It is also hoped that schools will carry out some basic research to learn more about the individuals that they well be commemorating.  A guide to carrying out local research is also available. 

Regular articles will be posted in the media to keep the community aware of the event and to update them on progress with the research.

The event is being planned and coordinated by the HQ Suffolk RBL, with local Branches providing support at local level.  Anyone interested in taking part in this event can register their interest and request more information by emailing suffolkremembers@gmail.com

The 1,332 Great War graves are located in the following cemeteries and churchyards:

The Hadleigh Great War Centenary Project once again had an exhibition at the annual Hadleigh Show.  The exhibition included individual story boards and great war artefacts.  Outside the marquee was the great war trench prop manned by a serving soldier wearing 1916 battle dress.  Also on display were items that will be displayed in the town later in the year to mark the Centenary of the 1918 armistice.  The exhibition was awarded 1st place prize in the non-commercial category by the show organisers.

The bell ringers at All Saints Church, Writtle in Essex dedicated their latest quarter peal to the memory of Bertie Gowers who was killed during the Great War 100 years ago this month. Bertie was born and lived all his life in Writtle, but in 1915 he married Hadleigh girl Phyllis Buckeldee who was working in Writtle has a servant.  After his death, Phyllis, pregnant with her second child returned to Hadleigh with her infant son.  Bertie Gowers is remembered on both the Hadleigh and Writtle war memorials.

The Hadleigh Great War Centenary Project once again had an exhibition at the annual Hadleigh Show.  The exhibition included individual story boards and great war artefacts and was in a large marquee which was visited by lots of people.  Outside the marquee was the great war trench prop manned by a young man wearing 1916 battle dress.  The exhibition was awarded 6th place prize in the non-commercial category by the show organisers.

To commemorate the centenary of the battle of the Somme, the Hadleigh Branch of the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Ansell Centre organised a screening of the film the battle of the Somme.  The film which has been digitally remastered by the Imperial War Museum specifically to mark the centenary was well received by around 40 viewers.

The Hadleigh Branch of the Royal British Legion marked the centenary of the start of the battle of the Somme by having a short ceremony at the Hadleigh war memorial at 07:30hrs on 1st July 2016.  The ceremony included a wreath laying, a 'trench' whistle blast at 07:30hrs followed by a 2 minute silence.

The Great War Centenary Project uses the annual Hadleigh May Show to put on an exhibition for the local community.  The exhibition, housed in a Marquee provided by local sponsors Dave Clennell & Helen Allan, uses story boards, books, photos and artefacts to tell the story of Hadleigh during the great war.  The exhibition also includes the replica trench prop and real life 'Tommy', which is very popular with the crowd.

The Mayor and children from the four Hadleigh schools visited Hadleigh cemetery to pay their respects to the soldiers who died in both world wars and are buried in the town’s cemetery.  The children received a talk on the significance of remembrance from Mark Brennan, Chairman of the Hadleigh Branch of the Royal British Legion.  The children went on a tour of the war graves and were told about the men who had died and the effect this had on the town.  The children placed poppy crosses on each grave.  Before departing, a wreath was laid and a moments silence observed to remember all those from the town who gave their lives in the service of their country.

 VJ Day and Gallipoli Remembered

I write to thank all those who took part in and attended the Town’s VJ Day 70th anniversary commemoration on Saturday 15th August.  The event also commemorated the 100th anniversary of Hadleigh’s blackest day, the 12th August 1915 where 16 Hadleigh men died in battle at Gallipoli.  The ‘Sunset’ ceremony which included readings, poems and music, was a fitting tribute to the memory of those who served.  Guest of Honour was local veteran, Mr Stanley Oxford, who as a young man spent three and half years in india & Burma during WW2.  I would also like to give a special thank you to; the Mayor Councillor Richard Whiting who led the wreath laying and read a poem.  Mr Michael Mann, Councillor’s Sue Monk and Angela Wiltshire for their readings.  The Stowmarket Boys Brigade Buglers, the Hadleigh Sea Scouts and Simon and Val Haines who stepped in at the very last minute to play a musical piece during the wreath laying.  The George (Public House) for the loan of their PA system, Jane Basham for the electricity supply and the Ansell Centre for the chairs.  Finally I would like to thank the Hadleigh & District Branch Committee of the Royal British Legion for their continued support.

Mark Brennan, Chairman, Hadleigh & District Branch, Royal British Legion

The Hadleigh Great War Centenary Project exhibited the 'WW1 Trench' prop complete with real life 'WW1 Tommy' alongside the RBL marquee.  Although this event was outside the project area, it helped to spread the word to the wider community.

The Hadleigh Great War Centenary Project mounted a public exhibition at the 176th Hadleigh Show at Holbecks Park.  The exhibition included display boards showing some of the research work that has been undertaking, including work done by the local schools.  Also on display was artefacts, such as medals and photos belonging to men named on the town's war memorial.  One of the main attractions, especially for the younger generation, was the 'WW1 Trench' prop complete with real life 'WW1 Tommy'.  The exhibition was a great success.  

Micheal Mann along with his nephew Sam took part in today's Gallipoli Centenary Parade in London.  Michael is representing his grandfather Private John Charles Mann who fought at Gallipoli.  John landed at Suvla Bay on 10 Aug 15 with the 1/5th Suffolks.  He was subsequently wounded and evacuated and later medically discharged from the Army.  

Hadleigh man Pte Bertie Gowers who was killed in action on 17 July 1917 in the Ypres Salient was awarded two medals; the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His grandson Peter Gowers only had possession of the War Medal and thought that the other medal had been lost forever.  15 years ago, great war enthusiast and medal collector David Gant was at a collectors fair in Kent when he spotted a WW1 Victory Medal. He bought the medal because he knew it once belonged to a Hadleigh man who lived on the same street as him.  When the Hadleigh Great War Centenary Project was launched in 2014, both Peter and David got in touch with the project at different times. It was only then that the connection was made and the idea to reunite the medals was born.   

The Gowers family are planning to repeat the pilgrimage on the 100th anniversary of his death. They are delighted to have the missing medal back and thank David for his kind gesture.  This project is all about remembering those who gave all during that great struggle and I think it is safe to say that the memory of Bertie Gowers will be safe in the hands of the next generation of the Gowers family.

At 11 o'clock on Tuesday the 11th November, there was a gathering on George Street to mark the anniversary of armistice day.  A two minute silence was observed.

The annual remembrance ceremony was held at the Layham burial ground and at St Andrew's church.  The occasion was very special with descendants of nine men listed on the Layham memorial in attendance.  In the week leading up to the ceremony, local children attended a art workshop, where they made bespoke wooden crosses for each of the men listed on the memorial.  See the Layham memorial page for more details.

The Mayor, Mrs Sue Angland and 46 children from the four Hadleigh schools visited Hadleigh cemetery to pay their respects to the soldiers who died in both world wars and are buried in the town’s cemetery. 

The children received a talk on the significance of remembrance from Mark Brennan, Chairman of the Hadleigh Branch of the Royal British Legion and were told about the men who had died.  The children then placed poppy crosses on each grave.  Before departing, a wreath was laid and a moments silence observed to remember all those from the town who gave their lives in the service of their country.

A group of veterans from Hadleigh visited the Tower of London to view the ceramic poppy display to mark the centenary of the great war.  The group took the opportunity to fly the Hadleigh RBL Standards and watched the daily roll call ceremony.