Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

FEN DITTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Phil Curme
additional RFC/RNAS/RAF information David Manning

The Fen Ditton Memorial is a fifteen foot, Portland stone, obelisk mounted on a plinth and enclosed by a chain "fence" located on a small roundabout between the parish church of St Mary, The Virgin in the High Street and a public house, The Kings Head. Unusually the names are listed in order of rank and then alphabetically. There are 22 names for World War 1 and 5 for World War 2.The memorial was unveiled bu Lieutenant-Colonel F J M Stratton and dedicated by the Archdeacon of Ely 30th April 1921; the masons were Ivett and Reed. details appeared in the Cambridge Independent Press 6th May 1921. A further memorial can be found within St Mary's church which contains one extra name to those on the exterior memorial.

"Lest we forget"
"In Grateful Memory of the Men of this Parish
who Fell in the Great War 1914 - 1918"

1914-1918
BENSTEAD	John	Private 148230, 78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Rgt). Died 19th November 1916. Aged 23. Born 24th June 1895. Son of John and Mary Benstead of Church St, Fen Ditton; brother of Herbert Charles below. Single man, farmer by trade. Member of the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers at enlistment. Enlisted 19th July 1915 at Portage la Prairie. Height 5ft 2ins, waist 34 ins, complexion fair, eyes brown, hair black. Religion Church of England. Commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 663 - 23.
BENSTEAD	Herbert Charles	Private 147931, 78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Rgt). Died Monday 9th April 1917. Age 28. Born 24th October 1889. Son of John and Mary Benstead of Church Street, Fen Ditton, brother of John above. Single man, farmer by trade. Member of the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers at enlistment. Enlisted 29th July 1915 at Portage la Prairie. Height 5ft 3½ins, waist 36½ins, complexion medium, eyes brown, hair black. Religion Church of England. Buried Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Canadian Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 663 - 21.
BRISTOW[E]	James Edwin	Private, 15264, 2nd. Battalion The Suffolk Regiment 3rd. Division. Killed in action during second battle of Ypres. 12th June 1915. Aged 22. Son of Mr & Mrs William Lambert Bristow(e) of Cambridge. Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium MR.29
CLAYTON	Ernest	[Memorial lists him as Pte, Loyal Suffolk Hussars] Able Seaman R/2687, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died, whilst a POW at Reserve Feldlaz at Caudry, from a shot wound penetrating abdominal walls 10 January 1918. Born 2 June 1891 at Fen Ditton. Son of Mrs. Clayton, Fen Ditton, Greenend, Cambridge. Formerly Private 305662 2/1st Battalion, Suffolk Yeomanry, enlisted in the Territorial Force 26 June 1915, transferred to Royal Naval Division 16 June 1917; in the draft for British Expeditionary Force 4 July 1917, joined Hood Battalion 28 August 17, went missing 30-31 December 1917 found to be Prisoner of War. Buried in Caudry British Cemetery, Nord, France. Plot IV. Row B. Grave 13.
EDWARDS	Arthur William	Pte 20765, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 13th April 1918. Enlisted Cambridge. Buried Leuze Communal Cemetery, Leuze-en-Hainault, Belgium.
EDWARDS	[James] Ebenezer	Private 8597, 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Died in Mesopotamia 22nd June 1916. Born Fen Ditton, enlisted Cambridge. No known grave. Commmeorated on Basra Memorial, Iraq. Panel 26 and 63.
HAYHOW	Harry	Private 2026, 1st Eastern General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps. In the 1881 census he was aged 5, born fen Ditton, a scholar, son of Eather Hayhow, resident Church Street, Fen Ditton, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. In the 1891 census he was aged 16, born Cambridgeshire, a Farm Labourer, son of Henry and Esther Hayhow, resident Church Street, Fen Ditton, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 25, born Fen Ditton, a Navvy, boarding in High Street, Fen Ditton, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 35, born Fen Ditton, a General Labourer, son of Esther Hayhow, resident Church Street, Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire. Attested 21 November 1915 in Cambridge, resident Fen Ditton, served from 21 November 1915 to 2 March 1916, height 5 feet 4 inches, chest 42 inches. Can find no related death details
HOPKINS	Edward Favill George	[Listed on the memorial as Edwin] Second Lieutenant, 181^st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 30 March 1917. Aged 19. Baptised 5 December 1897 at Cambridge, All Saints, son of Edward Jodrell and Augusta Maud Harriette Hopkins, of 31 Jesus Lane, Cambridge. Son of Mr. E. J. Hopkins, of 15, Hills Rd., Cambridge. In the 1901 census he was aged 3, born Cambridgeshire, son of Edward Jodrell and Augustin M H Hopkins, resident 31, Jesus Lane, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Buried in AIZECOURT-LE-BAS CHURCHYARD Somme, France. Grave 1. See also Cambridge Guildhall and Cambridge St Mary the Great and also Cambridge, St Faith's School
JENKINS	William Edwin [Eric]	2nd Lieut. 60th Squadron, RFC and East Surrey Regiment. Died 23/11/1917 aged 19. Son of Edwin & Annie Jenkins of Poplar Hall, Fen Ditton, Cambs.Commemorated at Tyne Cot. Born 9/7/1898 at Rushden, Northants. East Surrey Regt. and 2nd Lieutentant RFC. Royal Aero Club Cert. No. 4414, 14/3/1917. To 60 Sqn. RFC 4/1917; this Sqn. was one of the most prestigious scout squadrons in the Corps. Jenkins served in B Flight, commanded by the New Zealand 'ace' Capt. K.L. "Grid" Caldwell; another flight commander during Jenkins' period of service was the famous (but now arguably infamous) Canadian "Billy" Bishop VC. Jenkins was promoted to Lt. during summer, 1917, and by the time of his death had been credited with 10 victories; 1 balloon destroyed, 3 aircraft destroyed (2 shared), 6 aircraft out of control (4 shared). He is therefore an 'ace'. He was killed in a mid-air collision with another SE.5a of his formation (2nd Lt. M. West-Thompson also killed), both aircraft crashing near Poperinghe. (A propoganda film made during 1917, called something like "Our Heroes of the Air" featured 60 Sqn. and the film contains a shot, often used in modern WW1 television documentaries, of a group of 60's pilots, with Caldwell and Bishop at the centre. Jenkins is at the left-hand end of the group.) See also Perse School, Cambridge and Cambridge Guildhall.
LUCAS	Keith	Captain (Son of F.R. & K. Lucas. Husband of Alys Keith Lucas of "The Hilden Oaks", Tonbridge, Kent. Captain. Hampshire Aircraft Park, Royal Flying Corps. Killed 5 Ocotber 1916. Aged 37. Sc.D., F.R.S. Engaged in experimental research work mainly with aeroplane compasses. Buried Aldershot Military Cemetery). Serving with Hampshire Aircraft Park, Farnborough, at the time of his death; killed in a flying accident in BE.2c. Buried in ALDERSHOT MILITARY CEMETERY, Hampshire. Plot/Row/Section Ah. Grave 348. See also Cambridge Guildhall
MALLION	Charles	Private 2824 Cambs Regiment. Transferred to (52321) Labour Corps. Died 24/11/18 in Bury St Edmunds. Buried in Fen Ditton Cemetery. Born in 1893 in Fen Ditton. Son of Henry Mallion and Maria Mallion (nee Martin). Farm Labourer by trade.
MALLION	John Samuel	Private 41274, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Born Fen Ditton. Enlisted Cambridge. Resident Fen Ditton. Formerly 39574, Northants Regiment. Killed in action 21 August 1918. Son of William and Hannah Mallion, of Fen Ditton Post Office. Husband of Rosa Mallion of Fen Ditton. Aged 30. Buried in Queens Cemetery, Bucquoy, Pas de Calais.
MAYES	George Henry	Private 204152, 10th Battalion, Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment. Killed in action 31 October 1918. Born Chesterton, enlisted Cambridge. Buried in BUSIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France. Plot II. Row A. Grave 15. See also Cambridge Guildhall
MORLEY	William	Private 16588, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 22 October 1917. Born Wilbraham, enlisted Cambridge. Son of mr. and Mrs. Morley, of Quy Water, Fen Ditton. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 40 to 41 and 162 to 162A.
NEGUS	Ebenezer [Battison]	Staff Sergeant 4666, 94th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 26 October 1914. Born Fen Ditton, enisted London. He past his Royal Society of Arts Army Shorthand Examinations while stationed in Lahore 12 February 1914, 80 words per minute. Baptsied 3 August 1879 at fen Ditton son of Jane. Buried in GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY, Pas De Calais, France. Plot VIII. Row J. Grave 11. See also Cambridge Guildhall
PAMPLING	George Herbert	1st Bn Cambs Regiment. Pte 2589. Born Fen Ditton. Enlisted Cambridge. DOW 13/5/15. Aged 21. Son of Emily and the late Nathaniel Pampling of High St, Fen Ditton. Boulogne East Cemetery.
PAMPLING	William	Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry). Pte 101556. Born Fen Ditton. Enlisted Ely. Resident Fen Ditton. Died in Egypt 17/10/18. Formerly 1900,2/1st Suffolk Yeomanry. Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
PEDLEY	George [Herbert]	Private 543024, 4th London General Hospital (Territorial Force). Royal Army Medical Corps. Died in United Kingdom 28 April 1917. Aged 23. Enlisted Chelsea, London S.W., resident Cambridge. Son of William and Jessie Pedley, of Paper Mills House, Newmarket Rd., Cambridge. Birth registered in the July to September Quarter 1893 in the Chesterton Registration District. In the 1901 census he was aged 7, son of William Lenton and Jessie Pedley, born Chesterton, resident Newmarket Road, Fen Ditton, Chesterton. In the 1911 census he was aged 17, son of William Lenton and Jessie Pedley, a Chemist's Apprentice, born Chesterton, resident Paper Mills House, Newmarket Road, Fen Ditton. Buried in CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. Plot/Row/Section C. Grave 3628. See also Cambridge Guildhall and Cambridge County High School
PIERSON	Edmund [Edwin]	Corporal, 1975, 1/1st.Battalion The Camridgeshire Regiment 39th. Division. Killed in action on the Somme 4th.September 1916. aged 21. Son of Mr T.E. & Mrs M.E. Pierson of `The Island Bungalow` Quy Waters, Quy. Born Newholme Croft and enlisted in Cambridge. Bur. Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil Martinsart. F.220
REEVES	Walter	Private 711, 11th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Killed in action 25th April 1915 at Gallipoli. Aged 22. Born Fen Ditton. Son of Mrs Eliza Reeves, 228 Newmarket rd, Cambridge and William Reeves of High Street, fen Ditton. Gold miner by trade. Educated fen Ditton National School. Emigrated aged 18. Commemorated Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey. Panel 34. Commemorated on the Australian Roll of Honour.
STARNELL	Alfred George	Private 28248. 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Born St Ives, Hunts. Enlisted Cambridge. Resident Cambridge. Killed in action on Sunday, 15th October 1916. Age 29. Son of Alfred George and Sarah Ann Starnell of 15 Gold St, Cambridge. Husband of Ethel May Francis Starnell of 62 Fitzroy St, Cambridge. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 10 D. See also Cambridge Guildhall and also Cambridge, Christ Church
TURNER	John	Pte 320412 15th Bn, Suffolk Regiment. Died 6/11/17 aged 21. Son Of Herbert and Emma Turner of Church St, Fen Ditton. Buried Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.
The church memorial contains one extra name for World War 1
CARTER	Ebenezer	Private, Royal Field Artillery. - no details on the CWGC or SDGW but a medal card exists for Ebenezer S CARTER, Gunner 165860, Royal Garrison Artillery.
1939 - 1945
GUNTON	Joseph Frederick Tee	A/B Probably listed as JF TEE on CWGC. Petty Officer Cook, HMS Kelly, Royal Navy, d 23/5/1941, commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom. Son of Joseph Frederick and Katherine Maud Tee; husband of Gladys Lilian Alice Tee.
PEACHEY	Henry	Private. Died January to March 1945 in the Cambridge Registration District. Born 5 April 1917. In the 1939 Register he was a Butcher (Journeyman), unmarried, resident Post Office, High Street, Fen Ditton, Chesterton R.D., Cambridgeshire. He was baptised 7 May 1917 at Fen Ditton, son of George Henry and Alice (nee Turner) Peachey. Can find no related Military History
PRESTON	Joseph	Pte - Trooper 14346508, 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. Killed in action in Western Europe 29 April 1945. Aged 30. Born and resident Cambridgeshire. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Preston; husband of Edna Kathleen Mary Preston, of Little Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany. Plot 2. Row H. Grave 1A. See also Little Wilbraham
SEWELL	Charles James	Gunner 974588, 8 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died of wounds in Burma 17 March 1944. Aged 24. Born Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, 12 February 1920, resident Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire. Son of Sidney John and Mary Louisa Sewell of Fen Ditton. In the 1939 register he was unmarried, a Railway Crossing Gate Lad, resident 32 Council House, Ditton Lane, Fen Ditton, Chesterton R.D., Cambridgeshire. Buried Imphal War Cemetery, India. Plot 8. Row B. Grave 19.
WILKIN	Ivor William	Leading Airman FX96694, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Canada, Royal Navy. Died 30 November 1943. Aged 18. Born 17 March 1925 in Fen Ditton. Son of Alex and Margery Wilkin of Fen Ditton. Baptised 3 May 1925 in Fen Ditton, son of Alec and MArgery Wilkin, of High St Fen Ditton. Buried Kingston (Cataraqui) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada. Section G. Range 7. Grave 12.

Last updated 20 September, 2023

War Memorials Trust