Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire - Wisbech Grammar School

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & Afghanistan 2007 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Cliff Brown

The memorial takes the form of a nowy headed brass plaque, with the Wisbech Grammar School badge at the top, in a wooden frame, and is located in the main school corridor of Wisbech Grammar School, North Brink, Wisbech. There are 19 names listed for World War 1. Also commemorated is Alex Hawkins (Old Wisbechian), a casualty in the current Afghan Campaign.

Wisbech Grammar School from an old postcard

1914-1918
In memory of
the Old Boys of this school
who gave their lives for their country
in the Great War.

BOWETT	F H Leslie	568441, Cpl, Army Troops Signal Coy (London), Royal Engineers. Died of cerebro-spinal fever 14-4-17, age 21, at Norwich hospital. Worked at National Provincial Bank, Great Yarmouth. Buried Bunny (St Mary) Churchyard, Notts.
BRUCE	Nigel	Lt, 46 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Killed in action 19-9-18. Lived Harecroft Road, Wisbech. 46 Squadron based at Cappy, flying Sopwith Camels. Listed Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Also listed Wisbech.
BURALL	William Henry	160863 Cpl (despatch rider), 17th H.A.G Signal Sub Section, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 8-8-18, age 25. Son of Henry Charles & E Louisa Burall, of Queen's Road, Wisbech. Buried Maroeuil British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Also listed Wisbech.
CLEMENTS, MC	Reginald Francis	Lieutenant, 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment killed in action on 14th August 1918, age 26. Awarded Military Cross. Son of Henry & Agenes, 9 The Woodlands, Long Park, Chesham Bois, Bucks. Native of Oban, Argyll. Buried Morlancourt British Cemetery No 2, Somme, France.
CROFTS	Archibald Bertram	C8049 L/Cpl, DCompany, 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. Wounded 9-9-16 at High Wood, Somme, Died of wounds 30-11-16, at 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham. Youngest son of Henry & Charlotte Crofts, The Cherries, Elm Bridge. Buried Elm churchyard. Also listed Elm & Emneth.
DAVEY	Gordon Winsland	Fourth Mate, SS Alnwick Castle (London), Mercantile Marine. Drowned 19-3-17, submarine attack, age 21. Son of Henry & Ellen Elizabeth Davey, of 36 Nene Parade, Wisbech. Born West Hackney. Listed Tower Hill Memorial, London. Also listed Wisbech and Wisbech St Augustines.
DENNIS	John Neville	Lt, 11th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, attached 41st coy Machine Gun Corps. Died of wounds 15-10-17, age 22. Awarded Military Cross at Delville Wood. Son of John Herbert & Florence Amy Dennis, of 6 Monica Road, Wisbech. Buried Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, Nord, France. Also listed Wisbech, Wisbech St Augustines and Cambridge University Magdalene College
ENGLISH	Alfred Cecil	2nd Lt, 1/28th Battalion London Regiment (Artist's Rifles). Died 30-12-17, age 30. Son of Mrs L M English, 79 Edith Rd, West Kensington, London. Listed Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
HARE	John Alfred	2nd Lt, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in plane crash, Catterick, 1-3-17. Lived Colville Road, Wisbech. Buried Wisbech Borough Cemetery, Cambs. Also listed Wisbech.
HERCOCK	Sidney Wiles Wooll	PS/9833 Pte, Trench Mortar Battery, 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 3-5-17, age 30. Husband of C J Hercock, 8 Elm Road, Wisbech. Listed Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Also listed Wisbech. Extract from Lynn Advertiser 15 June 1917: LOCAL JOURNALIST MISSING Pte Sidney W. Hercock, of Wisbech, and weil-known in the district as a local newspaper reporter, has been missing for a month, the last news from him coming on May 2 that he was again off to the trenches. An officer of his battalion writes, in response to inquiries, that Pte. Hercock was reported missing but “a few days later our men heard from a stretcher-bearer that he had been found wounded in the face. We therefore concluded that he had got safely away to hospital.” Pte. Hercock is a son-in-law of Mr E. G. Paige, the Magdalen Road station-master. Extract from Lynn Advertiser 9 June 1917: WISBECH. MILITARY ITEMS. — Rifleman C. E. Dawbarn, son of Capt. T. R. Dawbarn, of the Wisbech Volunteers, has been discharged from the Army, suffering from shell shock. He joined the Rifle brigade early in 1916, and was transferred to the Surrey Rifles. He was fighting in High Wood on the Somme last September. — Pte. S. W. Hercock, of Wisbech, of the Royal Fusiliers, who was attached to a trench mortar battery in France, has been officially reported as missing since 3rd May.
JOHNSON	D J	Possibly David Johnson, 9264, Pte, 7th Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 10-10-17. Born Ely, enlisted Wisbech. Son of R Johnson, of 5 Prospect Place, Wisbech. Duisans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Listed Wisbech memorial.
JOHNSON	William	21688 Pte, 10th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Died of wounds 18-9-18, age 24. Son of Fred & Thirsa Johnson, of May Villas, Norwich Rd, East Dereham, Norfolk. Formerly of March Riverside, Upwell. Brother of Water Steward Johnson below. La Chapelette British & Indian Cemetery, Peronne, France.
JOHNSON	Walter Steward	1658 Trooper, 1/1st Btn Norfolk Yeomanry. Died at sea on hospital ship, dysentery 24-10-15, age 25. Norfolk Yeomanry arrived at Anzac, Gallipoli on 10-10-15. Son of Fred & Thirza Johnson, May Villas, East Dereham, Norfolk; previously Foxboro Farm, North Elmham & March Riverside, Upwell. Listed Helles Memorial, Turkey.
KETTLE	Reuben Charles	Able Seman London Z/5581, S.S. Westergate (H.M.S. President III), Royal Naval Violunteer Reserve. Drowned at sea 21 April 1918 when his ship was torpedoed. Aged 21. Born 15 May 1896 in Tydd, resident Fould Anchor, Tydd, Wisbech. Son of Rueben and Elizabeth Kettle, of Foul Anchor, Tydd, Cambridgeshire. Buried in Geffosses Churchyard, Manche, Faance. South part of the Cemetery near North wall of Church. See also Tydd St Giles and Foulanchor and Wisbech Conservative Working Mens Club
MARKHAM	John Addis	Capt, 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment Killed in action 7-5-15, age 28. Eldest son of Thomas & Henrietta Markham, Popenhoe, Emneth (later 2 Richmond Villas, Avenue Rd, Hunstanton). Commissioned 2nd Lt on 27-5-08 from Militia. Lt 3-9-10, T/Capt 15-11-14, Capt 6-2-15. Originally buried Le Bizet Convent Military Cemetery, concentrated to Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, France. From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, Volume 1, Part 1, Page 244. MARKHAM, JOHN ADDIS, Capt., 1st Battn. The East Yorkshire Regt., eldest s. of Thomas Markham, of Popenhoe, Wisbech, Norfolk, by his wife, Henrietta Jane, dau. of William Addle, of London; b. Faulkner House, Walpole-St-Peter, Wisbech, 31 Dec. 1886 ; educ. Dover College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 1st East Yorkshires from the Militia, 27 May, 1908, and promoted Lieut. 3 Sept. 1910. He was appointed temporary Capt. 15 Nov. 1914, and this rank was made substantive, 6 Feb. 1915. He went to France with the 6th Division In Sept. 1914, and was mortally wounded by a sniper's bullet in the trenches near Armentières, 7 May, 1915, and died two hours later, being buried in Le Bizet Convent; unm. Major I. L. I. Clarke, commanding 1st East Yorkshires, wrote: "I looked upon Markham as my most reliable Company Commander, always cheery and a splendid example to all under him. He was beloved by his men, and exceedingly popular with his brother officers"; and Private John Brady, of his company: "He was the gentleman who led my platoon to the trenches on the Aisne, the platoon that was the first to come under the fire of the Germans' famous coalboxes. He laughed at those shells, bucked us up, making us so that we could not do anything else but follow him." Capt. Markham was a fine horseman, and in 1913 he won the East Yorkshire's Regimental Point-to-Point Race, on his horse, Loretto. Also listed Walsoken & Emneth.
MAXEY	Charles Pulley	A/36301 Pte, 4th Battalion (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. Listed Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Also listed Wisbech and Wisbech St Augustines.
PIGGINS	Sidney J	109526 Air Mechanic 2nd Class, 5th Wing, Royal Air Force. Died Egypt 14-10-18, age 19. Buried Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel. Also listed Wisbech.
RAWLIN	Hubert J	9284 Pte, 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 7-10-16. Lived Park Street, Wisbech. Listed Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Wisbech & Walsoken.
STAGLES	Arthur	SD/5612 Pte, 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment who died of wounds 4th September 1916, age 26. Son of Harry & Hannah Stages, of Wisbech; husband of Florence May Stagles. Teacher at Victoria Road Boys' School, Cannon Street, Wisbech. Enlisted Wisbech April 1916. Born Stanningley, Yorks. Buried Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France. Also listed Wisbech.

There O Lord is the victory

AFGHANISTAN 2007
HAWKINS	Alex	Lance Corporal (Sniper), "D" Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment. Aged 22. Died at ISAF medical facility at Camp Bastion on 25 July 2007, from wounds received when an explosion struck his Vector vehicle around 0550 hourse local time while on routine patrol in the north eastern outskirts of Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was the 66th casulaty since military operations began in November 2001. Born in Kings Lynn, resident East Dereham, son of Jan and Bob Hawkins, he won a scholarship to Wisbech Grammar School. He was among nine soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, who lost their lives in Operation Herrick 6. He joined the royal Anglian Regiment in January 2003. Buried at All Saints' Church, Swanton Morley, near Dereham. Buried in the hurchyard of Mary Magdalene Church, Old Beetley. Note: The memorial plaque was paid for by The Royal Anglian Afghanistan Memorial Fund.

Last updated 10 August, 2025

War Memorials Trust