WILLIAM EMMANUEL POTTER

Laid to rest at the Field of Honour.

Born: 17th August 1883, St. Clement’s, Ipswich.

Baptised on the 4th June 1885, at St. Clement’s Church, Ipswich, with his brother George Alfred Potter, born 9th July 1880 – family home at Kent’s Yard, Ipswich.

Died: 6th August 1920; age: 36; died of Pneumonia and Cardiac Failure, at his home, 4, Baker Street, Ipswich.

Residence: 4, Baker Street, Ipswich.

Occupation: General Labourer.

Religion: CofE.

Enlistment Details: Date: 29th August 1914; age: 29 years. Height: 5 ft  6 in. Had previously served 3 years & 265 days – Suffolk Regiment, 3rd Battalion.

Discharged – Medically Unfit – 24th November 1914, at Colchester, Essex, to 4 Baker Street, Ipswich. A Private, 2076, 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. Served 88 days.

Previous Service: 6 months Royal Naval Reserve – Discharged 8th January 1916. Army Reserve: 1st October 1916.

Entered: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve – 30th June 1917; joined the 3rd Reserve Battalion 2nd July 1917.

Discharged from the R.N. Hospital, Portland, on the 28th August 1917 – Invalided for “Deafness & Vertigo (Meniere’s Disease). Granted Silver War Badge.

Rank: Ordinary Seaman; Service Number: R/4473.

Regiment: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 3rd Reserve Battalion. Royal Naval Division. H.M.S. Internos.

Buried on the 9th August.

Grave Reference:

BA.2.51.

Ipswich Old Cemetery,

Ipswich.

CENSUS

1891   7, Hope Court, Back Hamlet, Ipswich.

William was 9 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

William James Potter, 39, a Labourer – Brickyard, born Ipswich.

Mary Ann Potter (nee Hall), 34, born Ipswich.

George Alfred Potter, 10, born Ipswich.

Esther Eliza Potter, 4, born Ipswich.

Sarah Ann Potter, 1, born Ipswich.

1901   6, Kent’s Yard, St. Clement’s, Ipswich.

William was 17 years old, a Seaman. He was living with his parents & siblings.

William, 49, a Brickmaker’s Labourer.

Mary, 44.

Sarah, 11.

Thomas James Potter, 8, born Ipswich.

On Christmas Day 1911, at the Ipswich Register Office, William married Eliza Balls, born March 1887, Newbourne, Suffolk – daughter of William Balls, a general labourer, and Rachel Balls (nee Lyons), of East View Cottages, 66, Levington Road, Ipswich.

Eliza and William had two sons:

William Emmanuel Potter, born 1912, Ipswich – died on the 19th February 1912, Ipswich and was buried on the 23rd February in Section S, Ipswich Old Cemetery.

William John Potter, born in July 1913, 4 Baker Street, Ipswich and baptised on the 24th July 1913 at St. Clement’s Church, Ipswich.

William was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore and spent 3 years and 207 days in captivity before he was liberated on the 9th September 1945.