A Veteran Soldier
In 2006 a headstone in The Great Churchyard was restored to an extraordinary man, that to William Martin Middleditch R.S.M. He was born in Hawkedon in 1781 although many of the family ties were in Bury. As a 12 year old he became apprenticed to a builder eventually becoming a bricklayer.
When William was 19 the 1st Regiment of Foot were recruiting in East Anglia. He enlisted with them knowing that it would be until he died probably in battle or being discharged through illness or injury.
With the Napoleonic wars raging taking the “Kings Shilling” was a serious career move. Some recruits joining of their own free will, others whilst drunk or pressganged. It would seem that William led a charmed life on the battlefield fighting in several battles against the French army across Europe. Whether he fought in the battle of Leipsig that saw Napoleon exiled to Elba in 1813 is not known but he certainly fought in Napoleon’s return and last battle in 1815; a word that has passed into the English language, Waterloo, meeting someone or something too strong for you! William and his comrades received battle honours, the regiment itself being re-named The Grenadier Guards.
Within a year he had been promoted to Sergeant Major and on his return to England married in St Marys church in Bury. However this battle scarred veteran of over 21 years was invalided out of the army in 1822. He purchased the Ram PH in Eastgate Street, mine host until his death on November 13th 1834.
At his funeral the pallbearers were six former comrades in arms who had served with him, the last line of his epitaph summing up their feelings “He acted nobly on that glorious day.”
With thanks to Martyn Taylor from his book “Secret Bury St Edmunds”
