William Henry Myddelton Kersey

Location: St John’s Church (St John the Baptist)
Town/village: Felixstowe
County: Suffolk
Postcode: IP11 7PW
Details on cross:

The letters R.I.P. are on a GRU tag at the top of the cross.

CAPT WHM KERSEY
166. S.B.R.G.A.
17.10.17

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU Tags
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 840mm
Cross beam width: 380mm
Width of wood: 65mm
Thickness or depth: 25mm

Other information
Mounting to wall: Two screws
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Surface rotting, large rot hole on side of cross
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): Approx: 150mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Creosote
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good condition

Other information, notes and observations: The Cross in is a glass case that is fixed half way along the external North Wall of the Church.
The inscription carved in the wall stone under the cross reads: Removed from the Huts Cemetery, Dickenbush, Belgium.

Biographical research:
William Henry Middleton (or Mydellton) Kersey Articled to S. Cozens-Hardy, of Norwich. Joined Feb. 1915, as 2nd Lieut., Essex and Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery (T.), promoted Lieut. 1916, Capt. 1917. Served at Home till Sept. 1916 on Anti-Aircraft work, and subs.

He served with 166 Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was 25 years old when he was killed. He is buried at The Huts Cemetery near Ypres in Flanders, Belgium. He was born on the 4th of December 1892 and lived at Willbury, Norwich Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England.

He also lived at Seagull House in Felixstowe, evidence suggests his parents owned two houses. He was the only son of Ada Laura Kersey (nee Pegg) and William Edward Kersey. His father was a solicitor in Ipswich. He had one sister Marion Elizabeth Kersey. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he is commemorated on both Rolls of Honour and on the war memorial on Felixstowe seafront. There is a brass plaque inside the church in his memory too.

An obituary from his family reads:
In proud and ever loving memory of our very dear and only son and brother William Henry Myddelton Kersey, captain 166 siege Battery, Killed near Ypres Oct 17 1917 Aged 25 years

Nick Stone

CWGC:

William Henry Myddelton Kersey
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 17/10/1917
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery 166th Siege Bty.
Grave Reference: X. C. 15.
Cemetery: THE HUTS CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William Edward and Ada Laura Kersey, of Felixstowe, Suffolk. B.A. Educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, and Magdalen College, Oxford.

Survey and Photographs from Christine (Chris) Garfirth
Date of survey: 26/07/2016