On The Roll of Honour
Malcolm was born on 27th January 1872 in Ipswich. His father, Clement was 42 whilst his mother, Grace, was 35. He was baptised on 22nd February 1872 at St Matthew’s Church in Ipswich.
In the 1881 Census Malcolm was aged 9 and living at the Rosary, Bramford Road, Ipswich with his father, aged 51, who was the first Chief Constable of Suffolk and his mother, aged 45.
In the 1891 Census Malcolm was aged 19, and living in Hunston where his brother, William, a framer aged 27 was head of the family.
In 1896 or 1898 Malcolm had sailed on SS Dunvegan Castle to Cape Town from Southampton and became a Sergeant in the British South African Police and then (rank unknown) in the Cape Mounted Rifles during the Boer War of 1899-1902.
1901 Census: There is no record of him. It’s presumed he was still in South Africa.
In the 1911 Census, now aged 39, he lived in Hunston with his brother and did not work being listed as having ‘Private Means.’
Military and War: In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War at the age of 42 he signed up with the 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. (London Gazette). He was posted to France on 31st July 1915. He had been a Captain in the Suffolks but eventually was made an Acting Major in the 19th Essex Regiment on the 28th November 1914. Around this time on 16th February 1918 he was posted to Egypt. He left the military in 1920 having served a total of 21 years.
His medals included The 1914/15 Star, The War Medal and The Victory Medal.
In common with many soldiers at the beginning of the war, he married before he signed up. His bride was Dorothy Mary Caton from Thetford and they were married in Thetford in October 1914. After he was discharged in 1920 it was noted that he went to live with his wife and father-in-law, who was Rector of Great Fakenham, Thetford. He was at this address on 24th April 1920.
Malcolm lived until 30th December 1957 when he died at Otley Hall at the age of 85. He was cremated at Ipswich Cemetery and his ashes scattered in the Garden of Rest in January of 1958.
Although he died at Otley Hall, his home address was given as Ferintosh, Grudisburgh, Woodbridge He and Dorothy had been married for 43 years.
In his Will he left her £924/2/4 (£22,000 in today’s money).
