|
14298 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Robert Nunn was born in Sudbury around 1896 and was the only child of Harry and Rose Nunn. His father was a mat finisher and the family lived at 11 School Street. At the age of 15 Robert was employed as a labourer for a market gardener.
He enlisted in Sudbury with the Suffolk Regiment, he embarked with his battalion and landed in Boulogne at the end of August 1915. He served alongside other Sudbury men including Percy Hollingsworth and Alfred Stearns. As part of 24th Division they were located between Etaples and St. Pol before being sent a few days later across France as the reserve for the Battle of Loos (25 September–15 October). They saw action on 26 September but suffered heavy losses. The battalion formed part of 71st Brigade and in October transferred to the 6th Division.
In the summer of 1916 the battalion saw action on the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15 – 22 September). The Regimental History wrote in 1927 of the day; “On September 15th the offensive was resumed...Thus opened the battle of Flers-Courcelette. The final objective assigned to the 71st Bde was the occupation of the ridge between Morval and Les Boeufs. But the task of the 6th Div on that day was an unenviable one and the goal beyond their reach; for immediately in front of them lay the Quadrilateral, still intact, bristling with machine-guns and absolutely barring the way”. By 11pm that evening 4 officers including the Commanding Officer and 35 other ranks had been killed, 7 officers and 90 other ranks had been wounded and countless men were missing.
Robert was officially recorded as killed in action on 16 September 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. He is also remembered on Baptist Church Memorial in Church Street.
Back to Roll of Honour
|
