Private 17774, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Friday, 15th September 1916 in France and Flanders. Age 43. Born Blunham, enlisted Bedford, resident Great Barford. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Atkinson, of 3, Council Cottage, Willington, Bedfordshire.; husband of the late Ada Atkinson. In 1911 he was a farm labourer, aged 38, married 10 years to Ada with a son Percy, aged 6, resident Great Barford. Buried in SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No. 2, Somme, France. Grave II. G. 11.

Entry in 'The National Roll of The Great War - Section XII - Bedford & Northampton'.

ATKINSON, J., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was mobilised on the outbreak of war, and, landing on the Western Front early in 1915, was engaged in severe fighting in the Battles of Hill 60, Ypres and Festubert. He was unhappily killed in action at Loos in September 1915, and was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”
Chalton, near Sandy.	Z1115/A.

Private 301555, 13th Battalion, Tank Corps. Killed in action Thursday, 25th April 1918 in France and Flanders. Age 27. Born Blunham, enlisted Ampthill. Formerly 25133, Bedfordshire Regiment. Son of Rose Symonds (formerly Abbott), of Queen's Terrace, London Rd., Sandy, Beds, and the late James, Abbott. IN 1911 he was listed as a farm labourer, aged 16, resident Great Barford, the son of Rose Abbott, widower (aged 35), elder brother of William Abbott. Buried in WYTSCHAETE MILITARY CEMETERY, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave IV. F. II.

Entry in 'The National Roll of The Great War - Section XII - Bedford & Northampton'.

ABBOTT, J. W. C., Gunner, Tank Corps.
Volunteering in 1915, he was drafted to the Western Front in the following year and was in action in many parts of the line. including the Loos, Albert and Somme sectors. He was killed in action at Kemmel Hill on April 25th, and was buried at Wytschaete. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”
The Gardens, Great Barford. Bedfordshire.	Z1004/C.

Private 3/6145, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds Sunday, 10th January 1915 in France and Flanders. Born Great Barford, enlisted Bedford, resident St Neots. Brother of Oscar below. In 1911 he was living with his parents, Arthur and Hannah Boon, and brothers Walter and Oscar, in Prospect Row, St Neots, aged 20, a Bricklayers Labourer, born Great Barford. Buried in BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY (NORD), Nord, France. Grave G. 15.

BOON, A. E., Private, 1st Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was mobilised in August 1914, and quickly proceeded to the Western Front, where he took part in the Retreat from Mons and in the Battles of the Marue and La Bassée. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle at Ypres on January 10th, 1915, and was entitled to the Mons Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Whilst we remember, the sacrifice is not in vain.”
Willoughby Cottages, Great Barford, Bedford.	Z1347/B.

Private 23181, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday, 30th October 1917 in France and Flanders. Age 20. Born Folksworth, Northants, enlisted and resident Bedford. Son of Arthur and Hannah Boon, of 1, Willoughby Cottage, Great Barford; brother of Edgar above. In 1911 he was living with his parents, Arthur and Hannah Boon, and brothers Walter and Arthur, in Prospect Row, St Neots, aged 13, a Baker's Errand Boy, born Folksworth, Huntingdonshire. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.

BOON, O. J., Private, 4th Bedfordshire Regiment.
He volunteered in 1915, and, on completing his training in the following year, was drafted to the Western Front. There he was engaged as a runner with his Battalion, and took part in much heavy fighting at Ypres, on the Somme and at Messines. He was unfortunately killed in action at Passchendaele on October 30th, 1917, and was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Honour to the immortal dead, who gave their youth that the world might grow old in peace.”
Willoughby Cottages, Great Barford, Bedford.	Z1347/A.

Lieutenant, 128th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who was killed in action 13th November 1916. Age 34. Husband of May Maud Bunch, of 14, Harley Rd., Newtown, Great Yarmouth. Buried in BIENVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave V. D. 4.

Note: In 1901 the only family with the surname BUNCH in Bedfordshire were James and Mary Ann Bunch, living in the Farm House, Moggerhanger. James was aged 48, a farm bailiff, born Codicote, Mary Ann was also aged 48, born Blockley, Warwickshire, and they had three children with them, Laura (14), Reginald (10) and Sidney (8). Charles would have been aged 19 but cannot be located on the census.

Private 50047, 19th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment). Killed in action Wednesday, 19th December 1917 in France and Flanders. Born Great Barford, enlisted London, resident Paddington, London. Formerly 159836, Royal Army Service Corps. Buried in RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VII. Row U. Grave 1.

In 1911 Thomas William Goodman had been married 14 years to Emma (aged 36, born Thurleigh), he was aged 38, a Farm Labourer, born Great Barford, father of Elsie F Goodman, aged 13, born Renhold, all living in Great Barford.

According to the 1881 census, John E. Goodwin was 7 months old, and born in Great Barford, the son of Elijah and Mary Ann Goodwin. In 1891 they lived in Back Lane. In 1911 John Edward Goodwin was a son, aged 30, a Farm Labourer, born and resident Great Barford, living with his parents Elijah and Mary Ann Goodwin. There is no viable record of him dying on the SDGW nor on the CWGC, by 1920 he would have been aged 39. From the British Army Pension Records we have his record:

John Edward Goodwin, of Gt. Barford, Private 11954, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Labourer by trade, unmarried, he enlisted, aged 24 years 5 months, on 16th January 1915, in London, being passed fit the same day; this is contradicted later when his casualty form states he enlisted 11 August 1914. He was just over 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 155 lbs and had a girth of 38 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, eyes hazel, hair dark brown. He was Church of England. He had originally enlisted in the Grenadier Guards 16th January 1905 but had been discharged as medically unfit 16th February 1906 having spent 23 May to 14 July 1905 in hospital then 26 August 1905 to 26 January 1906. His next of kin is listed as Elijah and Mary Goodwin, brothers William, George, Arthur, Albert (also in 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards), Leonard, sisters, Daisy, Edith and Lizzie. He was transferred as Private 21198, Depot (Warley), Northamptonshire Regiment where he died 20th November 1917, aged 36. He had been examinded for the Special Reserve 11th August 1914 at Bedford, aged 33, he Was originally assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as 7570 but subsequently was assigned to 21198, 1st Garrison Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment and died 20th November 1917. He had been in hospital in Felixstowe from 3-12 April 1915 with Measles and then the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby 16 August to 10 September 1917 convalescing from Bronchitis, then in Duffield Hospital 10 September to 21 October 1917 suffering from Bronchitis when he was further ill with bronchitis 22 October to 20 November 1917 when he died (described as permanently unfit). His casualty form states he suffered gunshot wounds to the hand 31 October 1914. The 1st Western Hospital was at Warley. On 14 May 1916 he joined his battalion, 8 July 1916 admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to back recieved Learniers, transferred to Etaples 11 July 1916 he then went missing in action 11 July 1916, admitted to hospital 22 July 1916 with shell wound to the back then readmitted with gunshot wound to the back 2 August 19166

Private 204352, 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action Thursday, 2nd August 1917 in France and Flanders. Formerly 9270, Bedfordshire Regiment. Son of TYhomas and Mary Norman. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 34. Also commemorated on his parents gravestone in the churchyard.

NORMAN, G. A., Private, 12th East Surrey Regt.
He joined in January 1917, and, after his training, was engaged on important agricultural work for four months. He then proceeded to France in July 1917, but after the Battle of Ypres (III.) was reported missing, and is now presumed to have been killed in action, on August 2nd of the same year. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“And doubtless he went in splendid company.”
The Gardens, Great Barford, Bedfordshire.	Z3674.

Private 27848, "B" Company, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday, 16th November 1916 in France and Flanders. Age 24. Born and resident Great Barford, enlisted Bedford. Son of Charles and Eliza Pitts, of Great Barford. Buried in REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT, Somme, France. Grave I. D. 13. The 7th Batt Orders dated 18th Nove,ber 1916 (the first day after being relieved from Regina Trench) has the following entry on the casualty list. 27848 Pte PITTS W C "B" Company, Missing 16th November 1916, he was obviously found and confirmed as KIA later.

PITTS, W. C., Private, 6th Bedfordshire Regiment.
He volunteered in March 1915, and later in the same year was drafted to the Western Front, but after taking part in heavy fighting at Arras and Ypres was unfortunately killed in action near Albert on November 16th, 1915. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Honour to the immortal dead, who gave their youth that the world might grow old in peace.”
Albert Cottage, Great Barford, Bedfordshire.	Z3854.

Private 31522, 160th Company, Infantry Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action Tuesday, 30th April 1918 in Palestine. Enlisted Bedford. Formerly 23264, Bedfordshire Regiment. Buried in JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, Israel. Grave N. 63.

ROBINSON, T. G., Private, Machine Gun Corps.
He joined in November 1916, and, on completion of a period of training in the following year, proceeded to Egypt, whence he was sent into Palestine, and took part in the Battles of Gaza. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle near the River Jordan on April 30th, 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Whilst we remember, the sacrifice is not in vain.”
The Gardens, Great Barford, Bedfordshire.	Z4006.

[Kenneth Jack on CWGC] Private 14558323 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders who died on Thursday, 10th August 1944. Age 19. Son of Frederick and Fanny Favell, of Great Barford. Buried in RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Grave IX. F. 6.

 

Photograph Copyright © Steve Favell 2004

GREAT BARFORD MEN WHO WERE KILLED
BUT ARE NOT ON INCLUDED ON THE MEMORIAL

World War 1

World War 2