Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

ISLEHAM WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Dave Edwards
[Special thanks to Nick Carver for investigating this information]
additional information Tony Pringle

The memorial stands outside St. Andrew’s Parish Church and takes the form of a Celtic cross of sacrifice on plinth and base with a Sword of Sacrifice on the front face of the cross. There are 45 names for World War 1 and 14 for World War 2. The architect was Mr Thomas Dinham Atkinson. The forty-five World War 1 names are also listed on a stone memorial plaque inside the church. The unveiling of the exterior memorial is shown in a picture to be found on the Cambridgeshire Community Archives Network website.


Photograph copyright © David Male 2005	Photograph from an old postcard

To the Glory of God
and in loving and thankful memory of
the men from this parish who gave their lives in the Great War
1914 – 1919.

"Death is swallowed up in victory"

AVES	Stanley	Private 59454, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, killed in action 29 September 1918. Born Isleham 1899 to Matthew Aves and Mary Jane (nee Houghton), enlisted Cambridge. Buried in Unicorn Cemetery, Vend'Huile, Aisne, France.
BALLS	Arthur	Private 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 17 February 1917. Aged 25. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Balls, of The Pitts, Isleham, Ely, Cambs. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
BROWN	David	Private 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.). Died 24 February 1917. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Mary Brown, of lsleham Fen, Ely. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
BROWN	David	L/Corporal 2nd/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Died 13 October 1917. Aged 23. Son of Elijah and Eliza Brown, of Isleham, nr. Ely, Cambs. Buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, Seine-Maritime, France.
BUTCHER	David	Private 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died 26 September 1916. Aged 29. David, Harry and John William Butcher were brothers sons of Jonathan and Mary Butcher, of Fen Bank, Isleham, Ely. There was one surviving son (Isaac). In 1901 David Harry and John were 13, 9 and 6 respectively. Buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
BUTCHER	Harry	Private 3/7438, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 30 March 1915 in France & Flanders. Born Isleham, enlisted Norwich. David, Harry and John William Butcher were brothers sons of Jonathan and Mary Butcher, of Fen Bank, Isleham, Ely. There was one surviving son (Isaac). In 1901 David Harry and John were 13, 9 and 6 respectively. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 4
BUTCHER	John William	Private 30375, 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 10 April 1918. Born and resident Isleham, enlisted Newmarket, Suffolk. David, Harry and John William Butcher were brothers sons of Jonathan and Mary Butcher, of Fen Bank, Isleham, Ely. There was one surviving son (Isaac). In 1901 David Harry and John were 13, 9 and 6 respectively. Formerly 13254, Suffolk Regiment. Commemorated in CROIX-DU-BAC BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK, Nord, France. Special Memorial A. I.
CLARKE	George	Private 7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died 30 November 1917. Aged 26. Son of Robert and Emma Clarke, of Hall Cottage, Isleham, Ely, Cambs. No known grave. Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France.
CLARKE	Herbert	Private 35992, 75th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. Died from dysentery on Sunday the 1st December 1918 whilst serving as a driver for his unit. Son of John Clarke and Naomi Clarke, nee Human. Of eight borthers who served, Herbert was the only one who died, although others were invalided out through wounds. Buried in Deir el Belah War Cemetery, Israel.
CORNWELL, M.M. and Bar	Cecil E	Corporal 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 8 October 1918. Aged 24. Son of Mrs. Annie Cornwell, of "Lyndhurst," Church St., Isleham, Ely. Buried in Naves Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.
CORNWELL	Percy	Private 59493, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 30 October 1918. Aged 20. Son of George and Ada Jane Cornwell, of Lea Farm, Freckenham, Ely. Born Isleham, enlisted Ipswich. Buried in Premont British Cemetery, Aisne, France.
CORNWELL	Walter David	Lance Sergeant 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 20 July 1916. Aged 32. Son of Ann Cornwell, of The Grove, Isleham, Ely, Cambs., and the late William Cornwell; husband of Mercy M. Cornwell, of 21, Manchester St., Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
CURTIS	Cecil T	Private TF5997, 1st/8th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action 17 September 1916 in France & Flanders. Born and resident Isleham, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds. Cecil Curtis was 9 at the time of the 1901 census and living in Pound Lane with parents Joseph P and Mercy Curtis. Buried in COMBLES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot V. Row C. Grave 10.
DRAYTON	Victor	Lance Corporal 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 15 May 1917. Born Isleham. Victor Drayton was the son of Eliza Drayton, born in 1884. His mother did not marry until 1889 when she wed Elijah Brown, with whom Victor was living in 1901. his identity has proven hard to pin down becuase he was originally named Dolphus Victor and (not surprisngly) it would seem he dropped the Dolphus. Buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, Pas de Calais, France.
FENN	Albert [Bertie]	Private 9322, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 15th March 1917. Born Isleham, enlisted MIldenhall. Buried in Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row G. Grave 27.
FLEET	Charles Tilby	Private 6558, 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales), who was killed in action on 19 July 1916. Aged 31. Son of Walter and Elizabeth Fleet, of West St., Isleham, Ely, Cambs. Enlisted Bury St. Edmunds (Isleham, Cambs). Formerly 3083, Suffolk Regiment. Buried in Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord, France.
FLEET	Robert (W)	Gunner, "B" Battery, 317th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Died 22 December 1918. Aged 27. Son of William and Naomi Fleet, of Blacksmith Yard, West St., Isleham, Cambs. Native of Isleham. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
FLEET	Walter	Private G/15142, 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. Killed in action 7 October 1916 in France & Flanders. Born Isleham, enlisted Newmarket. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 C.
GOODCHILD	Arthur	Private 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 8 May 1915. Born Isleham in 1891. Son of William and Hannah of The Pits. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
GOODCHILD	Edward	Private 3rd Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 4 May 1917. Aged 35. Son of James and Alice Goodchild, of Isleham; husband of M. A. Goodchild, of The White Lion, Isleham, Cambs. Drowned at sea on his way to Egypt when his ship was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea on May4th 1917. He had been the village blacksmith at Isleham for 15 years. He left a widow and three children. He joined up in January 1917. (see The Newmarket Journal Saturday June 9 1917). Buried in Savona Town Cemetery, Italy.
HALL	John	Private 59479, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 8 November 1918 in France & Flanders. Born Isleham in 1899, enlisted Cambridge. Son of John and Elizabeth of West Street. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section S. Plot III. Row P. Grave 11.
HARVEY	Herbert	Private 49148, 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 10 August 1917 in France & Flanders. Born and resident Isleham, enlisted Newmarket. Husband of Rebecca Butcher, brother-in-law of the three Butcher boys listed here. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 6 and 8.
HARVEY	James	Private 3/9737, 10th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Enlisted 2nd September 1914, discharged because of tuberculosis 4th December 1915. Died 9 July 1919 at Isleham. In 1915, Lily Harvey got married. Her father is shown as being James Harvey, a Private soldier in the Suffolk Regiment. He has been traced back to his wedding, which took place on 29th April 1892 to Hannah Bird, showing his age in 1892 as 26; he was born 1866 in Isleham, son of Richard & Elizabeth Harvey [nee Gammon]. He is the brother of William (below).
HARVEY	William	Private 17507, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 20 December 1918. Aged 34. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey; husband of Elizabeth Newman (formerly Harvey), of Council Houses, Harecroft Rd., Wisbech. Born at Isleham, Cambs in 1884. He is the brother of James [above]. Enlisted 38th Decmeber 1914, discharged 8th February 1918. Buried in Wisbech Borough Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
HOUGHTON	Christopher	Private 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 26 August 1914. Born Isleham. Son of Robert and Elizabeth of Hives Drove; brother of William Victor, below. No known grave. Commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France.
HOUGHTON	William [Victor]	[Also known as Victor William] Private 16854, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916 in France & Flanders. Born Isleham, enlisted Ely. Son of Robert and Elizabeth of Hives Drove; brother of Christopher, above. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
HUMAN	Clark [William]	Private 7th Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 10 August 1917. Aged 22. Son of Josiah and Emma Human, of Pound Lane, Isleham, Ely, Cambs. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
HUMAN	Percy	Private 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 8 February 1915. Born Isleham. Son of George W and Delphine of Fen Bank and was 5 at the time of the 1901 census. He had 1 brother and 3 sisters, but his parents were still of childbearing age, so others may have followed. Buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 March 1915: KILLED IN ACTION. Local Names in the Casualty List. SUFFOLKS’ LOSSES. The past week has brought news of the t death at the front of many local soldiers, chiefly belonging to the Suffolks. Two Isleham Soldiers. Official notification has been received at Isleham of the deaths of Privates Percy Human and John Webber. Mrs. Webber has received a letter from her other son, Pte. Joseph Webber, in which states that his brother was shot through the shoulder while crossing a bridge on returning from the trenches. A sympathetic letter has also been received from the Captain of the Regiment, who was following Webber. He states that he picked up the wounded soldier and send him to the hospital, where died. The Chaplain has written saying that Webber was buried in a small churchyard at Lochre, about nine miles from Ypres. A wooden cross I with the deceased’s name burned on, marks his grave. Touching reference was made to the deceased by the vicar (the Rev. H. Wilson Robinson) at the Parish Church on Sunday evening. The rev. gentleman's concluding remarks were based on the text, Greater love hath no man than that he should lay down his life for another." At the conclusion the morning service the bell was lulled.
HUMAN	Victor	Private, G/11236, 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, killed in action on 1st August 1917, Born Impington, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Son of Mrs. A. M. Human, of 2, Field Terrace, Exning Rd., Newmarket, Cambs. Buried in Buffs Road Cemetery, St. Jean-les-Ypres, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
NEWLING	Sidney [Ward Beecher]	Acting Corporal, 9284, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 8 October 1915 in France & Flanders. Aged 28. Born Paddington, Middlesex, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds. Son of Samuel Boyce and Mary Elizabeth Newling, of Outwell, Wisbech. His father had been a Baptist Minister in Isleham. Buried in LE TREPORT MILITARY CEMETERY, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot 1. Row K. Grave 6.
PAYNE	Arthur E	[E.A. in CWGC] Private 216th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died 15 November 1917. Aged 23. Son of Mr. E. J. Payne, of Isleham, Cambs. Buried in Passchendaele New British Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
PLACE	Arthur E	Sergeant 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 7 December 1914. Born Isleham. Arthur, Thomas and Vernon Place were brothers and the sons of Charles and Mary Place of Fen Bank in Isleham. In the 1901 census, they were 16, 12 and 7 respectively. Buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. His temporary grave in 1914 and the grave he is buried in are shown below.
		Arthur (left) and Thomas (right) Place Courtesy Nick Carver 2013
PLACE	Thomas	Corporal 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 3 October 1915. Born Isleham. Arthur, Thomas and Vernon Place were brothers and the sons of Charles and Mary Place of Fen Bank in Isleham. In the 1901 census, they were 16, 12 and 7 respectively. No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
PLACE	Vernon Isaac	Private 163662, 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment). Died 13th June 1916. Born 11th April 1893 at Isleham. Son of Charles Place of Isleham Fen. Occupation Labourer. Unmarried. Enlisted 5th August 1915 in Toronto, Canada. Height 5 feet 8½ inches, girth 37 inches, complexion dark, eyes blue, ahir dark brown. Religion Church of England. Arthur, Thomas and Vernon Place were brothers and the sons of Charles and Mary Place of Fen Bank in Isleham. In the 1901 census, they were 16, 12 and 7 respectively. No known grave. Commemorated: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. National Archives of Canada Accessiuon Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7857 - 43
RAYMENT	Alfred Charles	Bombardier, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action in September 1918, aged 28. His daughter, Lilly Rayment (now Sheldrick), was born about 1918. He was the son of John & Harriet Rayment of Cambridge, one of 14 childred. Married Agnes Louisa Fleet of Isleham in Cambridge Registry Office. Agnes was the sister of Robert Fleet, who is also on the Isleham war memorial. They lived a short time in Isleham before Alfred Charles was called up for the RFA and he was buried in France.
REED	Arthur	Private 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 4 May 1915. Aged 18. Son of Frederick and Mary Reed, of Mill St., Isleham, Cambs. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
REED	George Frederick	Private 15th Battalion, London Regiment, (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles). Died 26 October 1918. Aged 18. Son of Frederick and Mary Reed, of Field Farm, Isleham, Cambs. Buried in Isleham Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
REED	James Robert	Private 1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 27 March 1917. Aged 23. Son of Joseph Reed; husband of Kate Honor Reed, of Coal Yard Drive, Isleham, Cambs. Buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.
RUTTERFORD	Herbert	Private 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 24 July 1917. Aged 31. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Rutterford, of Beck Rd., Isleham, Cambs. Buried in Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Preux, Pas de Calais, France.
SEABER	James	Acting Bomdardier 87441, 18th Div. F Ammunition Col., Royal Field Artillery. Died 11 June 1916. Born Isleham, enlisted London. Buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
SHELDRICK	Bertie	Lance Corporal 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 21 September 1915. Aged 24. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Sheldrick; husband of Gertrude Sheldrick, of 29, Gown Rd., East Dereham, Norfolk. Born at Isleham, Cambs. Buried in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
TURNER	Hills	Corporal 14272, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 30 August 1918 in France & Flanders. Born Halifax, Yorkshire, enlisted Newmarket, Suffolk. Buried in ECOUST-ST. MEIN BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Row D. Grave 36.
WEBBER	Frederick	No further information currently
WEBBER	John	Private 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 5 March 1915. Aged 21. Son of David and Martha Webber, of East End, Isleham, Cambs. Buried in Loker Churchyard, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 March 1915: KILLED IN ACTION. Local Names in the Casualty List. SUFFOLKS’ LOSSES. The past week has brought news of the t death at the front of many local soldiers, chiefly belonging to the Suffolks. Two Isleham Soldiers. Official notification has been received at Isleham of the deaths of Privates Percy Human and John Webber. Mrs. Webber has received a letter from her other son, Pte. Joseph Webber, in which states that his brother was shot through the shoulder while crossing a bridge on returning from the trenches. A sympathetic letter has also been received from the Captain of the Regiment, who was following Webber. He states that he picked up the wounded soldier and send him to the hospital, where died. The Chaplain has written saying that Webber was buried in a small churchyard at Lochre, about nine miles from Ypres. A wooden cross I with the deceased’s name burned on, marks his grave. Touching reference was made to the deceased by the vicar (the Rev. H. Wilson Robinson) at the Parish Church on Sunday evening. The rev. gentleman's concluding remarks were based on the text, Greater love hath no man than that he should lay down his life for another." At the conclusion the morning service the bell was lulled.
WHITEHAND	William	Private 8th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Died 11 September 1918. Aged 39. Son of Robert and Eliza Whitehands, of The Pitts, Isleham, Ely, Cambs. Buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Brandenburg, Germany.
ALSO IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945
BAILEY	John Henry	Private Pioneer Corps. Died 26 April 1944. Aged 41. Son of Edgar and Rebecca Bailey; husband of Ethel Bailey, of Isleham. Buried in Isleham Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
BROWN	Edmund John	Private 2nd Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died 28 January 1942. Aged 25. Son of Sidney and Lavina Brown; nephew of Mrs T. Wells, of Isleham. Cambridgeshire. Buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.
COOKE	Harry W F	Probably: Sergeant Harry William Frederick Cooke, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 27 September 1943. Buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany.
CLARKE	Kenneth Frederick	Private 8th Battalion, SuffolkRegiment. Died 25 December 1940. Aged 22. Son of Frederick William and Henrietta Clarke, of Isleham. Buried in Isleham Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
COLLEN	Desmond Owen	Sergeant 426 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 22 October 1943. Aged 21. Son of Joseph and Mercy Collen, of Isleham. Buried in Isleham Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
CORNWELL	Leslie	Private 4th Wiltshire Regiment. Died 17 March 1945. Aged 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Cornwell, of Isleham. Buried in Isleham Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
CORNWELL	Sidney Walter	Corporal 57 Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps. Died 18 August 1943. Aged 25. Son of Lewis and Susan E. Cornwell, of Isleham, Cambridgeshire; husband of Bertha Beatrice Cornwell, of Tilney-all-Saints, Norfolk. Buried in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia.
GOODCHILD	Frank	No further information currently
HARDING	Stanley	Sergeant 463 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 25 November 1944. Son of Alec and Elizabeth Harding, of Isleham, Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom.
REEVE	Arthur	Trooper 46th Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps. Died 17 January 1945. Aged 22. Son of Frederick and Sarah Ann Reeve, of Isleham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy.
REED	William	Driver Royal Army Service Corps. Died 1 February 1944. Aged 30. Son of William and Rose Reed; husband of Charlotte Reed, of Isleham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Algeria.
RADFORD	Robert Arthur	Ordinary Seaman P/JX 294856, H.M.S. Anking, Royal Navy. Died when HMS Anking, was sunk by Japanese gunfire at 06:30 on 4th March 1942. Aged 20. Son of Arthur George and Gertrude Radford, of Walthamstow, Essex.. No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 66, Column 1. Note: A squadron of Japanese heavy cruisers, led by Admiral Kondo, engaged the convoy containing HMS Anking. The squadron consisted of Atago, Takao and Maya, each armed with ten 8-inch guns, and two destroyers, Arashi and Nowaki. The cruisers opened fire while remaining outside the range of the escorts guins. HMS Anking sank in less than 10 minutes with the loss of one officer and 25 ratings.
SHELDRICK	Bertie	Probably: Sergeant Wirless Operator/Air Gunner, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 29 December 1940. Buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
STARLING	Cyril	Lance Sergeant 80 Assault Sqn., Royal Engineers. Died 26 October 1944. Aged 25. Son of Royal and Mary Ann Starling, of Isleham, Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands.

Last updated: 2 March, 2022

War Memorials Trust