WILLIAM LADBROOK
WILLIE
Image from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – 1916
Born: 17th January 1886, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 13th May 1896, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich, with his sister, Ethel May Ladbrook, born 13th December 1893, and brothers, Bertie Charles Ladbrook, born 23rd November 1895, and Stanley Bradbrook, born 21st July 1891 – family home at 18, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich.
Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 28th July 1916 – Mrs. Ellen Ladbrook, of No. 10, Arthur Street, Ipswich, has received news that her husband, Sergeant William Ladbrook, of the Suffolks, is now lying in Manchester Hospital suffering from severe wounds in the right thigh received on the 3rd July. Sergeant Ladbrook was employed for many years at the Orwell Works and was a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He has three other brothers serving.
Died: 27th March 1918; age 32; KiA.
Residence: 10, Arthur Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: Blacksmith’s Striker at Messrs. Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, Orwell Works, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 11th August 1915 – France.
Wounded: Severe wounds in the right thigh received on the 3rd July 1916 – sent to Manchester Hospital for recovery.
Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 319290
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 25.
Somme,
France.
CENSUS
1891 Ipswich.
William was 5 years old and living with his parents & brothers.
William Noah Ladbrook, 42, a Railway Labourer – Plate, born Eaton, Norwich, Norfolk.
Anna Eliza Ladbrook (nee Madderson), 38, born Little Bealings, Suffolk.
(Frank) Francis Madderson Ladbrook, 11, born Ipswich.
Ernest William Ladbrook, 9, born Harwich, Essex.
1901 18, Black Horse Lane, Ipswich.
William was 15 years old, a Striker at an Iron Foundry. He was living with his parents & siblings.
William, 52, a Railway Labourer.
Eliza, 46.
Stanley Ladbrook, 9, born Ipswich.
Ethel May Ladbrook, 7, born Ipswich.
Bertie Charles Ladbrook, 5, born Ipswich.
1911 4, Potter Street, Ipswich.
William was 25 years old, a Blacksmith’s Striker – Engineering Works. He was married and Head of the Household.
Ellen, 22.
William, 1.
William’s father, William Noah Ladbrook, died on the 6th April 1910, Ipswich and was buried on the 9th April in Section EE, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
On the 13th June 1909, at St. Mary at the Elm Church, Ipswich, 24 year old William, a foundryman, of 18, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich, married 21 year old Ellen Eliza Butcher, born 1889, Ipswich – daughter of John Arthur Butcher, a foundryman, and Mary Ann Butcher, of 30, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich.
Ellen and William had three children:
William George Ladbrook, born October 1909, Ipswich.
Ethel May Ladbrook, born July 1911, Ipswich.
Percy Reginald Ladbrook, born April 1913, Ipswich.
William was a member of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade.
William’s brother, Francis Madderson Ladbrooke, also lost his life in the First World War. He died of Pneumonia on the 25th January 1921, aged 41. Francis was ranked Private/Guardsman, service number 5636, of the Guards Machine Gun Regiment. Francis was laid to rest at the Field of Honour, Ipswich Old Cemetery, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Ellen E. Ladbrook – widow.
William is also remembered on the Orwell Works Memorial Ransomes Sims & Jefferies 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 was quickly cancelled being 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 took 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.
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