WILLIE ERNEST BALES
Born: 6th January 1878, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 27th July 1879, at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich, with his brother, Frank Herbert Bales, born 1879 – family home at Mount Pleasant, Ipswich.
Died: 24th April 1915; age 37; KiA by shell.
E.A.D.T – Saturday, 18th September 1915 – Mrs. Bales, of 24, Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, has, in reply to her inquiries, been officially notified that her husband, Private William Bales, of the 1st Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action on the 24th April 1915.
Residence: 24, Fore Hamlet, Ipswich.
Occupation: with Messrs. Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, Orwell Works, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 11th March 1915 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 3/10341
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & the 1914 – 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 21.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
CENSUS
1881 Trinity Hill, Ipswich.
Willie was 3 years old and living with his parents, siblings & stepsister.
John Knights Bales, 27, born Ipswich.
Lucy Bales (nee Minns), 27, born East Bergholt, Suffolk.
Florence Matilda Minns, 10, born Barham, Suffolk.
Frederick James Bales, 5, born Ipswich.
Henry Charles Bales, 3 months, born Ipswich.
1891 12, Back Hamlet, Ipswich.
Willie was 13 years old and living with his parents, siblings & stepsister.
John, 37, a Gas House Labourer.
Lucy, 37, a Stay Fanner.
Florence, 19, a Stay Fanner.
Frederick, 15.
Henry, 10.
Lily Maud Bales, 6, born Ipswich.
Caroline Milly Bales, 5, born Ipswich.
Beatrice Annie Bales, 4, born Ipswich.
1911 31, White Elm Street, Ipswich.
Willie was 33 years old, a Share Moulder. He was married and head of the household.
Beatrice, 23.
Mabel, 3.
Frederick, 1.
On Christmas Day, 1905, at St. Michael’s Church, Ipswich, 27 year old Willie, a labourer, of 14, Little Barclay Street, Ipswich, married 18 year old Beatrice Markwell, born September 1887, Ipswich – daughter of George William Markwell, an iron moulder – engineering works, and Emma Markwell (nee Hill), of 52, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.
Beatrice and Willie had three children:
Mabel Lucy Emma Bales, December 1907, Ipswich.
Frederick Horace Ernest Bales, born April 1909, Ipswich.
Sidney William John Bales, born July 1911, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Beatrice Bales – widow.
Willie’s brother, Frank Herbert Bales, died on the 19th September 1880 at St. Clement’s, Ipswich and was buried on the 22nd September at Section H, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Willie is also remembered on the Orwell Works memorial, Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, and at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich.
THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT 1st Battalion:
Suffolk Regiment Battalion movements
SUFFOLK REGIMENT MUSEUM
Friends of The Suffolk Regiment
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