Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 March 1915:

KILLED IN ACTION.
Local Names in the Casualty List.

SUFFOLKS’ LOSSES.
The past week has brought news of the t death at the front of many local soldiers, chiefly belonging to the Suffolks.

Pte. J. H. Caldecoatt, Cambridge

Mrs. Caldecoatt, of Crow End, Bourn, has received notice from the War Office that her husband, Pte. John Herbert Caldecoatt, was killed in action in the Ypres district February, 18th. Pte. Caldecoatt, who was 22 years of age, belonged to the Suffolk Regiment, and was a native of Cambridge, where, previous to enlisting, he was butcher. He only came home from Egypt in September last, and shortly afterwards left with his battalion for the front. His wife is a daughter of Mr. W. Pettitt, of Crown End, Bourn. Pte. Caldecoatt leaves little son, aged about six months.

Charles (known as Chas) was born in 1896, the son of William Henry and Maria, who at that time were living at 134 York Street. At the beginning of the war Charles was working for Dales Brewery and later enlisted at Cambridge into the Devonshire Regiment. As private No.9872 he was a member of the 1st Battalion. From 19th July 1916 the Battalion was in reserve positions south west of Longueval, later moving into support trenches in Delville Wood. After much heavy fighting the Battalion was relieved on the 29th.

Charles was killed in action on the 27th July aged 20. Again he has no known grave; his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, pier 1c, together with the names of 498 other members of the Devonshire Regiment. The total number of allies killed on the Somme front during July/August 1916 was 15,104. A report of Charles' death and his photo appear in the Cambridge Independent Press of 20th October 1916 and also reports in the Cambridge Chronicle of 16th August and the Cambridge Daily News of 8th August 1916. See also Chesterton Arbury and Cambridge St Matthew's

Gunner 102093, 217 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 9 November 1918. Aged 42. Husband of Marjorie (nee Thompson) Carter, of 40/42/45 Perowne Street, Cambridge, married 2 January 1901 in Cambridge; two sons. Attested 10 July 1916 in Cambridge, aged 38 years 2 months, a College Servant by trade, married, height 5 feet 7¾ inches, weight 140 lbs, chest 37½-40 inches, mainly served at home but with B.E.F. 20 January to 10 Au8gust 1917. Admitted to 56 General Hospital, Etaples 5 August 1917. Discharged from Military Service as being no longer physically fit for war service 20 September 1917 under Para. 392 (xvi) King's Regulation. Para. 2 (a) (1) due to Carcinoma of Calcum. Sissued Silver War Badge 245439 on 18 September 1917. Buried 14 November 1918 in MILL ROAD CEMETERY, Cambridge [Cambridge St Paul Plot]. [Not on CWGC]. See also Cambridge St Barnabas

possibly Percy Edwin CHAPMAN, Private 9832, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died 16 November 1916. Aged 17. Born Cambridge, enlisted Northampton. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, of 9, Edgell Street, Mill Road, Kettering. Native of Cambridge. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section O. Plot II. Row G. Grave 8. See also Cambridge St Lukes

There is also an Elwin CHAPMAN, Private G/12309, 2nd Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died of wounds 14 March 1917. Aged 29. Born St. Giles, Cambridge, enlisted and resident Cambridge. Husband of Annie Ida Chapman, of Rose Cottage, Station Road, Soham, Cambs. Buried in VARENNES MILITARY CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot I. Row J. Grave 27.

Gunner 92960, "D" Battalion, Tank Corps. Died 20 November 1917. Aged 20. Enlisted Cambridge. Son of Joseph William Cheverton and Rhoda Cheverton, of Harlesden. Formerly 3555, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in FLESQUIERES HILL BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot III. Row B. Grave 7. See the online article GUNNER JOSEPH CHEVERTON Crew of Deborah (92960) for more information

From Cambridge Chronicle, December 12, 1917.

"CAMBRIDGE MEN FALL

The relatives of Gunner J. Chiverton of the MGC (Tanks) have received news that he was killed in action in France on November 20th, the day after his 20th birthday. Gunner Cheverton, who was the only son of Mr and Mrs J. Cheverton, of Harlesden, (late of Thoday St, Cambridge) joined the Cambridgeshire Regiment in April 1915, and went to France the following September. He was gassed in September 1916, and on his recovery was transferred to the MGC (Tanks), returning to France last June. Letters to deceased's father and to Miss Coote, 9 Godestone Road, Cambridge, from his superior officer, pay great tribute to Gunner Cheverton's work with the tanks, and tell of the high esteem in which he was held by officers and comrades alike, especially by the writer. One letter describes him as a splendid fellow, a willing worker, and a cheerful comrade. Gunner Cheverton was killed instantaneously by a shell during the big battle on November 20th and buried two days later with others of his comrades who were killed. The writer adds that a cross to his memory was be erected shortly."

Extract from Cambridge Daily News - Wednesday 12 March 1919, page 3:

PTE. B. CHURCHMAN.

The funeral took place with military honours at Histon-road Cemetery of Pte. B. Churchman, 17th Worcester Regiment, of 12, Adam and Eve-row, Cambridge. He came home on Wednesday, February 26th, from France, to be demobilised, after nearly four years’ service in France. Suffering from influenza, he was admitted on Monday, March 3rd, to the 1st Eastern Hospital, and died there on Friday last from pneumonia. He leaves a widow and two children to mourn their loss. —Mrs. Bert Churchman and family wish to thank all kind friends for the sympathy shown them in their sad bereavement.

Private 16172, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action 13th May 1915. Born, enlisted and resident Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panels 39. See also Cambridge St Paul's

Extract from local newspaper:

Private Clark Killed

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918:

CLAYDON, JAMES LEMARQUE, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 1105), R.M.A. 11040, 4th s. of William Tilbrook Claydon, of Cambridge, by his wife, Emily ; joined the Royal Marine Artillery in Nov.1914 ; purchased his discharge in March, 1911, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve ; was called up for service on the outbreak of hostilities, and was lost in action in H.M.S. Hogue in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

Extract from de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918 Volume 1, Part 2, Page 72:

COATES, BASIL MONTGOMERY, 2nd Lieut., 10th (Service) Battn. The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), only s. of the late W. Montgomery Coates, Graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and Fellow Bursar and Assistant Tutur of Queens’ College, Cambridge; b. Cambridge, 10 Sept. 1893; educ. Perse School, Cambridge; Oundle School, and Queens’ College Cambridge (where he was in the athletic team that won the International Cup); volunteered shortly after the outbreak of war, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 10th Rifle Brigade 22 Sept. 1914: served with the Expeditionary Force in France and was killed in action while on patrol duty 7 Sept. 1915. Lieut.-Col. S. J. Loftus. Commanding 10th Battalion, wrote to Mrs. Montgomery Coates: “ Your son was killed yesterday (7 Sept.) while on patrol duty, and unfortunately we were unable to recover his body, which the Germans have taken into their lines, and which they will no doubt give an honourable burial. He was out patrolling with a Corpl. Fenton, crawling about in the crops, was seen by the enemy, fired on and killed, and the corporal crawled home about 300 yards with three bullet wounds. . . . A young officer called Everard went out with a man, and at very great personal risk got up to your son, but was fired at so persistently that he was unable to do anything towards moving him. As soon as it was dark another party, under Lieut. Sanstone, went out to the place to try to bring the poor boy in, but only found tracks through the corn, showing the way the enemy had taken him into their lines.” Lieut. C. Warren also wrote: “Coates was one of the bravest men I’ve known. . . . He had become very keen about day patrolling, which is risky work, and had done several good patrols. One day be was very keen to go out, and although Capt. Lascelles was very unwilling to let him go, he got his permission and started with one other man. The next that was heard were cries for help coming from outside the trenches; his platoon sergeant, who was devoted to him, an old man of 53, dashed out as he was, in a white guernsey, which, of course, was a most conspicuous thing in the bright light, and he found Corpl. Fenton struggling through our wire. The corporal was wounded in five places, but had managed to get back to got assistance, as Coates had been hit. He described the place, and Everard, one of his best friends, started off with two men to find him; this was a most heroic deed, as he was only 80 yards from the German wire and the Germans were firing machine guns over the place. Our Machine Gun Officer managed with great skill to silence these guns, and Everard got to the spot, but found poor Coates dead. It was a terrible shock to us all, as we were all immensely fond of him. He was so good-natured and had such charming manners, and was always cheerful and considerate.” Unm.

See also Perse School

Lance Corporal 34941, 9th Battalion, Loyal Noth Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 10 April 1918. Born and enlisted Cambridge. Formerly 4538, Suffolk Regiment. Brother-in-law of Edward Charles Aves who also fell. Buried in CROIX-DU-BAC BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK. Nord, France. Grave lost. Special Memorial. H. 6. See also Cambridge Post Office and Cambridge St Matthew's and also Cambridge St Philips

Rifleman, King's Royal Rifle Corps formerly, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Missing in action 16 August 1917. Resident with his wife at 34, Union Road, Cambridge.

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 September 1917:

LOCAL CASUALTIES.

Mrs. Collins, of 34, Union-road. Cambridge, has received official news that her husband, Rifleman W. J. Collins, was posted as “missing’ on August 16th. Mr. Collins, who was for years in the Buttery and Kitchen Department at Clare College, joined in the Cambridgeshire Regiment in June, 1916, but was later transferred the King's Royal Rifles. He went out to France a year ago, and although he had been in hospital for sickness, had not been wounded. Mrs. Collins last heard from her husband August 13th, when he was in the front line, and letters sent from her since then have been returned. She would very grateful for any information respecting her husband.

Extract from de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour 1914-1918 Volume 2, Part 4, Page 35

COOKE, Christopher Arthur Gresham - Midshipman, Royal Navy

Eldest son of Lieut-Col Arthur Cook, of Grove Lodge, Cambridge, R.A.M.C.(T.F) by his wife, Lucy Vivien, dau. of John Collyer; Born Cambridge, 16th June,1899; educated St.Peters Court, Broadstairs, and the Royal Naval College at Osborne and Dartmouth; joined the Navy in May 1912; served in H.M.S. Aboukir, which was torpedoed 22nd Sept, 1914; later he served in H.M.S.Vanguard; took part in the Jutland Battle and was killed in action 9th July,1917, by an explosion. His Commanding Officer wrote: "He was such an exceptionally brilliant young officer, and I know Capt. Dick had a vert high opinion of him; so much so that he specially selected him for his personal staff in action." Unm

Private 3447, 1st Battalion, Cambridgshire Regiment. Killed in action 13 November 1916. Aged 18. Enlisted Cambridge. Son of William and Lois Coulson, of 10, Godesdone Road, Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 16 B.

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 1 December 1916, page 4:

CAMBS. ROLL OF HONOUR.

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Coulson of 10, Godesdone-road, have had news of the death of their son, Pte. Arthur Coulson, of the Cambridgeshire Regiment, which occurred on November 13th. The news is contained in a letter from Pte. H. Cash, also of the Cambs. Regiment, who signs himself as "your son's chum.’’ The letter states: “He met his death in the most gallant manner. We were attacking from a strong position and Arthur was in charge of his position. He went in front his men to see who was raiding the trench in front of him, when the Huns opened rapid rifle fire on him, and hit him about eight times. Despite his wounds he managed to get back, and so saved his comrades' . . . . . . . your Arthur was very popular with all his comrades: he was a very efficient soldier and the best chum one could have. All his comrades join with me in expressing our sympathy with you in your great loss.” The soldier who met his death in this “most gallant manner’’ was only 18 years of age. He enlisted before he was 17 and had been at the front for 11 months. Before joining up he worked with Mr. Pauley, in Bridge-street, as a painter. Mr. and Mrs. Coulson have one other son who is also in the Army. He has been wounded once, and is now in India.

Private 4110, 15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles) [CWGC] states 1st Battalion], London Regiment. Killed in action 15 September 1916. Aged 24. Enlisted London, resident Cambridge. Son of John Cowling, of 66, Panton Street, Cambridge, and the late Agnes Mary Cowling. His birth was registered in the April to June Quarter 1892 in the Linton Registration District. In the 1901 census he was the son of John an Agnes Mary Cowling, aged 9, born Sawston, resident High Street, Sawston. In the 1911 census he is a boarder, aged 19, unmarried, working at a Postal Enginerrig Branch, born Sawston, resident 51 Willows Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 13 C. See also Cambridge County High School, Cambridge St Paul's, Cambridge Emmanuel United Reformed Church and Sawston

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 1 December 1916, page 4 [Note some names may be incorrectly transcribed due to print quality]:

CAMBS. ROLL OF HONOUR.

A POST OFFICE CASUALTY.