Closs Ernest Walpole

Born: 1894

Died: 27 July 1916

Rank and Regiment: Private 8538 in the 1st Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment

Resting Place: body unrecovered

Memorial: St. Mary’s, Whinburgh, United Kingdom and; La Ferte-Souse-Jouarre Memorial, France

Closs was born in Gressenhall in about 1894 (although when he enlisted in the Army he gave his place of birth as Whinburgh). He was the eldest son of Walter, a railway general labourer, and Kerenhapperch Walpole (nee Barber). His mother’s very unusual given name apparently derives from Job 42, 14. Keren-happuch, literally meaning “horn of the face-paint" or "cosmetic-box", was the name of Job's third daughter, born after prosperity had returned to him; it echoes the fact that “in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job”. When Closs signed up for the Army, he gave his religious affiliation as “Primitive Methodist”.

Closs was 1 of 5 children including Ivy, Wallace, Ambrose Gladys and Mary. The family were still living in Gressenhall in 1901 but by 1911 had moved to Whinburgh, Walter working as a platelayer on the Great Eastern Railway and Closs working as a farm labourer.

Soon after that, on 13th November 1911, Closs enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment. His enlistment papers survive and record that he stood 5 ft 6½ in tall, weighing 127 lb (9 st 1 lb). He had blue eyes and brown hair. A reference for him survives, given by farmer Albert Vincent of Yaxham; Closs was “steady and trustworthy”, left his employ in search of a higher wage – he was working as a moulder when he joined the military – but did so after harvest.

One attraction of joining the military may have been that it offered some further education after leaving school at 14; Closs is recorded as attaining the 3rd Class Certificate of Education in Norwich, and subsequently the 2nd Class Certificate at Aldershot in 1912. According to A R Skelley in The Victorian Army At Home “A second-class certificate, necessary for promotion to sergeant, entailed writing and dictation…, familiarity with all forms of regimental accounting, and facility with proportions and interest, fractions and averages.”

He may not have enhanced his chances of promotion after being disciplined twice in 1912 for being dirty on parade, receiving short periods of being confined to barracks on each occasion. He was disciplined again in 1913 for returning from leave seven minutes late (he was confined to barracks for two days), for “improper conduct in the barrack room” (throwing water around – he received two days’ CB for that, as well) and for “talking in the ranks” (three days’ confined to barracks). That said, when he went on a signaller’s course later that year his military character was given as “Very Good” and he was described as “honest and hardworking”.

As a serving soldier Closs was of course among the first to be posted to France on the outbreak of war, arriving in France on 14 August 1914. He was reported missing in action on 24 August 1914 at Mons. There is a letter from his family in his military records asking after him; but although his identity disc was recovered, his body was never found and he is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial.

His effects, amounting to £4 12s 5d, together with a War Gratuity of £5, were paid out to his mother.

Closs had a younger brother Wallace, born in 1896, who appears to have served as a Sapper in the Railways Unit of the Royal Engineers. He was still working on the railways, as a sub-ganger, in 1939, and lived to be 100, dying in Garvestone in 1996. He is buried in Garvestone Churchyard.