Private 285029, 1/6th Battalion, Gl;oucestershire Regiment. Died 9 October 1917. Aged 22. Son of William Frederick and Emily Rosa Benstead, of Fring House, 12, Gwydir St., Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 72 to 75. See also Cambridge Guildhall and also Cambridge, Christ Church

DCM Citation:

8131 Sjt. C. BLINCO (Cambridge)
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a raid on the enemy's trenches. When all his officers were wounded and the company disorganised by a hostile barrage he took command, reorganised his men, and led them successfully to the objective. Later, he made several journeys, bringing back the wounded under heavy fire. He showed the greatest initiative and courage throughout. (6 February 1918)

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 Guildhall

A report on Thomas' death appears in the Cambridge Daily news on Monday 6th May 1918 and in the Cambridge Independent Press on Friday 10th May. The father William was in the Suffolk Regiment and had been in France since January 1916, and the eldest son, Sapper A. Carter, Royal Engineers, since 1914; both survived the war. See also Chesterton Arbury and Cambridge Guildhall

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 Guildhall and also Cambridge St Philips

Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Grave III.E.12. Private, 285150, Owen Farey Horn, 1/6th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment. Gassed in action 09-08-17; died of wounds (gas) 11-08-17, aged 26. Formerly 976, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Born and enlisted Cambridge. Employed as a Compositor by the Cambridge University Press. Son of John and Harriet Horn; husband of Kathleen Horn, 111, York Street, Cambridge. See also Cambridge University Press and

Photograph from from Cambridge Independent Press - 14 September 1917

Private 1714, 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died 30 November 1918. Birth registered in the October to December Quarter 1895 in the Cambridge Registration District, St. Giless parish. Enlisted 5 August 1914, discharged 27 November 1915 due to gunshot wounds to the head received 20 April 1915 (King's Regulation 392 (xvi)) which caused paralysis, issued with a Silver Badge 16 November 1916, no. 81224. Death registered in October to December Quarter 1918 in the Bury St. Edmunds Registration District. When he enlisted he was aged 18 years 4 months, a Baker by trade, 5 feet 7¼ inches, chest 34½ inches, served in France 14 February 1915 to 25 April 1915. In the 1901 census he was aged 5, son of Frederick and Ada Kirkup, resident 2, Nelson Street, Cambridge. When he was disharged his mother, Ada, was living at 16 Caroline Place, Cambridge. See also Cambridge Guildhall

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press Friday 16 October 1914 page 5:

CAMBRIDGE MAN KILLED IN ACTION

Mrs. Mitchell, of 111, Gwydir-street, has received official intimation that her husband, Corpl. W. J. Mitchell, of the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regt., was killed in action on September 13th. The notification was accompanied by the printed form expressing the sympathy the King and Queen. It is signed "Kitchener,” and runs: "The King commands to assure you of the true sympathy his Majesty and the Queen in your sorrow.” Corpl. Mitckell was a Reservist, and had served nine years with the Colours and three in the Reserves. When called up he was employed in the District Engineers' Department of the Great Eastern Railway. He had been married about three years, and leaves widow and one child, 15 months old. Mrs. Mitchell is deeply grateful for the many expressions of sympathy she has received in her bereavement.

Private 34341, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's). Died while a Prisoner of War at Charlville Wednesday 4th September 1918 in France & Flanders. Born Burwell, Cambridgeshire, enlisted and resident Cambridge. Husband of Mrs. F. M. Scott, of 41, York St., Cambridge. Formerly 021175, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Buried in TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XVI. Row F. Grave 9. See also Cambridge Gas Company and Cambridge Guildhall

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 7 July 1916, page 4:

Death of Pte. L, C. Sparks.

Pte. L. C. Sparks. A.S.C., of 37, Abbey-walk, died in Netley Hospital on Wednesday last from wounds received while at the front.

On the previous Friday Mrs. Sparks received a letter from her husband's officer stating that he was wounded in the head by a fragment of a shell dropped from a hostile aeroplane while engaged in carrying ammunition to the artillery. On Monday evening a telegram arrived from Netley Hospital stating that Pte. Sparks was lying seriously wounded by gunshot in the head, and on Tuesday a letter was received from the A.S.C. Depot at Woolwich (written evidently before the telegram) stating that Pte. Sparks was lying at the base hospital suffering from a fractured skull, resulting from an accident. Mrs. Sparkes went to Netley on Tuesday, and arrived at 3.30, but sadly enough her husband had died half an hour before.

Before joining the colours, about six weeks ago, Mr. Sparks was a chauffeur employed by Dr. Naish. He was well known in the town, and was a keen member of the Beaconsfield Club, and was once a member the committee.

The funeral, which will be a military one, will take place to-morrow (Saturday) at 2.30 at Mill-road Cemetery.

Leading Stoker 227621, H.M.S. "Princess Irene", Royal Navy. Lost with his ship 27 May 1915 when she exploded and sank off Sheerness, Kent with the loss of 352 lives. Aged 28. Born 27 June 1887 in Cambridge. Enlisted 27 June 1905 for 12 years, an errand boy before enlisting. Height 5 feet 1½ inches, light brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, Son of Charles and Laura Yorke, of 86, Sturton St., Mill Road, Cambridge. Admitted to Barnwell Boys' School in 1897, resident 86, Sturton St., Mill Road, Cambridge. In the 1891 census he was aged 3, resident with his parents, Charles and Laura, ain Sturton Street, Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent. panel 11. See also Cambridge Guildhall

First-Class Stoker Harold Charles Yorke, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Yorke, 86, Sturton-street, Cambridge, who was on the ill-fated Princess Irene, is officially reported to have lost his life. Stoker Yorke had only just joined the vessel, having been previously serving on the Forward.

Mr. and Mrs. Yorke have two other sons serving their country—Pte. Sidney Arthur Yorke, of the Royal West Kents, and Pte. Alfred James Yorke, of the R.A.M.C. The former expects shortly to leave for the front.

Private 5832911, 2nd Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese working on the Thailand-Burma Railway 23 May 1943. Aged 30. Born and resident Cambridgeshire. Son of Elizabeth Asplin, of Cambridge. Occupation prior to enlistment Servant. In the 1939 Register he was born 14 December 1912, unmarried, a College Gyp, resident with his widowed mother, Elizabeth, at 4 New Street, Cambridge. Buried in KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Plot 8. Row F. Grave 42.