WHITTLESFORD WAR MEMORIAL

The war memorial is in church lane standing on Guildhall Corner, Whittlesford. It takes the form of a Portland stone cross with long shaft, mounted on s stepped base. there are fifteen names for World War 1 and eight for World War 2. The memorial was dedicated and unveiled on 25th January 1920. There is a scroll containing the names within the church. Details appeared relating to the memorial in the Cambridge Chronicle 28th January 1920 & 4th February 1920 and in the Cambridge Independent Press 11th February 1921, 16th September 1921 & 30th September 1921. For an extract from the Cambridge Independent Press, 6 February 1920, see below:

Whittlesford.

The Whittlesford memorial cross was also unveiled and dedicated on Sunday, January 25th. Most of the inhibitants of the village assembled at the cross roads near the Guildhall, opposite to which the cross is erected on a plot of land given by Mr. J. Tickell. Many people were also present from neighbouring villages. A service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. R. Letts, and the Congregational minister, the Rev. W. S. Thomson. Both choirs were present. The unveiling ceremony was performed by two war widows, Mrs. Overhill and Mrs. Douglas. The cross, which was erected by Messrs. Fraley and Co., of Birmingham, is of Portland stone, on a square base of the same stone, approached by three octagonal steps of green pasture stone. On the front of the base the inscription: “In grateful memory the men Whittlesford who fell in the Great War, 1914-18: 'ln hope of Eternal Life.’” On the sides are the names of the 15 fallen men. On the back is inscribed “Greater love hath no man than this, that man lay down his life for his friends." During the service the hymns “O God, our help in ages past,” "Rock of ages," ‘‘For all the Saints," and "Lord, Thou hast raised Thy hand," were sung. After the service the ministers presented a small silver cross to a relative of each fallen man, bearing his name and the date his death. The crosses were given by Mr. R. Maynerd, senior. In addition to the wreaths placed on the cross by the relatives were some from the members of the Congregational Chapel, from the Rev. and Mrs. Letts, and from the Misses Jefferson. A muffled peal was rung on the church bells at the close of the service.

Photograph Copyright © Ann Thompson 2000

IN GRATEFUL MEMORY
OF THE MEN OF
WHITTLESFORD
WHO FELL IN THE
GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918

IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

ALLEN	Percy [Walter]	Private 21073, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment. Killed in action 19th October 1916. Born Whittlesford, enlisted Norwich, resident Trouse, Norwich. Formerly 19305, Norfolk Regiment. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 6 A and 7 C. See also Liverpool Street Station, London.
ANDREWS	Reginald Rupert	Private 2827 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment who died on Monday, 19th April 1915. Died in England. Buried in WHITTLESFORD (SS. MARY AND ANDREW) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire, south of the church.
ANDREWS	Stanley Charles	Lance Corporal A/202809 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps who died on Saturday, 24th August 1918. Age 19. Son of Jane Andrews, of "Mount Pleasant," Dunfold Road, Whittlesford, Cambs., and the late William Robert Andrews. Buried in ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Grave III. K. 17.
ANDREWS	Thomas	Private 21913, 8th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) who was killed in action on Wednesday, 1st August 1917. Age 25. Born and resident Whittlesford, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Mrs. Hannah Andrews, of Duxford Road, Whittlesford, Cambs. Formerly 23169, East Surrey Regiment. Commemorated on the YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 11 - 13 and 14
CREEK	James	Private 2683, 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment who died of wounds sustained from a rifle grenade on Thursday, 11th May 1916. Born Whittlesford, enlisted Sawston. Buried in BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave V. C. 40.
DOUGLAS	Albert	Serjeant 65890, 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers who was killed in action on Monday, 22nd May 1916. Age 37. Enlisted Whittlesford. Husband of Jane Elizabeth Douglas, of Orchard Terrace, Whittlesford, Cambs. Buried in RATION FARM (LA PLUS DOUVE) ANNEXE, PLOEGSTEERT, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave II. B. 18.
EVERETT	Edward Alfred	Serjeant 63676, 190th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who was killed in action on Thursday, 11th October 1917. Age 22. Enlisted Cambridge, resident Whittlesford. Son of Henry and Maria Everett, of Whittlesford, Cambs. Buried in THE HUTS CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave X. D. 8.
HAYLOCK	Reginald James	Corporal 15106, 20th Hussars who was killed in action on Monday, 1st April 1918. Age 29. Born and resident Whittlesford, enlisted London. Brother of Mrs. D. Gladwell, of Whittlesford, Cambridge. Commemorated on the POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 6
NUNN	Edward	Private S/11067, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Killed in action 5th September 1915. Born Whittlesford, enlisted Bristol. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 38.
NUNN	Frederick	[Listed in the Cambridge Independent Press in 1916 as T NUNN] Stoker 1st Class K/15272, H.M.S. "Queen Mary," Royal Navy. Killed in action at the Battle of Jutland when his ship was sunk in the North Sea on Wednesday, 31st May 1916. Aged 26. Born 26th January 1890 in Cambridge. Son of Sarah Ann Nunn, of Duxford Road, Whittlesford, Cambs. Prior to enlistment he was a Chemical Factory Labourer. Enlisted 20th June 1912 for 12 years, height 5 feet 2¾ inches, chest 38 inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. Commemorated on the PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Panel 19.
OVERHILL	Percy Edward	Private 41003 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment who was killed in action on Wednesday, 11th April 1917. Born and resident Whittlesford, enlisted Sawston. Formerly 34376, Suffolk Regiment. Commemorated on the ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7
ROWLINSON	William [Thomas]	Private 326436 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 14th October 1916. Enlisted Cambridge. According to enlisted ments listed in the Cambridge papers of 1915 he lived at High St, Whittlesford. Formerly 3761, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 16 B.
RUNHAM	Henry	Private 204299 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment who died on Wednesday, 21st August 1918. Age 19. Son of Walter and Jemima Runham, of West End, Whittlesford, Cambs. Buried in GOMMECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY No. 2, HEBUTERNE, Pas de Calais, France. Grave V. G. 23.
RUNHAM	Reginald James	Private 2735 1st/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment who was killed in action on Sunday, 7th May 1916. Born Whittlesford, enlisted Cambridge. Buried in GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave III. R. 3.
SPEED	Charles	Lance Corporal 13781 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 1st July 1916. Age 23. Born Whittlesford, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Thomas and Ellen Speed, of Whittlesford, Cambs. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A. See also Liverpool Street Station, London
1939 — 1945
BUTCHER	Frederick	No further information currently available
CANN	Reginald	Private 5933320, 1st Battalion, The Cambridgeshire Regiment, Suffolk Regiment who died during the Japanese invasion of Singapore on Sunday, 15th February 1942. Age 25. Son of Frederick Timothy and Clara Cann, of 5, Orchard Terrace, Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. Prior to enlisting he worked for Mr. F. Gilbert, house decorator. Commemorated on the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore. Column 58. See also Sawston Village College
CHAPMAN	Robert Henry	Marine CH/X114599 H.M.L.C.M. 698, Royal Marines who died on Tuesday, 6th June 1944. Age 19. Son of Arthur Reuben and Louisa Emma Chapman, of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. Buried in BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Grave XIV. L. 13. See also Sawston Village College
HAZEL[L]	Alan Wentworth	Private 5933308, 1st Battalion, The Cambridgeshire Regiment, Suffolk Regiment, prisoner of war, who died on Thursday, 24th June 1943. Age 28. Son of Albert Seymour Hazell and Kate Hazell; husband of Joyce Elsie Hazell, of Norwich. Buried in KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Collective grave 6. G. 1-67.
HOARE	Cyril [Arthur]	Stoker 2nd Class P/KX 114395 H.M.S. Hood, Royal Navy who died on Saturday, 24th May 1941. Son of the landlord of the Waggon and Horses public house, Mr. Hoare (since 1956 the public house has been known as Tickell Arms). Commemorated on the PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 56, Column 1. See also Sawston Village College
OVERHILL	Geoffrey	Sergeant 1214571 Pilot Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Monday, 1st February 1943. Buried in KIEL WAR CEMETERY, Germany. Grave 5. C. 5.
SAUNDERS	Leonard Eversden	Warrant Officer Class II 5769437 C.S.M. 7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment who died on Saturday, 8th July 1944. Age 37. Son of George Albert and Mahala Saunders; husband of Catherine Saunders, of Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire. Buried in CAMBES-EN-PLAINE WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Row J. Grave 13.
STOCKBRIDGE	[Edward] George	Petty Officer Stoker C/KX 79768 H.M.S. Legion, Royal Navy who died on Thursday, 26th March 1942. Age 37. Son of Walter and Annie Stockbridge; husband of Agnes Mary Elizabeth Stockbridge, of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. Commemorated on the CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent. Panel 61, 1.
Also listed for this parish in the Ely Cathedral Second World War Book of Remembrance:
OLIVER	Mostyn [William]	F.O., 138 Sqdn., R.A.F., died 9/11/1944, age 21, commemorated: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey, United Kingdom. Son of Mrs. D. A. Oliver, of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. See also Tempsford Air Losses 1944.

There is also a ‘Roll of Honour’ inside the parish church in the form of an illuminated scroll in a wooden frame listing those who fell in World War 1 and where.

ROLL OF HONOUR

THE LORD IS VERY PITIFUL AND TENDER MERCY
THESE MEN OF WHITTLESFORD GAVE THEIR
1914 LIVES FOR US 1918

I BELIEVE.....IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

Last updated: 2 August, 2025