CAMBRIDGE GUILDHALL WW2 UNVEILING

World War 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2026 Mike Petty and John Carter

“Roll of honour unveiled in Guildhall, Cambridge", 7th November 1955, by John Carter

A roll of honour to the memory of the men and women from Cambridge who lost their lives in the last war was unveiled at the Guildhall. It is five feet high with a heraldic illuminated heading and raised gold lettering and is a companion to the one already erected to those killed in the First World War. After the ceremony the Mayor processed to Great St Mary’s which was packed to capacity with townsfolk, University and other organisations who had gathered to pay homage to the dead. 55 11 07c

John Carter Photographers. These photographs were taken for the Cambridge Daily News and dumped when the paper moved to new offices in Newmarket Road, Cambridge in 1962. John Carter, a photographer who took many of these pictures, rescued them from destruction. He preserved them at his home, then contacted me [Mike Petty]. I sorted through the pictures seeking the most interesting and selected and listed these. They have been scanned by David Spicer. The actual prints are now deposited in the Cambridgeshire Collection where they rejoin the remainder of John Carter’s collection which were presented by his son

The unveiling of the World War 2 Guidhall Memorial

The rough list of names used to create the memorial

Extract from Cambridge Daily News in November 1955:

A ROLL OF HONOUR to the memory of those men and women from Cambridge who lost their lives in the last World War was unveiled in the front entrance of the Guildhall on Sunday by the Mayor (Ald. E. T. Halnan).

The simple but impressive ceremony was conducted by the Mayor's Chaplain (Rev. S. W. Betts, Vicar of Holy Trinity).

Assembled in the front entrance of the building were the Mayoress (Mrs. Halnan), members of the City Council and Council officials, together with friends and relatives of some of those whose memory is now perpetuated by the memorial tablet.

After the Mayor had pulled aside the Union Jack covering the Roll of Honour, Mr. Betts said: "To the glory of God and in the faith of Jesus Christ we dedicate this Roll of Honour in grateful memory of those who gave their lives for duty's sake.

"May we ever be mindful of them; may we be fortified by their memory; may we meet whatever duties God may call upon us to perform in a like spirit of loyalty."

The Roll of Honour, designed and executed for the City Council by Miss G. Horsley, of the Technical College, is five feet high and three feet wide. It is written on two skins of vellum with au heraldic illuminated heading and raised gold lettering.

It is a companion roll to the one already erected in memory. of those Who were killed during the First 'World War.

Photographs Courtesy and Copyright © Tony Fulford 2002

Last updated 2 September, 2026