George

Rifleman 49410, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Killed in action Saturday, 5th October 1918 in France & Flanders. Born Congly, North Wales, enlisted Cambridge, resident Balsham. Buried in Eterpigny British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave C.10.

William

Private 2398, 10th Battalion (Prince of Wales' Own Royal) Hussars. Killed in action Saturday, 9th March 1918 in France & Flanders. Born and enlisted Cambridge, resident Balsham. Buried in Tertry Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave A.4.

Sidney Edward

Private, 15766, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 1st July 1916. Buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave XII. X. 5.

Photograph Copyright © Tony Beeton 2005

William M

Private 29068, 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Killed in action Monday, 13th November 1916 in France & Flanders. Born and resident Blasham, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Buried in Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France. Grave VII. A. 27.

Owen John

Bombardier 36437, 59^th Seige Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds Thursday, 23rd September 1915, age 23. Born Balsham, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Son of John and Sarah Biggs, of Balsham, Cambridge. Buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave I. D. 118.

Robert Gadd

Private 3416, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars. Killed in action Tuesday, 8th October 1918. Born Belsham (Balsham), enlisted Bury St Edmunds, resident London. Buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. Grave IV. B. 27.

Albert William

Roll of Honour states 2nd Canadians KIA France 25 May 1915. CWGC record gives Pte Albert Brown 3rd Bn., Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment.) Died 26th May 1918.Aged 25 years. His name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial Pas de Calais, France.

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

Volume 1 , Part 1, Page 55, Albert William BROWN, Private , number 63087, 3rd Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) Canadian Expeditionary Force. Son of Albert Charles Brown of Balsham co Cambridge, by his wife Mary dau of James Purkiss. Born Balsham 19-8-1889, educated council school there and went to Canada 22-3-1912. He joined the Canadian Grenadiers in june 1913 and at the outbreak of war volunteered for foreign service, came over with the second contingent and after a period of training at Shorncliffe went to the western front. He had only been in France a month when he was killed in action 20-5-1915.

George Horace

Private 54164, 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Killed in action 4th October 1918 in France & Flanders. Born and resident Balsham, enlisted Peterborough. Formerly 205098, Northamptonshire Regiment.

Frederick

Private 3/7040, 2^nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, died on Friday, 25th August 1916, age 31, born Finchingfield, Essex, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Son of John and Sarah Broyd, of Balsham, Cambs. Buried in Abberville Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.

George

Private 26126, 95th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Killed in action Thursday, 8th November 1917. Born and resident Balsham, enlisted Linton. Formerly 16297, Suffolk Regiment. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 154 to 159 and 163A

Ro[w]land

[Spelt Rowland CLARKE on SDGW and CWGC] Private 15599, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action on Saturday, 1st July 1916. Age 25. Born Balsham, enlisted Linton. Son of James and Alice Clarke, of Townsend Cottages, Linton, Cambs. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.

Herbert

Private 2654, 50^th Battalion, Australian Infantry, died on Thursday, 18th October 1917, age 30. Son of James and Susannah Frances Deer, of Frogshall, Balsham, Cambs. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31

Jonas

Private 9815, 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Killed in action on Saturday, 8th May 1915. Age 24. Enlisted Cambridge. Brother of Mr. T. Free, of 8, Church St., Wakefield Rd., Normanton, Yorks. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 47

John Stanley

Private 3290, Suffolk Yeomanry, Killed in action Monday, 29th November 1915 in Gallipoli. Born and resident Balsham, enlisted Woodbridge. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

David

Private, 14141, Depot Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died on Wednesday, 24th November 1915. Born Balsham, enlisted Linton. Commemorated in Manchester Southern Cemetery, Lancashire. Q. 393 (Screen Wall).

Raymond Evelyn

Lieutenant, acting Captain, MC & Bar, 3^rd Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment. Died on Sunday, 24th November 1918, age 34. Son of Dr. R. T. Head, of Balsham, Cambs.; husband of Margaret L. Head, of 43, Mildred Avenue, Watford. Buried in East London Cemetery, Plaistow, Essex. Grave 52. 16139. Also memorial in Balsham church.

Walter Simon

Private 12706, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action on Thursday, 20th July 1916. Age 19. Born Newmarket, enlisted Ipswich. Son of Robert and Rhoda Kinsey, of Monewden, Framlingham, Suffolk. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A

Joseph Stanley

Private 16564, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action on Saturday, 1st July 1916. Age 22. Born West Wratting, enlisted Linton. Son of Mrs. Edith Boness (formerly Knights), of 124, Fitzroy St., Cambridge. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A

Harry

Corporal, 1/7th Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action at Ginchy, 1st Oct 1916. Buried Guards Cemetery, Lesbouffs.

Cyril George

Private 8448, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died on Sunday, 26th September 1915. Prisoner of war. Born Balsham, enlisted Haverhill. Buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany. Grave III. A. 12.

John Merry Harry

Gunner 156835, "D" Battery, 241st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds on Friday, 27th July 1917. Role of Honour states August. Age 26. Born Balsham, enlisted Mill Hill, Middlesex. Son of George and Jane Plumb; husband of Florence Emma Plumb, of 59, Russell Rd., Finsbury Park, London. Born Balsham, Linton, Cambs. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave XVI. I. 8.

Phil[l]ip

Private, 966, 18th Battalion, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force. Killed in action at Gallipoli on Sunday, 22nd August 1915. Age 25. Son of John and Susan Plumb, of High St., Balsham, Cambs. Commemorated on Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey. Panel 62.

Sidney

[Spelt Sydney Plumb on SDGW] Private 3/10190, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died on Thursday, 1st April 1915 at home. Born Balsham, enlisted Linton. Buried on south boundary in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Balsham, Cambridgeshire.

Alexander [Alec]

Lance Corporal (Rifleman), C/7337, 18th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died of wounds Thursday, 28th March 1918. Born Balsham, enlisted Huddersfield. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7

Stanley

Private 6090, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars. Died of wounds on Wednesday, 27th March 1918. Born and resident Blasham, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave P. VII. D. 7B.

Photograph Copyright © Tony Beeton 2005

Harold

Private, Essex Yeomanry. Killed in action at on Ypres Friday 14tht^h May 1915 aged 19. Name inscribed on the Menin Gate.

One other Balsham soldier has come to light but his details appear on the Babraham War Memorial, but he was born in Balsham

George William

L/Cpl., 11^th Battalion Suffolk Regiment killed on 1^st July 1916 aged 25 years.  His parents were at that time living at Chalk Hill Farm, Babraham, Cambridgeshire. See also Babraham memorial.

Owen

Pte. 5^th Bt. Green Howards (Yorkshire Reg.), d 31/5/1940, age 21, Roll of Honour endorsed Dunkirk. Buried: HOUTEM CHURCHYARD, Veurne, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Frank Albert

Pte. 6^th (Home Defence) Bt. Suffolk Reg., d 29/12/1939 age 50, buried: BALSHAM (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. Son of William and Annie Hobbs; husband of Agnes K. Hobbs, of Balsham.

Daniel George

Roll Of Honour states Cable and Wireless under Navy orders. Ship Bombed off Greece. Record of Commemoration states Joiner, S.S. Retriever (London), Merchant Navy, d 12/4/1941, age 24, commemorated: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL. Son of John and Laura M. Hobart, of Balsham, Cambridgeshire.

Further information supplied by Alan Phipps of the World Ship Society:

Daniel George Hobart aged 24 years was the son of John and Laura Hobart and served in the Merchant Navy aboard the S.S. Retriever as a cable jointer or joiner. The ship was owned and operated by Cable and Wireless of London. It was an elderly cable ship of 647 tons built in 1909, and commanded by a Captain Foy.

On Friday 11th April 1941 she was engaged on Government service en route from Lemnos to Piraeus an in area which was exceptionally dangerous, when they came under attack by dive bombers of the Luftwaffe, at 264 deg. one mile off Aliki Rocks near Phleva Island. One bomb penetrated the deck and blew the bottom out of the boat and it sank.

John Arthur

Sgt. 1^st Bt. Cambridgeshire Reg., d 7/6/1943, age 29, Prisoner of War, buried: KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Son of William and Ellen Jolley, of Balsham, Cambridgeshire; husband of Elsie May Jolley, of Cambridge.

Photographs Copyright © Tony Beeton 2005

John Robert

Warrant Officer Class III, VC, CSM Winnipeg Grenadiers, R.C.I.C. Died Friday 19^th December 1941 aged 42. Citation in London Gazette 1^st April 1946. Name inscribed on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong. Known as the forgotten VC of East Anglia. He was brought up in Balsham and volunteered for the First World War when 17 years old and was badly gassed. Dr Head, whose son was killed in the conflict, recommended that in view of his breathing difficulties he leave England. Moving to Canada he volunteered again at the age of 46 at the outbreak of the Second World War. He was a highly regarded CSM and saved six of his men when he threw himself on a Japanese grenade.

Photograph Courtesy & Copright © Richard E Hinkle 2002

The citation in the London Gazette of 1st April, 1946 :

At Hong Kong, on 19th December, 1941, a company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers became divided in an attack on Mount Butler. A part of the company led by C.S.M. Osborn captured the hill at bayonet point, but after three hours owing to the superior numbers of the enemy the position became untenable. C.S.M. Osborn and a small group covered the withdrawal and when their turn came to fall back he single-handed engaged the enemy, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire to cover their retirement. Later the Company was cut off and completely surrounded. Several enemy grenades were thrown which C.S.M. Osborn picked up and threw back. When one landed in a position where it was impossible to pick it up, he threw himself upon it and was instantly killed. His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. C.S.M. Osborn was an inspiring example to all throughout the defence, and in his death he displayed the highest qualities of heroism and self-sacrifice.

Son of John Robert and Harriet Sussana Osborn. Husband of Margaret Elizabeth Osborn, of St. Vital, Manitoba. John Robert Osborn was born in Norfolk England on the 2nd of January 1899. He served in the First World War as a seaman in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and saw action at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. At the end of the war he moved to Saskatchewan where he farmed for two years at Wapella. He then worked with the maintenance division of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Manitoba where he married and had five children. He joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers in 1933 and was called to active duty on the 3rd of September 1939. At forty-two years of age he was the second oldest VC recipient in the Second World War. There is no known grave but his name appears on the Sai Wan Memorial in Hong Kong. His medal is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

On the 1901 census, in Hackford, Norfolk, which says he was born at 'Forldham', Norfolk - no such place, but could be Flordon or Fordham. There is a statue of him on Hong Kong Island.

Robert William

Sgt. 626 Sqdn., R.A.F.V.R., d 23/5/1944, age 21, buried: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY, Gelderland, Netherlands. Son of Rebecca Richardson, of Balsham, Cambridgeshire.

Photographs Copyright © Tony Beeton 2005

Sidney William

Pte. 1^st Bt. Northamptonshire Reg., d 1/3/1945, age 24, buried: TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY, Myanmar. Son of Robert William and Maud Simpson, of Balsham, Cambridgeshire.

Francis Douglas

Able Seaman, Royal Navy, d 29/1/1944, commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom. Roll of Honour states SS Olga, Durban, South Africa.

Further information supplied by Alan Phipps of the World Ship Society:

Able Seaman Francis Douglas Tomlin was detached to the crew of SS Olga, a Greek tramp steamer operating under British (Ministry of War Transport) control. S.S. Olga was actually “Olga E. Embiricos” a ship of 4,600 tons having been built in 1922 and owned by C.E. Embiricos of Andros.

Francis was part of a four man Royal Navy gun crew provided to operate the gun carried by the ship. The reason he was carrying out such duties was due to the loss of so many Merchant Seaman the Royal Navy provided the men needed. Prior to this the merchant seaman crew would have been trained to operate what was often a First World War gun and in some cases Boer War guns that had been put back into use.

On S.S. Olga there were four seamen assigned for what was called DEMS duty, Defensive Equipped Merchant Ship. Francis was one of the group.

On Saturday 29th January 1944 S.S. Olga loaded with 6900 tons of coal was en route Durban-Aden-Massawah when she was attacked and torpedoed by the German U-boat U-188 under the command of Kapitan-Leutnant Siegfried Lüdden at position 12.3 N x 50.10 E.

Of the 37 crew on S.S. Olga twenty were lost which sadly included Daniel.

Omitted in error from the Memorial and the of Roll of Honour:

Arnold John

Sgt, 431 Squadron (RCAF) RAFVR died Sunday 20^th February 1944.  Buried Berlin War Cemetery, Bradenburgh. Arnold lived in Balsam in Fox Road and his parents moved after the war to the Land Settlement at Abington. See Great Abington also.

Also commemorated in the Church:

Brian Morrison

Sgt., 3^rd son of Dr RT Head, fell in action Nooitgedacht 13/12/1900, when fighting with Kitchener’s Horse in the Boer War, age 26. [See also Cambridgeshire Boer War memorial]

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