STANLEY ERNEST CASON
Image from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – 1918
Born: 20th May 1891, Ipswich.
Baptised aged 21 years on the 11th March 1913, at All Saints Church, Ipswich. Stanley was a stone mason for the Ipswich Corporation – family home at 18, Chalon Street, Ipswich.
Died: 27th March 1918; age 27; KiA near Albert.
Residence: 527, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Storeman with the Ipswich Corporation – Waterworks Dept., Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Rank: Corporal; Service Number: 265365
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Formerly 2298, Suffolk Cyclists.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 25.
Somme,
France.
Nephew of FREDERICK WALTER MINNS.
CENSUS
1901 18, Chalon Street, Ipswich.
Stanley was 9 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Edwin George Cason, 40, a Stone Mason, born Ipswich.
Emma Cason (nee Minns), 40, born Great Bricett, Suffolk.
Lily Maud Cason, 20, a Bag maker, born Ipswich.
Daisy Ethel Cason, 17, a Tailoress, born Ipswich.
Arthur Edwin Cason, 15, a Pupil Teacher, born Ipswich.
Violet Emma Cason, 6, born Ipswich.
Frederick Charles Cason, 1, born Ipswich.
1911 18, Chalon Street, Ipswich.
Stanley was 19 years old, a Shop Assistant – China & Glass. He was living with his widowed mother & siblings.
Emma, 50.
Frederick, 11.
Ernest John Cason, 8, born Ipswich.
Stanley’s father, Edwin George Cason, died on the 10th October 1908, at his home, 18, Chalon Street, Ipswich and was buried in Section O, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Stanley’s brother, Frederick Charles Cason, died on the 6th October 1914, of 18, Chalon Street, Ipswich and was buried with his father in Section O, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
On the 1st June 1915, Stanley’s sister, Daisy Ethel Hammond (nee Cason) (the wife of Edwin Harry Hammond), died at 25, Chalon Street, Ipswich and was buried in Section O, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
On the 28th June 1915, at All Saints Church, Ipswich, 24 year old Stanley, a storekeeper, of 18, Chalon Street, Ipswich, married 18 year old Margaret Emily Robinson, born July 1896, Ipswich – daughter of William Benjamin Robinson, an engine driver, and Lily Robinson (nee Stannard), of 20, Wallace Road, Ipswich.
Margaret and Stanley had one son:
Ernest William Edwin Cason, born 26th April 1916, Ipswich and baptised on the 9th July 1916, at All Hallows Church, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Margaret Cason – widow.
Stanley is also remembered on the war memorial under Waterworks at the Town Hall, Ipswich and at St. Peter’s Church, Ipswich, and also St. Nicholas Congregational Church, once sited at St. Nicholas Street, Ipswich.
Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion:
On March 20th 1918, the 7th Battalion was enjoying the start of a rest period, but within hours the Germans began a major offensive in Picardy. The division, having taken up positions in the area of Busnes, receiving orders during the night of the 24th-25th, moved south to the Albert sector. Travelling through the night under clear moonlight skies, while passing through Lillers, German aircraft bombed the town, taking advantage of the clear skies.
On arrival, they were given orders to take up positions along the line of Bazentin-le-Montauban near Fricourt, which were quickly cancelled, and they were ordered back to Albert.
During the morning of the 26th, the 7th battalion found itself defending the Albert bridge-heads, which had been constructed by the 8th Suffolk’s in 1916.
The German offensive had been pushing forward for five days, had pushed all British units to the limit, and was quoted in the records as “a confused and desperate character” with limited supplies, no artillery or mortar support, fighting against overwhelming German numbers.
The 7th positions ran from the train station 300 yards to the Albert-Amiens road, which, taking up positions at 15:00hrs, dug themselves in. By 16:30, the Germans began to advance in waves, a Lewis gunner covering the approach at 100 yards caused heavy casualties until it was put out of action.
No. 3 platoon “A” company twice beat off the German advance with fire support from No.2 Platoon and the Machine Gun Corps. Sweeping the bridge head with “deadly effect”
By 22:20, the Germans in strength, using mortars and hand grenades, crossed the bridge head, pushing the 7th out of their forward position, taking just 10 minutes, and making new machine gun positions in captured buildings west of the bridge.
23:15 “C” company launched a counterattack, taking back most of the positions except the bridge head.
No.2 Platoon, just before midnight, with support from the 5th Northamptonshire Regiment attacked the house and the bridgehead but failed to regain both, mainly through lack of grenades and fire support, pulling back 300 yards, digging in new positions.
By dawn, No. 2 platoon was reduced to just 3 men. The Battalion had sustained 256 casualties, including 12 officers. The 7th Battalion was withdrawn to Henencourt to rest.
Suffolk Regiment Battalion movements
Suffolk Regiment website
Friends of The Suffolk Regiment
One Comment
Thinking of you on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. My generation thank you for the sacrifice you made.
From your great-great niece Karen x