Private Walter Cracknell
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Private 5773038 Walter Leonard Cracknell
Royal Norfolk Regiment
Died 27th May, 1940
Aged 19
Son of Frank L. Cracknell and Nora E. Cracknell, of Rishangles, Suffolk
Walter Cracknell was born on 7th October, 1920, and died on 27th May, 1940, aged 19. His headstone gives his age as 18 but this appears to be incorrect.
He was the eldest son and child of Frank and Nora Cracknell and had five siblings - Ruby, Ellen, Joanie, David and Beryl, all of whom were younger. Ruby, Ellen and Joanie all knew Walter but unfortunately Walter was killed two months before David was born in July 1940 and Beryl came along a while later. So David and Beryl never met him.
Walter attended Thorndon Primary School from the age of five and then went on to attend Eye Modern School. He left school at 15 and worked on a farm for a short time. Unfortunately he had a run in with a cow (it pooped over him) and he said he wasn't going back after that!
His next job was at the Great White Horse in Ipswich where he worked as a bartender. He used to cycle from Rishangles each day to Ipswich. Some boys from another village said they were going to sign up for service and Walter decided that was better than what he was currently doing and so signed up with them. One of Walter's best mates was a man called John Wells who also joined up but they didn't serve together. John came home from the war and started his own garage and taxi service.
Royal Norfolk Regiment
Died 27th May, 1940
Aged 19
Son of Frank L. Cracknell and Nora E. Cracknell, of Rishangles, Suffolk
Walter Cracknell was born on 7th October, 1920, and died on 27th May, 1940, aged 19. His headstone gives his age as 18 but this appears to be incorrect.
He was the eldest son and child of Frank and Nora Cracknell and had five siblings - Ruby, Ellen, Joanie, David and Beryl, all of whom were younger. Ruby, Ellen and Joanie all knew Walter but unfortunately Walter was killed two months before David was born in July 1940 and Beryl came along a while later. So David and Beryl never met him.
Walter attended Thorndon Primary School from the age of five and then went on to attend Eye Modern School. He left school at 15 and worked on a farm for a short time. Unfortunately he had a run in with a cow (it pooped over him) and he said he wasn't going back after that!
His next job was at the Great White Horse in Ipswich where he worked as a bartender. He used to cycle from Rishangles each day to Ipswich. Some boys from another village said they were going to sign up for service and Walter decided that was better than what he was currently doing and so signed up with them. One of Walter's best mates was a man called John Wells who also joined up but they didn't serve together. John came home from the war and started his own garage and taxi service.
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Two images of Walter Cracknell. He is on the left in the group photograph. All photographs and documents courtesy of the Cracknell Family
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Forms from the service of Walter. Top left is a letter from 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. Top Right is his army certificate of education. Below those are Army Form B271 A and Army Form B108.
Click on the photographs to enlarge them. |
Other forms and information concerning Walter
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This group of images includes the Army Form B Notification of Death.
Letter from Buckingham Palace Certified Copy of Attestation General Letter from Fabian Ware Imperial War Graves Commission noting the marking and caring of graves and space left for personal inscription by family on the headstone Letter from War office noting £4 in is due to the late W L Cracknell from Army funds Letter from War office concerning missing Officers and men. NOTE: Walter was originally buried in the cemetery at Hinges before his body was transferred to Le Paradis. 
Walter's death notification in local paper.
A post card (front and back) which was found in a box along with all Walter's other items. The order form for listing in the Le Paradis War Cemetery War Register. |
Walter's Pay Book (click on images to enlarge them)
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Below is another letter from the War Office concerning Walter's 'army funds' which could have been his back pay. There is also a copy of his birth certificate and a very early photograph of his grave.
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