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241123 1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
William Percy Bunn, known as Willie was born around 1898 in Ballingdon, the son of Samuel and Emma Bunn. His father was a gardener and the family lived in Ballingdon Street. Willie enlisted in Sudbury and served with the Suffolk Regiment (formerly 3581).
It is not known when Willie joined his battalion but from his medal records it would have been from 1916 onwards. In the spring of 1917 the Allies were defending the Suez Canal and trying to push the Turks out of Palestine; the battalion saw action in the failed attempts to capture the town of Gaza which was an important costal gateway from Egypt.
In the autumn of 1917 the battalion, which formed part of 153rd Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division saw action during the Third Battle of Gaza (31 October – 7 November). This was a decisive victory for the Allies but at a cost of 18,000 British, Australian and New Zealand troops killed, missing or wounded.
Willie was killed in action on 2 November 1917 aged 19. (The age 29 is incorrect on the CWGC). He lies buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.
He served alongside two other Sudbury men who lost their lives on the same day and who are also buried in Gaza Cemetery; Frank Harrison and Frederick Keeble.
Willie was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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