East Surrey Regiment, 8th Battalion.
Killed in Action on Thursday, 3rd May 1917
Aged 21
William was born in Great Ashfield in 1895 (Stow Q3-1895 4A:814) the son of William and Ada Amelia LARGENT (nee CRICK).
1901 census...Aged 5, William was at The Street, Norton with his father William[35] agricultural labourer, born Bradfield Ash; his mother Ada [26] a laundress at home, born Hilborough, and brother Edgar [4] born Norton.
1911 census...Aged 15, farm labourer, born Great Ashfield, he was living at Westley, Bury St. Edmunds with his father William LARGENT [44], team man on farm born Badwell Ash; his mother Ada Amelia [36] born Rushford; brothers Edgar [14] farm labourer born in Norton , Leonard [8] born Ixworth Thorpe, Walter Edward [2] born Westley, and sisters Florence Emily {6] and Ada Amelia [1] both born in Westley.
Brother Edgar served with the Suffolk Regiment (No. 18823) in the Middle East and contracted malaria which led to his discharge through health reasons on 26th February 1919.
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds
From the war diary of the 8th East Surreys for the attack at Cherisy click here to go to the details of operations.
Casualties that day for the 8th East Surrey amounted to 13 officers and 381 other ranks of which 99 were killed or missing. Only three have identified graves.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
William Largent is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, bay 6
Click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 4th May 1915
Aged 26
Albert was born in Badwell Ash (Stow Q4-1888 4A:70) son of Alfred and Eliza MUSKETT (nee MORLEY).
1891 census...Aged 3 he was living at Sadlers Yard, Badwell Ash with his father Alfred MUSKETT [49] agricultural labourer; his mother Eliza [31]; brothers John H [10] and Harry [8]; sisters Elizabeth E [6] and Anna [ 8 months].All the family were born in Badwell Ash.
1901 census...Aged 12 he was at The Street, Badwell Ash with the same family group, father now described as an Army Pensioner-Road Labourer, John was an agricultural labourer and Harry was a railway servent. Sister Elizabeth was a domestic servant.
1911 census...Aged 23 Albert had joined the Suffolk Regiment and was in Egypt. That would have been Mustafa Pasha Barracks in Alexandria .His widowed mother was at White Horse Yard, Badwell Ash with his brother John. It is recorded that of the nine children she bore, 4 had died.
He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds.
Despite his being a regular soldier, his Army records have not been found.
In May 1915 the 1st Suffolk were in Flanders. Early in the month hostile aircraft and artillery had been taking a toll on the strength and on the 4th they were bombarded by trench mortars, killing 1 officer, wounding 3 more and killing 12 other ranks, none of whom has a known grave.
Albert Muskett is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, panel 21
Click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
