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5267 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Harry Malyon was born in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire around 1877. He was the son of George and Jane Malyon and his father was employed as a maltster. Like many Suffolk agricultural labourers the family moved between Suffolk and Burton-on-Trent during the year for work.
The family moved from Cavendish to Sudbury and lived at Mount Place, North Street before moving to Oxford Terrace, Queens Road. By 1911 his widowed father had moved to 7 Metcalf Yard, East Street.
Harry married Jane Crockson in 1901; they and their two children lived at 9 Burkitts Lane. Prior to enlisting Harry was employed as a mat trimmer in a local matting factory and Jane as a power loom silk weaver. Harry enlisted and served with the East Surrey Regiment; he embarked for France landing at Boulogne with his battalion on 28 July 1915 where they proceeded to Flesselles.
The 8th Battalion formed part of 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division and they saw action on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916 when the British Army suffered the heaviest loss in its history with almost 60,000 casualties. The East Surrey Regiment suffered 9,000 casualties during the Somme Offensive (1July – 18 November 1916) with 2,975 killed in action.
The Suffolk and Essex Free Press reported on 19 July 1916: ‘Information has reached Sudbury that Pte Harry Malyon, has been killed at the front. He was a well known local footballer and a quiet steady fellow. He leaves a widow and two children.’
Harry was killed in action on the Somme on 1 July 1916. There is no known grave, and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Thiepval Memorial in April 2006 and April 2009.
His younger brother Bert lost his life serving with the Suffolk Regiment in 1915; he is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
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