Distinguished Old Framlinghamians

During WW1 served in Wiltshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross on 16 September 1918 “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He formed a defensive flank with half of his company and with the remainder reinforced the front line, inflicting severe losses on the enemy and holding them in check for many hours. He subsequently withdrew and although in an exhausted state, helped with the reorganisation of the battalion. He showed untiring and great coolness in the face of overwhelming numbers.”

During WW1 served in Suffolk Regiment and was awarded the MBE on 3 June 1919 “For services rendered in connection with the War” – a slightly vague reason! After the war he was involved for many years in the Suffolk Horse Society and Suffolk Agricultural Association.

9th brother of Lt Gordon Muriel Flowerdew VC (1894-99). Awarded the Companion of Indian Empire (CIE) in 1936 for his work as Inspector General of Prisons in Burma and Bengal, India, before retiring to Kenya.

During WW1 served in Bedfordshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross on 15 October 1918 “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of a party detailed to proceed beyond the objective and clear dug-outs. Owing to casualties on the way over, he arrived with six men only, but carried out the work and blew up the dug-outs himself, accounting for about 50 of the enemy and taking several prisoners. A magnificent example of the offensive spirit.”

Trained as a Mechanical Engineer with South African Airways in Pretoria. During WW1 he was first awarded the Military Cross on 26 July 1918. After being wounded in France, he was awarded a bar to his Military Cross on 8 March 1919.

He served with the Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1 and was awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1918 “For distinguished service in the field”.

During WW1 served in Royal Garrison Artillery and was awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal on 18 July 1917 “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in taking charge of a party and unloading trucks of high explosive ammunition for his battery during a critical period.”

Served in the South African War in the Mounted Rifles and in the 1906 Natal Rebellion. During WW1 he served initially in the Essex Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps where he won the Distinguished Flying Cross on 3 August 1918. After WW1 he published a book, “With a Bristol Fighter Squadron”, in 1920. He is credited with downing 12 planes in total during WW1.

He is the brother of Captain Marmaduke John Norman Abbay (1899-1902). He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 8 March 1920 “For distinguished services in command of HMS Walker – Services in the Baltic 1919.”

He served in Royal Army Medical Corp for 40 years, from prior to WW1 through to middle of WW2, rising to the rank of Major General and being awarded the OBE.

He served with the Royal Navy during WW1 and was awarded the OBE in 1919 and the Order of the Nile. He was also a qualified doctor.