Fellow local historian, Cynthia Budd, has meticulously researched the men listed on the Great War Memorials throughout the Shellrock Benefice (Great Ellingham, Little Ellingham, Rockland All Saints, Rockland St Peter and Shropham with Snetterton).
She has kindly allowed me to reproduce her tributes to the Great Ellingham men, on the Great Ellingham One-Place Study website.
Great War memorial tablet on the west wall of the Church of St James, Great Ellingham
The following is Cynthia’s piece commemorating Private 18218, Ernest James Barham, 1st/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment:
Ernest was born in Rockland All Saints in 1879 (registered in the second quarter). His parents were William [Barham], a farm labourer, and Eliza nèe Skitmore who married in 1877. Eliza was the widow of William's older brother James with whom she had two daughters. Eliza and William had six children, Ernest was their second child.
Rocklands
On census day 1881 the family lived on Attleborough Road, Rockland All Saints. In 1891 and 1901 they were on Scoulton Road, Rockland St Peter. In 1901, Ernest was a farm labourer.
St Mary’s Church, Attleborough
He married Emma Lincoln in St Mary's [Church], Attleborough in September or October 1901. In 1911 they had two daughters, Ethel aged two and Alice aged one and lived at West Carr Road. They had moved to Great Ellingham by 1914.
Ernest would have been aged 35 when the War began and he enlisted with his younger brother, Herbert, as they had consecutive service numbers. They were posted to the 9th Norfolk's and arrived in France 4 October 1915. Ernest was later transferred to 1st/5th Norfolk's, possibly after being wounded or a period of illness. The 1st/5th Norfolk's served in Palestine from the beginning of 1916 to the end of the War. Private Barham may have been a survivor of the second Battle of Gaza in April 1917 when Alfred Beales of Great Ellingham and Charles Lincoln of Rockland St Peter were killed. Or he may have joined the Battalion in June or July 1917 when large drafts or reinforcements were sent. He was killed in action 2 November 1917 during the third Battle of Gaza. The advance began at 3.00am and, owing to the darkness, the battalion soon lost direction. They were caught in the barrage at 3.30am suffering many casualties.
The War Diary does not record the numbers, but there appear to have been 36 killed, many more would have been wounded. The 1st/4th Norfolk's who also took part in this actin had 134 casualties, killed, wounded and missing. Despite these heavy casualties, Gaza was taken 7 November 1917.
The Deanery Magazine of December 1917 said "Pte. Barham is reported killed in Egypt. He looked so bright and such a smart soldier when he was last home. Alas! We sent to his widow our sincere condolences."
A Memorial Service was held at St James' [Great Ellingham] 6 January 1918 for Private Barham and all who fell in 1917. Private Barham was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and 1915 Star. He is buried in Gaza War Cemetery.
His brother, Herbert William [Barham], was killed in action on the Somme 18 October 1916 (Rockland St Peter Memorial).
With many thanks to Cynthia Budd and Chris Clarke.
Cynthia’s sources. Please note that the sources include research carried out in relation to all the ‘fallen’ of the Great War throughout the Shellrock Benefice. Accordingly, not all the sources will be applicable to Great Ellingham :
Ancestry UK: Birth, Marriage, Death and Parish Records. Census Records and Electoral Rolls. Probate Records.Military Records; Army/Navy Service Records. UK Soldiers Died in the Great War Roll. Medal Index Cards. Medal Award Rolls. The Register of Soldiers’ Effects. War Diaries. Canadian Military Records.
Archant Archives, Norwich. Also Thetford Library; The Thetford & Watton Times.
Australian War Records Websites: https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
FindMyPast; Military Service Records. Electoral Rolls. British Newspaper Archive. The 1939 Register.
The General Record Office.
The History of the Norfolk Regiment 1914-1918 F Loraine Peter OBE
The London GazetteThe National Archives
The Norfolk Heritage Centre, The Forum, Norwich. Breckles and District Deanery Magazines. Norwich Mercury (Microfiche)
The Norfolk Record Office.
Norwich Cathedral Library; 1919 Diocesan Roll of Honour.
Picture Norfolk https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries/picture-norfolk
The Red Cross https://grandguerre.icrc.org
Various Regimental Websites.