Roll of Honour - Norfolk - West Walton, Norfolk

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

WEST WALTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © Cliff Brown 2002
additional infromation and photographs courtesy & copyright © Dennis Lee 2011

The memorial in the village of West Walton in the Norfolk fens, on the border with Cambridgeshire, is a marble wheel cross on a pillar on a four stepped base with low corner posts. There is lead lettering at the base of the shaft and on the plinth and top step. A flower container stands in front of the memorial, which is in the centre of West Walton cemetery.

In 2006/7 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation gave a grant of £490 towards work to clean the memorial with water and masonry biocide, to repair damaged stonework and one of the corner posts, to repair lifted lettering and to paint areas of missing lettering.

The memorial was built in the early 1920s. After World War II names were added and memorial gates erected at the entrance to the cemetery.

The horizontal arms of the cross are inscribed with the dates 1914 and 1918 and Pro Deo et Patria is inscribed around the wheel.
[Details from The War Memorial Trust]

To the
dear memory
of our fallen

1914-18

ANDREW(S)	Samuel C	3/9044 Private, D Company, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 4 March 1915, age 18, Vierstraat sector. Born Islington (although birth records show Wisbech District March 1897), enlisted Wisbech. Horseman for Messrs Clayton & Young, Walton. Parents Mr & Mrs R C Andrews, lived Terrington St John Fen End; mother listed as Caroline E. Andrew, of 49, West St., Wisbech, Cambs. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panel 21.
ANDREWS	William Silk	135763 Gunner, B Battery, 70th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 12 May 1917, age 26. Born St Ives September 1890. Married in Wisbech District December 1910. Formerly West Walton. Buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy les Mofflaines. Also listed Wisbech.
BEDFORD	Thomas 'Tom'	6234 Private, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. 26 August 1914, age 29, Le Cateau. Born Walsoken March 1885, enlisted Wisbech. Son of the late Harvey and Jane Bedford, of Old Walsoken. Husband of May Bedford (nee Gunns), West Walton, married in Wisbech District December 1912. No known grave. Commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-Maritime, France.
CRANE	Page Ernest	Private, 6th Royal Fusiliers. Born March 1886 in Walsingham District. Husband of Ethel Jane Crane (nee Vincent), married 21 November 1910 at Sutton Bridge. Labourer, attested 6 December 1915, mobilised 31 May 1916, posted to 7th Royal Fusiliers 1 June 16. To 6th battalion 13 September 16. Discharged sick 18 May 1917, no longer fit, aggravated by normal military service. Aged 15, he was a farm boy, living Langham, Norfolk, in 1901 census. Died 2 September 1917, age 31 at Blakeney, of chlorosis and heart failure. He had a wife and two small children and was discharged without a pension. He died less than 4 months later. See also Langham Memorial
COE	Ernest William	37299 Private, B Company, 1st Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 31 July 1916, age 23. Born West Walton December 1892, enlisted King's Lynn. Son of William & Mary Jane Coe, Station Rd, Clenchwarton. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Walpole St Peter.
DAY	Frederick	7159 Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 24 September 1916. Born West Walton March 1883, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Husband of Mary E Lock (formerly Day nee Trower) of The Wroe, Emneth; married in Wisbech District December 1915. Born at West Walton. Buried in West Walton Cemetery, Norfolk. Also listed Emneth.
EDGOOSE	Stanton Charles	307662 Private (Rfn), 1/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. Died of wounds 20 August 1917, at No 5 General Hospital, Exeter, (gassed 25 July 1917 & admitted to 7th General Hospital). In France one year. Born West Walton September 1880, enlisted Grimsby. Eldest son of Mr Stanton Edgoose, Lyndhurst, West Walton. Married. Buried in Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery, Lincs.
FULCHER	James Henry	G/14949 Private, 12th (2nd South Downs) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 31 January 1916, age 41. Born Wisbech District September 1880. Formerly 4171 3/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, France.
HALSTEAD	William	2777 Corporal, C Company, 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 4 September 1916. Born Walsoken June 1897, enlisted Wisbech. Son of Mr & Mrs Joseph Halstead, Grassgate Farm, Walsoken. Brother of Arthur, below. Buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France.
HALSTEAD	Richard Arthur	[Also in records as Arthur Richard] 48402 Private, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 25 October 1918, age 23. Born Wisbech District June 1895. Husband of Edith Florence Halstead, West Walton. Lived Grassgate Farm, Walsoken. Brother of William (above). Buried in Preux-au-Bois Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
HARNWELL	Walter John	Private 6050, Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action 26 August 1916. Son of Richard H Harnwell& Mrs Sarah A Woodcock. Age 24. Born September 1892. In France two weeks when killed in action 26 August 16. Enlisted Middlesex Regiment. The grave stone that marks his grave does not contain his body. It was put there by his parents so that they had somewhere to go to remember him. It is close to his cousins grave Frank Moules, no. TF/6053 who died at home 1 October 16. They were both in the Middlesex Regiment.
HOWLING	William	40999 Private, 2/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Died 30 November 1917. Born Downham District September 1900. No known grave. Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.
HUBBARD	Charles Robert	40245 Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 4 March 1917, age 22. Born King's Lynn March 1895, enlisted Wisbech, living West Walton. Son of James & Martha Hubbard, Harrolds Cottages, West Walton. Lived Church End, West Walton. Formerly 1319, 1/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
JACKSON	Benjamin Harold	203030 Private, W Company, 1/4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. Died 4 September 1918, age 20. Formerly Cambridgeshire Regiment. Born Hol;bech District March 1897. Son of Benjamin and Edith Ellen Jackson, The Clippers Arms, Walton Highway. Buried in Glageon Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.
LYTHELL	George William	3/9095 Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 13 November 1916. Born Littleport June 1898, enlisted Wisbech. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
LEADBITTER	Geoffrey	Second Lieutenant, 1/4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Gaza 19 April 1917. Born Thrapston District September 1891. No known grave. Commemorated on Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
MOULES	Frank	TF/6053 Private, 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Died of wounds (home) 1 October 1916, age 22. Born Wisbech District March 1894. Buried in West Walton Cemetery, Norfolk.
PLUMB	Arthur	2257 Private, 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 14 October 1916, age 19. Born Wisbech December 1896, enlisted March. Eldest son of Frederick & Arabella Plumb, Tilney All Saints. Had worked for Hickman & Marshall, West Walton, then as horseman for J E Morton, Bedlam Farm, Coldham. Wife Mrs A J Plumb, later lived Mill End, Cherryhinton. Buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2, France. Also listed Coldham.
THOMPSON	Ernest Roland	G/15280 Sergeant, C Company, 7th Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 23 March 1918, age 26. Born West Walton March 1892, enlisted Norwich, resident Wisbech. Formerly 14309 Norfolk Regiment. Son of George & Francis Thompson, of Hickman's Farm, Leverington. Brother of George & John. No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Wisbech.
THOMPSON	George	8907 Private, 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 4 March 1917. Born Wisbech District September 1899. Son of George & Francis Thompson, of Hickman's Farm, Leverington. Brother of Ernest & John. Buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, France. Also listed Wisbech.
THOMPSON	[Francsi] John	3/8485 Private, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 16 August 1916. Born West Walton December 1896, enlisted Wisbech. Son of George & Frances Thompson, of Hickman's Farm, Leverington. Brother of Ernest & George, above. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Wisbech.
WALTHAM	William	9204 Lance Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 13 November 1916. Born Wisbech March 1887 and enlisted Wisbech. Husband of Lilian (Lily) Waltham nee Meeds, married in Boston District March 1907. Buried in Luke Copse British Cemetery, Serre, Somme, France.
WEST	Thomas William	8707 Private, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 15 August 1915, age 25. Born Walpole December 1890, enlisted Wisbech. Son of James & Annie West, River Road, West Walton. Buried in Norfolk Cemetery, Somme, France.
WEBB	Alfred	G/15283 Lance Corporal, 8th Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. Died of wounds 18 October 1918, age 26. Born Wisbech District December 1891. Formerly 14310 Norfolk Regiment. Son of Mr W J Webb, Walton Highway. Buried in Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
WEBB	Charles Edward	172644 Gunner, 481st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 7 April 1918, age 22. Born Wisbech District December 1895. Son of William Webb, Homeleigh, St Paul's Rd, Walton Highway. Buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
WOODIN	Albert Henry	510014 Corporal, Labour Corps. Died (home) 23 April 1918, age 28. Born Reading District December 1889. Son of Charles H Woodin, 54 Cardigan Road, Reading. Husband of Mary Woodin (nee Blunt), Lyveden, Norwich Road, Wisbech; married March 1916. Lived Walton Highway. Formerly 5107 East Surrey Regiment. Husband of May Woodin, Norwich Road, Wisbech. Buried in Wisbech Borough Cemetery, Cambs.
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God" 1939-1945
BLISS	Maurice George	Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1881845, 224 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Coastal Command. Killed in action flying out of Milltown, Morayshire, in a Consolidated Liberator GRVIII, serial number KG964, when the aircraft was lost without trace during an Anti-Submarine Warfare patrol over the Skagerrak 26 February 1945. Aged 20. Born 18 June 1924. Native of West Walton, Norfolk. Son of George & Melinda Elizabeth Bliss, of Tydd Gote. 224 Squadron were based at Milltown, Scotland, and flew Liberators. In the 1939 Register he was the son of George and Linda (sic) Bliss, born 18 June 1924, signle, a Farm Worker, resident Charity Farm, Newton, Wisbech R.D., Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on Runnymead Memorial, Surrey. Panel 273. See also Gorefield Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1946: BLISS Maurice George of Poplar Farm Walton Highway Norfolk died 26 February 1945 on war service Probate Peterborough 13 May to George Bliss farmer. Effects £181 15s. 11d. See also West Walton Ken Anderson and Maurice Bliss were cousins, both in R.A.F. and died within days of each other in entirely separate situations. Note: Lynn Buckland, whose uncle was killed on this flight and her two brothers have spent many hours researching this crash from records in Germany regarding the uboats that shot them down to the cemetery in Norway where one of the crew is buried and to the airport they flew from on this night, in Milltown, Scotland. Many of the crews had been out flying all day and on their return volunteers were asked for to go out on this sortie. Uboats had been spotted in the Skagerrak, Norway. Reg Ponting the Flying Officer pilot volunteered and most of his usual team also. They were in RAF 224 Squadron. The Om was spotted and these now had enormous spot lights on them and it is believed that they were shot down due to these lights being shone and them not being able to get away in time. Joseph Leo Gallipeau'a body was washed up in Varberg, Sweden and is buried in the cemetery there with a memorial, which my youngest brother has visited. No other bodies were ever discovered. The flight took off from a small air field in Mom Morayshire, Scotland, which is now closed but we did gain access by permission of the local small aircraft group that now use it. The original hanger still stands and the airfield still looks like it would have done in WW2 and the MOD still control it. The plane was Liberator VIII KG964 coded XB-G which took off at 22.07 on the 25 February 1945 and the RAF records state it was on anti-submarine patrol in Northern Waters.
BRAY	James	5933801 Corporal, 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 20 August 1943, age 24. Nephew of Mrs P E Hurst Wisbech. No known grave. Commemorated on Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar.
GOODMAN	Stanley Clifford	T/582568 Staff Quartermaster Sergeant (WO2), attached HQ II Corps, Royal Army Service Corps. Died 29 May 1940, age 26. Son of Robert Henry & Ruth Goodman, West Walton; husband of Nellie Phyllis Goodman, Oakham, Rutland. No known grave. Commemorated on Dunkirk Memorial, Nord, France. Here is a photograph of his wedding from the Wisbech Standard 1937 and details of the 'missing report' from Wisbech Standard in 1940: WEST WALTON MAN REPORTED MISSING. Parents Told He Is "Believed Drowned." A 26-year-old West Walton man, Mr. Stanley Clifford Goodman, who was on active service in France, has been reported missing. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Goodman, of Salt's-road, West Walton, have received notification from the War Office to the effect that their son is "missing, date unknown, believed drowned." He was serving as an assistant Company Quartermaster Sergeant' in the Royal Army Service Corps. He joined up when he was 18 years of age. In January, 1939, he left the Army and was employed as a civilian clerk with the Royal Air Force, making his home near one of the Eastern Counties' aerodromes. On the outbreak of hostilities in September, he was recalled to the Colours and was in the battle zone during the great struggle in Flanders. His parents had not heard from him for eight weeks, and although it is feared that he has lost his life, it was intimated that he may have been taken prisoner. He was a former pupil of the Wisbech Grammar School. He married Miss Nellie Smith, of Wisbech, and there is a baby daughter aged 10 months. His parents are very well known at Wisbech for their active association with the Salvation Army. At the united Hospital Sunday service, held in the Parish Church, West Walton, on Sunday fternoon, the congregation stood in silence for a few moments in his memory. The Rector (Rev. T. E. Wilson) expressed sympathy with his relatives.
HARNWELL	Kenneth Charles	Corporal 5933552, H.Q. Company, 2nd Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action during the Japanese invasion of Malaya 28 January 1942. Aged 22. Son of Charles and Ethel Harnwell, of West Walton, Norfolk. In the 1921 census he was aged 1, born Wst Walton, Norfolk, son of Charles and Ethel May Harnwell, resident Walton, Church End, West Walton, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 57. See also Wisbech Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1946: HARNWELL Kenneth Charles of 8 Council House Salts-road West Walton Norfolk died 28 January 1942 on war service Administration Norwich 15 February to Ethel May Harnwell married woman. Effects £216 13s. 10d. Extract from a local paper: KILLED IN THE FAR EAST. West Walton Soldier Dies in Action. Mr. and Mrs. C. Harnwell, of Salt-road, West Walton, were notified yesterday (Thursday) week by the War Office that their only son, Cpl. Kenneth Charles Harnwell, had been killed on active service in the Far East during January. Cpl. Harnwell, who was 22 years of age, was a popular figure in West Walton, and his death came as a shock to his many friends. Prior to joining the Territorials in May, 1940, he was employed for nearly four years by Messrs. Chapman, the fishmongers. He was also a regular attendant at St. Mary's Church. West Walton. He went overseas in October, and a letter was received from him soon after he had crossed the Equator. His mother also received a cablegram from him at Christmas. Cpl. Harnwell's death will also be mourned by his three sisters — Mrs. Cowling, of North Brink, Wisbech, and Misses Brenda and Dora Harnwell.
HOMAN-BERRY	Cyril	964824 Lance Bombardier, 4 Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 23 November 1941, age 24. Son of William George & Ettie Edith Homan-Berry, West Walton. Schoolmaster; trained as a teacher at King Alfred’s college, Winchester. Buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.
NORMAN	Bernard	Lance Corporal, 5773920, 4th Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died 22 October 1943, Prisoner of War. Aged 25. Son of Mrs M A Norman, of West Walton, Norfolk. Buried in Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand. See also Wisbech 1939-1945 Extract from Wisbech Standard 1945: L/CPL. B. B. NORMAN News was received on Saturday morning from the War Office that L/Cpl. Bernard Burnham Norman, of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, youngest son of Mrs. M. A. Norman, of 2, Council House, School-road, West Walton, died on October, 22nd, 1943, of malaria, while a prisoner-of-war in Thailand. Aged 27 years, Lce/Cpl. Norman was employed as a gardener before the war by the Rev. A. Lee Nicholls, of Walpole St, Peter. He was called up in January, 1940, and went overseas to the Far East in October, 1941. He was heard of on January 10th, 1942, from Bombay, before being posted missing at Singapore, and since his capture two cards had been received from him. The family wish to thank all friends for their kind inquiries during the period of anxious waiting.

Last updated 11 August, 2026

War Memorials Trust