Roll of Honour - Northamptonshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

CHELVESTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Chelveston-cum-Caldecott Parish Council 2012
use authorised by Mark Hunter - Clerk to the Parish Council

The Chelveston War memorial s to be found in St. John the Baptist Churchyard in Caldecott Road, Chelveston abd takes the form of a base surmounted by a plinth, tapering column, collar and cross. The village war memorial (the Cross of Sorrow) is located to the east of the church and was erected on 19 March 1920 by public subscription. The lettering has weathered a way so the Parish Council installed a slate plaque under the east window of the church on 8 May 1996, listing the five villagers from World War 1 and one from World War 2. The plaque was gilded in 2018 in remembrance of 100 years from the end of World War 1.

THIS PLAQUE IS IN MEMORY OF MEN OF CHELVESTON-CUM-CALDECOTT
WHO DIED IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND TO WHOM THE NEARBY
CROSS WAS ERECTED IN 1920

CORBETT

George Herbert

Pte George Herbert Corbett (1445 & 14459) served in the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

Son of Joseph & Sarah Corbett, formerly of Hargrave. Joseph Corbett was a beer retailer in Chelveston.

George enlisted at Melton Mowbray in July 1915. He served as a Private in the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards (the rank of Guardsman wasn't adopted until 1920) and died on the 15th September 1916 (age 24) during the middle phase of the Battle of the Somme. The 3rd Battalion had moved up to the trenches near Ginchy in early September 1916, and commenced the assault at 6:20 am on the 15th September (the Battle of Flers–Courcelette). Although they captured the initial objectives, they came under heavy machine fire from defenders in a sunken road. 11 officers and 414 other ranks died in the assault. George's body was never recovered and he is listed amongst the missing on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Memorial Panel 7D.

FARR

George

Pte George Edward Farr (20032) served in 2nd (Regular) Battalion Northamptonshire Regt.

Son of Charles Farr, of Chelveston. George was listed as farm labourer in 1911.

George enlisted in Rushden in December 1915 and served in the 2nd (Regular) Battalion, Northants Regiment. Less than 3 months later he was dead (age 22) and is buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery, France. Plot I grave C.10.

HULATT

Walter

Pte Walter Charles Hulatt (200974) served in the 1/4th (Territorial) Battalion Northamptonshire Regt.

Lived in Caldecott. He was a shoe worker in Mr Charles Parker's factory at Higham Ferrers.

Walter enlisted in Higham Ferrers and served in the 1/4th (Territorial) Battalion, Northants Regiment. He died of wounds on the 28th November 1917 (age 32) from the Battle of Mughar Ridge (part of the Southern Palestine Offensive) and is buried at the Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. Grave B.72.

MORRIS

Frank

Gunner Frank Morris (under the name of Charles Burrows). (37364 & 29492) served in the Royal Field Artillery and the 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regt.

Son of Job & Elizabeth Morris, of High Street, Chelveston. In 1901 Frank was listed as a shoe worker.

Died 9th April 1918 (age 33). Buried at Premont British Cemetery, Aisne, France. Plot IV Row B Grave 23.

MORRIS

Harry

Pte Harry Morris (48614) served in the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

Son of Alfred & Emma Morris, of Water Yard, Chelveston. He was employed in the shop of Mr. E. Parsons, High Street, Rushden.

He enlisted at Kettering in February 1917 and three months later was in France serving in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Two months later he died (age 19) on the first day of the third Battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele). His body was never recovered and he is listed amongst the missing on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, France. Memorial panel 6.

"DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY IN UNDYING REMEMBRANCE OF
THE MEN OF CHELVESTON QHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918"

AND IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945 WE REMEMBER

ODELL

Stanley Eric

Sgt Stanley Eric Odell (3968060) served in the 4th Battalion Welch Regiment.

Son of James Henry & Selena Odell and husband of Betty Odell, of Chelveston.

Died 25th February 1945 (age 25). Buried at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Plot 51 Row H Grave 3.

"FOR OUR TOMORROW THEY GAVE THEIR TODAY"

Buried in the churchyard but not on memorial

AULD

Charles W

Flight Sergeant Charles W Auld RCAF

At 23:05 on Tuesday 14th July 1942, a Vickers Wellington 1c bomber took off from RAF Pershore, Worcs, on a night cross country training flight. The aircraft, DV700, was part of 23 Operational Training Unit (OTU), which was one of several units set up to train Canadian airmen on Wellingtons for night bombing missions.

On this flight, DV700 was piloted by Sgt Robert Frederick Shirley RAFVR (1330958), with navigator Sgt C.L. Morton RCAF (R101074) and a second navigator Sgt J.R. Martin RCAF (R90393). The crew was completed with wireless operator/air gunner Sgt C.S. Coburn RCAF (R83906), air bomber Sgt S.M. Keon RCAF (R90710) and rear air gunner F/Sgt Charles W. Auld RCAF (R98159). Both Sgt Morton and F/Sgt Auld were formerly Americans, now serving in the RCAF. The aircraft was carrying 4 practice bombs and a flare.

Less than 3 hours later, whilst flying from east to west over Northants, the starboard engine carburettor iced up and failed, leaving the pilot unable to maintain altitude at 5,000ft. At 3,000ft he ordered the crew to bail out, which they commenced at 2,000ft before he attempted an emergency landing at 01:45 on Wednesday 15th July.

The aircraft came down one mile north of Old village (approx 8 miles north of Northampton), but hit a tree in a hedge line and burst into flames, killing the pilot, Sgt Shirley. The aircraft subsequently completely burnt out. F/Sgt Auld, the last crewman out, was found nearby to the east as his chute did not have time to fully deploy.

The remains of Sgt Shirley and F/Sgt Auld were taken to the Royal Oak Inn, Walgrave, overnight until their bodies could be collected in the morning, whilst the injured crew were hospitalised at RAF Chelveston. The remains of the Wellington were eventually removed by 65 Maintenance Unit from RAF Blaby Wharfe, Liecs.

Sgt Robert Shirley (19) is buried at square E, grave 818, Eastbrookend Cemetery at Dagenham. He was the son of Robert Amos & Lillian Nora Shirley of Dagenham. According to his brother, Robert was the first ATC cadet to gain his pilot wings and was presented with a wristwatch by the Mayor of Dagenham in 1941.

F/Sgt Charles Auld (23) is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in the churchyard. He is presumed to have crossed the border into Canada and enlisted in the RCAF, forgoing his American citizenship and has therefore not been moved to the US forces cemetery at Madingley, Cambs, nor repatriated to his homeland. He was the son of Charles & Delia Auld of Chicago, Illinois. The church registers show that he was buried on Saturday 18th July 1942 by a catholic priest, Fr Bainbridge from Our Lady of the Scared Heart RC Church, Wellingborough.

The flower vase in front of his grave was donated by the Chelveston WI in remembrance of F/Sgt Auld.

Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, RAF Air Historical Branch, BBC WW2 People’s War Archive (Stanley Shirley),
Northamptonshire Records Office, Northamptonshire Airfields & Aircraft Research Group and Rob Davis’s Bomber Command 1939- 45 database.

Ver 1.2 (Nov 2010)

Mark Hunter

Last updated 4 December, 2019

War Memorials Trust