The Fallows Family of Capel St Mary
During world war one, the Fallows family of Capel St Mary had four sons who went away to war but only two came home. The four sons were, Charles bottom left, George top left, Edgar top right, William bottom right. Their parents were Edgar and Emily Fallows Nee Pickess. Edgar was born in Little Wenham in 1852 and worked as a General Labourer; he died in Capel St Mary in 1934. Emily was born in Capel St Mary in 1855 and worked as a servant before her marriage to Edgar in 1877; she died in Capel St Mary in 1923. Edgar and Emily are both buried in St Mary’s Church.
Their first son Charles was born in Capel St Mary in 1881 and before World War I he worked in London as a lift boy. He served with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps as a private and his service number was C3645. His regiment’s badge appears above on the left. Charles survived the war and died in Lewisham in 1955.
George was born in Capel St Mary in 1887 and like his older brother had moved to London. He was working as a valet prior to the war. He too joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and his service number was C3696 which suggests that he was enlisted soon after his older brother Charles. George also survived the war and died in Chelsea in 1940.
Edgar was born in Capel St Mary in 1891, and joined the Territorial Army in 1911 as a reservist whilst working as a bricklayer’s assistant. Liking the military life he enlisted as a regular in the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment and his regiment’s badge appears above on the right. He transferred to the 1st Battalion one hearing that they had been posted to Egypt. His unit moved to France landing at Le Harve and subsequently took part in many early battles of the war including the second battle for Ypres which raged from 22nd April – 25 May 1915. Edgar was posted missing killed in action on the 8th May 1915 and he has no known grave. His name appears on Panel 21 of the Menin Gate in Ypres and on the plaque in St Mary’s Church.
William was born in Capel St Mary in 1896 and worked locally as a cowman. He followed Edgar into the Suffolk Regiment at the outbreak of war and also took part in many early battles. During the battle of Loos he was posted missing killed in action On October 3rd 1915. William has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 37/38 at the Loos Memorial and on the plaque in St Mary’s Church.
Charles and George were both issued with the British War Medal 1914 -18 and the Allied Victory Medal. Edgar and William were both posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, 1914-18 and the Allied Victory Medal.
Edgar and Emily as next of Kin would have received a Memorial Plaque and Scroll; one for Edgar and one for William. Their plaques bore the inscription ‘He died for freedom and honour’. These were just two of the 1,355,000 plaques issued.
