Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

THORNEY WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Cliff Brown & Dave Edwards

The Thorney War Memorial is in the Abbey Church.

To the glory of God
and in ever grateful memory
of the men from the parish of Thorney
who gave their lives in the Great War
1914 - 1919.

BATTERBEE	Robert [William]	Private PLY/17821, 2nd Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Died of wounds in 3rd (RN) Field Ambulance 26 April 1917. Age 22. Son of Robert W. & Harriett Jane Batterbee, of Park Farm, Thorney. Native of West Winch, Norfolk. Enlisted 4 January 1915. A Labourer, born West Winch, Kings Lynn, Norfolk 5 January 1894. Elder brother of PLY/17568 Private Walter Henry Batterbee (see below), 2nd RM Battalion killed in action 13 November 1916; Son of Robert William & Harriet Jane Batterbee, of Park Farm, Thorney, Peterborough, later of 5 Council Houses, Thorney, Peterborough. Native of West Winch, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Buried in STE. CATHERINE BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section B. Grave 2.
BATTERBEE	Walter [Henry]	Private PLY/17568, 2nd Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Missing, later reported killed in action (buried by 37th Division) 13 November 1916. Age 19. Son of Robert & Harriett Jane Batterbee, 5 Council Houses, Thorney. Younger brother of PLY/17821 Private Robert William Batterbee (see above), 2nd Royal Marine Battalion. Died of wounds 26 April 1917. Enlisted 9 November 1914, aged 17; embarked Royal Marine Brigade 18 August 1915, joined 2nd Royal Marine Battalion at Cape Helles 2 September 1915 through to 17 December 1915, left suffering from Rheumatism & Frostbite, rejoined 2nd Royal Marine Battalion 28 February 1916 until his death. Buried in ANCRE BRITISH CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL, Somme, France. Plot I. Row E. Grave 40.
BENTON	Frederick [James]	Private 9626, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regimen. Killed in action 5 May 1915. Age 20. Born Bluntisham, Hunts, enlisted Northampton. Son of Mr & Mrs J Benton, Gas Lane, Thorney. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 28 to 30.
BERRIDGE	Edward	Private 207332, Labour Corps. Died in United Kingdom 2 January 1918. Born Thorney, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. In the 1911 census he was aged 14, born Thorney, a Farm Labourer, son of Edward and Levilah Berridge, resident Abrahams Road Eye Green, near Peterborough North. Formerly 19877, Suffolk Regiment. Buried in the north-east corner of SS. MARY AND BOTOLPH CHURCHYARD, THORNEY ABBEY, Cambridgeshire.
BRIGGS	Charles E	Lance Bombadier 65657, 9th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of pneumonia in India 4 November 1918. Went to the front 14 October 1914. Buried in AMBALA CANTONMENT CEMETERY, India. Plot 38. Row D. Grave 33.
BROWN	Bertram Reginald	Private 129850, 56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died 27 September 1918. Born Walton, Norfolk, enlisted Wisbech. Birth registered in the October to December Quarter 1898 in the Wisbech Registration District. Formerly 20932, Suffolk Regiment. IN the 1911 census he was aged 12, at school, born Clenchwarton, son of Robert and Agnes Brown, resident with his family at Solding Drove, Thorney. Buried in CHAPEL CORNER CEMETERY, SAUCHY-LESTREE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section G. Grave 14.
CARTER	George [E]	Private 13403, 9th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Killed in action at Gallipoli 28 July 1915. Born Thorney, enlisted Worksop, Nottinghamshire, resident Market Deeping, Lincs. On the 1911 census he was aged 17 (1884), born Thorney, son of John and Elizabeth Carter, a Farm Labourer, resident with his parents at 80 Wisbech Road, Dukes Head Farm Cottage, Thorney. Buried in REDOUBT CEMETERY, HELLES, Turkey (including Gallipoli). Grave lost - special memorial Section A. Grave 116.
CLAPHAM	Graham Windyer	2nd Lieutenant, 71st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, (formerly 2nd King Edward’s Horse). Died of wounds 10 May 1917. Age 36. Son of the late Lawrence Clapham MRCS, LSA & Mrs Mary Frederica Clapham, of Thorney. There is a family memorial in Thorney Abbey church. In the 1911 census he is aged 30, unmarried, born Thorney, a Farmer and Grazier, resident Green Drove Farm, Thorney. Buried in DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row M. Grave 19.
CLARKE	Charles Henry	Private 41877, 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 22 October 1918. Age 19. Born Thorney, enlisted Burt St Edmunds. Son of George William & Ada Louisa Clarke, Corner Farm, Thorney Fen. Buried in HARLEBEKE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, Harelbeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot V. Row C. Grave 9.
COLE	William	Private 17149, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment who was killed in action 9 May 1915. Born and enlisted Whittlesey. Entered France 29 April 1915. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 28 to 30. Also listed Whittlesey.
COOKE	John	[Spelt COOK on memorial] Private 17528, 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died in United Kingdom 17 June 1918. Born King's Ripton, Hunts, enlisted Wisbech. Buried in the south-east part of SS. MARY AND BOTOLPH CHURCHYARD, THORNEY ABBEY, Cambridgeshire.
CRAYTHORN	Harry Johnson	[CRAYTHORNE on memorial] Lance Corporal G/18886, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action on 10th July 1918. Age 20. Born Crayland, Lincs, enlisted Northampton. Son of Robert and Florence Johnson Craythorn, of 24 French Drove, Thorney. Buried in CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. PLot/Row/Section P. Grave 16.
FENN	Charles Henry	Private 3068, 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died of wounds 2 May 1915. Age 21. Born Nassington, Northants, enlisted Peterborough, resident Whittlesey. Son of John Elijah and Mary Elizabeth Fenn, of 21, Orchard St., Whittlesey, Peterborough, Northants. Buried in BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VIII. Row B. Grave 24.
FENTON	W	Possibly: Walter Fenton, Private 36560, 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales). Died of wounds 30 March 1918. Age 23. Son of Mrs. M. A. Fenton, of 16, Holdforth St., Wellington Rd., New Wortley, Leeds. Born Caister, Lincs, enlisted Bury St Edmunds, resident Leeds, Yorkshire. Formerly 4632, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1, Somme, France. Plot V. Row B. Grave 27.
FOREMAN	Harry Clarke	[Spelt FORMAN on CWGC] Gunner 166315, 215th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds 11 September 1917. Age 36. Born West Neal, Lincs, enlisted Wisbech, resident Thorney. Son of Martha Oliver, of 18, Elsley Rd., Lavender Hill, Battersea, London; husband of Harriet Rose Ann Osborne Forman, of 2, Littlesea Rd., Thorney, Peterborough. Buried in WIELTJE FARM CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot/Row/Section B. Grave 34.
GALL	Sidney	Private 235187, 8th Lincolnshire Regiment Killed in action 1 October 1917. Age 21. Born Fakenham, Norfolk, enlisted March, resident Wisbech. Son of Mrs E Ashton, Panswell Lane, Barton Rd, Wisbech. Formerly 2878 Cambridgeshire Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel 35 to 37 and 162 to 162A.
GEDNEY	Henry Ernest	Private 8/11104, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died on service of broncho pneumonia and influenza 21:40hrs 2 November 1918 in North Camp Military Hospital, Ripom. Born and enlisted Bourne, Lincolnshire, resident Thorney, Cambridgeshire. Son of Elizabeth Gedney; husband of Mrs Gladys (nee Mason) Gendey, of Park Farm, Thornery, married 19 November 1917 in Bourne Regustry Office.. Attested 2 September 1914 at Boune, aged 19 years, 58 days, a Farm Horseman, single, height 5 feet 6&fraC12; inches, weight 112 lbs, chest 35-37 inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, religious denomnation Church of England. In the 1901 census he was aged 4, born Lincolnshire, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Gedney, resident Cranes Gate Road, Holbeach St John's, Holbeach, Lincolnshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 15, born Pinchbeck, a Labourer on Farm, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Gedney, resident Dyke Terrace, Bourne, Lincolnshire. Buried 8 November 1918 in the north-west part of SS. MARY AND BOTOLPH CHURCHYARD, THORNEY ABBEY, Cambridgeshire. See also Whittlesey
GEDNEY	James [William]	Private 33144, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment). Killed in action 8 December 1918. Born Whaplode, Lincs, enlisted Wisbech, resident Thorney. Formerly 34619, 9th Training Reserve Battalion. Buried in NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY, KASSEL, Hessen, Germany. Plot IV. Row F. Grave 8.
HADNAM	Frederick Robert	Private 2346, 1st/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 6 May 1915. Age 23. Born and enlisted Thorney. Son of Alfred and Betsy, Station Rd, Thorney. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50 and 52.
HALES	Samuel	Lance Corporal 21559, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action 14-17 September 1916. Age 20. Born Eve, Northants, enlisted Thorney. Son of Elizabeth Redhead (formerly Hales), of Hodney Bridge, Eye, and late Samuel Hales. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 8 D
JOHNSON	Harry	Private G/13256, 11th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died of wounds 21 April 1918. Aged 38. Born Eye Green, Northants, enlisted Wisbech, resident Thorney. Son of Emma Johnson, of "The Checkers," Thorney, Cambs. Buried in WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XI. Row D. Grave 8.
LILLEY	George Ernest	Private 35190, 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 6 August 1917. Age 23. Born and resident Thorney, enlisted Wisbech, Son of Thomas & Esther Lilley, of 59 Wisbech Rd, Thorney. Formerly 4520, Suffolk Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 41 and 43.
LILLEY	Thomas Arthur	Private 200503, 1st/5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts. And Derby) Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1917. Age 22. Enlisted Derby, resident Thorney. Son of Robert & Sarah Frances Lilley, of 18 Park Side, Thorney. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7.
LUESBY	Joseph	[Spelt LEUSBY on CWGC] Private 11768, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 28 April 1917. Born Surfleet, Lincs. enlsited Spalding, resident gedney Dyke. Buried in CHILI TRENCH CEMETERY, GAVRELLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 2.
MERCHANT	Frederick Levi	Private 56233, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 21 March 1918. Born Thorney, enlisted Peterborough. Formerly 4914, Middlesex Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2 and 3.
MORRIS	George William	Lance Serjeant 36732, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of wounds 28 May 1917. Age 27. Born and resident Thorney, enlisted Birmingham. Son of John & Elizabeth Rose Morris, 79 Wisbech Rd, Thorney. Buried in SUNKEN ROAD CEMETERY, BOISLEUX-ST. MARC, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row C. Grave 6.
OLIVER	John William	Private 21474, 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action 9 February 1917. Born Upton, enlisted Peterborough. Buried in SAILLY-SAILLISEL BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot V. Row I. Grave 9.
PEACH	John Edward	Private, 1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 2 November 1917. Buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.
PIPE	John	Private, 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 3 October 1915. Age 26. Son of Edward John & Maria May Pipe. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
RUFF	Edward	Private, 1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of malaria 5 October 1918. Buried in Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
SCOTT	Charles William	Private 5247, 5th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment). Died of wounds 13 November 1916. Age 19. Born Oakham, Rutland, enlisted Thorney. Son of Walter Alexander & Ada Anne Scott, of Oakham, Rutland. Nephew of Mr & Mrs Miles, Thorney Station. Formerly 2413, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in DERNANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 8.
SCOTT	Herbert	Private G/13484, 11th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Killed in action 24 June 1917. Age 25. Born Thorney Toll, enlisted Bury St Edmunds, resident Thorney. Son of Walter and Annie Scott, of Little Knoll Farm, Thorney, Cambs. Buried in DICKEBUSCH NEW MILITARY CEMETERY EXTENSION, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II. Row A. Grave 27.
SEWELL	J E	Possibly: Rifleman, Ernest Joseph Sewell, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 9 August 1916. Age 19. Son of Frederick and Sarah Jane Sewell, of Crowland. Buried in Ferme-Oliverier Cemetery, Elverdinghe, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
SHIRLEY	[William] Henry	Pte, 40028, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment 27 November 1917. Born Padbury, Oxfordshire, enlisted Northampton. Commemorated on his father's grave in Thorney Abbey churchyard. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.
SKIPP	Albert William	Private 3/10084, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 20 January 1915. Born Wlsoken, Cambs (sic), enlisted Northampton. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 28 to 30.
STAPLETON	Charles	Private 16264, "B" Company, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Missing June 1918. Died of wounds 27 July 1918 as a Prisoner of War. Age 24. Born Thorney, enlisted Whittlesey. Son of Isaac and Sarah Ann Stapleton, 60 Wisbech Rd, Thorney. Buried in LEUZE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Hainaut, Belgium. Plot II. Row C. Grave 2.
STUBBINS	E	No further information currently available.
THACKER	H	No further information currently available.
THOMPSON	George William	Private 325722, 1st/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 14 October 1918. Born Peterborough, enlisted Thorney. Formerly 2431, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in POINT-DU-JOUR MILITARY CEMETERY, ATHIES, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row B. Grave 1.
THOMPSON	Silas James	Private 157808, 41st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died 1 November 1918. Born Peterborough, enlisted Whittlesey. Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinghe, Belgium. Plot XXXV. Row B. Grave 11.
TOMPKINS	Percy [William]	Private 895511, 50th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment). Died 7 January 1918. Age 21. Born 27 March 1896 in Thorney. Son of William James & Emily Tompkins, of Gladys, Alberta. Native of Thorney. Parents formerly lived at English Rd, Thorney. Farmer by trade. Attested nad passed fit 15 January 1917 at High Pines, Alberta, aged 20 years 19 months, height 5 feet 7½ inches, girth 35½ inches, complexion dark, eyes brown, hair black, religious denomination Methodist. Buried in LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VIII. Row A. Grave 9. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9728 - 48
TOPHAM	James Alexander Moncrief	Private A36397, 4th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). Died 12 June 1916. Age 23. Born 15 July 1893 in Hockham, Norfolk. Only surviving son of Alexander J. Topham, of Te Puna, Tauranga, New Zealand. Grandson of late Mr Joseph Topham & Mrs Topham, of Thorney Park. Teamster by trade. Unmarried. Attested and passed fit 14 January 1915 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, aged 21 years 6 months, height 5 feet 8 inches, girth 38½ inches, complexion fair, eyes hazel, hair brown, religious denomination Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30. National Archives of Canada Accession reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9736 - 11
WOOD	William Harlock	Private 3/9515, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 14 March 1915. Born Hilton, Hunts, enlisted Northampton. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 28 to 30.
WRIGHT	Charles	Private 10604, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Killed in action 15 September 1916. Born Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire, enlisted Peterborough. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 7 D and 8 D.
WRIGHT	Henry	Private 23287, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 23 October 1916. Son of William and Charlotte Wright, resident Lowgate, Fleet, Lincolnshire. Born Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire, resident Fleet, Lincolnshire, enlisted Holbeach, Lincolnshire. Attested 15 April 1916 in Lincoln, resident Lowgate, Fleet, Holbeach, aged 20 years 11 months (336 days), a Labourer, unmarried, height 5 feet 6 inches, chest 39 inches, religious denomination Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C.
1939 - 1945
CONSTABLE	Percy Reginald	Coporal, 211 Squadron, Royal Air Force, based Chiringa & Ranchi, Italy, using Beaufighters. Died 13 November 1944. Age 25. Son of Percy and Daisy Annie Constable, of Thorney, Cambridgeshire. Buried in Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia.
JACKSON	Freeman Cecil	[Listed as C G F JACKSON on memorial] Private, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed by landmine 11 April 1939. One of five soldiers killed by a landmine explosion near Lydda, Palestine. [Source Cambridgeshire Times 14 April 1939]
LILLEY	Henry Hugh	Acting Sub Lt., Fleet Air Arm, HMS Saker, R.N.V.R., Died in plane crash in Plymouth, Massachusettes, 7 December 1943. Age 21. Son of Hugh & Elsie Lilley, of 12 Wisbech Rd, Thorney. No known grave.
RYCROFT	Lawrence Victor	Died 20th October 1946. Death certificate 319, March Registration District. Buried Thorney Abbey.
SMITH	John Charles Wilfred	Sgt. 51 Sqd. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, based Snaith, Yorks, using Halifax bombers. Died 18 November 1944. Age 19. Son of Walter Wilfred and Hannah Charlotte Smith, of Thorney, Cambridgeshire. Buried in Crowland Abbey churchyard.
Also listed for this parish in the Ely Cathedral Second World War Book of Remembrance:
CLAPHAM	A W	Probably: Arthur William CLAPHAM, Private, 4868955, 5th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, who died on Monday 7 February 1944. Age 30. Son of Arthur Henry and Annie Jane Clapham; husband of Edna Annie Clapham. Born and resident Cambridgeshire. Buried in MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY Italy.
DAVIS	W	No further information currently available.
SMITH	James Albert	Lance Corporal, 5832248, H.Q. 242 Provost Company, Corps of Military Police, who died on Sunday 18 June 1944. Age 31. Son of George William and Mary Ann Smith; husband of Elsie May Smith, of Thorney, Cambridgeshire. Buried in BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY Calvados, France.
WHITTOME	Anthony Arthur	Sergeant (Bomb Aimer) 166315, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 23 April 1944. Age 29. Son of Arthur Frank and Hilda Mary Whittome, husband of Freda Whittome of Castor, Northamptonshire. Buried in THORNEY CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Last updated 4 June, 2021

War Memorials Trust