William was born in Bramford in 1895 but strangely no other connection has been found with the village. His parents, James and Jane ran the Greyhound Inn in Gosbeck. By 1911 the couple had had two children but only William had survived. James also worked as a journeyman miller at the mill next door to the Inn and it may be that, for a time between censuses, James was employed at the mill in Bramford. In the 1911 census William is living in Gosbeck with his parents. He is described as a “stone dresser” but at the time he enlisted, in 1916, he was a foreman miller. According to a report of his death in the local paper he was employed at Jacob’s Mill, Sproughton and married to Olive (née Allen). The couple was married at All Saints Church, Chevallier Street, Ipswich on 14th May 1916. A week later William was posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery and landed in France on 29th August 1916.
He was killed in action on 16th February 1917 and buried at Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension at Armentieres.
William is commemorated on the village memorial in Gosbeck.
i believe i am in possion of ww1 “death medal” for william martin cracknell and would love to return it to his family. help!!
Thanks for your enquiry – brilliant that you found him on our website! William was the only child to survive in his family it seems. From his Army Service Record it looks as though he didn’t have any children and his wife moved around a lot after he was killed. In fact there is a reference that the plaque you have was returned initially by the Post Office as they could not find out where his widow was. Addresses include Chelmsford and Leytonstone in 1919, Doncaster in 1921 and Grimsby in 1924.
I would be interested to know the story of how and when the plaque came into your possession as this may give a clue to any family links.
We will make further enquiries and get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks.