John Hazell

John Frederick Hazell was born at Mutford, Suffolk in 1899 where his father William Robert was working as a farm labourer. William and his wife Ruth had ten children of which John was number six. It is evident from where they had been born that the family had moved around with William's employment and in 1911 they were living in Burgh St. Peter and John aged 13 was in his last year at school. Three years later on the outbreak of war he enlisted at Norwich into the Norfolk Regiment so at just 15 would have to have lied about his age!

It's not clear which of the three volunteer battalions he joined but during 1915 all three were transferred to France and spent time in the front line, with the 7th Battalion being involved in the Battle of Loos. He must have shown soldierly qualities because by 1916 he had been promoted to Lance Corporal and as part of the 3rd Battalion based in Felixstowe he was involved in training new recruits but he suffered an accident, possibly on a rifle range, and died of his wounds on 18th September that year. Initially his name wasn't included on the War Memorial which was intended as a focal point for the grieving relatives of those who died in the conflict but remained overseas, whereas he was buried in Tasburgh's churchyard where his military style gravestone can be still be seen. However his name was added when the Memorial was refurbished in 2000.

There's no evidence that John Frederick Hazell ever lived in Tasburgh but he may well have visited because the 1921 census records his uncle Albert Edward Hazel, with a single L, as living with his daughter, Phyllis Louisa, and second wife on Upper Street (Church Road). Phyllis had been born in Tasburgh in 1914 so the family were clearly resident there throughout the war. Also, on the 1915 Electoral Roll there was a Thomas Hazell, who owned a house on Low Road, though it's not clear what relation if any he may have been to John.Enter your text here...