Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen War Memorial
We have been working with Magdalen Primary School to research the names on their war memorial. The names have already been indexed on the Roll of Honour Website. Please follow the link to see the full list of names.
We are planning to try and trace those who died in the school log books so please check this pages for regular updates.
We have tried to trace further information regarding as many names as possible using census data on the internet and Kellys directories, which can be found using the Historical Directories Website. If you have any more information in addition to that listed on these pages please email Nicky or give us a call.
It is unusual that 4 brothers from Magdalen all died in World War I. All 4 were sons of William and Mary Ann Plaice of Bakers Alley in Magdalen. In the 1901 Census William, Aged 53, was listed as an Agricultural Farm Labourer
Arthur Plaice
Whilst the Roll of Honour Website identifies the Arthur Plaice listed on the memorial as Arthur Plaice from Shouldham, we believe that the Arthur listed on the memorial was in fact the brother of George, James and Walter. Arthur E Plaice was resident in Magdalen, Aged 8 in the 1901 Census. We have however found no record of his death using the Commonweath War Graves Committee Website or from the Soldiers Died in the Great War database published by Naval Military Press.
George Plaice
George was aged 1 Year in the 1901 Census. He was in fact born in Marylebone in London as many of his family were living between Norfolk and Marylebone, working as Bricklayers Labourers, probably building the London Underground system! George was an Aircraftman in the RAF and died on 19th March 1919. He was married to Mrs A Plaice and lived in Marylebone which is where he was later buried.
James Richard Plaice
James Plaice was aged 15 in 1901 and, like his father William, worked as a farm labourer. He became a Lance Corporal in the Northamptonshire Regiment in World War I. He died of wounds on 10th April 1917.
Walter Plaice
Walter was a Rifleman in the Rifle Brigade. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918, Aged 37. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial on The Somme.
We will be updating these pages as more information becomes available.