Peter Annis

An Acting Sergeant with 54th Field Company, Peter died on 4th of October 1916 at the age of 32. 

Peter was born at Lowestoft in 1884, a son of James and Elizabeth Annis. In 1891 his family lived at 1 Well Yard, Saint Peter’s Street, Lowestoft. In 1901 the family lived at 7-8 White Horse Street, Lowestoft, where Peter’s father was the publican, and Peter was an apprentice bricklayer. Later his mother lived at 22 Factory Street, Lowestoft.  

Peter had completed a four year apprenticeship, and was working as a bricklayer, when he enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft, on 16 January 1906 to serve three years with the Colours and nine with the Reserve. He joined the Royal Engineers, service number 13306. On 14 November 1905 he extended his engagement to serve eight years with the Colours. 

From 1905 to 1909 Peter served in South Africa. 

Peter was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 15 November 1907 and paid Lance Corporal on 15 February 1909. Peter extended his engagement to serve twelve years with the Colours on 19 December 1911. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal on 21 August 1912. 

On 12 November 1913 Peter married Emily O’Sullivan at Nottingham. After the war Emily lived at 8 Magnolia Terrace, Saint Luke’s, Cork, Ireland.  

When the First World War began Peter was serving with 38th Field Company. He was promoted to Corporal on 5 August 1914. He arrived in France on 10 September 1914. On 8 March 1915 Peter was admitted to 17 Field Ambulance suffering from lumbago and he was transferred to a Casualty Clearing Station on 10 March and then to No 4 Stationary Hospital. On 19 March 1915 he was posted to the Base at Boulogne and, on 10 April 1915, he was posted to the Base at Rouen. On 4 May 1915 he joined 54th Field Company. 

Peter was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 14 January 1916, citation 11 March 1916) “For consistent good work throughout the war. He has always set an example to his section in billets and under fire. He did very good work in charge of his section.”

On 5 July 1916 he was appointed Acting Sergeant. On 14 July 1916 he was wounded but remained at duty.

Peter was killed in action on 4 October 1916. The next day he was buried at Ploegsteert Wood, map reference Sheet 28 U.19.B.2.5. 

Peter’s brother John died in 1916 in the loss of the drifter Michaelmas Daisy. His nephew Jonas died in 1917 whilst serving with the Machine Gun Corps.