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202431 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
(‘Lance Sergeant’ on CWGC)
Edward John Hills (known as Ted) was born in Clare, Suffolk on 11 November 1897, the eldest son of four children of Edward Percy and Harriet Theobald Hills. The family lived at 74 Friars Street in Sudbury where his father ran the family business and he attended the Sudbury Grammar School where he was known as a good sportsman and all-round athlete. On leaving school, Ted became an apprentice watchmaker in the family business, starting his apprenticeship on 31 August 1914.
He was just underage when he enlisted on 24 October 1915 in Bury St. Edmunds to serve with the Suffolk Regiment (formerly 3713). A report in the Suffolk and Essex Free Press on 2 May 1917 that Edward had gained promotion quickly and passed out ‘First class in the School of Musketry at Hythe’.
Ted’s battalion formed part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. On 23 April 1917 the battalion attacked a position in the Hindenburg Line. They advanced quickly and took hundreds of prisoners. The battalion was only 300 yards from its objective when its progress was halted, the enemy counter attacked and drove the battalion back. The battalion suffered 315 casualties at Guemappe (The Second Battle of the Scarpe 23 – 24 April 1917), one of which was Ted.
He was killed in action on 23 April 1917 aged 19. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. If he had survived he would have celebrated his 21st birthday on Armistice Day. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Arras Memorial in March 2007 and October 2011.
Ted is also remembered on the Trinity Congregational Church Memorial which was moved to the United Reformed Church, School Street when Trinity closed. The United Reformed Church closed in 2017 and it is proposed that the memorials from both churches will be relocated to the Sudbury Cemetery Chapel.
His cousin Thomas Edward Currie, also known as ‘Ted’ served with the Seaforth Highlanders. He is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial and Trinity Congregational Church Memorial.
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