Unveiling of the 1939-1945 Memorial
(Photo: Lilian Ream, Ltd.)
Extract from Wisbech Standard in 1950

There are ten names on the memorial to the men of Upwell who lost their lives in the 1939-45 war which was unveiled and dedicated in St. Peter's Church, Upwell, on Sunday.

The unveiling was by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk (Sir Edmund Bacon), seen on the right. The Archdeacon of Wisbech and. Rector of Upwell (Ven. S. J. A. Evans), who dedicated the tablet, is on the left of the picture.

AMPS

Donald William

Private 18605, A Company, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1 September 1915. Aged 18. Son of Mr G & Mrs A H Amps, of The Lord Nelson, Lakesend. Native of March, Cambs. Buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial and also March

BAINES

Walter

Private 345331, 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots. Died of wounds 27 March 1918. Aged 31. Son of Ellen Baines, of Town St, Upwell. Formerly 290052 Norfolk Regiment and 356931 Highland Light Infantry. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime. See also Upwell memorial

BALDERSON

Samuel

Private 13725, 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 3 July 1916. Aged 21. Son of Samuel Balderson, of Wisbech Rd, Outwell. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

BOWLES

John

Private 25438, 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. Killed in action on memorial but officially listed as died of wounds 4 November 1917. Aged 27. Husband of Hannah Grace Bowles, of 122 Norwich Rd, Walsoken. Formerly 26584 Suffolk Regiment. Buried in Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery Extension, France. See also Upwell memorial

CANHAM

Stanley

Private 16424, 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died of heatstroke 18 July 1916 in Mesopotamia. Aged 17. Third son of Mrs A E Canham, of Town Street. Buried in Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. See also Upwell memorial

COLE

Herbert

Lance Corporal 9529, 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 2 January 1915. Aged 21. Son of Mr G & Mrs S Cole, of Prospect House, Pious Drove, Upwell. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

COOPERLLEN

John W

Died on service 1 February 1918 - This man does not appear on the SDGW, CWGC or the main upwell memorial

COX

George William

Private 382023, 10th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (TF). Killed in action 22 July 1917. Son of Harriett Cox, Upwell. Buried in Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. See also Upwell memorial

DAVIS

Thomas [Rofle]

Private 40434, 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 18 February 1917. Aged 31. Son of Samuel John and Sarah Jane Davis, of Upwell. Buried in Varennes Military Cemetery, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

DEIGHTON

Arthur

Private 18619, 10th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Killed in action 24 March 1917. Buried in Roclincourt Valley Cemetery. See also Upwell memorial

FEETHAM

George Harry

Private 32979 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, prisoner of war Saturday 14th April 1917 who died of wounds 24 April 1917 [reported August 1917] at Douai. Born Outwell, Norfolk, enlisted Norwick, resident Upwell, Norfolk. Lived Seaford Villas. Formerly 15483, Norfolk Regiment. Buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. Plot XIV. Row F. Grave 19. (Brother of below.) See also Outwell and Upwell memorial

FEETHAM

[William] Herbert

Lance Corporal 32597, 5th Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. Missing between 21-23 March 1918 presumed killed in action 23 March 1918. Lived Seaford Villas. Formerly 5325 Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. (Brother of above.) See also Outwell and Upwell memorial

HARDIMENT

Hubert

Private 3726m 4/1st Battalion (Battalion police), Cambridgeshire Regiment. Wounded in an air raid 31 March 1916 and died at nhome 1 April 1916. Aged 21. Lived Pingle Bridge. Buried in Upwell (St Peter) Churchyard, Upwell. See also Upwell memorial

Death detailed in an article from the Wisbech Standard 1916.

HARTLEY

George William

Private 41549, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action 30 November 1917. Aged 35. Son of Sarah Elizabeth Harltey, of Lots Bridge, Three Holes. Born and resident Lotsbridge Three Holes, Norfolk, enlisted Norwich. Formerly 5708 Norfolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France. See also Upwell memorial

HAYCOCK

Edward

Lance Corporal 16965, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died of wounds 1 December 1917. Aged 23. Son of Mr and Mrs Edward Haycock, Small Lode, Upwell. Buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

HILLS

Albert Edward

Private 235228, 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Killed in action 17 October 1918 [records state 15 October]. Aged 27. Son of Edward & Sarah Ann Hills, Small Lode, Upwell. Buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery. See also Upwell memorial

HILLS

Sidney

Lance Sergeant 18487, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in action 29 April 1917 [records state 27 April]. Lived Three Holes. Buried in St Patrick's Cemetery, Loos, France. See also Upwell memorial

HOVELL

Charles William

Private 203569, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 27 April 1918. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

JERMEY

Walter

[Spelt JERMY on ROH] Private 23098, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died while a prisoner of war 8 February 1917. Aged 19. Son of William and Maria Jermey, of Council Houses, Three Holes. Commmeorated in Croisilles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. (Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt Memorial). See also Upwell memorial

JOHNSON

Charles [George]

Private 3/9022, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 22 January 1916. Aged 21. Son of Joseph & Mary Johnson. Buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

JOHNSON

George Steward

Private 15702, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 12 October 1916. Aged 24. Son of Mr & Mrs J Johnson, bakers, Upwell. Buried in Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy, France. See also Upwell memorial

JOHNSON

Hugh [C]

[Memorial states died of wounds 15 April 1918] Sergeant 1967, 56th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Died of wounds 17 May 1918 at 61st Casualty Clearing Station (wounded 15 May 1918). Aged 27. Son of Mr R Johnson, lived near the Post Office. Enlisted Sydney, New South Wales. Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, the son of Robert Johnson. On 23 November 1914, he enlisted in the A.I.F. in Liverpool, N.S.W. Buried in Visnacourt British Cemetery. See also Upwell memorial

JOHNSON

[William] Leonard

Private 59516, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 21 December 1918. Buried in Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Harve, Seine-Maritime, France. See also Upwell memorial

LINDSAY

Robert

Private 56717, 95th Company, Labour Corps. Died on service 8 October 1918 in Salonika. Formerly G/29152 14th Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment & 38724 Middlesex Regiment. Buried in Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery, Greece. See also Upwell memorial

NEWELL

Percy A

Died of wounds at the YMCA 22 January 1915 - Cannot locate on CWGC or SDGW or the main Upwell memorial

PALMER

Percy

[Memorial states Killed in action 1916]. Private 8089, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 16 August 1916. Buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

POLLINGTON

[James] Herbert

Private 39458, 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 26 May 1917 [records state 27 May]. Aged 20. Son of the late John & Rebecca Pollington. No known grave. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, France. See also Upwell memorial

POLLINGTON

John H

Assumed dead 29 August 1916 - probably Private 20707, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died at sea 13 August 1915; sinking of the troopship Royal Edward in the Aegean Sea. Born Downnham Mkt, enlisted Kings Lynn, resident Mundford, Norfolk. Formerly 8649 Norfolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey. See also Upwell memorial

PRATT

George

Private 4041, 3/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died while in hospital in Tring of diphtheria 8 November 1915 [record state 9 November]. Aged 16. Youngest son of Richard & Agnes Pratt, Town Street. Fruitgrower. Buried in Tring Cemetery, UK. Brother of below. See also Upwell memorial

PRATT

Sidney

Lance Corporal 9004, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 9 April 1918. Aged 25. Son of Richard & Agnes Pratt, Town Street. Buried in Millencourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Brother of above. See also Upwell memorial

PUNTER

Frank

Private 136443, Royal Army medical Corps. Died in hospital 18 May 1920. Aged 23. Husband of Henrietta Punter, 62 St Peter's Rd, Radford, Notts. Buried in Nottingham General Cemetery, Notts. See also Upwell memorial

PUNTER

Thomas

Memorial states 'Assumed died'] Private 326447, 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 31 July 1917. Resident Small Lode, Upwell. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

ROOFE

Arthur

Private 16713, 11th (Cambridgeshire) battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916 [memorial states 17 July 1916]. Aged 21. Son of Mr & Mrs W Roofe, Upwell. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

RUSSELL

Alfred

Private 275054, 2/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.Killed in action 10 July 1917 [records state 11 July]. Aged 29. Son of Alfred and Rhoda Russell, of Lilybank, Upwell. Formerly 327870 Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in Ribecourt British Cemetery, France. See also Upwell memorial

RUSSELL

Isaac

Private 26365, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 9 April 1917. Born Lot's Bridge, enlisted Wisbech. No knwon grave. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3.

RUST

George A

Private 330860, 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 20 November 1917. Formerly 9869, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in Ribecourt British Cemetery, France. See also Upwell memorial

SANDAL

Fred

Private PW6609, 1st Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Killed in action 23 April 1917. Aged 24. Son of Mr William Sandal, Thurlands Drove, Upwell. Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3. See also Upwell memorial

SANDAL

George

Private 29340, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 18 September 1918. Son of Mrs E Sandal, of Wingland, Sutton Bridge. Buried in Chapelle British Cemetery, Aisne, France. See also Upwell memorial

SHEPHERD

Herbert

Private R/463, Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval volunteer Reserve. Died of wounds 22 July 1917. Buried in Newmarket Cemetery, Suffolk. See also Upwell memorial

Able Seaman. Joined Nelson Bn. BEF 28/4/17-6/5/17 wounded, Invalided to UK 19/5/17 DOW at 2 a.m. in 1st London Gen. Hosp. Camberwell (GSW Arm & L.Thigh, Comp. Frac. 6/5/17) Born Emneth, Norfolk 5/10/1885. A Licensed Victualler. Husband of Ursula R. Shepherd, of Stanley Stores, Newmarket. (wife re-married: Mrs. Ursula R. Evans).

SKEELS

Elijah

Private 202921, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 19 April 1917 in Egypt. Born Latebridge, Norfolk, enlisted Norwich. Buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel. See also Upwell memorial

SMITH

Bert

Private 23392, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 27 July 1917. Son of Mr & Mrs Smith, The Dovecot. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Brother of below. See also Upwell memorial

SMITH

Sidney

Lance Corporal 9002, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 31 July 1916. Son of Mr & Mrs Smith, The Dovecot. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Brother of above. See also Upwell memorial

STEWARD

Josiah

Private 2267, 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 24 May 1915. Aged 20. Son of Timothy and Caroline Steward, of March Riverside, Upwell. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. See also Upwell memorial

STONE

Horace

Private 203572, hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 30 April 1918. Aged 28. Lived Welney, horseman at Three Holes. Buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No 3, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

TAYLOR

Walter Henry

Private 17892, 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died on service 3 July 1918 in Salonika. Aged 22. Son of James and Mary A Taylor, of Upwell. Buried in Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery, Greece. See also Upwell memorial

THORN, MM

Ben

Private 23/301, No. 1 Field Ambulance, new Zealand medical Corps. Killed in action 20 November 1917. Aged 22. Son of Ben and Jessie Thorn, of Seddon Avenue, Waihi, New Zealand. Also served in Egypt. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). No known grave. Commemorated on Buttes New British Cemetery (N.Z.) Memorial, Belgium.

TOWSON

Frederick William

Private 52205, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 8 August 1918. Buried in Dive Copse British Cemetery, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

TROWER

Frederick 'Fred' Edward

Private T/343586, Army Service Corps. Died of dysentery at Colchester 24 March 1919. Aged 34. Son of Charles Trower, of Lots Bridge. Husband of Elizabeth Ann Trower, of Town St, Upwell. Buried in Upwell (St Peter) Churchyard, Norfolk. See also Upwell memorial

VURLEY

Walter

Private 31452, 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 9 August 1916. Aged 27. Second son of Mrs J W Vurley, Church Bridge. Baker in Scunthorpe. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

WAKEFIELD

Herbert

Private 50407, 8th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action 20 September 1917. Aged 25. Son of George Wakefield, of Horse Head Drove, Three Holes. Formerly 69468 Royal Army Ordnance Corps. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

WARBY

Joseph Percival

Able Seaman Z6251, HMS President, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died of influenza at Royal Naval Hospital Granthom, Scotland 15 March 1919. Age 20. Only son of Mr & Mrs James Henry Warby. Buried in Upwell (St Peter) Churchyard. LZ/6251; No RND service. See also Upwell memorial

WARBY

William Reginald

Private G/10875, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East kent Regiment). Died of wounds 11 July 1917. Son of Mr H Warby, of the Rose and Crown, Upwell. Buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. See also Upwell memorial

WARD

George [Edward]

Private 5276, 1/4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed in action 29 October 1916. Aged 21. Son of George & Elizabeth Ward, of March Riverside, Upwell. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

WENN

Arthur

Private 66082, 32nd Company, Machine Gun Corps. Died of wounds 8 October 1917. Aged 28. Formerly 31267 Bedfordshire Regiment. Son of Mr & Mrs George Wenn, of Workhouse Lane, Upwell. Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium. See also Upwell memorial

WEST

John Tom Ekin

Gunner 13942, HMS Benbow, Royal Marine Artillery. Died in hospital 24 September 1920. Aged 27. Son of William and Mary Adelaide West, of Town St., Upwell, Cambs. Buried in Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery, Malta.

WOOLNER

Walter Frederick

Private 66043, Suffolk Regiment. Died in hospital of wounds 19 March 1920. Aged 22. Son of Daniel and Harriet E Woolner, of Hundreds Farm, Welney. Buried in Tottenham and Wood Green Cemetery, Middlesex. (Listed Wisbech General Cemetery, screen wall) See also Upwell memorial

YOUNGS

Henry

[Listed on both memorials as YOIUNGS but in records as YOUNG] Private 21303, 7th Battalion, Border Regiment. Killed in action 30 July 1916. Aged 29. Formerly 19506 Norfolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. See also Upwell memorial

GOOCH

Douglas [Haig]

2617112, L/Cpl, 6th Grenadier Guards. 8-11-45, age 25. Youngest son of Mrs. E. Gooch, of 2, Bull Lane, Wisbech; husband of Dorthy May Gooch, formerly of Three Holes. Before enlisting he worked at Lode Hall Farm, Three Holes. Buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. Buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. See also Upwell memorial

HARGRAVE

George

NUNN

John

Ordinary SeamanJX 518552, HMS Collingwood, Royal Navy. Died 18June 1943. Aged 18. Son of William George & Bertha Nunn, of Upwell. Buried in Upwell Cemetery, Norfolk. See also Upwell memorial

PARMENTER

Stanley

PLUMB

Harry

Corporal 5825180, 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of beri-beri as a prisoner of war of the Japanese 11 December 1943. Aged 30. Son of Arthur & Lucy Plumb, of Town St, Upwell; husband of Joyce Marion Plumb, of Felixstowe. Buried in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar. See also Upwell memorial

The grievous news that Cpl. Harry Plumb, who was captured by the Japanese in February, 1942, is yet another of those who have died in captivity, has been received from the War Office.

The report states that Cpl. Plumb, 4th Batt. Suffolk Regt., died while a prisoner of war in Malai Camp on Dec. 11th, 1943, and that the cause of his death was beri-beri.

After a long period of waiting, Cpl. Plumb's wife, who resides at Kessingland, Lowestoft, first heard that he was safe although a prisoner in June, 1943, and subsequently in August and December of the same year received two cards from him.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Plumb, of Town-street, Upwell, and an old boy of Upwell St. Peter’s School, Cpl. Plumb in peace-time served in the Suffolk Regiment for seven years, five of which were spent in India. Before the war he joined the Norfolk County Police, being stationed at Thetford for two years. Six months after the declaration of war he was re-called to the Colours and in October, 1941, was drafted overseas.

If any of Cpl. Plumb's fellow prisoners can supply any further information as to his circumstances in captivity will they please inform Mr. and Mrs. A. Plumb, of Town-street, Upwell, near Wisbech, or Mrs. H. Plumb, Balham House, Kessingland, Lowestoft.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Plumb and Mrs. H. Plumb, wish to thank all friends who made kind inquiries during Cpl. Plumb's captivity while a P.O.W. in Japanese hands, and for all letters of sympathy.

Richard Peyton

WARD

Charles [Derek]

[Papers refer to him as Derek Ward] Sergeant 1386499, 106 Squadron, Royal Air Froce Volunteer Reserve, based at Systerston, Notts, flying Lancasters. Died 15 October 42. Age 31. Husband of Syliva Ward, of Lister's Drove, Upwell; husband of Sylvia Ward, of Upwell. Buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. See also Upwell memorial

Extract from local newspaper:

DEATH OF UPWELL
AIRMAN.

Sergt.-Gnr. Derek Ward
Presumed Killed.

Official notification from the Red Cross that her husband, Sgt.-Gnr. Derek Ward, must now be presumed killed in action, has been received by Mrs. D. Ward, of Lister's-drove, Up well.

Sgt.-Gnr. Ward, who had been on operational duties for over six months, was previously reported missing when he did not return from a raid on the night of Oct. 16th.

In the first letter which Mrs. Ward received on the subject, she was informed that, when three members of the crew of the bomber in which her husband was flying lost their lives, and three were captured, the remaining member was also believed to have been taken prisoner. She has since heard that the whole crew have been accounted for, and that two of the three who lost their lives had not at first been identified. It has now been ascertained that one of them was Sgt. Ward.

Inquiries are being made as to his place of burial.

WATSON

Ernest [Nelson]

Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1271554, 630 Squdron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 8 August 1944. Aged 21. Son of Hannah Mary Elizabeth Watson, and stepson of William Kent; husband of Barbara Lily Watson, of Addington, Buckinghamshire. Buried in St. Valery-En-Caux Franco-British Cemetery, Seine-Maritime, France. Row B. Collective grave 11-13. See also Upwell memorial

WOOLL

Tragedy had followed swifty upon joy for Mr. and Mrs. R. Wooll, of New-road, Upwell, who recently beard that their youngest son Cpl. C. W. (Jack) Wooll, had been rescued from the Japanese and who I had since learned that he was a passenger in a plane flying between Okinawa and Manila on Oct. 10th which is now reported missing.

Cpl. Wooll, who is 33 years of age, was serving with the Suffolk Regiment. The telegram from the secretary of State for War was received by his wife, who lives at Woodbridge, Suffolk, and it states: “Deeply regret to inform you in-formation received to-day that No. 5345494, Cpl. C. W. Wool, Suffolk Regt, previously recovered from Japanese hands, was a passenger in a plane which is now reported officially as missing Oct. 10th, 1945, between Okinawa and Manila. Letter follows.”

Cpl. Wooll, who before the war was a land worker in the Upwell district, served in France and came safely through Dunkirk before being sent out to the Far East in 1941; his wife has received several cards from him during his captivity, but nothing had been heard from him personally since he was recently officially stated to be safe in Allied hands.

Cpl. Wooll has a little son, aged 4½, whom he has never seen, and who, since the long-awaited news of his father's liberation, has been looking forward eagerly to seeing his daddy.

Mr. and Mrs. Wooll and family, New-road, Upwell, would like to thank the people of Three Holes and Upwell who made inquiries while their son was a prisoner in Japanese hands.

YOUNG

Dennis