FEN DRAYTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
This page and the photographs are copyright © Phil Curme 2000 - many thanks to him.

The memorial is to be found at the junction of Horse and Gate Street and Church Street, fen Drayton. It takes the form of a four stepped, square, base surmounted by a square plinth and an obelisk with the inscription on the sides of plnth.

Photographs copyright © Phil Curme 2000

South Face
In Memoriam

CARTER	Ernest	Private 40542, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. 12th Division. Killed in action at Arras 28th April 1917. Born in Fenstanton and enlisted in St. Ives. In the 1911 census he was aged 29, born Fenstanton, a Farm Labourer, married to Florence Carter with one daughter and two sons, resident High Street, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. Married Flornce Wright in the April to June Quarter 1903 in the St. Ives Registration District, Huntingdonshire. He was listed in the 1912 Electoral Register for Fen Drayton. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3.
LAMBERT	Walter [Gerald]	Private 17358, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds on Tuesday, 29th February 1916. Aged 22. 1914 volunteer. Younger son of William Lambert of Fen Drayton. Baptised 11 August 1889 in Fen Drayton, son of William and Diana Lambert. In the 1901 census he was aged 6, born Fen Drayton, son of William and Diana Lambert, resident Horse and Gate Street, Fendrayton. In the 1911 census he was aged 16, born Fen Drayton, a Farm Labourer, son of William and Diana Lambert, resident High Street, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. Buried in BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD, Nord, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave 252. For further details visit the 11th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment Resource Guide.
MOODY	Thomas	Private 13786, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1st July 1916 on First day of the Battle of the Somme. 1914 volunteer. Born Carlin How, Yorks, enlisted Cambridge. In the 1891 census he was newborn, born Yorkshire, son of Walter and Sarah J Moody, resident Fen End, Fen Drayton, St Ives, Cambridgeshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 12, born Yorkshire, son of Walter and Sarah Jane Moody, resident Great Whyte, Ramsey, Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A. For further details visit the 11th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment Resource Guide.
Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 21 June 1918
SKINNER	Ernest Wilfred	Private 27408, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment who killed in action on Friday, 10th May 1918. Aged 19. Born Over, Cambs, enlisted Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Son of Samuel and Annie Skinner of, 6 Railway Cottages, Needingworth Road, St Ives, Hunts. Native of Fen Drayton. Brother of Bill Skinner - below. In the 1901 census he was aged 2, born Over, Cambs, son of Samuel and Ann Skinner, resident Meadow Lane, Over, St Ives, Cambridgeshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 12, born Over, Cambs, at school, son of Samuel and Ann Skinner, resident Oxholme Gate House, G and E Railway, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. Buried at MAILLY WOOD CEMETERY, MAILLY-MAILLET, Somme, France. Plot II. Row K. Grave 1.
SKINNER	William Ewart	Private 46948, 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers formerly 181369, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 26th March 1918. Aged 21. Born Over, Cambs, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Samuel and Annie Skinner, of The Haven, Needingworth Road, St Ives, Hunts. Born at Over, Cambs. Brother of Ernie Skinner - above. In the 1901 census he was aged 4, born Over, Cambs, son of Samuel and Ann Skinner, resident Meadow Lane, Over, St Ives, Cambridgeshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 14, born Over, Cambs, a Farm Labourer, son of Samuel and Ann Skinner, resident Oxholme Gate House, G and E Railway, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. Employed as a Porter at Swavesey for Great Eastern Railway. He worked only briefly for the GER before enlisting in the Royal Engineers in June 1916. He was later transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers with whom he was serving when killed in action. Buried in HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES, Somme, France. Plot X. Row D. Grave 10.
who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 This monument was set up by the inhabitants of Fen Drayton Their bodies are buried in peace but their names liveth for evermore. Ecclesiasticus 44.14. West Face. In Memoriam.
FINLAY	George William Cranston	Boy, S.S. Hindpool (West Hartlepool), Merchant Navy. Died 8 March 1941. Aged 16. In the 1939 Register he was born 24 May 1924, son of Lilian Finlay, working as an Errand Boy, resident Oaktree Road, Fen Drayton, Chesterton R.D., Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 57.
SCOTT	Matthew	Fusilier 14761715, 11th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Killed in action in Western Europe on 4th December 1944. Aged 19. Born 10 March 1920. Son of Thomas and Frances Scott of Fen Drayton. In the 1939 Register he was a General Labourer, unmarried, son of Thomas and Frances Scott, resident Cootes Lane, Chesterton R.D., Cambridgeshire. Buried in JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY, Gelderland, Netherlands. Plot 23. Row F. Grave 7.

Last updated 9 October, 2024