Ministry of Defence
Lest We Forget
The Royal British Legion
| Ministry of Defence |
Lest We Forget |
The Royal British Legion |
| |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
| Photograph
from an old postcard |
"TO
THE GLORY OF GOD
IN LOVING AND GRATEFUL
MEMORY
1914- 1918
MEN WITH SPLENDID HEARTS"
| 1914-1918 |
||||
| BAKER |
Edward George Leonard |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: BAKER, Edward George Leonard- Private, No 202969 Edward went to school in Grantchester, and, on leaving, joined his father in the Dairy. He worked there until he was old enough to enlist and then, knowing that his mother would be upset and try to prevent him, he joined the Cambridgeshire Regiment while she was on holiday in Bath. He was afterward transferred to the 4th battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment), later the Green Howards, and was sent to France. In the Cambridge Chronicle of 9th May 1917, it was reported:- "Mr & Mrs W. Baker of Dove Cottages, Grantchester, have received intimation that their son, Pte E. Baker, of The Cmbridgeshire Regiment (transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment) has died of wounds received on April 26th. He was 19 years of age and in a letter dated 28th April he says "I was wounded at 6.30 am and was in a shell hole till 8 pm within the German lines. Our men were driven out and could not carry me back. The Germans gave me water and an overcoat. At 8pm our men advanced and i crawled into a dug out. On tuesday a D.L.I. got me more water and on wednesday two D.L.I. carried me to where there was a stretcher. I was taken to a Dressing Station, where my wound was dressed and I had some tea and was sent to this hospital. Nurse and Doctor are looking after me and I feel alright." On May 1st the Assistant Matron wrote to Mrs Baker to say that Private Baker was seriously ill. He was admitted on the 28th suffering from a severe wound of the right thigh with Amputation." He died on the 7th May. On 29th May Horace Rogers wrote home from France to his young son, George in Grantchester : "It was very sad indeed about poor Ted Baker. I remember so well bidding him goodbye when he left us at Killinghall Camp." Edward Baker is buried in St.Sever Cemetery extension near Rouen, Block P, Row D, Grave 6A. A memorial service was conducted for him in Grantchester Church by the vicar, Mr. Harrison. |
||
| BAKER |
Oliver |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Born on 18th June 1883 - BAKER, Oliver - No 3004, Sergeant When Oliver left school he took the job of village postman, but, at the same time, he was helping his father in the Smithy and learning the trade which had been practised by at least three generations of his family before him. On his postal round he would often see Edith Mary Davieswho was working for the Asshetons at Riversdale, and, on the 5th January 1907 they were married at Sunninghill in Berkshire. After their wedding Oliver took over the Smithy and he and Edith settled into 1, The Green, near the Green Man. Oliver led an active life in the Grantchester community. He was a prominent member of the Granchester and Trumpington Conservative Association. He belonged to the "City of Grantchester" Lodge of the ancient order of Foresters, in 1910 and 1913 he was elected to the Parish Council, in 1910 and 1914 he was a member of the Allotments Committee and in 1914 became a Trustee of the Poors Land Charity. He also taught the rudiments of gardening to the children of Grantchester school. In 1905 he joined the 2/1st Suffolk Yeomanry which later, in 1912, had a camp on Dovehouse Close and Beanland. Oliver took such an active part in local affairs that it can be well understood why the Cambridge Chronicle reported on 26th March 1915 that "Considerable regret has been occassioned throughout the district at the death, with tragic suddenness, of Farrier Sergeant Oliver Baker." On 21st March a policeman had found Oliver leaning on his bicycle in Cambridge road, Ely, and complaining of feeling unwell. The policeman offered to wheel the bicycle for him. Almost immediately Oliver collapsed and had to be taken to Ely Hospital where he died the next morning without regaining consciousness. He was only 32 but had died of a stroke. On 24th March his body was taken on a gun carriage to Ely station, ecorted by men of the Suffolk Yeomanry, and from Cambridge was brought to his house on the Green. The next day the blinds were drawn in nearly every house in the village, his coffin was born to the church by troopers of his Regiment. It was draped in a Union Jack, and on it rested his Sergeants service cap. A trumpeter of 2/1st Suffolk Hussars sounded the Last Post at the graveside. |
||
| BLOGG, MM |
Joseph Andrew Martin |
From
a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge
Library, reference section:
Jo Blogg was born in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
on 25th September 1881. Why his parents were living there is a mystery.
His father Joseph Nicholas Blogg, came from Southrepps, near Cromer,
on the Norfolk Coast, and although it has not been possible to trace
his ancestry with complete certainty, there are records of Bloggs
having lived around the Cromer area from 1750. At the turn of the
century Joseph and his wife, Sophia, came to live in Metron house
cottage, Grantchester, and Joseph was a gardener, first to Mr. William
Bateson, the great exponent of Mendelism, and, after 1911 to Mr.
Lister. Jo came with them and took a job as college shoe black at
Downing. There he met Rose Squires, the widow of a hairdresser in
East Road, and a bedder at the colege, and they married in 1907.
For a while they lived in Broad Street and later moved to 56, Catherine
Street. Their children, Gladys and Percy were born in 1907 and 1910.
After the outbreak of war, Jo was called up into the 1/1st Cambridgeshire
Regiment as a stetcher bearer and was sent to France. On 25th April
1918 he won the Military Medal at Voormezeele, for gallantry in
the field. His twin brother William was also in France, and although
not serving together, on the morning of 28th August 1918, they were
both wounded within half an hour of each other. William survived
after his leg was amputated, but Jo died of his wounds on 4th September.
His son vividly remembers that day , his mother was cleaning a gas
lamp at their home in Catherine Street when the telegram arrived.
Jo is buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension in France, and
as well as being remembered in Grantchester, his name is on the
war memorial in St.Philips church, Thoday Street. On 24th November
1918, a memorial service was held in Grantchester church for Jo
Blogg, Joseph Greygoose and William Wilson. |
||
| BOLTON |
George Henry |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Son of Alfred Bolton, born 30th December, 1886. He went to school in Grantchester, and before the war, was chaffeur to Mr William Mirrlees of 11, Cranmer Road, Cambridge. When war broke out he enlisted in the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was killed in France on 22nd May 1916 and the Cambridge Chronicle of 7th June, reporting his death, said "The utmost sympathy is extended to the bereaved parents, the dead soldier being well known and very popular throughout the whole district. The following letter has been received by Mr & Mrs Bolton from a lieutenant of the company in which there son was serving " I am indeed truly sorry to have to inform you that your gallant son has been kileed whilst carrying out some very important work. All officers and men of the company unite in deepest sympathy for losing such a splendid comrade." |
||
| BOLTON |
Walter |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Son of Alfred and Julia Bolton, born on the 4th May 1895, went to Grantchester scholl and, with his sister, Maud, attended the Chapel Sunday School. He joined the 1/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment and was sent to France. On 13th July, 1915 , Horace rogers wrote to his son George saying," Have seen Grantchester boys. Walter Bolton has a toothache and possessed a swollen face." Walter was wounded in June 1916, but by september was back at the front, and was killed on 9th November at the age of 21. His parents were obviously notified immediately and a memorial service was held for him and Charles Hubbard in Gratchester church on Chritmas eve, but it was not until the 4th April 1917, that the Cambridge Chronicle reported his death. A lieutenant of the company in which he served had written " It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son. He died from shell shock a few minutes after the shell burst on the way to the trenches. You have my very deepest sympathy, but hope you will bear the loss with a stout heart, as you have reason to be proud of him, he died while doing his duty. He was a good lad and liked by all his comrades. My best wishes for the future, and may you have the courage to bear the very sad loss of two of your sons." At the same time Walter was killed , the third brother Edwin, was wounded in France , and later wounded and then reported missing in Mesopotamia, though he did finally come home safely. |
||
| BROOKE |
Rupert Chawner [Chaucer] |
|
||
| CUTTER |
Alfred George |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Alfred Cutter was born in Whittlesford. His father had married a girl from the village and, at first, had an agricultural job, but later joined his parents in law, working at the paper mill in Sawston. Alfred attended school in Whittlesford and, after leaving, went to work as a gardener to Mr.Gordon in station road. On 29th July, 1905 , he married Emily Carter of Duxford in the Whittlesford Congregational Chapel, where he was a sunday school teacher. They begun married life in Duxford and their son was born there in 1906. Then followed a move to Sawston where their daughter was born in 1910. Soon afterwards Mr. Gordon recommended Alfred for the post of gardener to Captain Inglis at Balls grove, and the family moved into Balls grove cottage, Grantchester. Captain Inglis was University lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and lecturer in Mechanical Science at Kings college. He was the inventor of the Inglis bridge which was the armys main pre-fabricated bridge until the advent of the Bailey Bridge in the 1940s. He owned the first motor car in Grantchester. Agricultural Labourers were not called up in the early days of the war, and it was not until 1916 that Alfred Cutter was required to enlist. He joined the 2nd Battalion , Suffolk Regiment and was soon sent to France were he was caught up in the Battle of Arras which begun on the 9th April 1917. Alfred was killed on the 10th May, in the early days of the battle which was to continue, with enormous loss of life , for nearly a year all told, as a series of indecisive engagements. His name is on bay 4 of the Arras memorial to the missing which commemorates 35,928 men who have no known grave. |
||
| DILLEY |
Ernest |
Private 2/3279 1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regiment who died at home on Saturday, 29th January 1916. Born Grantchester, enlisted Cambridge. Buried IPSWICH CEMETERY, Suffolk. Grave D. 23. 31. From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Ernest was born in 1870, and very little is known of his life. He obviously left school at an early age , as by the time he was eleven, he was working as a farm labourer. He later ecame a private gardener and lived in the East road area of Cambridge . He joined the 1st battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment but, because of his age, it is unlikely that he ever served in France. He was 46 when he died of pnuemonia and heart failure in the Ipswich Military Hospital. He is buried in the Ipswich cemetery, section D, Row 23, Grave 31. |
||
| DILLEY |
Walter |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Walter was the third child of Frederick was born in 1895. He went to school in Grantchester and then worked as a garden boy at West House, West Road for Misses Clay. He was later employed at 17, Trumpington Street by their nephew, Dr. Henry Buckley Roderick, Surgeon and University demonstrator of surgery. Very early in the war he enlisted into A Company, 1st battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment and was sent to France at the beggining of 1915. In the early hours of 31st July 1917, in very bad weather, the Allies launched the offensive in the Third Battle of Ypres. Walter was killed on the first day of the assault in the battle for Hill 19. Hill 19 was a mere apology for a hill, being four hundred yards long and only fifteen feet high, nevertheless it was regarded as strategically important. 302 officers and men of the Cambridgeshires lost their lives that day and the next. The courage and fighting spirit of the Regiment is Illistrated by the tale of Private Muffet. C Company had captured Border House and then had been outflanked and were ordered to fall back. Soon afterward a wounded runner brought the following message to battalion headquarters : "I received an order by orderly to retire, but as Captain Jones before he was killed said we were not to retire without written orders from the CO, I am holding Border House. There are only three of us left alive and two of those chaps are wounded. I am holding Border House until I get a written order to retire." A written order was immediately issued. After Walters death Mrs Dilley received a letter from the Lieutenant in command of A Company "My dear Mrs Dilley, I am writing to convey to you on behalf of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of this company our sympathy on the sad loss of your son. Walter Dilley was one of the most popular men of the company. He was a fine soldier and as a man was British to the backbone. As his platoon officer for several months I soon realised what a fine boy he was, so cheery and willing, and we all sadly miss him and the other brave men of the Cambridgeshires who made the great sacrifice on July 31st." Walter was 22 at the time of his death. |
||
| GORDON |
Walter Herbert |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: When he left school , Walter became garden boy and boot boy to the Asshetons at Riversdale. In his spare tme he was a keen angler and footballer. In 1911 - 1912 he played for Grantchester in the Cambridge Football Association Junior Cup and scored the equalising goal in the final against Royston, Grantchester won 3-1 in the replay. In the 1912 - 1913 season he played in the Senior Cup and again scored a goal and helped Grantchester win 3-1, this time against Saffron Walden. At Riversdale he met Mabel Taylor to whom he later became engaged. Mabel had come from Peterborough as nursemaid to the Assheton children following her elder sister who was their nanny. When war broke out Walter was working at the New Lecture rooms in Benet Street. On 14th May 1915 he joined the 1st/1st battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment and quickly received promotion. He ws a physical and bayonet instructor until he went to France in January 1917. In February 1918, he was sent home to recover from the effects of gas, but was soon back again at the front. On 14th May 1918, while off duty and playing cards in a dug out with some friends, he was hit from a shot from a sniper. The fatal bullet went through his breast pocket and through a photograph of Mabel whom he was due to marry on his next leave. Wa;ter is buried in Mailly Wood Cemetery, plot 2, row K, grave 11. His age is wrongly given as 25 but correctly recorded as 26 on the grave of his brother Charlie, in Grantchester Churchyard. |
||
| GREYGOOSE |
Joseph |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: We do not Know what work Joseph did when he left school, nor when or why he came to Grantchester, but he was certainly here by 1903, working as bakers assistant to Mrs Jane Rayner. Joseph married the Rayners daughter, Maud Ellen on 23rd January 1904. Mr Rayner died in 1898 and Joseph and Maud spent their married life living with her mother in 8, Wrights Row. Together they ran the bakery at the back of the house and, later on, the Post Office and shop in the house next door, until Mrs Utteridge, who lived next to the church, became Post mistress. As well as helping his mother-in-law, Joseph, a tall well built man, was the village constable. In 1910 and 1913 he was elected to the Parish Council, and in 1912 became a trustee of the Gee charity. In 1910 and 1914 he was on the allotments committee which is perhaps suprising, in view of the fact that when, in 1908, he applied to the County Council for permission to rent a five acre small holding, the Townlands Charity Committee reported that Joseph already had an allotment which" he farms very indifferently". Joseph joined the Cambridgeshire Regiment with an army number of 3399. He was later transferred to the 7th battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment and by October 1918 was in France. On 16th October, at 7.30am, his battalion received sudden and unexpected orders to be ready to move in two hours time to Saint Aubert, almost due east of Cambrai, in support of the 72nd Infantry Brigade. At 1300 hours their was a fierce counter attack by the enemy and the battalion was forced back to the west bank of the river Haussy. At 1400 hours, two companies were ordered to relieve the remaining elements of the 8th East Surreys and the 8th West Kent Regiments. This was successfully done, but their were a few casualties, one of whom was Joseph Greygoose. Joseph was buried in the Haussy Cemetery with the other men who fell in that action. |
||
| HUBBARD |
Charles |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: The Hubbards were a Suffolk family, many of them shepherds, and it was to be Sheherd to Mr. Gardner at Lacies Farm that Charles came to Grantchester from Saxon Street before the First World War. He lodged in Symons Lane with Mr and Mrs Amps, and soon met Hilda May Chapman, daughter of George and Rhoda Chapman of Laburnam Cottages. They wre Married in Grantchester Church on 8th May, 1915. At the outbreak of War, Charles, joined the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. From September 1914 until January 1916 the Battalion was stationed in England. It was then sent to France as part of the 34th Division. On 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the Division launched an offensive against the Germans opposite the village of La Boiselle, near Albert. The enemy had expected the attack and had made very thorough preparations to meet it. Cnsequently their strength was much greater than had been anticipated, and the casualties sustained by the 11th Battalion were the highest of any Battalion in the Division. Charles was killed that day, one of 20000 men who lost their lives in the terrible slaughter of the battle. With other soldiers of the Suffolk Regiment he is commemorated on pier and face 1C and 2A of the great memorial to the missing at Thiepval. A memorila service was held for Charles Hubbard and Walter Bolton in Grantchester Church on Christmas eve 1916. See also Wooditton and Saxon Street. |
||
| PAWLEY |
Frank Cecil |
 [Listed
as PAULEY] Rifleman, King's Royal Rifle Corps, died 22nf June 1918.
Aged 18. Son of Herbert and Elizabeth Pawley, of 12, Charterhouse
Terrace, Grantchester, Cambridge. Buried in DERNANCOURT COMMUNAL
CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. See also Cambridge
GuildhallFrom
a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge
Library, reference section:
Frank Pauleys father was born at Poplar End and
moved to Chapel Yard in 1893 with his new wife Elizabeth Stearn
of Trumpington. There 3rd and 4th children were twins, Frank and
Gilbert and were so alike that they were called the Pauley Puzzlers.
Frank went to school in Grantchester were he was a model pupil,
when he left school at the age of thirteen he was awarded a silver
watch by Cambridgeshire Education Committee for 8 years perfect
attendance. After he left school Frank had several jobs, he worked
at Old Addenbrookes Hospital, at Manor Farm for Mr. Sadler and at
one time he was a milkman. Soon after the outbreak of war Frank
and Gilbert joined up in the Cambridgeshire Regiment. As they went
through several weeks of training before being given uniforms, their
parents had no idea that they had enlisted and only discovered the
fact when they were posted to France. Their mother promptly wrote
to their Commanding Officer telling him that they were only sixteen
and they had to come home. In October, 1917 when the twins reached
their eighteenth birthday, Frank was working as a gardener to the
Reverend C.L. Hulbert in Grange Road. Gilbert received his call
up papers and joined the Rifle Brigade. Frank might never have been
called up, but he was so annoyed at being left out that he hurried
off to complain and, in November, he enlisted in the 6th (city of
london battalion) The London Regiment which was affiliated to the
Kings Royal Rifle Corps.. After six months he was sent to France,
and seven weeks later, on 22nd June, 1918, he was killed. He is
buried in France in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot
8, Row I, Plot 14. It is interesting to note that his name is spelt
"Pawley" on his grave stone. |
||
| PLANT |
James Henry |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: James, A commercial traveller in preserved meats lived for a short time in Lowestoft, where he met and married his wife, Lucy. They moved to Cambridge, first to Emery Street and then in 1910 or 1911 to a new house in Rock Road. James Henry was their second son and, after leaving school and working for his father for some time, he too became a commercial traveller. In 1912 he married Miriam Amps, daughter of John and Annie Amps of Symonds Lane. They wanted to be married in the Baptist chapel in the village, so James arranged for it to be licensed for the solemnisation of marriages, and their wedding was the first to take place there. Afterwards they set up home at "Sweet Briar" Cottage, Fulbourn Road, Cherryhinton. After the outbreak of war James volunteered for service and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. On 5th March 1916, he was sent to France and attached to the 124th Field Ambulance. After eighteen months he was due for his first leave, but on 26th September, 1917, at about 8.30am , he was wounded; The details are described in a letter to his widow from a comrade, Ernest E. Cooke: "The day James was hit I was with him, we went up together and almost as soon as we got to the trench where we were to shelter a shell came and burst on the bank, some of the fragments catching our dear brother. We carried him back ti the dressing station. He was wonded in two places, in the left leg and a small piece in the abdomen, the latter probably the fatal piece." He died in hospital, 41 Casualty Clearing Station, at 4pm the next day, aged 31 and is buried in Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, Plot 1, Row J, Grave 6. James never lived to see his only child, Raymond, who was born on the 28th March, 1916. |
||
| SMITH |
Harold Stephen |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: Harold Smith was born in Burwell on 19th June, 1889, the elder son of Alfred and Elizabeth Smith. Alfred and Elizabeths marriage was short as he died in 1895 at the age of thirty six. Their younger son, Alfred John, also died young when he was only twenty seven. Harold attended school in Burwell. After leaving he went to work on the land, as his father had done, and eventually took a job as a horsekeeper to Mr. Sadler at Manor Farm. On 9th July,1914, he married Amy Barnes in Grantchester Church. She too came from Burwell where her father was a shoemaker. Harold and Amy made their home in 3, Dove Cottages, next door to Edward Bakers family. Their only child, Alexander Harold, was born on 14th May, 1915, and wa christened in Burwell. In May, 1916 Harold enlisted in the 1st Battalion The Queens Royal Regiment (West Surreys) and was sent to France in September that year. On 23rd April, 1917, the Queens Regiment, as part of the 100th Brigade, was ordered to break the Hindenburg Line in the Sensee valley, one of its most strongly defended points. Here there was a double line of trenches, each protected in front by strands of the thickest wire to a depth of about twenty yards, and connected by the most complete system of tunnels and dugouts ever seen in the history of warfare. About every fifty yards along the line were machine gun emplacements some of them with two storeys. The plan was for the 100th Brigade to advance from the south across eight hundred yards of open country in the dark and make a frontal attack on the line. They were to hold a stretch of four hundred yards until the 98th Brigade, who were to attack from the north, joined up with them. Their east flank was to be protected by two tanks. Two companies of the Kings Royal Rifles were to follow with bombs and ammunition. The attack began well at 4.45am, and, as the first of the two German lines was thinly defended, it was soon dealt with, but trouble followed. The wire between the two lines had not been cut and the supporting gunfire, which was meant to protect the leading companies, was falling behind the German second line, so the enemy was able to man its defences and fire, unhindered, on those trying to penetrate the wire. The two tanks broke down before the attack and never turned up. The 98th Brigade failed to penetrate the line and join up and all the time The Kings Royal Rifles were trying to carry bombs and ammunition up to the front line under the most intense German shelling. By 10am the Queens had runout of ammunition and was cut of from the rest of the brigade. They were forced to retreat under heavy machine gun fire and only 43 men got back to the battalio HQ, 448 men were killed or missing. Harold Smith was one of those killed in this abortive attack and his body was never found. He is commemorated on bay 2 of the memorial to the missing in the British Military Cemetery in Arras and also on the Burwell War Memorial. |
||
| UPCHURCH |
James |
From a roll compiled by Caroline Burkitt that can be found in Cambridge Library, reference section: James Upchurch went to school in Grantchester, he wanted to join the Police force when he left, but was three quarters of an inch too short. He tried several jobs, and at one time was a gardner at Corpus Christi College, but gave that up to do jobbing gardenng. On 27th February 1913 he married Mary Priscilla Buoghen. She came from Downham Market but was in service with the Holben family at Manor Farm, as was James sister in law, Ethel Sparks. Mary and James chose to be married in Grantchester Church and her sister was their bridesmaid. After their wedding they moved into 1, Laburnham Cottages and it was there that their only child, Robert James was born. When war broke out James was called up into the 12th Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment. From June, 1915 to June,1916, the battalion was stationed in England. It then returned to France as part of the 40th Division. On 23rd November 1917, an attack was made on Bourlon wood and village. After four and a half hours of hard fighting in what is reputed to have been a brilliant military exploit, the wood was captured and the men entered the village. However, they were unable to hold the village so attacked again the next day. 24th November was another day of severe and difficult fighting, and, although two companies managed to penetrate too the north of Bourlon, the village still remained in the hands of the enemy, and on the 25th the division withdrew to the Hindenburg Line. The Battalion suffered 150 casualties and James was one of those killed. He is remebered on Panel 4 of the Cambrai memorial at Louverval Military Cemetery, another of those thousands of men who have no known grave. |
||
| WILSON |
William |
William Wilsons father worked as a shepherd and later as a country roadman. The family lived in Workhouse yard, Trumpington, where William went to school. On leaving school he took a job with a family in Chaucer road, gardening and driving the pony trap. When war was declared William immediately enlisted in the Cambridgeshire Regiment with the service number, 2596, but was later transferred to the 5/6th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). In 1916 he was serving in France and was badly wounded in the hip. He was brought home to spend some time in Hospital in Cheltenham, and while on sick leave, on 27th January, 1917, he married Constance, daughter of Roert and Cecilia Fuller of Poplar End, Grantchester. At the time of her marriage Constance was in service at Byrons Lodge, working for Mr & Mrs Marsh. After the wedding William and Constance moved into Lodge Cottage, at the entrance to Manor Lodge. Willaims hip had been so badly shattered, leaving him with one leg shorter than the other, that his family were sure that he would be able to leave the Army, but he was called back again to France. On 21st September,1918 the 5/6th Scottish Rifles attacked an enemy strong- point called "Meath Post", one mile south of the village of Villers-Guislain, after two battalions had failed to capture it. The post was taken but 14 men died in the attack, one of them being William Wilson, 132 men were wounded. Nine days later the Germans abandoned the position. William was buried in Meath Cemetery, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 9. On 24th November 1918 A memorila service was held in Grantchester Church for William Wilson, Joseph Blogg and Joseph Greygoose. Williams name is also inscribed on the Trumpington memorial. The tragedy was made even greater for the Wilson family by the fact that Williams older brothers Robert and Albert Charles, and his sisters May husband, Robert Jeffries were also killed. Only his youngest brother survived. |
||
| Also buried in the churchyard |
||||
| HASKINS | Francis Winstanley | Acting
Corporal 27909, 3rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Died
in United Kingdom 21 June 1916. Born Cambridge, resident Manchester,
enlisted London. In 1911 he was the son of Charlotte Francis Haskins,
a widow, he was a student, aged 21, born Cambridge, resident 12
Glebe Road, Bedford. In 1891 he was aged 1, born Cambridge, son
of Charles & Charlotte Haskins living in Lady Margarets Road,
Saint Giles, Cambridge. His father was a Classical Lecturer. Buried
in the South part of the second extension in GRANTCHESTER (SS. ANDREW
AND MARY) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire. See also Manchester
University. |
||
| 1939 -1945 |
||||
| CHURCH |
Benjamin |
possibly William Benjamin CHURCH,
Private 6097378 2nd Bn., The Queen's Royal Regt (West Surrey) who
died on Friday, 5th December 1941. Age 26. Commemorated on ALAMEIN
MEMORIAL, Egypt. Column 54. |
||
| NEWLING |
Henry John |
Flight Sergeant 1603523 Air Gnr. 10 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve who died on Monday, 1st January 1945. Age 21. Son of Jesse
and Florence Mary Newling, of Grantchester; husband of Margaret
Jean Newling, of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire. Buried in GRANTCHESTER
(SS. ANDREW AND MARY) CHURCHYARD. |
||
| REEMAN |
Edward Arthur |
Extract from Cambridge Daily News in 1941: GRANCHESTER
|
||
| SARGEANT |
Ronald |
Sapper 14533867 564 Field Coy., Royal Engineers who died on Thursday,
31st August 1944. Age 21. Son of Samuel John Ronald and Edith Florence
Sargeant. Buried in MONTECCHIO WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Grave II. C.
8. |
||
| STEARN |
Sidney |
Either Sidney STEARN, Gunner
1736274 79 Bty., 21 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery who died on
Monday, 29th November 1943. Age 36. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL,
Singapore. Column 31. or Sidney
Arthur STEARN, Private 5959508 Pioneer Corps who died on Tuesday,
11th January 1944. Age 33. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Stearn, husband
of Frances Lilian Stearn, of Rampton. Buried in RAMPTON (ALL SAINTS)
CHURCHYARD. |
||
| Also
listed for this parish in the Ely Cathedral Second World War Book
of Remembrance: |
||||
| HIGGINS |
Samuel Walter |
L A/c R.A.F., d 27/6/1943, age 27, buried: AMBON WAR CEMETERY, Indonesia.
Son of Samuel and Alice Lilian Higgins, of Trumpington, Cambridgeshire.
|
||
| VICKERMAN |
Herbert |
Sgt., R.A.F., d 7/6/1945, age 31, commemorated: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL,
Singapore. Son of Alfred Cooper Vickerman and Sarah Vickerman; husband
of Joyce I. Vickerman, of Granchester, Cambridgeshire. |
||
Last updated 29 October, 2025
 War Memorials Trust |
Main
page  Commonwealth War Graves Commission Copyright © Roll-of-Honour.com 2002- | GDPR Cookies Email: webmaster@roll-of-honour.com |
|
Private
202969 4th Bn., Yorkshire Regiment who died of wounds on Monday,
7th May 1917. Born and resident Grantchester, enlisted Cambridge.
Formerly 3003 Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY
EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave P. I. D. 6A.
Farrier/Serjeant
3004 Reserve Btn Suffolk Yeomanry, was taken ill on Sunday 21std
March 1915 while riding a bicycle along Cambridge Road, Ely, where
the Yeomanry were billeted. He died the next day at the city's military
hospital. Baker, aged 35, had a shoeing smith business in Grantchester
and left a wife and three children. Born Comberton, enlisted Churn,
resident of Grantchester. Son of John Edward and Minna Baker; husband
of Edith Mary Baker. of Grantchester. Buried in GRANTCHESTER (SS.
ANDREW AND MARY) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire.
Private
327898, 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died of wounds 4
September 1918. Aged 38. Born Cheddington, Buckinghamshire, enlisted
Cambridge. Son of Joseph and Sophia Blogg, of Grantchester, Cambs.;
husband of Rose Blogg, of 56, Catharine St., Cambridge. Awarded
the Military Medal (M.M.). Formerly 6235, Cambridgeshire Regiment.
Buried in DAOURS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot
IV. Row E. Grave 12. See also 
Corporal
13792 11th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Monday,
22nd May 1916. Age 29. Born Grantchester, enlisted Cambridge. Son
of Alfred and Julia Bolton, of The Fields, Grantchester, Cambridge.
Buried BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT, Somme, France.
Grave I. M. 7. Brother Walter below.
Private
3041 1st/1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regiment who was killed in action
on Thursday, 9th November 1916. Age 21. Born Grantchester, enlisted
Cambridge. Son of Alfred and Julia Bolton, of The Fields, Grantchester,
Cambs. Buried in MILL ROAD CEMETERY, THIEPVAL, Somme, France. Grave
XVIII. D. 9.
Sub-Lieutenant
Hood Bn. R.N. Div., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who died
on Friday, 23rd April 1915. Age 27. Son of the late William
Parker Brooke and of Mary Rutte Brooke, of 78 Dunchurch Rd,
Rugby. Rupert Brooke was a published poet as early as 1911.
Suffused with patriotism he was happy to die for his country
in battle. He died, not in battle but of acute blood poisoning
and was buried on the Greek Island of Skyros. Brooke left
his royalties to his friends, namely Lascelles Abercrombie,
Wilfrid Gibson and Walter de la Mare, providing them with
literary independence for the rest of their lives. Buried
SKYROS (ISOLATED GRAVE), Skyros, Greece.
Lance
Corporal 326095 "A" Coy. 1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regiment who was
killed in action on Tuesday, 31st July 1917. Age 24. Born Grantchester,
enlisted Cambridge. Son of Frederick and Phoebe Dilley, of Grantchester,
Cambs. Formerly 3048, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Commemorated on YPRES
(MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50
and 52. See also 
Corporal
326468 1st/1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regiment who was killed in action
on Tuesday, 14th May 1918. Age 25. Enlisted Cambridge. Son of James
William Gordon, of 6, Charterhouse Terrace, Grantchester, Cambridge.
Formerly 3811, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried MAILLY WOOD CEMETERY,
Somme, France. Plot II. Row K. Grave 11. See also 
Corporal
225174 7th Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who was killed in action
on Wednesday, 16th October 1918. Enlisted Cambridge. Formerly 3399,
Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in HAUSSY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Nord,
France. Grave D. 1.
Private
17240 11th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday,
1st July 1916. Age 32. Born Saxon Street, enlisted Newmarket. Son
of James Hubbard, of Saxon St., Newmarket; husband of Hilda May
Hubbard, of Laburnum Terrace, Grantchester, Cambridge. Commemorated
on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
Lance
Corporal G/13264 1st Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.)
who was killed in action on Monday, 23rd April 1917. Born Burwell,
enlisted Cambridge, resident Grantchester. Commemorated on ARRAS
MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2
Private
31890 12th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday,
24th November 1917. Born Grantchester, enlisted Cambridge. Commemorated
on CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL, Nord, France. Panel 4
Pilot
Officer 44176 Obs. 207 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on Wednesday,
13th August 1941. Age 20. Son of Edward Henry and Elizabeth Reeman,
of Grantchester. Buried in HOLTEN CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, Overijssel,
Netherlands. Grave IV. C. 7.