Name
(Laurence) Daniel Bitten
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
27457
Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Goff's Oak War Memorial, St Clemence Church Memorial, Turnford, War Memorial, Cowlings, Suffolk
Pre War
We believe this is the D. Bitten on the Cheshunt Town Memorial and the D. Bittern on the Goff’s Oak Memorial.
Daniel Bitten was born in Cowlinge, Suffolk, in 1895, son of Arthur Charles Bitten an Agricultural Worker, and Agnes Elizabeth Bitten (nee Ransome). One of ten children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised Laurence Daniel Bitten (but used his middle name Daniel), in the Parish Church of St. Margaret, Cowlinge, Suffolk, on 19 May 1895.
1901 Census records Daniel (Lawrence) aged 6, living with his parents, five brothers and sister Ellen (3) at, Lambfair Green, Cowlinge, Suffolk.
1911 Census records Daniel (Daniel Laurence) (16), working as a Gardeners Labourer, living with his parents, and seven siblings, still at, Lambfair Green, Cowlinge.
His mother Agnes died later in 1911, aged 47.
Wartime Service
Daniel enlisted at Hertford, posted to the Army Cyclist Corps with the service number 383, later transferred to the Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment with the service number 27457. (The SDITGW records he was formerly 13331 with the Bedfordshire Regiment, but no record was found to confirm this).
He arrived in France on 23 March 1915, seeing action on the Western Front. He was reported missing between 23 & 28 October 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. (1 July – 18 November 1916).
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing in France.
Additional Information
His father Arthur received his effects of £7-16s-5d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £9, and a dependents pension of 5/- a week, this was for the loss of three sons, he would lose another son in 1918. Daniel lost three brothers in the war, Private 242053 Harry Bitten of the Cameronian (Scottish Rifles) Formerly 7203 Suffolk Regiment died on 10 November 1917: Private 42797 George Bitten of the Worcestershire Regiment died on 24 June 1918; Bombardier 72764 Walter Bitten of the Royal Field Artillery died on 25 June 1916. Brother George is buried in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Cowlinge, Suffolk, Daniel, Walter and Harry are also remembered on Georges Headstone. It is not known what connection Daniel had to Cheshunt and Goff’s Oak.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
