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Hugh Ralph Cholmeley

Hugh was born in Norfolk in 1891 to Robert & Blanche. His connection to Blaxhall has proved rather elusive, but it transpires that his mother was born in Eyke, the daughter of the then Rector, James Darling. She married another Rector's offspring, Robert Cholmeley in 1888, and Hugh was born in his grandfather's parish of Carleton Rode 4 years later. It's not clear whether Hugh ever actually lived in Blaxhall, but it would appear that his mother retired to the village from London sometime around 1913 following seperation from school teacher Robert, and her presence could be the reason for Hugh's name on the war memorial. Curiously, Hugh also appears on the Carleton Rode war memorial, and is listed on the SCC ROH as being from Eyke.

Serving as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, Hugh died of wounds on the 14th of June 1915. The circumstances and place are unknown, but his burial took place in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery near the French/Belgian border. Bailleul was an important railhead and casualty clearing centre, so it seems very possible that our Lieutenant was wounded elsewhere and died during transportation to hospital. The section of the cemetery in question contains some 4403 graves, British, Commonwealth and German, from both world wars.