Jonathan Berry

Born: 20 May 1891.

Died: 20 November 1917

Rank and Regiment: Private 40876 in the 7th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment (formerly Private G35564 of the Queen’s Regiment and Private 66631 of the Labour Corps)

Resting Place: St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Southburgh, United Kingdom

Memorials: St. Andrew’s, Southburgh, United Kingdom

Jonathan Berry was born in Southburgh in 1891; his school records give his date of birth as 20 May 1891. He was the youngest of the six surviving children of James Berry, teamster, and Emily (née Lebbell). In 1901 the family are recorded as living in Hingham Road, Southburgh.

James Berry and Emily Lebbell married in 1875 and had at least six children. Emma (b. 1877); James (b. 1880); Harriet (b. 1883); Harry (b. 1885); Walter (b. 1889)

James worked as an agricultural labourer and later a teamster on a farm. The 1901 census records Jonathan attending school and the family has living on Hingham Road in Southborough.

Jonathan’s war record no longer survives however we know that he was a private in at least three regiments, latterly the 7th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. If Jonathan remained with his battalion, he would have been at the Battle of Cambrai. On 20th November 1917, the 7th Battalion is recorded as having been part of an allied surprise attack by tanks and infantry that was able to destroy German barbed wire and break the Hindenburg Line. Much ground was gained and the Germans retreated. On this same day, Jonathan was reported as having been killed in action in France. His body was recovered and sent back to England where he was laid to rest in St. Andrew’s Churchyard in Southborough. He is also commemorated at Feuchy British Cemetery in France.

His effects of £11. 11s. 1d. were left to his father.

St. Andrew’s, Southborough