Unveiling the memorial from an old postcard

Walter

Private SE/3045, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Died 3/3/1916. Age 32. Born Snailwell, enlisted Newmarket. Son of William and Mary Anne Baker, of Snailwell. Buried: ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Somme, France. Grave III. F. 4.

Henry aka Harry

Private 8368 3rd Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment who died at home on Saturday, 19th February 1916. Cemetery - Grimsby Cemetery, Lincs. Born and enlisted Newmarket, resident Fordham. Suffolk's roll of Honour indicates one H BEETON coming from Exning. It is believed he was born in Newmarket, Suffolk. His residence at the time of enlisting was given as Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Only birth details that are available show a Henry Robert Beeton in the quarter September 1890 - Newmarket. Which would make him aged 25/26 when he died. His mother Annie Beeton renarried to Charles Wright in 1916, he being a widower and she a widow. The parish register shows that they married on 3rd July 1916 at Fordham Church, her maiden name being Pryke. Harry became a step brother to Eliza Murfitt (nee Wright).

Harry Montague

Private 92303 3rd Bn., Royal Fusiliers posted to 3rd Bn., London Regt (Royal Fusiliers) who died of wounds on Friday, 6th September 1918. Age 18. Born and resident Fordham, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Harry and Emma Boon, of Croft House, Fordham, Cambs. Formerly TR/13/61122, 53rd Grad. Bn., Kings Royal Rifles. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave R. III. K. 3. See also Soham Grammar School Memorial.

William Robert

L/Cpl 20017, 2nd Bn., Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 24/12/1917 in Mesopotamia. Born London, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Formerly 8477, Suffolk Regiment. Commemorated on BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 10

Arthur John

Private 49550, 21st Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Killed in action 11/5/1917. Born Fordham, enlisted Camberwell, Surrey, resident Peckham, Surrey. Formerly 15907, R.A.V.C. Age 38. Son of the late William Brown; husband of Lucy Elizabeth Brown, of 105, Glengall Rd., Peckham, London. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7

Alexander Andrew

Rifleman, A/201829, 18th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action 3/10/1918. Born City of London, enlisted Stratford, Essex, resident Ely. Buried in HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave XIV. E. II.

Ernest

Private 13931, 8th Bn., Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 27/6/1916. Age 24. Born Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Davey, of New Path, Fordham. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A

Henry

Private 16813, 7th Bn., Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 25/11/1917. Born and enlisted Newmarket. Buried in TINCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France. Grave II. F. 17.

Percy Arthur

Private [Signaller] [SDGW states 18095] 18695, 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Killed in action 24th May 1917. Age 20. Born Fordham, enlisted Luton, Beds. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Dennis, of Devon Cottage, Market St., Fordham, Cambs. Buried in MINDEL TRENCH BRITISH CEMETERY, ST. LAURENT-BLANGY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave C. 25.

Gilbert William

Private 11197, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots. Killed in action 20/6/1915. Born Deal, Kent, resident Fordham, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Formerly 8471, Suffolk Regiment. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 11.

Oliver

Private 29997, 3rd Bn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who died at home on Friday, 8th November 1918. Age 34. Born Wilbraham, enlisted Kings Lynn, resident Norfolk. Formerly 25689, Northamptonshire Regiment. Buried in DERSINGHAM (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD, Norfolk.

John William

Private 88617, 52nd Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Inf) who was killed in action on Friday, 30th November 1917. Born and resident Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Formerly S4/173738, R.A.S.C. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 154 to 159 and 163A

Percival William

Private 59475 6th Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died was killed in action on Sunday, 29th September 1918. Born Fordham, enlisted Cambridge. Buried in UNICORN CEMETERY, VEND'HUILE, Aisne, France. Grave I. C. 1.

Sydney Clarence

Private 320400, 15th Bn., Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 6/11/1917 in Egypt. Age 25. Born Fordham, enlisted Woodbridge. Son of Eyre and Jeannette Harvey. Formerly 3325, Suffolk Yeomanry. Buried in BEERSHEBA WAR CEMETERY, Israel. Grave M.52.

Ernest

Albert Eden Edward

Sapper 171175 467th Field Coy., Royal Engineers who died of wounds on Sunday, 24th March 1918. Age 32. Born Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Husband of B. M. Johnson, of Newmarket Rd., Fordham, Ely, Cambs. Buried in ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave XXXI. H. 31.

John Alfred

Private 16914 11th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 28th April 1917. Age 23. Born Cheveley, enlisted Newmarket. Son of Mrs. Louisa Johnson, of Market St., Fordham, Cambs. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4

Arthur

Gunner, X38th Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 15th February 1917. Age 26. Born Chippenham, enlisted Newmarket, Suffolk. Son of John and Martha King, late of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in FERME-OLIVIER CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 3. Row A. Grave 14.

Edgar John

Private 871157 16th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regt.) who died on Thursday, 28th June 1917. Age 27. Son of Mr. F. Lockwood, of Stuntney, Ely, Cambs., England. Born Fordham, Cambs, 10th July 1889. Living at 215 Alexander Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada with his mother who is given as next-of-kin. Barber by profession. Single. Enlisted 11th February 1916 at Winnipeg. Height 5ft 4ins, waist 36ins. Complexion fair, eyes grey, hair dark, religion Church of England. Buried in LA TARGETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-ST VAAST, Pas de Calais, France. Grave II. D. I.

National Archives of Canada - Accession Reference: RG 150, Box 5707 - 33 - see http://www.archives.ca/02/02010602_e.html

Albert Victor

Private 252378 5th Battalion Essex Regiment formerly 21415, Suffolk Regiment who died at home on Sunday, 20th May 1917. Age 17. Son of Mr. C. Munns, of Summerfield, Fordham. Born and resident in Fordham, enlisted Cambridge. Buried in FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire. In North-East part. Cousin of Edward, John and Samuel Munns below.

Photograph Copyright © David Male 2008

Extract from The Newmarket Journal - Saturday June 9, 1917:

GALLANT YOUNG SOLDIER: DEATH - We regret to state that Pte. Albert Victor Munns, 232387, A Co., 2/5 Essex Regt., passed away after a painful illness extending over two months, at the Military Hospital, Ripon, Yorks. on May 21st. Pte. Munns was only 17 years and 8 months old, and enlisted on September 13th. 1915, in the Suffolk Regt, and went to France in May. 1916. He was wounded on July 1st of that year, and after lying on the field for four days, was brought in by an officer and sent, from the field clearing station, to a hospital at Boulogne, on July 6th. Afterwards he was sent to Duston, Northampton. He was not able to do any further drill, although in other ways be helped to serve his country. Pte. Munns belonged to a well-known Fordham family, who wish to return their heartfelt thanks for the many expressions of sympathy which they have received. Writing from the Ripon Military Hospital to Mrs. Munns, the Rev. H. Hamersley (chaplain) said: "You will have heard by now that your dear boy has passed away; it was at 10 30 last evening. I had seen him at different times in the day . . . He was not in pain, but tired and sometimes restless and troubled with his breathing I told him I should be writing to you, and he sent his love to you and all at home. I read to him and prayed, and then he said he would like to go to sleep, and the Sister who was with him said he just passed. away peacefully in sleep. And now we can feel his poor tired body is at rest, and his soul has passed into the nearer presence of our Saviour. One of the hymns I read to him was "Thine for ever" (A:M 280), and it seemed to me so true of him, for he showed himself indeed a true son of God - so patient and cheerful and unselfish in all his sufferings. There are many the better for his abort life. As a nurse said to me, 'I am the better for his example.’ I do hope the knowledge of his goodness will be some comfort to you in your great sorrow, for you can feel that after his life here on earth he now rests victorious and happy in Christ . . . Before his body leaves here we will show every respect and comfort to a young soldier who has bravely fulfilled his calling and given his life for us, and the cause of goodness." - The Interment took place at Fordham on Saturday week, amid general indications of respect and sympathy a number of the principal residents in the village attending the obsequies.

Edward Charles

No record of military service currently found. In the 1891 census he is aged 7, a scholar, born Fordham, residnet with his parents, Walter and Eliza Munns, at Manns Yard, Fordham, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 17, bricklayers labourer, unmarried, born Fordham, resident with his parents Walter and Eliza Munns, at Fysons Yard, Church Street, Village, Fordham, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire.

John William

[Listed as William Munns] Private 12147 7th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Wednesday, 13th October 1915. Aged 17. Born Fordham, enlisted Mildenhall. Son of Walter and Eliza Munns, of Church St., Fordham, Cambs. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 37 and 38. Brother of Samuel, cousin of Albert.

Samuel

Private 9892 3rd Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died on Sunday, 13th April 1919. Age 17. Son of Walter and Eliza Munns, of Church St., Fordham. Buried in FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire. In North-East part. Brother of John, cousin of Albert.

Photograph Copyright © David Male 2008

George William

Lance Corporal 14008 7th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died of wounds on Sunday, 27th August 1916. Born Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Son of James and Clara Nicholls, of Chippenham Rd., Fordham. Buried in FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire. In North-East part.

Photograph Copyright © David Male 2008

Eustace George

[Listed as George E Parr on ABMC Database] Corporal, 103rd Infantry, 26th Division, U.S. Army, American Expeditionary Force. Died 14th September 1918. Entered the Service from New Hampshire. Buried in Saint Mihiel WW1 Cemetery, France. Plot C. Row 29. Grave 17.

Harry

Private 18103 15th (1st in SDGW) Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died on Sunday, 25th July 1915 at Salonika. Age 34. Born Snailwell, enlisted Newmarket. Husband of Maria Parr, of Collin's Hill, Fordham, Ely. Buried in STRUMA MILITARY CEMETERY, Greece. Grave VII. H. 6.

Montague

Private 18055 2nd Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Thursday, 2nd March 1916. Age 31. Born Snailwell, enlisted Newmarket. Son of Sarah Ann Parr, of Carter St., Fordham, and the late James Parr; husband of Ada Sabina Parr, of The Limes, Carter St., Fordham, Ely, Cambs. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21

Thomas Kelly

Private 3/9788 11th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 28th April 1917. Born Chippenham, enlisted Newmarket. Son of John George Parr, of Church St., Fordham, Ely, Cambs. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.

Walter

Private 4574 1st/7th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers who died on Monday, 21st August 1916. Age 27. Born Fordham, enlisted Pocklington, Yorks. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Plumb, of Carter St., Fordham; husband of Annie Plumb, of Carter St., Fordham, Ely, Cambs. Buried in LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave I. F. 67.

William

Private (Buglar) 20337 7th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Wednesday, 9th August 1916. Born Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.

Bertie

Private 29350 9th Bn., The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment who was killed in action on Monday, 27th May 1918. Born and resident Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Formerly 5334, Middlesex Regiment. Commemoarted on the SOISSONS MEMORIAL, Aisne, France.

Charles

Private 29355 7th Bn., East Yorkshire Regiment who was killed in action on Sunday, 31st March 1918. Age 34. Born Freckenham, Suffolk, resident Fordham, enlisted Norwich. Son of the late Edward Vise Rust and Helen Jane Rust. Formerly S4/094626, R.A.S.C. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4 and 5

Charles

Private 270264, 4th (Hertfordshire Regiment) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 27th August 1918 in France & Flanders. Born and resident Fordham, enlisted Cambridge. No entry on CWGC. No known grave. Commemorated on VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 10.

Lewis

Private 24876 11th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 28th April 1917. Age 21. Born Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Son of the late Henry and Alice Snare. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4

Charles Thomas

Lance Corporal 17570, 6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Killed in action 3rd May 1917. Born Ashton, Essex, enlisted Reading, resident Swansea. Husband of R. Taylor, of 146, Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, London. Commemorated in WANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Special Memorial 25.

Arthur

Rivate 29046, 2nd Bn., Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds 3rd April 1917 in Mesopotamia. Born Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Buried in AMARA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Grave XIII. F. 1.

Charles

Private 290185 (SDGW 200185) 11th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Friday, 22nd March 1918. Age 34. Enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Turner, of Church St., Fordham, Cambs; husband of Edith Amelia Turner, of 12, Mustow St., Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk. Formerly 3044, Suffolk Regiment. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.

William Henry

Private 29740, 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Lilled in action 22nd March 1918. Born and resident Fordham, enlisted Newmarket. Buried in SAVY BRITISH CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Grave I. P. 8.

Sidney Herbert

Corporal 17564 Royal Army Service Corps transf. to (349059), Labour Corps who died on Tuesday, 31st December 1918. Age 54. Son of James Webb, of Fordham; husband of Martha Amelia Webb, of Market St., Fordham. Buried in FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire. In North part.

Photograph Copyright © David Male 2008

Charles

Lance Corporal 2124361 Royal Engineers who died on Tuesday, 9th July 1946. Age 36. Son of Ben and Mary Ann Collin, of Fordham; husband of Bertha Eva Collin, of Fordham. Buried in FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire.

Anthony Humphrey

Private 14546998 1st Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment who died on Thursday, 20th April 1944. Age 20. Son of Richard Roydon Count and Lily Count, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in IMPHAL WAR CEMETERY, India. Grave 5. F. 20.

Frederick Archie

Private 5831092 4th Bn., Suffolk Regiment, prisoner of war, who died on Saturday, 12th June 1943. Age 25. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John William Fleet, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Commemorated on the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore. Column 55.

Leslie Albert

Leading Aircraftman 1337282 92 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Sunday, 1st August 1943. Age 22. Son of George and Edith Hatley, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILY, Italy. Grave VII. H. 6.

Extract from Cambridge Daily News in 1943:

FORDHAM MAN’S
DEATH
Accident in Middle
East

The following teegram has been received by Mr. and Mrs.. George Hatley, of Market Street, Fordham, concerning their only son, L.A.C. Leslie A. Hatley, from the Air Ministry :

“Deeply regret to inform you that your son, L.A.C. L. A. Batley, was placed on the dangerously ill list on August 1st, and died on the same day as the result of an accident on July 31st.”

L.A.C. Hatley was educated at Fordham C. of E. School, and afterwards entered the employment of Lord Fairhaven, to whom he became personal valet. Shortly after the outbreak of war he joined the R.A.F., and was serving in the Middle East at the time of his death.

Keith Aalan

Flight Sergeant 1150168 W.Op./Air Gnr. 420 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Wednesday, 15th April 1942. Age 22. Husband of Joan Johnson (nee Smart), of Fordham.. Buried in FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire.

Lionel Beaumont

Flight Sergeant 910489 W.Op./Air Gnr. 31 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Friday, 28th January 1944. Age 25. Adopted son of Mrs. A. Serjeant, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in RANCHI WAR CEMETERY, India. Grave 9. K. 8.

Donald

Lance Corporal 5834741 142nd Regt. (7th Suffolks), R.A.C. who died on Sunday, 21st February 1943. Age 29. Son of George and Lillie Palmer; husband of Ivy Florence Palmer, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Commemorated on MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL, Tunisia. Face 6.

Frank

Private 5827314 1st Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died on Wednesday, 22nd May 1940. Age 25. Son of Frank and Rose May Perkins, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Commemorated on DUNKIRK MEMORIAL, Nord, France. Column 46. Brother of Percy below.

Percy

Private 5827317 1st Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died on Friday, 31st May 1940. Age 23. Son of Frank and Rose Perkins, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in ZUIDSCHOTE CHURCHYARD, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave B. 16. Brother of Frank above.

Robert George

Private 5933102 1st Bn. The Cambridgeshire Regiment, Suffolk Regiment, prisoner of war, who died on Thursday, 25th November 1943. Age 22. Buried in KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Grave 6. F. 76.

Edgar Henry

Sergeant 1331432 W.Op./Air Gnr. 75 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Wednesday, 23rd June 1943. Age 21. Son of Henry John and Ethel May Reader, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Germany. Grave 19. G. 3.

Extract from Cambridge Daily News in 1943:

FORDHAM AIRMAN
KILLED
Sergt. W/O E. H.
Reader, R.A.F.

Official intimation has been received by Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Reader, of Station Cottages, Fordham, that their only son, Sergt. Wireless Operator Edgar Henry Reader, R. A. F. V. R. was killed while on air operations over Germany in June. News had previously reached them that he was reported missing. He was aged 21, and received his earliest education at Fordham C. of E. School, afterwards gaining a scholarship to Soham Grammar School. On leaving the Grammar School he was clerk at the Gas Works at Ely until joining the R.A.F. in July, 1941.

Edgar Montague

Private 14737299 7th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry who died on Monday, 12th February 1945. Age 18. Son of Walter and Mary Elizabeth Townsend, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Germany. Grave 45. B. 6.

Lewis Albert

News has been received that Pte. Lewis Albert Turner, of an infantry regiment, was killed in action in Normandy on June 14th. He was 21 years of age, and the second son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Turner, of 2, Sharman's Road, Fordham.

He joined the Army in January, 1942, and in July of the same year went overseas, fighting with the Eighth Army in Sicily. Returning to England towards the end of 1943, Pte. Turner was among the first infantry to land in France on D-Day.

He was educated at Fordharn C. of E. School, and was afterwards employed by Mr. Charles Morley, nurseryman, of Fordham.

Harold Edward

possibly Harold Edward WEBB, Driver T/188376, Royal Army Service Coprs. Died Monday, 23rd April 1945. Age 30. Born and resident Cambridgeshire. Buried in BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY, Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany. Grave 8. A. 5.

Harry Gordon

Lance Corporal 2444. City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders). Died of phthisis 12th July 1918. Age 22. Son of Harry Warwick Townsend and Constance Townsend. Buried in SS. Peter and Mary Magdalene Churchyard Extension, Fordham, Cambridgeshire.

Photograph Copyright © David Male 2008

Richard John

Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 19th October 1943. Aged 19. Son of William Frank and Lizzie Turner, of Fordham. Buried in SS. Peter and Mary Magdalene Churchyard Extension, Fordham, Cambridgeshire.

Photograph Copyright © David Male 2008