Private 77058 1st/7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action Thursday 25th October 1917 in France. Aged 22. Son of William Charles and Mary Ellen Adams, of Cause End, Wootton, Beds. Formerly 522612 Royal Engineers. Enlisted Bedford. Buried in CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY, Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-V., Belgium. Grave XV. F. 2.

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

ADAMS, O.G., Private, Durham Light Infantry.
Volunteering in September 1915, he was, early in the following year, drafted to France and took part in the Battles of the Somme, Arras and Ypres. He was unfortunately killed in action near Passchendaele on October 25th, 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"His life for his Country, his soul to God."

15, Howbury Street, Bedford. - Z1022/A.

BILLING, T., Sergeant, 5th Bedfordshire Regt.
When war was declared in August 1914, he volunteered, and after serving at Bury-St.-Edmunds and Norwich, was sent to Gallipoli in the following year. He took a conspicuous part in various engagements on the Peninsular, and whilst engaged in heavy fighting at Sulva Bay was killed on August 15th, 1915. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.

"Great deeds cannot die."

Wootton, Bedford. - Z1300/B.

Photohgraph of Sergeant T Billing, from a privately published book by Edmund Rimmer.

Private 13326 1st Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who died on Friday, 7th May 1915. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 31 and 33. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

CHURCH, E.J.B., Private, Bedfordshire Regt.
Mobilised at the declaration of war in August 1914, he was at once ordered to the scene of activities in France. On this front he took an active part in the Battles of Mons, the Aisne, La Bassée, Ypres and Neuve Chapelle, and fell fighting at Ypres on May 7th, 1915. He was entitled to the Mons Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.

"Courage, bright hopes, and a myriad dreams, splendidly given."

Wootton, Bedford. - Z1658/A.

Lance Sergeant 32192, 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Wednesday, 25th April 1917 in France & Flanders. Born Bedford, resident Upper Shelton. Commeorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 5.

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

DUDLEY, F.W., Sergeant, Bedfordshire Regiment.
He volunteered in September 1914, and in the following year was drafted to the Dardenelles, where he saw much severe fighting and contacted dysentry. He was afterwards transferred to the Western Front, where he was unfortunately killed in action action on April 25th, 1917. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.

"Great deeds cannot die : They with the sun and moon renew their light for ever."

Marston, Beds. - Z2035.

See also Marston Moreteyne and Wootton School Ex-Pupils

Sergeant 2989, 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Killed in action Saturday 23rd March 1918 in France & Flanders. Aged 27. Born, resident and enlisted Bedford. Son of Mrs. Lizzie Ellis; husband of Gertrude Ellis, of Church End, Wootton, Beds. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 81 to 84. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"A valiant Soldier, with undaunted heart he breasted life's last hill."

Church End, Wootton, Bedford. - Z2095.

Private 40911, 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action Thursday, 21st March 1918 in France & Flanders. Formerly 30185 Bedfordshire Regiment. Born and resident Wooton, enlisted Bedford. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7

See also Stewartby

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"He joined the great white company of valiant souls."

Tags End, Wootton, Bedford. - Z2178/A.

Lieutenant 16th Bn., Durham Light Infantry attd. 5th Bn, Manchester Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 7th August 1915 (CWGC) or 5th August (Soldiers died). Age 30. Son of the Rev. A. J. and Edith M. Foster, of Wootton Vicarage, Bedford. In TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY, Turkey, Special Memorial C. 351.

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour the following:

Volume 1, part1, page 140, FOSTER, Laurence Talbot Lisle. Lieutenant, 16th Service Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, 4th son of the Rev Albert John Foster, vicar of wootton and Rural Dean of Haynes, by his wife Edith Margaret, dau of the Rev T.A.Voules of Berrcrocombe, Somerset. Born Wootton vicarage , co. Bedford 15-2-1885, educated Eastbourne College ( Scholar ), was a forest manager in the Bombay and Burma Trading corporation. Gazetted Lieutenant 16th Durham L.I. 21-11-1914, left England for the Dardenelles 12-5-1915, was attd to the 5th Manchesters, and was killed in action at Anafarta 7-8-1915, unmarried.

His Colonel wrote "As an officer he was splendid, always steadily doing his duty and quite fearless. He led his men with the utmost bravery and was killed, as he would have liked to have been, at the head of his men, and without suffering. He is a great loss to the Battalion and you would have every right to be proud of him , as we are."

Private 3/7006, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 16th May 1915 in France. Aged 21. Born and resident Wootton, enlisted Bedford. Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Ann Gilbert, of Church Row, Wootton, Beds. Buried in Cemetery: GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave VI. C. 34. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils and Stewartby

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

GILBERT, F.J., Private, 2nd Bedfordshire Regt.

Immediately after volunteering in August 1914, he was sent to France and fought in the Retreat from Mons and at Givenchy. He was, however, unfortunately killed in action at Festubert on May 16th, 1915, and was buried at the Guards' Cemetery near Béthune. He was entitled to the Mons Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.

"His life for his Country, his sould to God."

Church Cottages, Wootton, Bedford. - Z2593/A.

Rifleman, 1930, 2nd Bn., Rifle Brigade. Killed in action Thursday, 17th December 1914.
Born Podington, enlisted Bedford, resident Wootton. Son of Mrs. Goff, of Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. Brother of William George below. Buried in Fauquissart Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave B. 5.

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"Great deeds cannot die, They with the sun and moon renew their light forever."

Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. - Z2619/B.

Lance Sergeant 2355, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Killed in action Friday 18th December 1914 in France. Born Cranfield, enlisted Bedford and resident Wootton. Son of Mrs. Goff, of Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. Brother of Joseph above. Buried in FAUQUISSART MILITARY CEMETERY, LAVENTIE, Pas de Calais, France. Grave B. 2.

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."

Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. - Z2619/A.

Private 233509, 2nd (City London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers), London Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 14th April 1917 in France. Age 20. Born, enlisted and resident Wootton. Son of Mr and Mrs. John Granby, of Church Rd., Wootton, Beds. Formerly 3691 1st/5th Bedfordshire Regiment. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 9. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"Honour to the immortal dead, who gave their youth that the world might grow old in peace."

Church Road, Wootton, Bedford. - Z2657/A.

Private 20276, "C" Coy. 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 19th April 1917 in France. Aged 19. Born and resident Wooton, enlisted Bedford. Son of Caroline Lambert, of Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford, and the late George Lambert. Commeorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 41. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"He died the noblest death a man may die,
Fighting for God and right and liberty."

Wootton, Beds. - Z3281/B.

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"His memory is cherished with pride."

Taggs End, Wootton, Bedford. - Z3380/A.

Private 33124, 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Reiment. Killed in action Monday 22nd October 1017 in France. Age 27. Formerly 6388, Bedfordshire Regiment. Born Wootton. Brother of Frederick below. Parents William and Fanny Moore of Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50 to 51. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"He passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice."

Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. - Z1580/B.

Lance Corporal 9597, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Wednesday 16th June 1915 in France. Age 23. Born and resident Wootton, enlisted Bedford. Parents William and Fanny Moore of Keeley Lane, Wootton, Bedford. Brother of Edward above. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 10 and 11. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"His life for his Country, his soul for God."

Wootton, Bedford. - Z1586/C.

Company Quartermaster Serjeant 200409, 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 19th September 1918 in Palestine. Aged 23 (22). Enlisted Bedford, resident Wootton. Son of John and Emma Ellen Moore, of Bott End, Wootton, Beds. Buried in RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY, Israel. Grave E. 66. See also Wootton School Ex-Pupils

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"His memory is cherished with pride."

Rose Cottage, Wootton, Bedford. - Z1586/C.

Photograph courtesy of Sue Lambert

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"He passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice."

Church Cottages, Wootton, Bedford. - Z3779.

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

"His life for his Country."

Potters Cross, Wootton, Bedford. - Z3185/A.

Chief Mechanician c/k 6415 HMS Curacoa, Royal Navy, who died on Wednesday 24th April 1940 aged 48. Husband of Elizabeth Ann Eastwood of Wootton, Bedfordshire. He is commemorated on the memorial at Chatam Naval Cemetery, Kent. Ref. No. 37.3. He was the son in law of John Pope, whose grave is in Wootton Cemetery, the first grave on the left as you enter the main gate. Inscribed on the stone are the details of Charles Frederick Eastwood. His widow lived in Bedford Road, Wootton, about No. 23. The house has been demolished and rebuilt upon. The last occupant was the local blacksmith.

These two notes from UBoat.net:

"Blair gives U-407 (Br|ller) credit for indirectly sinking the light British antiaircraft cruiser HMS Curacao [really Curacoa] on 1 Oct, 1942 while she was escorting the liner Queen Mary. The boat did in fact fire 4 torpedoes but they missed and were not seen by the allies. In fact the cruiser was cut in two by Queen Mary on Oct 2 some 650 miles away from the attack by U-407 the previous day. "

and

"A troopship during the Second World War, Queen Mary relied on speed to keep clear of the U-boats. Her only wartime accident - a collision with the cruiser, HMS Curacao in October 1942 - resulted in the loss of more than 300 lives on the Royal Navy warship."

also

'Air attack on Landing operations in the Romsdalfjord.1 - 250kg hit midship on AA-cruiser H.M.S."Curacao"' - this is close to Jutland which is mentioned on John Pope's grave.

See our on-line bookstore