WILLIAM JAMES CARPENTER
WILLIE
Born: 1890, Ipswich.
Died: 8th May 1915; age 24; KiA.
Residence: 1a, Salem Street, Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 11th March 1915 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 8056.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 21.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Elizabeth Carpenter, of 1a, Salem Street, Ipswich.
Brother to BRYANT EDWARD CARPENTER & HERBERT SIDNEY CARPENTER.
CENSUS
1891 21, Fairlight Street, Ipswich.
Willie was 10 months old and living with his parents & siblings.
William James Carpenter, 29, a Carman, born Westminster, London.
Elizabeth Carpenter (nee Orford), 29, born Great Oakley, Essex.
Ethel Emma Carpenter, 8, born Ipswich.
Bryant Edward Carpenter, 7, born Ipswich.
Florence Gertrude Carpenter, 4, born Ipswich.
Annie Maud Carpenter, 3, born Ipswich.
1901 75, St. Margaret’s Street, Ipswich.
Willie was 10 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
William, 39, a General Labourer.
Elizabeth, 38.
Ethel, 20.
Maud, 12.
(Nellie) Ellen Elizabeth Carpenter, 9, born Ipswich.
Charles Frederick Carpenter, 7, born Ipswich.
Herbert Sidney Carpenter, 3, born Ipswich.
Albert Stanley Carpenter, 2 months, born Ipswich.
1911 Barrosa Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Farnham, Surrey.
Willie was 20 years old, a Soldier ranked Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.
Willie’s father, William James Carpenter, died 1906, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to mother – Elizabeth Carpenter, brothers – Frederick, Charles, Herbert, Sidney, and No. 5652, Pte. Bryant Carpenter, c/o 3rd Suffolk, Felixstowe, and sisters – Ethel, Florence, Annie & Elizabeth.
William is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Matthews Church, Ipswich.
IPSWICH WIDOW’S SOLDIER FAMILY
Mrs. Carpenter, of 1a, Salem Street, Ipswich, has four sons and a son-in-law in the Army. Prior to May last she had five sons serving, but lost one at Ypres on May 8th, 1915. Their names and regiments are as follows:- 1. Prvt. B. Carpenter, 2nd Suffolks, who has been out since the beginning of the war, was wounded on March 3rd last. 2. Prvt. W. Carpenter, 1st Suffolks, killed at Ypres, May 8th, 1915. 3. Gunner C. Carpenter, East Anglian (Howitzer) Brigade, R.F.A., joined in June last, now in training at Mildenhall. 4. Prvt. G. Carpenter, 4th Suffolks, joined in May, now in training at Alton West, near Tring, Herts. 5. Driver S. Carpenter, East Anglian (Howitzer) Brigade, R.F.A., at Mildenhall. 6. Bombr. F. Hood, East Anglian (Howitzer) Brigade, R.F.A.
Image from 1917 Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury newspaper
Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion. 84th Brigade
The Second Battle of Ypres was underway and the 1st Battalion was to suffer over a thousand casualties in six weeks with fierce fighting along the Salient. The Battle of Frezenberg Ridge and Bellewaarde Ridge were to take its toll on the 1st Battalion. At 10:00 a.m on the 8th May, the attack began with heavy shelling from both sides of all calibre, then came a cloud of yellow green poison gas that drifted through the British lines. Blinded and choking men continued to fight on still under a hail of bullets and shell fire. The shelling had cut most of the communication wires, with little information passing through. The exposed roads gave little shelter for the limited supply line. The German attack had overwhelmed the British, by noon the Battalion had 400 casualties with 12 Ipswich men dead and more to be killed or die of wounds in the following weeks.
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