CLAUDE ALBERT PIZZEY

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: 29th August 1891, Ipswich.

Died: 23rd April 1917; age 26; KiA.

Evening Star – Friday, 8^th June 1917 – Mrs. Pizzey, of 4, Short Street, St. Clement’s, Ipswich, has received a letter from the officer of the Suffolk Regiment relative to the death of her husband, Sergeant Claude Albert Pizzey, in which he expresses deep sympathy with her in her great loss, “which is also,” he says, “a loss to his regiment, as he was a gallant noncommissioned officer.”

Evening Star – Saturday, 9^th June 1917 – Mrs. Pizzey, of Wherstead Road, Ipswich, has received a letter from an officer informing her of her son’s death. “I am afraid,” the officer states, “that it will be a great blow to you, and you have my deepest sympathy. Try and bear your sorrow bravely, and remember that your son died the noblest death a man can – fighting for his country. And now he is numbered amongst England’s heroes. I know that he was a very excellent sergeant, and always did his duty well.

Residence: 4, Rose Lane, Ipswich.

Occupation: General Labourer.

Royal Navy Enlistment: 29th August 1909 – signed up for 12 years; Occupation: Ships Cook. Height: 5ft 4 1/8ins, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes.

Service:

Ganges – Boy II – 30th August 1908.

Ganges – Boy I – 1st October 1908 – 15th October 1908.

Shannon – Boy I – 16th October 1908 – 9th November 1908.

Cressy – Boy I – 10th November 1908 – 28th January 1909.

Vindictive – Boy I – 29th January 1909 – 10th February 1909.

Pembroke I – Boy I – 11th February 1909 – 4th March – 1909 – Invalided Out – Flat Feet.

Enlistment Location: Ipswich.

Date of Entry Therein: 8th November 1914.

15th July 1916 – Gun Shot Wound – right hand – sent to No. 112 Ambulance Train.

Rank: Sergeant; Service Number: 200503

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion.

Formerly 2193, Suffolk.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Military Medal – for conspicuous gallantry in the field.

The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 by Murphy:

“On March 17th the (4th ) battalion proceeded to Annequin, all ranks wearing the new steel shrapnel helmets for the first time. On the following day Major F W Turner returned from England and took over command, That evening, during the heavy bombardment of Cambrin, the battalion felt the effects of the tear-gas shells which fell on the La Bassee road. A week later, while the battalion was in the line in the Cuinchy sector, the enemy sprung a mine in front of “A” Company and closed up to their wire. L/Cpl. Pizzey, with Ptes. J. Nunn and D. Cragg, at once occupied the near lip, where they remained the whole day entirely cut off from the front-line trenches, all three being subsequently awarded the M.M.”

The body was discovered in July 1921 in a grave marked with a broken wooden cross, and identified by the date of death details on the cross, the Military Medal ribbon and sergeant chevrons, before reburial with many, many Unknown British Soldiers known only unto God, at Tilloy British Cemetery.

Grave Reference:

V.C.29.

Tilloy British Cemetery,

Tilloy-les-Mofflaines,

Pas de Calais,

France.

CENSUS

1901   35, Tyler Street, Ipswich.

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

Frederick Pizzey, 36, a Railway Engine Driver, born Layham, Suffolk.

Eliza Emily Pizzey (nee Addison), 35, born Wherstead, Suffolk.

Eric Dane Pizzey, 14, a Steam-Saw Sharper – Foundry, born Ipswich.

Wallace Edwin Pizzey, 11, born Ipswich.

Gladys Hilda Pizzey, 6, born Ipswich.

Guy Clarence Pizzey, 2, born Ipswich.

1911   Lying at anchor in Harwich Harbour, Harwich St. Nicholas, Essex.

Claude was 19 years old, he was a Mate on board the ‘Lady of the Wave’ – London – Sail – Coasting. Date of Delivery 31st March 1911. Master – G. Brooks.

In 1912, Ipswich, Claude married, Louisa Jemima Goddard, born December 1892, Ipswich – daughter of Louisa Harriet Goddard. In November 1899, Louisa married Albert Fiddaman.

Louisa and Claude had one daughter:

Louisa Pizzey, born 8^th July 1912, 4, Rose Lane, Ipswich – died 1912, Ipswich.

Louisa Goddard, a factory stayhand at Footman & Co., had a son, Albert Edward Goddard born 8^th August 1911, at the Ipswich Workhouse “Heathfields,” Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. Louisa and her newborn baby were cared for by her widowed maternal grandmother, Louisa Goddard (nee Clements), of 4, Short Street, Ipswich. Baby Albert died in 1911, in Ipswich.

Soldiers’ Effects to Louisa J. Pizzey – widow.

Claude is also remembered on St. Mary at Stoke Church Ipswich, War Memorial.

Evening Star – Thursday, 11^th July 1912 – PURSE STOLEN FROM A BAR – On Thursday, 11^th July 1912, at Ipswich Police Court, Claude Pizzey, a bargeman, of Rose Lane, and Bertie Edward Good, a bargeman, of Purplett Street, were before the Mayor Mr. Frederick Edward Rands, Mr. Alexander Gibb, and Mr. Harry William Raffe, charged with stealing a purse and 8s. from Robert Bickers, on the 1^st July. Mrs. Bickers said she was in the Cardinal’s Hat, when Claude Pizzey and Bertie Good came in, and she asked her daughter to serve them. Some time afterwards, when she heard a noise, she ran in and saw Bertie Good on her side of the bar. She asked what he was doing, and both of them ran away. She lost her purse.

Bertie Good pleaded guilty to taking 3s., not 8s., and Claude Pizzey pleaded not guilty. Further evidence of a corroborative nature was given, and Chief Detective Inspector H. Warner said on the 5^th July he saw two men in the street who answered the description of those wanted. They all went to the Cardinal’s Hat, where Mrs. Bickers recognised the accused. The men denied all knowledge of the affair until the summons was served. Decetive F. Wood said when he told Bertie Good about the summons, he replied “Eight shilling’ There was only 3s. in the purse.”

Claude Pizzey said Bertie told him he had got a purse and money, and when he asked where he got it, Bertie replied and gave him 1s. 6d. Bertie Good on oath described how he got over the counter, whilst Claude’s back was turned, and took the purse and money. The Bench sent both accused to prison for three months with hard labour.

E.A.D.T. – Monday, 6^th January 1913 – YOUNG THIEVES – At the Quarter Sessions for the Borough of Ipswich, held at the Town Hall, on Saturday, 4^th January, Claude Albert Pizzey, aged 21, and Bertie Edward Good, aged 20, both labourers, were summoned before the Recorder Sir Frederick Low, K.C., M.P., who was accompanied on the Bench by the Mayor Mr. Edward Colby Ransome and other Magistrates. They both pleaded guilty to stealing three shillings, the property of the Ipswich Industrial Co-operative Society, on the 5^th December 1912. Mr. Gerald Dobson, instructed by Messrs. Aldous and Gotelee, who prosecuted, stated that these two young fellows followed a van belonging to the Co-operative Society, and when Rose, the man in charge, was delivering goods at a house the prisoner Bertie Good got into the van and abstracted a bag containing money.

Chief Inspector Warner said both men had been convicted before. They went round to public houses and robbed tills. They hunted together. Claude Pizzey was a married man.

The Recorder said Bertie Good was young enough to be dealt with under the Borstal system. He would go to prison for 18 months for the Borstal treatment, and an effort would be made to properly train him and teach him a trade. Claude Pizzey, he was sorry to say, was too old under the regulations for that treatment, and he would go to prison for six months with hard labour.

Claude Albert Pizzey was prison number 2210. He was 5ft 7 ½ ins, with a fresh complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. He was tattooed with a heart, “I.L.E.P.”, anchor, “C.” and dots on his left forearm. Claude was liberated on the 5^th June 1913.

Sergt. C.A. Pizzey, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Pizzey, of 114, Wherstead Road, Ipswich, has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry, in the field. He has been in France since November 1914. He has two other brothers serving, Prvt. A. Pizzey, of the Devons (on left) being now in Salonika, and Driver W. Pizzey, Royal Engineers (on right) being in France. They also have been serving since the end of 1914.

WAR MEDALS PRESENTATION AT HEATHFIELDS

There was a large gathering of the general public on the lawn at Heathfields Auxiliary Military Hospital, Ipswich on Sunday morning, to witness the presentation of medals by Brigadier-General R.K. Walsh, C.M.G., D.S.O. The medals presented were the D.C.M. to Pte. W. Young, of the R.A.M.C.; the Military Medal to Lance-Corpl. W. Parker, Suffolk Regiment; the Territorial Efficiency Medal to ex-Lance-Corpl. W.C. Rogers, late Suffolk Regiment; and the Military Medal, won by Sergt. C.A. Pizzey, Suffolk Regiment, to Mrs. Pizzey. As this was the first occasion on which such a function has been held at Heathfields, special arrangements were made, a platform being erected on the lawn, whilst the grounds were decorated with flags. All the patients of the hospital capable of being outdoors were present, whilst there was also a large gathering of wounded soldiers from the other military hospitals in the district, notably the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital. Mr. W.H. Laughlin, chairman of the House Committee, was present, as was Mr. Oliver C. Jones.

General Walsh, who was accompanied by Brigade-Major Captain Stewart and Staff Captain Hammond, in bestowing the decorations, said he regretted that, except in the case of Pte. Young, he had no information about the deeds which earned the recipients their medals. In the case of Pte. Young the facts were as follows:- “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As a medical orderly attached to a Tank battalion, though blown up and wounded, he performed his duties with the utmost coolness, attending wounded cases, as well as those of his own battalion. He accomplished fine work in helping to extinguish the burning clothing of two men. Throughout he displayed the greatest devotion to duty and an entire disregard of personal safety.” As he pinned on each of the medals the General warmly congratulated the recipients.

At the conclusion, on the motion of Mr. Laughlin, a vote of thanks was accorded General Walsh, after which Miss Vera Jones presented him with a bouquet of choice roses. Mr. Laughlin then presented to Pte. Young, Lance-Corpl. Parker, and Lance-Corpl. Rogers a pocket wallet, the gift of Mr. W.C. Yell.

A collection for the Suffolk Prisoners of War Fund realised £4. 8s.8 1/2d.

The photograph shows (1) General Walsh pinning the D.C.M. on Pte. W.Young, and (2) ex-Lance-Corpl. W.C.Rogers, Lance-Corpl. W. Parker, and Pte. W. Young. Seated is Mrs. Pizzey.

 Extra information courtesy of Jane Stanley.

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