Every Man Remembered (1914 - 1918)

On 31st January 2014, the Royal British Legion launched Every Man Remembered - a campaign, in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which aimed to individually commemorate the Service men and women that gave their lives during World War One, throughout the Centenary Years (2014-2018).

In the St Ives (Hunts) District we collated the names, using existing Memorials and Archives, of our Town & Village folk that paid the ultimate sacrifice. We would like to say a special word of thanks to those that have been assisting us in this task....namely, Peter Baker MBE (St Ives), Peter Cooper (Holywell-cum-Needingworth), John Deeks (Fenstanton), Hemlocs (The Hemingfords) & Rev. Judith Dunkling (Parish of the Holy Spirit, Dovecot, Liverpool).

Visit our EMR Facebook page......."St Ives Remembers"

This will keep you all informed of commemorations already held as well as those planned. 

Commemorations for our Fallen of 1914:

26th August 2014 - Private 8363 Arthur HULL, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt. resident of Hemingford Grey - commemoration was held at St James' Church, Hemingford Grey on Sunday 24th August

22nd September 2014 - Stoker K/12517 Lenham YATES, Royal Navy HMS Aboukir resident of Hilton, also Stoker SS102594 William James SADLER Royal Navy HMS Aboukir - commemoration was held at Hilton Lychgate Memorial

9th November 2014 - Private 10132 William RODEN, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt. resident of St Ives - commemoration was held at St Ives Remembrance Day Parade, Sunday 9th November

16th November 2014 - Private 6703 William HOOKHAM, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt. resident of Hemingford Grey - commemoration was held at St James' Church, Hemingford Grey, Sunday 16th November

Commemorations for our Fallen of 1915:

Sunday 8th March 2015 - Private 16042 Bertram Carnac YATES, 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regt who gave his life on 14th March 1915. Resident of Hilton, son of William and Mary Yates of The Old Post Office (Hilton), brother to Lenham Yates who also gave his life on 22nd September 1914.  Bertram Yates is also commemorated at Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais.

Sunday 3rd May 2015 - Private 8776 Joseph MANSFIELD, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt who gave his life on 19th April 1915 (ages 26) son of Elizabeth Seekings and stepson to George Seekings of Overcote Lane, Needingworth.  Also, Private 2548 Harry ATTWOOD, 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers who gave his life on 24th May 1915 (aged 23) son of William & Emma Attwood of Church Street, Needingworth.....both men fell in what was to become known as the Second Battle of Ypres.  The offensives began on 17th April with the Battle for Hill 60 and carried on until 25th May 1915 with 4 major phases at Gravenstafel Ridge, St Julien, Frezenberg Ridge and Bellewaerde Ridge.  Both men are also commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Wednesday 27th May 2015 - Stoker K/23801 Clement Metcalfe FREEMAN, RN HMS Auxiliary Ship Princess Irene who gave his life on 27th May 1915 (aged 20) son of Henry & Ellen Freeman.  On that date in 1915, whilst serving aboard HMS Princess Irene during it being converted to an auxiliary Minelayer, the ship exploded killing 352 persons, 273 Officers and Men as well as 76 contract workers. He is also commemorated at the Chatham Naval Memorial

Tuesday 16th June 2015 -  Private 17897 Frederick EASTON, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regt who gave his life on 16th June 1915 (aged 30) son of Samuel & Sarah Easton of High Street Needingworth.....  Also,  Private 2871 William George HAMMOND, 2nd/4th Battalion Cameron Highlanders who gave his life on 16th June 1915 (aged 19) son of William & Charlotte Hammond of George St, St Ives.  Both men's Battalions entered into the Second Action of Givenchy and were involved in close combat, hand-to-hand fighting.  They are also commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais.

Sunday 9th August 2015 - Sergeant 11408 Bert ATTWOOD, 7^th(Service) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who died on 8^th August 1915 aged 23 was the son of Samuel & Eliza Attwood of Cumberland Place, St Ives. Bert was born in 1892 and raised in St Ives, the Census of 1911 shows that Bert Attwood was now living in Little Paxton, boarding as a Farm Labourer with William & Amy Bruce. Following training, his Battalion sailed from Avonmouth in June 1915 and landed in Alexandria to prepare themselves for an assault on Gallipoli. The entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between 3^rd & 5^th August. They were in action at the Battle of Sari Bair and the Battle of Russell’s Top between the 6^th to 10^th August, only a couple of days after landing. Bert fell on the 8th August and is commemorated at the Embarkation Peir Cemetery, Gallipoli

Sunday 30th August 2015 - Private 3758 Henry Thomas ALLEN,  1st/4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, who died on 31^st August 1915 aged 35 was the son of James & Eliza Allen of Hilton Road and Church Street, Fenstanton and had 7 brothers and sisters.  His Battalion was part of the Midlands Brigade, East Anglian Division, formed in Northanpton. It moved to Bury St Edmunds and St Albans before sailing to the Island of Lemnos in July 1915, landing at Suvla Bay in early August. From 21^st August they were involved in the Battle of Scimitar Hill, the largest battle of the Gallipoli campaign.  Henry fell on 31st August  and is commmeorated on the St Ives Memorial and at the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, Gallipoli.

Friday 25th September 2015 - Major Henry Charles Walter HOSKYNS DSO,  D Company, 1^st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, who died on 25^th September 1915 aged 40 was the son of Rev. Charles William & Elizabeth Annie Hoskyns of Holywell Rectory.  Henry was born in Spilsby, Lincolnsire on 28^th June 1875 and was educated at Rugby School and Clare College, Cambridge.  He was gazetted into the Lincolnshire Regt in 1898 and served in South Africa from 1900 to 1906.  During his time in Africa he was involved in saving the life of one of his men during a bathing parade when the strong current swept the man into a place infested with sharks.  For his actions Henry was awarded Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal.  Henry was promoted through the ranks to Major, on 16^th Feb 1915 he was awarded the DSO for gallantry and distinguished service in the field during the Battle of Aisgn. Henry fell on the 25^th September at the Battle of Loos and is also commemorated at the Ploegsteert Memorial

Sunday 27th September 2015 - 2^nd Lieutenant Dudley Haldane WATTS, 8^th Battalion Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, who died on 26^th September 1915 aged 26, was the son of William and Lucy Watts of 107 Church St, West Garth, St Ives.  Dudley Watts was born in St Ives in 1890.  In 1911 he was single and resided in St Albans and as Law Student, was studying for his career in Law.  He enlisted on the 7^th Aug 1914 at the outbreak of War.  His Regiment proceeded to France on the 30th of August 1915, landing at Boulogne. In early September 1915, the Division were concentrated in the area between Etaples and St Pol and a few days later marched across France into the reserve for the British assault at Loos.  Dudley Haldane Watts fell on 27^th September 1915, he is also commemorated on the Loos Memorial

Sunday 11th October 2015 - Private Cyril WALKER, 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment who died on the 13th October 1915 aged 19, was the son of Arthur & Emma Walker of Needingworth Road, St Ives.  Cyril was born in 1895 and had 5 brothers and sisters.  In 1901 he was living with his grand-parents in Lincolnshire and in 1911 he was an unmarried Farm Labourer living in Methwold, Norfolk.  He enlisted into the Norfolk Regiment in October 1914.  From 30th September 1915 his regiment were involved in the Battle of Loos and during the height of this battle his unit repelled several infantry attacks and finally, on the 13th October, captured their main objectives of Gun Trench and Hulluch Quarries.  Cyril was killed during this action on 13th October.  He is commemorated on the St Ives Memorial and also on at the Loos Memorial.

Sunday 11th October 2015 - 2nd Lieutenant Dennis Ivor DAY, Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery 106th Battery died on 7th October 1915 aged 23, was the son of George Dennis & Margaret Jade Day of "Rheola", St Ives and also brother to Miles Jeffrey Game Day, who also fell on 27th February 1918.  Dennis was born in 1892, studied at Repton School and St John's College, Cambridge.  He was quite a sporting celebrity of the time.  He was a sculler, rowing at Henley and, as Bow Man, was in the successful 1914 Cambridge University Boat Race crew, the last Boat Race before the outbreak of War.  On the 25th September 1915 during the Battle of Loos at Vermelles, Dennis was shot by a sniper and severely wounded.  His parents were called for, and crossed the Channel to Boulogne to be at his side, but he never regained consciousness and died on the 7th October.  His body was brought home to be buried in the family grave at Broad Leas Cemetery

Thursday 22nd October 2015 - Captain The Hon. Coulson Churchill FELLOWES, 1st Life Guards died on 22nd October 1915, was the son of 2nd Baron de Ramsey (William Henry Fellowes) and Lady de Ramsey (Rosamond Jane Fellowes) of Ramsey Abbey.  He was born on 8th February 1883, twice married and father to 3 children, Diana Rosamond, Ailwyn Edward and John David Coulson.  After choosing a military career, in 1913 he became aide-de-camp to the Governor of Madras, was a member of the Reserve of Officers and gazetted in the Life Guards in August 1914. Soon after the declaration of war, his regiment moved to France as part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade and saw action at Mons, the subsequent withdrawal to and beyond the Marne, the decisive Battle of the Marne and was heavily involved at the First Battle of Ypres (Oct/Nov 1914).  He was invalided home from France following injury at the Battle of Ypres and sickness caused through exposure in the trenches in November 1914.  He died in hospital on Friday 22nd October 1915 aged 32 and was buried at the family grave in Ramsey Churchyard.

Sunday 29th November 2015 - Private 17685 Leonard Ernest BECK, “C” Company 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on the 28^th November 1915 aged 18, and is buried at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy (Pas de Calais). Leonard was born in 1897, son to John & Jane Beck of The Thatched Cottage, Potton Road, Hilton. On the Census of 1911, at the age of 14, he is listed as being a Farm Boy living at home.  It’s unsure exactly when he enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regt., but during November 1915 his unit, alongside the 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regt., were in the front-line defending trench positions at Givenchy, Bethune, Ferme du Roi and were under continual heavy enemy bombardment.  Leonard fell in these actions on the 28^th November 1915.

Sunday 6th December 2015 - Private 13815 John HODGE, 6^th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment died on 5^th December 1915 aged 28, was the son of John & Sarah Hodge of Edwards Yard, St Ives.  John was born in 1887 and had 8 brothers and sisters.  In 1901 he was still living at home in St Ives with his parents but in 1911 he was working as a Farm Labourer living in Lincolnshire. He enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment in early 1915 and his unit was dispatched to Gallipoli.  The Battle of Scimitar Hill in Nov/Dec 1915 was the most intense battle of the campaign, and the last British/ANZAC offensive before the mass evacuation of British troops in Jan 1916.  John was critically injured in the offensive and transported onto the Hospital Ship “Masalla”, but he died of his injuries on the 5^th December. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

Sunday 6th December 2015 - Driver 1252 Matthew John BIGGS,  2^nd/1^st Renfrew Fortress Coy, Royal Engineers who died on 5^th December 1915 aged 29, was the son of William & Annie Biggs, husband to Jemima Biggs and father to William George & Jessie Pentland Biggs. Matthew was born on the 29^th December 1885 at Mayhill Barracks, Glasgow, in 1908 he married Jemima Pentland and their 2 children, William & Jessie, arrived in 1909 & 1911.  On the 16^th May 1915 Matthew enlisted into the Royal Engineers and following training in Paisley his unit was sent to St Ives on the 24^th November 1915 to await their posting to the Western Front.  On the 5^th December 1915 a tragic accident occurred…… whilst out for a walk on a cold, dark, wet winter’s evening, Matthew passed behind the Parish Church heading towards The Thicket when he fell into the flooded River Great Ouse and drowned.  His body was discovered the next day and following inquiry and inquest, he was buried with full Military honours in Broad Leas Cemetery, the funeral was attended by his Widow, Father, Brother, Sister and large numbers of the St Ives community.  It was reported in the Hunts Post of the day that Matthew’s death cast a sad shadow over the Town.  He is also commemorated on the Paisley Memorial.

Sunday 20th December 2015 - Private 12608 George JAKINS, 9^th Battalion Suffolk Regt., died on the 20^th December 1915 aged 21.  George was born in 1894, and was the second child to Joseph and Julia Jakins, living in Miller’s Cottage, Hemingford Grey.  He was a 20-year-old Farm Labourer when he volunteered to join the Suffolks early in the war.  In October of 1915 the 9^th Battalion had been transferred to the 6^th Battalion Suffolk's and in December of that year were involved heavy fighting around the Hooge Crater in Flanders.  It was during this action that George was critically wounded.  He is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

Sunday 20th December 2015 - Private 4/7330 John WARRINGTON, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., died on the 31^st January 1915 aged 22.  John was born in 1893, son to retired village bobby Samuel Warrington and his wife Lucy Maria.  As John enlisted into the 1^st Battalion Beds, it can be assumed he was either a Regular at the outbreak of war or volunteered immediately.  In January 1915 his unit were holding trench positions in the Drancoutre, Wolverghem region, alongside many other Regiments.  John was killed in this action on the 31^st January and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Commemorations for our Fallen of 1916:

Sunday 3rd April 2016 - Private 16407 Cornelius Charles HOWES, 8^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on the 19^th April 1916 aged 21.  Corrie was born in 1894 and was one of 8 children to Charles and Betsy Howes of Kings Ripton.  In the 1911 Census ‘Corrie’ was listed as being a Farm Labourer, living at home with his family.  He was a 20-year-old when he volunteered to join the Bedfordshire Regiment early in the war.  On the 19^th & 20^th April 1916 whilst defending their trench positions at Yser Canal near Ypres, his Battalion faced a heavy enemy artillery bombardment. A particularly effective enemy raid on the heels of the barrage on the night of the 19th saw the Battalion lose sections of trench and suffer the level of casualties only usually seen in a full scale assault. Over the course of those 2 days the Battalion lost almost 250 men.  Corrie Howes fell on the 19^th April and is commemorated here in his Kings Ripton home, as well as the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Sunday 24th April 2016 - Private 10871 Henry BOWLES, 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, who died on 20^th April 1916 aged 18.  He was the son of Albert & Elizabeth Bowles of Red Hill Farm, Fenstanton and 9 Cottage, Knapwell and had 6 brothers and sisters.  Henry was born in 1898 and raised in Fenstanton, in the Census of 1911 he was a Farm Boy living with his family.  At the outbreak of war he enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regt and, following training his Battalion was posted to Landguard Fort, Suffolk as part of the East Coast Defence Force, where they provided coastal defence against the threat of invasion whilst training recruits.  It was reported that Henry died in a drowning incident on the 20^th April 1916 whilst serving at Landguard Fort, he is buried at Felixstowe New Cemetery and commemorated here in Fenstanton.

Sunday 24th April 2016 - Sergeant 952 Robert KIDDLE, 1^st/7^th Battalion London Regiment, who died on 25^th September 1915 aged 20 was the son of Edward and Eleanor Osborne Kiddle of St Ives and had 9 brothers and sisters.  Robert was born in 1895 and in the 1901 Census was living with the family in St Ives.  In 1911 he resided in Tottenham, North London whilst serving an apprenticeship to be an Upholsterer, with a view to joining the family Furnishing business in St Ives.  At the outbreak of war Robert enlisted into the London Regiment and, with his unit mobilized and posted to Le Harve in March 1915.  On the 25^th September 1915 the Battle of Loos commenced, Robert was one 6,000 to be killed in the first 2 days.  He is commemorated at the Loos Memorial and here in Fenstanton

Sunday 8th May 2016 -  Private 1224 Albert Edward GOLDING,  17^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, who died on 12^th May 1916 aged 22.  He was one of 3 children to Albert William & Minnie Golding of ‘The Holmes’, St Ives.  Albert was born in 1894 in Oakington, in the Census of 1901 the family resided in Dobson’s Lane, Swavesey with Albert’s father working as a Railway Signalman.  By 1911 the family had moved to St Ives and Albert was then working as a Draper’s Assistant.  We are unsure as to when Albert enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers but on the 12^th May 1916 he was killed in his unit’s action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, and is buried at Bruay Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais and commemorated here in St Ives.

Sunday 8th May 2016 -  2^nd Lieutenant Cecil Hubert WRIGHT-INGLE, 19^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, later 2^nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, who died on 30^th April 1916 aged 32.  He was the son of George Wright and Flora Wright-Ingle and had 3 brothers and sisters.  Cecil was born in 1883 in Barnet/Finchley. In the 1901 Census Cecil was a student studying at Malvern College, Worcestershire and was later to qualify as a Barrister at Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1910.  By 1911 Cecil was living with his family at ‘Linkwood’, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne and working in Law.  At the outbreak of war Cecil enlisted into the 19^th Btn. Royal Fusiliers, made Lance Corporal in May 1915 and was commissioned in July 1915.  In April 1916 his Royal Fusilier Battalion was disbanded and he was re-commissioned into the 2^nd Battalion Leinster Regt.  Just after midnight on the 30^th April 1916, Cecil’s unit was involved in a sustained enemy gas attack at Wulverghem, supported by a heavy assault on trench positions.  It is believed Cecil fell in this action.  He is commemorated at the Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Memorial and also the Hilton Lychgate Memorial. 

Sunday 19th June 2016 - Private 22227 Daniel GRAY, 5^th Battalion ‘Duke of Edinburghs’ Wiltshire Regiment, who died on 18^th June 1916 aged 26.  He was one of 10 children to William and Alice Gray of Ivo Villas, Needingworth   Road, St Ives.  In 1911 Daniel was listed as a Letter Press Printer and by the outbreak of war was working away from home.  He enlisted into the 5^th Battalion (Duke of Edinburghs) Wiltshire Regt and served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force campaign in Gallipoli before being withdrawn to Egypt and then reforming in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) in April 1916 at the defence of Kut-al-Amara.  Daniel fell on 18^th June 1916 and is commemorated at the Basra War Cemetery, Iraq

Sunday 19th June 2016 - Lance Corporal 106274 Robert James HARRISON, “B” Sqdn, 1^st Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, who died on 6^th June 1916 aged 26.  He was one of 9 children to William Sparrow & Emily Harrison of Cromwell Place, St Ives.  Robert was born in 1889 and in 1901 the family was living in Crown St., St Ives.  In 1907 Robert emigrated to Canada and the Canadian Census of 1911 shows him living with 2 of his brothers in Brandon, Manitoba working as a farmer.  Robert enlisted into the 1^st Btn Canadian Mounted Rifles in December 1914 and they arrived in France in September 1915.  The weather was such that they soon had to abandon their thoughts of being a Mounted unit and revert to an Infantry Battalion.  On the 2^nd June 1916 the enemy launched a major assault at the Battle of Mount Sorrel in which 80% of the Robert’s Battalion were either killed, wounded or captured. Robert fell on 6^th June 1916 and is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Friday 1st July 2016 - 2^nd Lieutenant Noel Beaumont SOUPER, 6^th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regt., who died on 1^st July 1916, first day of the Battle of the Somme, aged 39.  Noel was born on 20^th December 1877, son to Rev’d Francis Abraham & Fanny Emmeline Souper at The Meads, Eastbourne.  By 1888 Noel’s mother had died and in 1891 he was a scholar at South Hill, Paignton Devon.  At this time Noel’s father had remarried and was running a Seaman’s Home in Brixham.  Between 1893 and 1897 Noel was in Canada where he tried his hand at being a farmer and school master, returning to the UK in June 1897 where his father and stepmother were now living at the Vicarage, Hilton his father being the Vicar.  Noel studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge before returning to Canada as a School Master in June 1905, here he later met and married Rosalie Frances Noire in April 1910.  At the outbreak of War, Noel enlisted into the 15^th Gordon Highlanders as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and following his transfer back to the UK, was re-commissioned into the 6^th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regt.  On that morning, the 1st July 1916 just after 7.30am, Noel’s unit were advancing on Machine Gun positions at Casino Point alongside the Montauban-Mametz Road.  He was killed during this action.  Noel is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial and also at the Hilton Lychgate Memorial.

Sunday 10th July 2016 at St Ives Parish Church we remembered the Victims of The Battle of the Somme (July to December 1916) from St Ives:

Private 3476 Frank Leonard GEESON 1st/13th Kensington Btn (London Regt) who died on 1st July 1916 aged 22..... Corporal 16931 Archibald Dennis WOODS 10th Btn Worcestershire Regt who died on 10th July 1916 aged 27..... L/Corporal 17741 Walter Thomas HURL 2nd Btn Bedfordshire Regt who died on 30th July 1916 aged 27..... Private 203348 Charles Richard BUTLER 1st/5th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt who died on 19th Aug 1916 aged 23..... Private 20711 John William BATEMAN 1st/5th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt who died on 22nd Aug 1916 aged 29

..... Private 267519 Alfred TASKER 1st/4th Ox & Bucks Light Infantry who died on 23rd Aug 1916 aged 23..... Private 30218 William LINCOLN 14th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt who died on 7th Sept 1916 aged 35..... Private 30270 Herbert POPE 14th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt who died on 3rd Sept 1916 aged 30.... Private 18801 James Charles FEAREY 8th Btn Bedfordshire Regt who died on 15th Sept 1916 aged 39..... Private 20316 Richard John LISTER 8th Btn Bedfordshire Regt who died on 15th Sep 1916 aged 32..... L/Corporal 13028 Bertram Arthur CLACK 2nd Btn Coldstream Guards who died on 16th Sept 1916 aged 25..... Private 24244 Arthur Henry KINSHOTT 8th Btn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who died on 25th Sept 1916 aged 33..... Private 18759 Frederick Arthur DUNKLIN 2nd Btn Bedfordshire Regt who died on 12th Oct 1916 aged 26..... Private 20855 William Charles BROWN 1st/8th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt who died on 12th Nov 1916 aged 21..... Corporal 20774 Robert Freeman MOULTON 1st/8th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt who died on 12th Nov 1916 aged 19..... Private G/21222 David HODGE 7th Btn Royal West Surrey Regt who died on 18th Nov 1916 aged 27..... and Private 43109 George Housden DELLAR 1st Btn Bedfordshire Regt who died of wounds on 4th Dec 1916 aged 26.

Sunday 17th July 2016 at Abbots Ripton Church we remembered the Victims of The Battle of the Somme (July to December) from Abbots Ripton:

L/Corporal 3963 Harry TOMPKINS 1st/16th Btn London Regt (Queen's Westminster Rifles) who died on 1st July 1916 aged 26..... Private 14976 William SHARMAN 26th Btn Company Machine Gun Corps who died on 18th July 1916 aged 20..... Private 13270 Alfred TUCK 5th Btn Northamptonshire Regt who died on 5th Aug 1916 aged 19..... Private 5040 James JORDAN 1st/8th Btn Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire) Regt who died on 5th Sept 1916 aged 41..... Corporal 8660 Frederick James GAILER 2nd Btn Bedfordshire Regt who died on 12th Oct 1916 aged 30

Sunday 21st August 2016 -  Private 20745 Edgar Joseph COLBERT, 1^st/5^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt., formerly Private 768 Hunts Cyclist’s Battalion, who died on 18^th August 1916 aged 22.  Edgar was the son and one 6 children to Lewis & Emma Colbert of Broughton and worked as a Farm labourer.  Like many Hunts Cyclists, he was posted to the Royal Warwickshire Regt due to their huge losses on the first day of the Somme.  His unit was involved in the Battle of Pozieres Ridge during the Somme Offensive from 23^rd July 1916.  He fell on the 18^th August 1916 and is also commemorated the Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille

Sunday 21st August 2016 - Private 43120 Albert Fordham ABBOTT, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., formerly Private 1682 Hunts Cyclist’s Battalion, who died on 4^th September 1916 aged 21.  Albert was the son and one of 3 children to Jonas & Sarah Ann Abbott of Bluntisham and worked as a Grocer’s Apprentice.  His unit was involved in the Battle of Guillemont during the Somme Offensive from the 3^rd September 1916.  He fell on the 4^th September 1916 and is also commemorated at the Theipval Memorial

Sunday 4th September 2016 - Private 307706 Thomas MASON, 1^st/8^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt., formerly Private 1563 Hunts Cyclist’s Battalion, who died on 27^th August 1916 aged 23.  Thomas was the son and one 6 children to John Beck & Elizabeth Ann Mason of Fenstanton and worked as a Coal Merchant’s Clerk.  On the Census of 1901 & 1911 the family were living at Grenville House, London Road Fenstanton.  Thomas enlisted into the Hunt’s Cyclists in August 1915 but owing to heavy losses on the first day of the Somme a draft of the Hunts Cyclists were posted to the 8^th Royal Warwickshire Regt.  He fell on the 27^th August 1916 and is also commemorated the Theipval Memorial

Sunday 4th September 2016 - Private 17102 Richard BOWERS, 7^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt. who died on 27^th September 1916 aged 22.  Richard was the son and one of 4 children to John & Jane Bowers of Fenstanton.  The Census of 1901 shows the family living at Rectory Farm, Papworth Everard and Richard working as a Farm Labourer.  By 1911 the family had moved to West End Farm, Hilton Road Fenstanton which was run by the Munns family.  Richard’s unit were involved in the Battle of Thiepval Ridge which commenced on the 26^th September, he fell in battle on 27^th September and is also commemorated at the Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel

Sunday 11th September 2016 -  Lance Corporal 32817 Percival George HARRADINE, 36^th Company Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) who died on 7^th October 1916 aged 22. Percy was the son of David & Mary Ann Harradine who, in the 1901 Census, were living in Latterbury Farm.  In 1911 they resided in St Ives Street, Hilton with Percy being listed as a Farm Labourer.  Percy enlisted in Grantham in April 1916 and was posted to the Machine Gun Corps which became part of the 12^th (Eastern) Infantry Division.  From 1^st October his unit was involved in the Battle of le Transloy Ridge and it was reported that, having already been injured, he was hit again by shrapnel whilst being transported to a dressing station. Percy died of his wounds on the 7^th October and is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial.

Sunday 11th September 2016 - Sapper 97873 Frank William HURST, 156^th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers who died on 9^th September aged 45.  Frank was son and one of 8 children to George & Annie Hurst of Hilton, between 1871 and 1901 they lived in Potton Road and London Road, Hilton.  By 1911 Frank had left home and was listed as a ‘boarder’ with John & Minnie White in Hilton.  Being posted to the Royal Engineers and coming from a family of Carpenters, Frank must have held particular skills.  His unit joined the 16^th (Irish) Division in August 1915 and in September 1916 were involved in the Somme battle at Guillemont, in which the Division captured the village, and also involved in the Somme battle at Ginchy where Frank fell on 9^th September.  He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial.

Sunday 18th September 2016 - Corporal 22158 John Victor MULLEY, 9^th Battalion Suffolk Regt. who died on 16^th September 1916 aged 31.  John was born in Ipswich in 1885 and was married to Sarah Hull in 1915. Sarah was previously married to Arthur Hull who was the first from our District to fall in 1914.  He fell at Flers-Courcelette and is also commemorated at Theipval Memorial

Sunday 18th September 2016 - Private 30319 Frederick LILLEY, 14^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt. who died on 24^th September 1916 aged 19.  He was the son of George & Mary Lilley and worked at Marshall’s Brewery in Huntingdon.  He was to die as a result of leg wounds and is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte

Sunday 18th September 2016 - Lance Corporal 3/7414 Harry HAYES MM, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regt. who died on 13^th October 1916 aged 26.  He lived with his Uncle William & Aunt Eliza Burbage and was a farm labourer.  Harry was to receive the Military Medal for acts of bravery in the field and died of wounds sustained the battle of Le Transloy.  He is buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’abbe.

Sunday 18th September 2016 - Driver T4/212011 Frederick John DOO, 668^th Royal Army Service Corps who died on 11^th November 1916 aged 24.  Fred was the son of John & Charlotte Doo and in August 1916 enlisted into the 3^rd East Anglian Field Ambulance Corps (RASC) whilst working in Palmer’s Green, London.  He fell sick following inoculations and after months of illness, passed away at St Mary’s Hospital, Worthing.  He is buried in Hemingford Grey Cemetery.

Sunday 13th November 2016 - Private 27956 Fred TRUNDLEY, 7^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers who died on 13^th November 1916 aged 22.  Fred was the son of James & Ada Trundley and was born on 11^th January 1894 in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire.  His marriage to Nellie Louise on 27^th September 1913 was registered in St Ives, and they had 2 daughters, Ada born in 1914 and Winifred born in 1916.  In 1916 the family resided at The Folly, Old Hurst which was a cottage adjacent to where the A141 turn off to Broughton is now.  Fred served with his Unit in the Battle of the Somme from 24^th July 1916.  On 6^th November a 7-day artillery barrage began in preparation for the assault on the village of Beaucourt, with the attack commencing at 5.45am on the bitterly cold morning of the 13^th November.  Fred’s Unit suffered terrible losses during this assault and he fell on the 13^th November before Beaucourt was captured.  Fred is buried at Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel

Sunday 26th February 2017 - Corporal 19500 James John HAND, 4^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, who died on 8^th February 1917 aged 21.  He was one of 6 children and son to Walter and Sarah Ann Hand of Nicholas   Lane, St Ives and is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial.

Sunday 26th February 2017 - 2^nd Lieutenant Gilbert Cecil HIGH, 2^nd/6^th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, who died on 14^th March 1917 aged 26.  He was son to William and Emma Ruth High of 21 Princes Road, Great Yarmouth.  He was commissioned as Officer on 13^th December 1915 and is buried at the Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont.

Sunday 26th February 2017 - Lance Corporal G/32282 Ernest Arthur CLEMENTS, 9^th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, who died on 15^th March 1917 aged 22.  He was one of 4 children and son to William and Annie Clements of 4 Green Street, St Ives and is buried at the Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery.

Sunday 26th February 2017 - Sergeant L/6486 Herbert Edward PICKERING, 6^th Battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment, who died on 31^st March 1917 aged 31.  He was born in Battersea and a regular Soldier.  He married Ellen Louisa Payne of Prospect Place, St Ives in 1909 and is buried at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras.

Sunday 2nd April 2017 @ St Ives we remembered the Victims of The Battle of the Arras (April to May 1917) from St Ives:

Trooper 6219 Roger Tom JUGGINS, 11^th Battalion Australian Infantry who died on the 15^th April 1917 aged 31 and is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial..... Private 43107 Herbert BUTLER, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on the 23^rd April 1917 aged 32 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial..... Private 43108 Percy Edward BYATT, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on the 23^rd April 1917 aged 28 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial ..... Corporal 18891 Reginald SECKER, 4^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on the 29^th April 1917 aged 34 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial

..... Shoeing Smith 123815 Herbert NOBLE, 59^th Division Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Field Artillery who died on the 30^th April 1917 aged 25 and is buried at the Bray Military Cemetery and commemorated at the family grave in St Ives Westwood Road Cemetery..... Corporal G/24196 Frank BOWD, 4^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers who died on the 3^rd May 1917 aged 23 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial..... Private G/18186 George Perry FYSON, 7^th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regt.), who died on the 3^rd May 1917 aged 27 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial and the family grave at St Ives Westwood Road Cemetery..... Private 42700 Wilfred Ebenezer HARRISON, 10^th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died on the 5^th May 1917 aged 34 and is buried at the Tilloy-les-Mofflaines Military Cemetery..... Private 23518 Harold KIRBY, 9^th Battalion East Surrey Regt., who died on the 6^th May 1917 aged 34 and is buried at St Ives Broad Leas Cemetery..... Sergeant PO/790S William Osborne KNIGHTS MM, 2^nd Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry who died on the 7^th May 1917 aged 27 and is buried at St Ives Westwood Road Cemetery..... Private G/9244 Frederick METCALFE, 6^th Battalion Queens (Royal West Surrey Regt.) who died on 12^th May 1917 aged 39 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial.

Sunday 16th April 2017 - Private G/21064 William Martin TURNER, 3^rd Battalion The Buffs  (East Kent Regt.) who died at home on 6^th April 1917 aged 19.  He was son and one of 3 children to Charles & Susan Ann Turner of High Street, Needingworth and is buried here at St John the Baptist Churchyard, Holywell

Sunday 16th April 2017 - Private 32507 Herbert Ernest Prior GAUNT, 5^th Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry who died on 9^th April 1917 aged 22, during the attack at Scarpe and is commemorated at the Beaurains Road Cemetery also... Private 43426 Cyril Prior GAUNT, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 23^rd April 1917 aged 20, during the attack at La Coulette and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial. Herbert & Cyril were sons to William & Lizzie Gaunt of Silver Street, Needingworth.

Sunday 7th May 2017  -  Private 44460 Herbert George SAUNDERS, 20^th Battalion Manchester Regiment., he enlisted in December 1915 and was killed in action on 10^th May 1917 aged 25 at Bullecourt during the Battle of
Arras.  He was son and one of 9 children to Harry & Elizabeth Saunders of High Street, Hemingford Abbots. He is buried at the Achiet-le-Grand
Communal Cemetery Extension.

Sunday 7th May 2017 - Private 14100 George Gordon FAVELL, 2^nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment who joined the Suffolks at the start of hostilities in 1914 when he was only 16½ years of age. George was one of 6 children to William & Sarah Jane Favell of Dhawar Terrace, Hemingford Grey.  He was invalided home in 1916 with shell shock and loss of speech from which he recovered in three to four months, but was again sent out to the front. Like Herbert Saunders, he was also killed in action on 10^th May 1917 during the Battle of Arras, aged just 19.  Following his death, a memorial service for George was held at this Church and was followed by a dumb peal rung by bell ringers from both villages. George is commemorated at the Arras Memorial

Sunday 28th May 2017 - Private 702744 James ROSLYN, 23^rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regt., who died on 12^th May 1917 aged 30.  James was the son and one of 3 children to George & Julia Roslyn, Hilton.  James enlisted on the 18^th February 1916 and with his unit would have seen action in the Battle of the Somme.  Between 9^th April and 16th May 1917, he would have been serving during the Battle of Arras.  The battle itself began on Easter Monday 1917 in very poor visibility with heavy snow and sleet falling continuously, troops having to advance from shell-hole to shell-hole, ploughing through heavy mud and drifting snow in freezing temperatures.  By 17^th May, the day on which the offensive was finally brought to its close, British forces had suffered over 150,000 casualties with similar casualty numbers on the German side and it resulted in very little ground being gained since the first day of the battle.  James fell on the 12^th May and is buried at the Chester Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaarderen, Belgium.

Sunday 28th May 2017 - Private 21793 Ernest James COOK, 9^th Battalion East Surrey Regt., who died on 13^th June 1917 aged 19.  Ernest was son and one of 6 children to James & Charlotte Cook, Hilton.  It’s unsure when Earnest enlisted but in 1916 his unit was heavily involved in the Battle of the Somme.  From 7^th June to 14th June 1917, they were in action at the Battle of Messine, which commenced with the explosion of 19 massive underground mines directly below the German lines.  The joint explosion of these 19 mines, even today, ranks among the largest non-nuclear explosions of all time, to be within earshot and witness such a thing must have been the most frightening experience.  Earnest was killed on the 13^th June, a day before the Messine Ridge was successfully captured.  He is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Sunday 16th July 2017  -  183671 Private John “Jack” KNIGHTS, 49^th Battalion Canadian Infantry who died on 10^th June 1917 aged 34.  Jack was one of six children to Thomas & Georgianna Knights of the Water Mill, Hemingford Grey.  At some stage between 1901/1911, Jack had immigrated to Canada.  The Canadian Census of 1911 sees him lodging in Alberta, Canada. He enlisted into ‘A’ Company 103^rd Canadian Rifles in 1915 and his unit was heavily involved in the Battle of Messines Ridge between 7^th & 17^th June 1917.  Jack died of his injuries on the 10^th June and is buried at Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery.

Sunday 16th July 2017 - 19649 Private Harry Arthur STOCKER, 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, who died on 14^th July 1917 aged 19. Arthur, as he was known, was the only son to Harry & Matilda Stocker of 21 Filbert’s Walk, Hemingford Grey and he also had a younger sister Rene.  Arthur worked at Enderby & Co, Printers and Lithographers (St Ives) and was to be the third from that company to be killed in the War. He had originally enlisted in 1916 to the Bedfordshire Regt. but was to be drafted to the Dorset’s. His unit was heavily involved in the battles at Messine and on the Ypres salient during July and he was to fall on the 14^th July. Arthur is buried at the Coxyde Military Cemetery

Sunday 16th July 2017  -  F/2797 Chief Petty Officer (Mechanical) William James LOCKE DSM, Russian Armoured Cars RNAS, who died on 2^nd July 1917 aged 23.  Willie, as he was known, was one of 3 children to William & Elizabeth Locke of Hemingford Abbots Park Lodge.  Willie worked for Murkett's in Huntingdon and some of his duties required him to drive Oliver Locker-Lampson, MP for Ramsey.  Winston Churchill commissioned Locker-Lampson to form and fund a mobile armoured Squadron in 1915 and Willie duly volunteered.  Armoured vehicles were useless in the Western Front trench warfare so in 1917 they were sent to support the Russian Army in the Eastern Front and during the battle known as the Kerensky Offensive the unit suffered terrible losses.  This was the last Russian offensive before the Bolshevik coup in Sept 1917.  Willie fell on 2^nd July near Brezazany and is commemorated at the Poznan Memorial.  Willie was awarded DSM and also the Order of St George (Russia).

Sunday 30th July 2017 -  We remembered the lives of 7 lads from Fenstanton who fell between July to September 1917.

20479 Private Tom Cecil TEBBS, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 27^th July 1917 aged 26 and is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial ..... 1847 Private Frank JEFFS, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 29^th July 1917 aged 23 and is commemorated at the New Irish Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaarnderen ..... 91984 Gunner Jack Robert BOND, Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Field Artillery, who died on 1^st August 1917 aged 24 and is commemorated at the Brandhoek New Military Cemetery ..... G/40832 Lance Corporal Alfred James BOND, Duke of Cambridge Own (Middlesex) Regt., who died on 16^th August 1917 aged 35 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial ..... 307677 Lance Corporal John James PAGE, 1^st/8^th Territorial Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt., who died on 27^th August 1917 aged 25 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial

..... 27510 Private Charles Chapman BULL, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 20^th September 1917 aged 33 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial

..... G/10567 Private Harry MARTIN, 11^th Battalion Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regt., who died on 21^st September 1917 aged 26 and is commemorated at the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.

Sunday 20th August 2017 - 17529 Private Harry JENNINGS, 11th Battalion Suffolk Regt., who died on 26^th August 1917 aged 34.  Harry was one of 8 children to William & Sarah Jennings and was born in Haslingfield.  Harry was a Farm Labourer and enlisted in December 1914. He met and married Ellen Bennett in 1915, living in Haslingfield but later moving to Potton Road, Hilton.  In the summer of 1917 Harry’s unit was in the area of the Western Front involved in the 3^rd Battle of Ypres, better known to as the Battle of Passchendaele.  This Battle, which was to last from July to November 1917, was fought in the most atrocious conditions, a sucking Mud which made it impossible for man, machine or animal to move any distance.  In late August the Suffolks were to make an assault on Malakoff Farm, an area of high ground within the strongly reinforced Hindenberg Line, located between Bellicourt and Hargicourt.  The objective was achieved but at a very high cost of human life.  Harry fell on 26^th August 1917 and is commemorated at Thiepval memorial.  Harry’s 2 younger brothers…Alec George and Cecil Arthur also lost their lives during 1917 all three within 4 months of each other, it's hard to imagine how one family could have dealt with such a loss.

Sunday 20th August 2017 - We were also honoured to remember a cousin of a Hilton Resident who also lost his life during the Battle of Passchendaele….We remember:

Captain Noel Godfrey CHAVASSE VC & Bar, MC, Royal Army Medical Corps…attached 1/10^th (Scottish) Battalion of the Kings (Liverpool Regiment) who died of his wounds on the 4^th August 1917 at Brandhoek and is buried at the Brandhoek New Military Cemetery.  Noel was a Medical Officer and, along with his brother, Olympic Athlete representing Great Britain at the 1908 London Olympic Games.  Noel Chavasse is one of only 3 persons to have been awarded 2 VCs for conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty in putting his own life at risk to save the lives of many others severely wounded.

Sunday 10th September 2017 - We remembered the lives of 3 lads from Holywell-cum Needingworth….We remember:

295262 Private Sydney WILMER, 2^nd/4^th Battalion London egt., (Royal Fusiliers) who died on 20^th September 1917 aged 22.  He was son and one of 8 children to Charles & Emily Wilmer of Needingworth, and is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

We remember 2 brothers….. G/70113 Private Herbert SEEKINGS, 6^th Battalion Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regt., who died on 3^rd August 1917 aged 18.  Herbert is buried at the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt ..... also,

G/21061 Private Ernest SEEKINGS, 7^th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regt., who died on 14^th October 1917 aged 19.  Ernest is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial.  Herbert & Ernest were 2 of 4 sons to Robert & Bessie Seekings of Chapel Close, Needingworth. 

Sunday 1st October 2017 - At Parish Church of the All Saints, Broughton we remembered the life of a Broughton man who fell at the Battle of Passchendaele.....We remember:

15768 Driver George Edward MAILE, 4^th Section Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery who died on 29^th September 1917 aged 37.  George was the son and one of 8 children to George & Rebecca Maile of Broughton and worked as a Farm labourer.  He married Maria Moulds in 1907 and was father to Albert Edwin Maile, who was born in 1908.  His unit was heavily involved in the final push to capture the village of Passchendaele.  He fell on the 29^th September 1917 at Polygon Wood and is commemorated the Bard Cottage Cemetery, Boezinge

Sunday 8th October 2017 - At St Ives Parish Church we remembered 10 men from St Ives who fell in 1917 at the Battles of Mesine Ridge, Passchendaele and Cambrai.....We remember:

40099 Sergeant Alfred Edward ATTWOOD, 2^nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regt., who died 31^st July 1917 aged 27 and is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.....267518 Private Vipond Vickers SWINDLE, 1^st/4^th Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, who died on 16^th August 1917 aged 22 and is commemorated at the Poelcapelle British Cemetery..... 268512 Private Walter George FULLER, 1^st/7^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt., who died on 27^th August 1917 aged 24 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial

.....26830 Private Reginald Victor STEVENS, 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 10^th October 1917 aged 30 and is commemorated at the Ridge Wood Military Cemetery.....1616 Corporal Horace Frederick EAGLE DCM, 11^th Battalion Australian Field Artillery who died on 11^th October 1917 aged 36 and is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.....12948 Lance Corporal Linton Wilfred LANTAFF, 7^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 20^th October 1917 aged 20 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial

.....295288 Private Frank William SIMS, 2^nd/4^th Battalion London Regt., Royal Fusiliers who died on 26^th October 1917 aged 21 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial.....1855 Private Joseph William LISTER, 4^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 30^th October 1917 aged 28 and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial

.....188565 Able Seaman John Frederick Charles MILLER, HMS Illustrious, Royal Naval Reserve who died on 18^th November 1917 aged 38 buried at St Ives Broad Leas Cemetery.....33993 Lance Corporal Ernest William DEAVIN, 11^th Battalion Essex Regt., who died on 23^rd December 1917 aged 26 and is commemorated at the Etaples Military Cemetery.

Sunday 15th October 2017 - The village of Woodhurst lost 4 lives during the First World War, we were honoured to join with the congregation to remember 2 of these men who fell in 1917.....We remember:

269786 Private Ernest KIDMAN, 2^nd/7^th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regt., who died on the 26^th September 1917 aged 33. He was the son and one of 4 children to John & Hannah Kidman.  Ernest helped in his father’s village Bakery but in 1911 was living Browns Yard, Woodhurst as a Shoe Repairer. In 1917 Ernest served with his Battalion during the Battle of Passchendale and on the 26^th September fell in the attack near Otto Farm east of Wieltje, Belgium at Polygon Wood.  He is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial

40021 Private Frederick DING, 1^st Battalion Leicestershire Regt., who died on the 30^th November 1917 aged 27.  He was the son and one of 7 children to Snarey & Sarah Jane Ding, who although both born in Woodhurst, they had migrated to Islington, London in the 1870s (where Frederick was born). They moved back to the village in the early 1900s taking over the Three Horseshoes public house, which is now Horseshoe Cottage.  Frederick’s Battalion was heavily involved in the Battle of Cambrai, the first British offensive to combine infantry supported by the mechanized Tank Corps.  Although there were early gains, on the 30^th November the enemy launched a major counter-attack regaining all previously lost ground.  Frederick fell during this fighting on the 30^th November and is buried at Marcoing Communal Cemetery

Sunday 29th October 2017 - At St Andrews Church Abbots Ripton we joined the congregation to remember 7 men from the Village who fell in 1917.....We Remember:

26591 Private Sidney George MOSS, 9^th Battalion Kings Own (Royal Lancashire) Regt., who died on 3^rd February 1917 aged 39 and is commemorated Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.....31240 Private George Herbert GIBBENS, 4^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, who died on 15^th April 1917 aged 35 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial .....197976 Sapper Alfred Albert WOODS, Royal Engineers
(173^rd Tunnelling Company), who died on 17^th May 1917 aged 40 and is buried at the Stanground South Cemetery, Peterborough.....102256 Gunner Arthur PEACH, 111^th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on 29^th July 1917 aged 27 and is commemorated at the Reninghelst New Military Cemetery.....S/21693 Rifleman Edwin Ephrahim RISELEY, 3^rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, who died on 1^st August 1917 aged 27 and is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.....48590 Private Ernest Edward TAYLOR, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt. 131^st Company Labour Corps, who died on 25^th September 1917 aged 36 and is commemorated at the Wimereux Communal Cemetery.....201401 Lance Corporal William TEAT, 1^st/5^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 2^nd November 1917 aged 35 and is commemorated at the Gaza War Cemetery'.

Sunday 12th November 2017 - At St James Church Hemingford Grey we especially remembered Lieutenant Ronald HARRISON, 11th Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), son of John & Elizabeth Harrison, who was killed on the 10th November 1917 aged 23 and is commemorated at the Gaza War Cemetery.

Sunday 17th December 2017  - At Fenstanton we remembered 242348 Private William Robert TASKER, 2^nd/5^th Battalion Gloucestershire Regt. who died on 4^th December 1917 aged 31.  William was the son of Henry & Charlotte Tasker of the The Lodge, Fenstanton, he also had a sister Harriett.  At some time between 1891 and 1911 William had moved to Charlton Kings, Cheltenham Gloucestershire as a gardener and on 4^th Feb 1911 he married Annie Clara Monger, they had a son Kenneth born 1913 and daughter Freda born 1915.  William’s Battalion was heavily involved in the Battle of Cambrai from 20^th November to 30 December 1917.  This was the first battle to deploy Tank Corps with Infantry, supported by a creeping Artillery barrage. In total 476 ‘Ironclad’ Tanks were used.  There was some early success but from 30^th November a concentrated enemy counter-attack surprised our forces.  Over the next few days much of the land taken had been re-captured resulting in heavy casualties.  William fell on 4^th December and is commemorated at the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral.

Sunday 17th December 2017  - At Fenstanton we remembered G/86147 Private Henry John COLE, 6^th Battalion Duke of Cambridge’s (Middlesex) Regt. who died on 30^th December 1917 aged 27.  Henry was son and one of 11 children to Henry J. & Catherine L. Cole of London Road, Fenstanton.  Henry's unit was being transported from Marseille to join with forces in Palestine aboard the troopship SS Aragon and were approaching Alexandria on the Egyptian coast when at 11.00hrs their ship was struck by torpedo. There were 2,700 serving men and women on board.  As she began to sink, a destroyer HMS Attack sped to her assistance and rescued many from the sea.  HMS Attack was then torpedoed splitting her in 2 and she sank within minutes.  Other vessels came and rescued as many as they could but 600 from SS Aragon died on that day.  Henry is commemorated at the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria

Sunday 18th February 2018 - We were at St Ives Parish Church to remember the lives of 4 men from St Ives who fell in January/February 1918....we remember:

7729 Private William Charles HEWSON, 11^th Battalion Australian Infantry, who died on 13^th January 1918 aged 30. William was son and one of 7 children to George & Emma Hewson of Merryland St Ives.  At some time before the war William and his brother Walter immigrated to Australia.  He enlisted in April 1917 and, after training, was transported with his unit to serve in the Western Front.  In December 1917 he was to marry Ethel
Burrell in London.  William re-joined his unit but fell on 13^th January and is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

100220 Corporal Samuel Arthur WHETSTONE, 6^th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regt.), who died on 19^th February 1918 aged 34.  Samuel was one of 2 brothers to William & Sarah Whetstone.  Although Samuel was born in St Ives, his family moved to Stamford and Peterborough before immigrating to Canada in 1912, living in Strathcona Alberta.  While serving with his unit, in early 1918 Samuel was admitted to No11 Canadian General Hospital in Kent where he was to succumb to illness.  Samuel is buried at Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, Kent.

350168 Sergeant Michael KENEALY,7^th Battalion London Regt., 4^th Kings African Rifles who died on 23^rd February 1918 aged 21.  Michael was son and one of 4 children to Michael & Harriett Denise Kenealy, living in Kempston.  His London Regt. Battalion became attached to the K.A.R in East Africa.  Although spared the horrors of trench warfare, East Africa brought with it many other difficulties…the climate, disease and the distance from supplies.  Michael fell on 23^rd February and is buried at the Bombo Military Grave, Nakawa Road Cemetery, Uganda.

Flight Commander Miles Jeffrey Game DAY, 13^th Squadron Royal Naval Air Service who died on 27^th February 1918 aged 21.  Jeffrey was son and one of 4 children to George & Margaret Day of “Rheola” Cemetery Road St Ives.  Educated at Sandroyd and Repton Schools he was to qualify at RN Flying School in October 1915 aged just 18. In 1917 he was credited with 5 victories in his Sopworth Camel earning him a DSC.  On 27^th February he was shot down whilst trying to divert enemy planes away from his Squadron, he successfully ditched in the sea off the Dunkirk coast but was never recovered.  Jeffrey is commemorated at the Chatham Naval Memorial

Sunday 18th March 2018 - In the Spring of 1918 two major enemy Offensives took place to break through the British & French lines.  The aim was to use troops recently transferred from the Eastern Front following the withdrawal of Russia from the War, but before the fresh American forces entered into the line.  Early March saw the ‘Michael Offensive’ also known as Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser’s Battle) focusing on the Arras region, but the line was held.  In April came the more ferocious ‘Georgette Offensive’ targeting the Neuve Chapelle, Messines and Armentieres areas. By the end of April this Offensive had also been repelled but at a terrible price of life.

2^nd Lieutenant Walter George Cottrell JONES, 105 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, who died 17^th March 1918 following an accident aged 39 and is buried at Broad Leas Cemetery St Ives.....225517 Private Wilfred James Frank GIDDINGS, 2^nd/14^th Battalion City of London Fusiliers – formerly Hunts Cyclists Btn, who died on 21^st March 1918 aged 34 and is commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial.....A/205383 Rifleman Jabez Stephen RADFORD, 8^th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps, who died on 21^st March 1918 aged 19 and is commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial.....305295 Rifleman Samuel John WILES, 5^th Battalion London Regt., who died on 25^th March 1918 aged 19 and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial.....41667 Private Herbert Alfred ARMES, 6^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 8^th April 1918 aged 19 and is commemorated at the Gommecourt British Cemetery......3/10815 Private Edwin SAYER, 1^st Battalion Norfolk Regt, who died on 18^th April 1918 aged 29 and is commemorated at the Ploegsteert Memorial.....3/6957 Private Sidney George SMITH, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 20^th April 1918 aged 33 and is buried at the Denaby Church Burial Ground, Yorkshire.....31861 Private Victor Edward MANNION, 7^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on 24^th April 1918 aged 21 and is commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial

Sunday 15th April 2018 - We joined the congregation at St Margaret's Church Hemingford Abbots to honour 4 men who fell in March-May 1918. We remember..... 43639 Private Tom HART, 7^th/8^th Battalion Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers.  Tom was a Domestic Gardener and son to Charles & Adelaide Hart of High St., Hemingford Abbots. His Unit was in the front line during the beginning of the German Spring Offensive of 1918 and he fell on the first day of battle, 21^st March 1918 aged 20.  He is commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial......R/16421 Rifleman William BRIARS, 17th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps.  Although born in Hemingford Grey, he lived and worked in London as a Barman.  William married Connie Ward in 1912 and they had 3 children.  He enlisted into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps in 1915 but fell on 18^th April 1918 aged 29.  In July 1919 Connie was living in Wolverton (Bucks) but sadly their 3 children were in a National Children’s Home in City Road, London.  William is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial .....Captain Harold Alfred IVATT MC, 5^th Battalion South Staffordshire Yeomanry.  Harold was the son to Thomas & Florence Ivatt, and attended Wych House School, St Ives.  In 1911 he was lodging in Hednesford and listed as a Coal Mining Student.  As a qualified Mining Engineer, he was commissioned into the South Staffs Territorial’s and attached to the 137^th Brigade Mining Section serving in Egypt and France.  He was to be awarded the Military Cross for “great bravery in rescuing his men from a burning mine”, and personally received his decoration from the King in 1916.  On 21^st May 1918, aged 24, he and his 2 subalterns were killed instantly by a shell on his HQ dugout.  He is buried at the Fouquiers Churchyard Extension.....30280 Private Joseph William STOCKER, 2^nd/7^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.  Joseph was son to Alfred & Alice Stocker and lived with his mother at 26 Victoria Terrace, Hemingford Grey.  His Unit was in the very front line at the Third Battle of Aisne, defending the Chemin des Dames Ridge against a ferocious enemy assault.  He fell on 31^st May 1918 aged 19 and is buried at the St Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery

Sunday 22nd April 2018 - We joined the congregation at Parish Church of All Saints, Broughton to honur 3 men from the village who fell.  We remember.....203386 Private Alfred BARKER, 1^st/10^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, (formerly Hunts Cyclist Battalion) who died on 19^th April 1918 aged 23.  Alfred was son to Martha Barker and was born
in Broughton in 1895.  His unit was involved in defending positions during the German Spring Offensive when he fell in 1918.  He is commemorated at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.....201212 Private Wallace Frederick WILSON, 4^th Battalion Essex Regiment who died on 26^th March 1917 aged 21.  Wallace was son and one of 7 children to Berry & Mary Wilson of Broughton and was born in Newmarket in 1896.  Wallace had enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regt. in Huntingdon, but was transferred to the Essex Regt.  His Unit was part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and was heavily involved in the 1^st Battle of Gaza, which took place on 26^th March 1917.  Wallace fell in this action and he is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.....Private Herbert HYDE, 4^th/5^th Battalion Duke of Bedford’s
Regiment (formerly Hunts Cyclists Battalion) who died at home on 6^th July 1917 of wounds sustained and is commemorated on the Broughton Memorial. Herbert was son and one of 6 children to James & Harriett Hyde

Sunday 29th April 2018 - We joined the congregation at St Peter & St Paul Church, Fenstanton to honour 2 men from the village who fell in 1918. We remember.....682832 Private Alfred Robert SMITH, 22^nd (City of London) Battalion, The Queen’s London Regiment (formerly Hunts Cyclists Battalion) who died on 30^th March 1918 aged 20.  Alfred was son and one of 5 children to William & Emma Smith of Bell Lane, Fenstanton.  In March 1918 his unit were part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Syria facing the Ottoman Empire Forces supported by German artillery.  From the 27^th to 30^th March they were involved in the unsuccessful 1^st Battle of Amman, they were vastly outnumbered, and the London Regiment suffered heavy casualties.  Alfred fell on the 30^th March and is commemorated at the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery......29465 Private John Willie CLIFF, 9^th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (formerly Training Reserve Battalion) who died on 27^th May 1918 aged 19.  Born in Wrawby, Lincolnshire he was son to William & Mary Cliff of Ash Grove, Wrawby.  John enlisted in Hull in October 1917 and served in Flanders from April 1918.  In April & May 1918 the enemy launched ferocious Offensives to reach the Channel Coast, his unit was heavily involved defending against one of these Offensives during the Battle of Aisne.  On 27^th May John was reported missing presumed dead at Chateau Thierry, he is commemorated at the Soissons Memorial

Sunday 13th May 2018 - We attended St Andrews Church, Abbots Ripton to remember 4 men from the Village who fell in 1918.  We remember….. 27711 Private George Abraham BAXTER, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment he was born in St Neots in 1889 and died on 21^st March 1918 aged 29.  George is commemorated at the Savy British Cemetery.....202784 Private George William STAPLES, 11^th Battalion Essex Regiment (formerly of the Hertfordshire Regiment) he was born in Elham, Kent in 1888 and died on 22^nd March 1918 aged 30.  George is commemorated at the Arras Memorial.....73500 Private George Thomas Victor BROWN, 2^nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) he was born in Huntingdon in 1898 and died on 17^th May 1918 aged 19. George is commemorated at the Esquelbecq Military Cemetery.....G/73526 Private Bertie Harold LEACH, 23^rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers he was born in Huntingdon in 1900 and died on 24^th August 1918 aged 18. Bertie is commemorated at the Douche-les-Ayette British Cemetery

Sunday 20th May 2018  -  We attended St John the Baptist Church, Wood hurst to remember 2 men from the Village who fell in 1918.  We Remember......37979 Private Frederick Charles FURNESS, 1^st/4^th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regt. (formely Bedfordshire Regt) who died on the 12^th March 1918 aged 19. He was the son to Richard & Charlotte Furness, living on Church Street.  Frederick enlisted in January 1917 and served in France from June 1917, then proceeding to Italy.  In March 1918 his unit were involved defending a line along the Piave River.  Frederick was killed on 12^th March and is buried in the Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade Bavaria.  Found on the deceased was a letter he had written the day before battle, he wrote……”I shall be glad when peace is proclaimed. That will be a happy day, when all the boys come and see the dear old faces again”..... 33803 Private John Martin MURDEN, 1^st/7^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regt., who died on the 11^th October 1918 aged 18. He was born in Kings Ripton in 1900, son to Martin & Hannah Murden.  At the time John enlisted in 1917 the family had moved to Church View, Church Street.  His unit were involved in the advance to victory in Picardy and Artois between the Somme and Loos Regions.  He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois memorial together with 9,000 of his comrades who fell from August 1918 to the date of the Armistice, and have no known graves.

Sunday 17th June 2018  -  We attended Holywell-cum-Needingworth Church to remember 4 men from the village who died whilst serving their Country in 1918.  We remember.....741672 Lance Bombardier Harry Charles COOPER, 49^th Battery, Royal Field Artillery who died between 18^th April and 26^th April 1918 aged 30.  Harry was son and one of 14 children to Walter & Emily Cooper who moved to Holywell before 1900.  By April 1918 Walter had died and Emily was running the Manchester Arms public house.  At the time of Harry’s death, his Unit was actively involved in the Battle of Lys, at the southern end of the German Advance.  Harry is buried at the Sandpits British Cemetery and is also named on the St Ives Cross of Sacrifice.....Gunner 301610 Harold James DODSON, 13^th Battalion Tank Corps, who died on 25^th April 1918 aged 21.  Harold was son and one of 5 children to William & Alice Dodson of Needingworth and was a Farm Labourer before becoming a Railway man.  He enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regt. before being relocated to the Royal West Surrey (Queen’s) Regt. and then to the Tank Corps as Gunner when it was formed in July 1917.  Harold fell on 25^th April and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial.....Lieutenant Alistair Hay FRASER, 41^st Squadron Royal Air Force, who died on 11^th August 1918 aged 24.  Alistair was one of 2 sons to Arthur Anderson & Margaret Elizabeth Fraser of White Rose Cottage Holywell.  He enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regt., and then took his commission with the RAF on the day it was formed on 1^st April 1918.  On the 11^th August 1918 Alistair was on Scouting Patrol duties when his plane crashed, he died of shock and burns 6 hours later.  His mother presented a brass cross and candles to his church in his memory.  Alistair is buried at Wavans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais.....43290 Private William WALTON, 5^th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt. (formerly Bedfordshire Regt.), who died on 19^th September 1918 aged 33.  He was son to John Walton of Needingworth.  William was part of the Pioneer Battalion whose purpose was to assist the Royal Engineers to build roads, bridges, trench systems and to modify captured enemy trenches to face in the right direction. They also often had the unenviable task of making graveyards and burying the dead that could be found.  In September 1918 his Unit was involved in an attack on enemy trenches east of Epehy where he was killed in action.  William was to become the last fatality of the war from Holywell-cum-Needingworth.  He is commemorated at the Vis-en-Artois Memorial

Sunday 1st July 2018  -  We joined the congregation at St Ives Parish Church to remember 2 men from the Town who die in 1918 in the service of their Country.  We remember.....17842 Private Alfred George STEVENS, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, who died on 15^th June 1918 aged 43.  George was son and one of 10 children to Jacob & Frances Stevens of The Quay, St Ives.  His younger brother Reginald was also killed in action in October 1917.  George’s unit were part of the counter to the German Spring Offensive of 1918, defending the line in the region of Nieppe Forest.  George fell on 15^th June and is buried at the Tannay British Cemetery.....G38128 Private John William MOORE, 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion East Surrey Regiment, who died on 13^th July 1918 aged 26.  John was son and one of 6 children to Joseph & Martha Moore of 25 Filbert’s Walk, Hemingford Grey.  Although born in St Ives John was resident in Welling, Kent and enlisted in Hounslow, Middx.  In the summer of 1918 John’s unit were billeted in Kent preparing to depart for the Western Front.  It’s uncertain as to whether John fell in action but he died on 13^th July and is buried at the Dover (St James) Cemetery. 

Sunday 5th August 2018  -  We joined the community of Kings Ripton to remember a man from that village who fell whilst serving his country.  We remember.....43040 Sergeant Harris William FURNELL, ‘B’ Company 1^st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt., who died on the 21^st August 1918 aged 27.  Harris was one of 6 children to William and Ada Furnell of Bridge St., Wistow. He was born in Wistow and at some time also lived in Abbots Ripton as well as Kings Ripton.  He enlisted in Huntingdon and was originally 953 Hunts Cyclist Battalion before transferring to the Bedfordshire Regiment. Harris was promoted to Sergeant, a position of responsibility, leadership and trust. On the 20^th August 1918 the 1st Beds were in preparation for the offensive in the Flanders/Somme region at Bapaume, leading to their objective to the capture the town of Albert, which was achieved on 22^nd August. Harris fell in this offensive on the 21^st August 1918 and is commemorated at the Bienvillers Military Cemetery

Sunday 2nd September 2018 - we came together with the congregation at St Ives Parish Church to remember 6 men who, 100 years ago, gave their lives in the service of their Country during the final months of the First World War.  We remember.....400988 Lance Corporal Alfred Charles DODSON 2nd Battalion Essex Regt., who died on 15^th August 1918 aged 32. Commemorated at Loos Memorial.....2^nd Lieutenant Walter Henry CATER (MC) 8^th Battalion Royal Sussex Regt., who died on 16^th August 1918 aged 23. Commemorated at St Sever Cemetery.....17654 Lance Sergeant Frederick William MASON 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who died on 24^th August 1918 aged 25. Commemorated at Croisilles British
Cemetery…..47563 Private Herbert James SIMONS (MM) 10^th Battalion Essex Regt., who died on 24^th August 1918 aged 20. Commemorated at Daours Communal Cemetery…..537002 Private Harry WATSON 15^th City of London (PWO Civil Service) Rifles, who died on 28^th September 1918 aged 37 Commemorated at Wulverghem Military Cemetery…..B/203236 Corporal William SCOTT (MM) 13^th Battalion The Rifle Brigade, who died on 25^th August 1918 aged 23. Commemorated at Gomiecourt South  Cemetery

Sunday 23rd September 2018 - Our final EMR commemoration at Hilton on Sunday 23rd September 2018 saw us join with congregation to remember 2 men who gave their lives for their country.  We were so pleased to welcome some closely associated to the families of our 2 fallen.  We remember.....235517 Private John Thomas ELLWOOD, 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regt. (formerly 1197 Hunts Cyclists Battalion), who died on 27 December 1918 aged 28.  John was son to Joseph & Harriett Ellwood of Tithe Cottage Hilt...on, born in Fenstanton in 1890 and was one of 6 children – Joseph (1881), Emily (1883), George (1901), Martha (1886) and Edwin (1893).  John’s unit in 1918 fought on the Flanders Front and were in action during the Battle of Lys, the Battle of Aisne, The Somme, the Battle of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy from August.  At the time of the Armistice the Division were around Berlaimont, moving to the west of Amiens in December.  During September/November 1918 John was reported as missing, his death being finally reported in December.  John is commemorated on his parents’ headstone here in the Hilton Churchyard where his brothers (Joseph & Edwin) and his sister Martha are also buried.  His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial for the Missing, amongst the thousands of others whose bodies have never been recovered......J653 Able Seaman Sidney JONES, HMS Vivid Royal Navy who died of illness on the 6th September 1919 aged 27, at Royal Naval Hospital Haslar in Gosport.  Sidney was born in Nottingham in 1892 and his early years must have been very difficult indeed.  His home was an institution for pauper children, and it was from this home that he was sent to the Royal Naval Training Ship HMS Exmouth sometime after 1905, at the tender age of 13. After time with other training vessels, and whilst serving on HMS New Zealand in May 1910 he obtained the rank of Ordinary Seaman signing on for 12 years duty.  In 1912 he was promoted to Able Seaman whilst serving on HMS Monmouth, leaving the ship in January 1914.  Being transferred from this ship turned out to be a great stroke of good fortune as HMS Monmouth was sunk during the Battle of Coronel (off the Chilean cost) on 1st November 1914 losing all 735 crew in heavy seas.  During his time within the Royal Navy Sidney struck up a very close friendship with a local Hilton lad, William Fordham and, whenever leave was granted, would return to Hilton where he was treated as an adopted son by William Fordham’s parents.  During the summer of 1919 Sidney was taken seriously ill with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and after months of illness died on 6th September.  He is buried here in Hilton Churchyard, not far from the grave of Annie Marie Fordham (William Fordham’s mother)

Sunday 7th October 2018  -  Our final EMR commemoration at Hemingford Grey Church on Sunday 23rd September 2018 saw us join with congregation to remember 6 men who gave their lives for their country.

We Remember…..39933 Private Harry KING, 1^st/21^st Battalion East Surrey Regt., who died on 1^st September. 1918 aged 19.  Commemorated at the Peronne Communal Cemetery 

We Remember…..23105 Sergeant Robert William PRATCHETT, 130^th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who died on 30^th September 1918 aged 35.  Commemorated at the Tincourt New British Cemetery

We Remember…..51348 Private Frank Leslie Stokes OLIVER, 2^nd Battalion Manchester Regt., who died on 2^nd November 1918 aged 27.  Buried in the Hemingford Grey Cemetery

We Remember…..G/39206 Private Sidney James AVORY, 2^nd/20^th Battalion Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regt., who died on 6^th November 1918 aged 18.  Commemorated at Obies Communal Cemetery

We Remember…..40000 Private Herbert Frederick WALKER, 9^th Machine Gun Sqdn., Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry), who died on 1^st December 1918 aged 25.  Commemorated at Etaples British Cemetery

We Remember…..218643 Driver James William AVORY, 175^th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, who died on 29^th February 1920 aged 28.  Buried in the Hemingford Grey Cemetery

Sunday 28th October 2018  -  

This is the final EMR Commemoration to be held here in the St Ives Parish Church, on behalf of the Royal British Legion I would like to thank everyone from St Ives for their support over the past 4 years.  Together we must ensure that the sacrifices of our fallen are never forgotten.  Today we are remembering 5 men who, 100 years ago, gave their lives in the service of their Country.

We Remember…..78435 Corporal John Lawrence VILES, Tank Corps, who died on 10^th October 1918 aged 27.  Commemorated at Mont Huon Military Cemetery.

We Remember…..208581 Rifleman Frederick YOUNG, 22^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, who died on 27^th October 1918 aged 30.  Commemorated at Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria

We Remember…..80727 Private Ernest William CLARIDGE, Labour Corps, 29^th Battalion Middlesex Regt., who died on 6^th November 1918 aged 31.  Buried at St Ives Church Cemetery

We Remember…..3878 Private Charles Ernest MARSTERS, 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards, who died on 6^th November 1918 aged 30.  Commemorated at Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery

We Remember…..64427 Gunner James Valentine GALE, 9^th Siege Battery, 71^st Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on 13^th November 1918 aged 23.  Commemorated at Vadencourt British Cemetery

Sunday 4th November 2018  -   This is a very special day for us as it will be the final EMR Commemoration to be held in our District.  On the 4^th August 1914, in defence of our allied neighbours, Britain entered into the First World War, a War that would last for 4 years, 3 months and 7 days, a war in which our Armed Forces on Land, on the Sea and in the Air would sustain 887,858 lives lost…567 lives for every one of the 1,564 days that the War was to last.  During that period the then small Market Town of St Ives lost 79 lives with a further 100 lives lost from adjoining villages, such as Fenstanton.  On the 24^th August 2014 we held an EMR in Hemingford Grey to honour the first of our local men to fall in the First World War, Private Arthur Ernest HULL.  Since that date we have held a further 60 Commemorations in honour of our 179 men to fall.  On behalf of the Royal British Legion I would like to thank everyone from Fenstanton for their support over the past 4 very emotional years.  Together we must ensure that the sacrifices of our fallen are never forgotten.  Today we are remembering 3 men who, 100 years ago, gave their lives in the service of their Country.

We Remember…..496458 Private Edward BYATT, 13^th (City of London) Princess Louise’s Kensington Battalion, London Regt.,  who died on 2nd September 1918 aged 18.  Commemorated at Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, France

We Remember…..307653 Corporal Edwin George PAGE, 1^st / 8^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt., who died on 5^th November 1918 aged 22.  Commemorated at the Premont British Cemetery, France

We Remember…..163508 Gunner Reginald N. COLE, 10^th Armoured Battery, Machine Gun Corps (Motors),  who died on 5^th January 1919.  Commemorated at Ferozepore Military Cemetery, India

DEATH OF MR. HARRY HOLMES AT GRANTHAM

St Ives Teacher and his Terrible War-Time Experiences 

TRIUMPH OVER SUFFERING 

The death occurred at Grantham on Sunday last (7th January), at the age of 29years, of Mr Harry Holmes, eldest son of Mr & Mrs W. Holmes of 1, Ivo Villas, Needingworth Road, St Ives. 

Mr Holmes, who was a teacher at St John’s Council School, Grantham, was severely wounded in France during the War.  He was for a long time in hospital in London, and upon his discharge was invalided out of the Army. 

He married in December 1920 Miss Doris Dellar, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs G. Dellar of North Lynne, Tenterleas Road, St Ives.  Much sympathy will be felt with the widow in her bereavement. 

Before going to France, the late Mr Holmes was stationed at Huntingdon with the Hunts Cyclists for several months, and was with the 2nd Hunts, in Lincolnshire. 

THE FUNERAL 

The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon in the Parish Church cemetery.  The first portion of the service was held in the Parish Church.  The Vicar, the Re. O. W. Wilde, officiated assisted by the Rev. G. S. Dallas. 

A BRAVE AND LOYAL SPIRIT 

A correspondent writes:  The death of Harry Holmes of St Ives, recalls a moving story of war, suffering and fortitude. 

One of two sons of Mr & Mrs Holmes of St Ives, of 1 Ivo Villas, Needingworth Road, he chose the teaching profession, and entered St Peter’s Training College at Peterborough.  Every student in those days was given a nickname, and Holmes, almost inevitably, became ‘Sherlock’.  Clean-limbed and full of zest in life, he revelled in all the games, and showed more than average promise at lawn tennis.  The principal (the late Rev. T. Ward), himself the best player in the city, when in his prime, nearly always chose Holmes as his partner in Men’s Doubles, and the pair seldom dropped a set. 

Passing out of College, Holmes took an appointment on the staff of the Spittlegate Boys’ School at Grantham, and in 1915 joined the Hunts Cyclists Battalion.  His training was done at Huntingdon and at Alford in Lincolnshire, and he went out to France in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.  Six weeks later he gave his life for his Country, although his actual death took place in January 1923.  

Probably hit by a shell, he was grievously wounded.  A thigh and the pelvis were broken to splinters, his left leg was paralysed, and four grave wounds tore open his back.  How long he lay on the battlefield is not known; mercifully he was unconscious. 

Brought back to England, he was a patient in a London hospital for 15 months, and for the first 11 months of that time he lay face downwards.  Stout-hearted nurses more than winced when his wounds were dressed (for he was back to consciousness), but all through his agony neither murmur nor complaint ever passed his lips.  To enquirers, he was always getting better. 

Yet he did, in fact, win through, even recovering the use of his leg down to the in-step.  Able at last to get about with the aid of a stick, he went back to his work in Grantham, but it was too soon, and for nearly another year he lay on his back at his home in St Ives. 

Again, spirit triumphed.  he returned to duty for the second time, progressed well, and in December 1920 married Miss Doris Dellar of St Ives.  Despite his physical handicap, he took the warmest interest in the games of the boys, and even accompanied them to their football. 

The 1922 Christmas holiday found him not well, and his splendid but shattered constitution fell at last to a combined assault of Typhoid and Pleurisy. 

Every Man Remembered  (1939 - 1945)

We wish to honour the sacrifices of those Men and Women from our District who gave their lives in the service of their Country

We Remember.....5886295 Private George John Arthur LANTAFF, 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on 8th January 1945 aged 34. Buried at Taukkan War Cemetery Burma and commemorated on St Ives War Memorial, son to George & Elizabeth Lantaff.
This the account of actions by 1st Btn. Northamptonshire Regt., under the command and leadership of Captain Peter Ralph Cherrington.
In the subsequent operations to clear Budalin in Burma, Capt. Cherrington, on the 8th January 1945, was again sent off, this time to affect an infiltration behind the enemy's flank and to cut off one of his most valuable sources of water. In the course of 48 hours continuous fighting in a town affording ample positions and cover to the enemy, he conducted against determined opposition a series of attacks, the cumulative effect of which was to clear the whole northern environs of Budalin, deprive the enemy of valuable sources of water and, above all, force the enemy to evacuate positions from which the attack of the rest of the Battalion from the west was being held up. His manoeuvres were decisive in allowing the final successful advance of the whole Battalion to go in.
In particular, at 1700 hours on the 8th January 1945, when he heard that a party laying cable to him and a second party carrying casualties were being attacked by the enemy, he, with one man as escort, made his way under fire to the cable party, organised a counterattack and beat off the enemy, himself killing three Japanese and obtaining important identifications. Later in the same day, after a very hazardous personal reconnaissance by night, he succeeded in contacting a Company of Gurkhas 600 yards to his left and in guiding them to an advantageous tactical position on his own left flank, as a result of this manoeuvre the enemy was compelled to evacuate positions in the east centre of Budalin.
Throughout the whole of the five days action at Budalin, Capt. Cherrington's men displayed outstanding qualities of initiative and resource. These, added to the many acts of conspicuous personal gallantry under fire, endurance and selfless devotion to duty by the whole Battalion, proved a prime factor in the capture of Budalin in the face of desperate resistance.
George Lantaff fell in these actions on the 8th January 1945

We Remember.....2880299 Lance Sargeant William Ian HAMILTON, 1st Battalion The London Scottish Gordon Highlanders, who died on 11th January 1944 aged 22 and is buried at Minturno War Cemetery, Italy and commemorated at Hemingford Grey, son to William Norman & Dorothy Maud Hamilton.
In early October 1943, Hitler was persuaded by his Army Group Commander in Southern Italy, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, that the defence of Italy should be conducted as far away from Germany as possible. This would make the most of the natural defensive geography of Central Italy, whilst denying the Allies the easy capture of a succession of airfields; each one being ever closer to Germany.
Kesselring was given command of the whole of Italy and immediately ordered the preparation of a series of defensive lines across Italy, south of Rome. Two lines, the Volturno and the Barbara, were used to delay the Allied advance so as to buy time to prepare the most formidable defensive positions, which formed the Winter Line – the collective name for the Gustav Line and two associated defensive lines on the west of the Apennine Mountains, the Bernhardt and Hitler lines.
The Winter Line proved a major obstacle to the Allies at the end of 1943, halting the Fifth Army's advance on the western side of Italy. Although the Gustav Line was penetrated on the Eighth Army's Adriatic front, and Ortona was liberated with heavy casualties to Canadian troops, the blizzards, drifting snow and zero visibility at the end of December caused the advance to grind to a halt.
It took four major offensives between January and May 1944 before the line was eventually broken by a combined assault of the Fifth and Eighth Armies (including British, American, French, Polish, and Canadian corps) concentrated along a twenty-mile front between Monte Cassino and the western seaboard.
William Hamilton was killed during these actions on 11th January 1944

We Remember....1605950 Sgt. Flight Engineer Dennis Frank KIRBY, 50 Squadron RAF Volunteer Reserve who died on 14th January 1945 aged 22, is buried at the Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial. Son to Frank & Minnie Kirby.
As the Battle for Berlin reached its closing stages, in early 1945 the Eighth Air Force launched a number of very large daytime raids on Berlin, and for 36 nights in succession scores of RAF Mosqitos bombed the German capital, ending on the night of 20/21 April just before the Soviets entered the City.
Dennis Kirby was killed on 14th January 1945....there were other RAF casualties on that day, perhaps Crew members...
W/O V.A.M. Hedges
F/Sgt E.D. Panniers
F/Sgt R.C. Strange
F/O A.M Young
F/Sgt H.L. Wilson
Sgt A.E. Spencer

We Remember.....107770 Captain John Ravenhill SWEETING, Royal Army Medical Corps who died on 19th January 1945 aged 34, buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial. Son to Henry Ravenhill & Louise Eleanor Sweeting.
The Bexhill Observer appealed for help in contacting any surviving family of Lieutenant (Acting) Gerald Walter Sweeting, a member of the Fleet Air Arm, whose parents lived in Bexhill from the 1940s. Lieutenant Sweeting, who was a member of 784 Squadron, died in a flying accident, aged 26, on 16 August 1944.
His aircraft, A Fairey Fulmar Mk II, crashed on approach during training, half a mile short of the duty runway east of Drem aerodrome, where the Squadron were stationed while in East Lothian. Haddington History Society discovered some information about Gerald Sweeting's family in the immediate post war years, through Internet searches, and help from staff at Bexhill Library and the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Efforts hit brick wall in attempts to trace family members through in more recent times. Readers of the Observer hope that someone remembers the family, who lived at 34 Glenleigh Avenue, Bexhill, and may know what became of Gerald Sweeting's widow, or his sister.
Gerald's father, Henry Ravenhill Sweeting, died in 1964. His obituary in the Bexhill Observer records that he was a former Schools Inspector and teacher, who had taught at Marlborough College, and was a salesman at St. Stephen's Bexhill right up until his death. His wife, Louise Eleanor, predeceased him. The couple had an elder son, John Ravenhill Sweeting, a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, who, in a double tragedy for the family, was killed in action in Burma in 1945, less than six months after his brother Gerald's death, and is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, near what used to be Rangoon. All that is known about Gerald's sister is that she married a Squadron Leader Gaffney. They have similarly few facts about Gerald's widow, Phyllis Lilian Rose Sweeting, other than that she lived in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, and remarried there in 1952, becoming Mrs. Graw.

We Remember.....770830 Aircraftsman 1st Class Alfred James RULE, RAF Volunteer Reserve who died on 23rd January 1940 aged 24, buried at St Ives Church Cemetery. Son to Frederick Alan & Alice Rule. Commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.  Alfred Rule was admitted, dangerously ill, to RAF Hospital Littleport at 13:15hrs on 18th January, where he died of pneumonia at 23:00hrs on 23rd January 1940.

We Remember.....2724850 Guardsman Sidney John Arthur ELSDEN, Irish Guards who died on 25th January 1945 aged 18, he is buried at St Ives Church Cemetery and commemorated on St Ives War Memorial. Son to Robert J & Florence M Elsden.
During the Second World War, battalions of the Irish Guards Regiment fought in Norway, France, North Africa and Italy and following D-Day in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The regiment first saw combat during the Norwegian Campaign. Following a challenging sea voyage to Norway, the 1st Irish Guards arrived in May 1940 and fought for two days at the town of Pothus before they were forced to retreat. The Irish Guards conducted a fighting withdrawal and served as the Allied rear-guard.
The battalion were evacuated along with the rest of the expeditionary force in June. While the 1st Irish Guards were fighting in Norway, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to the Hook of Holland to cover the evacuation of the Dutch Royal Family and Government in May 1940. 2nd Battalion were then deployed to France and ordered to defend the port of Boulogne. The guardsmen held out against overwhelming odds for three days, buying valuable time for the Dunkirk Evacuation, before they were evacuated themselves. In November 1942, Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg joined the British Army as a volunteer in the Irish Guards.  All three battalions of the regiment remained based in the United Kingdom until March 1943 when the 1st Battalion landed, with the rest of the 24th Guards Brigade, in Tunisia, to fight in the final stages of the campaign in North Africa. The battalion saw extensive action while fighting through Tunisia and were subsequently deployed to the Italian Front in December of that year. The battalion took part in the Anzio landings on 22 January 1944.
The Irish Guards returned to Europe in June 1944 when the 2nd and 3rd Irish Guards took part in the Normandy Campaign. Both battalions served as part of the Guards Armoured Division and took part in the attempt to capture Caen as part of Operation Goodwood. They also saw action in the Mont Pincon area. On 29 August, the 3rd Irish Guards crossed the Seine and began the advance into Belgium with the rest of the Guards Armoured Division towards Brussels. The Irish Guards were part of the ground force of Operation Market Garden, 'Market' being the airborne assault and 'Garden' the ground attack.
The Irish Guards led the vanguard of XXX Corps in their advance towards Arnhem, which was the objective of the British 1st Airborne Division, furthest from XXX Corps' start line. The Corps crossed the Belgian-Dutch border, advancing from Neerpelt on 17 September but the Irish Guards encountered heavy resistance which slowed the advance.

We Remember.....P/JX 149163 Able Seaman Jack HARDING, Royal Navy HMS Aurora (attached to HMS Abingdon) who died on 26th January 1942 aged 20, buried at Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta and commemorated on Broughton War Memorial. Son to Ernest Tom & Mabel Harding.
Originally assigned to HMS Aurora, Jack Harding was re-posted to HMS Abingdon.
HMS Abingdon...Later HUNT-Class coal burning minesweeper, ordered from Ailsa Shipbuilders at Troon in 1917 and laid down on 30 November that year. The ship was launched on 11th June 1918 and was the first Royal Navy ship to carry this name. Her build was completed on 6th November 1918. Deployed for in the Mediterranean and Black Sea for post-war war minesweeping she was then reduced to Reserve status and laid-up in Malta. she was transferred to the China Station and commissioned for passage to Singapore where she was again Paid-off and laid-up again in Singapore during April 1937. She was recommissioned in 1939 at Singapore and later served with distinction in the Mediterranean. Following a successful "Warship Week" National Savings campaign in February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
During night Minesweeping activities in the Mediterranean, HMS Abingdon was attacked by Ju88 and Me109 aircraft on 30th/31st Dec 1941, sustaining severe damage with many casualties.
Jack Harding died of wounds on 26th January 1942 following the bombing of HMS Abingdon.

We Remember.....EC/3763 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Desmond George FRAZER, 3rd Battalion, 17th Dogra Indian Regiment (3/17th Dogra) who died on 15th February 1942 aged 20. He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore and commemorated at Hemingford Grey. Son to William Henry & Phoebe Constance Frazer of Dovercourt Bay, Essex.
The 3rd Btn, 17th Dogra Indian Regt (3/17 Dogra's) was formed in September 1939 and joined the 6th Infantry Brigade at Bareilly. On 28th October 1940 it embarked at Bombay and arrived at Singapore on the 11th November.
At midnight 7th/8th December the Japanese 5th Division landed at Singora and Patani, Thailand. The 3/17 Dogra defence line had been set at Kota Bharu.
Despite gallant defensive actions resulting in over 3,500 Japanese casualties, they were force to withdraw owing to the lack of Naval and Air support. Various battles ensued through Malaya throughout January 1942 resulting in heavy casualties.
The fighting in Singapore lasted from 8 to 15 February 1942, after the two months during which Japanese forces had advanced down the Malaya peninsula. The campaign, including the final battle, was a decisive Japanese victory, resulting in the Japanese capture of Singapore and the largest British surrender in history.
Patrick Frazer was killed in action on the 15th February 1942.

We Remember.....5779350 Sergeant Cyril Arthur WHITE, 9th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment (attached to 22nd Battalion King's African Rifles) who died on 17th February 1943 aged 28. Commemorated at the Nairobi Memorial, Kenya and on the Holywell-cum-Needingworth War Memorial. Son to Harry Arthur & Ann Elizabeth White, Husband to Florence Grace Mary White (nee Wickett) married 1936, father to Colin A. White (born 1938) & Gillian A. White (born 1940).
If anyone has more information about Cyril WHITE, please contact us

We Remember........5831794 Private Arthur Henry HEWITT, Army Catering Corps attached to Royal Artillery, who died on 23rd February 1945 aged 31 and is buried at St Ives Public Cemetery. Son to Harry & Maud Hewitt.  The family living at 6 Burleigh Terrace, St Ives in 1939, Arthur's occupation listed as Bus Conductor.
If anyone has more information about Arthur HEWITT, please contact us.

We Remember........909460 Aircraftsman 1st Class Charlie WRIGHT, 625 Squadron RAF Volunteer Reserve who died on 25th February 1941, aged 23, at Papworth Hospital (Sanatorium) following an illness of TB. He is buried at St Ives Public Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial. Son to Harry & Elizabeth Wright and Husband to Olive Constance Wright (nee Moore) married Dec 1936.
If anyone has more information about Charlie WRIGHT, please contact us.

We Remember.....M/24899 Warrant Engineer Wilfred Henry NEW, HMS Victory IV, Royal Navy who died on 10 March 1945 aged 43, buried at the Wykes Regis New Burial Ground Dorset and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
Wilfred was son to Henry Thomas & Hannah Handscombe NEW and husband to Beatrice NEW of Wyke Regis, Dorset. He was born in Manor Park, East London on 29th Nov 1901, but his parents and siblings lived at East Cottage, East Street St Ives at the time of his death.
He enlisted into the Royal Navy and served in the First World War from 2nd Jan 1917 (at the age of just 15) to 30 Nov 1925 on HMS Victory II and was "Mentioned in Despatches"
Wilfred NEW died of illness on 10 Mar 1945 whilst serving with HMS Victory IV, which was a Shore Base Accounting Section located at Petersfield.

We Remember.....1616630 Sergeant Air Gunner Charles Henry WRIGHT, 625 Sqd RAF Volunteer Reserve who died on 19th March 1944 aged 22. Buried at Durnbach War Cemetery and commemorated on St Ives War Memorial. Son to Harry & Beatrice Wright.
16 Air Crew from 625 Sqd were killed on 19th March 1944 and buried at Durnbach War Cemetery. The WW2 Roll of Honour for 625 Squadron based at Kelstern was installed in a wooden case at St Faith's Church at the Squadron Reunion in May 1996. No 625 Squadron was formed on 1 October 1943 at Kelstern from C Flight of No.100 Squadron. Its Lancasters took part in Bomber Command's night offensive against Germany for the rest of the war. After a short period of transport duties, when it was engaged in trooping to Italy, the squadron was disbanded on 7 October 1945.

We Remember.....14746054 Private Terence B. RAYNER, The Hallamshire Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment who fell on 13th April 1945 aged 20. Commemorated at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands and on the Holywell-cum-Needingworth War Memorial. Son to Alec & Kathleen Rayner of Needingworth.
Arnhem & Nijmegem 1945…"Clearing the Island".
On April 3rd The Hallamshires moved forward rapidly via Zand and Rijkerswaard after concentrations of heavy and forward artillery. They then surged on to Elden with little opposition except that D Company had a running fight up the autobahn as far as Kronenburg.
Mines slowed up the advance, but that night men of the Battalion scored another "first": they were the first in the division to cross the Neder Rijn, and a patrol actually entered Arnhem, but the actual storming of that town did not begin until a week later, from a different quarter.
After a day of heavy Typhoon raids and heavy artillery bombardments of enemy positions, the assault began on April 12th. Forces moved across the River Ijssel and met with little opposition at the outset, thanks to the effective shells, bombs and rockets which had prepared the way.
Friday the 13th brought the call for The Hallamshires to take part. They crossed the Ijssel in buffaloes and soon were subjected to fairly heavy shelling while in an exposed position along a road on the outskirts of Arnhem. There were several casualties.
They entered the town with the support of tanks and captured their first objective, a barracks, just before 11 p.m., entering the buildings amid a shower of shells and rockets. It had been a tiring day, but casualties had not been as heavy as the superstitious might have expected on Friday the 13th—three killed and 11 wounded.
Terence Rayner was killed in this action on 13th April 1945

We Remember.....C/JX 658181 Ordinary Seaman Dennis Whitlock SMITH, Royal Navy, HMS Ganges who died on 26th April 1994 aged 19, and is buried at St Ives Public Cemetery.   HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). She remained in service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976.  Shotley is a village and civil parish south of Ipswich, between the River Stour and the River Orwell in the Babergh district, in the county of Suffolk. It gives its name to the Shotley peninsula.
Dennis Smith died of illness on 26th April 1944

We Remember.....24783 Lead Wren Elizabeth (Betty) BRITTEN, Women's Royal Naval Service who died on 4th May 1945 aged 26, daughter to Jane Britten of Hilton and is commemorated at Hilton Churchyard Cemetery.
Betty was employed as a Clerk by Keith Wright of Fenstanton before she joined the WRNS in November 1941. She volunteered for foreign service and was drafted to North Africa, and whilst on voyage her vessel was torpedoed. She survived this and served a year in Algiers before being sent home through ill-health. Betty was discharged in February 1944 but died at Papworth Hospital (Sanatorium) on 4th May 1945 aged 26.

We Remember.....5837364 Fusilier Ronald Percy John FAVELL, Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment who died on 12th May 1944 aged 21. Son to William Henry & Margaret Favell of St Ives. Commemorated at the Cassino Memorial, Italy and the St Ives War Memorial.
Extracts from a local newspaper read:
"After 18 months of anxiety and repeated requests for news of their youngest son Ronald reported missing in Italy on 12th May 1944, whilst in action with the Royal Fusiliers - Mr & Mrs W. Favell of Crown Walk, St Ives have been notified that after extensive inquiries, no trace can be found and that it must reluctantly be presummed that he succumbed to his wounds.
At the age of 21, Ronald only a few months before was seriously wounded, and now that the news of his death must be pressumed, it provides the most tragic bereavement suffered by St Ivians during this war, for only a year ago Mr & Mrs Favell's eldest son Bill, died of wounds and was brought home to be buried at St Ives.
News of this loss will be learned throughout the town with deep sympathy, and whilst many rejoice in victory, they will also think of these sorrowing parents who have given their all."

We Remember.....5886075 Private Douglas Kitchener LOWE, 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on 21st May 1940, aged 20.  Son to Mr & Mrs R E Lowe, of Somersham. Buried Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksijde, Belgium. Commemorated on the Somersham War Memorial.

We Remember.....5886153 Private William FREEMAN, 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on 22nd May 1940 aged 26. Son to Thomas & Edith M. Freeman. Buried at the Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium and commemorated on the Needingworth War Memorial.

We Remember.....64193 Captain John Hele JOHNSON, 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on 22nd May 1940 aged 28. Son to John & Beatrice Mary Johnson. Buried at the Kortrijk (St Jan) Communal Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial and the family headstone in Broadleas Cemetery, St Ives.

We Remember.....23976 Lieutenant Colonel William Edward GREEN DFC TD, Commanding Officer 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on 23rd May 1940 aged 41. Son to Henry Douglas & Caroline Green, Husband to Cicely Clare Green. Buried at the White Horse Cemetery, Nr Ypres and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.                                                                                                                                       

When the Germans invaded France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) moved forward to occupy pre-planned positions in Belgium (the Dyle Plan). The Brigade took part in the Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal (26 – 28 May) but the rapid German breakthrough into France forced the BEF into a withdrawal to Dunkirk.
The German forces reached the French coast on 20 May 1940, effectively splitting the allied forces apart, they swung north to entrap the BEF in a pincer movement. At the river Escaut the waters were low as the area had been flooded to impede the Germans, but between 20 and 23 May 1940 the BEF attempted to hold this line in preparation for a withdrawal to their stronger defences on the Franco-Belgian border. The 4th Division defended five miles of the river, with its 11th Infantry Brigade's three battalion's defending the important crossing-point at Kerkhove; all three battalions were employed forward along the river bank, with trenches dug in the orchards and fields.
In the afternoon, half an hours heavy bombardment of C Company's area was followed by an attack at 1330 hours; helped by good support from the artillery, the Company put up a stout resistance and the enemy made no progress. Unfortunately, after two hours, Company HQ had a direct hit upon it there were many other casualties. Realising that C Company were now very reduced in numbers, the C.O. ordered the Carrier Platoon up to hold the enemy. They got into position and covered the withdrawal of the remnants of the Company, but suffered severely; any movement of the carriers attracted shelling directed by an aircraft which patrolled the front with impunity at a low height, and during the day the Platoon lost five of its vehicles and seventeen out of its twenty eight men, eleven being killed. Twice in this action carriers found themselves surrounded and out of ammunition, and fought their way clear with hand grenades.
The 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment had had a hard time on the Escaut. Eleven officers had been killed or wounded, C Company came out less than forty strong and the other rifle companies could only muster sixty or seventy men apiece. The gravest loss was that of their C.O., who had commanded them for more than five years. But, despite their losses, they had shown an enemy who was superior in number and in equipment, and in the air, how a battalion of the British Territorial Army could fight.
The bravest resistance continued and on the evening of the 25th May, Winston Churchill sent the following communique... "Every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the BEF. Government has therefore decided you must continue to fight. Have greatest possible admiration for your splendid stand. Evacuation will not (repeat not) take place, and craft required for above purpose are to return to Dover"........ Churchill wrote later about this decision "One has to eat and drink in war, but I could not help feeling physically sick as we afterwards sat silently at the table". As he did so, the defenders clung grimly to their positions, fighting until the following evening when their heroic resistance finally petered out.
If one episode might be said to have permitted the miracle of Dunkirk to succeed, then it is probably the Defence of Calais. From 26 May to 4 June over 338,000 of the Allied Forces were slowly evacuated to safety from Dunkirk beaches under the Code-name Operation Dynamo. Dunkirk finally fell on 5 June 1940. In this land we all owe a debt of gratitude to these TRUE heroes who gave their lives in this action for our freedom.

We Remember.....1876442 Driver Frederick Mervyn RANSOM, 17th Field Company Royal Engineers who died on 1st June 1940, aged 20 and is commemorated at the Dunkirk Memorial and at Hemingford Grey. Son to Charlotte A. Clifton.
The 17th Field Company, Royal Engineers formed part of II Corps. On the outbreak of the Second World War, II Corps was mobilised at Salisbury with two unprepared infantry divisions, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Brooke from Southern Command. II Corps' insignia, designed by its Chief of Staff, Vyvyan Pope, was a visual pun on the name of its commander, who was also a keen fisherman: it depicted a red leaping salmon upon three wavy blue bands against a white background, all in an oblong red border. The corps crossed to France to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at the end of September 1939 and at once moved up to the French frontier. It took part in the advance into Belgium and was then pushed back with the rest of the BEF to Dunkirk. During the retreat, II Corps covered the vulnerable left flank of the BEF. On 29 May 1940, Brooke was ordered back to Britain to form a new force, and he handed over temporary command of II Corps to Maj-Gen Bernard Montgomery of 3rd Division. Under Montgomery, II Corps was evacuated from Dunkirk beaches in June 1940.
Frederick Ransom was killed on the 1st June 1940 as British forces fled towards the Dunkirk beaches awaiting their evacuation.

We Remember.....5828947 Private Reginald A. MARTIN, 5th Battalion Suffolk Regiment who died on 4th June 1943 aged 26.  Buried in the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery Burma and commemorated at the Hilton Churchyard Memorial.  Son to Charles Henry & Florence Anne Martin of Potton Road Hilton.

The 5th Suffolks were despatched in early 1942 to aid the defence of Singapore against the impending attack from the Japanese.  Following Singapore's fall to them on 15th February 1942, prisoners were put to work on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway in the most atrocious conditions, during its construction approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway, with an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also dying in the course of the project.  Between March & June 1943 heavy casualties were sustained during Allied bombing raids on the Railway due to the Prison Camps being closely located to the Railway.  Thanbyuzayat became the Prisoner of War administrative headquarters and the location of the War Cemetery. Reginald Martin fell on 4th June 1943

We Remember.....1332730 Flight Sergeant Ronald Eric DODSON, 115 Squadron Royal Air Force Bomber Command who died on 7th June 1944 aged 21. Commemorated at the Runnymead Memorial and the St Ives War Memorial.  Son to Ernest Baden & Florence Ann Dodson, husband to Phyllis Joan Dodson. 

On the evening of 6th/7th June 1944 in support of that day's momentous D-Day Landings, 1065 aircraft - 589 Lancaster’s, 418 Halifax’s, 58 Mosquito’s - were tasked to bomb railways and roads on the lines of Enemy communications behind the Normandy battle area.  All of the targets were in or near French towns. 3,488 tons of bombs were dropped on targets at Achères, Argentan, Caen, Châteaudun, Conde sur Noireau, Coutances, St Lô, Lisieux and Vire.  Every effort was made to bomb accurately but casualties to the French civilians were inevitable. Cloud affected the accuracy of the bombing at many of the targets and, at Achères, the Master Bomber ordered the raid to be halted because of cloud cover and no bombs were dropped.  6 Lancaster’s were lost in the No 5 Group raid at Caen, where the main force of bombers had to wait for the target to be properly marked and then fly over an area full of German units and guns at bombing heights below 3,000ft.  Some details are available of the effects of the bombing. At Argentan, Châteaudun and Lisieux, much damage was done to railways, although the towns, Lisieux in particular, were hit by many bombs. Important bridges at Coutances were badly damaged and the town centres of Caen, Conde sur Noireau, St-Lô and Vire were all badly bombed and most of the roads through those towns were blocked.  10 Lancaster’s and 1 Halifax were lost in these raids......Ronald Dodson was killed in these actions.

We Remember.....7907665 Lance Corporal George EASTGATE, Royal Armoured Corps (RAC), ‘B’ Squadron Nottingham Yeomanry who died on the 27th June 1944 aged 28. Son to George & Leah Eastgate. Buried at the St Manvieux Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
George's Regiment landed in France on D-Day equipped with swimming DD Sherman and Sherman Firefly tanks and was in the thick of the fighting in Normandy and on the advance across northern France, particularly the region between Tilly-sur-Seulles and Caen. Involved in Operation Epsom which continued east of Caen, as part of the 49th British Infantry Division, after heavy fighting, it manages to liberate the village of Raurey. His Infantry Division, after securing the village of Cheux, wants to continue its meteoric progress and is heading towards the bridges on the Odon River, the major objectives of the Epsom Operation. But it is slowed down by defenders of the Panzer Lehr who refuse to lose more ground. The Allied losses are very important and have a major impact.
However, advanced elements of the Infantry Division succeeded in establishing a bridgehead on the right bank of the Odon River, reached at the Pont de Tourmanville. Other elements of this division, as well as the 11th Armoured Division, cross the bridge and attack the strategic point of Hill 112.
On the evening of June 27, they broke through the German front about 10 kilometres deep, an impressive performance that did not meet the expectations of Montgomery, who, from his headquarters at Blay, was worried by the catastrophic reports of British losses since the beginning of Operation Epsom. In Cherbourg, the last German strongholds and the arsenal fell and the Allied engineers went to the City port, the main objective of the Allies since D-Day.......George Eastgate was killed on 27th June 1944.

We Remember.....6897800 Gunner Ronald William KNIGHTS, 7^th/4^th Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery who died on 29^th June 1941 aged 19.  Son to Victor Thomas & Maud Mary Knights of Hemingford Grey.  Commemorated at the Plymouth Naval War Memorial and on the Fenstanton War Memorial. 

Merchant ships were the essential part of convoys which risked all to carry vital supplies to the troops, and especially to Malta and in the Mediterranean.  Besides the protection offered by the Royal Navy escorts, these merchantmen had guns placed on board to ward off any airborne attacks. They were known as Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships, or DEMS.  The gunners were not naval personnel as many would have thought but raised from a branch of the Royal Regiment of Artillery or the Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery, as it was officially known.  The Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery came into being in March 1940, when the Royal Navy was short of gunners to man the defensive armament on merchant ships engaged along the coastal routes of the south and east coasts of England. This deficit was quickly met when 940 men volunteered from the army and were armed with Bren guns.  E-boat and air attacks on British coastal shipping intensified after Dunkirk and more trained soldiers were required. The Luftwaffe was supplied with the new Focke-Wulf Condor in its attacks on merchant ships in the Western Approaches and soldiers were assigned to deep sea vessels armed with Bofors 40 mm/56 (1.57”) Mark 1 and Mark 2 guns, 20 mm Oerlikon guns and light machine-guns.  By May 1941, over 9,000 soldiers were serving aboard merchant ships and it was decided to create a regular unit, styled the Maritime Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery, from the existing serving soldiers. Apart from those already manning the Bofors, these infantrymen soon became very good gunners.  Training consisted of aircraft recognition, small arms and gun training on Hotchkiss, Marlin. .303 Lewis, 20 mm Oerlikon, .5-inch Browning, 40 mm Bofors and pillar box rockets, as well as the naval 4-inch breech loader and 12-pounder guns.  As the war progressed and shipping losses to U-Boat attacks mounted, the maritime gunners were trained in all aspects of naval gunnery and attended Admiralty gunnery courses, with NCOs qualifying as naval gun layers and wearing the appropriate naval badge.  Over 1,300 members of the Maritime Regiments, Royal Artillery died aboard merchant ships during the war, of which 1,222 had been serving at sea. Most of them have the oceans as their grave and are commemorated on the naval war memorials in Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham.

We Remember.....P/JX 712158 Leading Radio Mechanic Leslie Alan FLACK, Royal Navy HMS Mercury who died on 30^th June 1946 aged 18.  Son to Herbert & Grace Elizabeth Flack.  Buried at the St Ives Public Cemetery.  HMS Mercury was a shore based establishment and site of the Royal Naval Signals School. In November 1943 a Wireless & Telegraphy school was established at St Bede's Prep School, Eastbourne. Leslie Flack died of illness on 30^th June 1946.

We Remember.....D/JX 255506 Able Seaman Eric WOOLSTENHOLMES, Royal Navy HMS Shah who died on 29^th July 1945 aged 34.  Son to Frank & Alice Woolstenholmes, husband to Anne Woolstenholmes.  Buried at the Colombo (Liveramentu) Cemetery and commemorated at the St Ives War Memorial.  

USS Jamaica (CVE-43), (originally AVG-43 then later ACV-43), was an escort carrier of World War II that served in the British Royal Navy as HMS Shah (D21). Returned to the United States at the end of the war.  Her duties were chiefly convoy defence and trade protection against German U-boats operating in the Indian Ocean with a shore base at Trincomalee (then Ceylon, now Sri Lanka). She took an active part in the war, heading the hunter-killer group which sank U-198 in the Indian Ocean, 12 August 1944. Alerted to the submarine’s presence in the area, 851’s Avengers located the U-boat and attempted to attack her, and directed the other ships in the group, HMS Begum, the River class frigate HMS Findhorn and the Black Swan class sloop HMIS Godavari to a point where the U-boat was depth-charged resulting in it’s sinking.  The Shah was transferred to the East Indies Fleet and then refitted in Durban before taking part in the Burma campaign in 1945. Having suffered several aircraft losses on patrol and landing accidents, her complement was augmented around this time by a flight of Grumman Hellcats. During April and May 1945 she participated in Operation Bishop, launching patrols and strikes against the Nicobar Islands preparing for the invasion of Rangoon.  Soon after, she was tasked with the search for the Japanese cruiser Haguro. Mechanical problems with the catapult resulted in most of 851’s Avengers being sent to HMS Emperor in exchange for Hellcats from 800 and 804 Squadron. A serious landing accident by one of those Hellcats effectively removed the Shah from operations on 11 May. Nonetheless 851’s Avengers, flying from the Emperor, were able to locate and damage the Haguro, prior to her sinking by the 26th Destroyer Flotilla in the “Operation Dukedom”. 

Eric Woolstenholmes died of Wounds 29th July 1945.

We Remember.....5886248 Private Kenneth Reginald WOOTTON, 5^th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 30^th July 1943 aged 23.  Son to Edward & Maud Adelaide Wootton.  Commemorated at the Cassino Memorial (Italy) and the St Ives War Memorial. 

After the successful defeat of Rommel's Afrika Korps in North Africa, the 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment next saw action as part of the Eighth Army in the Allied invasion of Sicily, landing on 25 July 1943, taking part in the Battle for Adriano (29 Jul to 3 Aug) and then leaving for the Italian mainland in September 1943.  Kenneth Wootton was killed in the Battle of Adriano on 30th July 1943.

We Remember.....R/KX 112207 Stoker 1st Class Ronald Arthur SMITH, Royal Navy HMS Tonbridge who died on 22nd August 1941 aged 22.  Son to John Henry & Mary Ann Smith.  Commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and the St Ives War Memorial.
HMS Tonbridge was a twin-screw cargo ship that was built in 1924 by D. and W. Henderson and Co. Ltd., Glasgow for the Southern Railway.
In October 1940, HMS Tonbridge was requisitioned by the Admiralty. She was converted to a net-layer for the Royal Navy. She served as HMS Tonbridge with the pennant number T119. On 22 August 1941, HMS Tonbridge was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk by German aircraft. She was lost 0.3 nautical miles (560 metres) off the Scroby Elbow Buoy with the loss of 35 of her crew.
Ronald Smith died in this attack on 22nd August 1941

We Remember.....14310827 Gunner Harold Fred LANDER, 70th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery who died on the 27th August 1932 aged 19.  Son to Gladys Rose Lander.  Buried in the Fenstanton Church Cemetery and commemorated on the Fenstanton War Memorial.
The 70th Anti-Tank Regiment was formed as part of the 38th Infantry Division. The Division became active on the 18th September 1939 and spent the war within the United Kingdom on home defence duties.

We Remember.....213955 Sister Iris Hannah Isabel MAIN, Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS)/Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS), who died on the 29th August 1943 aged 27.  Daughter to James Stewart & Mary Elizabeth Main.  Buried at the St Ives Public Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
The experiences of the Boer War in South Africa, led to the reorganisation of the Army Nursing Service and in 1902 Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was established, followed by the QAIMNS Reserve in 1908.  These nursing services were mobilised for duty with the Expeditionary Force in World War I, serving throughout the war years on every front.  The Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS) was formed in 1920 when the Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army.  It was originally formed to staff the territorial force hospitals at home, and the majority of its members spent their wartime service in the UK, not only in the 25 Territorial Hospitals but also in hundreds of auxiliary units throughout the British Isles.  It existed until 1949 when both regular and reserve nurses joined the QARANC (Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps).

We Remember.....2612123 Guardsman William Dick REYNOLDS, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards who died on the 3rd September 1944 aged 35.  Son to William Dick & Priscilla Reynolds, husband to Ivy E. M. Reynolds and father to Derek A. W. Reynolds (...born 1938).  Buried at Lille Southern Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
The 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards were heavily involved in the battle to liberate Brussels.  The Household Cavalry leading on the British left and the Grenadier Guards leading on the right, with the Irish & Welsh Guards in close support.  The capture of Brussels was completed on the 4th September with the Belgium Government being returned to power on the 8th September 1944.
William Reynolds was killed in these actions on the 3rd September 1944.

We Remember.....7628531 Lance Corporal Leslie Albert GALBALLY, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) who died on the 7th September 1944 aged 27.  Son the Albert Edward & Eva Rosina Galbally, husband to Eva May Galbally of Haffenden Quarter (Kent) and father to David T. Galbally (...born 1945).  Buried at the Gradara War Cemetery (Italy) and commemorated on the Fenstanton War Memorial.
REME was formed in 1942 with the sole purpose of recovering, repairing and maintaining military equipment.  Following the fall of Rome in June 1944, the German retreat became ordered and successive stands were made on a series of defensive positions known as the Trasimene, Arezzo, Arno and Gothic Lines.  The advancing Allies faced heavily defended positions and ferocious fighting ensued around Rimini (Gothic Line) which eventually led to positions being captured on 21st September 1944.
Leslie Galbally fell in the actions on the 7th September 1944.

We Remember.....C/JX315490 Ordinary Seaman Peter HARDING, Royal Navy HMS Arethusa who died on the 9th September 1942 aged 19.  Son to Ernest Tom & Mabel Harding.  Buried at the Port Said War Memorial Cemetery (Egypt) and commemorated on the Broughton War Memorial.
HMS Arethusa-Class cruiser was ordered in 1931 and laid down on the 25th January 1933.  During the late 1930s she was deployed in the Mediterranean and following Italy's invasion of Abyssinia the Fleet were made ready for further actions.  In 1940 she became part of the Fleet deployed to seek out and destroy the pocket Battleship Bismark.  Following Germany's activities in North Africa she was return to the Mediterranean to support convoys.  Allocated in August 1942 to escort merchant Convoy MW12 and then support the bombardment of Rhodes on 11th August.  Convoy Fleet vessels were under considerable constant pressure due to air and submarine attacks, with very few avoiding damage and many suffering casualties.
Peter Harding died of wounds sustained on the 9th September 1942 following one of the many attacks his vessel had to endure.

We Remember.....C/JX265564 Ordinary Seaman Charles Percival Leslie MARTIN, Royal Navy HMS President III (...attached to SS Winterswijk) who died on the 10th September 1941 aged 27.  Son to Charles Henry & Florence Annie Martin of Potton Road Hilton.  Commemorated at the Chatham Naval War Memorial and on the Hilton Churchyard Memorial.
Serving on SS Winterswijk (...a 3,200 tonne Dutch Cargo Steamer) as part of Convoy SC42.  SC42 consisted of 65 ships which departed from Sydney (Nova Scotia) on the 30th August 1941, under local escort and bound for Liverpool.  They entered an area which was being patrolled by a Wolf Pack of 14 U-Boats.  On the 9th September the Convoy was spotted and the attacks begun.  Over a 3 night period 16 ships were sunk and 4 damaged, with 2 of the attacking U-Boals also being sunk.  SS Winterswijk was carrying 4,278 tonnes of Phosphates when it was attacked and sunk by U-432.  The wreck being situated off the south-east coast of Greenland.
Charles Martin was killed in this action.

We Remember.....1446136 Sergeant Navigator Eric GATES, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on the 13th September 1943 aged 21.  Son to Harry Gates (DCM) & Gertrude Gates.  Buried at the St Ives Public Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
Eric Gates was killed in a flying accident on the 13th September 1943.

We remember..... D/KX 106550 Stoker Class I William John NEWBY, Royal Navy HMS Sultan who died on the 21st September 1944 aged 24.  Son to William John & Hannah Newby.  Commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial and on the St Ives War Memorial
HMS Sultan (a shore establishment) was the naval base at Singapore, commissioned in 1940 as a successor to HMS Terror. She was abandoned after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. It must be assumed that William Newby was made POW at the fall of Singapore.
Taken on board Hofuku Maru Japanese steamship, as POWs:
 BENSON, James A, Marine,  PLY/X 100147, (Sultan),
 DAVENPORT, Jack, Marine,  PLY/X 100127, (Sultan),
 NEWBY, William J, Stoker 1c, D/KX 106550, (Sultan)…..all Missing Presumed Killed (MPK)
The Hofuku Maru was sailing from Singapore to Miri, Borneo as part of convoy SHIMI-05. The convoy consisted of 10 ships, 5 of which carried, in total 5,000 POWs, all in appalling health conditions.
At Borneo, the Hofuku Maru left the convoy with engine problems and sailed on to the Philippines, arriving on 19th July. She remained in Manila until mid-September while the engines were repaired. The POWs remained on board for all this time, suffering terribly from disease, hunger and thirst.
On 20th September 1944, the Hofuku Maru and 10 other ships formed convoy MATA-27, and sailed from Manila to Japan. The following morning, the convoy was attacked 80 miles north of Corregidore by more than 100 American carrier planes from USS Lexington. All eleven ships in the convoy were sunk. Of those on the Hofuku Maru, 1047 of the 1289 British & Dutch POWs on board died.
William Newby died in this action.

We remember......255205 Lieutenant Kenneth Stanley MILLS, Glider Pilot Regiment Army Air Corps who died on the 23rd September 1944 aged 21.  Son to Charles & Hilda Mary Mills.  Buried at the Enscede Eastern General Cemetery (Netherlands) and commemorated on the Needingworth War Memorial.
The Glider Regiment was a British airborne forces unit responsible for crewing military gliders and was established in 1942.
The Battle of Arnhem was a major battle of the Second World War at the vanguard of the Allied Operation Market Garden. It was fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel, and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944.
The Allies were poised to enter the Netherlands after sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, after the Battle of Normandy. Market Garden was the result of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery favouring a single thrust north over the branches of the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. Allied Airborne troops were dropped in the Netherlands to secure key bridges and towns along the Allied axis of advance. Farthest north, the British 1st Airborne Division landed at Arnhem to secure bridges across the Nederrijn, supported by men of the Glider Pilot Regiment and the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade. British XXX Corps were expected to reach the British airborne forces in two to three days.
As the battle progressed, more and more forces would become available to the Germans. Adolf Hitler, stunned by the attack, agreed that the defence of the Netherlands should receive absolute priority and over the course of the battle reinforcements would stream in; from Wehrkreis VI, the Wesel area and General Friedrich Christiansen's Armed Forces Command Netherlands.  General Model arranged for units to be sent straight to the units in action in order to avoid long-winded logistics, and rushed in specialist urban warfare and machine gun battalions.  Each day of the battle, the German military strength increased whilst the British supplies diminished. By 21 September, the fifth day of the battle, German forces outnumbered the British by 3:1 and continued to increase.  A total of 1262 were deployed by the Glider Pilot Regiment....219 killed or died of wounds, 511 captured.  Kenneth Mills was killed in this action on the 23rd September 1944.

We Remember.....C/JX 313508 Able Seaman Geoffrey Gordon COATES, Royal Navy HMS President III (...attached to SS Storviken) who died on the 1st October 1943 aged 21.  Son to James W. & Ethel M. Coates.  Commemorated at the Chatham Naval War Memorial and on the St Ives War Memorial.
On 1st October 1943, in the Gulf of Aden, around 16.30hrs, the Japanese submarine I-10 sights an Allied convoy heading west at 10 knots, and starts a chase. Cdr Tonozuka fires three torpedoes at 4,836-ton Norwegian armed merchant SS STORVIKEN en-route from Mombasa for Aden with a cargo of coal.
STORVIKEN takes two hits to starboard side and sinks by the stern. Two crewmen are taken aboard I-10 as POWs. As I-10 left the scene, it purposely hit the lifeboat so that the propeller crushed one side of it, killing some men, injuring others, and causing the boat to capsize.
On the 6th October the captain, 3rd Engineer Roland Eklund and 11 Chinese were picked up by the British escort vessel HMS Sennen, which shortly before had come across 2nd mate Per Nilsen and 3 Chinese crew on Storviken's only undamaged raft. The 16 survivors were landed at Aden on the 8th October.....37 had died.
Geoffrey Coates was killed in this action on the 1st October.

We Remember.....5827940 Private William Arthur FAVELL, 5th Battalion Dorsetshire Infantry Regiment who died on the 8th October 1944 aged 29.  Son to William Henry & Margaret Favell.  Buried in the St Ives Church Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
Extract from a local newspaper of the time:....
"Mr & Mrs W. Favell of 21 Crown Court were notified that their elder son, Private William Arthur Favell of the Dorsetshire Infantry Regiment, was seriously ill having received a penetrating wound in the abdomen and a compound fracture of his pelvis during July in North-West Europe.  His parents also received a letter written for Bill by a Chaplain at a casualty clearing station.  Aged 25, Private Favell joined the 'Suffolks' in January 1940 and has a proud record of service.  His many friends wish him a complete and speedy recovery.  His younger brother, Fusilier Ronald Favell, was reported missing in Italy in May and, although it was thought that he might be a prisoner, Mr & Mrs Favell have heard nothing more and they now anxiously await news of both boys"
Arthur Favell was treated in a Basingstoke Hospital before being moved to Durham, where he suffered a relapse and never recovered, passing away on the 8th October 1944.

We Remember.....6147652 Corporal Cyril John RADFORD, 6th Battalion Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment) who died on the 8th October 1944 aged 30.  Son to Harold & Florence Radford and husband to Marjorie Kathleen Radford.  Buried at the Arnheim Oosterbeek War Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
His Battalion landed in Sicily on the 10th July 1943.  It served in the Sicilian campaign at Syracuse and the Plimsole Bridge.  The campaign was over by the 7th August and the Battalion went to Taormina to rest.  It embarked at Augusta on the 17th October 1943 and arrived in Liverpool on the 5th November.
Upon arrival, it moved to Riddleworth Camp, near Thetford, moving to Southwold, Suffolk in January 1944 and soon after to Inverary (Scotland) to train for amphibious operations.
Following a period of training it moved to the Romney (Kent) area during the second week of May 1944, before embarking on the 3rd June 1944.
The Battalion landed in Normandy on the 6th June 1944 as part of the D-Day assault and was later involved in Operation Market Garden during September 1944 and the holding of the Nijmegen and Waal Bridges during October 1944 alongside the US 101st Airborne Division.
Cyril Radford was killed during Operation Market Garden on the 8th October 1944.

We Remember.....5836693 Private Frank MASTERSON, Pioneer Corps who died on the 29th October 1943 aged 41.  Son to James & Eliza Ann Masterson.  Buried at the St Ives Church Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
In September 1939, a number of Infantry and Cavalry Reservists were formed into Works Labour Companies, which were soon made the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC); a Labour Directorate was created to control all labour force matters.  A large number of Pioneers served in France with the BEF.  During the Battle of France, an infantry brigade was improvised from several AMPC Companies under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.B.H. Diggle.  Known as "Digforce", the brigade became part of Beauman Division and fought in defence of the Andelle and Bethune Rivers on the 8th June 1940 against the 5th and 7th Panzer Divisions.  "Digforce" brigade and thousands of other BEF Pioneers were evacuated to England in Operation Ariel.  An unknown number of evacuating AMPC troops were killed when the HMT Lancastria was sunk off St Nazaire on the 17th June 1940.  On the 22nd November 1940, the name AMPC was changed to the Pioneer Corps.  In March 1941 James Scully became the first member of the Pioneer Corps to be awarded the George Cross.  Corps members have won some 13 George Medals and many others gallantry awards.  A total of 23 Pioneer Companies took part in the Normandy landings, Pioneer Corps served with the 6th Beach Group assisting units landing on Sword Beach on D-Day, 6th June 1944.
On the 28th November 1946, in recognition of their outstanding performances during the Second World War, King George VI decreed that the Pioneer Corps should have the distinction "Royal" added to its title.
Frank Masterson died on the 29th October 1943 whilst serving with the Pioneer Corps.

We Remember.....5886288 Private Horace Harold H. HOWES, 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on the 17th November 1942 aged 22.  Son to Edward George & Mabel Elizabeth Howes.  Buried at the Tabarka Ras Rajel Cemetery (Tunisia) and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
Horace's battalion left the United Kingdom on the 16th October 1942 and was deployed to French North Africa where it took part in Operation Torch, with unified landings of British, American and Free French forces in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria from the 8th to 16th November 1942, involving over 100,000 men, 350 Warships and 500 Troop Transporters. They were confronted by well defended fortifications all along the African-Mediterranean manned by German and Vichy France forces.  His Regiment would later take part in actions at the Tebourba Gap (1st to 10th December 1942), Oued Zarga (7th to 15th April 1943), the Medjez Plain (23rd to 30th April 1943) and the final battle for Tunis (5th to 12th May 1943), leading to the final defeat of Erwin Rommel's Afika Korps.
Horace Howes fell on the 17th November 1942.

We Remember.....5880518 Private Walter FAVELL, 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regt., who died on the 25th November 1942 aged 34.  Son to John & Maria Favell.  Buried at the Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery (Tunisia) and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
Extracts from a local Newspaper.....
"Mrs Favell of 42 Great Farthing Close St Ives, received news that her eldest son Walter Favell was killed in North Africa.  34 years of age, Walter worked for some time for the St Ives Gas Co., and later for Messers Keith Wright (Fenstanton).  As a Territorial, he was called up on the outbreak of War and was later evacuated from Dunkirk.  At the time of this article, his brother Charlie Favell, had been posted as missing in Malaya for nearly 12 months"

We Remember.....159408 Flight Officer Gilbert Fairley ALLAN, 213 Squadron Royal Air Force (...attached to Balkan Air Force) who died on the 11th December 1944 aged 20.  Son to Gilbert Ferrier & Anna Allan.  Buried at the Belgrade War Cemetery and commemorated on the St Ives War Memorial.
From July 1944, 213 Squadron operated from Liverano and Biferno airports in Italy, within the Balkan Air Force, to support the actions in the Balkans to drive out the German forces.  These 2 operational airports saw the Italian Air Force supporting the Allies for the first time, as well as seeing the first U.S. Squadron manned by coloured personnel.
Gilbert Allan was killed in action on the 11th December 1944. 

They shall grow not old,

As we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,

and in the morning.

We Will Remember Them

Second Boer War:  Men from our District