Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

BOXWORTH - Roll of Honour

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Phil Curme

Inside St Peter's Church there is a framed Roll of Honour showing the names of 40 men who "joined his majesty's forces from Boxworth 1914 - 1919". There is one D.S.O. (Major Douglas Kirke Smith), one M.C. Edmund Basil Thornhill and one M.M. (Harry Dodson). The 6 men who did not come back are annotated individually. In addition there is a brass plaque in the church commemorating the six casualties. The memorial features a Union Jack crossed with the flag of St George. Finally, there is a WW2 plaque in the church "In affectionate remembrance of the men of Boxworth who gave their lives 1939 - 1945". Those who died are listed here.


	Top Left: World War 1 Memorial Top Right: Roll of Honour Bottom Left: World War 2 Memorial Photographs Copyright © Phil Curme 2000

1914-1918

Martin Kirke SMITH

Lieutenant 99th T.M. Battery., Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. (Territorial). Killed 14/12/1915. Aged 30. He was the son of the Rev. Arnold Kirke Smith and Emma Francis Smith of Boxworth Rectory. Buried at Point 110 Old Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Somme. Two of his brothers also served (and survived) Major Douglas Kirke Smith D.S.O. and Lieutenant Arthur Kirke Smith C.I.H. Douglas died on 21/5/1923 as a Lieutenant Colonel Ret'd RFA (T). Aged 39.

The following research by Andy Pay from the roll of honour by the Marquis de Rivigny, reprinted by the London Stamp Exchange, in volume 1 part 2 on page 279 states:

"Lieutenant Martin Kirke Smith, 5th Kent Howitzer Battery, 4th Home Counties Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Youngest son of the Rev Arnold Kirke Smith, by his wife Emma, daughter of Colonel R. H. Lindsall.

Born at Somersham, Hunts,15th August 1885. Educated Haileybury and afterward trained in gunnery at Vickers Limited and Kings College, London. In the Argentine when war broke out and immedaitely returned, applying for a commision. Was Gazetted 2nd Lt 9-11-14 and promoted Lieutenant 1915, joined the expeditionary force at xmas 1914 and was killed in action 14-12-15."

Hugh William ELLIOTT

Lieutenant, Royal Air Force. (Flg A). Killed instructing. Son of William Underwood Elliott and Ann Elliott of Boxworth. Died 5/6/18 aged 20. Buried Boxworth (St Peter) Churchyard. A brother - Robert Stanley Elliott, served (Flg A) and survived. He served as pilot with 48 Sqn. on Western Front ; between July 1917 and February 1918, flying Bristol F.2b two-seaters,with various observers,was credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft ; so,technically speaking,he is an 'ace'. Then served as staff officer (instructor) at No.1 Fighting School,at Ayr and Turnberry. Killed (drowned) in flying accident, 5.6.1918, at Turnberry, flying a DH.9,which crashed into the sea. His pupil, Lt.Richard Brumbach Reed, US Air Service, was also drowned. Elliott, aged 20, was Acting Capt. at the time of his death.

Hugh CORBEY

Born Boxworth. Enlisted Cambridge. 11th Bn Suffolk Regiment. 15347. "B" Company. Died 1/7/1916 aged 19. Son of Alfred and Fanny Corbey of Boxworth. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme.

George William PINK

11th Bn Suffolk Regiment. Number 15357.Born Boxworth. Enlisted Cambridge. KIA 1/7/1916 aged 21. Son of James and Elizabeth Pink, of Grape Vine, Boxworth. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, The Somme. Note - The service number is very close to that of Hugh Corbey (above) - They joined up together and they died together, during the Battalion's first offensive action, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Tom PRIOR

Pte 20534. 1st Bn Devonshire Regiment. Died 25/9/1916. Aged 40. Son of Thomas Prior. Thiepval Memorial. This I.D. is not absolutely certain.

Albert William TYRRELL

1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment. Born Old Chesterton. Enlisted Cambridge. Resident Old Chesterton. KIA 7/11/1914. Aged 23. Pte 3/6447. Son of William Tyrrell of The Slipe, Milton, Cambridge. Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. This I.D. is not absolutely certain. See also Childerley.

1939-1945

Cecil DING

Pte 5933230. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Died 11/8/1940. Aged 19. Son of Harry and Elsie H. Ding, of Boxworth. Boxworth (St Peter) Churchyard.

Arthur George Peter SMITH

Gunner 1799435. 144 Battery., Lt.A.A. Regiment. , Royal Artillery. Died 5/3/1943 aged 21. Son of Mr & Mrs Joseph Smith of Boxworth, Cambs. Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

4 February 2004

War Memorials Trust

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