Pte 114187 Ben Roy Sugden

• Age: 21
• From: Bradford Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 30th December 1918
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: Sp Mem B129

Ben Roy Sugden was born on 29^th March 1897 in Bradford, Yorkshire. He was the youngest of four children born to Herbert Edward Sugden, a worsted salesman, and his wife Ada (nee Scarth), who married in 1890 and who lived at 10 Claremont, Bradford.

Ben Roy had an older brother, Stanley William, born 31^st July 1894, and two sisters Marion and Nora. Except for their eldest child Marion, who was  born in Halifax, the children were born in Bradford.

In 1901 the family were living at 10 Claremont, Horton, Bradford. Ben is aged 4 and lives with his parents and three siblings. His father, Herbert E. is aged 38 and employed as a worsted yarn salesman born in Brighouse, whilst his mother Ada is 37 years of age and was born in Thorp Hall. His siblings are recorded as; Marion 7, Stanley W. 6, Nora C. 5, a governess and 2 servants.

The 1911 Census finds Ben aged 14 at school. he is  living at 10 Claremont, Horton, Bradford. with his parents and three siblings. His father Herbert E. is now 48 and still a worsted yarn salesman, his mother Ada is 47. His siblings are recorded as;  Marion 17, Stanley William 16, Nora Clarice 15. Also present are two servants;  a parlourmaid and a cook.

His father died in the May 1913, aged 50, leaving effects of £2,377. 

Ben was educated at Bradford Grammar School as was his brother Stanley. Ben left school in July 1914 with Lower Certificate First Class passes in Greek, Latin, and Additional Maths, and passes in French, History, and Elementary Maths.

On 15^th January 1916 he enlisted as a signaller with the 2/1^st Northern Cyclist Battalion. Cyclists were trained as mobile infantry and were used as signallers, scouts, and other functions.

The 2/1st Battalion was formed in late 1914 for coastal defence duties and by 1916 was at Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast. In June 1918 they were stationed at Burton Constable (a few miles northeast of Hull) as part of the Humber Garrison.

In September 1918, Ben was drafted with the service number 114187 to the 17^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and was sent to Russia, sailing from Glasgow in October.

On 30^th December 1918 his Company (‘D’ Company) took part in an attack against Bolshevik positions on the Tarassova to Kochmas road. They reached within 80 yards of their target before the White Russian Archangel Regiment refused to advance and the attack had to be aborted. Ben was killed during this action. Although buried in Seletskoe Cemetery, 100 miles south of Archangel he is commemorated on a special memorial in Archangel Allied Cemetery.

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

Soldiers Effects to mother Ada, including a War Gratuity of £11.

His brother, Stanley William Sugden, served as Private 1643 with the 1/6^th (Territorial) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment from 25^th May 1914 and was embodied on 04^th August 1914 until he was invalided home in September of that year suffering from a heavy chill and strained heart. He was discharged on 20th August 1914 as medically unfit and died at home on 04^th January 1915, the primary cause of death was listed as Endocarditis. He now rests at Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford. Stanley is not considered a CWGC casualty.

Pensions for both Ben and his brother Stanley William were also awarded to Ada. The pension of 5/- a week for life from July 1920. The pension ledger notes that she relinquished her claim to a pension in 1922.

Probate for Ben Roy Sugden was granted at London on 27th October 1919 to his mother, Ada Sugden, in the sum of £2,880.00. 

In 1939 his mother Ada, 75 and incapacitated, lived in Fairfield Road in Baildon, north of Bradford, with daughter Nora, 43, very close to married daughter Marion and her family.

Ada died in 1941. Her estate of over £33,000 went to her two daughters.

Ben and Stanley are both commemorated on the Bradford Grammar School Memorial.

And on the family gravestone in Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford -

In Memory of:

ALSO OF STANLEY WILLIAM

ELDER SON

DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY

JANUARY 4TH 1915,

AGED 20 YEARS

ALSO

BEN ROY

YOUNGER SON

KILLED IN ACTION IN RUSSIA

DEC. 30TH 1918,

AGED 21 YEARS.

BURIED AT SELETSKOE

Ben is listed on Du Rivigny's Roll of Honour with his brother Stanley William.

Both brothers are commemorated on the Bradford Grammar School Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Ben Roy Sugden, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.