Four King’s Lynn brothers, Percy Crake, Bert Crake, Len Crake and Wilf Crake, who all lived with their parents and siblings at The Ship Inn, Bridge Street, Kings Lynn, joined the ‘Norfolks’ at the beginning of the First World War. The Regiment they joined was a cavalry unit but they fought as a ‘dismounted’ infantry battalion. The uniform was that of a cavalry unit, including spurs, as can be seen in the picture taken in 1915 of (left to right) Percy, Bert and Len. Brothers, Percy, Bert and Len Crake entered the war in Gallipoli whilst Wilf Crake entered the war in Egypt. Of the four brothers only three returned including Wilf who had suffered disabling wounds. Bert was killed in Gallipoli. Driver 211852 Percy Victor CRAKE, of the Army Service Corps Company of the ‘Norfolks’. He enlisted in the Norfolk Yeomanry at the age of 16 (after June 1914) at the start of World War 1. He saw service as a limber driver in a machine gun transport detachment, serving in Gallipoli, Malta and Egypt. His time in Malta is unclear. From Gallipoli and the Middle East troops would travel to Malta from the front lines for rest and rehabilitation but the island soon became a centre for caring and treating the many wounded and ill troops from the conflict. Percy could have visited on ‘R and R’ or in his role in the ASC assisting with the movement of the casualties. Corporal 171073 Leonard Thomas CRAKE, who had been working as a Coal Porter, also served with the Army Service Corps Company of the ‘Norfolks’. He entered the war in the Balkans (Gallipoli). Private 2522 Bert CRAKE, 19 years, of B Company, 1/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, was working as a painter when he enlisted. He entered the war in the Balkans (Gallipoli) on 9 August 1915. He died during the advance on Anafarta Plain on 12th August 1915. Private 1456 Herbert Wilfred ‘Wilf’ CRAKE, who had been working with his brother Bert as a Painter, joined the Norfolk Regiment and transferred to the Royal Engineers later in the war. He entered the war on 6th August 1915 in Egypt. During the war he was wounded in the legs and permanently disabled. After the Second World War, Memorial bungalows were built by the Regiment in Parkway, King's Lynn, to commemorate those of the Regiment who died. Disabled soldiers and their families were housed in them. ‘Wilf’ moved into Jamieson VC (bungalow) in 1956. The 1/5th included the Sandringham Company which recruited from the Royal estate at Sandringham. On 12th August 1915, the Sandringham Company suffered heavy losses at Gallipoli when it became isolated during an attack. A myth grew up after the War that they had advanced into a mist and simply disappeared. On 29th July 1915 Percy, Bert and Len Crake with 1/4th and 1/5th Norfolk Battalions, each made up of Officers and 1000 other ranks, sailed from Liverpool on the S.S. Aquitania for the Dardanelles. The Aquitania reached Mudros without incident on August 5th, and the troops on board her were transfered in smaller vessels, on the 9th, to Imbros, and then on the 10th, moved to the landing-place for the 54th division in SuvIa Bay where they bivouacked on the beach. About four miles from the shore lay the village of Anafarta, with the Anafarta ridge running from the village more or less parallel with the sea, and it gradually sloped down to the coast. The area of the ridge provided excellent cover for the Turkish snipers who caused considerable losses of Officers and men. After an initial attempt to take the ridge on 7th August had failed, another attempt to take that ridge was planned. On 12th August four regiments, including 1/5th Norfolks, were tasked to take the land between the shore and the ridge in preparation for an attack of the ridge on 13th. After a short naval bombardment, the attack started at 4.45 pm on 12th but soon encountered serious resistance. Heavy machine-gun fire and shrapnel struck the attacking formations and the machine-gun fire was effective in stopping the British advance to the left of the 5th Norfolk battalion began moving forward quicker than the rest of the advance. The Vanished Battalion\n What happened with the 1/5th Norfolk battalion was described in Sir Ian Hamilton's despatch of December 11, 1915 describing what he called a very mysterious thing.\n The 1/5th Norfolk was on the right of the line and found themselves for a moment less strongly opposed than the rest of the brigade. Against the yielding forces of the enemy Colonel Sir H. Beauchamp, a bold, self-confident officer, eagerly pressed forward, followed by the best part of the battalion. The fighting grew hotter, and the ground became more wooded and broken. At this stage many men were wounded, or grew exhausted with thirst. These found their way back to camp during the night. But the Colonel, with sixteen officers and 250 men, still kept pushing on, driving the enemy before them. ... Nothing more was ever seen or heard of any of them. They charged into the forest and were lost to sight or sound. Not one of them ever came back. Private 2522 Bert CRAKE, 19 years, of B Company, 1/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, was working as a painter when he enlisted. He entered the war in the Balkans (Gallipoli) on 9 August 1915. He died during the advance on Anafarta Plain on 12th August 1915. During the advance to clear the Turks from the Kuchak Anafarta Ova (Plain) others in 1/5th Battalion from Kings Lynn were killed. Amongst those killed in action, illustrating the local nature of the Regiment, were: Lt-Colonel Sir Horace Beauchamp, Bart, C.B., had served in the Sudan, Suakim, and South African Campaigns, retired in 1904, and in 1914 returned to serve in the war; Captain Arthur Devereux PATTRICK, 32 years, of 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of King’s Lynn, was educated at King Edward's School, King's Lynn, and became a partner in Pattrick and Thompson, Timber Merchants of Kings Lynn. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, on 27th September 1902, and remained with the battalion after it became the 5th Norfolk Regiment, Territorial Force, on 1st April 1908. He was promoted to Captain on 7th March 1914 began active service on 5th August 1914. He commanded the Lynn Company of the 1/5th at Kuchak Anafarta Ova and during the attack was seen to be wounded, disarmed and taken prisoner but was never seen again; Captain Ernest Reginald WOODWARK, 37 years, 1/5th Norfolk Regiment, of Kings Lynn. He attended King Edward VII Grammar School, King's Lynn, and was an articled solicitor with the firm of Sadler and Woodwark. He joined the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, which became the 5th Battalion (T.F.), becoming a Lieutenant in February 1904. He left the army but re-enlisted at the outbreak of war, being promoted Captain. Accounts of the events of 12th August 1915 by serving soldiers state that he was last seen leading his troops into action with Colonel BEACHAMP, Captain PATTRICK and Captain WARD, the 5th Battalion Adjutant; Captain Arthur Edward Martyr WARD, Battalion Adjutant, 37 years, 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment, of Audrey Ward, of High Elms, Compton, Berkshire; Corporal 240436 John (Augustus) BARNABY, 25 years, of the 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 33 South Everard Street, King's Lynn. He had enlisted in East Dereham; Private 2416 Frederick Ernest BELDING, 31 years B Company, 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of Thetis, Victoria Avenue, Hunstanton; Private 3411 Joseph William BENTLEY, 19 years, of ‘B’ Company, 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 9 Saddlebow Road, King’s Lynn. He enlisted in Dereham in November 1914 and had worked for Watts & Rowe, Printers of King’s Lynn; Lance Sergeant 1129 William Charles COWEN, 21 years, of 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment, of 2, Miller's Court, Bridge Street, King's Lynn; Private 2579 Thomas Willian HARBAGE, 21 years, of the 1st/5th Bn. Norfolk Regiment, of 22, Queen Street, King's Lynn; Private2683 Wilfred Lyal HUMPHREY, 21 years of the 1st/5th Bn. Norfolk Regiment, of St. Ann's Street, King's Lynn; Private 1969 Ernest Arthur LYON, 23 years of the 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 10 Windsor Row, Windsor Place, King's Lynn. He had been employed at the West Norfolk Farmer's Chemical Works; Private 2583 Percy Douglas McLEAN, 19 years of 'B' Company, 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 32 South Everard Street, King's Lynn. He had been employed by Mr. R. Catleugh at the Great Eastern Stores, King's Lynn, before enlisting on 4th September 1914. He was amongst those who sailed from Liverpool on the SS Aquitania with the 5th battalion on 29th July 1915, landing at Suvla on 10th August 1915; Signaller 1622 Richard Dring MEGGITT, 21 years, of 5th Norfolk Regiment, one of three brothers of Broad Street, King’s Lynn to die in the war. He was wounded by a bullet on 12th August, when the troops he was with were withdrawing and he was left behind. Prior to enlisting, he was a French polisher, having served his apprenticeship with Mr. Winlove of Purfleet Street, Lynn. He was also a well-known footballer with the Lynn Swifts; Private 2104 Arthur Edward RUTLAND, 18 years, 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment of 1, Kirby Street, King's Lynn; Private 2731 Frederick William SMITH, 22 years, of the 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of Primrose Cottage, Saddlebow Road, King’s Lynn. He had worked at King’s Lynn railway station. He had enlisted at East Dereham in September 1914. Sergeant 2459 George Thomas SMITH, 29 years, of 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 5, Windsor Road, King's Lynn. He had been employed as an assistant booking clerk at the G.E. Railway station, King's Lynn, prior to enlisting as a ‘Territorial’, who volunteered for service in September 1914; Private 2729 Sidney Octavious SMITH, 21 years, of 'A' Company, 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 65 Buckingham Terrace, King's Lynn. Had been an acting foreman at the G.E.Railway locomotive department in King's Lynn before enlisting at East Dereham, on 7 September 1914; Private 2598 Sidney James STEVENS, 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment; Lance Corporal 2413 W. TRENOWATH, 25 years, B Company, 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment, of 110, High Street, King's Lynn; Private 1904 Bertie WAGG, 20 years, 1st/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment, of Dorset House, Park Road, Hunstanton, Norfolk; and Private 2749 Cyril WELLSMAN, 18 years, 1st/5th Norfolk Regiment, of 54 London Road, King's Lynn. He enlisted in East Dereham prior to 12th September 1914 and was killed in action. It was not until four years later that any trace was discovered of the fate of the ‘Vanished Battalion’ when the Commonwealth War Graves Commission began searching the battlefields at Gallipoli for the remains of soldiers. There an investigator discovered a cap badge belonging to a soldier of the Norfolk Regiment hidden in sand 800 yards behind the Turkish lines at Suvla Bay. Writing on September 23, 1919 the officer commanding the Graves Registration Unit in Gallipoli said: We have found the 5th Norfolks - there were 180 in all; 122 Norfolk and a few Hants and Suffolks with 2/4th Cheshires. We could only identify two - Privates Barnaby and Cotter. (Corporal 240436 John Barnaby was the only Barnaby of the 1st/5th Norfolks listed in 'Soldiers Died'.) They were scattered over an area of about one square mile, at a distance of at least 800 yards behind the Turkish front line. Many of them had evidently been killed in a farm, as a local Turk, who owns the place, told us that when he came back he found the farm covered with the decomposing bodies of British soldiers which he threw into a small ravine. The whole thing quite bears out the original theory that they did not go very far on, but got mopped up one by one, all except the ones who got into the farm.\n When this news reached the War Office they sent a chaplain who had served during the campaign back to Gallipoli to investigate. The Rev Charles Pierrepoint Edwards examined the area where the cap badge had been uncovered and found a mass grave containing 180 bodies, from which the remains of 122 were identified as members of the Vanished Battalion. The remains included those of their commanding officer, Lt-Col Beuchamp, who was identified by the distinctive shoulder flashes on his uniform. In December 1915 Percy and Len sailed for Egypt where throughout 1916 and 1917 they served and fought in Egypt and Palestine.
King’s Lynn brothers,(left to right) Percy Crake, Bert Crake and Len Crake in the uniform of a Norfolk cavalry regiment, including spurs, as can be seen in the picture taken in 1915 shortly before embarking for Gallipoli.