PIDLEY-CUM-FENTON WAR MEMORIAL

The memorial is located in the churchyard of All Saints Parish Church, Warboys Road, Pidley Cum Fenton, Huntingdon. It takes the form of a plain, rough hewn, Latin cross mounted on a rough hewn rectangular base with a plain shield on the front face bearing inlaid black lettering for the inscription and names. There are seven names for World War 1 and one for World War 2. The memorial was unveiled in 1920.

Extract from Hunts County News - Friday 8 October 1920, page 8:

PIDLEY WAR MEMORIAL.

The Pidley War Memorial, which is a rustic silver grey granite cross, with the names of thé Pidley-cum-Fenton fallen soldiers inscribed at the base, was unveiled on Sunday afternoon, September 26th, in the presence of a large nmber of parishioners and outsiders. During the ceremony the Union Jack was flying half-mast high, and a similar flag veiled the memorial. The service, which was most impressive, was taken by the vicar (the Rev. F. Hird) and the Rev. W. H. Hamilton, hymns 538 and 49 being sung. The vicar gave a most forcible and earnest address on the text, Deut. VIII., 2, with special reference to the fallen soldiers and the bereaved, and what the cross meant to us all as Christians. During the actual unveiling the 2nd verse of hymn 13 was sung.

At the conclusion many beautiful wreaths and flowers were placed on the cross by relstives and friends. The cross was designed and the work carried out most satisfactorily by Mr. C. W. Marsters, of St. Ives.

Cross. Source: Unknown

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM
THIS PARISH WHO FOUGHT AND DIED
IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919.

BITTEN	Charles Henry	Private 235281, 18th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) formerly 2451, Yorkshire Regiment. Killed in action 21 September 1917. Born and resident, Pidley, Hunts, enlisted Huntingdon. Buried in TORREKEN FARM CEMETERY NO.1, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Row E. Grave 11.
BITTEN	Fred	Officer's Steward 3rd Class L/4948, H.M.S. Hawke, Royal Navy. Lost in action in the North Sea when his ship was sunk by German submarine 15 October 1914. Aged 20. Born 22 September 1894 in Huntingdon. Son of Elizabeth Ann Bitten, of 8, Horkesley Crescent, Horkesley, Colchester. Native of Pidley. Admitted to Pidley Cum Fenton School, Pidley, Huntingdonshire, 20 June 1898, son of George Bitten, left to work on the land 5 May 1901. Prior to enlistment he was a Valet. height 5 feet ½ inches, chest 33 inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. In the 1901 census he was the son of geroge C and Elizabeth Bitten, aged 6, born Pidley, BHuntingdonshire, resident Royal Oak, Warboys Road, Pidley cum Fenton, St Ives, Huntingdonshire. In the 1911 census he was resident with his grandfather, Charles Macer (q widower), aged 16, born Pidley, Huntingdonshire. a House Boy, resident Great Horkesley, Colchester, Essex. No known grave. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent. Panel 7. Also listed on the Great Horkesley War Memorial, Essex
BRAYBROOK	William	Private 43056, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment formerly 1132, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Killed in action Monday, 28th August 1916 in France & Flanders. Aged 23. Born Elsworth, Cambs, enlisted Huntingdon, resident Pidley. Husband of Kathleen Braybrook, of 115, High Street, Peckham, London. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C. See also Eynesbury War Memorial
BURGESS	Albert Henry	Private 15172, 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 15 July 1916. Born Somersham, Huntingdonshire. Resident Ridley, Huntingdonshire. Joined Great Eastern Railway 17 June 1913. Enlisted Huntingdon. Permanent Way Labourer employed by Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway Committee. Buried in POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE, Somme, France. Plot III. Row G. Grave 20. See also Liverpool Street Station, London
FEW	Thomas William	Rifleman Z/754, 16th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Died of wounds 31 July 1917. Aged 36. Born Chesterton, Cambs, resident Pidley, Hunts, enlisted Rugby. Son of Alfred & Hannah Few, of Pidley. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 48.
McGOWAN	Alexander	Private 3/6742, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 11 July 1916. Born Wandsworth, Surrey, resident Pidley, Hunts, enlisted Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C.
MACKLIN	David Harold	Second Lieutenant, 4th Battalion [CWGC] or 5th Battalion (Territorial)[SDGW], Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 27 March 1918. Aged 20. Son of the Rev. Herbert W. Macklin and Marian M. Macklin, of White Wood Corner, Sandy, Beds. Buried in OVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot I. Row C. Grave 31.
THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES EVEN UNTO DEATH 1939-45
PARSONS	Bert	Private 5886283, 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Drowned whilst bathing at Pidley 5 August 1940. Aged 20. Born and resident Huntingdonshire. Served in Belgium 1940. Youngest son of Joseph & Edith J Parsons, of Pidley. Buried PIDLEY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Huntingdonshire.

Last updated 10 February, 2026