Gunner Daniel John Hollox Royal Garrison Artillery and East Suffolk Special Constabulary
1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Defence Medal. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal clasps 'Long Service 1939, 1943, 1947, 1956'.
The Man Daniel John Hollox known as ‘Stitcher’ was born on Sunday 13th May 1888 in Sudbury, son of Henry a Pig and Cattle Dealer and Emma nee King.
Sticher was one of four children, Arthur Dick 1881-1961, George Henry 1883-1917 (killed in action on 7th August 1917 and commemorated at Ramscapelle Road Military Cemetery, Nieuwpoort, Belgium) and Bertha Mary Ann 1886-1893. However, at the time of Emma’s marriage to Henry in 1881, she had either been married before or had three children out of wedlock, Emma born in 1871, William George 1873 and Charlotte 1876, all using the surname King. Thus, Sticher had an additional three half siblings.
The 1891 census shows the family, Sticher named as ‘John’ aged two, together with Emma King living at Cottage No 1 Humble Green, Sudbury. A few months later however, Emma sadly passed away aged just 40 and leaving Henry to bring up the five the children. Henry did re-marry in 1900 to Rosina Louisa nee Alen and they had three further children, Blanche Edith 1902-1969, Felix Henry 1907-1978 and Bertha Alen 1915-1999, bringing Stitcher’s total siblings to 10.
The 1901 Census shows the family, Stitcher still shown as John, living in High Street, Cosford, Sudbury together with Henry’s mother Mary Ann aged 72.
On leaving school Stitcher trained to become a tailor, hence his soubriquet, and the 1911 census shows him as such, now named as ‘D John Hollox’ still at High Street and with Mary Ann now aged 83 and his half-sister Blanche. Henry is not present but shown as the head or separate occupier on the header sheet.
During the third quarter of 1911 aged 23 Stitcher married Florence May Ada Vince at St Peters Church Bildesdon, Monks Eleigh and three years later upon the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, he enlisted at some point into the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner with service number 96441. He saw service on the Western Front from November 1916 with the 196th Siege Battery and survived the war. He was subsequently awarded his 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sticher was one of four children, Arthur Dick 1881-1961, George Henry 1883-1917 (killed in action on 7th August 1917 and commemorated at Ramscapelle Road Military Cemetery, Nieuwpoort, Belgium) and Bertha Mary Ann 1886-1893. However, at the time of Emma’s marriage to Henry in 1881, she had either been married before or had three children out of wedlock, Emma born in 1871, William George 1873 and Charlotte 1876, all using the surname King. Thus, Sticher had an additional three half siblings.
The 1891 census shows the family, Sticher named as ‘John’ aged two, together with Emma King living at Cottage No 1 Humble Green, Sudbury. A few months later however, Emma sadly passed away aged just 40 and leaving Henry to bring up the five the children. Henry did re-marry in 1900 to Rosina Louisa nee Alen and they had three further children, Blanche Edith 1902-1969, Felix Henry 1907-1978 and Bertha Alen 1915-1999, bringing Stitcher’s total siblings to 10.
The 1901 Census shows the family, Stitcher still shown as John, living in High Street, Cosford, Sudbury together with Henry’s mother Mary Ann aged 72.
On leaving school Stitcher trained to become a tailor, hence his soubriquet, and the 1911 census shows him as such, now named as ‘D John Hollox’ still at High Street and with Mary Ann now aged 83 and his half-sister Blanche. Henry is not present but shown as the head or separate occupier on the header sheet.
During the third quarter of 1911 aged 23 Stitcher married Florence May Ada Vince at St Peters Church Bildesdon, Monks Eleigh and three years later upon the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, he enlisted at some point into the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner with service number 96441. He saw service on the Western Front from November 1916 with the 196th Siege Battery and survived the war. He was subsequently awarded his 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Daniel John Hollox's Medal Index Card showing award of the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals.
Sticher and Florence lived at the Willows, High Street, Monks Eleigh and had one child, John A C Hollox born in 1918, but who sadly died shortly after his birth. On 15th February 1920 Stitcher joined the East Suffolk Special Constabulary as a Special Constable, when he was described as 5’.11” tall. Shortly after, tragedy struck again when Florence, aged just 29 also passed away during the second quarter of 1920. The 1921 shows Stitcher living alone as a widower at Monks Eleigh and now a Master Tailor.
During the third quarter of 1921 he re-married at Cosford to May Elizabeth Girt and they appear to have had no children. Sticher was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in1929 and continued serving as well as working from home as a tailor.
The 1939 Register shows Stitcher, aged 51 and May living at 19 High Street and he is shown as a Special Constable and awarded the first clasp ‘Long Service 1939’ to his SC medal. At the outbreak of World War II in September the same year, Sticher being too old to be called up continued serving in the specials for the duration and at the end of the war was awarded his Defence Medal as well as further clasps to his Special Constabulary Medal dated 1943 and 1946 (awarded and dated 1947) with war service counting treble.
After the war he was elected onto the Monks Eleigh Parish Council and became Chairman in the 1950s and continued serving in the specials. In 1956 he was awarded a fourth clasp to his long service medal and he resigned from the specials in 1962 aged 74. Following Stitcher’s retirement, he and May became involved in the local Silver Sixties Club raising much money for local charities.
May passed away on 30th July 1975 and was buried locally, in Monks Eleigh. Stitcher lived another three years and died on 11th December 1978 aged 90, leaving £24,480.00. He was buried alongside May.
Thus ended the long life of a man who had served his country from 1916 to 1962 a total of 46 years.
During the third quarter of 1921 he re-married at Cosford to May Elizabeth Girt and they appear to have had no children. Sticher was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in1929 and continued serving as well as working from home as a tailor.
The 1939 Register shows Stitcher, aged 51 and May living at 19 High Street and he is shown as a Special Constable and awarded the first clasp ‘Long Service 1939’ to his SC medal. At the outbreak of World War II in September the same year, Sticher being too old to be called up continued serving in the specials for the duration and at the end of the war was awarded his Defence Medal as well as further clasps to his Special Constabulary Medal dated 1943 and 1946 (awarded and dated 1947) with war service counting treble.
After the war he was elected onto the Monks Eleigh Parish Council and became Chairman in the 1950s and continued serving in the specials. In 1956 he was awarded a fourth clasp to his long service medal and he resigned from the specials in 1962 aged 74. Following Stitcher’s retirement, he and May became involved in the local Silver Sixties Club raising much money for local charities.
May passed away on 30th July 1975 and was buried locally, in Monks Eleigh. Stitcher lived another three years and died on 11th December 1978 aged 90, leaving £24,480.00. He was buried alongside May.
Thus ended the long life of a man who had served his country from 1916 to 1962 a total of 46 years.
Daniel Hollox's Royal Garrison Artillery Collar Dog.
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Box of Award for the Defence Medal.
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Daniel Hollox's Uniform Ribbon Bar.
The Story The medals awarded to Daniel John Hollox were acquired from Bishop & Millar Auctioneers in Suffolk, via The Saleroom, on 4th June 2025. They were of immediate interest because of the four clasped Special Constabulary Medal with accompanying paperwork confirming the award dates of the medal and clasps.
His uniform ribbon bar and box of award for the Defence Medal were included with the lot and because of his unusual name, the papers, ancestry, wills and newspaper archives enabled a fairly detailed biography to be pieced together.
Interestingly the newspaper archives also revealed he had been Chairman of Monks Eleigh Parish Council during the 1950s, adding another dimension the group.
It is pleasing to have a four clasped SC Medal together with a World War I pair.
His uniform ribbon bar and box of award for the Defence Medal were included with the lot and because of his unusual name, the papers, ancestry, wills and newspaper archives enabled a fairly detailed biography to be pieced together.
Interestingly the newspaper archives also revealed he had been Chairman of Monks Eleigh Parish Council during the 1950s, adding another dimension the group.
It is pleasing to have a four clasped SC Medal together with a World War I pair.
Daniel Hollox's Special Record Card showing award date of medal and clasps.
May and Daniels' grave. Monks Eleigh.
Daniel John HOLLOX is one of five in this collection with the scarce four clasped Special Constabulary Medal
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 96441 GNR D.J.HOLLOX. R.A. .
- Victory Medal: 96441 GNR. D.J.HOLLOX. R.A.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: DEP SEC LDR DANIEL J.HOLLEX (SIC)
This page last updated 12 Jun 25
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