![]() "I was just one of more of thousands who had reached 18 years of age, and had to enlist under the Conscription Act. I was fair haired, tall, strong and well built and a picture of health - as is usual when following an outdoor occupation" so wrote newly conscripted Private F.H. Hornsey, who was soon to be posted to a holding Battalion on the East Coast of England. "A few brief minutes in the medical officers room was sufficient to pass me A1. Half an hour later, I was in an ill fitting suit of khaki. It was made to fit me later with the aid of a needle and thread, a kit bag with a spare suit and other items which help to make a soldiers outfit complete, and still later i was marched down the street to the station armed with a railway warrant - booked to a training camp on the east coast. not that I really minded joining. I was convinced that thousands of others had done and were still doing - I could do. I arrived at my destination". Born in Wellingborough, Frank Hadyn Hornsey, was ultimately to join 11th Suffolk in Fance in March 1918. He left behind one of the very few personal accounts of the last year of the War. Like Charles Gibbs of 4th Suffolk and Sydney Fuller of 8th Suffolk, his writings are one of a just a handful of writings, made by a soldiers of the Suffolk Regiment. "Christmas came and went and we got our four days" wrote Hornsey, "Home for four days; breakfast in bed; a score of friends to see; my best girl to give a whirlwind visit; dances and the pictures; and before I knew where I was I had arrived back with my unit". Comments are closed.
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![]() Welcome to our online 'chronicle' that charted the history of the many battalions of the Suffolk Regiment throughout their service during the Great War.
This record is now closed, but we have retained all our original posts here for you to search through and in the fullness of time, we hope to add to it as and where new stories come to light. It was at times, a challenging but rewarding endeavour which has helped many people in their research of the Regiment. If you know the specific month of an action of the Regiment, you can search for it in the list below: Archives
February 2025
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