We don't know much about Pfc Louis A Whitechester. All Saints Church in Earsham, Norfolk, contains an impressive memorial for him, and he is buried in Los Angeles. His headstone application says that he "died in active service" as a part of the 44th Mess Squadron. Enlistment date, service number, birthdate, deathdate. Facts and figures. But why did the small church at Earsham think so much of him that they would erect such a grand memorial? What was the cause of his death? A mystery to be investigated.



An answer to these questions comes from Andrew McCabe:

"Regarding the memorial tablet in Earsham Church, I was born and grew up in Earsham and the story behind the memorial is as follows:"



"Mr. Whitechester was engaged to Miss Mabel Marston, daughter of the owners of the flour mill in Earsham. Following his death, Miss Marston changed her name to Mabel Chester Marston and paid for the memorial in the church."



"I was born in 1943 and therefore have no direct memory of this, but my sister, who is six years older than me, confirms this to be the case. She says she can remember seeing Mr. Whitechester and that he was a large, rotund man."