Private G/67219, Royal Fusiliers, transferred to 402nd Home Service Company, Labour Corps. Died 1st December 1918. Aged 20. Son of James and Eleanor Baker, of 79, Lynan Rd., Ely. Buried in Ely Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.

See also Ely Cemetery.

Private 42875, 1st Garrison Battalion, . Suffolk Regiment. Died at home 8th May 1917. Aged 29. Son of Rueben and Eliza Brinkley; husband of Clara Williams (formerly Brinkley), of Sluice Outwell, Wisbech. Born at Waterside. Buried in Ely Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.

 

See also Ely Cemetery.

Private 325637, 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died at home 21st July 1917. Aged 21. Son of Robert Preston Cook and Elizabeth Ann Cook, of 21, Back Hill, Ely, Cambs. Born in Brixton, Surrey and enlisted in Ely. Formerly 2306, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in Ely Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.

 

See also Ely Cemetery.

According to a letter received by his mother from Lance-Corpl. Cranwell, of Ely, the Cambridgeshire Territorials have sustained further casualties in the trenches, in addition to those that took place in the Battle of St. Eloi, in which the regiment the played such an honourable part.

The letter, which records the sad death of the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Cox, of Broad-street, Ely, is as follows:

“We came up from the trenches yesterday (Sunday), having had another 48 hours in the trenches—not the same as we were in before. This last trench was not good. At one part of the trench where I did a good deal of duty at the listening post, it was only about five yards from the German trench. One would scarcely believe it. At other parts it ranged from 10, 15 or 25 yards from the Germans. I was not sorry to get out of that.

“Poor Ted Cox was killed in that trench, shot through the head, killed instantly, and buried at the end of the trench. He appears to have exposed himself too much above the parapet. He was shot at 10 a.m. Saturday. Another fellow was shot through the wrist yesterday (Sunday). I had just taken one to the doctor’s on sick report, and it was as we were returning. He was between me and the younger Burns when he was hit by a sniper, in my opinion. There was scarcely a yard between the three of us. I and Burns, I consider, were lucky. We soon had the chap bandaged and down to the dressing station, and he is doing well. Another fellow was killed named Bedford—not from Ely.

... continues ....

HMS Vanguard sank 9th July 1917. The reason for her sinking was an explosion. Unstable cordite had exploded and set off the ships main magazine. She went down at her moorings with the loss of more than 700 lives. Only one officer and two ratings survived out of the whole ships compliment. The Vanguard was totally devastated by the explosion and now lies in 34m of water. Only 60 feet of her stern remains intact. In recent years she was declared a war grave therefore no diving is permitted. When visiting the Naval base museum on Hoy take the time to visit the Naval Cemetery. Here lies the men of the Battle of Jutland: HMS Hampshire & HMS Vanguard. Also HMS Royal Oak.

Newspaper cuttings state:

"The dreadnaught battleship Vanguard explodes at anchor in Scapa Flow on July 9th 1917"

"Then, a colossal numbing explosion extinguished the flame, and Vanguard was lost to sight in a black cloud of smoke, and bits of her began to rain down on the Fleet. A complete 12 inch gun turret, weighing over 400 tons, landed on Flotta over a mile away from the ship, and burning debris set fire to the moorland"

804 men lost their lives in the inferno, only two survived.

[CWGC lists him as EVERETT] Private 7605, 1/4th Yorkshire Regiment. Died at home 19th January 1917. Aged 22., Son of Arthur William & Rose Everett of 54, Barton Road, Ely. Buried in Ely Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.

See also Ely Cemetery.

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.

Private W. Fendick, Ely.

Ely railway men have heard with much regret the death of their fellow worker, Private W. Fendick, Waterside, Ely, killed at the front whilst serving his country. The news of the sad event was communicated to Mrs. Fendick, the widow, by her brother, Private J. Lane, who also with the Expeditionary Force in France.

Private Lane, in a sympathetic letter, states: “He was killed in action March 3rd. So far as I can gather he suffered no pain; the end was swift and sure, but it was peace. Poor Bill’s death is only one out of many that have occurred during the last month. He was very much liked by his comrades, and being a member of the St. John Ambulance he was very much missed his company.” “This is the greatest struggle in the history the world for right, and liberty,” continued the writer, "and Bill has taken his share in the risky, but honourable work. We out here must share our fate and make sacrifices for the sake of our homes and relatives in England.”

Lieut. N. B. Oakes, Officer Commanding "C” Company of the 2nd Suffolks, wrote the following to Mrs. Fendick:—"l much regret in having to inform you of the death of your husband. No. 9883, Private Fendick. I can assure you everyone in his Company and those who knew him sympathise with you in your loss. He died in action, doing his duty as a soldier.”

Private Fendick, who was a horseman at the Ely G.E.R. station, and had been in the Company’s service for about 20 years, was in the National Reserve, and, responding to the call for men, joined the 2nd Suffolks on enlistment early in the autumn. He had been at the front for some time, and his experiences included a slight accident. He slipped in a shell hole, spraining his foot, but recovered from the injury and resumed his work in the trenches. Lately, he was attached to the ambulance department, but it is not known whether he was killed whilst so engaged.

Private Fendick, who was aged 42, leaves a widow and two children, residing in Waterside, Ely. He was highly respected his Ely comrades.

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.

Private A. Layton, Ely.

Private Alfred Layton, of Broad-street. Ely, has been killed at the front. The news his death was conveyed to Ely three of his comrades, one of whom, Private H. Page, in a letter to relatives, stated that Private Layton (who belonged the Suffolk's) was filling a sandbag, when he was spotted by a German sniper. Privates Layton and Page were Sunday School chums.

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 7 July 1916, page 4:

Ely Rifleman Killed.

Rifleman J. H. Moden, Royal Rifles, was killed in action June 20th. Official notification of his death reached his parents St John’s-road, Ely, on Sunday. He joined last July, and had been at the front about three mouths.

Photograph Copyright © Simon Knott 2009

Private, 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 12 September 1917. Aged 28. Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Son of Annie Fisher (formerly Newman), of 48, Fore Hill, Ely, Cambs., and the late Joseph Newman.

In loving memory
of a dear boy
Charles Henry Newman
Killed in France September 12 1917
aged 28 Years.
Dearly Loved
& Never Forgotten
Mother

See also Ely Cemetery.

Private, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 19 April 1918. Aged 20. Buried in Suffolk Cemetery, La Rolanderie Farm, Erquinghem-Lys, Nord, France. Son of J. W. and E. A. Smith, of 13 Chiefs St., Ely, Cambs.

Photographs Copyright © David Coulton 2023

Below his mother visiting his grave possibly 1921