2312 Pte, Honourable Artillery Company. Died of wounds 20-4-15, age 23. Son of F J Gardiner & Amelia Gardiner, of Trevordale, Wisbech. His father was proprietor and editor of the Wisbech Advertiser. Eric's diary, kept from when he was called up in 1914 until his death in 1915, is now in the Wisbech Museum. Voormezeele Enclosure No 3, Belgium.

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour the following:

Volume 1, Part 1, Page148, Private Ernest Frederic ( Eric ) GARDINER, number 2312, Honourable Artillery Company. Younger son of Frederic John Gardiner, J.P. county Cambridgeshire, proprietor and editor Isle of Ely and Wisbech Advertiser, by his wife Amelia, daughter of Frederick Charles Southwell of Selbourne House, Wisbech. Born Wisbech 22-4-1892, educated Barton school Wisbeh and Mill Hills school, London.

Joined the H.A.C after the outbreak of war in september 1914, proceeded to the front at the end of January 1915 and was killed in action in the trenches at St Eloi, Belgium 20-4-15. He was buried in the grounds of Chateau D' Elzenwalle near Ypres on his 23rd birthday.

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour the following:

Volume 1, Part 1 , Page 150 - GEORGE, Ernest Frederick, Corporal , number 51, A Company, 8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles), 2nd Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Eldest son of Arthur Atherton George of Leverington, near Wisbech, by his wife Sarah, sister of Captain Thomas Elson-Ivey, 1st Oxfordshire and Buckingham L.I. (taken prisoner at Kut)and dau of Samuel Ivey, of Bristol. Born Leverington co. Cambridge23-9-1889, educated church school, wisbech. Was employed for five years with Messrs Dawbarn & Sons, Wisbech, went to Winnipeg, Canada in April 1912, and worked on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Came over with the first contingent in nov 1914, trained at Valcartier camp, Quebec and Salisbury, went to France 18-2-1915 and was reported missing after the heavy fighting at Ypres 22 to 24-4-1915.

On this occasion the 8th Battalion , commanded by Lieut-Col Lispett held the extreme left of the brigade position at the most critical moment. The Battalion was expelled from the trenches early on friday morning (23rd April) by an emission of poisonous gas, but recovering in three quaters of an hour, it counter-attacked, re took the trenches it had abandoned, and bayoneted the enemy; and after the third brigade had been forced to retire, Lieut-Col Lispett held his position , though his left was in the air, until two British Regiments filled the gap on saturday night.

It would seem George was wounded and taken prisoner, for according to a postcard received from Corporal W.S. Poser of the same battalion (himself a prisoner) George died of wounds or gas poisoning, in the red cross hospital at Roulers, 26-4-1915.

He was unmarried, his younger brother private John Robert George, served with th first Northamptonshire Regiment in France aug 1914 to march 1915 and is now (1916) with the third battalion in Gillingham.

See also Leverington.

A/36301 Pte, 4th Btn (Central Ontario) Canadian Infantry. Killed in action 7-5-16 (trenches at Hill 60, Zillebeke), age 30. Son of Lydia Mary Maxey, of 9 Henry Street, Wisbech, & the late John Thomas Maxey. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. See also Wisbech St Augustines

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour the following:

Volume 1 , Part 2, Page 222, Private Charles Pulley MAXEY, number A36301, 51st battalion ( Alberta Fusiliers ) Canadian Expeditionary Force. 3rd son of the late John Thomas Maxey of High St , Wisbech, Chemist, by his wife Lydia Mary daughter of William Davis of Dieppe. Born Wisbech 30-5-1884, educated Wisbech grammer school, went to Canada in 1905 and in 1912 took up a post with the Northern Construction Co, railroad builders.

Volunteered for Imperial service and joined the C.E.F in February 1915, came over with the Canadian contingent in the spring of 1916, trained at Shorncliffe, served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from August 1916 when being one of the crack shots of his battalion he was selected for sniping duty and was killed in action near Ypres 7-5-16 while on duty as a sniper.Buried in Maple Leaf cemetery, Zillebeke Lake.

His Officer scribed him as " One of our best men, always obedient and willing, and on the job when wanted ".