FRANCIS LIONEL OVERMAN

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Born: 1912, Parson Drove, Cambridgeshire.

Died: 12th June 1944; age: 31; Died of wounds – Normandy.

Rank: Warrant Officer Class 2 (Company Sergeant Major); Service Number: 5824921.

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion – Infantry.

Grave Reference:

1.L.18.

Hermanville War Cemetery,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Matthew Henry & Rose Edna Overman; husband of  Edna Elizabeth Overman, of Ipswich. A baker.

Father: Matthew Henry Overman, born 1878, Murrow, Cambridgeshire – died 1913, Parson Drove, Cambridgeshire.

Mother: Rose Edna Overman (nee Pickwell), born 1883, New Bollingbroke, Lincolnshire.

Francis’ Siblings:

Henry Matthew Overman, born November 1901, Parson Drove.

Vera Anna Overman, born April 1904, Parson Drove – died 1926, Lincolnshire.

Douglas Overman, born June 1905, Parson Drove.

Doris Overman, born July 1907, Parson Drove.

Edna Mary Overman, 1908, Parson Drove – died 1928, Lincolnshire.

Matthew Charles Overman, born July 1910, Parson Drove.

Gladys M. Overman, born 1911, Parson Drove – died 1911, Parson Drove.

After the death of Matthew Overman, widow Rose lived with Herbert Seeley, born in Banningham, Norfolk. Rose and Herbert had two children:

Alice Seeley Overman, born 1914, Murrow, Cambridgeshire.

Herbert Seeley Overman, born 1916, Wisbech.

On the 24th July 1917, Herbert, a Private, for the Norfolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion, died from the effects of extreme heat at Baghdad. He was laid to rest at the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.

On the 1921 Census, Rose and Matthew Overman’s children had been placed in the care of aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, and like Francis, placed with a foster family. Rose and Herbert Seeley’s two children lived with Rose at the home of her widowed employer at 15, Silver Street, Wisbech.

William Freeman, 36 years & 2 months, a gardener for Mr. J. W. Cross, a fruit grower, of Elm Road, Wisbech.

Florence Ethel E. Freeman, 12 years & 1 month old, at School.

Lewis Freeman, 7 years & 11 months old, at School.

Rose Overman, 36 years & 7 months old, Housekeeper.

Alice Seeley Overman, 7 years & 1 month old, at School.

Herbert Seeley Overman, 4 years & 5 months old.

In 1923, Wisbech, Rose Overman, married William Freeman, born February 1886, Wisbech. A General Labourer. The Overman/Freeman family home – 20, Silver Street, Wisbech.

CENSUS

1921   Meadowgate Lane, Emneth, Cambridgeshire.

Francis Overman was 8 years and 7 months old. He attended School and lived with his foster family.

Herbert Edwards, 54 years & 2 months old, a Horseman for Mr. Arthur Image – Farmer and Fruit Grower, of Oxburgh Hall, Emneth, Cambridgeshire.

Alice Jane Edwards (nee Selby), 46 years & 10 months, Home Duties.

Edith Lily Edwards, 26 years & 1 month old, Home Duties.

Ethel Mary Edwards, 21 years & 5 months old, Farm Worker for Mr. Arthur Image – Farmer and Fruit Grower, of Oxburgh Hall, Emneth, Cambridgeshire.

Alice Mabel Edwards, 18 years & 9 months old, Farm Worker for Mr. Arthur Image – Farmer and Fruit Grower, of Oxburgh Hall, Emneth, Cambridgeshire.

Herbert Noel Edwards, 17 years & 5 months old, a Farm Labourer for Mr. Arthur Image – Farmer and Fruit Grower, of Oxburgh Hall, Emneth, Cambridgeshire.

In 1940, Ipswich, Francis married Edna Elizabeth Fox, born January 1906, Ipswich – the daughter of Ernest Henry Fox, a general labourer (died 1912, Ipswich), and Alice Ellen Overman (nee Lorking), of 84, Bramford Lane, Ipswich.

Edna and Francis had two children.

Francis is also commemorated on the British Normandy Memorial, virtually opened by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, on the 6^th June 2021.

A Note to the family:
Hi,
I’m a metal detectorist. I recently found a small ID plate which reads “5824921 F L Overman The Suffolk Regiment”. I wondered if you might know if he had any descendants to whom I might return the item. I would be grateful for any thoughts you may have.
Best Regards
Paul Milton paul_milton@btinternet.com

Taff Gillingham:
It’s Lionel Overman’s brass bed plate.

Before the war every Suffolk Regiment soldier had one of these brass plates hanging above his bed.
On the back they usually have the word, “Duty”. When a soldier was away from the barrack room on duty the plate was turned round so the Officer/NCO inspecting the room knew that the soldier had a reason for not being present.
I have about thirty of these.
Many Suffolk soldiers kept their bed plate as a souvenir of their service.

Lionel’s widow had a close connection with the Ipswich Suffolk Regiment Old Comrades.
The Ipswich Branch Standard is the oldest in the Old Comrades Association. We still carry it on parade.
The original needlework was carried out by Mrs Overman, who was an expert embroiderer, taught at the Ipswich School of Needlework.
She completed the Standard to an approved design in 1950.

       (Mark Forsdike with Standard)

SUFFOLK REGIMENT MUSEUM

Friends of The Suffolk Regiment