells of the 2nd Suffolks.
Dear Mrs Wells, As your son's platoon commander it falls to me to write to you concerning his death. On October 11th he was in the fire step acting as sentry when he was shot through the head by a stray bullet.
The stretcher bearers rendered him first aid but he died soon after reaching the dressing station. He was buried next evening at dusk, our Chaplain conducting the service, he was laid in the British Cemetry behind the front line. Your son has been away from us for a long time as a result of the wounds he recieved on the Somme, hence I was not aquainted as well as I might have been. The platoon were very cut up about him and I desire to offer you their sincere sympathy and also my own.
yours sincerely, Platoon Commander, Suffolk Reg.45

November 18th 1916

O.Parmenter of Cavendish has been killed making fourteen Cavendish lads who have lost their lives.

December 16th 1916

At Belchamp Pensions Sub Committee Meeting has held five meetings in recent weeks to deal with applications for additional pensions for old age pensioners. 182 claims were received and 113 were allowed, increases ranging from 1s to 2s 6d were granted.

December 16th 1916

Pte G.Chatters of the Suffolk Reg has been home on a short furlough, his friends entertained him to a supper at the Railway Arms, Cavendish. They sat down to a substantial meal provided by host and hostess Smith, under the presidency of Mr H.Thompson, a jolly evening was spent, Pte Chatters was reticent about his exploits which won him high honours but he chatted to his friends about the sights he had seen in France. Songs were sung after drinking the health of Pte Chatters the company sang the National Anthem.