Itteringham Home Guard. Ketton Cremer.
I have started this thread not for any request for information (although any is most welcome).
But to show other members that a simple picture can drag you into hours of researching and some of the pitfalls you may encounter.
Recently while searching for home guard information I came across this photo.
The title is
Itteringham Home Guard (+ other volunteers) on Aldborough Green Norfolk.
Kent and Sons Stores is on the right.
There is no date for the pic, but must be after May 1940 and was in 13 Battalion. HQ sheringham.
On this site
http://www.itteringham.com/history/home-guard-photo.html
A good read on the war year’s page, showing how life was in itteringham in ww2.
Now as I live in Norfolk and I know that Itteringham is a very small village, I wondered why the photo was taken on Aldborough green about 4 miles away.
Then my eyes saw the man, middle row third from the right, immediately thinking he needs to get his hair cut. So putting the cursor on his head his name came up. Bertie Reynolds, It then clicked he was my uncle who lived in Itteringham (Married to my father’s sister). As it was in the early 60s that I last saw him I remember his weird hair, although it seemed to be more ginger then black.
Think you will agree about his hair, this is him on his wedding day 1927, the chap on the right, I think is his brother and has the same sort of curl affect.
Bertie Reynolds 31st Aug 1900 to June 1973.
Now one of the pitfalls. As this pic seems to be the grooms brothers and sisters I thought I would try and find their names.
So this comes up in the 1911 Census. (BR1)
Name: Bertie Reynolds
Age in 1911: 11
birth year: abt 1900
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Southrepps, Norfolk
Civil Parish: Wickmere and Little Barningham
County/Island: Norfolk
Country: England
Street address: The Green, Barningham Parva, Norwich
Occupation: school
Registration district: Aylsham
His parents William 34 and Alice 33.
Siblings: William 13, Florence 8, Robert 4, Percy1.
But so does’ this. (BR2).
Name: Bertie Reynolds
Age in 1911: 11
Estimated birth year: abt 1900
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Plumstead, Norfolk
Civil Parish: Saxthorpe and Mannington
Street address: Near Gt Farm, Saxthorpe, Near Reepham, Norwich
Occupation: school
Registration district: Aylsham
Parents: Charles 30, Elizabeth 30.
Siblings: Fred 9, Percy 7, Charles 4, Lilian 2.
So this leaves me with 2 Berties and 2 Percys but different families.
I have plumped for (BR2.) Reason being that (BR2) lived closer to my aunt (A) about a mile and half away and in the 1920s the mode of transport would only be horse, cycles and walking, so their paths would possible cross more often (see map). The second point is that their son was named Charles.
This brings me back to the IHG pic Back row second from the left Tom Baxter. Second from the right Tom Baxter. Initially just thought this was an error, however there were two Tom Baxters in the village. One whose first name was Herbert and would have been 39 in 1940 the other Tom would have been 26.
Then Bottom row first on the right Jimmy Baxter is he the chap on Ittering ROH?
James Baxter Probably: Private 5776923. 5th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Died 21st July 1943. Aged 26. Son of James and Emily Baxter, husband of Joyce Lilian Ivy Baxter of Norwich. Buried: Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand. Ref. 2.N.20.
Now those who are wondering why Ketton Cremer is in the title Well here goes.
5th man from the right bottom row is Ketton Cremer of Felbrig hall.
My first thoughts, why is a man of his standing, only in a small HG unit, 8 miles away from his home. Which today would take 38 mins by bike and 20 mins by car. So must have done a fair bit of travelling in those days. And don’t appear to be wearing any badges of rank.
U = unit base. P = photo taken. H = Home of Ketton Cremer.
So was quite surprised when I found out his history. I believe that he joined the home guard while he waited for his call up to the RAF as he was in the R.A.F.V.R. and already held a pilots certificate.
Richard Thomas Wyndham Ketton Cremer
Birth Date: 11 Aug 1909
Birth Location: Sheringham.
1930s he was a agriculture student
On the 22nd of March 1934 at Norfolk and Norwich Aero club flying a Moth Cirrus 11 65 HP he collected Certificate of flying 11825
So sometime after the Home guard photo was taken, he became Flying Officer Ketton Cremmer 75788 of 30 Sqd flying Bristol Blenheims.
Here he is again in Egypt or Crete?
Where he was killed at Maleme airfield, during the battle of Crete May 1941.
Some reports say he was killed on the 23rd . CWGC states 31st May.
He has no known grave, so is recorded on the El Alamein Memorial.
So does’ his story end here? Not quite in 2005 a book was published
A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII.
Where he gets more than a mention.
Now with this information that he was in the western desert in July 1940 its very doubtful that he is the man in the photo. So it must be his brother Robert Wyndham Ketton- Cremer 1906 – 1996. Richard’s brother?
