HISTORIC MALDON: The amnesiac soldier groom who jilted his bride at Christmas and wound up in Maldon

By Ben Shahrabi 27th Dec 2022

For many, a wedding can be a nerve-wracking experience, but this is arguably one of the most entertaining cases of cold feet in Essex.

An amusing article from the Essex Newsman, dated 2 January 1909, recounts an extraordinary story of the one that got away... and then ran off to Maldon.

A couple had been due to marry at St James the Less & St Helen Church, a Roman Catholic Church in Priory Street, Colchester, on Boxing Day 1908.

An extract from the Essex Newsman article says: "The marriage had been arranged between a Lance Corporal of the Suffolk Regiment and a tall, good-looking Colchester girl, who is the daughter of a pensioner from the same regiment."

The groom had been staying at the home of his prospective father-in-law for several days before he was due to be married.

The story continues: "On Saturday, the day fixed for the wedding, he went out between nine and ten o'clock in the morning, saying that he was going to see the Reverend Father Blomfield at the Catholic Church, and that he had also to call on Mr Dennis W. Jeffrey, of High Street, to get a 'lucky' wedding ring."

But when the groom did not return to the house, it was assumed he had opted to meet the bride at the church.

The wedding party arrived at the church 'in due time', but the groom failed to appear.

After waiting an hour and a half, the bride, who was naturally distressed, was driven home in tears, and the wedding guests separated.

A couple of days later, it was reported the Corporal had wandered to Maldon, where he gave himself up to the police, saying that he was "suffering from loss of memory".

Well, that's still more original than "it's not you, it's me".

Read the full article from the Essex Newsman below: